111022 - Las Vegas Edition

Filipino man sentenced to 20 years for deadly stabbing on LA-bound container ship

A FILIPINO man who fatally stabbed a fellow crewmember on a container ship heading to Los Angeles was sentenced on Monday, November 7 to 20 years in federal prison.

Michael Dequito Monegro, 44, a resident of the Philippines, was sentenced by United States District Judge Dale S. Fischer, who said in court at the court hearing that Monegro’s “conduct was unusually heinous, cruel and brutal.”

Monegro pleaded guilty on May 2 to one count of committing an act of violence against a person onboard a ship that is likely to endanger the safe navigation of the ship.

In September 2020, Monegro was working as a seaman aboard the MSC Ravenna, a 153,000-gross-ton Liberian-flagged container ship. The murder took place on September 20, 2020, when the Ravenna was approximately 80 nautical miles from Southern California and nearing the end of its two-week voyage

The pandemic’s collateral damage: Long COVID

AN estimated 4 million people in the U.S. have permanently dropped out of the workforce due to long COVID, which can include an array of symptoms that last well after the initial infection.

Experts say the nation lacks the resources to handle the predicted swell of such cases.

Long COVID is characterized as people experiencing a multitude of symptoms for three months or longer after first being infected. Such symptoms include: tiredness, fatigue, malaise, fever, shortness of breath, brain fog, dizziness, headaches, and sleep disturbance. People also experience psychological symptoms such as depression and anxiety.

More than 21 million Americans have experienced long COVID. A paper released last month in the scientific journal Nature found that almost half of people who had experienced COVID had not fully recovered two months later.

People who have underlying health issues — such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma, and

3 Fil-Am candidates lead races in Nevada

by AJPRESS

BALLOTS are still being counted following the midterm elections on Tuesday, November 8, including prominent races in Nevada: governor and the U.S. Senate.

In state and local races in the Silver State, three Filipina Americans are leading their respective races for the Assembly and a court district.

Democratic candidate and education advocate Erica Mosca captured 64.98% of the vote for the Nevada

Assembly District 14 seat, beating out Republican Shawn Stamper (35%), according to results from the Nevada Secretary State, as of this writing.

In Clark County, District 14 covers east Las Vegas. Mosca succeeds Assemblymember Maggie Carlton who termed out.

The daughter of an immigrant from the Philippines, Mosca was the first in her family to graduate from college and moved to Las Vegas in 2005 to begin her teaching career.

She started the non-profit Leaders in Training, which helps high school students, with a similar

background as herself, get to college.   Mosca shared that she ran for the state Assembly “to ensure we have someone who will work tirelessly and with empathy to ensure all Nevadans make a living wage, have equitable access to education and will work to lower the cost of prescription drugs, address climate issues and increase access to affordable healthcare for hard-working Nevadan families.”

In the Assembly District 35 race, Republican Tiffany Jones is narrowly in the lead with 48.87%  PAGE 2

Marcos Jr. to promote ‘global partner’ PH at ASEAN Summit

MANILA — President Marcos vowed on Thursday, November 10 to promote the Philippines as a “global partner” of its allies and to protect its interests as he departed for Cambodia to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.

In his departure statement, Marcos said the ASEAN meet is a “very, very good” opportunity to forge new partnerships and to strengthen those that have already existed for a long time.?

“And so this is the purpose of the trip. And once again, we will promote the Philippines not only as an investment center, not only as a tourism center, but as a partner, a global partner for our ASEAN member-nations and for all our friends around the world who will be joining the ASEAN conference,” the President said.

“My participation will promote and protect Philippine interests in ASEAN,” he added.

Marcos said he would emphasize regional cooperation on maritime security, climate change, food security,

Do the US midterms matter? How results may in uence foreign policy in Asia

by KAYCEE VALMONTE Philstar.com

PHOENIX — What does a vote in Arizona have to do with life in Manila more than 12,000 kilometers away? Potentially a lot, since results of the ongoing midterm elections could have far-reaching effects in a region where the U.S. and China are competing for influence.

Republicans taking control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2022 midterm elections could mean less engagement on international issues, analysts said, saying also that rivalry with China would likely still remain a hot-

button topic for both the Republican and Democrat parties.

All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and 34 of 100 Senate seats are being contested in the ongoing polls.

A win by the dominant Democratic party would see a likely continuation of U.S. President Joe Biden’s foreign policy but a Republican win in either house of U.S. Congress could lead to a more isolationist stance, which would limit Washington’s involvement outside U.S. borders.

Joshua Kurlantzick, senior fellow for Southeast Asia at Washington-based think tank Council on Foreign Relations,  PAGE 2

Easing of inbound travel restrictions OK’d to boost PH tourism

by HELEN FLORES Philstar.com

MANILA — To allow the Philippines’ tourism sector to catch up with that of neighboring countries, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the recommendation of the government’s pandemic task force to further relax travel restrictions for inbound travelers.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, in a memorandum dated Oct. 28, said the President approved the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases’ Resolution No. 2, recommending the lifting of pre-departure

testing requirement for fully vaccinated arriving passengers, whether Filipinos or foreign nationals.

“Please be informed of the approval of IATF Resolution No. 2 subject to strict observance of other minimum health protocols and compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations,” Bersamin said in his memo addressed to IATF chair Department of Health officer-incharge Maria Rosario Vergeire and the task force’s members.

Filipino and foreign nationals shall be deemed fully vaccinated if he or she had received the second dose of a two-dose series or a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine more than 14 days prior to the date and time of departure

from the country of origin or port of embarkation, according to IATF Resolution No. 2, dated Oct. 4.

The vaccinated individuals are required to present the following proofs of vaccination upon arrival in the country: World Health Organization International Certificate of Vaccination and Prophylaxis, VaxCertPH, national or state manual/digital certificate of the country/foreign government or other proof of vaccination.

In the memo, the Palace directed the Bureau of Quarantine to coordinate with the DOH and other concerned agencies to identify the other acceptable proofs of vaccination in order to avoid confusion and

inconvenience on the part of inbound travelers, and facilitate dissemination thereof for public information.

Meanwhile, unvaccinated Filipinos and foreign nationals 15 years or older shall present a remotely supervised, or a laboratory-based rapid antigen negative result administered and certified by a health care professional in a health care facility, laboratory, clinic, pharmacy or other similar establishment taken within 24 hours prior to the date and time of departure from the country of origin/first port of embarkation in a continuous travel to the Philippines, excluding layovers; provided that he/she has not left the airport premises or has

UN rights experts concerned over ‘pervasive’ corruption in PH

MANILA — In its recent periodic review, the United Nations Human Rights Committee raised alarm over reports that graft and corruption in the Philippines worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an advanced version of the report, the committee, composed of independent experts, acknowledged some strides made in recent years, but it pointed to areas that are lacking.

Philippine officials reported the establishment of the 8888 Citizens’ Complaint Hotline in 2016 as well as the creation of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission in 2017.

The UN body found the measures insufficient, citing reports of allegations against public officials while the country dealt with the health crisis.

“The Committee remains concerned by reports that corruption remains pervasive and has intensified in the context of the State response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” it said in the 13-page report.

In 2021, a series of testimonies bared the involvement of foreignowned and undercapitalized Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. in questionable health supplies contracts with the government amounting to P42 billion.

Two of the company’s executives who allegedly

benefited from the sizeable pandemic deals were released from detention in June.

While it did not refer to the Pharmally scandal specifically, the UN panel urged the Philippines to “ensure that all allegations of corruption, including those related to public procurement, are promptly, independently and thoroughly investigated.”

The government should also see that “those responsible are duly tried and adequately punished, and that victims receive full reparation,” it said.

Crippled anti-corruption bodies

In March this year, the Philippine government reported to the UN body that the Office of the Ombudsman had disposed of 617 cases in 2019 out of its 3,947-case docket, leading to convictions in more than half of the processed cases,

Officials failed, however, to detail the accomplishments of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission as the UN panel requested in 2020.

Portion of the list of issues in the Philippines raised at the United Nations human rights review where the committee requests Manila to provide details of anti-graft body which former President Rodrigo Duterte created. His predecessor,

ALEXIS ROMERO Philstar.com

UN rights experts concerned over...

Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, abolished the PACC through one of his early executive orders.

UN Human Rights Committee document dated June 2020

Citing unspecified reports, the UN committee argued that the Office of the Ombudsman lacks “financial and technical resources to investigate” allegations of corruption.

“The State party should intensify its efforts to prevent

and eradicate corruption and impunity at all levels,” it said. “To this end, it should immediately provide sufficient human, technical and financial resources to its anti-corruption bodies, including the Ombudsman’s Office, with a view to enabling it to effectively and independently discharge its mandates.”

Besides its comments on the problem of corruption in the Philippines, the UN committee also laid down other

recommendations on the human rights situation.

It called for the repeal of some provisions of the AntiTerrorism Act, the release of Sen. Leila de Lima from detention, cooperation with the International Criminal Court investigation into extrajudicial killings and the passage of measures on abortion, antidiscrimination and divorce, among other proposals. (Camille Diola/Philstar.com)

Easing of inbound travel restrictions OK’d...

not been admitted into another country during such layover.

Filipinos and foreign nationals 15 years or older who fail to present negative pre-departure testing with conditions set forth above, shall be required to undergo a laboratory-based rapid antigen negative result administered and certified by a health care professional in a health care facility, laboratory, clinic, pharmacy or other similar establishment taken upon arrival at the airport, it said.

Those who shall test positive for COVID-19 through rapid antigen test shall be subjected to the latest prevailing quarantine and isolation protocols of the DOH, the resolution stated.

