092323 - Los Angeles Weekend Edition

AMID the skyrocketing cost of living, the City of Los Angeles has launched a rent relief program for low-income residents who need to pay off rent-related debts accrued during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Emergency Renters Assistance Program aims to provide a financial cushion for Angelenos on the verge of eviction Under the city’s pandemic tenant protections, unpaid debts related to COVID-19 expired last month. This program is open to all renters — regardless of citizenship status — living within the city of Los Angeles.

In order to qualify, one or more individuals in the household had to experience a major financial hardship between March 2020 to now — these include loss of employment, significant accumulation of costs, and/or a current household income that is below 80% of the median income for the area.

Eligible applicants must also have unpaid rent that is due to their current landlord

Reintroduced ‘Reuniting Families Act’ focuses on Asian immigrant families

The legislation seeks to increase the visas per country limits from 7 percent to 15 percent

MANY Filipinos in the United States aspire to reunite with their loved ones in the Philippines. While some are already living the “American Dream” with families, it can take decades for a U.S. citizen to reunite with even one family member.

To address issues similar to this, the Reuniting Families Act aims to implement various measures to accelerate and enhance the process of family reunification.

On Tuesday, Sept. 19, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) members and Asian immigrant rights activists announced the reintroduction of the Reuniting Families Act and zeroes in on Asian immigrant families.

First introduced by Rep. and CAPAC Chair Judy Chu (CA-28) in February 2018, the act refers to efforts to make it easier for family members, such as spouses, children, and parents, to reunite

Marcos ratings show ‘significant’ decline

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. continues to enjoy the trust and approval of the people, despite having "significant" drops in his ratings, PUBLiCUS Asia Inc.'s third quarter survey released on Thursday, September 21 showed.

The September 7 to 12 survey results showed 55 percent of 1,500 respondents appreciated the president's work performance, a seven-point decline from the 62 percent in the second quarter.

The president recorded lower ratings in Metro Manila (61 percent in second quarter to 52 percent in third quarter), North Central Luzon (60 percent to 56 percent), South Luzon (55 percent to 49 percent), and Visayas (71 percent to 52 percent).

His approval rating rose slightly from 63 percent to 64 percent in the Visayas.

"Connected to the less positive sentiments of Filipinos this quarter, approval ratings of the top country officials take a significant blow, hitting lowest in five quarters," PUBLiCUS said.

"All regions except Mindanao contribute to the

Ex-president Duterte tops poll of possible Senate candidates in 2025

IF senatorial elections were held today, former President Rodrigo Duterte would top the race if he were a candidate, according to the latest PUBLiCUS Asia survey released on Thursday, September 21.

With 47 percent voter support, Duterte ranked first among potential Senate candidates in the "Pahayag 2023 Third Quarter Survey" results, which was conducted from September 7 to September 12 among 1,500 respondents. This was just a slight drop from his 51 percent voter preference in the survey

conducted in the previous quarter.

PUBLiCUS Asia also found Dr. Willie Ong and ACT-CIS Party-List Rep. Erwin Tulfo tied at the second and third spots with a support base of 43 percent each.

In the fourth and fifth spots were incumbent Senators Christopher "Bong" Go and Maria Imelda "Imee" Marcos, who garnered 38 percent and 36 percent support, respectively.

In the bottom half of the top 12 were Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa with 36 percent, former Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson with 34 percent, and former Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto 3rd with 33 percent.

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Smog in Metro Manila not from Taal Volcano – Phivolcs, DENR

by Zacarian Sarao Inquirer.net

MANILA — No, the smog you’re seeing in Metro Manila is not because of Taal, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology (Phivolcs) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Friday, September 22. Phivolcs clarified to reporters that the vog (volcanic smog) it detected from Taal Volcano is drifting west-southwest, hence, is not going toward Metro Manila.

“The smog [in Metro Manila] is not related to [the] Taal Volcano. Instead, the vog was over areas on the western side of Taal Volcano,” Phivolcs said.

Meanwhile, In an interview with INQUIRER.net the DENR also said that based on the direction of air, the smog being experienced in parts of Metro Manila is not because of Taal Volcano.

“Hindi po, kung ibabase natin sa galaw ng hangin, hindi po (No, if we base it on the movement of the wind, no),”

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overall weakened approval but in varying extents," it added.

The president's trust ratings also dropped from 54 percent to 47 percent.

Vice President Sara Duterte had a 62-percent approval rating and a 55-percent trust rating.

Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri continues to have a steady approval rating of 43 percent and 33 percent trust rating, while House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez had a stable approval rating of 37 percent and a 29 percent u PAGE A2

PH to file suit vs China

THE Philippines will file environmental cases against China for its destructive activities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA).

The announcement came just days after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported the severe damage inflicted by Chinese operations on the marine environment of Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal, both parts of the Philippine exclusive economic zone.

"We will pursue these cases against China since we already have a lot of evidence," said Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, noting discussions on the matter were ongoing with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

He said the filing of complaint has no connection with the Philippines' territorial dispute with China, stressing that "destruction of the environment is a sin against humanity."

Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra confirmed the plan to file charges against China before the PCA. Remulla said the Philippine government has been gathering evidence of China's destructive activities in the WPS for many years, adding the documentation has gained momentum in the last few months.

MANILA — Malacañang remained silent on the 51st anniversary of the declaration of martial law.

Asked by reporters for a statement regarding martial law on Thursday, September 21, the Palace declined to issue one. All appeared to be business as usual in Malacañang.

This day commemorates the day when the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. declared martial law in 1972.

While Marcos Sr. was ousted during the People Power

Revolution in 1986, his family would eventually find their way back into power in both local and national government. This includes the highest leader of the land, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Nonetheless, protests rocked parts of the country in a bid to remember human rights victims during Marcos Sr.’s martial law.

Around 70,000 people were arrested, 34,000 people were tortured, and 3,240 were killed. Other than rampant human rights abuses, Marcos Sr.’s Martial Law was also marred with cronyism and corruption. n

Marcos ratings show ‘significant...

trust rating.

Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo's approval (36 percent) and trust (29 percent) ratings were unchanged.

The survey also showed that Duterte — who concurrently serves as Education secretary — had the highest approval rating among Cabinet members at 52 percent.

Duterte was followed by Marcos, with a 49 percent approval rating, for his role as head of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The approval ratings of other Cabinet officials: Defense

Secretary Gilberto "Gibo"

Teodoro Jr. (46 percent), the late Migrant Workers Secretary

Maria Susana "Toots" Ople (45 percent) Social Welfare

Secretary Rexlon "Rex"

Gatchalian (43 percent), Finance

Secretary Benjamin Diokno (41 percent), Interior Secretary

Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr. (40 percent), Science and Technology Secretary Renato

Solidum Jr. (39 percent), Health

Secretary Teodoro "Ted" Herbosa (36 percent), Tourism

Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco (34 percent), Labor

Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma (33 percent), Transportation

Secretary Jaime Bautista (32 percent), Foreign Affairs

Secretary Enrique Manalo (32 percent), Information and Technology Secretary Ivan

John Uy (32 percent), National Economic and Development

Authority Arsenio Balisacan (31 percent), Budget Secretary

Amenah Pangandaman (31 percent), Trade Secretary Alfredo

Pascual (31 percent), Executive

Secretary Lucas Bersamin (31 percent), Public Works

Secretary Manuel Bonoan (31 percent), Environment Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga (31 percent), Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla (30 percent), Housing Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar (29 percent), Agrarian

Reform Secretary Conrado

Esrtrella 3rd (29 percent), and Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla (29 percent).

Approval of the president's

self-appointment as Agriculture secretary also dropped to 53 percent in the third quarter from 57 percent in the second quarter.

"As secretary, he must address the 'shortage' in rice, sugar and other agricultural products, which is likely a contributory factor to the most pressing issue on inflation," PUBLiCUS said.

Agreement with Duterte's appointment as secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) also "significantly weakened," from 66 percent in the second quarter to 60 percent in the third quarter.

The P150-million confidential and intelligence fund (CIF) for DepEd "is now at the forefront as the most pressing issue hurting her overall performance," PUBLiCUS said.

Duterte has said the proposed CIF was for the agency's antiinsurgency efforts.

"Education is intertwined with national security. It's important for us to mold children who are patriotic, who will love our country and defend our country," said Duterte, who is also the co-vice chairman of the government's anti-communist insurgency task force, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

The non-commissioned survey was conducted from September 7 to September 12. Its respondents were randomly drawn from the market research panel of over 200,000 Filipinos maintained by the Singapore office of PureSpectrum, a U.S.-based panel marketplace.

The respondents were spread across five geographical areas — National Capital Region, North Central Luzon, South Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. n

PH to file suit vs...

The PCG said it conducted extensive underwater surveys of the seabed in Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal, revealing that the marine ecosystem "appeared lifeless, with minimal to no signs of life."

The survey revealed potential dumping of dead corals that were previously processed and cleaned before being returned to the seabed.

"The continued swarming for indiscriminate illegal and destructive fishing activities of the Chinese Maritime Militia in Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal may have directly caused the degradation and destruction of the marine environment in the WPS features," said PCG spokesman Commo. Jay Tarriela.

"The PCG emphasizes the importance of protecting and preserving our marine environment, which plays a crucial role in sustaining marine life and supporting local communities," he added.

A section of the July 12, 2016 ruling of the Arbitral Tribunal on environmental issues involving China in the South China Sea said, "China had caused severe harm to the coral reef environment."

The Tribunal was specifically referring to China's largescale land reclamation and construction of artificial islands in the South China Sea, which it described as a "marine paradise" due to the "highly productive fisheries and extensive coral reef ecosystems, which are among the most biodiverse in the world."

It ruled that by undertaking such activities, China had "violated its obligation to preserve and protect fragile ecosystems and the habitat of depleted, threatened, or endangered species" and "inflicted irreparable harm to the marine environment."

Scientists and marine experts testified before the Tribunal that the process employed by Chinese poachers in carrying out their illegal fishing activities destroyed the coral reefs surrounding the clams and may have actually caused more environmental destruction.

Chinese dredging and islandbuilding activities have damaged or destroyed at least 55 square kilometers of reef, while the destructive methods of giant clam fishermen have destroyed 104 sq km of once-living coral.

The Tribunal also determined that the Chinese government was responsible for the poaching that ensured the devastation of coral reefs.

