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NOVEMBER 11-17, 2021

T H E F I L I P I N O A M E R I CA N C O M MU N I T Y N E WS PA P E R

Volume 32 - No. 45 • 12 Pages

2770 S. Maryland Pkwy., Suite 201 Las Vegas, NV 89109 Tel: (702) 792-6678 • Fax: (702) 792-6879

Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY

DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Filipino senior brutally attacked in San Diego AN elderly Filipino man is recovering after a brutal attack outside a trolley station in El Cajon, California last week.

Jose Serra, 71, was walking to a nearby manufacturing facility at the Arnele Avenue trolley stop around 5 a.m. on Wednesday, November 3, when he was attacked by a man with a 12” knife, as reported by ABC 10 San Diego.

According to police, a man followed Serra after he got off at the trolley stop.

Serra’s friend Todd Jones, who had hired him for some odd jobs, said that Serra was attacked about a block away from the manufacturing facility.

“Was just walking down the sidewalk. This guy came up to him, pulled out a knife and just starts poking him and slashing him,” Jones told ABC 10.

Serra was later found by a bystander.

His attacker had run off, possibly with the Filipino’s backpack.

“He was stabbed in the hand and arm, slashed in the back of his head to the front.

Ear was dangling on there. He’s had to have plastic surgery,” said Jones.

Palace: PH travel restriction on foreign tourists being studied

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

THE Philippines’ reopening to international tourists is currently being studied by the national government, according to Malacañang.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on

Tuesday, November 9, pointed out that the country only closed its borders to foreign tourists, never to arriving Filipinos from other countries.

“Hindi po natin kahit kailan pinigilan ang paguwi ng mga kapwa Pilipino natin, iyan po ang standing order ng ating Presidente… Ang hindi

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has met with Senator Manny Pacquiao to “renew” their friendship after months of infighting within their political party, according to Malacañang.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Wednesday, November 10, confirmed that the Chief Executive had a “short and cordial” meeting with Pacquiao on Tuesday night.

“We confirm that Senator Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Pacquiao met President Rodrigo Roa Duterte last night, November 9. It was a short and cordial meeting requested by the camp of the good Senator,” he said in a statement.

According to Roque, there was no talk about politics when Duterte and Pacquiao met.

“There was no talk of politics, but a renewal of friendship,” the spokesman noted.

Further, he said that the meeting focused on several matters that would benefit Filipinos.

“It was a meeting between two national leaders from Mindanao who discussed certain matters related to people’s concern in their area, specifically in the infrastructure and power industry,” explained Roque.

Fil-Am would-be terrorist bomber sentenced to 25 years

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Duterte, Pacquiao renew friendship after public rift

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A FILIPINO American who planned the bombing of a political rally in Long Beach, California, in 2019 was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison on Monday, Nov. 1.

On Aug. 11 Mark Steven Domingo, 28, of Reseda, California, was found guilty of one count of providing material support to terrorists and one count of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction at the conclusion of a five-day jury trial. Domingo has been in federal custody since April 2019.

According to court documents and the evidence presented at trial, the investigation into Domingo was prompted by his online posts and conversations in an online forum, in which he expressed support for violence, specifically a desire to seek violent retribution for attacks against Muslims, and a willingness to become a martyr.

After considering various attacks – including targeting Jewish people, churches and police officers – Domingo decided to bomb a rally scheduled to take place in Long Beach in

lang po natin pinapayagan ngayon ay iyong mga dayuhang mga turista na makapasok (Never did we ban the return home of our fellow Filipinos, that is the standing order of the President…

What we are not allowing is the entry of foreign tourists),” he said.

PSG HOSPITAL. President Rodrigo Duterte is greeted by personnel of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) Station Hospital while touring the facilities of the said hospital following the inauguration ceremony at the PSG Compound in Malacañang Park, Manila on November 10.

Malacañang photo by Ace Morandante

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US State Department, PH envoys address domestic workers’ rights

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A recent virtual forum for Filipino domestic workers employed by various embassies, as well as members of the diplomatic corps, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, addressed questions and concerns about domestic workers employment contracts.

The webinar, hosted by Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO-WDC), covered concerns of interest to domestic workers employed under special work visa programs, specifically the A3 and G5 visa

programs.

This developed as the Philippine Embassy, through POLO-WDC, received at least three requests for assistance and intervention from Filipino domestic workers regarding their salaries and complaints against abusive employers.

U.S. State Department Assistant Chief of Protocol for Diplomatic Affairs Nan Kelley explained the rights and responsibilities of domestic workers under these visa programs.

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Sara Duterte withdraws reelection bid

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

Pre-campaign billboards showing support for potential Duterte-allied candidates flank major thoroughfare EDSA as seen on Monday, November 8.

Philstar.com photo by Boy Santos

DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte has officially withdrawn her bid for reelection just days ahead of the deadline for the substitution of candidates for the 2022 elections.

In a post on her official Facebook page, the mayor announced that she will be replaced by her brother, Davao City vice mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, in the mayoralty race.

“Ngayong hapon wini-withdraw ko ang aking kandidatura sa pagka-Mayor ng Davao City.

Si VM Baste ang papalit sa akin.

Ito lamang po muna sa ngayon.

Maraming salamat po (This afternoon, I’m withdrawing my candidacy for mayor of Davao City. Vice Mayor Baste will substitute for me. This is all for now. Thank you very much),” Duterte said on Tuesday, November 9.

Earlier that day, Sebastian also withdrew his certificate of candidacy (COC) for reelection as Davao City’s vice mayor.

According to him, Atty.

Melchor Quitain Jr. will replace him in the vice mayoralty race.

“I have filed my withdrawal as vice mayor candidate of Davao City. I hereby nominate Atty. Melchor Quitain Jr. as my substitute,” said Sebastian.

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Hidilyn Diaz

Photo from Instagram/@hidilyndiaz

No follow up to Olympic gold as Hidilyn Diaz backs out of worlds

by MARC

ANTHONY Inquirer.net

REYES

Diaz lacked the preparation to compete against the best in the globe as the country will now NOT prepared enough and pin its hopes on all the others knowing that she doesn’t stand perceived to take Diaz’s place in a chance, Tokyo Olympics the future. gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz has On the way to seeing action withdrawn from the World in her fourth straight Olympics Weightlifting Championship last July, Diaz was in training slated next month in Tashkent, camp for more than two years Uzbekistan, leaving the in Malaysia, not seeing family Philippines without its best bet. for that long and locked in one Samahang Weightlifting target—winning the Philippines’ sa Pilipinas (SWP) president first Games gold.

Monico Puentevella made She has obviously not had this announcement, saying u PAGE 2

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http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

November 11-17, 2021 • LAS veGAS ASIAN JoUrNAL

From The FronT Page

Palace: PH travel restriction...

PAGE 1

However, the spokesman assured that the possibility of allowing foreign tourists in the country again is under rigorous study.

“Pero alam naman po natin na napakaraming mga Pilipino nakasalalay din sa turismo para sa hanapbuhay. So iyan po ay maigting na pinag-aaralan

na dahil marami na rin pong mga bansa ang nagbubukas ng kanilang mga teritoryo para sa turismo (But we know that a lot of Filipinos are depending on tourism for their livelihood.

So it’s now being studied since many countries are also opening their territories to tourism),” said Roque.

He urged everyone to

exercise patience, noting that nearly 90% of Metro Manila residents are now vaccinated against COVID-19.

According to Roque, the country will allow international tourists again once the Philippine population gets ample protection.

“So antay na lang po tayo dahil encouraging nga po na mahigit 90 percent na ang bakunado sa Metro Manila, at inaantay lang po natin na makahabol iyong ating mga karatig-probinsiya (So let’s just wait for it since it’s encouraging that nearly 90% of Metro Manila are now vaccinated, and we’re only waiting for the nearby provinces to catch up),” he said.

“At tingin ko naman po, hindi naman po para ipagkait iyong ganda ng ating bayan sa mga turista kung mayroon nang sapat na protection ang ating mga kababayan (In my view, we wouldn’t deny tourists the opportunity of seeing our beautiful country once our people get ample protection),” he added.

Last week, Roque said that the country will reopen to international tourists “in due time” as Metro Manila relaxed its COVID-19 restrictions.

“We will open tourism in due time. At ngayon nga po na alert level 2 (And now that we’re under alert level 2), that’s very encouraging,” he said Friday, Nov. 5.

“Titingnan din po natin iyong mga karanasan ng ibang bansa na nagbukas na po para sa international tourism (We will also look at the experience of other countries that have reopened to international tourism),” the spokesman added.

The country’s Bureau of Immigration, for its part, said that it is ready to accept foreign tourists should the government decide to lift the country’s travel restrictions.

“Should the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) and the Office of the President see that the country is ready, we will be happy to welcome again foreign tourists to our shores,” Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said Monday, Nov. 8. n

Clark County Building Department 4701 W. Russell Road • Las Vegas, NV 89118 (702) 455-3000 • Fax (702) 221-0630

Jerome A. Stueve, P.E., Director Samuel D. Palmer, P.E., Assistant Director • Jim Gerren, P.E., Assistant Director

Nobyembre 9, 2021 Patalastas sa Publiko: Mga Mungkahi’ng Pagbabago sa Kodigo ng Lalawigan ng Clark Tungkol sa: Titulo 22, Kabanata 22.02 Mangyari’ng bigya’ng pansin na ang isang patakaran ay iminumungkahi ng Lupon ng mga Komisyonero ng Lalawigan sa Lalawigan ng Clark tulad ng sumusunod: Isang ordinansa upang Baguhin ang Titulo 22, Kabanata 22.02 ng Kodigo ng Lalawigan ng Clark at idagdag ang mga kasalukuya’ng gawi na may kaugnayan sa mga simple’ng bayarin sa permiso, mga ulat sa pagtatasa sa inspeksyon ng pinsala at mga pagbabawas ng bayad para sa mga kwalipikado’ng proyekto ng abot-kaya’ng pabahay, pagtatanggal ng mga kinakailangan para sa pagsusumite ng mga kopya nang dokumento na kasama sa mga aplikasyon sa permiso, at nililinaw at idinagdag ang ilang partikular na uri ng trabaho na bukod ang mga kailangan para sa permiso: 22.02.035 – Idagdag ang kahulugan ng Ulat sa Pagtatasa sa Inspeksyon ng Pinsala.

22.02.043 – Idagdag ang bago’ng seksyon, Pagtatasa sa Pinsala sa mga Gusali at Istraktura.

22.02.165 – Baguhin ang Marka, Konstruksyon o Permiso sa Pagkabit nang mga Hiwalay sa Kailangan.

02.22.190 – Baguhin ang Permiso sa Gusali Pagbubukod A at idagdag ang AC. 02.22.195 -- Idagdag ang Permiso sa Tuberyas Pagbubukod H 22.02.200 – Baguhin ang Permiso sa Electrikal mga Pagbubukod M, N, O, P, Q, R, S. 22.02.230 – Baguhin ang Pagsusumite ng mga Dokumento ng Konstruksyon.

22.02.235 – Binago’ng Impormasyon sa Mga Plano at Ispesipikasyon upang idagdag ng Pangkalahata’ng Liban at mga permiso sa demolisyon.

22.02.335 – Baguhin ang Paglakad sa Madaliang Plano.

22.02.345 – Baguhin ang Permiso at Bayad sa Repaso ng Plano upang magdagdag ng Liban.

22.02.347 – Magdagdag ng bago’ng seksyon, Bawas-Bayad sa Abot-Kaya’ng Pabahay.