Accompanied minors below 15 years of age who are not vaccinated for any reason shall follow the quarantine protocols of their parent/s or an accompanying adult/guardian travelling with them, the IATF said.

Unaccompanied minors below 15 years of age who have not

been vaccinated for any reason shall follow the protocols set for Filipino and foreign nationals 15 years and above.

On Oct. 28, Marcos issued Executive Order 7, lifting the mandatory wearing of face masks in indoor settings, except in medical facilities and public transportation.

On Sept. 12, the President issued EO 3, which allowed the voluntary wearing of face masks in outdoor settings, particularly in open spaces and noncrowded outdoor areas with good ventilation. g

3 Fil-Am candidates lead races...

PAGE 1

of the vote against Democratic incumbent Michelle Gorelow.  Jones, a local business owner, credits her Filipina mother for instilling “the importance of a high-value education.”

“I am running because I have a unique perspective on issues that matter to us all.  As a successful small business owner, mother, and medical sales executive, I have a vested interest in better schools, a thriving economy, and quality health care in Nevada,”

she said on her campaign website.

On the judicial level, Filipina American attorney Mari Parlade is leading the race for Family Court Judge, Dept. A with 24.35% of the vote in a crowded field of six candidates. The district judge position is a six-year term.

Parlade is currently the legal and strategic initiatives manager at the Clark County Family Services, which is the largest child welfare system in Nevada.  She became licensed to practice law in Nevada in 2004

and was sworn in as a judge pro tem in 2009. In addition to practicing family law, she has served as an alternate hearing master on cases of child abuse, neglect and domestic violence, among others.

“We need to do a better job as judges to definitely apply the laws to the facts, but do it with a heart of compassion, do it with integrity, and do it with the independence and confidence needed,” Parlade said in an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal

Do the US midterms matter? How results...

PAGE 1

said there is already a growing number of Republican political figures who are growing “more wary of U.S. involvement in many parts of the globe.”

What happens if Republicans win either house of Congress?

“If the GOP wins the House, even a House speaker who was generally internationalist would have to cater to what would probably be an influx of isolationist members who broadly support the policies espoused by former President Donald Trump, who remains one of the most powerful figures in the party and is suspicious of U.S. relationships with many Asian partners, whom he believes do not contribute enough to their own defense,” Kurlantzick wrote in a column at The Japan Times.

Kurlantzick said a Republican House speaker may rethink Washington’s current

involvement in Asia, including reconsidering its relationship with South Korea and other U.S. treaty allies like the Philippines in Asia.

A Republican win could also affect U.S. defense spending and military agreements — including those with the Philippines, which has a Mutual Defense Treaty, a Visiting Forces Agreement and an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with its treaty ally and former colonizer.

The U.S. earlier this year pledged $100 million in financing to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which has historically relied on U.S.sourced equipment.

The Philippine military has been working to upgrade its capabilities in external defense in the face of a simmering dispute with China in the West Philippine Sea as well as in internal security as it ramps

up operations against the New People’s Army.

But Greg Winger, professor at the University of Cincinnati’s School of International and Public affairs, said that foreign policy may not be lawmakers’ top priority. He also points out that foreign policy decisions are “so tightly controlled” in the executive branch to be overly affected by changes in the legislature.

Political over policy goals Political parties could also put foreign policy on the back burner immediately after elections as they focus on their own political agendas, he said.

“It’s not the specific policies per se, it’s the overall issue of governance [that I’m worried about] and that’s I think especially if the Republican Party takes control of one of the house of Congress, which looks likely,” Winger told Philstar.

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT. A security officer of a coffee shop stands guard where colorful Christmas designs can be seen in the background in front of the store alongTimog Avenue corner 11th Jamboree street, Quezon City on Thursday, Nov. 10. The establishments in the city have their gimmicks and creative ways

Christmas.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

Erica Mosca

Mari Parlade

Tiffany Jones

Filipino man sentenced to 20 years for deadly... The pandemic’s collateral damage...

from Shanghai to the Port of Los Angeles, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.

That morning, several crewmembers were in a dressing room on the ship’s upper deck, preparing for their shift and waiting for their direct supervisor to provide their work assignments for the day. Shortly after Monegro saw his direct supervisor –identified in court documents as “M.S.” – in the hallway outside the locker room, Monegro began stabbing him with a knife while they were both in the hallway in full view of several crewmembers.

The victim grappled with Monegro and the two fell to the floor. Monegro then got on top of the victim and continued stabbing him. Monegro then removed a

second knife from the victim’s

coveralls and stabbed him with both knives.

Crewmembers attempted to intervene to stop Monegro, including throwing a trash can at him, but their actions were unsuccessful. Monegro stopped stabbing the victim only when he became too tired to continue. In total, Monegro stabbed the victim 31 times.

The ship’s captain, chief mate and chief engineer all arrived on scene during the incident, and the captain convinced Monegro to get off the victim, who died on the ship from multiple stab wounds.

Monegro was convinced by the captain to walk to a conference room. After continued discussions, Monegro placed the knives on the conference room table and was escorted to his cabin.

After the incident, Monegro was confined to a cabin and crewmembers were assigned to guard the door, so they were unable to perform their normal duties on the ship. Other crewmembers were traumatized by witnessing Monegro stab and kill the victim.

Federal agents arrested Monegro after the ship docked at the Port of Los Angeles on September 27, 2020. He has been in federal custody since his arrest.

“The tragic impact of defendant’s conduct cannot be overstated,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum.

“[Monegro’s] murder of M.S. left behind M.S.’s wife and daughter, who was 17 at the time of the murder. M.S. was the sole bread winner for the family, and his death caused significant financial strain on the family.” (AJPress)

Marcos Jr. to promote ‘global partner’ PH...

PAGE 1

health cooperation and economic recovery during his first ASEAN summit as president.

The summit is also expected to address regional issues like the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation in Myanmar, developments in the South China Sea and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, he added.

Leaders of ASEAN memberstates will discuss and provide policy decisions on key political, security, economic and sociocultural developments and global issues affecting the region.

ASEAN member-countries are also set to hold summits with their dialogue partners including Australia, Canada, China, Japan, India, South Korea and the US “to review existing and new areas of cooperation and exchange views on regional and international issues,” Marcos said.

The president is scheduled to have bilateral meetings with some of his fellow leaders but Malacañang has yet to disclose details.

“I will seek further cooperation in key priorities of my administration as well as how to explore what we can do to come together to address the most pressing issues of the region,” Marcos said.

“I have spoken often about the importance that I put on the partnerships that we make as we go forward and start to

live the future of the new global economy,” he added.

Marcos said he is also looking forward to meeting the Filipino community in Cambodia.

Describing ASEAN as a “cornerstone of Philippine foreign policy,” Marcos said the summits would also provide him an opportunity to convey the Philippines’ continuing support for the regional bloc’s centrality, for Cambodia as the summit’s current chair and for Indonesia as its incoming chair

“The ASEAN way, such as the mutual recognition of our

contributions to each other’s nation-building efforts, is very much alive in the Kingdom of Cambodia,” Marcos said.

“I just would like to thank all our ASEAN partner members for the interest that they have shown in the new policies that we have established here in the Philippines since I took office. So with that, I think we have a very good foundation on which to build upon within ASEAN and without ASEAN,” he added.

Vice President Sara Duterte will act as caretaker of the government while Marcos is in Cambodia. g

obesity — are at greater risk for developing long COVID. Vaccines and therapeutics taken early in the infection are significant tools in staving off the disease. The three W’s — washing hands, wearing a mask and watching one’s distance from others — are also helpful in preventing infections.

However, lower-income people may lack the ability to access therapeutics in time for it to be effective. Paxlovid, for example, must be started within five days of an infection. And, because of work and living conditions, they may also lack the ability to maintain the distance required to prevent infections.

Few people have availed of the updated booster, also known as the bivalent vaccine. Less than 10% of Californians have taken that shot, according to data from the California Department of Public Health. Nationally, only 20 million people have taken the updated booster, about 8.5% of the total population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Four million people not working and not contributing to our economy is a significant burden to our society,” said Dr. Jose Luis Perez, during a news briefing organized by Ethnic Media Services, in partnership with the California Department of Public Health. Other speakers at the briefing included Dr. Nisha Viswanathan, Director of UCLA’s Long COVID Program; and Michelle Burroughs, Director of Community Engagement and Outreach at the UC Riverside School of Medicine’s Center for Healthy Communities.

Perez is the Chief Medical Officer of the South Central Family Health Center in Los Angeles. His clinic takes in primarily Latino and African American patients that — through their employment — have a high degree of contact with the community, which puts them at higher risk of a COVID-19 infection.

“Symptom control is the bedrock of management,” said Perez, noting that there is no cure for long COVID. The clinic helps its patients access physical therapy, mental health services, and treatments for specific issues brought on by COVID.

“So, no cure. Just let’s make your foggy brain less foggy. Let’s make your joint pain less painful. Let’s try to get you back in some kind of semblance of your normal

life. The important thing here is to treat it holistically, treat the person as a whole person,” he said.

Viswanathan, of UCLA’s Long COVID program, agreed with Perez’s approach to managing the illness. Her clinic also employs a symptoms-based strategy to manage fatigue, shortness of breath, brain fog, and the loss of taste and smell, among other issues.

“When we have patients with shortness of breath, for example, we may talk about doing things like pulmonary rehabilitation or breath retraining, which is the idea that you can slowly retrain your diaphragm to take deeper breaths, which can help our patients with that sensation of shortness of breath.”

She added that for many patients struggling with fatigue, “creating a mindfulness practice that incorporates meditation, acupuncture… can be really successful in managing these symptoms.” An anti-inflammatory diet that’s primarily plant based — eschewing meat, sugar, and alcohol, but focusing on whole grains and nuts — can also help with long COVID symptoms.

