093022 - Northern California Edition

Is COVID ‘under control’ in the US? Experts say yes

PRESIDENT Joe Biden caused a stir in a “60 Minutes” interview on Sept. 18 when he declared that the COVID-19 pandemic is over.

“We still have a problem with COVID — we’re still doing a lot of work on it,” Biden said. “But the pandemic is over.”

Critics countered that the U.S. is still averaging about 400 deaths daily from the virus, that nearly 30,000 Americans remain hospitalized, and that many others are suffering from “long COVID” symptoms stemming from previous infections.

Two days later, Biden acknowledged that despite the negative reactions by some, the pandemic “basically is not where it was.” White House press secretary Karine JeanPierre called the coronavirus “a lot more manageable.” Past experience means “we

Health plan shake-up could disrupt coverage for low-income Californians

ALMOST 2 million of California’s poorest and most medically fragile residents may have to switch health insurers as a result of a new strategy by the state to improve care in its Medicaid program.

A first-ever statewide contracting competition to participate in the program, known as Medi-Cal, required commercial managed-care plans to rebid for their contracts and compete against others hoping to take those contracts away. The contracts will be revamped to require insurers to offer new benefits and meet stiffer benchmarks for care.

The long-planned reshuffle of insurers is likely to come with short-term pain. Four of the managed-care insurers, including Health Net and Blue Shield of California, stand to lose Medi-Cal contracts in a little over a year, according to the preliminary results of the bidding, announced in late August. If the results stand, some enrollees in rural Alpine and El Dorado counties, as well as in populous Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, and Kern counties, will have to change health plans — and possibly doctors.

“I’m still shocked and I’m still reeling from it,” said John Sturm, one of about 325,000

PH now open for business — Marcos

by Alexis RomeRo Philstar.com

MANILA — The Philippines is now open for business, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Wednesday, September 28, as he vowed to attend to the needs of investors to encourage them to come to the country.

Speaking during the opening of the new terminal building of the Clark International Airport, Marcos said it is time to talk about partnerships between the government and the private sector that were sidelined during the height of the pandemic.

"We have not been able to do it in the previous years

for the simple reason that there was a pandemic. We did not do anything but help our countrymen, take care of the sick, that's what we did then," the president said in Filipino.

"Now that the problem caused by the pandemic seems to have eased, perhaps it's time to go back to our plans about these kinds of PPP (public-private partnership) projects," he added.

Marcos said he relayed the same message during his recent working visit to New York, where he met with several business groups and corporate executives to provide them updates about the situation in the Philippines.

"The idea was to tell them...we are willing to

change in terms of documentation, procedure, even structure, even legislation, to encourage you to come into the Philippines. Again, the simple message that underlay all that we did was that the Philippines is here, we are a good place to invest, we are probably the most vibrant economy — that is in Southeast Asia," Marcos said.

"We understand the requirements and the needs of our potential investors and we will attend to do. We will do everything so that that partnership becomes to the advantage of both the private sector, the public sector, to the people," he added.

Marcos said the new terminal of the Clark u PAGE 2

‘Karding’ batters Luzon

by Kaithreen Cruz, Kristina Maralit and FranCis earl Cueto ManilaTimes.net

SUPER Typhoon "Karding" (international name: "Noru") pounded Luzon with strong winds and heavy rain that forced hundreds of people to flee their homes.

The storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers an hour as it charged toward Luzon after an unprecedented "explosive intensification," the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

Karding, the strongest storm to hit the Philippines this year, made landfall in Burdeos town on the Polillo Islands, part of Quezon, at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, September 25.

"We ask residents living in danger zones to adhere to calls for evacuation whenever necessary," Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin said.

The Philippines is regularly ravaged by storms, with scientists warning they are becoming more powerful as the world gets warmer because of climate change.

"The winds were fierce this morning," said Ernesto Portillo, 30, who works as a cook in the coastal municipality of Infanta in Quezon.

"We're a bit worried... We secured our belongings and

Palace: Marcos ‘closely monitors’ peso sag

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is “in constant touch” with the economic team in monitoring the weakening value of the Philippine peso, Malacañang assured the public on Tuesday, September 27 but didn’t say what else he plans to do to calm investors, market watchers, and consumers’ concerns.

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said that while the topic was not discussed during the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, the President is still monitoring the situation.

“Not today, although the President is in

constant touch with the economic team and they’re closely monitoring [the slide],” she said in a Palace briefing when asked if the sagging peso was discussed during the Cabinet meeting.

“As you know naman (As you know), the inflation rate is due to any local factors, it’s really about the exchange rate. But it is a matter for the President, which the President closely monitors on a regular basis and he’s in close contact with the economic managers on this matter,” Cruz-

ICC prosecutor’s insistence on ‘drug war’ probe a ‘disservice’ to Philippines — DOJ

by FRAnco lunA Philstar.com

MANILA — The Department of Justice on Wednesday, September 28 took offense at the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court for pushing to launch an investigation into alleged crimes against humanity in the Duterte administration's "war on drugs."

ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan, in response to the Philippines' submission of "drug war" findings, said the government did not give new arguments or information to preclude an official investigation.

At a press briefing Wednesday afternoon, Justice Secretary Jesus

Crispin Remulla said that while the country met its deadline for comment, Khan was "doing them a great disservice by putting a challenge to our system here."

"We submitted these things to the ICC out of the principle of comity, nothing more, nothing else. We are not there 'complying' with anything because we are not members," he said. "I just hope that this matter is not politicized, not weaponized by people in political positions."

"Here comes a foreigner who thinks he knows the Philippines more than we do...Does he want us to speculate about all these unfortunate events that happened? Our job at the DOJ

is to establish facts and prove a case, because nothing is more important than the rule of law."

Remulla said the key issue in the Philippine government's

5

Cratering peso touches

as

MANILA — The Philippine peso touched the 59-level against the US dollar in early Wednesday morning trading, September 28, as a rallying greenback powered by a super aggressive Federal Reserve continues its rampage across currencies in the region.

The peso’s weakest showing for the day stood at P59.02 against

the U.S. dollar before paring some losses to close at P58.98, a tad stronger from its previous finish of P58.99.

It’s a weakness that mirrors the movement in other currency markets in the region, as the U.S. Federal Reserve’s jumbo hikes to tame stubbornly high inflation

probe was that it was trying to investigate the cases individually. Official police data owns up to 6,100 drug-related killings by the

PAGE 4

U.S. President Joe Biden (right) takes part in a bilateral meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday, September 22 on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. During their first face-to-face meeting, the two leaders spoke

about the support for freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, the alliance between the two countries, and other opportunities such as climate action and infrastructure. AJPress photo by Troi Santos

From the Front

PH now open for business...

PAGE 1

International Airport, whose operation and management project was the first PPP awarded under the previous administration, is a huge help to efforts to achieve economic recovery.

"And this facility is essentially a very strong signal that yes, indeed, we are open for business," he said.

According to Marcos, the opening of the facility would be another building block in the country's goal to become a logistics center of Asia. The Philippines needs more airports to enhance tourism and boost economic activity, he added.

"We just opened a new terminal. It is state-of-the-art and this is one of the things that we will continue to do in the future to bring you all to come and be partners with the Philippines to help the lives of our people, to help the Philippine economy, and improve the lives of Filipinos," he

said.

ongoing.

"Let us not force everyone to pass through Manila....This kind of project is exactly on point when it comes to the plans that we have,” the chief executive said.

The inauguration of the 110,000 square-meter terminal building of the Clark International Airport is part of the efforts to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila and promote economic activity in Central Luzon. The building can accommodate around eight million passengers every year, an improvement from the previous 4.2 million passengers annually.

Also present during the event were Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, Tourism Secretary Maria Esperanza Christina GarciaFrasco, Bases Conversion and Development Authority Chairman Delfin Lorenzana, and officials from the Luzon International Premier Airport Development. n

‘Karding’ batters Luzon

PAGE 1

bought a few groceries so we have food just in case."

Videos posted on social media and verified by AFP showed trees being buffeted by strong winds in Infanta and on the Polillo islands.

Pagasa said the storm's wind speeds had increased by 90 kph in 24 hours.

"Typhoons are like engines — you need fuel and an exhaust to function," said weather forecaster Robb Gile.

"In the case of Karding, it has good fuel because it has plenty of warm water along its track and then there is a good exhaust in the upper level of the atmosphere — so it's a good recipe for explosive intensification," he added, using the local name for the storm.

The storm hit about 100 kilometers northeast of Manila. Emergency personnel braced for the possibility of strong winds and heavy rain battering the capital, home to more than 13 million people.

Forced evacuations have started in some "high risk" areas of the metropolis, officials said.

"NCR is prepared. We are just waiting and hoping it will not hit us," said Romulo Cabantac, regional director for the civil defense office, referring to the National Capital Region.

Karding came nine months after another super typhoon devastated swathes of the country, killing more than 400 people and leaving

hundreds of thousands homeless.

Residents in several municipalities in Quezon were evacuated from their homes, according to the provincial disaster office.

In the neighboring province of Aurora, residents of Dingalan town were forced to seek shelter.

"People living near the coast have been told to evacuate. We live away from the coast so we're staying put so far. We're more worried about the water from the mountains," said Rhea Tan, 54, a restaurant manager in Dingalan.

Tan said residents were securing the roofs of their houses and boats were being taken to higher ground while the weather was still calm.

"We're even more anxious if the weather is very calm, because that's the usual indicator of a strong typhoon before it hits land," Tan added.

The storm is expected to weaken to a typhoon as it sweeps across central Luzon, before entering the South China Sea on Monday and heading towards Vietnam.

The weather bureau warned of dangerous storm surges more than 3 meters high along the coast of Aurora and Quezon, including the Polillo Islands, along with widespread flooding and landslides as the storm dumped heavy rain.

It could topple coconut and mango trees, and cause "severe losses" to rice and corn crops in

the heavily agricultural region, while inundating villages.

The coast guard reported more than 2,500 people were left stranded by ferry cancellations as vessels took shelter ahead of the storm.

Dozens of flights in and out of Manila were also canceled.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Sunday ordered work and classes suspended in all the affected areas.

Pagasa raised tropical cyclone wind Signal No. 5 in Polillo Islands; the extreme northern portion of Quezon (the northern and central portions of General Nakar, the northeastern portion of Infanta); the extreme southern portion of Aurora (Dingalan); the extreme southern portion of Nueva Ecija (General Tinio, City of Gapan, Peñaranda, San Isidro, Cabiao); Pampanga (Arayat, Candaba, Santa Ana, San Luis); the eastern and central portions of Bulacan (San Rafael, Angat, Norzagaray, Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Ildefonso, San Miguel); and the extreme northern portion of Rizal (Rodriguez).

September 30 - OctOber 6, 2022 • NOrcAL ASIAN JOUrNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-51602 Under Signal No. 4 were Calaguas Islands; the central and southern portion of Nueva Ecija (Cuyapo, Nampicuan, Guimba, Licab, Zaragoza, San Antonio, San Leonardo, Jaen, Santa Rosa, Palayan City, Gabaldon, Laur, Cabanatuan City, Aliaga,

Marcos cited the need to open regional airports while construction works in the airports in Manila, Bulacan, and Cavite are

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. accommodates the Philippine press during his last day of working visit in New York.

Photo from the Office of the Press Secretary

A man checks his house that was totally destroyed by Typhoon ‘Karding’ in San Miguel, Bulacan, on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. ManilaTimes.net by Mike de Juan

Cratering peso touches 59-level as aggressive...

PAGE 1

stateside send the dollar to its strongest level in decades.

Nicholas Mapa, senior economist at ING Bank in Manila, believes emerging markets can do “very little” in the face of an aggressive U.S. central bank. As it is, other central banks are in a dilemma: either let their currency weaken and risk stoking inflation, or move in tandem with the Fed and drag down their economies to another recession.

“Early rate hikes, jumbo rate hikes have all been cannon fodder as (Jerome Powell) and company

tighten policy to combat U.S. inflation induced by ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine,” Mapa said in a Viber message.

