102222 - Los Angeles Weekend Edition

A BLIND Filipino American longtime civil rights lawyer is running for City Council in District 4 of West Covina, California in the Nov. 8 election.

Ollie Cantos has been Special Assistant in the Office of the Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) since 1990. He has been working remotely since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cantos is also the board chairman of the disability rights organization RespectAbility, the first disabled Asian American to chair a national disability group.

Blind since birth (he has no vision in his left eye and can barely see from his right eye), he is the son of Filipino immigrants. He grew up in West Covina from his preschool years and was the victim of daily bullying and taunts by other kids.

Overcoming many obstacles, he became active in the civil rights arena as attorney

Exploring, unpacking API neglect in the US health care system

A HUNDRED years ago, in the 1920s, the state of California began a public health initiative to “expel” Filipinos from the Golden State.

Amid a tuberculosis outbreak that impacted hospital occupancy, the California State Board of Health at that time called Filipinos who were hospitalized with the disease “one of the worst problems at the present time.”

Following a visit to Kern General Hospital, Edythe Thompson, director of the State Bureau of Tuberculosis, in 1933. Thompson had written, “Here, as in many of the other general hospitals, the beds on the tuberculosis service were nearly all filled with Filipinos. These people seem to have more complications than other races.”

Thompson and other officials at that time reported that Filipino patients — many of whom were part of the historied Manong Generation of laborers — called for “much more nursing than a white patient” and were “disturbed mentally” and possessed “many superstitions [that made] life very miserable for white patients around

PRESIDENT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will not lift the national state of calamity just yet because the coronavirus emergency is not over.

Lifting the declaration would also mean halting measures to address the pandemic as mandated by laws passed at the height of the global health crisis, the President said at the sideline of the 48th Philippine Business Conference and Exposition (PBC&E) at the Manila Hotel on Thursday, October 20.

The measures include benefits for health care workers, faster procurement of vaccines, and

indemnification funds related to using the COVID-19 vaccines.

"...it does not help if we are still under a state of calamity, if we are the only country that still has a mask protocol. But these are mandated to us by the laws that were passed during the pandemic. So, kailangan pa nating ayusin 'yun (we still need to fix that)," he said.

Marcos also pointed out that the Philippines must stop seeing COVID-19 as an emergency and instead consider it on the same level as the flu and pneumonia.

Doing so will allow more businesses to open up and accelerate economic recovery, the President said.

"We have to get away from the emergency, the emergency stance of the DOH (Department of Health) because we have to open up businesses. We have to

make the Philippines more hospitable to travelers, both business and tourists," he said.

The government will pull out all the stops until things "normalize," the President said.

The DOH still has to contend with new Omicron subvariants that have now been transmitted locally in several regions.

The department has reported the localized community transmission of the XBB and the XBC subvariants in regions that have a high number of subvariant cases.

The DOH has reported 81 cases of XBB in two regions, and 193 cases of XBC in 11 regions, with five fatalities.

by CATHERINE VALENTE ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Thursday, October 20 said his administration will remain an advocate of peace-building initiatives both domestically and internationally.

"As your President, you must be assured that this administration will always advocate for peace and for unity. Domestically, we will strengthen our peacebuilding efforts, especially in conflict-affected areas. Externally, we will continue to pursue the enhancement of our relations with all our neighbors toward ensuring security, addressing global issues, and facilitating now the post-pandemic growth addressing climate change and all the existential challenges that our country faces," Marcos said in his speech during the commemoration of the 78th anniversary of the Leyte Gulf Landing in Palo, Leyte.

The President said the event should serve as a reminder of the human and economic cost of wars.

"Seventy-eight years ago, these shores were witness to

by JOHN ERIC MENDOZA Inquirer.net

DOH website.

In a statement on Friday, the Department of Tourism (DOT) also welcomed the development, saying the idea was proposed by the tourism agency “amidst numerous complaints from inbound travelers to the Philippines.”

“Prior to the adoption of the new eARRIVAL CARD, travelers were required to register for the OHP a few days before their travel and accomplish the electronic Health Declaration Checklist (eHDC) on

by XAVE GREGORIO Philstar.com

MANILA — Gamaliel Cordoba, who headed the National Telecommunications Commission when it ordered ABS-CBN Corp. to shut down its free TV operations after its legislative franchise expired last May 5, 2020, has been appointed as the new chairperson of the Commission on Audit.

Supreme Court spokesperson Brian Hosaka said Cordoba took his oath before Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo on Friday, October 21.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. picked Cordoba as Jose Calida’s replacement at the helm of the independent constitutional office in charge of checking and auditing the use of funds and properties owned by the Philippine government under its agencies.

by BEATRICE PINLAC Inquirer.net

MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has started efforts to trace the source of money for the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid. Southern Police District (SPD) chief Brig. Gen. Kirby John Kraft disclosed this development on Friday, further revealing that they already communicated with the bank of confessed gunman Joel Escorial and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to help them find out who deposited

the alleged payment for the hit. According to Kraft, Escorial already authorized his bank to provide any available information from his account to the police. Escorial earlier claimed that a total of P550,000 was distributed among members of his group that was allegedly tasked to assassinate Lapid. He said they were six in the group and that around P140,000 has since been deposited into his bank account. Kraft said the death of one of two purported middlemen in

KRISTINA

AND RED MENDOZA ManilaTimes.net

U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson and President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. with Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla and Armed Forces of the Philippines Visayas Command Chief Lt. Gen. Robert Dauz pose for a photo as they commemorate the Leyte Gulf Landing on Thursday, October 20 in Palo, Leyte. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Embassy in Manila

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos holds a poster showing the photo of the alleged gunman of broadcast commentator and prominent government critic Percy Lapid during a news conference. Philstar.com photo

Marcos: Not yet time to lift state of...

In a media briefing on Friday, October 21, DOH Epidemiology Bureau Director Dr. Alethea de Guzman said the high number of XBB cases in Western Visayas and XBC cases in Davao and Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos) was proof of their continuous transmissions.

"In Region 6 (Western Visayas), where we saw most of the unlinked XBB cases, yes, there is evidence that supports community transmission, while in XBC, there is also evidence to support that there is also localized transmission in Regions 11 (Davao) and 12 (Soccsksargen)," de Guzman said.

She said she cannot say if there are significant community transmissions in other areas.

"Whether there is evidence or not of a large scale community transmission, our actions have been with the assumption that there is community transmission, that is why we are enhancing [response] activities from the national down to the local levels," de Guzman said.

She said that the low vaccination coverage in the regions with high XBB and XBC cases highlights an increased risk for more severe cases.

Both Davao and Soccsksargen have less than 90 percent of the population fully vaccinated, while COVID-19 bed utilization in Western Visayas is up at 41 percent.

De Guzman rejected suggestions for random antigen

testing to measure the extent of infections in light of the discovery of the variants.

OCTA Research senior fellow Dr. Guido David earlier proposed free antigen testing in mass transport hubs to determine the extent of infections.

"Surveillance does not depend if you tested someone or not, what you will do is to find cases who are getting sick, exposed and those areas with potential clustering," de Guzman said.

EpiMetrics founder Dr. John Wong and infectious disease expert Dr. Edsel Maurice Salvana agreed with de Guzman, saying the focus must be on symptomatic patients rather than ascertaining the number of cases.

"Whatever the number of cases, even if it is 10,000 or 20,000 cases, if one or two got severe, there is no reason to shut down society and add more restrictions, especially with the high level of

restrictions," Salvana said.

In a separate briefing, World Health Organization Western Pacific Region Director for Emergencies Dr. Babatunde Olowokure urged countries in the region to do a risk assessment to ensure that they are going to live responsibly amid the COVID-19 pandemic while remaining vigilant.

COVID-19 cases in the region have been going down since the middle of August, with some countries, including the Philippines, easing public health measures.

"We must live with it responsibly.... Member states and individuals should use risk assessments to ensure that they are able to live responsibly, this means maintaining the use of public health and safety measures and vaccination in order for us to live safe and responsible lives," Olowokure said. 

Marcos vows to promote peace...

the horrors and bloodshed brought by the worst mankind could bring. Now, we revisit its sands and wash them anew with the goodness that we are all capable of," he said.

The President urged Filipinos to remember the courage and heroism demonstrated by their compatriots who fought valiantly with Allied forces to secure freedom for the country.

"They who have fought and died in and for this land will have their names forever etched in the pages of history," Marcos said, adding

he is committed to upholding veterans' welfare.

This year's commemoration of the event was titled "Peace Eternal: Lesson Learned from the Vestiges of World War 2."

Also held during the occasion was the recognition of 33 surviving World War 2 veterans from Eastern Visayas, 17 of which reside in Leyte, according to the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office.

The Leyte Gulf Landings was the prelude to the largest naval battle in recorded history that nullified Japan's strategic position

in the Pacific Ocean during the Second World War.

It was on Oct. 20, 1944, when Gen. Douglas MacArthur, together with former president Sergio Osmena and Gen. Carlos P. Romulo set foot on Philippine soil for the first time they left Corregidor in 1942.

The Leyte Gulf Landings was the fulfillment of MacArthur's famous words, "I shall return," after he left the Philippines for Australia to muster support for the liberation of the Philippines from Japanese occupation. 

Gamaliel Cordoba, key gure in ABS-CBN...

A1

Calida, the solicitor general under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte who also led the charge against ABSCBN, resigned without any reason being disclosed, although he has been absent from congressional hearings on the COA’s proposed budget for 2023 due to health reasons.

State auditors make sure all the financial statements submitted by government offices are within the public sector accounting standards and all expenses are accounted for, providing annual audit reports to the president and Congress.

The NTC under Cordoba’s leadership issued ABS-CBN an order to stop broadcasting on free TV when its franchise expired, despite previous assurances to lawmakers that it will allow the network to continue operating

through a provisional authority.