22.02.350 – Baguhin ang Pagkawala ng Bisa ng Repaso ng Plano.

22.02.395 – Baguhin ang mga bayad sa permiso ng elektrikal.

22.02.400 – Baguhin ang mga bayad sa permiso ng mekanikal.

22.02.405 -- Baguhin ang mga bayad sa permiso ng Tuberyas.

22.02.430 – Baguhin ang Iba pang mga Pagsusuri sa mga Plano, Inspeksyon at iba’t-ibang bayad upang maisama ang DAIR. 22.02.510 – Baguhin ang Mga Espesyal na Inspeksyon.

22.02.525 – Baguhin ang mga Tungkulin at responsibilidad ng Ahensya ng Pagtitiyak ng Kalidad, at Espesyal na Inspektor.

Bago ang pagpapatibay sa iminumungkahi’ng panuntunan, ang Lupon ng mga Komisyonero ng Lalawigan sa Lalawigan ng Clark ay inaatasan ng NRS 237.080 na gumawa ng isang pinagsama-sama’ng pagsisikap upang matukoy kung ang panukala’ng panuntunan ay magpapataw ng isang direkto at malaking pasanin sa ekonomiya nang isang negosyo o direkto’ng paghihigpitan ang pagbuo, pagpapatakbo o pagpapalawak ng isang negosyo. Dahil dito, ang mga samahan sa pangangalakal, may-ari at mga opisyal ng mga negosyo na malamang na maapektuhan ng iminumungkahi’ng panuntunan na ito, at ang iba pang interesado’ng mga tao ay kinakailanga’ng patalastasan at bigyan ng pagkakataon na magsumite ng mga komento, datos, o argumento sa Lalawigan tungkol sa kung ang iminumungkahi’ng panuntunan ay: a) Magpapataw ng isang direkto at malaking pasanin sa ekonomiya nang isang negosyo; o b) Direkto’ng paghihigpitan ang pagbuo, pagpapatakbo o pagpapalawak ng isang negosyo.

Ang mga komento ay kailanga’ng isumite nang hindi lalampas sa 5:30 n.h. sa Disyembre 13, 2021 tulad ng sumusunod: Sa Pamamagitan ng Koreo sa:

Clark County Building Department Attn: Theresa Atimalala, Executive Assistant 4701 W. Russell Road, Las Vegas, NV 89118

Sa pamamagitan ng Pagdadala sa:

Clark County Building Department Customer Lobby 4701 W. Russell Road, Las Vegas, NV 89118 Attn: Theresa.Atimalala@ClarkCountyNV.gov Lunes-Huwebes 7:30n.u. – 5:30n.h.

Sa Pamamagitan ng email kay:

Theresa.Atimalala@ClarkCountyNV.gov

Ang isang kopya ng iminumungkahi’ng panuntunan ay makukuha din para suriin sa: https://www.clarkcountynv.gov/government/departments/building___fire_prevention/codes/index.php at Lalawigan ng Clark Kagawaran ng Gusali at Pag-iwas sa Sunog, Una’ng Palapag Para sa mga Kostumer 4701 W. Russell Road, Las Vegas, NV 89118.

Taos-Puso, /s/Jerome A. Stueve Jerome A. Stueve, P.E., CBO Direktor/Kagawaran ng Gusali ng Lalawigan ng Clark BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MARILYN KIRKPATRICK, Chair • JAMES B. GIBSON, Vice Chair MICHAEL NAFT • ROSS MILLER • WILLIAM McCURDY II • TICK SEGERBLOM • JUSTIN C. JONES YOLANDA T. KING, County Manager

PLASTIC BARRIERS. Plastic barriers are still placed inside a modern jeepney that travels from Bagong Silang, Caloocan City to Robinson Mall on Quirino Highway, Quezon City, and vice versa. According to the passengers, they are still willing to have plastic barriers to still avoid being infected with the COVID-19 virus.

PNA photo by Ben Briones

Sara Duterte withdraws reelection...

PAGE 1 “I am deeply grateful to the Dabawenyos for the support they have given me all this time. I have no other details to share at the moment. Thank you,” he added.

Duterte’s move raised speculations that she might pursue a national post after months of consistently denying that she won’t.

In the event that this happens, however, she can’t run under her regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP).

“Why is that? Because HNP is a regional party, which means they are unable to file national candidates,” noted poll body spokesperson James Jimenez.

He added, “She is going to substitute, then she will have

to join a political party that already has a candidate for whatever position she wants to substitute.”

The COC filing ran from October 1-8 but candidate substitution will be accepted until Nov. 15. As per the Commission on Elections’ rules, substitution is accepted if a candidate dies, withdraws, or is disqualified by the poll body. n

US State Department, PH envoys address...

PAGE 1 “We want to be sure that A-3 and G-5 visa holders know they have rights in the United States, and that if they need help, there are resources available to provide assistance,” Kelley said.

Her office also encouraged the attendees to either contact them directly for all concerns regarding their employment or seek the intervention of the Philippine Embassy or POLO. Consul General Iric Arribas

also assured support and assistance from the Philippine Embassy and POLO-WDC, especially on matters concerning their personal security and wellbeing.

“We underscore the importance of continued collaboration between the Philippine Embassy and the US Department of State to educate our Filipino domestic workers of their rights in the United States and the Philippines and ultimately to protect the latter

from any form of abuse,” Arribas stressed.

“As this webinar is being in the same month that the Trafficking Victims Protection Act was passed in the United States, all the agencies here present in this webinar commit to provide help, assistance and support to those who are victims or are potential victims of trafficking, including labor trafficking,” POLO-WDC Labor Attaché Angela Trinidad added in her closing statement.

(Inquirer.net)

No follow up to Olympic gold as Hidilyn...

PAGE 1

the time to train that well since Tokyo, like the Philippine boxers who also medaled there and won’t be representing the country in their sport’s own world championship later this year.

Puentevella said the country will still be sending athletes led

by Tokyo Olympian Elreen Ando, the 23-year-old from Cebu City.

Ando finished seventh in her

division in the Olympics, and she will be gunning to surpass her silver medal-performance during last year’s Asian Championships also held in Tashkent.

Meanwhile, Punetevella said that the SWP has replaced Chinese coach Gao Kaiwen with Diaz’s strength and conditioning coach-turned fiance Julius Naranjo.

The 30-year-old former weightlifter has been an integral

part of “Team HD,” which plotted the Philippine campaign in the Tokyo Games even during the pandemic in a training camp in Malaysia.

Gao was Team HD’s head coach since 2018 when the spunky Filipino dominated the field on the way to an Asian Games gold medal in Indonesia.

“Then we will look for another foreign coach to handle the rest of the national pool members,”

Duterte, Pacquiao renew friendship after...

PAGE 1

Duterte once considered Pacquiao to be his ally.

However, the two started engaging in a verbal war after Pacquiao criticized Duterte’s “lacking” stance on the maritime dispute with China.

He also accused the Duterte administration of corruption.

Duterte, in response, told Pacquiao to “study first.” He also called the boxer-turnedsenator “punch-drunk.”

The rift between the two caused a schism within the Partido Demokratiko PilipinoLaban ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), creating two factions — one led

by Pacquiao and the other by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

As a result, the ruling party yielded two sets of presidential and vice presidential candidates for the 2022 national elections.

Pacquiao: The fight continues Pacquiao assured that he will not withdraw from the presidential race after his meeting with Duterte.

“Walang atrasan. Tuloy ang laban. (We will not back out. The fight is on),” he said Thursday, Nov. 11.

“Hindi nagbabago ang paninindigan ko sa pagtakbo bilang Pangulo (My stance in running for president remains unchanged),” he added.

Pacquaio also said that his stance on corruption remains unchanged, vowing that he will jail the corrupt.

“Ipakulong ang mga kawatan at i-angat ang buhay ng mga mahihirap nating kababayan.

Hindi ako trapo mag-isip. Ang panalo ko ang magpapanalo sa buhay ng bawat Pilipino (I will imprison the thieves and I will

uplift the lives of poor people.

I don’t think like a traditional politician. My victory is what will make the lives of every Filipino feel like they won as well),” he said.

In October, Pacquiao filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for president in the 2022 national elections.

He will run under the Probinsya Muna Development Initiative (PROMDI), the national party founded by the late former Cebu governor Lito Osmeña.

PROMDI is also part of the MP3 alliance, along with Pacquiao’s faction at Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) and the People’s Champ Movement (PCM).

The 2022 national elections will be held on May 9, 2022. n

Filipino senior brutally attacked in...

PAGE 1 Jones further said that Serra was stabbed twice in the stomach area, which damaged his intestines.

“One stab went all the way through the back and cut his main artery back there,” he said.

“The nurse told me that no one usually survives that. Looks like he’s going to make it through… miracle.”

Prior to the attack, Serra had been suffering from health issues and now faces a long road to recovery, according to Jones.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help pay for Serra’s medical expenses. As of this writing, a total of $16,350 has been raised.

“We’ve known our friend and coworker for over 2 decades and have personally witnessed his greatest moments as well as his hardships. Recently however his life was changed drastically, and on the morning of November 3rd, 2021, was brutally attacked at the trolley station,” wrote Jones in the description.

He also stated that Serra sustained multiple injuries due to

Jose Serra

the knife hitting multiple major organs. He also had a protrusion on one hand, and ear half cut off.

Currently, Serra is on a ventilator in the intensive care unit (ICU).

“What bothers me the most is that he recently lost his job and through all the struggles he has been through, how can someone not knowing this defenseless elder do this to him… It is sad to say that we live in a world of chaos,” wrote Jones.

He added, “We do our best to help him with any day-to-day necessities he may need. However,

Photo courtesy of GoFundMe

we are asking for prayers and to cover his medical cost and give him a little extra for when he gets back home. With no family in San Diego, we take it upon ourselves to see him through this tragedy.”

Serra’s attacker was described as a Hispanic male with a shaved head, 5’9” to 6’, 175 to 200 pounds with tattoos on his arm and possibly his face.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to come forward and call El Cajon Police at 619-579-3311 or Crimestoppers at 888-580-8477. (Ritchel Mendiola/AJPress)

Date lin e USa

(702) 792-6678 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Fil-Am candidate Arleen Rojas leads for Carson’s District 4 seat

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

FILIPINA American Arleen Rojas continues to lead the pack of candidates for a city council seat in Carson, California.

The Los Angeles County Registrar’s Office released the semi-official results for the local and municipal elections in the county on Tuesday, November 2, which included measures in Inglewood, Commerce, and Alhambra and local offices in Carson.

In the special council election for Carson’s 4th District, Rojas led the race with 660 (34.36%) votes. She was 135 points ahead of candidate Freddie Gomez, who received 525 (27.33%) votes, as of this writing.

There are still outstanding ballots to be counted during the official election canvass when all conditional, provisional and vote-by-mail ballots postmarked by Election Day are confirmed by the registrar.

The elected District 4 representative on the Carson City Council will succeed Lula DavisHolmes, who vacated the post after winning last year’s mayoral race.

Rojas is a 31-year veteran police officer, who was the first Filipina American to join the Los Angeles Police Department.

“Arleen Rojas has deep roots in the community, and has long been dedicated to serving it,” reads the biography on her website.

She currently serves on the Carson Economic Development Commision. She is also active in numerous Carson community activities and organizations such as the Lion’s Club, Carson Sister Cities Association, and Philippine Independence Day Foundation.

