112223 - Southern California Midweek Edition

NOVEMBER 22-24 2023 Volume 33 - No. 93 • 12 Pages

DATELINE

Marcos secures more than $672-M USA investment pledges from APEC meet

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Caltrans reopens all lanes of I-10, weeks ahead of schedule

LOS ANGELES — The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) reopened Interstate 10 on Sunday night, November 19, weeks earlier than the original estimate for repairs, following Governor Gavin Newson’s announcement.

Traffic started flowing on five lanes in each direction between Alameda Street and the East Los Angeles interchange, ahead of the Monday morning commute and before the Thanksgiving holiday, reducing the disruption to Los Angeles commuters.

Newsom's announcement, eight days since the fire, comes far ahead of the original project schedule and was made possible because of the around-the-clock efforts of crews and engineers on and off-site, betterthan-expected structural testing results, rapid debris removal, and close coordination between state, local, and federal government officials to safely expedite repairs of a  PAGE 5

Is Novavax, the latecomer COVID-19 vaccine, worth the wait?

ERIN Kissane, a co-founder of the COVID Tracking Project, rolled up her sleeve for the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine in mid-October soon after it was finally recommended in the United States. Like many people with autoimmune diseases, she wants to protect herself from a potentially devastating covid infection.

Kissane’s autoimmune arthritis seems to make her susceptible to unusual vaccine side effects. After getting an mRNA booster last year, her joints ached so painfully that her doctor prescribed steroids to dampen the inflammation. She still considers the mRNA vaccines “miraculous,” knowing covid could be far worse than temporary aches.

Nonetheless, when the pain subsided, she pored through studies on Novavax’s shot, a vaccine that is based on proteins rather than mRNA and has been used since early 2022 in other countries. Data from the United Kingdom found that people more frequently reported temporary reactions — like low fevers, fatigue, and pain — as their immune system ramped up in the days following booster vaccination with Moderna’s mRNA vaccine versus the one

by KRISTINA MARALIT ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s participation in the 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

Economic Leaders' Meeting resulted in more than $672 million in investment pledges from various sectors, Malacañang reported on Monday, November 20.

The investments include $400 million for the telecommunications sector; $250 million for

semiconductor and electronics; $20 million in pharmaceutical and health care; $2 million for artificial intelligence (AI) for weather forecasting; and $0.3 million in renewable energy.

Marcos was also able to lock in commitments in  PAGE 2

Marcos back in PH after weeklong US trip

by JEAN MANGALUZ Inquirer.net

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrived on Monday, November 20 from his weeklong trip from the United States.

His plane, Philippine Airlines, PR001 landed at Villamor Airbase at 9:44 pm.

Marcos attended the Asia-Pacific President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his Economic Cooper- speech during an arrival ceremony at Villamor ation (APEC) Sum- Air Base in Pasay City. Inquirer.net photo mit in San Francisco. He also visited Los Angeles and Honolulu.

During the trip, he made a historic nuclear deal with the US. PAYING HIS RESPECTS. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. visited the barge at INDOPACOM and laid a wreath at the USS Arizona Memorial in He also visited the Indo-Pacific command in HonoluHawaii. Accompanied by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, the president paid respects to the fallen soldiers of the USS Arizona in the Pearl Harbor Attack.

Malacañang photo lu, becoming the first Philippine president to do so. �

Philippines population may reach 115 million by yearend

by RHODINA VILLANUEVA

The number is based on the country’s population growth rate of 1.6 percent annually, according to Tacardon.

MANILA — The Philippines’ population The Philippines is now 13th among the may reach 115 million by the end of the most populous countries in the world. year, the Commission on Population and “Meanwhile, in the Asia-Pacific region, Development (CPD) said on Monday, the Philippines is at seventh place,” November 20.

Tacardon said.

“The Philippines, based on the 2020 He noted that the 1.6-percent increase census, has recorded 109 million Filipinos, in population growth rate annually meant and it is estimated that it will reach around that the country’s population “has already 115 million by the end of 2023,” CPD stabilized.”

Vice President Sara Duterte deputy executive director Lolito Tacardon “Total fertility rate (in the Philippines) said in an interview with “Bagong Pilipinas showed that a woman of reproductive Ngayon” program over government-run health normally gives birth to two children  PAGE 4 PTV.  PAGE 5 PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stood by Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, November 20, saying she does not deserve to be impeached and that he Sunday, November 19 (Monday only has positive things to say

by KRISTINA MARALIT in Manila, November 20). "The about her work.

ManilaTimes.net situation has become more dire While claiming that it is not PRESIDENT Ferdinand than it was before." unusual to hear about efforts Marcos spoke during a to oust a leader, Marcos said Marcos Jr. said the situation in the South China Sea "has question and answer session he is closely watching the become more dire" as China after he delivered a talk at the issue because he is against expands its presence in an area Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific impeaching the vice president, where multiple nations have Center for Security Studies in who was his runningmate in the Honolulu. He stopped in Hawaii 2022 elections. competing territorial claims.

China has shown interest in to meet with U.S. military “Binabantayan namin nang atolls and shoals that are "closer leaders and the local Filipino mabuti (We are monitoring it and closer" to the coast of the community on his way home closely) because we don’t want Philippines, with the nearest from an Asia-Pacific Economic her to be impeached,” Marcos atoll about 111 kilometers away, Cooperation (APEC) summit told reporters here. “She does meeting in San Francisco.

Marcos said. not deserve to be impeached The visit held both geopolitical so we will make sure that this is "Unfortunately, I cannot RARE MEET. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines report that the situation is and personal significance for something we will pay very close of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in San Francisco, California. improving," Marcos said attention to.”  PAGE 2 Malacañang photo Philstar.com

Dispute with China ‘more dire’ – Pres. Marcos

Philstar.com file photo

‘We don’t want Sara impeached’ “Lahat naman kami mayroong ganyan eh (All of us have been through this). So, I don’t think it’s particularly unusual, I don’t think it’s particularly worrisome,” he added.

“There will always be an element that would want to change the result of an election,” he said.

He described his relationship with the vice president, who is also the education secretary, as “excellent.”

“On a professional level, nothing but good things to say about the work she has done in the Department of Education,” the president said.

Earlier, Alliance of Concerned Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro said there were talks about impeaching Duterte at the  PAGE 2

ISLAND PACIFIC

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From the Front Page

‘We don’t want Sara...

PAGE 1

House of Representatives but leaders of the chamber denied this. Rumors about the supposed efforts to impeach Duterte came as the vice president is facing controversy over her request for

intelligence funds in the 2024 national budget.

The House of Representatives, dominated by the allies of Marcos, has realigned the combined P650-million confidential funds of the

Office of the Vice President and Department of Education to security agencies dealing with the threats in the West Philippine Sea. (Alexis Romero, Michael Punongbayan, Ghio Ong/Philstar.com)

Dispute with China ‘more dire...

PAGE 1 Marcos. His father, Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., was forced into exile in Hawaii in 1986 after he was ousted in a "people power" uprising.

His trip comes at a time when the United States and the Philippines have been deepening their long-standing alliance in a shift after Marcos' predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, nurtured cozy ties with China and Russia.

China claims virtually the entire South China Sea as its own territory and refuses to acknowledge claims from the Philippines and four other governments to some or all of the waterway. Beijing has dismissed the findings of a United Nationsbacked arbitration tribunal that invalidated China's sweeping historical claims under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Marcos reiterated that his nation wouldn't yield.

"The Philippines will not give a single square inch of our territory to any foreign power," he said in his speech.

The U.S. says China has militarized several islands it built in the area, arming them with anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile systems, laser and jamming equipment, and fighter jets.

Marcos said features in the South China Sea are "slowly being turned into bases." He said Adm. John Aquilino, the top U.S. military commander in the Indo-Pacific region, showed him a model of one earlier in the day.

The level of commitment China made "to those military bases" was "remarkable," Marcos said.

Tensions in the area have risen recently as China has blockaded an isolated Philippine marine outpost on Ayungin Shoal.

Last month, a China

CONTRAST. Drivers and operators protest against the public utility vehicle modernization program and oil deregulation along Anonas Extension in Quezon City on Monday, Nov. 20. As they air their grievances, a Fairview-bound modern jeepney continues its operation.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon President Marcos told reporters afterward that they agreed the challenges in the South China Sea “should not be the defining element” of their relationship. He said the two leaders tried to come up with mechanisms to lower tensions in the South China Sea. Malacañang photo

Coast Guard ship and an accompanying vessel rammed a Philippine Coast Guard ship and a military-run supply boat near the contested shoal, according to Philippine officials.

China accused the Philippine vessels of trespassing in what it said were Chinese waters "without authorization" despite repeated radio warnings.

The U.S. and the Philippines have a mutual defense treaty dating to 1951.

Marcos said the U.S., as its only treaty ally, was its main partner. But he said Manila also was seeking to strengthen ties with other nations sharing its ideals and values, noting the examples of Australia, Japan and South Korea.

He said the Philippines also was seeking to negotiate a code of conduct with Vietnam and Malaysia, other nations with whom it has territorial conflicts.

Marcos' remarks came after he met Friday with Chinese President Xi Jingping on the sidelines of the APEC summit.

He told reporters afterward that they agreed the challenges in the South China Sea "should not be the defining element" of their relationship. Marcos said

the two leaders tried to come up with mechanisms to lower tensions in the South China Sea. Many Filipino immigrants to Hawaii come from the same province as Marcos, Ilocos Norte, and support him. But he still faced small protests at the airport and at a convention hall where he met members of the local Filipino community.

Satu Limaye, the vice president of the East-West Center, noted the U.S. and the Philippines have a long, complicated relationship. He pointed to years when the US ruled the archipelago as a colony, their signing of the defense treaty and when the U.S. military withdrew from major bases in the country in the 1990s.

Limaye said it's important to watch how the U.S. and the Philippines manage their nations' long and complex relationship while facing their common concern, China.

