101422 - San Diego Edition

Jo Koy Day proclaimed in Los Angeles

FILIPINO American stand-up comedian Jo Koy now has a day in his honor in the city of Los Angeles, home to the largest Fil-Am population in California.

The Los Angeles City Council proclaimed Oct. 7 as “Jo Koy Day” during its meeting on Friday.“My goal was always to tell my story and represent my culture the best way that I could. Thank you to the beautiful city of Los Angeles for declaring October 7th Jo Koy Day,” Jo Koy wrote in an Instagram post. “I’m forever grateful and I will continue to wave my flag high. Mahal Kita!”

On Friday, the LA Filipino Association of City Employees (LAFACE) held its 40th year anniversary event at City Hall and honored Jo Koy’s accomplishments in entertainment.

The night before, City Hall was the site of LA’s annual Filipino American History Month celebration, where the “Easter Sunday” star received an honor and lit up the building in Philippine flag colors as he was joined by Mayor Eric Garcetti and Fil-Am community leaders.

In his speech at the council chambers, the comedian — best known for his jokes about Filipino culture — shared how he uses humor to show the relatability of the community in the United States.

Fake news kicks into high gear ahead of midterm elections

AS the midterms approach, voters are being bombarded with disinformation in multiple languages.

People who are addicted to fake news get it from sources they trust. Trouble is, people who produce it know they are lying.

“This information has always existed,” says Vanessa Cárdenas, deputy director of America’s Voice and a policy expert on political disinformation. During an Ethnic Media Services press call last week, Cárdenas said that there’s a lot more fake news out there and it spreads quickly.

“What’s different is the way in which we are consuming information has changed, and that has created this monster that we are not able to control, and many times the platforms are not able to control,” she said.

News that misleads reaches millions via Facebook and Twitter. When Fox News peddles conspiracy theories, they play to an audience that wants to believe the message regardless of whether it is true or not.

9 of 10 Filipinos consider fake news a problem

by ana roa Krixia suBingsuBing Inquirer.net

MANILA — Close to 90 percent of adult Filipinos believe fake news is a problem, a sentiment reflected nationwide and across all socioeconomic classes, according to a recent Pulse Asia Research survey that also pointed to social media “influencers” and journalists as the top culprits.

The Sept. 17-21 survey released on Tuesday, October 11 said a majority (58 percent) of Filipinos nationwide see bloggers and vloggers—the social media influencers—as responsible for “spreading

false information” about government and politics.

They were followed by journalists (40 percent), national politicians (37 percent), local politicians (30 percent), leaders of civic or nongovernmental organizations (15 percent), businessmen (11 percent) and academics (4 percent).

For a media scholar, the survey indicated that the Philippine press had “trust issues and credibility issues” at a time when the public believed that the mainstream media served only as a mouthpiece for the elite and did not accurately reflect the true pulse of the masses.

While Filipinos somehow recognize that vloggers

and bloggers or content creators and influencers “are getting out of hand with their disrespect for the facts, (a) more level-headed approach is needed because fake news may differ among respondents,” said University of the Philippines communications professor Danilo Arao.

“This could explain why responsible journalists get unfairly judged as the truth they report gets mistaken for lies, at the same time that the lies of irresponsible colleagues get ascribed to them,” Arao said.

This view of the media will remain as long as

Marcos: Philippines can recover from impact of global conflicts

by alexis roMero Philstar.com

MANILA — Through unity and good governance, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. says he is confident that the Philippines can recover from the impact of global conflicts and economic shocks.

In a video that marked his first 100 days in office, the president noted that the beginning of his administration was confronted by the impact of external conflicts and economic challenges, but maintained that huge problems should not be obstacles to the recovery of the country.

The eight-and-a-half-minute video was posted on YouTube by Ten17P, the film production company of Marcos’ relative Paul Soriano.

“There are many more dreams that we have to focus on and fulfill. Our colleagues in the government are diligent and competent,” Marcos said in Filipino.

“Only 2,400 hours have passed. Be assured that in the coming 2,090 days, with the blessing of God, good governance and our collective efforts, we will recover together,” he added.

Global innovation: PH struggling to keep up with other countries

by Cristina eloisa BaCligP Inquirer.net

MANILA — The Philippines slid by eight notches in the Global Innovation Index (GII), which measures a country’s tech advancement, among others, from 2021 to 2022, ending up with the rank of 59 out of 132 countries.

Data from the latest iteration of the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) GII report, which measures the performance of countries in terms of progress in innovations (like patents produced and technological advancements), showed that the Philippines “fell back slightly” in the

US federal appeals court deems DACA illegal, but current recipients still eligible for renewal

Decision prohibits new applicants to the Obama-era immigration program

by Klarize Medenilla AJPress

program, which former President Barack Obama created in 2012 to provide temporary benefits and protections to undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children.

In short, the Wednesday decision — made by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit — did not change the current status of DACA, but rather left its future hanging in the balance.

global ranking.

The WIPO noted that the slump underlined the importance of sustaining innovation efforts over time.

The countries were ranked based on their overall score and the average of two subindices. These included one that measured how the economy enabled innovative activities (innovation input sub-index) and another that measured the result of these innovative activities (innovation output sub-index).

The Philippines had an overall score of 30.7 this year — lower than its score of 35.3 recorded in 2021.

Appeals court junks Ressa cyber libel appeal; Supreme Court next

by Kristine Joy Patag Philstar.com

Filipino immigrant killed in Los Angeles robbery

by AJPress

LOS ANGELES — Relatives and community members are mourning the loss of a Filipino liquor store clerk who was attacked and killed during a robbery last week.

On Thursday night, Oct. 6, Steven Reyes — a 68-yearold Filipino immigrant who worked at Tony’s Market in Highland Park, a neighborhood in northeast Los Angeles — confronted several teenagers who were taking various items from the store.

In an attempt to stop them from stealing a case of beer, Reyes was struck on the head with a scooter before the suspects, described as two teenage boys and two teenage girls between the ages of 15 and 18, fled the scene.

Reyes was found unconscious on the sidewalk outside of the liquor store as good Samaritans tried to help him. He later succumbed to his injuries and died at the hospital, according to the LA Police Department.

“I would like for people to just remember him, you know, as just your everyday Filipino uncle, your everyday Filipino dad,” Reyes’ daughter Nelle said during a vigil held outside of the store on Monday, Oct. 10.

His daughter remembered him for always doing the right

thing.

The victim’s family started a GoFundMe page and paid tribute to Reyes who was a “son, a father, a brother, a good friend and a hard worker.”

“Steven had a loving heart and cared for everyone and always made sure that his family was safe,” the page continued.

The fundraiser has raised over $40,000, as of this writing, to cover medical expenses and funeral costs.

“His work ethics were incredible and he worked so hard to be able to care and support his

Steven Reyes, a 68-year-old Filipino immigrant who worked at a Los Angeles area liquor store, was fatally struck on the head with a scooter during an attempted robbery on Oct. 6. His family started a GoFundMe page to help with medical expenses and funeral costs.

Photo courtesy of GoFundMe

PUBLIC DEFENDERS. Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go (in white barong), Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Rueda-Acosta, and other PAO lawyers show the “thumbs up” sign during the 7th MCLE-Accredited National Convention of Public Attorneys at the plenary hall of the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on Thursday, Oct. 13. Go served as a guest of honor and speaker at the event. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Jo Koy Day proclaimed in...

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“I want to do a thing where I could tell the story about my mom and just let you hear about what my mom does as a mom. And then you will relate to it and realize that a mom is just a mom no matter what her ethnicity is, what her religion is, what her accent is,” he said.

Jo Koy, who has catapulted to success for his stand-up comedy and Netflix specials, noted the lack of community representation on mainstream entertainment, especially in medical shows, given that Filipinos are largely in the medical field.

“I have so many Filipino nurses in my family. I have an aunt that has about seven nursing homes and just a ton of Filipino nurses out there. They work their butts off, they take care of people 14 hours a day. They have been doing it for over 30 years. And then they go home every day after a hard day’s work and they turn on the TV and they watch about any hospitals and they don’t see one nurse being played by Filipinos,” he said.

He lamented that it shouldn’t be “normalized” and that the lack of representation makes Filipinos feel “like they are invisible.”

Through his comedy, he said, he wants “to give that voice.”

“I will continue to do it. It’s important, representation is important,” Jo Koy added.

In 2020, the city of San Diego declared Oct. 16 as “Jo Koy Day.” On July 22 of this year, he received the key of Daly City, California and likewise had the

9 of 10 Filipinos consider fake news a...

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certain news organizations “perpetuate state-sponsored disinformation like denialism and Red-tagging,” he said.

Sources of fake news

Pulse Asia polled 1,200 respondents. Its survey had a margin of error of plus-minus 2.8 percentage points for national percentages.

The poll was taken as some “key developments” were reported in the news prior to or during the survey period.

These include the order signed by President Marcos lifting the mandate on wearing face masks in open and noncrowded outdoor areas; the 50th anniversary of the declaration of martial law by the President’s late father and namesake; Mr. Marcos’ state visits to Singapore and Indonesia where he said he obtained P805 billion in investment pledges; and the depreciation of the Philippine peso to a record low of P58 to the dollar.

The survey results showed that 90 percent of respondents had heard, read or watched fake news, with 21 percent saying they were exposed to fake news at least once a day. A fourth of the respondents said they encountered fake news a few times a month while another 26 percent said a few times a week and 17 percent said once a week.

The survey showed 86 percent believe fake news was a problem, but only 55 percent were confident in their ability to determine whether the political news they encounter were truthful or not.

Only 44 percent said they were sure that the political news they were getting were not fake news while 11 percent said they were unsure, and 44 percent could not determine the veracity of the

news.

Social media or the internet (68 percent) and television (67 percent) were cited as top sources of fake news, followed by radio (32 percent), friends or acquaintances (28 percent), family or relatives (21 percent).

The least cited sources of fake news were community leaders (4 percent), newspapers (3 percent), and religious leaders (1 percent).

‘Patient zero’

An earlier survey (Sept. 6-11, 2021) by Pulse Asia showed that television was the source of news for an overwhelming number (91 percent) of respondents. Following in far second was radio (49 percent) and third the internet (48 percent).

Family and relatives (37 percent) and friends and relatives (25 percent) were more popular sources of news than newspapers, which a mere 3 percent of respondents had read.

The spread of false information online was among the top global concerns cited of respondents in a recent Pew Research Center survey across 19 countries.

The survey report, released in August, showed a median of 70 percent across 19 countries view the spread of false information online as a major national threat, after global climate change.

In 2018, the Philippines was referred to by Facebook’s Global Politics and Government Outreach director Katie Harbath as “patient zero” in the global war against disinformation.

In that same year, a Pulse Asia survey found 88 percent of Filipinos who accessed social media accounts were aware of fake news on social media with 79 percent of respondents saying they considered fake news to be widespread on those platforms.

‘Hired trolls’

A December 2021 survey by Social Weather Stations also found 69 percent of Filipinos saying the problem of fake news in the media was serious.

Former Bayan Rep. Neri Colmenares, who campaigned on a platform to eradicate disinformation in his run for the Senate in the May elections, said the Pulse Asia survey reflected current realities.

