120322 - Los Angeles Weekend Edition

US has ‘many requests’ on EDCA, Bongbong Marcos says

by Frances Mangosing, nestor corrales Inquirer.net

December 1 said the United States had made “many requests and proposals” concerning the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), the most recent military accord between the Philippines and its treaty ally.

The President told reporters that these requests were being reviewed by the Philippine government.

“So, all of that is under study now to see what is really feasible and what will be the most useful for the defense of Philippine territory,” he said.

While Mr. Marcos did not mention specifics, he earlier disclosed that the Americans proposed joint military exercises and “the use of our bases” during his meeting with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris in Malacañang on Nov. 21.

Man in hate crime attack on elderly Filipina in NY gets 17.5 years in prison

A MAN in Yonkers, New York who brutally attacked a 67-year-old Filipino woman in March was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison Tuesday, Nov. 29.

Tammel Esco, 42, had pleaded guilty to a hate crime attack on woman who was walking into her apartment building. He punched and stomped on her 125 times, sending her with a bleeding brain and facial fractures to the hospital, according to court documents.

Moments before the attack, officials say Esco called the victim an “Asian bitch.” A security camera at the building entrance captured images of Esco attacking the woman. He did not make a statement at the sentencing.

Westchester County DA Miriam Rocah said, “I want to assure every community in Westchester County that my office will use

The eight-year-old EDCA, which allows the United States to preposition military materiel, aid supplies and personnel in select Philippine military bases to allow it to quickly respond to crises and natural disasters, was also discussed during his meeting with Harris, according to Mr. Marcos, who did not give details.

“I think by early next year, we will have something more concrete to tell you,” he told reporters after the Kadiwa ng Pasko caravan in Quezon City on Thursday.

EDCA, which was signed in April 2014 before then U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to Manila, would help the United States boost its presence again in the region where China now dominates, especially in the disputed waters in the South China Sea.

Under the agreement, U.S. troops and equipment

US gov’t gives P85M for PH fight vs AIDS

by leander C. doMingo ManilaTimes.net

THE United States government donated HIV viral load testing cartridges valued at P85 million ($1.5 million) in a turnover ceremony hosted by the Manila City government on December 1, also to commemorate World AIDS Day.

According to the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, the donation, which was turned over by U.S. Ambassador MaryKay Carlson, was to strengthen the Philippine government's HIV treatment program.

Carlson said these laboratory tests are further proof that the U.S. government

PH launches eTravel platform for inbound passengers

MANILA — Inbound travelers will now provide their arrival information and health declaration through the eTravel platform, Malacañang announced on Thursday, December 1.

The eTravel platform — an online registration system for travelers bound for the Philippines, including returning residents — was launched to streamline the government’s entry procedures and data collection processes.

According to the Office of the Press

Secretary, the health declaration checklist of the Department of Health’s Bureau of Quarantine may be accessed through etravel.gov.ph.

The portal replaces the One Health Pass website.

Passengers using the former www. onehealthpass.com.ph will be redirected to the new eTravel domain. The old domain of the One Health Pass will no longer be accessible starting December 5.

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LA County is experiencing large increases in the number of reported COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. The 7-day average case count in the county is 3,053, a nearly 44% increase from one week ago when the 7-day average of 2,121 cases was reported. And over the past seven days, the average number of daily COVID-positive patients in LA County hospitals is 1,056, an increase of 39% from last week when the average number of COVIDpositive patients per day was 760.

The county’s case rate is now 185 new cases per 100,000 people, and the COVID-19 hospital admission rate is 11.9 per 100,000 people, moving the CDC community level designation from low to medium. While moving into the Medium Community Level will not change required mitigation strategies in LA County, it does signal that case rates and hospitalizations are elevated and the county could be in the High Community Level as soon as next week if the case rate reaches 200 cases per 100,000

by luisa Morales Philstar.com

MANILA — The daughter of now controversial referee Carlos Padilla has called the statements where his father admitted helping Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao win a fight in 2000 as "misconstrued" and "misinterpreted".

In a letter addressed to the "boxing community of the world", Suzy Padilla Tuano came to defense of the 88-year-old referee who was shoved into the center of attention after a recent interview during his induction to the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame.

"My father is an 88 year old man who is just that — old and aging. Despite the

fact that he has been living in the United States for decades, English remains his 2nd language," the letter read.

"Communications can be misconstrued and well intentioned words can be misinterpreted. The present situation is one such glaring example of what might actually have been said, (no pun intended), and what may have been taken out of context," she continued.

Padilla had said in the interview that during Pacquiao's fight against Australian Nedal Hussein back on Oct. 10, 2000 at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo, which he officiated, he had taken more time in giving Pacquiao the mandatory eight-count, when the Filipino boxer was knocked down u PAGE A2

is committed to working alongside the Department of Health (DoH), the community of Filipinos living with HIV and local governments like Manila to ensure that people living with HIV in the country have equitable access to a viral load test.

"With this donation, we aim to amplify the hopeful message of U equals U: That undetectable is indeed untransmittable," she added.

The ambassador said the donation was secured through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAaid).

Bongbong Marcos pushes joint exploration of West PH Sea

by Catherine S. Valente and KriStina Maralit ManilaTimes.net

"other ways"

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Kadiwa ng Pasko Caravan in Quezon City, Marcos said oil exploration is a "small thing" for China but something significant for the Philippines.

"We'll have to find a way kasi kailangan na natin eh (we really need it now ). We already need, kung mahanap dyan kailangan na talaga ng Pilipinas (whatever resources we could find because the Philippines really need that now)," Marcos said.

The President said the constitutional problems delaying the joint exploration must be resolved.

"Kasi kini-claim ng China kanila 'yun, eh atin naman talaga iyan. So, sinasabi ng

NIGHT LIGHTS. Skyscrapers housing offices and residential spaces at the Rockwell Center in Makati City are decked in Christmas lights on Thursday, Dec. 1. The buildings’ lights brighten the city’s skyline for the holiday season. PNA photo by Rey S. Baniquet

Daughter of Filipino referee says Pacquiao cheating statement ‘misconstrued, misinterpreted’

FIGHTING AIDS. U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson (3rd from left) turns over the donation of 86,000 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) viral load cartridges to Department of Health officials in observance of World AIDS Day in Manila on Thursday, Dec. 1. An HIV viral load is a blood test that measures the amount of HIV in a blood sample. PNA photo by Yancy Lim

PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday,

As COVID-19 cases rise, Los Angeles County could reinstate indoor masking

PRESIDENT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Thursday, December 1 said the Philippine government will find

to proceed with the joint exploration with China of the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) if government-to-government talks do not work out.

President Bongbong Marcos attends the Kadiwa ng Pasko Caravan in Quezon City. Malacañang photo

US has ‘many requests’ on EDCA...

are now allowed into five Philippine bases—the Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu and Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City.

Although these bases are yet to be fully utilized by the Americans, Washington has already expressed its desire to have access to five more, particularly those close to Taiwan, according to Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro.

The 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, the mother security pact between the two allies that commits one side to come to the other’s aid in case of armed attack, “is continuously under negotiation,” Mr. Marcos said.

Unwavering commitment “I always call it an evolution because things are changing,” he said, without elaborating,

During her meeting with Mr. Marcos, Harris assured

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

“And that is an unwavering commitment that we have to the Philippines,” Harris told Mr. Marcos.

Washington has earmarked $66.5 million over the next two years for, among other expense items, the construction of training, warehouse and other facilities in the first five Philippine bases it had chosen.

Bacarro told reporters in midNovember that the Philippine and the United States were in talks on access to five additional bases, including two in Cagayan province, which is about 400 kilometers from Taiwan, and one in Isabela in northeastern Luzon.

Another base the Americans are looking at is in Zambales and one more in Palawan, both facing the West Philippine Sea, he said.

These areas would still have to

be approved by the Department of National Defense and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Beijing considers Taiwan a province of China and has not renounced plans to take it back.

The Taiwan situation has become a concern for both the United States, which has warned China against invading the island nation, and the Philippines, its southern neighbor.

China carried out large-scale military drills, including firing missiles over Taipei in early August, following U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. The Chinese have continued such activities since although on a smaller scale.

Before Philippine senators voted to terminate the 1947 Military Bases Agreement with the U.S. in 1991, the Americans kept a large presence in strategic bases at Clark and Subic Bay in Central Luzon. They also operated the Wallace Air Station in La Union province, which is now being used by the Philippine Air Force. n

PH launches eTravel platform for...

The eTravel platform will also host the electronic version of the paper arrival card that travelers must submit for immigration clearance.

Beginning December 5, the

Bureau of Immigration will discontinue using the paper arrival card.

Registration on the eTravel platform is free.

“The public is warned against transacting with any entities or

websites soliciting payments and fees of any kind as these are in no way related to the official eTravel platform of the Philippine Government,” the OPS said. (Gaea Katreena Cabico/Philstar.com)

US gov’t gives P85M for PH fight vs AIDS

Present at the event were Sen. Ana Theresia "Risa" Hontiveros, Manila Councilor for Health Dr. Louisito Chua, DoH Undersecretary Carolina Vidal-Taiño and members of the people living with HIV (PLHIV) community.

The embassy said these cartridges will be distributed to HIV treatment hubs and facilities across the Philippines and are expected to cover the country's viral load testing requirements for all patients undergoing HIV treatment for one year.

DoH Officer in Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said this donation of more than 86,000 viral load cartridges from the U.S government will be pivotal

to the country's HIV treatment program.

On behalf of the PLHIV community, Elena Felix, Network Plus co-convenor, said they are filled with so much hope that "we will no longer have to lose our loved ones to HIV and that we will be able to carry on with our lives, free from worry and stigma."

The U.S. government has provided more than P1 billion ($18.2 million) to the Philippine government through Pepfar to support HIV prevention, case finding and treatment interventions since December 2020.

The embassy said this includes a donation of more than 81,000 bottles of pre-exposure

prophylaxis or PrEP, an HIVpreventive drug that is being distributed by the DoH in more than 50 facilities across Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Calabarzon.

It also said this donation, valued at P31.3 million ($552,996), was turned over to the Philippine government in June 2021.

These recent donations, according to the U.S. Embassy, signify the U.S. government's commitment to support the Philippines in addressing supply chain bottlenecks in the procurement of critical commodities in HIV detection and treatment and in achieving the country's goal to end AIDS by 2030 through evidence-based strategies. n

Man in hate crime attack on elderly Filipina in...

every resource at our disposal to fight hate and hold perpetrators accountable.”

The unnamed victim was in court for the sentencing and

thanked those in the community who helped her. She said she lost her home of 24 years and remains “on edge” and did not want the painful experience to happen to anyone else. She could

not believe she survived, she said If anyone has been a victim of a hate crime or bias incident, or has further information on this case, call the District Attorney’s Office at (914) 995-TIPS. (Inquirer.net)

Daughter of Filipino referee says Pacquiao...

during the 4th round.

Pacquiao was the clear favorite in his fight against Hussein.

He also said that he declared an ugly cut under Hussain's left eye as being caused by a punch from Pacquiao, instead of a head butt — which is crucial as gashes caused by legal blows can result in a TKO win for the fighter who dealt it if the fight gets stopped by the doctor.

This was the more damning of two admissions as Pacquiao ended up being declared winner by TKO in the 10th round after the ringside doctor deemed Hussein unfit to continue because of that cut.

Tuano jumped to his father's defense and backed up the Hall of Fame-bound referee's integrity in his work.

"My father is a decent and honorable man. He dedicated his life to boxing and boxers and cared for them and their well being, regardless of nationality

or circumstance," she said.

"He refereed numerous historic fights with the likes of Muhammad Ali, Hagler, Leonard, Hearns, and many more fighters for the entirety of his career. He has since retired and has been out of the spotlight for as long as I can remember. Oh, but he loves to talk and entertain because like any other human, he still yearns to feel relevant.

I invite everyone to ask about Carlos Padilla among his peers: promoters, fighters, referees, or anyone from his era and hopefully, you will learn about my father's true character," she continued.

"He does not need controversies at this very late stage in his life."

Since the letter, who was received by the World Boxing Council (WBC), they said that they will establish a "special panel" to review the situation about Padilla.

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman said that he can

CHRISTMAS ART. Pedestrians walk past a giant Christmas-themed figure made of recycled materials in front of the Angono Municipal Hall along Quezon Avenue in Angono, Rizal province on Friday, Dec. 2. The town of Angono is known as the “Art Capital of the Philippines”. PNA photo by Joey O. Razo

Carlos Padilla

Photo screengrabbed from WBC's YouTube video

"certainly emphatize" with the referee's daughter.

"I will personally follow the process in the meantime, the WBC will not make any futher public comments," Sulaiman said in WBC's statement. n

Bongbong Marcos pushes joint exploration...

Pilipinas, basta't 'yung batas kailangan masundan 'yung sa Pinas (China is claiming the [South China Sea] as its property, but it's ours. For the Philippines' part, we have to follow the law)," he said.