The president was on his last stop of his weeklong official visit to the United States highlighted by his participation in the 30th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting held in San Francisco, California. (With reports from Associated Press)

Marcos secures more than $672-M...

PAGE 1 technological advancements across key priority sectors in the Philippines, which include the deployment of the first two Internet MicroGEO satellites dedicated to the Philippines.

The Department of Science and Technology and the U.S.based company, Atmo, have signed an agreement to develop Asia's largest AI-driven weather forecasting program for the Philippines.

The president likewise initiated discussion for U.S. companies to invest $1 billion for the Philippine semiconductor industry. The Philippines and the United States have also agreed to work toward strengthening the Philippines' semiconductor supply chain.

Marcos earlier maintained that the Philippines is ready to take off as the leading investment hub in Asia.

"With a solid reform agenda and unabating growth amid headwinds, the Philippines is ready to take off as a leading investment hub in Asia. A wealth of opportunity awaits you in the Philippines, and we are ready to explore new horizons with your

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday, November 16 called for stronger economic and technical cooperation to ensure that green energy solutions are accessible and affordable to all.

Photo from PCO

investments in the coming years," he noted during the Philippine Economic Briefing held in San Francisco.

He said the young and talented Filipino workforce will help in enticing investors.

"Because of our young workforce, we excel in tech.

Technology is easy for us with the talent that we already have in the Philippines. We just need a little more upskilling, and we

will already be at the forefront of this technology," he said in a separate roundtable with the media delegation.

"So that's what we were able to explore, and it just — it goes beyond just the application of technologies. It's also how to open the markets to the different elements of the technology — the tech industry, such as the experts, the engineers, the coders, all of that," he added. g

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Filipino journalist’s seething memoir Is Novavax, the latecomer COVID-19 vaccine... of Duterte’s drug war among TIME Magazine’s 2023 100 must-reads PAGE 1

TIME Magazine just published its 100 mustread books of 2023 list, which includes Filipino trauma journalist Patricia Evangelista’s memoir, partly a retelling of the human cost of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody drug war, “Some People Need Killing.”

The magazine lauded Evangelista’s newly published book as “one of the most harrowing and brave books published this year.” TIME’s editorial director Lucas Wittman says of the former

Rappler reporter: “She’s unflinching in bearing witness to the thousands of dead killed under Duterte’s reign of terror.”

In the book, Evangelista traces the populist rise of Duterte, his egregious track record as Davao City’s mayor for over two decades, and how he fulfilled his promise of killing drug personalities at the cost of Filipino lives during his term as president.

She zeroes in on the president’s violent rhetoric and the government’s complacency

Portrait by Mark Nicdao courtesy of Patricia Evangelista and Book cover courtesy of Random House.

Photos from Instagram/@patevangelista

in trying to justify these killings with words like “nanlaban” or “fought back, forcing police officers to shoot them.” ince its release in October 2023, the book subtitled “A Memoir of Murder in My Country,” has received praise by foreign and local press alike including The New Yorker editor David Remnick, who compared Evangelista’s work with that of George Orwell.

Evangelista joins other notable novelists, poets, and writers in TIME’s 100 mustread books of 2023 such as the 2022 Nobel Prize in Literature awardee French author Annie Ernaux.

Among those featured in the list are Emma Cline for America’s newly beloved summer read “The Guest,” R.F. Kuang for her satirical literary masterpiece “Yellowface,” activist Naomi Klein with her incisive look at the modern afflictions of life in her latest book “Doppelganger: A Trip Into the Mirror World,” and EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscars, and Tony) award winner Barbra Streisand with her memoir “My Name is Barbara.”

TIME’s 100 Books is an annual list that features fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.

(Inquirer.net)

by Pfizer. And those boosted with Novavax’s had fewer complaints than either of those. That finding was corroborated in an analysis of international data published last year.

Such studies have driven people with long covid and chronic fatigue syndrome (also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, or ME/CFS) to seek out Novavax, too, since the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention greenlighted Novavax’s vaccine — updated to protect against recent omicron coronavirus variants — about three weeks after recommending updated mRNA vaccines in September.

Waiting paid off for Kissane, whose arm was briefly sore.

“It was a dramatically different experience for me,” she said. “I hope that plays out for others.”

Another group who waited on Novavax are biologists who geek out over its technology. When asked why he opted for Novavax, Florian Krammer, a virologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, replied on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Because I am [a] vaccine nerd, I like insect cell produced vaccines.”

Whereas mRNA vaccines direct the body to produce spike proteins from the coronavirus SARSCoV-2, which then train a person’s immune system to recognize and fight the virus, Novavax simply injects the proteins. These proteins are grown within moth cells in a laboratory, while other protein-based shots use cells from mammals. And Novavax has said that a special ingredient derived

from the bark of Chilean soapbark trees enhances the vaccine’s power.

Research suggests that the Novavax vaccine is about as safe and effective as the mRNA shots.

Its main disadvantage is arriving late to the scene. Vaccine uptake has plummeted since the first shots became widely available in 2021. Nearly 70% of people got the primary vaccines, compared with fewer than 20% opting for the mRNA covid boosters released last year. Numbers have dwindled further: As of Oct. 17, only 5% of people in the United States had gotten the latest covid vaccines, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Daniel Park, an epidemiologist at George Washington University, said low rates might improve if people who felt lousy after their last mRNA shots gave Novavax a try. It protects against severe illness, but researchers struggle to specify just how effective this and other vaccines are, at this point, because studies have gotten tricky to conduct: New coronavirus variants continuously emerge, and people have fluctuating levels of immunity from previous vaccines and infections.

Still, a recent study in Italy suggests that Novavax is comparable to mRNA vaccines. It remained more than 50% effective at preventing symptomatic covid four months after vaccination.

Some data suggests that mixing and matching different types of vaccines confers stronger protection — although other studies have found no benefit.

Given all this, Park held out for the Novavax vaccine on account of its potentially milder side effects.

“Between a demanding full-time job and two young kids at home, I wanted to stay operational,” he said. His arm was sore, but he didn’t have the 24-hour malaise accompanying his last mRNA shot.

Most people don’t strike a fever after mRNA shots. Even when they do, it is brief and therefore far less detrimental than many cases of covid. In fact, most reactions are so minor that they’re hard to interpret. During clinical trials on mRNA vaccines, for example, up to a third of people in the placebo group reported fatigue and headaches after injection.

People with ME/CFS and long covid — a potentially debilitating

condition that persists months after a covid infection — have responded to covid vaccinations in a wide variety of ways. Most participants with long covid in an 83-person Canadian study said their levels of fatigue, concentration, and shortness of breath improved following vaccination.

Inflammatory proteins that have been linked to long covid dropped as well.

However, larger studies have yet to corroborate the hopeful finding. Jennifer Curtin, a doctor who co-founded a telehealth clinic focused on long covid and ME/ CFS, called RTHM, said vaccines seem to temporarily aggravate some patients’ conditions. To learn how Novavax compares, she posted polls on X in late October asking if people with long covid or ME/CFS felt that their symptoms worsened, improved, or stayed the same after Novavax. Most replied: unchanged.

“It’s not scientific, but we need to figure it out since these folks don’t want to get covid,” Curtin said. “My patients are all wondering about what vaccine to get right now.”

Adding to the uncertainty, the rollout of Novavax and mRNA vaccines has been bumpy as pharmacies struggle to predict demand and insurance companies figure out how to reimburse providers for the shots. Unlike previous vaccine offerings, these options are no longer fully covered by the federal government.

A testament to this season’s struggle to get vaccinated is that at least one do-gooder has created an online tool to find open appointments for Novavax.

Buoyed by anecdotes of relief from others with long covid, Hayley Brown, a researcher at the Center for Economic and Policy Research who has the condition, opted for Novavax recently.

Unfortunately, her symptoms have flared. She said a temporary discomfort will still be preferable to risking another infection. “As someone with long covid, the idea of getting covid again is terrifying.” (Amy Maxmen/KFF Health News) KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.

PAUNAWA NG PAMPUBLIKONG PAGDINIG IBINIBIGAY ANG PAUNAWA na ang Lupon ng mga Superbisor ng County ng San Diego ay magsasagawa ng pampublikong pagdinig sa isang iminungkahing Pagbakante sa Bukas na Espasyo gaya ng sumusunod: IMPORMASYON SA PAGDINIG: Petsa: Disyembre 6, 2023 Oras: 9:00 a.m.

Lokasyon: County Administration Center, 1600 Pacific Highway, Room 310, San Diego, California 92101 PAKIKILAHOK NG PUBLIKO - Ang sinumang miyembro ng pangkalahatang publiko ay puwedeng lumahok sa Pampublikong Pagdinig alinsunod sa mga regulasyong ipinatupad sa oras ng pulong. Ang mga nagnanais na lumahok sa pulong at/o komento ay dapat bumisita sa https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/ sdc/cob/bosa.html para sa impormasyon kung paano ito gawin.

APLIKANTE: Tom Newsom MGA NUMERO NG PROYEKTO/KASO:Open Space na Bakasyon sa Newsom; PDS2022-VAC-22-003 PAGLALARAWAN NG PROYEKTO: Ang proyekto ay isang open space easement na bakasyon upang lisanin ang isang 2.56- ektaryang Biyolohikal na Open Space Easement at 1.32ektaryang Limitadong Building Zone Easement na naitala sa ilalim ng mga numero ng dokumento 2007-0311635 at 20070311636 at muling ilaan ang isang 2.59- ektaryang Biyolohikal na Open Space Easement na 2.59- ektarya at 1.28 na ektarya ng Biyolohikal na Open Space Easement at Limitadong Building Zone Easement nang sabay-sabay. Ang layunin ng Bakasyon na ito ay iwasto ang isang oversight na naganap sa paglikha ng isang parsela mula sa isang naitala na 2007 na Mapa ng Parsela. Ang kahilingan sa Pagbakante ay alinsunod sa Patakaran ng Lupon I-103: Mga Pagbakante sa Kadalian ng Bukas na Espasyo at ang Seksyon ng Kodigo sa Kalye at Lansangan 8325. Ang site ay napapailalim sa Pangkalahatang Plano Rehiyonal na Kategorya Pambukid at Pangkalahatang Plano ng Pagtatalaga sa Paggamit ng Lupa Mga Lupaing Pambukid 40 (RL-40). Ang pag-zone para sa site ay Limited Agriculture (A70).

