g
“The question, therefore, is: what is there to talk about, in terms of exploring and developing the natural resources in the West Philippine Sea, when it is clear that the West Philippine Sea exclusively belongs to Filipinos?” Del Rosario said in a statement.Under international law, China has zero claim on the West Philippine Sea, but Beijing continues to claim it by law and by force of “Filipinosarms.have every right to explore and develop the oil and gas in the West Philippine Sea, including Reed Bank, without interruption or harassment from other countries,” he added. Del Rosario, who led the country in bringing the case against China before an arbitration court, warned that negotiating with China for oil and gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea will diminish Philippine laws and rights, and that it is a crime of treason. “Any talk by Philippine officials that will diminish our laws and the rights of Filipinos under the 2016 UNCLOS Award – would be treason in the highest order,” Del Rosario said. “Negotiating with China will diminish Philippines laws and the rights of Filipinos under the 2016 UNCLOS Award – would be treason in the highest order.”With the increasing energy prices, he said political will is needed to enforce the Philippines’ rights over the oil and gas in the West Philippine Sea, so that the country will be able to benefit from new energy sources.“The Philippines should proceed to explore and develop the oil and gas in the West Philippine Sea, despite threats and harassment from China,” Del Rosario said. He cited the examples of Indonesia and Malaysia for sending their drilling ships last year in their respective waters. “Despite warnings and harassment from China, our neighbors proceeded with, and completed their drilling,” Del Rosario“Malaysiasaid. and Indonesia, whose waters are also claimed by China, were able to assert their sovereign rights over their waters, without the benefit of an UNCLOS Award and a mutual defense treaty with the US, like the Philippines,” he said. Del Rosario urged President Marcos to find the political will and explore new energy sources to support the country. “We hope to see this political will in the person of our new president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who promised our countrymen that he will protect our country’s sovereign rights as embodied in the 2016 UNCLOS Award,” he said.He noted that Filipinos have every right to explore and develop the oil and gas in the West Philippine Sea, including Reed Bank, without interruption or harassment from other countries.Thelegitimate pathway for Chinese participation in this endeavor, Del Rosario said, is for China to acknowledge that the natural resources of the West Philippine Sea belong to Filipinos, and allow Chinese companies to submit to Philippine laws in the exploration and development of natural resources in the West Philippine Sea. g
PNA photo by Rico H. Borja
‘PH should proceed with sea exploration...
Marcos, Widodo firm up... neighbor, not only a friend, but kin," and that the Philippines will always be indebted for all the assistance it has extended to the country under the Duterte administration, especially during the height of the pandemic. With a strong partnership, the Philippines and Indonesia could be "the lead agents of change" for everlasting and stable peace and development in the region, the President said. Marcos and Widodo also witnessed the signing of several defense and security, agriculture and economic agreements.
The Philippine leader said he and Widodo "have agreed to organize task forces already to meet and discuss even at the technical level." At a joint news conference, Marcos said increasing the volume of trade between their nations had been important in their talks. He said the strategic partnership between Indonesia and the Philippines, and also with partners, allies and friends around the world, "will be of critical importance so that we remain stable as we grow out of the pandemic economy." Widodo said his government has proposed revitalizing a ferry line connecting the border cities of Bitung and Davao and opening a direct flight between Manado, in eastern Indonesia and Davao, in the southern Philippines, to spur trade and their countries' economies. "I am pleased that we have renewed the cooperative trilateral between Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia because it is very important in securing waterways from the threat of hostage-taking and kidnapping," Widodo said. Marcos wraps up his visit to Indonesia today, September 6, and will immediately proceed to Singapore for another state visit.In Singapore, he will have separate meetings with President Halimah Yacob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong before flying back to Manila.
SEPTEMBER 7-9, 2022 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-97972 From the Front Page PAGE 1 PAGE 1 PAGE 1 PAGE 1
Peso touches 57-level for the first time... home as economic recovery from the pandemic pushes up imports.Thepeso’s continued slump could add pressure to the BSP to keep up its hawkish stance to arrest the currency’s crash. "The peso followed the movement of major currencies against the U.S. dollar, which hit another high today," Domini Velasquez, chief economist at China Banking Corp., said in a commentary."Thestrength of the U.S. economy and a hawkish Fed trying to slow inflation even at the brink of inducing a recession continues to dominate the movement in currencies globally. Even at this exchange rate, we see the peso possibly falling further especially if the
Manny Pacquiao eyes boxing return with...
A depreciating peso is becoming a big headache for the Philippines, which is already reeling from imported inflation as the ongoing war in Ukraine pushes up global energy prices. Philstar file photo by Miguel de Guzman U.S. Fed hikes by another 75 bps in its September meeting and if the Fed increases its terminal target rate, currently at 3.5%," she added. (with Ramon Royandoyan) a physical disadvantage against the bigger Yoo. Yoo has more than 650,000 subscribers on YouTube, where he promotes his self-styled form of martial arts called “warfare combat system”. “I know I will not win against him but I will try my best to surprise Manny Pacquiao,” Yoo said previously. Most of the money raised from the event will go towards rebuilding homes in conflictravaged Ukraine, organizers said.Pacquiao is set to join other retired boxing greats who have ventured onto the exhibition circuit.Floyd Mayweather, who has called himself the “pioneer of exhibitions,” dominated YouTuber Logan Paul in a fight last year and knocked out Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in two minutes in December 2018. Both fights were widely ridiculed.Mayweather, Pacquiao’s rival from their boxing days, will fight Japanese mixed martial arts star Mikuru Asakura in Japan later this month. (Inquirer.net)
SHOPPING FOR CHRISTMAS DECORS. Shoppers troop to Dapitan Arcade in Quezon City to buy various Christmas decorations on Tuesday, Sept. 6. The Philippines is one of the countries that have the longest Christmas celebration in the world, starting as early as September until the first week of January.
PNA photo by Joey O. Razon
Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water or fluids and keep hydrated throughout the day. Drink more fluids, regardless of how active you are. Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink.Warning: If your doctor limits the amount you drink or has you on water pills, ask how much you should drink while the weather is hot.Stay away from very sugary or alcoholic drinks—these cause you to lose more body fluid. Also avoid very cold drinks because they can cause stomach cramps. Replace salt and minerals: heavy sweating removes salt and minerals from the body that need to be replaced. A sports drink can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat. If you are on a low-salt diet, have diabetes, high blood pressure, or other chronic conditions, talk with your doctor before drinking a sports beverage or taking salt tablets. Keep your pets hydrated: provide plenty of fresh water for your pets and leave the water in a shady area.
PAGE 1 PAGE 1 PH seeks executive clemency for Mary Jane...
people who are socially isolated who may be especially sensitive to negative health impacts from extreme heat. Here are simple steps but important steps to stay safe: Stay cool: Those lacking air conditioning should go to a cooling center, library or public place such as a shopping mall to cool off for a few hours each day. Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, they will not prevent heat-related illnesses.Taking a cool shower or bath or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off. Additionally cool compresses may provide relief. Use your stove and oven less to maintain a cooler temperature in your home. If spending time outdoors, avoid physical exertion or exercising outdoors during the hottest parts of the day to avoid overheating. Get medical attention if you experience a rapid, strong pulse, feel delirious, or have a body temperature above 102 degrees Fahrenheit. Reduce exposure to the sun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when UV rays are strongest and keep physical activities to a minimum during that time. Use cool compresses or misting.When working outside, drink plenty of fluids even if you are not thirsty and take rest breaks in the Wearshade.awide-brimmed hat to cover the face and neck and wear loose-fitting clothing to keep cool and to protect your skin from the sun and mosquitoes. Wear sunglasses that provide 100 percent UVA and UVB protection. Chronic exposure to the sun can cause cataracts, which left untreated, can lead to blindness.Liberally apply sunscreen (at least SPF 15) 15 minutes before venturing outdoors and reapply at least every two hours – sunscreen may reduce the risk of skin cancer, the number one cancer affecting Californians. Sunscreen may also prevent premature aging.
providing consular assistance to Veloso since she was arrested in 2010. The embassy in Jakarta also regularly checks in on the detained OFW. Veloso was also given legal counsel via an Indonesia law firm to help with Indonesian laws and procedures. Plea for help Veloso’s parents earlier sent a letter to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. through the Department of Mirgant Workers, asking him to appeal to Indonesian President Joko Widodo for executive clemency for the detained OFW. “Ang anak po namin na si Mary Jane ay napilitang lumabas ng bansa upang maghanapbuhay na bitbit ang pangarap na makaahon kami sa kahirapan at mabigyan ng maayos na buhay at mapag-aral ang kanyang mga anak,” her parents said in the letter. (Our daughter was forced to leave the country to earn a living, bringing with her our dream of getting out of poverty as well as giving her children a good life and a good education.) Veloso was caught with heroin sewn into the liniing of her luggage in 2010 and was sentenced to death. She maintained her innocence, saying that she had no clue of the scheme and said it was her recruiters who duped her. In 2015, she narrowly escaped death row on humanitarian grounds after the Philippines
SACRAMENTO — A California lawmaker who rose to national prominence by muscling through some of the country’s strongest vaccination laws is leaving the state legislature later this year after a momentous tenure that made him a top target of the boisterous and burgeoning movement against vaccination mandates. State Sen. Richard Pan, a bespectacled and unassuming pediatrician who continued treating low-income children during his 12 years in the state Senate and Assembly, has been physically assaulted and verbally attacked for working to tighten childhood vaccine requirements — even as Time magazine hailed him as a “hero.” Threats against him intensified in 2019, becoming so violent that he needed a restraining order and personal security detail. “It got really vicious, and the tenor of these protests inside the Capitol building didn’t make you feel safe, yet he stood his ground,” said Karen Smith, director of the California Department of Public Health from 2015 to 2019. “Dr. Pan is unusual because he has the knowledge and belief in science, but also the conviction to act on it.”“That takes courage,” she added. “He’s had a tremendous impact in California, and there’s going to be a hole in the legislature when he’s gone.” The Democrat from Sacramento is leaving the Capitol because of legislative term limits that restrict state lawmakers to 12 years of service. He has overseen state budget decisions on health care and since 2018 has chaired the Senate Health Committee, a powerful position that has allowed him to shape health care coverage for millions of Californians. Pan, 56, helped lead the charge to restore vision, dental, and other benefits to California’s Medicaid program, called Medi-Cal, after they were slashed during the Great Recession. Since then, he has pushed to expand social services to some of the most vulnerable enrollees.Hewas instrumental in implementing the Affordable Care Act in California, and when Republicans attacked the law after Donald Trump was elected president, Pan spearheaded measures to cement its provisions in state law. After the Republicancontrolled Congress axed the federal coverage mandate in 2017, he led the effort to create the state penalty for not having health insurance. And he negotiated with the governor to expand health insurance subsidies for low- and middle-income Californians. In 2020, Pan authored legislation that will put California in the generic drug-making business, starting with insulin. “What drives me is my commitment to health and healthy communities,” Pan told KHN. But he hasn’t always succeeded. Some of his bills — including those to expand benefits and improve the quality of care for Medi-Cal enrollees — were stalled by the influential health insurance industry or opposition from his own party. And this year, Pan retreated on his contentious proposal to require schoolchildren to get vaccinated against covid-19.
