112522 - Northern California Edition

Attorney Gen. Rob Bonta investigates hospital algorithms for racial bias

SACRAMENTO — California Attorney General Rob Bonta sailed to victory in the Nov. 8 election, riding his progressive record on reproductive rights, gun control, and social justice reform. As he charts a course for his next four years, the 50-year-old Democrat wants to target racial discrimination in health care, including through an investigation of software programs and decision-making tools used by hospitals to treat patients.

Bonta, the first Filipino American to serve as the state’s top prosecutor, asked 30 hospital CEOs in August for a list of the commercial software programs their facilities use to support clinical decisions, schedule operating rooms, and guide billing practices. In exchange, he offered them confidentiality. His goal, Bonta told KHN, is to identify algorithms that may direct more attention and resources to white patients than to minorities, widening racial disparities in health care access, quality, and outcomes.

“Unequal access to our health care system needs to be combated and reversed, not carried forward and propagated, and algorithms have the power to do either,” Bonta said.

It’s too early to know what Bonta will find, and his office will not name the hospitals

Online platform becomes essential tool in ght against hate incidents

IN February of 2020, COVID-19 had not yet hit American shores.

But even before the pandemic emerged in the U.S., Manju Kulkarni, executive director of the AAPI Equity Alliance, noticed a menacing trend: the rise in hate-motivated violence and speech targeting Asian Americans, fueled by former President Donald Trump’s xenophobic remarks on the origins of the virus and its carriers. “The China virus,” proclaimed Trump. “Kung Flu,” he stated, to his cheering fans on the campaign trail.

The first incident Kulkarni became aware of was a young boy who was physically and verbally attacked at his school in a biasmotivated incident. The AAPI Equity Alliance worked with the Los Angeles Unified School District to address the crime.

Confronting bias, head on Kulkarni herself was exposed to racism as she visited a hair salon. “Two white

Kamala Harris reiterates US commitment to defend PH

by JEROME ANING Inquirer.net

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and visiting U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday, November 21 hailed the “strong” and “enduring” ties between the Philippines and the United States amid global headwinds.

“Your visit is a very strong symbol that these relationships remain strong, that these relationships remain important as indeed they do.

I have said many times, I do not see a future for the Philippines that does not include the United States,” Marcos told Harris during her courtesy call in Malacañang.

In their tete-a-tete, the early part of which

was aired on state television, Harris described the Philippine-U.S. relationship as “a long and enduring one” and spoke about “so many opportunities for us to continue to strengthen our relationship” under Marcos’ leadership.

Harris cited, among others, “mutual concerns” about regional security, which she said was one basis of bilateral ties between the two nations.

“We are both proud members of the IndoPacific [region]. And in particular, as it relates to the Philippines, I will say that we must reiterate always that we stand with you in defense of international rules and norms as it relates to the South China Sea,” she said.

Harris alluded to the general terms of the 1951 Philippine-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT),

saying “an armed attack on the Philippines armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments.”

“And that is an unwavering commitment that we have to the Philippines,” she said.

Another basis of bilateral relations, the American vice president added, was mutual commitments to international rules and norms.

“Upholding those international rules and norms in all of the ways that we know allow for, again, prosperity and security for our respective nations in the region,” she said.

“So again, I will reiterate that the alliance between the United States and the Philippines is a 

Marcos: Harris visit ‘very strong symbol’ of Philippines-US alliance

by KAYCEE VALMONTE Philstar.com

Harris

PH rejects same-sex marriage: We’re not ready for that, says DOJ’s Remulla

by TETCH TORRES-TUPAS Inquirer.net

MANILA — The Philippine government is firm against same-sex marriage.

Same-sex marriage was among the recommendations made by memberstates of the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Legalization of Abortion and Divorce that was rejected by the country.

“Culturally, our values may [has a] conflict with many of the values that they want to impose upon us…That’s what

we believe, ha, unless somebody argues otherwise; that is our position right now,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said in a press conference.

Over the weekend, Remulla also said that the country is rejecting measures such as the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression Equality (SOGIE) bill.

“I think, culturally, we are not ready for that,” Remulla said.

If the country rejected same-sex marriage, it has deferred its stand on

US pledges $5 million more to fund COVID-19 ght in PH

by DANIZA FERNANDEZ Inquirer.net

MANILA — The United States on Monday, November 21 committed an additional $5 million or P287 million in COVID-19 funding for the Philippines.

U.S. Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, who made the announcement as he visited Caloocan City, said that the funding would be coursed through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

“This assistance, funded through the American Rescue Plan, will support vaccine dis-

tribution for children and adults in line with the Philippine government’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts to intensify and strengthen the country’s wall of immunity,” the USAID said in a statement.

To date, the Philippines received almost $50 million or P2.86 billion in COVID response aid from the U.S.

The U.S. government likewise donated more than 33 million COVID-19 vaccine doses through Covax since the start of the pandemic.

More than 73.6 million individuals in the Philippines have

a

is meant to

Ties between the two countries are now being mended, following tumultuous times under the previous administration with former President Rodrigo Duterte distancing the country from the U.S. in favor of China and Russia.

"We went through different phases of relationship, but as in since the war, it has just been strengthened in every way," Marcos said.

PH not likely to rejoin ICC

by FRANCO JOSE C. BAROÑA ManilaTimes.net

JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Friday, November 18 that it is highly unlikely that the Philippines will rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Remulla added he deemed it unnecessary, noting the Philippines is not a troubled country like Sudan “that has no government running the show.”

“You always think if [a recommendation is] practical, necessary or beneficial for your country. You do not jump in and say, ‘Oh, we’ll jump in because they say it,’” Remulla said following his return from the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Philippines’ human rights record in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Philippines ratified the Rome Statute, the founding

treaty of the ICC, on Aug. 30, 2011, which took effect on Nov. 1, 2011.

However, the Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2019 during the term of former president Rodrigo Duterte, the second country to do so after Burundi in 2017.

Duterte made the decision to withdraw the Philippines’ membership from the body after the ICC launched a probe into his controversial anti-drug campaign in 2018.

The ICC said that it retains jurisdiction over the crimes allegedly committed by Philippine authorities that occurred from Nov. 1, 2011 to March 16, 2019, when the country was still a state party to the statute.

Remulla said extensive consultations with various

WARM WELCOME. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (left) shakes hand with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris during a courtesy call at Malacañan Palace on Monday, Nov. 21. Harris, who is on a three-day working visit to the Philippines, also flew to Palawan on Tuesday, November 22. PNA photo by Rey S. Baniquet

MANILA — U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris' visit to the Philippines is a 'very strong symbol' of the enduring alliance between the Philippines and the United States, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said on Monday, November 21.

paid a courtesy call on Marcos at Malacañan as part of

visit that a senior U.S. administration official said

strengthen the relationship between the Philippines and the U.S.

United States Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff leads the turnover of hygiene kits to the city government of Caloocan and its students on Monday, November 21. PNA photo

Kamala Harris reiterates US...

strong and enduring one, and only under your leadership continues to be strengthened. And we look forward to working with you on many of these issues,” she said.

Evolving ties

The president, for his part, described the PhilippineU.S. relations as “something that both our countries have really come to depend upon,” and reiterated his desire to strengthen and at the same time evolve the ties.

“[W]ith more upheavals that we are seeing, not only in the region, but especially in the region, this partnership becomes even more important. The situation is rapidly changing. We must evolve to be properly responsive to that situation. And so that is why it is very important that we continue to progress, that we continue to strengthen, as we redefine those relationships,” he said.

Marcos noted that bilateral ties have gone through “different phases of relationship” and since the postwar era “has just been strengthened in every way: in the economic sense, in the political sense, [and] defense security.”

“You cannot think of an area where we have not cooperated, collaborated, and have had good results for both our countries,” he said.

Harris said she intended to talk with the president about opportunities presented by mutual concerns such as the climate crisis “and what we might do in terms of investments and renewable energy and thinking about

clean power and the industries that will come about because of that commitment.”

A fact sheet on Harris’ visit to the Philippines released by the White House on Sunday, November 20 said that the United States and the Philippines were initiating negotiations on a civil nuclear cooperation agreement. Once in force, this will provide the legal basis for U.S. exports of nuclear equipment and material to the Philippines.

Harris was accompanied in the Palace by her husband, second gentleman Douglas Emhoff, and U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson.

She arrived in the Philippines on Sunday night, the first visit in five years by a high-ranking U.S. official since former President Donald Trump visited the country for the 2017 AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation Summit.

Vice President Sara Duterte, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo, Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez, and other government officials were also present at the courtesy call and tete-a-tete.

Mr. Marcos, touching on the U.S. official’s visit to Palawan province on Tuesday, November 22, jestingly told Harris: “I’m sure you’re just going to the resorts and the beaches,” to which she replied, “that is not the life I’ve chosen these days.”

‘Dangerous deals’

In Congress, two of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s

allies in the Senate on Monday, November 21 welcomed the U.S. official’s visit, saying this could signal that the United States was showing its true commitment to defend the Philippines in any conflict in the West Philippine Sea.

Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, however, called on the U.S. government to fully commit to the MDT with the Philippines.

“That (Harris visit) is an indicator that they are really here for us because otherwise, they could just be ignoring us. But the relationship should be mutual and not one-sided,” he said.

Sen. Christopher Go said visiting dignitaries from allied countries were welcome, especially if these would usher in more support for the Philippines such as the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

In the House of Representatives, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez noted that the visit of Harris sent a clear signal to China that the Philippines has U.S. support in the South China Sea dispute.

However, Gabriela women’s party list said that Harris’ visit to Palawan might be seen as a provocation, as it slammed the package of “dangerous deals” that the U.S. vice president brought with her.

The group cited the civil nuclear cooperation agreement, which House deputy minority leader and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro also strongly opposed, saying that modular or microreactor nuclear power plants were still in the experimental stage. g

PH rejects same-sex marriage: We’re...

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divorce because, according to Remulla, it is a matter that is up to the legislators.

“We cannot immediately grant it unless the legislature properly debates about it and lays down the premises–advantages and disadvantages,” Remulla said, adding that he believed that the Philippines is now one of the few countries that do not allow divorce.

“We just don’t recognize it because the premises have not been laid out properly. We want the legislature to do their job here. That is why we cannot commit to it because we cannot impose upon the legislature on a policy that they have to do within Congress,” he said.

Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez said the Philippines had accepted 200 of the 279 recommendations by the UN

body. Of the 79, he said they deferred from accepting it, such as divorce, because it requires the participation of another branch of the government.