It noted that Chinese authorities

were aware that their fishermen had harvested endangered sea turtles, coral, and giant clams on a substantial scale in the South China Sea using methods that inflict severe damage on the coral reef environment.

The Tribunal accused China of not fulfilling its obligations to stop such activities and even suggested that Chinese fishermen were allowed to harvest the clams on land features in the South China Sea, where China would soon be building.

It said it had asked China to provide its environmental assessment studies, which are required by Article 206 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).

Since it refused to participate in the arbitration proceedings and did not recognize the legality of the Tribunal ruling, China did not comply.

Numerous statements issued in the past by the Chinese government rejected the notion that China's island-building activities in the South China Sea were harming the environment.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry argued that China's construction projects have gone "through years of scientific assessments and rigorous tests, and are subject to strict standards and requirements of environmental protection."

It maintained that "China cares about protecting the ecological environment of relevant islands, reefs, and waters more than any other country, organization, or people in the world."

'Just another show'

Herman Tiu Laurel, president of Manila-based think tank Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies, said the initiative was just a part of the "United States-inspired China-threat propaganda series.

"How can an environmental case versus China prosper when even the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and PCG reports of coral destruction continue to be based in their own words on mere suspicion," Laurel told The Manila Times on Wednesday, September 20.

"They cannot present proof because they have nothing except oral diarrhea," Laurel added.

He said the coral destruction in the South China Sea has been a "half-century-old problem" caused by destructive dynamite and cyanide fishing.

Such illegal fishing practices, he said, were due to the government's neglect of the Filipino fishermen's economic plight, failure of the policing by the PCG, and in recent decades

due to the warming of the oceans and rising acidity of the sea.

"Like the fraudulent charge of Chinese coast guard harassment of Filipino fishermen that has never been proven, this 'environmental case' will ultimately backfire on the credibility of the Philippine government and the PCG," he added.

Reparation Sen. Ana Theresia "Risa" Hontiveros said China should pay environmental damages for the destruction of the reef ecosystems in the WPS arising from its reclamation activities in the area.

"We have the right to demand payment," Hontiveros said in a statement in Filipino.

Dr. Deo Onda, a scientist from the University of the Philippines' Marine Science Institute, estimated that the Philippines was losing around P33.1 billion annually from the damaged reef ecosystems in Panatag Shoal and Spratlys Islands due to China's reclamation activities in the WPS.

Onda said the amount was determined using a baseline value of $353,429 or P18 million per hectare per year for coral reefs based on a study by Elsevier, a Dutch company specializing in scientific, technical, and medical information and analytics.

"We should seek payment for damages caused by China in the WPS. We could obtain billions [of pesos] if we can obligate China to pay [damages]," Hontiveros added.

The senator filed Resolution 804, condemning China's massive coral harvesting in the area as she sought an inquiry into the matter.

Hontiveros said that if China pays all its debts to the Philippines, "it would surely help address" the economic crisis it was facing."

"This will not be the first time for us to seek reparations. Japan paid our country for her destruction of Manila during World War 2," Hontiveros said.

She added, "And in more recent history, the United States of America also paid the Philippines P87 million after the USS Guardian damaged Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea." The 2016 Arbitral Award clearly invalidated China's sweeping and expansive claims in the WPS, she said.

"This is a case we won because of our dogged commitment to abide by international law and uphold the truth. It is only right that we pursue all options to make China pay," Hontiveros added. n

GRADUATES. Persons deprived of liberty graduate from the Alternative Learning System (ALS) inside the Manila City Jail male dormitory on Friday, Sept. 22. The 411 inmates received certificates of completion in the elementary and secondary levels, proof that incarceration won’t prevent them from achieving their goals. PNA photo by

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Malacañang file photo

PAGE A1

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Itutok lang ang camera mo sa QR code para automatic na i-download ang Remitly app. May makikita kang app na nasa Tagalog, nag-o-offer ng nakakagulat na murang fees para sa pag-send ng pera at nagno-notify sa iyo kung nasaan ang pera mo sa bawat hakbang ng proseso.

Smog in Metro Manila not from Taal Volcano...

of Parañaque, Pateros, and Makati.

a DENR representative who refused to be named said when asked if Taal Volcano is causing the smog in Metro Manila.

Unhealthy air

quality in parts of Metro Manila

Despite this, the air quality monitoring data from the DENR indicates that certain areas within Metro Manila are currently encountering poor air quality, particularly in the cities

“It may be inferred that the smog may be primarily attributed to emissions from heavy vehicular traffic especially during rush hour. Air quality varies in time and places and can change anytime depending on pollution sources and meteorological factors,” the DENR said.

Air quality in Pateros and

Makati is currently classified as “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” with DENR warning people with respiratory diseases to limit going outdoors.

Parañaque, on the other hand, is tagged to have “acutely unhealthy air quality,” with residents warned to limit outdoor activities, while those with heart or respiratory diseases should stay indoors as much as possible. n

Ex-president Duterte tops poll of...

Completing the Top 12 list were former Manila mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso (32 percent), former vice president Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo (28 percent), Defense Secretary Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro (35 percent), and Sen. Pilar Juliana "Pia" Cayetano (25 percent).

"It is important to note that during this period, voting disposition for senatorial candidates is not necessarily correlated with recognition/

awareness or trust, as there are uncorrelated movements for some candidates," PUBLiCUS Asia said.

"Notably, there has been a significant change of heart among voters in the National Capital Region (NCR) compared to the previous quarter, which is worth monitoring," it added. PUBLiCUS Asia said the Pahayag 2023 survey is an independent and noncommissioned survey whose 1,500 respondents were chosen at random from a market

research panel of more than 200,000 Filipinos maintained by a US-based panel marketplace with a multinational presence of respondents.

The respondents were dispersed across five geographical areas, namely NCR, North Central Luzon, South Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Only registered Filipino voters were included in the sample to ensure that the results accurately represent the sentiments of the voting population. n

Cal State LA computer science major receives CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement

PATRICK Emmanuel Sangalang, a computer science major in the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology at Cal State LA, hopes to use his passion for computer science to inspire young students to pursue the many career possibilities in the STEM fields.

“Mr. Sangalang’s aptitude for computer science, coupled with his commitment to helping others, makes me certain that he will positively influence the lives of others in the field of technology,” said William A. Covino, president emeritus of Cal State LA, in a nomination letter.

Sangalang is one of 23 students statewide to receive the 2023 California State University Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement. The award is given each year to students who demonstrate superior academic performance, personal accomplishments, community service, and financial need.

“It is very reassuring to know that I am being recognized for my personal, academic, and community service accomplishments, as it lets me know that I am on the right path to achieving my goals,” said Sangalang, a Los Angeles resident.

Sangalang was honored on Sept. 12 with the top academic achievement award in the CSU system. He will be awarded $7,000 and named a Michael A. and Debe Lucki Scholar.

This past spring, Sangalang graduated with a bachelor’s degree in computer science. He is now working toward a master’s degree in computer science at Cal State LA.

“After graduating from the master’s program, I plan on pursuing [a career in] cybersecurity and getting as much experience and knowledge as possible from that field,” he said. “I eventually would like to build my own company that revolves around that area.”

Sangalang’s interest in

computer science stemmed from his fascination with video games, specifically The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

“I remember being captured by the game’s open-world design and how each character responded to different actions, whether influenced by user input or other aspects built into the game,” he shared.

However, it wasn’t until he was enrolled in an AP Computer Science class in his high school that he discovered more about this field.

“As much as I would have wanted to dive into this world of technology sooner, it was not until my senior year of high school that I got my first exposure to coding,” he said.

Since arriving at Cal State LA through the university’s Honors College, Sangalang has excelled by achieving a 3.875 GPA and making the Dean’s List.

Mauricio Castillo, a professor of technology and an undergraduate advisor, described Sangalang as “a quick learner” and “always eager to take on new challenges.”

“Patrick is a natural leader who can inspire and motivate others to work toward a common goal,” Castillo noted. “He has been a valuable member of the computer science club at our institution, where he has worked on several projects and competitions.”

Sangalang is also committed to

serving the community through mentoring youth from middle schools in the surrounding neighborhoods on Los Angeles’ Eastside.

Sangalang has served as a student mentor for the Verizon Innovative Learning STEM Achievers program at Cal State LA. He assisted the middle schoolers as they learned coding, robotics, 3D printing, and augmented reality.

“Throughout the program, I thought about how this [STEM enrichment program] is a great opportunity that all young students should take advantage of because it exposes them to an entirely new world that is developing at a rapid pace,” he said.

Sangalang also led campus tours, was a student panelist, and served as a mentor with Project GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) at Cal State LA. The project’s mission is to significantly increase the number of low-income students prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.

“Overall, I find that being a factor in someone else’s growth and guiding them in the right direction brings me genuine enjoyment, mainly because I did not have the resources that they did now when I was their age,” he said. (Margie Low/Cal State LA News Service))

LA renters assistance program applications...

stemming from as far as April 2020. Qualified renters can apply to the program via housing. lacity.org or by calling 888-3793150 until Oct. 2 at 6 p.m. (Hours to call are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday to Friday.) The program website includes information in several languages, including Tagalog.

According to LA’s Housing Department, the program is funded by Measure ULA, a new 4% “mansion tax” on properties that sell for $5 million or more which was approved by citywide voters last year. Additionally, that measure implemented a 5.5% sales tax on properties that cost more than $10 million.

The program began taking applications on Sept. 19 and will continue to until Oct. 2. It’s unclear if the program will be reinstated in the future.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the city has offered four

financial assistance programs for renters; the previous iterations served hundreds of thousands of residents, said Ann Sewill, general manager of the LA Housing Department.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Sept. 19, Sewill shared that according to census data, approximately 80,000 households across LA were behind on rent. Through Measure ULA, $18.4 million will be allocated to those who are accepted into the program.

Sixty percent of LA’s high concentration of renters are considered low-income with about half of those low-income residents “severely rent burdened and have continued to experience challenges” due to the pandemic and the spike in inflation, said Anna Ortega, assistant general manager of LA Housing Department.

The Emergency Renters Assistance Program is part of a larger effort by the City of LA

to help low-income renters by funding tenant protections and affordable housing. In August, the city council approved a $150 million plan stemming from the Measure ULA mansion tax.

