111822 - Northern California 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 the past eight months of the historic campaign for an Assembly seat.

Voters of color, women shape midterm races

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

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

by BEATRICE PINLAC Inquirer.net

strengthening our security alliance and economic relationship,” the official said.

A

“The focus with President Marcos will be twofold:

Travelers warned vs illegitimate websites for eArrival card

by BEATRICE PINLAC Inquirer.net

MANILA – The Bureau of Quarantine has warned travelers to the Philippines about illegitimate websites seeking payment for their electronic Arrival (eArrival) card.

BOQ deputy director Dr. Robert Salvador Jr. said this at a Laging Handa public briefing on Thursday, November 10, noting that the eArrival card should be accomplished free of charge.

“Marami pong nabibiktima ng fake websites so tandaan natin ang official po

natin na website ay iyong onehealthpass. com.ph. Tandaan din po natin na wala pong bayad ang eArrival card. Kapag kayo ay ini-redirect sa ibang site at nanghingi ng bayad, automatic na fake po ito,” he said.

(Many have been victimized by fake websites so remember, our official website is onehealthpass.com.ph. Also, remember that there is no payment for the eArrival card. If you’re redirected and asked for a sum of money, that’s automatically fake.)

Salvador noted that the agency has since sought help from the cybercrime

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

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  PAGE 2

“They will discuss upholding international rules and norms. The Vice President will also commit to work 

DOT breaches tourism target with over 2 million travelers to PH

by BEATRICE PINLAC Inquirer.net

MANILA – At least two million visitor arrivals have been recorded in the Philippines since the country eased border restrictions last February, said the Department of Tourism (DOT).

This has translated to around P100.7 billion worth of revenue in the tourism sector, surpassing its P4.94 billion record from the same period last year, according to DOT Secretary Christina Frasco in a statement on Tuesday, November 15.

Frasco then cited a DOT report as of November 14, which showed a total of 2,025,421 visitor arrivals in the country –1,487,343 or 73.43 percent of which were foreign tourists, while 538,078 or 26.57 percent were overseas Filipinos.

“Our latest figures have reached well beyond the 1.7 million tourist projections of the DOT,” she said, noting that this reflects the demand for travel into the country and the prioritization of the government for tourism recovery.

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

by DANIZA FERNANDEZ Inquirer.net

MANILA —

MOVERS AND SHAKERS. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (left) joins fellow leaders at the 19th ASEAN-India Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Saturday, Nov. 12. President Marcos urged Southeast Asian nations to work closely with India to ensure better access to medicines and vaccines, as the region recovers from the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Malacanang photo

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.

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.

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

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. 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

VP Kamala Harris to meet...

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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 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. n

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

PAGE 1

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

Travelers warned vs illegitimate websites...

PAGE 1

units of the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation after receiving reports on these illegitimate eArrival card websites.

“Ang problema po, kahit i-take down nila iyong mga existing na mga fake website, gumagawa sila ng panibago. Sumusubok po maka-scam ulit ng mga kababayan,” he added.

(The problem is that even if we take down the existing fake websites, they just make new ones to scam our fellow citizens again.)

The BOQ official also urged travelers bound for the Philippines to register for an eArrival card 72 hours before departing their country of origin.

“Pero doon naman po sa mga may problema na hindi makapagregister, mayroon naman po tayong dinelegate na mga space at staff na tutulong sa kanila na mag-accomplish pagdating dito sa Pilipinas,” he also noted.

(But for those who encounter problems registering, we’ve delegated spaces and staff to assist them in accomplishing this upon arrival in the Philippines.)

Salvador said fully vaccinated travelers are no longer required

to present an antigen or a realtime reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRTPCR) test, but those unvaccinated or partially vaccinated must undergo an antigen test 24 hours before leaving their country of origin.

He pointed out that antigen tests may also be done upon their arrival at the airports.

Salvador then detailed that about 18,000 inbound travelers to the Philippines daily, but this figure is seen to increase further.

“Pero ang kagandahan po,

napakababa na ng mga umuuwi na partially vaccinated o unvaccinated. Halos wala na po,” he added.

(The good news is the number of partially vaccinated or unvaccinated individuals is low. Almost none.)