Heat-related illnesses
Heat-related illness can be one or more of the following medical conditions including: heat rash, heat cramps, fainting, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke, which can lead to death. Warning signs of heat-related illness vary and may include heavy sweating, muscle cramps, weakness, headache, nausea or vomiting, paleness, tiredness, dizziness, or disorientation or confusion. Heat Cramps. Signs of heat cramps include muscle pains and spasms triggered by heavy activity. They usually involve the stomach muscles or the legs. If a person has heat cramps: Stop physical activity and move to a cool place. Drink water or a sports drink. Wait for cramps to go away before you do any more physical activity.Getmedical help right away if: cramps last longer than 1 hour; someone is on a low-sodium diet; or someone has heart problems. Heat Exhaustion. Warning signs include heavy sweating, cramps, headache, nausea or vomiting, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, and fainting. If a person has heat exhaustion:Movetoa cool place. Rest, lying down. Loosen clothes. Put cool, wet cloths on body (head, neck, armpits, and groin) or take a cool shower or bath. Sip cool, nonalcoholic beverages water. Get medical help right away if someone is throwing up; symptoms get worse; or symptoms last longer than 1 hour. Heat Stroke. Heat stroke is a medical emergency. Warning signs of heat stroke include red, hot, dry skin; very high body temperature; dizziness; nausea; confusion, strange behavior, or unconsciousness; rapid pulse or throbbing headache. If a person has heat stroke: Call 9-1-1 right away. Move the person to a cooler or shadyHelpplace.lower the person’s temperature with cool wet cloths NAVY PATROL BOATS CHRISTENING. Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro (3rd from left) poses for a group photo with ranking Navy officials during the christening of the patrol gunboats BRP Nestor Acero (PG-901) and the BRP Lolinato To-Ong (PG-902) at the Philippine Navy headquarters in Manila City on Tuesday, Sept. 6. The boats were the first two of the nine fast attack interdictor craft-missiles acquired by the country from Israel.
Pan has also faced criticism that he’s too closely aligned with the health care industry, including the California Medical Association, or CMA, a deep-pocketed group that lobbies in Sacramento on behalf of doctors. On contentious policy fights, such as those dealing with provider pay or physician authority, Pan has often sided with his fellow doctors. For instance, he rallied with the doctor association against a long-sought attempt to give nurse practitioners the ability to practice without physician supervision — a bill that was one of the association’s top legislative targets but one that ultimately passed despite its vehement opposition. And two key bills that sought to rein in health care costs died in his committee after clearing the state Assembly — one in 2019 to limit surprise medical bills for emergency room visits and another this year to give the state attorney general authority over some hospital and health system“He’smergers.inseparable from the doctors’ lobby, and obviously he carries water for the CMA,” said Jamie Court, president of the advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, arguing that Pan has
PAGE 8 PAGE 7
(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 7-9, 2022 3Dateline USa by AngelA HArt Kaiser Health News
Excessive heat warning extended in...
‘He stood his ground’: California state senator will leave office as champion of tough vaccine laws
SEPTEMBER 7-9, 2022 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-97974
After this period, DOH records no longer contained pediatric cases of COVID-19 but its vaccination accomplishments. Vax counseling To encourage more parents to have their children vaccinated against COVID-19, the DOH on Monday said it would adopt “vaccination counseling” in schools.“We are always in close coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd), and included in our strategies is encouraging parents to have their kids vaccinated, as well as teachers who remain unvaccinated,” said DOH officerin-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire at a press conference. She said that these counseling sessions can be conducted one on one, or local officials can take part in convincing parents so their children can get vaccinated. As to the resumption of faceto-face classes, Vergeire said that they’ve observed that situation in schools is “so far, so good” and that health protocols are being followed. She added that there are very minimal cases of children getting sick since inperson classes started. Earlier, the DOH said vaccination of students against COVID-19 will not take place inside classrooms and can be held anywhere in the school’s premises, with mobile vaccination also an option. “Vaccination will continue. The DOH together with DepEd is just clarifying that classrooms will only be used by the students for their classes,” Vergeire said. g DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire Philstar.com file photo
(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 7-9, 2022 5 Dateline PhiliPPines
CONTRAST. It is a smooth and faster ride for cyclists on their exclusive lane while fellow commuters jostle for space in public utility vehicles along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City on Tuesday, Sept. 6. As more people head to work and school, getting a ride is becoming more challenging, especially during rush hours.
PNA photo by Ben Briones
PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, September 6 thanked Filipinos in Singapore for their overwhelming support during the last May 9 national elections. Marcos won the vote of Filipino workers in Singapore with over 36,000 votes or three times more than his closest rival, former Vice President Leni Robredo.Speaking to about 1,500 Filipinos at the Ho Bee Auditorium of the National University of Singapore, Marcos said Filipinos in Singapore make the second highest voter turnout for overseas automated voting in the Asia Pacific and the third highest in the world. “Yung performance ng eleksyon ang pinakamataas na nakita ng embassy na recorded (Your performance during elections is the highest recorded by the embassy) since overseas voting began in 2004. Muli, maraming salamat po (Again, thank you very much),” he said in his speech. He also joked about “campaigning” before Filipinos in Singapore now since he did not have the chance to do so during the campaign period. “Kahit na gusto namin kayong puntahan ay hindi pa kami pinapayagan. Pero ngayon, ito na ang ating pagkakataon. Kaya nga sabi ko dito sa halalan na ito, nabaliktad ang proseso. Nauna ang boto sa kampanya, nahuli yung kampanya. Pero since kampanya ito wag nyong kalimutan iboto ninyo Bongbong at Sara, ha (Even if we wanted to visit you, we were not allowed. But now is our chance. That’s why I said that this election process was inverted. Votes came first before the campaign, the campaign came after. But since this is my chance to campaign, don’t forget to vote for Bongbong and Sara),” he said. Ambassadors of the Philippines Meanwhile, Marcos praised Filipinos for making a good impression on Singaporeans due to their skills and hard work.“Kayo lahat ay ambassador ng Pilipinas at talaga sa pagka ambassador ninyo ng Pilipinas ay ginagawa ninyo at binibigyan ninyo ng dangal ang Pilipinas (You are all ambassadors of the Philippines and by being ambassadors of the Philippines you give the country honor),” he said.He promised to prioritize the welfare and protection of Filipinos in Singapore and their families through the grant of assistance, scholarships, and healthcare by its embassy there and concerned government agencies such as the Department of Migrant Workers. Marcos recognized how difficult it must have been for Filipinos to be away from their families, lauding them for keeping a positive attitude despite“Beinghardships.inanother country far away from your loved ones is not easy pero matibay ang Pilipino (but Filipinos are strong). You can withstand hardships by wearing the most beautiful of smiles,” he said. As part of his promise to give Filipinos a better life, he also vowed to provide more opportunities in their home country.“Hanggang dumating ang araw na kumpleto na ang trabaho sa Pilipinas ay meron pa tayong pagkakataon na ipakita ang galing, husay, sipag at bait ng ating mga overseas workers (Until the time comes that we have enough jobs in the Philippines, we still have a chance to show the talent, skill, hard work and kindness of our overseas workers),” he added. There are an estimated 200,000 Filipinos living and working in Singapore. Of this figure, 58 percent of whom are registered as professionals and skilled workers, while 42 percent are employed as household service workers.In2021, Singapore was the second largest source of overseas Filipino remittances worldwide amounting to USD2.20 billion. (PNA) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets with Filipinos in Singapore. Inquirer.net photo by Gabriel Pabico Lalu MANILA — Of the nearly 50,000 Filipino children who contracted COVID-19, there were 1,342 fatalities, the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) reported on Monday, September 5. According to CWC Policy, Planning and Research Division head Normina Mojica, 48,411 children aged 19 and below tested positive for COVID-19 as of February 2021. Of these pediatric cases, 1,342 died. She added that out of the 48,411 pediatric COVID cases, about 40.2 percent are aged 15-20 years old, 23.8 percent belonged to the 10-14 years old, 17.4 percent are from 5 to 9 years old and 18.5 percent are from 4 years old and below. The official also noted that 31.4 percent, or one in three minors who contracted COVID-19, was living below the poverty line. “Filipino children are vulnerable to issues such as mortality, health, education, violence and abuse, forced labor,” Mojica said during the organizational meeting of the House committee on the welfare of Shechildren.noted that “under a host of environmental issues bigger than they are, children are adversely affected by poverty in many ways.” The official cited data from the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines, which were based on the records of the Department of Health (DOH).