While lawmakers and the Department of Justice then headed by now Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra found no issue with the NTC giving ABSCBN a provisional authority, Calida did and threatened graft charges against officials who would give such a license.

With the threat of graft charges dangling over their heads, NTC officials backtracked on their commitment to lawmakers and issued a cease and desist order against ABS-CBN.

Even after a House of Representatives panel denied ABS-CBN's application for a fresh franchise over supposed violations that have been cleared by several government agencies, the NTC under Cordoba continued attempts to block business moves by the network.

In June, the NTC restricted

blocktime arrangements and mergers, a move that coincided with reported talks between ABSCBN and TV5 Network Inc. on such deals.

Moments after a landmark deal between ABS-CBN and TV5 was announced, Cordoba came on state-run radio to say that the Lopez-led broadcaster has to clear unspecified violations before proceeding with its investment in the Pangilinan-led network.

The NTC under Cordoba also led the charge against more than 20 websites, including alternative news outlet Bulatlat, for being “affiliated to and are supporting terrorists," which led to the blocking of these sites.

Bulatlat has since secured a court order stopping the implementation of the NTC memorandum blocking its website. 

PH to replace One Health Pass with eArrival...

PAGE A1

the day of departure,” the DOT said.

“Compared to the previous OHP system, the eARRIVAL CARD also removes unnecessary

information fields,” the DOT also added.

The new Omicron subvariant XBC that has been detected in the Philippines is now causing a COVID-19 surge in Singapore, he

noted. The XBC subvariant is a recombinant of the BA.5 and Delta variants that triggered a COVID-19 surge last year, threatening the capacity of the country’s health system to cope. 

RABID FANS. Supporters of Korean boy bands hope to catch a glimpse of their idols before the “I-Pop U 2022 Manila” concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon on Friday, Oct. 21. Followers of Korean culture were up in arms over the recent suggestion of Senator Jinggoy Estrada to ban Korean dramas in the Philippines but he later clarified that he said it out of frustration over the lackadaisical support for the local entertainment industry. PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

Devotees of the Black Nazarene spill outside the Quiapo Church in Manila on Friday, Oct. 21. The

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said that with the weakening of the COVID-19 pandemic and the easing of health protocols, it is time to return to the normality of Christian life, including attending Masses physically. PNA photo by Alfred Frias

Blind Fil-Am civil rights...

mentor for the American Bar Association Commission on Disability Rights, vice president of the Virginia Association of Parents of Blind Children, and member of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. He was named ABC News Person of the Week, for his advocacies.

Cantos also had leadership roles at the Disability Rights Legal Center, the American Association of People with Disabilities, and the Justice Department’s Office of the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. (Inquirer.net)

Hunt on to nd source of money for...

PAGE A1 deposited the money.)

the murder of Lapid – Crisanto Villamor – will not lead to a dead end because the PNP still has other means to go after the mastermind.

“Na-confirm naman natin ito na talagang may pumasok na P550,000 so gumawa na tayo ng kaukulang komunikasyon po sa naturang bangko at pati na rin sa AMLC nang matulungan tayo ma-determine kung sino man iyong nagdeposito,” he said in an interview with radio station dzBB of GMA Network.

(We have confirmed that P550,000 was wired to his account, so we initiated communication with the bank and the AMLC to help determine who

Asked how the supposed hit payment was distributed among suspects, Kraft said: “May binigyan po siya (Escorial) na P80,000. May binigyan siya ng P40,000. At may binigyan po siya ng P20,000 (He gave someone P80,000. He gave another one P40,000. And he gave someone else P20,000.)”

Meanwhile, the SPD chief said they are still searching for the remaining suspects – Israel and Edmon Dimaculangan and a certain Orly or Orlando –whom Escorial claimed were his accomplices in the crime.

He said police have been receiving reports about them supposedly being sighted outside of Metro Manila. He also

noted that a check on Escorial’s background shows he has no criminal record.

“Sa ngayon po, malinis po siya. Wala po siyang, masasabi po nating, pending na kaso or warrant of arrest (Right now, he’s clean. He doesn’t have, what I would say, pending cases or a warrant of arrest),” Kraft noted.

Tracing the source of money deposited to Escorial’s bank account was among the pleas made by journalist Roy Mabasa to the police in hopes of finding the mastermind in the ambushslay of his brother.

Lapid, whose real name was Percy Mabasa, was gunned down last October 3 at a gate of the Las Piñas City subdivision where he lived. 

Exploring, unpacking API neglect in the US...

them.”

Systemic racism and inequities in health care manifests differently these days; hospitals now wouldn’t get away with explicitly turning patients away solely on the basis of race and ethnicity.

But the lack of nuance in empirical research and slow progress in data disaggregation for the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) community is a specific

form of discrimination rooted in disregard and negligence.

According to Pew Research, more than 70% of Asian Americans were born outside the United States, with many having limited English proficiency and familiarity with the American health care system.

According to the National Insitute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), Asian patients reported experiencing difficulty while trying to navigate simple procedures like following doctors’ instructions as well as more complicated protocol like coordinating care for terminal illnesses and cancer.

For example, according to Dr. Grace Ma, associate dean for NIMHD and founding director for the Center for Asian Health, Asians possess the highest mortality rates of liver and stomach cancers, two of the most preventable cancers.

But Ma said that Asians have the lowest rates of cancer screenings and are usually diagnosed at later stages compared to patients of other racial backgrounds.

“Cancer patients, especially those with infection-related diseases, may experience shame and stigma that could affect their job and others may look down on them,” Ma said in a recent lecture.

“We have so few linguistically competent practitioners, and cultural barriers prevent many from seeking help.”

She added, “Culturally-tailored messages are important.”

Data disaggregation is an oftdiscussed topic in API circles but there’s yet to be considerable action and policy that enforces data disaggregation in all research settings.

In short, disaggregation of data involves breaking down data and information into smaller, more specific groupings. Instead of surveying the effects of a disease only across racial markers, disaggregation would allow us to examine the effects of a disease among Filipinos, Chinese, Korean, Indian and Vietnamese, for example.

From there, researchers could develop care solutions for these individual communities and create preventative measures that enriches understanding of the medically diverse API community.

For a populace that is as vast as the AAPI community — a grand diaspora that hails from nearly half the planet and comprises of hundreds of languages, religions, and cultures — the push for disaggregated data should be more urgent than it currently is.

Less than 1% of funding from the National Institutes of Health is granted to research endeavors that specifically cater to APIs, which is the fastest-growing population in the U.S.

“The capacity to disaggregate data for AAPIs within the electronic health records is there, but the political will and the leadership across health care systems is still lacking,” Dr. Winston Wong, a scholar-in-residence at UCLA Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Equity, said in an Ethnic Media Services (EMS) press briefing in September.

Wong said that the most commonly used electronic health care record system, called Epic, is a sophisticated data gatherer that can collect trillions of units of data in a single day, but those who manage that data hardly ever categorize patient information by ethnicities and sub-ethnicities.

Even though the COVID-19 pandemic placed the medical research industry under a microscope, health data related to specific Asian communities went largely misreported, amid the high rates of crimes against Asians and the mystery of the virus itself.

For example, the Chinese community in New York had the highest rate of hospitalizations, a data point that went largely under the radar, Wong said. Moreover,

in New Jersey, the Bangladeshi community had the highest rate of COVID-related hospitalizations and in pockets of Arkansas, it was Marshallese community that was disproportionately affected.

“This kind of data is only identified at this point by the activists, the community providers, the physicians and nurses who care for that community because they’re providing the culturally competent and linguistically accessible care to these populations,” said Wong.

But despite underfunding and general disregard, advocacy groups and academic research bodies founded by and for APIs have decided to create the precedent themselves.

Groups like the policy-focused APIAVote and AAPI Data are among the very few organizations or researching bodies (across all industries) that actually survey specific ethnic communities, even going as far as to break down each ethnicity’s data by age, gender, political affiliation, and citizenship status.

In the health sector, the Center for Asian Health Research and Education (CARE) at Stanford Medicine is attempting to create a precedent in medical research. Founded in 2018, the group seeks to examine and develop tailored care for the communities that fall under the vast API banner.

“We are treated as one giant group, but we are also not a monolith,” said Dr. Bryant Lin, a primary care physician and co-founder of CARE, in a briefing held in September. Lin established CARE with colleague Dr. Latha Palaniappan who, like Lin, recognized in her practice the lack of sophistication in patient data gathering.

Calls to policy-makers to establish a legislative precedent that ensures data disaggregation across all research sectors have largely gone unheard.

But in California — the state that previously attempted to expel Filipinos from even receiving health care in the 1920s and 1930s out of ignorance and lack of compassion — has become among the most progressive states in pro-API care and policy.

California, which has the largest total API community in the U.S., is one of the few government bodies that has so far that made it law to disaggregate data specifically concerning APIs.

Assembly Bill 1726, passed by former California Gov. Jerry Brown in 2016, requires the California Dept. of Public Health to break down demographic data by ethnicity for API communities.

(Current Gov. Gavin Newsom last year passed the API Equity Budget, which included $10 million to improve API data collection and equity, in his 20212022 annual budget.)

AB 1726 allowed for organizations to home in on swiftly identifying subethnic health patterns and creating solutions for communities facing unique challenges.

In July 2020, Dr. Thu Quach, president of the San Francisco East Bay-serving Asian Health Services, found that the region’s Vietnamese community were testing positive twice as often as other communities.

Through the broken-down data, Quach and her team were able to quickly establish “culturally informed” testing and education to the Vietnamese community in the East Bay, monitoring the community by ensuring there were always testing sites and vaccine availability, Quach said at the EMS briefing.

She said, “With the limited resources that we had, we were able to have targeted interventions with the most impacted group at that time, and this is why disaggregated matters — not just in identifying the problem, but in providing timely responses to address such problems.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

Blind since birth, civil rights lawyer Ollie Cantos is running for West Covina City Council in District 4.