The eArrival card was previously called the One Health Pass but was changed last October as, the Department of Health said, it would streamline required arrival documents for travels. (with reports from Kristelle Razon)

Filipinos arrive at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 in Pasay City. Inquirer.net 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

OVERLOADED POST. Two Meralco linemen disentangle and transfer the wires to a concrete power pole from the leaning power pole (right) at the corner of Antique and Sto. Niño Street in Bago Bantay, Quezon City on Monday, Nov. 14. Residents fear the possibility of a fire breaking out in the area because of the numerous wires attached to the old power pole.

PNA photo by Ben Briones

Marcos Jr. to visit US at least twice in...

dates.”

Assuming the summit and APEC meeting go well, Marcos may pay a state

Steven Raga wins assembly seat, becomes the first...

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

Raga was a former chief of staff of Assemblymember Bri an Barnwell of District 30 who announced last April that he won’t be running for reelec tion. Raga was thrust into the position when he was selected by a committee to determine 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 movement and effort that we are going to continue next year and for years to come.”

“This neighborhood means a lot to me,” Raga added as he talked about his family who has called it home for the past few decades. “I look forward to ad vocating for everyone here, de fending 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 immi grants.”

As a candidate, Raga amassed a slew of endorsements from elected officials and community and civic leaders and won his primary race in June. Among those who threw their support were Congresswoman Grace Meng, Congressman Grego ry Meeks, State Sen. John Liu and Assemblymembers Ron Kim, Catalina Cruz, and Jessica González-Rojas, who was pres ent to congratulate him on his win.

Assembly District 30 has un dergone significant change due to redistricting. It currently cov ers the neighborhoods of Wood

side, 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 Ameri cans and Pacific Islanders).

During the campaign, Raga’s days start with him giving out literature and campaign ma terials at train stops and then he goes to the poll sites before meeting with community lead ers to put campaign events. He then spends six hours knocking on doors and calling voters.

“We’re still putting in the hard work and we’re not taking anything for granted,” he told the Asian Journal in a previous interview. “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 Wood side. Before that, he served as the Northeast Regional Manag er of Policy & Advocacy for the Komen Foundation, and before his time in politics, he spent nearly a decade doing non-prof it work, including his time as a Senior Strategist 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 Federa tion of Filipino American Asso ciations. Raga is also the found er of Pilipino American Unity for Progress (UniPro).

“From experience, I can tell you issues that everyday res idents are facing; I’ve worked with non-profit organizations that are filling vital gaps in pro viding community resources and services. I was able to de velop bonds with so many of my own neighbors while also learn ing about pertinent legislative issues to Western Queens and the complex relationship be tween City and State politics,” Raga shared. Last June when he won the primary, he said he was looking forward 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 com prehensive measure to protect both tenants and homeowners, and helping small businesses or any businesses that helped es pecially during COVID. (Momar G. Visaya/AJPress)

Voters of color, women shape midterm...

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.” (Peter White/Ethnic Media Services)

DOT breaches tourism target with over...

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She then added: “We, therefore, must meet this with the continued implementation of enabling mechanisms that will convey not only the country’s openness to welcome more tourists, but also conduciveness to tourism business and livelihood opportunities for our fellow Filipinos.”

Frasco also detailed that the

lion’s share of foreign tourist arrivals in the country comes from the United States with 385,121, followed by South Korea and Australia with 285,583 and 96,297, respectively.

Recovering the tourism sector from the slump caused by the years-long COVID-19 pandemic is among the priorities of the administration of President

Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as he previously noted that tourism is a “high potential driver for the transformation [of] the economy.” Marcos had also issued executive orders to make wearing of face masks optional in both indoor and outdoor settings which, the DOT said, could help boost the revival of the tourism industry. g

visit to the United

States next year.

In September this year, Marcos embarked on a sixday 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. g

Steven Raga

Dateline PhiliPPines

APEC presents the Philippines with more opportunities for trade, investments

MANILA – The participation of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in the upcoming AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders Meeting in Thailand presents even more opportunities for the country’s continued economic growth, Speaker Martin G. Romualdez said on Tuesday, November 15.

“The APEC Summit is a step up because there are more developed countries involved,” Romualdez told House reporters, as he stressed the importance of personal engagements and developing close relations with leaders of other countries or economies.

Romualdez said the Philippines is fortunate to have “a very able statesman” in President Marcos who is very popular in the international community.

He said among the factors that Marcos can utilize to promote the country as an attractive investment or tourism destination, as well as a good trading partner are the country's higher-than-expected 7.6 percent third quarter economic growth; the reduction in the unemployment rate; a young population; and the dollar remittances of overseas Filipino workers(OFWs), among others.