For the last year, the city has been pressured to expedite plans to combat homelessness and provide housing assistance to prevent more Angelenos from ending on the streets.

“We must do more to keep people housed, and I want to make sure eligible Angelenos begin applying today for rent relief for back rent owed during the COVID-19 pandemic or if you are currently experiencing a short-term hardship,” said LA Mayor Karen Bass on Sept. 19 in promotion for the Emergency Renters Assistance Program.

“We must continue to do all that we can to prevent Angelenos from falling into homelessness and help ensure small landlords have access to resources as well. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

Reintroduced ‘Reuniting Families Act’ focuses...

with families who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.

These reforms may involve changes in visa categories, processing times, and other aspects of the immigration system to prioritize and expedite reunification.

Bureaucratic delays at major play

At a press conference near Capitol Hill on Tuesday, Chu expressed concern that due to bureaucratic delays, three-quarters of the family visas that were supposed to be issued in 2021 have been lost.

In a livestream on X (formerly Twitter), Chu pinpointed the fact that Asians comprised over a

million people who are still in immigration backlogs for years.

“I’m particularly concerned about how this backlog is affecting families from Asia. Asians make up not only 80 percent of the employment visa backlog but they make up 40 percent of the four million family-based visa backlog,” she said.

“Family-based immigration is an American value and contributes to the economic prosperity and resilience of our nation, but our broken immigration system forces almost four million people with approved green card applications to suffer in bureaucracy for

years, if not decades.”

This is where the bill fills comes in as it seeks to eliminate visa backlogs by carrying over unused visas, exempting specific family members like children and spouses from numerical restrictions, capping green card processing at 10 years, and increasing per-country visa limits to 15 percent, which will “more than double the number of family-preference visas available.” Prior to this year, the act was also reintroduced in 2019. Proponents of the act are optimistic that it can contribute to the improvement of the immigration system. n

Patrick Sangalang

BAMBOO FOREST. The one-hectare Bambusetum or Kawayanan sa Kamaynilaan in Marikina City has different species of bamboo, as photographed on Thursday, Sept. 21. It was launched by the Department of Trade and Industry - Center for Innovation and Technology for Enterprises in September last year while the Department of Agriculture is mandated to identify idle and marginalized agricultural areas suitable for bamboo plantations. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc

not making any adjustments. Based on the report I received, the DTI already announced that we agreed (to postpone the price adjustment). Read between the lines. If the government said we agreed…we don’t need to agree as they can impose it if they want,” Canned Sardines Association of the Philippines executive director Francisco Buencamino noted. Philstar.com photo

MANILA —

Manufacturers of basic necessities and prime commodities (BNPCs) have agreed to hold off their price increases for now, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

However, sardines manufacturers denied that any agreement was reached.

“At the moment, we are at a standstill, we are not making any adjustments. Based on the report I received, the DTI already announced that we agreed (to postpone the price adjustment). Read between the lines. If the government said we agreed…we don’t need to agree as they can impose it if they want,” Canned Sardines Association of the Philippines executive director Francisco Buencamino noted.

On Thursday, September 21, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual and other DTI officials met with 29 manufacturers and two associations of canned sardines, coffee, processed milk, bread, salt, detergent, candles, condiments, bottled water, canned meat, toilet soap and batteries.

During the dialogue, manufacturers expressed their concerns about various issues, including the imposition of pass-through fees; lack of local supply of raw materials; the

compliance requirements of other government agencies and other regulatory concerns.

“I think for now we can say the manufacturers are willing to hold off any increase, for as long as they can. It is difficult to say when they will adjust prices, because cost of raw materials and ingredients used are also subject to market forces,” Trade

Undersecretary Kim Lokin told reporters in a Viber message.

Latest figures from the DTI showed that as of Sept. 19, 14 manufacturers of 46 Stock Keeping Units covering ten categories of BNPCs requested suggested retail price (SRP) adjustments due to the high cost of major raw materials, packaging materials, fuel costs, wages and other costs that affect the production of these essentials goods.

The DTI cited that the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI) said that manufacturers of Noche Buena products decided to absorb the bulk of rising costs.

“We are working diligently to manage rising costs. Production costs have risen by an estimated 10 to 15 percent, most of these products will only see a modest price increase of 0 to four percent,” the group added.

In a radio interview, Buencamino warned that sardines manufacturers will be forced to decrease production if the DTI does not restore the P3

on the retail prices of the canned food.

According to Buencamino, he explained to Pascual that the P3 increase in the retail prices of sardines only aims to return the original price of the canned goods following the previous price rollback implemented by the government.

“The prevailing price at the time there was a price freeze during the calamity was already P21 but when the SRP was issued, it was only P18 (per can). That was not a price freeze but rollback so I told that to Pascual and he said he will look into it,” Buencamino said.

According to Buencamino, the sardines manufacturers are affected by the cost of fish production amid the spike in fuel prices and tin cans.

“We don’t have control on this (prices of tin cans) as we import and we spend dollars,” he added.

Buencamino said sardines manufacturers will not be able to endure if the price adjustment will be put on hold until the end of the year.

“Do we have a choice if the government does not allow (the price adjustment)?

None, as despite the law on suggested retail price should be submitted on the consent of the manufacturers, what happens is it becomes dictatorial. It’s mandated on us. There is nothing we can do if the government wants,” he said. n

by Pam Castro Philstar.com

MANILA — Activists accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s government of carrying out a "witch-hunt" against rights defenders as they held rallies for the 51st anniversary of the imposition of Martial Law on Thursday, September 21.

Hundreds of people marched in Manila calling for the release of victims of forced disappearances and the abolishment of an anticommunist task force, set up by former president Rodrigo Duterte, that has been accused of targeting government critics.

Rights group Karapatan said the Marcos Jr. administration was using the task force to "witch-hunt activists, human rights defenders and other dissenters", while enabling the military and police to "perpetuate repression reminiscent of the martial law era".

Marcos Jr.'s dictator father, Ferdinand Marcos, imposed Martial Law in 1972, unleashing his security forces on rivals, critics and dissidents.

Amnesty International estimates thousands of people were killed and tens of thousands tortured and imprisoned in the brutal crackdown.

Activists said rampant human rights abuses have continued under Marcos Jr., who has kept up Duterte's deadly war on drugs, as well as his National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

Rights groups say eight activists have been "disappeared" since Marcos Jr. became president in June 2022.

There have been more than 400 drug-related killings during the same period, according to a monitoring group.

"It's like we're still living in the shadows of 1972. This regime doesn't care about human rights," Renato Reyes, secretary general of the leftist alliance Bayan, told protesters.

'Like Martial Law'

The rallies come after the release on Tuesday, September 19 of two environmental activists who had accused the military of abducting them.

Jonila Castro, 21, and Jhed Tamano, 22, had been working with coastal communities opposed to reclamation activities in Manila Bay when they disappeared on September 2 in Bataan province, near the capital.

Authorities rejected the allegation, saying the women were part of a communist insurgency seeking to overthrow the government and had sought their help after voluntarily leaving the movement.

Around a thousand protesters marched through Manila on Thursday to Mendiola Street, which leads to the presidential palace and has previously been the scene of deadly protests.

About 500 police were waiting for the marchers, but there were no clashes.

Rights defender John Garcia, 23, said he had been "redtagged" -- labelled a communist sympathizer -- and accused Marcos Jr. of overseeing a "de facto Martial Law".

"We fear for our lives, security, the lives of our loved ones because we have endured attacks, state-sponsored attacks," Garcia told AFP at the rally.

Human Rights Watch senior researcher Carlos Conde told AFP some aspects of the country's human rights situation had worsened under Marcos Jr.

"What we're seeing is somebody... who likes to shove human rights as an issue aside," Conde said, adding one of the reasons could be "his family have a... nasty history as far as human rights is concerned".

Veteran human rights campaigner Cristina Palabay of Karapatan said she felt "more scared now" as the number of missing activists increased.

Palabay said she and other members of Karapatan faced "some sort of mortal danger far greater than before", citing

increased threats, profiling and surveillance.

"This is actually like Martial Law... when people are just being picked up in the streets and justified as being held by authorities because they are suspected of being somebody," Palabay said. n

at zepedav@ metro.net.

9/23/23

CNS-3740089#

ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)

“At the moment, we are at a standstill, we are

Smothered by smog

THE last time Metro Manila and neighboring provinces were blanketed by ashfall, grounding flights, forcing the cancellation of classes and disrupting office work was in January 2020 when Taal Volcano erupted.

On Friday, September 22, several local government units in southern Metro Manila as well as in neighboring areas in Cavite, Laguna, Rizal and much of Batangas also suspended classes in all levels, after the sky turned a murky brownish gray with poor visibility. Taal Volcano’s unrest was initially blamed, with warnings raised about the health risks posed by toxic vog or volcanic smog.

It turned out, however, that the reason for the poor visibility was a more common one. According to government scientists, it was plain smog, mostly from vehicular emissions, and aggravated by “thermal inversion.”

As explained by Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum, the air, as it goes higher in the atmosphere, should be cooler. In the case of thermal inversion, the cool air is at a higher altitude. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, which Solidum used to head, also clarified that the vog from Taal was drifting west-southwest, away from Metro Manila. Solidum doused speculation that fine sand used

in the controversial reclamation activities in Manila Bay had aggravated the smog from vehicular emissions. The speculation arose from the unusually dense smog, which was alarming enough to cause the suspension of classes in many areas. Solidum said sand is too heavy to be part of smog.

Vehicle emissions have long been a bane in air quality, despite the requirement that all motor vehicles must pass a smoke emission test before registration. There was no particular spike in vehicle density in Metro Manila and the neighboring provinces throughout the week. Was thermal inversion a sufficient explanation? Will the heavy air pollution become a regular occurrence, and one of the common reasons, along with typhoons and floods, for the suspension of classes?

If this is so, Friday’s heavy smog should prompt a review of the enforcement of regulations on vehicle emissions. That vile-looking smog was clearly bad news for public health, and greater effort is needed in improving air quality. (Philstar.com)

Still at it

THE threat posed by the communist insurgency was used by Ferdinand Marcos the elder as the excuse for declaring martial law in 1972.

“FM” also played the communist card to enjoy U.S. support throughout his authoritarian, kleptocratic rule.