by Sheila CriSoStomo Philstar.com
Nearly 50,000 Pinoy kids caught COVID-19; 1,342 died Marcos thanks Pinoys in Singapore for support in polls
Rappler The Securities and Exchange Commission in fact ruled in the Rappler case that the ban on foreign ownership and control is absolute, that not a single peso nor the slightest control in a media firm can be made by a foreign entity. The SEC even emphasized that Presidential Decree 1018 had also declared that "the ownership and management of mass media be limited to citizens of the Philippines or to corporations wholly owned and managed by suchTV5citizens.andits sister media firms are 100 percent-owned by a firm called MediaQuest which was funded with P14.5 billion in 2012 by PLDT Inc.'s pension fund called Beneficial Trust Fund (BTF). The fund is controlled by a five-man board of trustees, three of which are PLDT executives, and all five appointed by its board of directors. Out of PLDT's 13-man board, nine are designated by the foreign First Pacific Co. and NTT Docomo. Control by these two foreign firms is therefore transmitted first through the Beneficial Trust Fund to MediaQuest and then to the media firms, a clear violation of the Constitution if the corporate veil is pierced. For instance, Ray Espinosa, chairman of Philippine Star, is certainly Filipino. But he doesn't represent himself since he has only token shares in Philstar, as required for him to be on the board. He is in Philippine Star's board because he ultimately represents First Pacific, where he is an associate director. Salim First Pacific is tightly controlled by the Indonesian tycoon Anthoni Salim, who owns 45 percent of its shares, with the rest widely distributed in the Hong Kong stock market. Manuel V. Pangilinan is Salim's prime executive, whose PR though has very successfully portrayed him as the First Pacific's Philippine conglomerate's main stockholder, with media even calling it the MVP Group. Pangilinan actually owns only 1.6 percent of the holding firm, and roughly the same tiny percentages in its companies. Pangilinan has a mere 0.13 percent shares of PLDT. BTF's funds, however, were not enough to fund the huge requirements of Salim's media enterprises, since its capital in MediaQuest had eaten up 80 percent of its MediaQuest'sassets. media investments in fact hasn't been generating profits in the tight, competitive media market, so PLDT had to report huge actuarial losses on these: P6.8 billion, P11 billion and P5.1 billion for 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively. As a result, the value of the pension plan's assets — which determines its capability to meet pension payments — was drastically reduced to P6 billion, or onefourth of its P24 billion value in 2011. Salim could no longer raise funds from his employees' BTF to fund his media empire.* MediaQuest's rapid expansion as a media conglomerate was due to PLDT's massive infusion of capital, disguised as Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDRs). That is, PLDT gave MediaQuest additional capital, a violation of the constitutional ban as PLDT is 36-percent owned by foreigners. These were disguised though as PDRs issued by MediaQuest. A PDR represents the holder's right to the dividend income of a share in a company but without the formal ownership of it. Thus, a foreigner owning a PDR in a media firm isn't — technically at least — violating the constitutional ban on foreign participation in a media firm. However, the SEC decision on the Rappler case declared: "The Commission's definition of 'control' is neither limited to stock ownership nor to management in the board, but rather embraces a broad range of schemes that grant influence over corporate policy." Indeed, except for its chairman (currently Ray Espinosa, a First Pacific executive), the BTF's board members are obscure PLDT executives obviously put there to comply with the legal requirements for a pension fund. From 2012 to September 2013, PLDT subsidiary ePLDT invested P9.6 billion in MediaQuest's PDRs, which was then used to fund Cignal TV, the direct-tohome satellite television service. The massive infusion of funds explains why Cignal TV has in just a few years become the largest in the industry. In March 2013 and then March 2014, ePLDT bought another P2.45 billion MediaQuest PDRs, in order to fund its subsidiary Hastings Holdings, the holding company for First Pacific's newspaper investments in the country. This was reportedly used to partly pay the P4 billion ManilaTimes.net photo
Articles published in this paper do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Letters to the Editor are welcome.
SEPTEMBER 7-9, 2022 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-97976 RIGOBERTO TIGLAO Commentary
PAGE 7
OFEATURES PINION
FOR the third year in a row, the government has proposed a budget cut for the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), the nation's second largest public hospital, in spite of the persistent COVID-19 pandemic and other public health threats. This is frankly unconscionable, and we join those in Congress and the dedicated but hard-pressed workers of PGH itself who are calling for a budget increase, rather than more cuts. The budget for PGH in the 2023 national budget proposal delivered to Congress by Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman is P5.9 billion (not P5.4 billion as initially reported), which is a reduction of P400 million from this year's P6.3 billion. This year's budget in turn was a P600million reduction from the P6.9 billion allotted to PGH in 2020. We find it terribly ironic that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) would propose another budget reduction for PGH while at the same time, arguing to Congress that the 2023 budget proposal is in line with the Marcos administration's "8-point economic agenda." One of those points, according to the DBM's own statement to Congress, "prioritizes protection of individuals, households and communities from the persisting effects of the pandemic, as well as future unprecedented catastrophes through the strengthening of social services and health care, as well as the safe resumption of face-to-face education."InDBM's defense, however, it should not bear all the blame for a lack of awareness and compassion for the needs of PGH to deliver badly needed health care services to poor Filipinos in Metro Manila and beyond. A substantial part of the disconnection from reality can be attributed to the administration of PGH itself. In a recent statement in response to a call from the All UP Workers Union-Manila/ PGH to double the hospital's budget to P10 billion, PGH spokesman Dr. Jonas del Rosario informed the media that PGH Director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi also agreed that the proposed allocation is "more than enough" to fund the hospital's programs. Del Rosario pointed out that PGH had actually asked for P6.1 billion in the 2023 budget, but "we were hesitant to ask for more" because "we have not really spent some of the budget that was given to us last year." We have to ask, given the chronic understaffing and under-equipping of PGH to serve all the patients who need it, what exactly is its administration doing with the funds it is given? As our columnist Marlen Ronquillo recently pointed out, citing information shared by PGH staffers, the hospital cannot afford to hire more nurses, or regularize its roughly 300 contractual workers — something that is required by law. Training more doctors, a key part of PGH's mandate, is at present completely out of the question due to its financial constraints. And while the staff of PGH does heroic work day in and day out to provide medical services despite the lack of resources, obviously the number of people they can help and the quality of care for those who they can serve have been severely degraded. Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez expressed displeasure with the PGH's reduced Editorial budget proposal in a hearing last week, which gives us hope that the responsible officials — either in the DBM, or in Congress, which exercises the power of the purse for the government — will come to their senses. "We should be increasing the budgetary allocations of state universities and colleges, which are the poor student's schools of choice, and government hospitals, which are the pauper's go-to health facilities, instead of reducing their funds," Rodriguez said, also referring to the reduced budget for PGH's mother institution, the University of the Philippines. The legislature has some power to correct the budget, but it would be better if the DBM follows Rodriguez's recommendation, and submits an erratum to that effect to Congress. After all, it would be in keeping with President Marcos' expressed ambition to expand and improve public health services in the country; if cuts need to be made to compensate, there are surely many far less critical areas of the budget where the money could be found. (ManilaTimes.net)
US HEADQUARTERS: 1210 S. Brand Blvd Glendale, CA 91204 Tels: (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 Fax: (818) 502-0858 • (213) 481-0854 e-mail:http://www.asianjournal.cominfo@asianjournalinc.com
The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.
Client agrees and covenants to indemnify AJPI and its officers against any and all loss, liability, damage, expenses, cost, charges, claims, actions, causes of action, recoveries, judgments, penalties, including outside attorneys’ fees (individually and collectively “Claims”) which AJPI may suffer by reason of (1) Client’s breach of any of the representations, warranties and agreements herein or (2) any Claims by any third party relating in any way to Client’s Material. AJPI will not be liable for failure to publish any Client’s Material as requested or for more than one incorrect insertion of a Client’s Material. In the event of an error, or omission in printing or publication of a Client’s Material, AJPI shall be limited to an adjustment for the space occupied by the error, with maximum liability being cancellation of the cost of the first incorrect advertisement or republication of the correct advertisement.
Asian Journal Publications, Inc. (“AJPI”) reserves the right to refuse to publish, in its sole and absolute discretion, any advertising and advertorial material submitted for publication by client. (“Client’s Material”) Submission of an advertisement or advertorial to an AJPI sales representative does not constitute a commitment by AJPI to publish a Client’s Material.
Letters must contain complete name and return address. The materials, however, are subject to editing and revisions. Contributions and advertising deadlines are every Mondays and Thursdays. For advertising rates and other informations, please call the L.A. office at (213) 250-9797 or send us an email at info@asianjournalinc.com
BABE ROMUALDEZ
PGH needs a budget increase, not further cuts
Why TV5 threw out ABS-CBN
DING CARREON Videographer MOMAR G. VISAYA Executive Editor
Con rmation hearings are an important part of our democratic system
Publication of a Client’s Material does not constitute an agreement to continue publication.
ONE of the critical aspects of a democracy like ours is the existence of checks and balances to ensure that none of the three branches of government – the Executive, the Legislative and the Judicial – would be able to abuse its jurisdiction or powers. A very important constitutional body that can perform such checks and balances is the Commission on Appointments, which has the power to approve or reject the appointees or nominees of the president for certain positions in government. Composed of 25 members coming from the Senate and the House of Representatives, the CA conducts confirmation hearings to help determine whether a nominee or appointee is suitable for the position or has the capability to undertake the responsibilities required of him or her. In past confirmation hearings, especially during president Rodrigo Duterte’s term, a couple of appointees for Cabinet secretary were rejected outright by the CA. The process is similar to what they have here in the United States where every appointee or nominee for Cabinet-level positions and even the Supreme Court is grilled by the U.S. Senate, which can confirm or reject such nominees or appointees. This is known as the “Appointments Clause” that serves as an example of the underlying principle of checks and balances in the U.S. Constitution. Last Wednesday, August 31, I went through the confirmation process conducted by the CA’s Committee on Foreign Affairs chaired by Senator Jinggoy Estrada. I thank Senate President Migz Zubiri, who is also the chairman of the CA, for his kind consideration and concern that it was early morning in Washington, D.C. during my confirmation hearing, which I attended virtually. For something as important as that – no problem at all. Apps like Zoom have become necessary for cases like mine where I am already in my host country, saving the government expenses for me having to travel to the Philippines and be physically present. I was very pleased that the questions asked by the members coming from the majority and the minority both from the Senate and the House of Representatives –all sides of the political fence, so to speak – were very precise and incisive.These confirmation hearings are actually good for those of us who have to go through the process because we will have an idea about the kind of issues that our legislators are concerned with based on the questions they ask. I shared that my marching orders from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is to increase economic activities between the Philippines and the U.S. The pandemic has really upended the global economy and he believes that the U.S. can play a major role in our efforts to economically recover from the impact of the pandemic by having more investments come ourCertainly,way. we need to know what are foremost in the minds of our legislators because we have to work with them in terms of how we can proceed with our relationship with major countries such as the UnitedQuestionsStates. regarding our relationship with China and the United States can become a contentious issue, with concerns that the tension between these two countries could escalate and result in an outbreak of hostilities. As I told the CA, I am convinced that the United States does not want to have that conflict, and neither does the Philippines and many other countries, including our ASEAN neighbors. We are working with our ASEAN colleagues here in Washington, D.C. to pressure, to a certain extent, these two major powers to ease up the tension and prevent a potentialClearly,conflict.ourrelationship with these two countries is very important, but at the end of the day, we must listen to the sentiments of the Filipino people. We have had a relationship with the United States for over 75 years, and more than 70 years with the Mutual Defense Treaty in place. Our people-topeople ties have been in existence for over a hundred years, and close to 90 percent of Filipinos consider the U.S. as the most trusted nation and still our number one ally. While we want to reach out to China, engage in economic activities and have a good relationship with them, it is evident that a big majority of Filipinos are angry with what our giant neighbor in Asia is doing, particularly in the West Philippine Sea. It is not surprising therefore that most Filipinos want to remain within the realm of our friendship with the United States. It is important for us to always look at everything based on what is best for our country. Our national interest comes first, and implicit in that is the need to feel the pulse of the people and listen to their sentiments, which President Marcos himself has emphasized on many occasions.
