111722 - Las Vegas Edition

Steven Raga wins assembly seat, becomes the rst Filipino American in the New York state legislature

NEW York State Assembly District 30 candidate Steven Raga has made history as the first Filipino-American elected to office in New York State.

On election night, Raga won his race to serve in the state assembly. There are 150 seats in the New York State Assembly that serve two-year terms without term limits.

Raga won against his Republican opponemt Sean Lally in Tuesday night’s (November 8) general election, garnering 57.84% of the votes (10,972 votes), against Lally’s 41.12% of thevotes. The results will not be certified until all ballots are counted as Raga’s district has registered 97.66% of precincts reporting according to unofficial results from the city Board of Elections.

Raga expressed thanks and gratitude to all the support that his campaign received during

Bonta wins race for California Atty Gen

FILIPINO American Rob Bonta has won a full term as California State Attorney General.

As of Thursday, November 10, Bonta, a Democrat and the current state attorney general, held a big lead over his Republican challenger Nathan Hochman. Bonta has garnered 3,152,292 votes (56.9%) while Hochman has received 2,385,723 votes (43.1%), per the California Secretary of State’s election results page. Election results will be certified on December 16.

Bonta, who is the first Fil-Am to become Attorney General in the state’s history, was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to the position when his predecessor, Xavier Becerra, joined the Biden-Harris administration as Secretary of Health and Human Services. As Bonta was appointed more than midway through Becerra’s term, he is eligible to run for two 4-year terms.

A Yale Law School graduate, Bonta was a Deputy City Attorney in San Francisco from 2003 to 2012.

In 2010, he was elected to the Alameda City Council where he was appointed vice

VP Kamala Harris to meet with Marcos, Duterte on US-PH security

by BEATRICE PINLAC Inquirer.net

Sen. Cortez Masto wins reelection, helping Dems retain Senate control

DEMOCRATIC

In this closely watched race in a battleground state, Cortez Masto garnered 48.8% of the vote (495,960) versus Laxalt’s 48% (488,158), according to results from the Nevada Secretary of State, as of this writing. With her win, the Democrats will continue to control the U.S. Senate with 50 seats compared to the Republican Party with 49.

Cortez Masto was first elected to the Senate in 2016, becoming the country’s first Latina senator, after serving two terms as the state’s attorney general. She replaced the late Democratic Senator Harry Reid who shaped the Silver State’s politics.

She touted her first-term record of helping the state recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, which took a toll on the state’s tourism and hospitality industries.

Marcos Jr. to visit US at least twice in 2023 — envoy

by DANIZA FERNANDEZ Inquirer.net

MANILA

The United States will host the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meet and the Summit for Democracy, and Marcos plans to attend both events.

INQUIRER.net asked Romualdez in a

message if there are finalized dates for the two events, to which he answered: “No dates.”

Assuming the summit and APEC meeting go well, Marcos may pay a state visit to the United States next year.

In September this year, Marcos embarked on a six-day working trip to the U.S.

The president met with several American business and state leaders. His trip was expected to generate almost $4 billion in investments from multiple sectors. n

Filipino baby girl is ‘symbolic’ 8 billionth person in the world

by KRISTOFER PURNELL Philstar.com

MANILA — A baby girl born at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila in the early hours of November 15 has been designated as the “symbolic” eight billionth person born.

Representatives from the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) were present at the birth of one Vinice Mabansag, born to Maria Margarette Villorente.

“The world welcomes Vinice Mabansag of Delpan,Tondo as the symbolic 8 billionth baby from the Philippines,” said the National Capital Region division of POPCOM in a Facebook post hours after Baby Vinice was born at 1:29 in the morning.

Prior to Baby Vinice’s birth, the United Nations (UN) had projected the birth of the world’s eight billionth person was a milestone “to celebrate diversity and advancements while considering humanity’s shared responsibility for the planet.”

The agency attributed such growth to improvements in public health, nutrition, personal hygiene and medicine, as well as higher fertility rates.

Despite concerns that population growth could affect economic development, if not overconsumption of resources, Rachel Snow of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) said the world’s population growth rate has dramatically decelerated.

The UN said annual growth has

Pres. Marcos on ASEAN trip: Successful, very interesting

MANILA — President Marcos described his participation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia last week – his first as Chief Executive – as “successful” and a “very interesting experience.”

The four-day summit, Marcos said, gave him the opportunity to put forward the country’s stance on pressing global issues as well as its plans, including postpandemic recovery, with fellow leaders in the region and other

heads of state, including U.S. President Joe Biden.

“We also got the opportunity to put forward our position, our plans and to find ways where we can help each other,” the President said in his arrival speech after touching down at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City early on Tuesday, November 15.

In an interview with the Philippine media delegation in Phnom Penh on Sunday, November 13, Marcos said the ASEAN Summit was a learning experience for him and also

by AJPRESS

by HELEN FLORES Philstar.com

total of

student-beneficiaries received early gifts from the Belenismo sa Tarlac 2022 and Tarlac Foundation Inc. PNA photo by Avito Dalan

MANILA – United States Vice President Kamala

Harris will meet with Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara

Duterte in Manila during her visit to the country from November 20 to 22.

Harris will arrive in Manila on Sunday, November 20 after her participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Bangkok, Thailand. A senior U.S. administration official, in a background

briefing on Wednesday, November 16, said Harris will meet with Duterte and later have a “longer bilateral meeting” with Marcos.

“The focus with President Marcos will be twofold: strengthening our security alliance and economic  PAGE 2

President Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos arrive in Manila early Tuesday, Nov. 15 following a four-day visit to Cambodia to participate in the 40th and 41st Asean Summits and Related Summits. The President described his participation in the Asean summits as ‘successful’ and a ’very interesting experience.’ Philstar.com file photo

This November 15, 2022 handout photo from the Population Commission shows Vinice Mabansag, who represents the 8 billionth person in the world’s population. PSC

— President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will visit the United States at least twice in 2023, Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez said on Friday, November 11.

incumbent Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada will keep her seat for a second term after narrowly beating Republican challenger Adam Laxalt in the 2022 midterm elections.

VP Kamala Harris to meet...

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relationship,” the official said.

Harris is expected to reaffirm the U.S. commitment to its alliance with the Philippines on peace and stability in the South China Sea.

“They will discuss upholding international rules and norms. The Vice President will also commit to work more closely with the Philippines to strengthen our economic partnership and investment ties,” the official detailed.

Harris will also be meeting with civil society activists in a bid to demonstrate the U.S.’ “continued support for human rights and democratic resilience.”

She will then engage in a town hall meeting with young Filipino women about empowering them to participate in economic and civic activities.

“This will be the first event of its kind she has done overseas since taking office, and it’ll be a good opportunity for direct engagement with the Filipino people, underscoring the strong people-to-people ties with the Philippines and historic ties,” the official further noted.

To cap off her trip in the Philippines, Harris will visit Puerto Princesa in Palawan to meet with residents, civil society leaders, and representatives of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

“This is another historic visit, as the Vice President is the highestranking U.S. official ever to visit Palawan. This visit demonstrates the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to stand with our Philippine ally in upholding the rules-based international maritime order in the South

Bonta wins race for California...

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mayor. Two years later, he ran for the State Assembly seat for District 18 and won, becoming the first Fil-Am to be elected to the state legislature. He was overwhelmingly reelected to the post in 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020, getting at least 87% of the votes cast in the district in those races. In the California State Legislature, Bonta was chair of the Asian & Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus.

Attorney General Bonta

expressed his thoughts on Twitter on getting elected to a full term, saying, “Humbled by the vote of confidence delivered at the ballot box. The returns reflect our hard work in delivering results for public safety, working families, and the fundamental rights we hold dear. I’m deeply honored to serve as your Attorney General. Thank you, California!”

In local races in San Diego, Judy Patacsil is leading Frank Xu for the Palomar Community College District Governing Board Member

China Sea, supporting maritime livelihoods, and countering illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing,” the official said.

Harris will be delivering remarks before the PCG which, the official noted, is seen to spotlight “the importance of international law, unimpeded commerce, and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.”

The official pointed out that Harris’ stop in Palawan’s capital highlights her aim to directly interact with people who often don’t get the opportunity to meet with high-ranking U.S. officials.

“Leaving the capital city, going to Palawan and visiting communities there will do just that.  And it’s a prime example of the way the Vice President seeks to engage on the world stage,” the official added. g

Trustee Area No. 1 seat. Per the San Diego County Registrar of Voters election results page as of Thursday, Patacsil currently has 13,735 votes (51.98%) to the 12,688 votes for Xu (48.02%).

In the race for Sweetwater Union High School District Governing Board Member Trustee Area 5 position, Dante Garcia Pamintuan has a slim lead of 58 over Martha “Marti” Emerald. Pamintuan currently has 4,603 votes (50.32%) to Emerald’s 4,545 votes (49.68%).

Ditas Yamane leads Marissa Acierto for the lone seat for District 3 of the city council for National City. Yamane garnered 1,006 votes (60.71%) to Acierto’s 651 votes (39.29%).

As for the Propositions in the ballot, San Diego voters voted Yes for Prop 1 (Reproductive Freedom), Prop 28 (Provides Additional Funding for Arts & Music Education), and Prop 31 (Referendum on 2020 Law on Retail Sale of Flavored Tobacco Products).