“The problem of fake news is growing because people in power feed it and are continuously feeding it through hired trolls or creating vlogs and posts with dubious content,” he said. “It is incumbent upon real journalists and the public who strive for the truth to combat this scourge of the digital age.”

Arao said it was interesting that at least 55 percent of the survey respondents were confident that Filipinos could tell the truthfulness of the political news they received. But still, he said, a large number (37 percent) were not confident about whether others could spot fake news.

This lack of confidence, according to Arao, could be a factor in the ranking of journalists next to content creators and influencers as sources of fake news.

He urged the media to “veer away” from gossip, trivia, and rumor and to focus on relevant matters.

By doing so, Arao hopes that the public would not pay attention to propagandists who project themselves as alternatives to mainstream media.

“These contribute to a better media system and can hopefully earn the trust of audiences,” he said.

Appeals court junks Ressa cyber libel...

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Branch 46’s ruling that found them guilty beyond reasonable doubt for the crime of cyber libel.

In the same July ruling, the CA also lengthened potential prison time to six months and a day to six years, eight months and 20 days.

The CA said it found the motion for reconsideration filed by Ressa and Santos had no merit.

“A careful and meticulous review of the motion for reconsideration reveals that the matters raised by the accused-appellants had already been exhaustively resolved and discussed in the assailed Decision,” the ruling, penned by Associate Justice Roberto Quiroz, read.

Concurring were Associate Justices Ramon Bato Jr. and Germano Francisco Legaspi.

Ressa, in a statement, said she is disappointed by the ruling but was not surprised. “This is a reminder of the importance of independent journalism holding power to account,” she added.

Her lawyer Theodore Te also found the ruling “disappointing”, saying “it ignored basic principles of constitutional and criminal law as well as the evidence presented.”

He said they will bring the case to the Supreme Court next.

For the legal community, this is a test case to the nascent anti-cybercrime law, while press freedom advocates have said the conviction highlights the problem in criminalizing libel and its continued use as a tool to keep journalists in line.

On republication

Ressa and Santos argued that they merely corrected one letter in the original article published on May 29, 2012, when it was updated on Feb. 19, 2012. This, they claimed, the provisions on cyber libel — enacted into law in September 2012 — and its penalty were applied ex-post facto.

“As settled, the determination of republication is not hinged on whether the corrections made therein were substantial or not, as what matters is that the very exact libelous article was again published on a later date,” the CA said.

On prescription

The CA said that the argument of Ressa and Santos that cited Wilberto Tolento v. People, a decision that settled that prescriptive period for cyber libel is 15 years “has no doctrinal value and cannot be considered as a binding precedent as it

It added that it cannot disregard “the stark distinction between traditional publication and online publication” since printed articles are only published once. In online publication, they said, “the commission of such offense is continuous since the such article remains there in perpetuity unless taken down.”

“Thus, applying to the present case, the defamatory article published against Wilfredo Keng is continuously published in the Rappler website despite the lapse of one year from the time of its republication, and can still be readily consumed by anyone who has access to the cyberspace,” it said.

The CA also said that the conviction of Ressa and Santos under the Cybercrime law “is not geared towards the curtailment of the freedom of speech, or to produce an unseemingly chilling effect on the users of cyberspace that would possibly hinder free speech.”

“On the contrary, we echo the wisdom of the Supreme Court in the Disini case that the purpose of the law is to safeguard the right of free speech, and to curb, if not totally prevent, the reckless and unlawful use of the computer systems as a means of committing the traditional criminal offenses,” it added.

Disini v. Secretary of Justice is the 2014 Supreme Court resolution that voided parts of the Cybercrime Prevention Act as unconstitutional but retained the heavier penalties for cyber libel. n

—with a report from Inquirer research n

Rappler CEO Maria Ressa Philstar.com file photo was an unsigned resolution.”

Koy Day” by Los Angeles in honor of Filipino American comedian Jo Koy. The proclamation was joined by a Fil-Am History Month celebration by the LA Filipino Association of City Employees. Photos courtesy of LAFACE

named after him, leading up to the release of “Easter Sunday,” the first major Hollywood studio film about Fil-Ams, which hit theaters in August. (AJPress) n

FLU VACCINE FOR ELDERS. Kristine Joy Velando (left), a nurse from City Health Office I, administers a free flu vaccine to a senior citizen at Barangay Health Center, Salitran 3, Dasmariñas City, Cavite on Thursday, Oct. 13. The city government vaccination aims to protect the city’s elderly from the flu and pneumonia, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

PNA photo by Gil Calinga

US federal appeals...

The new rule barring new applicants takes effect on Oct. 31.

As of 2022, the average age of a DACA recipient is 28 years old, and there are currently more than 611,000 individuals enrolled in DACA. Though DACA recipients are diverse, a vast majority hail from South America and Asia. According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), about 3,880 Filipinos are active recipients of DACA.

For years, DACA has remained a controversial topic. Conservatives and anti-immigration groups argue that the government shouldn’t grant undocumented immigrants benefits and protections — even if they were brought to the U.S. as small children. Democrats have been fighting to preserve DACA, especially after former President Donald Trump unsuccessfully tried to terminate the program in 2017.

However, immigrant rights groups have argued that the issue goes beyond DACA, which is a temporary protections program, and that the White House and Congress ought to prioritize permanent solutions for undocumented individuals.

“It is beyond time for Congress and Biden to act on their promises to secure permanent protections for Dreamers, including a pathway to citizenship for all,” Families Belong Together, an immigrant rights group, said in a statement, referencing the never-passed DREAM Act that would have guaranteed a pathway to citizenship.

The lower court ruling was made in July 2021 by Judge Andrew Hanen of the Southern District of Texas, which ruled DACA “unlawful” and barred new applications for the program; the order, however, allowed for renewals for existing DACA beneficiaries.

Texas wasn’t the only state claiming that DACA was a financial burden; Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, South Carolina and West Virginia — all staunchly conservative states — joined Texas in its lawsuit against DACA in 2018.

Advocates for DACA — including the Biden Administration — argue that without the program, healthcare costs would increase for undocumented immigrants and their families, a point that the appeals court acknowledged in their ruling.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit wrote that without DACA, the cost of healthcare in Texas “would increase for [undocumented individuals] who remain in Texas, because they would lose their jobs and employer-based health insurance and would rely more on emergency Medicaid.”

But the ruling continues, “That may be, but these estimates do not account for the cost savings — healthcare and educational — from others’ departure. Texas would no longer be required to educate those who depart or the children who depart with them.”

In July arguments, the Biden administration, through the U.S. Justice Department, defended DACA along with multiple immigrant groups, the state of New Jersey and dozens of corporations — including Amazon, Apple, and Google — who all argued that DACA recipients have served as a reliable workforce that continues to stimulate the economy. n

Global innovation: PH struggling to keep up with...

Switzerland, which ranked first again this year, scored 64.6. Trailing behind were the United States (61.8), Sweden (61.6), the United Kingdom (59.7), and the Netherlands (58.0).

“As to technological catch-up and convergence, the past three decades were an unacknowledged golden age that has led to unconditional and historic convergence,” the report said.

“This was thanks to increased globalization and what came with it in terms of knowledge diffusion and technology and innovation transfer, including managerial and other organizational and process innovations,” it added.

“All those countries that have climbed the GII innovation rankings over time, for example, China, India, Turkey, the Philippines, and Vietnam, have for various reasons (e.g., industrial policies) been able to develop homegrown technological capabilities; an achievement reflected in measured innovation performance and the ability to participate in global value chains,” it said.

Rankings in SEAO

Still, the country maintained its position among countries in Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Oceania (SEAO) that continue to change the innovation landscape.

Same as last year, the Philippines ranked 11th.

This is the fourth year that the country was included on the list of innovation achievers in the region—starting in 2015, then in 2020, 2021, and this year.

The WIPO found that the Philippines was also among the countries in the region— alongside Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Lao People’s Democratic Republic— that have made “the greatest advances over the past decade, moving up more than 20 ranks.”

The SEAO region also continues to close the innovation performance gap with Northern America and Europe. Seven SEAO

economies are world innovation leaders: the Republic of Korea (6th in global rankings), Singapore (7th), China (11th), Japan (13th), Hong Kong, China (14th), New Zealand (24th), and Australia (25th)

Out of the 36 countries in the lower middle-income group, the Philippines ranked fifth, retaining its performance above expectations for the level of development.

India (40th in the global rankings) ranked first among lower middle-income countries, followed by Vietnam (48th), Iran (53rd), and Ukraine (57th).

2nd high-tech exporter worldwide

Despite falling in the global rankings this year, the WIPO highlighted that the Philippines continues to lead in key innovation indicators. The GII report stated that the country holds the second position worldwide in high-tech exports.

According to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), electronic products were among the top Philippine exports, with an 8.2 percent growth rate between January 2021 and January 2022.

This amounted to a free-on-board (FOB) price of around $3.2 billion (58.94 percent of total exports in January 2021) and $3.5 billion (28 percent of total exports in January 2022).

Data from the PSA also showed that the top exported electronic products in January this year included:

• Components/Devices (Semiconductors): $2.6 billion

• Electronic Data Processing: $507 million

• Office Equipment: $61 million

• Consumer Electronics: $89 million

• Telecommunication: $85 million

• Communication/Radar: $44 million

• Control and Instrumentation: $64 million

• Medical/Industrial Instrumentation: $18 million

• Automotive Electronics: $15 million.

According to the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines

Foundation Inc. (Seipi), the electronics sector—the country’s largest exporter— shipped out $45.92 billion worth of goods in 2021.

PH slide: ‘Most alarming’ In a statement last October 3, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), however, described the country’s current GII ranking as “most alarming.”

“We regret to see the decline of the Philippines in the 2022 Global Innovation Index (GII),” said IPOPHL Director General Rowel Barba.

“Our slide of eight rungs is most alarming. This calls for the urgent task of accelerating work at the National Innovation Council (NIC) to sustain innovation over time,” he added.

Barba said the decline might be attributed to double-digit declines in education and tertiary education (human capital and research), knowledge creation (knowledge and technology output) and creative goods and services (creative output).

Under the innovation sub-index of GII, five pillars had been listed—institutions, human capital and research, infrastructure, market sophistication and business sophistication.

These enabler pillars, according to WIPO, define aspects of the environment conducive to innovation within an economy.

“In promoting the export of our cultural and creative services, IPOPHL commits to engage more proactively with our creative economy and ensure yielding positive outcomes from the creatives-based partnerships we have been forging over the years,” Barba said.

“We also see the recently legislated Creative Industries Development Act as providing a boost to bring our creative genius to the global stage,” he added.

He also said that the IPOPHL will intensify its work in “creating an environment that stimulates creative and innovative activities through promoting IP protection and creating a robust enforcement regime.” n

Marcos: Philippines can recover from...

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The video was basically a recap of the major engagements of Marcos and the accomplishments of different agencies.

Marcos started by touting the investment pledges made during his inaugural trips to Indonesia and Singapore.

He said 12 letters of intent and 12 memoranda of understanding in renewable energy, data centers, e-commerce, broadband technology, startups, government housing and agriculture were signed during the two state visits last month.