BUSINESS-FRIENDLY LGU AWARD. Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto (2nd from right) receives the Most Business-Friendly LGU award from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (2nd from left) at the 48th Philippine Business Conference and Exposition of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Manila Hotel on Thursday, Oct. 20. Also in photo is Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry president George Barcelon (left). PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

DATELINE PHILIPPINES

Solgen Guevarra defends law postponing barangay, SK polls before Supreme Court

by KRISTINE JOY PATAG Philstar.com

MANILA — For Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, the law postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections to October 2023 is a matter that involves political question that is beyond the scope pf judicial review.

The Supreme Court on Friday, October 21 conducted the oral arguments on the petition filed by veteran elections lawyer Romulo Macalintal questioning Republic Act 11935 that postpones the barangay and SK elections (BSKE) to October 2023 from December 2022.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. signed RA 11935 into law on October 10, directing that the BSKE will be conducted on the last Monday of October 2023. Subsequent BSKE will be held every three years.

Guevarra, representing the respondents Commission on Elections and Office of the President, said in his opening statement that judicial scrutiny of Congress’ exercise of legislative power like passing the law to postpone the BSKE is only allowed under very narrow limits.

“Such scrutiny may only happen in two instances, when there is grave abuse of discretion on the part of Congress, when postponement of barangay elections violates any constitutional standards,” he said.

But Guevarra pointed out that Macalintal has not attributed grave abuse of discretion on the part of the Congress in the enactment of RA 11935 nor does postponement violate any constitutional standards.

Macalintal anchored his petition on the argument that “the Constitution does not give Congress the power to ‘postpone’ the barangay elections nor to extend the term of office of the barangay officials.”

Associate Justice Antonio Kho Jr., the first to ask the parties and is a former elections commissioner, also echoed Guevarra’s point during this interpellation.

But Macalintal responded that

when he filed his petition, he was guided by some pronouncements of the SC that Petition for Certiorari is a remedy when there are special reasons clearly stated in the petition.

He added that Guevarra’s argument is “too technical.” He continued: “I would submit that when the issue is constitutionality and the law is considered unconstitutional then that clearly shows the abuse of discretion committed by Congress. That is my position.”

Guevarra, under questioning of Justice Kho, however asserted that postponing elections is a political question.

“Unless there is a showing there was grave abuse of discretion, then we believe judicial scrutiny is very much limited. Congress did not include the reason for postponing is precisely because it is a political question,” he said.

But Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa quizzed Guevarra: Is the Congress’ plenary power to determine term of barangay officials limitless? Can it be done it 50, 100 years?

Caguioa pressed: “Law has to be reasonable so the SC can inquire into the reasonableness of the period fixed by Congress.”

Guevarra responded: “As to the reasonableness of the period, if there are indications that the period determined by Congress is tainted with grave abuse of discretion, then yes.”

Term extension?

Macalintal, in his opening statement, however argued before the court that the postponement of the BSKE essentially extends the term of office of the barangay officials without the mandate of the people.

Under RA 11935, all incumbent barangay and sangguniang kabataan officials shall remain in office unless removed or suspended.

“These repeated postponements of barangay election with extension of their terms to boot, then Congress will be a very, very powerful institution in the political arena of our country,” he told the SC.

Macalintal said that this means the holdover officials “can no longer be considered representatives of people in their barangays but they could now be called as representatives of Congress to whom these barangay officials owe their positions.”

But Guevarra, answering the question posed by Associate Justice Japar Dimaampao, said there is no extension of term of barangay officials under RA 11935.

He stressed the law is on postponement of elections. “So the term will end on December 5 but will continue to serve on hold-over capacity only,” the solicitor general added.

Associate Justice Jhosep Lopez, for his part, pressed Macalintal: “Since it was also the creation of law, the legislative body passed the law on such date, don’t you think the Congress has the power also to amend the law earlier passed? Otherwise you will not be giving the power to Congress to amend its own law.”

But Macalintal asserted that such law should only apply prospectively and not retroactively, meaning it will not cover incumbent barangay officials.

'No material time'

Comelec Chair George Garcia, when told to face the justices, said since the signing of the law, the poll body has slowed down their preparations for the BSKE. He also explained that they cannot proceed with procurement of some elections paraphernalia following the signing of RA 11935.

“It’s really not viable and not feasible at this time,” he told the SC.

But Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen pointed out the Comelec, before Garcia even entered the poll body, were going to conduct the BSKE. Garcia confirmed that they were already preparing for BSKE then set to be held in December 2020, by the time they are conducting the May 2022 national elections.

“So you had the will you had the capability you had the  PAGE A7

Chinese companies bullish on PH economic prospects

MANILA — Chinese companies are bullish on the Philippines' economic prospects under the new administration, Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian said.

Speaking at the 48th Philippine Business Conference and Expo at the Manila Hotel on Thursday, October 20 Huang took note of the government's first 100 days, which he said has seen the Philippine business environment "continuously improving" and unemployment rate dropping to the lowest level since the outbreak of the pandemic.

"Companies from China and other countries are full of confidence in the economic prospects of the Philippines, as it has promising markets, demographic dividend and abundant natural resources," he said in a speech forwarded by the

Chinese embassy on Friday.

Huang is optimistic the two nations' economic cooperation would further deepen under the "strategic guidance" of President Xi Jinping and President Ferdinand R. Marcos, adding Manila has been a major source of foreign investment and largest trading partner for six consecutive years.

He said the two nations also continue to explore partnership in four key priority areas, namely agriculture, infrastructure, energy and people-to-people exchange.

"They have broad prospects and will bring huge dividends to our two peoples and facilitate the continuous economic transformation of the Philippines," he said.

On agriculture, China has offered to provide technology

and equipment, and encouraged more Philippine products to enter the Chinese market, including durian, mangosteen, and frozen coconut meat.

Huang said Beijing is ready to deepen new infrastructure cooperation, including on big data, cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

On people-to-people ties, China encouraged further exchanges in education, culture, tourism, sports, and arts after the pandemic "to inject new impetus" into the countries' millenniumold kinship.

"Let’s walk together to forge an even closer ChinaPhilippines partnership, economic in particular, and let business and trade create happiness and well-being for the people of China and the Philippines," he said. (PNA)

OFEATURES PINION

Medium risk for travelers

AS pandemic risks ease, the Philippines is earning raves as a tourist destination. The raves, however, could be nullified by security risks. In the latest annual Global Risk Assessment Report, the Philippines was classified as “medium risk” due to criminality, sporadic unrest and weak capability to manage crises and threats to personal security.

The assessment is drawn up by Global Guardian, a duty of care company providing travel risk mitigation services for Fortune 500 companies and individuals with high net worth. Its services include kidnap coverage and medical evacuation for member clients.

Editorial

This week Global Guardian released the interactive 2023 Global Risk Assessment Map. The country risk rankings are based on crime, health issues, terrorist threats, civil unrest, political stability, natural disasters and infrastructure. The color-coded map highlights areas of geopolitical tension and assesses the risks of escalation, with countries classified under low, moderate, medium, high and extreme risk.

Countries listed under “extreme risk” are Ukraine, Pakistan, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Yemen, Afghanistan, the Central African Republic and Burkina Faso. Mexico is classifed under “high” risk because of drug cartel violence. The Philippines is ranked under “medium risk” alongside top holiday destinations Thailand, India and Turkey.

Marked green on the map and classified as

“low risk” travel destinations are Germany, Poland, Norway, the Republic of Ireland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Japan and Canada. These countries, Global Guardian said, “are considered highly stable. These countries maintain a strong rule of law and are capable of containing threats to safety and security.”

Since COVID mobility restrictions started easing worldwide, the Philippines has received high marks as a destination worth considering for post-pandemic revenge travel. Those high marks from travel magazines and websites, however, must be backed by the proper services and environment that will satisfy travelers and make them conclude that the positive reviews were accurate.

The pandemic isn’t over, and navigating the requirements of international travel in the time of COVID remains complicated. At the end of a trip, travelers must conclude that all the hassle was worth it. The Philippines has sufficient natural and man-made attractions to merit the high marks, but positive reviews must be sustained.

Even without a pandemic, travelers want clean surroundings and access to proper health care. The COVID emergency should have led to improvements in health care services nationwide including in tourist destinations. Filipinos in the service industry are renowned for tender loving

care; this reputation must be sustained. And even before the pandemic, travelers have wanted some assurance of personal security. The latest risk rankings should lead to greater efforts to improve public safety, not just for visitors but for all people in this country.. (Philstar.com)

Taking calculated risks to uphold PH sovereignty

power.”

IN his first State of the Nation Address, President Marcos Jr. stated that he will “not preside over any process that will abandon even a square inch of the territory of the Republic of the Philippines to any foreign

As the chief architect of Philippine foreign policy, the President made clear that on the issue of territorial integrity and sovereignty, the Philippines “will stand firm in our independent foreign policy, with the national interest as our primordial guide.” While no country or area was named, his statement is easily seen to refer to the South China Sea/West

Philippine Sea (SCS/WPS) issue with China.

There appears to be a general consensus that diplomacy would be the primary means to carry out this policy, as it would not be in the country’s interest to end up in a war with China. On the need to avoid a war, there is the question of how aggressively we should exercise and uphold our sovereign rights in the contested areas in

response to Chinese incursions and activities in our maritime waters and exclusive economic zone (EEZ). While we can go all out on the diplomatic front, enforcement of our maritime entitlements carries risk of an incident that could escalate to hostile actions by either party. It is this risk that is highlighted by those who argue that we should be restrained in our physical efforts to enforce our sovereignty in the WPS.

Diplomacy is indeed the best course of action, but it is limited in what it can do, considering China’s continuing aggression to show control over disputed areas, including harassing and preventing our fishermen from operating in our own EEZ.