Lokasyon: Timog ng Winn Ranch Road, silangan ng Highway 79, sa Lugar sa Pagpaplano ng Komunidad ng Julian sa loob ng County ng unincorporated San Diego. (APN: 294-011-77).

KALAGAYAN SA KAPALIGIRAN: Ang proyekto ay nasuri bilang pagsunod sa Batas sa Kalidad ng Kapaligiran ng California (CEQA). Isang addendum sa dating nakumpletong Kasunod na Binabaang Negatibong Deklarasyon Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) (Mag log NO. 00-10-008) ay naka-file sa Mga Serbisyo sa Pagpaplano at Pag-unlad bilang Numero ng Pagsusuri sa Pangkapaligiran PDS2022-ER-00-10-008A. TULONG PARA SA MGA TAONG MAY KAPANSANAN: Available ang mga agenda at talaan sa mga alternatibong format kapag hiniling. Makipag-ugnayan sa opisina ng Clerk ng Lupon ng mga Superbisor sa 619-531-5434 para sa mga tanong o para humiling ng tirahan na may kaugnayan sa kapansanan.

Ang mga indibidwal na nangangailangan ng mga tagasalin ng sign language ay dapat makipag-ugnayan sa Countywide ADA Title II Coordinator sa (619) 531-4908. Sa abot ng makatwirang posible, ang mga hiling para sa akomodasyon o tulong ay dapat na isumite nang hindi bababa sa 72 oras bago ang pulong upang magawa ang mga pagsasaayos. Ang isang lugar sa harap ng mga silid ng pagdinig ay maaaring italaga para sa mga indibidwal na nangangailangan ng paggamit ng wheelchair o iba pang naaaccess na mga aparato.

TANDAAN: Kung hahamunin mo ang aksyon na maaaring gawin sa panukalang ito sa korte, puwede kang limitado sa pagsulong lamang ng mga isyung isinusulong mo o ng ibang tao sa pampublikong pagdinig sa itaas, o sa nakasulat na sulat na inihatid sa Katawan ng Pagdinig sa o bago ang pagdinig.

Maaaring limitahan o ipataw ng Mga Panuntunan ng Lupong Pagdinig ang mga kinakailangan sa pagsusumite ng naturang nakasulat na sagot.

Para sa dagdg na impormasyon tungkol sa panukalang ito, makipag-ugnayan kay Cathleen Phan sa (619) 756-5903 o sa Cathleen.phan@sdcounty.ca.gov.

11/22, 11/29/23 CNS-3757047# ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)

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Dateline PhiliPPines

Mindanao earthquake death toll rises to nine MANILA — At least nine people have died from the magnitude 6.8 earthquake that struck Sarangani, Davao Occidental last week, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported on Monday, November 20.

According to its 8 a.m. situational report, the NDRRMC has recorded eight deaths in Soccsksargen and one in the Davao Region following the 6.8-magnitude quake that shook Mindanao mid-afternoon

on November 17.

Meanwhile, at least 15 individuals sustained injuries from the earthquake, according to the NDRRMC. No persons have been reported missing.

The NDRRMC said that a total of 12,885 individuals from 43 barangays in Soccsksargen and Davao have been affected by the earthquake that hit the waters off Sarangani last Friday.

Around 97 houses were completely wrecked from the

earthquake while 729 houses were partially damaged, according to the NDRRMC. Three out of 12 roads in Soccsksargen remain impassable.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who is currently on a state visit to the United States, virtually met with government officials on Sunday evening, November 19 to order the continued provision of relief operations to families affected by the earthquake.

(Cristina Chi/Philstar.com)

DOT sees positive outlook for PH after winning back-to-back travel awards

by Luisa Cabato Inquirer.net

MANILA — The Department of Tourism (DOT) said on Monday that it is optimistic about the tourism prospects of the Philippines after winning backto-back recognitions from travel award giving bodies.

In a statement, DOT said that renowned travel magazine Wanderlust awarded the Philippines as the fourth Most Desirable Country for Adventure in its 22nd Wanderlust Reader

Travel Awards.

Meanwhile, the country was also named as Destination of the Year in the ninth TripZilla Awards.

DOT’s attached agency, the Tourism Promotions Board, was also hailed as the Sustainability Leader of the Year for Asia by the same award-giving body.

According to DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, the awards affirm the nation’s standing as a “top-of-mind destination among all types of travelers.”

“These recognitions underscore the Philippines’ stunning

landscapes, vibrant culture, and Filipino brand of service excellence that makes for an enhanced Philippine tourism experience under the Marcos Administration,” Frasco said.

“On behalf of the Department of Tourism, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has risen to our President’s call for tourism transformation, which expands opportunities for livelihood and employment, driving the growth of the Philippine economy further,” she added. g

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Philippines population may reach...

PAGE 1 only. This is based on the 2022 Health and Demographic Survey. This means that the total fertility level slows down the country’s population growth,” Tacardon explained.

At the same time, the CPD official stressed that the fertility rate has an impact on the country’s age structure.

“The dominant now is the working-age group population of 15 to 64 years old. The dependents, who are aged to zero to 14, are getting fewer in number. Its implication is that if the country becomes successful in building human resources such as the workingage population, there is a chance to accelerate economic development,” he said.

“If all or many are working, all will contribute to development rather than receiving help from the government. There is positive contribution to economic development,” he added.

How the Higher Education Legal Services Project is making it easier than ever for California community college students to get screened for different forms of immigration relief — all at no cost.

A collaborative effort between the California

Under this project, all students, regardless

Community Colleges, the Foundation for California

of immigration status, are eligible for FREE

Community Colleges, the California State University

immigration legal services. Consultations are

(CSU), and the California Department of Social

completely confidential and can be easily

Services (CDSS), the Higher Education Legal Services Project is connecting immigrant students at California community colleges and CSUs with trusted immigration legal services providers to help them navigate their immigration journey and continue to excel in their education without worrying about costly attorney fees.

To serve the estimated 70,000 undocumented students enrolled in the California Community

scheduled to take place on campus or online.

The types of support available include:

The Philippines, based on the 2020 census, has recorded 109 million Filipinos, and it is estimated that it will reach around 115 million by the end of 2023,” CPD deputy executive director Lolito Tacardon said in an interview with “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon” program over government-run PTV. Philstar.com file photo

If the number of children in the family is manageable, there will be more investment when it comes to their health, studies and well-being as a family, according to Tacardon.

He said that the CPD is continuously addressing the increasing number of teenage pregnancy cases in the country. g

Caltrans reopens all lanes...

PAGE 1

major freeway that is a critical backbone to the American and global economy.

As repairs continue over the coming months, the public should expect some temporary closures on occasional weekends and overnight, along with intermittent lane closures.

The 10 Freeway fire began on a site rented by Apex Development, Inc. (Apex). Two months prior to the fire, Caltrans sued Apex, seeking to remove the company from the leased property for failing to pay its rent and subletting the property without authorization. A hearing is set for early 2024 in that lawsuit. Apex was responsible for maintaining the fenced-off site while they continued to assert rights under the lease.

CAL FIRE’s investigation into the fire — suspected to be arson — remains ongoing.

A person of interest has been identified and members of the public are encouraged to provide any leads or tips, which can be sent anonymously to the CAL FIRE Arson Hotline at 1-800-468EYE-CATCHERS. Papier-mâché effigies tower above spectators during the Higantes (Giants) Festival in Angono, Rizal on Sunday, Nov. 19. The 4408 or arsonbomb@fire.ca.gov. festival is an expression of gratitude to Saint Clement, the patron saint of fisherfolk and mariners, while the giant characters symbolize the Last weekend, Newsom protest of the working class against landowners during the Spanish rule.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon proclaimed a state of emergency

LEGAL HELP WITH YOUR IMMIGRATION CASE IS ONLY A CLICK AWAY.

in Los Angeles County to support the state’s response. The proclamation facilitates cleanup and repair work and directs Caltrans to request assistance through the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program, which the state secured.

The 10 Freeway is a major artery that serves hundreds of thousands of Angelenos daily. After testing samples and assessing damage from the site, state transportation officials determined the damage could be repaired without demolishing and rebuilding the 450-foot span of the freeway, which could have taken upwards of 6 months.

Union crews continue to work around the clock to get the freeway open by tomorrow morning. While I-10 is closed to all vehicles, Caltrans workers are seizing this traffic-free opportunity to carry out a wideranging “swarm” maintenance operation – sweeping, repairing bridge railings and broken concrete, painting over graffiti, cleaning drains and culverts, removing litter, weeds, and overgrown vegetation, and sealing broken access doors. g

LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (LACMTA) REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL LACMTA will receive Proposals for PS118642 - P3030 New Light Rail Vehicle Procurement Project - Professional Service Support at the 9th Floor Receptionist Desk, Vendor/Contract Management Department, One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

A Pre-Proposal conference will be held on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, 10:00 a.m., via Virtual Meeting: Online (Microsoft Teams). All Proposals must be submitted to LACMTA, and be filed at the reception desk, 9th floor, V/CM Department, or electronically via email to bids@metro.net , on or before 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday, January 5, 2024.

Proposals received after the above date and time may be rejected and returned unopened. Each proposal must be sealed and marked Proposal No. PS118642.

For a copy of the Proposal/ Bid specification visit our Solicitation Page on our Vendor Portal at https://business. metro.net or for further information email Aniza Wan Nawang at wannawangw@ metro.net.