“So, I think now is the time

to herald that the Philippines is doing well. Its economy is doing well, and now is the time to invest in the Philippines so that we get more foreign direct investments for the capital that we need to generate more jobs and livelihood for Filipinos, and to bring about a stronger and more vibrant economy, so that all Filipinos have a safe and comfortable life,” Romualdez said.

The Speaker, who had accompanied Marcos at the recent Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summits in Cambodia, will also be a part of the official Philippine delegation to APEC.

Citing his experience in the ASEAN summits, Romualdez said the APEC Summit also presents opportunities for him to engage with his counterparts in the legislative bodies of the member countries.

For instance, Romualdez noted that it was during the bilateral meeting between the Philippines and Vietnam when the visit to the Philippines of the leader of Vietnam’s National Assembly, reportedly among the top contenders to be the next Prime Minister of his country, was announced.

“So, these types of engagements mean a lot.

Because when you have a personal engagement with these leaders, it is easier to communicate, coordinate, and to support each other on various sectors – whether it is economic, trade, or inter-parliamentary relations – that promotes better harmony,” Romualdez said.

Since the economy has become global, he said it would be to the advantage of the Philippines to promote better trade with other countries, which can be achieved by forging good trade agreements with partner economies.

“And that is usually shaped by policies mandated by the heads of state, but usually forged by legislation. So, these types of engagements and visits are very beneficial,” Romualdez said.

APEC is an inter-governmental forum for 21-member economies in the Pacific Rim that promotes free trade throughout the AsiaPacific region.

The 21-member economies of APEC are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam. (PNA)

DOH might seek extension of state of calamity to keep COVID response going

MANILA — The Department of Health said on Tuesday, November 15 it will recommend the extension of the COVID-19 state of calamity if a bill allowing government to implement pandemic protocols is not signed into law by next month.

The Philippines remains a nationwide state of calamity due to the COVID-19 pandemic after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. extended the declaration until December 31. The extension allowed the government to continue implementing measures against COVID-19 and access pandemic response funds.

Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said it will ask the Office of the President to extend the declaration of the state of calamity or to allow local governments to proclaim state of calamity in their localities should Congress not act on the Public Health Emergency for Emerging and Reemerging Disease Bill.

Vergeire, however, stressed that giving local governments authority to make their own state of calamity declarations is not going to address the issue.

"Under the bill, even though there is no state of calamity declaration or public health

emergency declaration, we can still continue to implement our vaccination program. We can still do expedited procurement, we can still do the other things we are doing right now for this pandemic," she said.

The health official added there is a recommendation to merge the bill on public health emergency with the proposed measure to create a Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC).

The Philippines has over 4 million COVID-19 cases, with more than 64,000 deaths, since the start of the pandemic.  (Gaea Katreena Cabico/Philstar.com)

Defense chief: Philippines has one of weakest military capabilities in region

by Francis Earl cuEto ManilaTimes.net

THE military capability of the Philippines can be considered one of the weakest in the region, Senior Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr., Department of National Defense Officer-inCharge, admitted on Monday, November 14.

Answering queries by lawmakers before the House of Representatives' Committee on National Defense and Security as to why the Philippines in particular the Armed Forces failed to prevent China from erecting structures in the West Philippine Sea, Faustino said it is one of the main reasons as to why there is an urgent need to fund the AFP's modernization program.

The DND official likewise said that they are open to a possible joint venture when it comes to using idle military lands. He, however, said that the properties will not be sold.

Surigao del Norte 2nd

were cautious.

"We are very careful in dealing with this using military action, because we might be subjecting ourselves to mistakes

and miscalculations... But rest assured, the constructions, we were aware of it. There were hundreds of diplomatic protests," he said.

Rep. Barbers suggested that it is best to show China that the Philippines is no pushover.

But Faustino said that the military capability of the Philippines is not at par with the neighbors.

"I would not say that we are a pushover. Admittedly, our military capability is one of the weakest in the region. It is exactly why we are trying to modernize right now. We are trying to strengthen our position... we align with our treaty partners, allies, likeminded countries. We would like to have a rules-based international order in those areas," he said.

Despite this, Faustino assured lawmakers that the AFP has been patrolling and maintaining its presence in the West Philippine Sea with available resources. g

Fewer killings in new drug crackdown – PNP chief

AUTHORITIES have killed 46 drug suspects and arrested more than 22,000 others under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s campaign, the national police chief said on Monday, November 14, and added the lower death toll underscores efforts to avoid lethal force.

