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NOVEMBER 12-18, 2021 Volume 15 - No. 1 • 16 Pages

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Palace: PH travel restriction on Vaccine proof foreign tourists being studied mandate takes DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

effect in LA

by Ritchel

menDiolA AJPress

LOS Angeles is now requiring patrons of indoor establishments such as restaurants, coffee shops, movie theaters, gyms, and salons to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19.

The city’s new vaccine proof mandate took effect on Monday, November 8, but it won’t be fully enforced until Nov. 29.

Called the SafePassLA ordinance, it is one of the country’s strictest measures aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19.

Under the ordinance, patrons age 12 and older entering an indoor establishment are required to show any of the following: • A physical vaccination card issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or similar documentation is-

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 pag-uwi ng mga kapwa Pilipino natin, iyan

GOVERNOR Phil Murphy signed A-5737/S-3763 into law on Monday, Nov. 8 establishing the Asian American Pacific Islander Commission within the Department of State.

The commission is charged with developing policies to address the social and economic needs of the growing Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in New Jersey.

Under this new law, the commission will be required to submit an annual to the Governor and the Legislature about the commission’s activities.

“As the fastest growing ethnic group, our Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community is a key part of the great diversity in our State,” said Governor Murphy.

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PH winning COVID-19 battle – Duterte

by Alexis

RomeRo Philstar.com

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New Jersey Governor establishes Asian American Pacific Islander commission

po ang standing order ng ating Presidente…

Ang hindi 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

FINGERPRINT SCAN. Philippine Statistics Authority staffer Mark Anthony Selda (right) assists a woman in the fingerprint scanning during Step 2 of the registration process for the PhilSys or National ID system at a mall at the corner of Quirino and Regalado highways in Quezon City on Wednesday, November 10. Fingerprint scanning is one of the steps for national ID. PNA photo by Ben Briones

MANILA — As the country’s pandemic numbers improve, President Duterte on Tuesday, November 9 claimed the Philippines is winning the battle against COVID-19 but reminded the public to cooperate in efforts to prevent the spread of the virus.

In remarks welcoming the arrival of 2,805,000 doses of Russia-made Sputnik V vaccines in Pasay City, Duterte urged Filipinos to “cooperate and do their part to help overcome this pandemic.”

“The government cannot do this alone and we need your active participation by getting vaccinated and strictly following the minimum health standards,” the President said.

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US State Dep’t, PH envoys Duterte urges Comelec to address domestic workers’ rights give 2022 candidates space 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.

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to campaign amid pandemic

by DAnizA

FeRnAnDez Inquirer.net

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday, November 8 to provide candidates inf the 2022 elections a space where they could campaign safely, citing that there were Filipinos still unvaccinated against COVID-19.

“I’d like to remind the Comelec that you must give the candidates really the space and whatever modality is there because there can never be an election without a campaign,” Duterte said in his taped weekly address, “Talk to the People.”

Duterte likewise said that there were candidates who did not

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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 MoralesDoyle, 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-toimpossible, 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 Justice-AAJC, 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 fastestgrowing 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, 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 Alabama report), Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.

“The way forward is through Congress, and Congress needs to be told that over and over and over again,” Morales-Doyle said.

In the meantime, he and other voting rights advocates are using what tools they still have to take the battle to the courts.

The Justice Department recently joined a suit by the Brennan Center, Mexican American Defense and Educational Fund and others against new rules in Texas.

“None of the work stops while we’re waiting for Congress to act, but we still need Congress to act,” Morales-Doyle said.

“Apart from suing, we need to keep up the work to change the public narrative on this. And people DO want an expansive democracy!” n

MORE LIFE-SAVING DOSES. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (2nd from left), Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Marat Pavlov (left), Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go (middle), National Task Force against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. (right), and Interior Secretary Eduardo Año (2nd from left) welcome the arrival of more than 2.8 million doses of Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine doses at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Monday, November 8.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

PH winning COVID-19 battle...

PAGE 1 “Let us celebrate all our meaningful victories against COVID-19 pandemic. We are winning our battle against the virus. Let us continue to be safe and in good health,” he added.

Duterte assured Filipinos that his administration is committed to secure safe and effective COVID-19 jabs.

“I acknowledge the strong efforts of the Department of Health, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the National Task Force against COVID-19 and other institutional partners for ensuring a steady supply of vaccines in this country,” Duterte said.

“Amidst the threat of variants, you attended to the prompt, safe and effective delivery, distribution and administration of the vaccines across the country. Let us work together to put an end to this disease and its harmful effects to our people and economy for nearly two years now,” he added.

The President thanked Russia for supplying the Philippines with pandemic shots, saying the arrival of more than 2.8 million doses of Sputnik V vaccines “gives us reason to be thankful for the strong support of our friends

from the international community in overcoming the pandemic.”

“Let me express my gratitude to the Russian government for the continued supply of life-saving COVID-19 vaccines to the Philippines.

These deliveries affirm Russia’s commitment to (achieving global) vaccine equity and improving vaccine accessibility to countries, especially the Philippines,” Duterte said.

“I deeply appreciate Russia’s efforts in fostering cooperation in various areas, including the fight against COVID-19. Goodwill initiatives, such as this vaccine donation and others, demonstrate the strong ties and friendship between Russia and the Philippines,” he added.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said the more than 2.8 million doses of Sputnik V shots procured by the government – the biggest shipment of Russian-made vaccines – would benefit about 3.5 million individuals.

The arrival of the Sputnik V vaccines was also witnessed

by Russian Ambassador Marat Pavlov, Sen. Bong Go, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, Chief of Presidential

Protocol Robert Borje, Health Undersecretary Ma. Carolina Vidal-Taiño and Special Envoy to Russia Olivia LimpeAw. Sen. Bong Go, meanwhile, expressed his support for the three-day National Vaccination Day from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1 and called on Filipinos to “be a hero, get vaccinated, save lives!” The second day of the three-day event falls on Bonifacio Day. “Let us be heroes in our own way and put a stop to the spread of this virus by getting vaccinated. I encourage everyone to get vaccinated, especially since the program is open to the general population,” Go, chairman of the Senate committee on health, said.

“So let’s show concern for our frontliners and set a schedule for your jab at your nearest vaccination site.

Don’t be afraid of the vaccine because it is the only solution that can help us gradually return to our normal life,” he added.

Go said the government has administered 64.2 million doses as of Nov. 7. A total of 34.7 million individuals have received their first dose while 29.5 million Filipinos are already fully vaccinated. n

Duterte urges Comelec to...