The oppression and injustice under the dictatorship actually served as the best recruiter for the communist movement. But Uncle Sam has often shown that when it comes to human rights, as long as a foreign SOB is Washington’s SOB, he’s OK.

The end of the diktadurang Marcos (yes, school kids, that’s the accurate nomenclature), combined with the discrediting of the communist ideology except in holdouts China, Cuba, Laos, North Korea and Vietnam weakened the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army. Continuing social injustice, however, allowed the CPP-NPA to survive in the Philippines, making it the longest running communist insurgency in the world.

Rodrigo Duterte, who befriended communist leaders

when he dabbled with socialism in his youth, explored peace with CPP founder Jose Ma. Sison, but eventually gave up. Duterte then shifted gears and went after the political backbone of the movement.

He ignored denials of progressive groups that they are front organizations of the CPP-NPA and the National Democratic Front. Duterte not only brushed aside complaints of red-tagging, but also officially classified certain groups as terrorist organizations, which cut off their funding and allowed a freeze on their assets.

During elections, those seen to be supporting progressive groups were deprived of government aid programs and other services, according to Bayan Muna, which lost all its party-list seats in the House of Representatives in the 2022 race.

At the same time, the national and local governments embarked on an aggressive carrot-and-stick approach to lure rebels back into the social mainstream, tapping even relatives of the rebels to promote surrenders.

You can see some grain of truth in the declaration of the Department of National Defense in September last year that “strategic victory” has been

to the pandemic, Samaniego warned the phishing, smishing, and quishing technology-driven crimes are spreading not only here in our country but also elsewhere around the world.

achieved against the communist movement.

The challenge is sustaining the victory. It’s interesting that on the 51st anniversary of the declaration of martial law, with Marcos’ only son and namesake at the nation’s helm, the fight against the communists is back in the spotlight.

* * *

Whether or not the Armed Forces of the Philippines is telling the truth about environmental activists Jhed Tamano, 22, and Jonila Castro, 21, the government has egg on its face.

Either adherents of “The Butcher” Jovito Palparan are active again, or counterinsurgency forces got conned into an elaborate drama staged (according to the AFP) by the NPA.

A miffed Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, who is a lawyer, said perjury charges would be filed against Tamano and Castro for denying the contents of their signed statements that the AFP and the National Task Force to End Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) had touted as yet another victory in the battle for hearts and minds.

If the AFP got conned by two young women allegedly sympathetic or belonging to

tracing information required from people before entry to public and private establishments during the pandemic.

the communist movement, that was an epic failure of military intelligence. Whoever botched what was supposed to be a propaganda coup for the AFP should be given the boot… quietly, lest it aggravate the military’s embarrassment.

It would be worse, of course, if the two women are telling the truth and were kidnapped by Army soldiers, and then forced to sign statements declaring that they were leaving the communist movement and had surrendered to get state protection.

That smacks of martial law and the diktadurang Marcos, or the heyday of Palparan during the presidency of his fan, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

If Tamano and Castro are telling the truth about their abduction, at least they didn’t end up like Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan – the University of the Philippines students who were kidnapped in Bulacan and tortured by Palparan’s forces in 2006, and who remain on the list of the Philippines’ desaparecidos Tamano and Castro were reportedly dragged into a sport utility vehicle on the night of Sept. 2 in Orion, Bataan. The two were working with groups assisting communities adversely affected by reclamation activities in Manila Bay.

The groups decried what they described as a kidnapping and demanded that the military produce the two.

Security forces said don’t look at us, until Sept. 19, when a triumphant NTF-ELCAC organized a press conference, wherein the two women were presented by the chief of the Army’s 70th Infantry Battalion.

From the look on the face of the battalion commander, Lt. Col. Ronnel dela Cruz, it took some time for him to fully process what was happening, as Tamano and Castro denied surrendering.

Instead the girls, who were seated beside him, accused his command of kidnapping them and forcing them, on threat of harming their families, to sign the statements of surrender. * * *

The nature of the threat was not specified. Tamano’s stepfather said in an interview that Castro was the NPA member and might have merely influenced Tamano. The Public Attorney’s Office, which had assisted the two women in the preparation of the affidavits, said the statements were already prepared before they were provided PAO counsel. If the women’s story is true, and the military had decided to gloat using coerced testimonials, you wonder, what was the Army thinking?

On the other hand, the AFP has stuck to its version of events and admitted that it got conned. “We were betrayed through a web of deception,” an AFP officer said on Thursday, September 21.

Perjury charges are expected to be filed by the government against the two women. We have yet to hear if the women intend to file kidnapping charges against the AFP.

This has also boomeranged on the NTF-ELCAC, controversial enough as it is.

Perhaps the AFP was made complacent by the many other presentations of rebel surrenderees in the past years, with no one later disputing the story or reversing their statements.

Inevitably, the mess has dredged up memories not only of the atrocities attributed to Palparan, but also of the kidnappings, disappearances and mass warrantless arrests and detention in those first months following the declaration of martial law.

For the current administration, it would be a monumental achievement if the CPP-NPA campaign, which Joma Sison launched in 1968 during the regime of Marcos 1.0, could be accurately, unassailably declared to be over under the watch of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The story of Jhed Tamano and Jonila Castro sets back that victory. (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.

IT is without a doubt there has been a deluge of cybercrimes and other illegal activities perpetrated through the internet highway following the COVID-19 pandemic period. Law enforcement authorities noted the upsurge of cyber scams and other criminal activities committed, especially related to electronic commerce (e-commerce), or selling via online which became popular as the safe mode of purchases during the pandemic.

Thus, the public fears these cybercrimes are turning into “scam-demic” proportion.

Art Samaniego, co-founder of ScamWatch Pilipinas, an advocacy and volunteer watchdog group, actually coined “scam-demic” during our conversations at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay news forum last Wednesday, September 20.

Samaniego’s play on words is not exactly surprising because he is the Tech Section editor of The Manila Bulletin. Likened

Both cyber security experts – Philippine National PoliceAnti-Cybercrime Group (PNPACG) official spokesperson Capt.

Michelle Sabino and Angel Redoble, chief information security officer of PLDT/Smart Telecom – who also joined us in our weekly breakfast news forum confirmed the growing “scamdemic” fears.

Being one of the two giant telecommunications companies (telcos), we also invited an official representative from Globe Telecom to join our Kapihan sa Manila Bay news forum but they declined. Nonetheless, our cyber technology resource speakers discussed at length the troubling increase in cyber scams and other online frauds and crimes.

Both Sabino and Redoble concurred that cyber scams got a big boost during the COVID-19 pandemic. Digital technology-savvy criminal minds took advantage of the previous government’s mandatory contact-

As one of the anti-COVID measures, all people were required to provide or submit personal data and information for contact-tracing purposes. Sabino recalled many of the contacttracing information, written on paper sheets, were improperly disposed of and thus became veritable data throve for these identity thieves. Be wary likewise, she added, about information you give to membership or credit applications that are not bound by Privacy Law.

Adapting and evolving with cybercrime techniques, Sabino announced the PNP-ACG will soon put up tech-savvy investigators in cybercrime desks at all police stations across the country. Sabino, however, conceded, this would require intensive training for manpower personnel at the cybercrime desks to cope with rising petty to high-financed cybercrimes. Offhand, Sabino cited, the PNPACG has only 800 to 1,000 police personnel nationwide.

On the part of telcos, Redoble

disclosed that PLDT/Smart have so far successfully “blocked” 700,000 URLs that were reported to them as involved in online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC). A URL, or Uniform Resource Locator, is a unique identifier used to locate a resource on the internet. It is also referred to as a web address. But even after these URLs were blocked, Redoble found disturbing the reported 1.3 billion attempts to still access them. “That’s how bad it is,” Redoble rued. Being an active partner of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), Redoble cited reports of the Scale of Harm Survey by International Justice Mission (IJM) and the University of Nottingham Rights Lab that estimated 471,416 Filipino children were trafficked to produce new child sexual exploitation materials in 2022.

Speaking as chief information security officer for one of the country’s three telcos (the third is Dito Telecommunity), Redoble explained the dangers of the “predictive capability” of cyber hunters looking for their potential victims. Redoble explained these “social engineering” scammers monitor people who post where, when, and what they are doing.

Redoble and Sabino cautioned anew law-abiding netizens these activities and bits of information posted in social media platforms can be seen and accessed by others too. They pointed out public WiFi facilities that boost signals of mobile phones, tablets, laptops and other digital devices have become the chief means through which these tech-savvy criminals expanded their illegal trade.

Lately, Samaniego warned that the emergence of the so-called “dark web” became another source for identity thieves looking for potential victims. Presenting samples of high-tech gadgets, Samaniego showed how these identity thieves can illegally access and cull personal data from Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tiktok and other social media platforms on the internet.

Samaniego and Jocel de Guzman, creator of Truth 360, are co-founders the ScamWatch Pilipinas joined forces with the National Cyber Crime Hub in handling the Hotline 1-3-2-6, an inter-agency call center where the public can directly report and complain cyber scams and other digital crimes. Aside from the PNP-ACG, the anti-cybercrime division of the National Bureau of Investigation is the other law enforcement arm of Hotline 1-3-

2-6. For the public, Samaniego urged them to heed the following reminders they phrased in Tagalog for easier understanding by the youngest to the senior citizens. The ScamWatch Pilipinas came up with four “to do” principles:

– Mag-snub. (Just ignore them.)

– Mag-damot ng pera. (Scrimp on money) whenever amounts of money are involved;

– Mag-duda. (Be skeptical. If it’s too good to be true, then it’s not true, as one popular adage goes.)

– Mag-report agad. (Report immediately suspicious offers to law enforcement authorities.)

Likened to the COVID-19 infection that spread throughout the country, the “scam-demic” can also get your social media contacts victimized by cyber scammers. And these are your family members, relatives, friends, classmates, co-workers and other people you know. So don’t ignore the warning signs. (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.

‘Scam-demic’

PH is 13th in Asia-Pacific, 60th in world in talent ranking for 2023

by Aric John Sy cuA ManilaTimes.net

THE Philippines is the 13th Asia-Pacific (APAC) nation in the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) World Talent Ranking (WTR) for 2023, which was released on Thursday, Sept. 21.

Globally, the Philippines ranked 60th out of 64 countries, dropping from 54th in 2022.