Marcos Jr., who took office in June, has vowed to press on with his predecessor's crackdown on illegal drugs, which left thousands of mostly petty suspects dead, but said it would be done differently and focus more on rehabilitating drug dependents.

The widespread drug killings under Duterte were condemned by Western governments and human rights groups and sparked an investigation by the International Criminal Court as a possible crime against humanity.

"You can see here the Philippine National Police now wanted to minimize as much as possible the killings of people engaged in drug activities," the country's police chief, Rodolfo Azurin Jr., told Manila-based foreign correspondents in an online news conference.

"I emphasize to every policeman, if it will not endanger their lives, we minimize the use of force in arresting suspects in

criminal activities," Azurin said. Thousands were killed in the first year of the brutal crackdown Duterte launched after taking office in 2016. He had denied condoning extrajudicial killings in his so-called war on drugs but had openly threatened to kill suspects until his final year in power.

Marcos Jr.'s landslide victory in the May 9 elections has been partly credited to his alliance with his popular predecessor's daughter and now vice president, Sara Duterte. But Marcos has tried to stay away from Duterte's widely condemned campaign.

In an interview with The Associated Press in New York in September, Marcos was asked if Duterte went too far with his lethal drug crackdown. Marcos redirected the criticism toward those who carried out the plan.

"His people went too far sometimes," Marcos told the AP "We have seen many cases where policemen, other operatives, some were just shady characters that we didn't quite know where they came from and who they were working for. But now we've gone after them." Still, Marcos has come under fire from human rights groups himself for continuing Duterte's crackdown

that has led to new killings.

Azurin, who was appointed under Marcos, refused to comment on the scale of drug deaths under Duterte but said some law enforcers then may have not properly assessed that some suspects were "not really harmful." The 46 suspects killed were slain in 32 of more than 18,000 operations, which led to about 22,000 arrests and the seizure of P9.7 billion ($167 million) worth of illegal drugs, Azurin said.

Anti-drug policies were being reviewed and the focus was being shifted to rehabilitating drug dependents, providing them with livelihood skills to wean them from addiction and educating communities to harness residents in the fight against drugs, he said.

"It is more of doing a more responsive approach than what it used to be," Azurin said.

More than 6,200 suspects, mostly poor peddlers and dealers, were killed under Duterte based on police statistics. But human rights groups have cited higher death tolls and accused some police officers of fabricating evidence to make it appear the victims resisted violently. (ManilaTimes.net with reports from Associated Press)

District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers asked as to why despite the intelligence funds of the military, the AFP has not prevented China from building a military facility in the WPS. Faustino said they were aware, but

DND Senior Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr. ManilaTimes.net file photo

GOLDEN GIRLS. (Left to right) Maria Yvonne German, Samantha Emmanuelle Veguillas, and Princess Nicole Ramirez present their gold medals during the six-day Women’s Martial Arts Festival at Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila on Sunday, Nov. 13. The three won the medals from different categories in karate during the tournament.

PNA photo by Avito Dalan

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.

MOMAR

JOSEPH PERALTA

‘MARIKIT AND THE OCEAN OF STARS’

Filipina author’s remarkable debut is inspired by Filipino culture and folklore

BY MOMAR G. VISAYA / AJPRESS

of two amazing women in her life: her mother and Inang, her grandmother. Inang was a seamstress and had a vintage sewing machine that helped her get her eight children to school.

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

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

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

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

“My mother, equally spirited and brilliant, is the fifth of the siblings and was born on Inang’s

Battered wife gets green card through self-petition on a brand-new success story in Citizen Pinoy this Sunday

LANCE

“BATTERED-SPOUSE” GREEN CARD THROUGH A SELF-PETITION, ON A BRAND-NEW SUCCESS STORY OF CITIZEN PINOY THIS SUNDAY! Lance arrived in the U.S. in 2017 and married his U.S. citizen wife. The wife petitioned Lance for his green card, but the marriage turned rocky. Soon, the American wife started abusing Lance physically and verbally, and even threatened to have him deported. Upon a friend’s recommendation, Lance consulted with Atty. Gurfinkel. Atty. Gurfinkel converted Lance’s case from a spousal petition to a VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) self-petition, which was approved in September 2022. Lance was able to get a “battered-spouse” green card. Watch this success story on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, November 18 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. (Advertising Supplement)

came to the U.S. in 2017, and then married his U.S. citizen girlfriend in a same-sex marriage. His wife petitioned Lance for his green card, but

their marriage turned sour, and the wife kept postponing their immigration interviews.