PAGE 1 have the machinery for a television campaign and were limited to in-person campaigning.

“Some candidates cannot afford the expense of TV exposure,” he said.

Duterte said that the Comelec must address how

election-related assemblies would be conducted amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“That’s Comelec’s problem — if they will allow us to assemble because you cannot campaign by just shouting at one corner,” he said in Filipino.

“You have to have a place

where maybe they would limit the attendants or the number of people there.

That’s Comelec’s problem,” he added.

Comelec earlier said that the final list of the candidates for the 2022 elections would be released

by December. n

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From the Front Page

Palace: PH travel restriction on foreign tourists being...

PAGE 1 are not allowing is the entry of foreign tourists),” he said.

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

Vaccine proof mandate takes effect in LA...

PAGE 1 sued by another foreign governmental agency; • A photocopy of a vaccination card or a photograph stored on a phone or electronic device; • A digital COVID-19 vaccination record issued by the State of California or similar documentation issued by another state, local or foreign government jurisdiction, or by a private company; or • Documentation of a COVID-19 vaccination from a healthcare provider.

Individuals age 18 and over will also be required to show identification with their proof of vaccination.

Further, the ordinance will also require attendees of outdoor events with 5,000 or more people to show proof of vaccination or that they’ve recently tested negative for the coronavirus.

An individual can be exempted if they have medical conditions that restrict their ability to get vaccinated or a “sincerely held religious belief,”’ according to the ordinance. However, they will be required to use outdoor facilities or show evidence of a recent negative COVID-19 test to come inside if no outdoor area is available.

Meanwhile, unvaccinated patrons or those who have no proof of vaccination can still opt to use outdoor areas of any establishments. They will also be allowed to briefly go inside the location to use the restroom, place an order, or pick up an item if they’re masked.

The SafePassLA ordinance will apply to: • Restaurants, bars, fast food establishments, coffee shops, tasting rooms, cafeterias, food courts, breweries, wineries, distilleries, banquet halls and hotel ballrooms.

• Gyms and fitness venues, including recreation facilities, fitness studios (including for yoga, pilates, dance, and barre), boxing gyms, fitness boot camps and facilities that hold indoor group fitness classes.

• Entertainment and recreation venues including movie theaters, shopping centers, concert venues, performance venues, adult entertainment venues, commercial event and party venues, sports arenas, convention centers, exhibition halls, museums, malls, performing arts theaters, bowling alleys, arcades, card rooms, family entertainment centers, pool and billiard halls, play areas and game centers.

US State Dep’t, PH...

PAGE 1 US State Department Assistant Chief of Protocol for Diplomatic Affairs Nan Kelley explained the rights and responsibilities of domestic workers under these visa programs.

“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

• Personal care establishments, including spas, nail salons, hair salons, barbershops, tanning salons, estheticians, skin care, tattoo shops, piercing shops and massage therapy locations, unless medically required.

Starting Nov. 29, businesses that won’t comply will be issued a warning for the first violation, a $1,000 fine for a second violation, $2,000 fine for a third violation, and a $5,000 fine for a fourth and subsequent violations.

According to public health officials, 80% of eligible Los Angeles County residents have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose and 71% of those eligible are fully vaccinated.

In October, LA City Council voted 11-2 for the ordinance that will require proof of a COVID-19 vaccination to enter indoor establishments.

Mayor Eric Garcetti, who recently tested positive for COVID-19, stressed that the mandate will encourage more people to get vaccinated and make businesses safer for employees and customers.

“Vaccinating more Angelenos is our only way out of this pandemic, and we must do everything in our power to keep pushing those numbers up,” he said. (AJPress) n

assistance from the Philippine Embassy and POLO-WDC, especially on matters concerning their personal security and well-being.

“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) n

ROLLBACK. A gas attendant (left) fills the gas tank of a truck at a gas station in Tandang Sora on Mindanao Avenue, Quezon City on Tuesday, November 9. After 10 consecutive weeks of price increases, oil companies will roll back the prices of petroleum products.

PNA photo by Ben Briones

New Jersey Governor...

PAGE 1 “With today’s bill signing, this newly created commission will represent this diverse population and ensure to advocate on behalf of AAPI throughout New Jersey,” Murphy added. “While we celebrate the important contributions they make to our society and economy, we also recognize the challenges they encounter to access economic resources and opportunities.”

Primary sponsors of A-5737/S-3763 include Senators Vin Gopal and Linda Greenstein, and Assemblymembers Raj Mukherji, Sterley Stanley and Gordon Johnson.

“New Jersey has welcomed immigrants from around the world since its very founding,” said Senator Vin Gopal, a founding member of the Asian American Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus.

The Garden State is home to the third-largest percentage of Asian American and Pacific Islander residents in the nation, following Hawaii and California.

“As we move forward in the 21st Century in our multi-cultured state, we need to make sure all our people, including Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, are valued and encouraged, in whatever endeavor they undertake,” he added. “I welcome the signing of this legislation to establish the AAPI Commission, which will raise awareness among AAPI individuals of governmental affairs and community and social service resources that may be of benefit to them.

Overall, this new law will

help raise visibility and improve understanding, as well as to foster more positive dialogue and communication and serve to recognize the many and varied contributions AAPI individuals have made and continue to make in New Jersey.”

“In wake of the hate-fueled acts geared towards the AAPI community that we have seen over the last year, it is important now more than ever that we work to increase awareness for AAPI individuals, including their cultural contributions and the issues this community faces,” said Senator Linda Greenstein.

“All cultures and ethnicities deserve to be treated fairly and equitably, and my hope with this commission is that we can better educate our residents about AAPI culture and provide this community with various resources to aid them. Our communities need to be safe for individuals of all races and ethnicities to live comfortably, not fearfully. We will not tolerate hate.”

“Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and their diverse culture play a significant role in New Jersey,” said Assemblymembers Raj Mukherji, Sterley Stanley and Gordon Johnson, in a joint statement. “This Commission will ensure representation and access to resources by raising awareness to several challenges facing the AAPI community and focusing on addressing the needs of these communities.

Their work will help the State develop ways to recognize the cultures and tackle the social, economic, and health needs of the AAPI community.” (AJPress) n

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OpiniOn

Features

Resilience after Yolanda

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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 avalanche 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

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

the damage that extreme weather can unleash. Commemorating that tragedy should

firm up commitments to boost climate resilience. (Philstar.com)

Another reason to be thankful: Congress just passed a bipartisan infrastructure bill that will also address climate change, add more jobs!