Both doctors and Burroughs of UC Riverside spoke about the disparities in access to care for long COVID. Perez’s patients may take one or two buses to get to his clinic. Viswanathan’s patients have, on occasion, flown in on private jets. She noted that many low-income patients may not have health insurance that is accepted by the clinic, or may lack the resources to support

a healthy diet and mindful practices.

“Black people are not receiving the same quality of care as their white counterparts, and this contributes to a shortened lifespan. Researchers discovered that several severe racial and ethnic disparities have led to higher COVID mortality rates in Black Americans,” said Burroughs.

She also noted that Black people participating in her center’s town halls have reported facing challenges getting their providers to even believe that they have long COVID symptoms. “They feel unheard and they often feel unseen and are sent away not receiving treatment for the symptoms that they presented with,” she said.

“If the Black community continues to not receive proper care, treatment and diagnosis for long haul COVID, it could result in other social injustices like the inability to work, triggering financial instability, which could cause them to lose health insurance and then render them potentially homeless. I know this sounds really extreme, but it’s possible. This has actually happened,” said Burroughs. She noted that providers have often failed to correctly diagnose long COVID for Black people, rendering them unable to qualify for disability insurance.

All three speakers discussed the need to create a pipeline of diverse health care professionals. (Sunita Sohrabji/Ethnic Media Services)

Vaccines and therapeutics taken early in the infection are significant tools in staving off the disease. Pexels.com photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich

The president is scheduled to have bilateral meetings with some of his fellow leaders but Malacañang has yet to disclose details. Malacañang photo

Dateline PhiliPPines

Remulla to stress rule of law, due process at UNHRC review

MANILA — Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Thursday, November 10 that he would present the Marcos administration's supposed gains in the arena of human rights and the rule of law before the United Nations Human Rights Council.

In a departure statement sent to reporters, Remulla said that he would share ongoing initiatives of the Department of Justice, which he "labelled as a comprehensive reform program of 'Real Justice in Real Time.'"

The justice chief is set to attend the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review of the Philippines. The UPR is a peerreview mechanism of the UNHRC to evaluate the compliance and performance of member states on a regular basis.

"I am going to the UPR with a very clear message: The Philippines, under the leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos, is working to deliver transformational reform of its justice and law enforcement sectors – to enhance the enjoyment of human rights of all our citizens –based on the rule of law and respect for due process," his statement read.

Remulla said he would share, among other things, his department's "concrete measures to decongest our prisons, improve case build-up through cooperation

between prosecutors, investigators, and the Commission on Human Rights, and reaching out to civil society to strengthen witness protection."

He added that he would present the national government's "gains in terms of the protection of vulnerable groups, such as migrants and children."

"Our delegation looks forward to listening to the observations and any new recommendations that UN Member States will put forward. In the UPR, each country is free to respond to issues in the manner it deems most appropriate. There is no obligation to accept all recommendations," he also said in his departure statement.

"In any case, the Philippines will engage constructively and openly based on the principles of sovereign equality, independence, and dialogue. Human rights are part of the vibrant fabric of Philippine society and democratic governance. We are thus confident that our UPR session will be fruitful."

UN Human Rights Committee report

The Philippine delegation consists of senior officials from the Department of Justice, the Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat, and the Department of Foreign Affairs, including the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United

Nations in Geneva.

The UPR comes after United Nations Human Rights Committee released a report last weekend that called out the Philippine government over its bloody “war on drugs” and the chilling effect of media killings on press freedom.

The Committee, composed of human rights experts, also expressed concern that the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 was being used to “legitimize the targeting of government critics, human rights defenders and journalists, including through ‘red-tagging,’ and consequent chilling effects on freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and association.”

Remulla has made clear his stances on a number of human rights-related issues such as redtagging in the Philippines, which he once called "a part of democracy" after equating it with the freedom to criticize.

"If [critics] can dish it out, then they should be able to take it, especially if they are supporting those who are promoting the death of our people, our policemen, civilian, youth and children," he was quoted as telling a panel of UN experts earlier.

The UPR of the Philippines is set to be held on November 14.  (Franco Luna with a report from Kristine Joy Patag/Philstar.com)

PH, Vietnam agree to boost intel sharing amid sea row with China

PRESIDENT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Thursday, November 10 agreed to boost intelligence and strategies cooperation between the Philippines and Vietnam amid Beijing's growing control of the South China Sea.

Marcos and Chinh held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in Cambodia to further enhance their countries' partnership across several areas such as defense, trade, investment, agriculture and maritime security.

Given the two nations' shared maritime interests, the continued dialogues would be beneficial, including intelligence and

strategies exchanges in dealing with maritime concerns, Marcos told Chinh.

The Philippines and China have been in a long-standing maritime dispute as Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, which overlaps with the West Philippine Sea.

Apart from the Philippines and China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei have also territorial claims in the disputed waters.

The Philippines scored a victory against China in the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands in 2016. The arbitration court declared Beijing's claim over nearly the entire South China Sea as illegal.

China has refused to acknowledge the ruling and continues to claim

nearly the entire South China Sea. Marcos has asserted the country's sovereignty in the South China Sea as he said that the Philippines and China have no "territorial conflict," but only Beijing is claiming what is part of its territory.

"The position that the Philippines takes is that we have no territorial conflict with China. What we have [is] China claiming territory that belongs to the Philippines," Marcos said in an interview in New York City in September.

"This is the position we take, and with our American partners, we have promoted that position. We have also made it clear to our friends in Beijing that this is the way we feel about it," he added. (ManilaTimes.net)

US gathers experts to curb drug demand in PH

by Pia Lee-Brago Philstar.com

MANILA — The United States government, through the Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, has gathered international experts to train local government representatives in developing strategies to mitigate the impact of and reduce demand for illegal drugs in the Philippines. Some 120 delegates represent ing 19 local government units attended the 5th National Confer ence of Anti-Drug Abuse Coalitions with the theme “Strengthening Prevention Strategies for Drug Free Communities” from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, organized by the US embassy in the Philippines, Association of Anti-Drug Abuse Coalitions of the Philippines Inc. (AADAC) and the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America in Makati City.

During the conference, international experts trained

participants in conducting community assessments and developing sustainable and comprehensive strategies for anti-drug abuse coalition activities.

Two certified youth trainers led sessions for 60 youth leaders on countering stigma associated with drug use, promoting mental health and strengthening youth engagement in anti-drug abuse coalitions.

AADAC also awarded 10 local chief executives for their grassroots efforts in strengthening multi-sectoral cooperation to address illegal drugs and allocating financial support for AADAC programs in their communities.

The 10 officials named “champions in anti-drug abuse coalition work” were Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, Angono Municipal Vice Mayor Gerardo Calderon, Calamba City Vice Mayor Angelito Lazaro Jr., Cavite City Mayor Denver Chua, Muntinlupa City Mayor Rozzano Rufino Biazon, Tanay Municipal

“Coalitions carry out vital work, such as educating and engaging the youth, volunteering time to holistic care and ensuring the availability of mental health support, often with very little resources,” International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Manila director Kelia Cummins said.

“This is why cooperation among coalitions is so essential – we are stronger together. We can pool not only financial resources, but also knowledge, time and collective experience to ensure that our communities are safe, healthy and productive,” Cummins said.

AADAC is an umbrella association of 27 community anti-drug abuse coalitions located across the Philippines. g

Senate may require Marcos to submit report on confidential, intel fund

use

by Xave gregorio Philstar.com

MANILA — The Senate may approve a provision in the 2023 budget that will be introduced by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III that will require President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to submit periodic reports to Congress on his office’s use of confidential and intelligence funds.

During deliberations on the Office of the President’s proposed budget for next year at the Senate plenary on Thursday, November 10, Pimentel asked Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara if he is open to require Marcos’ office to submit accomplishment reports on confidential and intelligence funds.

“There is no danger in revealing the ultimate recipient of the funds — an accomplishment report on what has usage of these funds accomplished,” Pimentel said.

He added, “If it’s on the accomplishment, not on who received the peso or the amounts, the identity of the informer will remain confidential. For example, we solved a murder case, we prevented a bombing in this city.”

Angara, who was sponsoring

the OP’s budget, said “there should be no problem” if the amendment that Pimentel will propose will be in these “general terms.”

“I don’t foresee there would be too much resistance to that request, your honor,” Angara said.

Congress inserted a similar provision in the 2021 budget, but then President Rodrigo Duterte rejected it and argued that matters relating to national security are exempted from the right to information.

‘I expect to be defeated’

Marcos’ office is proposing a total of P4.5 billion in confidential and intelligence funds for next year, much like the previous occupant of the presidency, Rodrigo Duterte.

Copies of National Expenditure Programs since 2006 available on the website of the Department of Budget and Management show that the president and vice president’s offices under previous administrations typically got confidential funds but at more modest amounts.

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

P930 million when adjusted for inflation.

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

Pimentel asked why Marcos’ OP is asking for enormous confidential and intelligence funds when there are existing agencies who can do intelligence work for him.

“I would expect that he’s not just a user but a gatherer of information,” Angara replied. “Because there may be individuals who are not willing to give that information to a large organization and expose themselves. But if they know that information is going directly to the president, then that would encourage them to give that information.”

Consistent with his previous pronouncements, Pimentel said he will move to slash the OP’s confidential and intelligence funds.

“In due time, I will propose an amendment to reduce the CIF given to the Office of the President, but I expect to be defeated,” he said. g

Do the US midterms matter? How results...

PAGE 2

com in an online interview.