Voters said No to Prop 26 (Allows New Types of Gambling), Prop 27 (Allows Online and Mobile Sports Wagering), Prop 29 (Requires On-site Licensed Medical Kidney Dialysis Clinics), and Prop 30 (Funding Program to Reduce Air Pollution/Prevent Wildires). (Joseph L. Peralta/ AJPress)

Sen. Cortez Masto wins reelection, helping...

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Leading up to election day, Cortez Masto campaigned and met with Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) leaders and community members on issues affecting the community from inflation to hate crimes.

Laxalt, whose grandfather and father were both served in the Nevada state Senate, succeeded Cortez Masto as attorney general before running for Senate in this election.

In a statement, Laxalt conceded, saying “I am confident that any challenge of this election would not alter the ultimate outcome.” He said he called Cortez Masto to “congratulate her on her win.” g

Pres. Marcos on ASEAN trip: Successful...

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significant as it was the first to be held in person since the pandemic struck in 2020.

“What I learned in this –having attended this ASEAN Summit is that each country has many commonalities, which should not really be surprising, considering that we’re all around – we’re all from the same area,” the President said.

“So there are very many similar problems, of course. And we always talk about recovering from the pandemic economy. We talked about preparing for the next pandemic. What do we do about scarcity of let’s say – rather the prices of food, of fertilizer, energy? What are we going to do about it? What can we do about it? How do we get around it? What… can be done to alleviate some of the difficulties that everybody is going through?” he said.

Marcos said he also had the opportunity to present the country’s position on pressing international concerns, including the South China Sea, the RussiaUkraine war, the crisis in the Taiwan Strait and North Korea’s missile tests.

“And of course, on the geopolitical side, the same concerns also, about number one, North Korea and the missile test. The Taiwan Strait – what is going to happen there – needs to be more stable and the effects of the Russian-Ukraine conflict in Southeast Asia,” the Chief Executive said.

He said like the Philippines, other countries are also hit by rising prices of commodities, such as oil and food.

“So you can tell that our situations are very similar.

However, a ray of hope is that everyone seems to agree also that the driver of the coming economy for the next year, maybe two… can still come from here (Southeast Asia),” he said.

“If we do all the things that we’re supposed to do, if we put all the structural elements in place, we can go back to the pre-pandemic situation where the main driver of the global economy was Southeast Asia,” Marcos said.

No bilateral deals

Asked whether the country was able to enter into agreements during his bilateral meetings with some heads of state, Marcos stressed it was not the objective of his discussions with them.

“That’s not the purpose of the bilateral (meetings). In my case, because I’m the new kid in town, right, so it’s to meet people and say, introduce yourself, you know,” the President said.

Marcos had bilateral meetings with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, South Korean President Yoon Sukyeol, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

“In these meetings, we discussed how we can deepen cooperation in key areas and exchanged views on important regional and global issues,” Marcos pointed out.

He said the bilateral meetings served as an opportunity for both sides to bring up any subject that they both feel matters for their countries.

“So, in terms of the bilaterals, you don’t really come away from the bilaterals with an agreement or all that. It’s just getting insights first. What’s really the

problem? What do you want? What do I want? What can we do together? What are the things that we cannot do? All of that. That’s really what the bilaterals are for,” Marcos said.

The President likewise had brief conversations with Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at the summit.

Cambodian food

Asked by reporters whether he tried local dishes and what he liked most, the Chief Executive said, “I liked it all. I’m afraid I’m a little bit, I’m an enthusiastic experimental when it comes to food.”

He said First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos even asked her staff to take a photo of the menu during the gala dinner on Saturday, November 12 so as to get some ideas that can be useful when it’s time for the Philippines to host state dinners.

“When the day comes that we have to host something like ASEAN, we have something to look at,” he said.

Marcos, in an interview on the presidential plane on Nov. 9 en route to Phnom Penh, said this was his first time to visit Cambodia and he liked to try their street food.

The President also said he was not able to get enough sleep and eat properly due to long hours of meetings, while he also had to take care of things back home.

“So you don’t really go straight to sleep. You don’t really eat properly. But you know, it has to be done. It’s OK. I mean, you know. Nobody died from honest hard work,” he said when asked whether he was able to rest in Cambodia amid his hectic schedule. g

CA Atty General Rob Bonta

Senator Cortez Masto, AAPI community leaders discuss impact of Inflation Reduction Act on Nevadans.

Cortez Masto attends Asian Night Market, speaks with AAPI community members.

Steven Raga wins assembly seat, becomes...

the past eight months of the his toric campaign for an Assembly seat.

In an Election Day post on so cial media, he described himself as “a kid from Queens who grew up with a single mother, working three jobs while pursuing my edu cation, the overwhelming support from all corners of the district means a lot to me.”

Raga was a former chief of staff of Assemblymember Brian Barn well of District 30 who announced last April that he won’t be running for reelection. Raga was thrust into the position when he was selected by a committee to deter mine who would replace Barnwell on the ballot.

Addressing his supporters, Raga praised his campaign team and the volunteers and recalled “being out in the train station stops at 6 a.m. and at bus stops, knocking doors, and figuring out hashtags for future posts.”

“I am very proud of the cam paign we ran,” he said. “This is really a team effort, this is a move ment and effort that we are go ing to continue next year and for years to come.”

“This neighborhood means a lot to me,” Raga added as he talk ed about his family who has called it home for the past few decades. “I look forward to advocating for everyone here, defending our rights and working in partnership with our other forward-thinking legislators to bring more value to all New Yorkers, specially our most vulnerable, and our new im migrants.”

As a candidate, Raga amassed a slew of endorsements from elect ed officials and community and civic leaders and won his primary race in June. Among those who

threw their support were Con gresswoman Grace Meng, Con gressman Gregory Meeks, State Sen. John Liu and Assemblymem bers Ron Kim, Catalina Cruz, and Jessica González-Rojas, who was present to congratulate him on his win.

Assembly District 30 has un dergone significant change due to redistricting. It currently covers the neighborhoods of Woodside, Maspeth, and Elmhurst, along with parts of Jackson Heights. The district is one of the most diverse in the state and is majority AAPI (Asian Americans and Pacific Is landers).

During the campaign, Raga’s days start with him giving out lit erature and campaign materials at train stops and then he goes to the poll sites before meeting with community leaders to put cam paign events. He then spends six hours knocking on doors and call ing voters.

“We’re still putting in the hard work and we’re not taking any thing for granted,” he told the Asian Journal in a previous inter view. “Although it looks good, we want to make sure that we follow through until the very end and we just want to stay the course.”

Raga was the Executive Direc tor for Woodside on the Move, a social service and advocacy non-profit located in Woodside. Before that, he served as the Northeast Regional Manager of Policy & Advocacy for the Komen Foundation, and before his time in politics, he spent nearly a decade doing non-profit work, includ ing his time as a Senior Strate gist Multicultural Leadership for AARP.

He served as Barnwell’s chief of staff for four years. He is also a board member of Queens Pride

and the National Federation of Filipino American Associations. Raga is also the founder of Pilipi no American Unity for Progress (UniPro).

“From experience, I can tell you issues that everyday resi dents are facing; I’ve worked with non-profit organizations that are filling vital gaps in providing com munity resources and services. I was able to develop bonds with so many of my own neighbors while also learning about pertinent leg islative issues to Western Queens and the complex relationship between City and State politics,” Raga shared.

Last June when he won the pri mary, he said he was looking for ward to proudly wearing a Barong Tagalog on the floors of the New York State Assembly if he gets elected.

Among his top priorities are combating Asian American hate, coming up with a comprehensive measure to protect both tenants and homeowners, and helping small businesses or any business es that helped especially during COVID. (Momar G. Visaya/AJ Press)

Filipino baby girl is ‘symbolic’ 8 billionth...

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fallen from 2.1% between 1962 and 1965 to below 1% in 2020 and could even drop to around 0.5% by 2050. It also projects the population to continue growing to about 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050, and peak around 10.4 billion in the 2080s.

Dr. Leila Sajii Joudane, UNFPA Country Representative in the Philippines, said in a statement that it is of utmost importance that today’s 110 million Filipinos realize their full potential and human rights.

“We must give everyone the

capacity and space to make informed and responsible decisions, provide opportunities to choose and exercise their human rights — including sexual and reproductive health, and enable access to quality education and equal chance for economic opportunities,” said Joudane.

The UN had previously designated children who were also milestone births from five billionth to seven billionth, and a report by the BBC shows where the individuals are now.

Adnan Mevic, 23, from Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina

was designated the six-billionth baby, which led him to meeting football star Cristiano Ronaldo and is now looking for a job having finished his economics masters.

Following him was Sadia Sultana Oishee from Bangladesh, who was born in 2011 as the world’s seven-billionth baby; she is currently 11 years old and dreams of becoming a doctor.

Matej Gaspar, born in Zagreb in July 1987 as the five-billionth person, is happily married and a chemical engineer but has opted to keep his life private. g

Voters of color, women shape midterm races

by Peter White Ethnic Media Services

DESPITE new laws to keep people from voting and gerrymandering election districts to take away the power of minority communities, the Republican “red wave” that pollsters predicted ahead of last week’s midterms didn’t happen.

Ethnic Media Services debriefed six experts on their reactions to the election results and what should be done to prepare for the 2024 election.

“Voters of color were very concerned about the state of their lives beyond the economy,” said Sergio I. García-Rios, assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin and former director of Polling and Data at Univision News. “A second concern in all of our polls was gun safety, and mass shootings and also security along the border.”