Her candidacy received endorsements from Mayor Pro Tem Jim Dear, Carson Treasurer

Arleen Rojas

Monica Cooper, Councilmember Jawane Hilton, and former Councilmember Elito Santarina. She was also backed by unions — Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, SEIU Local 11, AFSCME District Council 36, Carpenters Union, Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs — and local community leaders.

“I am thankful for the many young volunteers who walked and phone banked for me. I would like to expand educational and recreational opportunities for the youth. I will also work tirelessly to protect our Mobile Park residents who are mostly senior citizens,” Rojas added. (With reports from Fe P. Koons)

CINEMA INSPECTION. Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Benhur Abalos (right) and Mayor Lino Cayetano (left) inspect and attend a special movie screening at Cinema 1, 3rd Floor, Central Square, 30th Bonifacio High Street, BGC, Taguig City, on Wednesday, November 11. The inspection was to see the safety measures undertaken by the cinema operators amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

PNA photo by Avito Dalan

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • November 11-17, 2021

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Date lin e USa

November 11-17, 2021 • LAS veGAS ASIAN JoUrNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

Fil-Am charged, fined $53,000 for disrupting flight, punching attendant A federAl grand jury indicted ryan Cajimat, 21, a filipino American from Kapolei, Hawaii, with two federal crimes for his disruptive and violent conduct on a flight from Honolulu to Seattle. Cajimat must appear for arraignment on November 18, 2021.

Cajimat was on a dec. 24, 2020 delta Airlines flight from Honolulu to Seattle when he allegedly became disruptive.

About two hours before landing in Seattle, Cajimat tried to open the cockpit door and struggled with flight attendants was trying to restrain him.

The federal Aviation Administration fined Cajimat $52,500, and delta Airlines banned him from further travel on that airline.

One flight attendant was punched in the face twice.

Cajimat was restrained for the rest of the flight and was removed from the plane on arrival in Seattle.

Cajimat is charged with

interference with flight crew members and attendants and assault within a special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States.

Interference is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Assault on an aircraft is punishable by up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.

The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations.

A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case was investigated by the fBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Natalie WaltonAnderson.

The incident is one of many that have happened on planes during the past year as Americans return to the skies after staying close to home in 2020.

Just days before friday’s announcement from the Justice department, an American Airlines passenger allegedly

punched a flight attendant in the face twice, forcing a New Yorkto-Southern California flight to make an emergency landing in denver.

CBS News transportation correspondent errol Barnett reported a flight attendant bumped a first-class passenger during Wednesday’s flight and quickly apologized. later, the passenger went to the galley and allegedly punched the same crew member, breaking bones in her face, before returning to his seat as if nothing happened.

American CeO doug Parker said it was one of the worst acts of unruly behavior he’s seen. “This type of behavior has to stop, and the best deterrent is aggressive criminal prosecution,” Parker said.

Brian Hsu, 20, has been charged with interference with a flight crew and assault within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States in that case.

(Inquirer.net)

Fil-Am would-be terrorist bomber...

PAGE 1 April 2019.

As part of the plot, domingo asked an accomplice – who actually was working with the fBI as part of the investigation – to invite a bomb-maker into the scheme. domingo then purchased and provided to the confederate and the bomb-maker – who in fact was an undercover law enforcement officer – several hundred 3½-inch nails to be used as shrapnel for the bombs. domingo specifically chose those nails because they were long enough to penetrate organs in the human body. leading up to the attack, domingo called for an event similar to the October 2017 mass shooting in las Vegas. following an attack on Muslims in New Zealand in March 2019, domingo called for retribution in an online post. domingo selected the long Beach rally as his target and, in April 2019, drove his accomplice and the undercover officer to long Beach to scout the location he planned to attack. While there, domingo discussed finding the most crowded areas to place the bombs so he could kill the most people.

On April 26, 2019, domingo

A November 5 Google Earth screenshot of the residence in question with the problematic hoarding.

City of LA starts cleanup of KTown hoarder home after Filipina neighbor sought action After many letters to the city and a successful plea to the media spearheaded by neighbor Leticia Ruiz, the potential health hazard is finally getting under control

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

almost 30 years, said that she and the other neighbors were hesitant to speak to the hoarder directly fOr years, a filipina resident because they were concerned of los Angeles has lived next door about his mental health issues.

“I’m an old lady and I cannot to a hoarder whose accumulation of items and trash has become fight with a young man, because a health hazard for the entire I’m scared; what if he’s gonna hurt me?” ruiz shared, adding street.

To date, leticia ruiz, the fili- that she is concerned over the pina nextdoor neighbor who has health of the hoarder’s mother, lived in her Koreatown home who is in her 90s and lives in the since 1981, has sent at least half a home. ruiz said that the neighbors dozen letters to the City of lA and local media outlets to try to cata- believe that the interior of the Mark Steven Domingo, 28, of Reseda, California, was found guilty of providing material support lyze some action on this home, home is still full of debris, which to terrorism and attempting to use of a weapon of mass destruction. Inquirer.net file photo which for years was completely could be a potential hazard for buried by 8- to 10-foot tall piles of the mother. She said, “I pity the received what he thought were dential informant] stopped him hoarded goods. mother, but she’s very nice and two live bombs, but were actually from committing at least one This posed as a serious public she’s very religious. But she’s inert explosive devices delivered murder in April 2019 by encour- health risk and invited hordes of getting sick and she’s getting by an undercover law enforce- aging him to be patient. finally, insects, rats, and other vermin weak.” ment officer. He was arrested he admitted that he was excited who contributed to the overAccording to the American that same day with one of the when he learned that the [con- whelming smell that began to Psychological Association, hoardfidential informant] had access permeate the street. bombs in his hands. ing disorder is a complex issue “At trial, [domingo] testified to an individual who could conOn the morning of Thursday, that is denoted by three main and repeatedly affirmed that he struct a bomb, and that he was Nov. 4, however, a cleanup crew characteristics: difficulty in letintended to commit mass murder the one who chose to attack the from the city arrived at the home ting go of material possessions, in March and April 2019,” pros- rally, chose to use the bombs, of the hoarder — who agreed to excessive and/or impulsive colecutors wrote in a sentencing and chose to go through with let the crew on his property — lecting of new items, and inability memorandum that recommend- the plot to commit mass murder, and cleared away six truckloads to organize and prevent clutter. right up until the moment of his of items and debris. According to ed a sentence of life in prison. reality shows like A&e’s “He admitted that the [confi- arrest.” (Inquirer.net) the city, the entire cleanup pro- “Hoarders” continues to document the complicated disorder cess will span several days.

“At least they’ve started clean- through case studies of actual ing up,” ruiz told the Asian hoarders, most of whom suffer Journal in a phone interview on from an array of mental health Thursday after the city’s crews ar- conditions.

Not much is known about the rived at the hoarder’s home. “[We all] feel great and thankful to ev- Koreatown hoarder and his hiseryone. At least our community tory of mental health, but the neighbors were worried about will be back to normal.”

But ruiz said that the home him and his mother. Mental and yard are still buried under- health experts advise that neighneath the tall stockpile of items bors of hoarders should contact a that were believed to collected by family member or someone who the homeowner. These items in- knows the hoarder.

Though Thursday’s cleanup is cluded multiple refrigerators, tables, mattresses, boxes, and other a sign that the hoarding situation is improving, ruiz said that she’s home furniture and goods. ruiz, who is now retired after tried for years to get the city to working for Bank of America for act on her many requests to no

avail. She’s written to the mayor’s office, the office of lA’s Council district 10, and the city departments of Building and Safety and Public Health. “every time I called them, they would say that the person in charge was on vacation or unavailable so I would call again, but whenever I did call back, nothing would happen! It was useless,” ruiz recalled.

She said that while the mess has never reached her own property — she said the hoarder would park several motorcycles near her driveway, but never touching her property — she was worried that the stacks of boxes and debris would be a huge fire hazard.

She’s also written to KCAl9 and CBS2, which finally aired a segment on the hoard this week, which she and the neighbors believe helped finally literally break ground and initiate the cleanup on Thursday.

The los Angeles fire department said that they were aware of the hoard on Oct. 14 and sent an inspector to the property four days later. The homeowner was then issued a notice giving him 30 days to clean up the property.

Though other neighbors have been interviewed by reporters, ruiz said that her neighbors consider her the main intermediary between the street’s community and the city and media.

“My neighbors were telling me that I should always be the one doing the interviews — but maybe it’s because I talk too much,” she said, laughing. “But I ask them, ‘Why are you so ashamed [to speak]?’ Just say something; whatever you feel, just say it! But they said, ‘No, letty, you better do it for us. And so I did!” n

Voting rights is the civil rights issue of our time

by MarK Hedin Ethnic Media Services

IT’S the “civil rights issue of our time,” voting rights advocates say, but three different proposals to strengthen and create nationwide standards on voting are all stalled in Congress. “democracy is facing challenges unlike any we have seen in modern time,” said Wade Henderson, CeO of the leadership Conference on Civil and Human rights, at a press briefing hosted by ethnic Media Services and lCCr on Nov. 5.

Already this year, in 19 states, legislators have passed 33 laws that will make it harder to vote.

In all, 425 new voting rules have been proposed in 49 states.

Generally, where it’s been challenging to vote, the new laws have made it harder, Henderson noted. In florida and Georgia, for example, giving water or snacks to people waiting in lines to vote is now a crime.

This “torrent” of new rules on voting across the country is due to two recent Supreme Court decisions gutting the 1965 Voter rights Act, combined with the “Big lie” frenzy stoked by former president Trump, still trying to overturn the 2020 election.

“We still have tools available to us, but fewer than we once did,” said Sean Morales-doyle, of Brennan Center’s democracy Project.

And even in those two recent rulings that gutted the Voting rights Act – 2013’s Shelby v.

Holder and July 2021’s Brnovich v. dNC — the Supreme Court acknowledged Congress’ ultimate responsibility for setting federal voting standards, Morales-doyle pointed out.

“We actually do have two pieces of legislation that would

help us get us past this moment,” Morales-doyle pointed out.

“The freedom to Vote Act and the John lewis Voting rights Advancement Act.” On Nov. 3, republican Alaska Sen. lisa Murkowski, was the 51st “yes” vote for discussing the proposed John lewis Voting rights Advancement Act. Jacqueline deleon, of the Native American rights fund (NArf), noted that Murkowski was elected, in part, thanks to native Alaskan voters traveling long distances to get to polling places to vote in the pitch-black dark in the snow after learning how to spell her name to support her write-in election in 2012.

But filibuster rules in the Senate meant that 51 of 100 possible votes was not enough.

Because of the filibuster, it takes 60 votes to do most things. There are currently 50 republican senators, two Independents and 48 democrats.

But 51 votes would be enough to change that filibuster rule, for example, by making an exception for voting laws, similar to the exception made for Supreme Court nominations in 2017.

“All eyes are on Congress and the Senate,” Morales-doyle said.

Meanwhile, in Indian Country, change is long overdue. deleon described how some reservations have no polling places at all, forcing impoverished voters to drive 100 miles on dirt roads into sometimes inhospitable, racist border towns to exercise their voting rights. lousy mail service, too, can make registration and absentee voting difficult-to-impossible, she said.

“Natives vote if they’re

provided a fair opportunity, but they’re too often not given that fair chance.”

“We need to get away from the framing that the voting rights is a democratic ask,” she concluded. “This is about protecting American citizens from racist abuse and denying them their right to participate in the American political process.”

John C. Yang, of Asian Americans Advancing JusticeAAJC, also emphasized the nonpartisan importance of seeing that everyone’s voice is heard.

“Then we have an argument on the values, on the issues. We try to persuade the voters that our policies make sense. That’s the beauty of democracy.”