At its meeting this month, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas hiked its policy rate anew, this time by 50 basis points in a bid to control multi-year high inflation. However, this was not enough to match the aggression of the U.S. central bank, which raised its key rate by 75 basis points this month and indicated that more tightening would come.

So far, BSP Governor Felipe said there won’t be any

emergency policy meetings after the one that happened in July. For ING Bank’s Mapa, the BSP would rather dip into the country’s foreign reserves than match the Fed to save the weak peso, which could fan inflation by pushing up import costs.

“With dollar strength looking like that, BSP will likely drawdown reserves built up over the last 2 years prior. From 2019-2020, BSP grew reserves by $23.8 billion. This year they’ve drawn down a relatively modest $5.5 billion for context,” he added.

But Jun Neri, lead economist at Bank of the Philippines Islands, said the possibility of another surprise policy meeting this year could not be ruled out.

"We think there is a big chance there will be an inter-meeting hike before November 17, which is the scheduled meeting of the BSP. We are simply anticipating that when the (Federal Open Market Committee) hikes by 75 bps on November 1, the BSP won't be able to wait for their scheduled November 17 meeting," he said. (Ian Nicolas Cigaral with a report from Ramon Royandoyan/ Philstar.com)

ICC prosecutor’s insistence on ‘drug war’...

end of the Duterte administration.

He also said the government's own investigation will continue for the time being, though rights advocates have raised serious doubts about the administration's ability to investigate itself.

"We are hoping there are more witnesses to come forward, because that's what we need here," he said. "We are looking for ways to protect the witnesses, and we are offering witness protection to anyone who comes forward."

The justice chief went on to cite one case before the National Bureau of Investigation as an example, where he claimed "the investigation was temporarily closed for lack of interest or cooperation on the part of the possible witnesses...for fear of life among other reasons."

But global investigative panel Investigate PH has said that on the ground, the friends and families of victims are intimidated and even threatened. Meanwhile, government officials point to the lack of formal complaints as evidence that operations are done by the book.

In a 21-page response dated September 22, the ICC prosecutor Khan maintained that "none of those arguments have merit."

Familiar narrative on foreign interference

To recall, the ICC gave the Philippine government until September 8 to comment on the request of ICC Prosecutor Khan to resume the investigation of human rights violations allegedly committed under the term of

former president Rodrigo Duterte.

It's the same argument the national government has pushed since the time of Duterte. Remulla again framed the ICC as a meddling foreign influence overstepping into the affairs of the Philippines, whose justice system is supposedly working.

"Are they dictating on us what we should do as a country? [...] We are a sovereign country who has a functioning system so I don't see what the racket is all about, because as far as we are concerned, we're not members of the ICC anymore," he said.

"This is a sovereign matter for us to decide as a country that's democratic. We do everything in our own pace in our own country; this is our country, not their country."

Whether a member-state or not, though, the Philippines still does have obligations before the global court from the time it was still a member. This is because the Rome Statute, which the country signed, outlines in Article 127 that: "A State shall not be discharged, by reason of its withdrawal, from the obligations arising from this Statute while it was a Party to the Statute."

In a Viber message to reporters, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra asserted that the ICC's pre-trial chamber has not yet actually ruled on the Philippine government’s request to deny the ICC prosecutor’s motion to resume investigation.

"What was published recently was the ICC prosecutor’s response to the Philippine government’s position on the issue. the office of

the solicitor general is presently considering whether there is a need to reply to the prosecutor’s response," he said.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has said that his administration has no intention to rejoin the ICC. Marcos was among the senators who signed off on the country's decision to join the ICC back in 2011.

"Regardless of the ruling, the Philippine government will avail itself of all legal remedies, both domestic and international, even as it vigorously pursues its own investigation and prosecution of crimes committed in relation to the government’s so-called war on drugs, all within the framework of our own legal and judicial system," Guevarra said. (with reports from Kristine Joy Patag)

Is CovId ‘under control’ in the US...

PAGE 1

know what works,” she said.

PolitiFact has been tracking a campaign promise Biden made in 2020 that is closely related, but distinct, from what Biden told “60 Minutes.” During the presidential campaign, Biden said, “I’m never going to raise the white flag and surrender. We’re going to beat this virus. We’re going to get it under control, I promise you. “

Biden is on safer linguistic ground with his promise to get COVID “under control” than saying “the pandemic is over.”

There remains some debate among public health experts about whether the pandemic is “over” — or whether it realistically can ever be. There is no official arbiter for making that decision, and the word “over” suggests a finality that is not well suited for describing a pathogen that will exist in some form indefinitely.

However, we found broad agreement among infectiousdisease specialists that the pandemic by now is “under control.”

When Biden was inaugurated, physical distancing was widely enforced, schools were often virtual, public events were rare or tightly controlled, and few Americans had yet received a vaccine. Today, life for many Americans is much closer to the pre-pandemic norm, with virtually all schools open, concerts and restaurants well attended, and travel back to its typical level.

“The nation clearly has made tremendous progress on COVID-19 since President Biden’s election,” said Jen Kates, senior vice president and director of global health and HIV policy at KFF. “I would probably say that we are in a pandemic ‘transition’ phase — that is, moving from the pandemic into a post-pandemic period. But this is a continuum, not a cliff, where it’s a pandemic one day and over the next,” Kates added.

Dr. Marcus Plescia, chief medical officer of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, added that the promise to get the pandemic under control “is certainly well on course, or perhaps even met, as far as what the federal government can provide to accomplish that.”

And Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine and health policy at Vanderbilt University, agreed that the “emergent phase of the pandemic is coming to a close. We’re now moving into the ongoing struggle — call it a truce with the virus.”

Medical experts said pandemics inevitably become “endemic,” meaning that the pathogen is here to stay but does not present a widespread emergency.

“We will always have to manage COVID in the medical system,” said Dr. Monica Gandhi, a professor of medicine at the University of CaliforniaSan Francisco. “Unfortunately, although we can bring down deaths to very low, I don’t think we will ever get to zero deaths from COVID-19.”

The level of U.S. deaths from COVID is lower today than it has been during most of the pandemic, and it has been that way since the spring.

Notably, the number of “excess deaths” is also down.

That’s a metric that gauges how many more deaths are occurring beyond the long-term average for that time of year. The number of excess deaths nationally per week has been consistently between zero and 5,000 since the spring, after peaking at 20,000 to 25,000 per week during four previous surges since the pandemic began.

Hospitalization has held steady recently at some of the lowest rates of the pandemic. And even this level may overstate the virus’s impact; routine testing upon admission often detects cases that are asymptomatic and largely coincidental to the reason a patient is admitted.

Gandhi pointed to data from Massachusetts hospitals showing that most hospitalized patients who test positive for COVID have only “incidental infections,” with only 1 in 3 being treated primarily for a COVID-related illness.

Experts noted that hospitalizations and deaths, even at these reduced levels, remain too high, and they cautioned that infections could increase as winter forces people indoors. Still, they credit the availability of vaccines and therapeutics, as well as the knowledge gained from living with the virus for more than two years, for the likelihood that the darkest days of the pandemic are behind us.

“I am not worried at all that we will go back to the scale of hospitalizations and deaths of the worst days of the pandemic,” said Brooke Nichols, an infectiousdisease mathematical modeler and health economist at the Boston University School of Public Health. “We will likely enter into a seasonal COVID vaccine situation, potentially combined alongside the flu into the same vaccine, and these seasonal vaccines will become critical to avoiding hospitalizations and deaths during the flu and COVID seasons.”

There has been no major new variant since omicron emerged in late 2021, and even the most recent omicron subvariant to emerge, BA.5, has had a long run as the dominant strain in the U.S., prevailing since early July.

This doesn’t mean that a more dangerous new strain couldn’t emerge. However, public health experts take comfort from recent patterns.

The trend during most of 2022 suggests that a rapid succession of ever-more-confounding — and vaccine-evading — variants is not inevitable. If a major new variant does emerge, mRNA vaccines like those made by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech can be updated fairly easily for it.

Vaccination uptake, though, remains an urgent question.

About one-third of Americans are not fully vaccinated, and an even smaller percentage have received boosters. Plescia said “the main deciding factor right now is not going to be the president or the response of the federal government — it’s going to be the response of the public.”

“I think there’s disease fatigue and vaccine fatigue and wearinga-mask fatigue,” said Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association. “People are just tired of COVID and trying to wish it away, and it’s unfortunate

because it’s not gone. We’re tired of it, but it’s not tired of us yet.”

Some experts caution that a pandemic “under control” doesn’t mean the costs will be minimal.

“The degree of protection afforded by the current vaccines available, especially to the most vulnerable, is of limited duration, and nonfatal outcomes from COVID can still have knock-on consequences to the population health,” said Babak Javid, an associate professor in the division of experimental medicine at UCSF.

These consequences are called “long COVID,” and nearly 1 in 5 Americans who have had COVID are suffering from it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines long COVID as symptoms lasting three or more months after contracting the virus that weren’t experienced before.

“Under control” suggests progress on keeping further spread within modest limits. It does not mean that people haven’t lost loved ones or felt continuing effects from the virus; clearly, they have.

What does Biden still need to do?

Biden and his administration still have work to do, experts said.

Several public health experts urged Congress to pass Biden’s request for $22 billion in COVID-related funds. The White House has framed this funding as a way to be ready for a resurgence even though case levels are low now. It proposes that the funding support testing, research on new vaccines and therapeutics, preparations for future variants, and global assistance. Biden’s open declaration that the pandemic is “over” could make congressional approval less likely, however.

Gandhi said the federal government should do a better job targeting boosters and therapeutics at populations most at risk of severe breakthrough infections, notably older Americans and people who are immunocompromised.

And Schaffner urged more effective and unified messaging, with efforts to remove any hints of politics. “I wish the federal government would get together on who the main messenger is, and provide sustained, clear, simple messages,” he said.

Biden may not have used the most appropriate word when he described the pandemic as “over,” but the long-term statistical trends have been trending in the right direction, and the vaccines and treatments should dampen the severity of future waves. For these reasons, experts say it’s fair to declare that the pandemic is “under control.” If circumstances change, we will reassess our rating, but for now, this receives a Promise Kept. (Louis Jacobson, PolitiFact and Jeff Cercone, PolitiFact/Kaiser Health News)

KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

The peso’s weakest showing for the day stood at P59.02 against the U.S. dollar before paring some losses to close at P58.98, a tad stronger from its previous finish of P58.99. Philstar.com file photo

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla Philstar.com photo

Health plan shake-up could disrupt coverage...

members of Community Health Group, the largest Medi-Cal plan in San Diego County, which could lose its contract. “Which doctors can I keep? How long is it going to take me to switch plans? Are there contingency plans when, inevitably, folks slip through the cracks?” Sturm wondered.

Sturm, 54, who has three mental health conditions, largely because of childhood sexual abuse, said finding a psychologist and psychiatrist he could trust took a lot of time and effort. He pointed to the disruption caused by the rollout of Medi-Cal’s new prescription drug program this year, despite assurances it would go smoothly.

“I have concerns, and I know other people in the community have concerns about what we’re being told versus what the reality is going to be,” Sturm said.

Arguably, the biggest loser in the bidding is Health Net, the largest commercial insurer in Medi-Cal, which stands to lose half its enrollees — including more than 1 million in Los Angeles County alone. St. Louis-based Centene Corp., which California is investigating over allegations it overcharged the state for prescription drugs, bought Health Net in 2016, in part for its Medicaid business, of which L.A. is the crown jewel.

But the state’s health plan selections are not set in stone. The losing insurers are fiercely contesting the results in formal appeals that read like declarations of war on their competitors and on the state. Some of the losers essentially call their winning rivals liars.

The stakes are high, with contracts in play worth billions of dollars annually. Insurers that lose their appeals with the state Department of Health Care Services, which runs Medi-Cal, are likely to take their complaints to court. That could delay final decisions by months or years, causing a headache for the department, which wants coverage under the new contracts to start Jan. 1, 2024.

