111822 - San Diego Edition

Kenneth Mejia wins LA controller race, becoming city’s first Filipino elected

KENNETH Mejia made history with his victory in the Los Angeles City Controller race in the Tuesday, Nov. 8 mid-term elections, becoming the first Filipino American elected in the city and the first Asian American in a citywide position.

Mejia, a 32-year-old accountant and pro gressive leader, captured 60.92% of the vote (290,736), beating three-term coun cilmember Paul Koretz, who only received 39.08% (186,483).

“We did it!” Mejia tweeted on Tuesday night.

His post followed with a list of his firsts.

“FIRST CPA as City Controller; FIRST Filipino elected official in LA; FIRST AAPI citywide elected official; FIRST POC as City

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.”

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

by Beatrice Pinlac Inquirer.net

Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Bangkok, Thailand.

A senior U.S. administration official, in a background briefing on Wednesday, Nov. 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 relationship,” the official said.

Harris is expected to reaffirm the U.S.

commitment

“They will

Harris

Marcos Jr. on ASEAN trip: Successful, very interesting

by Helen Flores Philstar.com

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 post-pandemic 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 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, u PAGE 4

DOT breaches tourism target with over 2 million travelers to PH

by Beatric 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.

She then added: “We, therefore, must

PAGE 2

Travelers warned vs illegitimate websites for eArrival card Marcos Jr. to visit US at least twice in 2023 — envoy

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

by Daniza FernanDez Inquirer.net

MANILA — 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

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

Mabansag,

“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

to its alliance with the Philippines on peace and stability in the South China Sea.

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.

will also be meeting with civil society activists in a bid to demonstrate the U.S.’

present at the birth of one Vinice

born to Maria Margarette Villorente.

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 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 evening, November 20 after her participation in the Asia-

GIFT GIVING. Vice President Sara Duterte (center) hands over a Christmas loot bag to a student during a gift giving to learners at Camps

O’ Donnelle in Capas and Camp Servillano Aquino in Tarlac City on Wednesday, Nov. 16. A total of 110 student-beneficiaries received early Christmas gifts from the Belenismo sa Tarlac 2022 and Tarlac Heritage Foundation Inc. PNA photo by Avito Dalan

Kenneth Mejia Filipinos

Kamala Harris to meet with Marcos...

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 highest-ranking 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.”

“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

DOT breaches tourism target...

PAGE 1

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. n

Filipino baby girl is ‘symbolic’...

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 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, BosniaHerzegovina 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. n

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.

Marcos Jr. to visit US at least twice in... Travelers warned vs illegitimate...

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 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

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

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 are recorded 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 it was changed last October as the Department of Health said, it would help streamline required arrival documents for travels.. with reports from Kristelle Razon, trainee (By Beatrice Pinlac/ Inquirer.net) n

“continued support for human rights and democratic resilience.”

ONION PREP. A vendor removes the excess skin of red onions at a stall inside the Balintawak Market in Quezon City on Thursday, Nov. 17.

The government is considering the importation of 7,000 metric tons of red onions which will not affect local production as onion farmers have yet to harvest their produce. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

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.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris arrives for the second leg of her Asia trip, in Hanoi, Vietnam, August, 24, 2021. Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein/Pool

Marcos Jr. on ASEAN trip: Successful...

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 Russia-Ukraine 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. n

Several Fil-Ams projected to win in SoCal races

by Klarize Medenilla AJPress

WITH the 2022 midterm election come and gone, local governments across California are closer to being a lot more Pinoy.

This year, significant races from Los Angeles city controller to multiple city council races featured many Filipino American candidates — incumbents seeking to keep their posts and those who have never held office alike.

Even though many races are too close to call and mail-in ballots delay the results of many races, some winners — including several Filipinos — have been projected, as of Friday, Nov. 11.

Kenneth Mejia, the two-time congressional candidate, won the LA controller seat to become the first elected Filipino in the city of LA, as reported in the Asian Journal.

Mejia ran an effective campaign earmarked by the viral

billboards posted all over the city showcasing what he describes as the city’s historic overinflation of the police budget. As a proponent of the People’s Budget of LA, Mejia has said he’d fight for communities of color and the disenfranchised communities of the city.