“Our community is quite diverse,” he said.

Asian Americans have become the fastest-growing ethnic group in the country. “We have individuals of all different political stripes.” “for us, it is about making sure that every citizen that has the right to vote has the opportunity to do so in a most efficient and effective manner.”

He described how voter-Id laws sometimes run afoul of language barriers. And once a person has secured their right to vote, having multi-lingual voting materials and mail-in voting is also important.

“It is about having communities not feeling that they are less of a citizen because of their immigrant status or because they have limited english proficiency, or because they have different socio-economic means that don’t allow them to vote during a 9-5 period.”

Henderson pointed out how 13 of the same senators who stopped the lewis Act last week,

u PAGE 7

D ateline PhiliPPines Palace: Wait for IATF final

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • November 11-17, 2021

(702) 792-6678 • http://www.asianjournal.com

5

decision on face shield mandate

by Ritchel

menDiola AJPress

THE mandatory use of face shields in closed spaces and crowded areas will remain until the pandemic task force makes its final decision on the matter, according to Malacañang.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday, November 8, urged local government units (LGUs) to wait before issuing ordinances since the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) is still studying the existing policy.

“So ang desisyon po ngayon ay kinakailangan ipatupad muna ang face shields habang pinag-aaralan naman po. Hindi naman po natin sinasabi na hindi tatanggalin ‘yan pero antayin naman po natin ang desisyon ng IATF (So for now the mandatory use face shields should be imposed while it is being studied.

We are not saying that we will not remove that, but let’s wait for the IATF decision),” he said in an online briefing.

The statement was issued after Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso signed an executive order that said face shields would no lon-

ger be required in the city except in medical facilities.

Roque also reminded local chief executives that they are “under the control and supervision of the President in the executive branch of government.”

“IATF exercises derivative authorities from the President because it was created through an executive order. Halos lahat naman po ng desisyon ng IATF is either ratified or binigyan ng Presidente ang kapangyarihan ang IATF na mag-desisyon (Almost every decision of the IATF is either ratified or the President gave the IATF the power to decide),” he said.

“Dahil lahat po ng mga mayor ay nasa control and supervision pa rin po ng ating Presidente, kinakailangan po lahat ng mga mayor sumunod pa rin po sa mga polisiya ng IATF hanggang hindi po nababago (Since all mayors are under the control and supervision of the President, they need to follow the policies of the IATF until they are changed),” the spokesman added.

Further, Roque said that the Manila City government’s executive order was “null and void.”

“Another way of looking at it is null and void po siya (it is null and void) for being in violation of an existing executive policy decreed by the President himself, in the exercise of police powers,” he said.

Likewise, the country’s Department of Health urged LGUs to wait for the IATF before issuing orders to drop the face shield requirement.

“We urge local governments to just hold their executive orders or issuances so we can all be uniform in our implementation and we are all aligned,” said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

The IATF first issued the use of face shields outdoors in December last year.

In September this year, DISINFECTION. Playroom service assistant Jennifer Suciban uses ultraviolet light to disinfect the plastic balls and the whole playroom area Philippine President Rodrigo at Sairam Playland in SM Fairview Parkway in Quezon City on Wednesday night (Nov. 10, 2021). Under Alert Level 2, children’s amusement Duterte limited the use of face parks, playgrounds, playrooms, and kiddie rides are allowed to operate.

PNA photo by Ben Briones shields in places that fall under the “3Cs” category: crowded, closed, and close contact.

The Philippines is the only country in the world that requires using face shields in addition to masks.

To date, there are a total of really on Congress in order to fied Section 80 of the Omnibus 2,805,294 COVID-19 cases in

by William Depasupil come up with a law that would Election Code, and rendered it ManilaTimes.net the country, with 44,521 faspell out with clarity which ac- not applicable in the 2010 autotalities and 2,728,696 recovTHE Commission on Elections tions are allowed from the filing mated elections. eries. n Section 80 states that “it shall (Comelec) is the most powerful of CoCs to the election period government agency on matters and which activities should not be unlawful for any person, whether or not a voter or candipertaining to the conduct of be allowed.

“There is a void in the law,” date...to engage in an election elections but a void in the law campaign or partisan political government agencies, local gov- has rendered the poll body a Jimenez said.

Under the present circum- activity, except during the camernment units (LGUs), civil so- lame duck against candidates ciety organizations, and private who engage in premature cam- stances, Jimenez further said, paign period.” premature campaigning in the The decision on the Penera sector partners will be mobilized paigning.

Comelec spokesman James guise of providing aid to voters case, which prohibits nothto participate in the vaccination Jimenez disclosed on Thursday is the call of the times which, ing, has prompted the Comelec drive.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces that the poll body has recom- he pointed out, is tantamount to since 2010 to come up with a law that would regulate politiof the Philippines (AFP), Philip- mended to Congress to come vote buying and illegal per se.

The problem with prema- cal activities from the filing of pine National Police (PNP), Of- out with a law reverting back to fice of Civil Defense (OCD), and the old rules that one is consid- ture campaigning cropped CoC and the election period.

Technically, the Comelec Department of Transportation ered an official candidate upon up in 2010 after the Supreme (DOTr) will be tapped for vaccine filing of a certificate of candi- Court reversed its decision in pointed out that under the high dacy (CoC), which only allowed the Penera vs. Comelec case tribunal’s decision on the Pendeployment.

After the vaccination drive, candidates to engage in par- where it disqualified Sta. Mon- era case, candidates are only “sustainment operations” will be tisan political activities at the ica, Surigao del Norte Mayor covered by prohibitive camRosalinda Penera as candidate paign activities during the camconducted by the government start of the campaign season.

Specifically, Jimenez point- in the 2007 local elections for paign period but before that it’s from Dec. 2 to 31 to ensure LGUs meet their vaccination targets by ed out, the Comelec has rec- violation of Section 80 of the essentially a fair game.

Jimenez said that a regulaommended to Congress “to Omnibus Election Code which the end of the year.

“We will not end up with the change the [current] definition prohibits premature campaign- tory law would level the playing field between those with a lot of national vaccination day. We will of official candidate to the old ing.

With the reversal, the Su- resources and those who don’t sustain the effort up to December definition.”

Jimenez said that the call is preme Court effectively nulli- have much. n 31,” said Galvez. n

PH to hold 3-day COVID-19 vaccination drive

by Ritchel

menDiola AJPress

AROUND 30 million Filipinos are now fully-vaccinated against COVID-19.

As of Wednesday, November 10, a total of 30,108,097 Filipinos have received a second dose of the vaccine or completed the single-dose regimen manufactured

by American drugmaker Johnson & Johnson.

Meanwhile, 35,656,279 individuals have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

However, the latest figures are still far from the national government’s target of 50 to 70 million individuals by the end of the year.

Early Wednesday, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said

that they are planning to conduct a three-day national vaccination drive this November with the goal of vaccinating at least 15 million individuals.

“With this, we want to convey the message that every Filipino who will get vaccinated… Everyone who got vaccinated is a hero, all of you are heroes,” he said during his taped public address.

According to vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr., the proposed vaccination program will be called “Bayanihan, Bakunahan” and is tentatively scheduled to run from Nov. 29 to December 1.

He also said that around 4,000 to 5,000 vaccination sites across all of the 17 regions in the Philippines will be activated for the program.

Further, Galvez said that all

Comelec asks Congress to review law against premature campaigning

6

November 11-17, 2021 • LAS veGAS ASIAN JoUrNAL

Op in iO n & Fe atu re s

http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

Resilience after Yolanda EIGHT years ago after Super Typhoon Yolanda flattened large swathes of Eastern Visayas including much of Tacloban City, leaving over 6,300 people dead and 1,800 others missing, there was a lot of talk about building back better.

That objective of building for climate resilience remains relevant as survivors and those left behind by the dead and missing commemorate the disaster. Yolanda, the most powerful storm recorded in the world in 2013, made the first of six landfalls before dawn on Nov. 8 in the coastal town of Guiuan in Eastern Samar.

The Category 5 storm, packing winds of up to 314 kilometers per hour, spawned powerful storm surges up to 15 feet high that ripped out about 1.1 million houses and even concrete structures and laid waste to approximately 33 million coconut trees – a major source of livelihood in the affected areas. The disaster disrupted the livelihoods of an estimated 5.9 million people. A serious humanitarian crisis was averted only because of an ava-

lanche of support from the international community.

Even with outside help, rising from the ashes took time, especially for those who lost their loved ones.

This week survivors lit candles and laid wreathes to remember the dead, even as they continue the challenging task of rebuilding with climate resilience in mind.

Yolanda’s fury is remembered amid the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference or COP26, which is being held until this Friday in Glasgow, Scotland. The death and destruction caused by Yolanda showed the damage that extreme weather can unleash. Commemorating that tragedy should firm up commitments to boost climate resilience. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective Gel SantoS-ReloS AFTER a better than expected jobs report and lower unemployment rate (4.6%) last Friday, November 5 — coupled with a very encouraging news about the continuing rise of vaccination rates in the United States (now at 77% as of mid-October) — we now have more reasons to be thankful for and look forward to.

A bipartisan infrastructure bill we thought would never happen has passed!

Late Friday, November 5, 13 Republicans joined 215 Democrats in support of the legislation, the National Public Radio (NPR) reported.

“After months of tense negotiations, the House of Representatives has passed a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, 228-206, fulfilling a major priority for President Biden’s domestic agenda,” the report stated.

Indeed this is long overdue.

We have been left behind by other industrialized nations and we urgently need to be competitive in the 21st century in facing the ever-changing landscape of

Another reason to be thankful: Congress just passed a bipartisan infrastructure bill that will also address climate change, add more jobs! our global challenges that affect not only us in America, but the whole world.

Our bridges, roads and railways are antiquated; our airports and seaports are old and worn out; our public transit system pales in comparison with other nations, making us depend more on private vehicles that lead to more traffic congestion, gas dependency, and pollution; our broadband internet access has yet to benefit so many remote counties around the nation; our health and safety have been compromised by our own abuse of our ecosystem, threatening our water and food supply, and the sustainability of life in our planet as we know it.

As the White House website explained: President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal passed by Congress will strengthen our nation’s resilience to extreme weather and climate change while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding access to clean drinking water, building up a clean power grid, and more. When coupled with the Build Back Better Framework,

these historic investments will help reduce our emissions by well over one gigaton this decade – ensuring we meet President Biden’s commitment to reduce U.S. emissions by 5052% from 2005 levels in 2030, create a 100% carbon pollutionfree power sector by 2035, and achieve a net-zero economy by 2050. Together, these once-in-ageneration investments will unlock the full potential of a clean energy economy that combats climate change, advances environmental justice, and creates good-paying, union jobs.

The Build Back Better spending package originally had a price tag of $3.5 trillion, the NPR reported. But with strong opposition from Republicans and some Democrats, the bill had to be trimmed down, choosing priority and urgent projects to keep the bill alive.

According to the NPR report, “the slimmed-down spending package includes universal pre-K for all 3- and 4-year-olds, investments in affordable housing, premium reductions under the Affordable Care Act, major investments aimed at address-

Philippines: Five hundred years without love Commentary

eRnie D. Delfin MARCH 16, 1521 is one date that is known by students of Philippine history, as it’s the date when Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese national but worked as a mercenary of Spain, “discovered” the Philippines that put the country onto the map of the world powers (Spain and Portugal) then.

