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
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.
Under the new regulations, beginning May 7, 2025, every traveler 18 years of
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
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.
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
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 III, 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 III, 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.
Pimentel stressed that there must be “consultation and consent of the owners of the funds they intend to put in higher risk placements.”
STATEWIDE flu activity has reached high levels across California, which has the potential to add to an already concerning number of hospitalizations of children due to the spread of winter viruses including Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Influenza (Flu) and COVID-19.
State public health leaders are reminding Californians that masking in indoor public places, among other safety measures, is effective at slowing the spread of respiratory viruses that are making children, and the elderly, very sick.
“RSV and Flu, and now COVID-19, are on
the rise – leading to the hospitalization of our youngest and most vulnerable Californians who need all of us to help protect them. So we’re reminding Californians about the effective mitigation and safety measures they can take to protect themselves and their loved ones, including getting the Flu shot, keeping up to date with their COVID-19 booster, and masking in indoor public places,” said State Public Health Officer and CDPH Director Dr. Tomás Aragón.
Hospitals across the state are working to add pediatric beds as quickly as possible, but the number of children who need hospitalization is currently outpacing their ability to expand. Hospitals typically have
by GAeA KAtreenA CAbiCo Philstar.com
MANILA – The Philippine economy is expected to lose
THE United States government donated HIV viral load testing cartridges valued at P85 million ($1.5 million) in a turnover ceremony hosted by the Manila City government on December 1, also to commemorate World AIDS Day.
According to the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, the donation, which was turned over by U.S. Ambassador MaryKay
Carlson, was to strengthen the Philippine government’s HIV treatment program.
Carlson said these laboratory tests are further proof that the US government 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
collection processes.
According to the Office of the Press Secretary, the health declaration checklist of the Department of Health’s Bureau of Quarantine may be accessed through etravel.gov.ph.
The portal replaces the One Health Pass website.
Passengers using the former www.onehealthpass.
com.ph will be redirected to the new eTravel domain. The old domain of the One Health Pass will no longer be accessible starting December 5.
The eTravel platform will also host the electronic version of the paper arrival card that travelers must submit for immigration clearance.
Beginning December 5, the Bureau of Immigration will
discontinue using the paper arrival card.
Registration on the eTravel platform is free.
“The public is warned against transacting with any entities or websites soliciting payments and fees of any kind as these are in no way related to the official eTravel platform of the Philippine Government,” the OPS said. n
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 U.S. government has provided more than P1 billion ($18.2 million) to the Philippine government through Pepfar to support HIV prevention, case finding and treatment interventions since December
2020.
The embassy said this includes a donation of more than 81,000 bottles of preexposure 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 U.S. Embassy, signify the U.S. government’s commitment to support the Philippines in addressing supply chain bottlenecks in the procurement of critical commodities in HIV detection and treatment and in achieving the country’s goal to end AIDS by 2030 through evidencebased strategies. n
PAGE 1
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-onyear 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 holiday-related 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-percentagepoint (ppts) to tame the country’s inflation rate. But more hikes are seen on the horizon until around mid-2023.
The Monetary Board (MB), the central bank’s seven-person 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
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-tomarket 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
PAGE 1
from 6.5 percent-7.5 percent.
“The forecast for 2023 is premised on reduced consumer demand, alongside high inflation and high interest rates that are expected to temper household spending and investments,” the World Bank said.
The World Bank expects the Philippines to end 2022 on a strong note with the economy forecast to grow 7.2 percent, much higher than its previous growth projection of 6.5 percent, after the Southeast Asian
country’s robust performance in January to September.
The Philippines is on course to meet its 6.5 percent-7.5 percent growth target this year after economic output averaged 7.7 percent in the nine months to September as the government lifted nearly all COVID-19 restrictions and allowed more business activities to resume.
“This deteriorating global environment is spilling into the domestic economy and tempering the country’s growth prospects in 2023,” World Bank
Economist Ralph van
Doorn told a media briefing. To safeguard growth, Van Doorn said the Philippines must address the impact of high inflation, keep its fiscal position sound and continue to invest in health, education and agriculture to boost productivity.