Elsewhere, Filipinos are also making moves in legislative roles across the Southland.

First-time elected officials Ollie Cantos of West Covina and Ditas Yamane of National City are the projected winners of their respective cities’ city councils.

In Artesia, Mayor Melissa Ramoso — who was first elected as a city councilmember in 2018 and appointed to the mayor’s seat in 2021 — is expected to retain her post as mayor. Similarly, Phil Bacera of Santa Ana City Council, Jed Leano of Claremont City Council, and Arleen Rojas of Carson City Council are all expected to keep their respective seats.

Voters of color, women...

PAGE 1

García-Rios

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.”

(Peter White/Ethnic Media Services) n

Kenneth Mejia wins LA...

Controller in over 100 years,” the post said.

The controller operates as the chief accounting officer of LA, handling audits, financial reporting and other accounting duties pertaining to the city’s public departments.

A political outsider who likewise came out on top during the June primary, Mejia caught attention for his large billboards around LA, highlighting the LA

Police Department’s budget and challenging residents to question where their taxes are going.

On his campaign website, he vowed to use his accounting and auditing background to address the housing crisis, job scarcity and climate change, among other issues.

“People say a grassroots, city-wide campaign can’t win… we just proved them all wrong,” Mejia said following his win. n

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.”

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

Congress, BARMM leaders convene in ‘historic’ forum

by Kristina Maralit ManilaTimes.net

ANOTHER milestone in the implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) has been reached after the Congress-Bangsamoro Parliament Forum convened for the first time on Tuesday, November 15 focusing on strengthening ties between the national government and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Led by Inter-Governmental Relations Body (IGRB) cochairmen Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and BARMM Minister of Basic, Higher and Technical Education Mohagher Iqbal, the event was also participated in by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, members of the Bangsamoro Parliament, and other senators and members of the House of Representatives.

The gathering in Pasay City was in accordance with Section 3, Article 6 of the BOL which mandates the establishment

of the Philippine Congress–Bangsamoro Parliament Forum (PCBPF) to fortify the cooperation and coordination of legislative initiatives between the national and Bangsamoro governments.

Pangandaman said the establishment of the BARMM was a “historic win for the whole country,” as it embodied the national government’s mediumterm fiscal framework and the eight-point socioeconomic agenda, which became the roadmap for economic transformation of the region.

“This is why from our end, following the President’s agenda for prosperity, we will do all that we can and endeavor to convince all the mechanisms to support the Bangsamoro Transition Authority and ensure the success of BARMM,” Pangandaman said.

One such initiative to achieve peace and sustained socioeconomic development in the region, the national government allocated P64.8 billion from the proposed 2023 national budget; P5 billion for a Special Development Fund for the rebuilding, rehabilitation

and development of the conflictaffected ethnic communities in the BARMM; and P4.6 billion in taxes, fees and charges.

“We recognize that the efficient release of funds means more development projects to be implemented for the people and government of BARMM,” Pangandaman said.

For his part, Zubiri vowed the Senate’s full support to the PCBPF “in developing an effective and productive partnership” between the Senate and the Bangsamoro Parliament which will serve as a “concrete roadmap to inclusive and progressive legislation for the region.”

“Still in its growing stages and there remains a lot of work [to do] for the Bangsamoro Transition Authority which will form the foundation of the Bangsamoro government,” the Senate leader from Mindanao said.

“To enable the smooth and efficient delivery of government services, [and] serve the people, we have to work hard on this particular Electoral Code because we don’t think we can extend any longer the Transition

u PAGE 7

Several Fil-Ams projected...

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Several Filipinos who ran this election cycle, however, are trailing behind. Planning commissioner Arnel Dino is behind the projected winner in the race for an open seat in Fullerton City Council. In Culver City, community advocate Stephanie Loredo is currently in third place for a

The final tallies should be announced in the coming days. n

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 because of the COVID-19 crisis, but while its economic consequences were evident, most people have not heard of how a “silent epidemic” took its toll on millions of Filipinos.