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 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 50-52% from 2005 levels in 2030, create a 100% carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035, and achieve a net-zero economy by 2050. Together, these once-in-a-generation investments will unlock the full potential of a clean energy economy that combats climate change, advances environmental justice, and creates good-paying, union jobs.

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Sara Duterte withdraws reelection bid PH to hold 3-day COVID-19 vaccination drive

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

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 winiwithdraw 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.

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

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.

“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

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” PAGE 7

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 12-18, 2021

Go optimistic of tourism sector’s recovery

by CeCille

Suerte Philstar.com

Felipe

MANILA — With COVID-19 pandemic alert levels downgraded and the economy opening up, Sen. Bong Go expressed optimism that the development would lead to the recovery of the country’s economic sectors, including the tourism industry.

“We just need to maintain the good aspirations that President Duterte started in the next administrations so that good changes can continue for our countrymen no matter where they are in the country,” Go said.

Go joined the President as he led key officials during the inauguration of the Siargao Island Sports and Tourism Complex and other big-ticket projects in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte on Saturday.

With Siargao Island’s reputation as one of the most famous tourist destinations in the country, Go said that the opening of the P630.2-million Siargao Island Sports and Tourism Complex will greatly boost the island’s tourism sector.

He said the sports and tourism complex in Dapa town can accommodate a total of 1,632 persons with its first-class facilities and amenities. It can also hold various national and international sports and tourism events.

He noted the 6.3-hectare complex, construction of which started in 2015, is also equipped with basketball, volleyball and badminton courts, a dormitory for student-athletes, rubberized athletic oval, soccer field, swimming pool, a two-story, sixclassroom Siargao Sports High School and a convention center.

Go echoed the President’s appeal to local governments in Siargao Island to take care and preserve the natural beauty of the island to ensure that the next generations of Filipinos will also get to enjoy it in the future.

The chair of the Senate committee on sports also mentioned that the complex aims to inspire young athletes to hone their athletic talents and skills.

“I am happy with the opening of the Siargao Sports and Tourism Complex because it is one of the many projects of the Duterte administration that will help our economy and the country’s development,” Go said. “It will also allow our athletes to showcase their talents in a variety of sports.”

As part of his pledge to continue the positive changes initiated by the administration, the vice presidential aspirant also cited that pursuing infrastructure development will boost economic recovery and eventually provide a comfortable and sustainable life for those in the countryside. n

Marcos, Enrile together again

FORMER Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile has gone full circle. After he helped topple the president whom he served for most of his political life more than three decades ago, Enrile has returned to raise the hand of the son who is determined to follow in the footsteps of his father.

Enrile and his daughter, Katrina Ponce Enrile, forged an alliance with the Partido Federal Pilipinas (PFP) standard bearer Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during a meeting at the former senator’s home in Metro Manila on Friday, November 5, according to a statement released by the Enriles on Saturday, November 6.

Enrile, 97, and his 61-year-old daughter, along with board member Perla Tumaliuan, met with Marcos during the endorsement of the younger Enrile, who is aligned with the LakasChristian Muslim Democrats (CMD), as congressional representative of the first district of Cagayan.

The Enriles said they discussed with Marcos common aspirations and programs of the Lakas-CMD and PFP where Katrina Enrile is an adopted candidate.

The PFP is also supporting Tumaliuan, the party’s vice

Former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile (right) raises the hand of Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. whose presidential bid in the May 2022 elections he has endorsed.

ManilaTimes.net photo

gubernatorial candidate and its provincial chairman.

Katrina Enrile had described herself as a “young political aspirant” despite tagging along with her father when she was a child in campaigns and political meetings “to learn the ropes of politics early.”

Juan Ponce Enrile was the then Defense minister of the late president Ferdinand Marcos and one of the alleged architects of martial law. In 1986, Enrile and Fidel Ramos, a cousin and former head of the Philippine Constabulary, now the Philippine National Police, joined forces with the people in a “bloodless revolt” that ended Marcos’ 20-year rule and install Corazon

Aquino, widow of former senator Benigno Aquino Jr., as president.

The PFP called the petition seeking to cancel or deny the Certificate of Candidacy of Marcos as nothing but a “nuisance” case.

Lawyer George Briones, PFP general counsel, viewed the petition as a desperate move by some groups trying to derail Marcos’s candidacy for president in next year’s elections.

Briones also referred to the petition as a mere “scrap of paper” since the protesting groups failed to attach a certified true copy of a final judgment showing Marcos was guilty of a crime PAGE 10

7

DESILTING. Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairperson Benhur Abalos inspects desilting operations at the Parañaque River along the Marina Complex, Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard in Parañaque City on Monday, November 8.

Abalos said the accumulated mound, which is made up of about 26,000 cubic meters of garbage and silt, will take about three to four months to clean up.

PNA photo by Avito Dalan

PH to hold 3-day COVID-19....

PAGE 6 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 government agencies, local government units (LGUs),

civil society organizations, and private sector partners will be mobilized to participate in the vaccination drive.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), and Department of Transportation (DOTr) will be tapped for vaccine deployment.

After the vaccination drive, “sustainment operations” will be conducted by the government from Dec. 2 to 31 to ensure LGUs meet their vaccination targets by the end of the year.

“We will not end up with the national vaccination day.

We will sustain the effort up to December 31,” said Galvez. n

8

NOVEMBER 12-18, 2021 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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3 years since graft conviction of Imelda Marcos, Martial Law victims appeal affirmation of verdict

by Kristine Joy

Philstar.com

Patag

MANILA — Three years since the Sandiganbayan’s guilty verdict on former Rep. Imelda Marcos (Ilocos Norte), a group of Martial Law victims appealed to Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo to “affirm” the graft conviction of the wife of the late dictator.

Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA) wrote to Gesmundo on Tuesday, November 9 urging the chief justice to upheld the conviction of Marcos, noting that their inquiry on the appeal status in 2020 went without answer.

They were referring to Marcos’ appeal to the SC to reverse the anti-graft court’s fifth division conviction on three counts of violation of Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in connection with her alleged financial interest in a private local corporation during her government tenure.

The trial of this specific case already lasted for 17 years, until the ruling of the Sandiganbayan division on Nov. 9, 2018, but Marcos has yet to serve any prison time three years since.