Due to this discovery, Filipinos could claim that the country has been “Christianized” over five centuries this year. However, to this day, the country is still searching her own place in the sun! In his book “Why are we poor,” the national artist F. Sionil Jose’s attempted to give valid reasons and enumerate many factors why.

His other novels like “Po-on” or “Ermita” also contained fictional characters that represented leaders in business and politics, the rich and poor, and the exploiters and exploited in Philippine society.

Reading F. Sionil Jose’s epic novels can move nationalistic readers to tears.

Fast forward to January 2021, while “imprisoned” at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this writer just finished reading a 368page book, titled “Five hundred years without love,” a novel by Atty. Alex Lacson, a best-selling author of a series of small books “12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do to Help Our Country.”

The novel is a painful journey of several tragic events and human drama that a poor family in Negros suffered profoundly as a

Philstar.com photo

result of a dysfunctional political system and unjust social-economic system that have become debilitating cancers with origins during the Spanish colonial times. The narrations of the main character, Atty. Anton Hinirang, are so graphically alive to this day that you the sensitive reader (like this columnist) can feel the pains and lamentations of his family. Anton’s father, a poor farmer was mysteriously killed by “hired goons” to expedite the land-grabbing goals of corrupt politicians to expedite their family business expansion.

Months after the old man’s death was followed by another tragic murder of Anton’s brother, Teodoro, an honest-to-goodness policeman, whose killers remained unsolved as of the book’s publication. It is assumed by many residents of the town that the murders were premeditated as both father and son killings were carried out by two unknown men riding in tandem in motorcycles. The latter’s murder was to prevent the uncovering of his father’s murder. As tragic events often go by threes, Anton’s sister Phebe, a teacher-turned OFW in Saudi who worked as a domestic helper, mysteriously died purportedly by an exploiter-employer who hid his crimes for months.

The OFWs are commonly known to be the “unsung heroes” of the Philippines as they are the #1 exports of the country that kept the nation afloat for decades.

Although many of these OFWs are college graduates, like Phebe millions of them opted to leave (the country) to live as their salaries/income in the Philippines as minimum wage earners cannot support a family to live decently as human beings as they always dreamed when they were in college.

A great percentage of these 11 million OFWs are compelled to leave their families to have a better life. The OFWs suffer much sacrifice work long and hard work just to earn more money to provide for the economic needs of the family that is left behind.

Filipinos leaving home to work as OFWs, however, creates many predictable social problems of the family as the children are forced to be taken care by other people who are not the parents (many times husbands and wives become OFWs too). Oftentimes, only one parent becomes an OFW, and both husband and wife suffer tremendous pressures to maintain a good happy family due to sheer absence.

In the case of Anton’s sister, Phebe, she opted to leave her teaching position to leave a very unhealthy working environment that was controlled by political benefactors! She left an employer that was corrupt only to suffer the ultimate sacrifice, coming home in a casket.

Anton’s other brother “Manong Jose” became a priest who tried very hard to “spiritually” rationalize or to create a defense mechanism to cope up with the family’s tragedies, until he himself, considered joining the NPA (New People’s Army) underground. He felt very sadly as a failed priest in his human mind. His expectations as an ordained priest were very high to cause tangible progress and better changes in his province. However, the reality seemed worse as the social environment is mired deeper in the mud of corruption, exploitation and extreme greed of those in power.

Atty. Anton’s readings of history revealed that the exploitation and corruption remain remained alive and even became worse in so many areas of Philippine so-

ing climate change and an additional year of the expanded child tax credit.”

Here’s a closer look at what’s in the infrastructure bill that now heads to Biden’s desk for his signature: Transportation Roads, bridges, major projects: $110 billion Passenger and freight rail: $66 billion Public transit: $39 billion Airports: $25 billion Port infrastructure: $17 billion Transportation safety programs: $11 billion Electric vehicles: $7.5 billion Zero and low-emission buses and ferries: $7.5 billion Revitalization of communities: $1 billion Other infrastructure Broadband internet: $65 billion Power infrastructure: $73 billion Clean drinking water: $55 billion Resilience and Western water storage: $50 billion Removal of pollution from water and soil: $21 billion

How do we pay for this investment in our future?

There are already public funds allocated for infrastructure. The NPR report said “that includes nearly $550 billion in new spending above what Congress was already planning to allocate for infrastructure over the next eight years.”

“The plan will be financed in a number of ways, including repurposing unspent emergency relief funds from the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthening tax enforcement for cryptocurrencies. The CBO has predicted the bill will add about $256 billion to projected deficits over the next 10 years,” the report added.

With other spending bills to invest in our future and in ordinary hardworking Americans, the White House and Democrats are pushing to tax the billionaires their equitable share after growing in wealth exponentially even and because of the pandemic, as the basic and essential needs of ordinary families are threatened and compromised.

So far, the Biden Administration have delivered on its promise to work on priorities to help

our nation build back better.

Actions to control the COVID19 pandemic, provide economic relief, and now tackle climate change - these are all work in progress. We have to see more action to the promise “to advance racial equity and civil rights, as well as immediate actions to reform our immigration system and restore America’s standing in the world”.

We will get there. We are in the right path. The future is brighter. We all should work together, not just the government.

We can do this. ***

ciety today. The only things that changed are faces of the corrupt and greedy oppressors: from the mestizos with Spanish last names and whiter skins and now the Filipinos themselves!

The root cause of the metastasized cancer of the Philippines is too much greed from top to bottom of society: from politics to business and also the “forgiving” attitude and short memory of the Filipino people. Even commonly known corrupt politicians are “idolized” and even asked to be the honored “ninong or ninang” of the people’s children. As it is the practice of many, politicians dole out money far beyond their “nominal” salary, while having the power to “budget” public expenditures, that are padded to include kickbacks to the pockets of the politicians’ families. The money given to poor people is considered a good investment for their (lucrative government) business. This common practice creates many family political dynasties all over the Philippine archipelago. The political positions are held by family members: from one position another, father to mother to son and daughter, like a musical chair.

Mr. Alex Lacson, the author, speaking in the mouth of Professor Atty Anton blames and indicts the corrupt politicians, business people who are self-serving leaders as the # 1 culprit of the malaise of the Philippine society where millions of a vast majority of people are just existing, not living their full potential as God wants His children to live their full potential.

Mahatma Gandhi summed up seven major causes of the world’s social cancer, the great inequality of human resources and wealth, dividing deeply the lives of the few HAVES and the billions of HAVE NOTS, namely: Politics without principle, business without ethics

Wealth without works, pleasures without conscience Science without humanity, knowledge without character Religion without honor This columnist agrees with the great Servant Leader, Mahatma Gandhi.

Furthermore, I also agree with the book author, Alex Lacson who I admire greatly for his exceptional optimism which I find very hard to totally embrace. I feel that the current crap — oops, crop — of leaders in the Philippines today do not have the political will to provide or initiate real and pragmatic solutions to make the country progress as the author dreams and hope. Simply because many will not kill the golden goose that preserves their centuries’ old power and wealth.

No one among them will destroy their “future!”

Of course, no one including this columnist claims to have the right answer. However, I can posit a possible solution. If self-serving leaders were the culprit, let’s change them with true servant leaders like Mother (now Saint) Teresa and many missionaries like the Missionaries of the Poor (MOP) founded by Father Richard Ho Lung from Jamaica where many Filipinos are now joining.

These kinds of servant leaders already exist but they are not in the political or economic or business arena yet! In religious orders or communities, their “economic” system (although some deride it as communistic or socialistic) is much better as the members of the community are assigned where their talents, be in the classroom, kitchen or in the hospital or in the garden or even assigned as missionaries in other parts of the world like the U.S. Peace Corps that was created during the administration of President John F. Kennedy.

With genuine servant leaders, we can educate, motivate and

develop the youth’s moldable young minds to have the common good always as the national mantra to transform the country economically and ethically to follow Gandhi’s formula.

If the young minds are not polluted and they are not trained to be greedy and self-serving like the generations before them, when their time to become leaders of the country, then we have a very good chance to have genuine servant leaders in a generation or two. That is my hope and dram for the country, to attain Gandhi’s ideal place where politics with principles, business with ethics, and knowledge with character exist.

Along with this ambitious strategy, I am proposing to flood Mr. Alex Lacson’s books in as many high school or college libraries as possible, to be read by the youth, and then “create” regional essay contests after reading the book on a relevant topic like: “Youth can do little things to to help their country” and provide great prizes and awards as big enough incentives for the youth to read, think and write their ideas as young men and women as the hope of the motherland.

Last, but not least, I urge every Filipino to read “Five Hundred Years Without Love” and think and challenge himself about what he can do for his country.

By reading the novel, you can also find out what happened to Atty. Anton Hinirang in the book!

Happy reading.

Good luck and God Bless the Philippines! God Bless all of us during these challenging COVID times! ***

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.

*** Gel Santos Relos has been in news, talk, public service and educational broadcasting since 1989 with ABS-CBN and is now serving the Filipino audience using different platforms, including digital broadcasting, and print, and is working on a new public service program for the community. You may contact her through email at gelrelos@icloud.com, or send her a message via Facebook at Facebook.com/Gel. Santos.Relos.

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.

*** ernie.delfin@gmail.com

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7

Moreno: We will be fearless in defending OFW departures pick up, shows need for jobs defy COVID WPS; fair in discussing arbitral ruling by cristinA

eloisA Inquirer.net

by Angelic JordAn Inquirer.net

BOTOLAN, Zambales — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso, Aksyon Demokratiko presidential aspirant, on Thursday said he will be fearless in defending the country’s sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea. In a media interview held in Zambales with the West Philippine Seas as background, Moreno said he will assert the Hague Ruling and build the country’s capacity to defend its waters in securing unimpeded access for small fisherfolk to abundant fishing grounds.

“We will be fearless in fighting for what is ours. We will insist the Hague Ruling. But at the same time as being fearless, we are going to be fair with our discussion and management of the situation on both sides,” said Moreno.

“We will be faithful to our farmers and fisherfolks. Ang mga mangingisda, dapat makapangisda sa loob ng ating teritoryo sa dagat. At iyon ang magaganap: undeterred, peaceful, and productive fishing opportunities under our rules. Filipino fishermen first,” explained Moreno.

Moreno, his running mate Dr. Willie Ong and senatorial bets Samira Gutoc, Dr. Carl Balita and Jopet Sison met with 100 fisherfolks and their families in this town to hear their sad plight as a result of the Chinese vessels’ presence in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

Locally known as Panatag or Bajo de Masinloc, the shoal serves as the traditional fishing ground of Filipino fishermen as it is situated inside the country’s 370-kilometer exclusive eco-

nomic zone.

Almost all fishermen in this province have stopped fishing at the shoal since they experienced harassment from the Chinese coast guards and due to the depletion of the fish population.

“Chinese fishermen have been overfishing, depleting our marine resources. They even sell their catch to our fishermen at higher price,” Moreno said quoting stories from Zambales fishermen.

Aside from diplomatic negotiations, the 47-year-old mayor said he will modernize the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard and improve the country’s lines of defense on its western coast.

“I will reinforce our Navy and Coast Guard. We will invest more on the western side of the country, so that we can protect our sovereignty and territorial jurisdiction as recognized by (the) UN and all other nations,” Moreno said.

The Chinese Coast Guard had used water cannons and sometimes rammed the boats of Filipino fishermen to drive them away from the shoal.

China, which claims nearly all of the South China Sea, seized control of Panatag in 2012, prompting the Philippines to seek UN arbitration. In 2016, the arbitral tribunal invalidated China’s sweeping claims, but China continues to ignore the ruling.