While same-sex marriage, he said, was rejected because “of our national identity, our religious beliefs, and our cultural traditions and the Philippines sovereignty that we need to protect and uphold at all times.” g

US pledges $5 million more to fund...

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so far been fully immunized against COVID-19 as of Novem ber 17, according to govern ment data.

Aside from COVID-19, Em hoff also guaranteed their sup port to the Philippines in com bating tuberculosis and other

infectious diseases.

“The United States is so proud to support the Philippines in its fight against COVID-19 and tuberculosis. I am looking for ward in continuing the partner ship between our countries and working together to keep our communities safe and healthy

PH not likely to rejoin...

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sectors including Congress will be required for the Philippines to return to the ICC.

He said the Philippines rejoining the body was just one of the 297 recommendations made by the United Nations Human Rights Council during the UPR.

Of the 297 recommendations, Remulla said the Philippines only accepted 200.

“We have until December to submit our position on everyone,” he said.

Remulla added that the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has already been acting on many of the recommendations, including investigating the killings

connected to Duterte’s war on illegal drugs.

Remulla said that during the review of the Philippines’ human rights record, he reiterated that the alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during Duterte’s drug war were not state-sponsored.

He said a review panel was created by the Department of Justice to reexamine the matter, and its initial findings said that at least seven incidents involving deaths were filed before the courts resulting in the indictment of 25 police officers.

A total of 302 cases have also been referred by the review panel to the National Bureau of Investigation for case buildup.

Remulla added that the Philippine National Police

and our schools open,” he said. The U.S. official led the cere monial turnover of hygiene kits to the local government and its students.

Emhoff is in the Philippines as his wife, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, is on a state vis it. g

conducted its own investigation on 17,500 officers involved in drug war operations, of which 27 were dismissed from service, 18 were demoted and 98 were suspended.

He said appropriate criminal charges were filed via the Administrative Order 35 mechanism on the alleged EJKs.

“This is a fruit of enhanced, secure and open dialogue I have personally made with civil society leaders who previously did not wish to come forward,” Remulla said, noting he is committed to disproving that there is a culture of impunity in the country.

“We will not tolerate the denial of justice nor any violation of human rights,” he said. n

ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. addresses a sparse crowd that includes Vice President Sara Duterte upon his arrival at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Saturday, Nov. 19. The President, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and select Cabinet officials came from the 29th AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Bangkok, Thailand, bringing with them good news of pledges, commitments and cooperation secured from the other regional leaders. PNA photo by Rey Baniquet

Attorney Gen. Rob Bonta investigates hospital...

involved. The California Hospital Association said in a statement that such bias “has absolutely no place in medical treatment provided to any patient in any care setting” and declined to comment further.

Advocates have high hopes for what Bonta will find — and for the next four years. “We expect to see a lot more from him in this full term,” said Ron Coleman Baeza, managing director of policy for the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network. “There is much more work to do.”

Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Bonta as attorney general after Xavier Becerra left the position to join the Biden administration as secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In the Nov. 8 election, which won him his first full term, Bonta faced Republican challenger Nathan Hochman, a former federal prosecutor who campaigned on prosecuting violent criminals and pulling the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl off the streets. In contrast, Bonta advocated for gun control and decriminalizing lower-level drug offenses, and in January advised law enforcement officials not to prosecute women for murder when a fetus dies, even if their drug use contributed to the death.

In unofficial results, Bonta had about 59% of the statewide vote, compared with 41% for Hochman.

Bonta, formerly a state legislator representing the East Bay, will be eligible to run for a second full term, which could allow him to serve for nearly 10 years.

His wife, Democratic state Assembly member Mia Bonta, was among the public officials who discussed their abortion experiences after a leaked draft of a U.S. Supreme Court opinion that was published in May revealed the justices would likely repeal Roe v. Wade. After they did, the attorney general threatened legal action against local jurisdictions that tried to adopt abortion bans.

Bonta called health care a right for all Californians and said he wanted to help people of color and low-income communities get more access to doctors and treatments, as well as better care. “It’s something I’ve been actively working on as an elected official my entire career, and even before that,” said Bonta, whose father helped organize health clinics for Central Valley farmworkers.

But health equity remains an elusive goal, even as it has become a catchphrase among advocates, researchers, politicians, and health care executives. And as with most aspects of the state’s mammoth health care system, progress comes slowly.

The Newsom administration, for example, will require managedcare plans that sign new Medicaid contracts to hire a chief equity officer and pledge to reduce health disparities, including in pediatric and maternal care. The state’s Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal, serves nearly 15 million people — most of whom are people of color. But those changes won’t come until 2024, at the earliest.

State lawmakers are also trying to minimize racial discrimination through legislation. In 2019, for example, they passed a law that mandates implicit bias training for health care providers serving pregnant women. Black women are three times as likely to die from having a baby as white women.

In recent years, researchers started warning that racial discrimination was baked into the diagnostic algorithms that doctors use to guide their treatment decisions. One model predicted a lower rate of success for vaginal births among Black and Hispanic women who previously had a cesarean delivery than among white women, but failed to take into account patients’ marital status and insurance type, both of which can affect the success rate of a vaginal birth. Another, used by urologists, assigned Black patients coming into emergency rooms with “flank pain” a lower likelihood of having kidney stones than non-Black patients — even though the software’s developers failed to explain why.

Some researchers likened such medical algorithms to risk assessment tools used in the criminal justice system, which can lead to higher bail amounts and longer prison sentences for Black defendants. “If the underlying data reflect racist social structures, then their use in predictive tools cements racism into practice and policy,” they wrote in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2020.

Bonta is seeking the hospital industry’s cooperation in his algorithm investigation by framing racial and ethnic disparities as injustices that require intervention. He said he believes that his inquiry is the first of its kind and that it falls under the California Department of

Justice’s responsibility to protect civil rights and consumers. “We have a lot of depth,” he said of his 4,500-employee agency.

Coleman Baeza and other advocates for health care consumers said the attorney general should also monitor nonprofit hospital mergers to ensure that health care facilities don’t reduce beds in underserved communities and crack down on predatory medical lending, particularly in dental care.

“They violate existing consumer protections, and that falls squarely within the AG’s jurisdiction,” said Linda Nguy, a senior policy advocate for the Western Center on Law and Poverty.

Nguy urged Bonta to go after underperforming health plans when they fail to contract with enough providers so patients can get timely appointments, even though the California Department of Managed Health Care is the state’s main health insurance regulator.

“During covid, the health plans were essentially given a pause on reporting of their timely access. But that pause is over, and the plans have to meet these requirements,” Nguy said. “He can ask for that utilization data.”

Bonta remains circumspect on a particular issue related to race.

His office has been facilitating California’s reparations task force, which issued a nearly 500-page preliminary report this year that noted that Black Californians had shorter life expectancies and poorer health outcomes than other groups. In surveys of hospitals across the country, Black patients with heart disease “receive older, cheaper, and more conservative treatments” than white patients, the report said.

The task force could recommend cash compensation for Black Californians who can establish ties to enslaved ancestors, but Bonta hasn’t endorsed that plan. The final report is due in July.

“If we can move the needle, then we should,” Bonta said.

“There are a whole set of different possible solutions, pathways to get there.” (Mark Kreidler/Kaiser Health News)

KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

Online platform becomes essential tool in...

women were making really racist comments about Asian Americans: their food habits, and how they brought the virus on.” Kulkarni’s stylist, who is Japanese American, was the apparent target of the women’s remarks.

“I confronted them, and told them they were factually incorrect,” Kulkarni told Ethnic Media Services. “They said I had misunderstood them,” she added, noting that the women summarily dismissed her concerns.

Then out of the blue Kulkarni received a call from Russell Jeung, a sociologist at San Francisco State University. Immediately, Kulkarni and Jeung, along with Cynthia Choi, co executive director of Chinese for Affirmative Action, embarked on collecting signatures for a letter they presented to former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, asking his office to collect and share data on hate crimes against Asian Americans.

Stop AAPI hate Becerra, according to Kulkarni, said his office was not in the business of doing data collection, and relied instead on local law enforcement agencies. The trio decided it was time to do some data collection of their own. On March 19, 2020, they launched the web portal stopAAPIHate.org.

The portal allows victims of hate crimes or bias-related incidents to self-report the occurrence, in one of several Asian languages. To

date, the site has collected more than 11,000 instances of biasrelated crimes and incidents.

Monumental initiative

This year, the three organizations — along with 98 community-based organizations and 49 ethnic media outlets — received a portion of a $166 million grant from the state of California, aimed at combating anti Asian American hate. In partnership with the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs, the campaign is being managed by the California State Library. Grantees support the public awareness efforts of the Stop the Hate Program administered by the California Department of Social Services, which provides support and services to victims and survivors of hate incidents and hate crimes.

“I want to express my deep gratitude to the AAPI Legislative Caucus for this $166 million investment in our community. Our communities have experienced under-funding for decades,” said Kulkarni. “It is monumental. No other state has done this. The investment is exactly what we need to create the infrastructure to combat hate.”

Mental health toll

The community activist said she cannot predict trends or patterns as to whether hate crimes have increased or decreased as a result of community awareness. “We get reports every day, but often

people report several weeks or even months after they have been attacked.”

“They may still be processing what has happened. There is a huge mental health toll,” she said. On the legislative front, the three organizations have managed to get two anti-hate bills through the California state Legislature and signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. SB 1161, sponsored by State Senator Dave Min, aims to reduce harassment in public transport systems throughout California. AB 2448, sponsored by Assemblymember Phil Ting, calls on businesses to train their employees against discrimination. The bill also creates a program that trains employees on how to report, protect and respond to hate incidents in cases of customer harassment.

Without fear

The initiative is also focused on getting Asian American studies into the K-12 school curriculum. It is also working on community safety solutions, such as safe housing, and living wage jobs. “These are factors that prevent hate and crime,” said Kulkarni.

“It is so important that our government stands by its people, and doesn’t allow people to violate the civil rights of others. We want self actualization that enables people to be who they really want to be, without fear,” said Kulkarni. (Sunita Sohrabji/ Ethnic Media Services)

IMPOSING. Giant figures made of paper mache parade along Quezon Avenue, Angono, Rizal for the Higantes Festival on Sunday, Nov. 20. The annual feast honors St. Clement, the patron saint of fisherfolk, and at the same time, depicts farm workers who mock their wealthy employers with stern looks. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

‘California Is in the Heart’ in Sacramento spotlights Fil-Am life

“CALIFORNIA Is in the Heart,” on exhibit at California Museum in Sacramento, highlights Filipinos’ influence in the state from their first landing at Morro Bay in 1587 to the labor and civil rights movements of the 1960s and current leadership of local and statewide offices

The museum’s exhibit is presented in partnership with the Bulosan Center for Filipino

Studies  with support from the Filipino American National Historical SocietyMuseum.

