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DECEMBER 2-8, 2021

T HE F ILIPINO A MERICAN C OMMUNITY N EWSPAPER

Volume 32 - No. 48 • 12 Pages

2770 S. Maryland Pkwy., Suite 201 Las Vegas, NV 89109 Tel: (702) 792-6678 • Fax: (702) 792-6879

Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY

US plans to tighten travel restrictions over Omicron

by MOMAR

G. VISAYA

AJPress

THE United States is going to require all air travelers entering the country to show a negative COVID-19 test performed within one day of departure in an attempt to slow the spread of the new Omicron coronavirus variant.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the new one-day testing requirement would apply to U.S. citizens as well as foreign nationals.

Before this new rule, vacci-

DATELINE

nated international air travelers could present a negative test result obtained within three days from their point of departure.

According to CNN, the administration is also considering whether to require air travelers to get another COVID-19 test within three to five days after arrival in the United States.

“A revised order would shorten the timeline for required testing for all international air travelers to one day before departure to the United States,” a CDC spokesman said in a statement. “This strengthens already robust protocols in place for in-

ternational travel, including requirements for foreign travelers to be fully vaccinated.”

The first reported case of the omicron variant has been identified in the U.S. and according to the CDC, the case was detected in a person in California, an individual who returned from South Africa on November 22. There are currently no confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in New York City.

The CDC lists about 80 foreign destinations as having “Level Four,” its highest level of COVID-19 transmission. Ameri-

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Fil-Am student dies during amateur boxing match in Las Vegas

USA

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Suspect in San Diego stabbing of elderly Filipino man arrested A MAN wanted in the brutal stabbing of an elderly Filipino man outside a trolley station in El Cajon, California has been arrested in Texas following a high speed chase.

Israel Ezekiel Valdivia, 24, allegedly stole a car from a 7-Eleven store in Abilene around 6 a.m. on Tuesday, November 23.

After driving to Winters and attempting to hit a pedestrian, a high-speed pursuit started, according to the Runnels County Sheriff Carl Squyres.

“He was definitely running pretty hard from the California authorities. I have no idea how he got here,” Squyres said.

After a long chase, Valdivia lost control,

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‘IT IS OK TO ASK FOR HELP. IT IS NOT A WEAKNESS’

Addressing the holiday blues and persevering the second Christmas in the age of COVID-19 LAST year, Charlene Fernandez had a Christmas she would rather just forget.

A fourth-year animal science student at Cal Poly Pomona, Fernandez, 23, spent Christmas Day alone in her dimly-lit studio apartment sat in front of her computer.

Zoom was open on the screen which featured a couple dozen family members on it.

She was one of the only guests on the Zoom who lived alone; almost every other square on the screen had multiple people, individual families who had the fortune of living together during the pandemic.

“When you’re Filipino, Christmas is a big deal, and the bigger your family, the bigger the celebration,” Fernandez told the Asian Journal. “Zoom parties can be a good alternative to meeting in person, but for me, it

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LIGHTING CEREMONY. President Rodrigo Duterte is accompanied by his partner Honeylet Avanceña, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea as he presses the button to light up the Christmas Tree during a ceremony of the Office of the President (OP) at the Kalayaan Grounds in Malacañang Palace on Wednesday, December 1. While observing COVID-19 restrictions, he also approached a small crowd of OP personnel to greet them on his last Christmas as leader of the country. Duterte’s six-year term as president will end in June 2022.

Malacañang photo by Robinson Niñal

Nathan Valencia Photo courtesy of GoFundMe

A FILIPINO American college student died from injuries shortly after an amateur charity boxing match in Las Vegas last week.

Nathan Valencia, a 20-year-old student of University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), passed away on Tuesday, November 23, after participating in Kappa Sigma fraternity’s off-campus ‘Kappa Sigma Fight Night’ on Nov. 19.

According to 8 News Now, Valencia collapsed after the fight and was rushed to the hospital. Four days later, he died of brain injuries.

Valencia’s mother told local media that she wanted him to back out of the fight, but he insisted on participating since it was for charity.

Meanwhile, the family’s attorney, Nick Lasso, pointed out that neither medical help nor a professional referee was there in the sponsored charity boxing match.

“The family is deeply saddened over the loss of their loved one. They have asked for privacy during this painful time to grieve. This was an entirely avoidable and unnecessary death that will be fully investigated,” Lasso said in a statement.

“While it is early to know all details, it appears there were multiple safety

measure failures by both UNLV and Kappa Sigma Fraternity,” he added.

On Friday, Nov. 26, the Valencia’s family attorney released another statement, vowing to leave “no stone unturned” to find out how a 20-year-old college student ended up in a boxing match.

“The Valencia family is heartbroken over the loss of Nathan. Our preliminary investigation reveals mistakes were made and safety precautions overlooked.

We will be completing a full investigation to determine how UNLV and the Kappa Sigma Fraternity could allow and promote an event like this to take place.

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PH suspends testing, quarantine protocols for travelers from certain countries

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

THE Philippines has temporarily suspended its lenient testing and quarantine protocols for countries or territories classified as “green” starting on November 29, according to Malacañang.

Acting Presidential Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles on Sunday, Nov. 28, announced that the InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) approved the temporary suspension until December 15.

“The IATF likewise approved the temporary suspension of testing and quarantine protocols for countries/ jurisdictions/territories classified as ‘Green’ effective immediately until December 15, 2021,” he said in a statement.

This means that fully vaccinated travelers in all ports of entry will be required to undergo a three-day quarantine even with a negative COVID-19 test result.

Meanwhile, travelers who are unvaccinated, as well as those with Apollo Quiboloy incomplete doses or without a negative

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‘I’m done’: Manny Pacquiao says he misses boxing, but won’t return to fight

by BONG LOZADA Inquirer.net

MANILA — Some things are best left behind, even if it’s the one thing you love the most.

Just ask Manny Pacquiao.

The legendary boxer-turned-politician admitted that stepping away from the sport was the hardest decision of his life but it’s the resolution he’s made with himself as he takes a crack at the Philippines’ top executive position.

“Hanging my gloves is the hardest part of all my life, cause I grew up in boxing, so I understand that this is sports,” said Pacquiao in an AFP interview.

u PAGE 4 Sen. Manny Pacquiao

Inquirer.net file phjoto

Inquirer.net file photo

DOJ may probe Quiboloy, but gov’t waiting for US evidence first MANILA — The Philippine government can investigate Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, indicted on sex trafficking charges in the United States, but they will have to wait for evidence from American authorities, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said.

This is to avoid duplication of efforts if the offense and the victims are the same in American and Philippine jurisdictions, the justice secretary explained to reporters.

“If the evidence further shows that some acts other than those covered by the U.S. indictment have been committed here, then that’s cue to conduct a separate domestic investigation,” Guevarra said.

U.S. prosecutors last week announced sex trafficking charges against Quiboloy and two top officials of Kingdom of Jesus, The Name Above Every Name.

They are accused of recruiting females aged 12 to 25 to work as personal assistants or “pastorals” for the religious leader.

Pastorals supposedly prepared Quiboloy’s meals, cleaned his residences, gave him massages and were required to have sex with him in what they called “night duty.”

Guevarra told reporters that they are still waiting for the official extradition request from the U.S. They are expecting that this will come with a copy of the

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http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

DECEMBER 2-8, 2021 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

FROM THE FRONT PAGE

US plans to tighten travel...

PAGE 1 cans are discouraged Americans from traveling to those destinations.

In New York, city officials on Tuesday, Nov. 30 strongly recommended that all New Yorkers, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks in indoor settings to try and get ahead of the new variant.

Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dave Chokshi is anticipating the detection of Omicron in New York “in the coming days, based on what we know about

its global spread.”

“We still have a lot to learn about the Omicron variant, but its emergence lends urgency to the importance of the precautions we’ve all become familiar with, particularly vaccination, masking, and testing,” he said.

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Dr. Chokshi issued the health advisory and said that while the new variant had not been detected yet in the five boroughs, it has ignited fears of worsening an ongoing surge in cases.

Mayor-elect Eric Adams stressed the importance of

working together and thanked the South African scientists for detecting this new variant and immediately alerting the international community.

“I believe that we’re sending a clear message, being sent to New Yorkers that the vaccine is our most potent weapon, but our coordination is a close second to that. And we’re going to have that coordination,” Adams said. “And how we choose to respond as a city, we show our resolve against this virus, to each other and to the rest of the globe.” ■

Fil-Am student dies during amateur boxing...

PAGE 1

College students should not be placed in a situation where they are pitted against each other for combat. “Kappa Sigma Fight Night” is an event that has been held annually and was well known to both UNLV and the national Kappa Sigma Fraternity,” the statement read.

“We will leave no stone unturned to determine how a 20year-old ended up in a schoolsanctioned amateur fight that cost him his life. The family has asked for privacy during this time to grieve,” it added.

For his part, UNLV President Keith Whitfield assured that the university is “committing all available resources” to review the incident.

“We are shocked and heartbroken as we mourn the loss of one of our own. Coping with the loss of life is always

difficult, especially under these circumstances. UNLV is committing all available resources to review the incident and determine how off-campus events like these can be as safe as possible,” he said in a statement.

“Our deepest sympathies go out to his family, friends, and loved ones. I am sure words cannot describe their feeling of grief and emptiness. They are in our thoughts during this very difficult time. The Rebel community shares their loss,” he added.

Likewise, Kappa Sigma Fraternity offered their condolences to Valencia’s family.

“Kappa Sigma Fraternity is greatly saddened by the loss of Nathan Valencia at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Our deepest condolences,

thoughts and prayers are with the Valencia family and the entire UNLV community,” it said in a statement.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family with medical and funeral expenses. As of this writing, it has raised over $50,000 of its $100,000 goal.

“Nathan was actively a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon at UNLV. He had so much love for his chapter and valued the genuine connections he was able to make,” the page’s description read.