The American wife also started abusing Lance physically and

verbally, stole money from him, and even threatened him with deportation. Lance also found out that his wife had a boyfriend.

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

RISING talent Caris Avendaño

Cruz has just released her debut book inspired by Filipino folklore.

Cruz said she wrote Marikit and the Ocean of Stars in honor

Pahrump seeing increased interest from commercial developers

by RealtoR Fely Quitevis-Bateman

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The chief planner of Nye County also talked about the

538-4948,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

These include walking/hiking groups and biking clubs, as well as bowling clubs/leagues, billiards groups and indoor swimming clubs, to name a few.

There is a lot more than meets the eye in Pahrump. Both visitors and residents have a lot of activities to indulge in. And with Las Vegas only about an hour or less away, the possibilities for fun and excitement increase exponentially.

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

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

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

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

(Advertising Supplement)

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman helps those who need business financing, including loans for small businesses. For more information, call (702)

or send email to fely@preciousproperties.com or fely.precious@gmail.com.

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

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

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

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

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

celebrityworld

By Ferdie Villar

FILIPINO dancer, singer, actor and TV host Billy Crawford was adjudged the season 12 champion of the French edition of “Dancing with The Stars” on Friday, November 11, along with dancing partner Fauve Hautot. The competition’s first episode was shown on September 9.

The multi-hyphen talent expressed his joy and thanks in an Instagram post a few days later.

“It’s been a few days since we won @dals_tf1but from the bottom of my heart thank you again @fauvehautot for your patience and your amazing talent. I am forever grateful to have worked with someone as dope as you! To all my co contestants since day 1 I love you guys and thank you for always being there to make things smoother than usual. To production, Eloïse our journalist who never stops getting info straight from our hearts. Sir Fred, and Deborah merci pour the confidence and trust you give us every week,” Crawford’s post stated.

“And thank you also for all the advice, @ hakimghorab, @

emmanuelleberne @pierresup pa you guys are super duper awesome and we couldn’t have done better if it wasn’t for you guys. Karim, the best steady cam handler in the world! @pixeline photo thanks you for capturing the greatest moments on and off stage. Merci pour tout. To all the pro dancers who helped each oth er to give an amazing show to the French public, salut and respect to all of you! The judges, thanks for encouraging us that we could always be better no matter what the circumstances are! To all the public who voted for me and Fauve in the end, THANK YOU!,” he added in the post.

The mirror ball trophy winner also gave shout-outs to his wife, the Philippines and God in his post.

“My wife @coleen I love you, my family, never could’ve done it with out you guys sacrificing being here. Lord God, You are absolutely an amazing God! To my country [Philippine flag] who tries to follow updates on what’s going on even if it’s super early in the am. Thank you all for this

Community

Billy Crawford is grand champion of ‘Danse avec les stars’

experience as it will be forever imprinted in my heart. In the end, Hard work really does pay off! I will miss ALL of you tremendously. With all the love in the world, before the trophy, I have already won cause of the relationships we have built! Till next time, A TRES BIENTOUT! [red heart emoji] [laughing emoji] [crying emoji] [hugging emoji],” Crawford further stated.

Billy has been posting updates on his Instagram about his participation in the competition. This is the third year in a row that Fauve, Billy’s professional dance teammate, has partnered with the eventual champion in the competition. The win tied her with Denitsa Ikonomova with the most professional wins in “Danse avec les stars.” (Note: Ikonomova also won a special episode with partner Loic Nottet in 2017; the episode’s contestants were previous participants from five different seasons of the show.)

* * *

Kontrabida” (The Villain), a film helmed by Adolf Alix Jr. and who stars multi-awarded actresses National Artist Nora Aunor and Jaclyn Jose, was honored with the Network for the Promotion of Asia Pacific Cinema (NETPAC) prize, along with Iranian film “Bone Marrow,” at the 6th Hanoi International Film Festival on Saturday, November

San Francisco receives new state funding to advance electric vehicle strategies

Grant will support Climate Action Plan and bolster the Environment Department’s work to transition to clean, electric vehicles and help cut pollution from transportation sector, which accounts for 50% of city’s emissions

SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor London N. Breed on Wednesday, November 2 announced San Francisco has been awarded $2.4 million from the California Energy Commission (CEC) to help the city reduce air pollution and advance its Climate Action Plan. Last week, San Francisco officially accepted funding from the State that will add more Electric Vehicle (EV) charging plazas, fund a new e-bike food delivery pilot program, build on the city’s efforts to make climate and EV programs equitable and accessible for all residents, and support the development of a robust EV mapping tool.