State officials hope to spend the rest of this year and all of 2023 ensuring the chosen health plans are up to the task, which includes having enough participating providers to minimize disruptions in care.

“Member access and continuity are really our top priorities as part of this transition, and we

have dedicated teams that will be working with the health plans on the transition planning and the continuity planning,” Michelle Baass, director of the department, told KHN.

Baass also noted that enrollees have continuity of care rights. “For example, if a member is currently under the care of a doctor during the prior 12 months, the member has the right to continue seeing that doctor for up to 12 months, if certain conditions are met,” she said.

The competitive bidding process is an effort by the department to address persistent complaints that it has not effectively monitored subpar health plans.

Eight commercial insurers bid for Medi-Cal business in 21 counties. They were required to submit voluminous documents detailing every aspect of their operations, including past performance, the scope of their provider networks, and their capacity to meet the terms of the new, stricter contracts.

The new contracts contain numerous provisions intended to bolster quality, health care equity, and transparency — and to boost accountability of the subcontractors to whom health plans often outsource patient care. For example, the plans and their subcontractors will be required to reach or exceed the 50th percentile among Medicaid plans nationally on a host of pediatric and maternal care measures — or face financial penalties.

They will also be on the hook for providing nonmedical social services that address socioeconomic factors, such as homelessness and food insecurity, in an ambitious $8.7 billion, fiveyear Medi-Cal initiative known as CalAIM, that is already underway.

Local, publicly governed MediCal plans, which cover about 70% of the 12.4 million Medi-Cal members who are in managed care, did not participate in the bidding, though their performance has not always been top-notch.

Kaiser Permanente, which this year negotiated a controversial deal with the state for an exclusive Medi-Cal contract in 32 counties, was also exempt from the bidding. (KHN is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.)

But all Medi-Cal health insurers, including KP and the local plans, will have to commit to the same goals and requirements.

In addition to Health Net, Blue Shield of California, and

Community Health Group — which have contracts with MediCal only in San Diego County — are also big losers, as is Aetna, which lost bids in 10 counties.

Blue Shield, which lost in all 13 counties where it submitted bids, filed a fiercely worded appeal that accuses its rivals Anthem Blue Cross, Molina, and Health Net of failing to disclose hundreds of millions of dollars in penalties against them. It accused those three plans of poor performance “and even mendacity” and said they filled their bids with “puffery,” which the state “bought, hook, line and sinker,” without “an iota of independent analysis.”

Health Net’s appeal slammed Molina, which beat it out in L.A., Sacramento, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. Molina’s bid, Health Net said, “contains false, inaccurate and misleading information.” The whole bidding process, it said, was “highly flawed,” resulting in “erroneous contract awards that jeopardize the stability of Medi-Cal.”

In particular, Health Net said, the Department of Health Care Services “improperly reopened the procurement” after the deadline, which allowed Molina to make “comprehensive changes” that raised its score.

The protesting health plans are requesting that they be awarded contracts or that the bidding process start over from scratch.

Joseph Garcia, chief operating officer for Community Health Group, said, “It would be easiest for all concerned if they just added us. They don’t have to remove anybody.”

Community Health Group has garnered an outpouring of support from hospital executives, physician groups, community clinics, and the heads of multiple publicly governed Medi-Cal plans who sent a letter to Baass saying they were “shocked, concerned, and very disappointed” by the state’s decision. They called Community Health Group “our strongest partner of 40 years,” for whom “equity is not a buzzword or a new priority,” noting that more than 85% of its staff is bilingual and multicultural.

Community Health Group noted in its appeal that it had lost by less than a point to Health Net, which won a San Diego contract — “a miniscule difference that in itself resulted from deeply flawed scoring.”

Garcia said that if Community

Health Group loses its appeal, it will “absolutely” sue in state court. A hearing officer appointed by Baass to consider the appeals has set deadlines to receive written responses and rebuttals by Oct. 7.

There is ample precedent for protracted legal battles in bidding for Medicaid contracts. In Louisiana, Centene and Aetna protested the results of a 2019 rebidding process, which led the state to nullify its awards and restart the bidding. The new results were announced this year, with Centene and Aetna among the winners. In Kentucky, the state court of appeals issued a ruling this month in a contested Medicaid procurement that had been held two years earlier.

Another factor could delay the new contract: California is juggling several massive Medi-Cal changes at the same time. Among them are the implementation of CalAIM and the anticipated enrollment of nearly 700,000 unauthorized immigrants ages 26-49 by January 2024, on top of nearly a quartermillion unauthorized immigrants 50 and older who became eligible this year. And then there’s the recalculation of enrollees’ eligibility, which will take place whenever the federal covid-19related public health emergency ends. That could push 2 million to 3 million Californians out of MediCal.

“Just hearing you list all those things gave me a minor panic attack,” said Abigail Coursolle, a senior attorney at the National Health Law Program. “They are making a lot of work for themselves in a short amount of time.”

But, Coursolle added, the state has “a very positive vision for improving access and improving the quality of services that people in Medi-Cal receive, and that’s very important.” (Bernard J. Wolfson/Kaiser Health News)

This story was produced by KHN, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.

KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

Palace: Marcos ‘closely monitors’...

Angeles added.

PAGE 1 have to see in the end whether that forecast is going to be more accurate than the local forecast,” she noted.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that slow growth in the Philippine economy is expected in 2023.

The IMF predicts the Philippine economy to grow 6.5 percent in 2022. And for 2023, it said the Philippine economy might grow 5 percent.

But Cruz-Angeles asserted that “our economic managers forecast a higher growth.”

“Our fundamentals are strong, the economy is in good resurgence and we are expecting a good rate of growth right now. We will

As of September 27, the value of the Philippine peso dropped further to 58.99 against one US dollar.

Meanwhile, the country’s inflation rate for the month of August was at 6.3 percent.

Based on a report from First Metro Investment Corp. and the University of Asia and the Pacific, the 6.3 percent inflation rate is seen to increase to 6.7 percent by September or October. (Christian Paul Dela Cruz/Inquirer.net)

‘Karding’ batters Luzon

2

Quezon, Santo Domingo, Talavera, Llanera, General Mamerto Natividad, Rizal, Bongabon, Talugtug, Science City of Muñoz); the northern portion of Metro Manila (Marikina, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, and Quezon City); Tarlac; the rest of Pampanga; the rest of Bulacan; Zambales; the northern portion of Bataan (Dinalupihan, Hermosa, Morong, Orani, Samal, Abucay); the southern portion of Pangasinan (Bautista, Alcala, Bayambang, Mangatarem, Urbiztondo, Aguilar, Bugallon, Infanta, Dasol, Burgos, Mabini, Labrador); and the extreme northern portion of Laguna (Famy, Siniloan, Santa Maria, Pangil). Signal no. 3 was up in central Aurora (Dipaculao); the southeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Alfonso Castaneda, Dupax del Sur, Dupax del Norte); the rest of Nueva Ecija; the rest of Bataan; the rest of Pangasinan; the rest of Metro Manila; the rest of Rizal; the northern and central portions of Laguna (Mabitac, Pakil, Paete, Kalayaan, Lumban, Cavinti, Pagsanjan, Luisiana, Majayjay, Magdalena, Santa Cruz, Pila, Liliw, Nagcarlan, Victoria, Rizal, City of San Pedro, City of Biñan, City of Santa Rosa, Cabuyao City, City of Calamba, Los Baños, Bay, Calauan); the northern and central portions of Cavite (Tanza, Rosario, Noveleta, Kawit, Imus City, Bacoor City, City of Dasmariñas, Carmona, Gen. Mariano Alvarez, Silang, Amadeo, City of General Trias, Trece Martires City, Naic, Indang); the rest of northern Quezon (Infanta, Real, General Nakar, Mauban); and the northern portion of Camarines Norte (Vinzons, Paracale, Jose Panganiban, Capalonga).

Under Signal No. 2 were the southern Isabela (Dinapigue, San Guillermo, Echague, San Agustin, Jones); Quirino; the rest of Nueva Vizcaya; Benguet; La Union; the rest of Aurora; the rest of Cavite; Batangas; the rest of Laguna; the central portions of Quezon (Calauag, Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Sampaloc, Lucban, City of Tayabas, Lucena City, Pagbilao, Padre Burgos, Atimonan, Agdangan, Unisan, Plaridel, Gumaca, Lopez, Pitogo, Dolores, Candelaria, Sariaya, Tiaong, San Antonio, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, Buenavista); the rest of Camarines Norte, the northern portion of Camarines Sur (Del Gallego, Ragay, Lupi, Sipocot, Libmanan, Pamplona, Pasacao, San Fernando, Pili, Minalabac, Ocampo, Tigaon, Cabusao, Magarao, Gainza, Canaman, Camaligan, Milaor, Naga City, Bombon, Calabanga, Tinambac, Siruma, Goa, Lagonoy, San Jose, Garchitorena, Presentacion, Caramoan, Sagñay); and Catanduanes.

Under Signal No. 1 were southern Cagayan (Tuao, Solana, Enrile, Tuguegarao City, Iguig, Peñablanca); the rest of Isabela; southern Apayao (Conner); Kalinga; Abra; Mountain Province; Ifugao; southern Ilocos Norte (Nueva Era, Badoc, Pinili, Banna, City of Batac, Currimao, Paoay, Marcos); Ilocos Sur; the rest of Quezon; northern Occidental Mindoro (Abra de Ilog, Paluan, Mamburao, Santa Cruz) including Lubang Islands; northern Oriental Mindoro (Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, Baco, City of Calapan, Naujan, Victoria, Pola, Socorro, Pinamalayan); Marinduque; the rest of Camarines Sur; Albay; Sorsogon; Burias Island; and Ticao Island.

Kennon Road, the main highway to Baguio City, was also temporarily closed. (with AFP)

After the typhoon, the garbage

As in previous typhoons, tons of garbage washed up on the shores of Manila Bay as Super Typhoon Karding pummeled Luzon beginning Sunday night, September 25. The most visible was the garbage on the white dolomite beach in Manila.

Before the controversial artificial beach was installed beside Manila’s Baywalk, even normal tides regularly dumped tons of garbage along what used to be rock-strewn shores. This points to a problem that has yet to be resolved: improper garbage disposal. It also lies at the heart of plastic pollution: whether it’s single-use or plantbased biodegradable, plastic – and all other types of materials – will continue to pollute land and oceans, getting stuck in the guts of whales, as long as waste is not disposed of properly.

These days, in addition to plastic, tin cans, glass containers, water bottles, paper waste and wood scraps, the other materials now regularly washed ashore around Manila Bay are pandemic-related garbage: face masks and medical waste. One can only guess where the garbage comes from, but it is a clear indication of inefficient waste management by the government, compounded by people’s filthy habits that can’t seem to be broken.

The garbage likely has multiple origins: households, business establishments, industrial plants, government offices, schools, health facilities, leisure areas, and even the large ships that enter the bay. Local government units, now

Babe’s Eye View

BABE ROMUALDEZ

ARRIVING on presidential flight PR001 from Manila to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, we were extremely honored to welcome President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for his official visit to the United States – his first trip to the Western world as president. With me was Ambassador Antonio Manuel “Tonet” Lagdameo, our Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Our staff from the Philippine embassy in Washington D.C. and the New York consulate, together with the Philippine Permanent Mission to the UN office, worked extremely hard to make the President’s trip successful. As instructed by the President, he wanted his trip to be meaningful and successful. And sure enough to begin with, the Filipino community event at

Postscript

FEDERICO PASCUAL JR

IT’S too early for followers of President Ferdinand Marcos to declare his recent six-day working visit to the United States a success – and for his critics to dismiss it as a failure. We’ll have to wait for the verified scorecard or make our own assessment and conclusions.

We can evaluate tentatively the mission’s accomplishments against the declared objectives. What did Marcos set out to do as a visiting chief of state? Was he able to do it? And at what expense of time and resources?