The pledges may yield $14.36

billion or P804.78 billion worth of investments to the Philippines, he added.

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople, and Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista also appeared on the video to talk about the programs and accomplishments of their respective agencies.

An infographic posted on the social media pages of the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) also highlighted the administration’s gains in the areas of health (kalusugan),

peace (kapayapaan), livelihood (kabuhayan) and education (edukasyon)

Under “kalusugan,” the OPS enumerated the giving of P1.04billion special risk allowance to health care workers, the higher number of persons vaccinated against COVID-19, the PinasLakas vaccination campaign and the executive order easing the face mask rule.

The accomplishments listed under “kapayapaan” were the representation of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Moro National Liberation Front and other sectors in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority and the assistance given to former

rebels.

Under “kabuhayan,” the administration cited the 134,285 jobs that may be created by the investment pledges secured during Marcos’ trips to Indonesia, Singapore and the United States.

The resumption of face-toface classes, free rides and financial aid for students were listed under “edukasyon.”

Last week, Marcos said he considers the tapping of the “best and the brightest” to serve in his administration and the putting up of a “functional” government as his key accomplishments in his first 100 days as president. n

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REFURBISHED. Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo (2nd from left), Assistant Secretary Henry Bensurto Jr. (right), and Undersecretary Antonio Morales (left) lead the ribbon cutting ceremony of refurbished facilities of the Office of Consular Affairs at Aseana Business Park in Paranaque City on Wednesday, Oct. 12. Improving the amenities of the office is to provide better services to the transacting public.

PNA photo by Avito Dalan

City of San Diego’s ‘Tech on the Go’ classes help San Diegans improve computer skills and get tech savvy

Free classes offered at libraries and recreation centers as part of new digital literacy program

SAN DIEGO – Standing in front of the Malcolm X/Valencia Park Library, City Council President Pro Tem Monica Montgomery Steppe on Thursday, October 13 joined the San Diego Futures Foundation to officially launch Tech on the Go – a new digital literacy program offering free in-person classes for any San Diegan who wants to learn how to use a computer and better navigate the internet.

A partnership between the City of San Diego and the San Diego Futures Foundation, Tech on the Go instructors visit libraries, recreation centers and community centers to provide the classes to improve computer and online literacy. Classes are open to people of all skill levels and laptops are provided during the class for those who need one.

“To close the digital divide, we need to get creative about bringing access and opportunity to neighborhoods that need it the most,” said City Council President Pro Tem Montgomery Steppe. “The Tech on the Go program will do just that by providing free classes at libraries and rec centers that are available to anyone who wants to improve their computer skills or learn how to better use the internet. This is all about empowering our fellow San Diegans by giving them the knowledge and skills to make their way in what is an increasingly digital world.”

Classes are currently being offered at seven locations:

• Central Library, 330 Park Blvd.

• Logan Heights Library, 567 S. 28th St.

• Park de la Cruz Recreation Center,

3911 Landis St.

• San Ysidro Library, 4235 Beyer Blvd.

• Sherman Heights Community Center, 2258 Island Ave.

• Skyline Library, 7900 Paradise Valley Road.

• Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library, 5148 Market St.

Courses include “How to Use Zoom,” “Mouse & Typing Skills,” “Internet Safety,” and “How to Use a Smartphone/ Laptop,” among others, with topics changing each month.

Each two-hour class session includes an hour of instruction on a specific topic followed by an hour of open office time where individuals can get oneon-one help from instructors. Low-cost computers and devices are also available for purchase.

“Our foundation has over 20 years of experience in getting San Diegans connected, from refurbishing computers for low-income families to teaching seniors how to use the internet,” said Thomas Rhee, Executive Director of the San Diego Futures Foundation. “This latest partnership with the city will help bolster the computer and internet skills for hundreds of individuals every month and the best part is we’re bringing these classes to a neighborhood library or rec center near you.”

To sign up for a class, San Diegans can go to sdfutures.org/digital-literacy or ask a City librarian for assistance. Hard copies of monthly class schedules are also posted in participating libraries and recreation centers.

“Far too many San Diegans have been left behind when it comes to accessing the internet and we’re on a mission to right that wrong,” said Library Director Misty Jones. “We’ve done a lot to expand public Wi-Fi that everyone can use and now we’re taking the next step by offering free classes so folks can get the most out of using the internet, whether it’s learning how to use Zoom or applying for a job online.”

Tech on the Go is the latest program under the City’s SD Access 4 All initiative to help close the digital divide, with a focus on lifting up the San Diego Promise Zone –a 6.4-square-mile area that is home to the City’s most underserved communities stretching east from East Village and Barrio Logan to Emerald Hills and Encanto.

Through SD Access 4 All, the city has installed public Wi-Fi in more than 400 locations throughout the city. The initiative also expanded opportunities to help San Diegans get connected. Funding helped purchase thousands of Chromebooks and thousands of mobile hotspots that can be checked out from select libraries. Mobile hotspots provide free at-home internet service and can be borrowed for up to 90 days.

In addition, the city recently launched a Digital Navigator program and helpline to provide free, one-on-one computer and technology support to those in need. San Diegans can call the toll-free Digital Navigator helpline at 1-800-350-6945 to get assistance accessing technology or to make an in-person appointment.

(City of San Diego Release) n

Fake news kicks into...

Cárdenas said false narratives about immigration, crime, and the economy are flourishing on Fox News and its viewers see them repeated constantly as the midterm elections approach.

She said the Right has created an echo chamber that reinforces and amplifies negative stereotypes about immigrants or repeats the “big lie” that Donald Trump won the 2020 election.

“We see that candidates, Republican candidates, are taking a lot of these themes and are using them in their ads. America’s Voice has been tracking TV ads for campaigns across the country and we see hundreds and hundreds of ads.

We see hundreds and hundreds of emails that come from these campaigns touching on these themes,” Cárdenas said.

Disinformation creates a feedback loop that amplifies false messages to voters and politicians use them to win elections.

“It’s a political tactic. There’s no policy substance. It’s not a factual conversation. It’s not a solution-oriented conversation. It’s all about giving red meat to their base,” she said.

Added to the slew of misinformation are a raft of newly enacted restrictive voting laws. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, after the 2020 election 21 states passed 42 restrictive voting laws.

Mekela Panditharatne with the Brennan Center’s Democracy Program noted these laws “target or disproportionately impact Latino and Black voters. And we found that newly registered voters are most likely to be Latino,” she said.

Many of these new voters are being bombarded with misinformation on Spanishlanguage platforms.

Spanish radio is the news media of choice for Latinos in states like Florida and Texas.

Factchequeado, a Spanish factchecking platform, calls out fake news in Spanish language news media by using WhatsApp, a cross-platform instant messaging service popular among Latino/a communities.

Factchequeado started in April with support from the Google News Initiative and is modeled after two similar operations, Maldita.es in Spain and Chequeado in Argentina. It has 30 large and small media partners who collaborate as fake news watchdogs.

“We are seeing a lot of disinformation similar to the past election,” says Factchequeado Managing Editor Tamoa Calzadilla, former director of fact checking at Univision, the largest Spanish language TV network in the U.S.

Allegations of fraud in the 2020 election are common, along with other false narratives directed at Latino/a communities. Calzadilla cited one fake story circulating on radio stations in Florida that claimed the Internal Revenue Service bought ammunition to attack people in their homes and steal their money.

Two other false narratives circulating widely in Spanishspeaking communities are “the border crisis” and race replacement theory that says U.S. immigration authorities are letting “illegals” come into the country to replace whites.

Calzadilla said that both parties spin the news but the tidal wave of disinformation about crime and especially immigration, comes from conservatives. When radio announcers call undocumented immigrants “illegals” they are making a political statement and spreading a false narrative, too.

The hard truth is that the country is polarized and hungry for news that both influences their opinions and reinforces what they already believe.

Immigration is a top issue with Latinos right now and ideologues are exploiting it.

Some Latinos see Dreamers and new asylum seekers as immigrants just like themselves. Others with legal status, or waiting for it, see new arrivals as cheaters trying to jump the queue.

While both parties are responsible for the current dysfunction in our immigration system, Republicans are putting all the blame on President Biden and the Democrats, a strategy that appears to be working as reporting shows GOP gains among Latino/a voters since 2020.

Disinformation is also prevalent within the Chinesespeaking community, says Rong Xiaoqing, a reporter for the Chinese-language Sing Tao Daily in New York who monitors Chinese social networks.

“The most popular one among Chinese is WeChat,” Xiaoqing said, adding a lot of these discussions happen in private groups, making them difficult to trace.

While the Chinese government censors WeChat, its intrusion into messaging around COVID was “relatively clean,” Xiaoqing explained. “It’s in the Chinese government’s interest to vaccinate people and to fight against COVID-19.”

Misinformation related to U.S. politics is another story.

“Its running rampant on WeChat because it is in the Chinese government’s interest to portray that the US and its democracy has been collapsing,” she said.

There is also overlap on WeChat with narratives being pedaled in Spanish.

“The Biden administration is issuing a temporary green card to illegal immigrants. That’s their exact words, illegal immigrants,” Xiaoqing noted.

“What they are actually referring to is an ID card that Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to issue to immigrants coming to the border in order to help them quickly access their file and book immigration related hearings.”

For those Chinese immigrants applying for green cards via the official process, it’s a message that can resonate. “When they see that… someone is getting it before me via a shortcut, they will not be happy.”

Earlier this year the non-profit Chinese for Affirmative Action launched the fact checking website Piyaoba.

“They do index fact checking in Chinese. Not only will they tell you ‘Oh, here’s a piece of misinformation that’s circulating on Chinese language social media platforms’, but they also dig into the arrangement of the message and its evolution through the years,” Xiaoqing said. (Peter White/Ethnic Media Services) n

Filipino immigrant...

mother,” the page added.

Reyes moved to Los Angeles in the 1980s with limited education and worked different types of jobs, including as a handyman, according to his daughter Kaycie Reyes. He also made money playing in pool tournaments, she said.

He lived with his elderly mother near the liquor store, where he began working earlier this year.

The suspects in Reyes’ case are still at large, as of press time.

“My family forgives you for what you did. Maybe it was a mistake what you did, but please turn yourself in,” Nelle Reyes said.

She added, “Turn yourselves in because it would really help my family gain some better peace, so that we can move on from this.”

HEARING EXAM. A health worker does a hearing test on a student from Jica Memorial High School at the One Cainta College Auditorium in Cainta, Rizal on Thursday, Oct. 13. Students were provided with health services including pap-smear, HIV testing, and hearing examination during the ”8-in-1 Advocacy service projects” organized by nongovernmental group Zonta and Cainta municipality. PNA photo by Rico H. Borja

Dateline PhiliPPines

Duterte spent entire P4.5 billion allocation for confidential, intel funds in 2021

by XaVe GreGorio Philstar.com

MANILA — Former President Rodrigo Duterte spent the entire P4.5 billion allocation for confidential and intelligence funds for his office in his last full year as chief executive, according to the Commission on Audit.

