120922 - New York & New Jersey Edition

Marcos: Growth on track amid ‘rampant’ inflation

by alden M. Monzon Inquirer.net

MANILA — While he admitted that inflation is “running rampant and out of control,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, December 6 said the Philippines is still on track “to maintain a strong economic performance”

and achieve the government’s growth target of 6.5 to 7.5 percent for this year.

The rate of increase in prices of goods and services in the country accelerated to 8 percent in November, exceeding the 7.7 percent figure back in October, which was already the highest in 14 years.

Data from the Philippine Statistics

Authority (PSA) released on Tuesday showed that the core consumer price index reached that level, driven by price gains in food and non-alcoholic beverages.

The commodity group had an inflation rate of 10 percent, accounting for the biggest weight in the inflation basket at 58.4 percent.

Vegetables, rice, and sugar were the top

three goods that saw an increase in their prices.

‘Poor news’

Restaurant and accommodation services were the second biggest commodity group that was the source of inflation, with a rate of 6.5 percent and a share of 19.8 percent.

USA

REAL ID requirement delayed until 2025

THE enforcement of the REAL ID requirement for air travelers has been pushed back to another two years, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Monday, Dec. 5.

The date has been delayed by 24 months from May 3, 2023 to May 7, 2025, according to the agency. Under the new regulations published to execute this change, states will now have additional time to ensure their residents have driver’s licenses and identification cards that meet the security standards established by the REAL ID Act.

US govt gives P85M for PH fight vs AIDS

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 US Embassy in the Philippines, the donation, which was turned over by US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson, was to strengthen the Philippine government’s HIV treatment program.

Carlson said these laboratory tests are further proof that the US government

Philippines launches eTravel platform for inbound

by Gaea Katreena CabiCo Philstar.com

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

Pampanga giant lanterns light up the Philippine Center in New York

THE Philippine Consulate General in New York, together with the Filipino-American Community, commenced the Christmas season in New York City, on the first day of December, through the first ever giant Christmas lantern lighting ceremony held at the Philippine Center. Almost a hundred people attended the historic lighting of two parols, shipped all the way from the province of Pampanga, through the support of its local government, led by Governor Dennis Pineda. Installed as Christmas window decors of the Philippine Center, one measures eight feet in diameter with close to a thousand light bulbs, while the other measures six feet tall with more than five hundred light bulbs.

“With many Filipinos working in New York missing their families and friends in

PH senators, businesses respond to Maharlika fund

SOME senators harbor concerns over the proposed creation of the P275-billion Maharlika Wealth Fund (MWF) because it intends to tap private and public pension contributions.

Under the bill jointly filed by House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Rep. Ferdinand “Sandro” Marcos 3rd, the fund will pool resources from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Social Security System (SSS), LandBank and Development Bank of the Philippines

for investments.

Senate Majority Leader Emmanuel “Joel” Villanueva, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel 3rd, as well as Senators Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, Francis Joseph “Chiz” Escudero and Christopher “Bong” Go wanted safeguards to prevent the government from dipping into pension funds and invest the amount elsewhere without the consent of SSS and GSIS members.

The Philippine Consulate General in New York, together with the Filipino-American Community, commenced the Christmas season in New York City, through the first ever giant Christmas Lantern Display featuring two giant “parols” from San Fernando City, Pampanga, otherwise known as the “Christmas capital of the Philippines.” Mayor Esmeralda Pineda of Lubao, Pampanga, representing Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda, addressed the Filipino community at the Christmas Lantern lighting ceremony.

Photos by Nikka Arenal

by bernadette e taMayo , eireene Jairee GoMez and Ma reina leanne tolentino Philstar.com

Elections experts discuss increased AAPI engagement in 2022 midterms

by Klarize Medenilla AJPress

AS elections officers and communities continue to process the results of the highly contentious 2022 midterm elections, one thing is clear: Asian American voters, especially those in Los Angeles County, have the potential to decide races.

According to local demographics, more than 639,000 voters identify as Asian American or Pacific Islander (AAPI) in LA County, which accounts for more than 11% of all LA County voters, which, according to Candice Cho, managing director of policy and counsel at AAPI Equity Alliance, which hosted a briefing discussing the impact of AAPI voters in 2022 and beyond.

The increase in vote-bymail during the 2020 election contributed to the increase of voters, especially the Asian American electorate.

“We know that in 2020, almost three out of four Asian voters voted early or by mail, which is larger than any other [racial] community,”

Christine Chen, executive

director and co-founder of Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) Vote, said in a recent press briefing.

Over the last few election cycles, outreach to AAPI voters has increased, especially in the wake of the Stop Asian Hate movement, which really ignited conversations on the diverse Asian communities that are often left out in national politics.

“Our communities, when reached out to, really show up. And I think that voting matters, but also making sure that the information that our communities get is accurate and clear is important,” said Nancy Yap, executive director for the Center for Asian Americans United for Self-Empowerment (CAUSE).

Chen mirrored Yap’s perspective, adding that with increased voter turnout among Asian voters, the issues that affect the broader AAPI community gain more attention among lawmakers.

“We are really relying on the API electorate to actually turn out because when you turn out, it increases our numbers. It gets us more

attentional nationally, and then, that translates in terms of how effective we are in lobbying and advocating for our issues,” Chen said.

However, the methodology of data gathering and disaggregation of voters could be improved., and while organizations and coalitions like AAPI Equity Alliance promote research bodies (like APIAVote) that take Asian data disaggregation seriously, many government agencies’ methods for disaggregating data are outdated.

As previously reported in the Asian Journal, data disaggregation for the Asian community is either rudimentary or nonexistent, with either a few Asian groups getting their own dedicated outreach and studies or lumping every Asian community under one label. Experts in public policy and academia have argued that stronger and more detailed data disaggregation would help address many problems faced by individual cultural groups that are often lumped together under one overly broad label.

US govt gives P85M for PH fight vs...

PAGE 1

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).

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 US 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 HIV-preventive 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 US Embassy, signify the US 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. (By Leander C. Domingo/ManilaTimes.net) n

Philippines launches eTravel...

PAGE 1

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.

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

the OPS said. n

HEALTHY RELATIONS. U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson (middle, left) hands over Point-of-Care HIV Viral Load Cartridges to Dr. Louisito Chua, Manila Councilor for Health, on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022. Also present during the ceremony were Sen. Ana Theresia ‘Risa’ Hontiveros, Michelle Lang-Alli, Ma. Carolina Vidal-Taino, Barangay 435 chairman Linensky Bacud, and other officials and representatives of the US government and the Department of Health. Photo by Rene H. Dilan

Foreign tourists checking their travel documents upon arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City. The STAR / Rudy Santos

eTravel platform of the Philippine Government,”

PAGE 1

Under the new regulations, beginning May 7, 2025, every traveler 18 years of age or older will need a REAL IDcompliant driver’s license or identification card, state-issued enhanced driver’s license, or another TSA-acceptable form of identification at airport 1security checkpoints for domestic air travel.

As required by the law, following the enforcement deadline, federal agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), will be prohibited from accepting driver’s licenses and identification cards that do not meet these federal standards.

“DHS continues to work closely with U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories to meet REAL ID requirements,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “This extension will give states needed time to ensure their residents can obtain a REAL ID-compliant license or identification card. DHS will also use this time to implement innovations to make the process more efficient and accessible. We will continue to ensure that the American public can travel safely.”

The REAL ID deadline was initially pushed back from Oct. 1, 2020, to Oct. 1, 2021 and then was extended to May 3, 2023 before the new 2025 deadline.

The department said the extension addresses the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the ability to obtain a REAL ID driver’s license or identification card.

Passed by Congress in 2005 following a 9/11 Commission recommendation, the REAL ID Act establishes minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards. Security standards include incorporating anti-counterfeiting technology, preventing insider fraud, and using documentary evidence and record checks to ensure a person is who they claim to be.

All 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and four of five U.S. territories covered by the REAL ID Act and related regulations are issuing REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards. (AJPress) n

Pampanga giant...

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the Philippines, during the Christmas season, we wanted to spread a little holiday cheer – the Filipino way – by having our parols light up the street outside the Philippine Center,” said Consul General Elmer G. Cato, during his welcome remarks. “For the Filipino, the parol is a symbol of hope, an expression of faith, and a reminder to remain resilient amidst personal hardships and societal challenges. This is the same message we wish to share with everyone here,” the Consul General added.