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OPINION

FEATURES

Ready for AI... or not

THE Philippines, according to President Marcos, is “embracing” the future with artificial intelligence. He issued the statement as he invited technology companies and venture capitalists in the US to be partners of the Philippines in “navigating the AI future.”

The meeting with the tech entrepreneurs was among the highlights of the President’s participation in this year’s AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco, California.

He said the government is currently crafting a National AI Strategy that “aims to position the Philippines as a center of excellence in artificial intelligence.”

Let’s hope the techpreneurs will be enticed and help Filipinos embrace AI. US-based digital tech giant Cisco, in a recent study conducted among companies in the Philippines, found that while 98 percent of the firms want to adopt AI to boost efficiency and competitiveness, only a low 17 percent are ready to employ AI technology in their operations. Nearly half of the firms lack the proper infrastructure to meet AI challenges. Cisco assessed AI readiness based on strategy, infrastructure, data, talent, governance and culture.

Apart from helping companies transition to AI technologies, the government must also address the impact of AI on jobs. Experts have warned that one of the biggest generators of employment

in the country, business process outsourcing, is among the most vulnerable as AI increasingly takes over BPO functions. BPO workers aren’t the only ones at risk of displacement. In May this year, management consulting firm Kearney estimated that up to 100,000 jobs in the Philippines could become obsolete within three to four years. Among those expected to be badly hit, Kearney said, are retail and back-office roles involving traditional manual data entry. It noted that the impact is already becoming evident in areas such as financial institutions and telecommunications.

Another study conducted by the International Data Corp. ranked the Philippines 12th among 14 economies in the Asia-Pacific on progress in automation.

Experts have been stressing the urgency of upskilling and reskilling vulnerable workers. Both the public and private sectors are struggling to get the skilled workers needed for embracing AI technology. Many of the top talents prefer higher paying jobs overseas. AI can also create opportunities for new types of employment, but

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

this will require proper training in a field that problem must be able to keep up with the rapidly keeps advancing at warp speed. Responses to the evolving challenges. (Philstar.com)

What APEC means for all of us

Babe’s Eye View BABE ROMUALDEZ NO matter what some people may think, there is no doubt presidential trips, in my view, are extremely important considering we live in an everevolving global village where barriers to economic growth and development are factors in life. There are trips that directly play a significant role in the lives of people, and obviously, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in San Francisco is one of many.

Composed of 21 member economies, APEC has become an important international body where leaders have an opportunity to tackle free trade and investment concerns in order to advance shared goals and interests through economic and technical cooperation.

APEC members are some of the fastest growing economies in the world. They account for almost 40 percent of the global population (approximately 3 billion people), representing 62 percent of world GDP and 48 percent of world trade in 2021,

with real GDP increasing from $19 trillion in 1989 to $58.2 trillion also in 2021.

Obviously, the regional forum is important for us since 11 of the Philippines’ top trading partners are members, accounting for about 85 percent of our total imports and exports worldwide.

In his keynote address during the CEO Summit last Thursday, November 16, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pointed out that, “As member economies of APEC, we are accountable to our people and future generations to deliver sustained growth and prosperity.”

But while signs “point to darker clouds, this opportunity to collaborate once more is light in the economic horizon in our efforts to pre-empt a prolonged downturn and its very negative consequences,” he said, recognizing that the “resolve to gather” during the APEC Summit is already a testament to their “commitment to improve the lives of the people” in the region.

“We must leverage APEC’s core value propositions as the premier regional forum in the Asia Pacific, incubator of innovative ideas, pathfinder

for collaborative solutions to emerging trade issues, and platform for forward-looking and responsive economic and trade policies,” the president said, emphasizing that economies must develop in a manner that is “resilient, sustainable, and mitigates negative externalities.”

It was very refreshing to see the president engaging in a dynamic manner with CEOs, top business executives, investors and venture capitalists in the technology sector during a roundtable discussion where he highlighted the readiness of the Philippines to embrace artificial intelligence and invited them to become partners in navigating “the AI future.”

During the economic briefing that he conducted with U.S. investors, President Marcos explained in simple but eloquent terms what the country is doing and trying to do to attract more businesses to come into the Philippines.

“With a solid reform agenda and unabating growth amid headwinds, the Philippines is ready to take off as a leading investment hub in Asia. A wealth of opportunity awaits you in the Philippines, and we are

MAD

Sketches

ANA MARIE PAMINTUAN OK, who started that naughty talk about the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte?

No one will admit it in the House of Representatives, where smoke usually indicates the presence of fire.

Knowing that impeachment is a game of numbers, the tiny genuine opposition bloc couldn’t have created the spark, although it was ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro who was first quoted by the media about it. She later clarified that the discussions were “informal” and an impeachment initiative at this point is “premature.”

Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel confirmed last week that there were indeed such talks, which he said prompted the Makabayan bloc to discuss the prospects for its success.

Despite the denials all around, the story had people scrambling to find out who takes over in case the vice presidency becomes vacant.

Section 9, Article VII of the Constitution states: “Whenever there is a vacancy in the Office

of the Vice President during the term for which he was elected, the president shall nominate a vice president from among the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, who shall assume office upon confirmation by a majority vote of all the members of both Houses of the Congress, voting separately.”

In 2001, after EDSA Dos presented the presidency on a silver platter to Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, she picked senator Teofisto Guingona as her VP. The constitutional provision has triggered speculation that some folks want VP Sara’s position, which is just a heartbeat away from the presidency.

Officially, the House leaders dismissed the story as “fake news.”

But people likened the denial to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s claim that he is not fomenting destabilization, even as he admits meeting with retired military and police officers. In the next breath, he issues a warning to “you who are conniving in Congress,” to “watch the military and the police closely.” * * * The connivers apparently

refer to Speaker Martin Romualdez and Castro, whom Duterte has tagged as a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Duterte believes Romualdez has been wooing the support of different sectors including the left in preparation for his presidential bid in 2028, while at the same time neutralizing the likely strongest rival, VP Sara.

Daughterte, after haughtily firing off that salvo against an unnamed tambaloslos, appears to have retreated, leaving her father to fight her battles.

The emerging political alliance with the Reds, Duterte says, is causing “uneasiness” among government forces who have lost many colleagues in the counterinsurgency campaign.

His warning was issued as the talks swirled about his daughter’s possible impeachment.

Certainly, the House super majority has the numbers to send an impeachment complaint against VP Sara to the Senate.

The mood in the House can be surmised from the exodus from Rody Duterte’s party the PDPLaban to Lakas-CMD, the party of Romualdez, and President Marcos’ Partido Federal ng Pilipinas.

Manuel, however, said the

ready to explore new horizons with your investments in the coming years,” the president highlighted.

“By bringing conversations on the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals, policy roadmap, and investment opportunities closer to the international business community, we aim to reintroduce the Philippines and jumpstart meaningful, concrete, and mutually beneficial partnerships,” the president added.

We were invited to a small private dinner specifically hosted for the president by VISA executive chairman Alfred Kelly Jr. at his private penthouse apartment located in downtown San Francisco.

With us were about a dozen top CEOs in the United States, who engaged in a lively and candid discussion with the president on the economic prospects of the Philippines and our relationship with the U.S. Al Kelly, who also happens to be the APEC 2023 Private Sector Host Committee Co-Chair, lauded President Marcos for his leadership and shared the view of many that the president is now considered to be one of the leading, most influential

world leaders today. The VISA executive chairman had this kind of projection because of the president’s charisma and eloquence, impressing listeners with the way he explained things that showed he is knowledgeable in geopolitics, global economic concerns, the war in Ukraine and other matters worldwide that the businessmen wanted to hear his views on. I was extremely proud to witness our president’s interaction with the CEOs in an area I always knew him to be at his best – a candid discussion on a wide array of topics.

The president had an informal cocktail meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and also met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte on the sidelines of the APEC Summit.

Of course, the meeting with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, who has become a good friend of the president, was extremely important for both our countries, reaffirming the strength of their alliance and underscoring the shared intent to grow and modernize this alliance. They also discussed “strengthening and broadening

economic cooperation bilaterally and through the IndoPacific Economic Framework.”

An important breakthrough was the signing of the landmark 123 Agreement that will pave the way for the U.S. to share nuclear technology and material with the Philippines for peaceful uses. The president sees the agreement as a milestone in ensuring a more energy secure and green Philippines, expressing optimism for nuclear energy to become part of the country’s energy mix by 2032.

As of this writing, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already reached out to our Department of Foreign Affairs for the much-anticipated meeting between President Marcos and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where they are expected to discuss the ongoing tension in the West Philippine Sea and find ways to maintain peace and prevent the situation from escalating. (Philstar.com) ***

Makabayan bloc noted the obvious: if Sara Duterte will be impeached over the P125 million in confidential funds that she requested for her first six months as VP, and spent in just 11 days in December last year, the approving authority (and source of the funds) will have to be included in the complaint. This happens to be another impeachable official – the president himself.

This can render the impeachment of the VP into a move leading to MAD – mutually assured destruction – of the warring Duterte and Marcos / Romualdez clans.

So perhaps the House denials of the impeachment talk are genuine, and the idea was floated simply to annoy the Dutertes. Tit for tat for Rody Duterte annoying the Romualdez-led House with his continuing tirades, and now vague warnings about military and police unrest.

Romualdez has said he’s “not aware of anything. Nothing filed, no news of that… there’s nothing in the offing, nothing in general.” * * * On Friday night, November 17, Romualdez, who is with his cousin BBM as usual in the latest overseas trip, released a carefully worded statement addressing Duterte’s

broadsides. Significantly, there was no categorical denial that Romualdez is eyeing the presidency.

Instead he urged everyone to focus on the challenges faced by the nation and called for “collective efforts” to address pressing problems, stressing that elections are not the answer to a hungry stomach.

“Regarding my personal political aspirations, I am currently committed to my role as speaker and serving the needs of our nation. My focus is on the present responsibilities and not on future electoral possibilities,” Romualdez stated.