"Ang sinasabi naman ng Chinese, hindi, amin iyan eh, kaya't kailangan masundan is Chinese. Kaya 'yun talaga ang roadblock doon (The Chinese are saying that they own that, and they want their own terms to be followed. That's the roadblock there)," he said.

Marcos' predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, had terminated joint-exploration discussions with Beijing.

The two countries signed the memorandum of understanding in 2018, but the Philippine government said the goal of developing the oil and gas resources was not achieved. Last September, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Manila and Beijing were into "initial and general discussions" but have not progressed into "working-level talks."

During their first bilateral meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, last month, Marcos and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed that the immediate conclusion of negotiations for the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea will help address the maritime dispute among the claimantstates.

Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a portion of which has been renamed

by the Philippines as the West Philippine Sea.

In 2016, the Philippines scored a victory against China when the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands, declared Beijing's claim over nearly the South China Sea as illegal.

China has refused to acknowledge the ruling.

Marcos also said during an interview that the decadesold Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the United States is "continuously under negotiation and under evolution."

Noting that "things are changing," the President said that Malacañang has been on the receiving end of "many requests and proposals" from the US government on how to improve cooperation on security and defense, particularly those specified under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

"So, all of that is under study now to see what is really feasible and what will be the most useful for the defense of Philippine territory," he said, noting that security and defense were among the issues he discussed with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris recently.

"Yes, we covered that and many more subjects. But essentially, on the security, 'yun tinitingnan natin 'yung kanilang pino-propose, 'yung mga joint exercises (we are looking at what they are proposing, the

joint exercises), and EDCA, the use of our bases, all of these. We are in the middle of that," the President said.

During the meeting with Harris, Marcos reiterated that he does "not see the future of the Philippines without the United States."

Harris in turn reaffirmed her government's commitment to the Philippines, a "multifaceted" relationship "based on mutual commitment to the economic prosperity of the region and our respective nations."

Harris, the highest ranking American official to visit the country in recent years, also called out the harassment of Filipino security forces in the West Philippine Sea.

Any "armed attack on the Philippines, armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the South China Sea" would trigger the U.S. government to "invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments," she said.

National Security Adviser Secretary Clarita Carlos earlier stated that the government has created a panel that will study and review the MDT that was forged by the two nations in 1951.

The group, according to Carlos, is composed of officials from the National Security Council, the Department of National Defense and the DFA.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian has said that the Senate must also be a part of the review.

The Palace has yet to react to Gatchalian's statement. n

Holiday to-do lists should include getting protection against COVID

by wE Can do This CoVid-19 publiC EduCaTion Campaign

IN addition to making food, preparing shopping lists, and planning travel for the holidays, taking steps to reduce the impact of COVID on your friends, your family, and yourself should be part of your holiday to-do list.

COVID cases are expected to rise this winter, and no one wants their holiday plans to be disrupted by illness. Dr. Tiffany Moon is a Chinese American

anesthesiologist and mother of two who urges everyone to get the updated vaccine, which includes targeted protection against Omicron. “Getting an updated vaccine will help keep your friends and family safe while you’re gathering,” she said in an Instagram post.

In addition to Dr. Moon and other influencers, community organizations all over the country continue to support the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ We Can Do This COVID-19 Public Education Campaign through events and vaccine clinics, including:

• Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO) is offering the updated vaccines and flu shots in Miami on Saturday, Dec. 3 at the Nanay Health Symposium from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The location is the Nanay Community Center at 659 NE 125 St., North Miami, 33161.

• FYLPRO is also holding a vaccine clinic that same day, Dec. 3, at the Houston Holiday Market, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market will be at the Pearland Town Center, 11200 Broadway St., Pearland, TX, 77584.

As holiday preparations begin, here are some answers to commonly asked questions about COVID and COVID vaccines:

Do I need a COVID vaccine this far into the pandemic?

Yes. Even though COVID has been around for several years, it can still cause severe illness, especially to those who are not vaccinated. People ages 50 and older, and anyone with a chronic condition like diabetes, heart disease, or lung disease, is at increased risk of severe illness if they get COVID. While vaccinated people can still get COVID, vaccines provide protection against the worst outcomes.

What should I know about

updated COVID vaccines?

Anyone age 5 or older who has completed the primary series of a COVID vaccine and had their last dose at least two months ago should get an updated vaccine. Updated vaccines provide protection against both the original COVID virus and Omicron.

Why should I get vaccinated before the holidays? No one wants to expose vulnerable family members to COVID or miss precious time with family and friends because they are seriously ill over the holidays. Vaccines can help protect you, and since it takes a couple of weeks for the full protection to kick in, it’s a good idea to get vaccinated and get an updated vaccine as soon as you can. You should get an updated vaccine two months after your most recent vaccine dose.

What should I do if I test positive for COVID? People who are showing symptoms of COVID should stay home and test for COVID. Those who are positive should stay home for at least five days and reach out to a doctor. People who are 50 or older, or who have a chronic condition like diabetes, heart disease, or lung disease, are at higher risk and should contact a doctor at the first sign of COVID symptoms to see if they need a prescription for COVID treatment to help keep them out of the hospital.

COVID is treatable with antiviral and monoclonal antibody medications that doctors can prescribe based on how high your risk is for complications. When these medications are taken within days of the first symptoms of COVID, they work well to prevent COVID hospitalization and death.

COVID vaccines are currently free and widely available. For more information and to find a vaccine, visit www.vaccines. gov. (Advertising Supplement)

US lawmaker’s adviser visits Leila De Lima

by Ralph Edwin VillanuEVa Philstar.com

“Mr. Homan was informed that De Lima’s health condition is regularly monitored by PNP doctors. The team was also briefed of De Lima’s own decision to remain at the facility despite offers of transfer of detention facility,” the PNP’s statement read.

Homan

A

They

The Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court Branches 204 and 256 earlier allowed the rescheduling of the visit of Homan to De Lima, more than five years in detention.

Originally, the visit was allowed by the court anywhere from Oct. 23 to 28, but due to issues and engagements, this was rescheduled to Nov. 27 to Dec. 3.

The visit ended at about 10:20 a.m., the PNP said. n

MANILA — A security adviser of a U.S. lawmaker on Friday, December 2 visited former senator Leila de Lima at her detention cell at Camp Crame.

Chris Homan is the senior adviser on national security and foreign policy of U.S. Senator Dick Durbin.

was accompanied by the other staff members of Durbin when he visited De Lima at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center.

statement from the PNP said Homan and three other persons arrived at the camp at around 9:40 a.m.

The visitors were received at the Chief PNP Lounge for briefing and documentation.

were briefed by Lt. Col. Larry Gabion, chief of the PNP Custodial Center, on the

adjusted security measures imposed at the facility following the attempted escape of three Abu Sayyaf bandits in October.

Former Senator Leila de Lima

Philstar.com file photo

Graduate student strike highlights need for greater state investment in public universities

by Louis Freedberg Ethnic Media Services

THE strike of academic student workers at the University of California, now in its third week, has major implications for public education, which is why it is being watched closely by educators throughout the nation.

If the students get anywhere close to forcing the 10-campus university system to meet their demands, it could set a precedent that universities pay its student workers a living wage.

That would run counter to the prevailing model where universities rely on graduate students – and postgraduate researchers – to carry out essential teaching and research functions, without having to meet their basic living expenses, and especially the cost of housing.

State’s disinvestment and tuition at public universities

In fact, the state of California has mostly gone in just the opposite direction over the last half century by disinvesting in the university, and instead turning to both undergraduate and graduate students to pick up an ever larger share of its operating costs by charging many of them tuition.

The scale of the state’s disinvestment has been breathtaking. In 198081, 87% of the university’s

core budget came from Sacramento. Four decades later, state funding had plummeted to merely 39% of the core budget. This is not a recent development. Over a decade ago then-UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert Birgeneau described his flagship campus as a federal university because it was receiving more money from federal research grants and student aid than it was from the state.

“The reality is that with the progressive disinvestment in higher education by the state, the state is becoming a tertiary player,” Birgeneau said at the time.

Student enrollment has doubled

Further putting pressure on the university is the state’s 60-year-old Master Plan for Higher Education. It decrees that the university enroll the top 12.5% of high school graduates. That may have seemed reasonable at the time when the state population was around 16 million. But today the population is 40 million.

As a result, student enrollment has soared, more than doubling over the past four decades.

Another factor – a welcome one — is that an increasing proportion of the high school students are meeting the requirements for admission.

But it has also put more pressure on the university, which has opened only one new campus — UC Merced— over the last half century. With an enrollment still under 10,000, Merced has only partially addressed the overcrowding issue.

Complicating the university’s basic operational model is that the University of California enrolls proportionately far fewer graduate students than comparable private universities. As a result, it must draw on a smaller pool of graduate students to help with research and teach sections in ever-larger lecture classes.

Housing costs

All this is happening at a time when California students are facing among the highest housing costs in the nation –at a university that has turned increasingly to students to pay a greater share of its core operating costs. That’s despite the 1868 charter establishing the university declaring that “admission and tuition shall be free to all residents of the state.”

One positive sign is that during his first term, Gov. Gavin Newsom departed from many of his predecessors by meaningfully calling for, and providing, greater investments in the university. But that was u PAGE A8

As COVID-19 cases rise, Los Angeles County...

people.

Emerging strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus are likely contributing to higher COVID-19 case rates and hospitalizations across Los Angeles County. With high prevalence of the new dominant strains BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 (descendant of BA.5), all residents should follow common sense precautions that work to prevent transmission of respiratory viruses, including wearing a high-quality mask that fits well in indoor public spaces and getting the new updated Fall COVID-19 booster.

Current county data shows that the subvariant Omicron BA.5 is rapidly losing dominance. The subvariants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1. now account for the second and third greatest number of sequenced specimens respectively, and combined, the BQ strains make up 38% of specimens, surpassing BA.5, which is at about 36%.

With mounting evidence that the new bivalent booster, specifically formulated to provide protection against BA.4 and BA.5, provides significant additional protection against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, increasing the number of people boosted can mitigate the waning immunity of the monovalent doses. Unfortunately, only 16% of eligible LA County residents have received the updated bivalent booster – and six million residents are currently eligible who have not yet taken advantage of this additional defense. Everyone in LA County who is 5 years or older, and received their primary series or last booster more than two months ago, is eligible for the updated bivalent booster.

Within people age 65 and older, who statistically are more likely to have severe outcomes from COVID-19, uptake, while double that of the general population, remains concerningly low. Nearly 70% of older eligible residents, or about 880,000 people, have not yet received the updated booster.

The updated Fall COVID-19 boosters, plus flu vaccines, are readily available at Public Health sites, pharmacies, and other locations across the county. Seniors and residents who can’t easily leave their home can contact Public Health telehealth services at (833) 540-0473, seven days a week, from 8:00 am to 8:30 pm to arrange for athome COVID-19 Fall booster and

primary series vaccinations or transportation to a vaccination center.

Telehealth services can also be used to speak to a provider about therapeutics if you have tested positive for COVID-19 and are having symptoms. Taken within 5 days of symptom onset, Paxlovid can decrease the risk of hospitalization. Insurance is not required, and callers can be assisted in multiple languages.

Residents can also go to VaccinateLACounty.com to find nearby vaccination sites, request a mobile vaccination team for your worksite or community event, or an in-home visit if you or someone you know is homebound.

“I want to acknowledge the loss felt in local communities, particularly over the holidays, and to send my condolences to those who are grieving a loved one who has died,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “While there still is uncertainty about what the impact of COVID-19 will be this winter, there is mounting evidence that we are entering another COVID-19 surge. In some ways this surge is likely to be different – we know more about COVID, have tools to help mitigate severe outcomes, and we are more aware of symptoms and when to take action. On the flip side, this will be the first winter where we are facing rising levels of COVID, with emerging new strains we know less about,

along with unusually high flu and RSV activity. There is a common line of thinking that the pandemic is over, that COVID-19 is no longer of concern. But given both the increases in hospitalizations and the lack of certainty in the winter trajectory for COVID-19, it’s important to continue common-sense mitigation strategies that we know work to limit transmission and illness, including masking and being up-to-date on vaccines and boosters.”

On Friday, Dec. 2, Public Health reported 14 additional deaths and 4,744 new positive cases. Of the 14 new deaths reported today, one person was between the ages of 30 to 49, one person was between the ages of 50-64, five people were between the ages of 65-79, and six people were aged 80 years or older. For information on the one death reported by the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach. gov. Of the 14 newly reported deaths, 12 had underlying health conditions. To date, the total number of deaths in L.A. County is 34,213.

Public Health has reported a total of 3,552,019 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County. Today’s positivity rate is 12.2%.

There are 1,171 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized. Testing results are available for more than 12,736,245 individuals, with 25% of people testing positive.