Under no circumstances shall Asian Publications, Inc. be liable for consequential damages of any kind.
ADVERTISING AND ADVERTORIAL POLICIES
With offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York/New Jersey Las Vegas, San Diego, Philippines
ROGER LAGMAY ORIEL Publisher & Chairman of the Board CORA MACABAGDAL-ORIEL President ANDY TECSON Photographer IVY MANALANG Vice President - Marketing Los Angeles Asian Journal
ASIAN JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS, INC. publishes the Los Angeles Asian Journal, published twice a week; the Orange County and Inland Empire Asian Journal, Northern California Asian Journal, Las Vegas Asian Journal and the New York / New Jersey Asian Journal which are published once a week and distributed to Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange Counties, Northern California, Las Vegas and New York and New Jersey respectively.
As I said during the hearing, you can’t have your cake and eat it, too, when it comes to relationships. There is no such thing as a free lunch. Sometimes, we have to make a choice – one that is best for our nation, which is paramount. For me, that is the most important thing on my mind, and which is what I do here in Washington, D.C. Shortly after my confirmation hearing at the CA, I had a meeting with Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink. What he shared on Twitter summed up the attitude that the U.S. has towards the Philippines today –that our meeting reminded him of “just how fortunate the United States is to have friends, allies and partners like the Philippines.” (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.
EyeBabe’sView
AJPI has the option to correctly classify any Client’s Material and to delete objectionable words or phrases. Client represents and warrants that a Client’s Material does not and will not contain any language or material which is libelous, slanderous or defamatory or invades any rights of privacy or publicity; does not and will not violate or infringe upon, or give rise to any adverse claim with respect to any common law or other right whatsoever (including, without limitation, any copyright, trademark, service mark or contract right) of any person or entity, or violate any other applicable law; and is not the subject of any litigation or claim that might give rise to any litigation.
* * * Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com BROADCAST giant TV5 abruptly terminated its talks for a partnership with the Lopez-owned ABS-CBN after its executives learned that the congressional committee scrutinizing the proposal would be zeroing in on exposing the multi-media conglomerate's allegedly blatant violation of the constitutional ban on foreign investments in media. While previous administrations looked the other way when confronted with this colossal anomaly, officials of PLDT — which owns TV5 through its multi-media arm, MediaQuest Holdings — were reportedly wary that the congressional hearings would train a strong spotlight on it, drawing the attention the new President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s whose stand on it cannot as yet beIndeed,determined.it's a demonstration of a foreign conglomerate's vast control of a people's consciousness and of government regulatory bodies that TV5 as well as its sister companies in media — BusinessWorld, Philippine Star and partly, the Philippine Daily Inquirer — have been operating even if these are owned through corporate layers by PLDT Inc. This telecom giant is owned 25.6 percent by the Indonesian-controlled First Pacific Co. (according to its 2021 annual report) and 10.6 percent by the Japanese NTT Docomo (according to the PLDT's general information sheet submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission last month). First Pacific and NTT Docomo were recently able to legalize their investments in PLDT because of the passage of a law in March this year that in effect excludes telecoms from the list of industries in which the Constitution allows only 40 percent of capital to be owned by foreigners. This was done through the really preposterous maneuver of redefining telecoms not as "public utilities" — as the Constitution referred to restricted industries — but "publicHowever,services."the constitutional requirement for 100 percent Filipino ownership of mass media remains, and only through the tedious process of amending or totally rewriting the Constitution can the ban be lifted.
(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 7-9, 2022 7Dateline PhiliPPines
PAGE 6 PAGE 3 on head, neck, armpits and groin or a cool bath. Do not give the person anything to drink. Public Health offers the additional recommendations during high temperature days: Cars get very hot inside, even if the windows are ‘cracked’ or open. NEVER leave an infant, child, or pet in a car – it can take as little as 10 minutes for the temperature inside a car to rise to levels that can kill. Call 911 if you see a child or pet in a car alone.Check on family, friends and neighbors who are at risk for heatrelated illness, like those who are sick or have chronic conditions, older adults, pregnant women, children, those who live alone, pets, and outdoor workers and athletes. Call 911 right away if you see these symptoms: high body temperature (103°F or higher), vomiting, dizziness, confusion, and hot, red, dry, or damp skin. Heat stroke is a medical emergency. If you are wearing a mask, avoid strenuous workouts wearing face coverings or masks not intended for athletic purposes.Visityour power company’s website or contact them by phone to determine if you are scheduled for a rolling power outage. Stay informed Check for Updates: Check your local news for weather forecasts, extreme heat alerts, and safety tips, and to learn about any cooling centers in your area. County and City partners have planned ways to safely operate cooling centers during times of high heat. Residents who do not have access to air conditioning are encouraged to take advantage of these free cooling centers. To find a location near you, visit https://ready.lacounty.
gov/heat/ or call 211. The health and safety of staff and visitors at cooling centers is priority. Public Health notes the following for cooling centers: Staff and visitors are instructed to stay home if they do not feel well. Any person reporting or exhibiting signs of illness is advised to seek appropriate medical care. Staff and visitors are required to wear a face covering inside cooling centers, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status. Los Angeles County residents and business owners, including people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs can call 2-1-1 for emergency preparedness information and other referral services. The toll-free 2-1-1 number is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 211 LA County services can also be accessed by visiting 211la.org. g
u PAGE 8
Why TV5 threw out... that the Belmonte family asked for its Philippine Star shares in 2012.PLDT took another tack in funding its TV5 network, especially since the broadcast company was in dire need of more money since it hadn't been able to get a significant share of the advertising market from the two major networks, ABS-CBN andPLDTGMA7.and its subsidiary, Smart Communications, gave advanced payments for its advertising placements, which it committed to total P868 million in 2013 and a further P758 million in 2014. It is not clear how much the total placements amounted to although these could have reached P1 billion annually from 2010 to 2014 — a credible figure given PLDT and Smart's P8 billion annual advertising budget. PLDT actually entered into a contract with TV5 for these advertising placements starting in 2010 for a five-year term. The contract has been renewed for another five years, to continue up to However,2021. by having the BTF as an investor in the media empire, Salim isn't risking his own nor his conglomerate's funds in companies in the media sector, but the employees' pension money. More importantly, by having BTF as the stockholder in his media firms, Salim thinks he is skirting the constitutional ban on foreign investments in local media enterprises, since BTF is technically a Filipino entity as its beneficiaries are Filipinos who constitute the overwhelming majority of PLDT's staff. The incontrovertible reality though is that the controlling entity of these media conglomerates is a foreigner, the Indonesian Salim, which the Constitution bans. He can rely on the executives he appoints in PLDT, in BTF, and in his main media holding firm MediaQuest to follow his orders. Salim's media enterprises, combined with his telecom industries, make up a powerful political and opinion-forming force, which is the reason the framers of our Constitution totally banned foreigners from these sectors. A foreigner in fact now has in place a perfect machine for controlling a population's views and way of thinking. He has a content generator made up of his news enterprises in print, broadcast and the Internet. In addition, he has a content disseminator consisting of his cellphone firm, Smart Communications, the biggest in the country, and his direct-tohome satellite television service Cignal TV and his cable news network.Never in our post-war history has there been a foreigner with such a media empire, and in all media platforms. This is a fact largely hidden by the Salim group's tremendous control of media — including journalists working in his competitors' firms. It would have been exposed if Congress had continued its investigation of the deal being worked out by TV5 and ABSCBN.*This as well as First Pacific's growth in the Philippines is described in detail, with sources provided in my 2016 book Colossal Deception: How Foreigners Control Our Telecoms Sector, available for online at rigobertotiglao.com/shop and at amazon.com. Neither First Pacific nor PLDT has contested anything written in the book. A new edition is scheduled for publication at the end of this year. (ManilaTimes.net) * * * 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.
TANGLED. A telecommunications worker checks the wires on a concrete post along Pedro Gil Street in Manila on Tuesday, Sept. 6. The so-called “spaghetti wires” are a mix of electrical and telecommunication wires that are abandoned, damaged, and in use. PNA photo Alfred Frias
* * * Facebook: Rigoberto Tiglao Twitter: shopBookArchives:@bobitiglaowww.rigobertotiglao.comorders:www.rigobertotiglao.com/
Optional use of face mask not yet possible in Metro Manila - expert
Excessive heat warning extended in...