“Nathan passed away on November 23rd at the young age of 20. Although Nathan is not here with us physically, his spirit will forever live on through everyone that knows him. Nathan was taken from us too soon, but I know we have gained the best guardian angel,” it added. ■

Suspect in San Diego stabbing of elderly...

PAGE 1 drove across a ditch, and was taken into custody. He is currently being held in the Runnels County Jail, where he faces charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle from Abilene and evading arrest.

Texas police said Valdivia will face local charges in the state before being extradited back to California where he will face his attempted murder charge for attacking and stabbing 71-yearold Jose Serra.

Serra, 71, was walking to a

nearby manufacturing facility at the Arnele Avenue trolley stop around 5 a.m. on Nov. 3 when he was attacked by Valdivia using a 12” knife, as previously reported by the Asian Journal.

Valdivia followed Serra after getting off the trolley and stabbed him repeatedly, slashing his head, hand, and stomach.

In a Nov. 11 news release, the El Cajon Police Department noted Serra “had numerous life-threatening stab wounds and had been severely slashed

across his face.”

“The victim’s ear was nearly severed off and he had lost a significant amount of blood,” it added.

Serra, who was recently released from the hospital, expressed hope that the arrest will bring him justice.

“I felt relieved. Hopefully, he gets what’s coming to him,” he said.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Serra with the medical expenses as he recovers from his injuries. (AJPress)

1ST WEDNESDAY MASS. Catholics observe physical distancing while attending the Novena Mass inside the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help commonly known as the Baclaran Church in Parañaque City on Wednesday, December 1. Metro Manila is under Alert Level 2 until Dec. 15, which means religious activities are allowed at 70 percent seating capacity.

PNA photo by Ben Briones

Addressing the holiday blues and persevering...

PAGE 1

sucked, to put it bluntly.”

Aside from the obvious threat of the usual cold season ailments — and, of course, the onset of a new Covid variant — seasonal affective disorder and other types of depression is the top issue facing families and individuals this holiday season.

“Without support, mental health problems can quickly snowball and have a deep impact on our lives,” LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said at a press conference hosted by Ethnic Media Services on Monday, Nov. 22.

“But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Our county is committed to providing residents with the tools to get well and thrive,” she said.

Depression, anxiety, and mental health disorders exacerbate when social inequalities and isolation exist, and the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated all manner of stress on millions of families.

For Fernandez, loneliness was one of the hardest things to overcome.

“I never felt depression before the pandemic, but it hit me so hard, being so far away from my family,” said Fernandez,

who added that her family lives in the Bay Area and that she had moved to LA County to attend school in 2018.

The big Zoom hangout with her family last year was bittersweet, she said: seeing her family made her smile, but the bounds and limitations of virtual “For one, there was a lot of crosstalk so it was hard to get a word in. Secondly, a lot of families that were together and sharing a Zoom square seemed to be enjoying their individual parties.

They all made all this amazing food and I felt so sad I was just eating really lame leftovers,” she added, laughing.

But she didn’t realize until weeks later how hard the 2020 holiday season affected her.

“I started just feeling so down out of nowhere. I think I was just so burnt out from the monotony of life at that point that it was hard to concentrate,” she said.

“I didn’t know how to define it because I just never thought I could really have depression, like real, crippling depression.”

And Fernandez isn’t alone in thinking that. In many communities, especially immigrant communities, depression and all manner of mental health is still

stigmatized to the point where it’s just safer to not talk about it.

“For generations, people of color have not been able to use their voice. We’re used to being silent, to stuffing our feelings,” Dr. Jorge Partida del Toro, chief of psychology at the LA County Department of Mental Health, said during the press conference.

“We learn that what makes us strong is to be silent. We need to teach our children that the opposite is true, to stay connected and share,” he added.

Del Toro added that the COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult for people who have lost loved ones to “grieve properly.”

“The ritual of being able to let go and say goodbye is interrupted and because we’re afraid of being so open and honest, there’s a tendency to hold onto this prolonged grief,” he said, adding that this accelerates self- destructive behaviors like self-harm, addiction, suicide attempts, violence, and other indirect ways of expressing “unresolved grief.”

Noting the economic downturn, job losses, and general financial frustrations that the pandemic brought on, Barger noted PAGE 4

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Date lin e USa

With federal COVID sick leave gone, workers feel pressure to show up at work

by Rae

ellen Bichell Kaiser Health News

ECONOMISTS and public health experts alike say paid sick leave is an essential tool — like testing, masks and vaccines — in the effort to prevent COVID-19 infection and keep workplaces safe.

Yet the U.S. is in the midst of another COVID holiday season, and federal laws that offered COVID-related paid sick leave to workers have expired. Colorado, Los Angeles and Pittsburgh are among a small number of places that have put in place their own COVID protections, but many sick workers across the country must wrestle with difficult financial and ethical questions when deciding whether to stay home.

“Millions of workers don’t have access to paid sick leave, and we’re still in a pandemic,” said Nicolas Ziebarth, a labor economist at Cornell University.

The U.S. is one of only a few industrialized nations that have no national paid sick leave policy.

By contrast, Germany, Ziebarth’s homeland, has had one for nearly 140 years.

The coronavirus pandemic led to short-term change. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act mandated paid sick leave nationally, a first in U.S. history, according to Ziebarth. The law

included about two weeks of full pay for employees who were quarantined or seeking medical attention for COVID-like symptoms and additional weeks at partial pay to care for a child stuck at home because of COVID. But the paid sick leave mandate consistently applied only to employers with 50 to 499 employees and lasted just nine months, expiring at the end of 2020. After that, employers could decide whether they wanted to continue offering paid sick leave in return for tax credits, though those expired at the end of September.

About 5% of U.S. employees used the federal COVID sick leave protection, Ziebarth and his colleagues wrote in the journal PNAS, and it appears to have helped flatten the curve of the pandemic initially. But it wasn’t enough. The number of people who were sick with any kind of illness but couldn’t take time off went from about 5 million per month before the pandemic to 15 million in late 2020 — even with the federal leave in place.

People with the lowest incomes are the least likely to be covered by paid sick leave, said Dr. Rita Hamad, a social epidemiologist and family physician at the University of California-San Francisco. “We’re just left with whatever patchwork of employer and state

policies that existed before, which leave the most vulnerable people least covered,” she said.

The Build Back Better Act, which is up for a vote in the Senate after passing the House on Nov. 19, may grant some paid medical and family leave so workers can deal with longer-term illnesses or caregiving, but it does not include time off for recovering from short-term illness.

Jared Make, vice president of A Better Balance, a national legal nonprofit advocating for worker rights, has been pushing federal, state and local lawmakers for years to expand paid sick leave and has drafted model legislation.

He said 16 states, Washington, D.C., and about 20 localities have permanent paid sick time laws.

One of the most generous, New Mexico’s, will take effect in July.

Colorado, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York and the District of Columbia provide COVID-specific emergency sick leave, as do Pittsburgh and a few cities in California, such as Los Angeles, Oakland and Long Beach.

In some places, employers are taking the initiative to address the problem. A recent KFF survey of about 1,700 employers from across the nation found that 37% of workers work in a place that expanded or started paid leave, PAGE 4

MERCI BEAUCOUP, FRANCE. National Task Force Against COvId-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. (6th from right), French Ambassador to the Philippines Michèle Boccoz (beside Galvez) and World Health Organization Philippines Representative dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe (4th from right) pose for a photo opportunity shortly after the arrival of 1,632,900 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine at the NAIA Terminal 3 on Wednesday, december 1. Boccoz said more donated vaccine doses are arriving soon.

PNA photo by Avito dalan

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • december 2-8, 2021

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Date lin e USa

DECEMBER 2-8, 2021 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

DOJ may probe Quiboloy, but gov’t waiting...

PAGE 1

charging document.

On the case against Quiboloy, the justice secretary pointed out that human trafficking “may be a transnational crime where various elements of the offense are committed in different jurisdictions.”

“That’s why we need to see the evidence in the hands of the U.S. No point in duplicat-

ing efforts if the offense and the victims are exactly the same in both jurisdictions,” he added.

This new indictment, which includes six other individuals, expands on allegations made last year against three KOJC administrators based in Los Angeles that they oversaw a labor trafficking scheme that forced church members to solicit do-

nations for a bogus children’s charity.

In October 2018, Hawaii News Now reported that a former KOJC member accused Quiboloy of running a “child sex ring.” Earlier that year, federal agents also found $350,000 worth of cash and gun parts inside his private jet. (Kristine Joy Patag with reports from Xave Gregorio/Philstar.com)

‘I’m done’: Manny Pacquiao says he misses...

PAGE 1

“I miss boxing, but I don’t think boxing still likes me. Well, I’m already turning 43 years old so it’s enough for me. I mean, I’m done,” said Pacquiao.

Pacquiao, often regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, is the only fighter to win World ti-

tles across seven and eight weight classes.

Starting as scrawny light flyweight, Pacquiao would win his first World title at flyweight before winning his heaviest one at super welterweight.

He has since retired after he lost to Yordenis Ugas in a bout for

the WBA Welterweight Super title in August 2021.

Pacquiao, who was already a senator when he fought Ugas, then turned his focus to the presidential race as the standard bearer of the Probinsya Muna Development Initiative (PROMDI) party. ■

With federal COVID sick leave gone...

PAGE 3 either to recover from an illness or to help a relative recover from one. Meanwhile, 1% of workers had their paid sick leave reduced or eliminated.

Still, calls to A Better Balance’s free legal help line have skyrocketed since the pandemic began, Make said. “Many workers are either risking their job, or they have no choice but to go to work when they’re sick, and it’s a real public health concern.”

In August, local public health departments in California asked state leaders to extend paid sick leave to all workers, saying that failing to do so discouraged people from getting a COVID vaccine and disproportionately affected disadvantaged communities.

Many people who have avoided vaccination are afraid they’ll suffer side effects that will force them to miss work for a day or two, which they can’t afford, Hamad said.