Never-before-exhibited family photos tie into a map depicting Filipino towns across the state, while artists’ work provide unique perspective to a historic timeline. Artifacts from personal collections enrich the exhibit.

Additional sections celebrate the lifesaving work of Filipino

nurses during the Covid pandemic, highlight women’s role in the Fil-Am community, and address efforts to combat anti-AAPI hate.

Additional exhibit support provided by the California Nurses Association and the UC Davis Library.

Open until April 29, 2023 at California Museum, Archives Plaza , 1020 O ST.. Sacramento, (916) 653-7524. (Inquirer.net)

San Francisco named host city for 2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders’ summit

The summit will be held at Moscone Center and is expected to draw thousands of attendees from around the world to the city with an estimated $36.5 million in total economic impact

SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor London N. Breed on Friday, November 18 celebrated news that San Francisco has been named the host city for the 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Summit, or APEC, in November of next year. The announcement was made at APEC where Vice President Kamala Harris is attending the Summit in Bangkok, Thailand. San Francisco will welcome President Biden, various chiefs of states, heads of government, and other officials from around the world.

In a letter sent to Secretary of State Antony Blinken in August, Mayor Breed made the request for the City and County of San Francisco to host the 2023 APEC Leaders' Summit. Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla also submitted letters in support of the city winning the bid to host the fiveday event. Mayor Breed highlighted San Francisco’s extensive economic, cultural and academic connections to the Asia-Pacific Region, including the City’s recognition as the gateway to the Asia Pacific, which has positioned San Francisco as the primary destination for foreign direct investment from Asia.

Established in 1989, APEC is an intergovernmental forum for 21-member economies in the Pacific Rim that promotes free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The countries that will be represented in next year’s APEC Leaders’ Summit include the United States, Canada, China, the Philippines, Japan, Singapore and Thailand.

“We are honored to be named as next year’s host and ready to welcome leaders from around the world to our beautiful City. I want to thank President Biden and Vice President Harris for selecting San Francisco host next year, as well as Speaker Pelosi and Senators Feinstein and Padilla for their unwavering support in this process. San Francisco has the infrastructure already in place to accommodate an event on the scale and scope of the APEC Leaders’ Summit,” said Mayor Breed. “Our economic recovery is ongoing, but our footprint is strong with over 34,000 hotel rooms, a newly renovated Moscone Center, iconic sites and cultural experiences, and a world-class culinary scene. This is an exciting opportunity for our city, its residents, workers, and visitors.”

“San Francisco has long been recognized as a gateway to the Asia-Pacific — and thanks to President Biden and Vice President Harris, we are proud to host the Leaders’ Meeting of the 2023 APEC Summit,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi said.  “With San Francisco’s deep economic, cultural and academic connections to the region, I was proud to join the chorus in advocating for our city as the perfect host for this critical gathering of AsiaPacific leaders.”

Each year, the San Francisco Customs District logs $100 billion dollars from two-way shipping with APEC members. Northern California firms sell an estimated $60 billion dollars of goods and services to APEC buyers. The region continues to be a source and destination for massive investment flows.

“I’m thrilled that San Francisco was selected to host APEC next November. As one of the most

significant cultural, commercial, and financial hubs in the United States, San Francisco is a great choice for a gathering of economic leaders from throughout the Asia-Pacific region,” Dominic Ng, Chairman and CEO of East West Bank and President Biden's appointee as 2023 Chair of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) stated. “As ABAC Chair, I look forward to working closely with the Biden Administration, the State of California, and the City of San Francisco on a successful APEC in 2023.”

“As the nation’s shining gateway to the AsiaPacific region, San Francisco and the Bay Area are the ideal choice to host this important leadership summit,” said Jim Wunderman, Bay Area Council President and CEO. “This selection represents a ringing endorsement of San Francisco as a place of unmatched global connections, dynamic economic activity and rich cultural vibrancy. I want to applaud San Francisco Mayor London Breed and her entire Administration for their great work in securing the APEC Summit.”

Asian Americans account for about a third of San Francisco’s total population, and San Francisco has Sister City relationships with cities throughout the region, including Osaka, Seoul, Ho Chi Minh, Manila, Sydney, and Shanghai. San Francisco’s Chinatown is the first in North America and one of the largest Chinese communities outside of Asia. Additionally, the city currently hosts over 75 consulates, representing the government interests of virtually all major countries around the world. Additionally, many trade commissions have established offices in and around the city.

San Francisco is a major destination for business and tourism and leads the world in technology innovation. The city has a long history as a top destination for travel, conferences and seminars. In October, Salesforce brought Dreamforce back to San Francisco in person, attracting more than 40,000 people.The APEC Leaders’ Summit is estimated to generate nearly $37 million dollars in economic benefit to San Francisco.

“This is a big win for San Francisco” said Joe D’Alessandro, President & CEO of the San Francisco Travel Association. “APEC will bring global attention to the city, as well as thousands of international visitors that will help support our economic recovery and the hundreds of small businesses that depend on visitor dollars.”

This month Travel and Leisure magazine featured San Francisco as one of the 50 best places to travel in 2023 and the Wall Street Journal named San Francisco International Airport (SFO) the best large airport of 2022 thanks in part to the upgrade of its Harvey Milk Terminal 1, reliable flights and top-notch amenities. Virtually every major APEC city has direct or one-stop flights to SFO.

The San Francisco Bay Area has hosted major events in the past including the United Conference of Mayors in 2015, Superbowl 50 in 2016, and the Global Climate Action Summit in 2019. The last time the U.S. hosted APEC was in 2011. Additional details about the 2023 APEC Leaders’ Summit are forthcoming and will be released at a later date. (SF Mayor’s Office Release)

Mayor Breed kicks off Safe Shopper Initiative for the holiday season in Union Square

The public safety initiative will focus on Union Square and other key tourist areas to support the city’s economic recovery, building on the recent expansion of community ambassadors

SAN FRANCISCO – On Tuesday, November 15 Mayor London N. Breed joined Police Chief William Scott, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, and business and community leaders to kick off the 2022 Safe Shopper initiative in and around Union Square for the holiday season. The city will again deploy additional police and community ambassadors to the area for enhanced public safety to maintain a safe shopping experience for visitors, workers and residents.

“The safety of our residents, workers, and visitors is the city’s top priority, and I want to thank our public safety partners for taking every precautionary measure to ensure a successful holiday season,” said Mayor London Breed. “We are taking lessons learned from last year to inform this year’s safety strategy in Union Square and the surrounding areas. As we continue to work on our economic recovery, our public safety staff and community partners are focused on making sure everyone has a welcoming and positive experience supporting our local businesses.”

Following the 2021 mass organized retail theft incident in Union Square that brought felony charges to multiple people, Mayor Breed announced a new safety initiative in tandem

with the San Francisco Police Department’s (SFPD) rollout of the Community Ambassador program, which is comprised of civilian retired police officers hired for their training and experience in community engagement. After the launch of this effort last year, SFPD reported a significant decrease in crime from November 20 through December 6 compared to the preceding 16-day period:

• 67% decrease in assault

• 91% decrease in burglary

• 82% decrease in larceny/ theft

• 100% decrease in motor vehicle theft.

Compared to last year the city has not seen the same elevation in crime going into this holiday season, largely attributed to a scaled-up presence in the Union Square area which has helped deter criminal activity. The goal of the Safe Shopper initiative is to continue these efforts.

“The San Francisco Police Department is committed to public safety. We want everyone in our city to have a safe and happy holiday season,” said Police Chief Bill Scott. “Our department is committed to working collaboratively with our elected officials, city agencies, the business community, SF travel, and residents of our community to ensure the safety of everyone living in and visiting

San Francisco. Whether you’re coming here to shop, to dine, or visit one of our many historical landmarks, we are committed to keeping everyone in San Francisco safe.”

“I am proud to join Mayor Breed, the San Francisco Police Department and our many community and business partners to ensure a safe holiday experience for our residents, workers and visitors,” said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. “I look forward to visiting Union Square every year with my family during the holidays, for

Marcos: Harris visit ‘very strong symbol’ of...

"I cannot think of an area where we have not cooperated, collaborated, and have had good results for both countries," Marcos said as he told Harris that her visit is "a very strong symbol" of the enduring relationship between the two countries.

"I have said many times, I do not see a future for the Philippines that does not include the United States."

The U.S. is the Philippines'

treaty ally and former colonizer.

Reaffirming 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty

At the same meeting, the U.S. reaffirmed its "unwavering commitment" to its mutual defense treaty with the Philippines.

"I will say that we must reiterate always that we stand with you in defense of international rules and norms as it relates to the South China Sea," Harris told Marcos.

"An armed attack on the

Philippines’ armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments," she added, emphasizing previous pronouncements that Washington would come to Manila’s defense if needed.

Harris emphasized that this is an "unwavering commitment" the U.S. aims to maintain.

Nationalist groups have long protested the Philippines' military ties to the U.S., saying it puts the country at risk. g

Exhibit highlights stories, events, and towns that represent the Filipino Californian spirit.

Mayor London N. Breed

Mayor Breed kicks off Safe Shopper Initiative for...

the great shopping, amazing lights, ice skating and so much more. Keeping each other safe is important all the time, everywhere, but especially important during the holidays. Addressing crimes against retailers and businesses is essential to restoring public safety. While the goal is to prevent crime, we stand ready to prosecute criminal behavior.”

Similar to last year, the city will work with SFPD to limit points of entry on Union Square with some street closures to automobile traffic as added safety measures. In addition to a ramped-up police presence in and around Union Square, the city plans to increase patrol in Union Square parking garages by SFPD, the Park Rangers, and security personnel. More SFPD Community Ambassadors will be deployed to Union Square as part of the Safe Shopper initiative. Last month, Mayor Breed announced the expansion of the city’s community ambassador program throughout downtown BART/MUNI stations and key tourist areas, to include hiring more SFPD Community Ambassadors as part of ongoing work to address public safety incidents and revive San Francisco’s economic core. The

expansion will also include an increase to Ambassador presence throughout Union Square with an emphasis on adding posts to Market Street between 4th and 5th streets by Thanksgiving.

“San Francisco has planned an exciting, innovative, and welcoming holiday shopping season with special events and activities lined up for the entire family. As we kick our holidays into gear, we want to make this special time of the year is easy and fun for the thousands of visitors that will visit Union Square and spend local this season,” said Kate Sofis, Executive Director of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. “We proud of the collective efforts of our public safety agencies and community ambassadors working in collaboration to create a festive environment for guests and businesses alike and I am grateful for their commitment to the Safe Shopper Initiative which is essential to our economic recovery.”