He acknowledged the “valuable contributions” of Rody Duterte and maintained he is “grateful for the former president’s engagement with the political discourse, and I understand the curiosity surrounding the 2028 elections.”

VP Sara, asked about her political plans, said over the weekend: “I never really aspired to run for vice president, much more for president.” But she did run for VP. Rodrigo Duterte has openly expressed suspicion that the criminal complaint for grave threats filed against him by Castro bears the fingerprint of Romualdez.

If that sounds outrageous,

there is also speculation, generated by the worsening rift within the UniTeam, that even the release on bail of former senator Leila de Lima, although ordered by a regional trial court, was aimed at spiting Rodrigo Duterte.

Even former opposition senator Antonio Trillanes is now suspected of forging an alliance with the administration, to serve as another thorn in the Dutertes’ side.

All these realignments shouldn’t be surprising in our rambunctious democracy.

We know that politics is addition; politics makes strange bedfellows. What’s (mildly) surprising is that the intramurals are happening this early.

Some folks have warned that VP Sara, whose survey ratings remain high despite the recent double-digit plunge, could suffer the fate of former vice president Jejomar Binay, who made no secret of his plan to seek the presidency. At the rate the UniTeam intramurals are going, however, both the VP and the Speaker can end up bloodied on the road to 2028. (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

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

The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.

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SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 22-24, 2023

7

SC junks petition to probe drug killings Napoles seeks dismissal of plunder raps

by Franco Jose c. Baroña ManilaTimes.net

THE Supreme Court has dismissed a petition seeking permission for government agencies to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in alleged extrajudicial killings during former president Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs.

In a decision penned by Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh, the Supreme Court en banc dismissed the writ of continuing mandamus filed by several members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines to compel then Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and now Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, then Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairman Jose Luis Martin Gascon, and then Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II to investigate allegations of human rights violation during Oplan Tokhang and Oplan Double Barrel.

In denying the petition, the Court held that a writ of mandamus is a remedy granted by law when

any tribunal, corporation, board, officer or person unlawfully neglects the performance of a legal duty or unlawfully excludes another from the use or enjoyment of a right or office to which such other is entitled.

It said that for a writ of mandamus to be issued, the following must be established: a clear legal right accruing to the petitioner; a correlative duty incumbent upon the respondent to perform an act mandated by law; the respondent neglected to perform such act; the duty is ministerial, and not discretionary, in nature; and there is no other plain, speedy, and adequate remedy in the ordinary course of law.

The Court held that the petition has not established that the respondents neglected their duties as respective heads of the PNP, Department of Justice and CHR in preventing and investigating violations of the right to life in relation to the government's antiillegal drugs campaign.

It added that the petitioners

cannot impose on the respondents "the standards and characteristics of investigation which they deem to be appropriate and sufficient through a mandamus petition, as it lies only to compel the performance of purely ministerial duties."

The Supreme Court said the writ of continuing mandamus is available only in environmental cases.

It noted that the writ is issued by a court in an environmental case directing any agency or instrumentality of the government or its officer to perform an act or series of acts decreed by the final judgment, which shall remain effective until judgment is fully satisfied. When granted, the writ requires the performance of an act or several acts for the full satisfaction of a judgment.

Finally, the high court said that neither could the respondents be required to submit periodic reports to the Court as such a directive violates the doctrine of separation of powers. g

‘Filipino kids hit hard by climate change’ by reina Leanne toLentino ManilaTimes.net

VICE President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte said climate change has hit Filipino children hard, thus the need to address the crisis.

"This year, let us acknowledge the urgent need to address the climate crisis — a threat that disproportionately impacts children and threatens their prospects. The climate crisis is a child rights crisis that affects children's lives, education and health. And climate change is hitting Filipino kids hard."

She said typhoons cause flooding, landslides and storm surges in high-risk areas, affecting children.

The vice president said the country ranked first in the World Risk Index for 2022.

From 2016 to 2021, about 9.7 million Filipino children were displaced because of climatechange related events.

"These displacements caused increased diseases, respiratory illnesses and long-term mental health issues among children," she said.

"Disasters force children to miss school, affect their learning and their future. In rural communities,

where agriculture is the main industry, these calamities generate food shortages and malnutrition," she added.

Duterte said children must be given "meaningful participation" in the fight against climate change.

"As adults, we must commit to walking the talk. We can start by reducing our carbon footprints and living sustainably. We must also promote programs that encourage kids to improve their community's disaster resilience.

The upcoming COP28 presents a critical opportunity for the Philippine government to design and implement child-responsive climate action that prioritizes the needs and perspectives of children."

More deaths Experts earlier warned that more people will die from extreme heat and that without action, the health of humanity "is at grave risk."

The Lancet Countdown, a major annual assessment carried out by leading researchers and institutions, said more common droughts will put millions at risk of starving, mosquitoes spreading farther than ever before will take infectious diseases with them, and health systems will struggle to cope with the burden.

Last year people worldwide were exposed to an average of 86 days of life-threatening temperatures, according to the Lancet Countdown study. Around 60 percent of those days were made more than twice as likely due to climate change, it said.

The number of people over 65 who died from heat rose by 85 percent from 1991-2000 to 20132022, it added.

"However, these impacts that we are seeing today could be just an early symptom of a very dangerous future," Lancet Countdown's executive director Marina Romanello said.

Under a scenario in which the world warms by two degrees Celsius by the end of the century — it is currently on track for 2.7 C — annual heat-related deaths were projected to increase 370 percent by 2050. That marks a 4.7fold increase.

Around 520 million more people will experience moderate or severe food insecurity by mid-century, according to the projections.

And mosquito-borne infectious diseases will continue to spread into new areas. The transmission of dengue would increase by 36 percent under a 2.0 C warming scenario, according to the study. g

by ElizabEth MarcElo Philstar.com

MANILA — Detained businesswoman Janet LimNapoles has asked the Sandiganbayan to dismiss the plunder case against her in connection with her alleged role in the misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or “pork barrel” of former senator and incumbent Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile.

In her 158-page demurrer to evidence filed with the Sandiganbayan Third Division on Nov. 3, Napoles, through her lawyers, said that the plunder case against her must be dismissed on the basis of defective case information or charge sheet as well as “insufficient evidence.”

Napoles, the alleged brains of the multibillion-peso “pork barrel” fund scam, argued that the Office of the Ombudsman, in its charge sheet filed in 2014, failed to identify who between her co-accused public officials – Enrile and his former chief of staff Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes – was the “main plunderer” in the case.

Napoles said such failure is a “fatal defect” that warrants the case’s dismissal.

She cited the Supreme Court (SC)’s July 2016 decision dismissing the plunder case against former president and incumbent Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria MacapagalArroyo, “If two or more public officers

are charged of the crime of plunder, one of them must be clearly identified in the (case) information as the main plunderer because it is an element of the crime of plunder that the public officer who amassed, acquired or accumulated ill-gotten wealth be identified in the information as the mastermind or the main plunderer,” Napoles’ demurrer read.

A demurrer allows an accused to seek the dismissal of his or her case without presenting any counter evidence, but solely on the ground of the supposed weakness of evidence presented against him or her by the prosecution.

Napoles maintained that under Republic Act (RA) 7080 or the Plunder Law, a private individual cannot be charged with plunder unless there is an allegation that he or she conspired with a public official who must be the main plunderer in the case.

In 2016, the SC granted Arroyo’s demurrer to evidence in which she prayed for the dismissal of her plunder case in connection with the alleged misuse of the P366-million intelligence fund of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

In its landmark decision, the SC said that RA 7080 requires that in a plunder case against several individuals, “there must be a main plunderer” with “co-conspirators, who may be members of his or her family, relatives by affinity or consanguinity, business associates, subordinates or other

persons”.

Insufficient evidence Furthermore, Napoles argued that the evidence presented against her by the ombudsman’s prosecution panel was insufficient to prove her participation in the crime.

She pointed out that state witness Ruby Tuason, who supposedly served as middleman between her and Enrile or Reyes, failed to testify or present any document that would prove that Tuason received money or kickbacks from her and handed the same to Enrile or Reyes or that Tuason delivered money from the office of Enrile to her.

Napoles said that even the prosecution’s star witness Benhur Luy supposedly admitted that he had no proof that the kickbacks allegedly received

by Enrile through Reyes came from Napoles’ JLN Corp. or from the latter’s non-government organizations (NGOs).

Napoles also questioned the authenticity of the Daily Disbursement Report (DDR) and Summary of Rebates (SOR) both prepared by Luy supposedly when the latter was still an employee of JLN Corp.

Luy had earlier testified that the DDR contained the logs of the funds drawn from the vault of JLN Corp. supposedly to be given as kickbacks to several lawmakers who had transactions with Napoles regarding their PDAF, while the SOR contained information on the amount of rebates or kickbacks each lawmaker supposedly received. g

Representative to the UN Ambassador Antonio Lagdameo presented the resolution, the DFA said in a statement.

The resolution "recognizes the immense value of the work of women migrant workers, while seeking to prevent and address the violence, discrimination and harassment that they often experience," the DFA said. The resolution calls on governments to "put in place zero-tolerance policies and measures towards all forms of violence and harassment, racism, racial discrimination and related intolerance against migrant women," the DFA said.

Lagdameo highlighted the role that digital technology may play in increasing the risk

of violence faced by women migrant workers, the Foreign Affairs department said. He raised the need for member states to "establish or strengthen their policies and programs to provide access to technology and facilitate the training of women migrant workers on digital technology skills."

Lagdameo cited the member states' concern that women migrants, including those with irregular migration status, are "more likely to be forced to work under deplorable working conditions." He also underscored the importance of achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to "address inequalities that force women to migrate." g

UN adopts resolution on violence vs women

by Bernadette e. tamayo ManilaTimes.net

THE Philippines and Indonesia have facilitated the adoption of a United Nations resolution calling for measures against violence against women migrant workers.