“There’s still a lot of anger over the 2020 election, about the impeachments, and to what extent will either of both parties be pursuing political goals instead of policy goals.”

A recent poll conducted by CNN showed that a strong base coupled with concerns over the economy give the Republicans an advantage in winning a majority at the U.S. House.

This would mean a comeback for former president Trump’s political party. He was impeached twice by the House but managed to finish his term in office as trial began in January last year.

His second impeachment was brought about by his alleged involvement in the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack. A congressional panel this year put the former chief executive and his claims of being cheated out of a second term at the center of an attack on the U.S. Capitol to overturn the result of the 2020 elections.

Winger suspects a Republican-controlled House

could move to impeach Biden in retaliation.

Worry over China remains

Winger said however that the rivalry with China could become “a weird point of convenience” for both parties, who would want to assert U.S. strategic dominance in Asia and in the world.

Kurlantzick pointed out Republicans lawmakers may push for a review of U.S. involvement with allies in Asia and put pressure on the Biden administration to “reaffirm its position on Taiwan.”

“However, some — but a growing number — in the [Grand Old Party] might not want to intervene if Taiwan was attacked, and this could become a major bone of contention over the next two years,” Kurlantzick said.

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s and other officials’ visits to the self-governing island this year triggered a show of force from China’s military.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and views any diplomatic engagements with the island a wrong signal to

separatist forces. Both the U.S. and the Philippines maintain a “One China” policy that recognizes the People’s Republic of China.  But Winger thinks that Republicans may also be pressured into showing strength in the face of the tension in the Taiwan strait after Pelosi, whom he described as a “Democratic leader who Republicans despise”, visited despite warnings from China. He pointed out that both Democrat and Republican parties have ramped up their rhetoric against China and “the idea of [a] renewed strategic competition” in the IndoPacific.

“Going back to the goal of trying to prove that you’re tough and tough on China, that means investing a lot in the military, but also just the military,” Winger said.

“It’s not like the other aspects of diplomacy or international relations that may suffer, including soft power, immigration, trade, all the other things that will be less of a priority.” g

MEDICAL TRANSPORT. A Philippine Navy Helicopter 431 is used to airlift an “injured” woman to a hospital during the 4th Quarter National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill at the San Juan City Hall Open Grounds on Thursday, Nov. 10. The city’s disaster response team also practiced the evacuation of city hall and barangay employees, triage and tagging of injured victims, and patient vehicle extrication. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Mayor Rafael Tanjuatco, Barangay Caticlan chairman Ralf Tolosa, Aklan Gov. Jose Enrique Miraflores, Barangay Poblacion Makati chairman Benhur Cruz and Makati City Mayor Abby Binay.

FEATURES OPINION

The next challenges

FROM the moment the self-confessed triggerman had said the order to murder Percy Lapid came from the New Bilibid Prison, suspicion had focused on Gerald Bantag, at the time the director general of the Bureau of Corrections, which runs the NBP and other prison facilities. Despite his denials, Bantag was suspended “indefinitely” as BuCor chief by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, on orders of President Marcos.

On Monday, November 7 Bantag along with BuCor official Ricardo Zulueta and 10 Bilibid prisoners were charged with two counts of murder for the deaths of Lapid and another NBP inmate, Cristito “Jun” Villamor Palaña.

Editorial

Considering the circumstances and the personalities involved, the progress in this case is commendable. It would not have been possible if self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial had not turned himself in, but he was forced to because of his image caught on surveillance video and widely disseminated to the public. Authorities should expand the use of surveillance equipment in public spaces, while still being mindful of privacy laws.

The next challenge is to make the charges stick. Ricardo Zulueta, who was in charge of security and operations at the BuCor, was also Bantag’s co-defendant in the deaths of 10 inmates at the Parañaque City Jail in an explosion in August 2016 when Bantag was its warden. Both of them

were working at the time for the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. Parañaque Regional Trial Court Judge Betlee-Ian Barraquias acquitted them along with a third defendant ostensibly for lack of evidence.

At the same time, probers should continue to pursue the possibility – as expressed by Lapid’s relatives – that there could be a “co-mastermind” higher than Bantag behind the broadcaster’s murder. Resentment over Lapid’s commentaries in his radio show, “Lapid Fire,” led to his murder, according to authorities. His relatives, however, have noted that he had criticized many other officials in the past years, who might have encouraged Bantag to order the murder.

Beyond the two murders, Remulla said probers are also looking into the causes of deaths of around 30 corpses sent recently by the NBP to its accredited funeral parlor, the Eastern Funeral Services in Muntinlupa. The funeral home management said on Monday that it has in its

BABE ROMUALDEZ

FOLLOWING the Washington, DC leg of the reporting tour program organized by the Philippine embassy in Washington for a group of journalists from print, online and broadcast news outfits, the next leg was in New York for a more in-depth perspective on the concerns and issues that Filipinos face in the city, among them anti-Asian hate, immigration and employment.

Our consulate in New York informed me that the journalists were able to engage with various city government officials that include Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Hannah Yu, chief of the Hate Crimes Unit; Hassan Naveed, executive director of the New York City Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes; Jasper Diaz, legislative representative of the Mayor’s office; Peter Koo, Senior Adviser of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Mirna Velasquez, Special Assistant to

On The Move

SEGUNDO ECLAR ROMERO

IN the wake of Severe Tropical Storm “Paeng,” President Marcos Jr. flew over the areas in Maguindanao devastated by landslides with Maguindanao del Sur Gov. Bai Mariam SangkiMangudadatu. He reports on the sortie: “I was pointing out to the governor that in all those places where there are trees, the ground did not move. All the damage that you saw on the mountains, it’s because they were bald.” Mr. Marcos told her he could refer the Maguindanaons and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to plenty of nongovernmental organizations. The governor must have been bemused by the President’s display of cluelessness.

Despite the profound speeches the President had given in the United Nations General Assembly and other forums about climate change, Mr. Marcos’ real understanding of the wicked environmental problems besetting the nation is questionable. Jon Bonifacio of the environmental group Kalikasan found it “strange that it seems like it’s only now he’s come to

safekeeping 176 corpses, unclaimed after being sent there by the NBP since last year.

The murders of Lapid and Villamor, apparently arranged from behind prison walls, should lead to long-term reforms in the penal system. And while

justice appears to be at hand for Lapid, there are still many other journalist murders waiting to be solved. Their killers should be pursued as vigorously as those responsible for Lapid’s death. (Philstar.com)

Preventing hate and discrimination

the Commissioner for Foreign Consular Affairs.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a surge in hate incidents against Asians across the United States, with New York registering one of the biggest numbers of hate crimes directed at Asian Americans according to reports. During the briefing by Assistant DA Hannah Yu, she disclosed that the city recently increased its budget to include $1.7 million for the Hate Crimes Unit – underscoring the growing concern for the anti-Asian hate crime incidents that have increased in the last two years, with Manhattan seeing some of the highest number of cases.

“Hate crimes are on everyone’s minds – whether they are taking their kids to school, riding the subway or on their way to work, and we understand, through the work that we do, that New Yorkers feel this threat every single day,” Yu acknowledged, adding that currently, they have the largest hate crimes docket ever in the history of the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, with anti-Asian hate crimes making

up the largest category of open hate crime cases at the moment.

However, she reassured that making New Yorkers feel safe is a top priority of her office, and that they leave no stone unturned as far as investigating the motives go. What makes it difficult and challenging, however, is when the perpetrator is not identified – either there was no CCTV footage to document the incident or the victim cannot recall the face of the assailant.

According to the FBI, a hate crime is a criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender or gender identity, or what Yu described as the “protected identity” of a victim. She was also careful to emphasize that the immigration status of a victim does not matter. One reason why crimes are underreported is that undocumented immigrants may hesitate to file a complaint due to fear of deportation.

As Yu explained, if a victim is undocumented, her office cannot, and does not, report the

Reversing Duterte’s follies

appreciate the benefits provided by well-conserved watersheds.”

Nations are supposed to find the resolve and resilience to squarely face their specific natural and humanmade challenges. Israel and Singapore, which are minority nations in ethnically dominant neighborhoods, have learned to steel and steer themselves with strategic purpose and national will to prevail.

The Philippines has its share of challenges that could trigger a rugged and robust national response. The 20 typhoons that batter the nation every year could be the equivalent of the harsh winters that many nations have learned to anticipate, plan for, and adapt to.

But after over half a millennium since a single unified administration has been established in the archipelago in 1565 by a succession of Spanish, American, and now Filipino control, we display a certain level of masochism by staying in the destructive pathways of typhoons, suffering widespread damage and despair with no visible and significant collective or individual mitigation and adaptation.

It is certain that over the sixyear term of office of Mr. Marcos, there will be 120 typhoons, onefourth or 30 would be destructive.

This is as it has been over the terms of recent past presidents. One out of four typhoons occurs globally within the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

Why then do we have continuing public and private institutional clumsiness in disaster risk reduction and management? One of the most inspiring initiatives in Philippine disaster risk reduction and management was the initiation of Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) in 2012 by the country’s leading scientists. It was promoted as the Philippines’ flagship disaster risk reduction and management program during the Aquino administration.

The project was defunded in 2017 when the Duterte administration took over on the pretext that the innovations of Project NOAH could already be mainstreamed under the Department of Science and Technology. It was not only the scuttling of ABS-CBN and the erratic response to the COVID-19 pandemic that further debilitated Filipinos reeling from disasters.

Project NOAH should be on the list of the Duterte administration’s epic follies.

Project NOAH was an all too brief renaissance surge in technological and behavioral innovation applied to getting the

information to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or the Department of Homeland Security, as they are not also allowed to do that.