Representing the Pampanga Governor was Mayor Esmeralda Pineda who said that the parols were brought to New York to give an authentic feel of “Paskong Pinoy,” and to allow kababayan in New York to “renew their sense of being Pinoy and their sense of home.”

Gracing the momentous event were Deputy Commissioner Dilip Chauhan of the New York City Commission on International Affairs who spoke on behalf of Mayor Eric Adams, first

Filipino-American New York State Assemblyman, Steven Raga, and members of the diplomatic corps, namely Consul General Winanto Adi of Indonesia, Consul General Abu Hassan of Malaysia, Consul Christine Tay of Singapore, and other consuls.

The lighting ceremony was followed by a Christmas serenade led by the FilipinoAmerican Community, as the attendees enjoyed Kapampangan style cooking of classic Filipino dishes, such as dinuguan (pork stew in pig’s blood), pancit (noodles with chopped vegetables, seafood or meat), and karioka (caramel-glazed glutinous rice balls). Not to be missed as well was the iconic Kapampangan dish, sisig (pig’s face, snout, and ears that have been boiled, chopped, and grilled).

Designed and assembled in San Fernando City, Pampanga, otherwise known as the “Christmas capital of the Philippines,” the two historic parols will sparkle for all Filipinos, Americans, and international tourists to enjoy throughout the holiday season. n

Marcos: Growth on track amid ‘rampant’...

The November figure brings the year-to-date inflation to 5.6 percent, in close proximity to the government’s target of 5.8 percent.

Following the release of inflation data, Marcos, addressing an economic forum by the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) of the Philippines, said of that “poor news” that “we are now trying to identify the areas of the economy that are the main drivers of that inflation.”

“The main drivers, unfortunately, are still imported inflation. So again import substitution is still a good idea not only for foreign exchange reserves but also so that we can keep our inflation rate down,” he added.

The president also noted that the country continues to recover from the pandemic.

But he also pointed out that “our growth rate looks healthy, our peso has become a little stronger, [and] our unemployment rate is quite reasonable, considering the situation.”

“[H]owever, on the other side of that coin, there is still inflation that is rampant and out of control,” Marcos said.

Inflation peak?

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation chief economist Michael Ricafort said when asked to comment: “There is a chance that year-on-year inflation could have already reached the peak in the fourth quarter of 2022, and could start to ease gradually thereafter and could even ease year-on-year significantly, especially starting in the first quarter of 2023.”

Ricafort noted this since crude oil prices have already gone down from a high of $130.50 per barrel in March to $77 per barrel today.

“However, this could be offset by any additional storm damage toward the end of 2022, in case there is any, as well as some seasonal increase in demand and prices of Christmas holidayrelated products toward

December,” he said further.

But PSA Deputy National Statistician Divina Gracia del Prado said her agency was unsure if December inflation could be higher, citing historical data trends which show that inflation in the last month of a given year could go both ways.

Rate hikes

Last month the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) hiked its policy rate by 0.75-percentage-point (ppts) to tame the country’s inflation rate.

But more hikes are seen on the horizon until around mid2023.

The Monetary Board (MB), the central bank’s sevenperson policy-making body, decided to raise the interest rate on the central bank’s overnight reverse repurchase facility by 75 basis points (bps) to 5 percent, effective on Nov. 18.

Almost a week ago, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) nudged the Philippines to further tighten its monetary policy amid persistent inflationary pressures, making the recommendation after its periodic consultations with key officials.

BSP Governor Felipe Medalla said in an interview with Bloomberg TV last week that he is personally looking at several more increases of 0.25 ppts in the succeeding meetings of the MB, which is

set to meet one more time this month before the year ends.

The MB holds a policy meeting twice in every quarter, once a month except for the first month of each quarter.

‘Tools to combat inflation’

In a statement, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda recommended that the President issue an executive order that would ensure all supply bottlenecks for food and other farm produce are eased to address logistics and transport costs in food prices.

“Local government units may be directed to lift all hindrances and blockages across farm-to-market routes. The Department of Transportation may be directed to ensure the proper flow of traffic feeding into inter-island nautical routes,” he suggested further.

“As much as 48 percent of prices of certain food staples are logistics costs,” Salceda pointed out. “We can make an impact on food prices by reducing transport bottlenecks.”

The Albay lawmaker also cited his measure seeking to classify large-scale food price manipulation as economic sabotage—which he said has the support of the House leadership and the committee on agriculture and food.

“There is an abundance of tools available to the President and his economic

team to combat inflation. Immediate executive action may still take time to actually address fundamental drivers of inflation, but would be proper signaling for the public and private sectors,” Salceda said.

“Inflation remains the toughest economic storm we must weather, and our ships must sail in the same direction,” he said further.

ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro urged the President to certify as urgent bills raising public and private workers’ wages and reducing costs of basic goods.

‘Golden

era’

“The administration should prioritize steps to reduce the prices [of basic commodities] and raise the salaries of Filipinos. This is not the time for a Maharlika Investment Fund, the government should not have budgets for oppressive policies like the NTF-Elcac and confidential funds. What should be prioritized are funds for aid, increase in salaries and wages and benefits for the people,” the House deputy minority leader said in a statement.

She added: “It was easy to bring back the P10 billion to the NTF-Elcac and the P150 million in confidential funds of the Department of Education but when it comes to salaries, benefits and primary requirements for safe and quality education, the government has no budget?”

“Prices of ingredients for sauteing are now like gold. This must be the ‘golden era’ mentioned during the campaign period,” the lawmaker lamented in Filipino.

“The Marcos administration must do something to ease the rising prices of basic goods. Increase salaries and wages to give the people more purchasing power and remove [the value-added tax] and other taxes on essential goods, especially oil products,” she said.

—With reports from Jeannette I. Andrade And Nestor A. Corrales n

PH senators, businesses respond to...

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Pimentel stressed that there must be “consultation and consent of the owners of the funds they intend to put in higher risk placements.”

Angara noted that because the Maharlika fund is “a high-risk high reward endeavor, there should be safeguards and limitations on

investment into riskier endeavors.”

“I’m sure senators will scrutinize the measure and inject safeguards and best practices,” he said in a text message.

Angara said that accessing pension funds is a ticklish issue and could “encounter some obstacles.”

It is “best to access investible funds and use dormant government assets, or

those with high potential upsides like real properties abroad, as part of the equity of the fund,” he added.

Ejercito said he is “apprehensive to touch pension funds because of past experience with AFPSLAI (Armed Forces and Police Savings and Loan Association), AMSLAI (Air Materiel

CHRISTMAS AND HIGH PRICES. Consumers buy fruits and vegetables at a market in Quiapo, Manila, on Tuesday. These food staples have become more expensive, driving up the country’s inflation. Photo by Richard A. Reyes

Features OpiniOn Settle the Dengvaxia controversy

IF uptake of COVID-19 vaccines and boosters continues to be tepid during this week’s three-day mass vaccination program, part of the reason has to be the lingering impact of the hysteria over the Dengvaxia controversy. Litigation over deaths allegedly caused by Dengvaxia must be speeded up if the government wants to significantly reduce hesitancy not just for the anti-dengue shot but also for other vaccines against several preventable but potentially deadly diseases.

Developed by French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur, Dengvaxia is the first dengue vaccine to be approved by global health authorities. In June 2016, the World Health Organization and its Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization or SAGE endorsed the vaccine for use among ages nine to 45 in countries where dengue is endemic.

By the end of 2016, the Philippines, Brazil and nine other countries had granted regulatory approval for Dengvaxia. Following the WHO and SAGE endorsements, the Philippines rolled out the vaccination program, targeting one million nine-yearolds in three regions with the highest cases of dengue.

As Sanofi Pasteur continued its research and testing, however, additional data

indicated that the vaccine increased the risk of severe dengue for those who have never had the disease. When the company issued this warning in November 2017, the Philippines had already given the vaccine to 800,000 school children. The consequent hysteria attributed 99 children’s deaths to the vaccine and led to indictments for homicide and “torture of children” against about 40 government officials at the time.

Following deliberations by SAGE, the WHO updated its guidelines on the use of Dengvaxia in 2017, but did not recommend the discontinuation of the use of the vaccine in dengue-endemic areas. In 2019, the WHO added the vaccine to its model list of essential medicines. Dengvaxia remains approved for use in countries including Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Singapore and

Thailand. It has also been approved in non-dengue endemic countries such as the United States and those covered by the European Medicines Agency.