The Philippines has to consistently challenge such incursions and violations of our territory and EEZ not only in the diplomatic arena, but on the seas as well. Otherwise, we will be ceding de facto control over those areas by default. I am confident that the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine military will carry out their duty if so ordered, as they have done so on previous occasions.

As for the risk that comes with this course of action, I believe it is worth taking when national interest and sovereignty are at stake. In

the debate on this issue, the risk of war is highlighted along with the notion that we stand no chance against the Chinese military. True, China’s military outmatches us, but in this scenario, has anyone considered and agreed on how this “war” will happen or be carried out?

What are the likely scenarios? A very likely catalyst would be a “hostile” armed incident that will occur at sea or on the air between a Filipino and Chinese vessel or aircraft. The corresponding response would determine if that incident further escalates. If the Chinese fired first and sank one of our ships, do we retaliate in kind? Do we even have the capability to sink or damage one of theirs? Do we declare war on China outright, or use the incident to rally international support against this neighbor to possibly include sanctions against it, and enhance efforts to contain its geopolitical ambitions against claimant countries in disputed maritime areas?

A hostile incident in the WPS, accidental or otherwise, doesn’t necessarily and automatically result in a state of war between the Philippines and China. Everything depends on how both parties respond to the provocation. Will China

be willing to risk international fallout should it initiate a hostile act against another country? It probably will in its claim over Taiwan, but will China take that risk for its contested claims in the South China Sea, when such action against a weaker opponent could further harden the resolve of major players seeking to contain China’s rise?

Upholding our rights and sovereignty in the WPS is a complex and highly nuanced endeavor. There are many factors to consider, and that includes determining the amount of risk that we, as a sovereign nation and people, are willing to take in pursuit of that goal. Taking such calculated risks will surely lead to tension in the disputed maritime areas, but that’s better than doing nothing and handing over control of the WPS by default. (Inquirer.net)

* * *

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

* * * Moira G. Gallaga served three Philippine presidents as presidential protocol officer, and was posted as a diplomat at the Philippine consulate general in Los Angeles and the Philippine Embassy in Washington.

Strategies for an independent foreign policy

SAN FRANCISCO — Over the weekend, I attended the 6th Filipino American International Book Festival, where I was one of the invited authors from the Philippines, alongside the children’s book publisher Ani Rosa Almario and baybayin calligrapher Ian Lucero. Aside from the chance to share my own book, “The Philippines Is Not A Small Country,” I saw my participation as an opportunity to learn more about Filipino American literature and the experiences that they convey.

Held at the San Francisco Public Library and organized by the Philippine-American Writers Association, the festival featured over 40 writers representing genres that range from young adult fiction (e.g., Randy Ribay, Laurel Flores Fantauzzo),

graphic novel (Bren Bataclan, Isabel Roxas), and children’s literature (Candy Gourlay, Erin Entrada Kelly) to novel (Gina Apostol, Reine Arcache Melvin, Lysley Tenorio), crime/mystery (Mia P. Manansala), memoir (Meredith Talusan), academic writing (Vicente Rafael, Robyn Rodriguez), short story (Lara Stapleton), and poetry (Joi Barrios, Barbara Jane Reyes).

Fittingly, the two-day affair ended with a conversation between Maria Ressa and Inquirer.net’s Boying Pimentel.

Like the food and drinks we partook throughout the festival—e.g., lechon kawali, bibingka, calamansi juice— some of the topics and themes were drawn from the Philippines. For instance, in her powerful keynote speech, Gina Apostol directly addressed our political conundrums by reflecting on the idea of revolution, and some of her lines are worth quoting at length:

“Only a few lead comfortable

lives in the Philippines … it is a small minority whose lives are threatened with change. But it is also they whose mythmaking and golden promises manufacture majority consent to their violence and their greed … It is satisfying to blame the voters, but is a problematic response to fascism’s power.

I lay the blame unequivocally on the structural oppression that has produced the voters’ economic condition, which leads them to the desperate hope that Marcos will, with his absurd and incredible lies about his family’s Tallano gold, lift them out of despair.”

For her part, Meredith Talusan—who delivered her speech in Tagalog—underscored the importance not just in taking pride in our local languages, but in teaching it to the next generations: an appeal perhaps more poignant here in America, but no less relevant in the Philippines.

But like lumpia that has become more of a Filipino

American than Filipino food, there are also themes that are distinctly Fil-Am. For one, questions of racial identity and marginality understandably suffuse their writing, as when Barbara Jane Reyes laments, in her “Letters to a Young Brown Girl”: They will say, your language lacks finesse, your words low. They will form air quotes with their white fingers, say something clever about color. Past struggles and activisms come to life through the participants and their performances—from the legacy of Larry Itliong, who alongside Cesar Chavez led Filipino and Mexican farm workers in fighting for their rights in the 1960s, to the memory of Amado Khaya Canham Rodriguez, an Oakland-born activist who lived and worked with the Mangyan communities in Mindoro before his untimely death at age 22 during the height of the pandemic in 2020. Their stories remind me that

Filipinos have actually been in the Americas at least since 1587, and have faced all kinds of injustice throughout the centuries, like the anti-Filipino riots in California in the 19201930s, and the anti-Asian violence today, even as their struggles do not figure much in the homeland’s imaginary of its diaspora.

And then, there is the theme of pagbabalikbayan , of returning to the Philippines to (re)discover one’s roots and reconnect with one’s family, which is both a personal experience and a literary trope in some of their works (e.g., Jay Reguero in Ribay’s “Patron Saints of Nothing” and Magsalin in Apostol’s “Insurrecto,” both of whom find themselves grappling with Duterte’s war on drugs).

We need to hear more of each other’s stories, first and foremost because, in the words of festival co-organizer Edwin Lozada, “These are Filipino writers and artists, but their

messages are not specifically Filipino. It’s universal.”

But at the same time, these stories are part of our own story as a people, and we have much to learn if we are to embrace them amid all our divergences, and if this embrace is to lead not just to pagkakaisa, unity, but pagkakapit-bisig, solidarity, and indeed, to hark back to the festival’s theme: hiraya emergence. We may identify with different demonyms (Filipino/a/x), hyphenations, time zones, and citizenships, but if we can all partake in each other’s experiences as in a pagsasalo-salo , we may yet recognize ourselves in a firstperson plural, in which our pronouns are we , tayo, atin. (Inquirer.net)

* * *

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

* * *

glasco@inquirer.com.ph

MOIRA

GALLAGA

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr delivered his first State of the Nation address at the House of Representatives in Quezon City last July 25. Philstar.com photo

Marcos pays tribute to Filipino World War II veterans; 31 awarded with US medals

MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. paid tribute to Filipino war veterans who served during World War II and promised that the government will continue to assist them.

In an event commemorating the 78th anniversary of the Leyte Landing, Marcos highlighted their roles in securing the freedom the country fought for to this day.

“Although we can never truly repay the price they paid for their gifts of peace and freedom, we can honor their heroism and their memory by continuing the great work they began,” Marcos said.

The celebration commemorates the anniversary of the landing of Gen Douglas MacArthur in Leyte Gulf for the battle between US and Japan. The battle resulted in the liberation of the Philippines from Japanese forces.

U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson also visited Leyte and awarded Congressional Gold Medals to 31 Filipino war veterans for being instrumental to the “enduring alliance” of the two countries.

The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award given by the U.S. Congress to anyone “who performs an outstanding deed

or act of service to the security, prosperity, and national interest of the United States.”

Marcos vowed to strengthen the country’s peace-buiulding initiatives while working with partner nations.

“Domestically, we will strengthen our peace-building efforts, especially in conflictaffected areas,” Marcos said.

“Externally, we will continue to pursue the enhancement of our relations with our neighbors towards ensuring security and addressing global issues such as facilitating post-pandemic growth and addressing climate change.” (Kaycee Valmonte/ Philstar.com)

Solgen Guevarra defends law postponing...

PAGE A5 which Garcia answered in the affirmative.

experience, you had the funds to actually do it by let us say June of this year, September of this year?” Leonen said.

He pointed out the only thing that made it impossible of them to conduct the elections is the law.

“So the reason for not conducting the elections is not logistical?” Leonen asked, to

Leonen pressed: “In other words, if we issue a temporary restraining order, you have no choice to continue with your preparations and if you continue with your preparations and find it difficult to conduct it on December 5?”

The justice also reminded the Comelec official that the

poll body has Section 5 of the Omnibus Election Code in its arsenal that lists reasons for postponement of election.

“In that case, it is not impossible,” Garcia added.

The oral arguments lasted for four hours. Parties are given 15 days to file their respective memoranda, after which the case is deemed submitted for resolution. 

PEAK RATES. Julie dela Cruz, a flower shop owner at the so-called Dangwa flower market along Dos Castillas Street in Sampaloc, Manila, arranges her wares on Friday, Oct. 21. She expects brisk sales until All Saints’ Day but advises customers that prices are sure to increase, which also happens during graduation months and Valentine’s Day.

PNA photo by Ben Briones

PH to lose P65 billion with POGO shutdown

by LOUISE MAUREEN SIMEON Philstar.com

MANILA — The Philippines stands to lose about P65 billion in economic contributions should the government decide to discontinue Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGOs) in the country.

During the House of Representatives committee on labor and employment hearing on Wednesday, October 19, the DOF maintained that total collections from POGOs have declined over the past years.

Latest estimates from the agency showed that expected losses from POGO would be about P64.61 billion, according to Finance Undersecretary Cielo Magno.

“Should POGOs discontinue, we estimate to lose around P64.61 billion in direct economic contributions which is about 0.3 percent of our GDP (gross domestic product),” Magno said.

The country’s nominal GDP last year stood at P19.187 trillion.

Broken down, a bulk or almost 40 percent of the P64.61 billion in losses will come from housing space rentals income at P25.17 billion.

Another P16.63 billion from office space rentals will be lost.

Some P6.56 billion will be dropped from personal consumption of POGO employees and another P3.5 billion from revenues of the Philippine

Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR).