The Philippines, like many countries, is grappling with inflation, which surged to a 14year high in November, keeping the pressure on its central bank to tighten monetary policy.
(Inquirer.net with reports from Reuters) n
ASSISTED living communities too often fail to meet the needs of older adults and should focus more on residents’ medical and mental health concerns, according to a recent report by a diverse panel of experts.
It’s a clarion call for change inspired by the altered profile of the population that assisted living now serves.
Residents are older, sicker, and more compromised by impairments than in the past: 55% are 85 and older, 77% require help with bathing, 69% with walking, and 49% with toileting, according to data from the National Center for Health Statistics.
Also, more than half of residents have high blood pressure, and a third or more have heart disease or arthritis. Nearly one-third have been diagnosed with depression and at least 11% have a serious mental illness. As many as 42% have dementia or moderate-tosevere cognitive impairment.
“The nature of the clientele in assisted living has changed dramatically,” yet there are no widely accepted standards for addressing their physical and mental health needs, said Sheryl Zimmerman, who led the panel. She’s co-director of the
Program on Aging, Disability, and Long-Term Care at the University of North CarolinaChapel Hill.
The report addresses this gap with 43 recommendations from experts including patient advocates, assisted living providers, and specialists in medical, psychiatric, and dementia care that Zimmerman said she hopes will become “a new standard of care.”
One set of recommendations addresses staffing. The panel proposes that ratios of health aides to residents be established and that either a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse be available on-site.
(Before establishing specific requirements for various types of communities, the panel suggested further research on staffing requirements was necessary.)
Like nursing homes and home health agencies, assisted living operators have found it hard to retain or hire staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a September 2021 survey, 82% reported “moderate” or “high” level of staffing shortages.
Dr. Kenneth Covinsky, a geriatrician and professor of medicine at the University of California-San Francisco, witnessed staffing-related problems when his mother
Angara noted that because the Maharlika fund is “a highrisk 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 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, December 5, 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 commodity-based 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
age or older will need a REAL
ID-compliant 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 stateissued 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
moved to assisted living at age 79. At one point, she fell and had to wait about 25 minutes for someone to help her get up. On another occasion, she waited for 30 minutes on the toilet as overworked staffers responded to pagers buzzing nonstop.
“The nighttime scene was crazy: There would be one person for 30 to 40 residents,” said Covinsky, the author of an editorial accompanying the consensus recommendations. Eventually, he ended up moving his mother to another facility.
The panel also recommended staffers get training on managing dementia and mental illness, on medication side effects, on endof-life care, on tailoring care to individual residents’ needs, and on infection control — a weakness highlighted during the height of the pandemic, when an estimated 17% more people died in assisted living in 2020 compared with previous years.
“If I were placing my parent in assisted living, I certainly would be looking not just at staffing ratios but the actual training of staff,” said Robyn Stone, senior vice president of research at LeadingAge and co-director of its long-term services and supports center at the University of Massachusetts-Boston. LeadingAge is an industry organization representing nonprofit long-term care providers. Stone said the organization generally supports the panel’s work.
The better trained staff are, the more likely they are to provide high-quality care to residents and the less likely they are to feel frustrated and burned out, said Dr. Helen Kales, chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UC Davis Health.
This is especially important for memory care delivered in stand-alone assisted living facilities or a wing of a larger community. “We have seen places where a memory care unit charges upwards of $10,000 a month for ‘dementia care’ yet is little more than a locked door to prevent residents from leaving the unit and not the sensitive and personalized care advertised,” wrote Covinsky and his University of California-
San Francisco colleague Dr. Kenneth Lam in their editorial.
Because dementia is such a pervasive concern in assisted living, the panel recommended that residents get formal cognitive assessments and that policies be established to address aggression or other worrisome behaviors.
One such policy might be trying nonpharmaceutical strategies (examples include aromatherapy or music therapy) to calm people with dementia before resorting to prescribed medications, Kales said. Another might be calling for a medical or psychiatric evaluation if a resident’s behavior changes dramatically and suddenly.
Further recommendations from the panel emphasize the importance of regularly assessing residents’ needs, developing care plans, and including residents in this process.