MORNING EXERCISE. Cyclists do their laps at the Neopolitan Business Park in Novaliches, Quezon City on Friday, Dec. 2. The area has become a popular destination and hangout for sports enthusiasts, such as joggers, walkers, and bikers, especially during weekends. PNA photo by Ben Briones

Battling AIDS: Equalize

WORLD AIDS Day was marked on the first day of December with the COVID-19 pandemic taking its toll on prevention and treatment of AIDS and human immunodeficiency virus.

Throughout the pandemic, health experts noted a significant drop in testing for HIV/AIDS, with fewer people also seeking treatment. Resources for subsidized testing and treatment were also eaten up by emergency response to the COVID pandemic. In the Philippines, HIV testing dropped by 61 percent in 2020 while treatment initiation dropped by 28 percent. Only 61 percent of persons living with HIV were on antiretroviral therapy in 2020.

Editorial

confirmed HIV-positive people in the Philippines, bringing the total cases to 96,266 since the first case was detected in the country in January 1984, with males accounting for 94 percent. Of the cases reported in February this year, 28 percent or 297 had advanced HIV infection upon testing.

Two laws have been passed in the Philippines to promote the welfare of persons living with AIDS/ HIV and prevent discrimination against them. Yet resources to fully implement some of the provisions, already limited before COVID struck, have become even more strained after two years of battling SARS-CoV-2.

Between 2010 and 2017, the Philippines had the fastest-growing HIV epidemic in the Western Pacific at 174 percent, although actual case numbers were low compared to other countries. Over 80 percent of the infections were among men having sex with men. There are concerns that if not sufficiently addressed, HIV / AIDS could spread from MSM to the general population. In recent years, cases among pregnant women have been increasing. As of February this year, there were 1,054

During the pandemic lockdowns, health experts reported that people with HIV / AIDS, whose immune systems are weakened, accounted for many of the COVID deaths. UNAIDS data show that the global response to HIV / AIDS faltered in the past two years. The pandemic aggravated inequalities in access to basic HIV services such as testing, treatment, condoms and new technologies, UNAIDS reported.

UNAIDS estimates that only a third of the vulnerable populations have regular access to prevention and treatment services. This year the theme of World AIDS Day is “equalize” so that even people in marginalized communities can access HIV / AIDS services. The United Nations had set 2030 as the target year for ending AIDS as a global health threat. But UNAIDS stressed that to attain this goal, “economic, social, cultural and legal inequalities must be addressed as a matter of urgency.” (Philstar.com)

BBM should take advantage of his high trust ratings

Hotdog team.

GNASH your teeth until they fall out, you Yellows, Pinks and Reds. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. posted an impressive 86 percent trust and 78 performance rating, according to a survey undertaken by OCTA Research in the last week of October.

Marcos should take advantage of this colossal political support to start the reform programs this country direly needs even if these are unpopular or will be resisted by oligarchs.

Those ratings are basically at the high levels of his predecessor President Rodrigo Duterte, whom I would think the masses identified with more than Marcos. This is perhaps indicated by the fact that while both presidents had an 86 percent trust rating, Marcos' performance rating was 78 percent, a bit lower than Duterte's 86 percent. Those of the past three Yellow presidents — Cory, Ramos, Aquino 3rd — were all below Duterte and Marcos.

Marcos' trust and performance ratings are impressive because of two reasons. First, inflation

has not been contained during the months when the survey was undertaken, increasing to 7.7 percent in October from 6.9 percent in September. This certainly hasn't been an abstract statistic, with even newspapers and TV reporting surges in rice, sugar and vegetable products in grocery shelves.

And people usually blame, rightly or wrongly, their president for high prices of the usual things they buy everyday.

The political consequence of rising prices was not lost on a guest columnist in this paper, Fermin Adriano, who's a professional economist specializing in agriculture. He wrote in a recent column:

Undermining "With no less than President Marcos Jr. heading the Department of Agriculture, the rising prices of food commodities reflect badly on his leadership. I am afraid that this will contribute to the undermining of the president's credibility and eventually his popularity if not arrested.

"Although the administration overall remains popular, the results of the latest Pulse Asia survey showed that about two of the respondents expressed serious concern on the soaring prices of basic commodities. It

also revealed that 42 percent of the respondents disapprove of how the national government is controlling inflation."

The OCTA findings, however, show that people do not blame Marcos for soaring prices, and rightly so.

The second reason why Marcos' high ratings are impressive is that compared to his predecessor, his first five months in office have been either lackluster, colorless or even drifting.

Whether you agree with Duterte or not, his war on illegal drugs in his first three months in office stunned the nation in its intensity — or ferocity. Everyone was talking about it, with the president's road on fire with his war.

Equivalent There is just no equivalent of that in Marcos' first months in office.

A few of his supporters of course make much of his travels abroad, that Marcos has as one headline put it, put the Philippines "back in the map." But out of his five travels abroad — roughly once every month — three were to attend required international meetings (UN General Assembly in New York, the Asean Summit in Cambodia, and the APEC meeting in Thailand), one was

Silver linings, dark clouds

BONIFACIO Day is more than enough to give content to countless stories and articles. Indeed, celebrating Bonifacio Day can be a soul-searching stimulus for a social, political, and economic structure that is characterized by extreme disparities. This is more true of the Philippine leaderships involved. It is they that Bonifacio challenged, it is they that Bonifacio wanted dismantled, and it is they who are deemed responsible for killing Bonifacio. Yet, it is they who celebrate Bonifacio Day.

I have long stopped listening to the officials giving speeches on Bonifacio Day, extolling the hero and his character. While they do so, they point to their own failure to emulate Bonifacio and what he stood for – for as long as that extreme inequality persists without a painful and transformative effort to dismantle it. Commemorative action on

Bonifacio Day rightfully belongs to those who share in the vision and pain of what Bonifacio fought and died for. That means the poor, the marginalized, the majority of Filipinos remain depressed because of a lingering feudal setup.

So, it was with surprise, and a very pleasant one, that greeted me early morning on Bonifacio Day. I was having coffee and watching a morning show on cable TV where the Secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers was being interviewed. Covid-19 and the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine had been providing a stream of bad news for over two years. I understood that OFWs had suffered so much from these global-impacting events.

Hearing Secretary Ople, then, share developments that strongly favor the fate of OFWs made my coffee break happy.

In the first place, I had long dreamed and written articles on it of a special niche in government commensurate in importance to the phenomenon of overseas Filipino workers. The phenomenon has powerful

economic returns that have kept the Philippine economic and political structures stable even in critical times. The tens of billions of dollars in remittances need no explanation to millions of Filipinos benefiting directly and the government that continues to be saved from worse crises because of these. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is a giant solid step in honoring the value of overseas Filipino workers.

What I heard from the DMW Secretary was the equivalent of silver linings because recent developments are seeing restrictions and obstacles on overseas hiring being removed or eased. The impact must be so significant that Secretary Ople felt confident enough to say that a sharp increase in remittances can be expected starting the first quarter of 2023. That is the money side, of course, which must stem from a significant increase of Filipinos finding contracts abroad.

More overseas workers also translate to more families domestically and their financial security bolstered. Their fears

for his family's entertainment (the Singapore Grand Prix). His last trip was to Indonesia, which I totally do not understand the significance of why he had to make that trip.

In the meantime, Marcos' house was in disorder, his executive secretary, a crucial post, at odds with his First Lady, and it took Marcos three months to decide which side he'll take.

He can't decide, now after four months, who to appoint as agriculture, health and press secretaries — three crucial posts. This is the first time I think that a president couldn't complete his Cabinet, which is in fact usually announced on the first week of a president's term.

So far, it is image prevailing over substance in the first four months of the Marcos administration.

Image

For image, Marcos spent time mimicking a famous photo of his father with US President Lyndon Johnson in 1966 checking out the "miracle rice" that could produce 99 sacks per hectare, developed by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Baños. The IRRI was set up by the American Ford and Rockefeller Foundations, with some Philippine government support — which is the reason

which began at the onset of the pandemic can now be assuaged, and a heavy burden will be lifted from a government facing severe challenges on many fronts. Most of these challenges require financial resources because the government still wants to sustain the existing subsidies. That is the politics of economics. With more Filipinos sending home money to their families, the political pressure to subsidize at present levels will decrease.

The phenomenon of overseas workers, however, is not all bright. After more than 40 years, as remittances rise, special domestic problems erupted. With one or sometimes two parents absent in the home for extended periods, there is a serious negative impact on the development of the children. The myriad of familial and community challenges as a result of one or two parents earning abroad and the children left to alternative care merit their own focused attention. Too complicated to tackle now.

I can say, though, that the rise of mental health problems leading to depression and suicide, also as illegal drug use and petty crimes, cannot be disconnected from a lack of

why Johnson was so willing to pose with Marcos. While indeed developing new, more productive rice varieties in the 1960s, IRRI is a shadow of its former self, with rice institutes set up in almost all Asian countries.

That photo of Marcos Jr. with IRRI executives was a lot of nonsense.

The substance is that the Agriculture department is dead in the water, as its secretary — Marcos himself — is so busy running the national government and traveling abroad, that he has visited the department's headquarters only twice, and even missed — canceling at the last minute — the celebration there of World Food Day October 17. As a result, the highest official attending the event was a legislator, Sen. Cynthia Villar. Marcos could have appointed as his representative in the department an active and respected official. Instead he appointed Domingo Panganiban, whose main qualification is that he was one of his father's most trusted men in the agriculture sector. At 83 years old, officials there tell me, Panganiban does what most seniors have to do, which is to take frequent naps, even if his most active recent work was as basketball coach to the Purefoods Tender Juicy

parenting in the home. Their absence or very limited presence in the home may not be the only cause but it is a significant one. That is one social cost that offsets the monetary and political advantages of the overseas workers’ phenomenon. Just one but heavy, frequently tragic.

From the macro view of global history and development in different countries, no people anywhere that had been mired under colonial rule, violent internal conflict, and enduring poverty did not improve their status without the equivalent of extreme sacrifice. Story after story from the colonial period to the present time highlights radical sacrifice, combinations of war, and hard work under unfriendly environments.

I see our overseas Filipino workers as like the pioneers from the West who settled in many lands around the world. The settlers of America were the primary builders of their eventual nation. Many must have died in percentages higher than what Filipinos experience today when they work overseas. That is why we must go out of our way to rescue the hungry and save the victims of disasters and calamities. We should not pay

And then it puzzles me no end why Marcos can't appoint a health secretary when we aren't really totally out of the pandemic woods yet. Has the pressure of lobbying groups paralyzed him? Intervened Marcos intervened in the issue over San Miguel and Meralco's tiff with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) by issuing a public statement that the Court of Appeals — a part of the judicial branch — should not have issued its temporary restraining order on the ERC order which SMC and Meralco protested. This is just plain wrong: the head of the executive branch just doesn't intervene or comment on a decision or an action of the judicial branch.

But he hasn't bothered to ask the Justice department — which is under the executive branch — why it hasn't issued or can't issue an arrest order against former Bureau of Corrections head Gerald Bantag, who has been publicly tagged, directly or indirectly, accurately or inaccurately for several weeks now as the alleged mastermind of the killing of journalist Percival Mabasa.

Where does Marcos intend to take the country to? Duterte

the cost of suffering, deaths, and social problems at home. There have been many lessons along the way.

History must one day honor in the most meaningful way the heroism of those who sacrificed their presence in the family and carried the deep emotional burden, just to go from poverty to middle class. The DMW is now there to envision how this heroism can be rewarded in concrete terms and how OFW families and communities may be aggressively assisted in building their domestic capacity and dreams. The DMW is new, but that is no excuse for not exercising its resources, imagination, and mentorship over a whole sector of Filipinos.

All things considered, especially the continuing lines of Filipinos seeking decent work abroad, I will accept as net good news or silver linings the positive outlook of DMW Secretary Ople. May her words be prophetic.

(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.

RigobeRto tiglao

Commentary

Jose Ma. Montelibano

ANDY TECSON Photographer

IVY MANALANG

DING CARREON Videographer

MOMAR G. VISAYA Executive

Dateline PhiliPPines

Marcos to new envoys: Look for business, partnership opportunities for PH

by Dennis Gutierrez Inquirer.net

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has called on newly appointed and confirmed Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to “continuously look for opportunities” for business and partnerships for the Philippines.

The President made the remark during a courtesy call on the newly appointed ambassadors at the President’s Hall in Malacañan Palace.

In his message, the President urged the diplomats to continue to communicate, promote the interest of the Philippines, and “foster partnerships with all our neighbors.”

“And whether or not they are allies, whether or not they are friendly, nonetheless, it is very important that we continue to communicate, that we continue to engage, that we continue to have a way to explain what the Philippines is trying to do, how the Philippines sees its role in the community of nations,” the President pointed out.

“I think it is important [that] we now look and be very, very conscientious about finding opportunities for the Philippines that might be good for the Philippines,” he added.

The President said it is important for the Philippines to seal partnerships, especially as the country “navigates out of this pandemic economy.”

“And in this time, I think it is very important that those partnerships are created and strengthened,” he said.

“It is important that we have partners as we try to navigate out of this pandemic economy, out of the crisis that we have had to attend to and deal with as an effect of the Ukraine conflict,” President Marcos pointed out.