Last Monday (Nov. 14), the Department of Science and Technology-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 Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS) showed that 14 percent of children 5 to 10 years old, 13 percent 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 compared 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 stated in the Philippine Plan for Action 2017 to 2022.

But how did this happen?

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, officer-incharge of the Department of Health (DOH), said the main reasons for the increase were physical inactivity 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 children, 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 contributory to this increase in obesity,” she said.

How one becomes obese

As defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), overweight and obesity are conditions involving “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 million children—is generally caused by eating too much and moving too little.

It explained that “if you consume 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 provided 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 Overweight 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 U.S. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, provides a measure of body fat, which ranges 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 million 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 Nations 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 percent 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 middleincome countries including the Philippines.”

It said the National Policy on Addressing Overweight and Obesity 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 prevention, regulatory

seat on the board of Culver City Unified School District. For the ABC Unified School District — which covers Artesia, Bellflower and Cerritos — Brian Ferrer is in second place with 42% of the vote.

Photo from Bangsamoro Government FB page

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.

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 upper-income economies. Following Switzerland and Singapore are Denmark, the United States, the Netherlands, Norway,

Babe’s Eye View

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 inperson, 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 membernations (with the exception of Myanmar which is barred

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 middle-income 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 military-type 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

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 Singapore-based 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

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

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 833-4224255.

* * *

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.

ASIAN JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS, INC. Publisher

Main Office: 1210 S. Brand Blvd Glendale, CA 91204 Tels: (818) 502-0651 e-mail: info@asianjournalinc.com http://www.asianjournal.com

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With offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York/New Jersey, Las Vegas, San Diego, Philippines

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MOMAR G. VISAYA Editor-in-Chief San Diego Asian Journal

dR dali Fan, uC davis HealtH

Obesity’s heavy toll: Millions of...

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 Philippines, recommend the following actions to be taken:

• Implement policies, legislation, and interventions to promote physical activity including active transport and promotion of green, blue, and open spaces in communities and workplaces

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

• Implement a package of policies 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 corresponding 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 programs such as the Pantawid Pamilyang 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 Philippines needs interventions that address the social determinants of health, highlighting the need to integrate health in all public policies to enable behavior change and create supportive environments.

Serious consequences

As explained by the U.S. 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, kidneys, 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 epidemic 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, diminishes almost every aspect of health, from reproductive and respiratory function to memory and mood.

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

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

Congress, BARMM leaders...

Authority, the people would like to vote for the representatives and members they want to,’’ he said.

To recall, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., during the inauguration of the 80-member Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) last August 12, vowed to fully support the legislative body until it completes all of its deliverables by June 30, 2025.

He, however, emphasized that there will be no more extension of the BTA’s transition period once the Bangsamoro Parliament holds its first election in May 2025.

Romualdez also threw the full support of the House behind the BARMM as he lauded the IGRB for its efforts to finally convene the PCBPF.

“The allocation of P4.4 billion for BARMM in the Block Grant under the Special Development Plan[‘s] share in national taxes collected is to ensure that the Bangsamoro Transition Authority will be able to deliver on its commitments,” he said.

“The House of Representatives [is set] to see additional funding for BARMM to cover the cost of repair and rehabilitation in areas affected by the severe tropical typhoon particularly in Maguindanao and Cotabato,” he added.

The PCBPF is likewise expected to play a crucial role in sustaining the gains of the peace process in the Bangsamoro region.

In particular, the body will ensure that the legislative initiatives at the national and the regional levels are harmonized, as it will serve as the appropriate mechanism to address IGR-related

issues that require legislative action from both parties.

This was echoed by Sen. Loren Legarda who said her fellow lawmakers could help bring more “multilateral support from agencies globally.”

“There is no reason for our 36,000 sq km of 4.2 million Filipinos in this beautiful historic resource which [is the] region of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao not to be progressive, successful, peaceful, orderly and sustainable,” she said.

Meanwhile, Iqbal said the PCBPF’s future accomplishments will serve as a crucial blueprint for socioeconomic development and transformation in the BARMM.