“San Francisco’s Union Square is synonymous with the holidays for San Franciscans, Bay Area residents, and visitors alike,” said Marisa Rodriguez, Executive Director of Union Square Alliance. “As such, safety continues to be a top priority this holiday season. We want to thank

our Mayor London Breed, Police Chief Scott, new District Attorney Brook Jenkins, and our city leaders for ensuring a safe and welcoming holiday experience for all to enjoy.”

Union Square is a worldwide destination for tourists offering over 3 million square feet of retail space to include 37 hotels, which is essential to the City’s economic recovery and core to retail and tourism sectors.

The area will transform into the epicenter of San Francisco’s holiday programming.

Earlier this month, Mayor Breed joined Macy’s for the official Holiday Tree lighting signaling the official start of the season. The newly opened Safeway Ice Skating Rink will complement the Holiday Market at Hallidie Plaza, designed to offer a festive environment featuring handmade gifts, food and beverages, and live entertainment by local vendors.

The seasonal programming will help culminate the “Winter Wanderland” Campaign led by the Union Square Alliance.

The City will also offer free viewing parties for the upcoming World Cup games in Union Square on November, 25, 26, and 27. For more information, please visit worldcupsf.org. (SF Mayor’s Office Release)

STORYBOOKS. United States Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff (in blue suit, facing camera) and Health Undersecretary Officer-In-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire (left, back to camera) distribute storybooks to the students at Gregoria De Jesus Elementary School in Caloocan City during the Healthy and Safe Back to School program on Monday, Nov. 21. The “Tibay ng Dibdib” storybook is based on the true-to-life tuberculosis journey of two young sisters both elementary students who survived the disease with support from their family, community, health care workers and local government unit. PNA photo by Ben Briones

FEATURES OPINION

Medium risk for corruption

TRACKING the results of the Corruption Perceptions Index drawn up in January this year by Transparency International, the Philippines has also slipped in the Global Corruption Index 2022. In the GCI released last week, Geneva-based business risk management consultancy Global Risk Profile ranked the Philippines 105th out of 196 countries and territories, down from last year’s 102nd place. GRP classified the country at “medium risk” for corruption.

Based on perceptions and actual experience, the GCI measures public and private corruption as well as risks for white-collar crimes such as money laundering and terrorism financing. The Philippines, once described as a “black hole” in international finance, is still working to get out of the gray list of countries under close monitoring by Paris-based global dirty money watchdog Financial Action Task Force. GRP noted that financial aid programs during the COVID-19 pandemic “triggered new opportunities for corruption, bribery, falsification of submissions and embezzlement of public funds, therefore draining new resources.”

Editorial

terms by Congress and Malacañang. In Southeast Asia, the Philippines ranked behind Singapore, which placed 13th overall in the GCI, as well as Malaysia (49th), Brunei (70th), Indonesia (98th) and Thailand (101st). The Philippines was ahead of Timor-Leste (114th), Vietnam (131st), Laos (174th), Cambodia (175th) and Myanmar (177th).

Apart from the multibillion-peso scandal involving the sweetheart supply deal for personal protective equipment awarded to favored company Pharmally Pharmaceuticals, which remains unresolved, dozens of barangay captains were also indicted for various anomalies related to the distribution of ayuda during the COVID lockdowns. Instead of punishment, incumbent barangay officials have been rewarded with yet another extension of their

Babe’s Eye View

BABE ROMUALDEZ

THE visit of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris to the Philippines brought us right into the center of international attention, most especially with her itinerary that included a high-profile trip to Palawan province which is located near the Spratlys. Observers predicted that the Palawan visit – which included a tour aboard a Philippine Coast Guard vessel around Puerto Princesa City – may be interpreted by our neighbor to the north as a “rebuke,” with the turn of events being a cause of “irritation.”

But whatever it is, we must remember that from day one of his presidency, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been consistent in communicating to the international community that we have a clear foreign policy that strives in no uncertain terms to be “a friend to all and an enemy to none,” focusing on rebalancing relations with existing and new allies.

Certainly, we value our oldest and only treaty ally, the United States, but we also want to work with other countries including China, and this has been evident during the President’s state visits and bilateral meetings with other heads of state. However, there is no avoiding the fact that we have an issue with China regarding disputed territories, with the Philippines obtaining a favorable ruling from the arbitral court in

Flea Market of Ideas

JOEL RUIZ BUTUYAN

THE United States has just gone through one of the most consequential midterm elections in its recent history. Filipinos are keenly interested in the elections in the so-called land of milk and honey, even if we are distant spectators from our islands of misery and hopelessness. In fact, it’s the only foreign election where many Filipinos take sides in, either expressing preference for the Republican Party or voicing out affinity with the Democratic Party.

The reasons are obvious: a Filipino who has no relative in the U.S. is as rare as a white carabao; the Philippines remains both an economic and cultural colony of the U.S., because the latter persists as our biggest

In the Corruption Perceptions Index released by Transparency International in January this year, the Philippines also slipped by a notch, placing 117th. Denmark, New Zealand and Finland were tied at first place, while Singapore as usual ranked high at fourth place alongside Sweden and Norway. In Southeast Asia, the Philippines ranked below Brunei (35th),  Malaysia (62nd), Timor-Leste (82nd), Vietnam (87th), Indonesia (96th) and Thailand (110th).

The Philippines has also seen its scores fall in the latest indeces on economic freedom and global bribery, attributed to weakening transparency in government and institutional weaknesses in preventing political corruption.

Sandwiched between two major powers

The Hague, Netherlands in July 2016 that junked China’s historic claims on the South China Sea on the basis of its so-called ninedash line.

During his meeting with the Asia Society in New York last September, the President was unequivocal in saying that the position that the Philippines takes is that “we have no territorial conflict with China” because what we have is “China claiming territory that belongs to the Philippines.”

Nevertheless, the President is intent on working with China and other claimant states with the end in view of “resolving the issues involving the West Philippine Sea through diplomacy and dialogue,” he said.

The President reiterated this message during the recently concluded ASEAN summits when he pushed for the early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea as this is envisioned to help reduce the risk of conflict. He also called on leaders to be guided by the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) that outlines universal principles of peaceful coexistence and cooperation, particularly among the “high contracting parties” such as the ASEAN membernations and others that include the U.S., China, Japan and Russia.

Likewise, he highlighted the potential of the South China Sea to become “a nexus of vibrant economic engagements and interactions” and “not an epicenter of armed conflict or geopolitical maneuverings.”

With that having been said,

the in-person meeting between President Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping during the G-20 summit in Bali, Indonesia is seen by many as a right step towards de-escalating the tension between these giants, as both have promised to put more effort into repairing “a relationship that has been at its most rancorous point in decades,” went an article in the New York Times

“None of that hid the deeply divergent views behind their disagreements, including over the future of Taiwan, military rivalry, technology restrictions and China’s mass detentions of its citizens. But with the stakes so high, both Mr. Biden’s and Mr. Xi’s language represented a choice not to gamble on unrestricted conflict but to bet that personal diplomacy and more than a decade of contacts could stave off worsening disputes,” the NYT succinctly put it.

“But neither leader went into the meeting expecting the other to concede on their major areas of disagreement. The point, they said, was to keep lines of communication open to prevent the relationship from devolving further,” the New York Times article pointed out.

In a report written by Don McLain Gill and Joshua Bernard Espeña published at geopoliticalmonitor.com, they pointed to the “critical role” that the Philippines – a middle power – can play in the “overall power equation as the U.S. and China battle for influence in the Indo-Pacific.” The country’s strategic location serves as a tipping point in the rivalry as it

has “the potential to change the balance of power” between these two giants and can “cause major power shifts in the greater IndoPacific region.”

One important factor is that a large majority of Filipinos consider the United States as the most trusted nation and believe President Marcos should assert our rights in the West Philippine Sea. At the same time, they also do not want the Philippines to be like ham in a sandwich – caught between two slabs of bread and be gobbled up in the end.

As I pointed out on many occasions, any conflict can only lead to death and destruction

as we are seeing in the war in Ukraine, and the only way out is through continuing dialogue and diplomacy. While critics may say that what has been happening so far is all talk, that is still by far better than engaging in warfare. My ASEAN colleagues in Washington and I have always maintained that the only way to peace is through the continuing conduct of dialogue and diplomacy, a position that the Philippines continues to advance.

President Marcos emphasized during the ASEAN summit that the South China Sea should remain “a sea of peace, a sea

Crisis of leaders, crisis of voters

trading partner and our lives are inundated with American music, movies, fashion, sports, food, and all kinds of merchandise, and; an overwhelming number of Filipinos still long for the American dream.

I have not encountered any professional survey so far, but from my anecdotal appraisal of the sentiments of fellow Filipino citizens, it’s safe to say that an overwhelming majority of our countrymen identify more with the Democrats rather than with the Republicans.

As outsiders who view American politics from afar, it’s easy to understand why this is generally so for Filipinos: Democratic leaders sound friendlier to immigrants and minorities, they show more empathy for the working class, and they express more hostility toward abusive foreign

governments. In contrast, Republican leaders are viewed as unwelcoming to immigrants, they’re reputedly pro-rich, and they’re tolerant of oppressive foreign governments.

When it comes to Filipino immigrants in the U.S., however, there is a marked increase in the number of Filipinos who support Republicans.

The reasons often cited by U.S.-based and pro-Republican Filipinos are as follows: they espouse policies that are good for the US economy; they’re hard on crime; they are against illegal immigrants and “over-generous” handouts, and; they’re on the side of “conservative values” when it comes to issues of abortion and LGBTQ rights.

Even when the Republican Party was taken over by former president Donald Trump, who has been a magnet of many

scandalous controversies all his life, there’s still a substantial number of U.S.-based Filipinos who are rabidly supportive of Trump as a Republican. This has been the case even if Trump has uttered brazenly racist comments against Mexicans and Muslims, who are colored people and minority groups with whom Filipinos should naturally empathize with. Trump has also been recorded bragging about his exploits at seducing married women and at kissing unsuspecting ladies. He was caught on tape saying: “I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. … Grab ’em by the pussy. You can do anything.” At another time, he publicly declared that he trusted Russian President Vladimir Putin more than he did American intelligence agencies. Trump

also fomented the 2021 violent attack on the U.S. Capitol, aimed at the unthinkable objective of unconstitutionally keeping himself in the White House despite his reelection loss. On Tuesday, November 15, Trump announced that he will seek the U.S. presidency again in the 2024 elections.