For his part, Diaz assured that they are taking a multiagency approach to address discrimination. Aside from legal options, other initiatives include a pilot program that would teach students about hate crimes. Naveed echoed this, explaining that education is a major pillar to the “comprehensive approach” in preventing hate crimes through communitybased programs. For instance, townhalls in Tagalog and other languages are conducted to spread awareness on how community members can help each other, particularly the most vulnerable. For his part, Koo said that most of the crimes are committed by people who are homeless or are suffering from mental health problems. There is no question that anti-Asian hate crimes continue to be a concern, but authorities are “exhausting every possible avenue” to address them. And while they are seeing results, Diaz admits that “there is still

more to be done,” assuring that they are “going to continue to work hard for our community.”

As I have consistently explained to the media, we have been coordinating with New York authorities to address the issue, knowing that the safety of Filipinos is paramount. We’re also cooperating not only with Filipino-American groups but other Asian associations as well to get a more accurate picture of the reported incidents and see if these are really hate crimes or just random attacks by mentally unhinged individuals.

The visiting journalists also spoke with Bergenfield, New Jersey mayor Arvin Amatorio, the second Filipino mayor in New Jersey. The borough of Bergenfield is known as the “Little Manila” of Bergen County due to the presence of many Filipino-owned businesses, a lot of them restaurants offering authentic Filipino cuisine. An estimated 7,000 Filipinos are living in Bergenfield, with many of them working as nurses and health care workers.

Mayor Amatorio also shared that part of the curriculum developed by professors from

the Massachusetts Institute of Technology would include a subject on the heroism of Filipino veterans during World War II to underscore the alliance and shared history of the Philippines and the United States. This will be taught in a public high school in Bergenfield that has about 3,000 students. The initiative was started by retired US Army general Antonio Taguba, who actively lobbied for the awarding of the Congressional Medal of Honor to Filipino World War II veterans.

The outcome of the reporting tour program has been very encouraging as far as providing journalists an on-the-ground perspective is concerned. We were informed that future programs are being considered by the DFA public information office for implementation. (Philstar.com)

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

* * *

babeseyeview@gmail.com

nation and local communities ready and resilient against hazards. It was getting international and local acclaim. Among other achievements, Project NOAH’s specific and targeted advisories enabled the municipality of Daram in Samar to preemptively evacuate in the face of Typhoon “Ruby” on Dec. 6, 2014. There were no recorded casualties even though 1,664 houses were washed away by the storm surge of Ruby.

Altogether, Project NOAH

from 2012 to 2016, cost the Filipino taxpayer a measly P6.4 billion. Even in real terms, this pales in comparison with the P5 billion confidential funds of Mr. Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte of at least P30 billion over six years.

Mr. Marcos’ post-Paeng clueless remarks could be easily forgotten if he will reconsider the revival of Project NOAH as a complementary, enriching, display of Filipino capacity to sustain national resilience-

building. That will be a good start for the President as a leader able to break the prevailing wait-andsee attitude of the governing, economic, and social elite, and inspire and mobilize them to provide the leading edge to the nation. (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.

President Bongbong Marcos meets with officials on Tuesday, November 1, to assess the damage caused by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng in the country. Malacañang file photo

Babe’s Eye View

ManilaTimes.net photo

Customs bureau to release balikbayan boxes

by William Depasupil ManilaTimes.net

BUREAU of Customs (BoC)

Commissioner Yogi Felimon Ruiz has ordered the distribution of more than 7,000 abandoned balikbayan boxes to the families of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in time for the Christmas season.

BoC spokesman Arnold de la Torre on Wednesday, November 10 said the commissioner issued the order following glitches in the release of the 7,805 boxes abandoned by three foreign consolidators based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

"What our commissioner did is come out with a system to ensure [the balikbayan boxes] will reach the OFWs' intended beneficiaries. Before they were just abandoned and subjected to auction, but now, [the commissioner] has given the assurance that they will be delivered free of charge to the families of the OFWs," said de la Torre at the weekly Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum in Manila.

The erring consolidators were identified as Win Balikbayan Cargo LLC, CMG International Movers and Cargo Services, and Island Kabayan Express Cargo LLC.

At the same time, de la Torre called on Filipino migrant workers not to abuse the tax-free privilege of balikbayan boxes as he admitted that some OFWs were stuffing their boxes with "regulated" and commercial quantity of goods or using it as a conduit for smuggling.

By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

He pointed out that there were only two requirements in sending balikbayan boxes, "household or personal effects." Personal

effects are commodities whether new or used, for personal use or consumption and not for commercial purposes, such as clothes, personal adornments, electronic gadgets, toiletries, or similar items.

Household effects, on the other hand, refer to furniture, dishes, linens, books, and similar household furnishings for personal use or family use.

According to de la Torre, balikbayan boxes may be sent up to three times in a calendar year provided the total value per sender shall not exceed P150,000. g

Heaven on earth: Palawan most desirable island in UK travel award

MANILA – Palawan continues to reap world recognition, this time as the most desirable island by the 21st Wanderlust Travel Award in the United Kingdom.

"The scenery here is heaven on earth with sparkling waters and white sand beaches. One of the most photographed sites is Kayangan, a dazzling freshwater lake with spectacular rock formations above and below the surface," Wanderlust wrote.

"Elsewhere on the island you can explore one of the world's longest underground rivers, enjoy a spot of twitching, or fuel up with some delicious cuisine in the island's capital of Puerto Princesa," it added.

The country, through the Department of Tourism-Central Visayas Office, also placed 6th among hundreds of special entries in the Wanderlust Sustainability Initiative Category for its Dive7 Program.

The awards were given on Nov. 9 by the prestigious Wanderlust

travel magazine, one of the United Kingdom’s longest running publications that has been at the forefront of sustainable travel for 29 years.

Cebu was also nominated this year as Most Desirable Region (Rest of the World) by the awardgiving body.

“These awards reflect the efforts to revive the tourism industry that are well underway especially because of the Marcos administration’s thrust towards prioritizing tourism development. Rest assured that we will continue with our mission to herald the Philippines and the Filipino brand to the world, and to ensure the continued sustainability of our islands” Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said.

Frasco led the Philippine delegation to the World Travel Market recently held in London. These new awards add to the long list of recognitions the country has earned even at the height of the Covid-19 crisis.

In June this year, Conde Nast Travel also named the Philippines as part of the 40 Most Beautiful Countries in the World, specifically citing the remarkable cave system of the Puerto Princesa Underground River, the mysteriously uniform Chocolate Hills of Bohol, and the panoramic views of the Banaue and Cordilleras Rice Terraces.

The following month, the renowned Travel + Leisure magazine also named the country’s tourist magnets Boracay, Palawan, and Cebu part of the 25 Best Islands in the World.

Since February 2022, foreign tourists have been traveling to the Philippines, which have reached over 1.9 million as of posting.

TIME Magazine also lauded Boracay as one of the 50 World’s Greatest Places of 2022.

In September, the Philippines won Asia's leading dive and beach destination, and the historic Walled City of Intramuros as Asia’s leading tourist attraction at the World Travel Awards in Vietnam. (PNA)

CHR renews push for rights defenders protection bill

by ElizabEth MarcElo Philstar.com

MANILA — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has reiterated its call for the passage of the Human Rights Defenders Protection Bill as well as to end the practice of red-tagging of rights defenders, activists and other advocate groups.

The CHR issued the statement in the wake of a recent report of the United Nations’ Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) showing grave human rights violations and high number of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines.

“The CHR have stressed the value of dissent as a means to challenge acts and polices that repress our rights and diminish the place of democratic values in our society. We reiterate our call for the passage of the Human Rights Defenders Protection Bill, including an end to the practice of red-tagging of human rights defenders, activists and other advocates,” the CHR said.

“We hope the report of the Human Rights Committee will help the government focus its efforts and resources on building and implementing a more meaningful human rights agenda,” it added.

The CHR said the Philippine government must view the UNHRC report as an “objective assessment of the country’s strides and a strong reminder of the commitments of the government where it falls short.”

It said just like the UNHRC, the CHR has also been stressing the value of dissent as a means to challenge acts and policies that repress people’s rights and diminish the place of democratic values in society.

“We cannot and should never

construe activism as an act of terrorism, but take it rather as a sign of the rich tradition of democracy that needs protection.

We have raised concerns on the weaponization of laws to silence critics and perpetuate injustices,” the CHR said.

It cited its “2020 Report on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders in the Philippines,” which documented the aggressions and challenges experienced by lawyers, church groups, civil society organizations and human rights defenders.

“We continue to campaign for the passage of a CHR Charter that is fully compliant with the Paris Principles, which outlines the mandate and resources needed to operate as an independent and credible national human rights institution,” the CHR said.

It said it is ready, willing and able to engage the government as well as civil society in realizing the country’s collective goal of a just and humane society, “wherein the rights and dignity of all are upheld at all times.”

Meanwhile, the CHR welcomed the government’s intention to ratify the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 81 on Labor Inspection, which aims to promote humane working hours, proper wages and workers’ safety.

It said Convention 81 is one of six additional conventions proposed by the European Union Commission to its trading countrypartners for their inclusion or renewal under the EU Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+).

“Since 2014, the Philippines has benefited from its GSP+ status, generating billions from

the increased access of product exports to the EU market. However, for trading partners such as the Philippines to retain this status, they must comply with human rights standards stated in 27 United Nations and ILO conventions on labor, good governance, environment and climate, rule of law and human rights,” the CHR said.

Once the Philippine government ratifies Convention 81, it will be required to adopt and maintain a labor inspection system in industrial workplaces.

These include the assessment of legal provisions relating to hours, wages, health and safety, workers’ welfare, employment of minors, technical development as well as workplace abuse.