The government is also expected to lose P3.43 billion from the value-added taxes (VAT) of housing space rentals and P3.09 billion from transportation.

Other losses will stem from personal income taxes from POGO employees (P2.74 billion), VAT from office space rentals (P2.27 billion), other taxes (P830 million), corporate income tax (P340 million) and insurance (P50 million).

Magno emphasized concerns over POGO-related crimes, which can have direct effects on the country’s foreign direct investments (FDI).

“One crime incidence in every 100,000 population can result in a GDP decline of one percent,” Magno said.

“We estimate that potential losses with respect to FDIs for the Philippines will range from P16.7 billion to P26.2 billion,” she added.

The DOF official also argued about the additional cost that the government will incur for enforcers to ensure security and eliminate crimes.

POGO licensees have been slashed to 34 this year from its pre-COVID-19 level of 64 largely due to the winding down of operations due to the pandemic.

Meanwhile, the Association of Service Providers and POGOs said it would review the financial submissions of its POGO

members with the PAGCOR and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to determine compliance with their license fees and tax obligations.

This came after Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian claimed that even legitimate POGOs are remiss in paying correct taxes.

Gatchalian estimated a tax leakage of P1.9 billion due to the discrepancy of gross gaming revenue as reported by the BIR and PAGCOR from POGOs from January to August this year.

Chinese deported In a related development, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) started deporting six Chinese nationals working in illegal POGOs in the country.

The BI identified the deportees as Yu Min, 36; Nie Zhengbiao, 31; Gan Xueliang, 29; Xu Yuanggang, 25; Qian Jie, 33, and Yang Bin, 23. They were escorted by authorities from their detention facility to their designated airport terminal.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, along with Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco, witnessed the deportation at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 on Wednesday on board Philippine Airlines flight PR 316 bound for Wuhan, China. Remulla said some “400 more” Chinese POGO workers in custody would also be deported.

“The Bureau of Immigration

Six Chinese workers of illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators line up at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 to board a Philippine Airlines flight to Wuhan, China on Wednesday, October 19 after the Bureau of Immigration ordered their deportation. Philstar.com photo by Edd Gumban

Russia tells PH: Honor helicopter deal

RUSSIA wants the Philippine government to honor a signed contract to purchase 16 military heavy-lift helicopters, which the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte had canceled due to fears of possible U.S. sanctions.

Moscow’s ambassador to Manila, Marat Pavlov, told reporters Wednesday night, October 19 that the Philippine government has not officially notified Russia of its decision to cancel the deal and a Russian company was proceeding to manufacture the Mi-17 helicopters after the Philippines made an initial payment.

Filipino pilots, who would operate the helicopters, have undergone Russian training, he said.

The Russian aircraft manufacturer was ready to deliver one of the helicopters in June, “but unfortunately, it was not accepted by your government,” the ambassador said.

“We are ready to fulfill all our

obligations as a reliable partner of the Philippine side in the field of technical military cooperation, and we consider that it will also be done by the Philippines,” Pavlov said.

There was no immediate comment from the Philippine government, but the Department of National Defense has said that after the decision to terminate the Russian helicopter deal was made, a government committee would be convened to thresh out the details and work to recover the unspecified amount paid by the Philippine government to the Russian company. The Russians can appeal, but there is little room for the Philippine government to reconsider, a defense official said.

“I know that in any contract, it should be mentioned how it could be solved in case one of the parties would like to cancel,” Pavlov said and expressed hope the issue could be resolved.

The decision to cancel the contract, which was approved

by Duterte, was made amid concerns over possible Western sanctions, which could include restrictions that would slow down the bank transfers of the massive income that Filipino workers send home from the U.S. and other Western countries, among other possible problems, according to Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez.

Romualdez has said Washington did not pressure the Philippines to drop the P12.7-billion ($215 million) deal with the Russians.

But following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February, countries that purchase Russian defense equipment could face Western sanctions, he said.

A U.S. offer to sell Boeing CH-47 Chinooks, which was discussed last year by former Defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana and his American counterpart, Lloyd Austin, could be considered to replace the Russian helicopter deal, Romualdez said. (ManilaTimes.net with reports from Associated Press)

DFA: 25 Pinoys remain in Ukraine

by PIA LEE-BRAGO Philstar.com

MANILA — At least 25 Filipinos remain in Ukraine and none from the regions where Russia has declared martial law, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Friday, October 21 .

The DFA said the Philippine embassy in Warsaw, Poland and the Honorary Consulate General in Kyiv, Ukraine are constantly monitoring the conditions

and circumstances of Filipino nationals who remain in Ukraine.

“The Philippine Embassy in Warsaw and the Honorary Consulate General in Kyiv have accounted for 25 Filipino nationals in Ukraine, mostly residing in Kyiv, and none from the regions where martial law was declared,” the DFA said in a statement.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that he was introducing martial law in four Russian-occupied regions

of Ukraine that Moscow claimed last month as its own territory, but is struggling to defend from Ukrainian advances.

The DFA, the embassy, and the Honorary Consulate General are ready to repatriate Filipinos should they request assistance for immediate return to the country.

During the first half of this year, the DFA has assisted more than 450 overseas Filipinos from Ukraine, with about 400 repatriated to the Philippines. 

Marcos appoints ex-SAF commander as new anti-narcotics chief – Palace

by CATHERINE VALENTE Philstar.com

PRESIDENT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has appointed former Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) commander Moro Virgilio Lazo as the new head of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Office of the Press Secretary officer-in-charge Undersecretary Cheloy Garafil confirmed the

appointment of Lazo, who helped in the campaign security of the Marcoses in Ilocos Norte.

Lazo, who is an Ilocano who hails from Laoag City, will replace Wilkins Villanueva as director general of the PDEA, the government's lead agency in the fight against illegal drugs.

Prior to his new role in the Marcos administration, Lazo was appointed as the PNP-SAF commander by the late president Benigno Aquino 3rd in March 2015. He replaced Getulio Napeñas, who was relieved following the Mamasapano encounter that left at least 44 police officers dead in January of that year.

Lazo also served as a member of the Presidential Security Group under then president Fidel V. Ramos.

Meanwhile, Villanueva said he is grateful to close his "two

decades of professional service to God and country in the field of drug law enforcement."

"I am blessed to have been given the opportunity to serve in various capacities from my humble beginnings as a junior officer of the Philippine Constabulary until the transition to the Philippine National Police and eventually my career move to hang my Police uniform in favor of a full-time career as one of the pioneering Directors of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency," Villanueva said in a Facebook post.

"I shall leave behind a legacy of professional, dynamic, excellence-driven and accountable drug law enforcers" while "continuing to support the national antidrug campaign in my private capacity," he added. 

to lose P65 billion with POGO...

has canceled the visas of many working at the illegal POGO outlets. The work is ongoing right now,” he added.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) earlier reported that the BI had canceled the visas of 1,424 Chinese nationals working in illegal POGO outlets – a fraction of the estimated total of 48,782 employees who have to be sent back to China.

“It was determined by the BI, through Commissioner Norman Tansingco, that a more cost-efficient and humanitarian approach would be to cancel the visas of the said Chinese nationals,” Remulla said.

“The cancellation of alien visas would simply allow the Chinese nationals to voluntarily exit the country within a non-extendible period of 59 days,” he added.

Those who refuse to voluntarily

leave the country after 59 days will be “summarily deported,” according to the DOJ chief.

Remulla also disclosed that “someone from the BI” has recommended giving amnesty to Chinese nationals working in illegal POGO outlets, but he said the process has to be studied first. He said there is a need to consult with other government agencies on the issue of amnesty to illegal aliens.

“We have to look at this from the practical standpoint, the national standpoint and even the national security standpoint,” he added.

BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval recently said that there is an ongoing verification of 48,782 illegal Chinese workers who were affected by the closure of POGOs before they will be sent back to their country of origin for overstaying here in the Philippines. 

A8

PAROL MAKER. A man assembles a Filipino Christmas lantern (parol) at his stall at Central Market in Manila to keep up with the demand for the traditional decoration on Thursday, Oct. 20. Parol, derived from the Spanish word “farol” which means lantern, is made of thin bamboo sticks and Japanese paper or plastic cellophane.

PNA photo by Alfred Frias

Atty. Gurfinkel answers more immigration questions from

in

in

of Citizen Pinoy’s

Tanong,

‘Time is precious’: Baron on what he learned from ‘Doll House’

ACTOR Baron Geisler admitted that he did not expect his Netflix film “Doll House” to be successful as it is currently among the top 10 movies being

streamed in 10 different countries.

In his interview on TeleRadyo, Baron said a divine being orchestrated the success of the movie.

Hindi ko po expected ‘yan. I believe I’ve been saying this so many times na si God lang talaga ang nag-o-orchestrate nang lahat ng ito, lahat ng biyaya. Kung walang suporta sa kababayans natin here in the Philippines and abroad — kasi nag-top 10 tayo ng 10 different countries — I owe it all sa kababayans natin there,” Baron said.

Sa lahat sa inyo, No. 1 po kami rito, kaya No. 1 po kami sa puso niyo. Ibinabalik ko po ang lahat ng honor, praise kay God sa lahat ng blessings na ito. Maraming salamat sa mga Kapamilya natin out there,” he added.

Baron also acknowledged Aga Muhlach and other celebrities who praised his acting.  “Talagang I really look up to Boss Aga and all of my colleagues. Maraming salamat. Sa akin, marami ang nagme-message na, ‘Oh, mananalo ka na ng award, best actor.’ For me, I just want to be the best person. I want to maintain that, sustain that. And also I want to be working with all of these legends sa industry na bumabati at nakapansin sa pelikula naming ‘Doll House.’ So, maraming salamat talaga,” he said.

Dolly’s road to the Oscars: I’m nervous... I’m preparing myself mentally

By Marinel Cruz Inquirer.net

“THINKING about it makes me very nervous,” said Filipino actress Dolly de Leon of the ongoing campaign for Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund’s “Triangle of Sadness” to get nominated under the best international feature film

category of the 75th Academy Awards.