The country is also ranked 24th out of 27 countries with a population of over 20 million people.

The country also ranked 62nd in terms of investment and development as in 2022. It placed 55th in appeal, and 51st in readiness, dropping from 35th and 43rd respectively in 2022. Singapore (79.96), Hong Kong

(74.35), and Australia (73.12) are the top 3 countries in the APAC region, according to the 2023 competitiveness rating.

With the complete score of 100, Switzerland currently tops the chart, followed by Luxembourg (84.39), Iceland (84.33), Belgium (83.75), and the Netherlands (83.34) in the top 5.

According to the IMD, this year's World Talent Ranking indicates that the Covid-19 pandemic played a "determining role" in the talent competitiveness landscape, citing the adoption of remote and hybrid work around the world.

"On the one hand, the widespread adoption of remote and hybrid work has implications for how career progression is perceived: 27 percent of the more than 4,000 executives surveyed for the WTR assert that remote work,

whether full-time or part-time, is detrimental to career development in their company," the IMD said in a press statement on Thursday.

"Notably, the economies in which remote work is considered less harmful for career development are, on average, also those that excel in the attraction and retention of highly skilled professionals as well as in the levels of female participation in the job market."

The IMD said this year's WTR studied 64 economies, with Kuwait entering the list for the first time. They quantified 31 different criteria under investment and development, appeal (which includes cost of living and quality of life), and readiness (which included labor force growth), which involved hard data and survey responses from executives. n

Frasco to present Philippines’ sustainable tourism plans at UNWTO global forum

by Rosette Adel Philstar.com

MANILA — Tourism Secretary

Christina Frasco was set to speak at the panel discussions at the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Global Tourism Economy Forum to tackle the country’s sustainable tourism plans and initiatives.

Frasco was to speak as a panelist for the session titled “Sustainability in Focus: Navigating the Future of Tourism in Asia.” During which, she is expected to discuss the key strategies of the country to pursue the sustainability objectives.

The Department of Tourism reported that these strategies would include the Philippines’ profile as one of the megadiverse regions in the world, incorporation of multi-dimensional tourism in its product development, expansion of tourism development to emerging destinations, as well as the inclusion of Batanes Islands to the highly regarded UNWTO International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories.

Frasco said her speaking engagement is also an opportunity to highlight the Philippines’ positive rebound in Asia Pacific.

Among the tourism chief’s first directives is to include

sustainability indicators in the National Accommodation Standards.

“I am honored to bring the Philippines’ sustainable tourism plans, initiatives, and successes to the global stage to promote awareness of the incredible beauty and biodiversity of our country, and the work to sustain its development, conservation, and promotion to ensure tourism’s continued contribution to our country’s economy,” Frasco said.

The forum, attended by fellow tourism ministers from across the globe, took place on Friday, September 22 in Macao Special Administrative Region.

According to its website, GTEF is a leading international exchange platform designed to promote the sustainable development of the global tourism sector. This year, the forum is hosted by the Secretariat of Economy and Finance of the Government of Macao SAR, and in collaboration with the UNWTO. The GTEF is co-organized by the Macao Government Tourism Office and the China Chamber of Tourism and coordinated by the Global Tourism Economy Research Centre.

Among the distinguished attendees to the forum included Hu Heping of China, Daniela

Garnero Santanche of Italy, Celso Sabino De Oliveira of Brazil, Priantha Fernando of Sri Lanka, as well as UNWTO SecretaryGeneral Zurab Pololikashvili, World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) President and CEO Julia Simpson, and GTEF Secretary Pansy Ho.

Also among the panelists were Harry Hwang, Director of the UNWTO Regional Department for Asia and the Pacific.

The invitation to Frasco came months after the tourism secretary was elected as chairman of the UNWTO’s Commission for East Asia and the Pacific during the 55th meeting of the UNWTO Regional Commission for East Asia and the Pacific in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in June. She was also elected vice president of the 25th General Assembly of the UNWTO which is slated to take place next month.

In June, Batanes islands, the northernmost part of the Philippines, was also named a new member of the UNWTO International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories. It is the first tourist destination in the country that has been chosen to be part of the UNWTO’s network of tourism observatories, through the Batanes Tourism Hospitality Monitoring Center. n

Atty. Gurfinkel answers more immigration questions from Kapamilya in Manila on Citizen Pinoy

IN part five of Citizen Pinoy’s “Your Tanong, My Sagot” from Manila, leading U.S. Immigration Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel provides answers to more immigration questions from Kapamilya in the Philippines.

• Faisol has a U.S. citizen daughter who lives in the Philippines. The daughter will be turning 21 soon, and Faisol is asking what steps can be taken so their daughter can petition them.

• The petition for Olivia’s son was approved in

2021. Olivia is worried because her son turns 20 this year, and he is still waiting for his interview at the U.S. Embassy. How much longer will he wait?

• Julie was petitioned by her U.S. citizen father in 2005. She wants to know what she should do since her son will be aging out by the time the petition becomes current.

• Oliver’s mother has been living in the

Kathryn Bernardo, Park Eun Bin awarded at Seoul International Drama Awards 2023

By KAthleen A. llemit Philstar.com

MANILA — Kathryn Bernardo represented the Philippines well on Thursday’s, September 21, Seoul International Drama Awards 2023 as she walked the red carpet and accepted the Outstanding Asian Star trophy.

Dazzling in a Martin Bautista creation, Kathryn thanked her fans and “2 Good 2 Be True” costar Daniel Padilla in her speech.

“When I initially found out about this nomination and recognition for my craft from such an esteemed award giving body, that in itself is already a win for me,” Kathryn said. “But being here tonight, personally receiving this award, along with my fellow awardees from Asia, I’m so overwhelmed and still feels surreal.” She is cited in the category

with Thai star Atthaphan “Gun”

Phunsawat, who is known to Filipino fans as Punn in “The Gifted,” and multi-awarded K-drama star Park Eun-bin, whose hit drama “Extraordinary

Ellen Adarna delights fans with first TikTok post

By Dolly Anne CArvAjAl Inquirer.net

Attorney Woo” was named Outstanding Korean Drama alongside Song Hye-kyo’s revenge drama “The Glory.” Kathryn shared that she fell

Kathryn Bernardo receives her Outstanding Asian Star Award at the Seoul International Drama Awards held at the KBS Hall in Yeouido, Seoul, on September 21, 2023. Screengrab from Seoul International Drama Awards 2023 via Star Cinema Instagram

Actress-model Ellen Adarna Ellen Adarna via Instagram

Filipino sensation Vina Morales joins the Broadway cast of Here Lies Love

Morales makes her broadway debut in one month limited guest engagement until Sunday, October 22

POPULAR Filipino actress Vina Morales makes her Broadway debut on Friday, September 22 in Here Lies

Love, the groundbreaking musical from David Byrne and Fatboy Slim. Morales joins the show performing as “Aurora Aquino” for a limited guest engagement through Sunday, October 22 at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway at 53rd Street).

As previously announced, Here Lies Love is committed to featuring various guest stars from the Philippines in the role of “Aurora Aquino,” which was originated by co-producer Lea Salonga, to showcase the country’s abundance of talent. This production marked the first time Salonga played a Filipino role on the Broadway stage. Here Lies Love began previews Saturday, June 17 and opened to rave reviews on Thursday, July 20, 2023. From David Byrne Academy Award®, Grammy® Award, and Tony Award® winner) and Fatboy Slim (Grammy Award winner), Here Lies Love is “a truly fabulous piece of visual theater with a soundscape more beautiful, more exciting and more surprising than any score on Broadway” (Chicago Tribune). This revolutionary new musical

about former Filipina First Lady Imelda Marcos’ astonishing rise to power and subsequent fall at the hands of the Philippine People Power Revolution, has been hailed as “a political chiller that’s also a red-hot adrenaline

rush” (Ben Brantley) “that makes you believe you could dance all night” (The Washington Post). Developed and directed by Alex Timbers (Tony Award winner) and choreographed by Annie-B Parson (Olivier

Award nominee), Here Lies Love is a “roof-raising, discoinfused extravaganza that turns the theatre into a dance floor with thrilling results” (The Guardian). Following sold-out, critically acclaimed runs at The Public Theater, London’s National Theatre, and Seattle Rep, “Here Lies love is the most entertaining new show on Broadway right now” (ABC7). Ticket buyers can experience this “undeniably enjoyable show” (New York Post) in two ways: seated or standing immersed within the action. The show features the first all-Filipino cast to perform on Broadway: Arielle Jacobs (In The Heights, Aladdin, Between The Lines) as “Imelda Marcos,” Jose Llana (The King and I, The 25th Annual Putnam Country Spelling Bee) as “Ferdinand Marcos,” Conrad Ricamora (“How to Get Away with Murder,” The King and I, Soft Power – Grammy nominations) as “Ninoy Aquino,” Aaron J. Albano, Melody Butiu, Moses Villarama, Jasmine Forsberg, Reanne Acasio, Jaygee Macapugay, Julia Abueva, Renée Albulario, Aaron Alcaraz, Carol Angeli, Nathan Angelo, Kristina Doucette, Roy Flores, Timothy Matthew Flores, Sarah

Atty. Gurfinkel answers...

Philippines for the past five years, and he wants to know if that would affect the petition that she filed for his sister.

Atty. Gurfinkel answers these questions in the fifth installment of “Your

The rippling waters of giving to others and reaching beyond ourselves

Part I of II

Rhizomes

Prosy AbArquezDelAcruz,

“WE were sent here to search for the light of Easter in our hearts, and when we find it we are meant to give it away generously. Maybe it is the role of the artists and mystics to attend to the seeming emptiness about us and find incredible riches there.” - John O’Donohue, Ph.D, in Philosophical Theology, 2015

In that role as artists, we go among the trees, the rice fields, the corn plantations we see stretching beyond the horizon, seeming endless in riches. We breathe in the serenity of the green farm, the blue skies and the warm winds caressing our cheeks as we ride through Balingog, Nueva Ecija.

In that place of seeming abundance of crops, one gets confronted with torn and dilapidated church building and dearth of bathrooms for families to use.

The Filipino Caucus Foundation, now in its 50thyear of existence in the USA, donated funds to renovate the Balingog East United Methodist Church, once with missing sheets of roofing, bare, and allowing rain through its exposed slats of wood frames.