Democrat leaders are not exactly saints in comparison, because they’ve had their own share of scandals, but it’s not supposed to be a pissing competition aimed at extolling and elevating to power the most wicked of each party.

But what do we Filipinos know? We have installed in power far more scandalous leaders in our recent elections.

It’s a strange phenomenon that more of this mold of leaders are being elevated to power in multiple countries around

of security and stability and of prosperity.”

And as he clearly articulated, the leaders of the world must remember that they have a “moral and legal obligation to work toward finding solutions and not resort to inciting conflicts” – because to do otherwise will surely lead us to perdition. (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 world. Some bizarre new elements must have been added to our planet’s biosphere that are causing voters worldwide to behave strangely.

This regression in the world’s choice of leaders represent a stepback in the progress of human civilization. It should prompt experts across all countries to come together in order to find out the common denominators of what’s happening and to identify potential solutions. If they do, they will find out that the world does not have a crisis of leaders. Humanity has a crisis of voters.

* * *

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. *

CORA MACABAGDAL-ORIEL President

MOMAR G. VISAYA Executive Editor

ROGER LAGMAY ORIEL

JOSEPH PERALTA Vice President & General Manager Northern California Asian Journal

ManilaTimes.net photo

It is no coincidence that countries ranked high in comparative studies on transparency and corruption are also among the most prosperous and advanced in quality of life. The World Bank and other organizations have stressed that corruption

draws away much needed funds from programs that could otherwise be used for poverty alleviation and development efforts. The latest corruption index should encourage more decisiveness in addressing this problem in the Philippines. (Philstar.com)

FRIENDLY MEETING. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. shares a light moment with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris during a courtesy call at Malacañan Palace in Manila on Monday, Nov. 21. Both leaders are expected to articulate their commitment to working more closely to strengthen investment ties, pursue the digital economy and upskill and accelerate the transition to clean energy. PNA photo by Rey S. Baniquet

Dateline PhiliPPines

‘BBM made good impression at APEC’

FORMER president now Pam panga Second District Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo believes Presi dent Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made a "good impression" in his first par ticipation at the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Bangkok, Thailand.

In a statement on Sunday, No vember 20, Malacañang said Ar royo was satisfied with Marcos' performance speaking before more than half of the world's econ omies.

"He certainly made a very good impression on the leaders of the very important economies. And not only the very important econ omies but also the great economic thinkers of the world," Arroyo was quoted as saying. Marcos earlier described Arroyo as his "secret weapon" during his meeting with the Filipino community in Thailand on Saturday, November 19.

Senate forms oversight committee on intelligence funds, programs

MANILA — The Senate on Monday, November 21 formed the Select Oversight Committee on Intelligence and Confidential Funds, Programs and Activities to keep an eye on how the executive branch will spend around P9.28 billion in lump-sum allocations in the proposed 2023 national budget.

The grant of confidential funds to the executive branch — P4.5 billion to the Office of the President and around P650 million for Vice President Sara Duterte, who is concurrently secretary of the education department — has raised concern because these are not subject to the same audit rules as other budget items.

"In these times, we need to be more trusting of our government agencies," Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, who was later designated chair of the select committee, said. He said that crime has evolved and that government agencies should be given resources to address it.

"We have to have faith that they will use every inch of diligence and discretion in undertaking surveillance and intelligence catheting in the discharge of their sacred mandates and in keeping with their oaths," he also said.

He said, however, that Congress must remember its "power and responsibility of the power of the purse" in checking how these funds are used. "Please trust that we will do our jobs," he said, promising

that the committee would hold hearings on how Confidential and Intelligence Funds are used "if necessary."

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III, who will also be part of the committee, acknowledged that the creation of oversight committees on intelligence funds has long been done by the Senate.

"Let’s continue the good practice,” he said, adding, however, that “ there is an even better practice, which is to discourage the allocation of lump sums."

He said that while lawmakers "tried our best" to decrease the amount of and discourage the grant of CIFs, the committee would be a "second level of defense in the name of the people and for the people, in the name of transparency."

Sen. Robinhood Padilla said he supports the grant of these intelligence funds, especially to Duterte’s office. "Davao can now be considered a safe zone, it has been cleared of those who we call terrorists," he said in Filipino as he credited the former mayor of Davao City for the security situation in Mindanao’s commercial and economic center.

Apart from Zubiri and Pimentel, the Senate designated Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, finance committee chair Juan Edgardo Angara and public order committee chair Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa as members of the

House approves bill for enhanced media workers’ protection, benefits

by Julie M. Aurelio Inquirer.net

MANILA — The House of Representatives has passed on final reading a measure providing for enhanced protection, security, and benefits for those working in the media industry.

Congressmen voted 252 with no abstentions to approve on the third reading House Bill No. 454 or the “Media Workers’ Welfare Act,” a consolidation of five similar bills.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez said Congress “regards the Fourth Estate as an essential partner in nation building and in protecting our democracy.”

“The approval of the measure highlights the importance we in the House give to promoting the welfare of media personnel and ensuring that the press remains free,” he said in a statement.

If enacted into law, HB 454 will apply to all media workers and media entities in the private sector.

The measure provides that the minimum compensation for media workers should not be less than the applicable minimum wage set by the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board.

They will be also entitled to overtime and night shift pay as provided under the Labor Code and related laws.

Media workers shall be covered by the Social Security System, Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund, and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. or PhilHealth upon employment.

The employer and the media worker will share in the payment of monthly premiums

Media workers required to physically report for work in dangerous places like embattled and disease-stricken areas will receive a hazard pay of P500 a day, and shall be provided with safety gear like bulletproof vests and protective equipment by their employer.

They are also entitled to P200,000 death benefit, disability benefit of up to P200,000, and medical insurance of up to P100,000.

The bill further provides that a media worker shall be deemed a regular employee after six months from the start of their employment. An employer shall not terminate the services of an employee except for a just cause and with the observance of due process, it also states.

The Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) regional offices will settle all laborrelated disputes concerning the media worker and the employer.

In addition, the bill holds media entities as responsible for all content released in their platforms, including those produced by block timers.

However, exemption is when the media entity is able to prove that they exercised due diligence, or that the fault, misconduct or violation of law was done solely by the media worker or block timer.

The DOLE secretary will be tasked to create a News Media Tripartite Council, which shall serve as a link among various stakeholders.

The council will also provide a platform where media workers and employers can agree on mutually beneficial policies and programs and settle disputes. g

select oversight committee.

As a show of solidarity, all members of the Senate were designated co-authors of the resolution to form the oversight committee. It was passed with no objections or revisions. (Philstar. com)

He personally invited Arroyo to accompany him during the APEC Summit, noting that her experi ences and insights were valuable.

"Sinasabi kong secret weapon dahil ako 'yung baguhan dito eh. Ako 'yung bagong naging lid er. Kaya't 'pag papasok kami sa meeting, noong nakita si GMA (I say secret weapon because I'm the newbie. I'm the new leader. That's why when we started the meeting and they'd see GMA, they'd say) 'Ah my good friend! My good friend!' Oh madali na kaagad 'yung usapan (Then it would be easy to start talking to them)," he

said.

Highly successful Department of Migrant Work ers Secretary Susan "Toots" Ople described Marcos' first APEC as "highly successful."

She said he developed a good rapport with other economic lead ers, particularly Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, describing their exchanges as "very relaxed, very uplifting."

"Makikita mo na both sides excited mag-engage, and lalo na noong nakausap na niya 'yung Crown Prince, si His Royal High ness Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman o MBS kung tawagin siya sa Saudi Arabia (You could see that both sides were excited to en gage, especially when he spoke to the Crown Prince, His Royal High ness Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman of Saudi Arabia)," Ople said.

Marcos and the Crown Prince had a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the APEC Summit.

"Makikita mo pag-upo pa lang

nila parang magkaibigan na nag katagpo, nagkuwentuhan, pare hong forward-looking, parehong visionary, at parehong proud sa mga Pilipino. Parang 'yun din 'yung kanilang naging common ground (The moment they sat down they seemed like friends who have reunited, telling stories, both forward-looking, both visionaries and both proud of Filipinos. That was their common ground)," Ople added.

During the bilateral meeting between the two leaders, the King dom of Saudi Arabia committed to shoulder the unpaid wages of around 10,000 Filipino workers who were displaced from con struction companies that went bankrupt.

Marcos said there was also an assurance from the Saudi Ministry of Labor that there will be no more unpaid salaries among Filipinos in the Middle Eastern country.

The two leaders also talked about energy and petroleum amid the prevailing oil crisis. (PNA)

MEASLES VACCINE. Kristine Joy Velando (3rd from left), a nurse from City Health Office I, administers free measles vaccine to Athena Ateya Ortiga, 7, during a door-to-door anti-measles campaign for children 7 years old and above at Molino Homes II Subdivision, Barangay Salitran 3, Dasmarinas City, Cavite, on Tuesday, Nov. 22. Measles cases in the country have continued to grow in 2022 based on the latest data from the Department of Health. PNA photo by Gil Calinga

in accordance with existing rules.

Malacañang photo

China coast guard took debris Philippine Navy retrieved off Pag-asa

MANILA — The Chinese Coast Guard "forcefully" took custody of what the military Western Command said is believed to be debris from a Chinese rocket found floating off Pagasa Island in Palawan, the Puerto Princesa headquartered Wecsom said.

In a statement sent to media, Wescom said it first received a report from Naval Station Emilio Liwanag on Kalayaan Island on November 20 that an unidentified object had been spotted via long-range camera drifting about 800 yards west of Pagasa Island in the West Philippine Sea.

Naval station personnel then proceeded to the area for inspection and observed the object drifting towards Pagasa Islands Cay 1 sand bar due to strong waves and currents. Upon arrival, the team retrieved the floating object, tied it securely to their boat, and started towing it back to Kalayaan Island.

"However, as the [Naval Station Emilio Liwanag] Team was towing the floating object, they noticed that China Coast Guard vessel with Bow Number 5203 was approaching their location and subsequently blocked their pre-plotted

course twice," the statement read.

"The vessel then deployed its Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat [and] forcefully retrieved said floating object by cutting the towing line attached to the NSEL rubber boat."

The inflatable boat then returned to its main vessel, and the NSEL Team decided to return to Pagasa Island. No member of the NSEL Team was injured.