García-Rios said that President Biden’s message about saving democracy resonated with voters of color concerned about rising extremism. But they also sent Democrats a message: “We’re disappointed with both parties.”

That theme was picked up by Christine Chen, executive director of Asian Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote), who says the number of Asian American voters who eschew both parties is growing. APIAVote conducts an annual survey of Asian American and Pacific Islander voters.

“We noticed that there’s an increasing number of independent voters among the Asian American electorate, 35% overall, and the Chinese actually had the largest percentage… at 47%. Even the Vietnamese, who support Republicans at a higher rate than any other Asian ethnic group, are losing party identification to independents,” Chen said.

Driving many black women were concerns around safety, said Karma Cottman, who leads Ujima, which focuses on violence targeting women in the black community. “Safety for us as women, safety for us as members of the black community, overlaid with what safety looks like in terms of

physical and financial safety so we are able to take care of our families.”

Cottman pointed to down ballot elections, noting strong support for black female candidates. “We were voting up and down ballot for black women,” she said.

Voter intimidation, meanwhile, did not prove to be a major issue this election, says Gowri Ramachandran, senior counsel of the Brennan Center’s Democracy program.

“We had law enforcement leaders in some communities coming out and saying, look, intimidation of voters and of election workers is not going to be tolerated,” she said.

Exit polls showed Republicans gaining ground in support among African Americans, Latinos, and Asian Americans. While support for Democrats remained high among women and young voters, Cottman echoed those who say Democrats spent too much time trying to flip predominantly white districts instead of investing resources in communities of color.

While Democrats maintained control of the Senate following a narrow win this weekend by Nevada’s Catherine Cortez Masto, control of the House remains in question, though Republicans have the advantage.

Common Cause National Redistricting Director Kathay Feng says extreme gerrymandering was a decisive factor in Republicans’ strong showing in states like Ohio and Florida and will be key should they retake the House.

In red states where the state legislature controls redistricting and Republican governors approve the maps they draw, the fight for fair maps is a David vs Goliath proposition. But in North Carolina and Minnesota, courts forced district maps to be redone. And in New Mexico, Native Americans threatened to blockade the commission if it didn’t redraw the Navajo districts. They did so.

Feng, who has been at the center of efforts to challenge partisan gerrymandering through litigation and statebased organizing around ballot initiatives and legislation, says citizens have been able to get maps drawn fairly where

election commissions do the redistricting.

“Across the board we saw many improvements,” she noted, pointing to states like California, Michigan and Colorado.

In Michigan, voters passed a measure in 2018 to create an independent Redistricting Commission. It has made a big difference there. State Representative Joe Tate is likely to become the first black speaker of the Michigan House. In Detroit and nearby suburbs, an African American is going to be representing this district for the first time in Washington. And in Michigan’s 12th Congressional District, incumbent Democrat Rashida Tlaib, who is Palestinian American, will be representing her newly configured district.

In Colorado, the Citizens Redistricting Board meeting for the first time drew a Congressional district with a 40% Latino population. “And that district, the Congressional 8th, elected for the first time a Latina representative to be part of the Congressional Colorado delegation,” Feng said.

“It’s significant to note that in each of these states there has been tremendous participation by communities of color to come out and talk about where those communities are, to talk about the growth, and to make sure that the lines are truly reflective of those communities,” she added.

Feng drew a sharp comparison with the growth of Latino populations in Texas and the black population in Florida. “Those communities were sliced and diced up so that the growth was not represented, or the historic representation was essentially dismantled. So, we see a significant difference between the states that have commissions of some form or another and those that do not,” she said.

Feng likened redistricting to fixing democracy’s clogged plumbing.

“You don’t want to know what’s in there. You don’t want to look at it. And when it bursts, it’s a mess. And that’s why you’ve got to fix it before you have that disaster… and because so many communities participated in redistricting, this time round, we saw a lot of that plumbing get fixed.” g

Steven Raga

Dateline PhiliPPines

Before UNHRC, Sec. Remulla denies claims of shrinking civic, media spaces

by Franco Luna Philstar.com

MANILA — Justice Secretary

Jesus Crispin Remulla denied that civic and media spaces are shrink ing in the Philippines, which he described as "a vibrant democracy where freedom of expression, in cluding the right to hold dissenting opinions, and the right of peaceful assembly is protected."

Remulla said this during the adoption of the recommenda tions of the Working Group of the Universal Periodic Review of the Philippines of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

"Let me say this in no uncertain terms. There is no state policy to attack, harass or intimidate human rights defenders, lawyers and other practitioners of the legal profession, and members of the media," the justice chief said.

"Extrajudicial killing is not state policy. Classifying a death that oc curred during an anti-illegal drug operation as extra-judicial killing by default runs counter to the tenets of due process and the rule of law. We will never tolerate the abuse of power and use of force beyond the bounds of law."

The Philippine National Police has admitted that 46 have now died in President Ferdinand "Bong bong" Marcos Jr.'s iteration of the Duterte-era war on drugs.

In the Committee to Protect Journalists' 2021 World Impunity Index, the Philippines placed sev enth in the list of countries “where journalists are murdered and the perpetrators go free.”

But Remulla went on to claim that the country "has the unfortu nate distinction of dealing with the longest-running armed communist insurgency in the world, whose adherents deliberately blur the lines between civic activism and armed violence.”

He also assured the council that the government is determined to end the communist insurgen cy "by addressing its root causes through a whole-of-nation strategy anchored on good governance, rule of law, social justice that will effectively uplift human dignity, and the quest for lasting peace.”

Remulla also announced that the Philippine delegation accepted some 200 recommendations, more

than two-thirds of all the recom mendations handed out during its universal periodic review.

Among the adopted recommen dations are those regarding:

• the UN Joint Program

• the Philippine Commission on Human Rights and a National Human Rights Action Plan

• combating discrimina tion and gender-based violence,

• maintaining a  moratorium on the death penalty

• preventing extra-judicial kill ings and conducting independent investigations,

• decongesting prisons and fur ther expanding access to justice

• protecting human rights de fenders and journalists,

• promoting the rights to edu cation, health, and an adequate standard of living,

• upholding the rights of persons with disabilities, indigenous peo ples, women, children, refugees, and stateless persons.

Remulla also called on developed countries to donate additional funds for the mitigation of the impacts of climate change on underdeveloped countries.

"The Philippines has always be lieved in the indivisibility and inter dependence of all human rights. No other challenge demonstrates this better than climate change and its adverse and compounding impacts on human rights. Environmental rights defenders are partners in promoting climate goals and their freedom and safety should certainly be protected," he said.

"But let us not lose sight of the bigger issue which is, that all coun tries must faithfully and urgently fulfill their international obligations

on climate action. The Philippines reiterates its call for climate jus tice – for developed countries to increase financing for mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage for developing countries. We ex pect nothing less from our friends and partners that have been the beacon of human rights and justice the world over."

CHR: Past human rights challenges still unsolved

In a separate statement, the Commission on Human Rights pointed out that the UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights released a report in June 2020 on the human rights situation in the Philippines citing "persistent impunity" with some 8,000 alleged extrajudicial killings linked to the drug campaign, alongside other killings of human rights defenders, journalists and trade unionists.

Former Justice Secretary Menar do Guevarra announced during the 44th session of the UN Human Rights Council in the same month that the government was already investigating the thousands of deaths linked to the drug campaign towards seeking accountability from its perpetrators.

"While it is imperative to address present human rights challenges, the UPR similarly brings into light the conditions in the last five years that continue to impact the way Filipinos enjoy their rights today," the CHR said.

"With the Philippine government affirming the UN Joint Program on Human Rights in the recent UPR, we look forward to the fulfillment of the commitment to institute reforms not only prospectively, but also those from the past." g

Obesity’s heavy toll: Millions of Filipinos now at greater health risks

by Kurt DeLa Peña Inquirer.net

MANILA — The past two years have been almost at a standstill be cause of the COVID-19 crisis, but while its economic consequences were evident, most people have not heard of how a “silent epi demic” took its toll on millions of Filipinos.

On Monday, Nov. 14, the De partment of Science and Technol ogy-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) said it saw an increase in the prevalence of obesity, especially among children and adults.

This, as result of the 2021 Ex panded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS) showed that 14 percent of children 5 to 10 years old, 13 per cent of individuals 10 to 19 years old, and 38.6 percent of adults 20 to 59 years and older were obese.

The rates were higher com pared to the prevalence of obesity in 2018, where incidence related to the “complex condition that involves an excessive amount of body fat” was only 7.6 percent, 10.7 percent, and 37.2 percent, respectively.

When it comes to children younger than 5 years old and the elderly, or those 60 years and older, the prevalence of obesity was 3.9 percent and 6.2 percent,

slightly lower than 4 percent and 6.3 percent in 2018.

As stressed by the DOST-FNRI, because of the high incidence of obesity, the Philippines missed its target of “no increase or reduced obesity prevalence” that was stat ed in the Philippine Plan for Action 2017 to 2022.

But how did this happen?

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, officer-in-charge of the Department of Health (DOH), said the main reasons for the increase were physical inactiv ity because of the lockdowns and the kind of food that people were consuming in the past two years.

“We were all on lockdown, we didn’t have the chance to go out and exercise,” she said.

Likewise, she explained that people had more online orders for food, saying that it became more convenient for families, especially those who lacked time to prepare food, but she said “we cannot really oversee and regulate the contents of these foods.”