MANILA — Given the continued high risk of severe COVID-19 and high death rate for the vulnerable population, an infectious disease expert has advised against making the wearing of face masks in Metro Manila voluntary at this time.Dr. Rontgene Solante, also a member of the Department of Health’s technical advisory group, was responding to a query about whether Metro Manila can already adopt Cebu City’s policy on optional face mask use except in medical facilities. Several parameters, including vaccination rates and the number of COVID-19 infections, must be taken into account, he said, before the government can relax its face mask policy. “Well, pwede natin gayahin, but not at this point [during] pandemic. Mayroon tayong mga metrics na dapat in place kagaya ng number of cases, including the number of positivity rate, more importantly, ‘yung booster vaccination,” he said in a public briefing. (Well, we can do it too, but not when a pandemic is happening. The number of cases, the percentage of positive, and most crucially, the success of the booster immunization are all criteria that need to be established.) Solante is concerned that if people aren’t required to wear face masks in public, they won’t feel the same urgency to get vaccinated or revaccinated against COVID-19. “Sa ngayon, in this point, if we are allowing everybody na magluwag na sa pagsuot ng face mask, makikita talaga natin ‘yan na sa tingin nila na mas lalo silang maging kampante na hindi na sila magpa-booster kasi parang normal na pala tayo, wala nang pandemic,” he added. (If we relax the rules on wearing face masks now, people will become so used to it that they won’t remember to get booster shots when the time comes (since they’ll assume we’ve returned to normal and the epidemic is finished).) In addition, Solante mentioned the current rate of COVID-19 infections in hospitals, highlighting the prevalence of these illnesses among the most susceptible patients. “Hindi pwedeng gano’n kasi we experience still more cases na nakita natin sa mga hospital ngayon, ‘yung vulnerable population. Medyo mababa na ang mga kaso but there is still this vulnerable population, high risk of severe COVID, and in fact, mataas ang mortality sa mga population na ito,” the infectious disease expert noted. (The number of cases continues to outpace what medical facilities can handle, making this impossible for everyone save the most severely afflicted. There is still a susceptible population at high risk of severe COVID-19 infection and significant mortality rates, notwithstanding the low number of reported cases.) Cebu City implemented the outdoor non-obligatory use of face masks, which started on September 1. For the time being, the proposal has been put on hold after Mayor Michael Rama and Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos discussed it and found that miscommunications occurred on bothAbalossides.committed to suggest the city as “pilot implementer” of the said policy and bring the concern to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases for deliberation.OnMonday, September 5, Rama issued Executive Order No. 6, amending the measure by setting a specific time frame of September 1 to December 31, 2022, that will serve as the “trial and observation period.” However, the Department of Health said that it is unaware of the city’s “trial period.” Solante, on the other hand, reminded local leaders of the procedures to be taken if they also wanted to adopt the same measure.
SEPTEMBER 7-9, 2022 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-97978 Dateline PhiliPPines by Michael Punongbayan Philstar.com by Zacarian Sarao Inquirer.net SERVICES EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENTEMPLOYMENT ‘He stood his ground’: California state senator...PH, US armies brace for bigger joint defense drills
stood in the way of progressive health care bills such as a proposal to create a government-run, single-payer health care system. Pan rejected claims that he’s too close to the industry. “I’m proud to be a member of the CMA, but I don’t just blindly follow CMA,” he said. When it came to the nurse practitioner legislation, he said, his concerns “came from my knowledge about professional medical education and how that influences patient outcomes.”
Pan isn’t running for anything this year but isn’t ruling out the possibility of doing so in the future. For now, he said, he’s focusing on his work in Sacramento until his term ends Nov. 30. After that, he plans to practice medicine full time.Pan said the public hasn’t heard the last of him when it comes to improving Medi-Cal. The state must do more to ensure highquality care and equitable access for the 14.5 million Californians enrolled in the low-income health program, he said. Pan said he entered politics to improve community health. He left his job as a faculty member and head of the pediatric residency program at the University of California-Davis to run for state Assembly in 2010. He served two terms before being elected to the state Senate in 2014. Early on, he found himself at the forefront of California’s wars over vaccination mandates. In 2012, he authored a law making it more difficult for parents to obtain personal belief exemptions for vaccines that are required for children entering public and private schools and that prevent communicable diseases such as measles and polio. In 2015, he succeeded in banning personal belief exemptions for schoolchildren altogether. In 2019, when lawmakers were voting on Pan’s bill that cracked down on bogus medical exemptions for required school immunizations, a protester hurled menstrual blood at them on the Senate floor. Pan also clashed with Gov. Gavin Newsom, who watered down the bill by demanding amendments that allowed doctors to retain significant authority over the exemptions. Newsom ultimately signed the measure. “I didn’t run for the legislature because I was planning to do vaccine legislation, but I care about children and that’s what I’ve devoted my life to,” said Pan, who got his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s degree in public health from Harvard University. “We had a whooping cough outbreak, and 10 infants died. And I was very concerned about the fact that we could prevent these diseases, yet we were failing.” This year, Pan introduced legislation to require covid vaccinations for school-age kids but pulled it in April, saying it would be difficult for California officials to enforce. At the time, the covid vaccination rate for schoolchildren “was too low — around 30%,” Pan said. He concluded the state should redouble its efforts to increase vaccination rates before instituting a mandate.Panalso noted that covid-19 was mutating fast and that emerging research indicated that the vaccines weren’t very good at combating new variants.
“The vaccine is very effective protecting against death, but its ability to slow down transmission seemed to decrease,” Pan said. “Unfortunately, it has also been so politicized, so we have more work to Asdo.”chair of California’s Asian & Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus, Pan in 2021 helped secure a $157 million investment to combat violence and hate crimes against Asian Americans and was a powerful force advocating for more money for the state’s beleaguered public health system — a fight Democrats finally won last year when Newsom approved $300 million in ongoing funding. State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) said that Pan inspired his interest in introducing tough vaccination and public health bills and that he regularly asks Pan’s advice before unveiling legislative proposals. “I’d randomly call him all the time,” Wiener said. “There’s really no one in the Senate with the experience and knowledge he has.”Brainy and studious, Pan regularly delves deep into scientific evidence during legislative floor debates. Interviews with reporters often result in lengthy discourses about the history of the U.S. health care system — like the time a question about hospital financing led to a lesson in how hospitals are both profit-earning enterprises and institutions that provide charity“Howcare.serious you are about every undertaking — it really can be a joy and an irritation,” said Senate leader Toni Atkins, who affectionately thanked Pan for his work on the floor of the Senate in mid-August. “You took a lot of flak from folks in a lot of ways, and through it all, your integrity, your sense of humor, and your very good nature has withstood it all.” This story was produced by KHN, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.
MANILA — “To build the Filipino nation, we need a threeway trusting relationship among the government, private sector, and civil society,” said Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit, president of the Stratbase ADR Institute in a statement issued on Monday, September 5. The administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should aim for this to enable the nation to transition from a consumption-led economy to an investment-driven one, Manhit said. That would create more jobs, thus closing the gap between rich and poor, and improve the standard of living for Filipinos, he added.Non-resident Stratbased fellow Edwin Santiago, an associate professor at De La Salle University, also suggested watching the performance of the Philippine economy through various global indices — the World Governance Index, Ease of Doing Business, Global Competitiveness Index, Index of Economic Freedom, Rule of Law Index, Corruption Perceptions Index, and the Open BudgetSantiagoIndex. said that the government should pursue policies that would reflect improvements in these indices. “In the final analysis, what is important is that the evaluation of any administration should be done objectively and that it comes with a forward-looking perspective,” SantiagoAnothersaid.Stratbased fellow, Dr. Rizal Buendia, stressed the importance of holistic governance. “Public management is built largely around the notion of performance and improving the effectiveness of public institutions,” he said. He stressed the importance of improving information systems that would integrate the front-end government parts — or those that deal with and provide services to citizens.“Iftransformation is to be realized, government people have to learn to participate actively in the process of integration, give up some political or organizational interests, and mobilize resources to appropriate agencies and offices.” Political science professor Francisco Magno, for his part, emphasized that politics should be used as an instrument for achieving development and sustainability in society. He thus advised the Marcos administration to focus on public service, meeting the needs of the people.“Anticipatory governance – using the future to create multi-lateral learning and foster intelligent and inspired organizations – should provide the path for Marcos Jr. to veer away from the Marcos Sr. legacy and to move toward the future,” he said. Manhit then urged the private sector, civil society, and concerned citizens to hold leaders responsible for the reform initiatives they had promised to pursue, adding that this is how we should evaluate Marcos’ leadership. “We must continue engaging with the government, partnering when and where possible for various efforts,” Mahit said. “All governments must be evaluated objectively across widely accepted governance standards. This is how we help our country become better,” he added. g
Force has completed the monthlong Exercise Carabaroo held in Darwin, Australia. More than 150 troops from the Philippine Army’s 1st Brigade Combat Team, First Scout Ranger Regiment and Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) and their Australian counterparts trained alongside US Marine Corps at the Robertson Barracks and Mount Bundey Training Area in trilateral exercises that bolstered participating troops’ interoperability in a complex environment.Trinidad said Exercise Carabaroo is part of the Australian Army’s 1st Brigade’s Exercise Predator’s Run, a multinational training activity that simulates littoral combined arms maneuvers in a large-scale force-on-force environment.Itwasheld in parallel with Exercise Southern Tiger participated in by Australian and Malaysian troops and Exchange Program Kartikaburra participated in by Australian and Indonesian troops. g
MANILA — The Philippine and United States armies are now preparing for even bigger Salaknib joint military exercises on defense readiness and interoperability next year. Army spokesman Col. Xerxes Trinidad announced on Tuesday, September 6 that Philippine Army and U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) planners have started the weeklong planning conference for the 2023 iteration of the annual combined military exercise.Trinidad explained that Salak nib is geared toward strength ening interoperability of both armies in a spectrum of military operations.Healsonoted that the annual exercise also enhances the individual skills of troops and unit capabilities in a range of military operations in line with the command guidance of Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.
Optional use of face mask not yet possible...
PAGE 7 PAGE 3
“Unang-una, there should be close coordination with the Department of Health, especially the national government in terms of implementing such policy that really are very drastic in terms of involving protection of people like face masks. Pangalawa, they should also consult with their own experts, local experts, and look at the benefit, the risks, kung meron mang ganitong klase ng mga polisiya, not because of ang sasabihin lang because we want the economy to recover,” Solante stressed. (First of all, there should be close coordination with the Department of Health, especially with the national government in implementing such policies that are very drastic in involving the protection of people like face masks. Another thing is that they should also consult with their experts, local experts, and look at the benefit, the risks, if there’s an existing policy like this, not because we just wanted the economy to recover.) To recover fully, the infectious disease specialist also stressed the importance of maintaining a healthy population through strict adherence to current health standards and regular booster immunizations. (Inquirer.net)
Governance based on trust needed for PH recovery – think tank
“Training has always been a vital tool for both the Philippine Army and the United States Army Pacific to enhance defense readiness and strengthen interoperability while simultaneously bolstering bilateral relationships,” Col. Emmanuel Cabasan, Philippine Army deputy assistant chief of staff for education and training, said in his welcome remarks during the opening of the planning sessions at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City. The Philippine Army and the USARPAC will conduct Salaknib 2023 in two phases in various sites in Central and Northern Luzon, according to Trinidad.Around 2,200 Filipino and American servicemen trained side by side in last year’s iteration of joint training events, which focused on capability development of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, the Philippine Army’s primary combined arms and rapid deployment unit. Meanwhile, Trinidad also announced that the Philippine Army and the Australian Defense
By Anne PAsAjol Inquirer.net Atasha Muhlach Photo from Instagram/@atashamuhlach_
The Asian
“So happy and grateful to be given the opportunity to take part representing the Philippines in le Bal des débutantes in Paris 2022 November, to raise funds for Necker enfants Malades hospital in association for the cardiology research for fetus to adult,” she said. Gonzalez, for her part, expressed gratitude to those who gave Atasha the opportunity to be part of the event, as per the actress-beauty queen’s Instagram page, also on Saturday, Sept 3. “It’s such an honor for Atasha to be part of such a philanthropic project like [le Bal] which aims to raise funds and helps support charities that uplift and help the youth and women,’” Gonzalez stated.Atasha currently resides in the United Kingdom where she pursues her studies, while her twin brother Andres is in Spain.