But without federal funds to reimburse employers, California and other states would have to find money to pay for sick leave — and there’s little enthusiasm among lawmakers for passing the costs on to businesses.

“It is a glaring gap, in our opinion, that the federal government hasn’t continued some form of even COVID-19 emergency sick leave,” Make said. “It’s obviously a huge shortcoming given where we are in the pandemic.”

Colorado, which is experiencing a COVID surge, passed last

year what Denver-based Make considers the strongest COVID sick leave protections of any state. The law, which allows any employee to earn up to six days of paid sick leave per year and takes effect fully in January, says that when local, state or federal officials declare a public health emergency, employers must supplement workers’ accrued leave so an employee can take up to two weeks of paid sick leave for, in this case, COVID-related reasons. The emergency leave provision won’t expire until at least February.

However, some employers aren’t complying. As of early November, Colorado’s Division of Labor Standards and Statistics was looking into complaints related to the sick leave law that were filed against 71 employers, according to outreach manager Eric Yohe.

That represented about 8% of all its wage complaints under investigation. Yohe said his division had already restored paid time off for “a good number” of employees under the new law.

Colorado’s leave law still has limitations. Workers don’t get “refills” of COVID leave if they get sick again or a relative gets sick — just 80 hours total from January 2021 until the public health emergency ends. And the law allows some workplaces to force employees to use their paid time off instead, as long as they notify employees in advance and offer at least two weeks of PTO to full-

time employees.

Jamie Bradt, a special-education teacher at a high school in Mead, Colorado, found herself in that situation this month after testing positive for COVID. Bradt, who is fully vaccinated, thought she could tap into statesanctioned COVID sick leave. But her employer, St. Vrain Valley Schools, told her she would have to use her PTO, which she had been saving up for about decade.

“It is so frustrating that I’m being punished for accruing my leave,” said Bradt, who was isolating at home. The district did not respond to questions.

Policies that push employees to work when they’re sick are counterproductive, said Barbara Holland, an adviser at the Society for Human Resource Management, a national trade group. “It’s a communicable disease,” she said.

“You don’t want them showing up in the workplace.”

Since the federal provisions expired, Cristina Cuevas and her colleagues at a Minnesota school have been required to use their accrued sick and vacation time if they come down with COVID. Recently, a co-worker of Cuevas’ went to work sick, assuming it was a cold. “She actually had COVID the whole time,” Cuevas said. The school had to shut down briefly, Cuevas said, and several students got sick.

California Healthline correspondent Rachel Bluth contributed to this story. ■

http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

PH suspends testing, quarantine protocols ...

PAGE 1

COVID-19 test result will be required to undergo quarantine for five days.

However, travelers from “green” countries who arrived prior to Nov. 28 may still follow quarantine protocols assigned to their country of origin upon the date of their arrival.

Nograles also announced that the IATF suspended Resolution No. 150-A (Series of 2021), which allowed the entry of fully vaccinated nationals who don’t need a visa in the Philippines, amid the increasing threat of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

“With Omicron designated as a Variant of Concern, the IATF likewise approved the recommendations to strengthen local COVID-19 response,” the statement read.

“These include strongly enjoining the local government units to heighten their alert for increasing and clustering of cases and emphasizing the need for active case finding; to immediately conduct contact tracing and isolation of cases detected from case surveillance among the community, including domestic and international travelers; and to use RT-PCR testing in order to allow for whole-genome sequencing of collected samples,” it added.

Further, the Philippines added more countries to its “red” list.

Effective until Dec. 15, the countries classified as “red” are South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho,

Inquirer.net file photo

Eswatini, Mozambique, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium and Italy.

This means international travel of all persons, regardless of vaccination status, coming from or who have been to “red” countries/jurisdictions/ territories within the last 14 days prior to arrival to any port of the Philippines will not be allowed.

“Only Filipinos returning to the country via government-initiated or non-government-initiated repatriation and Bayanihan Flights may be allowed entry subject to the prevailing entry, testing, and quarantine protocols for Red List countries/jurisdictions/territories,” said Nograles.

Meanwhile, there are currently 41 countries, territories, or

foreign jurisdictions classified as “green.” Among them are American Samoa, Bhutan, Chad, China (Mainland), Comoros, Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Federated States of Micronesia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China), India, Indonesia, and Japan.

Also included in the “green” list are Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Mali, Marshall Islands, Montserrat, Morocco, Niger, Northern Mariana Islands, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Paraguay, Rwanda, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sint Eustatius, Sudan, Taiwan, Togo, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, and Zambia. ■

Addressing the holiday blues and persevering...

PAGE 2 that these stresses and mental health issues, which can feel so individual, are wildly common.

But communities, like the Asian American community, may feel less inclined to merely recognize when any kind of psychiatric intervention is needed.

The American Psychological Association found that while 18% of the general American population has sought mental health services and help, only about 8.6% of Asian Americans have ever done so. As previously written about in the Asian Journal, reasons such as familial shame, lack of education in mental health, and practical barriers like linguistic inaccessibility often stop Asians from seeking psychiatric help.

“Mental health stress doesn’t discriminate. Please know that you are not alone. The holiday blues can impact anyone of any age and background,” she said. “It is OK to ask for help.

It is not a weakness, it is a sign of strength that you are putting your health first to be able to be there for your family.”

Two things really helped Fernandez better manage her depression: getting the courage to talk to her younger brother about how she’s feeling and meditation.

“My brother and I have a relationship where we don’t really talk about serious stuff, but I just called him and asked, ‘Hey, are you also kind of feeling not so good?’ And to my surprise, he said he was and we just started

talking about how life just generally sucks and how we’re feeling about being so far from each other,” Fernandez said.

“We started talking on the phone more and sharing what we’re doing to feel better on the day-to-day and he shared with me that he tried meditation, so I decided to give it a go and it’s really helped me out,” she said, noting that she uses the Headspace application, which actually has collaborated with LA County to cater to residents of the vast and diverse county.

For those seeking mental health resources, LA County has an around-the-clock hotline, (800) 854-7771 that can help residents connect with mental health professionals. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

(702) 792-6678 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Dateline PhiliPPines

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • december 2-8, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that three Public Workshops have been scheduled to take testimony on the proposed Southern Nevada Health District Regulations Governing the Sanitation and Safety of Body Art Establishments (Body Art Regulations). Testimony from these workshops and written comments will be used to complete the Business Impact Statement (BIS) pursuant to Nevada Revised Statute (NRS) 237.080. A Public Hearing to review and take testimony on the BIS for the proposed Body Art Regulations will be held before the Southern Nevada District Board of Health (BOH) on Thursday, February 24, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. in the Red Rock Conference Room at the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) Public Health Center located at 280 South Decatur Boulevard, Las Vegas, Nevada and/or virtually at the same date and time, pursuant to NRS 237.090.

A Public Hearing to review and approve the proposed Body Art Regulations will be held before the BOH on Thursday, March 24, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. in the Red Rock Conference Room at the SNHD Public Health Center located at 280 South Decatur Boulevard, Las Vegas, Nevada and/or virtually at the same date and time.

Former Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. and running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio lead UniTeam’s rally at the San Juanico Bridge on Tuesday, Nov. 30 during the symbolic meeting of thousands of their supporters from Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

ManilaTimes.net photo

Bongbong, Sara supporters fill San Juanico Bridge

by Javier Joe ismael ManilaTimes.net

THE supporters of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his running mate, Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio, made history when they met at the country’s longest bridge to show their strength on Tuesday, November 30.

The “salubong,” or meeting of north and south, was held on the San Juanico Bridge, which connects the province of Leyte and Samar. The event was sym-

bolic of the unity of Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao and the support given to the BBM-Sara UniTeam.

Marcos Jr. said the historic joining of forces of supporters of BBM-Sara UniTeam signals the continuity and enhancement of legacy programs initiated by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Napakaganda ng pangyayari na ito dahil ang pagsasama ng isang Marcos at Duterte ay isang magandang simbolo ng pagkakaisa ng bansa. Ako from north

at si Inday Sara from the south at nagkita dito sa Eastern Samar (This is a beautiful event because a Marcos and a Duterte joined forces symbolizing national unity. I am from the north, and Inday Sara is from the south and we met here in Eastern Samar),” he said.

The 2,200 meters San Juanico Bridge is part of the Pan-Philippine Highway project of former president Ferdinand Marcos and was dedicated to his wife Imelda Marcos. n

Killer cop Nuezca dies in Bilibid by evelyn

macairan Philstar.com

MANILA — Dismissed police officer Jonel Nuezca, who was convicted for the murder of a mother and her son in Tarlac last year, died at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) confirmed on Wednesday, December 1.

Nuezca was pronounced dead at the NBP Hospital where he was brought unconscious by his cellmates on Tuesday, November 30, according to a BuCor report.

BuCor spokesman Gabriel Chaclag said Nuezca complained of dizziness and shortness of breath prior to his death.

Chaclag said they have yet to

determine what caused Nuezca’s death.

Based on initial information, Chaclag said Nuezca was walking outside the dormitory building when he collapsed.

Justice Undersecretary Deo Marco said the BuCor would conduct a thorough probe to determine if there was foul play.

Nuezca is the latest high-value convict to die in Bilibid.

Nuezca was sentenced to life in prison for killing Sonia Rufino Gregorio, 52, and her son Frank Anthony, 25, following an argument over the use of boga or an improvised firecracker on Dec. 20 last year.

Nuezca shot dead the Gregorios at close range in front of his daughter.

The Environmental Health Division is proposing to update and replace the existing Southern Nevada Health District Regulations Governing the Sanitation and Safety of Tattoo Establishments and the Clark County Health District Regulations Governing the Sanitation of Body Piercing Establishments.

The update will include a consolidation of the two regulations into one and reflect the current needs of the southern Nevada community.