Vergeire said especially chil dren, since they were not allowed to go out, will order snack. “Even in the early hours of the morning, fast food. So these are all contrib utory to this increase in obesity,”

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla

Philstar.com file photo

FIESTA CARNIVAL IS BACK. A worker installs one of the rides enjoyed by children, the horse carousel, at Times Square Park, Araneta City, Cubao, Quezon City on Wednesday, Nov. 16. This is one of the exciting rides for the return of Fiesta Carnival, which had been a place for fun and entertainment in the 90s. PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

Low talent competitiveness

WE already know that Filipino 10-year-old students have a serious problem with reading comprehension and perform poorly in other education indicators. The country’s 10-notch slide in the 2022 Global Talent Competitiveness Index or GTCI is just the latest validation of the urgent need to improve the quality of Philippine education to a level that is at least at par with its regional peers.

Published by the INSEAD Business School, Portulans Institute and Human Capital Leadership Institute, the GTCI assesses how countries and cities enable, grow, attract and retain talent.

Editorial

Within Southeast Asia, the Philippines ranked 80th among 133 countries – behind not only consistent overachiever Singapore, which placed second overall after Switzerland, and oil-rich Brunei (41st place), but also Malaysia (45th), Vietnam (74th) and Thailand (75th). At least the Philippines was ahead of Indonesia (82nd), Laos (99th) and Cambodia (103rd).

For a country whose consumption-driven economy is heavily dependent on the remittances of its 10-million-strong army of overseas workers, the Philippines’ place in the GTCI, and its 10-spot fall in the current rankings, should be a serious cause for concern.

The GTCI report notes that the level of economic prosperity and the capacity to invest in education clearly affect the quality of education. The top 10 countries in the GTCI are all upperincome economies. Following Switzerland and Singapore are Denmark, the United States, the Netherlands, Norway, Finland, Australia and the United Kingdom.

Among cities, Manila – or Metro Manila – also slipped in ranking, from 128th last year to 129th

place. The top cities in the GTCI are San Francisco, Boston, Zurich, Seattle, Lausanne, Singapore, Geneva, Helsinki, Munich and Dublin.

The Philippines may have limited resources, but political will and government spending priorities also play a part in delivering quality education. Vietnam, a lower middleincome economy like the Philippines, is ahead in the GTCI.

President Marcos has correctly emphasized the need to refocus on teaching STEM or science, technology, engineering and mathematics. He has also expressed his objective of restoring English proficiency among all Filipinos.

So far, however, his education secretary seems preoccupied with inculcating militarytype discipline among the youth, and eradicating “subversive” ideas from the public school environment. This can prove to be a slippery slope: anything that contradicts the narrative about the true, the good and the beautiful about the current dispensation and the forebears of its top officials may be deemed subversive.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization had warned about the adverse impact of prolonged lockdowns on education. UNESCO also noted that students in developing countries like the Philippines are

bearing the brunt of the adverse impact of two years of remote learning. The government will need to work double-time on education to catch up with the world. (Philstar.com)

ASEAN region: Center of attention

BABE ROMUALDEZ

THE flurry of activities in the Southeast Asian region with a series of high-level summits and meetings this whole week only brings into focus the importance of the role that ASEAN plays in the global stage.

After almost three years of no human contact, the ASEAN summit is being held in-person, with high expectations that the discussions will be substantial on a number of issues that include sustainable and inclusive recovery from COVID-19, food security, trade and investment, climate change and other burning issues such as the situation in Myanmar, the war in Ukraine, the threat of missile tests conducted by North Korea as well as the territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

The ASEAN summits and related summits was an opportunity for the leaders from ASEAN member-nations (with the exception of Myanmar which is barred due to the takeover of

a military junta) and their dialog partners that include Australia, Canada, China, Japan, India, South Korea, the United States plus the United Nations to “review existing and new areas of cooperation and exchange views on regional and international issues,” as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. described it.

Then there is the G-20 summit in Bali, Indonesia where U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to attend, with a bilateral meeting on the sidelines. It will be the first time that the two leaders will have a face-to-face meeting for an “in-depth and substantive conversation… aimed at better understanding one another’s priorities and intentions,” according to a senior official of the Biden administration.

Similar to the ASEAN summit (where Ukraine and the regional group signed the “Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia”), Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the G-20 summit, although there is the possibility that he will join virtually. Analysts say the non-attendance of Putin

at the ASEAN summit did not come as a surprise, especially since Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen has openly expressed “concern” over Russia’s attack on Ukraine – the lives lost, the damage to civilian infrastructure and other consequences of the ongoing war which began in February.

Following the G-20 summit is the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Bangkok, Thailand with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris in attendance. State Secretary Antony Blinken is also joining to advance “economic policies in the Asia-Pacific region to promote free, fair and open trade and investment.” Secretary Blinken will also be providing support to VP Harris in underscoring the economic leadership of the United States and outlining their goals for the 2023 APEC which the U.S. will be hosting for the first time since 2011.

All of these high-level meetings happening in the region revolve around significant issues that have wide-reaching global impact, while also underscoring ASEAN centrality and its role

in promoting multinational relations. More significantly, the series of summits also provides an opportunity for the regional bloc to showcase its ability to convene global leaders to “meet and dialogue” and bring about a “defusion of tensions,” according to Sharon Seah, a senior fellow at the Singaporebased think-tank ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.

And as we in the ASEAN diplomatic community have been telling our friends in Washington, the Southeast Asian region is the right place now where all of these big powers can start a dialogue or, at the very least, have personal interaction. ASEAN diplomats are pleased that these meetings are taking place because it doesn’t happen all the time that you can have these leaders in one place where there is an opportunity for serious discussions.

For the past two years, meetings between President Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping have been conducted virtually, and all are hoping there would be some constructive results through the in-person meetings,

bringing about a better understanding or appreciation of each other’s perspectives or positions on complicated issues involving both super powers.

All of us in ASEAN feel that there is only one way out –and that is through continuing dialogue which has always been the stand of the Philippines.

“While we may continue to argue or even disagree on many issues, we will try to convince and persuade until we find a peaceful resolution,” President Marcos has always said.

It goes without saying that Taiwan remains to be a hotbutton issue, and President Biden had said that when he speaks with President Xi, he wants to “lay out what each of our red lines are and understand what he believed to be in the critical national interests of China, what I know to be the critical interests of the United States.”

During the “Asia Future Summit” organized by The Straits Times, all the panelists agreed that any war between the two super powers should definitely be avoided at all costs as the consequences would be

disastrous for all. As Harvard professor Graham Allison clearly pointed out, China and the U.S. will have to co-exist because the alternative would be codestruction.

We all know what a conflict can do, which is what is happening in Ukraine now where we only see so much death and destruction. This is no longer about politics, but the destruction and annihilation of mankind. “What God created, man destroys,” is what it all boils down to.

All the citizens of the world –Russians, Chinese, Americans and definitely Filipinos – we all do not want a nuclear war, knowing fully well that there will absolutely be no winners – only losers. In the end, the world will only see darkness and never see the light of day ever again. (Philstar.com)

* * *

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

* * *

babeseyeview@gmail.com

Commentary Get boosted and give yourself the gift of good health this holiday season

DR. DALI FAN, UC DAVIS HEALTH

THE winter is fast approaching and bringing in colder weather, it is more important than ever to get yourself and your family vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. For people ages 65 and older, getting the updated COVID-19 booster is critically important since the risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 increases with age.

COVID-19 infection causes the highest hospitalization and death rates among older adults and getting your COVID-19 booster can help reduce the risk of infection and severe illness. Adults between the ages of 50 and 64 are 25 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than adults between the ages of 18 and 29. For older adults ages 65 to 74, the risk increases significantly and rises to 60 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than

younger adults. We know that older adults are best protected from severe illness when they stay up to date with booster doses. Getting vaccinated and boosted can help reduce the number of inpatients and avoid overwhelming hospitals and care centers.

I am a physician; I care about your health, and I implore you to do your part and get vaccinated and boosted to protect yourself and your loved ones. If you feel sick, be sure to get tested before participating in any gatherings this holiday season to minimize the risk of exposing others. As we look forward to seeing our family and friends this holiday season, I am sharing responses to some commonly asked questions to ensure you and your family are protected.

Question: Is it safe to gather with my family for the holidays if infection rates are expected to be high?

Response: We know seeing family and friends are an important part of the holidays. When gathering, it is highly

recommended that you take the proper precautions to ensure everyone’s safety. That means it is okay to set rules so that you are all celebrating safely. Before gathering, encourage your friends and family to:

• Get vaccinated and their updated booster

• Test for COVID before and after the gathering

• Stay home if you feel sick

• Consider wearing a mask. A great host idea is to place a basket of masks at the door to encourage your guests to wear a mask.

Question: The threat of COVID-19 does not feel as dangerous anymore. Do I still need to wear a mask?

Response: Wearing a mask in public indoor spaces also helps reduce the spread of many different respiratory viruses including RSV, flu and COVID.

All of us are tired of hearing about COVID-19, but the virus is still here and continues to have an impact on our lives. Research shows that COVID-19 has shortened our overall life

expectancy by about three years, with greater impacts on communities of color. There are many contributing factors to why communities of color are disproportionately impacted, but what we do know is that getting vaccinated and staying up to date with the updated boosters can help close this gap and increase health outcomes.

Question: Why should I prioritize getting my parents and/or grandparents boosted with the updated booster when they were just vaccinated last Spring?