The COA said in its annual financial report on national government agencies that the OP under Duterte spent P2.25 billion in confidential expenses and another P2.25 billion in intelligence expenses in 2021.

This is slightly lower compared to the confidential and intelligence expenses of Duterte’s office in 2020, when it spent a total of P4.57 billion in those expenditures — more than what it was allotted in the national budget for that year.

Duterte rejected a provision in the 2021 budget that would have required the executive branch to submit quarterly reports on the use of intelligence funds to Congress, arguing that matters relating to national security is exempted from the right to information.

Duterte’s office in 2021 accounted for nearly half of all confidential and intelligence expenses of national government agencies, dwarfing the confidential and intelligence spending of the Department of National Defense, which only accounted for 20.48% of the P9.08 billion total.

The DND came far second to Duterte’s OP as it only spent P1.86 billion for confidential and intelligence expenses, while other executive offices came in third at roughly P1.4 billion.

Other national government agencies that logged confidential and intelligence expenses are the following: • Department of the Interior and Local

Government – P908.45 million

• Department of Justice – P258.21 million

• Department of Finance – P60.63 million

• Department of Foreign Affairs – P31.75 million

• Department of Social Welfare and Development – P20.04 million

• Department of Transportation – P16.85 million

• Department of Environment and Natural Resources – P15 million

• Other departments/offices – P13.71 million

Since at least 2006, the offices of the president and the vice president typically got confidential funds but at more modest amounts compared to Duterte and even to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

For example, in the last budget submitted under the presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, her office asked for P600 million in confidential and intelligence funds, which amounts to around P930 million when adjusted for inflation.

Even more modest were the confidential and intelligence funds requested by Benigno Aquino III, who in his last budget asked for only P500 million in total, amounting to just a little under P600 million in today’s money.

Confidential and intelligence funds are lump sum allocations set aside in the national budget for expenses that involve surveillance and intelligence information gathering activities.

As its name suggests, confidential funds are for confidential expenses related to surveillance activities in civilian government agencies that are intended to support their mandate or operations.

Similarly, intelligence funds are for intelligence expenses related to information gathering activities of uniformed and military personnel and intelligence practitioners that have direct impact on national security. n

Law postponing SK, barangay polls signed

by Catherine S. Valente ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has signed into law a bill postponing the December 2022 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections to October 2023.

Marcos signed Republic Act (RA) 11935 on Monday, October 10.

“There shall be a synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, which shall be held on the last Monday of October 2023 and every three

years thereafter,” the new law read.

The term of office of officials elected in the 2023 barangay and SK elections shall commence at noon of November 30 following their election.

“Until their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified, all incumbent barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials shall remain in office unless sooner removed or suspended for cause,” RA 11935 said.

“Provided, that barangay and sangguniang kabataan officials

who are ex officio members of the sangguniang bayan, sangguniang panlungsod, or sangguniang panlalawigan, as the case may be, shall continue to serve as such members in the sanggunian concerned until the next barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections,” it added.

Funds to hold the polls next year will be sourced from the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) budget under the General Appropriations Act, or supplementary appropriations to be passed by Congress.

DOH: New COVID-19 subvariant

XBB not yet detected in Philippines

MANILA — Local health authorities have yet to detect the new Omicron subvariant known as XBB, the Department of Health said on Thursday, October 13.

“As of October 13, we have not detected the said variant in the Philippines,” the agency told reporters.

Preliminary studies suggest the XBB variant has higher immune evasion ability than BA.5.

“The DOH, in partnership with our local sequencing facilities, is continuously conducting surveillance to monitor the importation of this variant and other emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants,” it said.

The XBB variant—a

recombinant of BJ.1 (sublineage of BA.2.10.1) and BM.1.1.1 (sublineage of BA.2.75) is linked to a surge in cases in Singapore.

Singapore’s Ministry of Health said that while there is an increase in local cases driven by XBB, “the number of severe cases has remained relatively low.”

The health department in the Philippines recorded 14,333 additional COVID-19 cases from October 3 to 9. The figure was 10% lower than the number of infections logged from a week before.

In an update Tuesday, the DOH said that cases in Metro Manila showed signs of plateauing.

Meanwhile, infections in the socalled NCR Plus Areas remained

PH votes to condemn Russia’s illegal annexation’ of Ukraine land

THE Philippines joined 142 other states in an overwhelming vote by the United Nations General Assembly to condemn Russia’s annexation of parts of Ukraine, a move U.S. President Joe Biden said sent a “clear message” to Moscow.

The General Assembly approved the resolution with 143 in favor and five against, but 35 nations abstained including China, India, South Africa and Pakistan despite a major U.S. diplomatic effort to seek clearer condemnation of Moscow.

The resolution “condemns the organization by the Russian Federation of socalled referendums within the internationally recognized borders of Ukraine” and “the attempted illegal annexation” announced last month of four regions by President Vladimir Putin.

It calls on all UN and international agencies not to recognize any changes announced by Russia to borders and demands that

Moscow “immediately and unconditionally reverse” its decisions.

The vote showed Russia that it “cannot erase a sovereign state from the map,” Biden said in a White House statement.

“By attacking the core tenets of the UN Charter, Russia is tearing at the very foundations of international peace and security,” the statement said.

“The stakes of this conflict are clear to all -- and the world has sent a clear message in response.”

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, had urged all nations to send a message that the world “will not tolerate seizing a neighbor’s land by force.”

“Today it is Russia invading Ukraine. But tomorrow it could be another nation whose territory is violated. It could be you. You could be next. What would you expect from this chamber?” she said.

on an upward trend. The country has confirmed 3.97 million COVID-19 infections, including over 63,000 deaths, since the start of the pandemic. (Gaea Katreena Cabico/Philstar.com) n

NOTICE TO PROPOSERS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of San Diego (City) is seeking to receive Electronic Proposals for the below named Request for Proposal (RFP).

Contract Number: H2226024

RFP Title: As-Needed Engineering Technical Services - Pure Water San Diego - Phase 2

The solicitation may be obtained from the City’s website at: https://www. sandiego.gov/cip/bidopps

It is the policy of the City of San Diego to encourage equal opportunity in its Construction and Consultant contracts. Bids or proposals from local firms, small, minority-owned, disabled, veteran-owned, and women-owned businesses are strongly encouraged. Consultants are encouraged to subcontract with and/or participate in joint ventures with these firms. The City is committed to equal opportunity and will not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, gender expression, gender identity, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, or disability; and will not do business with any firm that discriminates on any basis.

Proposals shall be received no later than the date and time noted in the solicitation which can be found at the following site:

City of San Diego’s Electronic Proposal Site – PlanetBids at: https://www.planetbids. com/portal/portal. cfm?companyID=17950.

Claudia Abarca, Director Purchasing & Contracting Department

Thursday, October 13, 2022 10/14/22

CNS-3634376# ASIAN JOURNAL

Escape… almost… from PNP HQ

Remember Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi? At dawn on July 14, 2003, the Indonesian bomb-maker involved in the deadly nightclub bombings in 2002 in Bali as well as several bomb attacks in the Philippines walked out of his Camp Crame detention cell together with two Abu Sayyaf members who were being held for ransom kidnappings.

One of the Abu Sayyaf bandits, Omar Opik Lasal, even gave a television interview afterwards. He narrated that they simply walked past jail guards to the fire exit, where Al-Ghozi shaved off his beard. They strolled across the camp ground to the main gate, past police rookies in training and the sentries, all of whom ignored the inmates. They boarded a taxi, and in three days, they were back in Mindanao.

Editorial

Police would subsequently catch and kill the other Abu Sayyaf escapee, Abdulmukim Edris, and months later, Al-Ghozi himself. But this would not minimize the embarrassment created by the so-called great escape from the headquarters of the Philippine National Police, which occurred eight years after Khadaffy Janjalani, brother of Abu Sayyaf founding chieftain Abdurajak Abubakar Janjalani, also bolted the same detention facilities in 1995 by climbing through a ceiling duct. After Abdurajak was killed, Khadaffy became Abu Sayyaf leader until his death in 2006.

Little wonder then that three more detainees

At Ground

“I TRY very hard to put an impetus into government. ‘Come on, let’s go. We need to do these things. We haven’t very much time…’ We have very many difficulties. We cannot count on other countries to help us in ways that they used to be able to help us so it is up to us.

“That kind of message I think has filtered down to not only the elected officials, not only the high officials in government, but to slowly make the bureaucracy understand, make all our officials understand that… as a government we are here to govern.”

Thus has Ferdinand Marcos Jr. essentially assessed his presidency’s accomplishments, in its first 100 days, to “put together government which is functional and which has a very good idea of what we are targeting in terms of strict economic targets [and means to attain them].”

He admitted, however, being much worried about complacency in the government. Here’s how he put it across:

“The one thing I worry about very much is coasting. It goes like this, ‘This is OK. This will do. You don’t really need to attend to this anymore. It’s going to be alright. You can all go have a holiday.’ That’s what I worry about the most.”

Ironically, it’s that attitude

On the Move

PERCIVAL Mabasa, known by his broadcast name Percy Lapid, assassinated at age 63, was on a hot streak. His “Percy Lapid Fire” online broadcast program at dwBL 1242 and YouTube quickly became a habit for many Filipinos who wanted sparkling scoops and interpretations of political events in the country. Created only in May 2019, it quickly raised a viewership of 132 million as it took on Rodrigo Duterte and Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and their close associates. Lapid did not fail his audience. Sitting in a studio with the usual oversized broadcast microphone partly covering his face, an audiovisual control panel at his fingertips, and a

believed to be Abu Sayyaf members attempted to escape from the Camp Crame Custodial Center on Sunday morning, October 9. Feliciano Sulayao Jr., Arnel Cabintoy and Idang Susukan stabbed a policeman in their attempt to flee. Another cop shot and killed Cabintoy and Susukan. The fleeing Sulayao saw an open cell door, entered and held the inmate hostage at knifepoint. The inmate, who had opened the door for her morning exercise and prayers, happened to be former senator Leila de Lima. Sulayao was later also shot dead.

The detention facility at PNP headquarters is supposed to be reserved for high-value inmates that require maximum security. Yet terrorists with some knowledge of escaping detention aren’t the only inmates who have bolted the Custodial Center. Even drug trafficking suspects have waltzed out of Camp Crame, apparently after paying off jail custodians.

At least this time the escape attempt was foiled, although with lethal consequences for the inmates. On Monday, October 10 the PNP leadership announced that the chief of

the Custodial Center had been sacked. And at least De Lima survived, and might be accorded “home furlough” while on trial for drug-related charges. Beyond allowing her house arrest, the courts should speed up adjudication of the cases

On first 100 days, questions raised on FM Jr.’s foreign trip

he called “coasting” that was raised in numerous criticisms over Marcos Jr.’s second trip to Singapore – to attend the F1 Grand Prix over the past weekend. The trip (which included his wife Liza Araneta, congressman son Sandro and cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez) wasn’t officially announced prior to their departure.

“Security reason” was the belated explanation given by the new Executive Secretary, retired Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin (more on this later).

How have the marginalized sectors, people’s organizations and advocacy groups that have been tracking the new administration’s performance assessed its first 100 days in power?