The parishioners are 95% farmers, with young families, and although they banded together to aggregate their savings to support rebuilding, it will take another decade to give the church new roof, new walls, new windows, new fans, and new church pews.

With funds donated by the Filipino Caucus Foundation, the church was restored to its former glory, and in addition, ten bathrooms, gravity fed, composting the waste, as eco friendly toilets, were constructed. Each bathroom is currently used by ten family members, and in

total, a hundred folks use them, daily. Think of some gravity fed toilets in some national parks that you have visited in the US.

Imagine if you were one of these farmworker families –wouldn’t your sense of dignity and trust in humanity increase when strangers enable your faith worship and daily comfort? Much better than your own abilities and capacities, even if threaded together, can achieve?

It makes me recall the story of 15 sakadas who were recruited from the Philippines by the Hawaiian Sugar Planters Association in 1906 to work in the sugar plantations of the United States. The plantation camps where they lived were crowded and provided minimal amenities.

Despite those hardships, they banded together to deal with the harsh working conditions and with their exceptional work ethic, persevered. That intersecting memory with the present conditions of rice plantation workers in Nueva Ecija, with the critical need for working toilets, compelled me to write about this foundation.

For half a century, these Filipino Methodists have collaborated and perhaps could not sit still to enjoy their lives in America unless they can contribute to others’ sense of peace.

The best of humanity

“We are made to be in community. We are poorer by our inability to come together in person. Although zoom is a platform of choice, this is a poor substitute for gathering. Mental health became a leading issue [during the pandemic].” – Pastor Adiel DePano, 2023

The pandemic did not shrink the fulfillment of this foundation’s mission. With sustained energies, now in its 50th year, this organization that he leads, supports four core programs: Christmas Institute, Faith Festival, Philippine Fiesta, and Philippine Mission. The concert, ‘Stories behind Songs’ showcased Dodjie Simon, winner of two Metro Pop competitions: 1997 Second Place

Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel

shown

with Faisol Khan (left) and Olivia Nagahama (right).

Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel answers the questions of Kapamilya from Manila – Julie Guarin (left) and Oliver Pimentel (right).

Vina Morales in Here Lies Love

Photo by Shira Friedman

J.D.

Gary V Reenergized 2023 show coming to Pechanga Resort Casino on October 6-7

GARY V will return to the Pechanga Resort Casino stage this fall with two shows lined up for October 6 and 7, 2023 at 8 p.m. Mark your calendar and make plans to see this awardwinning entertainer inside the Pechanga Theater!

Pechanga Resort Casino is known for hosting some of the biggest names in Filipino entertainment. From the Iconic Concert with Sharon Cuneta & Regine Velasquez to The Champions with Joel Sebag, The All-Star concert, Eraserheads and Sarah Geronimo, Pechanga is always ready to put on a show for these superstars, and Gary V is one of the biggest of them all.

To date, Gary V has released 39 albums and won the Awit Award for “Best Male Performer” 12 times. He is also a recurring star on the musical variety show ASAP and the singing competition It’s Showtime. Throughout his 34 years in the industry, he has been awarded multi-platinum recording awards for most of his albums. He has also performed and recorded with many international stars, including Brian McKnight, George Duke, Paul Jackson Jr., Menudo, and Kool and the Gang just to name a few. He is currently tasked to perform the hits of BTS, James Ingram and Bruno Mars for ASAP. Apart from his illustrious musical career, he has been UNICEF Philippines’ first National Ambassador since 1998.

Gary V is also known for his acting and has won the “Best Single Performance by an Actor” trophy in the 90s. He has appeared in 14 full-length films for some of the top movie companies such as Viva Films, Regal Films and Star Cinema. Throughout his career, he has been called the “Michael Jackson of the Philippines,” selling out venues and theatres across the world.

Gary V is also a man of philanthropy. During the COVID pandemic and lockdown in 2020, he was one of the leading artists in the Philippines in online fundraisers and was the first Philippine artist to join the biggest prayer app in the world –pray.com – as one of its ambassadors in 2021. He also formed the Shining Light Foundation in 1989, focusing on supporting diabetics and funding a scholarship program that has produced many multi-awarded scholars and students.

His online presence has proven powerful, too, with 4 million followers on Twitter, over 1,078,000 on Facebook, 309,000 subscribers on YouTube, 690,000 followers on Instagram and over 951,000 followers on Spotify. This is a show not to miss!

Shows in the Pechanga Theater offer a comfortable and intimate concert experience. With 1,200 seats in the theater, and each show features state-of-the-art, acoustically perfected sound, plus comfortable chairs, and an up-close

view from every theater seat. Pechanga 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 5,500 of the hottest slots, table games, worldclass entertainment, 1,100 hotel rooms, dining, spa and golf at Journey at Pechanga, Pechanga Resort Casino features a destination unrivaled in California. Pechanga Resort Casino is owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Indians. For more information, call toll free (877) 711-2946 or visit www.Pechanga.com. Follow Pechanga Resort Casino on Facebook, Instagram and on Twitter @ PechangaCasino.

(Advertising Supplement)

Ellen Adarna delights fans...

PAGE B1

Thursday, September 21, Ellen is seen looking at the camera with the text “Learning TikTok” on the video. She breaks into a smile while a sped up version of Punch and Loco’s song “Say Yes,” a sound track of the 2016 hit historical fantasy drama “Scarlet Heart

Ryeo,” serves as her video’s background song. The second post in the account with the blue check mark said that she has a new profile photo. Ellen has 4.7 million followers on Instagram, while she and Derek maintains a YouTube channel with 95,000 subscribers. n

Celebrating the 125th Philippine Independence: Megaworld International launches the KKK Raffle Promo

IN commemoration of the 125th Philippine Independence, Megaworld International proudly presents the Kalayaan, Kinabukasan, at Kasaysayan (KKK) raffle promo in partnership with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP). The annual nationwide celebration of Philippine Independence serves as a reminder of the bravery and sacrifices of earlier generations who fought for the freedom that Filipinos enjoy today.

The KKK raffle promo by Megaworld International aligns perfectly with the core principles of this significant event. By advocating freedom and a better future, it echoes the spirit of the Philippines’ journey to independence. Recognizing the importance of history, the promo aims to promote Philippine heritage and cultural legacy among the Filipino people. The Philippines’ declaration of independence from Spain in 1898 was a pivotal moment in the country’s history. It was the culmination of years of heroic efforts by local patriots to free the nation from colonization. This significant milestone ignited a sense of patriotism and inspired the following generations to continue the fight for the freedom and rights that Filipinos deserve. Megaworld International’s KKK raffle promo encapsulates the essence of Philippine independence. It encourages individuals to participate in the celebration by investing

In celebration of the 125th anniversary of the

in world-class Megaworld properties. The promo not only offers major prizes such as a brand-new condominium unit, an investment for education, and a limited-edition home furniture piece by renowned designer Ito Kish, but also symbolizes the pursuit of a financially-free country.

As the Philippines celebrates its 125th Independence, Megaworld International’s partnership with the NHCP and many world-class brand partners serves as a testament to their shared commitment to preserving the country’s history and promoting a brighter future. The KKK raffle promo invites Filipinos from all walks of life, both at home and abroad, to connect with their heritage and contribute to the nation’s progress.

In the spirit of unity and national pride, Megaworld International’s KKK raffle promo showcases the best of

independence,

Filipino artistry, hospitality, and world-class investments to a global audience. By bridging the gap between the country’s rich history and the aspirations for financial freedom, the promo invites individuals to join hands in building a prosperous future for the Philippines.

As the country embarks on this momentous celebration, Megaworld International’s KKK raffle promo stands as a testament to the resilience and spirit of the Filipino people. It is an opportunity to honor the past, embrace the present, and shape the future of a nation that continues to strive for greatness.

For more information, visit: https://kkkrafflepromo. megaworldinternational.com/ Facebook: https:// www.facebook.com/ megaworldintlmktg

Instagram: https://instagram. com/megaworld_intl/ (Advertising Supplement)

Kathryn Bernardo, Park Eun Bin awarded...

in love with the ABS-CBN and Netflix drama collaboration where she played a nurse named Ali. The show shed light on Alzheimer’s Disease.

“I fell in love with this project because of the storyline. It’s always more than just about sharing a love story for our audience, but also spreading awareness on Alzheimer’s Disease and educating people about those who struggle and how we can offer them the best support. So this project made me appreciate our nurses and healthcare workers.”

“[It] was more than just another TV show for me. To my fans from Philippines, this is for you. You guys are a gem and I appreciate each and every one of you,” she said.

The Seoul International Drama Awards, also known as SDA, is an annual awards ceremony in Korea that honors excellence in global television production. It has given citations and awards to dramas from all over the world since 2006. It is presented by the Seoul Drama Awards Organizing Committee and the Korean Broadcasters Association. n

Philippine

Megaworld International is partnering wih the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) together with other world-class local brands in showcasing Filipino artistry, hospitality and investments through the Kalayaan, Kinabukasan at Kasaysayan Raffle Promo.

Still finding your best angle?

A chin enhancement can give you the perfect  angle anywhere you look

Beauty Talk with Imee

Imee Ong-maghanOy

ARE you one of those who positions her face to that one flattering angle every time (and I mean, EVERY time) she had her picture taken? And you wished you do could other poses, and you are not limited to just one specific profile. I feel you sister… or brother (men have their best angle too).

“But I don’t really put much thought into it ‘coz I can easily edit those photos using editing apps and filters.” I hear you. But as I always advise my clients: You can only do so much editing in the digital world. It would bring you greater satisfaction knowing that you look the same in your digital photos on social media as you are in person. Life is too short to be fiddling around these apps each time you need to look your best on every shot whilst worrying that you may have overdone it and end up surprising the people you meet coz you look so much different in your photos –– True story.

Well, if you are ready to live in the “real world” and say goodbye to limited poses or endlessly tilting your head in all directions just to get that perfect shot, or always getting yourself in the predicament I mentioned earlier, consider this a sign.

I may be speaking too soon but hear me out –– sometimes, all it takes is a little chin enhancement to get that contoured face you want to project, and flash that confident smile. And yes, this treatment is way more sustainable than your editing apps and filters, not to mention, “catfish-proof .”