De Leon is currently in the United States as part of a promotional tour for “Triangle of Sadness,” where she plays Abigail, one of the lead characters. The black satire is the winner of the highly coveted Palm d’Or of the 2022 Cannes Film Festival in France.

It is currently screening in six theaters all over the U.S. “Of course, I’m very nervous about that. I really want ‘Triangle of Sadness’ to get an Oscar nomination, and, of course, to eventually win the award. So far, so good. The film came out pretty strong during its commercial release

YOUR TANONG, MY SAGOT PART 3 IN SAN DIEGO. Leading U.S. Immigration Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel answers immigration questions from Kapamilya in San Diego, in Part 3 of Citizen Pinoy’s “Your Tanong, My Sagot” – the U.S. Navy Episode. Some of the questions Atty. Gurfinkel (center) answers are – From Marilyn (left): My friend’s sister is a green card holder. She gave birth to her daughter in the Philippines and would like to bring her to the U.S. She tried to bring the daughter in as a tourist but was denied. What can she do?; From Maricar (2nd from left): I want to petition my sister who is currently residing in London. Will it be faster to petition her if she becomes a permanent resident or a citizen of England?; From Mark (4th from left): In my job, I often encounter U.S. Navy personnel who want to marry somebody from the Philippines. What is the process of petitioning someone for a K-1 or “Fiancée Visa”?; From Gay (right): My three children have been waiting for their interview date for two years now. I am worried that they might age out. The eldest is turning 21 in December and the second child is turning 19 soon. What can I do? Watch Part 3 of “Your Tanong, My Sagot” in San Diego on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, October 23 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. (Advertising Supplement)

because all the guests are associated with the U.S. Navy in some way. That is why, leading U.S. Immigration Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel refers to this as the “U.S. Navy episode.”

In Part 3 of “Your Tanong, My Sagot” from San Diego, viewers will hear answers to the following immigration concerns:

Marilyn, who works for the U.S. Navy, asks a question for a green card holder friend, who PAGE B2

Actor Baron Geisler Photo courtesy of Netflix Philippines

Can I enforce a form

I-864 affidavit of support in divorce proceedings?

Corner

THE Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 requires that U.S. Citizens sponsoring an alien for legal permanent residency execute an immigration form I-864 Affidavit of Support. This is an agreement between the U.S. Government and the Sponsor to promise to support the immigrant beneficiary seeking admission to the U.S. at a level not less than 125% of the national poverty level. The purpose of the I-864 Affidavit is to prevent the noncitizen from becoming a public charge.

The sponsor’s obligation continues until either 1) the intended immigrant becomes a permanent resident; 2) the intended immigrant is no longer permanent resident by departing the U.S. or relinquishing his or her residency; 3) the immigrant is subject to removal or deportation but applies for and obtains anew adjustment of status based on a new affidavit of support; 4) the intended immigrant or sponsor dies; or 5) the intended immigrant worked for 40 qualifying quarters under the Social Security Act.

The I-864 affidavit is legally binding and enforceable contract between the Sponsor and the U.S. Government. The

enforceability even goes beyond this. The sponsored immigrant spouse can also enforce this contract against the sponsor and file an action to enforce the sponsor’s support obligation separately from any support rights the sponsored immigrant spouse may have under Family Code Section 4320. Erler v. Erler, 824 F.3d 1173 (9th Cir. 2016). This obligation becomes an important issue where the marriage between the Sponsor and the immigrant beneficiary breaks down and a Divorce Petition is filed. The I-864 obligation does not terminate with divorce or dissolution of marriage. Pursuant to Erler, neither a divorce judgment nor a premarital agreement may terminate an obligation of support under the I-864 affidavit. The obligation is not dischargeable even if the immigrant spouse is later supported by a third party or attempts to be self-sufficient.

Further if a Joint Sponsor also signed an I-864 affidavit, the Joint Sponsor is jointly and severally liable for the support of the immigrant spouse.

The immigrant spouse has an independent standing to enforce the obligation under the I-864 affidavit against the sponsor either in state court or federal court. In re Marriage of Kumar, 13 Cal. App. 5th 1072 (2017). This means the sponsor’s support obligation under the I-864 affidavit may be enforced within the family law case/ divorce action. In addition, the Court in Kumar held that immigrant spouse has no duty to seek employment to

mitigate his or her damages. The bottom line is that in any divorce proceeding, one has to consider whether one spouse has signed an I-864 affidavit in the past for purposes of conferring a green card to the other spouse and whether that obligation continues on. It may be a separate claim for support available to the immigrant spouse within the family law case.

* * *

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

* * *

Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association.

He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW

OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APLC is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

‘Time is precious’: Baron on what...

When asked what he learned from the movie, Baron said: “Para sa akin lang, na-realize ko na we cannot turn back time. Time is precious, and while we are alive, the reason why we are alive is to make moments, to make moments with family and friends.

Nasa atin na lang po, choice natin if we are going to choose good

moments or bad moments. Kasi lahat naman po ng ating ginagawa ay may consequences, maybe good, maybe bad. So, I would rather choose to have good memories with my children and with my friends.”

“This movie is about forgiveness, redemption and unconditional love. Sa totoo lang po, natutuwa ako sa nagme-

message sa akin sa social media na, ‘I think kakausapin ko na ang tatay ko. I think papatawarin ko na.’ Ginamit ito talaga ng Diyos itong pelikula namin para tamaan ang puso at tamaan ang heartstrings ng mga manonood. So, talagang may lesson na mapupulot dito sa pelikula,” he added. (By Jan Milo Severo/ Philstar.com)

Jaya, Pops Fernandez, and Kuh Ledesma headline special casino show in Coachella Valley on November 12

FOR the first time and for one night only, Fantasy Springs Resort Casino will stage an ALL Filipino artist concert featuring three top Divas of Philippine live entertainment.

Queen of Soul Jaya, Concert Queen Pops Fernandez and Pop Diva Kuh Ledesma complete  an ensemble of Divas that has never been done on live stage before.

Showrunner Enteng Perez speaks, “This is produced by New Paradise Entertainment and is a production of Fantasy Springs Casino as this will reactivate again the Filipino concert scene in the Coachella Valley. It’s been a while since there were Filipino shows in this market so The Three Divas will definitely jumpstart more shows in the desert region of Southern California.”Coachella Valley is known to have big music festivals in the U.S.

Time and  Date: 7:30PM Saturday November 12, 2022

Venue: Special Events Center at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino

Address: 84-245 Indio Springs Pkwy, Indio, CA 92203

Ticket Prices: $128, $108, $88, $68 and $48

Tickets on sale at:

• VP ENTERTAINMENT  702-8569723

• Fantasy Springs Resort Casino Box Office or online at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino

• Entertainment Page Log on to bit.ly/threedivas

TURN AROUND BUSES: There will be buses picking up guests from OC, LA and San Diego areas. Buses are for ticketed guests attending the concert only. No exceptions. Guests will be charged an additional $10 for using the bus. All buses will leave exactly at 1PM on Saturday November 12, 2022 at the pick-up areas and return exactly at 10:30PM from the casino on the same day.

1. 1 bus at Tambuli Supermarket Parking Lot in Los Angeles

2. 1 bus at Tambuli Supermarket Parking Lot in Cypress

3. 1 bus at 1st Pickup: Panorama Post Office

Chase St.

Panorama 91402 at 2 pm

4. 1 bus at: Montessori Children’s World

4371 Eagle Rock Blvd.

Los Angeles 900412 2:30 pm

5. 1 bus at Lucky Seafood Supermarket Parking Lot in San Diego

Ticket Redemption: Guests can redeem their tickets at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino Total Rewards Center for $10 per ticket.

This special show is sponsored by ISkin Med Spa in Beverly Hills, Miskin Med DSpa in Rancho Cucamonga, Asian Journal and IwantTFC. (Advertising Supplement)

Maxene reveals most important lesson learned from marriage

By Dana Cruz Inquirer.net

MAXENE Magalona opened up on the most important lesson she learned from her marriage, after admitting her separation from Rob Mananquil.

The actress advised everyone — single or in a relationship — to “give [themselves] to God” before entering a committed relationship, as seen on her Instagram page on Wednesday, Oct. 19.

“Give yourself to God before you give yourself away. I believe one of the reasons why most relationships don’t work is because people come into them with unresolved trauma [and] unprocessed pain from childhood,” she said.

Magalona encouraged the public to have “a very honest conversation” with a special someone instead of just dating and courting at the beginning of their relationship.

“Get real and vulnerable by discussing things like your past traumas, mistakes and heartaches,” she said. “… It’s nice to have fun [and] lighthearted conversations especially at the start of a relationship but I believe what will truly make it last is when we can just be completely honest with each other and have deep and meaningful conversations— especially the uncomfortable ones.”

For Magalona, these conversations can tell whether

both people involved want to continue with a relationship and think it will work, saving both of them time and “unnecessary pain.”

“If you are currently in a happy [and] stable relationship, I encourage you to constantly ask each other how you feel and hold space for each other with no judgment,” she told the public.

“If you are in an unhappy relationship, it’s best to have an honest, heart-to-heart conversation and ask yourselves if it is worth holding on to something that isn’t making your soul smile anymore…,” she added.

Meanwhile, Magalona told single individuals to work on themselves first and “embody” the traits they are looking for in a partner

“Heal so that you can be a better human. Offer your healing to God and He will bring you in

alignment with your soulmate. Never chase. Attract,” she said.

Magalona then sent love to those who went through breakups or divorce like her, as well as those who lost jobs or have been grieving a loved one, via another Instagram post on Wednesday, October 19.

The actress told those who are struggling that they are not alone and they should allow themselves to feel pain since people “learn and grow so much more” through it.