Response: Booster doses help sustain protection against severe disease. That is why it is especially important to encourage older populations to get the updated booster to reduce their risk of getting COVID-19 and minimize the health impacts if they do get sick. Additionally, there are long-term effects such as strokes, migraines, memory problems, depression and anxiety, seizures and tremors,

and other symptoms like what is experienced with Parkinson’s disease that could come with getting COVID-19.

Question: I am young and healthy. Why do I still need to get the updated booster?

Response: COVID-19 and its variants are circulating. The updated booster is recommended even if you've already had COVID-19 infection and the COVID-19 vaccination because it helps sustain your protection against severe disease and reduce your risk of hospitalization and death.

Question: Am I eligible to receive a booster? I thought they were limited to only certain groups.

Response: Everyone ages 5 and up is eligible and encouraged to get their booster. Staying up to date on your COVID-19 vaccine and the updated booster shot provides you with the best protection. That is why it is important to get your booster dose as soon as you are eligible, typically two months after receiving your last

dose. Also, your booster can be a different vaccine brand than you received previously, which does not impact its ability to protect you.

Question: I just received my flu shot. Is it still safe for me to get my booster?

Response: Yes! Not only is it very convenient, but it is also completely safe to get both your flu shot and updated booster at the same time. We know the holidays are a busy time of year. Do your part to stay healthy so that you can fully enjoy the many celebrations with family and friends now through the new year.

Learn more about how to stay safe and to make your next vaccination or booster appointment today by visiting MyTurn.ca.gov or call 833422-4255.

* * * 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.

ROBERT

Babe’s

Obesity’s heavy toll: Millions of Filipinos now...

she said.

How one becomes obese

As defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), overweight and obesity are conditions involv ing “abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health.”

The UK National Health Service (NHS) explained that obesity, which affects one billion people all over the world—650 million adults, 340 million teens, 39 mil lion children—is generally caused by eating too much and moving too little.

It explained that “if you con sume high amounts of energy, particularly fat and sugars, but do not burn off the energy through exercise and physical activity, much of the surplus energy will be stored by the body as fat.”

The NHS, however, stressed that obesity does not happen overnight, saying that “it develops gradually over time, as a result of poor diet and lifestyle choices such as eating large amounts of processed food or fast food.

Drinking too much alcohol, eating out a lot, eating more than what you need, drinking too many sweets, and comfort eating are likewise considered reasons why one becomes overweight or obese.“Lack of physical activity is another important factor related to obesity. Many people have jobs that involve sitting at a desk for most of the day. They also rely on their cars, rather than walking or cycling.”

“If you’re not active enough, you do not use the energy pro vided by the food you eat, and the extra energy you consume is stored by the body as fat,” it said, stressing that many people tend to watch TV or browse the internet for relaxation but rarely exercise.

As stressed by the Philippine Association for the Study of Over weight and Obesity (PASOO), “you have a better chance of living a long and healthy life if your BMI is between 18.5 and 22.9.”

Body Mass Index (BMI), as defined by the US National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, provides a measure of body fat, which rang es from thinness to obesity. Here’s the BMI interpretation for people 16 years and older:

• Below 18.5: Underweight

• 18.5 to 22.9: Normal Range

• 23 to 24.9: Overweight

• Above 25: Obese

Everyone needs to act

The DOST-FNRI said 27 mil lion Filipinos are overweight or obese, with the National Nutrition

Council (NNC) saying in a radio interview that 3.6 million are 0 to 19 year olds, 20.8 million are 20 to 59 year olds, while 2.6 million are those 60 years and older.

The DOH had said in the past two decades, overweight and obesity among adults grew from 20.2 percent in 1998 to over 30 percent in 2018, when an ENNS was conducted.

As stressed by the United Na tions Children’s Fund (Unicef), “if no action is taken, overall rates of overweight and obesity will continue to rise” and that “it is projected that more than 30 per cent of Filipino adolescents will be overweight and obese by 2030.”

“Obesity, which was once considered a problem primarily in high-income and developed countries, is now a rising health problem in low- and middle- in come countries including the Philippines.”

It said the National Policy on Addressing Overweight and Obe sity is already being developed in the Philippines “to provide directions and guidance to all stakeholders to curb obesity using population-based approaches.”

These approaches are for pre vention, regulatory mechanisms to influence the food environment, management of existing cases and research and surveillance, Unicef said last March.

To strategically address the growing problem of obesity in the Philippines, the DOH, NNC, and national partners, like the PASOO and Nutrition Center of the Philip pines, recommend the following actions to be taken:

• Implement policies, legisla tion, and interventions to promote physical activity including active transport and promotion of green, blue, and open spaces in commu nities and workplaces

• Strengthen and sustain appro priate social and behavior change communication on healthy diet and physical activity

• Implement a package of poli cies and interventions to promote, protect, and support infant and young child nutrition, especially in the first 1000 days of life to prevent stunting and reduce risk for children to become obese in their later lives

• Develop a strategy with corre sponding funds, human resources, and accountability mechanisms, including empowering the health system with dedicated programs on obesity across the life stage

• Improve data, monitoring, and enforcement of laws and introduce new legislation on marketing and

labeling of food products

• Provide subsidies to farmers and fisherfolk and increase access to nutritious food

• Use social protection pro grams such as the Pantawid Pami lyang Pilipino Program to improve access to healthy food, especially in times of disasters

• Promote healthy school food environments for children

This, as the DOH said the Phil ippines needs interventions that address the social determinants of health, highlighting the need to in tegrate health in all public policies to enable behavior change and create supportive environments.

Serious consequences

As explained by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people who are overweight or obese, compared to those with healthy weight, are at increased risk for many serious diseases and health conditions such as these:

• Hypertension

• High LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, or high levels of triglycerides

• Type 2 diabetes

• Coronary heart disease

• Stroke

• Gallbladder disease

• Osteoarthritis

• Sleep apnea and breathing problems

• Cancer • Mental illness such as clinical depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders

• Body pain and difficulty with physical functioning

This, as the WHO said obesity is a disease impacting most body systems, like the heart, liver, kid neys, and even the reproductive system. People with obesity are also three times more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19.

“The issue has grown to epi demic proportions, with over 4 million people dying each year as a result of being overweight or obese in 2017 according to the global burden of disease,” it said.

As stressed by the Harvard School of Public Health, excess weight, especially obesity, di minishes almost every aspect of health, from reproductive and respiratory function to memory and mood.

“It does this through a variety of pathways, some as straightfor ward as the mechanical stress of carrying extra pounds and some involving complex changes in hor mones and metabolism,” it said.

“Obesity decreases the quality and length of life, and increases individual, national, and global healthcare costs.” g

SIM card registration law to take effect before end of 2022, says Poe

by Beatrice Pinlac Inquirer.net

MANILA —Senator Grace Poe has said that the SIM Card Registration Act, which aims to fight text scams and spam, is expected to take effect on December 27, even as uncertainties remain about whether the law will actually work. Poe revealed the timeline of the newly passed law on Wednesday as she defended at the Senate plenary the proposed P11.322 billion budget of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for 2023.

“It will be effective definitely December 27, so marami pa rin ang babati sa inyo ng Merry Christmas at hihingi ng auginaldo (so many people may still greet you a Merry Christmas and ask for monetary Christmas gifts ),” she said.

While the SIM Card Registration

law was enacted in October, its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) is still pending completion, according to the senator.

A public hearing with the DICT and other stakeholders will be held on December 5 to discuss the IRR, which is expected to be completed and released to the public by December 12.

Even after the passage of the SIM Card Registration bill, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian expressed alarm over the spam messages and text scams that continue unabated. The senator has previously requested an update on the law’s implementation.

Poe recognized that she and many others were still receiving these fraudulent text messages.

“Unfortunately, maybe the telecommunications companies (telcos) are also waiting for the IRR for it to be clearer to them

how to be able to police these texts. But I know Globe and Smart (have) already canceled a lot of numbers based on this, and yet, there are still some,” she said.

Under the SIM Card Registration Act, those who already own a SIM card would be required to register with telcos within a given period, while those who have yet to purchase one will be required to submit a valid identification document to the telcos and direct sellers.

However, local telcos have also sought to ramp up the national ID system’s rollout and have more time to prepare for the law’s implementation.

Civil society groups have also raised concerns over several provisions of the law, which, they asserted, may be used to impede the people’s enjoyment of their rights to speech and privacy. g

SC asked anew on village, youth polls reset

by William Depasupil ManilaTimes.net

AN extremely urgent motion to stop the implementation of the law resetting the village and youth polls to next year has been filed anew by veteran election lawyer Romulo Macalintal even as the Supreme Court has yet to come out with a resolution on his first petition.

In his four-page extremely urgent motion, Macalintal reiterated his prayer in his first petition asking the high court for the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) and/or status quo ante order directing the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Office of the President to cease and desist from implementing Republic Act (RA) 11935.

In the same motion, the petitioner also asked the court to direct the Comelec to immediately resume its activities and preparations to hold the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in May 2023.

RA 11935, signed by President Marcos on October 10, has postponed the BSKE on December 5 this year to the last Monday of October 2023 or to Oct. 30, 2023, and every three years thereafter.

Macalintal challenged the constitutionality of RA 11935 in his first petition filed on October 17.

He said the law was unconstitutional, invalid and inoperative. It asks for the postponement of the elections because only Congress has the power to fix the term of barangay officials but not to extend their tenure.

With the enactment into law of RA 11935, Comelec has stopped some of its preparations related to the scheduled elections.