Copies of the proposed Body Art Regulations will be available for review in the EH Division, 280 South Decatur Boulevard, Las Vegas, Nevada, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Copies can be requested at that time for a charge of one dollar per page. The same may be viewed on the SNHD website, www.southernnevadahealthdistrict.org/news-info/public-notices/. Copies of the BIS will be available for review as stated above no later than February 9, 2022.

Business owners and interested parties may submit data, views, and comments as to whether the proposed regulations will impose a direct and/or significant economic burden upon a business or directly restrict the formation, operation, or expansion of a business. A summary of all workshop testimony and comments submitted by January 31, 2022, to Mark Bergtholdt, Environmental Health Supervisor, Southern Nevada Health District, P.O. Box 3902, Las Vegas, Nevada 89127, or emailed to bodyart@snhd.org will be included in the BIS presented to the BOH. All interested persons may appear at the BOH PUBLIC HEARINGS and submit data, views, or arguments regarding the BIS and proposed Body Art Regulations. The BOH will consider fully all written and oral submissions on the proposed Body Art Regulations prior to taking action thereon. Questions may be directed to SNHD’s Environmental Health Division at (702) 759-0677.

NOTE: If this item is not presented for Public Hearing at the SNHD Board of Health meetings scheduled for February 24, 2022 and March 24, 2022, it will be presented for public hearing at the SNHD Board of Health meetings scheduled for April 28, 2022 and May 26, 2022, at the same time and location noted above.

Prior to the PUBLIC HEARINGs, there will be three WORKSHOPS for the public to present its views regarding the Impact upon Business of the proposed Body Art Regulations: 1. December 21, 2021 Tuesday, 1:00 p.m., Southern Nevada Health District Public Health Center, 280 South Decatur Boulevard, Las Vegas, in Red Rock Conference Room and/or virtually.

2. January 6, 2022, Thursday, 9:00 a.m., Southern Nevada Health District Public Health Center, 280 South Decatur Boulevard, Las Vegas, in Red Rock Conference Room and/or virtually.

Jonel Nuezca

PNP photo

Authorities said the argument between the victims and Nuezca heated up due to a long-standing dispute over right of way.

The incident was caught on video and went viral.

President Duterte had called Nuezca “sick in the brain.” n

3. January 13, 2022, Thursday, 1:00 p.m., Southern Nevada Health District Public Health Center, 280 South Decatur Boulevard, Las Vegas, in Red Rock Conference Room and/or virtually.

Persons wishing to participate in these three workshops may either appear in person at the location described above or may do so remotely by using the link that will be provided in the agenda published no later than 3 business days prior to the workshop. The agenda and link for remote participation can be found at www.southernnevadahealthdistrict.org/news-info/public-notices/.

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DECEMBER 2-8, 2021 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

OPiniOn

Moderate corruption risk

http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

FeatURes

COUP attempts were staged in the past partly due to accusations of graft in the Armed Forces of the Philippines. A former AFP and defense chief fatally shot himself by his mother’s grave amid allegations of corruption.

Since then, measures have been instituted to put an end to corrupt practices in the AFP and Department of National Defense, starting with the simplification of rules and procedures in supply procurement to plug opportunities for red tape and graft.

It is unclear if the tradition of pabaon – millions given away to top military officers prior to their retirement – remains in place. Two former military comptrollers were indicted in connection with procurement anomalies in the AFP. Earlier this month the Sandiganbayan affirmed its order on the forfeiture of P102 million worth of property illegally amassed by retired comptroller Lt. Gen. Jacinto Ligot. But victories in the antigraft campaign in the military and defense establishments have been spotty.

Last June, the Supreme Court affirmed a plea bargain approved by the Sandiganbayan, under which former AFP comptroller Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of direct bribery instead of plunder, which reduced his sentence. After spending six years behind bars, Garcia walked free in

December last year.

Such developments have surely contributed to the country’s middling score in the latest Integrity Index in government defense and security, as drawn up by London-based Transparency International. TI gave the country a score of 55 out of 100 – “moderate risk” in the index, which rates the quality of institutional controls to manage corruption risks in defense and security institutions in 84 countries.

TI reported that the Philippines was “particularly weak” in oversight of policymaking and procurement, with the risk “critical” in whistle-blowing and corruption monitoring. Transparency also “remains limited” throughout the sector including financial management, according to TI. Defense and AFP officials have said reforms continue to be implemented to plug opportunities for corruption. TI did note that corruption risk mitigation “is relatively robust” in Philippine military operations. Such effort must be sustained, alongside continuing housecleaning in the military and defense establishments.

(Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Economic challenges for next president Demand and Supply BOO CHANCO FINANCE Secretary Sonny Dominguez summed up the economic challenges for the next president and they are daunting. Almost makes me wonder why anyone wants to be president, assuming they have a clean heart and the best intentions.

Sec. Sonny identified the four big challenges as ballooning domestic debt, high global inflation, worsening inequality, as well as climate change. I want to add two more, food security and the continuing COVID pandemic.

This is why voters must be very careful in selecting the next president. Popularity alone or even the goodness of heart alone are not enough. We need a new president who is not part of the political oligarchy that has ruined our economy and has the training to nurse the economy back into the pink of health.

Some are quick to blame Sec. Sonny, as Duterte’s economic manager, for the economic problems he mentioned. But let

us not forget that Sec. Sonny has had to deal with the challenge of financing our pandemic response.

We have seen how prudent Sec. Sonny has been even in borrowing from abroad. There were those who were urging him to borrow more and take advantage of our good credit rating.

But Sec. Sonny knows our bureaucracy has a serious execution problem and a bad record in quickly and efficiently utilizing allocations for direct assistance to those who need it most. Having more money than the bureaucracy can properly and honestly absorb only leads to temptations like Pharmally.

Now that we have gone into election mode, I guess Sec. Sonny wants to remind everyone, candidates and voters, to think about the serious problems we are facing. Our lives depend on it.

That’s why I earlier suggested that candidates for president be required to name their shadow Cabinet members for the most critical positions. We need to know if their Finance Secretary nominees, for instance, are competent and trustworthy.

We also need to hear the candidates themselves speak of how they view the problems brought up by Sec. Sonny. So far, I have heard nothing but platitudes and populist solu-

tions like suspending oil product taxes.

So, can we hear the presidential hopefuls tell us how they plan to manage the debt we have accumulated and grow our GDP? Our borrowings ballooned because of weaker revenue collections due to the pandemic-induced economic slump.

Government also had to spend more to assist distressed families during lockdowns and to finance the increased requirements of our shaky health system.

The increased borrowings brought up the Philippines’ debt-to-GDP ratio, which is used to measure an economy’s ability to repay its obligations, to 54.6 percent in 2020 from a record-low 39.6 percent in 2019.

By end-September, our debtto-GDP further climbed to a 16year high of 63.1 percent, above the 60-percent level deemed by credit rating agencies as manageable among emerging markets. No wonder some ratings agencies have warned us of a potential credit rating downgrade.

Our government’s outstanding debt will further climb to a record P13.42 trillion by end2022 from the P11.73 trillion programmed by this year’s end.

According to NEDA chief Karl

Kendrick Chua, “consumption and investment will be lower in the next 10 years due to lower demand in sectors that require social distancing (e.g., amusement, tourism, restaurants, public transportation). Consequently, tax revenues will be lower.”

So, do the candidates have strategies for fiscal consolidation? Will they be honest about their taxation plans? The next administration may have no choice, despite the election promises, to implement new or higher taxes. Cutting public spending will slow down GDP growth.

Then there is inflation. Our headline inflation rose beyond the government’s two to four percent target range of a manageable rate of increase in prices of basic commodities this year. Basically to blame is the high cost of food, especially pork due to supply shortage.

Managing the inequalities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic is the next big challenge. The most vulnerable sectors like the poor, women, and school children will take longer to recover from the pandemicinduced slump.

Sec. Chua pointed out that for example, no face-to-face classes means less learning and lower future income, productivity, and competitiveness.

ADB estimates that each year

of lost schooling translates to around 10 percent permanent lower wages in the future.

Then there is climate change.

Our farmers and fishermen need support to help them cope with the negative effects of climate change on their livelihoods. Our food security depends on this.

Not to forget… the pandemic is still around. Just when we thought we could relax our restrictions to help our travel industry, this new variant, Omicron, comes around. By now, we must have a better playbook than lockdowns.

We need to invest on our health infrastructure, not just hospitals and health centers, but also on properly compensating our health workers to make it worth their while to serve at home rather than go abroad. PhilHealth must be reformed.

Growing our economy requires investments. Since the government will need all the cash they can muster just to run its operations, the Public Private Partnership concept is the only option.

The big problem is attracting PPP investors after the Duterte administration broke a lot of covenants with past PPP investors like Manila and Maynilad Water. Then there is this nuisance suit against Megawide for supposedly violating the

anti-dummy law.

That Mactan Cebu airport contract won by Megawide went through several legal reviews, including a suit filed in the Supreme Court. After delivering on the commitment and winning awards as a model PPP project, Megawide officials are facing this criminal case. That’s how to kill the PPP concept for the future.

A retired investment banker noted that potential foreign investors will stay away after the government refused to accept international arbitral rulings, parametric formula for tariffs, long pending toll adjustments, refusal to accept liability for MAGA (Material Adverse Government Action), which are standard international provisions for PPP. These are probably not issues raised in presidential campaigns, but are vitally important. The new president will have to address these issues to attract investors, foreign and local, on Day One. (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.

*** Boo Chanco’s email address is bchanco@ gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @ boochanco

Bloody, bizarre twists in election ‘teleserye’ Commentary

SEGUNDO ECLAR ROMERO PHILIPPINE elections have been known to be quite colorful, with red as their most dominant color, as seen in the amount of bloodshed they generate — before, during, and even after every election. Many candidates, their families and supporters have become casualties in this political exercise considered as the ultimate indicator of a thriving democracy. But more often than not, this democratic indicator happens almost always “at gunpoint,” to partially quote the title of a book published by Vera Files in collaboration with The Asia Foundation in 2011.