BARMM Speaker of Parliament Ali Pangalian Balindong wrapped up the key points of the PCBPF which he said “will put to fruition the many initiatives endeavored to be put into motion.”

Some of the most notable are: the Bangsamoro Transition Authority’s remaining priority codes, which need to be passed which include the Administrative Code, Revenue Code, Electoral Code, Local Government Code and Education Code; the laws enacted to upgrade hospitals in BARMM; the possibility of extending the deadline for Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members who wish to apply for amnesty; the qualification of Shari’ah circuit court judges; and the plans for the continued cooperation of the Philippine Congress and creation of the Bangsamoro Parliament Technical Working Groups to start addressing these concerns. n

COMFORTING FIRE VICTIMS. Senator Christopher Lawrence Go (right) comforts an elderly woman during his visit to the 63 fire victims

temporarily staying at the Carmencita covered court in Las Pinas City on Thursday, Nov. 17. Go and Vice Mayor April Aguilar-Nery handed out grocery packs, meals and cash assistance while vowing to personally help more communities through the Malasakit Center program. PNA photo by Avito Dalan

ANNOUNCEMENT

FOR RENT

Advertisement for Bids

Notice is hereby given that the San Diego Unified School District, acting by and through its governing board, will electronically receive bids for the furnishing of all labor, materials, transportation, equipment, and services to:

FURNISH AND INSTALL HYDRATION STATIONS AT 20 SITES GROUP 3

A mandatory site visit is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2022, in front of the main office of Vista Grande Elementary School, 5606 Antigua Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92124. Upon completion, all contractors will proceed to Tierrasanta Elementary School, 5450 La Cuenta Drive, San Diego, CA 92124. Upon completion, all contractors will proceed to Kumeyaay Elementary School, 6475 Antigua Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92124. Contractors and subcontractors must preregister with the District prior to attending the site walk at sandiegounified.org/sitewalks. The Bid and Contract Documents may be downloaded free of charge at the new District’s online Planroom at sandiegousdplans.com. All bids must be received electronically at or before 1:00 p.m. on DECEMBER 15, 2022. Firms interested in submitting a bid package must go to tinyurl.com/SDUSD-PlanetBids then search under “Bid Opportunities” for “Invitation number” CP23-0600-24 Furnish and Install Hydration Stations at 20 Sites Group 3. For new vendors, please register under “New Vendor Registration”. The project estimate is between $2.2 million and $2.4 million. This is a PSA project and requires prequalification. The District requires that Bidders possess any of the following classification(s) of California State Contractors License(s), valid and in good standing, at the time of bid opening and contract award: B or other appropriate license, subject to District approval. SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, Linda Hippe (TOC), Director, Purchasing and Contracts, Strategic Sourcing and Contracts Department CP23-0600-24

LEGAL SERVICES LEGAL SERVICES

CASE NUMBER: 37-2022-00042522-CU-PT-CTL

TO ALL INTERESTED

PERSONS:

changing names as follows: a.

to Vincent Roberto Hernandez.

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING

Date: 12/08/2022 Time: 8:30 AM Dept. 61 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. 61 San Diego, CA 92101

A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county.

Asian Journal: OCT. 24, 2022

NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT

Michael T. Smyth Judge of the Superior Court AJ 1063 10/28, 11/04, 11/11, 11/18/2022.

ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME (JC Form #NC-120)

NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE.

The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS

(excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date.

Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court. AJSD #1063

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9024734

SF Insurance & Financial Services located at 669 Broadway, Chula Vista, CA 91910.

Registrant: SF Financial Services Inc, 669 Broadway, Chula Vista, CA 91910. This business is conducted by Corporation.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 11/01/2022.

Signature: Selene Ferregut. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/09/2022.

AJ 1071 11/11, 11/18, 11/25, and 12/02/2022.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9023258

Billionaires Barber Club II located at 2220 E. Plaza Blvd., Unit No. 1, National City, CA 91950.

Registrant: a. Angela Nguyen, 5940 Kenwood St., San Diego, CA 92114.

b. Julian Hodges, 5940 Kenwood St., San Diego, CA 92114.