As representatives of the Philippines, the President said ambassadors should serve as instruments in helping the Philippine economy and pursuing opportunities to woo more investors.

“When we endorse and assist the private sector in partnerships

with whoever the investors from outside, that is also a good thing for us,” he said.

Different mission amid current challenges

During the courtesy call, the chief executive talked about ambassadors’ very different tasks in advancing the Philippines’ interest, particularly as the world grapples with multiple challenges.

“So it is a different kind of mission. You no longer are concerned solely with the diplomatic contact and the diplomatic exchanges. We are no longer limited by distance, by geographical and physical positioning,” President Marcos said.

“This is something that we have to recognize now. And that is what, as I said, we look to our envoys to be able to achieve to one, consistently make known to all our friends, all our own partners, the position of the Philippines on all the aspects of the world discussion that we are all part of,” he pointed out.

The country’s envoys, Marcos said, have also continuously to talk to people, corporations, and entities and look for opportunities and programs that could benefit the Philippines.

For instance, the President said, they have to look for ideas and partnerships with other

countries offering assistance on climate change and other things that can be helpful to the Philippines.

“That’s why I think that probably is the newest feature of an envoy’s duties as I see. So that I see, well, it is a new world out there; we must adjust,” he said.

“And I believe that for the Philippines, for the national interest, that this is the way to adjust,” he added.

The President also pointed out that the country benefits from a government-to-government level of negotiation and mediating with the private sector in terms of investment tie-up with foreign investors.

Filipino ambassadors have to consider these things so the country can maximize its resources and partnerships to manage the economy effectively and to help the Filipino people have a better life as the nation slowly emerges from all of its present challenges, the President added.

The Filipino envoys included Ambassador Grace Tolentino Cruz-Fabella for the Argentine Republic; Ambassador Jaime Victor Badillo Leda for the Kingdom of Belgium; Ambassador Joseph Gerard Bacani Angeles for the Federative Republic of Brazil; Ambassador Eduardo Martin Ramos Meñez for the Czech Republic; Ambassador Gina Alagon Jamoralin for the Republic of Indonesia; and Ambassador Pedro Ramirez Laylo Jr. for the State of Israel.

The list of newly appointed and confirmed ambassadors also includes Ambassador Nathaniel Garcia Imperial for the Italian Republic; Ambassador Mylene De Joya Garcia-Albano for Japan; Ambassador Wilfredo Cunanan Santos for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; Ambassador Lilybeth Rodriguez Deapera for the United Mexican States; Ambassador Lilibeth Velasco Pono for the State of Qatar; Ambassador Medardo Antonio Gonzales Macaraig for the Republic of Singapore; and Ambassador Alfonso Ferdinand Agbayani Ver for the United Arab Emirates. n

PNP, Red Cross hold int’l meet on ‘humane’ law enforcement

MANILA – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) hosted the second Asia Pacific Colloquium to provide a better understanding on how to conduct law enforcement operations as humanely as possible.

In a statement Friday, December 2, the PNP Public Information Office said the conference held in Makati City from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1 was joined by local and foreign delegates from police agencies of 12 countries in the Asia Pacific Region.

After being postponed for the past three years due to the pandemic and consequent health restrictions, this year’s humanitarian dialogue was held with the theme, “Law Enforcement and Reducing Humanitarian Risks in the Early Stages of Detention”.

Maj. Gen. Michael John Dubria, acting chief of the PNP directorial staff, represented PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, who is attending another international forum in France.

“We have increased the number of scheduled and surprise inspections of PNP custodial

facilities nationwide as part of our anti-torture strategy. This is to ensure that persons under police custody are treated in a humane and dignified manner and to uphold their individual rights pursuant to human rights standards and existing laws,” Dubria said in his message during the opening ceremony.

Dubria said all police personnel has also been re-oriented on the obligation to inform all persons arrested, detained, or under custodial investigation about their rights under the law including their inalienable and non-derogable right to be free from torture, cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment.

“More than just responding to the requirements of human rights laws, we are here to jointly express our firm commitment to uphold the rights of all persons, including persons deprived of liberty, simply because we all need to preserve our inherent dignity and value as human beings,” Dubria added.

Some of the objectives of the event are to increase understanding among senior policymakers of the humanitarian challenges arising during the

early stages of detention develop an awareness of the causes of high-risk behavior and look at strategies to reduce this in participants’ own contexts; promote mutual understanding between ICRC colleagues and participants; and to set the conditions for operational and policy dialogue between the ICRC and states to share approaches to reduce humanitarian impact even in sensitive areas.

The five-day event participated in by police organizations from the Asia-Pacific region aims to facilitate a discussion among specialists at a policy or planning level on the risks associated with the early stages of detention, to share policies, existing challenges, practical mitigation strategies, and lessons from the Asia-Pacific region.

The first conference, coorganized by the ICRC and the Ecuadorian National Police, was held on Sept. 14 to 16, 2016, in Quito and was attended by 27 senior officers from 13 countries that covered topics such as “use of force in the maintenance of public order” and “consequences of the use of firearms in the line of duty”. (PNA)

In his message, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged the diplomats to continue to communicate, promote the interest of the Philippines, and “foster partnerships with all our neighbors.” Malacañang photo

BOOSTING HEALTHCARE ACCESS. Senator Christopher Lawrence Go (center) leads the groundbreaking of a 'super health center' at Babak District, in the Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte province on Friday, Dec. 2. Once operational, the super health center, a medium version of a polyclinic and an improved version of a rural health unit, will offer laboratory services and will house a pharmacy, birthing facilities, out-patient department, dental services, comprehensive PhilHealth outpatient department, among others.

PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.

OCTA: Metro Manila daily COVID-19 cases up to 411 as December wave starts

MANILA — The daily new COVID-19 cases being logged in Metro Manila are up to some 411 per day from 264 earlier on November 24, independent pandemic monitor OCTA Research said on Friday, December 2.

This is in line with the

Department of Health's earlier projection of around 429 COVID-19 cases per day nationally “if our current minimum public health compliance remains the same" by December.

In a tweet advisory, OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David said that the BQ5 wave is expected to be similar to the BA5 and XBB waves.

David said that Metro Manila's COVID-19 cases registered a oneweek growth rate of 56 percent as the positivity rate also increased

from 9.4% to 11.9%.

"This rate of increase in the positivity rate in the NCR is around the same rate of increase during the Omicron BA.5 wave from June and the XBB from September," he said.

"This projects to a December BQ.1 wave similar to the BA.5 and XBB waves."

According to OCTA Research, per data from the Department of Health, the average daily attack rate, or the number of new cases for every 100,000 people increased to 2.85.

The reproduction number — a metric used to measure the number of cases one coronavirus carrier can infect — also similarly increased from 1.11 in November 21 to 1.32 by November 28.

However, healthcare utilization in the National Capital

Region remained low across the board at 28% despite registering an increase from 26% the week before.

Earlier this week, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said he was pleased with the performance of Department of Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire, adding that he sees no need to appoint a secretary of Health yet.

The DOH recorded 8,032 additional COVID-19 cases from November 21 to 27, averaging 1,147 infections a day. The figure was 0.3% higher than the number of cases logged from a week before.

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

Push for nuclear energy to face ‘vibrant discussion’ at Senate

by Franco Luna Philstar.com

MANILA — The Senate majority bloc is still undecided on the administration's push to construct nuclear power plants around the country, pointing again to safety and funding concerns in one of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr's pet projects.

To recall, the U.S. Embassy in Manila said earlier that among the key outcomes of Vice President Kamala Harris' visit to the Philippines was the announcement of the launch of the 123 Agreement for negotiations for civil nuclear energy cooperation to help increase the Philippines’ energy security.

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva told reporters Wednesday, November 30 that he has his own reservations on it.

Asked about the prospects of the Senate complementing the move, Villanueva admitted: "We are almost sure that every one of them will have their own opinion, position and we'll have a vibrant discussion on whether the Philippines should consider using nuclear power."

Villanueva said he is open to discussions on nuclear power but that he also has reservations about it.

"We are all aware that nuclear power plants contain radioactive

material that is extremely harmful to humans and the environment. We also need to conduct a thorough evaluation of potential sites for the power plant and waste storage," he also said.

During the election campaign, Marcos said the country should look into reviving his father’s venture—the 621-megawatt Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, which was completed in 1984 but has been mothballed over safety concerns.

Both chambers of Congress are dominated by the president's allies but Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri has promised that the supermajority coalition would not be used to railroad the president's favored bills.

For Villanueva, a number of key questions still remain.

"Can this technology be efficiently utilized in an archipelagic country such as the Philippines?" he said. "Lastly, we expect this investment would cost billions of dollars. How we can afford these power plants, if the investment would be cost efficient, and how long it would take us to get a return on investment are questions that need to be answered."

"That being said, we are more open to exploring the use of modular types of nuclear plants for the country. Using small modular reactors could prove to be an affordable option and

manageable in size and scale for the country."

The "123 Agreement" aims to support collaboration on zero-emission energy and non-proliferation priorities. The agreement will allow the U.S. to export nuclear equipment and material to the Philippines to help the country achieve energy security and transition to clean energy.

Scientists and advocates opposed to the idea say the deal poses a threat to nearby communities and is counterproductive to Marcos' supposed commitments to addressing climate change.

"Nuclear and fossil gas should be out of the picture today; it’s hypocritical to talk about addressing the climate crisis while prioritizing dangerous energy sources,” Greenpeace Philippines campaigner Khevin Yu said.

For his part, Sen. JV Ejercito brushed off safety concerns, saying "the safety protocols will strictly be followed...So many countries have successful nuclear energy programs."

"We really need to reconsider nuclear power. We need to bring down the cost of energy for our economy to be able to fully develop and at same time address the issue of climate change and global warming which will be both addressed by [shifting to] nuclear power," he said. n

Graduate student strike highlights need for...

PAGE A5

made possible by the record surpluses the state has enjoyed.

Now those surpluses are coming to an end. It would not be surprising if Sacramento reverted once again to trimming the state’s contribution to UC. This counterproductive dynamic must be reversed, however difficult that may be, if California still wants to have a world-class university system that can compete with private institutions.

A broken business model

The stakes for many other

public universities are arguably even higher than they are at the University of California, which generally pays its students workers more than most other public universities do. In fact UC President Michael Drake says the university is offering compensation “on a par with top private research universities.”

Not all students would necessarily agree with him on that front. But regardless of the outcome of the strike has highlight what is essentially a broken business model at most public and many private

universities: being able to rely on students for essential services without having to pay them a living wage.

What it also points to, at the University of California and elsewhere, is the contradiction between the desire of state leaders to have great public universities even as they fail to provide them with the resources needed to maintain that status.

Louis Freedberg, a UC Berkeley-trained anthropologist and veteran education journalist, is former executive director of EdSource. n

BBM should take advantage of his high...

PAGE A6

in his first months of office at least made clear he wanted to rid the country of illegal drugs, to prevent the nation from becoming a narco-state. A "simple" goal, but still a clear path, with the rest of the blahblahs like "macro-economic stability," "stable fiscal situation," and "investmentattractiveness" left to his technocrats to work on. Then he emphasized as his goal his "build, build, build" program — to build as much infrastructure as the government can. Marcos hasn't done that yet. I do hope he would soon; and

his huge political support would allow him to undertake even the most painful reforms.

Don't get me wrong. More than most people, I'd like this administration to succeed, the antithesis — hopefully — of the hypocritical, oligarchbacked, holier-than-thou Yellow regime. I hate being told next by a Yellow niece and my AH Ateneo classmates: "I told you so..." I rooted for Marcos, and debunked with much success the Yellow myths over his father's rule, for which I'm now the most hated writer by Yellows and Reds.

And after all it would be the

penultimate administration I'd live under in my lifetime, and if it fails, we will see a Yellow counterrevolution, and my grandson will live in a country overtaken by Vietnam or even Cambodia and Laos. (ManilaTimes.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.

* * * Facebook: Rigoberto Tiglao Twitter: @bobitiglao Archives: www.rigobertotiglao.com Book orders: www.rigobertotiglao.com/ shop

CHRISTMAS DECORS. A figurine of Santa Claus is on sale along with other Christmas decorations 24 days before Christmas Day at a store in Sampaloc, Manila on Thursday, Dec. 1. You can find these types of figurines at the Christmas Factory, known for selling large figurines made up of polyresin, which is a kind of plastic that can be carved into durable shapes and fiberglass, a plastic strengthened with glass.

PNA photo by Yancy Lim

Hyatt Hotels acquires Dream Hotel Group

by RealtoR Fely Quitevis-Bateman

DREAM Hotel Group, which is developing Dream Las Vegas, has been acquired by Hyatt Hotels Corp. This was announced on Tuesday, November 29, and was featured in local paper Las Vegas Review-Journal

According to the article, “the buyer is slated to pay a base price of $125 million, with up to an additional $175 million over the next six years “as properties come into the pipeline and open,” according to a news release.