Continued on Page 10
Philippines, Nelson (as she fondly calls Ronelson), was one of my associate directors so I’ve seen his talent. He also worked in a premiere dance company in Taiwan and he came back around 2017. You know dancers go back and forth. If you ask what dancing means to me, I can say that it’s reinvigorating,” said Alice, who will turn 80 next month. With the support of Margie Moran Floirendo, Tats Manahan and concerned dance patrons, ARDP has been granted opportunities by the CCP to be part of its educational and production projects, including holding dance workshops wherein dancers earned by holding video live streamed lectures and workshops during the height of the pandemic lockdown.Rubylee Gomez, one of the dancers, shared that their online lectures also resulted National Artist for Dance Alice Reyes (who turns 80 next month): ‘If you ask what dancing means to me, I can say that it’s reinvigorating.’ Philstar.com photo
Sembrano then asked Janella to describe herself.“Strong. ‘Yun ‘yung lagi kong naririnig sa mga tao sa paligid ko. I always hear that I’m the bravest person that they know,” she replied.Apart from this revelation, Janella and Bernadette also talked about motherhood and the actress’ hit portrayal of Valentina/Regina in the nightly drama, “Darna.”
Wednesday SEPTEMBER
MDWKJournalMAGAZINE 7, 2022 des Debutantes, an annual event attended by prominent personalities from different countries. The said ball, which will be held in Paris, is both a fashion and charity ball where 20 young ladies are invited to be dressed by couture houses and introduced to the society, as per the event’s official website.Atasha announced her attendance at the ball while showing herself donning a green offshoulder cropped top paired with a green skirt for a shoot for Tatler Philippines, via her Instagram page on Saturday, Sept 3.
THANKS to a beautiful conversation with National Artist for Dance Alice Reyes. The purpose of forming a new dance company called Alice Reyes Dance Philippines (ARDP), comprised of ballet dancers, who all strive to share the gift of dance to audiences in different venues around the country, has become clearer. “It’s a very nice dance company,” said Alice of ARDP, which was formed in June, 2020. “We have young dancers and then, we have mature professionals. Maganda ang balance. I think the words that can best describe them are professional and passionate.” Although she has already hung up her dancing shoes, Alice never fails to keep an eye on the dancers who are all driven into creating jawdropping dance routines as well as adding flavor to classical dance pieces. Alice teaches every dance step to perfection with ARDP artistic director Ronelson Yadao. Thus, it’s not surprising to see them tirelessly rehearsing their dance routines for eight hours, from Tuesday to Saturday, inside Bulwagang Francisca Reyes-Aquino of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). Alice is all praises for Ronelson who, according to her, has tremendous vision and direction for ARDP. His years of experience in the art form can’t simply be ignored. “When I was still with Ballet
National Artist Alice Reyes still keeps an eye on dance talents
Janella was asked what was the most recent “battle” she fought for. “Being a single mom! Talagang ilalaban ko ‘yun. At the end of the day, alam kong kaya ko naman siya,” she replied. Janella gave birth to her son Jude on October 20, 2020. On January 5, 2021, she and her boyfriend, actor Markus Paterson, revealed they are indeed new parents on their YouTube channel. She clarified that she does not want to “sound bad” but explained that she has been managing on her own with the help of people around her. Pa’no ba? I don’t want it to sound bad kasi pero I can rely on myself, na hindi ko kailangang humingi ng tulong sa iba. I like being independent. Siguro kasi I saw my mom growing up kung papano siya. She was able to raise us on our own. So, siguro na-embody ko rin kung paano siya. I wanted to be independent as well,” she explained.
By Boy ABundA Philstar.com in having dance collaborations with different dancers from across the country. “You know, things seem to have a way of falling into place. Before Chris Millado retired (as artistic director of the CCP), I requested him to take time and watch the group kasi ang ganda-ganda ng bagong piyesa na ginawa namin as a result of a grant from NCCA (National Commission for Culture and the Arts). So, he went down here (rehearsal hall) at nung nakita n’ya, sabi n’ya, ‘Oh my God, I will offer this group in Zamboanga del Norte because they’re looking for a piece.’ They want to make Dapitan in Zamboanga del Norte a hub for heritage and culture. He told Lana Jalosjos, ‘You got to see this because when you see this, you’ll bring them to “LanaDapitan.’”cameand true enough, when she saw the group performing the Visayan Suite, we went to Dapitan and launched the company. I think this can very well explain why there is a need for another (dance) company.” Like a captain of a ship, Alice knows that ARDP must adjust to the everchanging waters, all the while maintaining open communication with her entire crew. From the very start, they are aware of the need to create programming that is young, edgy and hip to make the art form appealing to the young crowd.“We can invite them Janella Salvador Photo from Instagram/@superjanella “DARNA” star Janella Salvador said being a “single mom” was the latest of her life’s hardearned battles during her interview with “TV Patrol” news presenter Bernadette Sembrano on the latter’s Sembranovlog.was making a vlog for her YouTube channel that featured Janella as their newscast’s guest Star Patroller or news presenter for the show’s entertainment segment.
By KAthleen A. llemit Philstar.com
Janella says she’s a ‘single mom’
The actress is the son of actress Jenine Desiderio and singer, band vocalist Juan Miguel Salvador.
ATASHA Muhlach, daughter of celebrity couple Aga Muhlach and Charlene Gonzalez, was invited as Philippine representative at Le Bal Atasha chosen as Philippine representative to Paris debutante ball
Come win a share of $100,000 in cash & EasyPlay giveaways
Kathryn thanks fans on KathNiel’s 11th anniversary:
By Nathalie tomada Philstar.com By JaN milo Severo Philstar.com
Inigo hopes Hollywood role creates more opportunities for Pinoy actors Heart drops ‘Escudero,’ admits ‘personal struggles’ amid split rumors with Chiz
Inigo with Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon who plays his grandmother, the country music queen Dottie Roman, in the series. With co-stars Susan Sarandon, Emma Milani, Kevin Cahoon, Adam Croasdell and Callum Kerr in their filming location in Atlanta.
‘Still can’t believe how far we’ve come’
The Grand Opening was spearheaded by its owner Mr. Hieu Tran. Lion dance and fire cracker shows entertained the guests. The guests also enjoyed several giveaways from the company. Come and visit SF Supermarket at West Covina CA, now open to the public.
(By Anne Pasajol/Inquirer.net)
SF Supermarket, which is conveniently located at 3650 Nogales Street, West Covina, CA 91792, opened its doors for the first time on September 1, 2022. The public was invited to celebrate its Grand Opening.
na experience (ng isang) galing talaga sa BesidesPilipinas.”thecharacter being specifically Filipino, Inigo said it also hit close to home because of some parallelisms between his reel and real-life persona.Acebelongs to a Texasbased showbiz dynasty, the Romans, also touted as the “First Family of Country Music.” According to the synopsis, Ace’s grandparents are Dottie Roman and Albie Roman, played by Oscarwinning actress Susan Sarandon and real-life country music star Trace Adkins. Ace’s mom is Nicky Roman (Pushing Daisies star Anna Friel), who is determined to safeguard and carry on the family legacy while securing her own stardom. The official trailer teases about who will be the rightful heir to the family legacy, and Inigo’s role appears to be in line as well to inherit the throne. As everyone knows, Inigo is the son of one of the country’s biggest stars, Piolo Pascual. So, he knows the feeling of someone trying to find his own space in a world where a family member has dominated or continues to dominate.
The actor-singer with his onscreen family — Ava Grace and Anna Friel (right) as his mom Nicky Roman. Photos from Instagram/@ Actress Heart Evangelista Photo from Instagram/@ “I can very much relate to my character because of my experience, coming into the Hollywood scene, parang ganun din pinagdadaanan ni Ace. He wants to fit into his family na kumakanta. Mga artista ang mga family members niya. Because he’s adopted, his struggles (include) saan ba ako lulugar sa pamilyang ito ?” Inigo said. “He’s very nice, he’s the favorite apo of his lolo and lola niya. He also sings. But he’s also struggling with (his choices). Like, what will he choose? His heart or what his family says about the image of the family in the public eye?” For his portrayal, Inigo was given mentors on set: A dialect coach as he had to learn that southern drawl of an accent; an intimacy coach for his scenes with Ana Phoenix, who plays his girlfriend in the series; as well as stunt coach, especially for scenes where he had seizures. And he certainly felt like a Hollywood star with his personal trailer on set. He recalled that the moment he saw it, he Despitecried.being in Philippine showbiz since his teens, the 24-year-old admitted that being transported to the filming location in Atlanta and taking on his first-ever Hollywood project brought out a lot of “Thereself-doubt.weredays on the set (when I would ask myself) na tama ba ako yung pinili, kaya ko ba ‘to? Ano ba ang pwede ko pang ibigay? But during the last day on set, after my last shot, they said, congratulations Inigo, you are wrapped for Season 1. I was like, nagawa ko yun? Natapos ko yun? Sobrang natuwa ako kasi yung takot na andun sa simula, I was able to overcome it. And I didn’t notice na nagawa ko na pala, natapos ko. I would say, I owned it,” saidWhatInigo.also gave him confidence was the support of his father, Piolo, from Day 1.
SF Covina,Supermarket WestCA–nowopen!
10 The Asian Journal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 7, 2022 community
National Artist... From Page 9
Heart said that she’s searching for happiness right now. “I’m not going to deny, I’ve been going through some personal struggles like I feel a lot of pressure in my life, and basically now, I’m really in a search of just being happy,” she said. “It’s about the simplest things in life that are very important and that really makes a person happy — that’s where I’m at now. I feel like at the end of the day, it’s really your inner strength and you being independent about what you want to do in life and not rely on anyone that matters,” she Speculationsadded. about their rumored break up began when social media users noticed that Heart changed her name on Instagram, removing Escudero as her surname.