This business is conducted by General Partnership REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 10/20/2022.

Signature: Julian Hodges. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 10/20/2022.

AJ_1073 11/18, 11/25, 12/02, 12/09/2022. AJSD 1073

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9023277

Mammys Express located at 1070 13th St., Suite F, Imperial Beach, CA 91932.

Registrant: Jessica Perez, 5641 Surfrider Way #186, San Diego, CA 92154.

This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.

Signature: Jessica Perez. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 10/20/2022.

AJ 1075 11/18, 11/25, 12/02, and 12/09/2022. AJSD1075

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9024295

Jiménez Painting & Coatings located at 4077 1/2 Beta Street, San Diego, CA 92113.

Registrant: José Antonio Jiménez, 4077 1/2 Beta Street, San Diego, CA 92113. This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 01/31/2021.

Signature: José Antonio Jiménez. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/03/2022.

AJ 1072 11/18, 11/25, 12/02, 12/09/2022. AJSD 1072

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9024806

Carpenters Cartel located at 158 W. Calle Primera #16, San Ysidro, CA 92173.

Registrant: Juan Pablo Bastidas Hernandez, 158 W. Calle Primera #16, San Ysidro, CA 92173.

This business is conducted by Individual REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 11/10/2022

Signature: Juan Pablo Bastidas Hernandez. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/10/2022.

AJ 1074 11/18, 11/25, 12/02, 12/09/2022. AJSD 1074

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9025080

K & D Trans located at 11814 Via Hacienda, El Cajon, CA 92019.

Registrant: Karam Jameel, 11814 Via Hacienda, El Cajon, CA 92019.

This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 11/15/2022.

Signature: Karam Jameel. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/15/2022.

AJ 1076 11/18, 11/25, 12/02, 12/09/2022. AJSD 1076

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9023303

a. DADORA located at 1150 E ST., UNIT 2012, SAN DIEGO, CA 92101.

b. DADORA VANILLA located at 1150 E ST., UNIT 2012, SAN DIEGO, CA 92101.

Registrant: Galarraga Kowatch LLC, 1150 E ST., UNIT 2012, SAN DIEGO, CA 92101.

This business is conducted by Limited Liability Company.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 10/20/2022.

Signature: Justin James Kowatch.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 10/20/2022.

AJ 1059 10/28, 11/04, 11/11, 11/18/2022. AJSD 1059

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9023538

Juliet Sailo Design & Alterations located at 2401 Highland Ave, #106, National City, CA 91950.

Registrant: Juliet Sailo Sunthang, 218 Willie James Jones Ave #6, San Diego, CA 92102.

This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 01/01/2020.

Signature: Juliet Sailo Sunthang.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 10/25/2022.

AJ 1062 11/04, 11/11, 11/18, 11/25/2022. AJSD 1062

FICTITIOUS

SHEROKITRADES located at 1721 Cripple Creek Dr., Unit 2, Chula Vista, CA 91915.

Registrant: Sherwin Sahagun, 1721 Cripple Creek Dr., Unit 2, Chula Vista, CA 91915. This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.

Signature: Sherwin Sahagun.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/03/2022.

AJ 1066 11/11, 11/18, 11/25, and 12/02/2022. AJSD 1066

LEGAL SERVICES

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9023001

Cano Electric located at 820 Humphrey Place, Chula Vista, CA 91911.

Registrant: Hector Cano, 820 Humphrey Place, Chula Vista, CA 91911.

This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 10/17/2022.

Signature: Hector Cano. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 10/17/2022.

AJ 1060 10/28, 11/04, 11/11, 11/18/2022. AJSD 1060

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9022992

KNA Towing located at 4266 Del Sol Ct., San Diego, CA 92154.

Registrant: Bonifacio Garibay, 4266 Del Sol Ct., San Diego, CA 92154. This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 03/2/2019.

Signature: Bonifacio Garibay.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 10/17/2022.

AJ 1064 10/28, 11/04, 11/11, 11/18/2022. AJSD 1064

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9024260

FAIRMOUNT CENTER located at 4265 Fairmount Avenue, Suite 130, San Diego, CA 92105.