The deal will include 12 managed or franchised hotels with another 24 management agreements for hotels that haven’t opened yet, the article added per the release.

Dream Las Vegas, one of the projects within the Dream Hotel Group that is being developed by Shopoff Realty Investments and Contour, both Southern California firms, will benefit from the deal, per a company official, citing the

“depth of the Hyatt reservation system” and “the combined benefit of Dream’s creativity and Hyatt’s scale.”

Dream Las Vegas is a 531-room resort that is expected to open in 2025, and is situated on Las Vegas Boulevard, just south of Russell Road. It is slated to offer a smaller, boutique-style experience for its patrons.

The Dream Las Vegas is just one of the many projects or events slated to open in the next few years – and even decades – in Las Vegas.

Construction is booming in the town, with the massive projects planned along the Strip and elsewhere that have kept unemployment numbers down.

An anticipated project that many have seen towards the north end of the Strip is the Fontainebleau, with its massive, bluish structure towering near the convention center location.

One of the tallest structures in the city, it is located in the 2000 block of South Las Vegas Blvd. and has an “fb” etched prominently in the structure facing the street. Slated to open in late 2023, it features a huge space of meeting space (about 550,000 square feet), a two-floor retail area for high-end retailers, a casino and more than 3,700 hotel rooms, in addition to a nightclub, performing theater and a dayclub.

With conventions and expos coming back to Las Vegas, the Fontainebleau is positioning itself in the meet space industry, owing to its proximity to the Las Vegas Convention Center. It is expected to add luster to the northern part of the Strip, which has seen a lot more activity in the last few years.

Another project that is slated to open in 2023 is an Atomic Range near The Strat, also in the northern end of South Las Vegas Blvd. It is expected to be a premier golf destination in Las Vegas with facility users able to have an immersive experience. The facility will feature the latest in golf and entertainment technology, and will certainly create memorable experiences for facility visitors.

Atomic Range is seen as a center that will welcome all ages and people with different golf skill sets. Flite Golf and Entertainment, the developers of Atomic Range, see the project as a way to allow people of all ages to come and learn to play golf in a non-intimidating environment, while having fun in a facility that will be about four stories high. When finished, it is expected to add hundreds of jobs to the local economy.

mile, 14-turn course where top speeds are expected to hit around 212 miles per hour.

Las Vegas’ iconic landmarks will serve as the backdrop for the race that will feature three straights, a high-speed cornering sequence and a single chicane section, with Grand Prix drivers running over 50 laps and trying to outmaneuver each other to capture the trophy. Not since the 1980s has there been a Grand Prix event in Las Vegas, and racing fans are excited at the prospect of witnessing Formula 1 Racing again and seeing their favorite drivers, most of whom are excited to visit the city and see what it has to offer.

Of course, entertainment seems to be a big attraction in Las Vegas. Country star Garth Brooks just committed to a residency at Caesars Palace in 2024, Carrie Underwood will be back at Resorts World in 2023, rap superstar Jack Harlow, Tiessto, Zedd and Kaskade are going to be headliners at Resorts World’s Zouk Nightclub, and fans and industry insiders are hopeful that Celine Dion will finally open her latest Strip production, also at Resorts World, in 2023.

Meanwhile, Adele, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Aerosmith, Maroon 5, Barry Manilow, Sting, Foreigner and Shania Twain are in the midst of their residencies or will be starting their shows in various casino-hotel properties in the first trimester of 2023.

Most of the big gaming-hotel developers in Sin City are in the midst of consolidating, renovating or developing their own portfolios, which is a win-win situation for both locals and visitors.

market for properties available in and near Las Vegas; buyers can negotiate more with sellers and get a good deal.

than happy to help find your slice of land in one of the most exciting cities in the world, and help you achieve the American Dream of home/land ownership.

For more information, call (702) 538-4948, or send email to fely@preciousproperties.com or fely.precious@gmail.com.

Also in late 2023, Formula 1 Racing comes back to Las Vegas when the Las Vegas Grand Prix event takes place in Sin City, where the sport’s top drivers vie for the win as they navigate a 3.8

This just means that the demand for Las Vegas will remain strong in the future, even as mortgage rates are higher nowadays. Currently, there is a good inventory in the

If you are in the market to buy real estate – whether it’s a house, land, condo, or even a commercial property – this is a good time to see what’s out there. I have decades of experience in the real estate industry and can help you find the property of your dreams and something that will suit your budget. Many of my clients who have invested in real estate have begun to reap the rewards of their investments via rentals and Airbnb.

My team and I would be more

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

(Advertising Supplement)

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman helps those who need business financing, including loans for small businesses.

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman’s (extreme left) young investors from Palm Springs are looking at Las Vegas properties after closing their escrow in Pahrump recently.

Russ and Fely Bateman hosted a dinner for their Manila investors at the Stirling Club in Las Vegas.

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman’s repeat investors in Pahrump is the mother/daughter team of Rose and Jessica Pacheco.

Battered wife gets green card through self-petition on an encore success story in Citizen Pinoy this Sunday

LANCE came to the United States in 2017, and then married his U.S. citizen girlfriend in a same-sex marriage. His wife petitioned Lance for his green card, but their marriage turned sour, and the wife kept postponing

their immigration interviews. The American wife also started abusing Lance physically and verbally, stole money from him, and even threatened him with deportation. Lance also found out that his wife had a boyfriend.

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

After it became apparent that

Sylvia La Torre passes away at 89

by John Ariic cuA ManilaTimes.net

SINGER-actress Sylvia La Torre-de Tagle has passed away, her granddaughter and fellow actress Anna Maria Perez de Tagle-Kline confirmed from Los Angeles, California. She was 89 years old.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, December 1, the Broadway actress said her grandmother died at 7:02 a.m. on Thursday and was surrounded by her husband and her three children.

"My grandmother was my first inspiration when it came to singing and acting. She was my first vocal coach and taught me all of her kundimans," Anna Maria wrote. "Thank you for passing on your love of music to me and I will surely continue your legacy. Gone too soon but always in our hearts. Your song has ended but your melody will linger on. Love you Mama Cita."

La Torre, who was born on June 4, 1933 and a scholar of the University of Santo Tomas' Conservatory of Music, is known as the "Queen of Kundiman" and the "First Lady of Philippine Television". g

John Arcilla says HBO is helping market ‘On The Job: The Missing 8’ for Oscars 2023

by Kristofer Purnell Philstar.com

AWARD-winning

selected

The

ries of the same name.

"The Missing 8" is actually Arcilla's fourth film to have been submitted to the Oscars. The first was the 2013 film "Metro Manila," produced by a British film company. The other two

“BATTERED -SPOUSE” GREEN CARD THROUGH A SELF-PETITION, ON AN ENCORE SUCCESS STORY OF CITIZEN PINOY THIS SUNDAY! Lance arrived in the U.S. in 2017 and married his U.S. citizen wife. The wife petitioned Lance for his green card, but the marriage turned rocky. Soon, the American wife started abusing Lance physically and verbally, and even threatened to have him deported. Upon a friend’s recommendation, Lance consulted with Atty. Gurfinkel. Atty. Gurfinkel converted Lance’s case from a spousal petition to a VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) self-petition, which was approved in September 2022. Lance was able to get a “battered-spouse” green card. Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, December 4 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/ Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. (Advertising Supplement)

Sylvia La Torre

Photo courtesy of FASO

actor John Arcilla shared that HBO is helping the Philippine entry to the 95th Academy Awards or Oscars 2023, "On The Job: The Missing 8," in its marketing campaign to be

in the Best International Feature Film shortlist.

sequel by Erik Matti first premiered at the 78th Venice Film Festival last year where Arcilla won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor.

HBO picked up the film and its predecessor to go with a minise-

Anne on how to be pursuer of dreams, goal maker

by Jerry Donato Philstar.com

IT’S always refreshing to see celebrities who go beyond their limelight persona and talk about ideas they are passionate about. One of them is Anne Curtis, who, years back, shared her advocacy for children’s rights with UNICEF, and now, encourages everyone to be a goal maker.

“I hope it has been common knowledge that I’ve always been a pursuer of dreams,” said Anne in an intimate, virtual group interview. Her body of work as an actress, host and performer is a clear proof to that. “When you think about it, it kinda goes hand in hand being a pursuer of dreams and being a goal maker,” added she and drew the line that separates one from the other. “I mean being a dreamer is a little bit more romantic, whereas being a goal maker is really more productive, attainable and it really speaks to everyone, who is so serious about life… I think there’s a big difference there, but I still won’t take away that culture of being a dreamer, especially for the young ones.”

In this endeavor, Anne finds a partner in Manulife. They both are on the same page to inspire everyone in achieving their goals for health, wealth, savings,

retirement and business. Although one might see its connection to advocating financial literacy, it is, however, all about making that personal and professional decision of attaining financial stability.

“If you’re all set and prepared and you have that financial stability, it will help you do a greater good in having that extra income for yourself to be able to share with others,” said she, whose first financial advice that she received “was to separate my savings. One would be for savings. One would be for tax, like separating it in different accounts,” added she. “When you reach a certain point for your savings, you have that extra account for when you can splurge for yourself and treat yourself to anything that you want to spoil yourself with.”

Anne also recalled that the pandemic as well as the time she became a mother had given her the time “to relax and take a step back, being someone, who was such a workaholic, na talagang every day trabaho, Showtime, movie, mall show, kung saansaan (that every day, I had work like hosting It’s Showtime and doing a movie or a mall show, and other activities) , I was focused on that entertainment work, acting life that I had or hosting

life.” It afforded Anne, the brand ambassador, too, to foray into her other passions like putting up a business with her co-founders.

“With Solenn (Heussaff), we did Tili Dahli (a baby apparel brand) at the peak of the pandemic because we were newborn mothers and we wanted to be able to, you know, have an organic Filipino brand for children. And then, we did, of course, Recess, which is an activewear brand for women… It gave me an opportunity to discover this other side of me.”

Following her line of thought, one can say that having a policy has helped her be prepared for the rainy days and the time to consider investing her hard-earned money.

“So, I think it’s all about working hard and learning how to prepare for those rainy days and seeking professional advice from people who can help you.”

As you and I know, she marked her return to show business via the LUV-ANNE: The Comeback concert in June and resumed her hosting career in It’s Showtime.

“I started with once a week. I spoke to my co-hosts about it saying that ‘I’ve been out of the limelight for almost two years, hindi ko na alam if I can keep up with everyone,’ yung batuhan ng jokes, alangan pa ako. So, I did once a week and then, I built up my confidence,” she said. “So

Battered wife gets green card through...

PAGE B1

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

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

Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, December 4 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo.

Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app.

(Advertising Supplement)

John Arcilla says HBO is helping market...

—

In an exclusive interview with Philstar.com at the "Happier Together" photo exhibit at The Podium last November 29 which Arcilla graced, the actor shared the marketing efforts of past entries and how it could affect his latest film's chances.

A common problem that Arcilla found among all the submissions, which most international and independent films also face, is how to market them to Academy voters.

Akala ng mga Filipinos kasi na once entry na, they think nomination na 'yun," Arcilla said. He said this makes producers more relaxed in their marketing efforts "because feeling nila sa bahay natin, we already have the prestige," when it is only still considered a submission.

The award-winning actor admitted to not being excited about his films being selected as entries to the Oscars, not to take advantage of the notion that Filipinos have something to be proud of but rather to wait for the realistic recognition of a nomination.

As early as 1953 since the Philippines first submitted "Genghis Khan," no Filipino film has been nominated at the Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category (formerly the Best Foreign Language Film).

The late directors Marilou Diaz-Abaya and Gil Portes have had three of their films submitted

Arcilla recalled that for "Metro Manila," there was a requirement of 50,000 DVD copies to be given to eligible voters, but there was not enough money to produce them.

Talagang kailangan pala ng pera, not to push it for a win, but to push it to the voters! To make ingay !" the actor exclaimed.

Kung hindi ako maingay, no one will watch you, your movie will never be nominated."

In the case of HBO helping with the marketing campaign for "The Missing 8," Arcilla is confident the network will be allotting sufficient funds, especially if it believes the film has a good chance of competing.

Arcilla added that he plans to join the film's campaign before the Oscars shortlists are announced.

'Not self-serving'

A year after the film premiered in Venice, "The Missing 8" won Arcilla his first-ever Gawad Urian for Best Actor, in addition to the film winning eight other awards, including Best Film and Best Director for Matti, but more accolades are far from the actor's mind.

Of the film's young but already enduring legacy, Arcilla told Philstar.com that "The Missing 8" reflects not just Philippine society but even global injustice and corruption, in addition to its

intention to be honest.

"I think it speaks from our hearts, and a lot of societies and countries can really relate," shared Arcilla. "It's very universal. It was presented uniquely and powerfully through the eyes of Erik Matti, but it's been happening to a lot of societies around the globe."

After a sigh of relief, Arcilla admitted — without any intention to pull his own leg — that "The Missing 8" speaks to his soul to being one with what he believes in.