Edited by Yvonne T. Chua and Luz D. Rimban, “Democracy at Gunpoint: Election-related violence in the Philippines” includes nine reports describing and providing backstories of bloody incidents associated with elections in different provinces in the country, five of which are in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, now the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. These provinces are Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

I am reminded of this book again as families of the victims of the tragic Maguindanao massacre commemorated last Nov. 23 the 12th anniversary of that gory and most horrendous of all election-related bloodbaths in Philippine history. That single incident in 2009 killed 58 people, including 32 Central Mindanao-based journalists.

Also among the victims

were Genalin, the wife of Toto Mangudadatu, then pregnant; some relatives and friends, and their lawyers.

Twelve years after this tragedy, families of the victims are still demanding for justice as well as monetary reparations from the Ampatuan family.

“Understanding Election Violence in the Philippines: Beware the Unknown Assassins of May,” a recent peer-reviewed article based on academic research, echoes the findings and analysis in the 2011 Vera Files book.

The article was published in Pacific Affairs (Vol. 94, No. 3, September 2021) and written

by Tom Smith of the University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom, and Joseph Anthony L. Reyes of the Lund University of Lund, Sweden. It notes that the Duterte administration has exacerbated this violence through the promotion of

vigilante type of killings that mainly characterizes President Duterte’s war on drugs. The authors believe that this deadly war can fuel another violent election period.

The research on which the article was based covers 13 years, from 2004 to 2017. The authors tallied all electoral violent incidents during those years, and noted the following: (1) Unidentified assassins are largely responsible for the killings of candidates, their campaigners and supporters, and “fruitful investigations” to these killings are rare; (2) Media reporting on election and related violence has become increasingly dangerous, and cited the killings of some journalists and radio broadcasters; (3) Election violence is difficult to monitor and currently falls between the cracks of various international election monitoring initiatives.

The authors’ findings are quite worrisome. We will continue to face this sad reality, given the bizarre twists and turns of the electoral “teleserye” we watch everyday on our small screens.

We watched, highly perturbed, how the President, his daughter, and his unofficial valet/caregiver changed or withdrew their original certificates of candidacy to “adjust” to new political alignments.

Sara Duterte resigned from a party she herself founded, Hugpong ng Pagbabago, to become a vice presidential candidate under Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Lakas-CMD party. Sen. Bong Go flip-flopped from being a vice presidential hopeful to a presidential wannabe in a matter of weeks. This added a rather dark, insidious plot to the teleserye. Mr. Duterte downgraded his original plan

from being president to being senator. Was this an anticipated losing of face just in case his daughter garners higher votes than him?

The plot thickened when Sara Duterte recently announced her “return” to the Hugpong party, with her partymates welcoming her with open arms.

But the most bizarre twist was how she was able to wangle not only the leadership of the party she resigned from and returned to, but also that of the new party she joined, LakasCMD. Whew!

Where will all these lead us to next? Abangan. (Inquirer. net) *** 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.

*** Comments to rcguiam@gmail.com

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

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Date lin e Ph iliP P in e s

Duterte: ‘I’ve fulfilled most of my promises to the people’ by catherine

Valente ManilaTimes.net

AS his six-year term is coming to an end, President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, December 2 claimed he has fulfilled almost all of his promises to the Filipino people.

“My term is nearing its end, I can say with a little bit of pride na halos lahat na pinangako ko, natupad ko (almost all of the things I promised, I was able to fulfill),”

Duterte said in his speech during the inauguration of tourism and seaport development projects in Zamboanga City.

The President, however, admitted much more needs to be done, particularly in maintaining peace and order in the country.

“Dito na lang sa peace and order (Just take a look at peace and order), but you know for as long as there are men on this planet, there will always be misdeeds and wrongdoings committed by

human beings,” Duterte said.

“Be that as it may, I tried my best, and hindi ko naman sabihin na ano pero mukhang nakumpleto ko halos lahat ng pinangako ko sa taong bayan (and I don’t want to say this but it seems like I’ve completed everything I promised to the people),” he added.

Duterte, who scored a landslide victory in 2016 on a promise to stop drugs and corruption, will end his six-year term in June 2022. n

CHR hopes inequalities exposed by COVID-19 pandemic are addressed

by Gabriel

Pabico Inquirer.net

lalu

MANILA — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) hopes that the celebration of this year’s National Human Rights Consciousness Week will highlight the need to address several long-standing inequalities that were exposed even more by the COVID-19 pandemic.

During a program on Wednesday, various CHR officials noted the importance of looking at the health crisis from a human rights lens, especially with the pandemic creating inequalities such as in the delivery of healthcare services and vaccines.

“Our survival as human beings is dependent on the preservation of human rights,” CHR Commissioner Karen GomezDumpit said in her message.

“In the midst of the current pandemic, issues of equality have come to the fore and underlying inequalities in the world and in our different societies have surfaced and have become more pronounced.”

“Inequalities in vaccines, inequalities in healthcare services, inequalities in recovering from the pandemic, inequalities in opportunities in life amidst the pandemic, inequalities in accessing life-saving medicines, and other inequalities and incidents of discrimination have exacerbated our vulnerabilities and have bred further divisions among us,” Dumpit added.

The existence of these inequalities, CHR Commissioner Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana said, is a reason why the commission continuously works towards raising awareness about human rights and their advocacies, in a

push for better lives.

“Our continued engagement with duty-bearers have at times resulted in the re-calibration of their procedures so that it could become more aligned with a human rights-based approach,” Pimentel-Gana said.

“While we have not always been successful in all areas, I am heartened to know that our indefatigable efforts have started to shape the consciousness of our people that many of them now are also advocating our own advocacies within their respective networks. In light of these positive developments, we should continue to press on with our important work,” she added.

For this year’s National Human Rights Consciousness Week, the CHR is adopting the theme “Pagkakapantay-Pantay: Isulong mga Karapatang Pantao sa Panahon ng Pandemya” (Equality: Advocating for Human Rights in the Time of a Pandemic).

CHR said it was adapted from the theme of the United Nations’ Human Rights Day 2021 theme.

“Today is a most opportune time for us to come together to affirm this year’s theme which is a cornerstone principle of human rights: Equality, or in Filipino, Pagkakapantay-pantay,” Dumpit added.

“We are encouraged to combat discrimination; fight for the protection of rights; obtain equal access to opportunities—that is true equality,” said CHR Commissioner Roberto Eugenio Cadiz added.

During the span of the pandemic, CHR has called on the government repeatedly to use a human rights-based approach to law enforcement, after reports of authorities abusing their man-

date in the enforcement of quarantine restrictions.

Aside from these violations, there were also incidents of apprehensions made for alleged curfew and quarantine violations that ended in the deaths of violators.

But aside from health-related concerns brought about by the pandemic, Commissioner Cadiz also noted that prior concerns about inequalities — from women and children’s rights, discrimination of persons with disabilities — should also be addressed.

During the earlier part of the COVID-19 crisis, CHR also expressed concerns that the pandemic would bode badly for women and children who are subjected to domestic abuse, as they are forced to spend more time at home due to the lockdown protocols.

For persons with disabilities, the main problem was how to provide services to them as most of the country’s healthcare programs were geared towards ending COVID-19.

“Women’s rights, together with children’s rights, must be advanced. And discrimination of whatever form and kind must be condemned. The rights of People with Disabilities and the wide variety of economic, social, and cultural rights should be obtained without any discrimination whatsoever,” Cadiz said.

“Violators have to be taken to task and be held responsible because they violate rights and laws safeguarding rights. They violate dignity—the inherent worth of the human person upon which the principle of equality rests and finds it utmost meaning,” he added. n

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • december 2-8, 2021

Clark County Building Department 4701 W. Russell Road • Las Vegas, NV 89118 (702) 455-3000 • Fax (702) 221-0630

Jerome A. Stueve, P.E., Director Samuel D. Palmer, P.E., Assistant Director • Jim Gerren, P.E., Assistant Director

Nobyembre 9, 2021 Patalastas sa Publiko: Mga Mungkahi’ng Pagbabago sa Kodigo ng Lalawigan ng Clark Tungkol sa: Titulo 22, Kabanata 22.02 Mangyari’ng bigya’ng pansin na ang isang patakaran ay iminumungkahi ng Lupon ng mga Komisyonero ng Lalawigan sa Lalawigan ng Clark tulad ng sumusunod: Isang ordinansa upang Baguhin ang Titulo 22, Kabanata 22.02 ng Kodigo ng Lalawigan ng Clark at idagdag ang mga kasalukuya’ng gawi na may kaugnayan sa mga simple’ng bayarin sa permiso, mga ulat sa pagtatasa sa inspeksyon ng pinsala at mga pagbabawas ng bayad para sa mga kwalipikado’ng proyekto ng abot-kaya’ng pabahay, pagtatanggal ng mga kinakailangan para sa pagsusumite ng mga kopya nang dokumento na kasama sa mga aplikasyon sa permiso, at nililinaw at idinagdag ang ilang partikular na uri ng trabaho na bukod ang mga kailangan para sa permiso: 22.02.035 – Idagdag ang kahulugan ng Ulat sa Pagtatasa sa Inspeksyon ng Pinsala.

22.02.043 – Idagdag ang bago’ng seksyon, Pagtatasa sa Pinsala sa mga Gusali at Istraktura.

22.02.165 – Baguhin ang Marka, Konstruksyon o Permiso sa Pagkabit nang mga Hiwalay sa Kailangan.

02.22.190 – Baguhin ang Permiso sa Gusali Pagbubukod A at idagdag ang AC. 02.22.195 -- Idagdag ang Permiso sa Tuberyas Pagbubukod H 22.02.200 – Baguhin ang Permiso sa Electrikal mga Pagbubukod M, N, O, P, Q, R, S. 22.02.230 – Baguhin ang Pagsusumite ng mga Dokumento ng Konstruksyon.