The UN's Third Committee adopted by consensus the resolution Violence Against Women Migrant Workers which was tabled and facilitated by the Philippines and Indonesia, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

The resolution is expected to be adopted by consensus by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2023.

Philippine Permanent

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Michelle Dee on Top 10 finish in Angelica bares battle Miss Universe 2023: ‘Thank you so with painful bone disease much for raising our flag with me’

By EvAngElinE vAldERRAMA Inquirer.net

By HAnnAH MAlloRcA Inquirer.net

MICHELLE Dee has nothing but heartfelt gratitude to her supporters after ending her Miss Universe 2023 journey in the Top 10.

The crossover stunner took to her “Hey, MMDVERSE!” Instagram broadcast channel on Saturday, Nov. 18 (morning of Nov. 19 in the Philippines) to thank her fans for the support during the pageant’s coronation night at the José Adolfo Pineda Arena in San Salvador, El Salvador.

“Love and kindness over everything! Mahal ko kayo (I love you all). Thank you so much fun for raising our flag with me,” she wrote.

On the other hand,

2023 after nailing the pageant’s swimsuit, evening gown, and question-andanswer portions.

Her court consists of Thailand’s Anntonia Porsild who was named as first runnerup while Australia’s Moraya Wilson earned the secondrunner up title.

Dee, however, won’t be going home empty-handed as she was named as one of the “Voice for Change” gold awardees and the Spirit of Carnival award during the pageant.

Prior to the coronation night, Dee’s mother, Miss International 1979 Melanie Michelle Dee Photo from Rap Yu Marquez, was among the via Instagram/@sparklegmaartistcenter Filipinos seen in the audience cheering for the crossover Nicaragua’s Sheynnis Palacios stunner. was crowned as Miss Universe

Scene from “Jacuzzi” Photo courtesy of Careless Music

James on risk-taking and self-discovery

By Rito P. Asilo Inquirer.net

EVEN before he put up Careless Music in 2017, James Reid had already been trying to expand his musical horizons and expressing himself with alluring songs that allow his followers to peel off the layers of his continually evolving musicality.

While his sound, style and musical sensibility may have significantly deepened since 2013— from “Alam Niya Ba” and his cover of Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You” to his JaDine heyday and the steamier, sassier iterations (“u & i,” “Turning Up”) of his music—James said in a recent one-on-one chat with Inquirer Entertainment that he doesn’t take anything for granted. In fact, he embraces the changes with growth-evincing maturity.

When we spoke to the 30-year-old singeractor to discuss his brand-new single “Jacuzzi,” his catchy, hook-heavy latest collaboration with Grammy-winning producer DJ Flict and South Korean rapper B.I (after “4 Letters”), he said that his attempts at bucking convention didn’t come without risk.

James explained, “It was risky and terrifying when I began making my own music with Careless. I would know, because back in 2017 or 2018, I did have a lot to lose. But I decided to follow my passion for music and see where it could take me.

“It’s been a lot of self-discovery. I never pretended to have all the right answers. I never said the music I was making would be the future of OPM (Original Pilipino Music). It was just me experimenting, trying out new things.

“But I’m not done yet. You said earlier that I hit my stride with my past few songs, but I feel like I’m just about to actually hit my stride. And that’s why I can really combine everything that I used to do and everything that I’ve learned.

I want to create something that will transcend borders and make my fans, the Careless team and the Philippines proud.”

Diverse music When asked how he wanted music aficionados to remember his songs, James quipped, “Wow, I never thought about that.

People probably have different opinions about the music I make because it’s so diverse.

“But the way I hope people would remember my music is that it’s quite brave, not sticking to what’s traditional or what the norm is—especially because it’s from someone like me who comes from mainstream TV (“On the Wings of Love”) and movies (“Never Not Love You”), then transitions to music.”For his Filipino fans, the matinee idol may be more known for being the first “Pinoy Big Brother” (PBB) teen edition winner and as the other half of the immensely popular JaDine love team (with former girlfriend Nadine Lustre), but music is expanding James’ reach globally.

Doesn’t he mind becoming more famous for his music than his films or TV shows?

“I’m glad to hear that, actually (laughs),” he replied. “My name has always been bigger than what I do. So, it’s nice to know that people are recognizing me for my music—because it’s something that I myself create.”The rest of our Q&A with James: “Jacuzzi’s” catchy hooks are really right up your alley. After your collaboration with

Benjamin Kheng (“Rock Bottom Blues”), what excites you about “Jacuzzi”?

The focal point was the chance to work with B.I [again] on this track. Han-bin is an amazing artist and he was really perfect for the song.

His style and voice worked really well with the second verse that I gave him.

I was also able to collaborate with a Singaporean music label (Cross Ratio Entertainment) to help promote the song, which was interesting. We wanted to try out ways of marketing beyond the usual way of doing it.

For the music video [directed by Hiromi Uematsu], I was also able to collaborate with so many stars, like Maris Racal, AC Bonifacio and Miss Universe Philippines Michelle Dee. AAs for the concept of the video, we wanted something larger than life—super fun, easygoing, not too deep. Something that would evoke a romantic setting with people drinking champagne in a jacuzzi, although I don’t really own a jacuzzi (laughs).

We wanted guest stars who could match that vibe—and Michelle, AC and Maris were perfect for it! Maris looked pretty good despite not ever having played golf before. I told her, “You’re an actress—just act like you know what you’re doing (laughs)”—and she wasn’t bad at all.

You’ve always had a knack for catchy hooks and melodies. But for fans who want to know more about your songwriting process, what comes first—music or a hook or lyrics?

For me, it’s always the music that comes first. I need to start with the chords so I know what the emotion is—that’s when I feel something. Like, “Oh, this makes me feel romantic. I want to dance with somebody.”

That’s what the chords, as well as the drums and percussion, make me feel. That decides the pace and rhythm. After that, I’ll just create melodies and freestyle … whatever comes naturally. Then, I’ll write to it.

You also recorded “4 Letters” with B.I How did this partnership come about?

I was very lucky to have met him backstage at a concert in Seoul. He told me he was doing a concert in Manila [last March] and that he would love to have me onstage with him. And I said, “Yeah, I’m down. Let’s do it.” So, I opened for him.

After that, I sent him my track for “Jacuzzi,” and he said he’d love to be on it. Then, he sent me “4 Letters,” and I jumped on that. So, these songs actually happened at about the same time.

You’re doing well as a solo act. But other than B.I and Benjamin Kheng, you’ve also recorded tracks with other exciting talents, like Zack Tabudlo (“Hatdog”), Manila Grey (“Backhouse Ballin’”), Massiah (“Experience”), Billy Crawford (“Manila Girl”), among others. What did you take away from those collaborations?

From the perspective of my music label when I wear my music-label hat, there’s certainly that aspect of cross-pollination of fans [that we can all benefit from] and seeing what else is possible to do. You’re expanding your reach and your market, especially with artists who complement your music.

But personally, these projects allow me to find out how I am as an artist. Doing them kind Continued on Page 9

ANGELICA Panganiban bared her battle with a bone disease that she said has been causing her severe pain in the hip area, and which began when she was pregnant with daughter Amila Sabine.

In her vlog, Panganiban revealed that she is suffering from avascular necrosis, socalled “bone death,” a disease that results from the temporary or permanent loss of blood supply to the bone due to injury or trauma.

“Six months into pregnancy, meron nakong mga nararamdaman sakit sa may hips. Hindi ko actually mapinpoint noon kung sa hips, sa leg, sa likod o sa puwitan.

Yun yung mga struggles ko noon. Nagtanong-tanong ako sa mga doktor, and friends ko na naging mommy na rin and lahat naman sila sinasabi na it’s part of pregnancy. So nung nanganak ako, wala nakong time na pansinin yung mga masakit sa akin,” she narrated.

Panganiban said that when she started her physical exercises and yoga, she began experiencing again the pain on her hip, thinking it was just a pinched nerve. It turned out that her rigorous activities would only aggravate her condition.

When she and her celebrity friends went to Palawan, it was when she was rendered almost immobile by the severe pain, wherein she had a hard time walking.

After that trip, she went straight to the hospital where doctors advised her to undergo therapy in lieu of medication since she was breastfeeding her daughter. At first she said the therapy proved beneficial for her for a time, but she would soon begin experiencing

Angelica Panganiban

intermittent pain until it would recur more steadily.

Her fiancé Gregg Homan then brought her to a bone specialist, which then cultivated plasma from her own blood, which then served as her own treatment. This treatment involved the injection of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to avert the progression of necrosis.

“Namatay na yung mga bones ko sa balakang. Kaya pala hirap na ako maglakad.

Nung una ang sabi sa akin ay surgery, parang joint replacement na parang nakakatakot pakingan. So naghanap ako ng doctor na magkakaron ng conservative approach,” she said.

“So bumalik kami sa pagsaksak ng PRP sa hips ko.

This time, nag drill sila ng hole.

Ininject nila yung PRP directly doon sa dead bone. Masakit ba yung procedure? Di ko inakala masakit sya. Tulo ng tulo yung luha ko. Nakaramdam ako ng

Photo from Instagram/@iamangelicap

awa sa sarili ko na bakit ako, bakit sa akin nangyari ito. Kasi ang cause ng avascular necrosis ay steroids abuse,” she further said.

At this point the actress couldn’t help but laugh at the irony, pointing out that steroids use was never part of her lifestyle. “So ano yung cause nya? Wala. Malas lang talaga at nangyari sya sa akin.”

Panganiban said she’s choosing to remain positive despite her condition, believing that the mind has the power to heal. She is also grateful that at least the doctors have identified her condition and have prescribed an apt treatment for her.

She couldn’t help but realize that at 37 years of age, “there was something dead inside (her),” a fact that tickled her funny bone, pun intended.

She said she is hopeful that her recovery would be speedy as she planned to go back to work by next year.