Still, the Philippines banned Dengvaxia in 2019. The scare also affected the country’s general vaccination program, with vaccine uptake for measles falling from 88 percent in 2014 to just 55 percent in 2018. Measles outbreaks inevitably erupted, with cases surging from 2,400 confirmed infections in

2017 to 18,000 in 2018 and a massive 48,871 the following year. In September 2019, polio also made a comeback in the Philippines, 19 years after the country was declared poliofree.

A scientifically sound resolution of the Dengvaxia controversy may help ease vaccine hesitancy, which is being seen even in the COVID inoculation drive. Litigation of the Dengvaxia case should not crawl along as usual. (Philstar.com)

The only direction to take is the right one

HIGHLY motivated to do good, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. continues to enjoy high satisfaction ratings with the latest survey released recently by the OCTA Research Group. Results from the “Tugon ng Masa”

Oct. 23-27 OCTA survey showed that 86 percent of the respondents trust the President, while 78 percent said they are satisfied with his performance.

In his first 100 days in office, several groups came out with their own assessments and surveys, including the one conducted by Catholic-run Radyo Veritas that said the President performed well.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry gave the president a rating of 8 out of 10, saying they appreciate his efforts to prop up the economy and put the country on the global radar.

In the face-to-face survey conducted by Pulse Asia from Sept.17 to 21, the administration received majority approval ratings on 11 out of the 13 issues

in the nationwide survey, particularly on responding to the needs of calamityhit areas and controlling the spread of COVID-19. Respondents also gave majority approval ratings on protecting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers, fighting graft and corruption in government, and defending the country’s territorial integrity.

When one’s motivation in office is focused on doing right – it can only point to one direction: the right direction. Obviously, the President continues to be very popular among Filipinos, but if the OCTA survey is any indication, it would seem that many are getting to appreciate him even more as they get to know him better. They see him going

in the right direction when it comes to issues that matter to the Filipino people, among them food security, lowering energy costs and asserting our territorial rights.

Aside from strengthening our relationship with the United States, the President’s instructions to me were to have more economic engagement with the U.S.

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Sen. Angara: Confidential, intel funds expenditures to be rigorously scrutinized

by Maila ager Inquirer.net

MANILA — Senator Sonny Angara has allayed fears of possible abuse in using billions of pesos of confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) allotted to various government agencies next year, saying Congress and the state auditor will closely examine these.

Congress ratified the final version of the P5.268-trillion national budget for 2023 containing the controversial CIF amounting to P9.3 billion on Monday, December 5.

Angara, chairman of the Senate committee on finance, explained that the scrutiny of the CIFs is guaranteed by law through the General Appropriations Act (GAA), the initiative of the Senate, and as part of the

mandate of the Commission on Audit.

Under the GAA, he said, there is a provision requiring the grantees of CIFs to submit regular reports to both houses of Congress and the President.

Confidential fund recipient agencies and offices, on the other hand, are required to submit quarterly accomplishment reports to the President and the two Houses of Congress, the senator said.

In the case of the intelligence funds, Angara said, the quarterly reports are submitted to the President.

“On top of this, the Senate, through Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri has initiated the creation of a select oversight committee to look into the use of the funds. These are in place

to ensure the proper use of these funds,” the senator pointed out.

“There will be periodic meetings of the select oversight committee to assess whether these funds are being used wisely by the agencies involved,” he added.

The creation of the oversight committee to look into the use of the CIF has been done since the 10th Congress.

COA, meanwhile, is still mandated to look into the use of the CIF, but unlike their regular audits, Angara said the results are not made public.

“Because of the nature of these funds, since they are linked to national security, safety, counter-terrorism, you cannot just expose these

Freedom of speech must not be used to malign others - Padilla

MANILA Senator Robinhood Padilla on Tuesday, December 6 said that freedom of speech must not be used to malign others and trample their rights by using disinformation.

Padilla, during the joint hearing of the Senate Committees on Public Information and Mass Media and Justice and Human Rights on Senate Bill No. 1296, which seeks to outlaw the creation and dissemination of fake news by amending the Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, said freedom of expression should never be abused adding perpetrators of disinformation should be punished.

“Hindi pwedeng kapag sinabi nating kalayaan pwede mo nang tapak-tapakan ang

kapwa mo, gumawa ka ng imbento, hindi naman siguro ganun. Kailangan talaga pag sinabing kalayaan e pantay-pantay tayo diyan.

Di pwede yan na wala tayong susundin na batas kaya tayo may batas, kaya tayo may kalayaan gumawa ng batas para sundin natin.

Di pwedeng free-for-all ito

para tayong nagsusuntukan lang sa bar di pupuwede. Kailangan sumunod sa batas (We cannot allow people to use the freedom of expression to trample on the rights of others by using fabricated stories. When we say freedom, we are all equal. We cannot have a

Sen. Robinhood Padilla

PNA file photo

Elections experts discuss increased...

Currently, the California Office of the Secretary of State categorizes voters’ ethnicities and races by surname, which presents many problems for those in intercultural families, linguistic diversity of surnames, and other variables that make it difficult

to determine ethnicity or race by someone’s name alone.

Godfrey Plata, a civic engagement consultant for the AAPI Equity Alliance, shared exit poll data from the California Office of Secretary of State — which found that Filipino voters were the second-largest Asian group

at the polls this year — acknowledged the limitations data gathering.

“I’m Filipino, my last name is Plata, so I get [election materials] in Spanish, Tagalog, and English, so I don’t often know how my name is being estimated,” Plata said. “As an organizer,

it’s important that we have questions like this that have substantive and material implications for our community and work in tandem so that we can figure out how to make things more honest and authentic and real for data collection.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress) n

PH senators, businesses respond to...

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Wing Savings and Loan Association, Inc.) and RSBS ([AFP] Retirement and Separation Benefits System) which ventured into bad investments.”

“The intent of Maharlika bill seems good, except that I am wary to use GSIS and SSS funds for this purpose,” Ejercito said.

Escudero said the Maharlika fund bill “is lacking in many respects.

“What is return on investment of GFIs (government financial institutions)? How often will dividends be declared, if any?” he asked.

“If it’s a corporation, why is the number of board seats not in accordance with their respective capital contributions? What ROI (return on investment) will GFIs get if it will be spent on government projects? What government projects are they contemplating?” he pressed.

Villanueva said while creating a sovereign wealth fund or SWF is good in principle, “there should be more discussions on its sources of funds and its management.”

“We must protect the retirement funds and other benefits of ordinary workers, who are already struggling from high prices of basic goods and are bracing for the impending global recession,” he said.

“We look forward to hearing more views from different stakeholders when we discuss this proposal in the Senate,” Villanueva said.

Speaking during the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) on Monday, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno defended the measure.

“I think we should have a sovereign wealth fund like other Asean countries like Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam. And we should think of putting together some funds that are investable,” Diokno said.

He said the fund “will not only benefit current generation of the Philippines but also future generations. That’s the concept of this Maharlika.”

Diokno said the Philippines needs a “steady source” of revenues, particularly in the sectors of oil, mining, and banking. “We just opened our mining. We can use the royalty from there. Our mining sector is huge. It is substantial,” he said.

Under House Bill (HB) 6398 approved by the House Committee on Bank and Financial Intermediaries on Thursday, P125 billion of the Maharlika fund will be sourced from the GSIS, P50 billion each from the SSS and Land Bank, and P25 billion each from the DBP and the

Philippine Treasury.

Jose Arnulfo “Wick” Veloso, GSIS president and general manager, said tapping GSIS pension funds is “nothing outside of what we’re doing.”

“Currently, all of the excesses after expenditures, [and] allocation for the retirement benefits of our members and other obligations are invested. So now we invest into a company that will now be able to train their guns and attention to developmental projects... and that is what we need,” Veloso said.

He said countries like the Philippines “have huge amounts of industrial requirements that are high capital expenditure... and that is the reason why a number of our key industries can’t really move forward, because you need a lot of capital. But we have the money, what we need is to collect these funds... so that these money will be allocated to high capital expenditure businesses.”

Opposed Multisectoral organizations, however, strongly opposed the establishment of an SWF like the proposed Maharlika.

Among the groups are the Foundation For Economic Freedom, Competitive Currency Forum, Filipina CEO Circle, Financial Executives Institute of The Philippines, Institute of Corporate Directors, Integrity Initiative, Inc., Makati Business Club, Management Association of the Philippines, Movement for Good Governance, Philippine Women’s Economic Network, UP School of Economics Alumni Association, and Women’s Business Council Philippines, Inc.