“…[You’re] not helping yourself nor anyone in this world by being miserable. We need you to shine and thrive. We want you to feel alive,” she said.

Magalona revealed her separation from Mananquil on Friday, Oct. 14, though speculations about it have been circulating since last January, when the actress talked about having a “sad soul.” g

Atty.

gave birth in the Philippines and would like to bring her child to the U.S. She tried applying for a tourist but was denied. What can she do?

• Maricar, who is married to a U.S. Navy retiree, has a sister who is residing in London. Maricar wants to know how long it will take if she petitions her sister now.

• Gay has a daughter in the U.S. Navy. She is worried that her children might age out because they have been waiting for their interview date for two years now. The eldest is turning 21 in December, while the other one will be 19 soon. She wants to know what she can do.

answers

• Mark is on active duty in the Navy. His friends always ask him how they can bring a Filipina to the U.S. to marry, so he would like to know the process of petitioning someone on the K-1 or “Fiancée Visa.”

Atty. Gurfinkel answers these questions in part three of “Your Tanong, My Sagot,” with Kapamilya from San Diego. Watch this encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, October 23 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET thru select Cable/Satellite providers), right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app.

Maxene Magalona

Photo from Instagram/@maxenemagalona

Our fight against racism and all forms of discrimination

We might deny it, but it’s true. In one way or another, we have demonstrated an attitude of superiority and selfrighteousness.

So how do we approach this critical commentary on human attitude?

G. BAlAGtAS

THE judge in last Sunday’s (October 16) parable on prayer and the Pharisee in this Sunday’s (October 23) Gospel had a similar attitude. They were both arrogant toward “the rest of humanity.”

While the judge neither feared God nor respected any human being, the Pharisee felt superior over the rest of humanity by saying, “O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity—greedy, dishonest, adulterous—or even like this tax collector.”

The attitude of superiority over others and self-righteousness continue to exist in people’s minds today. We might have thought that we have progressed as a society in embracing each other’s differences, whether of color, race, gender, sexuality, or economic status, but we realize that we seem to have regressed in this matter. Inequality, discrimination, and racism are still around us.

We need to look at ourselves. As one of my family members recently shared, “If we examine ourselves thoroughly, we’ve all said or thought of racist remarks. We’re all guilty of prejudice against other people.”

First, we must be humble—to accept that we’re guilty of this sin. It doesn’t help to deny it. It’s because we are products of cultural or family behaviors and mindsets. For example, some of us grew up looking at other people as inferior instead of associating with them graciously and openly.

Hence, we must examine our biases and reflect on where they originated. It helps to ask ourselves this question: What messages did I receive as a child about people who are different from me?

Second, we must appreciate and learn about other people’s cultures and giftedness. That means being “curious” about other people’s customs, traditions, and backgrounds and acknowledging their beauty and goodness. We need to engage with different cultures and learn about them.

The United Nations urges educators to teach students to recognize behaviors that may reinforce racism and celebrate cultural diversity.

Third, we need to engage as a community and church to be more welcoming to others and fight against racism, injustice, and inequality. This means not merely tolerating our differences

but engaging with one another as members of our communities, churches, and citizens of this world. As Antonio Guterres, the present Secretary-General of the United Nations, states: “Whenever we see racism, we must condemn it without reservation, without hesitation, without qualification.”

Our popes condemned racism. Pope St. Paul VI said, “It is inconceivable for those who accept the Gospel message to deny fundamental equality in the name of the alleged superiority of race or ethnic group. Pope St. John Paul II also mentioned racism as “a sin that constitutes a serious offense against God,” while Francis, our present pope, has stated that “we cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form.”

As a parish, we can implement our new vision statement –Joyful, welcoming, and faithfilled, we are the Body of Christ on our journey to eternal life with God – by engaging in dialogues on how to fight racism and all forms of discrimination, prejudice,  and superiority complex.

* * *

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.

* * * Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.

Should I be getting paid for time spent traveling out of town for work?

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights

Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr

Q: I WORK for a medium-sized California company. I receive a salary, but I’m a nonexempt employee. I travel out of town a few times a month as part of my job, sometimes during my regular work hours, but often outside of my regular work hours.

My friend told me that my salary only pays for my regular working hours, and that I should be paid extra for travel time outside of those regular working hours. I’m not really doing much work when I’m on the plane or riding the Uber to the hotel, so I’m not sure if that’s correct. Am I supposed to be getting paid for time spent outside of working hours traveling for work?

A: Your friend is right. California law requires that employers pay non-exempt employees for all “hours worked,” which includes all time during which an employee is “subject to the control of the employer.”

Compulsory travel time constitutes time during which the employee is subject to the employer’s control. It is considered compensable hours

worked, regardless of whether you are free to engage in other personal pursuits while travelling. If your employer requires that you travel out of town to do your job, then the time it takes to travel there is compensable time.

A February 21, 2002 Opinion Letter from the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement describes it this way: Under state law, if an employer requires an employee to attend an out-of-town business meeting, training session, or any other event, the employer cannot disclaim an obligation to pay for the employee’s time in getting to and from the location of that event. Time spent driving, or as a passenger on an airplane, train, bus, taxi cab or car, or other mode of transport, in traveling to and from this out-of-town event, and time spent waiting to purchase a ticket, check baggage, or get on board, is, under such circumstances, time spent carrying out the employer’s directives, and thus, can only be characterized as time in which the employee is subject to the employer’s control. Such compelled travel time therefore constitutes compensable “hours worked.”

(DLSE Opn. Letter No. 2002.02.21 (2002) p. 3.)

Under California law, your

salary only compensates you for your non-overtime hours, which is all work hours up to 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week. So assuming that you are working your full 8 hours in a day and 40 hours in a week, any time you spend on work travel outside of your regular work hours should be compensated at your overtime rate.

As a salaried non-exempt employee, you can compute your overtime rate from your regular rate, which is defined under California law as 1/40th of your weekly salary.

* * *

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

*

* *

The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential and at no-cost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www.joesayaslaw.com. [For more than 25 years, C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine for 11 years, and is a past Presidential Awardee for Outstanding Filipino Overseas.] (Advertising Supplement)

Kylie shares secrets to weight loss

By Kathleen a llemit Philstar.com

ACTRESS Kylie Padilla ditched the weighing scale and entrusts herself to keep healthy minus constantly checking how little or much she has gained.

The “Bolera” actress shared her fitness “progress report” on her Instagram post last October 16.

“I don’t measure my weight anymore. I go by what I see,” the actress wrote.

Kylie said that she makes sure that she exercises for 30 minutes every day. She also conscientiously picks whole foods, meaning food that has undergone minimal to no processing at all such as fruits and vegetables. She added that she takes vinegar gummies supplement in her daily diet.

“Love your body how it is then strive to improve it,” Kylie advised.  g

Dolly’s road to the Oscars: I’m nervous...

(in Los Angeles) last week,” said De Leon, who is currently in Virginia as part of the promotional tour.

Opening doors

She is also in Virginia to personally receive the Breakthrough Performance Award she won at the recent 2022 Middleburg Film Festival.

“For a postpandemic film, it’s doing pretty well, especially since cinema viewership all over the globe has really dropped. This is exciting for us. We feel that we’re opening doors for other audiences to start going out of their homes and resume watching in cinemas,” De Leon reported.

“As for the Oscar campaign, I just want to keep doing what I’m supposed to do under the guidance of Neon, our distributor. If I don’t get nominated, it’s OK. I don’t want to think much about it because I don’t want to feel bad if I don’t get it. I’m preparing myself mentally. It just means someone else deserves it and needs it more than I do. What I really want is for the film to win.”

Last year’s winner was Japanese filmmaker Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s dramatic piece “Drive My Car.”

When Inquirer Entertainment asked De Leon how well she was adjusting to her grueling schedule, she replied: “I got used to our system there in the Philippines—you go to tapings or shootings, and after that, your work is done. My being part of ‘Triangle of Sadness’ is a totally different experience. I go around meeting filmmakers, actors, members of the Screen Actors Guild, and jurors of Ampas (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences). It’s a whole new world. I’ve never experienced anything like this. I’m just going with the flow.” De Leon said all her efforts are directed toward “promoting the film in anyway that will help it reach a bigger and wider audience.” This is also because, she said, “I’m very proud of this

film.”

The following cities are part of De Leon’s promotional tour, which began in early September: Toronto, Los Angeles, New York, Austin, London, Middleburg and San Francisco.

Festivals

“I met a lot of very interesting people, but I think the most interesting person so far was (American filmmaker-producer) Greg Kwedar. While he was standing in one corner at a party, and while everyone was hyper and excited, he asked me very calmly: ‘So how are you handling all of these? Has it been driving you crazy?’ When I said ‘yes,’ he added, ‘People will make you feel good for what you did, then it (attention) will fade away, and they will treat you differently. What you always have to remember, in spite of all of this, is that it’s all about the work. The work that

we do, no one can take that away from us.’”

She continued: “I will never forget what he said because he captured in words exactly what I was experiencing. He was like a guru. He was so calm that I felt relaxed. He made me ask myself, ‘Why am I taking all these too seriously? This will all be gone one day.’ Because of him, I was able to ground myself.”

For De Leon, the 2022 Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, was “the most exciting festival I’ve ever attended so far.” She explained: “It was hosted by Tim League, who is such a gracious man. He has a crazy, creative, young and wild team behind him. The festival’s themes are horror and the supernatural, which are my kind of genres. The festival is so quirky! Meeting people like Tim is truly invigorating.”

De Leon also tried to recall her trip to New York City to attend the 2022 New York Film Festival. “New York is a totally different animal altogether, but it was so much fun. It’s a different experience because it’s not Hollywood. They’re all about filmmaking in that area,” she recalled.

“The Brits are something else, too,” De Leon said of her participation at the 2022 BFI London Film Festival in the United Kingdom. “The great thing about this whole thing is that I get to experience different cultures and witness how differently they approach these things—the festivals and the films. It’s refreshing to meet all of them.”