The Philippine Space Agency earlier this month said similar debris recovered in waters off Palawan and Mindoro islands were likely from a Chinese Long March 5B rocket launched in late October. PhilSA has also been calling on "spacefaring nations must abide by the protocols and mechanisms enshrined in the UN Outer Space Treaty, encourage close coordination, and timely resolution of issues such as space debris mitigation."  West Philippine Sea incidents

The incident is the latests between Beijing and Manila in a simmering dispute in the South China Sea, part of which Manila calls the West Philippine Sea.

President Ferdinand

"Bongbong" Marcos Jr. earlier called for the completion of a code of conduct among parties with claims to the strategic waterway.

So far in 2022, the Philippine Coast Guard has reported at least four incidents of China Coast Guard vessels conducting close-distance maneuvering while Philippine vessels were on maritime patrol. It called these incidents a clear violation of the 1972 International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.

At one point in 2021, the Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs was filing daily diplomatic protests "against the incessant deployment, prolonged presence, and illegal activities of Chinese maritime assets and fishing vessels in the vicinity of the Pag-asa islands" which numbered in the hundreds.

The DFA said in a statement that it is "aware of the incident and awaits detailed reports from maritime law enforcement agencies," saying also that a thorough review will be conducted."

The Philippine Coast Guard directed inquires on the incident to the Wescom. (Philstar.com)

UN expert coming to help upgrade PH forensic capabilities

MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has invited a special rapporteur from the United Nations (UN) to improve the government’s forensic pathology capabilities as part of efforts to address extrajudicial killings (EJKs).

In a press briefing on Monday, November 21 on the recently concluded fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Philippines human rights situation in Geneva, Switzerland, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said upgrading the skill will also be helpful during disasters.

Remulla said forensic doctor Morris Tidball-Binz will be arriving in the country, along with two other rapporteurs for children and human rights, in the early part of 2023.

“(I)f there are murders or there are deaths that are untimely in the provinces, at least they can help us with investigations. If our people are trained already in the art and the science of forensic pathology, then we will have

experts determining the results,” Remulla said.

“But the other side of it of course is the long term, the capacity building for disasters. Remember (Supertyphoon) Yolanda (in November 2013) where there were thousands of bodies that had to be processed? International pathologists went here to help us,” Remulla said.

Tidball-Binz began his career with forensic and human rights organizations and helped create the International Committee of the Red Cross’ forensic unit, of which he was the first director until early 2017.

Remulla said the country’s outright acceptance of 200 out of the 279 recommendations made during the UPR was groundbreaking.

“It was very fruitful and enlightening and of course, very satisfying that we saw the attitude change within the different countries that we had to face from what we did in October. Three years

ago, what we saw in Geneva at this time was a complete turnaround,” he said.

DOJ Undersecretary Raul Vasquez said the Philippine delegation rejected outright those which are culturally incompatible to the Philippines.

“Normally there are three options given you – accept, reject or you defer. There are several items that [we had to reject] because of our national identity, our religious beliefs, and our cultural traditions and the Philippine sovereignty, that we need to protect and uphold at all times,” Vasquez said.

Among the rejected recommendations were the legalization of divorce and same-sex marriage.

“This legislation is there every Congress. Someone files it. It is a matter of policy whether we will accept it or not. And I think that we know as a country that we are not ready for those,” he added.

(PNA)

Prepare for worst in 2023, lawmaker urges gov’t

by Delon Porcalla Philstar.com

MANILA — A senior opposition lawmaker has warned the Marcos administration to not rest on its laurels like the recent robust economic growth, but should prepare for the projected “looming global recession” in fiscal year 2023.

Rep. Gabriel Bordado Jr., who replaced the Camarines Sur district position that former vice president Leni Robredo left in 2016, said he sees bleak prospects ahead, based on the continuous surge in United States interest rates, record-high inflation, unresolved Ukraine war, among others.

“We do need to protect our people from the impact of the global recession as well as the real and direct consequences of an economy that is very vulnerable to the shocks caused by global conflict,” Bordado said.

The third-term congressman, who belongs to the official minority bloc at the House of Representatives headed by Minority Leader Marcelino

Libanan, conceded that while the local economy “appears to be resilient,” there is still a need to “prepare” for the worst.

Bordado made these remarks in his recent privilege speech, noting that issues brought about by global conflict, like the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the worsening climate crisis spawning extreme weather events and calamities, need to be solved.

The Philippines was in recession in late 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bordado also highlighted the country’s vulnerability to “external forces” or developments either in the Asian region or globally, being a “country highly dependent on imported commodities.”

Last August, the balance of trade reached a record high deficit of $6 billion.

While it narrowed down to $4.8 billion in September, the continued negative balance of trade only highlights the fact that the country needs to seriously come up with measures to address self-sufficiency, food

security and lesser dependency on imports, according to the lawmaker.

While the cautious Bordado raised the specter of yet another domestic recession, Speaker Martin Romualdez is optimistic about the country’s chances of being over the hump by next year, as shown by the steady economic growth for several quarters now.

“I have no doubt on my mind that we can all fully recover from this crisis if we are united. The best is yet to come, if we come together and work hard together. This is for our country, our future,” Romualdez said.

“The President has an Agenda for Prosperity. This agenda has as its core mission the country’s economic transformation towards inclusivity and sustainability,” he added.

The House leader credited the Marcos administration’s Medium-Term Fiscal Framework and its eight-point socioeconomic agenda for the economic expansion, which Romualdez said surprised many analysts. g

US, PH to launch negotiations on civil nuclear cooperation

by Kaycee Valmonte Philstar.com

MANILA — The United States and the Philippines are launching negotiations for a civil nuclear energy cooperation during U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris’ first official trip to Manila.

According to the U.S. Office of the Vice President (VPOTUS), the two countries will be launching the negotiations for the agreement, dubbed the “123 agreement,” to collaborate on zero-emission energy and nonproliferation priorities.

“[The] ‘123 agreement’ is the legal basis that the United States needs to expand civil cooperation and it consists of arrangements to ensure that civil nuclear energy cooperation is protected against nuclear weapons proliferation,” a senior administration official

told reporters in a background briefing on Sunday evening, Nov. 20.

He added that the agreement is integral before the formal civil cooperation can begin as required under the U.S. National Security Act.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has made it clear that he plans to adopt nuclear power, along with leading the country’s transition to renewable energy, as the country grapples with an energy crisis.

Washington said it aims to assist the country “to increase energy security and deploying advanced nuclear reactor technology as quickly as safety and security conditions permit to meet the Philippines’ dire baseload power needs.”

“Such a deployment would

support both energy security and climate goals, as well support workers and businesses in both countries,” the statement from Harris’ office read.

In his first State of the Nation Address, Marcos said the government will comply with rules set out by the International Atomic Energy Agency for nuclear power plants.

He said this plan could be backed by public-private partnerships. Although aside from the U.S., France has also expressed interest in supporting the Philippines’ goal.

However, groups such as Power for People Coalition criticized Marcos’ plans for the country’s energy security, saying that it is “distracted and unsound” by prioritizing both renewable energy even as he pushed for LNG and nuclear. g

DOTr seeks more partnerships to boost maritime industry, security

MANILA

During the Pilipinas Conference 2022 at the Ayala Museum in Makati City on Monday, November 21, DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista noted the recent agreements of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) with other countries to address anti-piracy, anti-illegal drugs, and anti-terrorism campaigns and the recent PCG-United States Coast Guard maritime exercises.

He said the DOTr is looking to enhance the PCG's capabilities through acquiring more assets.

"[President Ferdinand R. Marcos] concurred with our thrust to modernize and upgrade the PCG’s assets and capabilities," he said.

To date, he said the country is also actively participating in the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combatting Piracy and Armed Robbery and establishment of the multisectoral National Coast Watch System (NCWS) and Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Center (JPSCC) and the Maritime Command Centers with ASEAN member nations Indonesia and Malaysia.

“The DOTr realizes the

strengths and weaknesses of our maritime agencies but we are optimistic at being able to enhance our capabilities at ensuring the safety of our vessels, passengers and crew,” he said.

The country is represented in the NCWS and JPSCC by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP).

“We look at opportunities to forge collaborations with maritime-related agencies of other countries to benchmark our efforts at raising our maritime industry to global standards,” he said.

With much of the country relying on sea transport, he said the DOTr is looking to strengthen

“With

He noted that the Philippines aims to be a ""major maritime nation that values the safety and protection of marine life and marine environment."

Earlier, the MARINA signed a memorandum of understanding with the Nautical Institute to help boost the country's maritime education and training through improvements on curricula and conducting academic workshops. (PNA)

– The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is looking to build more partnerships with other countries to help boost the maritime industry and security of the Philippines.

its maritime sector agencies such as the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).

massive coastal lowlands and marine resources, the country relies largely on sea transport for mobility of people and goods,” he said.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista Inquirer.net file photo

CONTENDERS. Dance presentations are mixed with the final judging night of the 15th “Belenismo sa Tarlac” on Saturday, Nov. 19. A total of 51 life-size depictions of the nativity of Jesus will vie for cash prizes in different categories of the event that started in 2007, held annually except at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

PNA photos by Avito Dalan

Dolly shares ghting chance in Hollywood amid buzz on possible Oscar nom

by JELINE MALASIG Philstar.com

VETERAN actress Dolly de Leon shared her fighting chance in Hollywood after her name was floated among the possible nominees for a major category in the upcoming Academy Awards or the Oscars.

Fresh from the United States, the actress graced the opening of the 10th QCinema International Film Festival on Thursday, November 17 where her Canneswinning movie, “Triangle of Sadness,” had its Philippine premiere.

Dolly was in the stateside where she participated in the producer’s campaign to woo members of the Academy Awards to select her as a finalist in the 2023 Oscars Best Supporting Actress category.

Her performance in the dark comedy film earned similar commendation from Filipinos after receiving a rousing standing ovation following its Philippine premiere.

According to Dolly, she chose to be in the country for the film’s local premiere to feel the reaction of her fellow Pinoys.

“It was my choice to be here,” she told ABS-CBN News.

The actress also said that she believes Southeast Asians have more “representation” on the international stage, saying that there’s more “diversity” when it comes to casting and on film production teams.

“Nagbabago na ‘yung mundo ngayon eh, dun na tayo sa, ‘yung inclusivity, na lahat ng ethnicities welcome dun sa mundo nila,” Dolly said in a video uploaded by

The actress cited the international breakthroughs of fellow Pinoy actors Soliman Cruz, Chai Fonacier, Ruby Ruiz and others for continuing to open more doors for Filipino artists on the global stage.

Dolly also described the campaign for the movie to get nominated under Best International Feature Film category of Oscars 2023 as “super solid.”

“Talagang ang sipag sipag nila na i-campaign tayo tsaka ‘yung pelikula, as in back-to-back ‘yung mga pangyayari,” she said.