During the October 21 oral arguments relative to the first motion of Macalintal, Comelec told the Supreme Court en banc that under the present circumstances, the earliest it can hold the BSKE is sometime in May 2023.

In his urgent motion, Macalintal argued that Comelec can even do it earlier than May 2023 because "it will not start from scratch since it has already started preparations in June 2022" and merely suspended its "preparatory activities beginning 12 October 2022."

He also pointed out that Comelec has already spent P1 billion out of its P8.5 billion budget for the BSKE. "There is the compelling need for direct respondent Comelec to resume

its preparation for the conduct of the BSKE to make it logistically possible for the poll body to hold the said elections in May 2023 in the event that the instant petition is granted."

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said that as a former election lawyer, he is for the holding of elections.

But he said that the poll body also recognizes the power of Congress to postpone the election and extend the term of office of barangay and SK officials.

"We welcome the petition as it gives the high court the opportunity to resolve, once and for all, the question of whether the power of Congress to extend the term of office of the Barangay and SK officials carries with it the power to postpone an election, or, whether it is the Comelec who has the sole power to postpone the Barangay and SK elections," Garcia said.

Garcia also pointed out that this is not the first time that Congress has postponed the BSKE, and also not the first instance that the legality of a reset poll would be handed over to the Supreme Court for clarification.

He stressed that the Comelec would accept the Supreme Court's resolution and would readily comply with the court's eventual doctrinal pronouncement. g

Sumalee Montano on creating her ‘dream project’ The Deal

by MoMar G. Visaya / AJPress

and-daughter

dream project. Since she started acting, her dream has always been to keep working with ubertalented people for as long as possible.

For this film, she was able to do that, and more.

“I got to make a film that I conceived, produced, and acted in. We had fantastic locations, an incredible crew, and we ended up with a beautiful movie that I’m so proud of,” Montano told the Asian Journal. “In Hollywood, that’s already like winning a billion-dollar lottery jackpot!”

The Deal is, in a way, a love letter to Sumalee’s biggest inspiration - her mom, Linda Montano.

“I wanted to tell a story that honored how much she loved me. She made so many sacrifices to give me the life I have, some of which I didn’t know about until after she died,” she revealed. “So I wanted to dedicate this film to her, and people like her, who would do anything for the people they love. At its core, this is a story of a mother’s love for her daughter and their mutual desperation to protect one another, no matter what it takes.”

Let’s get to know this multi-hyphenate Hollywood personality more.

Sumalee’s first name is Thai, but it has a meaning in Filipino too. In Thai, Sumalee means fragrant flower; in Tagalog, “Sumali” means to join.

Born to a Thai father and a Filipino mother, Montano had

a Thai last name growing up, and it was quite a long name, intimidating for non-Thai people. When she decided to pursue a career as an actor, she changed her last name to her maternal grandmother’s maiden name, Montano.

“My grandmother, Jesusa Montano, was an actress and teacher in the Philippines. Her brother, my grand uncle, is playwright and national artist Severino Montano,” she proudly shared. “I like having a name that reflects my dual heritage, Thai and Filipino, and that my last name, Montano, represents the creativity and love of the arts I got from my Filipino side.”

Before acting, Montano worked as an investment bank analyst. She transitioned to acting because she realized that it was where her true passion lay.

“It was a tough choice to make. I had a high-paying job at a global financial services company and I worked my way from New York into a coveted position in Hong Kong,” she recalled. “Then I walked away from that stability and wealth to embrace the utter uncertainty of acting. My family freaked out.”

Eventually, her parents understood the decision.

“They helped me a lot by paying for my college education,” she said. “So I was able to use the money I made from investment banking to start my acting career. That was a big factor in making my career transition successful.”

“But at the end of the day, we know that life is short,” she added. “I would have regretted not pursuing my acting dreams.”

Montano can be currently seen in “Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol” on Peacock, where she is in the main cast as CIA officer “Inoue Sato.” She also has a recurring role, opposite Daveed Diggs, on Season 4 of “Snowpiercer,” based on Bong Joon-Ho’s film. She will also be guest-starring on upcoming episodes of the new “CSI:Vegas” and “Quantum Leap.”

On the voice-over acting side, she is working on multiple video games and animated series on Nickelodeon, Disney, and Netflix. A new series that was just announced is “Dragon Age: Absolution,” which premieres in December on Netflix.

“As a producer, my partner Grace Lay and I have several films out this year, in addition to “The Deal” on Roku Channel. We have “Nanny,” being released by BlumHouse/Amazon. Nanny is the first horror film ever to win the U.S. Grand Jury Prize at Sundance Film Festival. We also have a couple documentaries: “Riotsville, USA,” acquired by Magnolia Pictures and “Aftershock” by Disney/ABC News,” she shared. “I’m also focused on developing more of my own ideas for future liveaction and animated television series.”

In a Q-and-A with the Asian Journal, Montano shared her journey into acting and creating stories, the challenges she faced along the way, and the importance of telling her own story.

You wore a few hats for this film - what are among your biggest takeaways?

“The Deal” is set in a dystopian sci-fi world, which is a beloved but also historically exclusivegenre. It was important to us that we center characters and perspectives that we normally don’t see in these genres, like women of color of different ages.

The most marginalized people in society deserve to be at the center and not as a form of displaying trauma for entertainment, but rather for honoring a unique perspective that can and should be different.

By creating stories that audiences can empathize with, we give people the opportunity and permission to also advocate for these communities.

A takeaway I hope audiences get from our film is that we live in a world where people’s

backs are often forced against walls and they’re shamed or criminalized for how they act in those moments. In “The Deal,” we see this up close and personal as Tala’s processing date (i.e., death date) approaches and she finds no empathy from The Bureau or others in power.

Whether people are living through war or navigating poverty and homelessness, there are countless issues limiting the quality of life that people are allowed to access. Through a fictional world, The Deal allows us to see the insanity in moving through an unjust world as though nothing out of the ordinary is happening.

How do you feel about the good reviews that the film has received?

It’s wonderful. A beautiful thing about “The Deal” is that despite the dystopian genre, the story is truly universal and one that everyone can relate to in their own way. If you’ve ever loved someone deeply or been loved deeply, you’ll connect with our story.

A lot of people say they connect with our film in ways they didn’t expect. It’s a real adventure.

There’s also a twist at the end that surprises people. And as a storyteller, it makes me happy that people are enjoying the emotional ride they go on while watching our film.

Your character’s name is Tala Bayani. It’s pretty rare to see lead actors sporting Filipino names and looks. How important was this for you?

Diversity and representation are very important to me. With “The Deal,” we tell a story that’s based on my own Filipina mother, in a genre where Filipinos are rarely present at all, let alone in dynamic ways. So my mom’s character having a Filipino name, Tala Bayani, just made sense. It would’ve felt inauthentic otherwise.

What did it take for this film to happen?

A LOT. It really takes a village, a few minor miracles and then some!

I would start by crediting our talented screenplay writer, Sean Presant. Working with Sean was such a gratifying, collaborative

experience. As an actor I usually receive more polished scripts. But as a producer on this film, I got to help mold and develop the story from the very start, along with Sean.

The film also wouldn’t have happened without producers Lisa Brenner and Dean Devlin, who is also Filipino. Their expertise and care are reflected everywhere in our film – from the production value you see in our world-building to how our two lead characters aren’t portrayed as superheroes but rather as “every women” who fight back using their hearts and minds.

We had a great group of women working on this film. Our director, Orsi Nagypal, is brilliant. She grew up behind the Iron Curtain in Hungary, so her lived experiences really informed her vision and storytelling. And my producing partner, Grace Lay, who is also Asian-American, is a great advocate for telling intergenerational, multicultural stories like “The Deal.”

How was it working with Dean Devlin?

I love how Dean wanted to attack our toughest scenes right out of the gate. On day one of filming, we had big scenes to cover, a hundred extras on set, huge crane shots, VFX elements to accommodate, and recordbreaking heat that day, to top it all off.

Some producers would rather ease into filming and start off with less demanding days. But for us, Dean preferred to take huge swings at bat right from the get-go. It was exhilarating!

Everyone was buzzing with excitement. Everyone wants the days to go well. It was such a fun rush. That’s what characterizes working with Dean for me.

It is a personal mother-anddaughter story inspired by your own. What were the most important lessons your mother taught you?

Maybe the most pertinent lessons are: 1) how important family is and 2) no matter what life throws at you, you do everything you can to protect those you love. In retrospect, her quietest sacrifices were her deepest expressions of love.

THE Deal (currently streaming on The Roku Channel) is a dystopian film that deals with the universal theme of a mother-

Sumalee Montano as Tala Bayani with Emma Fischer as Analyn Bayani Photos courtesy of Aleksandar Letic

Emma Fischer as Analyn walking with Sumalee Montano as Tala

Alastair Mackenzie as Michael hiding with Sumalee Montano as Tala and Emma Fischer as Analyn

relationship. FilAm actress Sumalee Montano, who created and co-produced the movie - considered it her

Las Vegas housing market still affordable

by RealtoR Fely Quitevis-Bateman

THE housing market in Las Vegas has cooled down from the buying frenzy that was 2021. At that time, eagle-eyed buyers were on the lookout for any property they could snap up, sometimes offering prices way above the asking price. Sellers had the pick of their buyers, sometimes being inundated with multiple offers.