"I'm really sad with what is going on in a lot of societies because as I grow older... as I age na lang," the actor happily corrected before continuing, "Somehow it's really sad... I think it's getting worse. Saan tayo pupunta? Ang dami natin kailangan gawin bilang tao."

Arcilla, however, still believes in the magic of cinema, where viewers are entertained and educated at the same time.

Ayoko magmukhang mga advocacy films ang mga gagawin ko. I believe we don't do these things, as actors and filmmakers, to serve ourselves. Whether we like it or not, we do what we do because we want a better, friendlier, healed world," Arcilla ended.

The tentative date for the Oscars shortlists announcement is December 21, 2022, followed by the announcement of nominees a month later.

The 95th Academy Awards will take place on March 12, 2023. It will be hosted once again by Jimmy Kimmel. g

ngayon, nasa twice a week na ako. And then, I also wanted to have a proper time management of being a mom and being a wife, and of course, my businesses as well, now that I’m a co-founder and creative director. For now, it’s twice a week, pero kinakausap nila ako kung pwede next year thrice a week. So, from baby steps, I’m starting to take a huge step into this world again.” Part of it, too, is seeing her essay roles on the big and small screens in various acting genres.

“Hopefully, next year, I could do a film or a series. Abangan (Let’s see),” Anne, a wife to Erwan Heussaff and mother to two-yearold Dahlia, piqued her followers’ interest. “And I think, especially now that Dahlia is a little older, she is a little bit more independent, mas may confidence na rin ako to do projects which would require me being away from her for longer hours. During the first two years of her life, parang hindi ko pa kayang iwanan. So, now that, you know, she’s nearing three na and she’s confident and she’s going to school na rin, parang feeling ko kaya na rin na bumalik to do a series. It’s really my passion to act din. So, excited din ako bumalik sa (acting) industry.”

As a goal maker herself, Anne will take things slowly but surely or one day at a time. Who knows?

Ai-Ai, Gerald renew marriage vows

ACTRESS Ai-Ai delas Alas is a picture of a happy bride anew as she and her husband of five years, Gerald Sibayan, renewed their marriage vows in the United States.

Ai-Ai posted clips and photos on her Instagram about the momentous occasion.

Pag babalik tanaw sa aming sinumpaan.... dahil statesides na kami renewal of vows ... boom!! happy birthday," the actress wrote. Sibayan celebrated his 28th birthday last November 30. Ai-Ai revealed that her daughter, Sophia, served as the planner of their renewal of vows ceremony.

Ai-Ai and Gerald tied the knot in December 2017 in Quezon City after three years of dating. (Philstar.com)

Korean beauty named Miss Earth 2022

by Charmie Joy Pagulong Philstar.com

A COMMUNICATIONS student at the University of Illinois, who represented South Korea, was proclaimed the winner of this year’s Miss Earth pageant held Tuesday night, November 29 at the Cove in Okada Manila.

She is the first Korean beauty queen to win the Miss Earth title.

According to her profile, Mina Sue Choi was born in Sydney, Australia and lived there until she was seven years old. She attended Korean schools in South Korea when she was seven until 11. She has also lived in Canada, the United States and China.

The “most unusual thing” she has ever done in her life was going on a trip to Bali.

“I went on the trip without letting my parents know. My layover time was short, and I missed my flight, so the wait was about 10 hours at the airport. It was my first time traveling alone to an unfamiliar place, but I recall feeling very adventurous, lost, yet curious. Despite the long flight hours and delays, it was worth the risk. Not to mention, Bali was absolutely beautiful,” she said.

Her advocacy is “promoting reduction of carbon footprints in cities with sustainable mobility and encouraging lifestyles that will help reduce carbon emission in our daily lives.”

Choi was asked during the question and answer portion

about what she would like to correct in this world and how she would correct it.

“We often mistake kindness as being empathetic, but what being empathetic (means) is really putting yourself in someone else’s shoes. And when it comes to climate issues and other issues in this world, one has to be empathic,” she said.

“You need to really see how the other person perceives this world. You need to understand their pain by being in their shoes. And that, I feel like differs from

being empathetic. Kindness and [empathy] can be different. And if I get the chance to really define it differently, that’s how I would define it,” she added.

Rounding up the winners of the just-concluded beauty pageant were Miss Fire 2022 Andrea Aguilera of Colombia, Miss Water 2022 Nadeen Ayoub of Palestine and Miss Air 2022 Sheridan Mortlock of Australia.

The Philippines’ Jenny Ramp finished in the Top 20.

Destiny Wagner of Belize was the previous winner.

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

were "Heneral Luna" (2015) and "Birdshot" (2016).

"Karnal," "Milagros" and "Sa Pusod ng Dagat" for Diaz-Abaya and " Saranggola," "Gatas... Sa Dibdib ng Kaaway" and "Mga Munting Tinig" for Portes.

Actress Ai-Ai delas Alas and husband Gerald Sibayan renewed their marriage vows in the United States. Photo from Instagram/@msaiaidelasalas

The next time we will see her again, she’s in the thick of things talking about her acting project and how the character is different

from the ones she has done before. For now, let Anne remind one the importance of saving for the rainy days.

Being a pursuer of dreams herself, Anne is on board in this endeavor that makes a person reflect whether he or she is a dreamer or a goal maker. Photo from Instagram/@annecurtissmith

South Korea’s Mina Sue Choi is crowned Miss Earth 2022 at Okada Manila in Parañaque on Tuesday, November 29. She is the first Korean to win the pageant. The other winners are Sheridan Mortlock of Australia, Miss Air 2022; Nadeen Ayoub of Palestine, Miss Water, and Andrea Aguilera of Colombia, Miss Fire. Philstar.com photos by Edd Gumban

South Korea’s Mina Sue Choi is crowned Miss Earth 2022 by her predecessor, Destiny Wagner of Belize, at the pageant final night at Okada Manila on Tuesday, November 29.

Mel on co-anchor Mike Enriquez’s condition, ‘rivalry’ with Korina Sanchez

by allan PolicarPio Inquirer.net

AS much as she wants to give her “24 Oras” co-anchor Mike Enriquez a call and ask how he’s doing amid his leave, Mel Tiangco just couldn’t bring herself to do it.

“Sorry, but I don’t know [his current condition] … Nahihiya akong tumawag, but I really want to. He might think, ‘Ano ba ‘to, pati ako tsini-tsismis.’ And I might only get sad if he says he’s not so well,” she told reporters at a recent press conference for the 20th anniversary celebration of the GMA 7 drama anthology “Magpakailanman.”

After undergoing a kidney transplant last year, Enriquez returned on air in March in time for the coverage of this year’s national elections. But the broadcaster is currently back on leave.

“The last time we talked was before he took a leave. He told me that he needed to have something tested,” related Tiangco, who can’t help but feel shocked when she sees malicious fake news about her colleague.

Another topic brought up during the interview was the longstanding rumors about her supposed rivalry with fellow broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez. “There was never anything with me. And I don’t know where that comes from … We met each other in Rome (while covering the canonization of Pope John Paul II). She went up to me, calling out my name,” she said.

“When I see things like this, I’m like, ‘Ganito pala? Ako mismo nagugulat,’” she added.

Although there’s no bad blood between the two, Tiangco said she can’t do an interview on Sanchez’ YouTube channel, “Rated Korina.” Because of Karen Davila’s recent appearance on Sanchez’ page, some observers wondered if Tiangco could do the same.

Contract restriction

“You know the problem is that I can’t appear on any other network or platform. That’s very strict, it’s in my contract,” Tiangco explained.

As part of the “Magpakailanman’s” 20th anniversary, the show will offer two special episodes. The controversial life of Maegan Aguilar—the singer-songwriter daughter of OPM icon Freddie

Aguilar—will be a two-part special titled “Listen to My Heart” (Nov. 26) and “Love Me for What I Am.”

Playing Maegan is Sanya Lopez.

Meanwhile, in her first “Magpakailanman” appearance, Bea Alonzo will breathe life to the experiences of Lezlie Hombre, who found herself vulnerable to malevolent forces and entities while reeling from the death of her mother and the infidelity of her husband. Titled “Haunted Soul,” the episode airs on Dec. 10.

Sincerity of storytelling

Asked what she thought helped the show last for 20 years, Tiangco said it’s the sincerity of the storytelling. “We offer something sincere to the televiewers. These are real stories. All of us have stories that can be featured. We have our own challenges, we have our own stories and triumphs. The viewers identify with these,” said Tiangco, who’s hands-on when it comes to the show’s script and casting.”

“What I want is not just to entertain the audience. We want them to be inspired and have realizations. I want to uplift people,” she added. “We want to leave them with something they can look back to. In its two-decade run, “Magpakailanman” has adapted

Aljur still loves Kylie, open to reunite with wife

by Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

ACTOR Aljur

is

In his recent interview with veteran showbiz columnist Aster Amoyo, Aljur was asked: “But you’re not closing your doors to the possibility [of reconciliation]?”

“May nagsarado ba?” Aljur answered.

“‘Yung iba nga sinasabi nila wala na talaga pero meron pa, ‘di ba? Wala namang nakakaalam kung anong mangyayari. Hindi ko nga alam na maghihiwalay kami e. Hindi

Darren on relationship with Cassy

by Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

KAPAMILYA singer Darren Espanto admitted that he’s not rushing things with his relationship with Cassy Legaspi.

In an exclusive interview with Philstar.com during the Star Magic Christmas Party last weekend, Darren said Cassy and him are always there for each other.

“Cassy and I, we're always there for each other. I say this for all the interviews, we're not rushing things naman po. We're just always there for each other,

we're supporting each other,” he said.

“Kami po 'yung walang tinatago, lahat alam ng sa isat-isa, ” he added.

Darren also said that he’s thankful to Cassy’s parents Carmina and Zoren for their trust to him.

“Thankful po ako kasi pinagkakatiwalaan nila ko kay Cassandra tsaka their house is always open for which is, I'm grateful po,” he said.

“They are such a wonderful family. Grabe po 'yung hospitality nila. Saludo rin po ako sa kanila for being parents,” he added.

countless stories. Is it challenging to continue finding new material?

“It’s a challenge for us to keep on looking for beautiful stories to share with our viewers … There are people who message us. We look for things that trend online. Social media also helped us to tap more people and stories … We look for whatever is touching and inspiring; something that will uplift people’s lives,” program manager Elaine Lozano said.

Barbie looks back on her career, what lies ahead, and the best advice she’d give her 20-year-old self

by SoPhia YSabel concordia Inquirer.net

MUSIC has always been a fixture in Barbie Almalbis’ life for as far as she can remember. From her early beginnings as a child in the small Barangay of Culasi in Roxas City, Capiz, to her life now as a wife and mother. This was evident as the LIFESTYLE. INQ team made their way into the home she shares with her husband, Martin Honasan. Fender Stratocasters hung on their walls like pieces of artwork, and amplifiers decorated the sides of their living area almost camouflaging themselves as furniture.

Barbie, is of course, the versatile vocalist many first came to love during the late ’90s to early 2000s. Lead singer of the bands ‘Hungry Young Poets’, and ‘Barbie’s Cradle’, her hit songs have earned her a seat amongst some of the country’s most prized musical icons.

However, in spite of her astounding success and stature in the industry, Barbie remains grounded. A trait not many in the musical diaspora are graced with, Barbie’s humility is refreshing, exuding nothing more than grace, fulfillment, and gratitude for her storied career as she shares with us the many phases she has gone through in life and music.

Could you explain your beginnings in the music industry?

I grew up in Roxas City, Capiz. My mom’s side of the family all loved music, sang, played instruments, and had a choir in our

local church. My Lolo Rene and My Mom Inday also wrote some songs that they played during mass. Trivia: My Lolo’s brother is Fr. Eddie Hontiveros, the priest who wrote Pananagutan, and other Filipino Mass songs.

Growing up, they taught me to play the piano and guitar (at 11), and I started writing songs at 14. By the time I moved to Manila for college, I had written maybe 30 songs, I can’t remember exactly. PAGE B5

Singer-actor Darren Espanto and actress Cassy Legaspi at the Disney+ Philippines launch Photo from Instagram/@darrenespanto

Barbie Almalbi Photo from Instagram/@barbiealmalbis

Mel Tiangco

GMA photo

Actor Aljur Abrenica

Photo from Instagram/@ajabernica

Abrenica

not closing his doors on the possibility of rekindling his romance with wife Kylie Padilla.

Maximizing recovery in personal injury cases

DEAR Attorney Tan,

I was driving home and was at a complete stop when another driver rear ended my car. I was not feeling well after the accident, as my back seemed very tight and stiff. I took some days off from work. After a week, I contacted the other driver’s insurance to report the claim. The insurance adjuster for the other driver said they would fix my car, and offered me $500.00 for my injuries. Is that enough? I do not know where to go from here. –K.K.

Dear K.K.,

The first step is to make sure that any injuries that you have suffered in the accident are examined and treated. You can recover treatment costs since they are considered “economic damages” that you suffered due to the accident. You can also recover for time away from work as “economic damages,” even if you used paid time off or sick leave.