Danilo Dela Fuente, SELDA vice chairperson, told Gesmundo: “Sir, we, the victims of the atrocities during Marcos’ martial law, have suffered enough. We continue to suf-

fer as we witness Mrs. Marcos, the principal conspirator of the former dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. is still out of jail, living a profligate lifestyle, shamelessly luxuriating with the money she and her family stole from the Filipino people, despite this conviction by the Sandiganabayan.”

In a separate statement, Campaign against the Return of the Marcoses and Martial Law (CARMMA) also pointed out that pending the resolution of the appeal, Marcos remains free.

“In the meantime, we Filipinos continue to pay for the Marcos regume’s massive loans — loans for government projects which were embezzled and funneled to the Marcos’ own fraudulent Swiss foundations,” they added.

Return to power SELDA, in its letter to the chief justice, also pointed out that Marcos son, Bongbong, is running for president in the 2022 polls, and suspicions were raised that funds for the campaign may be obtained from the nation’s coffers.

“In the interest of justice for all victims of human rights violations during the martial law period, we again appeal to this honorable Court to affirm Mrs. Imelda Marcos’ conviction by the Sandiganbayan,” they said.

“We call on the sense of truth and justice the members of this honorable Court and decide with dispatch to dismiss Mrs. Marcos’

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ASSISTANCE. A beneficiary of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program receives cash assistance at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City on Tuesday, November 9. TUPAD is a community-based package of assistance that provides emergency employment for displaced workers, underemployed and seasonal workers, for a minimum period of 10 days to a maximum of 30 days, depending on the nature of work.

PNA photo by Avito Dalan

appeal,” they added.

CARMMA also stressed that their reasons for protest and indignation against the Marcoses remain even with more than three decades since the historic ouster of the patriarch.

“We continue the call for justice - for all of us who suffered under the Marcos dictatorship that imprisoned, tortured, and killed thousands of Filipinos. Decades may have passed, but not the memory of the Marcos’

reign of terror, the wanton plunder of our nations’ coffers and the disregard for the voices of the people,” they said.

“Plundered money by the Marcoses should be returned to the people, instead of being held by this dynasty for their political rehabilitation and ambitions. They should be held accountable for their crimes. We should oppose all attempts of their return to Malacañang,” they added. n

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 12-18, 2021

9

SFIO: A new age company addressing the ‘new normal’ needs THE COVID-19 pandemic has turned out to be one of major events that we all have witnessed together. Everyone had different approaches to deal with the crisis which led to the situation of lockdown. And then the process of vaccination was initiated along with several new norms of social distancing and remote working to counter the crisis.

The majority of industries went under deep distress on how to handle the pandemic.

Thus, there was a beginning of new normal where the business had to adapt to changes such as remote working and rapid digitalization. Alongside, companies had to face a challenging situation to establish a new model of managing remote working. This was the same time when several companies began restructuring and remobilizing the

business.

As a market leader, SFIO saw the opportunity to restructure its business model to suit the new behaviors and needs of its loyal customers in the market. Expressing his views, Jeths De Jesus Lacson, Chairman and CEO of SFIO says, “We are introducing new models that are suitable for the new normal and may disrupt the traditional way of doing business.”

Identifying Capabilities Incepted in 2021, SFIO is in the progress of renaming to Starfleet Innotech, Inc. The story of SFIO began with its pilot project, the Epiphany Cafe brand. Epiphany Cafe brand is a franchise business in New Zealand which the founders started from scratch.

The founders of Epiphany Cafe are the same

founders of SFIO. The leadership has identified capabilities that will enable Epiphany Cafe to be successful in the global market. This has helped them to integrate into the Epiphany Cafe model through the strategic acquisitions of the partner companies within SFIO. The mission of Epiphany Cafe in providing diverse opportunities to people has carried on in SFIO. The experience at Epiphany Café helped the founders to lay a stronger foundation at SFIO. It assisted the company to innovate and understand the demands of today’s customers. To sustain in this challenging environment, it is important to constantly evolve with the demands of the market.

The Technology and Software division of SFIO works closely with the Franchise and Food Manufacturing divisions as it develops business solution applications focused on Small and Medium-Sized (SME’s) businesses which will make the business operations seamless through the use of AI technology and Data Analytics.

SMART-FREEZE Technology The inclusion of advanced technology allows the food manufacturing division of SFIO to develop the SMART FREEZE Technology.

It enables the product to be frozen for up to 3-6 months. Once thawed within an hour at an ambient temperature, the products like donuts are with ‘fresh like quality in terms of appearance, texture, and taste.’ This tech PAGE 10

ENABLING BUSINESSES TO REACH GREATER HEIGHTS

EXPAND

ENHANCE

EXPLORE

10

NOVEMBER 12-18, 2021 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426

SFIO: A new age company...

PAGE 9 addresses the end-of-day wastage on-site and could eliminate the “limiting” factor to expand a brand in a given region or country. A central commissary can meet the demand of the entire region or country.

SMART-FREEZE has enabled the traditional franchise business to become a diversified model where micro-business concepts can be integrated into. Business operations in these companies are on-site to make the products are no longer required. The four-core product model (Donuts, Coffee, Cakes, Bread) of Epiphany Cafe provides a value proposition not only to the business partners such as franchisees but also to customers who are looking for premium quality products in one store.

Identifying and analyzing the gaps The nature of the business environment is such that no one can avoid challenging situations, especially with the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Furthermore, a franchise start-up business has to encounter other challenges which include maintaining a good profit for its business partners (i.e., Franchisees) without compromising on the product quality and branding. A franchise business is affected by several key aspects such as branding, product quality, and profitability which makes it successful to expand a brand on a global level.

SFIO has experience from its Epiphany Café business which helped the company to identify the root causes and develop the necessary technology. Moreover, the company has updated its business models to suit the needs of the customers and ensure the stability of the business. SFIO understands the importance of staying in the business for the long run. To maintain its success in the coming years, the company has been studying detailed industry and market analysis. This has helped to identify and analyze the gap where it needs to be the focus.

“We have considered the customer behaviors 10 years ago and predicted their behaviors in the next 10 years. This has provided insights as to how we should structure and position our business,” says Jeths.

A leader with a positive mindset Since the beginning of his career, Jeths has been an influential leader with ample years of experience backing his leadership skills. He is also the co-founder of Epiphany Cafe, Ardent Bakers, Gorgeous Coffee, and A+ Electrical.