The People’s Summit 2022, a conference of these various grassroots organizations and advocacy groups, noted that when sworn in as president, Marcos Jr. “promised a comprehensive and inclusive program to transform the Philippine economy.” After 100 days, it said, “we are nowhere near having this touted program to transform the Philippine economy and address all the systemic problems laid bare by the pandemic.”

“The people are reeling from the economic crisis, with rising inflation that has impacted food prices as their foremost concern,” they said.

“The government is deep in debt, more than P13 trillion and counting. In his three months in

office, Marcos Jr. has exhibited a lack of leadership, a lack of urgency on the most pressing problems and a penchant for image-building and lavish living that is grossly offensive in light of the ongoing crisis.”

“When the people call for democratic, ethical and accountable governance,” People’s Summit added, “Marcos responds with an utter lack of prudence in public spending. He has no qualms in availing expensive accommodations and bringing along a large presidential entourage in his trips abroad, while refusing to be transparent and accountable in the way he spends public funds.”

“Meanwhile, his administration is wracked by infighting, resignations and unfilled Cabinet positions,” the group observed.

The President’s recent jaunt to Singapore has been described as “insensitive” because people in Luzon were then suffering from the severity of Super Typhoon Karding. Bersamin was sharply criticized for brushing aside the “insensitivity” issue and dismissing as “irrelevant” queries about how the trip was funded.

Replying to the questions about the money spent, he said: “Wala kaming direct knowledge kung paano ang funding niyan But I am sure if that was the trip of the President, you do not need to be too particular about where the funds were sourced.

Kasi he was still performing his job as President when he was

abroad, although that is not an official visit.”

“Now, whether it was a fully[government] paid trip or not is irrelevant,” he added.

Moreover, Bersamin pointed out, “The welfare of the First Family is of concern to the state. You may not call that state visit, nonetheless, it’s not any less covered by the law that accords importance and value to the welfare of the First Family.”

“So it’s beyond the issue,” the former chief justice said. “It’s not relevant at all to question, to ask kung sino gumastos. Basta he was doing something for us. If public funds were spent, walang problema diyan because that was also a trip undertaken for the interest of the Philippines.”

Bersamin then went on to scold the questioners: “Do not be too rigid in thinking na hindi mo dapat gastusan ng taxes, kung ginamit. You have the obligation to secure, to ensure that the President travels safely. Whose obligation is that? The government’s.”

Seemingly on second thought, the executive secretary clarified: “I’m not saying na ang ginastos nya puro public funds. No, I’m not. May kakayahan si Presidente na magbiyahe nang ganun sa sarili.”

Further defending Marcos Jr.’s trip, Bersamin bragged that other bigwigs also attended the Formula 1 Grand Prix event.

“What’s so insensitive about it? Alam niyo kung sino ‘yung mga nanuod doon? Mga ministers din tulad niya. He was

even higher than all of them. It is something that would attract big people in other countries in Asia. The President was not the only dignitary there.” Bersamin even speculated that Marcos Jr. “must have been invited [by the Singapore prime minister] because his presence might have added there some suspense and intrigue and some importance to that event.”

“Alam ninyo, our President naging matinee idol eh,” Bersamin gushed before the reporters. “His presence in an event like that will be well

Why journalists matter

laptop to the side, he would dish out the latest political events and give scathing commentaries. He gave the issues a thorough 360-degree perspective, peppering his talk with nicknames he has for his live targets—e.g., “Digongnyo” for Duterte—his favorite target. There is something about broadcasters that gets the goat of onion-skinned, unscrupulous, corrupt, and inept politicians, criminals, businessmen, and other anti-social types. Duterte, perhaps, expresses the feelings of politicians at the receiving end of what they consider “undeserved” blasts from broadcasters. On May 31, 2016, the then newly elected president said in a press conference that journalists are legitimate targets of assassination “if you’re a son of a bitch.” He cited broadcaster Jun Pala, who was assassinated in Davao City

when Duterte was mayor, as someone who “deserved it.”

It must be in the way broadcasters can use the spoken language like a scalpel, digging into the rotten core of an issue. They have a way of using innuendo and colorful codenames and clues for their targets and their shenanigans.

Writers at least will be able to review their text and moderate themselves. The sharper their pens, the more alert are their editors in saving the whole media organization from libel suits. But broadcasters can only be warned or censured at the end of a program, when they have already unloaded their daily supply of lethal verbal daggers and brickbats.

From a nation-building perspective, the assassination of a prominent broadcaster brings the public to a higher level of political awareness.

It is an altogether consuming collective enterprise as people crave answers—“Who was the mastermind?” “Why?” In this age of social media, that gives the broadcaster a new wind, as people voraciously consume his last known broadcasts to get a sense of what was worth being killed for. It is an opportune time for educating the public on things they take for granted. When someone dies a political death, people sense it is also somehow about the people and pay attention.

But why do journalists and broadcasters matter? As Walter Cronkite said in 2005, reflecting on the weak state of political and civic education in the United States, “We are not intelligent enough, we’re not educated well enough to perform the necessary act of selecting our leaders for the future. We’ve got to improve

that situation, and it’s going to be, to a large degree, up to us in television and radio, in broadcasting, to get that job done. If we fail at that, our democracy, our Republic, is, I think, in serious danger.”

Journalists and broadcasters matter because they are instrumental in educating the public about those sensitive and critical issues, kept from public view, on which the well-being of the people and the nation depend.

Lapid throws a spotlight on the whole set of Filipino broadcasters who have helped shape the political consciousness of many Filipinos. Now we know that 197 journalists have been killed since 1986 according to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines. Journalists who die are athletes in a relay. They raise awareness about issues by

appreciated and he might have attracted more audience. It’s not immodest, it’s not contrary to morals; private time yan. ”

This is a former chief justice of our highest tribunal. Now that he’s executive secretary, how effusively he talks about his boss. (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.

*

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Email: satur.ocampo@gmail.com

risking their lives. It is not their intention that their advocacies and the issues co-terminate with them. They mean for other citizens to take up the issue and run forward with it.

We need more Percy Lapids for as we mark the 100th day in office of the Marcos Jr. administration, we need people to remind them that while we may not be able to show proof of development emerging in the first 100 days, we certainly are able to show indicators of impending catastrophes to our democracy, our development, and our sense of nationhood. (Inquirer.net)

* * *

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author

against her, which were filed over five years ago. At the same time, the PNP should put a decisive end to this embarrassment of escapes, whether successful or foiled, from Camp Crame. (Philstar. com)

Segundo eclar romero

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Malacañang photo

Satur c ocampo

PH votes to condemn Russia’s ‘illegal...

PAGE 5

International condemnation

The United States had put special energy into seeking to persuade South Africa and especially India, a growing U.S. partner that has a historically close relationship with Russia and also abstained in the Security Council, where it holds a non-permanent seat.

The vote was largely the same – with a net two more votes against Russia – as when the General Assembly in March condemned the initial invasion of Ukraine.

Bangladesh, Iraq and Senegal – which abstained in March – on Wednesday, October 12 voted to condemn Russia.

Eritrea, one of the world’s most closed states, moved from a “no” to an abstention, while Nicaragua, under growing international pressure over

human rights, switched from abstaining to voting “no” alongside only Russia, Belarus, North Korea and Syria.

“South Africa considers the territorial integrity of states and that of Ukraine to be sacrosanct, and we reject all actions that undermine the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law,” said South Africa’s representative, Mathu Joyini.

“We have abstained on the resolution because we believe that the objective of this assembly in keeping with its mandate must always be to contribute to a constructive outcome conducive to the creation of sustainable peace in Ukraine,” she said.

Western powers counter that Russia is not genuinely interested in peace, as witnessed by deadly strikes on civilians in

Kyiv and western Ukraine.

India’s envoy, Ruchira Kamboj, said that “the entire Global South has suffered a substantial collateral damage” from the war and that “pressing issues” were not addressed in the resolution.

Bangladesh, explaining its move to condemn Russia, said that the international community should also stand firm against any attempt by Israel to annex occupied Palestinian territory.

“We strongly believe that the purposes and principles of the UN Charter regarding respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and peaceful settlement of all disputes must be complied universally for everyone, everywhere, under all circumstances,” said Bangladesh’s ambassador, Muhammad Abdul Muhith. (Philstar.com) n

Law postponing SK, barangay polls...

PAGE 5

The Comelec earlier said it was ready to hold the elections this year.

Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco said that the postponement of the polls will mean the extension of the voter registration period.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia earlier assured the public that nothing will be wasted if the polls will be deferred.

“The people have nothing to worry. No public funds shall be put to waste. Why? Because if we procure ballpens, these will be the same ballpens

that will be used in the event that the elections are reset,” Garcia said.

“If we print the ballots for the barangay and SK elections, we shouldn’t worry as it has already happened in 2017, when the barangay elections were ordered reset, that we still used the same ballots that have been printed prior to the holding of the elections,” he added.

RA 11935 shall take effect immediately following the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in two newspapers of general publication. n

PH holds simultaneous naval exercises with US, Australia

by Michael Punongbayan Philstar.com

MANILA — For the first time this year, soldiers, sailors and other personnel of the Philippine Navy are engaged in two simultaneous joint exercises with the military forces of the United States and Australia.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) opened the first-ever simultaneous conduct of the Maritime Training Activity SAMA-SAMA (MTA SAMA-SAMA) and LUMBAS on Tuesday with chief of staff Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro presiding over the opening ceremony at the Naval Forces Central (NAVFORCEN) in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.

“This year’s joint exercise shall undoubtedly reinforce the long-standing alliance and friendship among our respective nations while opening broad avenues to complement our joint regional security efforts and advance our maritime capabilities,” he said.

Historically, the AFP said the naval exercises were conducted separately but this year, the joint exercises were held simultaneously for the MTA SAMA-SAMA between the Philippines and the United States and LUMBAS between the Philippines and Australia.

Representatives from the Japan Maritime SelfDefense Force, British Navy, Royal Brunei Navy, French Navy, Royal Canadian Navy and Royal

Malaysian Navy were present as observers and will participate in disaster and humanitarian assistance activities.

The AFP said a total of 742 personnel will join the MTA SAMA-SAMA and LUMBAS 2022, including personnel from the AFP’s Naval Reserve Force.

This year’s exercise includes capabilityenhancement events to address non-traditional concerns such as territorial defense, natural and man-made disasters, terrorism and transnational crimes.

The AFP said the activities are also aimed at developing war-fighting interoperability of participating navies on maritime law enforcement operations, on-shore and at-sea sustainment, air operations, anti-submarine warfare and humanitarian assistance.

Exercises for both joint naval exercises will be conducted at the Clark Air Base in Pampanga and in different locations in the Visayas region.