This CEC EV grant funds a piece of San Francisco’s larger strategy to fight the climate crisis and reach netzero emissions by 2040. Addressing climate change means tackling San Francisco’s transportation and land use issues head on. At nearly 50% of total city emissions, the transportation system must be transformed to reduce overall reliance on cars and equitably and efficiently connect people to where they want to go by transit, walking, and biking. All remaining vehicles must transition to zero-emissions.

To support that transition, Mayor Breed’s Climate Action Plan includes several detailed strategies to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles and other electric mobility options. This year, Mayor Breed sponsored an ordinance to update the Planning Code to make the installation of EV charging sites easier, which will help expedite the public expansion of citywide EV charging stations, and builds upon EV charging legislation she sponsored in 2019.

“San Francisco is continuing to lead in the transition to electrifying our transportation sector and cleaning the air we breathe,” said Mayor Breed. “We already have one of the greenest transit fleets in the country with Muni, and are adding more electric vehicle infrastructure on city-owned lots. This funding will help us expand that work to more communities so all residents can benefit from electric vehicles, and pilot innovative programs in our delivery sector. These strategies are all part of our comprehensive Climate Action plan and goals to be emission-free by 2040.”

“The California Energy Commission is committed to helping cities transition to a zero-emission transportation system,” said CEC Commissioner Patty Monahan. “We look forward to working with San Francisco as they implement their plans to bring charging stations to underserved communities and shift delivery workers away from cars and onto bikes.”

New EV charging plazas

With this funding from the State, three additional charging plazas will be built, bringing more fastcharging options for San Francisco residents and visitors. Currently, the city has 104 publicly accessible fast chargers throughout San Francisco, enough to serve approximately 14,000 EV drivers. Prior CEC grants and new funding will support the city’s progress to phase out gas-fueled vehicles and satisfy the needs of an all-electric transportation system by 2040 with a total of 680 publicly accessible fast chargers. An estimated 47% of San Francisco's greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation, with private vehicles making up a large majority of that number.

In the first half of 2022, 26% of new vehicle registrations in the city were zero-emission vehicles. While the number of EV registrations continue to grow, there are still communities without access to EV charging options. Currently, the Bayview neighborhood is one of the only neighborhoods in San Francisco without a fast-charging station.

Without convenient access to a fast charger, nearby residents might be discouraged from purchasing EVs, which disincentivizes EV charging providers from installing stations.

Community education and engagement is an essential component of the Mayor’s Climate Action Plan and is also a critical part of the grant initiative from the CEC. The grant will fund a CBO (Community Based Organization) to lead an engagement and input process to ensure the community is involved in the selection of a site for the charging plaza in the Bayview.

E-Bike delivery pilot

The one-year pilot program will provide up to 30 San Francisco food delivery workers with electric bicycles to use for making deliveries, instead of relying on cars that contribute to poor air quality. The program will monitor usage and other statistics to better inform planning that includes electric bicycles in local food delivery as a way to reduce emissions and traffic congestion. If successful, the city’s innovation could pave the way for an industry realignment towards sustainability that shifts delivery workers from cars to electric bicycles. The pilot is targeted to begin in early 2023.

Equitable EV strategies

As part of the community engagement component, the CBO will also conduct a public education campaign focusing on underserved communities and neighborhoods with low EV registration about the benefit of EVs, varying purchase options, and the availability of rebates and incentives for lowerincome residents. The overall goal of this component of the grant is to increase equitable access to EVs for all San Franciscans.

New EV mapping tool

Finally, the grant will create a new mapping tool to reduce time spent on siting public fast-charger installations and associated costs. This tool builds upon the current robust Electric

Vehicle Mapping Tool, which was funded by a previous CEC grant and will show EV users where existing public charging stations are available in San Francisco and allow them to mark where they think future publicly accessible charging locations would be convenient. The Department will partner with Google to design and launch the map.