Furthermore, he is a Chartered Professional Electrical Engineer and a Certified Asset Management Assessor with over 15 years of professional experience in different industries.

His expertise is in Asset Management and Business Development.

While expressing his views on how important a leader’s mindset is on the success of the company, he states, “Absolutely! While leaders only represent the entire organization, leadership influences culture, culture drives behaviors within the organization which yields results. Leaders provide the direction where the company is heading and at the same time, paint the vision in such a way that everyone will be on board. Ultimately, leaders need to ‘build leaders’ within the organization as part of the succession plan to ensure stability and ‘consistency of culture’.”

Empowering small and medium enterprises As aforementioned, COVID-19 has definitely changed the market landscape and behaviors of the customers in the majority of the industries. Jeths and his team at SFIO have structured and positioned their businesses within the company to address the current challenges and needs. In the retail industry including Food and Beverage, the key focus is empowering small and medium enterprises.

Hence, its business models are upgraded to enable SMEs through its diversified and multilayered business model which will bring in the “Shared ownership model” into these types of businesses.

“One key area in the business that COVID has taught us so far is in terms of collaboration even with our competitors. In the past, this was seen as ‘threats’ to a business not until COVID happened where businesses have worked or collaborated together not only to survive but more importantly to adapt to the new playing field in the market,” says Jeths.

A very detailed roadmap for the future With a positive outlook and under strong leadership, the company is optimistic about the coming years. SFIO is introducing a disruptive innovation in the market where it can do a hypergrowth expansion enabled by its SMART FREEZE Technology and the diversified business model. Utilizing the shared-ownership model, the company has also a very detailed roadmap in line with its strategic global expansion in Australia, Asia, and the U.S. in the next 3 to 5 years. The key to this is ‘speed’ with high ‘precision’ in terms of project execution of the detailed plan. SFIO will be launching its global fundraising and marketing campaign from August 2021. Jeths encourages everyone to consider becoming part of SFIO by way of investing in SFIO through its authorized brokers or becoming one of its business partners in the businesses.

(Advertising Supplement)

Marcos, Enrile together again...

PAGE 7 involving moral turpitude.

He added that before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) allows the petition to proceed and ask the respondent [Marcos] to comment, the poll body should at least order the petitioners to provide an “actionable document”.

“Before the Comelec gives due course and requires the respondent to answer or comment on the petition, the poll body must, at the very least, order the petitioners to attach a certified true copy of this final judgment.

For how can the respondent intelligently answer the petition, if the judgment upon which his alleged ineligibility is based is not

even attached to it?” said Briones.

“Since the penalty or penalties you are looking for in the Decision of the Court of Appeals are not there, then Marcos Jr. is eligible to be a candidate for President and did not commit a crime involving moral turpitude.

That CA decision has long been final. It is now immutable and cannot be changed to favor this nuisance suit,” Briones said.

Meanwhile, Marcos’s chief of staff, lawyer Vic Rodriguez, said the petition filed against Marcos was part of the alleged “dirty tactics” being used by his opponents.

“Kitang-kita ng sambayanang Pilipino na patuloy ang pang-aapi ng iba’t-ibang grupong dilawan kay Presidential aspirant

VAX CARD PLEASE. A security guard checks a mallgoer’s vaccination card at the entrance of a mall in Quezon City on Tuesday, November 9. Under the city government’s rules, mallgoers are required to present their vaccination cards before entry but those who do not have one would still be allowed to enter for essential purposes only. PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

Another reason to be thankful...

PAGE 5 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 slimmeddown 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 addressing 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 COVID-19 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. *** 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. ***

Bongbong Marcos (The Filipino people sees the continued bullying of the different ‘yellow’ groups against presidential aspirant Bongbong Marcos),” Rodriguez said.

“Let’s not play along the propaganda line of the yellow-wannabe political assassins,” he added. (By Vince Jacob Visaya and Javier Joe Ismael/ManilaTimes.net) n

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.

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 12-18, 2021

COMMUNITY JOURNAL

11

Naturalizing with an undocumented spouse Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ DEAR Atty. Gurfinkel: I have been a green card holder for over 5 years, paid my taxes, committed no crimes, and am eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship.

However, my spouse is out of status. (He entered as a tourist and overstayed).

I reviewed the naturalization application, Form N-400, and there are many questions about my spouse. ’m afraid that if I apply for U.S. citizenship, and I disclose the information about my spouse’s status, they could go after him and put him in deportation. What should I do?

Very truly yours, LK Dear LK: Many immigrants/green card holders are married to undocumented immigrants or someone who is out of status. Of course, they would like to petition and legalize the immigration status of their spouse. However, if they petition the spouse while they are a green card holder, ordinarily, the undocumented spouse would not be eligible to apply for a green card in the U.S. Instead, they would have to return to their home country on a provisional waiver and apply for their immigrant visa there.

However, in many cases, if a U.S. citizen petitions an undocumented spouse, that spouse could be eligible to apply for a green card (or adjust status) in the U.S. Please note: There are some cases where even marriage to a U.S. citizen would not enable an undocumented person to

adjust status in the U.S. This would include crewman/ jump ship without section 245(i); those who entered the U.S. without inspection (EWI or snuck across the border) without section 245(i); and those who entered on a K-1 fiancé visa but did not marry the K-1 petitioner and instead married someone else.

Therefore, in your case, I can understand it would be very important for you to be able to naturalize to enable your undocumented spouse

officer himself told her she could now file a petition for her husband and he could adjust status in the U.S. (Coincidentally, we had already advised our client of this fact, which was the main reason she was applying for naturalization, and she had already signed up to petition him, once she took her oath of citizenship.)

If you are eligible for U.S. citizenship and hope to petition an undocumented spouse, or if you have any other questions or concerns about eligibility, risks, chances, etc., I would recommend you consult with an attorney who can evaluate your situation and represent you.

While that would not “guarantee” results, it could greatly increase your chances for success. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 40 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California.

Each case is different, and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and re-enactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorneyclient relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Follow us on Facebook.com/ G u r f i n ke l L a w, Yo u Tu b e : U S Immigration TV and Instagram. com/gurfinkellaw Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: 1-866-487-3465 (866) – GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES ∙ SAN FRANCISCO ∙ NEW YORK ∙ PHILIPPINES

“In my opinion, the benefits of applying for naturalization outweigh the possible risks to your undocumented spouse. I have yet to come across a case where someone “endangered” their undocumented spouse by applying for naturalization.” to apply for a green card (or adjust status) in the U.S. In my opinion, the benefits of applying for naturalization outweigh the possible risks to your undocumented spouse. I have yet to come across a case where someone “endangered” their undocumented spouse by applying for naturalization.