22.02.235 – Binago’ng Impormasyon sa Mga Plano at Ispesipikasyon upang idagdag ng Pangkalahata’ng Liban at mga permiso sa demolisyon.

22.02.335 – Baguhin ang Paglakad sa Madaliang Plano.

22.02.345 – Baguhin ang Permiso at Bayad sa Repaso ng Plano upang magdagdag ng Liban.

22.02.347 – Magdagdag ng bago’ng seksyon, Bawas-Bayad sa Abot-Kaya’ng Pabahay.

22.02.350 – Baguhin ang Pagkawala ng Bisa ng Repaso ng Plano.

22.02.395 – Baguhin ang mga bayad sa permiso ng elektrikal.

22.02.400 – Baguhin ang mga bayad sa permiso ng mekanikal.

22.02.405 -- Baguhin ang mga bayad sa permiso ng Tuberyas.

22.02.430 – Baguhin ang Iba pang mga Pagsusuri sa mga Plano, Inspeksyon at iba’t-ibang bayad upang maisama ang DAIR. 22.02.510 – Baguhin ang Mga Espesyal na Inspeksyon.

22.02.525 – Baguhin ang mga Tungkulin at responsibilidad ng Ahensya ng Pagtitiyak ng Kalidad, at Espesyal na Inspektor.

Bago ang pagpapatibay sa iminumungkahi’ng panuntunan, ang Lupon ng mga Komisyonero ng Lalawigan sa Lalawigan ng Clark ay inaatasan ng NRS 237.080 na gumawa ng isang pinagsama-sama’ng pagsisikap upang matukoy kung ang panukala’ng panuntunan ay magpapataw ng isang direkto at malaking pasanin sa ekonomiya nang isang negosyo o direkto’ng paghihigpitan ang pagbuo, pagpapatakbo o pagpapalawak ng isang negosyo. Dahil dito, ang mga samahan sa pangangalakal, may-ari at mga opisyal ng mga negosyo na malamang na maapektuhan ng iminumungkahi’ng panuntunan na ito, at ang iba pang interesado’ng mga tao ay kinakailanga’ng patalastasan at bigyan ng pagkakataon na magsumite ng mga komento, datos, o argumento sa Lalawigan tungkol sa kung ang iminumungkahi’ng panuntunan ay: a) Magpapataw ng isang direkto at malaking pasanin sa ekonomiya nang isang negosyo; o b) Direkto’ng paghihigpitan ang pagbuo, pagpapatakbo o pagpapalawak ng isang negosyo.

Ang mga komento ay kailanga’ng isumite nang hindi lalampas sa 5:30 n.h. sa Disyembre 13, 2021 tulad ng sumusunod: Sa Pamamagitan ng Koreo sa:

Clark County Building Department Attn: Theresa Atimalala, Executive Assistant 4701 W. Russell Road, Las Vegas, NV 89118

Sa pamamagitan ng Pagdadala sa:

Clark County Building Department Customer Lobby 4701 W. Russell Road, Las Vegas, NV 89118 Attn: Theresa.Atimalala@ClarkCountyNV.gov Lunes-Huwebes 7:30n.u. – 5:30n.h.

Sa Pamamagitan ng email kay:

Theresa.Atimalala@ClarkCountyNV.gov

Ang isang kopya ng iminumungkahi’ng panuntunan ay makukuha din para suriin sa: https://www.clarkcountynv.gov/government/departments/building___fire_prevention/codes/index.php at Lalawigan ng Clark Kagawaran ng Gusali at Pag-iwas sa Sunog, Una’ng Palapag Para sa mga Kostumer 4701 W. Russell Road, Las Vegas, NV 89118.

Taos-Puso, /s/Jerome A. Stueve Jerome A. Stueve, P.E., CBO Direktor/Kagawaran ng Gusali ng Lalawigan ng Clark BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MARILYN KIRKPATRICK, Chair • JAMES B. GIBSON, Vice Chair MICHAEL NAFT • ROSS MILLER • WILLIAM McCURDY II • TICK SEGERBLOM • JUSTIN C. JONES YOLANDA T. KING, County Manager

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december 2-8, 2021 • LAS VeGAS ASIAN JOUrNAL Las vegas ASIAN JOURNAL

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December 2, 2021

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inside

LifestyLe • Consumer Guide • Community • MARketpLAce

Alden shares inspiration behind charity work John Lloyd, Bea admit to being ‘soulmates’

by Jerry

Donato Philstar.com

TIME flies. Its moving forward trajectory challenges all to remain unperturbed in fulfilling their dreams and creating new experiences.

Alden Richards, among GMA 7’s prized talents, has successfully done that and made the most out of his time. The bedimpled actor continues to do so and knows by heart the key to it.

“Maybe, I’m really motivated and always hungry (for something new) every single day,” disclosed The World Between Us lead star in a recent virtual press conference. “(I’m thinking) ano pa yung pwede kong gawin, what (else) can I do for other people, what (else) can I do for myself.”

His mindset’s impressive result is, the showbiz aspirant has become a multi-hyphenate. Alden is known now as the actor-singer-host-entrepreneur, in that order, according to his career run. Recently, he has added the words “philanthropist” and “education advocate” to his resume with his AR Foundation. The GMA Artist Center talent has done a lot of charity work even before.

“With the guidance of people, who are close to me, they told me to open a foundation,” said Alden of this new chapter in his life. “So at least (I) could also inspire others, in these trying times that we are in right now, and show them that we can still help.”

Alden reported that he has 14 scholars. From this number, two graduated from college with degrees in IT and Electrical Engineering. He has already granted scholarships prior to the launch of the foundation. “I want them (the people) to see that the foundation is there for them, especially the kids who struggle with their education,” said he. “Sa totoo lang po talaga, ako’y naniniwala na kahit papaano medyo hadlang ang kahirapan sa edukasyon. I’ve been there and I know the feeling that you wanted to study but you didn’t have the resources. I experienced that when I was young. I don’t want that to happen to these kids. I want to break that cycle po, sana with this cause that I’m doing.”

Since the foundation is just taking its baby steps, Alden and his team have also talked about its sustainability, like how it will “hold up” itself in the years to come.

“We could now project a budget until 2025,” said he. “If we want to achieve this certain number of scholars and sustain our current scholars that we have now, (we also have to think that) this is what

by Deni

afiniDaD-BernarDo Philstar.com

MANY people have come and go in actors John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo’s lives, but for them, only one thing is constant: each other.

At last Tuesday media roundtable for the premiere of their Jollibee Studios movie “One True Pair,” John Lloyd confessed that his real-life relationship with Bea is almost like what’s in their movies together.

“Tingin ko, hindi pa ba?” he said when asked by Philstar.com if Bea is his soulmate.

Alden Richards

Photo from Instagram/@aldenrichards02

we have to do, these are the funds that we need to raise.”

Scholarship granting is the first phase of the foundation, according to Alden, who teased everyone that “we have other bigger plans (which have been plotted) all throughout the year. Talagang very wholistic yung development ng foundation.” AR Foundation is created for the long run, if one may say.

For the public to understand what the foundation is all about, Alden will single-handedly, as he put it, produce a documentary concert, Forward: Meet Richard R. Faulkerson Jr., on Jan. 30, 2022 at 8 p.m., whose tickets are available at the Ticket 2 Me. “I told them (the people I work with), ‘Why don’t we have a concert, so that viewers will have a deeper understanding about it (the foundation)’,” recalled Alden, “(like) ano ba talaga ito, bakit ba ito nabuo, ano ba yung mga pinanggalingan niya para magkaroon tayo ng AR Foundation. Si AR Foundation po talaga ang bida sa concert na ito.” The foundation will also serve as a place, where people, who want to help others, converge.

The documentary concert revolves around a specific aspect of Alden’s life, which will be explored through songs. The storytelling is done through PAGE 10 John Lloyd Cruz, Bea Alonzo

back together, parang lagi kaming pinupull-back ng pagkakataon and every time na may pagsasamahan kami, it feels like magic. At least, para sa’kin. And nakita ko na s’ya sa iba’t ibang pagkakataon ng buhay n’ya. Nakita ko na rin s’ya sa iba’t ibang pagkakataon ng buhay ko. Nakita n’ya ko nagbago. Nakita ko rin s’ya nagbago and somehow, it still feels to be together,” she narrated.

“We can still stomach each other!” John Lloyd seconded.

“Kaya pa namin sikmurain!

Siguro ‘yun ‘yung soulmates.

I don’t know,” said Bea with a laugh.

In an interview with Mark Christian Perlade at the media roundtable, Bea bared that she and John Lloyd did not start well.

She said she used to hate doing some scenes with him. But through the years, they have somehow discovered how to play good music together, and now, it’s hard for them to label what they have.

“You’re right, it wasn’t instant.

We weren’t friends in the beginning,” she declared.

“But after being strangers, we’ve become friends. Actually, marami na kaming pinagdaanan. We were strangers then became friends and then enemies and then more than friends and somehow, parang hindi ko na nga malagyan ng label what we are. Parang at least sa pakiramdam ko, hindi na lang s’ya, it’s not a love team anymore or friendship… Like I said, we’re always here for each other and siguro mayroon ding rason kung bakit lagi kaming bumabalik sa isa’t isa.”

Prior to the media roundtable, Photo courtesy of Jollibee PAGE 10

“Tingin ko, kung kailangan pa ba ng another 20 years to define it? I think two decades is more than enough para i-seal ‘yung souls natin,” he told Bea. “Alam mo ‘yun, especially in the context of collaboration and moviemaking, I think hindi naman imposible na nag-eexist side-by-side ‘yung souls namin,” he explained.

Bea, meanwhile, quipped: “May mga souls ba kami?”