With the recent rise in mortgage rates, many buyers have now become gun shy about their home purchases. Local home values have fallen for the fifth consecutive month as of October 2022.

Currently, industry experts have said that there is about a 4.6-month supply of homes in

Southern Nevada, which is higher than the October numbers of 1.1 months. Clearly, the trend is moving towards favoring buyers, although it is still in the seller’s market segment.

On a bright note, median home prices (single family homes) are still up from about a year ago –specifically about 7.3% higher, somewhere around the $440,000 level. In October 2021, median home prices were leveling at $410,000. Look further a year ago from that, median home prices were about $340,000 in October 2020.

Overall, home prices in Southern Nevada are way up from what they were in the recession times. The

median price for a single-family home in Southern Nevada was around $118,000 in January of 2012, a post-recession low.

Right now, buyers can haggle with sellers when it comes to buying property. Although mortgage rates are higher, buyers can negotiate on a variety of components, including price, closing costs, and other concessions they can bargain with sellers.

Still, this is a great time to consider Southern Nevada – and the State of Nevada, overall –when it comes to buying property.

Construction in Las Vegas is still ongoing, with a lot of projects slated to either open in 2023 or begin construction by next year.

The crew at Fontainbleau is knee-deep in work as they move towards a late 2023 opening, while Red Rock Resorts, Hard Rock International, Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts and VICI Properties are busy with their own projects for their properties along the Strip and elsewhere.

Resorts World Las Vegas’ opening was a first for the Las Vegas area in a while; it is owned by the Genting Group.

Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta has bought a piece of property along the Strip which will be the site of a luxury hotelcasino. Fertitta owns the Golden Nugget casinos in Las Vegas and Laughlin. The property in the Strip is the billionaire businessman’s foray into the most competitive hotel-casino area in Las Vegas.

The Oak View Group, meanwhile, has plans for its own $3-billion entertainment complex, that includes an arena, shopping/ food areas, hotel-casino and amphitheater. The arena will be made NBA-ready, in anticipation of any future move by the National Basketball Association to add to its current mix.

The Formula 1 racing slated for late 2023, continued artist residencies/shows in Las Vegas, the additional of shows at the different hotel properties, popular chef-owned and diverse restaurants in Las Vegas, and high-end retail shopping at some of the hotel-casinos are just some of the attractions that keep people going to Sin City.

With Las Vegas also positioning itself as an upcoming sports capital in the West with its major professional sports teams (Las Vegas Raiders in the National Football League, Las Vegas Aces in the Women’s National Basketball Association, the Vegas Golden Knights in the National Hockey League), people are taking a second look at Southern Nevada not just as a gambling and entertainment haven to visit, but as a legitimate place to settle in and establish roots.

Las Vegas is not a one-trick pony anymore, fueled solely by the gaming industry. It caters to many – individuals, couples and families. Gainful employment is not only present in the construction, gaming and hospitality industries, but in many fields that service the

needs of the population – food, education, recreation, healthcare and distribution.

There are many things slated for the city, county and state that make it a draw for people. In fact, a study by the University of Las Vegas-Nevada’s Center for Business and Economic Research projected that the population of Clark County, where Las Vegas is situated in, will see an increase of 1 million people by 2060. That will bring the population of the county to about 3.38 million, from the estimated 2.38 million people currently living within the county.

The state offers great opportunities for the savvy and forward-thinking – great returns on your investments in real estate and a host of tax benefits for Nevada residents (competitive business state tax, a county sales tax of 6.75% (not on food items), and no taxes associated with estate/inheritance, franchise, gift, inventory/interstate commerce, corporate income and personal income).

Right now may be the best time to find or snap up that property or real estate in the market for

those intending to buy in Southern Nevada or other parts of the state. Even with the rise in mortgage rates, Las Vegas, Pahrump and other areas in Nevada are still more affordable buys than other parts of the United States.

I can definitely help you look for the best opportunities for real estate in Las Vegas, Pahrump and other areas. Now is the time to take advantage of deals in land and real estate properties. I have had decades of experience in helping people look for that piece of real estate heaven they want to build their special place or something that their budget can afford.

My company, Precious Properties, is a full-service company that has successfully helped its clientele find the best deals since 1992. You can reach me at 775-513-8447, 805-5592476 and 702-538-4948 for more information, or send me an email at fely@precious-properties.com or fely.precious@gmail.com. We have investors who buy houses in California and Nevada for cash and quick escrow in as short as 7 days. (Advertising Supplement)

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

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman is currently overseas, visiting the Holy Land. She is shown in photo above wading in the shores of the Mediterranean Sea in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Russ Bateman and Realtor Fely QuitevisBateman take a photo at one of the tourist spots in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Realtor Fely Quitevis- Bateman (holding the Philippine flag) at the Western Wall, or what is known as the Wailing Wall or Kotel.

The Western Wall, located in the old city of Jerusalem, is considered the most religious site for Jewish people in the world and draws millions of visitors from around the world every year.

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman poses in front of one of the great pyramids in Egypt, one of the seven ancient wonders of the world.

PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS

FOLLOWING our column on the tripledemic, the trifecta of viral infections this 2022 fall and winter, we received dozens of queries from our readers. Here are some of them with my replies:

Is COVID-19 still a worry?

Yes, although the current Omicron sub-strains appear to be milder. As we stated before, milder did not (and does not) mean mild, because there were (and are) still significant hospitalizations and deaths reported. As of Monday, November 14, the daily average case (per day!) was 39,489, with 317 deaths, and 27,943 hospitalizations. COVID-19 cases in the U.S., are on the rise again, with BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 (following BA.4 and BA.5) as the dominant sub-strains. So we still have to be vigilant and cautious, especially for babies, seniors, those who have health issues, and those immunocompromised. Newer sub-strains are with us. COVID-19 will be with us for the unforeseeable future!

Are masks effective?

Contrary to fake news in the social and other media, masks are very effective in reducing the number of viral particles we inhale and the viral spread from those who are infected to people around them. Several clinical studies have proven that. Those wearing the mask are not only protecting themselves but protecting people around them even more. These are the scientific facts. While masks are not 100 percent beneficial, they are very effective, much like bullet-proof vests which are

Harsh viral season

not 100 percent protective, yet worn by all the military, federal agents, police, and sportsmen.

Those spreaders of rumors that masks are useless are doing a great disservice even to their own family, friends, and people around them, and to humanity as a whole.

If masks work, why do people still get infected?

There are many reasons for this. Firstly, are they worn properly, without the nose sticking out? Is the mask the recommended KN95 NIOSHapproved mask? Cloth masks or those regular surgical masks are not effective, but better than no face cover. Is the wearer’s immune system healthy? Is the individual fully vaccinated? Is the individual doing social distancing? Does the individual do frequent handwashing and not touching their face with bare hands? Does the person have the discipline needed for masks to work?

What does fully-vaccinated mean?

At this stage of the pandemic and vaccination for COVID-19, fully-vaccinated means the person has received 5 shots (including 3rd booster, a bivalent vaccine targeting Omicron subvariants). This bivalent booster has been proven to be very effective compared to the old monovalent shots. More than 12 billion vaccine doses have been administered around the globe and proven to be safe and effective. With the predicted fall-winter wave of COVID-19, it is best for everyone to get this bivalent booster.

I got the 2nd booster, why did I still get infected?

People are thinking of COVID-19 as one infection. It is not, since the virus replicated and

mutated to new strains and substrains, each of those (like the original ancestral one, the Delta, the Omicron and the Omicron sub-strains, BA.4, BA.5, and now BQ.1, BQ.1.1 and BF.2.75) should be considered a culprit, each causing a distinct illness. If one is infected by, say, BA.4, he/she could still be infected by BQ.1, and so on. Each of them should be considered as causing its own illness. So, masking and even vaccination cannot protect us from new variants or subvariants, in the same manner not all bullet-proof vests can protect one from all different types of bullets. Although vaccines (polio, DPT-MMR for children, smallpox, seasonal flu, COVID-19, etc.) are not 100 percent effective, they are beneficial enough to save billions of lives around the world. Just like bullet-proof vests!

* * *

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

* * *

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

* * *

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

Yassi on being a good role model

by Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net

NO doubt an empowered Filipina, Yassi Pressman is an inspiration to a lot of women on and off camera. More than just an admirable actress and performer, Pressman is also a respected entrepreneur who owns Presidential Paws, a pet accessories brand; co-founds Wavee, a personal care line; and invests in Mind You Mental Health Systems, a company that provides accessible and affordable psychological support.

In the sidelines of her media launch as the newest Ginebra San Miguel 2023 Calendar Girl, Pressman shared how important it is for her to become a role model to other people.

"I have my own role models as well, and without them, I wouldn't be the person I am today. So if I am in the position like this, with a platform and blessed to have so many people who are following, I'd rather not only share selfies but also inspirational messages and make them smile or laugh. It's the little things. Sayang kasi we reach so many people," she told members of the media.

Pressman has named actress and TV host Anne Curtis as her biggest inspiration in showbiz. Coincidentally, Curtis also became Ginebra San Miguel's Calendar Girl in 2011.

the person that has a lot of values — aside from talent, aside from beauty — and she's been here for so long ibig sabihin, patuloy niyang ginagalingan at pinagpupursigihan ang trabaho niya so I really respect people like her."

She also admitted feeling the pressure of following the footsteps of her idols Curtis and Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, who was the brand's 2019 calendar girl.