I remember in one case, my client was being interviewed for naturalization, while her undocumented spouse was waiting in the parking lot of the federal building where the interview took place. The officer did not question or focus on the undocumented spouse.

Just recently, a client was interviewed for naturalization and the officer did ask her about her husband’s immigration status, entry into the U.S., and his working in the U.S. She truthfully responded that the husband had entered the U.S. on a valid visa and was out of status. After approving her naturalization, the

(Advertising Supplement)

BANNED FOR LIFE NO MORE, THIS SUNDAY ON CITIZEN PINOY. Joyce (center) petitioned her fiancé, Ronald (left), in 2006.

However, while the K-1 petition was approved in 2007, his visa was denied due to Ronald’s admitting to drug use to the doctors at St. Luke’s. He was then banned for life from entering the U.S. In 2011, leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (right) was able to convince the U.S. Embassy in Manila to change their policy, and they agreed they would not ban people for life if the only “evidence” is the person admitting drug use to the doctors at St. Luke’s. In 2016, MJG was able to clear Ronald’s name, and Ronald’s immigrant visa was issued. Watch this success story on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” this Sunday, November 14 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo.

(Advertising Supplement)

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NOVEMBER 12-18, 2021 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

Health@Heart 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 COVID-19 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

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The only way to win Lifetime ban for admitting

them with a twisted sense of order, justice, respect for their fellowmen, and what their constitutional rights, civil liberties in a democracy properly 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 COVID-19 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 COVID-19, 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) 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, COVID-19 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 nec-

drug use lifted this Sunday on Citizen Pinoy

RONALD was petitioned as Joyce’s fiancé in 2006. While the K-1 petition was approved, his visa was denied after Ronald admitted to the doctors at St. Luke’s that he tried drugs many years ago.

Because of that admission, he was banned for life.

In 2008, Joyce and Ronald got married, hoping that this would get a positive result.

However, the same policy was still in place and his visa was again refused.

Fortunately, in 2011, leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel was able to convince the U.S. Embassy in Manila to reverse their policy of a lifetime

ban if the only “evidence” was the person admitting drug use to St. Luke’s doctors.

In 2015, Joyce consulted again with Atty.

Gurfinkel, and he was able to clear Ronald’s name and the visa was issued. Finally, Ronald and Joyce were able to spend their first Christmas in the U.S. as a married couple.

Watch this success story on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” this Sunday, November 14 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET thru select Cable/Satellite providers), right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the app for free.

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What Maureen learned from JK

By Marinel

Cruz

Inquirer.net

“HE just does his thing.

He doesn’t really care about other people’s opinions of him. That’s one of the things I admire about him.”

Thus said actress-beauty queen Maureen Wroblewitz in response to Inquirer Entertainment’s question about what makes her click with singer-songwriter JK Labajo, her boyfriend of two years.

“I always say opposites attract,” said the FilipinoGerman actress.

“We’re opposite of each other but then we kind of complement each other, too. He can be very loud sometimes, while I’m timid because I want to reserve my energy. He is the kind of person who likes to take on the conversation when we’re outside. I just let him have that.” Musicians think very differently, Maureen observed. “I love art. I used to draw and paint. Seeing him and seeing how creative he is with his songwriting amazes me. I guess with him, my creative side comes out as well,” she explained.

“He thinks out-of-the-box.

He doesn’t want to fit into a mold. He wants to live his life the way that he wants to. He always wants to be essarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life.

Maureen Wroblewitz and JK Labajo

Photo from Instagram/@mauwrob

himself—that’s one thing that I learned from him,” pointed out Maureen, who is currently an ABS-CBN contract artist.

“I’m now trying to get out of my comfort zone even more.

I’m now really pushing myself and not trying to just fit in because that’s one thing that I wanted to do while growing up—to please everyone. “I learned from him that the comments that should matter are from people who matter to me. I have to remind myself

of that all the time, and he is kind of a reminder of that,” the 23-year-old said.

Maureen had a 30-minute chat with Inquirer Entertainment where she also bravely talked about how she battled mental illness as a teenager, how she coped with her mom’s breast cancer and her eventual death, and her experience competing in the 2021 Miss Universe Philippines pageant where PAGE 15

Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health. ***

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

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Jennylyn and Dennis reveal past plans Joyce reveals praying to freeze eggs, attempt at surrogacy for ‘the one’ as early

as 10 years old, upon advice of dad

By DAnA

Cruz Inquirer.net

JENNYLYN Mercado and Dennis Trillo opened up on the procedures they went through to try to get pregnant, before finding out they are expecting their first child. Part of their initial plan was to freeze the actress’ eggs back in 2018.

The couple narrated their surrogacy journey in Mercado’s YouTube channel, in a vlog titled “The Surrogate” last Friday, Nov. 5. They explained why they changed their plan from egg freezing to surrogacy.

Egg freezing is a procedure that allows a woman to get pregnant at a later date, according to non-profit medical center Mayo Clinic.

“Noong 2018, ang plano namin ni Dennis ay magpafreeze lang ng eggs, ng specimen. Noong mga time na ‘yon, hindi pa rin ako handa talagang mag-carry ng baby,” Mercado recalled.

“Pwede pa akong magtrabaho.”

EMPLOYMENT

By Alex

BrosAs Inquirer.net

Jennylyn Mercado and Dennis Trillo

(Back in 2018, Dennis and I planned to freeze my eggs, specimen. At that time, I was really not ready to carry a baby. I could still work then.)

Trillo added that they tried egg freezing twice in the Philippines, but nothing came out of it.

“Parang sinabi sa ‘min na, ‘Hindi pa kayo ganoon kaready,’ kaya hindi siguro sa ‘min binigay ‘yon,” Mercado said. (It’s like we were told,

Photo screengrabbed from YouTube/Jennylyn Mercado

“You’re not that ready yet,” so maybe that’s why it was not given to us.)

The couple’s friends suggested that the two try surrogacy, an arrangement where a woman agrees to give birth to a baby on behalf of another person. Mercado and Trillo began exploring this process in the United States, since it is yet to be legal in the Philippines.