“We register our serious concerns and reservations against the proposed MWF on the principles of fiscal prudence, additionality, solvency of social pension funds, contingent liabilities, monetary independence of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), government in the economy, and transparency,” they said in a joint statement.

They pointed out that commoditybased SWFs are designed “to optimally manage the windfall from the appropriate disposition of their natural resources for the benefit of future generations.”

“These countries recognize that such natural resources are exhaustible and commodity prices are uncertain in the long run, while their current absorptive capacity for commodity earnings remains limited,” they said.

Non-commodity-based SWFs, on the other hand, are designed to manage the accumulated foreign assets from persistent external trade surpluses and

surpluses of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in order to preserve the value of their capital and realize long-term returns on investments.

The Philippines “has neither commodity-based surpluses nor surpluses from external trade and SOEs,” they said.

The groups suggested instead “that the executive and legislative branches continue to implement existing initiatives to strengthen the areas of transportation, public health, education and infrastructure, especially digital and agriculture, that can boost productivity and lower inflation. These initiatives can be executed within the existing legal framework, without resorting to an untested approach with many potential infirmities.”

But economist Dr. Michael Batu said at least 50 nations, including those in the Southeast Asian region, have an SWF.

Batu told a televised briefing Monday that if the Maharlika fund measure is approved, the government will have the chance to invest and buy stocks, bonds and real estate.

It will also generate more employment.

Batu said a sovereign wealth fund can also strengthen the government’s pension system which will benefit senior citizens.

He acknowledged that safeguards must be in place to ensure transparency and give taxpayers assurance that every centavo of their money is spent wisely.

Representative Marcos told reporters the corporation proposed in the Maharlika fund bill “will be free from politics.”

“Yes, the President will be chairman of the board, but... you have to look at it beyond this administration. This isn’t something for the next six years, this is something that will keep on going,” Marcos said.

Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said in a statement on Monday that the success of any fund, sovereign or private, “lies in the quality of its management.”

“In the current version of the Maharlika Wealth Fund, the President of the Philippines chairs its governing board. This is a powerful statement that the highest official of the land will hold himself as ultimately accountable to the Filipino people for the performance of the Fund,” the former president said.

“Once the fund becomes operational, the President will “be able to count on advice from the Department of Finance, the nation’s steward of sound fiscal policy,” Arroyo said. n

Revilla wants to lower senior citizen age to 56 so they can enjoy benefits sooner

MANILA — Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. has filed a bill seeking to lower the age to be legally considered a senior citizen to 56 from 60 in what he said is a move to let more elderly people enjoy the benefits given to seniors.

Revilla’s Senate Bill No. 1573 aims to amend Republic Act No. 7432 so that people aged 56 can be legally considered as senior citizens.

Senior citizens get a 20% discount on transportation, lodging, food and medicine and are exempted from paying income taxes, among other benefits under the Senior Citizens Act.

The bill does not change retirement age, which, for

Freedom of speech...

PAGE 6

situation similar to a free-forall inside a bar. We should craft a law that everyone will follow),” he said.

At the start of the hearing, Ellen Tordesillas, founder of VERA Files, urged the Senate not to use the term “fake news” in legislation saying that the phrase is oxymoron, adding that anything false can never be considered as news.

Tordesillas said the problem of the bill is by using “fake news”, adding that even the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) does not use the term, insisting that “fake news” cannot be used in legislation, since there is no correct definition of “fake news”.

Padilla pointed out there is nothing wrong with creating content on news and social

media platforms. But if the freedom of expression is abused and weaponized against others is another matter, saying there is really a need for a law to ensure punishment for those who abuse the constitutional right to “freedom of expression.”

“Pag nilagyan na natin ng malisya na gusto mo siraan ang tao, yan ay mali na. Yan ho ang pagtapak na sa karapatan ng kapwa mo. At dapat lang yan may karampatang penalty (When we add malice in an attempt to destroy another person’s reputation, that is not right. That is violating the rights of a fellow person. And there should be a penalty for that),” he said.

Senator Raffy Tulfo, on the other hand, said social media and other platforms must be registered in the country to ensure their accountability. (PNA) n

ECO-FRIENDLY LANTERN. Parents and teachers carry a Christmas lantern made from dried corn and corn husk during the launch of the school-based campaign promoting a toxic-free and waste-free Christmas celebration at General Roxas Elementary School in Quezon City on Wednesday, Dec. 7. The highlight of the program was to showcase the creative Christmas lanterns designed by students.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

publicly. They are linked to certain things that are established to be essential to the safety of our people, to the existence of the State, etc.,” he explained.

The same goes for the work of the Senate’s oversight committee, which Angara said has to be kept confidential because of the sensitivity of the issues being examined.

“Little is known about these funds but in the process we learn that there are disallowances on the use of these funds. For instance, you cannot use it to pay salaries and to buy certain things,” he said.

“COA has also historically been looking at these expenses and there are limitations to its use, unlike the common perception that these funds can be used for anything and everything. That is not true,” Angara added.

As chairman of the Senate panel to the bicameral conference committee meetings on the 2023 budget, Angara said he fought to maintain the amendments

made by the Senate, including the adjustments made to the CIFs.

However, their representatives from the House of Representatives “were adamant on restoring what was contained in the National Expenditure Program.”

“And with a deadlock looming because of the CIFs, compromises had to be made in order to avoid delays in the passage of the GAA,” Angara said.

“You’re working against the clock here because you don’t want to have a reenacted budget. We’ve seen in past when there have been delays that these had an adverse impact on our economic growth figures. That’s how important government spending is to the performance of the economy.”

“In the time of the pandemic, when the country, the economy is still recovering, the passage of a budget that is responsive, that spends on the right things and productive enterprises is very important,” the senator stressed. n

Journalists warn criminalizing ‘fake news’ may quash dissent

by Xave GreGorio Philstar.com

MANILA — Journalists on Tuesday, Dec. 6 warned senators against passing a bill to criminalize the spreading of “fake news” as they pointed out that this proposed law may be used to silence dissent and curtail free speech.

While they recognized that the proliferation of “fake news” — more aptly called misinformation and disinformation — is a problem, journalists representing different organizations and newsrooms expressed worry over its definition in the proposal by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.

“It becomes a catch-all phrase to call something fake news if you dislike a person and you don’t like what they’re reporting,” VERA Files founder Ellen Tordesillas told the Senate panels hearing Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s proposal to punish “fake news” peddlers.

Gemma Mendoza, Rappler’s disinformation research head, said the term “fake news” can be used “very arbitrarily” and even weaponized by people in power.

“Of all the pandemic-related disinformation that Rappler factchecked, we noticed that none of those were investigated or apprehended by

police. But what happened was that there were some who were arrested because local authorities did not like what they posted online,” Mendoza said.

National Union of Journalists of the Philippines chairperson Jonathan de Santos also cited the case of Cebu artist Bambi Beltran who was arrested without a warrant for writing a sarcastic Facebook post.

“We would like to urge caution in addressing the problem of fake news through legislation that can be used for censorship,” said De Santos, who also heads Philstar.com’s news section.

The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas also raised concerns with how the bill defines “fake news” as it feared that it may affect the exercise of the constitutional right to free speech.

“It should not be too broad to include prohibition of valid political opinions,” KBP’s Rudolph Jularbal said. “Free speech and expression might be curtailed because of the way the law is crafted.”

‘Questionable, conflicting’

Under Estrada’s Senate Bill 1296, “fake news” is defined as “misinformation and disinformation of stories, facts and news which is presented as a fact, the veracity of which cannot be confirmed,

with the purpose of distorting the truth and misleading its audience.”

Both the Department of Justice and Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group found a portion of this provision — “the veracity of which cannot be confirmed” — to be “questionable” and “conflicting.”

“We should remove the phrase ‘the veracity of which cannot be confirmed,’ because it’s very difficult to investigate and prosecute if that itself we cannot ascertain,” state counsel Gerald Vincent Sosa said.

PCol. Sidney Villaflor, PNP-CIDG’s deputy director for administration, said it would be difficult to ascertain what is real and what is “fake news.”

“To prove the element of purpose or distorting the truth and misleading its audience, there must be evidence showing the distorted truth and misleading facts. This presupposes the existence of real truth or fact. If the veracity of a particular story, facts and news could not be confirmed, there could be no distortion or misleading,” Villaflor said.