The term “economic damages” means “objectively verifiable monetary losses including medical expenses, loss of earnings, burial costs, loss of use of property, costs of repair or replacement, costs of obtaining substitute domestic services, loss of employment and loss of business or employment opportunities.”

Civil Code Section 1431.2(b) (1) . A person’s claim for economic damages apart from medical expenses are often overlooked and not pursued by persons who settle their accident cases on their own, or with the assistance of inexperienced counsel.

Loss of earnings are

kenneth ursuA reyes

ESTABLISHING

often a significant part of an injured person’s claim for economic damages. Damages are recoverable for both past and future lost earnings. To recover for past lost earnings, a person must prove the amount of income or earnings that he/ she has lost to date. To recover damages for future earnings, a person must prove the amount of income or earnings that he/ she will be reasonably certain to lose in the future as a result of the injury. CACI No. 3903C How are past lost earnings proven? Medical records, which show the doctor authorizing a release from work or giving instructions to restrict work activities, can support the time taken off from work due to the injury. For those selfemployed, medical providers typically do not provide a release from work; however, medical records should record work restrictions placed by the medical provider.

After showing that the time off was justified, the next step is to value the lost earnings. A letter from a person’s employer that outlines the amount of time that one has lost as a result of his/her injury, the loss of benefits, and the rate of pay during the time of loss is evidence of the value of one’s loss of earnings claim. Other supporting documents include

pay stubs, time cards, and tax returns. The monetary value of sick leave and vacation time that are used due to the injury are also recoverable. For those self-employed, earnings history as reflected by tax returns and profit and loss statements can help prove the value of lost earnings. Similar supporting documentation must be presented for future lost earnings.

Apart from economic damages, you can recover “general damages,” which are damages for the pain, suffering, and inconvenience due to the accident.

If you were suffered injury in an auto accident or someone’s premises, please contact our office to discuss your case. To maximize monetary recovery, it is important to have the assistance of an experienced attorney in presenting your personal injury claim.

* * *

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.

* * *

Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada. Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles and is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Philippine American Bar Association. LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN, 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Tel: 323-6390277. Email: info@dtanlaw.com. (Advertising Supplement)

When the only way out of debt is bankruptcy

Minding Your Finances

Atty rAymonD BulAon

WHEN your financial circumstances are forcing you to declare bankruptcy, this can be one way of dealing with debts that you can no longer manage on your own. Of course, the decision should not be taken lightly, and it is best to consult with an experienced bankruptcy attorney to see if it is best for your situation.

The truth is that filing bankruptcy is no longer the taboo that it used to be when people were less informed about the legal process. Now with information readily available on the internet, people can educate themselves much faster and can do their own “research” to get some general ideas about bankruptcy before they even see an attorney.

In our current economy, I’m sure you know someone in your family or perhaps at work who had no choice but to file bankruptcy to save their home, reorganize their finances or simply to wipe out their debts and start all over again.

Did you know that every year, hundreds of thousands of people in the United States file bankruptcy to take advantage of the fresh financial start that the law provides to those who are eligible for relief? Contrary to what creditors may lead you to believe, these are honest, hardworking everyday people just

like you who simply got buried in debt with no other way out.

Bankruptcy is never a fun thing to do or just an easy way out for people who simply want to run away from their obligations. The fact is that most people want to do the right thing and pay their creditors, but their situation has gotten so bad that without bankruptcy, they would simply be trapped in debt forever. Thus, with no means to pay their debt, it may be their only chance of ever recovering financially.

Can you just imagine what would happen if someone was hopelessly buried in debt with no way out and creditors were just breathing down on this person’s neck every single day? If he works, creditors can garnish his wages. If he puts what little money he has in the bank, creditors can levy his bank accounts. If he decides to purchase a home, they can put a lien on the home. He can’t even answer his phone and is always afraid to open his mailbox. Every time someone knocks on the door, he cringes in fear thinking that he’s being served a lawsuit.

If you were in this situation, you would almost feel like a criminal with no chance of ever rebuilding your life and learning from your mistakes. So a long time ago, Congress decided that there had to be away for people in this situation to be able to get back on their feet financially when no other options exist. So, that’s how the bankruptcy laws started, you see.

Of course, they’ve evolved over the years to keep up with the changing times but the concept remains the same: The

honest debtor who got in too deep in debt is given a fresh financial start free from the burden of debt so he can be a free person again! Wow! Thank God we have laws like that in this country. What a blessing, don’t you agree?

Again, bankruptcy is NOT for everyone and people who can pay their bills should do so. But if you’ve tried everything and your best is just not good enough, remember that you may be eligible for relief under our bankruptcy laws. It may not seem like it but the legal process does work and it can work for you if you want it to!

Starting over after bankruptcy is not going to be a walk in the park, but it’s also not as bad as most people think. Never lose hope! Rebuilding your credit and your life will take some effort and strategy on your part but it is not impossible. You can turn bankruptcy to your advantage and regain control of your life.

For a free consultation, call Toll-Free 1-866-477-7772. Inoffice and phone appointments are available.

* * * 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.

* * * None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray J. Bulaon has successfully helped over 6,000 clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call RJB Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1-866-477-7772.

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How to obtain custody and visitation rights for unmarried dads

given birth to the child. Family Code §7610

parentage

rights for Moms is a lot easier than establishing one for unmarried Dads. Moms can establish this by simply showing proof of her having

Establishing parentage rights, including custody and visitation rights, becomes more problematic with unmarried Dads because proving yourself

as the biological father does not automatically make you the natural father of the child. Under the family code, there are competing presumptions of paternity which allows the non biological father to be deemed

the natural father of the child.

A typical situation is when boyfriend gets girlfriend pregnant. Girlfriend for some reason decides to exclude boyfriend from baby’s life so she breaks up with boyfriend, does not give the boyfriend any information about her delivery, and does not state the boyfriend as the father in the birth certificate or decides to name someone else as the father. Girlfriend does this because her parents disapprove of the ex boyfriend.

One way a presumption of Paternity is created is by executing a voluntary declaration of paternity. A Voluntary declarations executed before 1997 give rise to a conclusive presumption of paternity and can be overcome only by blood or genetic tests ordered on noticed motion by the mother or presumed father must be made within three years of the date of execution of the voluntary declaration Family.Code. § 7576; Kevin Q. v. Lauren W. (2009) 175 CA4th 1119, 1133, 95 CR3d 477, 485 If the voluntary declaration of paternity is executed after 1996, it is not characterized as a conclusive presumption. Instead, it “shall establish the paternity of a child and shall have the same force and effect as a judgment for paternity issued by a court of competent jurisdiction” and trumps §7611 presumptions discussed below. A post 1996 voluntary declaration of paternity “shall be recognized as a basis for the establishment of an order for child custody, visitation, or child support.” Family .Code §§ 7573, 7644; Kevin Q. v. Lauren W., supra, 175 CA4th at 1132, 95 CR3d at 485; In re J.L. (2008) 159 CA4th 1010, 1019, 72 CR3d 27, 33

Another way of establishing presumed father status is if you fall under any of the categories listed (a) to (f) under family code §7611:

(a) He and the child’s natural mother are or have been married to each other and the child is born during the marriage, or within 300 days after the marriage is terminated by death, annulment, declaration of invalidity, or divorce, or after a judgment of separation is entered by a court.

(b) Before the child’s birth, he and the child’s natural mother have attempted to marry each other by a marriage solemnized in apparent compliance with law, although the attempted marriage is or could be declared invalid, and either of the following is true:

(1) If the attempted marriage could be declared invalid only by a court, the child is born during the attempted

marriage, or within 300 days after its termination by death, annulment, declaration of invalidity, or divorce.

(2) If the attempted marriage is invalid without a court order, the child is born within 300 days after the termination of cohabitation.

(c) After the child’s birth, he and the child’s natural mother have married, or attempted to marry, each other by a marriage solemnized in apparent compliance with law, although the attempted marriage is or could be declared invalid, and either of the following is true:

(1) With his consent, he is named as the child’s father on the child’s birth certificate.

(2) He is obligated to support the child under a written voluntary promise or by court order.

(d) He receives the child into his home and openly holds out the child as his natural child.

(e) If the child was born and resides in a nation with which the United States engages in an Orderly Departure Program or successor program, he acknowledges that he is the child’s father in a declaration under penalty of perjury, as specified in Section 2015.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure. This subdivision shall remain in effect only until January 1, 1997, and on that date shall become inoperative.

(f) The child is in utero after the death of the decedent and the conditions set forth in Section 249.5 of the Probate Code are satisfied.

An alleged biological father who does not meet any of the § 7611 conditions for presumed father status has no constitutionally-protected “liberty interest” in establishing a parentage relationship with a child as against the rights of a presumptive father who has an extant parentage relationship with the child. Dawn D. v. Super.Ct. (Jerry K.) (1998) 17 C4th 932, 940–942, 72 CR2d 871, 876–877.

The facts get even more complicated if the girlfriend, whom boyfriend gets pregnant is married to another man because the law provides a conclusive presumption of paternity to the husband of the girlfriend. Under Family Code §7540, the child of a wife cohabiting at time of conception with her husband, who is not impotent or sterile, is “conclusively” presumed to be a child of the marriage. This conclusive presumption may be challenged by showing that the husband was sterile. It may also be challenged by filing a motion for blood or genetic testing under Family Code §7541 but this has to be done within 2 years of the childs

birth. In addition, only persons with standing can bring this motion which is limited to the husband, child, mother and a presumed father as listed in Family Code §7611 and 7612.

Even absent a recognized rebuttal, the court has discretion as a matter of due process not to apply § 7540 conclusive presumption of paternity when it would not further the statute’s underlying policies of preserving the integrity and stability of an extant marital family, protecting children from the stigma of “illegitimacy,” and promoting individual rather than State responsibility for child support ... as where the ostensible § 7540 presumptive father never developed a parental relationship with the child and the only established parent-child relationship is with a third person. Brian C. v. Ginger K. (2000) 77 CA4th 1198, 1200–1201, 92 CR2d 294, 296; In re Kiana A. (2001) 93 CA4th 1109, 1115, 113 CR2d 669, 675

Procedurally, the ex boyfriend should file a Petition for Parentage as soon as the child is born. While the case is pending, the ex boyfriend may seek temporary visitation order although this may be on a limited or even monitored basis. If successful in proving parentage, the ex boyfriend may be granted custody and visitation rights. However, the ex boyfriend would also have the obligation of paying child support based on California guidelines.

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* * Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice.  The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information.  This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed.  The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you.  This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APLC  This article is not a solicitation.

* *

LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APC. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com.

Atty

Barrister’s Corner

*

Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice.

Richard, Sarah enjoy ‘alone time’ in London

by Anne PAsAjol Inquirer.net

RICHARD Gutierrez and Sarah Lahbati spent some “alone time” together in London as a way to “keep the flame burning” in their marriage.

The celebrity couple gave a glimpse of their trip, with the actor showing them holding hands while walking in the city, through his Instagram page on Wednesday, Nov. 30.

“Finally some alone time with you in a beautiful city we’ve never been to before,” he said, addressing his wife. “As busy parents, we’ve promised ourselves to always make alone time for each other, either through taking trips, exploring new places or just going on date nights to continuously rediscover each other.”

“We figured out that getting lost together is as important as growing together,” he added. “Keep the flame burning.”

Gutierrez and Lahbati also attended an event for a luxury

During

Anthony Taberna returns to TV

by IzA IglesIAs ManilaTimes.net

ANTHONY Taberna or popularly known as "Ka Tunying" is known to be one of the staples when it comes to the world of radio and television because of his fearless and witty commentaries.

It will be remembered that Taberna spent most of his entire career with ABS-CBN before joining Manila Broadcasting Company's AM radio station DZRH in August 2020, when his erstwhile home network failed to get a new franchise.

While Taberna continued his radio duties, he was also able to put up his own presence in the world of social media having able to gain more than 622,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel and 2.2 million followers on Facebook.

But despite all these, Taberna admitted that he still missed being seen by the Filipino audience on the mainstream television.

Last September, Taberna surprised his followers when he signed a contract with Advanced Media Broadcasting System's (AMBS) ALLTV.

"Actually, hindi naman talaga ako gigil na gigil na magbalik sa telebisyon. Noong naging jobless ako for a time, talagang tinignan ko

din naman yung mga opportunities sa iba, pero itong ALLTV, hindi sila nakipagusap lang. Bukod sa talk, umaksyon agad. Kumbaga nagiisip pa lang ako kung magdedesisyon ako o hindi, pero nandiyan na pinapatawag na kami sa isang meeting," he added.

According to him, despite ALLTV being new in the business, he immediately agreed to join the

network because of their vision, as well as the management's generosity.

"They gave me an offer that I couldn't refuse. Sino ba naman ako para tumanggi. Ang sabi nga nila, 'Ang tumatanggi sa grasya, lalabo ang mata.' Our management is a very generous management," he jested.