Registrant: Nile Sisters Development Initiative, 4265 Fairmount Avenue, Suite 130, San Diego, CA 92105.

This business is conducted by Corporation.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 08/01/2022.

Signature: Elizabeth Lou. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/02/2022.

AJ 1067 11/11, 11/18, 11/25, and 12/02/2022. AJSD 1067

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

NO. 2022-9024684

MG Commercial Roadside located at 1556 Lancaster Point Way, San Diego, CA 92154.

Registrant: MG Logistics LLC, 1556 Lancaster Point Way, San Diego, CA 92154. This business is conducted by Limited Liability Company.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 11/09/2022.

Signature: Matthew Millican. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/09/2022.

AJ 1069 11/11, 11/18, 11/25, and 12/02/2022. AJSD 1069

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-902204

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-902204

Billionaires Barber Club located at 6919 Paradise Valley Rd., Ste 3, San Diego, CA 92139.

Registrant: Angela Ngoc Nguyen, 5940 Kenwood St., San Diego, CA 92114.

This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 10/04/2022.

Signature: Angela Ngoc Nguyen.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 10/04/2022. AJ 1061 10/28, 11/04, 11/11, 11/18/2022.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9022049

32nd & Broadway Market located at 857 32nd St., Suite 102, San Diego, CA 92102.

Registrant: SoCal CRV, Inc., 857 32nd St., Suite 102, San Diego, CA 92102. This business is conducted by Corporation.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 08/29/2022.

Signature: Anthony St. John.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 10/05/2022.

AJ 1065 11/04, 11/11, 11/18, and 11/25/2022. AJSD 1065

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9024158

a. SPA HANS located at 10066 Pacific Heights Blvd., Suite 114, San Diego, CA 92121.

b. HAN SPA located at 10066 Pacific Heights Blvd., Suite 114, San Diego, CA 92121.

Registrant: Han Yue Wellness Inc., 10066 Pacific Heights Blvd., Suite 114, San Diego, CA 92121.

This business is conducted by Corporation.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 11/01/2022.

Signature: Yue Han. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/01/2022.

AJ 1068 11/11, 11/18, 11/25, and 12/02/2022. AJSD 1068

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9024356

a. Bombe Frenchies located at 100 Park Plaza, Unit 1504, San Diego, CA 92101.

b. Bombe Kennels located at 100 Park Plaza, Unit 1504, San Diego, CA 92101.

Registrant: Steven Alexander Eis, 100 Park Plaza, Unit 1504, San Diego, CA 92101.

This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 11/03/2022.

Signature: Steven Alexander Eis. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/03/2022.

AJ 1070 11/11, 11/18, 11/25, and 12/02/2022. AJSD 1070

Petitioner Vincent Roberto Vasquez filed a petition with this court for a decree

Vincent Roberto Vasquez

SAN DIEGO

Sumalee Montano on creating her ‘dream projec t’ The Deal

by MoMar G. Visaya / AJPress

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.

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 jackof-all-trades to make sure she could make ends meet. Several

T HE Deal (currently streaming on The Roku Channel) is a dystopian film that deals with the universal theme of a mother-and-daughter relationship. Fil-Am actress Sumalee Montano, who created and co-produced the movie - considered it her dream project. Since she started acting, her dream has always been to keep working with uber-talented people for as long as possible.

Sumalee

Montano as Tala Bayani with Emma Fischer as Analyn Bayani

Alastair Mackenzie as Michael hiding with Sumalee Montano as Tala and Emma Fischer as Analyn Photos courtesy of Aleksandar Letic Emma

City of San Diego pledges to stand united against hate

SAN DIEGO – As part of United Against Hate Week, the City of San Diego has issued a proclamation to stop hate and biases that pose a threat to the safety and civility of our community. On Wednesday, November 16 Mayor Todd Gloria, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California Randy Grossman, San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan and California State University San Marcos Professor Brian Levin joined the city’s Human Relations Commission to recognize United Against Hate Week.