“Pero kasi hindi ko alam kung talagang i-ano mo na na soulmates kami kasi parang... pwede siguro kung pagbabasehan mo d’un sa lagi kaming pinu-pull

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • december 2-8, 2021

Gawad Kalinga USA to celebrate hope through music with ‘riSING Together’ concert By eriC

Sayno

THE impact of the COVID19 pandemic is felt all over the world, but the challenges that come with it are even more daunting for those who belong to the poorest sectors of the community. In the Philippines, a weakened economy and the fear of contracting a viral disease add to the burden of the less fortunate, who have already been struggling to make ends meet each day. Now, more than ever, the need to come together in the spirit of “bayanihan” is crucial to support poverty-stricken Filipinos.

Gawad Kalinga (GK) USA will lead the charge through riSING Together, a virtual celebration of hope through music, in partnership with world-class Filipino talents who are lending their voices to inspire, encourage, and move people during this most precious season of giving. The event is headlined by National Artist for Music Maestro Ryan Cayabyab

together with the Ryan Cayabyab Singers. Sharing the stage are seasoned multi-hyphenate performer Gary Valenciano, online sensation and Filipino-American artist AJ Rafael, and singer-songwriter Kiana Valenciano.

“I have been in close coordination with GK since the first year of inception of the Ryan Cayabyab Singers as a powerhouse singing group and it has been some years since we did a project with GK. This is a most opportune time to collaborate again with an organization I believe in,” shares Mr. Cayabyab, fondly known as Mr. C. “I look forward to working with three exciting artists in Gary V, Kiana, and AJ, and I can’t wait to showcase the Filipino’s excellence in music creativity and artistry!”

AJ chimes in, “When GK approached me to ask if I can be a part of the concert, it was automatic.”

“If there is any opportunity to help or do a concert, as long as I’m free, I’ll be there. That is the impact that GK has on me.

I’m excited to be part of this and working with Mr. Ryan Cayabyab. It still doesn’t feel real – I wouldn’t believe it until I watch him singing along to one of my songs on video,” adds the popular YouTube artist. riSING Together is presented

by Seafood City and The Filipino School, and sponsored by MVMi, Pray.com, Shining Light Foundation, Tagline 360, Skills Simplified, Assistantly.com, Pinoy Monthly, and Asian Journal.

The event is powered by VEAP (Virtual Events and Activations Platform), and will be streamed online on December 11, 4 PM PST/6 PM CST/ 7 PM EST in the US, and on December 12, 8 AM in the Philippines. Registration is free, but donations towards GK’s various efforts to help poor and vulnerable families are most welcome.

Be part of GK USA’s riSING Together concert and spread love and hope through the power of song. Please visit www.gk-usa. org to register for the event.

Mikoy’s evolution continues by iZa iGLeSiaS ManilaTimes.net

SINCE becoming a runner-up in “Protégé: The Battle For The Big Artista Break” back in 2012, Mikoy Morales has proven his versatility in acting with a myriad roles from comedy and drama.

For almost a decade, GMA Network has given him full trust by giving him projects that made him grow in his craft.

Ready as ever for the next phase of his career, Morales was renewed his contract with GMA Artist Center.

“Wala akong babaguhin sa journey ko with GMA and I don’t have any regrets. It’s been life changing because itong klaseng work na ito is not just work. Kung anong papel ang ginagawa ng GMA for me, it’s very personal and colorful to me to say the least,” Morales said in a virtual conference.

Morales continues to amaze viewers for his knack for comedy as one of the mainstays in the country’s longest running and award-winning comedy show “Bubble Gang” and “Pepito Manoloto.”

But the actor’s evolution doesn’t end there. From drama

Mikoy Morales

and comedy, Morales is out to prove anew his versatility — this time in the action genre via the upcoming primetime adventure series “Lolong.”

Directed by Zig Dulay and starring fellow former “Protégé” star Ruru Madrid with Shaira Diaz and Arra San Agustin, the upcoming adventure-action series will tackle environmental issues such as climate change, global warming, and the extinction of animals especially in the Philippines.

“Sa ‘Lolong’ although ako yung comic relief at kabarkada ni Ruru at ni Shaira, ako yung may kakaiba at may tiwalig na mindset

GMA photo

at pagkatao sa mga seryoso at mapanganib na nangyayari sa paligid niya,” teased Morales.

Apart of these shows, he also starred in Philippine superhero flick “Mang Jose,” which premiered at Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (Bifan) in South Korea back in July.

Indeed, it has been quite a journey for Morales as he enters 10 years in his acting career. And with all the fresh faces and new stars coming into industry and his home network, he promises not just the viewers but to himself as well that he has a place in the entertainment world.

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SFIO, NeuroSky sign $15-M partnership to bring biotech wearables to global markets STARFLEET Innotech, Inc. (Smokefree Innotec, Inc.) and biotech company NeuroSky signed an agreement earlier this month, awarding the asset management company distribution rights of NeuroSky’s state-of-the-art health and wellness monitoring devices.

As part of SFIO’s broad campaign to build synergies across their core investment areas, the company plans to sell an initial batch of at least 100,000 wearables through partners in health, construction, education, and other related industries.

NeuroSky is a Silicon Valleybased, private biotech company that specializes in electronic wearables such as watches, wrist bands, and headsets. Depending on the device, features include vital sign monitoring, symptom tracking for conditions such as viral infections, and brainwave tracking to help enhance one’s learning abilities.

The agreement grants SFIO exclusive rights to sell NeuroSky products in New Zealand

and the United Arab Emirates.

SFIO also has non-exclusive distribution rights in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the United States, and other countries yet to be determined.

Tapping their partners across health, construction, education, and similar industries, SFIO intends to position these wearables as a quantitative way to ensure community health in a post-pandemic world, focusing on the communities that have proven to be most vulnerable to communicable diseases.

As an initial project, SFIO will be rolling out these devices to retirement villages, where residents will be able to both monitor their wellbeing and automatically alert medical staff and loved ones with SOS notifications in case of health emergencies picked up by the wearables.

Educators and researchers will also benefit from NeuroSky’s brainwave monitoring technologies. While initially designed to facilitate more data-driven meditation practices, these head-mounted

wearables have scientifically proven use cases in improving performance in the classroom as well.

For the first 18 months, SFIO aims to sell at least 100,000 units of NeuroSky’s wearables, including their flagship BioSense HR watch. SFIO expects this venture to generate $10 to $15 million in revenue.

In addition to selling to enterprise partners, SFIO will also be making these devices available to interested buyers through e-commerce platforms like Amazon, and other commercial channels via sub-distributors.

Beyond distribution, SFIO has larger plans to launch its own brand of health tracking wearables, with their in-house software development teams working alongside NeuroSky’s product designers and engineers.

These new products will be manufactured by NeuroSky and will fall under a new “white label” brand currently being developed by SFIO. (Advertising Supplement)

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DECEMBER 2-8, 2021 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

Health @Heart PHILIP S. CHUA, MD, FACS, FPCS THE COVID-19 pandemic has vividly shown that educating people, even in a most educated country, is not easy, especially when some of its spineless leaders spread misinformation in order to be politically correct so as not to lose votes. In the process, they go against science and say what their constituents want to hear: No mandates on mask and vaccines, even when science says otherwise. And of course, as expected, this has contributed immensely to the confusion and chaos and the nearly 50 million COVID-19 cases and almost 800,000 dead Americans.

Scientifically, majority of these infections, hospitalizations, and deaths were preventable! More than 90 percent of the casualties involved the unvaccinated.

Science, not politics, is what we need to end this pandemic. The government must follow science! All of us should continue educating the public, even repeatedly, until people truly understand that COVID-19 is a vicious stealth killer that must be destroyed soonest. And that we now have the vaccines to do it.

A national disaster, in this case a part of a global calamity, deserves no less than a unified federal response, not DIY fragmented and conflicting management approaches by 50 state governments, many times politically clashing against one another. An outburst or a local endemic affecting a city or a state may be handled by the state government, but not a pandemic! In a national cataclysm, like a war or a pandemic, all 50 states must be seamlessly in sync with the federal government, functioning as one unified force against the SARS-CoV2 virus. We cannot afford to lose more lives. One person dying is one too many.

Epidemiologists from all around the world have developed a proven scientific protocol, the technology, the wherewithal, a proven containment strategy to minimize, even end, the infections and deaths. Sadly, all of these state-of-the-art armamentaria are all still waiting for the national government to employ and deploy fully ASAP. The administration and Congress have failed to consolidate their efforts and properly utilize the proven, effective weapons they have at their disposal in a timely fashion to defeat this killer virus soonest. They have allowed 50 million people to get infected and greater than three quarters of a million to die…and counting.

This is gross negligence and dereliction of duty on the part of the Executive and Legislative branches of our government, arguably (just to make a

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COVID-19 predictions Luis confirms Edu, Cherry Pie relationship point) bordering on involuntary mass manslaughter or negligent genocide, and they must be liable and held accountable. Not mandating a proven and available epidemiologic strategy that would have saved millions from getting infected and nearly 800,000 from dying is clearly negligence and a dereliction of a sworn duty of these public servants to serve and protect the nation and its citizens.

If a physician did not employ available state-of-the-art standard of medical care (for COVID19 or other diseases) in a timely fashion resulting in the death of even one patient (or dozens, or hundreds), would he/she not be charged with malpractice, negligent homicide, etc.?

The federal “mandate” for children to have the required vaccinations before enrolling in school has saved hundreds of millions of children from dying.

Countless millions of lives have been saved by laws against driving without a license or auto insurance, using cellphones while driving, not wearing seat belts, reckless driving, driving while intoxicated; no-smoking bans, etc. These are all government actions curtailing the civil rights of the people to do what they want and their freedom to choose not to obey. These good laws follow the principle of societal rights, national safety and welfare, prevailing over the rights of the individual. A national mandate for COVID-19 vaccination would be an excellent medical evidencebased law that will end this pandemic soonest and save millions of lives, certainly much more than the other mandates above.

Yet, we have no such federal mandate.