Carving another milestone in his 30 years of broadcasting career, Taberna returns to television through ALLTV's first public service program " Kuha All!"

Kuha All!" aims to be a vehicle where they can educate, entertain and serve viewers by discussing different issues and concerns captured on camera by people from all walks of life.

Aiming to present meaningful human interest stories affecting Filipinos across the country, Kuha All!" will have three segments in each episode. "Kuha Rin!" highlights snippets of the latest and trending videos while Kaya All!" will be the part of the show where the featured case study will be assisted through any means of support needed to resolve the issue being discussed. The show ends with Ka Tunying's no-holds-barred commentaries about the topic at hand through the segment, "Kuha Mo?"

Employers cannot use immigration status to avoid following employment laws

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights

Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr

Q: I WORKED as a caregiver in a nursing home. I complained to my manager that the owner’s husband was sexually harassing me, but she told me I was overreacting and told me I should be thankful I have a job. When I complained again after the owner’s husband touched me inappropriately, the manager called me a troublemaker and fired me.

I think what they did was wrong, and I want justice. But I’m afraid to take them to court because I’m still in the process of fixing my immigration papers. If I sue them for unlawfully firing me, can they use my immigration status against me in court?

A: As you suspected, you may indeed have a claim for unlawful retaliation under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (“FEHA”). FEHA protects California employees against retaliation for an employee’s reasonable and good faith act of opposing a practice forbidden by law, such as sexual harassment.

You may also have claims for the hostile work environment created by the sexual harassment you suffered, as well as your employer’s failure to prevent the sexual harassment. These are types of discrimination based on

gender that are unlawful under FEHA.

As to immigration status, California has a strong public policy that the protections of employment laws extend to all employees, whether documented or not. Under California Labor Code § 1171.5(a), where an employee alleges that her employer violated California employment laws, the employer is prohibited from inquiring into the employee’s immigration status without showing by clear and convincing evidence that the information is necessary to comply with federal immigration laws.

A recent case provides an example of the protections.

In a recent case, an employee of a landscaping company, Jose Manuel, alleged that he was wrongfully terminated after he had hurt his back on the job. The employer sought information on his immigration status, arguing that this was relevant to their defense that Mr. Manuel had actually abandoned his job because he was afraid the federal government was questioning his authorization to work in the United States.

The Court of Appeal ruled that inquiries into Mr. Manuel’s immigration status was improper. The appellate court explained that not allowing unauthorized workers to obtain state remedies for unlawful discharge, like lost wages, “would effectively immunize

employers that, in violation of fundamental state policy, discriminate against their workers on grounds such as disability or race, retaliate against workers who seek compensation for disabling workplace injuries, or fail to pay the wages that state law requires.”

The Labor Code prevents California employers from using immigration as a shield to avoid responsibility for violating California’s employment laws. Undocumented employees have employment rights, and there are ways to enforce their valid claims under wage and discrimination laws.

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

* * *

The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential and at no-cost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www.joesayaslaw.com. [For more than 25 years, C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine for 11 years, and is a past Presidential Awardee for Outstanding Filipino Overseas.]

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Aljur still loves Kylie, open to reunite...

PAGE B3

ko nga alam na magkakaanak kami, ‘di ba?” he added.

Aljur said that he and Kylie always talk because of their coparenting setup.

“Sa co-parenting kami nagfofocus ngayon kasi iisipin niyo na ‘yung mga bata e. Almost every day nag-uusap kami. Kahit hiwalay kami, we’re still learning from each other how to be good parents,” he said.

Aljur said Kylie will never

leave his heart because of their connections.

“Hindi naman siya mawawala [sa puso ko]. Isang dekada kami magkasama, part of myself is siya na e. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko mapu-put into words pero hindi siya mawawala do’n,” Aljur said.

Naa-appreciate ko ang lahat, thank you. Even though ‘yung iba nagagalit and may sinasabi sa aking masama, I appreciate that kasi naramdaman ko ‘yung

sakit nila. Nasaktan din naman ako, nasaktan kaming dalawa,” he added.

Aljur and Kylie broke up in 2021. Kylie's dad Robin Padilla revealed that the reason of the split was a third party. Aljur denied that AJ Raval was the reason of the breakup, but admitted that he and the VivaMax star were in a "getting to know each other" stage.

Kylie and Aljur have sons, Alas and Axl.

watch brand, which the latter described as a “night to remember in London,” as seen in an earlier post.

the trip, Lahbati was able to reunite with her Moroccan father and her friends including actress Bela Padilla.

Gutierrez and Lahbati had been a couple for seven years before they tied the knot in March 2020. They share two sons together, namely Zion and Kai.

Last October, Gutierrez threw an intimate party to celebrate Lahbati’s 29th birthday.

Richard Gutierrez and Sarah Lahbati

Photo from Instagram/@richardgutz

Anthony Taberna returns to television through ALLTV’s first public service program ‘Kuha All!’ ALLTV photo

THE client just turned 67 and has been working for 40 years at a job that pays him $70K a year. He retired two months ago so he doesn’t make the $70,000 a year anymore. He now gets a public pension that gives him $1,800 a month and social security that pays him $1,900 a month. There are some deductions from those two amounts. There’s a 7% tax on the pension and $400 of health insurance, and there’s Medicare premium deductions of about $160 from social security. So it’s a gross income of just under $4,000 a month for retirement, minus about $800 for deductions, giving a net of about $3,200 a month. That’s not bad for retirement; a little tight but not bad at all. Let’s look at his other personal circumstances.

God’s will be done

He divorced about 3 years ago after more than 10 years of marriage. You know what this means, right? If the marriage lasted at least 10 years, you’ve got alimony. That means you will have to pay your ex-spouse domestic support until death does it stop. Of course if there is remarriage, it stops. But who in his or her right mind will remarry when you can just live in and still enjoy alimony. “Come on man,” as President-elect Biden would say. Yes, it looks like we have a new president

New retiree chooses Chapter 7 fresh start to wipe out $45K credit cards

elect at this writing. It looks like that at this point in time.

Both Georgia and Pennsylvania turned blue this morning, with Arizona and Nevada still light blue. Mr. Biden only needed AZ and NV to get 270. Incredibly, Georgia and Pennsylvania have Biden ahead with razor thin margins of 1,000 votes each but there are still lots of votes being counted in Atlanta and Philadelphia, which are both democrat strongholds. No doubt recounts will be demanded by the loser, but our God has chosen Mr. Biden to unify and protect us from the virus, and to lead all Americans in all states, whether red or blue, to prosperity and security. His will be done!

Alimony and $45K credit cards

In addition to the prospect of alimony, the client has $45,000 of credit cards. I asked the client if he pays alimony. He says he pays $1,000 a month to his ex-wife as court ordered alimony. Court ordered means that the alimony is contained in the divorce judgment. It’s not a voluntary payment. The client has to pay $1,000 every month, until he or she dies.

What about the $45,000 of credit cards, how much is required for that as minimum monthly payments? Client needs $1,400 a month to keep the $45,000 current every

month. That’s a pretty bleak picture at retirement. Alimony and credit card payments will take $2,400 a month from client’s net of $3,200 a month net retirement income. That leaves him only $800 a month to pay rent and other necessary expenses. I ask him how much his rent is. He says $1,100. Well, you can see at this point that something has to be done. What are his options? Well, he can stop paying rent by moving into his 2010 Camry.

The problem is all the gyms are closed because of the virus. There’s no place to take a bath. Or, he can wipe out the $45,000 of credit cards thereby saving $1,400 a month.

Client makes up his mind in less than a minute. He decides to file for Chapter 7 for a fresh start without the $45,000 of credit card debt. It’s the right choice.

If you’re a senior, or whatever your age is, watch out for “scams” that are designed to part you with your money by stoking your greed. I’m serious with this warning. I have a senior client who was promised $10 million if he came out with $300,000. This is not fake news.

It’s true. He actually believed it. If he had come to me before parting with his $300,000, I could have saved him $300,000. He claims he was shown a

warehouse full of cash. First of all, don’t be greedy. Greed is one of the vices, just like gluttony and lust. Recently, a doctor, yes an M.D. in India was snookered into paying a down payment of $40,000 as partial payment for $200,000, to buy “Aladdin’s lamp.” The perpetrators were his patients who were able to convince him that the lamp would make him super rich. The genie would appear in a puff of smoke. Obviously, if the lamp were real, why would they sell it for $200,000 when they can ask the genie of the lamp for immense wealth? “Come on, man,” as President-elect Biden would say.

If you have too much debt and need relief, please set an appointment to see me. I will analyze your case personally.

* * *

Disclaimer: none of the foregoing is considered legal advice. Each case is different.

* * *

Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in Bankruptcy, Business, Real Estate and Civil Litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California.

Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789 or 1000 S. Fremont Ave., Mailstop 58, Building A-10 South, Suite 10042, Alhambra, CA 91803. (Advertising Supplement)

Barbie looks back on her career...

It was in Accounting class, I sat beside a musician who introduced me to Ricci Gurango who became my bandmate in Hungry Young Poets. We made demos, started performing, and got a regular gig in Freedom Bar in Anonas, QC. That’s where we eventually got connected to record labels and finally signed with Sony Music Philippines and released our first album.

With the height of social media, creative careers can be pursued by pretty much anyone nowadays, whether that be in music or art. What were some valuable lessons you learned starting out that you think is unique to your generation of artists?

Music was something I really enjoyed growing up. In Grade 5, I began playing guitar and did it everyday. There was nothing much to do for entertainment in our small Barangay [Culasi]. There was no cable TV, we lived so far from the city center that even the local TV channels couldn’t reach us! But playing guitar was my instant dopamine fix. Until today, I can come home tired from a gig and relax by playing more guitar. Haha! Music wasn’t a means to an end. I didn’t have a goal, I still don’t have many goals today. It might not be the best thing to not be goal-oriented, but I think having music as its own reward helped keep me moving and taught me not to give up. When everything stopped during the beginning of 2020, I was grateful to still be able to play music in my room like when I was young.

What is your creative process like whenever you’re working on a new project? How would you compare it to before you became a mother, and now that you’re a mother When do you feel the most creative?

I try to be in a state of flow when I make something. Usually, I play some chord progressions on the guitar or piano, then when I find something interesting, I just try out different melodies and mumble words that don’t make sense until they do. I like working in a messy environment where there are a lot of stimuli. I can’t write much on vacation, on the beach, or on the mountains. It’s like playing I guess. I live for the creative moments where you can stumble upon something new and surprise yourself.

I’ve learned that a woman’s brain changes a lot when one becomes a mother, I just don’t know exactly how that has changed my creative process. I know I have to be more organized to get things done. My husband and I, like working at night when the kids are asleep. I also love how we all get to bond though music as a family, it’s helped us even in teaching the kids some of their lessons in school. We made some songs to help them with math. It’s also just great to be around kids who are so fearless and free, kids are just innately creative, it reminds me of what I should try to be.

A lot of people have this idea

that artists make their best work whenever they’re heartbroken or upset, while others say it’s the total opposite. Do you agree with this kind of ideology?

There’s a direct correlation between feelings and creativity for sure. But I find not all negative emotions make you creative. Fear or disappointment can be a huge hindrance. I had to unlearn so much over the years. The more I live in faith and hope [rather than fear], the more freedom I have to be creative. Besides, it’s so unhealthy to be in a dark state just to make something good. I’ve experienced being so sad that I couldn’t even enjoy music. So, a range of emotions is good, all kinds are welcome.

Would you say the kind of pWhat’s one thing on your career bucket list that you still hope to achieve one day?

Honestly, to keep on making and playing music ’til I’m old. Haha!

Let’s say you’re granted one whole day with 20-year-old Barbie. What advice would you give her and what would you do with her?

Oh my! This one’s difficult because that was a rough period for sure. So much uncertainty, insecurity, and I just made lots of mistakes during those years. Maybe I’ll start by telling her to try not to worry too much about the future because God is so gracious and good that he can turn things around. Also, try not to strive so hard — like paddling so hard so as not to drown — trying to control things that you can’t. It’s much simpler now, really. More responsibilities now for sure, but things are much simpler too. Just “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,” because he’s got you and he loves you! I’ve written down a journal of the small and huge miracles he’s done, and many open doors in my life, the many things I didn’t plan and couldn’t have achieved on my own. It’s just that God is faithful and loves us. There are many challenges still along the way, but even through the hard times, there’s a supernatural peace and satisfaction that you can find in Him.

What advice would you give to someone who’s beginning to make their way through the music industry?

My kids Stina and Liam are both getting into music more and more lately. I’ve always encouraged them to try different creative exercises, like making poems and writing songs. Also to find a good balance between discipline and enjoyment, do the hard work but always find something about it you enjoy. It’s a long road and you need all the joy to sustain you for the journey. Lastly, be an encourager, and build up those around you. The relationships you share are the real gifts. Too much competition can’t be healthy in the long run, we really have to support each other to make the music industry grow and be better. “When the tide rises, it lifts all the boats.”