Before departing on Sept. 18, Marcos said: “I will outline our expectations of the United Nations and the work ahead, the role our country will play and our contributions in strengthening the international system.”

Was he able to do that during his 21 minutes at the UN podium? We think he tried his best, although we were not sure the many vacant seats in the yawning session hall were listening.

But that’s the way it often is in

equipped with a much larger share of national revenue, must boost their garbage collection and waste management services, especially in depressed areas where people cannot afford to buy plastic garbage bags, much less segregate their waste.

Garbage receptacles are also needed in public spaces with high foot traffic, such as in areas where people line up for mass transport. In the absence of such receptacles, many people simply drop cigarette stubs, used tissue paper and face masks as well as food containers on the sidewalk, knowing that no one is enforcing laws against littering.

Apart from attracting rodents, cockroaches and other vermin, the garbage piles also clog drainage systems, aggravating flooding that has worsened in recent years amid extreme weather attributed to climate change. During heavy rainfall and typhoons, the garbage washes ashore, spoiling the pristine state of the highmaintenance dolomite beach in Manila.

Barangay personnel, who are moving heaven and Earth to obtain yet another term extension from Congress and Malacañang, should make themselves useful and organize systematic garbage disposal within their jurisdictions.

own backyard. In fact the entire planet is our backyard, and it is every person’s responsibility to keep the Earth clean. (Philstar.com)

A very successful US trip for President BBM

the New Jersey Performing Arts Center was jampacked where the President and the First Lady received a very warm welcome from our kababayans – many of them traveling from across the U.S., with some coming all the way from Canada just to see the President, who lauded the overseas Filipino workers for their courage and heroism at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A good friend of mine, John Tuttle, who is vice chairman of the New York Stock Exchange, invited the President as their special guest. The President and the First Lady were expected to ring the closing bell. While making our way to the famous balcony, a number of Filipino traders and people at the trading floor came up to President BBM to congratulate and wish him well. I found it a very good omen that the green light was on, signaling that the stocks were going up.

Joining the President at the NYSE forum were members of his economic team that include Finance Secretary Ben Diokno and Trade Secretary Fred Pascual, as well as businessmen led by Aboitiz Group president

and CEO Sabin Aboitiz, lead convenor of the Private Sector Advisory Council.

The NYSE meeting was a great opportunity to signal that the Philippines is definitely back on track and is the “next big thing in Asia,” as Sabin Aboitiz said, describing President Bongbong Marcos as smart because he was able to get 30 of the Philippines’ busiest CEOs to “voluntarily work for him and our country.”

The President’s schedule was arranged in such a way that even dinners became meetings with American business executives coming from various industries, along with discussions from organizations such as the U.S.ASEAN Business Council and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as well as the World Bank.

The main event was of course his speech at the 77th UN General Assembly, where he told the world that we are a country that seeks global peace, underscoring “our open, inclusive and rules-based international order that is governed by international law and informed by the principles of equity and of justice” as we

continue to be “a friend to all, and an enemy of none.”

PBBM called attention to climate change as the greatest threat affecting nations and the people, saying “the time for talk about if and when has long since passed – it is here and now.” He called on industrialized nations to act responsibly as the effects of climate change are “uneven and reflect an historical injustice: Those who are least responsible suffer the most,” among them the Philippines.

The President also spoke about existential threats and the transcendent challenges of our times that are as consequential as those the world faced 77 years ago when the UN was founded. Saying the world is at a watershed moment and is ready for transformation, he enjoined world leaders to work together, to stand united and achieve success for the peoples of the world.

It was an excellent, well delivered speech that people thought was very well written. The President himself had been working on it for some time, adding ideas and keeping at it for the past month. As usual, the

sour-graping naysayers started posting that hardly anyone heard the President speak at the UN General Assembly hall.

The fact is, many permanent representatives usually watch it from their mission offices.

One of the highlights of the visit was PBBM’s meeting with Dr. Henry Kissinger, who came over to the President’s hotel.

The former U.S. State secretary – who has been described as “a master of the geopolitical chessboard” – was still very sharp at 99 and had fond memories of president Marcos Sr. and Mrs. Imelda Marcos.

During their one-on-one, the President had good insights from Dr. Kissinger on what the world was before, and the political challenges the world faces today. The President truly appreciated Dr. Kissinger’s insights that were extremely valuable.

The most awaited engagement was President BBM’s bilateral meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden. I accompanied the President together with Secretary Ricky Manalo and Secretary Diokno, House Speaker Martin Romualdez who

brought along Senior Deputy Majority Leader Rep. Sandro Marcos. President Biden has always been a warm and friendly person and the two leaders hit it off very well. I must admit that it gives me a great feeling that we are truly on the right track regarding our relationship with the United States.

We were hoping BBM could stay longer but it was clear his schedule was already packed full once he arrives in Manila. While the amount of business pledges is normally used to evaluate the outcome of a President’s overseas trip, I personally think that the success of this U.S. trip could not be measured simply in terms of the amount of potential investments but more in terms of elevating the country’s profile in ways that are immeasurable. (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.

* * * babeseyeview@gmail.com

Too early to say US trip was a success

assemblies of people of varied concerns (UN member-states now number 193). Marcos himself did not listen to the 16 other speakers after him. He left right after his speech.

The speakers after him were the heads of state of Lithuania, Romania, Bolivia, Peru, Marshall Islands, Seychelles, Argentina, Poland, Guatemala, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, El Salvador, Japan, Germany, Morocco and Italy.

Marcos also met with the U.S.ASEAN Business Council, the U.S.-Philippines Society and the Asia Society. Those meetings, together with briefings with investors, plus his appearance at the New York Stock Exchange, may help draw U.S. investments to the Philippines, but that would be counting the chicks before they hatch.

A trip is not complete without the President touching base with our kababayans abroad who send foreign exchange back home that amounted to at least $31.4 billion in 2021. On this trip, FilAms welcomed him at a performing arts center in Newark, New Jersey.

So, was the Marcos expedition to America a success? We think

it was a qualified success, comparing what he was able to do and what he said he intended to accomplish. The missing figures are those of the U.S. investments that his team has been pursuing relentlessly.

The Biden-Marcos dialog in NY President Marcos sought a meeting with his U.S. counterpart. Two days after he spoke at the UN, President Biden met with him and his small group at the InterContinental Barclay in New York.

Part of the White House account of their exchange:

Biden: Well, Mr. President, welcome to you and your delegation. I think I woke you up election night. I called you so late to congratulate you. (Laughter.) But it’s a great victory, and I –and my best to your wife as well.

The relationship between the United States and the Philippines has very deep roots. We’ve had some rocky times, but the fact is it’s a critical relationship, from our perspective. I hope you feel the same way.

We have strong ties, including millions of Filipino Americans who are very proud of their ancestry and desperately want us to continue to have a strong

relationship. Our foundations are strong in the U.S.-Philippine alliance, which is of critical importance.

For decades, the alliance has strengthened both of us, I believe. And one of the things I want to talk about today is how we continue to strengthen that and work together on the things that are of greatest concern to you.

I look forward to discussing the opportunities for a wide range of issues, including COVID-19 recovery, energy security and renewable energy. I was impressed with the work you did on windmills and a whole range of other things. You and I both think that’s the future.

In addition, I expect we’ll discuss the South China Sea and disputes in a critical global throughway. I’ve spent a lot of time with not only the President of China but others about the international waters and how they have to be respected. xxx

Thank you for your position on the war against Ukraine and – by Russia – and how it’s impacting energy prices and – and food prices.

And so, we want to talk about human rights, talk about a whole

range of things. But I’m mainly interested to know what’s on your mind and how we can continue to strengthen this relationship.

Marcos: Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you. We’re very happy for the opportunity to meet with you despite the schedules that we both have to deal with.

Biden: You came a little farther than I did.

Marcos: (Laughs.) Well, the 100-plus-year-old relationship between the Philippines and the U.S. continues to evolve as we face the challenges of this new century and the events that we have been watching over the past few months. So, we have very much to discuss in terms of redefining, I suppose, in many ways.

But the role of the United States in maintaining the peace in our region is something that is much appreciated by all the countries in the region and the Philippines especially.

We feel that we are especially fortunate because we have very strong foundation of a very long relationship and the strong relationships on various facets not only political, not only diplomatic, but also economic.

And, of course, there is the very large Filipino population that have chosen to live and make their lives here in the United States and have been very successful.

Again, we would like to thank the United States for the massive help that we received during the pandemic. We had the provision of up to almost 36 million doses of vaccines very early on. For that, we are very, very grateful.

We continue to look to the United States for that continuing partnership and the maintenance of peace in our region.

Thank you again, Mr. President, for making time to see us. We are your partners. We are your allies. We are your friends. And, in like fashion, we have always considered the United States our partner, our ally and our friend.

Biden: Thank you. It’s mutual.

* * *

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.

* * *

NB: Author is on Twitter as @ FDPascual. Email: fdp333@yahoo. com. All Postscripts are also archived at ManilaMail.com

ROGER LAGMAY

ManilaTimes.net photo

People should do their part, through a change in mindset and practices. There are people who like dumping their garbage anywhere except in their

Dateline PhiliPPines

Ex-Chief Justice Bersamin is Marcos’ new executive secretary

by Daniza FernanDez, Gabriel Pabico lalu Inquirer.net

MANILA — Retired Supreme Court (SC) chief justice Lucas Bersamin is the new executive secretary of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Malacañang confirmed on Tuesday, September 27.

Press Secretary Trixie CruzAngeles announced Bersamin’s new designation in a message sent to reporters after taking his oath before the President.

“Former Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin has taken his oath of office as Executive Secretary, before President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr.,” CruzAngeles said.

Concepcion: Private sector helped pitch investments during Marcos visit

MANILA — With the country’s leading tycoons making up the delegation, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recently concluded six-day working visit to the U.S. stirred excitement among some of the world’s largest private equity investors who wish to explore investment opportunities in the Philippines.

One of the highlights was a high-level roundtable meeting organized by Asia Society Philippines chair Doris Magsaysay Ho and vice chair Myla Villanueva last Sept. 23, where some of the world’s largest private equity investors in aviation, big infrastructure, energy, fintech and payments, e-commerce, and digital infrastructure were in attendance.

Magsaysay-Ho, who gave the opening remarks, also facilitated the introductions. The investors in attendance included former ambassador John Negroponte of McLarty Associates, Gregory Nixon of Cerberus Capital Management, Charles Phillips of Recognize Fund, Ken Mehiman of KKR, Andrew Thomas of Stonepeak, Mark Tatum of NBA, Dinesh Kanna of Boston Consulting, Michael Kirban of VitaCoco, Proof of Learn founder Shiela Marcelo, Asia Society trustee Asheet Mehta of McKinsey, Nick Rohatyn of The Rohatyn Group, Itai Lemberger of Bow Wave Capital, Brian Frankle of Indigo Partners, and Alibaba co-founder Joe Tsai, who is also already invested in Mynt, or Gcash. Asia Society was instrumental in bringing in its network of investors who are already invested, or have expressed great interest in investing in the Philippines.

“This government has been very supportive of the private sector and public participation. The President is very keen to get the private sector involved and we are delighted with that,” said Ayala Corp. chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala during the Public Economic Briefing held during the President’s visit. He added that it is now up to the private sector to maximize the favorable business environment under the Marcos administration.

“The president has quite cleverly gotten 30 of our country’s busiest CEOs to voluntarily work for him,” said Aboitiz CEO Sabin Aboitiz, who also is the convenor Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC), a group of leading businessmen directly advising the President.

“The private sector was in full force during the three major business briefings during the visit,” said Go Negosyo founder and RFM President and CEO Joey Concepcion, who also heads the Jobs committee of the PSAC.

“I think that the president’s winning the biggest mandate in Philippine history inspired the private sector to join in this bid to make the country a great investment destination. Likewise, it reflected in how the foreign investors were eager to connect with us, seeing how well attended the briefings were and how the meetings were on time and went on as scheduled,” Concepcion added.