‘Face every side of the REAL world with confidence’

A well-defined chin creates a balance between your nose, neck, and cheeks. On the contrary, a recessed chin may not provide enough structure to create the visual distinction needed between the face and neck. This results to an unflattering silhouette or what we commonly call, a double chin.

A small chin can also make the nose appear larger because of a lack of balance between facial features.

There are several options to strengthen the chin and bring more balance to your profile. The two most popular options are chin enhancement surgery or chin augmentation with fillers. If you only need a small adjustment, fillers are a fantastic option. It may also be a better option if you simply want to gain back some of the definition you’ve lost in your face.

Chin fillers are becoming more popular because they offer instant results, it is nonsurgical, and there is zero downtime. Dermal fillers can be injected in key points to add volume beneath the skin and modestly enhance chin and jawline contours. Results are definitely long-lasting (some patients report results lasting up to 24 months).

The results are immediate. Expect a more balanced facial contour, more defined jawline which adds volume to the chin and helps get rid of double chin, and absolutely improves chin projection.

Some downtime, as with any form of injectables, is expected like bruising, swelling and slight defenses in the area of injection but totally manageable with pre and post-treatment care.1

Immediately after treatment, you should avoid applying makeup for the next 24 hours. Also

Company acting as agent of employer can be equally liable for discrimination

try not to engage in strenuous activities, avoid applying lasers and facial treatments, or exposing yourself to extreme heat like being under the hot sun for an extended period of time.

The best part is that the results are instant (and definitely “more real than an edited photo”) without any major swelling or pain. If you are still on the fence about this treatment, you can call us and our trained staff will examine the areas you’d like treated and answer all your questions. After all, we just want you to become more confident in every angle ––and live worry-free both online and in person –– which happens when you look the same on both. Give us a call. We’d love to help you. If you are in the LA area, feel free to swing by at iSkin Beverly Hills. And if you happen to be in the Inland Empire and Orange County, we have MiSkin Spa for you self-love and self-pampering needs.

For more information you may visit iskinbeverlyhills.com.

Visit iSkin Med Spa and MiSkin MedSpa for a free consultation. iSkin is located at 8665 Wilshire Blvd. Penthouse Beverly Hills ,90211 or call 424-382-1002 MiSkin MedSpa is located at 9227 Haven Ave. Suite 120 in Rancho Cucamonga, 91370 or call 909-9898464. * * *

Imee Ong-Maghanoy is an established aesthetician, a business owner and CEO of iSkin Beverly Hills, iSkin MedSpa and MiSkin MedSpa. Imee has been in the aesthetics industry for more than 20 years. She has a degree in Biology and Doctor of Dental Medicine. iSkin MedSpa and MiSkin MedSpa are fast emerging as a top Spa destination in LA. iSkin is located at 8665 Wilshire Blvd penthouse Beverly Hills, CA 90211. MiSkin MedSpa is located at 9227 Haven Ave. Suite 120 in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, 91370. (Advertising Supplement)

The rippling waters of giving to others...

PAGE B2

(If I Could) and 1999 Grand Prize (Can’t Stop Loving You). His repertoire that night included ‘Can Find No Reason,’ ‘Ikaw Lamang’, and movie themes for ‘Dysebel’, ‘A Mother’s

Story’, ‘Tatlong Mukha ng Pagibig’, ‘Ang Lahat ng Ito Pati Na’ng Langit, ‘Kung Aagawain ang Lahat sa Akin’, and ‘Nagsimula sa Puso.’ He was effusive in sharing his muse, Elisa who is his wife.

Maestro Ryan Cayabyab,

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights

atty. C. JOe SayaS, Jr

UNLAWFUL actions committed by separate business entities that perform employment-related tasks on behalf of an employer can be held equally liable for discrimination. This rule was made clear in a recent decision from the California Supreme Court.

Plaintiff Kristina Raines applied for a position as a Food Service Aide with a company called Front Porch Communities and Services. She was offered the job on the condition that she pass a pre-employment medical screening to be conducted by U.S. Healthworks Medical Group (“USHW”), one of the country’s largest provider of occupational health services.

As part of the medical screening, USHW required Raines to provide a complete health history, including as to matters that seemed unrelated to her ability to perform the job she had applied for. For example, USHW’s comprehensive screening asked whether Raines has or ever had a venereal disease, painful or irregular vaginal discharge or pain, problems with or irregular menstrual periods, genital pain or masses, cancer, HIV, permanent disabilities, painful or frequent urination, hair loss, hemorrhoids, diarrhea, black stool, constipation, tumors, organ transplant, stroke, or a history of tobacco or alcohol

use. USHW’s screening also asked whether Raines was pregnant, and whether she had any prior job-related injuries or illnesses.

When Raines objected to the intrusiveness of USHW’s health-related inquires, the examination was terminated and her job offer as a Food Service Aide was revoked.

Raines filed a class action against USHW under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (“FEHA”).

This law makes it unlawful for any employer “to make any medical or psychological inquiry” of a job applicant.

USHW moved to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that it was not an employer within the meaning of FEHA. Raines argued that USHW could be held liable under FEHA, which defines “employer” to include “any person acting as an agent of an employer.”

The California Supreme Court agreed with the employee. Noting that FEHA defines “person” to include any partnerships, associations, corporations, and limited liability companies, the Court ruled that a business-entity agent of a FEHA plaintiff’s employer is, for purposes of FEHA, an employer of the plaintiff. The California Supreme Court explained:

“If a business entity contracts with an employer to provide services that will affect that employer’s employees, and if, in providing those services, the business entity agent violates FEHA’s antidiscrimination policies, causing injury to the employer’s employees, it is consistent with sound public policy to treat the business

entity as an employer of the injured employees for purposes of applying the FEHA.”

This interpretation imposes FEHA liability not only on the employer but also extends it to the entity that is most directly responsible for the FEHA violation.”

The California Supreme Court’s ruling in Raines v. U.S. Healthworks Medical Group broadens protection of employees against discrimination. It emphasizes the state’s strict enforcement of its anti-discrimination laws. Companies that violate the law but claim to be a mere third-party service provider rather than a direct employer—whether it be unaffiliated or affiliated with the direct employer—can be held liable for harm or injuries employees.

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

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

(Advertising Supplement)

national artist of the Philippines, gave a recent review of Quesada’s 40thanniversary concert in Manila, September 3, 2023: “Odette Quesada’s concert was so outstanding in many ways: great songs, great singing voice, strong

stage presence and personality and best of all, straightforward, no gimmicks and pretenses, no production numbers, no unnatural sounding script, with a very easy gait and pacing (tapos ang warm pa ng audience) Odette is a natural – ang galling ng communication skills, very sincere and spontaneous and

walang sinasanto. Nakakatawa siya just being her natural self –kaya very endearing siya.”

Equally endearing to the audience was Quesada when she performed at Asuza Pacific University on August 12, 2023. The audience roared with loud applause, as she walked onstage, dressed simply in all black shirt

and pants. They sang along with her, these popular hits: ‘Till I met you’ (1983 Metropop Grand Prize winner), ‘Growing Up’ (Bagets Movie), ‘To Love Again’, ‘A Friend of Mine’ and ‘Give Me a Chance.’ She invited the community to join her, a community karaoke almost, with swaying hands in the air, PAGE B6

Reliving the Roaring ‘20s at the West Valley Warner Center Chamber of Commerce installation gala, September 12

WHAT a blast it was to volunteer at this fantastic event. Congratulations newly appointed 2024 Board of Directors! Seeing everyone dressed to the nines and ready to dive into a night of community goodness was electrifying! The mingling of new faces and old friends made the evening all the more special. It truly takes a village to make these events shine, and I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the dedicated chamber staff, Diana Williams, Felicia Paust, Erin Blake and volunteers who poured their hard work into making it all happen. A round of applause to all of you!

A standing ovation goes out to our fabulous show hosts, Mark Sterling, and Rebecca Holden – you truly brought the evening to life!

Let’s congratulate the Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley for the Ted O’Karma Memorial Reward – a recognition welldeserved!

Dennis T. DiBiase and Karen Dibase, you’ve truly enriched our community, and the Sean McCarthy Beautification Award is a testament to your dedication.

And to Bonnie Abel, Ambassador of the Year – your commitment and enthusiasm inspire us all!

Special Thanks to David Banes of Empire Auto Sales and Leasing for Sponsoring our Step and Repeat and 360 Photobooth.

Lastly, a massive thank you to Mark Haberman, Jay Ross for capturing the night’s magic through your lens. You made us all look fabulous!

Here’s to celebrating our community, embracing the

past, and stepping into the future enthusiastically. Cheers to all, and thank you for making

this event unforgettable! #WVWCChamberGala #Roaring20sMagic n

The rippling waters of giving to others...

and with Odette on the piano, and a few songs, accompanied by Dodjie Simon. Their interplay and dialogue made for a very relaxed evening, and the joyful warm reaction from the audience was quite touching. If only the sound engineering at Asuza Pacific kept up with their beautiful harmonies and good singing voices, but the sounds were uneven and the reverberations interrupted the enjoyment of the audience, including my husband, Enrique and myself. Even with the unevenness in sound delivery, the success was inspiring.

“Thanks to our community’s overwhelming support, the fundraiser had gross revenues of $41,676, netted $25,861! This is well over and beyond the original goal of $15,000 that we set for ourselves. Glory to God and Maraming Salamat po sa inyong lahat!”- Pastor Adiel DePano, shared in a direct message and later, his Facebook post.

Legacy and movement of goodness of giving to others

“How long will you and I live, “ wrote Susan Ople, “we need to ask that question because tomorrow, we could die. That we, humans, are gifted with the knowledge that our umbilical cords come with an expiration date appear to be lost on people who live aimless lives. Every sunrise is an opportunity to live a day better and more productive than the previous one. Divinity has its own penthouse, and only those authorized by Heaven reach that holy floor. So, live. Do not aim to merely exist. Leave an imprint, perhaps not as huge as Gandhi’s, but something precious to those who truly love you. Be good.”

When I read that excerpt, I recall seeing this beautiful African-American woman with a huge Afro passing by my house. Her radiance was inviting. I ran outside my front door and asked her, boldly: ”Excuse me, you look so radiant. What’s your secret?”