"I wasn't really prepared physically —that's number one. I was on vacation tapos kailangan kong bumalik. And then kailangan

in two weeks ready ako to be in this calendar with millions of copies. So there was pressure. I know a lot of people who came before me were almost perfect.

Pero sabi ko din sa sarili ko, 'just go and be the healthiest version of yourself. Kung anong kaya mong gawin, go strive for your best because you're the only competition of yourself, so do your best lang.'"

To prepare for this special project, Pressman mentioned that she has to give up a lot of things including eating carbohydratesrich food.

"I went through a big fitness journey this year katulad ng mga ipinakita ko sa mga tao online. It was a lot of discipline for me — mentally, physically. But I feel good, I feel happy, I feel healthy and I hope this also inspire people

to also get up. Because 'yun yung usual na sinasabi nila sa akin, they thank me because I inspire them, so I'm happy if we all grow together."

Finally, Pressman reiterated that she shows her most natural self online and sometimes even reveals some not-so-glamorous side of a celebrity because she believes it would be healthy for people, especially the youth, to see that genuine side of her.

"I am open to everybody [on social media] about my battles and journey toward being healthier and stronger. Whenever I get messages from little girls or any netizen saying that I inspire them to dance, act, and to keep moving forward, it gives me that good feeling and hope and aspiration to empower more women,” Pressman ended.

Sumalee Montano on creating her ‘dream...

Like Tala in “The Deal,” my mom would always instruct me to find hidden opportunities, especially around how to stretch a dollar. As a single mom, she learned to be a jack-of-all-trades to make sure she could make ends meet. Several times before she died, she would tell me where to find the valuables she had squirreled away for me in the event of her death. I love how much of my relationship with my mom made it onto the screen.

What was the biggest challenge you faced in coming up with the movie?

One of the biggest challenges was getting a story that existed in my mind onto the page as a screenplay. Sean, our writer, was excellent. He helped me tell the story I wanted to tell while making it even better than what I imagined!

During the development

process, Sean was great about always making sure my mom was our guide, our North Star.

How would you describe the mood on the set?

And as to working with my co-stars, it was lovely. Everyone is so talented. It was such a joy to play with Alastair Mackenzie, Pearl Mackie, and Taz Skylar.

And of course, Emma Fischer, who plays Analyn, gave such a great performance. I’m so grateful to have gotten to work with all of them.

I heard about your Fulbright scholarship to the Philippines - what was that like? What do you remember most about your mom’s old country?

My year of living and studying in the Philippines was one the best experiences of my life. It helped me connect with my roots. And some of my best friendships were formed then.

I got to make memories of

a lifetime – everything from befriending families in the squatters.

A community where I did my research, scuba diving in some of the world’s most pristine waters, watching Filipino movies at the mall, and hanging out drinking beers with my mountaineering friends.

I think back on that year and feel so grateful for everything. But what I remember most is the laughter.

Growing up in the States, I would often hear my mom and her friends burst into peals of huge, raucous laughter. I thought that was just how my mom and her friends were.

But then I developed my friend groups in the Philippines, and we would laugh the same way! I realized our laughter, the way we Filipinos laugh, is cultural. It’s one of the many things I love about Pinoy culture.

Carmina, Zoren mark 10th wedding anniversary

by KrIstofer Purnell Philstar.com

CELEBRITY couple Carmina Villarroel and Zoren Legaspi recently marked the 10th anniversary of their wedding with an exchange of sweet messages.

In an Instagram post, Carmina penned some heartwarming words for her husband whom she called her "Honey" and "Dinosaur."

"We’ve been through a lot and I wouldn’t have survived those trials without you. Thank you for always being there for me and for

my family," said Carmina in the post's caption. "You are my rock and pillar of strength."

"I will marry you all over again," she added.

In the post was a video of the couple having dinner followed by several pictures from their wedding day a decade ago.

On his Instagram account, Zoren also posted an image of the two of them during the wedding, and spared some words for his wife.

"It doesn’t matter how many rough waves we will encounter... Just hang on tight… You are

forever safe in my arms," said Zoren. Both husband and wife exchanged endearing captions on each other's posts.

Among the celebrities who gave their well-wishes included Aiko Melendez, Richard Yap, Iza Calzado, Gelli de Belen, and the couple's twin children Cassy and Mavy — the latter twin had even gifted his parents a huge bouquet. Carmina and Zoren had been dating since 2000, had the twins a year later, and officially tied the knot in 2012 during a surprise proposal and wedding ceremony.

Sharon considering retirement anew

by Jan MIlo severo Philstar.com

"MEGASTAR" Sharon Cuneta revealed that she's considering retirement from the showbiz industry.

In her Instagram account, she posted a page from Joanna Gaines’ book titled “The Stories We Tell.”

“This is from Joanna Gaines’ new book, ‘The Stories We Tell.’ This part really resonated with me because, well, I am 56 now - and I am just undeniably EXHAUSTED. Retirement is calling,” she said.

Sharon also said that she may be seen in a movie or concert if it’s not too tiring as she wanted to just take care of her family.

“Once in a while I can pop up in a movie or two, a concert, or a TV show, even a season or a series if it’s not too tiring. But I AM tired… All I wish I could do is be with my family and take care of them. And do all those other things I always wish I could do but just couldn’t find the time for. Please pray with

Last

“Since last year, l have seriously been thinking of semiretiring. I am so

work,

Filipino stars losing jobs to Koreans? Maritoni speaks up

by DenI afInIDaD-BernarDo Philstar.com

IN light of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s viral plan to ban Korean and other foreign shows in the country to give more opportunities to local stars, veteran actress Maritoni Fernandez gave light on the issue on whether Filipino actors like her are indeed losing job opportunities to their South Korean counterparts.

For instance, in the case of food supplements brand IAM Worldwide, where Maritoni is a director, “Squid Game” star Jung Ho Yeon was feted in Manila last week with a fan meet.

“I don’t think that was the intention,” Maritoni said of Jinggoy’s plan, which he later on clarified.

“I heard what was said and I think it was more in jest. I think his more personal take siguro kasi artista din s’ya. I think he was trying to say that dahil sa nawawalang income for the local industry. If possible, ‘yun ‘yung gagawin n’ya. But I don’t think that he literally meant that he’s going to do it. I think it kind of snowballed into something na not

really meant.”

Although Maritoni saw where Jinggoy came from with his statement, she does not agree with him that banning Korean dramas (K-dramas) and other foreign content would be better for Filipino actors in the long run.

“I think, it should be, free-forall dapat – Koreans, Japanese, whatever you want. Me, I watch a lot of Chinese because I speak Mandarin and it’s one way for me to keep Mandarin in my brain,” the actress, who has been an actress for 35 years and counting, told Philstar.com in an exclusive interview following Jung Ho Yeon’s Manila press conference in Marco Polo Hotel Ortigas.

Watching content from any language or culture is always educational, so it should not be banned, Maritoni pointed out.

From their company’s experience in hiring both a Korean and Filipino endorsers, Maritoni said getting from both nationalities have their own different merits, so other brands, hopefully, would follow suit and still hire Filipino endorsers and not just jump on the “hallyu” bandwagon.

“Of course, ibang level ‘pag sinabi mong international. Tapos one of the best actresses pa in ‘Squid Game,’ so s’yempre iba ‘yung dating. But they’re both very, very good (Korean and Filipino endorsers). If I have to choose, I wouldn’t choose one over the other. I’m proud of all our endorsers,” Maritoni attested.

According to her, they enlisted Ho Yeon, number one, because of her lifestyle, and second, admittedly because Koreans are now setting the beauty standards, even among Filipinos.

“She’s a good influence to people her age and also I believe, she’s the epitome of what we consider as beautiful nowadays, ‘di ba? So we really went out of our way to really shoot somebody who’s not only beautiful on the outside but also from within.”

Although not a big fan of K-dramas, Maritoni watched “Squid Game” and found it and Ho Yeon’s performance “very good.”

“Very believable! For somebody so young, she has a lot of depth in acting. When somebody asked her a question, how does she prepare (for a role), she actually has a process, which is very important as an actor. You can’t really be in a role without preparing for it. Any actor would tell you that it takes quite a lot of work.”

Their company’s roster of Filipino actors, including John Lloyd Cruz, Liza Soberano, Heart Evangelista, and Piolo Pascual, are also doing as well as Ho Yeon, not only in promoting their brands, but also in their performance as actors, Maritoni said.

“The benefit of having local endorsers is they speak our language. They’re able to communicate with our clientele.”

Since both Filipino and Korean personalities matter, Maritoni hopes Filipino brands would not forget to patronize their own.

Yassi Pressman says it is important to be a good role model to other girls especially with the platform that she has.

Photo from Instagram/@yassipressman

Filipina actress Maritoni Fernandez (left) and “Squid Game” star Jung Ho Yeon (center) at Ho

Manila press conference in Marco Polo Ortigas Hotel. Philstar.com photo

Sharon Cuneta

Viva Films photo

Carmina Villaroel and Zoren Legaspi with their twins, Cassy and Mavy Legaspi

Photo from Instagram/@mina_villaroel

me. Thank you so much and I love you all,” she said.

September 2019, Sharon posted on her Instagram that she's thinking of semi-retiring from showbiz.

very tired. It has been 41 years of work,

work for me, and at some point, kailangan na rin sabihin sa sarili na ‘tama na,’ (you need to admit that ‘enough is enough’),” she posted emotionally on Instagram in September last year. She, however, postponed her retirement after signing a contract to ABS-CBN last 2020.