Concepcion told the private gathering at Asia Society that the Philippines presents huge opportunities for foreign investors, especially in the area of public-private partnerships. He said public-private sector partnerships have met with success in the country, as proven by the country’s experience during the pandemic where private-public sector cooperation was crucial in securing vaccines, supporting mass testing, and coordinating with enforced lockdowns.

He added that these opportunities include a chance to promote inclusive growth in the country through MSMEs, which comprise almost all of the enterprises in the Philippines.

“Our desire is to make this growth more inclusive; not just us, the big corporations, but the whole nation,” he said, adding that large corporations must help small enterprises scale up. “The opportunities in the Philippines are huge, and many still remain untapped,” he said. “There may be a lot of headwinds but we’re making progress,” he said.

The Philippines private sector at the Asia Society meeting was represented by the heads of the largest companies in the Philippines, including PSAC convenor and Aboitiz CEO Sabin Aboitiz, RFM Corp. president and CEO Joey Concepcion, Ayala Corp chairman Jaime Zobel de Ayala, Magsaysay Holdings CEO Doris Magsaysay Ho, JG Summit CEO Lance Gokongwei, GCash President Martha Sazon, and MDI founder Myla Villanueva.

The private meeting preceded the public address and discussion with the President hosted by Asia Society president and former Australia Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

President Marcos and his

economic managers have emphasized the important role of private sector participation in the administration’s near- and medium-term agenda, and how it will support it through newly enacted liberalization laws and a healthy, productive workforce. (Philstar.com)

“He began his duties immediately by attending the 9th cabinet meeting right after swearing in,” she added.

Bersamin replaced Atty. Vic Rodriguez, who had acted as lawyer and spokesperson for Marcos as early as during his bid for the vice presidency in 2016 and when he ran for president in the 2022 polls.

The former chief justice is expected to bring almost 20 years of expertise and experience in the judiciary, including over 10 years in the high court, to the new administration. He was

appointed associate justice of SC from 2009 to 2018, and chief magistrate in November 2018 after former President Rodrigo Duterte appointed him.

After he retired from service, Duterte appointed Bersamin as chairperson of the Government Service Insurance System.

Rodriguez stepped down from his post after getting dragged into the sugar importation

controversy when he admitted to asking the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to draft the controversial Sugar Order (SO) No. 4. The draft order has since been revoked by Marcos, saying it was drafted without his permission.

But while he has resigned as the “little president,” Rodriguez will continue to serve as chief of staff to Marcos. n

Newly-appointed Executive Secretary Lucan Bersamin during his oath taking before Pres. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Photo from Office of the President

Some of the country’s biggest businessmen accompanied President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., seen here at a dinner hosted by LT Group’s Michael

Tan: (from left): China Bank Chairman Hans Sy, LT Group COO Lucio Tan III, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s George Barcelon, President Marcos, RFM Corp. and Go Negosyo’s Joey Concepcion, and LT Group President Michael Tan. Philstar.com photo

MANNEQUIN

DOT to build tourism rest areas across PH

by Ghio onG Philstar.com

MANILA — The Department of Tourism (DOT) is set to launch the construction of 10 so-called “tourist service areas” across the country next month.

During a meeting with busi ness leaders in New York where President Marcos held a working visit, Tourism Secretary Chris tina Garcia-Frasco declared the groundbreaking of the 10 tourist service areas is part of the agen cy’s “strategies for tourism devel opment.”

She highlighted that the tourist rest areas would contain “clean restrooms,” which she described as “the most basic aspect of trav el.”

Marcos certifies 2023 P5.268T national budget as urgent

by Delon Porcalla Philstar.com

MANILA — President Marcos on Monday, September 26 certified as urgent the executive department’s proposed P5.268-trillion national budget for 2023 even as the House of Representatives intends to approve the government spending plan this week.

“The certification from Malacañang will enable the House to approve the General Appropriations Bill on second and

third reading on the same day, which we set on Wednesday (Sept. 28),” Speaker Martin Romualdez said in a statement.

“We are right on track with our schedule,” he said, referring to House Bill 4488, as the lower legislative chamber deliberates on the budget proposals of only less than 10 agencies this week.

House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe said they are 76 percent done last week.

In a single-page document, Marcos invoked his power

under Article 6, Section 26, and Subsection 2 of the 1987 Constitution, which authorizes him to “certify to the necessity of the immediate enactment of HB 4488.”

“In order to address the need to maintain continuous government operations following the end of the current fiscal year, we strengthen efforts to respond more effectively to the pandemic and support initiatives towards national economic recovery,” Marcos stated. n

Duterte leaves office with record-high satisfaction rating

MANILA — Former President Rodrigo Duterte stepped down from Malacañang with a record-high satisfaction rating, according to a poll released Friday, September 23.

According to private pollster Social Weather Stations, Duterte received an “excellent” +81 net satisfaction rating in the last days of his presidency, beating his previous record of +79 in November 2020.

Duterte's final satisfaction rating is 16 points higher than the “very good” +65 he received in April, which the SWS attributed to the rise in satisfaction with the president’s performance across all regions.

The net satisfaction rating is the difference between the number of Filipinos who said they were satisfied with Duterte as president and those who said they were dissatisfied.

In the survey conducted from June 26 to June 29 with 1,500 respondents, 88% of adult Filipinos said they were satisfied with Duterte as president, while 7% were dissatisfied and 5% were undecided.

Those satisfied with Duterte rose by 10 points from the last survey conducted in April, while those dissatisfied fell by six points and those undecided fell by four points.

The former president logged

EMPLOYMENT

“We plan to address the most basic aspect of travel across the Philippines: clean restrooms. I’m very pleased to inform you that in the first week of October, under

the directive of the President, we are breaking ground on no less than 10 tourist rest areas across the Philippines. Three in Luzon, five in the Visayas and two in Mindanao,” she said.

She added aside from “clean and decent restrooms for our tourists,” the tourist rest areas would also feature “a lounge for them to rest in, complete infor mation on tourist destinations, as well as pasalubong centers for them to be able to purchase local products and delicacies.”

The DOT came up with the construction of the tourist service areas upon orders from President Marcos, whom Frasco said has “clearly identified tourism as a major tool for the economic re surgence of the Philippines.” n

Rise in PH working-age population boon

by Kaithreen Cruz ManilaTimes.net

THE Commission on Popula tion and Development (PopCom) highlighted the important role of a robust working-age popula tion in achieving socioeconomic development through a state of demographic dividend, with the 64 percent ratio of working-age Filipinos in 2020.

The PopCom referenced the latest Philippine Statistics Author ity's Labor Force Survey, which indicates a continued rise in the employment rate at 94.8 percent

in July 2022, estimated at 47.39 million employed people, com pared to the 41.67 million in the same period in 2021.

During the seventh edition of the United Nations Eco nomic and Social Commis sion for Asia and the Pacific-Com mittee on Social Development earlier this month, PopCom Offi cer in Charge Executive Director (OIC-ED) Lolito Tacardon said that the steadily increasing propor tion of the Philippines' working age aligned with President Fer dinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s goal to reinvigorate job creation

and poverty reduction.

"Over the medium term, the agenda will focus on creating more [secured jobs] and social protection and retaining an ad equate and productive work force.... Retooling and reskilling, as well as the institution of effec tive job-facilitation processes to increase the employability of job seekers, will be strategically pur sued," Tacardon added.

He said that the economy could be steered back to a high-growth path and economic transforma tion for a prosperous, inclusive and resilient society. n

new record-high satisfaction ratings in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon and Visayas, where he went from “very good” to “excellent,” while he remained “excellent” in his home region of Mindanao.

Duterte's performance was also rated as “excellent” in both urban and rural areas, by both men and women, in all age groups and educational groups.

Satisfaction with Duterte was higher among families who called themselves “non-hungry” at +83, while families who reported to have experienced severe hunger rated the former president +56. (Xave Gregorio/ Philstar.com)

LEGAL NOTICE

Workers are seen inside a construction site along Roxas and Macapagal Boulevards in Pasay City, on 4 June 2022. ManilaTimes.net photo by Mike Alquinto

Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Frasco Philstar.com photo

FOGGING. A local government personnel conducts fogging operations as part of an anti-dengue campaign at the City Hall Compound in Mandaluyong on Tuesday, Sept. 27. The Department of Health told local officials to search and destroy mosquito breeding grounds and not just conduct fogging to combat dengue.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Jessica Sanchez is ‘bad in a good way’ in new music

by Nathalie tomada Philstar.com

A decade after her American Idol experience, Jessica Sanchez has kicked off a new chapter in her music career — as a songwriter. The Idol runnerup has been writing songs for several years now, but has just recently decided to open up this side of hers to the public by recording and releasing for the first time a self-penned song, Baddie.

The edgy, danceable Baddie is a single about self-worth and selflove. At 27 years old, the FilipinoAmerican/Mexican singer can now say she knows her self-worth and is no longer afraid to show all facets of herself, including a fiercer Jessica, to the world. She told The STAR during a virtual roundtable chat: “This was huge for me because I have never thought of myself as a writer. I never thought I was capable of writing and I’m still growing in that. So, it was very intimidating for me.

“But I kind of just told myself and this goes back to the whole Baddie thing like I can do this, I’m just gonna put the nerves away. I’m just gonna release the song and I hope everybody loves it. I hope everybody can relate to it.”

It’s been a long time coming for Jessica to showcase her songwriting. Baddie is just the beginning of expressing herself more beyond power ballads.

“I’ve been writing for about maybe four years now, and I have a lot of music that’s just kind of sitting in a vault, of my own experiences, my own feelings and just different sides of who Jessica is. And I feel like I’m so quiet at times and kind

of shy that I don’t really get to express that much through social media or through, you know, conversation,” she said.

“Music is… it’s a way for me to release. And I think nobody would have guessed that I would release a song like this, but this is a part of who I am. I’m really excited to express this side of myself. And there’s much more to come. You’ll be seeing, like a whole 360 Jessica, all kinds, all different traits of mine and experiences, too.

When asked by The STAR about her experiences of being in the music industry that inspired the song, she said, “In this industry, you tend to feel insecure and compare yourself to others. It’s happened to me, especially

throughout, I mean, how long I’ve done this, ever since I was on America’s Got Talent when I was, what, 10 years old?

“I’ve been doing this for a very, very long time. So, it’s very easy to fall into the whole comparing yourself to other people. And there are times when I have to just tell myself, I need to stop comparing myself or I need to stop telling myself like, oh, you know, I’m not good enough.

I have to just sit in the mirror and tell myself girl, you got this. You’re a baddie. I know it’s such a weird word, but millennials, they use that word now just so they can relate and I related to it. It really is an empowering word like I’m a baddie. I’m bad in a good way.

“So, yeah, through all the rough patches, what’s really helped me is taking time to myself and really honing in and telling myself, reminding myself, ‘Girl, you got this, you got this, you got this.’ Because I hear from all my fans all the time, believe in you, God’s got you and at the end of the day, none of that matters until you also tell yourself that you can do it. You’re the only one stopping yourself or you’re the only one that’s going to take yourself to that next level. So, I just want to remind you guys that you’re a baddie, and you’ve got to tell yourself that you’re a baddie.”

Meanwhile, it’s been 10 years since her stint on American Idol. How her participation in the show contributed to the representation of Asian talent in Hollywood and how much Filipino fans supported her on the show continue to be a proud moment for her.