Instead of criminalizing the spreading of “fake news,” journalists present at the hearing said more attention should

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 ReviewJournal.

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 531room 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

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

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.

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

The only direction to take is...

PAGE 5

Which is why we continue to organize and host economic briefings between the government’s economic team and American business groups and investors to showcase the promising sectors for investment that include IT-BPM and renewable energy.

We are now seriously looking into nuclear energy to supply the country’s growing electricity requirements. Nuclear energy is one of the cleanest, and technology has advanced by leaps and bounds, with new safeguards put in place to prevent accidents from happening.

One of the most advanced and revolutionary are small modular reactors that are portable, as they can be built in a factory and transported to a designated site for final assembly and installation.

Even during the elections, foreign policy has also been a hot button issue and continues to be so to this day. Ninety percent of Filipinos are pleased to see the President taking the right foreign policy direction in our relationship with two major powers – the U.S. and China.

While there are still a few naysayers concerning our relationship with the United States, there is no denying that it remains to be a very strong anchor of our foreign policy direction.

As President Marcos himself said, he cannot envision the Philippines in the future without having the U.S. as a

partner.

With regard to the West Philippine Sea, his statement is unequivocal: We have no conflict with China; the issue we have is that China is claiming territory that belongs to us. No doubt the President’s state visit to China early next year will be crucial.

While some continue to take issue about the President’s foreign trips, the reality is that the world is getting smaller and trips are a necessary tool in conducting foreign policy. Face-to-face interactions are important for leaders to discuss issues and concerns that are mutually beneficial to their respective nations, and President Marcos is keen to reach out to many nations to advance our national interest.

For instance, his forthcoming trip to Brussels for the ASEANEU summit offers a great opportunity to discuss a free trade agreement with the European bloc. The Philippines is the co-chair for the summit, which is why it is a must for the President to attend. As noted by European Union Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Véron, it will be an “excellent opportunity to discuss broader foreign policy issues, especially following the ratification of the EU-Philippines Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.”

The special invitation extended to the President for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland

is another important event. Many financial analysts are advising the President to attend because it will provide an immense opportunity for the global business community to get to know more about the positive developments happening in the Philippines, and why it is a smart investment choice.

The fact is, practically everyone wants to meet an elected leader who is essentially the “new kid” on the leadership block, and now is as good a time as any for President Marcos to show the world that “the Philippines is standing on its own two feet,” as he said during the UN General Assembly in New York.

One thing is very clear, President Marcos is highly energized when he knows he is making good with his promise to do his best for the country’s interest. And he told us – even if the fruits of all his work will be reaped by the next administration, he does not mind at all. Taking credit is not what he is after. What really matters to him is upholding the interest of our country and growing the economy to give a better life for the Filipino – a direction that can only be the right one. (Philstar.com) *

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

babeseyeview@gmail.com

Hyatt Hotels acquires...

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.

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 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.

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

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 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.

My company, Precious Properties, is a fullservice company that has served its clientele since 1992. You can reach me at 775-5138447, 805-559-2476 and 702-538-4948 for more information, or send me an email at fely@precious-properties.com or fely. precious@gmail.com. We have investors who buy houses in California and Nevada for cash and quick escrow in as short as 7 days.

Journalists warn criminalizing...

be given to social media platforms and to media and information literacy programs.

Sen. Francis Tolentino, who chairs the Senate justice and human rights committee which was one of the panels that heard the

anti-”fake news” bill, said they will be moving forward with the measure, balancing “our constitutional right to free speech versus the engineered and systemic, deliberate distortion of truth and outright spread of lies.n

Revilla wants to lower...

government service is compulsory at 65. Optional retirement from government service is at 60, which is also the traditional retirement age for the private sector.

“Today, especially during the pandemic, a lot weren’t lucky enough to reach the age of 60. As the saying goes: ‘What good is grass if the horse is dead?’” Revilla said in a statement.

“That’s why as long as there is still time, we should give them importance by letting them enjoy benefits. Let’s remember that their hands molded whatever good we are experiencing now,” he added.

Lawmakers in previous Congresses have also pushed to lower the senior citizen age, albeit unsuccessfully. (Xave Gregorio/Philstar. com) n

(Advertising Supplement)

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

VACCINATED KIDS. Three young girls pose for a photo holding a sign saying they are proud to be vaccinated during the Department of Health’s (DOH) “Bakunahang Bayan” at Tondo Foreshore Health Center in Manila on Monday, Dec. 5. Children ages five to 17 years old got inoculated against COVID-19 during the event. PNA photo by Yancy Lim

COMMUNITY JOURNAL

Atty. Gurfinkel answers immigration questions from

Kapamilya

in Chicago on part 1 of a series of Q&A on Citizen Pinoy

• Maria’s mother petitioned her sister 15 years ago but passed away in 2018. Maria asks if she can bring her sister to the U.S. by submitting an Affidavit of Support and if so, how long would it take for the California Service Center to respond.

• Dahlia’s mother tried to bring her children to the U.S. via her H1B visa 29 years ago. Their mother also attempted to bring her granddaughter as well, pretending that she was her youngest daughter. Her mother was caught and her H1B was

Dahlia wants to know if she can petition her mother now that she (Dahlia)

YOUR TANONG, MY SAGOT IN CHICAGO, PART 1. Leading U.S. Immigration Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel (2nd from right) answers immigration questions from Kapamilya in Chicago in Part 1 of “Your Tanong, My Sagot.” Among the questions Atty. Gurfinkel answers are – From Ann (right): My mother was petitioned by her sister (our aunt) years ago. But by the time the petition was approved, only our youngest sister was able to come with our mother since my sister and I had aged out. Our aunt is still alive. Is there still a chance for my other sister to come to the U.S. via the Child Status Protection Act?; From Mike and Maria (3rd and 4th from left): My mother petitioned my sister 15 years ago, but she passed away in 2018. I (Maria) submitted an I-864 (Affidavit of Support) in place of our late mother. How long would it take for the California Service Center to respond to our request for humanitarian reinstatement? Watch Part 1 of “Your Tanong, My Sagot” in Chicago on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, December 11 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. (Advertising Supplement)

LEADING U.S. Immigration Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel visited Chicago, where he answered questions of Kapamilya from the “Windy City” and neighboring areas. In Part 1 of “Your Tanong, My Sagot,” viewers will hear answers to the following immigration concerns:

revoked.

is

PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS

THIS is a warning, not only for Californians but for residents of other states where COVID-19 is still significant. The national 7-day daily average of cases, as of December 6, 2022, are still more than 53,000 a day and greater than 260 deaths per day. Many of these are unvaccinated and, sadly, many vaccine naysayers have died. Vaccination must be updated with booster #3, the bivalent vaccines, because newer strains are mutating and evolving.

The surge of COVID-19 infections in California and the great burden it imposes on the state’s healthcare system could be alleviated, according to experts, by bringing back masking and distancing, especially among children in school. And the waves of Flu and RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) only complicate the picture of this tripledemic. RSV is especially dangerous for infants and super-seniors.

Contrary to fake news, vaccines, masks, and distancing effectively mitigate transmission, infection, hospitalization, and deaths. Those exposed to infected persons, or who are infected, should isolate themselves for 5 days, and use a mask for 5 days thereafter. COVID-19 is more contagious than the Flu or RSV. Those with infants/ young children at home should be extra careful and use masks in public. Infants, young children and seniors have died from RSV and the flu, besides COVID-19.

Whether we like to acknowledge it or not, those who are anti-vaccines and anti-masks and who are unprotected are one of the major reasons for the unending waves of COVID-19, not only in the United States but elsewhere around the world.

There is no shame in wearing a mask; it shows wisdom and compassion for others around you. You are also protecting them, besides yourself.

Clinical studies have found that in cities and towns where the rate of vaccination, masking, and distancing are lowest, the infection rate, hospitalization, and deaths are highest. It does need an Einstein to figure this

The California surge

out. Common sense, which, unfortunately is uncommon, is all it takes to decipher and understand why.

The way our people behave, and the way the viruses behave, the COVID-19 pandemic is here to stay, as an endemic, like the flu. This is our own doing, and we have to simply accept this and live with it.

Let’s follow science in protecting our health and life, and those of our loved ones. Vaccines, hygiene, masks, and distancing all work effectively when it comes to mitigating a contagious disease, albeit not 100 percent. But so are bullet-proof vests, which have nonetheless saved countless lives the past 108 years, like masks since the 1920s.