The two went through

PERSONAL

checkups, ultrasounds and numerous injections in their attempt to have a baby via surrogacy. They also told fans that they were fortunate to have nurse friends since they were able to teach Trillo how to inject Mercado’s medication, which was given to her thrice a day.

“Imagine, three times a day, bugbog na bugbog na yung tiyan ko. Parang ayoko PAGE 15

AS early as when she was still a child, TV host Joyce Pring already knew that she can only find her perfect match through God’s grace, and this she knew through her own father.

Pring spoke about this in her Instagram page last Friday, Nov. 5, where she shared a short video with a message which said, “When God writes your love story, it’ll be better than anything you could’ve ever imagined.”

Pring shared that she is very close to her dad, and that even as a kid, she had so many conversations with him “about faith, relationships, politics, philosophy, and even mental health.”

The TV host is referring to her stepdad, stepdad, Chan-

SERVICES

dro Uttamchandani who helped raise her, after her biological father was assassinated when she was only over a year old. He was the policeman Joe Pring whose life was made into a series of films starring Philip Salvador. It is Uttamchandani therefore who has given her the fatherly guidance she needed while growing up, so much so that she actually considers him her father, more than a stepfather.

“He was an intentional learner, and also a great communicator, so we would spend many hours just talking about everything under the sun (I guess he’s one of the biggest influences to my hosting career).”

She remembered how her dad instructed her to already start praying for her wouldbe-husband even when she PAGE 15

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people events arts culture entertainment

What being part of Gov. Phil Murphy’s campaign team meant for FilAm Lauren Lalicon

by MoMar

G. Visaya / AJPress

OV. Phil Murphy eked out a win last week, beating his Republican challenger G Jack Ciattarelli by a close margin. As such, Murphy made history by becoming the first Democrat governor in New Jersey since 1977 to win a second term.

Lauren with fellow Team AAPI strategists Kim and Hira Shaikh and Kind Badger.

Photo by Ludi Hughes

Gov. Phil Murphy and his wife Tammy Murphy with Filipino American community leaders at an event in Bergenfield.

Photo courtesy of Ledy Almadin

New Jersey is home to the third-largest percentage of Asian American and Pacific Islander residents in the United States, trailing Hawaii and California.

The Asian American population in the Garden State grew faster than any other racial group, up 44% to 1.05 million over the past ten years, making their votes crucial to both political parties.

Behind the scenes in Murphy’s diverse campaign team is a young, diminutive Filipina American named Lauren Lalicon. Born and raised in New Jersey, Lalicon’s parents are Filipinos: dad is from Pangasinan while mom is from Nueva Ecija.

Lalicon worked as a senior organizer for Gov. Murphy’s Asian and Pacific Islander outreach team.

Lauren Lalicon AJPress Photos by Momar G. Visaya

Lauren Lalicon with her Professional Filipino American Youth (PFAY) colleagues

She helped in engaging East Asian and Southeast Asian communities, including Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, and Filipino communities.

Part of her work was getting the governor to events, making sure that they have a direct line of communication with community organizations, connecting with leaders in the community.

The campaign knew that it was important to interact with every single community, and that includes making sure that their materials are in language. Voters’ guides were translated into 14 Asian languages.

Road to Politics Lalicon’s foray into politics was a little unexpected.

She took up International Studies at The College of New Jersey and after graduation,

she went to the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce where she interned for a year before becoming the Director of Government Relations.

Through her now growing network, she met someone who would eventually be the chief of staff of First Lady Tammy Snyder Murphy where she later worked as policy director. While in that office, she helped in various projects, and in July, she joined the campaign team.

She hopes to rejoin her old office when Murphy starts his new term next year.

“It’s always been a priority for the governor to really connect with the community, like communities of color in New Jersey. That includes making sure that a lot of his administration has people of color at high leadership levels so that includes his chief counsel, communications

director, a lot of his cabinet members. He’s got one of the most diverse cabinets in New Jersey history,” Lalicon said.

Working in the First Lady’s office as a policy director, Lalicon was able to highlight a lot about Filipino culture.

She helped the governor’s office develop the governor’s Asian Pacific American Heritage Month events.

“So I was able to bring in a lot of diverse communities there make sure that you know every community feels like they’re seen and heard, and made sure during Filipino American History Month last year that the First Lady was able to highlight it,” she said.

Engaging the AAPI Communities Gov. Murphy also met with Filipino community leaders in Bergenfield over plates PAGE 15

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What Maureen learned from... What being part of Gov. Phil...

PAGE 12 she eventually placed first runner-up.

Excerpts from our chat: Will you try to win the crown again next year? If yes, what do you think you should improve on?

What was funny was that on the day of the coronation, I told one of the girls that this was my first and last pageant, but I’m still 23, I might still change my mind. I do see a lot of things I can improve on like my walk and maybe a little bit on my conviction when I speak.

What have you learned from competing in “Asia’s Next Top Model” that you were able to apply to the beauty pageant?

It’s ‘fake it till you make it.’ It’s not as bad as it sounds. I only use it to describe the confident persona that comes out when I’m on stage or in front of the camera. It’s this person that is totally me but only comes out when I have to be in difficult situations.

Dealing with your mom’s cancer, and eventually, her death, are both painful experiences. You were still too young then.

What did the whole journey leave you with?

When I lost my mom, I had lost my best friend. I was left feeling confused. There was also a time when I lost my faith in God. I remember feeling so alone that I reached a point when I didn’t want to live anymore. I felt her presence throughout this journey. She would give me a lot of signs. She advocated for breast cancer awareness when she was still alive. She was a volunteer at I Can Serve.

Today, I also work with I Can Serve so that I can save lives, too.

You’re very vocal about dealing with anxiety and depression. How did that start for you and what are you doing about it?

I just felt like I didn’t want to live anymore. I would look in the mirror and would say ‘I hate my life’ or ‘I’m ugly.’ It took me really long to get over that because, after my mom passed away, I also had to deal with an eating disorder.

I lost a lot of weight, unwillingly… I was just 13.

I’m so glad that I had my younger sister, who I am very close to. She was the one who told my parents and I was able to get professional help.

My dad also gave me this book. The first chapter talks about this guy who doesn’t have any legs and arms. He talks about this experience of him wanting to drown himself in the bathtub, but he was so glad that he didn’t.

Now, he’s so successful and is able to help and inspire so many people as a motivational speaker. After reading that, I remember thinking, I’m still young and I have not lived my life yet.

Being born and growing up in Saudi and then transferring to Germany seemed to be a major adjustment. Can you share something about that time in your life?