“We are rapidly building the city of the future by expanding the number of zero-emission transportation options and all-electric buildings,” said Tyrone Jue, Acting Director of the San Francisco Environment Department. “We will continue to leverage our limited city resources to pursue state and federal funding that accelerates the implementation of our climate plan, particularly in our underserved areas of San Francisco with higher pollution levels.”

The Mayor’s 2019 legislation includes innovative strategies, such as requiring commercial parking lots and garages with more than 100 parking spaces to install EV charging stations in at least 10% of the parking spaces by January 2023. Other important work that builds on the advancement of reaching critical climate milestones includes ramping up plans for EV charging in up to 38 municipal lots and garages, resulting in the installation of up to 200 new fast charging ports.

More information about San Francisco’s efforts to become 100% emissions-free can be found in the Mayor’s Climate Action Plan (https://sfenvironment. org/climateplan) and Electric Vehicle Roadmap (https://sfenvironment.org/electricmobilitysf). (SF

Mayor’s Office Release)

film’s triumph. “Kontrabida” was shot during the height of the pandemic and has yet to be shown in the Philippines.

According to Alix, news of the film’s win has reached Aunor, who expressed her elation at the win.

“She is very happy with the news. She is thankful to the jury and is excited for her fans to see the film,” Adolf told PEP.ph in an interview.

Alix revealed that it will be a different Aunor that people will see in the film as she portrays the character of Anita Rosales.

“Since Ate Guy plays an actress from the heydays of cinema who has been recognized for her excellence in essaying contravida characters, this is also a role where I think Ate Guy excels best – quiet yet penetrating characters,” Alix said.

“The persona of an artist on and off-cam and how she faces the life of an artist and where her character will go to is something

that people will surely look out for,” he continued. “From start to finish, we wll follow the character’s life and we will see her nuances. As time goes on, Ate Guy’s instinct as an actress only gets better.”

While Alix said that the film is part of a continuing series exploring the persona of an actress, he added, “Plus working with Ate Guy is always a learning experience. I love collaborating with her.”

Adolf revealed in the interview that everyone involved in the project are happy that they were able to complete make this film, and should become a treasured memory.

“We did the film at the height of the pandemic with all the restrictions, but because of our dedicated team, we were able to pull it off. So this small victory is for them. A good memory to look back [on] those during that certain times, we were able to do something special,” he said.

Battered wife gets green card through...

When the wife left Lance for her boyfriend, someone suggested that Lance consult with leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel.

After it became apparent that the American wife would no longer help Lance with his green card application, Atty. Gurfinkel advised USCIS that they will convert the case from a spousal petition to a self-petition under the VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) so that Lance can pursue his green card without the help of his spouse.

In September 2022, Lance’s VAWA petition was approved, and Lance was able to get a “battered-spouse” green card.

Watch this success story on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, November 20 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app. (Advertising Supplement)

Filipina author’s remarkable debut...

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birthday. When Inang passed away, my mother inherited the sewing machine and began repair ing clothes for us, too,” Cruz told the Asian Journal

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

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

That was when the story took a complete turn.

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

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

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

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

“I went from an obscure writer to a debut author. It was a book of many miracles and much Fili pino heart! My editor, Trisha de

Guzman, and the book’s cover illustrator, Alexis Young, are both Filipinos, and the work and love everyone put in radiate from every page,” she shared.

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

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

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

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

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

Cruz was born in Malolos, Bu lacan, where she currently lives, in a house “in front of a thinning

bamboo grove where many famil iar faces have grown up and left.”

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

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

Billy Joe Ledesma Crawford and partner Fauve Hautot hold mirror ball trophies after winning the “Danse avec les stars” final on Friday, November 11. Photo from Instagram/@billycrawford

National Artist Nora Aunor portrays a different kind of character from her usual roles in the film “Kontrabida” (The Villain). PEP.ph fiile photo

From left: Film director Adolf Alix Jr., National Artist Nora Aunor and multi-awarded actress Jaclyn Jose. Aunor and Jose star in the Alix-helmed “Kontrabida” (The Villain) where Jaclyn plays an avid fan of Anita Rosales, the character essayed by Aunor. PEP.ph fiile photo

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The director was informed by the festival committee of his

Leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (right) was able to get a “battered-wife” green card for his client, Lance (left), on a brand-new episode of Citizen Pinoy.

Caris Avendaño Cruz