Heart effects of vaccines Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) and pericarditis (inflammation of the covering around the heart) have been observed after a week in some individuals (around 105.9 per million) who received the COVID-19 vaccines. A new large international scale study showed the incidence of those two are very low, contrary to what was suspected before. Most cases were among male teens and young adults usually after the second dose of a primary series of either Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. Majority of the patients recovered quickly; 93 percent required hospitalization, while 23 percent needed ICU care. No deaths were reported. This study was published last week in JAMA Pediatrics.

Monoclonal: Impotent Monoclonal antibody, given by IV infusing as soon as a person tested positive for COVID-19 and proven to be most effective in curtailing the infection, is now ineffective against the new strains of SARS-CoV2, which are outsmarting our treatment strategy. Dealing with these viruses is a fluid exercise in wisdom and patience. They replicate and mutate to a more contagious strain and a more severe one for them to survive. If everybody were protected by the vaccines, they would not have any warm bodies to enter to replicate and mutate, and they selfdestruct. Unfortunately, only 68 percent of people in the United States are fully vaccinated. The bodies of the 32 percent (105+ million)

who are still unvaccinated bodies are being used by the viruses to replicate, mutate and evolve.

Protein versus carbs

Studies have shown that when protein intake is low, the rest of the calories in a diet usually comes from carbohydrates, which is not a healthy situation. Proteins are from red meat, poultry, fish, legumes, and nuts. These are the healthier foods, unless eaten in excess. Carbohydrates, which includes sugars and sweets, bread and potatoes, on the other hand, are not healthy because they are inflammatory food items. The so-called nightshade vegetables are also inflammatory and oxidants, detrimental especially to those with arthritis. Nightshades include potato, tomato, eggplant, peppers, goji berries, paprika, and red spices.

The recommendation is to have high protein diet (especially fish, chicken, and minimal red meat, no processed meats) and a lot of vegetables, oats, some chocolates, some fruits and nuts. Carbs like bread, rice, all forms of sugars, especially refined ones, sweets (like desserts) are to be consumed sparingly and occasionally.

While quality (type) of foods one eats is important, quantity (amount) is vital and essential to maintaining a healthy weight. In general, for those with normal weight, the recommended caloric intake is 2,000 calories a day for women and 2,500 for men. Those with diabetes will have their individual computed caloric requirement. And so with those who are overweight and underweight.

Worse than fentanyl

Fentanyl has been in the news of late. It is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths, including 92,000 in 2020 alone. Many forms are available; some are multicolor like candies. It is responsible for countless fatal and non-fatal overdoses in the U.S. Many victims are children who accidentally eat them. The open southern border facilitates the entry of the cartel and these killer drugs, not to mention the criminal elements and COVID-infected people. About 3 million people in

Manny Pacquiao releases movie against Asian hate crimes

LOS ANGELES – Eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao has xxecutive produced a movie to raise awareness of Asian hate crimes titled “Almighty Zeus”, which had a theatrical release in selected theaters starting December 2, 2022.

Pacquiao said, “I hope this movie will encourage and Inspire a lot of people, not only In America but all over the world. I hope It encourages people to spread love Instead of hate.” [To view Manny Pacquiao’s interview with CBS LA on executive producing Almighty Zeus, visit https://www.

youtube.com/watch?v=P-7-lxFqSWs.]

Written, directed, and produced by Chris Soriano, who also stars as the main actor, the goal of the film is to showcase unity through the sport of boxing. The story focuses on the middleweight champion of the world losing his mother to COVID-19 and ends up challenging an Asian American boxer (Zeus) to punish in the ring. Zeus encounters a neighborhood boxing legend, Coach Green, who decides to take Zeus under his wing and teach him fight tactics through the dangerous streets of Los Angeles.

Soriano began filming during the pandemic and incorporated real hate crimes that happened to Asian Americans in his film. Soriano felt the need to tell this story in hope it will shine light on how the country could deal with racism toward minorities. His goal is to promote peace. The colead actor in the film is a Black American, Coach Green. Soriano hopes that this film will showcase unity with the journey both characters go through.

Details for “Almighty Zeus”:

• Genre: Action/Drama

• Runtime: 1hr 55min

• “Zeus” is on Facebook, Instagram, @ almightyzeusmovie and Twitter under @ Zeusthemov

• Movie Trailer: http://www. tricoastworldwide.com/almighty-zeustrailer/ Passcode: 11124

• Scene - Asian man gets sprayed with hand sanitizer: https://youtu.be/4bZ22Hvf3hY. (Courtesy of Lavi PR/Avalon Communications) n

Atty. Gurfinkel answers...

an American Citizen.

• Pauline wants to know the easiest way for her to get a green card if she came to the U.S. as a tourist and then changed her status to an F1 (Student).

• Ann’s mother was petitioned by her sister (Ann’s aunt) years ago. By the time the petition was approved, only her youngest sister was able to come to the U.S. with their mother, since Ann and her other sister had aged out. Ann wants to know if there is still

the U.S. are recovering from opioid addiction.

But there is now a newer and more vicious killer replacing fentanyl. It is called protonitazene, supposed to be even three times stronger than fentanyl. This new drug has been found in Canada and in the U.S., where 3 deaths have been reported in South Carolina. It may even be resistant to the antidote Narcan.

Public education, especially children’s education, starting even in pre-school, is vital in preventing accidental deaths from these killer drugs.

a chance for her other sister to immigrate to the U.S. via the Child Status Protection Act. Atty. Gurfinkel answers these questions in Part 1 of “Your Tanong, My Sagot,” with Kapamilya from Chicago. Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, December 11 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)

There is basically no difference between taking cyanide (suicide pills) and fentanyl or protonitazene or other potent opioids, except perhaps a few minutes before dying after ingestion.

* * *

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

who is your best ally when it comes to your health.

* * *

Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, a Health Advocate, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He is a recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1996, whose other awardees include President Harry Truman, President George HW Bush, Astronaut Gus Grissom, Mohammad Ali and David Letterman. Websites: FUN88com and philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.

Roderick found guilty of graft, falsification by Sandiganbayan

By Jean-Mangaluz Inquirer.net

THE Sandiganbayan has found actor Roderick Paulate guilty of graft and falsification by a public officer in connection with maintaining “ghost employees” while serving as councilor in Quezon City in 2010.

In the decision promulgated on Nov. 25, 2022, Paulate and his then liaison officer Vicente Esquilon Bajamunde were meted out the penalties of six- to eight-year imprisonment and perpetual disqualification from public office for graft and corruption.

The two were also ordered to pay the government jointly and severally P1.109 million with an interest of 6 percent yearly until fully paid.

Paulate was also meted out a penalty of six months to six years of imprisonment for each of the eight counts of falsification of public documents and another six months to six years of imprisonment for falsification by a public officer. He was also ordered to pay P10,000

for each of the eight counts of falsification of public documents and falsification by a public officer.

According to the ruling, Paulate was previously found by the Ombudsman to have hired ghost employees, who received wages on the 15th and end of the month. In 2018, several cases were filed against Paulate and Bajamunde, who supposedly conspired with the former.

In a ruling recently made public, the seventh division of the Sandiganbayan found both of them guilty of one count of graft, in violation of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt

Practices Act.

“Accused Roderick Mendenilla Paulate and Vicente Esquilon Bajamunde, acting in conspiracy with one another, are found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the offense of violation of Sec. 3(e) of R.A. 3019 and [the court is] sentencing each of them to suffer an indeterminate prison term of six (6) years and one (1) month, as minimum to eight (8) years, as maximum,” the ruling stated.

Bajamunde was acquitted of the document-falsification cases due to the prosecutor’s failure to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. n

Maxene breaks silence over party accusations

By Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

between celebrity couple Neil Arce and Angel Locsin.

In her recent interview with Toni Gonzaga, Maxene said she wasn’t bothered when she heard the news.

“I live with integrity. And I speak my truth fearlessly because I know I am a woman of my word,” she said.

She also addressed whey she hasn’t released a statement sooner.

“Because if I release a statement then the mga negative energy vampires will see na ‘Ay kaya natin siya’,” she said.

Maxene also denied that she’s pregnant with Neil’s baby.

“I’m not. Sabi ko talaga, ‘Saan nanggaling to? Kailan nangyari to?’ ‘Di ako na-inform,” she said.