CA ATTORNEY GENERAL ROB BONTA IS SPECIAL GUEST AT CITIZEN PINOY EPISODE. Citizen Pinoy host Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (R) features California Attorney General Rob Bonta (L), the first Fil-Am appointed as Attorney General, as his special guest, where they discuss the role of an Attorney General, as well as Attorney General Bonta’s accomplishments that have impacted the people, among other things. Watch this very informative and inspiring special featuring Attorney General Bonta, the first Fil-Am to serve as California Attorney General, on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, October 2 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. (Advertising Supplement)

‘The Attorney of the People,’ CA Atty General Rob Bonta sits down with Atty Michael Gurfinkel on an encore, special episode of Citizen Pinoy

The American Idol alum unlocks the songwriter in her as she records and releases for the first time a self-penned song, titled Baddie. ‘This was huge for me because I never thought I was capable of writing. But I kind of told myself, I’m just gonna put the nerves away, release the song and hope everybody loves it.’ Photo from Instagram/@jessicaesanchez

IF our viewers have wondered what the role of the Attorney General for the State of California is, they

will get their answers, when Citizen Pinoy airs California’s “Attorney of the People” encore episode this Sunday,

October 2. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, the first Filipino

‘Lahi’: Reina Bonta talks about how the multi-generational Fil-am experience inspired directorial debut

“Primarily, I am constantly struck by the privilege associated with having a living grandparent, who existed through and was a critical piece in major historical and cultural events, have such a sharp memory and be so eager to share about her experiences. I’ve wanted to, for a few years, find a way to document her life story for future generations to commemorate, “says Bonta, age 23, when asked about her motivation in making her short film.

LAHI, a Tagalog word for race or legacy, is a short film

about cultural identity filmed in Hawaii. It is inspired by Bonta’s own experiences as a thirdgeneration Filipina, as well as the life of her lola Cynthia, a WWII survivor who was born and raised in the Philippines.

Specifically, the 21-minute “LAHI” tells a story of a young, culturally-disconnected Filipina girl named “Mimi” who returns to O’ahu for her grandmother’s funeral. On the island, she embarks on a journey to return a family heirloom and is visited by the apparition of her grandmother and elders whose stories about Filipino identity turn her worldview upside down.

“I saw this work as an opportunity to create a narrative-infused archive of

A still from LAHI shows Mimi (played by Tiki Willis) at the thrift store. my lola’s incredible life story, as well as flex my imagination and the creative possibilities of a short film,” says Bonta, daughter of Rob Bonta, California’s first Filipino Attorney General, and Mia Bonta, assemblymember for California’s 18th Assembly District.

“I often refer to ‘LAHI’ as a love letter to my lola, and by casting her in the film as well, I was able to deepen our relationship in new, profound ways,” she added.

Recently graduated with distinction at Yale University with Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media Studies, Bonta reckons her love for filmmaking began at a tender age.

“To some degree, I believe I was always drawn to film. When I was about five years old, and a ball of unbridled energy disrupting the house, my mother would hand me a disposable camera and send me into the backyard to ‘turn my energy into art’,” she recalls.

Growing up, she remembers also taking on photography from an early age, which naturally evolved into her deep love for film. “The year I spent away from Yale during the pandemic of 2020-2021 really affirmed this passion as something real and viable as a career for myself, building upon my lessons in the classroom,” she said. Some of her photography were featured in world-renowned publications including Forbes Magazine.

Her passion for film intensified further when she got to spend

a lot of time in the film/movie industry during the past few years.

“I spent the first half of the year working as a production assistant in Hawaii on a multimillion dollar CBS television show, and the second half of the year working on-location in Kenya on a documentary project about endangered black rhinos on a wildlife conservancy and the rangers that protect them from poachers,” she says.

“These incredible experiences allowed me to learn about film in a new and adventurous way, outside of a more classically pedagogical learning environment, and cemented my passion for it,” adds Bonta, born and raised in California, who is now currently based in Brooklyn, New York.

Bonta is also a life-long competitive soccer player like her father. Rob, who also attended Yale University where he graduated cum laude with a B.A. in History in 1993, played on the Yale Bulldogs men’s soccer team. The young Bonta is currently playing with the Philippines Women’s National Team in preparation for the 2023 FIFA World Cup.

In this ever-changing world, Bonta believes that it’s nice that some culture and traditions remain the same as reflected in the film.

“In my eyes, the (film) story itself is reflected in the act of making it... both center on a young, third-generation Filipina engaging in a journey towards

cultural reconnection. During a modern time where people may grow further from their cultural roots, ‘LAHI’ is a reminder that preserving and honoring culture, specifically Filipino culture, is still a virtue of my generation,” she opines.

Bonta comes from a family of Filipino and Puerto Rican activists, which deeply informs all of her pursuits as a storyteller.

After viewing the film, she hopes that all supporters and audience members of LAHI will feel a renewed sense of optimism.

“LAHI” will be having its World Premiere at Portland Film Festival, screening on October 14 and 17. Simultaneously, it will also be screening on October 14, 5pm, at the San Diego Filipino Film Festival.

Bonta told the Asian Journal that “LAHI” has also been selected to be shown, in other festivals such as LA Femme International Film Festival (Los Angeles, CA), Twin Cities Film Festival (Minneapolis, Minnesota), and Hawai’i International Film Festival (Honolulu, HI), within the months of October and November this year.

“LAHI” features exceptional performances by Tiki Willis as Mimi (debut lead performance, known for Magnum P.I., upcoming Netflix pilot project), Tessie Magaoay as Andrea, Virginia Almonte-Savella Harper as Gabriela, and Cynthia Bonta (Reina’s grandmother, lifelong activist) as Lola’s Apparition. DP Kilani Villiaros (NCIS: Hawaii), Producers Connie M. Florez (Waikiki) and Angelique Kalani Axelrode, and Executive Producer Bryan Spicer (24, Bones, The X Files) are crew members of the project.

Asked about her future and upcoming projects after “LAHI,” Bonta says she is currently producing a narrative feature film called “Characters Disappearing”, which centers on the IWK (the less visible Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) counterpart to the Black Panthers and Young Lords who were instrumental to the 1970s Yellow Power Movement), and is primed for production in New York’s Chinatown in November of this year.

“As for my own directorial pursuits, I am exploring the concept of expanding “LAHI” into a feature,” she adds.

CA Gov. Gavin Newsom heads list of October birthday celebrants

celebrityworld

By Ferdie Villar

Elected as 40th Governor of the State of California in 2018, Newsom previously served as the state’s Lieutenant Governor, and as Mayor and Supervisor for the city of San Francisco. As mayor of San Francisco, Newsom gained national attention in 2004 when he directed the citycounty clerk to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples which violated state law passed in 2000.

In 2021, Gov. Newsom defeated a recall attempt, becoming only the second sitting governor to survive a recall election (the first one to do so was Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker in 2012). The 2021 recall election was the second in the

last 20 years for California –the 2003 gubernatorial recall election, the second ever in United States history, resulted in voters replacing incumbent Gov. Gray Davis with Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was the top choice among voters to replace Davis.

Newsom, who was born in San Francisco, is running for reelection as Governor for California this November. He has consistently denied rumors linking him to a run for the White House in 2024 or 2028.

Gov. Newsom is married to film director Jennifer Siebel and they have four children – Montana Tessa, Hunter, Brooklynn and Dutch.

Other celebrities who are celebrating their birthdays this month are:

October 1: Actor/model/TV host Tom Rodriguez, actress/ model/entertainment anchor

Phoemela Baranda; October 2: Former basketball star and actor Benjie Paras, actress/model Janine Gutierrez; October 3: Actress/singer/ commercial model Rhian Ramos of the Kapuso Network, Daly City beauty expert Carmen Taylor; October 5: Journalist/television news anchor/columnist Korina Sanchez, actress/talent manager Maja Salvador; October 6: Congressman Eddie Villanueva, who is president/founder of Jesus Is Lord Church Worldwide; October 7: Former basketball star/actor/comedian and politician Joey Marquez, De Anza College graduate (Finance & Economy) and student leader Christian Back; October 8: San Francisco community leader Charrie de Veyra Saddul; October 9: Former restaurant owner the late Jimmy Diaz; October 10: California Governor Gavin Newsom, Philippine Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Star in a Million season 1 champion Erik Santos;

October 11: It’s Showtime director Robert Vitanes;

October 12: San Rafael community leader Lolita Hajian, former Miss Philippines Pilarcita (Larcy) Syquia Villar, former Daly City councilmember the late Carol Klatt; October 13: Filipino-Italian model Giuseppe Nucera; October 14: Comedian/actor/ Eat Bulaga TV host Joey de Leon; October 15: GMA-7 executive vice president and chief operating officer Gilberto “Jimmy” Duavit Jr., bank executive Rose Satorre Asuncion, veteran movie writer and talent manager Norma Japitana; October 17: Actress/model/ singer Bea Alonzo, singeractress Vina Morales, TV & film director/writer/producer Olivia Lamasan; October 19: Singer/songwriter Christian Bautista; October 21: Director Jose Javier Reyes; October 23: Former Manila Bulletin Celebrity World columnist Crispina Martinez Belen, Long Beach political leader Malou Mariano (who now resides in Long Beach, CA), singer-actress Verni Varga; October 24: Congressman/ actor/model Alfred Vargas,

former Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso, Queen Philippines Globe 2011 winner Erica Achico Ilecer, Eat Bulaga co-host/actress Pia Guanio; October 25: Philippine Senator Lito Lapid, former Miss Philippines Cristina Galang Caedo, best-dressed business executive Fernand Tanedo of Pittsburg; October 26: Viva Films producer Vic del Rosario Jr.; October 27: Media executive/ Maalaala Mo Kaya host/actress Charo Santos-Concio, SamTrans mechanic Emmanuel Cabrera; October 28: Philippine Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, Novo Ecijano leader Marilyn Cuncio; October 29: TV host/talent manager Boy Abunda, actress/ singer Angelika Dela Cruz, Antioch carehome owner and dental assistant Evangeline Perez; October 31: Multi-awarded actor/politician Christopher de Leon, actress/singer/model Nadine Lustre, former actress/ entertainment producer/talent manager Annabelle Rama.

To all October celebrants, a very happy birthday!

by Donnabelle GatDula arevalo / AJPress

Photo

Bea Alonzo, who joined the GMA (Kapuso)

Photo from Instagram/@beaalonzo

California Governor Gavin Newsom celebrates his 55th birthday on Monday, October 10.

Facebook photo/CAGovernor

Charo Santos-Concio, host of the longest-running drama anthology series in Philippine television “Maalaala Mo Kaya” (or MMK), turns 67 on Thursday, October 27. ABS-CBN photo

Samtrans mechanic Emmanuel Cabrera celebrates his birthday on Thursday, October 27.

Former Manila Mayor Francisco (Isko) Moreno Domagoso celebrates

Actor/model/TV host Tom Rodriguez turns 35 on Saturday, October 1. GMA photo

Actress/model Janine Gutierrez, who stars in the queer series “Sleep with Me” with Lovi Poe, celebrates her 33rd birthday on Sunday, October 2. Photo from Instagram/@ janinegutierrez

Talent manager/actress Maja Salvador, who is also known as the Dance Princess, turns 34 on Wednesday, October 5.

Photo from Instagram/@maja

Carehome owner and dental assistant Evangeline Perez celebrates her birthday on Saturday, October 29.

LOS ANGELES — Emerging Filipina American filmmaker Reina Gabriela Bonta says her earnest love for her family’s roots is what gave rise to her directorial debut, “LAHI.”

Photos courtesy of Reina Bonta

Reina Bonta

CALIFORNIA Governor Gavin Newsom heads the list of wellknown celebrities who are celebrating their birthdays for the month of October. He turns 55 on October 10.

Features

Station Casinos plans to build 67-acre hotel-casino project in North Las Vegas

by RealtoR Fely Quitevis-Bateman

THE North Las Vegas Planning Commission recently approved Station Casinos’ plans to build a 67acre hotel-casino at the northwest corner of Losee Road and the 215 Beltway, it was recently reported in the Las Vegas Review-Journal

This project, according to the report, will be built in two phases.

When completed, it will feature 600 hotel rooms, more than 75,700 square feet of casino space, and include restaurants, a movie theater, banquet facilities and other amenities.

A Station representative told the planning commission that the proposed development will provide more than 1,100 construction jobs and, at project’s completion, up to 840 permanent full-time jobs.

The company’s proposed project is scheduled to go before the commission for a first reading and a vote in October.

Station Casinos’ parent company is Red Rock Resorts, which has been a busy player in the real estate field lately.