Pechanga presents ‘Anne Curtis Luv-Anne The Comeback Concert 2023’

IT has been 10 years since Anne Curtis’s last performance at Pechanga, and she’s ready to put on a show for her fans.

Pechanga Resort Casino proudly presents the “Anne Curtis Luv-Anne The Comeback Concert 2023” that will be held on Friday, December 1, at 8 p.m. and Saturday, December 2, at 8 p.m., at the Pechanga Theater.

Anne Curtis is a FilipinoAustralian actress, model, television host, entrepreneur and recording artist. She has been dubbed the “Multimedia Superstar” and is recognized as one of the most successful celebrities of the 21st century in the Philippines.

Curtis has received many accolades throughout her career, including two FAMAS awards, a Luna award, two Metro Manila Film Festival awards, and five PMPC Star awards for television.

In 2011, she released her debut studio album, “Annebisyosa,” and described it as “super fun” and “not serious.” In 2012, she went on her first solo concert tour, “Annebisyosa: No Other Concert World Tour.” For the concert tour, she won the award for Female Concert Performer of the Year at the 44th Box Office Entertainment Awards.

Hurry, you don’t want to miss this! Buy your tickets now from the Pechanga Box Office, or by calling 888-810-8871, or visit www.pechanga.com.

Shows in the Pechanga Theater offer a comfortable and intimate concert experience. With 1,200 seats in its theater, each show features state-of-the-art, acoustically perfected sound, plus comfortable chairs, and an up-close view from every theater seat.

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luxury spa, and golf at Journey at Pechanga, Pechanga Resort Casino features a destination that meets and exceeds the needs of its guests and the community. Pechanga Resort Casino is owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians. For more information, call toll free (877) 711-2946 or visit www.

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(Advertising Supplement)

Get to know Sheynnis community 9 Palacios, first Miss Universe titleholder from Nicaragua Deputy Sheriff Samuel Curameng Jr: Protecting The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 22, 2023

and serving the Santa Clarita community

By Anne PAsAjol Inquirer.net

THIS year’s Miss Universe crown was won by Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua, whose beauty and brains secured for her country its first-ever victory from the global tilt.

The 23-year-old Latina beauty queen competed with 83 other delegates at the coronation night in El Salvador on Nov. 18, and triumphantly won the hearts of the judges as well as pageant aficionados.

Aside from Palacios’ evident beauty and allure, there is actually a lot more going for her.

Interviewed by ABS-CBN News in El Salvador , Palacios said she feels happy and grateful to have made beauty Continued on Page 10

By Amrylois Ferido

Miss Universe 2023 Sheynnis Palacios Photo from Instagram/@missuniverse

James on risk-taking...

From Page 8 of reveals to me what my own style is and what works for me.

I learned a lot from working with Benjamin, who’s one of the best out there, and seeing how B.I, who’s excellent at what he does, connects with his rabid fan base. They really push me to be better, which is great because I like challenging myself.

What’s exciting about your music is the fact that we don’t quite know what else to expect. Any reaction?

I like that. People never really expected me to do something like “Jacuzzi.” But I promise you, people will not be expecting the song that I’m doing next.

Do you know how different you’ve become from the young and almost shy James Reid who won “PBB” in 2010?

Yes, it’s like they’re two very different people (laughs).

You’ve released a lot of music since 2013 or so. For new fans who are just beginning to appreciate your songs, which of your recordings do you think best represents your sound?

That’s hard to answer. I have a lot of musical influences. I definitely have favorites, but I’ve always been very versatile with my sound—from R&B and pop to rock, electronic and “dance-y.”

It’s also kind of funky and disco.

So perhaps the album, “Lovescene,” would be the album to listen to. If you listen through it, you can kind of get where it’s very diverse. I was really just experimenting with all the things that I like. I think the whole album is a good representation of my taste and all of my musical influences.

But definitely, the next album I’ll be working on will be a bit more “refined.”

“Refined”? In what way will the next album be different?

These current songs (“Jacuzzi,” “Rock Botton Blues”) are not leading up to the next one… no. They’re standalone singles.

I want the next one to be a lot more personal, more introspective. The next one will be very different from “Palm Dreams” or “Lovescene.” I feel like this might be the most personal and vulnerable I’ve ever been. It’s definitely going to be a side of me that the fans have not seen.

On Wednesday November 9, 2023 the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce held their 13th Annual Salute to Patriots. This event was held to celebrate Veterans that have displayed leadership within the business community and to honor their service within and for the US. One of the honorees was Samuel Curameng Jr., who is a Deputy Sheriff in the City of Santa Clarita. He is also a proud member of the Filipino community.

The Filipino community is known for hard work and dedication to their respective careers. However this hard work not only can be shown in their accomplishments but also in their compassion towards helping others. Deputy Curameng Jr. displayed exactly that when Asian Journal had the chance to speak to him.

Immediately upon speaking with him, he is beaming with pride not only in the work he does but also his country, which can be seen through his military service.

“I joined the army right out of high school. I went to boot camp my junior year, came back and then graduated high school,” Curameng Jr. explained, detailing how he finished out the rest of his military training upon graduation.

For eight years Curameng Jr. proudly served the country.

After his service, Curameng Jr. came home to a worried mother. “She’s a typical Filipino mom,” he lightheartedly expressed, emphasizing how she wanted for him to make a career change in a less dangerous field.

As a Filipino, Curameng Jr. expressed how his mother immediately asked for him to try nursing, which he agreed to.

Seeing as many in the Filipino community turn towards nursing or the medical field as

Pictured above is the venue filled with attendees to honor eight Veterans at the 13th Annual Salute to Patriots held by the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce.

in the work that he does. “I became a drug recognition expert,” Curameng Jr. declared. He explained how his nursing career has allowed him to adapt to his new career, where he uses his experience to find those who are under the influence while driving or simply out and about. Because of this experience and his time in the field, Curameng Jr. was also entrusted by the city for a special assignment regarding DUIs. Pictured are the eight Veterans honored at this year’s event, with fellow Filipino Samuel “I’ve been doing it for Curameng Jr. at the utmost right of the group. the last two and a half years now,” he detailed, additionally wonder about this dream or a career choice, he felt it was highlighting his dedication goal that I wanted to do and something he should at least to the job by describing how wonder if I could have been give a try. even after his work hours, he good at it,” Curameng Jr. Once he gave it a try, he will still go out and protect emphasized, detailing how expressed how he learned the community if there is any after this realization he spoke a lot of things, especially in suspected DUI. “It would with his wife about wanting to how he found that he enjoyed hurt me in my heart to become a cop. helping people. “I ventured out know I could have stopped Immediately he began and went into pediatrics and something,” Curameng working towards reaching that’s where I met my wife,” Jr. expressed, showing Curameng Jr. detailed, showing this goal and eventually he his profound care for the found his way back to the City how his time in the medical community he serves. of Santa Clarita as to him, it field created a major shift in his “The one thing I can felt like a home away from life. take away and pass down home. “That’s where I had Curameng Jr. however comes from Filipino culture. the opportunity to become a longed to do something else.

We’re always hard working.

Deputy Sheriff,” Curameng He longed to fulfill a dream We’re raised to work hard, Jr. explained, emphasizing he had since he was younger. never give up, and just trust that one of his main goals in “I had this urge after RN in God,” Curameng Jr. said, becoming a cop is to protect (Registered Nursing) school,” his words truly expressing the community. he conveyed, explaining how his sincerity in all that he “I’ve been here for about he had always wondered what does. He is truly someone four years now,” he described, it would be like to be a cop. that represents the Filipino then detailing how his nursing “I don’t want to be that community well. experience has also aided him old guy on my deathbed and

10 community

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 22, 2023

Will I have to pay spousal support if I file for divorce?

Gerald on wanting to play ‘superhero Barrister’s with a twist,’ reuniting ‘Kimerald’ Corner

By Marinel Cruz Inquirer.net

NOW that he has achieved his dream of building a good home for his mother, actor Gerald Anderson said he has moved on to accomplish another goal: To give her more of his time.

“I won’t deny that there was a point in my career when I seriously questioned why I was doing all these things.

‘Are they all worth it?’ I asked.

Oftentimes, if a person is going through something behind the cameras, even his loved ones and the people around him get affected. This is why, more than anything, I choose to just count my blessings and be grateful for all the opportunities given to me,” he told Inquirer Entertainment

shortly after he renewed his talent management agreement with ABS-CBN. “I would always try to remember the reason I entered the business (by joining the reality talent search ‘Pinoy Big Brother’). I wanted to build a house for my mom. I didn’t grow up in a rich family, although I can’t say we were poor. My parents worked hard to provide for us. Everything we have now, we worked hard to achieve,” the 34-year-old actor pointed out.

“Now, I want to give them my time. When I accept offers to go abroad for work, I bring along either my mom or dad. When I shot a movie in Switzerland, I was with my dad. It’s normal for our parents to want to spend more time with us. I understand that,” he

added.

Gerald said another reason that kept him from quitting show biz was that he was able to channel his energy to other interests. The actor currently owns a commercial gym, a beach resort and a restaurant.

“I get myself involved in these things not because I plan to quit acting. I consider them a diversion. If I want to relax or just take my mind away from my main line of work, I focus my attention to them. They also remind me that there’s life outside show biz, that I can still take care of my family if I decide to stop acting.

However, I make sure they don’t take me away from my passion, from my craft,” he explained.

When asked what kind of Continued on Page 11

Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes THE purpose of spousal support is not defined by the legislature in that its purpose varies according to the facts and circumstances of each case.

The facts and circumstances of a particular case may be such which call for no spousal support, or for support for a very limited period of time, with the purpose to assist the supported spouse to “get back on his or her feet” as a single person, or until community property is distributed. On the other hand, the facts and circumstances of another case may call for support for an extended period of time, perhaps until death of the supported spouse, the purpose for which to provide assistance to one who cannot support himself.