The convention also requires that inspections must engage qualified technical experts and specialists to provide objective evaluation of workplace conditions and protection of workers.

“Ratifying ILO Convention 81 is aligned with the government’s obligation to improve the people’s enjoyment of their economic, social and cultural rights, particularly by granting full protection to workers’ right to selforganize, collective bargaining, security of tenure and a just and humane working condition,” the CHR said.

It said addressing labor issues and crafting policies to solve them should be primary in the government’s post-pandemic recovery plans.

“Not only will it uplift the working class, it will also help cushion the impacts of rising inflation to Filipinos. CHR hopes for the continued prioritization of workers’ dignity and plight,” the CHR said. g

‘Chinese rocket debris’ found off Mindoro, Palawan

MANILA — Debris believed to be from a Chinese rocket were recovered in the waters off Occidental Mindoro and Palawan on Sunday, November 6 and Monday, November 7 respectively.

In a Viber message, the Philippine Coast Guard said the PCG responded to a report that fishermen found “metallic debris” off the coast of Barangay Poblacion in Calintaan.

“The identification of the debris is still unknown and remains at the site for inspection,” the PCG said. A resident of Barangay Cheey in Busuanga, Palawan found a

piece of metal, suspected to be debris  from Chinese rocket Long March 5B.

“Based on the proximity from the drop zone and visual perusal of photos released by Palawan authorities... there is a high likelihood that the debris found in Busuanga was part of the rocket fairing of Long March 5B. In addition, it is highly likely that the pieces of debris reportedly found off the waters of Calintaan, Occidental Mindoro... were also part of the said rocket component,” the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA)

said on Wednesday, November 9. PhilSA said the National Coast Watch Center verified the retrieval of the debris in the two areas. It said the debris would be placed under the custody and disposal of the Philippine government. In September, PhilSA warned the public of falling debris from a rocket launched by China. While debris from the rocket was unlikely to fall on Philippine soil, the agency said there could be some in airspace and maritime waters, which could affect aircraft or sea vessels. (Rainier Allan Ronda/Philstar.com)

Abandoned balikbayan boxes.

Photo from Bureau of Customs

JOURNAL

‘MARIKIT AND THE OCEAN OF STARS’

Filipina

author’s

remarkable debut is inspired by Filipino culture and folklore

of two amazing women in her life: her mother and Inang, her grandmother. Inang was a seam stress and had a vintage sewing machine that helped her get her

eight children to school.

The book, which has been de scribed as atmospheric, evocative, and thoughtful, has made it to the Junior Library Guild Selection. This means that the book has received distinction from the group that reads and reviews thousands of manuscript submissions each year (prior to publication) to choose the best, award-worthy books for their members.

Julie Abe, author of the Eva Evergreen series calls it radi ant and lyrical while Alex Aster, award-winning author of the Em blem Island series describes the book as “a stunning, lyrical, and magical tale that is sure to become a new favorite.”

“Marikit and the Ocean of Stars is rich and magical, full of heart and imagination. A must-read for fans of mythical creatures, magical gods, and marvelous monsters,” said Erin Entrada Kelly, winner of the 2018 Newbery Medal for Hello Universe and 2021 Newbery Hon or for We Dream of Space.

Many elements in the book transport the readers back to Inang’s room: the creaky wooden floors, the Capiz windows fully opened to let the daylight in, the yards of fabrics folded on her workplace.

“My mother, equally spirited and brilliant, is the fifth of the siblings and was born on Inang’s birthday. When Inang passed away, my mother inherited the sewing machine and began repair ing clothes for us, too,” Cruz told

the Asian Journal

The author revealed that she drafted the story as soon as she had the idea.

In the original version, a young girl’s mother was kidnapped, leaving only a strange dress that was the only map to find a secret treasure. Cruz got stuck in the first chapters for so long that she decided to play around, adding magic and folklore to it.

That was when the story took a complete turn.

There was no outline for Marikit, Cruz felt like it was a story that wanted to be written, and she just happened to be the pair of hands to type the words.

Cruz started drafting Marikit early in 2019 when she took a break from her first manuscript.

It was her “in-between book,” a story she kept putting off thinking that her first novel would make it (it did not).

Early in 2020, she decided to finish Marikit for a pitch event. That same year, she got an agent, then the book deal. Marikit and the Ocean of Stars Is published by FSG Books for Young Readers, established in 1953, and is an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.

“I went from an obscure writer to a debut author. It was a book of many miracles and much Fili pino heart! My editor, Trisha de Guzman, and the book’s cover illustrator, Alexis Young, are both Filipinos, and the work and love everyone put in radiate from every page,” she shared.

In essence, Marikit and the Ocean of Stars is an ode to Cruz’s childhood.

“It is a tribute to my roots, to my community who embraced me with warmth and generosity. It is for our lolos and lolas, to tell them that their stories have never been forgotten,” she proudly said.” And above all, it is a love letter to every young Filipino, reminding them of what was and what has been, so that they can find their way back

to who they are.”

As a child, Cruz loved reading and writing. However, she realized that the media she consumed “al ways had white heroes—or, in my specific circle, as a lover of anime, Japanese leads.”

“So many Filipino creators have been trying to change that for a long, long time. When I finally wrote my story, I knew this was a chance to steer the lens toward my people. The thing I kept asking myself was, “How Filipino do you want this to be?” And my answer was, “As Filipino as it gets.” From here I knew that the heroes I’ll write about will always be us and ours,” she said.

This was the reason why she took immense joy and pride the day she first held her published book.

Cruz was born in Malolos, Bu

lacan, where she currently lives, in a house “in front of a thinning bamboo grove where many famil iar faces have grown up and left.”

“It’s a place that brings me so much comfort and inspiration: the familiar shout of our local magtataho, the view of the rice fields on both sides of the road, the old cathedrals, our favorite stall owners at the palengke, and the sound of the neighbors’ children laughing as they played habulan,” Cruz shared, describing her home in vivid detail. “It’s a community that feels like a family, and I’d like to soak in more of their joy and warmth.”

For now, Cruz is working on her second book, and just like Marikit and the Ocean of Stars, she prom ises it is inspired by magic, myths, and a young hero she describes as “proudly kayumanggi.”

1st solo movie likely to win an international award for him, says director

Ken Chan’s

by AllAn PolicArPio Inquirer.net

WHILE he has been acting for a decade now, Ken Chan still gets bouts of self-doubt—especially when he’s about to embark on a new venture or pursue a project he has yet to try.

The 29-year-old actor is currently working on his first solo movie, “Papa Mascot.” Its director, Louie Ignacio, plans to submit it to an international film festival and Ken couldn’t be more nervous. But knowing that there are people around him who believe in his talent gives him much-needed reassurance.

“I will be honest: As an actor, I often feel daunted by the projects I do. I doubt myself. I question myself. Until now, I question my capabilities. I find myself wondering if I deserve the opportunities I’m getting. But whenever my directors and other people tell me that I can do this, that I can win awards, that gives me strength,” he told the Inquirer at a recent press conference.

Drama Ken couldn’t disclose details of the plot yet, but let on that it’s a drama about a single father who dons mascot costumes for his child’s birthday every year. Ignacio believes that the role could potentially earn Ken an international award or recognition. “Nakakakilig. But there’s pressure at the same time,” he said of his director’s kind words. “In this industry, or any field for that matter, crab mentality can’t be avoided. So it feels good to have people who encourage you and lift up your spirits. They inspire me to do my job right and improve my craft.”

After all, it’s not fame he’s really after. “Kuya Germs (the late German Moreno, his discoverer and mentor) told me that if your main goal is to be famous, then stop acting. It won’t make you successful. But if your target is to make people happy, you will succeed, no matter how difficult the journey is,” he related.

The movie will be produced by Wide International, a distribution, wellness and real estate company that has recently ventured into entertainment. Aside from film and content production, the group also plans to enter the digital space and launch its own video streaming platform called Wide TV.

New platforms

“So many people lost jobs because of the pandemic. I’m glad there are new platforms that will help create more jobs and give us opportunities to showcase our talents,” he said.

The GMA 7 actor’s previous projects like the series “Ang Dalawang Ikaw” and “One of the Baes,” and the movie “Huling Ulan sa Tag-Araw” were coheadlined with his former screen partner Rita

“I’m not closing any door

I was glad to be part of

it made me feel young. But there comes a time… we’re not getting any younger. We mature and so will the roles we do. I have to do roles that fit me,” he said.

“The network has been giving me roles that don’t involve being in a love team and I understand that… if that’s the path they see for me.”

The “RitKen” tandem with Rita was a happy experience. But Ken also looks forward to collaborating with other artists. “I aim to explore and work with different people,” said Ken who will also star in an upcoming television adaptation of the 1987 Vilma Santos movie “Saan Nagtatago ang Pag-ibig?”

Outside acting, Ken operates food businesses and plans to get into movie production. If there’s one thing the pandemic taught it’s that an actor should always have a Plan B. “We all owe a debt of gratitude to GMA 7, because they found ways to do shows and provide jobs during the pandemic,” he said.

“However, what I realized is that you can’t just stick to one thing. I’m blessed to have mentors like Gloria Romero who always reminds me that it’s important to have a fallback. I’m thankful,” he added.

RISING talent Caris Avendaño

Cruz has just released her debut book inspired by Filipino folklore. Cruz said she wrote Marikit and the Ocean of Stars in honor

This debut book is about the fantastical journey of a 10-year-old girl named Marikit who navigates the land of Engkantos, allowing readers a peak into Philippine folklore and culture.