Red Rock recently announced that a trio of casinos shuttered during the pandemic – Fiesta Hendeson, Fiesta Rancho and Texas Station – will be closed for good, torn down and the land sold.

According to Red Rock, the decision to close the three properties were due to the fact that, despite their popularity, patrons who frequented the establishments have switched over to other Station casinos.

Currently, there are no mentioned interested buyers for the land on which the three casinos sit on, which is a total of 107.5 acres.

The locals-oriented casino company sold the Palms casino property for about $650 million

in 2021.

Red Rock Resorts, in addition to a property with its own name in Summerlin and Green Valley Ranch in Henderson, operates multiple gaming properties under the Station brand throughout Las Vegas. It also runs 10 Wildfire casinos, which includes seven properties in the Henderson area.

The company is also looking to cement on its status as the dominant operator of localsoriented casinos, with the construction of a Wildfire casino in the downtown area, specifically along the busy Fremont Street tourist destination.

A statement issued by Red Rock Resorts said that they are “excited to bring a new Wildfire casino with fresh new amenities to the local residents of downtown Las Vegas.”

Wildfire Casinos are said to be typically heavy on slot machines and video poker. It also features casual and affordable dining options that cater to Las Vegas locals.

Aside from the casino in the downtown area, Red Rock is also busy constructing a Durango project in Southwestern Las Vegas. The project is expected to include a 73,000-square-foot casino, sports book, a 200-room hotel, four restaurants and meeting space. That resort will sit on the intersection of Durango Drive and Interstate 215.

Although it is not a dominant player in the downtown area nor does it have a presence along the Strip, Red Rock Resorts, via its many casino properties in the Las Vegas area and neighboring communities, is a huge player in the gaming arena. Its emphasis on serving Las Vegas locals may well play to its advantage, as the

area’s population continues to grow, courtesy of retirees who are moving to Nevada due to the lower cost of living and those who are moving to the area for other reasons, including employment and business opportunities.

Many Californians who have moved to Nevada are also benefitting local casino properties as they are not as affected by the changing numbers of workers in the construction arena and those who work in other casino properties.

Indeed, these are busy times for Red Rock Resorts and its Station Casinos and Wildfire brands. Its goal is to double its portfolio by 2030, and the projects it is currently undertaking are just the tip of the iceberg in Red Rock Resorts’ long-term bid to widen its reach.

While news of a housing slowdown has dominated recently, there is still a lot of construction going on in Las Vegas, with many planned casino-resorts and other mega projects opening within the next few years. That means continued employment for many, and a bevy of permanent jobs that will be available when these projects are nearing completion or are completed. And many of those jobs are not in the gaming industry, but are in other fields which

include hospitality, conventions and sports.

If you are looking to buy property or land in Las Vegas or neighboring areas, now is the time to make that investment. You will be able to negotiate with sellers as there is more inventory available, and you will be able to look for that piece of land/property which can fit your budget, plans and dreams.

I have many decades of experience in assisting clients who are looking for their first home, second/vacation homes, investment properties or land (for future use/development). I can assist you in looking for these opportunities. Many of my clients have begun to reap the benefits of their investments, including turning their properties to rentals or Airbnb, or getting a good return on investment for the properties they bought in previous years.

My company, Precious Properties, is a full-service company that has served its clientele since 1992. You can reach me at 775-513-8447, 805-5592476 and 702-538-4948 for more information, or send me an email at fely@precious-properties.com or fely.precious@gmail.com. We have investors who buy houses in California and Nevada for cash and quick escrow in as short as 7 days.

(Advertising Supplement)

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman helps those who need business financing, including loans for small businesses. For more information, call (702) 538-4948, or send email to fely@preciousproperties.com or fely.precious@gmail.com.

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman attended the Commercial Alliance Symposium sponsored by the Las Vegas Realtors association to gain more insight on real estate trends that she can share with her clientele.

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman’s investors from the Bay Area keep buying more land in Pahrump.

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (2nd from right) with her new wave of Pahrump investors from San Antonio, Texas and Guam.

PhiliP S. Chua MD, FaCS, FPCS

AS we lower our guard against COVID-19 because cases are decreasing, unvaccinated individuals, the prime target of the coronavirus, are becoming incubators (where the virus replicates, mutates) and carriers/spreaders churning out new Omicron subvariants.

As a consequence, we now have BA.4.6 and BF.7, as the predominant BA.5 decreases.

In the United States, more than 106 million are unvaccinated; in the Philippines, about 37 million are not vaccinated.

BA.4.6 was responsible for nearly 12 percent of the cases last week and is now the most predominant strain behind BA.5. BF.7, an “offshoot” of BA.5, accounts for 2 percent of the COVID-19 cases.

While the cases are coming down, the data show that, as of last Tuesday, September 26, the daily average cases are still high – about 52,539 a day, with 417 deaths each day, 29,443 hospitalized. In the Philippines, about 66.4 percent (72.7 million) have full vaccination; 68 percent of the people in the United States (224,113,439) are fully vaccinated, and only 33 percent (108,806,974) got a booster shot. The vaccination rate for the new bivalent booster is very low, as people start having a false sense of security and becoming bolder and casual.

The question now is whether the new reformulated bivalent boosters, which were redesigned primarily for BA.4 and BA.5, would be effective against these two new subvariants of Omicron. Only time can tell as clinical pictures evolve. In the meantime, we urge everyone to be fully vaccinated, including the new Pfizer-BioNT or Moderna bivalent vaccines, which could be interchanged. Both are equally good. When it comes to virus infection, nothing beats the value (effectiveness) of vaccines.

COVID-19 impacts brain U.S. researchers reported on Thursday, September 22 that “people who had COVID-19 are at higher risk for a host of brain injuries a year later compared with people who were never infected by the coronavirus, a finding that could affect millions of Americans.”

The most common symptoms are memory impairments, labelled as brain fog, which 77 percent of those who had COVID-19 infection are prone to have. Fifty percent of them are also likely to have ischemic stroke, which is caused by blood clots, compared to those who never got infected. Those who were infected also have 80 percent higher risk to have seizures, 43 percent more likely to have mental health issues, like anxiety and

BA.4.6, BF.7 are here!

depression, 35 percent likely to have headaches, and 42 percent at higher risk to suffer movement problems, like tremors, compared to noninfected individuals.

This is a vital reason why everyone has to be careful to avoid getting COVID-19 infection, even if the symptoms from the Omicron sub-variants are usually milder, because the potential future “sideeffects” could be devastating.

Exercise in a pill

The old-fashioned, timetested physical exercise is universally known to confer great health benefits, not only for the muscles and bones, but also for the cardiovascular system and the body as a whole, including a person’s mental health. Brisk walking for those still able to do it, no matter how old the person is, is highly recommended more than jogging. The longterm side effect of jogging is trauma to the spine, the hip joints, knee joints, and the ankles, which show up in the later years.

Scientists reported recently that they found a drug that “apparently mimics the effects of vigorous exercise” in laboratory mice. The “exercise in a pill” is called locamidazole (LAMZ). While it did reinvigorate the muscles and bones, as does physical exercise, they are not sure if the benefits would be the same as conferred by actual physical exercise. If adequate studies show that it is applicable to humans down to the molecular level, it might be relegated to those where physical exercise is no longer safe or practical. For all others, we would continue to do our routine standard exercise.

Tea and diabetes

Scientists investigated the effects of drinking various types of tea (black, green, oolong) on diabetic risk, and found that drinking 1-3 cups of tea decreased the risk for diabetes type 2 somewhat but drinking 4 or more cups a day was associated with 17 percent lower risk. There are around 422 million people around the world with diabetes mellitus type 2. This study was a meta-analysis of 19 cohort studies from eight countries presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes Annual Meeting in Stockholm, Sweden. More extensive studies on a global scale are needed to confirm these findings.

Cardio-nuclear scan

To increase the value of a stress test, Thallium-201 or technetium-99m sestamibi (Cardiolite) are two radioactive ingredients given intravenously (nuclear perfusion scan) during the stress test at the point of maximum exercise. This combo then becomes more useful for heart test for evaluation of coronary artery disease. It shows the blood flow in the coronary arteries and looks for blockages in

the arteries and the affected region of the heart.

A stress test alone could show a false negative result among individuals whose tolerance to exercise is high, in spite of possible blockage in the coronary artery. With this perfusion scan, the accurate condition of the coronary artery flow is revealed even if the plain stress test comes out normal. Hence, stress test and nuclear scan perfusion are done together as a standard procedure in cardiology today.

Chronotype

Chronotype tells us what time of the day individuals tend to be more active. Those who wake up early and active in the morning are “early birds,” and those who stay up late and take a longer time to start in the morning are “night owls.” Recent studies revealed that night owls may have greater risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease than early birds. Sleeping more than 8 hours a day also have the same risk as night owls.

Flu or COVID shots?

Since the flu season is here and COVID-19 is expected to rise again in the fall and winter, the question is which vaccine to get first? Experts say the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 booster may be received at the same time (one in each arm) or taken separately. What is important, especially for seniors, is that people able to receive the shots get them in a timely fashion, which is now.

Contact lenses

A clinical study shows that reusable contact lenses may increase the risk of contracting a rare, serious, preventable eye infection called Acanthamoeba keratitis. This infection could lead to blindness. Around 85 percent of this uncommon infection is seen among those who use reusable contact lenses and rarely among those who use disposable lenses. Making sure that hands touching the lenses are clean is vital to avoiding infections.

* * *

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 main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health.

* *

*

Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com.

FCC searching for volunteers

THE Filipino Communi ty Center (FCC) offers many opportunities for community members to stay in touch with the organization.

The FCC recently announced that individuals who are in terested in getting involved through volunteer opportunities are encouraged to volunteer for its Food Delivery Program un der the Bayanihan Response to COVID-19 Campaign of the Na tional Alliance for Filipino Con cern (NAFCON). This program serves working class families and households in Excelsior District (94112 area zip code) in San Francisco and offers free groceries every 1st and 3rd Thursdays of every month from now until June 2023.

The FCC are currently part nering with the Bayanihan Eq uity Center to help make this program possible. It is current ly looking for:

• Grocery packers – Volun teers will help prepare grocer ies every 1st & 3rd Tuesday of every month at Bayanihan Cen ter from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

• Volunteer drivers – To help with picking up groceries from Bayanihan Center to the FCC and/or helping deliver grocer ies to families and households residing in Excelsior District (94112 zip code).

• Delivery staff – Volunteers will help accompany volunteer drivers to drop off groceries to families and households in Ex celsior District.

• In office support – The or ganization is looking for volun teers to help with various needs in order to help run our grocery program at the FCC such as

McDonald’s USA, Cactus Plant Flea Market collab drops October 3 nationwide

CHICAGO – Everyone remembers their first Happy Meal® as a kid... and the can’tsit-still feeling as you dug in to see what was inside. That little red box could turn a regular Tuesday into the best. day. ever. And now, we’re reimagining that experience in a whole new way – this time, for adults.

Introducing: The Cactus Plant Flea Market Box, a first-ofits-kind collaboration created exclusively for McDonald’s fans by one of the most important brands in culture. It all starts with the box, which has been totally redesigned in Cactus Plant Flea Market’s signature style alongside McD’s iconic Golden Arches. The box will be available in-restaurant, in the drive-thru, by delivery or on the McDonald’s App starting Oct. 3, while supplies last.

But it’s what’s inside that makes it worth the hype:

• We’re serving up some of our most popular menu items –choose between a Big Mac® with 100% pure beef patties topped with our fan-favorite Big Mac sauce, or our perfectly crispy 10-piece Chicken McNuggets®. And we’re also throwing in World Famous Fries® and a drink for the ultimate meal.

• What’s a boxed meal at McDonald’s without a surprise inside? Open it up to find one of four collectible figurines made just for the Cactus Plant Flea Market Box – Grimace®, the Hamburglar®, and Birdie® are back and are now joined by Cactus Buddy!, exclusively within the Cactus Plant Flea Market Box.