The two situations mentioned hereinabove are extreme cases, on opposite ends of the spectrum. Quite obviously, the facts and circumstances in a particular case may be such which call for some amount of support for some period of time, though not until death of the supported spouse. For example, the court may order support for that period of time required for the supported spouse to obtain or complete an education, to allow the supported spouse to take

care of the children until they reach an age where a return to employment would be more feasible, or to become selfsupporting within a reasonable time.

Although the use of standard guidelines based on income is encouraged in the award of temporary support, such guidelines cannot be used in awarding permanent spousal support. As indicated hereinabove, the award of support is in large part based on the facts and circumstances of the particular case. In determining spousal support, the court considers numerous factors, set forth in Family Code Sec. 4320. They include: 1) The extent to which the earning capacity of each party is sufficient to maintain the standard of living established during the marriage, 2) The extent to which the supported party contributed to the attainment of an education, training, a career position, or a license by the supporting party, 3) The ability of the supporting party to pay spousal support, taking into account the supporting party’s earning capacity, earned and unearned income, assets, and standard of living, 4) The needs of each party based on the standard of living established during the marriage, 5)The obligations and assets, including the separate property, of each party, 6) The duration of the marriage, 7) The ability of the supported party to engage in gainful employment without unduly interfering with the interests of dependent children in the custody of the party, and 8) The age and health of the

parties.

The factors set forth hereinabove are only several of the many factors the court will consider in deciding the issue of spousal support. In that the amount and duration of an award is largely based on the facts and circumstances of the case, it is advised that one who is requesting support, or is opposing a request for support, obtain experienced counsel, who will be able to present the facts and circumstances in the best light possible. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APLC. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APLC is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010.

Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

Bishop Matthew Elshoff celebrates ‘Simbang Gabi 2023’ MOST Reverend Matthew Elshoff, OFM, Cap., Auxiliary Bishop of Our Lady of the Angels Pastoral Region, will celebrate the “Simbang Gabi 2023” at the Church of the Good Shepherd on Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.

“Simbang Gabi”, a special Advent Mass,

is a Filipino pre-Christmas tradition being celebrated with other multi-ethnic parishioners of the Church. It is under the auspices of the Filipino Ministry of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

A sumptuous reception follows after the Mass at the church hall.

Get to know Sheynnis Palacios, first Miss...

From Page 9 pageant history for her country, truly an achievement to be proud of.

Here are some facts about the Miss Universe 2023 titleholder for fans to get to know her more: She started joining beauty pageants when she was 15 years old Palacios, who has always dreamed of becoming a beauty queen, entered the world of pageantry when she was just 15 years old.

Prior to her Miss Universe journey, she already joined several competitions including Miss Teen Nicaragua pageant in 2016, and the Miss World 2021 where she finished as part of the Top 40 finalists.

A communications degree holder Palacios earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from Universidad Centroamericana or Central American University–Managua in 2022. She is also planning to pursue a master’s degree and start her own audiovisual production company.

“Her goal in life is to work

EMPLOYMENT

FOR RENT

in the service of humanity, by running a newsroom and producing content and commercials for international brands,” the Miss Universe Organization spoke of the beauty queen.

A TV host, editor and producer Using her communications degree, Palacios entered the field of entertainment as a TV host, editor and producer for local TV channels in Nicaragua.

“If I got to talk to little 5-year-old Sheynnis, I wouldn’t believe that in the not too distant future I would be working with big screen characters…great characters I watched every morning and they were role models for me.

I can only tell you that God is great and good,” the beauty queen spoke of her hosting stint.

A mental health advocate Having a first-hand experience of severe anxiety, Palacios underscores the importance of mental health through her program “Understand Your Mind.”

This initiative serves as a platform wherein Palacios

FOR SALE

tackles mental health with experts and specialists for viewers to better understand themselves.

Aside from this, Palacios is also aiming to author a book for those who are struggling with mental health problems.

A fur mom and an animal rescue advocate Palacios has six dogs and two cats whom she treats as members of their family. The beauty queen has also used her social media platforms to help initiatives which find homes for abandoned cats and dogs.

A fan of Miss Universe titleholders Andrea Meza, Catriona Gray When asked who is her “favorite Miss Universe winner” during an interview with ABS-CBN reporter Dyan Castillejo, Palacios named Andrea Meza and Catriona Gray who won the pageant crowns in 2020 and 2018, respectively. Palacios said she admires them for being genuine and for their humility despite their successes.

“Iconic women in the beauty pageant,” she described Meza and Gray.

community 11

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 22, 2023

Gerald on wanting to play ‘superhero...

From Page 10 project he dreams of doing in the near future, Gerald said he has nothing specific in mind, but he’d like to work on something that inspires his followers. “It’s not really about the role, but the message of the show, just like ‘Budoy,’ Carlo Aquino and Dolly de Leon in “Iti Mapukpukaw” Photo courtesy of Cinemalaya ‘A Soldier’s Heart,’ ‘Tayong Dalawa’ and even ‘A Family Affair,’ which is all about sibling rivalry but the message of the show is that love has to prevail over everything else. I know that if a project I’m doing has a positive effect, people tell me they’re inspired by it,” he pointed out.

Superhero ‘with a twist’ Gerald said he would also for her performance as well

By Kristofer Purnell like to play a superhero, “But as Carlo’s, Dolly directed the Philstar.com with a twist.” He explained: praise to the movie’s director“He could be a superhero writer Carl Joseph Papa and ACTRESS Dolly de Leon who isn’t necessarily good, an the nearly hundred animators is encouraging Filipinos to antihero.” “Like Venom?” we who worked on the film. help promote and market “Iti “If not for them, wala ‘yung asked. “Yeah. Someone who Mapukpukaw,” the Philippines’ may have done mistakes in pelikulang ‘to. It’s a team entry to the Best International the past. This humanizes the effort,” Dolly ended.

Feature Film category of the character.”

The rotoscope animated 2024 Academy Awards.

The actor said he is also film follows a mouthless The film, which Dolly stars open to do collaborations, animator named Eric who with Carlo Aquino and Gio especially since ABS-CBN crosses paths with a familiar Gahol, made history as the talents are now able to appear alien. first animated feature to be on its former rival channel, The Philippines’ entry to nominated and win Best Film GMA 7. In fact, he has just the Oscars last year was “On at the Cinemalaya Philippine participated in the Kapusothe Job: The Missing 8,” a Independent Film Festival. network produced game show film that won John Arcilla the Dolly received the Best “Family Feud.” Prior to that, he Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Supporting Actress trophy starred in the romantic drama 78th Venice International Film earlier this year for her role in “Unravel,” opposite Kapuso Festival. the film. talent Kylie Padilla.

Dolly also appeared in the At the opening night of country’s 2019 entry “Verdict,” 11th QCinema International while John starred in the backFilm Festival, Dolly shared to-back entries, “Heneral Luna” with members of the media and “Birdshot.” including Philstar.com No Philippine submission her reactions to the film’s grassroots campaign for awards has made the nominees shortlist since the country’s first consideration. attempt in 1953 with Manuel “’Yun talaga ang Conde’s “Genghis Khan.” pinakakailangan namin, Other popular entries ang suporta ng mga tao to include “Ganito Kami Noon... spread the word about ‘Iti Mapukpukaw’ na ma-nominate Paano Kayo Ngayon?,” “Karnal,” “Dekada ‘70,” siya for consideration sa “Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oscars,” said Dolly. “Ito na ‘yung chance natin, ng Pilipinas, Oliveros,” “Crying Ladies,” na ipakita gaano tayo kagaling. “Ded na si Lolo,” “Noy,” “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank,” “Ma’ And it’s really a beautiful film.”

Rosa” and “Mindanao.”

Despite positive remarks

Dolly hopeful Philippine entry will get Oscars consideration

Dolly De Leon Instagram photo/@dollyedeleon

Carlo Aquino Instagram photo/@jose_liwanag

Gerald Anderson

“I got to speak with Dingdong (Dantes) while guesting on the show. Maybe we can work on a project together someday. I would also like to work with Dennis (Trillo) or Alden (Richards). There are so many possible projects, and they don’t have to always be with a leading lady,” he pointed out, successfully avoiding potential intriguing questions from the media, especially because his two ex-girlfriends, Bea Alonzo and Maja Salvador, are now appearing on GMA 7.

Politics?

What Gerald said he would rather not do, today or in the near future, is join politics,

you work for. Right now, I’m happy doing my thing as an actor,” he stressed.

Doubts He then recalled the time he first joined the industry in 2006 through the first “PBB Teen Edition,” where he placed third. His first teleserye was “Sana Maulit Mulit” with Kim Chiu as onscreen partner.

“While working on the series three times a week, MWF, we also had to shoot a movie, ‘First Day High,’ every TTHS, and had to appear on ‘ASAP’ every Sunday. I was just 17 and had no idea what I was doing.

I would just go with the flow.

There was one time, I went Photo from Instagram/@andersongeraldjr behind the building where we even though he admitted were rehearsing for ‘ASAP’ and that he has had offers from cried. I really broke down,” he politicians to join their parties. recalled.

“I’m OK where I am. Through “I guess it was out of Star Magic, as well as by being frustration. I didn’t think I was a celebrity, I’m able to help good enough to be an actor. others, like the Philippine I was tired, because we also Coast Guard (PCG) and had to shoot commercials in other related departments of between. I had to ask myself government,” he began. why I was there, why I joined Gerald is currently an PBB,” said Gerald. “I chose auxiliary commander of the to compete because I wanted PCG’s K9 Support Squadron. to help my mom—that’s what “To me, politics is a totally was in my mind. Since then, no different world. I really need to matter how tired I was—there study before I even consider were times when we would just it. It’s not an easy profession go home to shower and head because that’s where power back to work—I would remind is. That’s where you can really myself that I have to carry on, help, because you get to make to work hard, to fight. Tuloy the decisions for the people lang.”

12

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - November 22, 2023

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