The Star and other media during an intimate roundtable interview on Friday before flying back to the U.S. He further said, “I was happy because when I auditioned, my character’s ethnicity wasn’t specified. And when I learned that (Ace) was adopted from the Philippines, I was happy because I would love to portray my own country in my first (US) project. Of course, I somehow was able to give my own inputs kung ano ang dapat kung maramdaman, ano ang dapat KAPUSO actress Heart Evangelista admitted that she’s going through a rough patch right now after rumors circulated that she and husband Chiz Escudero have broken up. In her latest vlog on her YouTube channel, Heart said that she’s still grateful and hoping that all will be well soon. “I’ve always been such a happy person and I’ve always been somebody who just goes against the tides and just let the waves crash on me. I’m not going to lie — I’ve been going through a lot of personal stuff in my mind,” she said. “But you know, at the end of the day, I’m still very grateful and as long as there’s life, there’s hope,” she added.
Celebrate the Harvest Moon Festival at Pechanga Resort Casino with full bloom of luck and fortune!
Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla Photos from Instagram/@ to come and watch the performances. We have something (to offer) for the young like Mamang Kutsero. So, we’re actively working with the MET (Metropolitan Theater) because it is located around the university belt and by performing at the MET, it’s easy for the students to go there.”Bythe way, Mamang Kutsero, according to Ronelson, is a solo dance, choreographed by Edna Vida that “we are recreating for the show that we are preparing for September.”Aliceadded that they’ve been presenting their list of programs in their invitation letter to schools as well as to city mayors offering 50 percent discount on tickets. Meron na taga Las Pinas, they bought a whole show so they can bring students. We’re also planning to write to mayors of San Juan, Pasig, Pampanga, Bulacan and other places. But we’re not sure yet if schools now are (holding) face-to-face classesRonelsonregularly.”said they are now busy prepping up for the 2022 CCP Dance Series that boasts a lineup of timeless classics and new choreographic gems, featuring ARDP and the artists of CCP’s Professional Artists Support Program (PASP).
WIN a Share of $100,000 in cash and EasyPlay Join Pechanga Resort Casino in celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival with the exciting $100,000 Harvest Moon Drawing on Friday, September 9 & 23. Pechanga Club members can earn entries to the drawing by playing slots and table games from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. each drawing day. Multiple entries can be earned depending on your Pechanga Club membership/ tier level. Red Card members can earn up to 8x entries; Platinum Card members can earn up to 5x entries; Gold Card members can earn up to 3x entries, and Silver Card members can earn 1x entry. Each drawing night, 30 winners of $250 EasyPlay will be announced at 7 p.m.,
IÑIGO Pascual is definitely living his Hollywood dream. One year after the actor-singer got cast in the American television series Monarch, he is now about to see the fruit of his labor come to life on screen. The herepresentingwasWhenadoptedrolenotplaysmoreonroyaltyhailedmusical-dramamultigenerationalaboutafamilyascountrymusic’spremieresonSept.11Fox.WhatmakesMonarchevennoteworthyisthatInigoaFilipinomaincharacter,an“ethnicallyambiguous”thatisoftenthecase.“MycharacterisAce,heisfromthePhilippines.Ilearnedaboutthat,IhappybecauseIwasstillthePhilippines,”told
For more information, please call 1-877-711-2946 or visitPechangaPechanga.com.Resort Casino wishes you a Happy Harvest MoonPechangaFestival!Resort Casino offers one of the largest and most expansive resort/ casino experiences anywhere in the United States. Voted the number one casino in the country by USA Today and rated a Four Diamond property by AAA since 2002, Pechanga Resort Casino provides an unparalleled getaway, whether for the day or for an extended luxury stay. Offering more than 5,400 of the hottest slots, table games, world-class entertainment, 1,100 hotel rooms, dining, spa and golf at Journey at Pechanga, Pechanga Resort Casino features a destination that meets and exceeds the needs of its guests and the community. Pechanga Resort Casino is owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians. For more information, call toll free (877) 711-2946 or visit www.Pechanga.com. Follow Pechanga Resort Casino on Facebook and on Twitter @ PechangaCasino. (Advertising Supplement) 20 winners of $500 EasyPlay will be announced at 8 p.m., 10 winners of $750 will be announced at 9 p.m., and a grand prize winner will be drawn at 10 p.m. for $25,000 cash. Play more for the chance to win multiple times! Winners will be posted in display screens inside Pechanga Resort Casino each hour. Win up to $5,000 in EasyPlay with the Lucky Lanterns promotion In addition, every Tuesday in September, starting from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m., Pechanga Club members can swipe their Club card at the kiosk located in the promotional area to participate in the “Lucky Lanterns” game promotion for a chance to win up to $5,000 in EasyPlay.
KATHRYN Bernardo has nothing but gratitude to KathNiel fans who have been supportive of her and boyfriend Daniel Padilla’s love team for 11 long years now. The couple celebrated 11 years of being onscreen partners with a cake designed with the actors’ animated characters, as seen on Bernardo’s Instagram page on Sunday, Sept. 4. Padilla’s version of “Growing Old With You” was playing in the background when the couple made a wish and blew the cake’s “Happycandle.11thanniversary to the best fandom anyone could ever ask for! Thank you for the 11 wonderful years, KathNiels,” she said. “Growing up with you is something that we’ll cherish forever, and reminiscing all the memories we’ve shared will always bring a smile to our faces.”“Still can’t believe how far we’ve come! We’ll work hard to continue making you proud,” Bernardo vowed. “Maraming salamat. Mahal namin kayo!” (Thank you so much. We love you!) Bernardo and Padilla first worked together in the 2011 youth-oriented series “Growing Up.” They then starred in the TV shows “Princess and I,” Pangako Sa’Yo,” “La Luna Sangre” and the ongoing romantic-drama series “2 Good 2 BeTheTrue.”two also celebrated their 10th anniversary as a couple last May by going on a trip to Thailand.
SF Supermarket offers fresh fruits and vegetables, delectable seafood, meat and a variety of wet and dry goods. It has the most exotic Southeast Asian/ international ingredients. The aisles are wide, clean and organized. Parking is very spacious.
REPORTS coming from major companies like First American Title and Old Republic Title indicate less action in the real estate market and more inventory coming into the market. According to the two companies’ reports, the market action index (MAI) in cities/towns like Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Pahrump, Boulder and Henderson, while still slightly in a seller’s market, have been on a downtrend. In Pahrump, which is located 67 miles west of Las Vegas, the MAI stood at 31 as of August 31, which is still just about in the seller’s market, and dropped by a point off the previous month’s index. The median list price in Pahrump stood at $432,00, with the median price of new listings pegged at $387,000. The price per square foot stood at $218. On the average, properties stood in the market around 73 days, and inventory stood at a 7-day average of 236, a slight increase over the previous’ period’s average of 232. In Las Vegas, considered as one of the entertainment and gambling hotspots in the world, the MAI decreased by six points, from 44 to 38, in the September 1 report. While still slightly in seller’s market territory, there have been more homes available and less demand from buyers resulting in lower prices. The median list price of homes has gone down to $510,000, with the median price of new listings pegged at $475,000. Price per square foot is at $263. Properties on the market sat an average of 65 days, with the inventory having a 7-day average of 5,219 (as compared to 4,964 in the previous month). The same story has unfolded in the North Las
11 The Asian Journal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 7, 2022 community Vegas area. While still in a seller’s zone, the MAI has fallen about eight points month-to-month, from 51 to 43. According to the report, prices have plateaued for a while, with the median list price hovering around $448,495 and new listings having a median price of $429,950. Per square foot price is at $236, with inventory increasing to a 7-day average of 962, over the previous month’s average of 851. On average, listings stayed in the market around 54 days. For Henderson, the MAI fell down to 37, from the previous month’s figure of 42. Similar to Las Vegas, the market has been in a cooling off period in the last several weeks, with more homes becoming available and less demand from buyers. The area is still slightly in a seller’s market. The median list price went down slightly to $598,000, with new listings having a median price of $574,950. Price per square foot is pegged at $280. Inventory in the area was at a 7-day average of 1,453, slightly up from last month’s average of 1,353.Finally, in the Boulder City area, there is a dip of 6 points in the MAI, from 36 to 30 month-to-month. The median list price is pegged at $699,000, with new listings having a median of $517,500. Inventory slightly increased to 71 (7-day average) in the area, with square footage price pegged at $318. Prices have remained relativelys table in the area, according to the reports, but it is likely that there will be downward pressure on home prices if the MAI continues to stumble and there’s a growth in inventory. As of now, the area’s MAI is almost at the border between seller’s and buyer’s markets, but still said to be slightly in seller’s market territory. Although the areas mentioned are still in said to be in seller’s market, the increase in inventory has allowed many buyers to find more properties to their liking and they are able to negotiate more with sellers, unlike last year and even early this year when some buyers had to be put on a waitlist just to take a look at a property. However, real estate prices in the state are still at lower levels when compared to some areas in the country, which is why more and more people are looking at living in Nevada due to more reasonable home and land Unemploymentprices.has also been trending downward in the state, which may mean more money or income for people to put into a home if they intend to purchase one. A look at all the projects being planned in Las Vegas and neighboring communities shows continued interest in the area. With tracts of land being sold in record prices and large companies committed to developing their own competing projects aimed at attracting tourists, travelers, businesses and fun seekers of every age and size, construction should be aplenty and jobs available in the coming Currently,years.inventory of homes has been increasing for Las Vegas and other neighborhoods. That bodes well for home buyers as they will have a number of choices to look at in their search for that dream house. Although still in a seller’s market, market conditions have dampened a bit – it has given buyers a little bit of wiggle room. While the real estate market may adjust itself and correct itself a bit after a long period of
Market cooldown continues for real estate
The First American Title real-market profile graph for Henderson as of September 1, 2022.