Ken Chan Photo from Instagram/@akosikenchan

Caris Avendaño Cruz

Daniela. These days, however, Ken’s home station appears to have carved a new path for the actor, who’s now focused on solo projects and working with different actresses.

to another possible love team.

a love team because

by MoMAr G. VisAyA / AJPress

Pahrump seeing increased interest from commercial developers

by RealtoR Fely Quitevis-Bateman

PAHRUMP, a town located 62 miles west of Las Vegas, is seeing increased interest from commercial developers.

According to an article earlier this year in the Pahrump Valley Times, Nye County Planning Director Brett Waggoner told the county’s commissioners that the planning department has received a lot of applications that are in the review or site development process for commercial development. Some, he said, are getting to the approval stage, and are actually starting to break ground.

Among the projects Waggoner mentioned that are in the pipeline for the town included a medical facility, a car wash, restaurants, gas stations and overnight accommodations.

Two much-anticipated chains coming to Pahrump, the Arby’s and Dutch Bros. Coffee locations, as well as a car wash, will be located on Highway 160, near

the area of Nye County Veterinary Clinic and Tire Works, the article mentioned.

A new medical facility, the Pahrump Community Health Center, had a recent groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the start of construction.

The facility will, when it opens, provide surgical services and specialist care in the area which is not yet available.

The gas stations in the pipeline include a Circle K on Homestead and Gamebird Roads, and a new Coyote Corner on Manse Road near the Mountain Falls Subdivision. The latter project, according to Waggoner, will have space for restaurants as well.

The proposed hotel, meanwhile, is located on Highway 160 just behind the Maverick gas station and directly across The Source, which is a marijuana dispensary that opened recently.

The chief planner of Nye County also talked about the

developments going on at Spring Mountain Motor Resort, where the track portion of its expansion onto the property purchased from the Bureau of Land Management has been completed. He said added that the resort is now in the process of building accessory buildings to accommodate the track.

Waggoner disclosed in the article that his department maintains a close-lipped policy when it comes to potential projects in the valley, opting only to discuss potential projects when development officially begins. His office is always in discussions with prospective developers.

Certainly, the town of Pahrump has undergone major changes since it was established and slowly inhabited by settlers in the late 19th century.

Nowadays, there are a lot more things to do and explore around the town, including trips to local casinos, recreational activities, do some shopping at local stores and even visit the Pahrump Valley Museum to check out the town’s fascinating history.

If nature-tripping is your favorite activity, bird-watching

is an option at Discovery Park, which is an abandoned golf course converted by locals and the Red Rock Audobon into a park. Over 176 bird species are said to graze in the park. Hiking in the area’s famous trails, whether on foot or via ATV, mountain bikes or offroad vehicles is another option for those seeking to commune and/or experience nature.

It won’t be Nevada unless you visit the town’s gambling dens, which includes Lakeside Casino & RV Park, Gold Town Casino (formerly Terrible’s Town Casino), Pahrump Nugget and Saddle West Hotel. Each of these places have their own amenities and charms, and provides accommodations and entertainment for the weary traveler or excited tourist.

You can also ride a horse at the Happy Hoof Beats Equestrian, play golf at Mountain Falls Golf Club, drive a race car at Spring Mountain Motor Resort and Country Club, ride a hot air balloon over the valley, or enjoy a bottle of fine wine at Pahrump Valley Winery.

By the way, at Spring Mountain Motor Resort and Country Club, crossing off race car driving

in your to-do list is not the only thing it offers. The place also is where one can indulge in a variety of watersports (swimming, wakeboarding, kayaking, paddle boarding, water jetpack), practical shooting and racquetball, in addition to its top-notch food and clubhouse facilities/amenities.

Residents themselves have even organized sports and recreational groups to bond together and enjoy the town’s vast natural beauty.

These include walking/hiking groups and biking clubs, as well as bowling clubs/leagues, billiards groups and indoor swimming clubs, to name a few. There is a lot more than meets the eye in Pahrump. Both visitors and residents have a lot of activities to indulge in. And with Las Vegas only about an hour or less away, the possibilities for fun and excitement increase exponentially.

As of now, Pahrump is one of those towns where land and property are more affordable than other parts of the country, or even Nevada. Nye County, which Pahrump is situated in, keeps experiencing an increase

in population, which indicates that many people are looking into the area as major cities get overpopulated and real estate prices get too high.

I have been a Realtor for many decades now and have seen the growth of Pahrump. I consider it one of the best towns to live in. With many residential and commercial developments coming into the area, and many planned projects that will add to the diversity of the town’s entertainment offerings, it truly is a good place to look for a home, an investment property or a piece of land that you may want to construct your dream home in or sell for a profit later.

My company, Precious Properties, is a full-service company that has served its clientele since 1992. You can reach me at 775-513-8447, 805559-2476 and 702-538-4948 for more information, or send me an email at fely@preciousproperties.com or fely.precious@ gmail.com. We have investors who buy houses in California and Nevada for cash and quick escrow in as short as 7 days.

(Advertising Supplement)

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

The Coyote Corner gas station near the entrance to Mountain Falls Subdivision, where the late President Fidel V. Ramos played golf during his stay with Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman in 2007.

Construction is ongoing at the second Circle K gas station outlet in the town.

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (right) with CEO Mark Maiyoka who just bought a $2.6M medical building in Pahrump.

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (extreme left) with (from left) Nye County Chief Planner Brett Waggoner and newly-elected Commissioner Ronald Boskovich.

The Source, a newly-opened cannabis dispensary in Pahrump.

PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS

THE predicted Tripledemic this Fall and Winter will bring us the flu and coronavirus (Flurona) and RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus), a trifecta of infections.

The Big Pharmas are working on vaccines for RSV and now, a combination vaccine for both the influenza viruses (A&B) and the COVID-19 Omicron subvariants.

The FC vaccines are two-in-one, a single jab for both the flu and COVID-19, annually.

Vaccine combos are not new; children’s vaccines, like MMR (Measles, 1963, Mumps, added in 1967, and Rubella, added in 1969); and DPT (DiphtheriaPertussis-Tetanus) since 1984, are multiple combo vaccines. And they have been working wonders for decades, saving millions upon millions of children’s lives.

The FC combo vaccines could be available for the next flu season (2023). Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax are working on this vaccine combo.

Hopefully, they would also develop a vaccine for RSV, and then make the FCR (flu-COVID19-rsv) triple vaccine combo in the future. One needlestick for all three.

In the meantime, one can (and should) get the flu shot and the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time, one in each arm, with your physician’s Rx.

XBB – new Omicron!

Among the new Omicron subvariants, XBB is here, besides BQ.1.1, BQ.1.3, and BQ.2.3.20, thanks to the 100 million unvaccinated whose bodies are massive reservoir for the viruses, where they replicate and mutate to various variants and subvariants. They are evolving to evade antibody protection from vaccines and antiviral medications. They are evolving to be more deadly to us. That’s the nature of viruses. Without a warm body host, viruses self-destruct!

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is monitoring 300 sub lineages of these viruses. XBB was first detected in India in August 2022, and now in the United States and 16 other countries and is able to evade antibody protection exceeding BA.5 and the SARS-CoV1 (the famous “SARS”) level, which caused severe disease. Remember the first COVID-19 and the Delta variant, which killed millions? The XBB could be as vicious, and is being closely monitored. The vaccines (1 thru 5) against COVID-19 do not guarantee a fully vaccinated individual against getting infected by newer strains/ sub-strains, but the vaccines (especially booster #3, the new bivalent one) will minimize the symptoms, the risk for needing hospitalization and the risk of death from the infection.

As these viruses evolve, let us continue to be vigilant,

Flurona – ComboVax Why it’s important to report life changes to us when you receive SSI

masking up and social distancing (again) till we get national herd immunity, and this will happen ONLY when all the 100 million get infected and obtain immunity from COVID-19 infection or from the COVID-19 vaccines. As I have advocated in the past, let us treat these invisible potential killers with wisdom, humility, and respect, and not with arrogance and recklessness.

Flu+Bivalent booster

The CDC is strongly recommending for everyone eligible to get the flu shot and the COVID-19 bivalent booster (#3) as soon as possible. For those who missed the first COVID-19 booster or both the first and second booster, they may obtain the bivalent booster (#3) instead. The new bivalent shot is a reformulated one, designed to target the omicron subvariants, including the new ones. And the clinical studies so far show they are safe and very effective in minimizing severity/hospital/ and deaths. Many who have been infected, in spite of the vaccines, had minimal symptoms (like mild cough) only, and maybe a low-grade temp for less than 24 hours. For the vulnerable, Paxlovid pills (2 tabs twice a day for 5 days) have been most efficacious, when given within 5 days of the first symptom following a positive antigen test.

Blood thinners and statin drugs must be stopped when taking Paxlovid. As always, consult with your physicians for any medical concerns.

CBD tea While some sectors of the community, mainly the purveyors of cannabidiol compound found in cannabis plant, hail CBD teas as beneficial to health, there are actually no serious scientific studies to prove these claims. These marketing schemes are not supported by science. Not to mention the fact that they are expensive, that cannabis may negatively affect male and female fertility, and that products containing trace amount of THC can produce positive drug test, which could be a potential problem with the police. Hopefully, we shall have objective scientific clinical evaluation of the value, safety, dosing, efficacy, and side effects/ complications of using these derivatives from cannabis plants. In the meantime, let us stick to FDA-vetted and proven medications, and to green tea, black tea, chamomile tea, etc. for a simpler healthy refreshing drink. And talking about drinks, soft drinks of any variety are toxic to the body. They increase the risk for the development of metabolic syndrome, especially among children, but a lot of adults get it also. Stay away from this poison hiding behind its phosphoric acid fizz. The acid chemical in these beverages could be used for cleaning carburetors and flushing blocked toilet bowls. Phosphoric acid could induce kidney stone formation and increase in blood pressure even among young people. Google it,

YouTube it, and find out yourself how soft drinks increase the risk for metabolic syndrome.