The Chinese vessels are moored within the country’s 370-kilometer exclusive economic zone (EEZ) where the Philippines has the sole and sovereign right to fish and exploit the marine resources.

“Ang maganda sa eastern board, wala naman tayong kapitbahay. Sa western board, from

Tawi-Tawi to Batanes (meron).

That’s how we’re going to do it,” he added.

Moreno also said he plans to strengthen the country’s Mutual Defense Treaty and Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States.

Moreno, however, said he is not currently inclined to invite the US to reinstall military bases in the Philippines.

“We have to study that. In fact, yesterday, we were in SBMA. The former US military base gives us some economic development there, which needs improvement. But bases, actually, sa ngayon, sa totoo lang, dagat lang, okay na. Kasi ang kailangan natin, archipelagic protection. Because we are an archipelagic country,” said Moreno.

Nonetheless, trade treaties and agreements with the country’s regional neighbors, even claimants to the West Philippine Sea and economic rivals of the US, will continue under his administration, Moreno said.

“Treaties will be recognized.

Trade with America, Vietnam, China and all other nations will continue because (the) WPS issue is far different from our economic issue in terms of trade.

We’ll take that as an opportunity for us to gain, for the people to gain, for the country to gain,” said Moreno.

In terms of budget, Moreno said the national government’s security spending will focus on external defense should he be elected president.

“Bibili tayo ng tingga? Babarilin natin ang kapwa nating Pilipino? I’ll just invest it in the body of water (and) protecting the future of our country, na wag nang mabawasan yung natitira pa,” he said. n

MANILA — The COVID19 pandemic has crushed the country’s migration flow and has displaced many overseas Filipinos workers (OFWs).

However, as the Philippines and other countries loosen travel restrictions, the deployment of OFWs has been slowly improving this year.

Steadily increasing According to Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) director Levinson Alcantara, there has been a “steady growth of deployment” for both land-based and seabased workers before the pandemic hit the country.

POEA’s latest data showed that there were a total of 1,595,414 land-based workers and 449,463 sea-based workers deployed in 2017. Meanwhile, there were 1,649,487 landbased workers and 448,102 sea-based workers deployed in 2018.

Preliminary data for 2019 showed that 1,649,012 deployed land-based workers and a larger figure for deployed seabased workers at 507,730.

“But that picture drastically changed when 2020 set in and COVID-19 pandemic prevented people from moving about internally within the country and to countries of destination where they should have been working,” said Alcantara at an online press conference on Thursday, November 11.

However, POEA noted that the numbers have moved up during the first nine months of 2021—with 539,140 deployed land-based and sea-based workers, around 98 percent of the total deployed workers in the whole year of 2020.

“I would shy away from comparing 2020 to 2021 because the year has not yet been completed,” said Alcantara.

“Suffice to say, up until SepAlabama report), Alaska, recently joined a suit by the Center, Mexican tember of 2021, we are almost Arizona, California, Florida, Brennan Defense and about to breach the whole of Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, American New York, North Carolina, South Educational Fund and others 2020 level of deployment,” he continued. against new rules in Texas.

Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.

A year-on-year comparison “None of the work stops while “The way forward is through Congress, and Congress needs we’re waiting for Congress to for the total deployed sea-based to be told that over and over and act, but we still need Congress workers from 2019 to 2020 showed that there was a 57.22 over again,” Morales-Doyle said. to act,” Morales-Doyle said.

“Apart from suing, we need decrease recorded last year.

In the meantime, he and other In 2019, there were a total voting rights advocates are using to keep up the work to change what tools they still have to take the public narrative on this. And of 507,730 sea-based workers people DO want an expansive deployed. The following year, it the battle to the courts. went down to 217,223.

The Justice Department democracy!” n

Voting rights is the civil rights issue... such as John Conryn of Texas, had all previously voted in favor of continuing the VRA. “We have to take the fight to them,” he said. “This is a right and we should demand it and we should generate the political heat necessary to obtain it.”

The Leadership Conference has prepared 14 reports documenting the state of voting rights in 13 states across the country: Alabama (second

BAclig

“There has been quite a remarkable recovery, especially on the part of the sea-based sector, with their workers declared as essential global workers and therefore facilitated issuances have been provided so that crew change, as well as disembarkation, are made easier for the sector,” the POEA director said.

“That reflects a positive turnout for the deployment of our overseas seafarers,” he added.

From January to September this year, there were already 270,710 deployed seafarers—a 24.61 percent increase compared to the total deployed seabased workers last year.

“Happy to note that in the current year, up until the month of September, we have already breached the 2020 level of deployment. There seems to be a faster initial recovery in terms of deployment from the seabased sector,” said Alcantara.

The total deployed landbased workers had decreased by 79.83 percent from 1,649,012 in 2019 to 332,618 in 2020. However, it has been slowly rising in 2021.

“Until the ninth month of the current year also, there has been a modest but steady stream of deployment for our land-based sector workers because up until September we are already up to 268,430,” Alcantara said.

Raring to return overseas A study by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) United Nations Migration detailed that by the end of 2020, the Philippines saw an unprecedented number of repatriation—a total of 791,623.

Citing figures from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), IOM said in a report that at least 481,305 repatriated Filipinos had land-based jobs abroad. At least 308,332 had been working on ships. At least 1,986 were brought home from Sabah.

The IOM report said the DFA brought back 327,511 OFWs who had land-based jobs which was 71 percent of total repatriation. At least 95,974 were those who had jobs in 150 cruise ships, oil tankers and other cargo vessels.

Data by the DFA as of Aug. 7 showed that a total of 408,911 Filipinos have been sent home during the pandemic. Of these, at least 105,607 had been working on ships and 303,304 were

land-based.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) estimated that a total of 502,581 OFWs returned to the Philippines either after losing their jobs or for fear of getting stranded by the pandemic or both.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana gave higher estimates of the reverse diaspora.

He said as of June 28, more than 1 million Filipinos had been repatriated or had returned to the Philippines since the pandemic struck.

As of June 28, Lorenzana said a total of 1,237,186 overseas Filipinos have been repatriated—1,005,885 OFWs and 231,301 Filipino residents of foreign countries.

Of the OFWs, 591,956 are land-based and 413,929 are sea-based. half or 48 percent said they plan to re-migrate abroad while two percent expressed an interest in internal migration.

IOM detailed that out of those who aim to work overseas again, the prevalence was higher among males and sea-based workers, with 53 percent and 63 percent.

Female returnees and landbased workers, on the other hand, were more likely to consider internal migration than males, but are likely to stay at home.

Based on the study, these are the following countries where OFWs aspired to return to work: • Taiwan – 80 percent • Japan – 78 percent • United States – 78 percent • Singapore – 71 percent OFWs looking to re-migrate to a new country chose the following: • New Zealand – 98 percent • Canada – 95 percent “Meanwhile, the country with the least preference for return to work was Kuwait with only 59 percent of OFWs intending to return,” IOM said.

“This had an overrepresentation of females at 72 percent, reflecting the large amount of female OFWs returning from Kuwait,” it added.

“Of interest, 44 percent of all OFW returnees from Kuwait preferred to stay in the Philippines post-return with a higher representation of females at 74 percent not wanting to re-migrate.” n

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November 11, 2021

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inside

LifestyLe • Consumer Guide • Community • MARketpLAce

Fil-Am breaker wins Red Bull What to expect from John Lloyd now that he’s Kapuso BC One World competition by nathalie

toMada Philstar.com

By Ritchel

Mendiola

AJPress

FILIPINA American Logistx is the first B-Girl from the United States to be crowned champion at the 2021 Red Bull BC One World Final.

The breaking tournament invited 16 B-Girls and B-Boys to compete at the world final on Saturday, November 6, at Ergo Arena in Gdansk, Poland.

Logistx dominated in the BGirl event, defeating Yell from South Korea, Japan’s Ayumi, and Russians Nadia and Vavi.

At the age of 18, the Fil-Am breaker became the youngest B-Girl to win the Red Bull BC One title.

“I’ve definitely dreamed about winning this belt many times, but what means the most to me from this experience isn’t the belt. It isn’t even the title.

It’s deeper for me,” Logistx said after claiming the title.

“I wanted to win, because if I did, I knew that whatever I have to say, people are going to listen to me. What I want to say first is that everyone is capable of winning, because I lost and I had to come back from that,” she added.

In the B-Boy event, Amir of Kazakhstan secured the title, beating Flea Rock of the U.S. and Canadian Phil Wizard.

The Red Bull BC One World Final, for the first time ever, featured a top 16 B-Girl lineup.

Logistx, whose real name is Logan Edra, was born and raised in California.

She started breaking in 2011 in San Diego after watching a youth breaking class taught by a B-girl.

Logistx got her B-Girl name from her father. Her first mentors were B-Girl Val Pal, B-Boy Villn, and B-Boy Mpact.

She has competed in various tournaments, winning the 2018 Silverback Open B-Girl solo competition and the junior

Photo from Instagram/@logistx_

breaking Seven to Smoke battle at the 2019 Radikal Forze Jam. She also joined and won season 2 of NBC’s World Of Dance with The Lab. Logistx also performed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2019.

Currently, she is a member of the crews Underground Flow, BreakinMIA, and Red Bull BC One All Stars.

JOHN Lloyd Cruz is officially reviving his television career via GMA Network.

After months of speculations and negotiations, the 38-year-old actor has signed a partnership deal for his first Kapuso show to premiere in January 2022.

“Maraming salamat sa pagbibigay ng tahanan sa aming munting pamilya at programa. Napakalaking bagay ‘ho na nakahanap kami ng tahanan sa GMA. Sa lahat ng mga nagpaabot ng pagbati… sana talaga lahat tayo ay mabigyan ng pagkakataon na magkatrabaho,” John Lloyd said during a contractsigning on Tuesday, November 9.

The event was attended virtually and in-person by network executives, including GMA Network Films, Inc. president and programming consultant to the chairman and CEO Annette Gozon-Valdes, senior vice president for GMA Entertainment Group Lilybeth Rasonable, first vice president for Program Management Jose Mari Abacan, among others. Also present were Wacky Solutions, Inc. director and line producer Edgar “Bobot” Mortiz, as well as Rambo Nunez Ortega and Mikki Gonzalez, CEO and COO, respectively, at John Lloyd’s management team Crown Artist Management, Inc. In an exclusive interview with The STAR, Gozon-Valdes shared more details about GMA’s partnership agreement with the actor.

“Finally, he’s going to have a show with GMA. We’re really looking forward to that. Everyone in GMA is very excited for this project,” Gozon-Valdes said, referring to the sitcom the actor will topbill and produce.

Asked if John Lloyd inked a

John Lloyd Cruz

“guaranteed contract” with the network, she said, “No, not yet.

This is a line production. So, sila ni direk Bobot, they’re going to produce the show, and it’s going to be aired on GMA.” Set to be a Sunday primetime offering, it will begin airing in January, as part of the opening salvo for the 2022 programming lineup.

John Lloyd seems to be channeling a real-life role as he will play a single father in the sitcom titled Happy To Get Her, also a play on the words “happy together.”

As for other cast members, Gozon-Valdes said, “Actually, walang leading lady yung show but he’s going to have regular guests… The concept is not just an ordinary sitcom, it’s very heartwarming and it has a lot of values that will be imparted to the audience.”

The announcement of John Lloyd’s first project on GMA came months after fueling comeback rumors with his guesting in a TV special by GMA blocktimer and Wowowin host Willie Revillame in June. It was the first TV appearance for the former prized talent at ABS-CBN since taking an indefinite leave of absence from show-

GMA photo

biz in 2017.