“May interview ta’s photoshoot, ta’s screening, ta’s Q&A, ta’s cocktails, ta’s ganon ulit. Gising na naman nang maaga tapos tulog na naman nang late. So talagang solid ‘yung campaign nila dun,” Dolly added.

In relation to her possible Oscar

nomination, the actress admitted that she does not want to expect too much since she does not want to feel bad if she fails to get in.

“Kung hindi pumasok, okay lang, siguro iiyak ako ng isang araw ta’s okay nako ulit,” she said with a laugh.

Moving forward, Dolly teased that she will work in the U.S in March where she will take part in a comedy film.

Parang ano ako doon, medyo mean or medyo masungit na stepmom,” she said.

‘Triangle of Sadness’

The actress stars in Ruben Östlund‘s “Triangle of Sadness” as Abigail, a toilet manager on a luxury cruise ship.

The movie tells the story of celebrity couple Carl (Harris Dickinson) and Yaya (Charlbi Dean) who were invited to a yacht for a luxury cruise after Fashion Week.

Things take a turn for the worse

TWENTY-FIVE years ago, San Diego area’s “King of Lechon” was denied his green card because he aged-out before his case was approved.

The family was heartbroken, but

U.S.

LEADING U.S. IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL (RIGHT) SUES THE INS, AND WINS GREEN CARD FOR CLIENT, ON AN ENCORE EPISODE SUCCESS STORY OF CITIZEN PINOY THIS SUNDAY! Michael (left) aged out before his green card was approved. Unfortunately, the INS did not expedite the case despite the Law Offices of Michael J. Gurfinkel repeatedly urging them to do so since they were trying to beat the clock before Michael’s 21st birthday. Atty. Gurfinkel filed a lawsuit against the INS and appealed the case to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled in their favor. Michael was able to get his green card even though he already aged out. And this was before the Child Status Protection Act became law. Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy”on Sunday, November 27 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. (Advertising Supplement)

Client gets his green card even after aging out and before the Child Status Protection Act became law, on an encore episode success story on ‘Citizen Pinoy’ this Sunday

leading

Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel was persistent to the point of filing a lawsuit against the INS

for failing to expedite Michael’s case. Although the Federal Court denied the case, Atty. Gurfinkel

News5 entertainment journalist MJ Marfori.

Dolly de Leon in this photo taken by Jojit Lorenzo and uploaded on her Instagram on April 5. Photo from Instagram/@dollyedeleon

celebrityworld

By Ferdie Villar

IT’S never an easy decision to stay away from the limelight, especially when you have experienced success on a grand scale.

Concert Queen Pops Fernandez and Megastar Sharon Cuneta in recent weeks revealed that they had considered stepping away from their careers. Both artists ultimately decided to put that decision on hold.

For Pops, recent concerts with fellow singers and industry veterans renewed her passion

for singing and performing on stage.

“In my mind, I could retire already. But when you experience, when you feel again, when you’re onstage again, of course you feel the energy of the audience, and it encourages you,” she admitted in an interview with PEP.ph. “I think I am just thankful that I am given more chance to perform again. And not just perform, I really get to perform with the best of the best.”

Pops, Sharon put retirement decisions on hold

“God has been so good and we still have other things being planned, individually, with our other shows. So, we’re feeling very blessed to be able to perform constantly, especially for me. It’s been a while since I have been able to sing [before an audience], it’s like lately I am given a chance to do one show after the other, so I really feel that it is such a blessing,” she added.

Prior to performing with Kuh Ledesma and Jaya, Pops was part of the Hitmakers concert with male singers Hajji Alejandro, Nonoy Zuñiga, Rey Valera and Marco Sison.

“People have not seen me for a long time. I am very grateful and thankful, and I really feel blessed,” Pops reiterated.

The singer-TV host is currently in the United States to spend the holidays with her sons Robin and Ram.

Sharon, meanwhile, had posted an excerpt from Joanna Gaines’ new book “The Stories We Tell,” which she said resonated with her.

“I am just undeniably EXHAUSTED. Retirement is calling. Once in a while I can pop up in a movie or two, a concert, or a TV show, even a season or a series if it’s not too tiring. But I AM tired… All I wish I could do is be with my family and take care of them. And do all those other things I always wish I could do but just couldn’t find the time for,” part of the 56-year-old’s post said.

It hasn’t been the first time that Sharon had posted her wishes to retire from showbiz – as early as seven years ago, she had talked about getting away from it all.

However, Sharon’s replies to people commenting on her post showed that she cannot do as she pleases at the moment.

Replying to fellow showbiz star Arlene Muhlach, who said that she wants to do the exact same thing at 54 but can’t do it because her kids are both still in school, Sharon said, “I really feel you. Same.”

And then, there’s the Megastar’s reply to Belen Aleth Ocampo, who told Sharon to take

Health @Heart

PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS

GUANGZHOU, one of China’s largest and busiest cities, is locking down as it battles a major outbreak of COVID-19. Lockdowns are truly effective and less cumbersome, a lot simpler to enforce, if done in a timely fashion when it comes to a contagious killer disease like the SARS-CoV2 virus.

In this case, the horses are already out of the barn, so to speak, so a lockdown is a bit too late. It will likely be more of a crackdown now. It should have been implemented in the whole of China as a preventive measure when the first diagnosed case in Wuhan City was confirmed. Overkill? Not if we want to save millions of lives. Science has the proof of the gross mistake: Almost 7 million people have died from COVID-19 around the world. It is a grave international disgrace because the strict principles of science and medicine have not been faithfully implemented and enforced, resulting in this negligent “genocide.”

The best scenario would have been the total lockdown of Wuhan City on December 8, 2019 when it first identified the mysterious killer pneumonia as caused by the novel coronavirus we now know as SARS-CoV2 virus, the super-contagious killer (almost 644 million cases today, with more than 6.6 million deaths). Had Wuhan been locked down (100 percent) – no-onein, no-one-out – it could have contained the deadly virus within the city. The cases and deaths would have been limited to that city alone. And even the rest of China could have been spared, not to mention, the whole world.

For infectious diseases, it must be 100 percent lockdown, and not 99 percent, because one single infected person going out (or coming in, like in the U.S.) could spread the virus like an exponential wildfire, which is what happened. This COVID-19 pandemic started December 8, 2019 with one person, Wei Guixian, a female vendor at the large Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan City, who was the first person infected with the novel coronavirus. Indeed, one person is enough to start a deadly global catastrophe.

As most people know, Typhoid Mary (Mary Mallon, a cook) single-handedly (no pun-intended), innocently and unaware, totally without symptoms, started the typhoid outbreak in 1906-07 in New York and surrounding cities. To prevent the spread of typhoid

Lockdown too late

fever since she was always positive for the disease (but without symptoms), she was quarantined in North Brother Island (Bronx) for more than 23 years, isolated, until she died of stroke at age 69 in 1938. A sad story of a grave injustice!

If the United States, on December 31, 2019, or even on January 18, 2020, upon confirming the first case of novel coronavirus infection in Washington State involving a person who returned from Wuhan City, had imposed a total national lockdown and immediate contact tracing, mandatory masking in public and social distancing, and had federally mandated vaccination of everyone in the country, when the vaccines were available (those refusing to be vaccinated, quarantined at home, those returning to the U.S. quarantined at facilities near the airport, seaport, etc.), the more than 100 million U.S. cases of COVID-19, with greater than a million deaths, would have been reduced by more than 90 percent. And the devastation of the national economy and of children’s education would have been avoided.

Faithfulness to the century-old proven epidemiologic measures to minimize the spread of a contagious disease and people discipline and cooperation could have saved at least 900,000 of those lives lost in the United States alone. But that requires pure medical, pure science, and a wise and steadfast national leadership in the management of the pandemic, sans politics and fake news.

Unfortunately, people in a free nation like the U.S. appear to savor the exercise of their freedom of choice under our First Amendment Rights more so than preventing the spread of this killer virus and saving the lives of their fellowmen, as shown by the number of cases and deaths from COVID-19 in the United States. People’s refusal to mask up in public and refusal to get vaccinated (“because WE have the freedom to choose what to do with our own body”) contributed to the massive exponential spread of SARSCoV2 virus around the country and the almost 1.1 million deaths in the United States, not to mention a devastated national economy and education. The greater tragedy is the fact that majority of the more than 100 million cases and those deaths were, epidemiologically speaking, mostly preventable, had the government followed pure science in controlling the killer virus.

The confusion and chaos about the virus, mitigating

measures, and the vaccines were caused by the poor messaging by our government, who had 50 commanders-in-chief, one for each state, with conflicting partisan and personal views, policies, and rules, contradicting each other.

A pandemic is like a world war. In dealing with it, we must have only one commander-inchief, with one national policy, based on pure science and medicine, with all-hands-on deck of the nation’s people, united, all fighting (not with each other but) against our common invisible-killer enemy. The nation and its people acting as one solid force, focused on one objective, even voluntarily giving up some of our individual freedoms temporarily to save the lives of our fellowmen and our nation as a whole.

Two of the most perpetrated fake news in the social media claim masks are useless and that vaccines are dangerous. Science has repeatedly shown masks are effective in preventing the spread of respiratory diseases.

This COVID-19 pandemic has proven masks do help save lives. Masks not only protect the wearer but people nearby! Like bullet-proof vests, they are not 100 percent, but nonetheless, they are lifesavers. Past epidemics and pandemics have also proven that.

As for the vaccines, more than 13 billion have been administered worldwide saving billions of lives around the world during this pandemic, contrary to disinformation anti-vax mongers are promoting which has caused countless deaths.

I hope we have learned enough from this pandemic to prepare us for a future one. Even one death is one too many.

* * *

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

* * *

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

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

care of herself and told Sharon that she understands the star’s need to slow down and take it easy. Part of Sharon’s reply said, “Yes Atche…Wanna rest na so bad but too many obligations pa…”

For now, it looks like both Pops and Sharon will still be active in showbiz. Here’s hoping that when the time is right, both stars will be able to take the reins and enjoy the rest of their lives doing what they love best. * * *

And talking of retirement, “Maalaala Mo Kaya” (MMK), the longest-running drama anthology presented by ABSCBN, is ending its run after 31 years. MMK was first seen on the air in May of 1991.

In a message to its viewers, MMK host Charo Santos announced the end of the series’ run which took place at a recent TV Patrol telecast and can also be seen via Instagram (@ mmkofficial).

“We cannot count how many stories we have told here at MMK – real stories that reflect your own lives, and that have given lessons and renewed hope,” she said. “We just relay the stories. If we are able to do this all over again, I would not think twice about choosing this role. Thirtyone years is not enough to say thanks to all of you.”