If I had been approached with that wild query, I might have instinctively ran away. Not her, she stopped, and responded with a smile: “Why thank you! I just live my life leaving the place, better than I found it, the workplace, the church, anywhere I am.” I wanted to ask more, but she was gone in no time. To this day, was she an angel, I asked myself? She had that unmistakable golden aura, a radiance I could not explain.

Legacy square

It is the same feeling I now have in my heart, inspired by a visit to Legacy Square with Pastor Adiel DePano and following an interview with him in Simon’s presence.

Why would Dodjie, an accomplished songwriter of 100+ songs, used in commercials, films, and sung by celebrities like Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano,

Legal Advice

Atty. DArrick tAn

DEAR Attorney Tan, I was driving home and was at a complete stop when another driver rear ended my car. I was not feeling well after the accident, as my back seemed very tight and stiff. I took some days off from work. After a week, I contacted the other driver’s insurance to report the claim. The insurance adjuster for the other driver said they would fix my car, and offered me $500.00 for my injuries. Is that enough? I do not know where to go from here. –K.K.

Dear K.K.,

The first step is to make sure that any injuries that you have suffered in the accident are examined and treated. You can recover treatment costs since they are considered “economic damages” that you suffered due to the accident. You can also recover for time away from work as “economic damages,” even if you used paid time off or sick leave.

The term “economic damages” means “objectively verifiable monetary losses including medical expenses, loss of earnings, burial costs, loss of use of property, costs of repair or replacement, costs of obtaining substitute domestic services, loss of employment and loss of business or employment opportunities.” Civil Code Section 1431.2(b)(1). A person’s claim for economic damages apart from medical expenses are often overlooked and not pursued by persons who settle their accident

Maximizing recovery in personal injury cases

cases on their own, or with the assistance of inexperienced counsel.

Loss of earnings are often a significant part of an injured person’s claim for economic damages. Damages are recoverable for both past and future lost earnings. To recover for past lost earnings, a person must prove the amount of income or earnings that he/she has lost to date. To recover damages for future earnings, a person must prove the amount of income or earnings that he/she will be reasonably certain to lose in the future as a result of the injury.

CACI No. 3903C

How are past lost earnings proven? Medical records, which show the doctor authorizing a release from work or giving instructions to restrict work activities, can support the time taken off from work due to the injury. For those self-employed, medical providers typically do not provide a release from work; however, medical records should record work restrictions placed by the medical provider.

After showing that the time off was justified, the next step is to value the lost earnings. A letter from a person’s employer that outlines the amount of time that one has lost as a result of his/her injury, the loss of benefits, and the rate of pay during the time of loss is evidence of the value of one’s loss of earnings claim. Other supporting documents include pay stubs, time cards, and tax returns. The monetary value of sick leave and vacation

time that are used due to the injury are also recoverable. For those self-employed, earnings history as reflected by tax returns and profit and loss statements can help prove the value of lost earnings. Similar supporting documentation must be presented for future lost earnings.

Apart from economic damages, you can recover “general damages,” which are damages for the pain, suffering, and inconvenience due to the accident.

If you were suffered injury in an auto accident or someone’s premises, please contact our office to discuss your case. To maximize monetary recovery, it is important to have the assistance of an experienced attorney in presenting your personal injury claim.

* * * 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.

* * * Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada. Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles (CAALA) and American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). He is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Philippine American Bar Association (PABA). LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN, 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Tel: 323-639-0277. Email: info@dtanlaw.com (Advertising Supplement)

Can I file a divorce in California if my Spouse resides outside California?

properties between the spouses and awarding support payments.

In order for the California Courts to have the power to make orders, the California Courts must have personal jurisdiction over the respondent.

THIS is a common question among people contemplating divorce in California when the other spouse does not live in the state. The California Courts has the power to grant a divorce, annulment, or legal separation if either party is domiciled in the state. Domicile is where a person lives and intends to remain. However, there is an additional requirement if you are seeking a divorce rather than annulment or legal separation. To obtain a divorce in California, one of the parties must have been a resident of California for six months immediately before the filing of the divorce petition. Responding spouses can use this requirement as a defense if the Petitioning spouse does not meet such requirement when the petitioner filed for divorce. In addition, divorce petitions may be filed in the county where at least one spouse resided for 3 months immediately prior to filing the petition. Now apart from getting a divorce, legal separation, or annulled status, there may be issues relating to distributing community and separate

Personal jurisdiction means the respondent has minimum contacts with California even if not physically here. Some of the factors looked at is respondents presence in the state, domicile, residence, citizenship, consent, appearance in the action, doing business in the state, doing an act that causes an effect in the state, ownership in the state, other relationship to the state. If the respondent does not have minimum contact with California, respondent may challenge any orders relating to distribution of property and support based on the court’s lack of jurisdiction.

With regards to initial child custody issues, these issues are resolved under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act. California Courts have the power to make initial custody orders if it is the child’s home state at the time the action was filed. California may also assume power to make custody orders if California has been the child’s home state within six months before the action was filed, the child is absent form California, and a parent continues to live in California. California may also exercise jurisdiction when

no other state is the child’s home state or when all court’s having jurisdiction over the child has declined to act and deferred to California as the more appropriate place to make custody orders. California may also exercise jurisdiction if no other state would have jurisdiction over the child.

* * * 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, APC. This article is not a solicitation.

*

* * Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APC is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com. (Advertising Supplement)

Filipino sensation Vina...

Kay, Jeigh Madjus, Aaron “AJ” Mercado, Geena Quintos, Shea Renne, Angelo Soriano, and Danielle Troiano.

Regine Velasquez, and author of two books on Artificial Intelligence go out of his way to organize this interview? Simon lives two counties away, while DePano lives one county away from me.

Hidden to us three was the ultimate purpose of this interview.

Trusting in the Holy Spirit, we prayed together and later, at the end, we collectively said that the purpose was to write about our common patrimony, the wisdom of gentle humanitarians working for the overall common good. By our efforts, we can all support and grow the movement of goodness propagated for 50 years by the Filipino Caucus Foundation aka The Filipino American United Methodist Foundation.

What a beautiful evening to know how much impact this foundation has had on our kababayans back home in the Philippines. Wendell Berry, a farmworker and a writer in Kentucky wrote: “I go among trees and sit still

My task lie in their place, Where I left them, Asleep like cattle”

Then the biological urge comes of me, but nowhere do I sit without polluting what I just planted, rice seedlings…to which I add as the composting, gravity feeding toilets are on my mind. There are more eco-composting toilets we have to build for farmworkers, as there are more homes to build for the homeless.

* * *

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

The creative team for Here Lies Love on Broadway includes three-time Tony Award® nominee David Korins (scenic design), Tony Award® winner Clint Ramos (costume design), Tony Award® winner Justin Townsend (lighting design), M.L. Dogg & Cody Spencer (sound design), and three-time Tony Award® nominee Peter Nigrini (projection design), with casting by Tara Rubin CSA, Xavier Rubiano CSA, Gail Quintos and general management by Foresight Theatrical. Additional creative team members include ATW Jonathan Larson Grant recipient J. Oconer Navarro (music director), Billy Bustamante (assistant director), Renée Albulario (assistant choreographer), Bobby Garcia (casting consultant/Philippines), Gregory T. Livoti (production stage manager), and Ryan Gohsman and Sheryl Polancos (assistant stage managers). Giselle “G” Töngi is the show’s Cultural and Community Liaison.

Here Lies Love is produced by Hal Luftig/Kevin Connor, Patrick Catullo, Clint Ramos, Jose Antonio Vargas, and Diana DiMenna and Plate Spinner Productions, with Aaron Lustbader serving as Executive Producer.

They are joined by Lea Salonga, H.E.R., Jo Koy, Apl.de.Ap/Tala Creative Live, Rob Laqui, Giselle “G” Töngi, Adam Hyndman, Eva LaBadie, Georgina Pazcoguin, Marikit Ventures/Miranda Gohh, DJ CherishTheLuv/Garcia At Rodis, Don Michael H. Mendoza/Lora Nicholas Olaes, Celia Kaleialoha Kenney/Jeremiah Abraham, No Guarantees, Yasuhiro Kawana, Elise K. Haas, Len Blavatnik, Warner Music Entertainment, Shira Friedman, James L. Nederlander/Independent Presenters Network, LaChanze, Wendy Federman/ Suzanne Niedland, Katler-Solomon/Charlotte Cohn, Cathy Dantchik, Elizabeth Armstrong, John Gore

Organization, The Shubert Organization, Hunter Arnold, Creative Partners Productions, Eastern Standard Time, Global Creatures, The Public Theater, Triptyk Studios, Iris Smith, Michael Robin Productions/Anastasia Muravyeva, Alexi Melvin/ Beesham A. Seecharan, Andrew Diamond/Patrick Trettenero, Buzzy Geduld/Gilad Rogowsky, Craig Balsam/David Brendel, Sok Sabai Productions/ Ride or Die Productions, Marco Santarelli/ Das Ellman & Howe, Linden Delaney/ Smigelrutter Fitviavi, and Laura Ivey/Janet Brenner.

Tickets are on sale now at Telecharge.com, by phone at 212-239-6200, or at the Broadway Theatre box office.

For information on groups of 10+, contact Broadway Inbound at broadwayinbound.com or call 866-302-0995.

Rush tickets are available in-person at the Broadway Theatre box office on the day of the performance for $35 each. Tickets are limited to a maximum of 2 per person and are subject to availability.

Digital lottery entrants can register for the chance to purchase up to 2 tickets at $39 each. Entries for the Here Lies Love digital lottery start at 12 AM, one day before the performance, and winners are drawn the same day at 10 AM and 3 PM. Visit rush. telecharge.com for more information and to register. Drawings only appear when they are open for entries.

Vina Morales (Aurora Aquino) is thrilled to be making her Broadway debut! This multi-talented and awarded artist started her career at the age of 8. She has done more than 40 films and primetime soap operas. She has released 14 albums, done concerts worldwide and has performed with David Pomeranz and Jim Brickman. This IKON Asean Champion was the first Filipino to perform in the NY Music Festival. She played Sherrie in Atlantis Productions’ local adaptation of Rock of Ages. n

Nearly 800 attended the Concert ‘Stories behind the Songs’ Dodjie Simon and Dr. Elisa Simon

Pastor Adiel DePano with Odette Quesada and Dr. Elise Simon Pastor Adiel DePano and Dodjie Simon