As previously reported, the GMA show was originally planned for a September or October airing. Asked what caused the delay, Gozon-Valdes said, “We were negotiating with them, but there were a lot of declarations na ECQ and meron mga parang nag-quarantine so nagkaroon ng konting delays in the finalization. But we were working on it continuously and finally, eto na. And ang maganda, since it’s already Alert Level 2 (status in the country), nagkaroon pa ng event for the signing. I think, ano rin yan, God’s timing.”

She also noted that it took a while to develop the concept.

“Then, when the concept was presented, nag-negotiations on what type of contract it would be.

Finally, it was decided that it will be a line production. Yun din yung preference nila. There were a lot of steps to finalize the negotiations.

(But) tuloy-tuloy... It never bogged down during that time.”

Negotiations with John Lloyd weren’t difficult because the latter was “always very open” from the onset of their discussions. GozonValdes said, “He’s always been PAGE 11

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • November 11-17, 2021

9

Massage Envy honors veterans Vilma recalls past animosity with Nora over fan rivalry For a 4th year in a row our local Massage Envy Las Vegas/ Henderson locations partnered with US Vets Las Vegas to support our Veterans in honor of Veteran’s Day. For the entire month of october, Massage Envy’s 13 participating locations collected self-care items for our veterans.

Massage Envy members and guest donated face shields, mask, sunscreen, hygiene items, chapstick, reusable water bottles, and other items with our veterans’ health in mind. In exchange for these small donations, the 13 Massage Envy locations offered an enhancement added to their 60- or 90-minute session as a way to say THANK YoU to their members or guests for getting involved.

The campaign was a huge success thanks to the generosity of our members and guest, the community, and several organizations such as the Philippine Nurses Association of Nevada (PNANV), raw Fitness, PCA sk-

by Dana

Cruz Inquirer.net

incare, Girl Scouts Troop #179, and others.

We get to live in freedom thanks to those who serve our country. We honor our Veterans and the work they do to keep our

country strong and safe.

From our Massage Envy Las Vegas family, we want to send our heartfelt gratitude to all our Veterans for their invaluable contributions and heroism.

VILMA Santos looked back at a time when she and Superstar Nora Aunor were once affected by the rivalry between their fans, admitting that the experience was “awkward” for her.

The Star for All Seasons recalled the fights that happened between her fans and Aunor’s—the Vilmanians and Noranians—on her son Luis Manzano’s YouTube vlog yesterday, Nov. 9. The actress was responding to a netizen who told her she had once gotten into a fight while defending Santos.

“May time na naapektuhan kaming dalawa.

Because of the rivalry, halos hindi kami nagkibuan.

Kasama ko lahat ng Vilmanians ko, kasama niya naman sa isang corner lahat ng Noranians niya,” Santos said.

(There was a time when we were both affected.

Because of the rivalry, we did not talk to each other.

I was with my Vilmanians, and she she with all her Noranians in a corner.)

She also described the rivalry as “physical,” where people threw things at each other. Santos added that because of the fights between their fans, she felt “awkward” working with Aunor for some time.

“Kapag magkaeksena kami, ‘yung tinginan namin parang awkward. Umabot kami sa gano’n,” she told Manzano. (When we were in a scene together, our looks toward each other seemed awkward. We reached that point.)

According to Santos, these kinds of interaction between her and Aunor went on for some time until she visited Aunor when one of the Superstar’s parents passed away. She then assured the public that she no longer felt awkward when around Aunor. They eventually became close and are actually “kumares.”

Vilma Santos

Photo from Instagram/@rosavilmasantosrecto

Santos and Aunor, who are longtime professional rivals, previously worked together in the films “TBird at Ako” and “Ikaw Ay Akin,” among others.

For Santos, her acting style complements that of Aunor’s, she said in a 2017 interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer. She noted that she relies mostly on body language when doing scenes, while Aunor is known for her “subdued portrayals.”

SFIO to invest US$100M to develop land into a resort-like condotel property in Batangas City, Philippines SFIo has recently been named one of the “20 Promising Companies Everyone Should Know in 2021” by Global Business Leader Magazine. The joint venture project with omnicor Industrial Estate & realty Center Inc. has proven that it is worthy to be listed in one of the 20 promising companies. omnicor Industrial Estate & realty is a subsidiary of AbaCore Capital Holdings, a public listed company in the Philippines, plans to contribute land by the bay of Batangas where SFIo will develop the land into a resort with 500 units condotel owned by AbaCore Capital and PrIDE in Batangas City’s Montemaria. omnicor Industrial Estate & realty Center Inc. is a corporation 100% owned Philippines regional Investment Development Corporation (PrIDE). Meanwhile, PrIDE is 100% owned by AbaCore Capital holdings, Inc.

This Joint venture project has given an aim to SFIo to establish a US$100M project and it is established in a strategic tourist spot in Montermaria, Batangas City, Philippines. The property is aimed to be structured as a resort condotel concept which predominantly targets tourists, pilgrims, expats, and the returnees of Filipino descent who want a short holiday or for permanent stay for retirement.

The purpose of the development is to position the two companies in the new tourism industry and prepare for postpandemic restrictions. Also, the project provides domestic visitors with a utility in the uncertainty of travel rules and regulations in the future.

Also, a key highlight of the property is it being equipped of state-of-the-art smart building technology. This technology will

be built by the Technology and Software development team of SFIo. The technology is beneficial to its users by enhancing the health, wellness, safety, and security of the guests.

The duration of the project is aimed to be accomplished in the next three years. According to Aba Core Capital, “the preselling of the units will commence once the permit is approved by the concerned government agencies.”

SFIo and AbaCore agreed to be the preferred developer of the future project – the joint venture between SFIo and ABA will be the a first-ever experience. The companies are confident that the project will be a great success.

This will enable them to grow and come together to build the greatest business relationship to support each party by efficiently achieving their goals.

(Advertising Supplement)

10

November 11-17, 2021 • LAS veGAS ASIAN JoUrNAL

Tax Tips Victor Sy, MBA, cPA (retired) WHAT are itemized deductions?

Itemized deductions are expenses that can be deducted from your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) to reduce your taxable income. Such deductions permit you to pay less in taxes than if you take the standard deduction. Allowable itemized deductions include property taxes, mortgage interest, and charitable gifts.

In summary: • An itemized deduction is an expense that can be subtracted from your adjusted gross income (AGI) to reduce your tax bill.

Fe atu re s Health @Heart

Itemized deductions Biden tax plan series • Use Schedule A of Form 1040 to list your itemized deductions.

Current tax law • Taxpayers who itemize deductions can claim a maximum of $10,000 for state and local income or sales taxes and property taxes paid.

• This negatively impacts taxpayers with high property taxes and state income taxes.

Proposed tax changes • The $10,000 limit on state and local taxes would be eliminated under current proposals.

• You’ll be able to utilize itemized deductions in full. This is good. One of the few under the current administration.

• But there are proposals to limit deductions for those in

higher income tax brackets.

• One such proposal would limit itemized deductions for taxpayers earning more than $400,000. *** Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State University with an MBA. Vic worked with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV – Andersen Consulting) and Ernst & Young before establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation. *** He retired after 50 years of defending taxpayers audited by the IRS, EDD, BOE and other governmental agencies. He published a book on “How to Avoid or Survive IRS Audits” that’s available at Amazon. Readers may email tax questions to vicsy@live.com.

Red Cross provides support to veterans and their caregivers LOS ANGELES – On Veterans Day, November 11, 2021 the American Red Cross honored veterans and recognized the special role that caregivers play in their care.

Serving more than 8,200 caregivers worldwide, the Military Veteran Caregiver Network (MVCN) offers caregivers peer mentors, peer support groups, an online community as well as mental health, wellness and resiliency workshops. The network seeks to decrease feelings of isolation, and increase feelings of connection, hope and well-being.

The LA Region continues to support veterans everyday through support programs such as donating thousands of comfort and hygiene items to support pantry drives and homeless veterans living on the West VA campus. It provides monthly resiliency workshops for women veterans living in the domiciliary facilitated by volunteer mental health professionals, and its volunteers participate in a compassionate contact – conducting wellness checks and making human connections with veterans.

This Thanksgiving, the LA Region will once again deliver turkey and meals to active-duty and reserve service members.

“Between COVID-19, international conflict and even the impact to communities and livelihoods from repeated natural disasters,

EMPLOYMENT

mental health has been a struggle for so many of us in the military community,” said Myra Valley, Director, Service to the Armed Forces and International Services at American Red Cross. “Our caregivers are serving a vital role on the front lines of this battle, needing more support and resources now than ever.”

The MVCN provides caregivers the ability to connect in a confidential environment that’s best for them. The peer mentor program helps meet the specific needs of caregivers one-on-one, while peer support groups connect caregivers facing similar challenges. It offers secure online caregiver only communities to create a supportive network that is accessible without having to leave home.

Here in Los Angeles, veteran and their caregivers report that the compounding effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the recent withdrawal from Afghanistan, have created additional stressors.

In recent months, MVCN saw an increase in the use of its Hero Care Resource Directory, which provides access to over 800 resources in every zip code in America specifically designed for veterans, service members, caregivers and their families.

What you can do Many Red Cross volunteers are veterans who continue to support their communities after their ac-

tive duty service ends. Also, about 6% of Red Cross employees include transitioning military or veterans – from nurses to logisticians, emergency management experts, project managers and preparedness experts, as well as a number of veterans in leadership roles at local Red Cross chapters across the country.

Tens of thousands of Red Cross volunteers also serve in Veterans Administration (VA) and military hospitals across the nation and around the world. These volunteers support such areas as rehabilitation, recreation, administration, and personal services to the men and women who are now cared for each day in these facilities. To learn more about how you can give back in your community this Veterans Day, visit redcross. org/volunteer.

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-forprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross. (The American Red Cross Release)

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PhiliP S. chuA, Md, FAcS, FPcS MY grandson Colin, 11, finally got his first COVID-19 vaccine last Thursday, November 4, after eagerly waiting for months “because someone ahead of him had opted out,” his mother, my youngest daughter, Emily, an ophthalmologist in Iowa, texted to me.

I would think all parents would be very eager to have their children vaccinated soonest and protected from this deadly COVID-19 infection, which was originally thought to be “kinder” to children.

Statistics, however, show that there have been about 6.4 million children infected, representing 16.6 percent of all cases of COVID19 in the United States. The last two weeks of October revealed a 4 percent increase. Hospitalization rate was about 1.7 to 4.2 percent and mortality between zero to 0.26 percent of all COVID-19 deaths in various states. Certainly, without the vaccines, children are at an equal grave risk like adults, no more immune from getting this killer virus than older people.

Hopefully, parents would not stand in the way of protecting their children and allow them to get vaccinated. Refusing this vaccine for their children (like parents who are against vaccination in general and those who refuse the life-saver Gardasil vaccine against HPV of cervical cancer for their kids) is tantamount to intentionally depriving their children of an available and no-cost life-saver and wantonly placing them at the mercy of a potential killer, all in the name of the constitutional freedom to choose. Is that love or wisdom?

In my book, “Let’s Stop ‘Killing’ Our Children” (available in philipSchua.com and Amazon.com), the basic theme is healthy lifestyle and disease prevention starting from the crib, critically pointing out that some of our actions/inactions and decisions as parents could be detrimental to our children’s life, albeit all of them are (were) done in the name of love. That saying “no” to our children, whenever appropriate, could be the best lesson they could learn, and that allowing them to say or do whatever they want, regardless of reason or wisdom, could provide them with a twisted sense of order, justice, respect for their fellowmen, and what their constitutional rights, civil liberties in a democracy prop-

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The only way to win erly mean.