“We're taking one of the most nostalgic McDonald's experiences and literally repackaging it in a new way that's hyper-relevant for our adult fans,” said Tariq Hassan, McDonald’s USA Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer. “I can’t wait to give fans a unique piece of art and culture as we dive headfirst into the dynamic world of Cactus Plant Flea Market together next week. With menu favorites like the Big Mac and McNuggets at the center of this collab, this is another way we're reigniting a new generation’s love for our food and the brand.”

A collab this epic deserves multiple merch releases to match.

Fans who purchase the Cactus Plant Flea Market Box on the McDonald’s App will automatically be entered for a chance to score exclusive merch for free every week*, including custom Cactus Plant Flea Market x McDonald’s items like t-shirts, a Grimace Chair and more.

Craving more? Merch will also be made available exclusively on cpfmmcdonalds.com on Oct. 3 at 11 AM ET. The collection will only be available during a limited-time window, while supplies last.

The release features a variety of tees, hoodies, and special collectibles - which further explores the storytelling between the two brands, showcasing Cactus Plant Flea Market’s uncanny ability to tap into deeply specific nostalgia.

Whether you're adding the Cactus Plant Flea Market

x McDonald's fits to your collection or simply in need of a bit of a throwback, this collaboration offers a moment for everyone.

McDonald's USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to millions of customers every day. Ninety-five percent of McDonald's approximately 13,500 U.S. restaurants are owned and operated by independent business owners. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter @McDonalds and on Facebook at www.facebook. com/mcdonalds.

(*No purchase necessary. Enter w/o purchase via link in rules at www. mcdsartistresidency.com by 11:59 p.m. ET on 10/30/22. Limit 1 entry/day, must be opted into MyMcDonald's Rewards. Ends 10/30/22. 50 US/DC, 16+ only. See rules for prizes/odds/ details.)

City and county of SF, Fil-Am History Month host committee present 2022 FAHM celebration

SAN FRANCISCO – Filipino American History Month Host Committee, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, and the City and County of San Francisco on Wednesday, September 28 announced San Francisco’s 18th Annual Filipino American History Month celebration. With the theme of “Reflection. Resilience. Reinvention,” this year’s festivities will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 5, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at San Francisco City Hall’s Rotunda (1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco). San Francisco’s 18th Filipino American History Month

celebration is an in-person event and is open to the public. To RSVP, visit https://e.sparxo.com/ fahm2022.

Hosted by NBC Bay Area reporter Ginger Conejero-Saab and Golden State Warriors

“Hype Man” Franco Finn, program highlights include:

• Proclamation from Mayor Breed

• Remarks by Philippine Consul General Neil Ferrer

• Keynote address by Carla Laurel, Executive Director of West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service Center

• Featured performance by Ruby Ibarra

• Filipino American History Month Awards: Trailblazer Award – Bernadette Sy, Executive Director, Filipino American Development Foundation; Community Champion Award – Edwin Lozada, Executive Director, Philippine American Writers and Artists; Emerging Leader Award – Simon Timony, Founder, Advocates 11

• Pop-Up Art Exhibition by Baybayin Artist Taipan Lucero

• Cultural Performances by Kulintang Dialect and Parangal Dance Company

• Anthem Singers: Carlen Ocampo and St Augustine Children's Choir.

‘The Attorney of the People,’ CA Atty General...

PAGE 9

American appointed as Attorney General, is Citizen Pinoy’s special guest, where he will share his background and his family’s immigration story, and efforts to enhance the freedoms and rights of various groups, including farm workers.

Viewers will also learn about the most significant legislation that Bonta has authored through the years, and actions he has taken, that benefited the people. He also explains the role of an Attorney General.

phone banking recipients and transporting groceries to deliv ery drivers and staff.

To volunteer, go to https:// docs.google.com/forms/d/e/

1FAIpQLSeQP2KoR38c VI 9w3yQ2EU2-ILZJMAYuX

ke5LPDhKnFqqnQpJw/view form, fill out the form and submit via email to info@filipi nocc.org. For other inquiries, please call Shara Orquiza at (415) 333-6267. (FCC Release)

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

18th celebration of Filipino American Heritage Month akes place at City Hall’s Rotunda, Oct. 5

The Cactus Plant Flea Market Box, a collaboration between McDonald’s and Cactus Plant Flea Market drops on October 3. The boxed meal includes a surprise – Grimace®, Hamburglar®, Birdie® or Cactus Buddy!

Choose between two popular meal items – a Big Mac® or the 10-piece Chicken McNuggets®.

Lea Salonga to receive

Impact Award

‘Tignan

not

door to sexy roles

by Kristofer Purnell Philstar.com by jAn Milo severo Philstar.com

FILIPINO actress-singer Lea Salonga has been included as among the recipients for the 2022 TIME100 Impact Awards, which recognizes "visionaries who have gone above and beyond to make an impact and move their respective industries forward."

In a write-up by journalist Sanya Mansoor, Salonga recounted how becoming the singing voices for Disney princesses Jasmine and Mulan were meaningful to her, particularly the latter.

“All of a sudden, the people that look like me had a princess,” Salonga said. “[Mulan] brings honor to herself and to her family... and she does it with grace.”

Beyond Disney, Salonga also took pride in promoting

representation in Hollywood and in Broadway by showing underrepresented groups their stories matter.

Salonga won a Tony Award for her portrayal of Kim in "Miss

Saigon" and in 1992 became the first Asian woman to play Eponine in "Les Misérables" on Broadway.

Mansoor's write-up also mentions that Salonga is still hoping for a Filipina Disney princess, likely patterned after the legendary heroine Urduja.

Joining Salonga in receiving the award are British-Indian actress Alia Bhatt, Iranian-American computational geneticist Dr. Pardis Sabeti, and former James Webb Space Telescope Program director Gregory L. Robinson.

All four award recipients will make an appearance at a special cocktail party in October 2 in National Gallery Singapore, which will be followed by a viewing party for Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix.

Previous recipients of the award include fellow musical artists Ellie Goulding and will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas.

Jessica Sanchez is ‘bad in a good way’ in...

PAGE 9

“Like 10 years ago when I was on Idol, it was such an honor to represent the Filipino community. I didn’t realize how crazy it was until I actually stepped foot in the Philippines for the first time. And there was so much support, so much love. That’s why I just love going to the Philippines. I love how you guys have really just embraced me so much and supported me through my journey. So, I just want to thank you guys for that one, too,” she said.

Jessica is happy to now see more Filipinos “making a statement in the entertainment business, not only in music, but also in TV and film.”

“That’s huge. Because, you know, I’ve kind of dabbled a little bit in acting and I’ve heard from different casting people that they’re looking for Filipinos, looking for different ethnicities, more exotic, so I love that people are more open to that and that we are continuing to represent the Filipino culture.”

Amid Filipino-Americans doing so well in the music scene today, like Olivia Rodrigo, H.E.R. Saweetie, she doesn’t really feel though that she somehow paved the way.

She said, “So, I wouldn’t say, like, pioneer. Maybe, I did. But for me, I looked at (Jake Zyrus) when he was Charice as

somebody that was paving the way because he was on Glee at the time and it was huge. I was like, okay, like he’s doing it. I’m gonna do it, you know, we’re gonna make this happen. I see Filipinos represented here in the States. I feel that there’s been multiple people really paving ways. And also Manny Pacquiao in the boxing world. I mean, I would be honored to think that (I helped pave the way).”

Her journey as an artist of mixed-race origins has not been a road paved with roses. She also encountered discrimination and “people telling me I can’t do that, I can’t do this because I’m Asian.” She has released a power ballad about it, titled Us, which she also co-wrote and features fellow Asian-American artists Apl.De.Ap., Patrick Starr and AJ Rafael.

Nevertheless, during tough times in her career, she has her Pinay mom to thank for as a morale booster and support system. “From a young age, because of my mom, because she has such a strong personality, she’s always told me and taught me like, you know, don’t let anybody ever tell you that you can’t do something no matter your circumstance or your race or anything like that, or because you’re a woman or anything like that. That really stuck with me and I carry that throughout my

whole career,” she said.

There’s another person that Jessica can count on for love and support and she introduced him during the interview — her longtime partner Rickie Gallardo. He’s into business but not in the music industry. He’s sometimes mistaken as Filipino because of his name, but he’s actually Latino who’s enjoyed visiting the country several times with Jessica.

Asked about the role of Rickie in her career, the singer said, “Oh, man, (his role has) been huge. I’m more of a perfectionist. And I kind of tend to put myself down a lot when I’m not at this standard that I’m trying to reach. With everybody around me, with my mom, my friends, my family, but most importantly, my partner, he’s always there pushing me, supporting me, telling me, ‘You got this,’ in my super low moments, when I really doubt myself.

“He is there pushing me, ‘You have a gift from God and you need to use it and you need to continue doing music. That’s where your purpose is.’ He really motivates me and he’s a strong support system. So yeah, I thank God for that.”

(Baddie is now out on streaming platforms, while its official music video is available on Jessica Sanchez’s official YouTube channel.)

KAPAMILYA actress Kim Chiu is not closing the door to sexy roles in movies.

In an interview with the media during the premiere night of her movie “Always” with real-life sweetheart Xian Lim, Kim was asked if she is ready to do daring roles.

“Matured, mas matured. Tignan natin. Depende naman sa story,” Kim answered.

Parang itong 'Always' ano lang 'to, kalma lang,” she added.

Produced by Viva Films, Kim and Xian star in the Philippine adaptation of the hit Korean romantic movie “Always,’ which started showing in cinemas on Wednesday, September 28.

The original K-movie starred Korean film and TV stars So Jisub ("Oh My Venus," "Doctor Lawyer") and Han Hyo-joo ("Dong Yi," "Happiness"). The movie has several adaptations from different countries like Turkey, India and Japan.

“Always” is a romantic drama about two people with different outlooks in life, both damaged by the cruelties of the world — one physically and the other emotionally.

One faithful night brings the two lead characters together as Anna (Kim), a blind woman who often hangs out in a parking

booth, finds out that it now has a new attendant, a former boxer and a mysterious, sad-looking man named Lino (Xian). Despite Lino’s dismissive attitude, Anna stays and even goes back nights after to hang out at Lino’s parking booth. Through shared snacks and Anna’s warm presence, Lino’s walls begin to crumble. He starts to open up and be at ease with Anna, a feeling he has not felt in a long time.

As each day passes, Lino becomes more protective and caring of Anna. They start to feel something more for each other, and their blossoming romance starts to flourish. But Lino’s dark past catches up with him, and it becomes a hindrance to their relationship.

"Always" is adapted into a screenplay by award-winning writer Mel Mendoza-Del Rosario and directed by Dado C. Lumibao.

Maja Salvador to star in new ABS-CBN TV series with Richard Gutierrez

by Anne PAsAjol Inquirer.net

MAJA Salvador is set to star alongside Richard Gutierrez in an upcoming ABS-CBN TV series, which will mark the actress’ return to the network after two years.

Star Creatives announced this by showing a behind-the-scenes photo from the series, via its Instagram page on Tuesday, Sept. 27. Salvador can be seen smiling while looking at Gutierrez who is resting his head in her lap.

“Starring Richard Gutierrez kasama sina (along with) Maja Salvador, Sue Ramirez and Jake Cuenca. To be shot entirely in Cebu,” it said.

Salvador also showed the said photo on her Instagram Stories, adding red, green and blue heart emoji which apparently stand

Maja Salvador and Richard Gutierrez. Photo from Instagram/@starcreativestv for the colors of the network’s logo. Gutierrez shared the photo as well, saying, “Soon on primetime.” No further details have been released about the series, as of writing. Salvador last worked with ABS-CBN in the TV series “Killer

Bride” which ended in 2020. The actress then became part of TV5’s shows “Sunday Noontime Live,” “Niña Niño” and “Oh My Korona.” In October last year, Salvador joined the long-running noontime show “Eat Bulaga” in GMA as host.

Real life couple Xian Lim and Kim Chiu at the premiere night of their movie "Always." Philstar.com photo

Lea Salonga Photo from leasalonga.com