“The City of San Diego will stand against racism, bullying, inequity, anti-inclusion and discrimination in all forms and wherever it may be,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. “Hate has no place in our city. In San Diego, our diversity is our strength and it is something we take pride in. I’m grateful for the Human Relations Commission for bringing forward this proclamation in support of activities to stop hate, intolerance and bullying and to declare a united front against hate in San Diego.”

United Against Hate Week began as a poster

campaign in the San Francisco Bay Area in response to an uptick in crimes involving evidence of hatred and bias based on the victim’s race, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender, or sexual orientation.

The campaign has now become an annual event recognized by over 200 communities across the country. This week of action, recognized from Nov. 13-19, is designed to raise awareness about the dangers of hate and the need for respect and civil discourse.

Inspired by the nationwide

movement, the city’s Human Relations Commission authored the resolution in support of activities to stop hate, intolerance and bullying and to declare a united front against hate in San Diego. Creating inclusion and equity are vital to building healthy and resilient communities.

“The Human Relations Commission is dedicated to this initiative and has worked in partnership with agencies, local groups, leaders and communities to stand against racism, biases and intolerance and to help restore respect, embrace diversity and build inclusive and equitable communities for all,” said Kristin Rizzo, Chair of the City’s Human Relations Commission.

As an advisory commission to the Mayor and City Council, the Human Relations Commission is empowered to collaborate with civic institutions, educate the public, investigate policy to make our city better, advocate on issues to the Mayor and Council, and mediate disputes of discrimination, exclusion and bias in the City of San Diego. The Commission works to protect basic human and civil rights and promotes activities that foster mutual respect and understanding. If you are interested in volunteering for a City board or commission, visit the city’s Boards and Commission’s webpage at https://www.sandiego.gov/ boards-and-commissions.

(City of San Diego Release) n

City of San Diego recognized as top digital city in the country

San Diego ranked first among major US cities in 2022 Digital Cities Survey by the Center for Digital Government

SAN DIEGO – The City of San Diego on Thursday, November 10 won the No. 1 ranking in the Center for Digital Government’s 2022 Digital Cities Survey, recognizing cities using technology to tackle social problems, enhance services, strengthen security and more.

In recent years, the city has expanded public Wi-Fi to over 400 locations citywide as part of the award-winning SD Access 4 All initiative, with over 200,000 unique users and 1.4 million connections in the first year. The initiative also includes a free hotline for basic tech support and free in-person classes to help people learn how to use a computer and navigate the internet.

In addition, the city is preparing to launch the San Diego Regional Cyber Lab later this year to help local agencies and businesses prevent and protect against cyberattacks.

The city has been ranked first in the “500,000 or more population” category. The top 10 Digital Cities for 2022 are: 1. San Diego 2. Los Angeles 3. San Jose 4. San Francisco 5. Mesa, Ariz. 6. Phoenix

(tie) Charlotte, N.C. and Louisville 8. Albuquerque, N.M. 9. El Paso, Texas 10. (tie) Dallas and Memphis. This marks the sixth

consecutive year the city has finished in the top three in the annual survey. San Diego tied with Los Angeles for second place last year.

“This ranking is well-deserved recognition for the many city employees and community partners who have helped us become a more tech-savvy city,” said Jonathan Behnke, the city’s Chief Information Officer and Director of the Information Technology Department. “From the Get It Done app to SD Access 4 All, we’re utilizing technology to make it easier than ever for San Diegans to report neighborhood issues and help those without internet access get connected.”

The city’s Department of Information Technology has led or assisted in several efforts to expand opportunities for residents, bolster the region’s cybersecurity or improve city operations over the past year.

They include:

• Installing public Wi-Fi in over 400 locations, including libraries and recreation centers, across the city through the SD Access 4 All initiative.

• Developing a new San Diego Regional Cyber Lab to provide the greater San Diego region with coordinated cybersecurity awareness through collaborative access to tools, intelligence, and a trained and capable workforce. It launches later this year.

• Launching Tech on the Go a new digital literacy program offering free in-person

classes for any San Diegan who wants to learn how to use a computer and better navigate the internet.

• Creating a new Digital Navigator program that provides free, one-on-one computer and technology support to those in need. San Diegans can call the helpline at 1-800-350-6945 to get assistance or to make an inperson appointment.