I lived in Saudi Arabia for 12 years. When we went to Germany, it had been the first time for me to be the new kid. It was nervewracking because I remember not being good at German yet.

I fell into a toxic friendship for two years.

This girl took advantage of me… and that was one of the reasons I got into a very dark place.

Finally, there was one girl, Ina, who helped me get out of that toxic friendship. She eventually became my best friend.

It was really hard adjusting to a new culture because I grew up in a family that is very Filipino. I also knew about the culture in Saudi Arabia but wasn’t familiar with German culture. There were a lot of things that I had to get used to and it took me two years to come out of my shell.

You have been living in the Philippines for five years now. What’s that like so far?

My mom made sure we can understand Tagalog, but I only started speaking the language in 2019. I’m really more comfortable with Tag-lish. While growing up in those places, I always knew that I wanted to live in the Philippines, that it’s my home, that I wanted to move here. I always felt more connected to the Philippines and its culture. n

Joyce reveals praying for ‘the one’...

PAGE 13 was just ten years old then.

She found it “weird” and “funny” because she was so young and of course didn’t have any plans of marrying.

But her father told her, “God will prepare him in time for when you meet each other.”

“This idea — that God will mold, prepare, and shape the person who was to be my husband one day, even while I had no idea who he was — stuck with me. So I started and continued praying for him… until I finally got married to him,” she said.

Pring and Juancho Triviño exchanged I do’s on Feb. 9, 2020, in a garden wedding at the Sofitel. Pring gave birth to their firstborn, Alonso Eliam, last July.

“Juancho’s everything I prayed for, but better,” Pring said. “God sure knows me better than I know myself.” n

PAGE 14 of adobo and pancit at the Bamboo Grill, a Filipino-owned restaurant in the borough.

Lalicon cited that one of the biggest challenges they encountered, not just in the Filipino community but in many communities as well, is engaging the members to register and vote.

“I think it’s all ethnicities, they just don’t understand why it’s important to vote, they don’t really feel a connection. Some of them don’t see the importance of their significance, they don’t feel a connection to the policies that are being made and how that impacts them,” she explained.

This is why the campaign focused on tying the governor’s policy achievements to people’s way of life, and that includes focusing on the impact of COVID, the governor’s COVID response, especially with the Filipino healthcare community in New Jersey, and really showing the impact of the governor’s increasing opportunities for communities of color to access higher education.

“A lot of the governor’s policies have had a huge impact on the Asian American community. Around 50% of small businesses in New Jersey are immigrant-owned, and of that 50% are API. So he’s had a huge impact on small businesses, with his COVID small business grants, really ensuring that a lot of those businesses that receive those grants are minority and women-owned,” Lalicon added.

The outreach connected with community leaders, including faith leaders, presidents of organizations, those who are advocates or activists in the community, because those are the trusted voices that people are going to follow.

And this year, for the first time ever in New Jersey, citizens were able to vote early and in person, making voting so much easier.

In terms of engagement, Lalicon thinks a lot of Filipino Americans have a huge interest in being politically engaged, but they don’t see themselves represented in politics, so they don’t really feel the need to push engagement beyond.

“That’s why I think a lot of [Filipino] students tend to drop off after college because they get busy, but there are so many ways that you can get involved. From donating to campaigns, volunteering to canvass, or just sharing posts on Facebook,” she shared. “So, while a lot of Filipino Americans aren’t like super engaged like how I am, I think there’s still a lot of interest, and if we can nurture that interest by showing them the impact of those little things adds up in the end for people that they support in politics, that I think it’s a way to really bring them closer and make them feel more connected to the process.”

Legacy Project Lalicon didn’t really need to look far for an example.

She was very involved in her college’s Filipino club. Once she graduated, she focused on other things and found herself getting re-engaged to the Filipino community a couple of years ago when she started her nonprofit Professional Filipino American Youth (PFAY).

PFAY is Lalicon’s legacy project at FYLPRO, where she was surrounded by other likeminded individuals who were just as excited and passionate about their culture and making sure that they are creating a lasting impact.

“I think when you are surrounded by a lot of other Filipinos that have the same energy and passion as you do, you want to match that. And that way, we keep building off each other’s energy, really keep bouncing off each other and making a bigger impact together,” Lalicon said.

Her dream is to eventually start other PFAY chapters in other cities. Their focus right now is in New Jersey but they are hoping to open in cities where they have friends and networks.

“The essence of PFAY is that it’s very easy to get into and very easy to get connected.

The idea is we meet once a month at a Filipino restaurant, we bring together members of our network, people who have the same vibe as us,” she shared. “The idea is if we keep building this network, we can start to bring a stronger community together because the strongest networks are actual genuine friendships, so it’s really about building these genuine friendships in order to develop the organization.”

At a young age, Lalicon is proud of what she has achieved so far, especially since she got into the field on her own merit, without any connections or backers.

“I didn’t have any connections prior to working at the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, so I was a fish out of water. And I think like as an Asian woman, a Filipino woman and just as a young woman in general, it was very difficult for me to be in certain rooms, because it’s hard to get that connection,” she shared.

As she continues to build her name in New Jersey politics, Lalicon continues to grow her network as well. She co-founded a networking group called Asian Women of Trenton, which brings together Asian women Asian politicos in Trenton together.

The idea is similar to her legacy project where they gather once a month to share job opportunities, talk about what’s happening, the latest policy news, who’s moving to where.

“You know how business decisions are made on golf courses? Sometimes decisions are made at these dinners, so it’s a way for us to create our own circle in the space that didn’t have a space for us before,” she said. n

Jennylyn and Dennis reveal past...

Joyce Pring and Juancho Triviño

Photo from Instagram/@joycepring

PAGE 13 na ako yung gumawa kasi sakit na sakit na ako, so kailangan ibang tao na kasi hindi ko kaya itusok sa sarili ko,” Mercado recounted.

(Imagine, three times a day, my stomach was already beat up. It’s like I did not want to do it anymore because it was too painful, so another person had to do it because I could no longer inject it on myself.)

The couple also gave fans a glimpse of their announcement to family members,

where they showed a sonogram of their baby.

Mercado and Trillo, confirmed they are expecting a baby in an exclusive interview with “24 Oras” last Oct. 29. They also got engaged last month.

The couple both have children from previous relationships. Trillo has a son with beauty queen Carlene Aguilar while Mercado has a son as well with actor Patrick Garcia. n

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