The crisis today The greater dilemma we have during this pandemic is the 20 percent of the population (around 60 million, according to a survey) who refuse to get the vaccine.

These unprotected individuals become the primary targets of the SARS-CoV2 virus of COVID19 which will live in their bodies and then act as a massive viral reservoir and laboratory, where the virus will replicate and mutate to deadlier strains, with greater transmissibility, and kill others with worse impunity. And the cycle will continue, exponentially, keeping this pandemic with us much longer.

One person, just one individual, like the first Chinese who got infected in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, was enough to spread the disease to dozens, hundreds, and thousands within a few days. Today, 23 months later, we have nearly 251.3 million cases of COVID-19, and almost 5.1 million deaths around the world (about 47.5 million cases and close to 776,400 deaths in the U.S.; and 2,807,000 in the Philippines, with about 44,600 deaths).

When those high-risk individuals (immunocompromised or those with co-morbidities like diabetes, hypertension, heart or lung disease, etc.) are exposed to even one carrier of the virus, the encounter could turn out to be a death sentence. This happened to two medical colleagues of mine, whose own unvaccinated adult children inadvertently transmitted the virus to them, killing them.

The proper strategy A pandemic, like COVID-19, is like a world war. The global enemy: the killer SARS-Cov2 virus.

Medically speaking – sans politics, religion, and personal beliefs – there is only one way to deal with an infectious disease like COVID19, which is a serious killer. The epidemiologic strategy that can end the pandemic most efficiently, with minimal deaths, is prompt isolation, masking, social distancing, and most importantly, vaccination of every person urgently, without delay, when vaccines become available. This is the only proper way to manage a pandemic, and save lives and the nation’s economy. A national mandate, a unified federal approach, is the only effective strategy for a pandemic, which is no different from a world war. Leaving the strategy to win a “world war” to every individual state (polarized by politics)

SERVICES

will lead to chaos and confusion, killing hundreds of thousands, like what has resulted in this pandemic. Medically, an endemic may be handled by a state, but not a pandemic. Imagine leaving the strategic decisions during a world war to 50 states! It is plain common sense. A no-brainer.

Painful reality Every person in a democracy has the right and liberty, guaranteed by our Constitution, to refuse the vaccine. That is an unquestionable personal civil right. An individual in our society has the right to hurt or even kill himself/ herself. While I may not agree that this self-destructive act should be committed, I shall defend the right of the individual to do it, akin to the sentiment expressed by the 18th century French philosopher Francois-Marie Arouet (Voltaire) about the freedom of speech.

But the sad and unfortunate inescapable reality is that the unvaccinated people are not risking only their lives but the lives of others they come in contact with. While they have the right to refuse the vaccines and get infected, they do not have the right to infect and kill others (albeit unintentionally).

How would unvaccinated persons feel when people with active highly transmissible tuberculosis or those infected with killer ebola (who refuse treatments on constitutional grounds) are not isolated and mingle among them?

Annual COVID-19 shot?

So long as there are people who are unvaccinated and may become carriers of the virus, COVID19 will linger around, with no end in sight. There will be outbreaks and surges every now and then.

If there are no hosts (human bodies), viruses self-destruct. With so many unvaccinated people, COVID-19 infections will remain with us and it is possible that, later, a yearly COVID-19 vaccine might become necessary, like the annual flu shots. God forbid. *** 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. *** 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 Public Advocate, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian and anti-graft foundation in the United States. Visit our websites: philipSchua. com and FUN8888.com Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com

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EntE rtain m E nt

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • November 11-17, 2021

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Marian’s dilemma as a stay-at-home Nikki advises moms to listen to their teenaged daughters mom-cum-show biz celebrity

by Alex

BrosAs Inquirer.net

by AllAn

PolicArPio Inquirer.net

WHILE she would love to return to doing teleseryes, being away from home for extended periods would be difficult, Marian Rivera said, because she has young children to take care of.

“It’s hard to say yes or no on the spot, because it will all depend on the situation or protocols. If the taping is just for a few days, it’s OK. But if it’s a monthlong, lockedin taping, that would be tough for me, because my children rely on me,” she said in a recent virtual conference for the fourth anniversary of “Tadhana,” a weekly drama anthology on GMA 7.

Marian has two children with husband, Dingdong Dantes— Zia, 5, and Sixto, 2. “Zia attends school. Sixto stills sticks with me.

But maybe next year, things will be smoother and we can think of ways to deal with it,” the 37-yearold Kapuso actress said.

Work with Bea, John Lloyd But should the stars align and an opportunity presents itself, would she be willing to work with Bea Alonzo, who recently signed with GMA 7, and John Lloyd Cruz, who’s set to do a blocktime sitcom on the network? “Why not? Whoever gets paired with me, I’ll look forward to that,” she said. “I will be super excited if that ever happens.”

As part of its fourth year celebration, “Tadhana” will present on Nov. 13 and Nov. 20 a special two-part episode, titled “Sa Ngalan ng Ama,” which stars Gabby

Marian Rivera Photo from Instagram/@marianrivera

Concepcion, Eula Valdes, Thea Tolentino and Ariella Arida. The second episode, “Kabayaran,” will air on Nov. 27 and Dec. 4. Also, the show will give away a house and lot to a lucky overseas Filipino worker.

“I’m glad we’re still here after four years. And I’m not surprised, because the stories we find are inspirational and give people hope.

We have unique stories and we’re thankful to those willing to share them with the viewers. One of the things I always see in our stories is that we Filipinos, despite difficulties, will get up and fight,” she said.

Right now, Marian shoots her hosting parts for the show at home with Dingdong as her director.

“We managed to come up with a scenario that will allow us to continue producing new episodes. They had Dong directing

me because I was scared to go out, especially during the peak of the pandemic. If it’s only me, I can manage. But I thought, ‘Will I be able to go home and sit with my kids?’ I can’t bear the thought of my kids catching [COVID-19],” she said.

Supportive Dingdong has nothing but support. “I asked him if he’s OK with directing me and he said, ‘Of course, why will I not do it for you?’” Marian related. “We just make sure to manage our time well. Sometimes, my glam team helps with the camera. Tulung- tulong kami. Sometimes, Zia drops by and acts as the clapper.”

Being stuck at home has allowed Marian to focus on raising her children. But she also acknowledged going outside is crucial to their development.

“Kids should be exploring, going to school and mingling with other kids. But since they’re unable to do that, we have to make do with what we have at home.

We go to our small garden and ride bikes—kahit tatlong padyak lang! They play on the trampoline.

Parenting is challenging, but if you love what you do, nothing is impossible,” she said.

But while she’s enjoying being a stay-at-home mom and entrepreneur at the moment, show biz, Marian said, will always be in her blood. “I love working. That won’t leave me, even when I get old.

Let’s just wait, maybe when it’s safer. Babalik at babalik pa rin,” she said.

ACTRESS Nikki Valdez believes it is important to nurture a healthy relationship with one’s daughter, and this can be strengthened through moments of bonding with each other.

Valdez shared with fans her recent bonding time with her own daughter Olivia, as seen in her Instagram post yesterday, Nov. 10, where she showed their photo while in the car.

“It’s been quite some time since Olivia and I went out on a date. Since she had her [second] dose today, we decided to go on a mother-daughter bonding after,” Valdez said. It appears that her daughter got a second COVID-19 vaccination shot.

The mom-daughter bonding was “nothing fancy.” They just ate, took a walk, and had a twohour “heart-to-heart talk about anything under the sun.”

For Valdez, the once-in-awhile date is very important because such moments afford her the chance to know her daughter

Nikki Valdez with daughter Olivia

better.

“To [moms] like me who have teenage daughters, it is good to have this kind of bonding once in a while where you are both away from the day’s demands and free to listen to each other — life’s ups and downs and what your daughter’s struggles are,” she explained. “You’ll be surprised

before and I think madali na yun because ang dami naman naming artists that he has never worked with.

“But, I think, at his level, he’s also looking for new concepts.

Siguro kasi since he’s been in the industry for so long, medyo challenge to find some things he’s not done before. So, baka yun yung gusto namin mabigay sa kanya, a project that will fulfill himself also as an artist, aside from the fact the viewers will enjoy it, but of course, pag-andun yung puso ng isang artist, gumaganda yung palabas.”

Meanwhile, reacting to how news about John Lloyd as the newest Kapuso trended on Twitter, Gozon-Valdes said, “I think ang daming naka-miss kay John

to find out so much more about them.”

Valdez thus advises moms to listen to their children, know what they need, learn to respect their opinions and offer help without making commands.

“Just BE THERE,” she stressed.

“Your presence and lending ear is more than enough.”

Janno on working with wife Bing, ex Manilyn in ‘Mang Jose’

by JAn

Milo severo Philstar.com

movie “Mang Jose.”

In the virtual press conference of the movie earlier ACTOR and singer Janno Wednesday, November 10, Gibbs revealed that all is well Janno said it was the first time between him and Bing Loyzaga for him, Bing and Manilyn to and former girlfriend Manilyn star in a movie.

Reynes on the set of latest Viva “Yes, ito po ang first time at

What to expect from John Lloyd now that he’s Kapuso

PAGE 8 very appreciative that he’s welcome to GMA and from the start naman, when we started speaking, he wanted to take things slow.

He wanted to do it, little steps at a time. That’s why the first project is a line production. He wants to get a feel of how it is to be in GMA, how it is to be a Kapuso and he wants to grow the relationship from there.”

GMA will soon pitch to him drama and movie concepts as follow-up projects. “Pinag-usapan na namin yan, but we’re still looking for the right concept for him,” she said.

Gozon-Valdes added that the actor expressed interest to “work with artists he’s never worked with

Photo from Instagram/@nikkivaldez_

Lloyd. He’s an icon in Philippine showbiz, and after a four, almost five-year hiatus, he’s ready to be back. We hope tuloy-tuloy na ‘to and mapapanood na talaga siya ng fans niya and even new audiences now. He’ll have a wider audience.”

Apart from GMA bosses led by chairman and CEO Felipe Gozon, some of the biggest Kapuso stars also recorded welcome messages for John Lloyd. Long-time onscreen partner and now fellow Kapuso Bea Alonzo also joined the “welcoming party”: “I cannot wait for everyone to see and experience the greatness of John Lloyd Cruz as I did through the years. Know that I will forever be your biggest Janno Gibbs fan.”

Photo from Instagram/@jannolategibbs

ito na rin po ang last time siguro,” Janno joked.

“E kasi pagmagkasama yung dalawa sa set, puro ako ang pinaguusapan nila at nilalait nila e,” he added.

Janno said Bing and Manilyn are comfortable working with each other.

“We are all good friends, kaming tatlo. Proof to that is pwede ko silang iwanan sa isang tent na magkasama. Hindi ko lang alam kung nag-aaway sila sa loob ng tent,” Janno said.

“Mang Jose,” the superhero that Parokya ni Edgar created and introduced as a song back in 2005, will be seen first on Vivamax Plus this November.

Janno stars as Mang Jose who has a special ability of energy absorption and redirection. People in need of saving call upon him. But the catch is, they must have some savings to be able to pay him thereafter. Mang Jose’s services can actually cost a few thousand bucks.

Directed by Rayn F. Brizuela, “Mang Jose” was featured at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) in South Korea last July.

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november 11-17, 2021 • LAS veGAS ASIAn JoUrnAL

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