Present at the opening ceremony were Rear Admiral Caesar Bernard Valencia, acting flag officer-in-command of the Philippine Navy; Commodore Florante Gaguia, commander of NAVFORCEN; United States Navy Vice Admiral Karl Thomas, commander of the Seventh Fleet; Australian Commodore Ray Leggatt, chief of staff of the Navy headquarters; Japanese Vice Admiral Tamotsu Matsumoto, commander of Fleet Air Force and British Commodore Mike Proudman, commanding officer of the HMAS SPEY. n

LUNCH BREAK. Workers partake of pares (pair) meals at a makeshift eatery on a vacant lot along Congressional Road in Barangay Salitran 3, Dasmariñas City, Cavite on Tuesday,

The famous beef brisket dish is commonly paired with rice or noodles and soup. PNA photo by Gil Calinga

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HANCOCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PLAY EQUIPMENT AND SURFACING REPLACEMENT

A mandatory site visit is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022, outside the main office of Hancock Elementary, 3303 Taussig Street, San Diego, CA 92124. ALL CONTRACTORS AND SUBCONTRACTORS MUST PREREGISTER WITH THE DISTRICT PRIOR TO ATTENDING THE SITE WALK AT https://sandiegounified.org/ sitewalks PLEASE SEE BID FOR DETAILS (No. CP23-0519-39).

The Bid and Contract Documents may be downloaded free of charge at the new District’s online Planroom at sandiegousdplans.com. All bids must be received electronically at or before 1:00 p.m. on November 3, 2022. Firms interested in submitting a bid package must go to tinyurl.com/SDUSD-PlanetBids, then search under “Bid Opportunities” for “Invitation number” CP23-0519-39 Hancock Elementary School Play Equipment and Surfacing Replacement. For new vendors, please register under “New Vendor Registration”. The project estimate is between $100,000 and $150,000. This is not a PSA project and does not require prequalification. The District requires that Bidders possess any of the following classification(s) of California State Contractors License(s), valid and in good standing, at the time of bid opening and contract award: A, C-61/D-34 or other appropriate license, subject to District approval. SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, Linda Hippe, Strategic Sourcing and Contracts Director (TOC), Strategic Sourcing and Contracts Department CP23-0519-39.

CASE NUMBER: 37-2022-00040273-CU-PT-CTL

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Peter D. Chu, Esq. State Bar# 98935 Attorney For: Samar Samir Hireish filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Samar Samir Hireish to Samar Isam Hireish.

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING

Date: 11/21/2022 Time: 8:30 AM Dept. C-61

Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. 61 San Diego, CA 92101

A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county.

Asian Journal: OCT. 07, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9021556

Go-Out-Terra-Carpet Cleaning Company located at 440 Blackshaw Ln, San Ysidro, CA 92173.Registrant: Juan Manuel Cervantes, 440 Blackshaw Ln, San Ysidro, CA 92173.

This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 09/28/2022.

Signature: Juan Manuel Cervantes.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/28/2022.

AJ 1049 09/30, 10/07, 10/14, and 10/21/2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9021419

Harris Luxury Suites LLC located at 4300 Newton Ave., Unit 43, San Diego, CA 92113.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9022200

JS and CO located at 2630 Lightning Trail Lane, Chula Vista, CA 91915.

Registrant: Jessica Salvador, 2630 Lightning Trail Lane, Chula Vista, CA 91915.

This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 10/06/2022.

Signature: Jessica Salvador. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 10/06/2022.

AJ 1051 10/14, 10/21, 10/28, and 11/04/2022.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9022359

Deathwish Bobbers located at 3028 31st St., San Diego, CA 92104.

Registrant: Xavier Cordova, 6126 Calle Mariselda Unit #102, San Diego, CA 92124.

NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT

Registrant: Harris Luxury Suites LLC, 4300 Newton Ave., Unit 43, San Diego, CA 92113.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9020691

Ray Alcantara Real Estate, LLC located at 1833 Fabled Waters Drive, Spring Valley, CA 91977.

Registrant: Ray Alcantara Real Estate, LLC, 1833 Fabled Waters Drive, Spring Valley, CA 91977.

This business is conducted by Limited Liability Company.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 09/15/2022.

Signature: Ray Neil Alcantara.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/16/2022.

AJ 1040 09/23, 09/30, 10/07, and 10/14/2022.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9020119

West Marine Services located at 16301 Oak Springs Dr., Ramona, CA 92065.

Registrant: Edward Villanueva West, 16301 Oak Springs Dr., Ramona, CA 92065.

This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.

Signature: Edward Villanueva West.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/08/2022.

AJ 1041 09/23, 09/30, 10/07, and 10/14/2022.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9020882

a. SF FINANCIAL SERVICES INC located at 669 Broadway, Chula Vista, CA 91910.

b. FERREGUT SERVICES INC located at 669 Broadway, Chula Vista, CA 91910.

Registrant: SF FINANCIAL SERVICES INC, 669 Broadway, Chula Vista, CA 91910.

This business is conducted by Corporation.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 09/09/2022.

Signature: Selene B Ferregut. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/19/2022.

AJ 1042 09/23, 09/30, 10/07, and 10/14/2022.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9020585

PW LP located at 244 Palomar St., Ste A/Office, Chula Vista, CA 91911.

Registrant: PW INC, 244 Palomar St., Ste A/Office, Chula Vista, CA 91911.

This business is conducted by Limited Partnership.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 08/04/2004.

Signature: Robert Pennell. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/14/2022.

AJ 1043 09/30, 10/07, 10/14 and 10/21/2022.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9020582

PW Holdings LP located at 244 Palomar St., Ste A/ Office, Chula Vista, CA 91911.

Registrant: PW INC, 244 Palomar St., Ste A/Office, Chula Vista, CA 91911.

This business is conducted by Limited Partnership.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 01/01/2012.

Signature: Robert Pennell. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/14/2022.

AJ 1044 09/30, 10/07, 10/14 and 10/21/2022.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9020549

Pacific West Coast Properties located at 244 Palomar St., Ste A/Office, Chula Vista, CA 91911.

Registrant: PW INC, 244 Palomar St., Ste A/Office, Chula Vista, CA 91911.

This business is conducted by Corporation.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 08/04/2004.

Signature: Robert Pennell. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/14/2022.

AJ 1045 09/30, 10/07, 10/14 and 10/21/2022.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9020786

HOSALKAR INJURY INSTITUTE OF SAN DIEGO located at 2323 E 8TH STREET SUITE 101, NATIONAL CITY, CA 91950.

Registrant: ALLIANCE MEDICAL GROUP, INC., 2323 E 8TH STREET SUITE 101, NATIONAL CITY, CA 91950.

This business is conducted by Corporation.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 03/01/2016.

Signature: HARISH HOSALKAR.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/14/2022.

AJ 1046 09/30, 10/07, 10/14, and 10/21/2022.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9020592

D ’sminipancakes_SD located at 1417 13th St., Imperial Beach, CA 91932.

Registrant: Diana Moreno, 1417 13th St., Imperial Beach, CA 91932.

This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.

Signature: Diana Moreno.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/14/2022.

AJ 1047 09/30, 10/07, 10/14, 10/21/2022.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9021403

Three Men Crew Fume located at 1630 Coolidge Ave., National. City, CA 91950.

Registrant: Fernando Zuniga Barragan, 1555 Satellite Blvd., San Diego, CA 92154.

This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.

Signature: Fernando Zuniga.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/27/2022.

AJ 1048 09/30, 10/07, 10/14, 10/21/2022.

Michael T. Smyth

Judge of the Superior Court

AJ 1054 10/14, 10/21, 10/28, 11/04/2022.

ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME (JC Form #NC-120)

NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE.

The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date.

Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9022480

J X Cleaning And Refinishing Services located at 6377 Rancho Mission Rd #3, San Diego, CA 92108.

Registrant: Francisco Javier Reyes Vargas,6377 Rancho Mission Rd #3, San Diego, CA 92108.

This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 10/10/2022.

Signature: Francisco Javier Reyes Vargas. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 10/10/2022.

AJ 1053 10/14, 10/21, 10/28, and 11/04/2022.

This business is conducted by Limited Liability Company.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 06/30/2022.

Signature: Jamal Harris. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 09/27/2022.

AJ 1050 10/07, 10/14, 10/21, and 10/28/2022.

LEGAL SERVICES ANNOUNCEMENT

This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 10/07/2022.

Signature: Xavier Cordova. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 10/07/2022.

AJ 1052 10/14, 10/21, 10/28, and 11/04/2022.

Request for Proposals (RFP)

TransNet Triennial Performance Audit Consulting Services

The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) is seeking proposals from qualified firms for professional services to conduct triennial performance audit(s) of the agencies tasked with implementation of TransNet-funded projects. A copy of the Request for Proposals (RFP) and related informational documents can be accessed from the SANDAG website at www.sandag.org/contracts or by contacting: Gabriella LeRoy, SANDAG, 401 B Street, Suite 800, San Diego, CA 92101, gabriella.leroy@sandag.org All other details are available on Bidnetdirect.com\sandag

EMPLOYMENT

SAN

Meet the Fil-Ams working in the Biden-Harris administration

by AJPress

U PON taking office, President Joe Biden promised to have an administration that reflected the United States’ diversity. In addition to having Kamala Harris as the first Black, South Asian and woman vice president, the administration has had a lot of ‘firsts’ in the Cabinet and key agency appointees.

In honor of October as Filipino American History Month, the Asian Journal spoke to several Fil-Ams working across the administration — from the Executive Branch to various agencies that keep the country running.

Gina Ortiz Jones

Under Secretary of the Air Force

U.S. Department of Defense

Hometown: San Antonio, TX

An Iraq War veteran, Ortiz Jones is the secondhighest ranking civilian in the Department of the Air Force and the second highest-ranking Fil-Am serving in the current administration. She made history as the first woman of color and the first out lesbian to serve as an under secretary of any military department.

How has being Filipino American shaped your identity and career path?

I’m a proud first-generation Filipina American, and growing up my mother always reminded my sister and me that we were lucky, not smart, but lucky to have been born in the United States. My uncle joined the U.S. Navy as part of the Steward program, and my mother came to this country as a domestic helper, despite having graduated from the top university in the Philippines, UP-Diliman. It’s

a truly special country where my family’s story is possible, and I’ve always been motivated to serve to ensure those same opportunities are there for those who follow.

Why did you join the BidenHarris administration, and what does it mean as a Filipino American?

I joined to serve an administration that I knew would reflect my values. As a Filipina American, I’m appreciative of the administration’s focus on ensuring those serving reflect the diversity of the lived experiences of those being served—to include the 4 million Filipinos and Filipino Americans living in the United States.

What does Filipino American History Month mean to you?

Filipino American History Month is a time to celebrate our contributions to American history, as well as an

Camille Calimlim Touton

Commissioner

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada granddaughter of the Philippines is living the American dream.

Touton is only the second U.S. Senate-confirmed female commissioner in Reclamation’s 119-year history and the first FilAm confirmed by the Senate to lead a bureau in the Department of the Interior.

How has being Filipino American shaped your identity and career path?

My grandparents instilled in me the importance of family and service to our community, and country. It is on that foundation and in their sacrifices that a

Why did you join the BidenHarris administration, and what does it mean as a Filipino American?

I joined the administration to be in service to the American people in carrying out the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s mission of delivering water and producing hydropower for the American West.

What does Filipino American History Month mean to you?