Maxene told Toni that she is now ready to fall in love after her separation with husband Rob Mananquil.

“Of course! Ako, I’m never closing my doors to love. I love love. I really love love,” she said.

When asked if there are already suitors, the actress admitted she has been “speaking and forming connections.”

“And I want to really connect. I know, I’m 35 – I’m turning 36 in a few days – and I don’t want to parang let pain stop me from living my life the way I want to,” she said. n

Fil-Am Olivia Rodrigo among music world’s highest earners in 2022 — study

by KriStofer Purnell Philstar.com

MANILA — Filipino-American singer Olivia Rodrigo’s groundbreaking album “Sour” and its hit song “good 4 u” have helped the artist receive one of the highest earnings in royalties for 2022.

Unted Kingdom-based casino analyst OnlineCasinos, inspired by the Wrapped 2022 campaign of Spotify, set out to find how much the most-streamed artists earned in royalties.

To do so, the company inserted the total play count of Spotify’s top 50 global tracks into royalties calculator Music Gateway. All data was collected from November 30 to December 1, 2022 and is accurate as of then.

“Sour” earned the second-highest earnings for an album as nearly 8.5 million plays translated to $35 million (P1.97 billion) in royalties, around $7 million shy of the topspot held by Latin artist Bad Bunny’s “Un Verano Sin Ti.”

Wrapping up the top 5 for highest-earning albums were rapper Doja Cat’s “Planet Her,” former One Direction member Harry Styles’ “Harry’s House,” and British singer Ed Sheeran’s “=.”

“good 4 u” was just edged out of the top 5 for the highest-earning songs for 2022, still raking in nearly $7 million (P389 million) from 1.675 billion plays.

Another Rodrigo song, “traitor,” figured at 17th spot with 1.013 billion plays that led to $4.2 million (P235 million) in earnings.

“good 4 u” was bested by The Neighborhood’s 2013 hit “Sweater Weather,” Styles’ 2019 song “Watermelon Sugar,” British rock band Glass Animals’ viral song “Heat Waves,” the Kid LAROI and Justin

Bieber collaboration “STAY,” and topspot The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights.”

The Weeknd’s hit song earned $13.5 million (P761 million) from 3.276 billion plays on Spotify in 2022 alone.

Wrapping up the top 10 were Styles’ rising hit “As It Was,” Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow’s collaboration “INDUSTRY BABY,” Sheeran’s “Bad Habits,” and the Pnau remix of Elton John and Dua Lipa’s “Cold Heart.”

Other familiar songs within the top 50 were Adele’s “Easy on Me,” Coldplay and BTS’ “My Universe,” Lizzo’s “About Damn Time,” and Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God),” which can be attributed to Netflix’s “Stranger Things.”

Bad Bunny had a total of nine songs in the top 50, seven of them coming from “Un Verano Sin Ti” with “Yonaguni” and the collab “Lo Siento BB:/” being the exceptions. n

John Lloyd’s new era

by ChriStina alPad ManilaTimes.net

JOHN Lloyd Cruz is slowly but surely reclaiming the showbiz spotlight. The actor who was once very visible on screen — with TV series, movies and endorsements left and right — has noticeably taken less projects since returning from his acting hiatus.

But it isn’t only his work ethic — mindfully choosing roles he would fully commit to — that seems to have changed. It also appears that Cruz has a lot of wisdom to share nowadays.

At his recent relaunch as the face of Biogesic, his first ambassadorship in his career in 2007, the 39-yearold shared how he takes care of himself inside and out.

“There are more challenging days than the rest, but it’s important to go

back and find that center. Ang laki ng nagagawa nyan,” Cruz said.

He emphasized the need to take care of the inside as much as the outside and to pause when things get too stressful.

“I had to learn that the hard way. Dala rin ng trabaho ko. Almost every day, I deal with my emotions, I manipulate my emotions to the point na, hindi mo na siya alam i-handle kasi siya na yung nagle-lead sa iyo.”

Cruz admitted to being reactive in the past, mainly because he felt it was what his work demanded from him.

“So nung nagkaroon ako ng time to take a pause, isa yun sa mga natutunan ko — yung importance ng silence,

ACTRESS Maxene Magalona broke her silence on being the alleged third party

Olivia Rodrigo in her acceptance speech on March 2, 2022. Billboard via Twitter

John Lloyd Cruz Photo from

Roderick Paulate

Photo from Instagram/@roderickpaulate

Introducing Ay va Sever y of HBO ’s The Garcias

by MoMar G. Visaya / AJPress

The Garcias is a reboot of the Nickelodeon hit show, The Brothers García, which ran for four seasons from 2000-2003. It was a multi-awardwinning series for its non-stereotypical portrayal of a family that just happened to be Latino.

Ayva started her career at the age of five when she booked her first commercial, this was when she realized she wanted to do acting.

As a young performer, Ayva was more than excited to be a part of The Garcias family and in this interview, she shared her audition process, including the submission of self-tapes and the Zoom meetings that followed.

She is thankful that the show became a family for her and the rest of the cast. Shooting in Mexico for three months was the cherry on top as she shared it felt more like a vacation than work.

Ayva believes in the importance of diversity on the screen, especially for mixed-race children like her. She hopes that other kids who will get to watch the show will be able to relate to their characters.

“I am a mixed race. My mom is originally from Pampanga, Philippines and my dad is Caucasian (mix of Italian and Northern European). I have one older sibling,” Ayva told the Asian Journal.

Ayva has never been to the Philippines so it is her dream to go someday to meet her mom Rosalyn’s extended family.

“I hope to go in the near future. I would love to meet my extended family and visit the cool places I only get to see on the internet and taste the food. I love, love, love Filipino food!” she exclaimed, adding that her three favorite Filipino foods are arroz caldo, kare-kare & pancit Malabon.

In this interview, Ayva shares how she deals with rejection with the help of her mom who also acts as her manager. Her mom has prepped her enough to go through the process, keep learning and accept the outcome with an open heart and mind.

The Garcias picks up 15 years later when the brothers are all grownups and now have children of their own. The

new

be a “familia.”

How old were you when you realized you wanted to be in the entertainment industry?

I think I really realized I wanted to be an actor after shooting a few commercials.

Shooting the first commercial, everything was so new and I was still getting used to being on set. But, a few shoots later, when I was told to draw, dance, or play, that was when I realized, I was really “working = acting”. This was a real thing! I saw the whole process, from start to end (from auditioning to shooting to seeing it on tv) and I loved every part of it. I told my mommy afterwards, “This is really fun!

I wanna do more!”

What triggered that?

I fell into acting actually by accident. I love to talk. I’m always chatting and listening! My mommy’s co-workers kept telling her to get me into acting. One co-worker was getting her daughter’s headshots done, so she told us to get it done too. My mom posted my pic on

the three casting websites, and agents reached out to my mommy, and one thing lead to another, and here I am.

How did you get the HBO/The Garcias project? What was the audition process like?

Crackerjack Management, my managers, submitted me for The Garcias project. The audition process was really fun. First step was a selftape for the role of Alexa (older sister). Then, at the callback, I auditioned for the part of Alexa and Andrea. The final step was a Callback/Chemistry read and I only read for the part of Andrea. I was teamed up with my set parents (who already booked their roles), Elsha Kim and Jeff Licon. I remember getting called back into the zoom room several times and finding a different “Alexa”, as they were trying to cast the “HuhGarcia” sisters.

The coolest part of this process was being told I got the part of Andrea on zoom with Trinity Bliss (Alexa). They asked us to redo the scene because there was a “tech issue.” I was the only one speaking with Elsha at that time and she was improvising. I was always told by my coach, “always stay in character until they say cut.” So I stayed in character and continued my lines, even though Elsha kept saying, “You wanna be part of the cast, you have to go to Mexico!” My zoom & wifi were glitching, and I was only hearing bits and pieces. When I saw Trinity’s face light up, and then Elsha said, “You are going to Mexico,” that was when it hit me, I got the part!

How would you describe the experience working in the show? Did you face any challenges?

I had an amazing experience and so honored to play the role of Andrea in The Garcias. I was so lucky to work in Puerto Aventura, Mexico and it felt more like a vacation than actual work. Yes, I had to work and sometimes the hours were long, but we were working in paradise. The days off, the beach, the whole experience was magical and so fun!

The cast was so amazing too. My set

MEET Ayva Severy, a Los Angeles-based child actress who can be seen on the HBO Max series called The Garcias. Ayva plays the role of Andrea Huh Garcia, the bi-racial, science-loving kid, who is the youngest of the Garcia family.