The real-time market profile graph from First American Title for Boulder City, NV is shown above.
or fely.precious@gmail.com.
uptick, history suggests that real estate is still a sound investment. One only has to look at price comparisons from a year ago, a decade ago, or even a couple or more decades ago to see that land and homes prices have risen on the average despite experiencing some periods of slump. I have been a realtor since 1988 and have seen how Las Vegas, Pahrump and other neighboring communities have grown through the years. Many of my clients who have invested in properties have seen their portfolio and wealth grow in time. Some have even taken advantage of market trends and have put their investments to good use via Airbnb, rentals and land banking. There are still opportunities for those who want to secure home or property in Pahrump, Las Vegas or other Nevada communities. I can help you, my kababayans, purchase your first home, or second home, or investment property and turn your dreams into reality. My company, Precious Properties, is a fullservice company that has successfully helped its clientele find the best deals since 1988. You can reach me at 775-513-8447, 805-559-2476 and 702-538-4948 for more information, or send me an email at fely@precious-properties.com or fely. precious@gmail.com. We have investors who buy houses in California and Nevada for cash and quick escrow in as short as 7 days. (Advertising Supplement)
By RealtoR Fely Quitevis-Bateman
The graph above shows the real-time market profile from Old Republic Title company for Pahrump, NV as of August Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman helps those who need business financing, including loans for small businesses. For more information, call (702) 538-4948, or send email to fely@ precious-properties.com
The graphs above shows the real-time market profiles for the Las Vegas (left) and North Las Vegas (right) areas from First American Title as of September 1, 2022.
ACTOR Zeppi Borromeo is a big fan of Christopher Reeve’s “Superman,” Zeppi fascinated by villains in superhero movies
By Alex BrosAs Inquirer.net particularly while growing up and seeing the film. But Borromeo is an even bigger fan of villains in superhero movies. “Ang weird is I lean more on contravidas. Kahit GI Joe, mas nagugustuhan ko ‘yung kontabida because ‘yung uniqueness nila, ‘yung hitsura nila na hindi plain,” he said during the grand mediacon for “Mars Ravelo’s Darna: The Series” last month. “It is a challenge na ganoon ang hitsura nila.” (What is weird is I lean more towards antagonists. Even in “G.I. Joe,” I like the villains more because of their uniqueness, the way they look which is not plain. It is a challenge to look like a villain.) But if there is a super power that he wants to possess, it would be the power to bring back time. “Para maitama ang mga mali. Para mapunan mo ang mga pagkukulang mo before. At kung may power ka to bring back time, magkakaroon ka ng power to shape the future,” he explained. (For you to correct your mistakes. For you to realize your shortcomings before. And when you have the power to bring back time, you will have the power to shape the future.) Borromeo plays Oleg in the series, a barangay tanod and informant.
“Life is a journey and the heavier the luggage, the shorter the distance covered.”
12 The Asian Journal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 7, 2022 community
The economy is in deep trouble once again. Runaway inflation and a recession, among a host of serious other problems, are upon us as top current leadership use the country’s depleted coffers as a blank check to spend, spend and spend in order to hang on to power at all costs. On the matter of investments, steer clear of scams particularly from high places and on the internet. Stay away from what you do not understand.Remember Madoff? That name ought to be a cautionary tale for the Bernardages.Madoff is the biggest Ponzi convicted scammer who had a Wall Street address. 65 Billion dollars in all. Yes, that is with a B. He had a steady gaze and an air and demeanor of respectability and trustworthiness belying a heart of darkness. He conned 37,000 investors in 136,000 countries. He was a Jew who conned the Jewish community. Most scams start as affinity schemes. He got a 150 year prison sentence but died of kidney disease and other illnesses in prison in April 2021 days before he turned 83 years old. His plea for clemency to die outside of prison was denied. But greed went both ways. Madoff’s victims did not question why they were getting consistently great returns of 12% to 15% on their investments for as long as their phony statements were rosy year after year for decades. Then the financial bomb exploded when the US and the global economy ground nearly to a halt and no new investors can be suckered in by the monumental Ponzi scheme scam king Madoff and his cohorts hatched. Built on a big fat lie, it collapsed like a house of cards.What a monstrous mess it was and still is. The tedious efforts at clawing back some of the money spent on a shamelessly luxurious lifestyle was as grueling as pulling teeth from a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Many of his victims never recovered. One of Madoff’s sons, unable to bear the shame and ignominy sadly hung himself with a dog’s leash in his Manhattan apartment leaving behind a wife and children who would like to escape the stigma of the Madoff name. The other son died of an illness. Both sons died at 48 years old. They blew the whistle on their dad. Was there something from the Good Book to caution us about this? The one that comes to mind intended for scammers like Madoff and his ilk, is of course, “Thou shalt not steal.” Scams are no more than sophisticated thefts generated these days from the comfort of one’s computer in the guise of legitimate sounding paper and lately, quite easily, electronic communication like the Nigerian scam or identity theft or scams from boiler room operations from far off places. This is the modern version of a hooded, masked robber using a gun in a dark alley. New laws on tracking and enforcement procedures are decades away from dealing with this worrisome social phenomenon that seems able to breach all kinds of barriers. The antidote: continuous education, a smidgen of cynicism and a ton of common sense.What’s the mantra worth remembering and repeating to one”s self particularly during these days of tight money when scammers are getting more creative and brazen? Of course, tt’s still that one that says: “If it’s too good to be true, it probably is.” Well this one isn’t in the Bible but it might very well be. A similar quotation from the Book of Proverbs bears reiterating: “The naive believes everything, but the sensible man considers his steps.” In a word, “THINK.” The fictional character Gordon Gecko in the film “Wall Street” asserted that to be rich, “Greed is good.” Not so, said the Bible… Jesus was clear on the subject. “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Life is a journey and the heavier the luggage, the shorter the distance covered. Though that’s the physical explanation of energy required to carry the luggage weighed down by gravity as we travel, it has some bearings about a spiritual journey towards eternal life. Getting far too attached to material wealth and all its trappings makes one lose his focus of the journey’s real goal. * * * 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. * * * Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya writes Asianfor Journal. Email monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com for comments.
WHEN something goes wrong regarding personal finance, our mental default setting is that we need someone else to help fix the problem. But if we stop and think about it, there is really nothing new under the sun, as Ecclesiastes says. Our guidelines for how we should live then as now, come from the Good Book and those the Holy Spirit has chosen and guided to explain and interpret its doctrine in the context of modern life. These days, we click on Google and make it our personal adviser, our own impersonal Yoda. For anything we need to know, we’re just a click away online for mountains of information from financial experts to inundate us. It can all be disconcerting and confusing. It’s like tackling the Library of Congress in one go. Don’t despair. There’s hope yet. We can simplify and refer to that old why and how-to manual for all times and seasons.Thesub prime mortgage mess in 2008 was a sorry and foolhardy attempt by liberals in the government power structure to democratize what was never meant to be a level playing field. This made it possible for millions who could not afford and should not qualify for a mortgage to be approved for loans they could not carry. A little known phrase in the Book of Proverbs for those who put up “security for debts” serves as stern warning, “… your very bed will be snatched from under you.” If only we took heed of the wisdom of the ages written in the Bible, we could have saved ourselves a lot of grief and gnashing of teeth. Strive to live relatively debtfree. Financial guru Dave Ramsey is a proponent of this strategy. There are other views on the opposite side of the spectrum but Ramsey has the chops to prove his strategies work. Sharply define what is a need and what is a want. For most things, frugal guys tell us to buy only when we have the cash for it. Don’t mortgage your future for a mere whim, particularly for stuff that strokes yourDebtego.can have you in a stranglehold. Many have found this out a tad too late when the recession hit at the time. We are back to square one again.
* * * 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 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 kenreyeslaw.com.kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com.e-mailWeb:
Kenneth UrsUA reyes CornerBarrister’s Permanent residency
The good book on money
come back the U.S. if he or she interviews at the U.S. embassy overseas for the immigrant visa. Along with the application and petition, the alien is also required to take a medical examination by a physician designated by the USCIS. The result of that physical examination is reported in a USCIS form and sealed in an envelope submitted with the Petition and Adjustment Application.Thealien spouse may also apply for a work authorization card with the Petition and Adjustment application. The work authorization card will allow the alien spouse to work legally in the United States, obtain a social security card, and a driver’s license while that person is waiting for his or her green card interview. Work Authorization card are usually issued in about 1 to 2 months from filing the application. The green card interview is usually set in about 5 to 6 months from the time the Petition and Application is filed. The green card interview is the most important step in the process. It is through this process that the USCIS officer usually determines whether the marriage, which forms the basis of the Petition, was entered in good faith. The adjudicating officer usually asks detailed questions about the marriage relationship between the U.S. Citizen spouse and alien spouse. If the couple do not have children, the marriage are usually subject to closer scrutiny. Along with this inquiry process, the USCIS would usually request for certain documents that proves a bonafide marriage. Some of these documents may be in the form of pictures, joint utility bills, health insurance documents, and many more. If everything goes well, the USCIS officer will approve the case and a green card will be mailed to the alien’ address within a reasonable time period. If the couple has been married for 2 years or more, the alien spouse will receive a permanent greencard. If the couple has been married for less than 2 years, the alien will receive a conditional green card. The alien spouse will have to file a petition to remove the condition 3 months prior to the expiration of the conditional greencard which is good for 2 years.Obtaining legal status in the United States is a one shot deal. People should seek the assistance of an experienced Attorney to guide them through this important and and once in a lifetime process.
ONE traditional way of obtaining permanent residency for most immigrants is through a petition by a U.S. citizen spouse.Asa spouse of a U.S. Citizen, an alien is considered an immediate relative and entitled to immediately apply for a green card inside the United States. This is usually done by simultaneously filing an I-130 Petition for Alien Relative and an I-485 Application to adjust status. However in order to do this, the alien spouse must have been inspected when the alien entered the United States or if not inspected must be grandfathered by section 245(i) of the immigration and nationality act. Being inspected means that the alien entered using a valid visa, paroled inside the United States, entered using the visa waiver program. The alien is grandfathered by section 245(i) if a family petition or a labor certification has been filed for the benefit of that alien prior to April 30, 2001. If the alien was not inspected nor grandfathered under section 245(i), such as if the alien crossed the border illegally, the alien cannot obtain his or her green card inside the United States. Then it becomes a catch 22 situation because if the alien spouse leave the US, the alien spouse becomes subject to the 3/10 year unlawful presence bar. The alien spouse may apply for a provisional waiver of the 3/10 year bar inside the U.S. which will give the alien spouse some assurance that he or she may be able to
Atty. through marriage to US citizen
spouse ZeppiePhotoBorromeofromInstagram/@zeppi_borromeo
The Asian Journal MDWK MAGAZINE - September 7, 2022 13