Lourdes Tiglao

Executive Director for Center for Women Veterans U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Hometown: Fort Wayne, IN

With a background across various sectors, including the military, business and health care, Tiglao’s current role focuses on policies, programs and legislation that affect women veterans. She served in the U.S. Air Force as part of the Critical Care Air Transport Team with deployments to Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, and more.

How has being Filipino American shaped your identity and career path?

As a Filipino American immigrant growing up in Indiana, I didn’t see many people like me — even when I joined the military, assimilating myself to my different environments rather than celebrating who I am. It wasn’t until I found that my fluency in my language being a critical asset to one of my deployments that changed how I saw the importance of celebrating my identity and all the unique assets that I bring — where I don’t shy away at bringing my full self.

Filipino Americans aren’t always wellrepresented in many spaces, yet we occupy a rather unique nexus of intersectional identities, and I appreciate being able to bring

that intersectional lens of being a Filipino American immigrant, a woman Veteran, and a voice for those women Veterans who find themselves voiceless because I’ve walked the same path.

Why did you join the BidenHarris administration, and what does it mean as a Filipino American?

Even before I joined the military, I’ve felt a calling to service, so I have spent my life in various forms of service through volunteering, military service, and through veteran advocacy — whether it’s with Team Rubicon or another veteran service organization. I joined the Biden-Harris administration because I believe in the vision that the administration has set in bringing people together under a larger umbrella and giving space to the different threads of people that make up the fabric of this nation. As a Filipino American immigrant, I appreciate having the opportunity to bring strength to that fabric by bringing not only the lens of my experiences, but also to support and inspire other Filipino Americans to feel empowered — to bring their whole selves in support of our nation. It is through our diversity

opportunity to think about the strategic importance of the U.S.-Philippines relationship. As the Under Secretary of the Air Force, I see every day just how important our alliance is to the continued peace and security in the Indo-Pacific.

Our countries have always had a special relationship, and I think it’s important to keep that in mind as we face our mutual challenges and opportunities.

Nani Coloretti

Deputy Director Office of Management and Budget

Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii

Prior to the Biden-Harris administration, Coloretti worked at the Urban Institute and served the Obama administration as the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and as an Assistant Secretary at the Department of Treasury.

How has being Filipino American shaped your identity and career path?

My grandparents emigrated from the Philippines in 1927 to support the many Filipinos moving to Hawaii to work in the sugar cane fields. My grandfather was a minister and a union organizer; my grandmother was one of the first Filipina nurses in this country; and my mom worked as a nurse and, later, as a child-care teacher. Although I did not get a chance to meet my grandfather, who passed away before I was born, my grandmother lived with us and she — along with my Aunts and Uncles — had a strong influence on me and my sisters as we grew up in Hawaii. From my family, I learned to value hard work, to focus on

education, and the importance of empathy and taking care of others when you can. All of this has helped shape my career path in public service.

Why did you join the BidenHarris administration, and what does it mean as a Filipino American?

Throughout my career, I have looked for ways to increase opportunity for everyone and make more real the American promise that if you work hard, you can move your life and the lives of others in a positive direction. The Biden-Harris Administration has focused on equity and inclusion from Day One, and continues to deliver on its promise to support an economy that works for everyone. I am thrilled to be a part of this effort, and as a Filipina, I believe that diverse representation contributes to creating the best solutions to solve complex problems.

What does Filipino American History Month mean to you?

In my lifetime, the Filipino American population has grown eleven-fold, from under 400,000

to over 4.2 million, making it one of the fastest growing populations in the United States.

I think it is important to have an annual reflection on the many contributions Filipinos have made and continue to make to this country. It is also a gift to share more about the history of and individual stories about Filipino Americans, some of the most interesting and fascinating people I know.

of thought and experiences that we can enlighten, empower, and strengthen our nation.

What does Filipino American History Month mean to you?

Filipino American History Month allows me to not only have an opportunity to reconnect with my roots, my community, and my diaspora, but it also allows me to share these very personal and inextricable parts of me that makes me who I am. This month is as much a celebration of my heritage, of the values it has instilled in me growing up in the Philippines, as it is a celebration of how far our nation has come in welcoming the diversity of the people that comprise our nation, celebrating the richness and fullness of our culture and humanity.

Francey Lim Youngberg

Assistant Director for the Office of Partnership and Engagement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Before joining ICE, Youngberg’s experience includes intergovernmental relations, nonprofit management and grassroots organizing. She served as

Hometown: Sara, Iloilo

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for seven years.

How has being Filipino American shaped your identity and career path?

Being a woman, a minority and an immigrant from the

Nani Coloretti, Deputy Director, Office of Management and Budget

Gina Ortiz Jones, Under Secretary of the Air Force, U.S. Department of Defense

Camille Calimlim Touton, Commissioner, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

Lourdes Tiglao, Executive Director for Center for Women Veterans, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

May we celebrate what makes us unique and recognize our shared values.

Celebrating Filipino American History Month and the USS Telesforo Trinidad

BERKELEY – In celebration of Filipino American History month, the USS Telesforo Trinidad Campaign (USSTTC) announced on Monday, October 3 the transformation of the organization to work with the Navy, the Trinidad family and all partner organizations in coordinating ship construction and commissioning-related activities befitting of the service of Telesforo Trinidad and the special relationship between the U.S. Navy, the United States of America and the Republic of the Philippines.

USSTTC is pleased to announce that Victorino G. Mercado, RADM USN (Ret) has accepted the position as Chairman of the Board, and has commenced working with the Executive Committee on the business of forming a new Board of Directors and to re-organize the Campaign for this important long range mission. Mercado is a 35year Navy veteran and a distinguished surface warfare officer who rose to be the first Filipino American to command an aircraft carrier strike group. Following his naval career, he became the most senior ranking Filipino American in the Department of Defense as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans and Capabilities.

The USS Telesforo Trinidad Campaign worked successfully in the naming of a Navy warship after Trinidad, the only Filipino sailor who received the Medal of Honor in the U.S. Navy for his heroic deeds on board the USS San Diego in 1915. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro named a future Arleigh Burke-class missile guided destroyer (DDG-139) after Trinidad on May 19, 2022.

RADM (Ret) Mercado will deliver the closing remarks during a celebration of Filipino American History month organized by the National Museum of the Navy and the Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) in partnership with Bataan Legacy Historical Society at 12 noon on Wednesday, October 19, at the Navy Museum in Washington, D.C.

“Filipinos in the Navy – From Stewards to Flag Officers” will feature a panel discussion about generations of Filipinos who served in the Navy since 1901. One of the panelists, CAPT (Ret) Tem Bugarin, is the first Filipino to command a Navy warship (USS Saginaw). Philippine Ambassador Jose Romualdez will give opening remarks and Rear Admiral (Ret) Samuel Cox, Director of the NHHC, will moderate the discussion. In attendance will be several active and retired Filipino American flag officers from the Navy and the Army.

For information about the USS Telesforo Trinidad, please visit www.ussttc.org. For information about Filipino American History month at the National Museum of the Navy on October 19 in Washington, DC, please visit the Events page of www.history.navy. mil.

(Bataan Legacy Historical Society Release) n

Ken breaks free from RitKen love team with new movie eyed for acting awards

KAPUSO actor Ken Chan is set to do his first solo film “Papa Mascot” as the first film of Wide International Film Production.

During the recent press conference of Wide International’s new projects, Ken admitted that he felt pressure in doing his first solo film.

“Nakakakilig siyempre po. Nakaka-pressure din. To be honest, as an actor, madalas po kasi kaming napanghihinaan ng loob sa bawat proyekto na ginagawa namin. Ang daming doubts, ang daming questions. Honestly, hanggang ngayon kinukwestyon ko ‘yung kakayahan ko,” he said.

“Madalas po akong mapanghinaan ng loob. Pero sa tuwing sasabihin ng mga directors, mga tao sa paligid mo na kaya mo, nakakalabas ng loob. Ang sarap lang sa pakiramdam,” he added.

The film will be directed by Louie Ignacio. He said in the same press conference that Ken

will have the chance to become an award-winning actor in the said film.

Isang napakagandang istorya ng isang batang ama na labis na nagmamahal sa isang bata. Hindi ko sasabihin ang storya pero sinisigurado ko na napakagandang pelikula para kay Ken Chan para sa kanyang solo starrer,” he said.

“Posibleng maging awardwinning actor siya sa pelikulang to,” he added.

Apart from the film production, Wide founders April Martin and Pauline Publico announced the expansion of the company by building the Aromagicare Grandeur Hills in Bataan. It is a modern luxury wellness resort that aims to offer fun and adventure for the entire family.

The company also announced that “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” star Park Eun-bin as their first Korean endorser. (by Jan Milo Severo/Philstar.com) n

Get vaccinated ahead of holiday gatherings

WITH the holidays right around the corner, San Diegans are reminded to schedule their COVID-19 booster and flu vaccines as soon as possible to prevent the spread of illness during upcoming seasonal gatherings.

It is safe to get both the COVID-19 vaccine and flu shot during the same visit and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months or older get vaccinated against both viruses. COVID-19 primary series vaccines and bivalent boosters, as well as flu shots are widely available across the region.

“Vaccines are safe and effective at preventing severe outcomes from disease, but it takes some time for them to take full effect after vaccination,” said Wilma J. Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “It takes most people about two weeks to develop antibodies after vaccination, so I recommend scheduling your vaccination appointments as soon as possible to develop protection ahead of the holidays.”

Booster eligibility

The Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna bivalent COVID boosters are readily available in the region. The Pfizer bivalent booster is available for anyone age 12 and older. The Moderna bivalent booster is available for anyone age 18 and older.

Bivalent boosters have not yet been authorized for children under the age of 12. Youths in that age group can get boosted with the previous version of the monovalent Pfizer vaccine.

San Diegans must be fully vaccinated with the primary series of one of the approved

COVID-19 vaccines before receiving a bivalent booster, meaning they must have received the two-dose primary series of Pfizer, Moderna, or the relatively new Novavax. All of those vaccines remain widely available.

Also eligible for the bivalent booster are those who received at least one shot of the Janssen vaccine, which is no longer widely available.

Anyone who wants to get a bivalent booster must wait at least eight weeks after they received a previous COVID-19 vaccine until they are eligible. In addition, anyone who is fully vaccinated or up-to-date and recently tested positive for COVID-19,

should wait three months after infection to get a bivalent booster.

Vaccination progress

• Close to 2.69 million or 80.3% of San Diegans received the primary series of one of the approved COVID-19 vaccines.

• Boosters administered: 1,467,090 or 59.6% of 2,462,965 eligible San Diegans.

• More vaccination information can be found at coronavirus-sd.com/vaccine.

Data updates to the County’s coronavirussd.com website will be published Thursdays around 5 p.m., with the exception of holidays.

(Katie Cadiao/County of San Diego Communications Office) n

Meet the Fil-Ams working in the...

Philippines significantly impacted my life and career choices. Having grown up under martial law in the Philippines instilled in me how important it is to safeguard democratic ideals and values and to mentor the next generation of leaders to do the same. So, I became a lawyer, an advocate and a public servant.

Why did you join the BidenHarris administration, and what does it mean as a Filipino American?