Ayva Severy Photos courtesy of Ayva Severy

Like her character in The Garcias, Ayva loves learning about science.

Ayva Severy at the Premiere of The Garcias

extended García Family travels to the beautiful Riviera Maya in Mexico, a place full of self-discovery, where they will all learn what it really takes to

Baron, wife Jamie no longer headed for Splitsville

By Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

ACTOR Baron Geisler shared his Christmas-themed family photos, reminding his fans that Christmas is all about family.

In his Instagram account, Baron shared photos of his family’s photo shoot that features his wife Jamie and their kids, icluding Talitha.

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year again. Jesus, may our love for you be constant in all seasons!” Baron captioned the post.

In another post, Baron shared the behind-the-scenes video of their photo shoot.

“Enjoying this clip with a grateful heart. Family is everything indeed,” he wrote.

Baron recently starred in the hit

Netflix movie “Doll House.”

He admitted that he did not expect that his film will be successful.

“Hindi ko po expected ‘yan. I believe I’ve been saying this so many times na si God lang talaga ang nag-o-orchestrate nang lahat ng ito, lahat ng biyaya. Kung walang suporta sa kababayans natin here in the Philippines and abroad — kasi nag-top 10 tayo ng 10 different countries — I owe it all sa kababayans natin there,” Baron said.

“

Sa lahat sa inyo, No. 1 po kami rito, kaya No. 1 po kami sa puso niyo. Ibinabalik ko po ang lahat ng honor, praise kay God sa lahat ng blessings na ito. Maraming salamat sa mga Kapamilya natin out there,” he added.

It can be recalled that last April, Geisler revealed that his wife Jamie Evangelista was asking him for an annulment. n

Alice claps back at bashers telling her to act her age

ACTRESS Alice Dixson clapped back at her bashers saying she needs to “act your age.”

In her Instagram account, Alice posted a photo of her sporting a new blonde hair.

“Walking in Market2 when my suki said ‘ang Ganda ng hair mo Alice, bagay sa yo!’ Didn’t realize how light & natural looking it has become,” she wrote in the caption.

“So my favorite bashers say ‘act your age,’ ‘you’re too old for that’ blah x3. Hahah, I think if I acted my age - I

probably wouldn’t look this young. Sorry not sorry,” she added.

Last May in Instagram, Alice published photos of herself with her eldest daughter Sassa and of her baby Aura, covered by the application’s stickers.

“Being a mom is a gift. I’ve been very lucky in my lifetime to experience it twice,” Alice wrote in the post’s caption. She shared last April 2021 that Aura was born via surrogacy. (By Jan Milo Severo/Philstar.com) n

Introducing Ayva Severy of HBO’s...

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family quickly became a “real” family after just a few days of work. I remember before we started shooting, the “OG” (original cast) and the new adult cast members took us (new generation Garcia kids) out for pizza and dessert. It was great because we got to know our set parents & set tios and tias in a nonwork setting. It was so great because when we started working, it felt like we had known each other for a long time. It was also amazing to work with an amazing crew, who were so talented in what they do!

I think if I were to say one (minor) challenge, it would be the occasional quick turnaround with lines. As an actor, you have to memorize a lot. At times, I would get a change of script the night before, or on the spot- the same day. So being flexible and learning memory games that work best for me was important.

How do you deal with rejection at such a young age, especially when you don’t get the role you auditioned for?

First off, I love what I do, so that helps. I love to act and I learned that booking any role, is a process and it’s not easy. My mom taught me that rejection is ok and part of the process. She has always told me, “You are gonna hear “No” a lot, but if you love what you do, you have to be ok with it.”

At a young age, she taught me the saying, “Doors will close, but doors will also open!” I have learned that once I leave the audition room, and as long

as if I tried my best, the decisions that are made after the callback or avail, are beyond my control.

What is your dream role?

I love this question. I love comedy. I think my dream role would definitely be a movie with Will Ferrel and something to do with holiday fun. I watch Elf all the time, even if it is not the holidays, and I always am super happy watching it. I would love to be part of a movie that makes people laugh!

And, I would absolutely love to be a part of the Star Wars saga. I just love the storylines and the different characters. And the set location: OMG, to be able to work on these amazing sets. It would be such an honor to be part of something so well known.

What inspires you?

My mom inspires me. She always makes sure our family is taken care of, helps me with my acting career, and works so hard. When it comes to acting, we have no experience with the industry - everything is new. My mom never gives up and is always willing to learn. She asks questions, she listens, she researches and researches some more! I cannot forget my family. They are there for me always too.

And, seeing people do good things inspires me. I remember seeing a man pull over on a busy street to give the rain jacket to an unhoused citizen when it was raining. I love that! So, I am inspired to do small good hands-on things like that.

Every Thanksgiving day, my brother and I give out paper bag lunches for the

unhoused citizens. Our first year, we gave out 42 bags. Our second year with the help of the community and friends, we gave out 72 bags. We hope to give out more this year and our goal is to add blankets or other items besides food and include more of our local community. What memorable lessons have your mom/dad taught you?

I think one of the most important lessons I have learned from my mom is, “Don’t Give Up! Stay strong. Doors will open and doors will close and to just keep at it!” In this business, you hear a lot more “NO” than Yes. So, I know I have to just do my best. I do add one part to the lessons above: reflection. If I feel like I could have done something differently, then I sit and reflect with my mommy. I think taking that quick “recheck” is important, so I won’t have the same mishap next time. But that’s it - I let it go afterwards. I do not sit and wonder or overthink. I move on to the next opportunity. If I do not get the job, there will be lots of opportunities in the future.

Another lesson I have learned from them is balance. Balancing school, work and fun is key. My mom and I put everything in our calendar and, we try not to wait last minute because things come up. My mom and I communicate a lot about how I am feeling because balancing everything can get hectic. So, I would tell kids who are new and starting in the business, “to work hard - never give up, but also give yourself a chance to take a break too!” I believe in the saying, “Work hard - play hard!” n

Sunshine diagnosed with PTSD, depression

By Kathleen a. lleMit Philstar.com

ACTRESS Sunshine Dizon said that she wants to free herself from stigma as she revealed that she was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, panic attacks and abandonment issues.

The actress posted on Instagram last Saturday about her condition that came with a photo of the medicines she was taking.

“And since I’m here alone feeling overwhelmed guess its time to admit what I’ve been going through recently. Diagnosed with PTSD, Depression, Panic attacks, Abandonement issues and thats just skimming the surface,” she wrote as she listed down the specific medications she has been taking.

“You may ask why now? Only because I want to free myself from the stigma. There’s nothing wrong to ask for help. I know it’s very hard to get stuck in your head. But we can do it, baby steps. One day at a time,” Sunshine assured herself.

Her close friends, including “Encantadia” co-stars Iza Calzado and Karylle, left encouraging

comments on her post.

She had another healthrelated post on the same day. The photo showed the lower portion of her body, with her hand injected with dextrose while lying on a hospital bed.

She started her post hoping that she had not fallen sick yet again with COVID-19.

Her following words revealed her sentiments about turning 40 next year and her realizations and regrets.

“Realizations, some people will love you enough to move mountains just to be with you, and some will have lame excuses because you are not and will never be their priority,” Sunshine wrote.

“Im turning 40 next year I have so many regrets but, I don’t know how to go back to where I used to be, this not about work this about life altering decisions. Laying in a hospital bed alone at 3am, I ask my self was it all really worth it? I may never now the answers but I pray to God that I can let go of all my baggages, hurt and guilt. Finally find someone who will sleep beside me in this small hospital bed till I fall asleep. #mytwocents,” she ended. n

PAGE 14

taking a beat kung merong nasa harap mo na medyo overwhelming. That very brief moment before you say anything, that’s the most crucial moment na kung hindi mo siya babantayan it becomes a habit.”

Cruz then talked about the need to take care of our physical selves, given how machines malfunction when

they are overused.

“All the more tayo di’ba? It’s important you take care of yourself physically to restore your energies kasi simple lang yan. Kung wala kang tulog wag kang mage-expect na hindi ka magmumukhang cranky or hindi ka mukhang pagod or puyat. Like a lot of things, I had to learn this the hard way also.” n

Sunshine Dizon Photo from Instagram/@m_sunshinedizon

Baron Geisler with his family

Photo from Instagram/@baron.geisler