However, what De Leon said she really hoped to learn is “how people from different backgrounds create films and what are the processes that they need to do to come up with the work that they make,” she pointed out. “I want to learn from that because, eventually, I want to reach that stage where I can work with them. That would be a totally different filming experience. That’s what I’m excited about the most.” g

Dolly de Leon chillin’ after her red carpet engagement at the BFI London Film Festival.

Photo from Instagram/@dollydeleon

Actress Kylie Padilla Photo from Instagram/@kylienicolepadilla

The Noypitz Golf Club Tournament on October 9, 2022 at the Whittier Narrows Golf Course. (From L-R) Lt. Col. Ding Vileta, Josh de Guzman and the Rey Perez and the Chairman of the Tournament, MINI REUNION. The Bonilla family clan got together at Wallie’s and Lorraine’s residence in La Puente, CA.

Expect a ‘gun-toting’

Vilma Santos in comeback film, says Erik Matti

IF plans push through as scheduled, seasoned actress Vilma Santos will make her muchawaited big-screen comeback portraying a gun-toting character in a project of Reality Entertainment, according to its founder-manager Erik Matti.

“Dondon Monteverde, my business partner at Reality, and I have never stopped finding projects for Vilma even before the pandemic happened. Nothing really came of our previous efforts, until we recently stumbled upon two stories that we felt were really perfect for Vilma,” said Matti, who is also an acclaimed filmmaker.

“I texted her to say, ‘I know you’re into vlogging now but we miss seeing you in the movies. I hope you’re coming back soon. You might want to do a movie with us. We already have the stories for you.’ She immediately replied with, ‘Let’s sit down and

meet. I’m excited to go back to movie-making.’ It took another month to find the right schedule for all of us,” recalled Matti.

When asked to talk about their concepts for Santos, Matti said that one is a comedy-drama story, “which could either be a series or just a movie”; while the other is a “super genre movie, where Vilma will play a gun-toting character,” he reported.

Matti added that Santos said “yes” to both. “She just wanted to do the gun-toting project first,” the director continued. “Vilma then asked for the timetable and we said, ‘We kind of work slow. We take our time. We hope to do this next year.’ She then said her thanks but added that ‘I still want to enjoy vlogging, so next year would be fine.’”

Matti said the first of the projects with Santos will begin in the second quarter of 2023. (by Marinel Cruz/Inquirer.net)

Young client chooses Chapter 7 as business dies with $80K credit cards owed

that nobody wants even if he were to give away for free. You need storage space to house $70,000 of inventory; they take up a lot of space.

THE client is young in his 50s. Believe me, that’s young.

The client owns and operates a business that used to generate $800,000 of revenues yearly with good profit for the last 10 years. But even before the virus hit, his business was really slowing down.

Last year, his gross receipts were down by 30%. With the lockdown and general business slowdown, he just doesn’t see any light beyond the tunnel anymore. He obtained a $50,000 PPP loan, but that has been used up. There’s just no money left to pay all monthly expenses that keep piling up. He still has $70,000 of inventory

EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT

The client used his credit cards to finance the business. He owes $80,000 of credit cards. And he just got the $50,000 PPP loan or grant. You know how the PPP works.

If the $50,000 was used to maintain and pay salaries of employees at pre COVID levels the used for business expenses, then it may become a grant that does not have to be paid back.

But the client has decided to throw in the towel. He notes that even Walt Disney threw in the towel twice with two Chapter 7 cases before success came in a big way. Mr. Hershey of Hershey chocolates also started fresh with no accumulated debt with Chapter 7 once before his chocolate business became

the world’s largest chocolate business. Of course, Disney suffered a major slowdown because of COVID, but once the vaccine was found and distributed, Disney’s business bounced right back like a coiled spring, no doubt.

So the client has decided to get his fresh start in life without accumulated debt just like Walt Disney and Milton Hershey. His credit score will increase very fast. Next year, his credit score may already be over 600 depending on how well he handles new debt.

I suggest getting one or two of the preapproved cards that the debtors get soon after they get their discharge. There are banks that specialize in sending the debtor who just got out of Chapter 7 with new credit cards. Just get those but pay the whole balance every month so credit score goes up much faster. The client will be able to get new car loans

immediately upon discharge but interest will be higher. Life is great with the fresh start! Just imagine client used to pay a minimum of $2,500 a month to keep $80,000 of credit cards current. That’s $30,000 in 12 months, and $60,000 in 24 months, but the principal remains at $80,000 despite $60,000 of minimum payments in 24 months!

* * *

DISCLAIMER: NONE OF THE FOREGOING IS CONSIDERED LEGAL ADVICE. EACH CASE IS DIFFERENT.

*

* *

Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in Bankruptcy, Business, Real Estate and Civil Litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California.  Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789 or 1000 S. Fremont Ave., Mailstop 58, Building A-10 South Suite 10042, Alhambra, CA 91803.

(Advertising Supplement)

Plans revealed for huge resort-casino in competitive LV strip

By REALTOR FELY QUITEVIS-BATEMAN

THE ever-changing Las Vegas cityscape continues to attract huge developers who want to establish their niche in the gaming and hospitality industries.

The latest to reveal plans for a huge resort-casino is billionaire Tilman Fertitta, who owns the Houston Rockets as well as the Golden Nugget casino in downtown Las Vegas and Landry’s Dining, which has a varied number of brands under its portfolio.

Fertitta, who bought a piece of land along the Las Vegas Strip early this year, has long been rumored to covet a place in the competitive avenue. A recent report by the Las Vegas Review Journal said that the billionaire’s company has filed

plans to build a 43-story hotelcasino on the property located on Las Vegas Boulevard and Harmon Avenue.

Along with 2,420 rooms, the new development will feature restaurants, a spa, wedding chapel, convention space, theater with about 2,500 seats and an auto showroom, as well as VIP salons, suites and villas, and a bar/lounge for high-limit gamblers, the report added.

Currently, that piece of property has a shuttered motel and some closed retail stores, which need to be torn down before a massive build could take place.

While the cost may be massive for the project on the piece of land that Fertitta owns, which is estimated to go over $1

billion, it may not reach the level of the Resorts World Las Vegas that cost around $4.3 billion to build. Still, that is another huge investment for Las Vegas.

With this project, Fertitta stakes his claim on the large pie of tourists/visitors who have started coming back to Las Vegas since the pandemic began. The last few months have seen about 3.7 million to 3.8 million people pass through McCarran International Airport, which is near pre-pandemic levels. The kind of project that he is reportedly building on the property is a high-end one, which will compete with Caesars, MGM, Wynn and other high-end casinoresort developers.

Currently, many of the major players in the competitive boulevard have shored up their portfolios, with MGM selling the Mirage and buying Cosmopolitan, and Caesars replacing Bally’s with its Horseshoe brand.

Resorts World Las Vegas, from the Genting Group, which opened in 2021 was the site of the Stardust Resort and Casino until 2007. It houses three Hilton hotels and is said to be the most expensive resort property ever developed in Las Vegas. It also currently has a station underground which can take patrons to the Las Vegas Convention Center and back via Tesla vehicles for a fee, courtesy of the Elon Musk founded The Boring Company. The station is part of the planned Las Vegas Loop, whose goal is to reduce travel time for visitors and locals in the gambling and entertainment haven, and ease the traffic in the city’s busy corridors.

In late 2023, the Fontainbleau is scheduled to open, which will feature a two-floor retail area for high-end brands, lots of meeting spaces, a theater, nightclub, and more than 3,700 rooms, aside, of course, from a casino area. With its location near LV Convention Center, the resort will have a focus on conferences.

There are many other projects on the way in Las Vegas, including a planned guitar hotel by Hard Rock International (to replace the Mirage Hotel), a boutique resort casino being built near the airport, the Oak View

Group’s $3 billion entertainment development near the I-15 and I-215 freeways, and Red Rock Resorts plans to develop a new casino in the southwest valley of Las Vegas.

This means an ongoing stream of construction jobs in Las Vegas. It also means many employment opportunities once these projects become completed and begin their operations.

Clearly, real estate in Las Vegas, particularly near the Strip area, is valuable. In fact, some industry analysts have said that real estate values have appreciated by more than 200% over the last decade, more so if you had bought properties decades ago. Still, if you are looking to a change in scenery and searching for affordable real estate, Las Vegas and its neighboring towns/cities may be an option for you.

Nevada has not been immune to the real estate slowdown, which is being experienced in many parts of the United States. But in terms of affordability, land and real estate prices in Nevada are very competitive. In fact, the affordability factor may be one of the reasons why people and families from other parts of the U.S. are moving to Nevada. Plus, of course, the cost of living is lower, especially when you compare living in a major city like Las Vegas to, say, San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Miami and Hawaii. An industry expert has put the cost of living in Las Vegas as 1.9% lower than that of the national average.

Now may be one of the best times to take a look at what’s

out there in the market, and negotiate your way to a great deal!

The growth in Nevada, especially in Las Vegas and neighboring cities and towns, have been tremendous. I can tell you that from experience – I have many decades under my belt, assisting clients who are looking for their first home, second/vacation homes, investment properties or land (for future use/development).

I can assist you in looking for these opportunities, given your budget and things you are looking for. Many of my clients have begun to reap the benefits of their investments, including

turning their properties to rentals or Airbnb, or getting a good return on investment for the properties they bought in previous years.

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

Supplement)

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman is bringing in American investors who will provide reasonable and affordable energy to Filipino households, which is in line with one of the main goals of current Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman is shown in photo above attending another convention in Manila.

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman and Russ Bateman at their residence in Vermont Royale in Antipolo City.

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman attended the Philippine Business Expo in Manila Hotel to help promote Pahrump, Nevada. She is part of the Philippine Trade Mission from the Silver State promoting Pahrump and Las Vegas in

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman helps

who