“Nevertheless, I would like to give recognition to everyone who sent in their letters, to the directors, writers, researchers, production staff and to all who have become a part of our program. To the actors who starred [in the series], thank you very much,” Charo added.

The MMK host also took the opportunity to thank ABSCBN management, the shows sponsors and especially its viewers, who Charo said let them know that they were doing something worthwhile.

As parting words, Charo said, “Thank you for the experience and for any capacity that we may be able to meet again. This is Charo Santos, your fan and your host.”

MMK is scheduled to air its

Consul General Ferrer calls on Vallejo City Mayor, commits to mutual promotion of trade and investment

During the meeting, the Consul General held discussions on promoting mutual trade and investment, enhancing peopleto-people ties, and engaging with the sizable number of Filipino Americans in the City of Vallejo. Consul General Ferrer shared the Philippines’ investment priorities to Mayor McConnell and expressed hope that companies in Vallejo can consider the Philippines for their outward investment as well as for trade. Mayor McConnell, for his part, also shared economic developments in Vallejo as well as major companies present in the city. The Mayor also shared about ongoing projects in the city where Filipino American entrepreneurs are welcome to participate.

The two officials also discussed the sister city agreement between Baguio City and Vallejo City that has spanned for almost 30 years and expressed hope that the ties can lead to more economic opportunities for the two cities.

Client gets his green card even after aging out...

knows when he is right, and he appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and won. INS was ordered to issue Michael’s green card despite his aging out. Watch this success story on a encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, November 27 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app. (Advertising Supplement)

Dolly shares fighting chance in Hollywood...

when a storm occurs and they get shipwrecked on a desert island with several other billionaires who joined the cruise.

Mild-mannered Abigail, who ends up being the most capable of them, becomes a ruthless survivalist and leader figure among the privileged passengers as they deal with their situation.

The film has earned the Palme d’Or for Best Picture, the top award, at the prestigious 2022 Cannes Film Festival.

Dolly’s performance was also lauded by the foreign press, with Variety saying that “her every line has so far prompted cheers in press and public screenings

alike.”

“Her story is just one part of Östlund’s searing commentary on privilege, greed and power — but Abigail’s power play, exquisitely brought to life by de Leon’s deadpan delivery, is what audiences will remember,” the entertainment publication said.

Variety awards guru Clayton Davis said that Dolly “could be the frontrunner walking into awards season,” referring to the Oscars.

“Her committed turn not only makes her the defining supporting performance of the year thus far, but also, if enough Academy members make a note to focus on quality (and not simply name recognition as they

can often do),” he predicted.

Variety has released its Oscar predictions for 2023 and ranked the Filipina third among the possible Best Supporting Actress contenders.

The Oscars is an awards ceremony in the US that annually honors the best technical and artistic achievements in the American and international film industry.

Winners are selected by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, a professional honorary organization composed of distinguished cinematographers, directors, actors, musicians, writers, editors and such.

Recent singing engagements with fellow singers in the U.S. seemed to have put a stop to retirement thoughts in Pops Fernandez’s mind.

Photo from Instagram/@popsfernandezofficial

Maalaala Mo Kayo (MMK) host Charo Santos recently announced the end of the series’ run after 31 years on the air. Photo from Instagram/@mmkofficial

Megastar Sharon Cuneta wants to retire from showbiz, but revealed that she cannot because she has obligations to fulfill. Photo from Instagram/@reallysharoncuneta

three-part finale from November 26 to December 10. Throughout its 31-year run, MMK was recognized by local and international groups, receiving awards for its actors

and production team. The drama series’ success led to other projects bearing the same name, including a daily adio drama on DZMM , a movie and a comic book adaptation.

Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel (right) with his client, Michael.

Consul General Neil Frank Ferrer with Vallejo City Mayor Robert McConnell

From left: Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil, Vallejo City Economic Development Officer Michael Nimon, Deputy Consul General Raquel Solano, Vallejo City Attorney Veronica Nebb, Consul General Neil Frank Ferrer, Vallejo City Mayor Robert McConnell, City Planning Officer Gillian Hayes

THE Philippines’ Consul General to San Francisco Neil Frank Ferrer paid a courtesy call on Vallejo City Mayor Robert H. McConnell on October 26.

Both officials noted the increasing participation of the Filipino American community in

public life and their contribution to the City of Vallejo. (PCGSF Release)

Las Vegas housing market still affordable

by RealtoR Fely Quitevis-Bateman

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Realtor Fely Quitevis- Bateman (holding the Philippine flag) at the Western Wall, or what is known as the Wailing Wall or Kotel. The Western Wall, located in the old city of Jerusalem, is considered the most religious site for Jewish people in the world and draws millions of visitors from around the world every year.

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

P-Pop kings SB19 visit Sentro Rizal SF, engages Bay Area community in CalligraFilipino activity

SAN FRANCISCO – The

Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco threw a warm reception to global Pinoy Pop (P-Pop) sensation SB19 during their visit on Thursday, November 17, ahead of their concert in Redwood City, California on Friday, November 18.

SB19 members Pablo, Josh, Stell, Ken, and Justin visited the Consulate to pay a courtesy call on Philippine Consul General Neil Ferrer, promote the Consulate’s Sentro Rizal San Francisco, and take part in the Sentro Rizal presentation “Sulat Baybayin: A CalligraFilipino Exclusive With SB19.”

In his remarks, Consul General Ferrer lauded SB19 for being the first Filipino and Southeast Asian act to be nominated in Billboard Music Awards for the Top Social Artist category, and the first Southeast Asian act to enter the Top 10 of Billboard Social 50 weekly and year-end charts.

“As we speak, SB19 is back on the Billboard's Trending Hot Songs with their song WYAT at number 4, surpassing BTS and Justin Bieber,” Consul General Ferrer said.

Consul General Ferrer also cited the selection of SB19 as “Youth and Sentro Rizal Ambassadors” by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), “for their support for advocacies that will uplift the Filipino spirit, music and culture to the global scene.”

“Indeed, through their sheer creative talent and authentic connection to their legions of followers, SB19 has transformed the Filipino music scene and represented the Filipino youth well to the world,” the Philippine Consul General added.

Following the call, SB19 joined the Filipino American Community

in the Bay Area for the “Sulat Baybayin” event, facilitated by CalligraFilipino creator and 2022 NCCA Competitive Grants recipient Taipan Lucero.

Each SB19 member completed a CalligraFilipino art challenge with the help of selected Filipino American community members.

The output from the art-making activity revolves around the theme of Filipino culture and pride, with the baybayin translations of Filipino words “Pilipino,” “bayani, “kapwa,” “kaisa,” and “puso.” The group of SB19 member Stell and West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service Center was judged the winner of the art challenge.

Among the organizations

represented include the Filipino American Arts Exposition (FAAE), West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service Center, Filipino Education Center (FEC) Galing Bata Bilingual Program at Bessie Carmichael School, the Philippine Studies Department of the City College of San Francisco (CCSF), and the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of San Francisco (UPAASF).

As a token of appreciation for their visit, Consul General Ferrer awarded a certificate to SB19 and handed out souvenir items from the Filipino Heritage Night of Major League Baseball’s San Francisco Giants.

Sentro Rizal San Francisco was opened to the public in 2019 as the hub for Philippine culture and the arts in the Bay Area. Located at a 2,700-square-foot space at the 5th floor of the Consulate, Sentro Rizal comprises the Museo ng Lahing Pilipino (Museum of the Filipino People), the Sentro Rizal Library, and Virtual Sentro Rizal.

The Consulate’s Sentro Rizal houses two original paintings of Fernando Amorsolo, the Philippines’ first National Artist, Filipiniana fashion, and Philippine history bas-reliefs, as well a collection of around 1,500 Filipino and Filipino American books and publications. (PCGSF Release)

Iza explains why it should be sex reveal, not gender reveal

by

Iza Calzado

that it should be "sex reveal" and not "gender reveal" when it comes to her baby's shower party.

At the press conference of her new series "K-Love," a reporter asked Iza if she plans to have a gender reveal for her upcoming baby with husband Ben Wintle.

“Sorry. [It’s] sex reveal. Gender is an expression, and we cannot reveal it,” she said.

In her interview with Cosmopolitan, Iza elaborated further her stance.

"We already found out sex accidentally, so that takes out the point of a reveal for us, the parents. I see how this surprise can make other parents excited, and I appreciate and see the value in that. I have been to some sex or gender reveal parties, and it’s filled with so much joy and love!" she said.

"In today’s PC (politically correct) world, I can only reveal the sex as gender is a social and cultural construct. I would choose to highlight a baby’s good health as that is my fervent wish and prayer for our child above anything else," she added.

Iza said that they will focus financially on the birth of their child instead of spending for a party.

"From an economic standpoint, I think another party that we have to spend on does not make sense to me, personally, as all our efforts should and must focus on the baby’s birth and first few months and years," she said.

"All these decisions are our personal choice. Please do what you think is best for you and your

child. By all means, throw a reveal if it will make your family and loved ones happy by coming together for that joyful moment. However, don’t be pressured to do one just because everyone else around you is doing it. Your journey to parenthood is uniquely yours. Celebrate it! Enjoy it!" she added.

SB19 group members with Consul General Neil Ferrer at the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco. Photos courtesy of San Francisco PCG

SB19 group members pose with CalligraFilipino creator Taipan Lucero.

Youth and Sentro Rizal ambassadors SB19 pose with Fil-Am community members at the conclusion of the CalligraFilipino activity.

CONGEN FERRER GRACES 32ND ANNIVERSARY, INDUCTION OF NEW OFFICERS OF U.S. ILOCANO NATIONAL ASSOCIATION. Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Ferrer attended the 32nd anniversary celebration and the induction of the 2022-2024 officers of the U.S. Ilocano National Association (USINA) at Best Western Plus Grosvenor Hotel in South San Francisco, California on November 5. In his remarks, Consul General Ferrer recognized the “manong generation” or the young Ilocano bachelors who paved the entry of the first wave of Filipino immigrants to the United States in the early 1900s, and noted that many of the preeminent Filipino Americans in history such as “America Is In The Heart” author Carlos Bulosan and labor leader Larry Itliong were from the Ilocos Region. Consul General Ferrer urged USINA to actively take part in efforts that will accelerate socioeconomic development in the Philippines and spearhead efforts that will foster unity and cooperation within the Filipino American community, following the call of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Photos courtesy of USINA

Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

Iza Calzado showing her baby bump Photo from Instagram/@missizacalzado

KAPAMILYA actress

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