No end in sight This COVID-19 pandemic will be with us for years to come because more than 50 million people in the United States alone refuse the vaccines. Their bodies will act as long-term hosts, a giant reservoir, and enable the SARS-CoV2 virus to rapidly replicate and mutate non-stop to more easily transmissible and deadlier strains. Without a host, the virus will self-destruct. We may actually end up needing annual COVID-19 shots, like the flu vaccine.

The Delta strain caused breakthrough infections among those who were vaccinated, clearly showing how worse it is compared to the previous variants.

Now comes the South African strain, which has led to U.S. travel bans from South Africa and other African nations starting last Monday, November 29.

Named the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529), it may “have the ability to evade COVID vaccines and increase the risk of reinfection.” The longer the virus is allowed to replicate and mutate, the greater risk it becomes to human lives. The Moderna vac-

cine is now suspected to be ineffective against the Omicron virus. Future variants may not respond to any vaccine or treatment at all and wipe us out as a civilization, a bit of a stretch, but a plausible scientific reality.

God forbid.

More people will die until we destroy this virus for good. Medically, the only way to do this is to vaccinate every single person, to deny the virus any host. Or, to isolate those unvaccinated, carriers and infected, reminiscent of the Leper Colony in the 1800s.

Obviously, this is not possible, compassionate, nor humane.

Scientifically, unvaccinated people, who are the easy targets of the virus, become the carriers and transmitters of COVID-19 infection. When not totally isolated from others, they will continue to spread this deadly virus and kill more people.

Unfortunately, at least 50 million people in the United States appear to be more interested in exercising their civil rights, their freedom of choice, their right to refuse vaccinations, rather than protecting themselves and their fellowmen from this killer virus. The greater tragedy is their choice is killing people, taking others with them and damaging our economy, besides our psyche, and prolonging this pandemic.

We should have learned our lessons from the global plague, the Black Death of the 1890s, which killed more than 200 million across Europe and Asia, and the Spanish Flu of 1918 (U.S., UK, France, Germany), which infected more than half a billion people (nearly a third of the world population then) and possibly killed up to 100 million, the deadliest recorded pandemic in human history.

How many more deaths are we waiting for before we do the right thing?

by Jan

MiLo SeVero Philstar.com

KAPAMILYA TV host Luis Manzano confirmed the relationship of his father Edu Manzano to actress Cherry Pie Picache.

In his recent interview with G3 San Diego, Luis said that they were caught off guard on the relationship of the “Marry Me, Marry You” co-stars.

“Kung maibabalik ang prangkisa ng ABS-CBN next year, baka si Daddy at Tita Pie, itapat sa KathNiel,” Luis joked.

“Sobrang we were caught off guard. No one saw it coming. I don’t even think Dad and Tita Pie saw it coming,” he added.

Luis said that a friend of him sent a photo with his dad Edu and Cherry Pie. “I think a friend of mine took a picture with them and he sent me a picture. He was with Daddy and Tita Pie. Date night yata sila. So

EMPLOYMENT

is always now. Hindi po yan, ‘Ay, bata pa ako, hindi ko pa dapat gawin yan, kapag ganitong edad na ako.’ It’s really more about acquiring different experiences and experiencing things for the first time.”

Also after a quick reflection on the inquiry, Alden managed to add. “Perhaps, maaga rin po akong tumanda. At the age of 17, I lost my mom, ang aga po ng stage of maturity for me, and maaga po akong naging motivated to really be of help, especially, lahat naman po nag-sisimula sa pamilya, siguro ngayon nga lang na na-bless tayo with a good career and a platform to spread (the good) influence to a lot of people, parang now is always the right time, parang gawin

by aLeX

BroSaS Philstar.com

MAX Collins is a huge believer of holistic beauty.

“For me, it’s really all about taking care of myself mentally, physically and emotionally. All of that is important. That includes working out every day, taking my supplements and meditating. Because I do all those things regularly, I think, the glow comes out more often,” GMA 7’s To Have and To Hold star Max Collins said during a recent virtual presscon when queried about the secrets to her inner glow.

“I am very particular with my schedule. I really make time for ‘me-time’ and make sure I’m taking care of myself,” the 29-yearold actress added.

Even during lock-in tapings, her essentials include a yoga *** mat and treadmill so she could The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints exercise daily, on top of getexpressed by the author do not necessarily ting enough sleep and eating reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of healthy. the Asian Journal, its management, editorial Her other ways of managing board and staff. *** The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, a Health Public Advocate, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian and anti-graft foundation in the United States. Visit our websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888.com Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com

na natin ngayon yung mga pwede nating gawin.” Through these efforts, Alden will be able to inspire the youth to carry on the culture of charity and the value of paying it forward.

Aside from gamely sharing the nitty-gritty of his documentary concert and foundation, Alden also generously informed all that “before the year ends, we’re starting the movie, the one with me and Bea Alonzo, the Korean adaptation and we’re gonna grind soon… and there’s a teleserye next year.”

With a plate full of things to do now and the next year on his working table, Alden is not in a rush. He simply wants to seize the moment.

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I sent the picture back to Daddy.

I said, ‘Uy daddy, happy boy ka.’

Sabi niya, ‘Yes anak, happy’,” Luis said.

“It would boil down to the same thing, kung paano niya nir-

Photo from Instagram/@yescppicache

erespeto ang kanyang kasama.

That’s one thing na nakikita ko kay Daddy. How he takes care of his partner talaga. Nakikita ko rin naman how happy he is with Tita Pie,” he added.

Max shares some secrets to ‘stress-free’ glow

Alden shares inspiration behind...

PAGE 8 performances. Forward is different from his previous shows that narrated his show business journey. He said that the Alden Richards the public knows is just a part and parcel of a whole that only long-time followers are privy to. “I want also other people to see what I stand for,” Aden continued, “ano ba ang pinaglalaban ko sa buhay ko, how do I see myself, how do I see my future.”

Asked where the adrenaline rush or the inspiration was coming from for him to jump from one project to another, Alden answered, “Perhaps, it’s my goal now that (since) I’m not getting any younger is to do things na hindi ko pa nagagawa. The time

Edu Manzano and Cherry Pie Picache

Max Collins

stress nowadays are being committed to a routine and adopting a new mindset amid the new normal. staying at home all the time and doing events like this virtually but now medyo nasanay na ako and I have a routine to stick to. But what really helped me adjust is accepting the fact that I just have to adapt to the situation now. For so long, we thought na, lahat gusto ko ‘pag OK na lahat.

Gagawin ko ‘to ‘pag OK na lahat, but hindi talaga magiging OK lahat. The time na natanggap ko yun, that’s when I felt free.”

She’s also open to going the natural and cosmetic routes of enhancing looks. “I’m OK with botox and things like fillers. I’m open to other ways of being beautiful.”

Despite having one of the most beautiful faces in showbiz, the actress opened up on being the receiving end of body-shaming — from when she was younger and on the heavy side, to even recently, after giving birth to son

Skye. She was criticized online for being “overly” body-conscious as she was quick to drop the pregnancy weight.

Max reasoned that she wanted to both feel good about herself and better take care of her son.

“Nagpapayat ako for my health.

I exercise regularly. I eat healthy because it’s important for me to feel good. It makes me a better mom for my son,” she said.

“If we don’t look and feel beautiful, I feel like we can’t give love that we don’t have for ourselves.”

Asked if she still has any body goals, she admitted, “Of course, the goal is to look like a Victoria’s Secret model kahit di kaya. Pero pipilitin natin, pipilitin ko talaga yan. Hahaha!”

On a more serious note, Max said her target is to be the best version of herself for her family.

“During this pandemic, we really realized that life is so short and we really want to make the most of what we have.”

Speaking of her family, how is the balancing act of motherhood and career? The mom of a oneyear-old shared, “It’s so hard to be a mom, hats off sa mga nanay diyan, because you really give so much of yourself. But it’s so fulfilling at the end of the day. The way I’m able to give so much to my family is by taking care of myself. It’s so important to have those days off — just go to the derma, go to the beach or hang out with friends. I believe like, just because you’re a mom, it doesn’t mean you can’t be who you were before. You’re just a better version. That’s how I feel.

I am a better version of myself because I’m a mom.”

Max has also drawn up plans for Skye once restrictions further ease. “Marami na siyang nagawa (over the pandemic), nakapunta siya sa beach, sa farm. We really didn’t let the pandemic stop him from doing things. But one thing he hasn’t really done is hang out with other kids. Naghahanap na siya ng mga kalaro. And that’s what we want for him — to play Photo from Instagram/@maxcollinsofficial with kids his own age.”

John Lloyd, Bea admit to being...

PAGE 8 the pair admitted in an interview with Joyce Pring that they believe in soulmates.

“Ako, I believe in soulmates and destiny, na may taong nakalaan para sa’kin. But I also believe na hindi lang limited ‘yung soulmates sa romantic partner. It could be your best friend, mga pinsan mo, nanay mo, kapatid mo, tatay mo. And ang definition siguro ng soulmates, para sa’kin, are two people who have

intense feelings for each other or who have this unbreakable bond.

Hindi lang s’ya necessarily just romance,” Bea explained.

“Sana meron pa ‘kong pwedeng idagdag du’n. I believe the same thing,” said John Lloyd, adding: “‘Di s’ya limited to romance. ‘Di s’ya limited to that context na nakasanayan natin… parang between two people ‘yun na ‘yung pinnacle na pwede n’yong maabot in terms of having a relationship. Parang ‘yun

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na ‘yung pinakahigpit na tingin kong idea ng pinakabond between two people.”

“It’s almost marriage na rin, ‘no?” Bea asserted.

“Nand’un s’ya sa level na ‘yun.

In your life, kung mahanap mo ‘yung soulmate or soulmates mo, I guess that you’re lucky. ‘Di lahat nahahanap ‘yun. Pwedeng sobrang dami mong naging partners, sobrang dami mong naging romantic partners pero ‘yung soulmates parang rare.”

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