Coffee and pregnancy

Experts say that it is safe for pregnant women to drink coffee of no more than 200 mg caffeine. (One 8-oz cup contains about 100-120 mg caffeine). However, here is a warning: While it is safe for the mother, a recent study shows that those mothers who consumed caffeine (coffee or caffeinated drinks) had children who were shorter in stature compared to those conceived by mothers who abstained from caffeine. Caffeine consumption during pregnancy impacts child growth and development. The same could be true with those breast-feeding their babies. For women (and men) in general coffee consumption confers some health benefits to brain function (cognition and reducing the risk for dementia).

Alcohol and health

Alcoholic drinks in general, when imbibed wisely and responsibly, have been found beneficial to health and longevity. The caveat is to drink in a disciplined manner: one drink maximum for women and two for men, per day. Unfair? Sexist? No. Why so? Because studies have shown that this recommendation confers the best benefits to the body, with the least negative effect for either sex, since their physiologies differ somewhat.

So, a glass of wine (like Pinot Noir from Oregon, which has the highest resveratrol, a heartprotective compound from the grape skin), or a vodka or gin Martini (Beefeater’s gin dry Martini is my personal favorite), after-dinner drinks, any low sugar mixed drinks, or beer, have all been found to provide the same health benefits (antistress, calming, happy-hormone stimulating, etc.) when taken as recommended above – one max for women and two max for men. Anything in excess is abuse and unhealthy. Adhering to the science when drinking, here’s to one and all: Cheers! A votre sante! To your health!

* * *

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

* * *

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

* * *

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

Fil-Am surgeons’ group celebrates 50th at Caesar’s, Las Vegas

THE Society of Philippine Surgeons in America (SPSA) and its Fellows from various cities in the United States and Canada, commemorated its golden gala at Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas, October 19-21, 2022. A 450-page Golden Yearbook and its 84-page supplement Souvenir Journal chronicle the half-a-century of historic contributions of the SPSA to the US/Canada healthcare systems and the achievements of these surgeons, in academia as professors/department chairmen and in private practice, and as presidents/chief staffs at various medical centers.

Besides its CME (Continuing Medical Education) Seminars, the SPSA was famous for holding annual medical missions to the Philippines and its Fellows, with their own teams, also ministering to the needy people around the

world.

The number of physicians/ surgeons from the Philippines in the United States is about 12,100 (4.7% of all immigrants), in Canada, around 10,300 (4%), and registered nurses 142,800 (29.3%), according to the 2018 American Community Survey.

An article in a newsmagazine a few years back stated, if all physicians, surgeons, and nurses from the Philippines practicing in the United States were to suddenly leave the country, the US healthcare system would practically collapse, admissions halted, surgeries cancelled, emergency patients endangered.

Even casinos, cruise lines, and some restaurants, schools, engineering, internet services, etc. would be severely curtailed and stalled.

The re-structured surgical society, named Council of Past

Presidents (SPSA 2.0), has, for its new pilot project, in partnership with the Philippine College of Surgeons in Metro Manila, the deployment of surgeons in rural towns where there is none. This humanitarian endeavor will be on top of its regular yearly medical/surgical missions.

SPSA 2.0 is chaired by original SPSA founding president Hernan M. Reyes, MD, with the following officers: Treasurer and Mission Chair, Ed Barcelona, MD, ViceChair; Danny Fabito, Executive Director; Bayani Ignacio, MD, By-Laws Chairman; Philip S. Chua, MD, Convention Chairman; Ed Gamboa, MD, Membership Chairman; and Johnny Montero, MD, Liaison to the Philippine College of Surgeons. Honorio M. Cruz, MD, just completed his 3rd year as president of the original SPSA, and is running the SPSA website.

by annie Walters Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Nevada

DID you know that certain life changes can affect your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments?  Sometimes your circumstances may change after you apply for or begin to receive SSI.  When that happens, it’s important for you to tell us about these changes.  This will ensure that you receive the benefits to which you’re eligible.

Here are some common changes you must report if you have applied for or receive SSI:

• Changes in income, wages, or self-employment income;

• Starting, stopping, or changing jobs;

• Changing your address or persons moving in or out of the household;

• Changes in marital status (including any same-sex relationships);

• Having more than $2,000 if you are single or $3,000 if you are married in resources that you can cash in, sell, or use to pay for food and shelter; and

• Changes in resources, including money in financial accounts and buying or selling extra vehicles, stocks, investments, or property.

For a complete list of reporting responsibilities for all our programs, please read our publication, What You Need to Know When You Get Supplemental Security Income at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-0511011.pdf.

How to report changes in wages You can conveniently report

your wages using our:

• Free SSA Mobile Wage Reporting app for smartphones.

• Online Wage Reporting Tool using your personal my Social Security account. If you don’t have an account, create one today at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.

Be sure to sign up for monthly SSI wage reporting emails or text reminders, so you never forget.

Other options include speaking with a representative by calling toll free at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visiting or writing your local Social Security Office.

Report changes in a timely manner

You must report a change within 10 days after the month it happens. You should report a change even if you’re late. Failure to report timely may cause you to:

• Receive less than you should and take longer to receive the correct amount;

• Receive more than you should and have to pay it back;

• Have a penalty deducted from your SSI payment; or

• Lose SSI for not reporting information that we use to determine whether you are still eligible for SSI.

Securing your today and tomorrow starts with being informed. Please share this information with your friends

Shaina skips ‘birthday escape’ to start work on int’l series

by Dana Cruz Inquirer.net

SHAINA Magdayao

The actress admitted it is her first time to skip taking a birthday leave, as she showed herself outside what appears to be a dressing room, via her Instagram page last Monday, Nov. 7.

“Planned to go to #Paradise for my annual birthday escape… but as always, life has a different plan,” she said. “First time ever to work instead of taking a birthday leave. But I’m definitely not complaining because I still have been waking up in #Paradise for the past few days!”

Magdayao added that she considers working on the series as an “early birthday gift,” then teased about the “surreal” experience she had in production.

“Can’t wait to tell you more about my surreal and awesome [first] time experience to work for an international series… SOON,” she told fans.

“My heart is overwhelmed with all the [love] and greetings… and the surprises! Just got back to the hotel from work,” Magdayao added, along with the hashtag “#AlmostParadise.”

Magdayao has been working in “Almost Paradise” for at least seven days now, based on her Instagram

“Almost

Bernadette Sembrano still open to possibility of getting pregnant at 46

by anne Pasajol Inquirer.net

BERNADETTE Sembrano, 46,

The broadcaster opened up about this after she was asked about having children during an interview with comedian Ogie Diaz, as seen on the latter’s YouTube vlog on Wednesday, Nov. 9.

“Hindi ko naman sinasabing hindi [na] kasi nag-oovulate pa naman ako so hindi natin alam, baka magka-miracle baby din. So hindi ko pa rin isinasara ‘yung possibility,” she said.

(I am not saying that we would no longer [have a child] because I still ovulate so who knows, we might have a miracle baby. I am still open to the possibility.)

Sembrano then recounted losing Molly, the baby she had conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF) in 2018. Sembrano disclosed that while they were “very hopeful” at the time, she still prepared herself for what may occur during her pregnancy.

“Nag-attempt naman kami pero unfortunately, nagkaroon kami ng miscarriage,” she narrated. “Meron before na magiging baby dapat, si Molly, pero nagkamiscarriage back in 2018, I think.”

(We attempted [to have a child] but unfortunately, we had a miscarriage. I almost had a child before, Molly, but I had miscarriage back in 2018, I think.)

“Excited and thankful but at the same time, binubuksan mo ‘yung pagkakataon na baka hindi rin matuloy,” she stated. “No expectations kasi alam mo naman ‘yung reality ‘di ba? But we were really very hopeful.”

(Back then, I was excited and

thankful but at the same time, I opened [myself] to possibilities that the [pregnancy] might not be successful. No expectations because everyone knows the reality, right? But we were really very hopeful.)

Sembrano also talked about her diagnosis, which was one of the factors why it was hard for her to get pregnant.

“I don’t mind sharing it kasi malaking bagay din sa mga kababaihan at sa mga mag-asawa.

Meron akong endometriosis and meron akong myoma, so meron talagang difficulty in bearing a child,” she said.

(I don’t mind sharing it because it may help other women and couples. I have endometriosis and myoma so there was really a

difficulty in bearing a child.)

Endometriosis is a disease “characterized by the presence of tissue resembling endometrium (the lining of the uterus) outside the uterus,” as per World Health Organization. Myoma, or uterine fibroid, is a “noncancerous growth of the uterus that often appears during childbearing years,” according to Mayo Clinic.

Despite the miscarriage, Sembrano noted that she is still grateful for Molly who the broadcaster regards as the reason why she became more open and eager in life.

Sembrano has been married to her husband Emilio Aguinaldo IV since June 2008. She first opened up about Molly and her miscarriage in 2020.

admitted that she still has hopes of bearing a child despite her age and her being diagnosed with endometriosis and myoma.

Shaina Magdayao Photo from Instagram/@shaina_magdayao

Bernadette Sembrano

Photo from Instagram/@iambernadettesembrano

had a productive birthday as she skipped her usual getaways and instead worked on the international TV series “Almost Paradise.”

Stories on Tuesday, Nov. 8. The show is currently in production in Cebu City.

Paradise” is an American-Filipino crime drama series produced by Dean Devlin and Gary Rosen. The show, which is filmed entirely in the Philippines, started production for its second season in August.