Representation at the highest levels of government is critical to

Jason Tengco

White House Liaison U.S. Office of Personnel Management Hometown: Foster City, CA

the advancement of underserved and underrepresented groups like Filipino Americans. My earlier career was devoted to advocating for the advancement of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the legal profession, at the Smithsonian, in accessing basic government services, and fighting for a seat at the table where decisions are made. Having served in the Obama Administration and now the Biden-Harris Administration, I am influenced by my life experiences as I strive to ensure inclusion, transparency and accountability in government.

With over a decade of experience in public service and community organizing, Tengco serves as the primary advisor to the White House and OPM senior leadership on hiring the agency’s political appointees, manages priority projects with the Presidential Personnel Office, and supervises the processing of non-career appointments across the federal government. His resume includes the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Outreach Lead for the Biden-Harris transition team, executive director of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations, and Deputy Director of the White House Initiative on AAPIs under the Obama-Biden administration.

How has being Filipino American shaped your identity and career path?

Ditas Macrine Katague

Associate Director for Communications U.S. Census Bureau

Hometown: Sacramento, CA

An expert in multi-ethnic outreach and civic engagement, Katague is responsible for leading internal and external communications activities of the nation’s largest statistical agency, the Census Bureau.

Prior to joining the Census Bureau, Katague was director of the California Complete Count – Census 2020 Office, the outreach and communications campaign that worked to ensure a complete population count of historically undercounted Californians.

How has being Filipino American shaped your identity and career path?

As a Filipino American, I am

drawn to work that allows me to reach underserved populations to ensure they have a voice in decision and policy making.

During my University years, I witnessed the People Power revolution and was inspired by the power that people working together can have to impact their future. My parents both instilled a sense of service to community and encouraged me to pursue a career in public service.

Why did you join the BidenHarris administration, and what does it mean as a Filipino American?

Having the opportunity to serve the Biden-Harris

Veronica M. Valdez

Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, White House Liaison U.S. Department of Defense Hometown: Sydney, Australia

Prior to joining the U.S. Department of Defense, Valdez’s positions include the Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs and the Commission Specialist to the Commission President at the Port of Seattle. She was the former Deputy Chief of Staff to the U.S. Secretary of the Air Force and served as the Secretary’s policy advisor during official visits to AsiaPacific, South America, and Europe.

How has being Filipino American shaped your identity and career path?

Being Filipino has always been central to my identity –speaking Tagalog, cooking and

eating Filipino food, enjoying Filipino shows, and many of my close friends are Filipinos. I recall growing up going to Filipino Mass on Sundays with my family and going to Filipino Saturday school to learn about heritage and culture. We also frequently performed Filipino cultural dances during festivals and my father was the Vice President of the Filipino Cultural Association.

Being Filipino American has been one of the main reasons that I’ve been interested in learning about Asia Pacific issues. I have a Master’s degree focused on Pacific International Affairs and my policy background has been focused on Indo-Pacific relations and

What does Filipino American History Month mean to you?

Filipino American History month should be every day –all of us who are in leadership positions should educate the American public of the Filipino American stories that are part of the American historical narrative. When I was working at the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, we put together the Filipino American Centennial Commemoration with exhibits, public programming and educational outreach in 2006 and the exhibit traveled from 2008-2012.

My identity as a secondgeneration Filipino American was fostered while I was a college student at UCLA. I remember asking my parents to tell me about my family’s history, and they shared stories of how my relatives served in local government, my paternal grandfather was a lawyer, and my maternal grandfather fought in World War II. I’ve come to realize that public service quite literally runs in my blood and that my ancestors paved the way for me to enter a career in government and community organizing.

Why did you join the BidenHarris Administration, and what does it mean as a Filipino American?

I joined the Biden-Harris administration because I believe in the President and Vice President’s vision and wanted to a play a part in

building a better America for generations to come. As OPM’s White House Liaison, I’m passionate about helping build an Administration that “looks like America” and implementing OPM’s mission of being a champion of talent for the federal government. And as Filipino American appointee, I’m committed to strengthening the pipeline for diverse communities to enter public service.

What does Filipino American History Month mean to you?

“No history, no self. Know history, know self.” That has always been a favorite quote of mine since college. It reminds me how Filipino American History Month is an important time to reflect on our history, uplift our stories and voices, and celebrate our heritage and culture.

populations will help connect the Administration’s policy efforts to the communities who need their voices heard – including the Filipino community. Here at the Census Bureau, I hope to be a continuous voice regarding the disaggregation of data for our communities.

What does Filipino American History Month mean to you?

Administration at the Census Bureau allows me to take the 25 years of experience leading California’s Census outreach and communications to the national level. My expertise reaching underserved

I am proud to have a Filipino American History Month in addition to Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May. Filipino American History Month allows me to take the time to recognize and appreciate my father who immigrated to the U.S. for better education and a brighter future for his family. This month also helps highlight the path many Filipino Americans have taken and the impact they have had on the U.S.

this Administration upholds. I serve the Biden-Harris Administration because I want to be on the right side of history and be part of the positive change that this Administration is doing on behalf of all Americans including the Filipino American community I represent. As a Filipino American in national security, it is important to me to help build the diverse bench in the national security space and I am now in a position to do so.

What does Filipino American History Month mean to you?

U.S. relationships with the IndoPacific.

Why did you join the BidenHarris administration, and what does it mean as a Filipino American?

I joined the Biden-Harris Administration because I believe in this democracy and the values

To me, being Filipino has always been synonymous with community so Filipino American History Month means celebrating the Filipino American community. It also means honoring our heritage and history and the many contributions our community has made to this country.

Next week’s edition will feature Part II of more Fil-Am officials in the Biden-Harris administration. n

A

Francey Lim Youngberg Assistant Director for the Office of Partnership and Engagement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Ditas Macrine Katague, Associate Director for Communications, U.S. Census Bureau

Jason Tengco, White House Liaison, U.S. Office of Personnel Management

Veronica M. Valdez, Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (White House Liaison), U.S. Department of Defense

There are many things to do in Pahrump

for

By RealtoR Fely Quitevis-Bateman

THERE are times when the question of “What activities can we do in that place?” becomes one of the main questions when a person is considering a location to invest property in, buy a first or second home, or retire to.

This makes sense, obviously, because you would not want to move to an area where there is absolutely nothing for you to do.

Of course, aside from this, there is the question of availability, affordability and getting a good return on your investment. In this week’s article, I will focus on some of the things that you can do recreationally in Pahrump, which is located about 62 miles west of Las Vegas.

among recreational

visitors

If racing or motorsports is your passion, look no further than Spring Mountain Motor Resort and Country Club, which is currently owned by John Morris. The place hosts various driving schools, track rentals and is the home of a private motorsports country club.

It has North America’s longest racetrack at 6.1 miles, and there are plans to expand the racetrack to over 9 miles when construction is completed. There are 18 different configurations for the racetrack available to racecar enthusiasts, from the South Course which is just 1 mile, to the Long Course which covers all 6.1 miles.

The company’s expansion plans which made the news

in February of this year has generated excitement in the community as job openings have resulted with these expansion plans, with some reports saying that “Spring Mountain will be one of the most exciting places to work and build a long-lasting career.”

Incidentally, right next to the racetrack is Spring Mountain Estates, luxury trackside homesites where homeowners will have access to all the amenities that Spring Mountain has to offer, which includes the Clubhouse Lounge, workout facility, and other services (e.g. massage therapist). What’s more, owning a home at the Spring Mountain Estates puts you minutes away from the cool, clear waters of Lake Spring Mountain where you can enjoy activities like paddle boarding, kayaking, flying on jetpack and more. There are 80 homesite lots (for home and mixed-use), 50 of which have been sold. As of now, there are 17 homes built or are under construction.

If cycling is your passion, a new bicycling group in Pahrump called Pahrump Valley Cyclists, is inviting the community to ride with them, according to the Pahrump Valley Times.

This social club gathers biking enthusiasts for fitness and for fun, and welcomes riders of all age levels and gender.

The club’s goal is to connect cyclists and allow them the opportunity to get together and enjoy group rides in Pahrump and neighboring communities.

The group’s rides can be shifted to accommodate cyclists of all levels, from beginners to the more experienced.

If walking or hiking is what drives you, there are many trails and parks in the area that are of interest. Among them are Discovery Park, Ian Deutch Memorial Park, Calvada Eye, Simkins Park and Petrack Park. These areas offer trails, opportunities for bird watching and nature-tripping, and wonderful walkways to share with the four-legged members of your family. What’s more, there are friendly residents to chat with or share a moment with as you enjoy your walk or hike.

Golf, one of the popular sports

in the country, has a presence in Pahrump with the Mountain Falls Golf Club, which is codesigned by famed architecture firms Nicklaus Design Group and Cal Olson Design. It is an 18-hole golf course and country club that is capable of hosting events of all types, be it weddings, holiday parties, corporate weddings and more. It has visually striking, breathtaking views, and is a must-visit visitors to the area.

I had the pleasure of hosting the late former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos at Mountain Falls Golf Club many, many years ago. He was impressed with it, and enjoyed playing golf at the club.

Aside from these, there are many other activities to do in the area. Sports activities include leagues for soccer, basketball, baseball and softball. Residents can indulge in tennis, bowling, martial arts (karate, jiu jitsu, muay Thai) and even horseback riding.

There are gambling establishments in Pahrump, which include the Pahrump Nugget Casino, Terrible’s Lakeside Casino, Saddle West Hotel, Casino & RV Resort, Irene’s Casino and Terrible’s Road House Casino.

When you have partaken of all the things that you want to do in Pahrump, there is Las Vegas, which is less than an hour’s drive from Pahrump. Concerts, theater shows, more gambling, shopping and dining is at your fingertips in Las Vegas.

Whether you want to consider Pahrump as your retirement place, your next residence or an investment, it has many factors going for it. Real estate prices continue to thrive in Pahrump

and it is one of the many places that housing builders are looking at, especially with the skyrocketing land prices in Las Vegas.

Pahrump’s proximity to Las Vegas and it’s having less crime and big city problems make it ideal for those looking to settle down with their family in another area, or a prospect for those wanting to invest in their future.

Now is the time to take a look at Pahrump. I can help you look for the best real estate opportunities in the area. I have had decades of experience in helping clients find the piece

(or pieces) of real estate to add to their portfolio, or that piece of land where they want to build their house or rental property.

My company, Precious Properties, is a full-service company that has served its clientele since 1992. You can reach me at 775-513-8447, 805-559-2476 and 702-5384948 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)

Gloria Estillore of Silicon Valley (right) is looking for a large commercial parcel to build at least a minimum 100-bed assisted living facility. She is in photo above with Realtor Fely QuitevisBateman.

In photo above are some of my big repeat investors – Dr. Pete Racoma, and Wilmer & Gerlie Comahig – who got approved for a 100-bed senior living resort on Homestead Road.

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (right) with Dr. Philip Paleracio (left) who is planning to expand his dental clinic to Pahrump. Dr. Paleracio has one of the most advanced dental facilities in Las Vegas.

Tony and Neneth Suarez are extremely happy with their Airbnb in Pahrump, which is always fully booked. All their kids own properties in Pahrump as well. With them is Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (middle, standing).

Realtor