• Purchasing 4,000 mobile hotspots that can be checked out from select libraries, each providing free at-home internet service for up to 90 days.

• Purchasing thousands of Chromebooks that can be checked out from libraries.

“Constituents expect more from modern governments. Our Digital Cities survey winners have worked hard to keep the focus on the needs of the communities they serve while implementing technology to improve delivery and execution,” said Center for Digital Government Vice President Brian Cohen. “We congratulate them for leading the way towards a smarter and more responsive government.”

The Center for Digital Government is a national research and advisory institute focused on technology policy and best practices in state and local government. It is a division of e.Republic, the nation’s only media and research company focused exclusively on state and local government and education.

(City of San Diego Release) n

San Diegans encouraged to vote on new name for 100% electric mini street sweeper

Social media campaign solicited over 300 possible names, San Diegans to choose favorite among top three finalists

SAN DIEGO – To raise public awareness of the importance of street sweeping to neighborhood quality of life, the City of San Diego last month asked San Diegans for their help in naming the new 100% electric mini street sweeper and received over 300 suggestions via social media and email. Those choices have been whittled down to three finalists:

• Sweep-E • The Blue Broomba

• T.E.S.S. (The Electric Street Sweeper).

Now the City is asking San Diegans to choose their favorite. Go to thinkblue.org to cast your vote and become eligible for raffle prizes, including SeaWorld tickets. Voting opened on Monday, November 14 and will go through Nov. 23. The city’s Stormwater Department will then paint the mini sweeper blue with its new name as part of its Think Blue San Diego public outreach and education initiative.

“We want to thank all the San Diegans and people from around the world who suggested creative names for our little sweeper,” said Bethany Bezak, the Interim Director of the Stormwater Department. “We chose these three finalists because we felt they can give our mini sweeper some personality and attitude as she keeps our neighborhoods clean from trash and pollution.”

Street sweeping provides two primary benefits: Keeping the streets clean of trash and debris and protecting water quality. It also contributes to the city’s mobility, sustainability and climate action

goals.

Rainfall that enters storm drains is not treated, and that runoff collects pollutants from properties and streets and carries them into local waterways. Street sweeping helps remove both large and microscopic pollutants, such as brake dust from vehicles, before they reach a storm drain. Those particles can be extremely harmful to fish and other wildlife.

The city’s fleet of 20 sweepers routinely cover 2,700 miles of streets annually, removing 220,000 pounds of trash and debris. That’s equivalent to the weight of 23 million single use, disposable cups.

The electric mini sweeper – the only one of its kind in the city fleet – has zero emissions and its electric motor results in a significant noise reduction compared to a regular street sweeper. This allows operators to work early in the morning and late at night without disturbing residents.

Residents and visitors can help improve street sweeping efforts by parking in legal parking spaces, taking in trash cans immediately on trash collection days, and reporting illegal dumping and other problems promptly to the City’s Get It Done application. Visit the city’s interactive street sweeping map (https://sandiego. maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index. html?id=ee3b1f22fc6246bbbc9349a0c866132c) to find out more information about routes and schedules.

(City of San Diego Release) n

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

Last September 2019, Sharon

posted on her Instagram that she’s thinking of semi-retiring from showbiz.

“Since last year, l have seriously been thinking of semiretiring. I am so very tired. It has been 41 years of work, 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 with ABS-CBN last 2020. n

Sumalee Montano on creating...

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. n

Mayor Gloria joins city’s Human Relations Commission to issue proclamation against hate in San Diego

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria (seated) signing the proclamation to stop hate and biases that pose a threat to the safety and civility of the community.

Photo courtesy of City of San Diego

Las Vegas housing market still affordable

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 hotel-casino. 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, hotelcasino 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 VegasNevada’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 fullservice company that has successfully helped its clientele find the best deals since 1992. You can reach me at 775-513-8447, 805-559-2476 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 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.

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.

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

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

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@ precious-properties.com or fely.precious@gmail.com.

By RealtoR Fely Quitevis-Bateman