“The resident should really be directing what their goals are and how they want care provided, but this doesn’t always happen,” said Lori Smetanka, a panel member and executive director of the National Consumer Voice for Quality LongTerm Care, an advocacy organization.
“We agree with many of these recommendations” and many assisted living communities are already following these practices, said LaShuan Bethea, executive director of the National Center for Assisted Living, an industry organization.
Nonetheless, she said her organization has concerns, especially about the practicality and cost of the recommendations. “We need to understand what the feasibility would be,” she said, and suggested that a broad study look at those issues. In the meantime, states should examine how they regulate assisted living, taking into account the increased needs of the residents, Bethea said.
Because the nation’s roughly 28,900 assisted living communities are regulated by states and there are no federal standards, practices vary widely and generally there are fewer protections for residents than are found in nursing homes. Some assisted
living facilities are small homes housing as few as four to six seniors; some are large housing complexes with nearly 600 older adults. Nearly 919,000 individuals live in these communities.
“There are many different flavors of assisted living, and I think we need to be more purposeful about naming what they are and who they’re best suited to care for,” said Kali Thomas, a panel member and an associate professor of health services, policy, and practice at Brown University.
Originally, assisted living was meant to be a “social” model: a home-like setting where older adults could interact with other residents while receiving help from staff with daily tasks such as bathing and dressing. But given the realities of today’s assisted living population, “the social model of care is outmoded,” said Tony Chicotel, a panel member and staff attorney with California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform.
Still, he and other panelists don’t want assisted living to become a “medical” model, like nursing homes.
“What’s interesting is you see nursing homes pushing to get to a more homelike environment and assisted living needing to more adequately manage the medical needs of residents,” Chicotel told me, referring to the current pandemic-inspired reexamination of long-term care. “That said, I don’t want assisted living facilities to look more like nursing homes. How this all will play out isn’t at all clear yet.” n We’re eager to hear from readers about questions you’d like answered, problems you’ve been having with your care, and advice you need in dealing with the health care system. Visit khn.org/columnists to submit your requests or tips.
KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.
about 35 to 40% open pediatric intensive care unit beds, but that number is down to about 20% statewide. It’s even lower –below 12% – in some regions of the state.
While California guidance does not require masking except in some specific situations, masking is an effective way to help protect against RSV, the flu and COVID-19.
Here are the top 5 tips to protect against winter viruses: Get vaccinated, boosted (and treated)
Flu shots and COVID-19 vaccines and boosters continue to be your best defense to limit severe illness and death – and you can get both at the same time.
Stay home if you’re sick, and test for COVID
Staying home when you’re sick slows the spread of flu, RSV and COVID-19. If you’re sick, remember to test for COVID and contact your doctor immediately if you’re positive to discuss treatment options. Treatments work best when started right after symptoms begin.
Wear a mask
There is no vaccine for RSV, so wearing a mask can significantly slow the spread and protect babies and young children who do not yet have immunity and are too young to wear a mask themselves. Wearing a mask in indoor public places is a good way to limit the spread of germs.
Wash your hands
Frequent handwashing, with soap and warm water – for at least 20 seconds, is an easy and effective way to prevent getting sick and spreading germs.
Cover your cough or sneeze Remember to cough or sneeze
into your elbow, your arm, or a disposable tissue to help prevent the spread of winter viruses. Just make sure to wash your hands or sanitize and dispose of your tissue after.
Here are four things to consider about masking in indoor public places: What’s spreading in your community?
Winter respiratory viruses like Flu and RSV have been spreading across the state for weeks, and now COVID-19 cases are ticking up.
Why wear a mask?
Masks help slow the spread of respiratory viruses. Masks aren’t just for your own health – they can also play a significant role in protecting the health of those around you, especially those at higher risk of getting severely ill from RSV, the Flu or COVID-19.
When attending an indoor public event, mask up for your friends, families, infants, young children, older adults, and other loved ones with pre-existing conditions or weakened immune systems.
But which mask do I wear?
If you’ve made the decision to wear a mask, great! To get the most out of your mask, pick one with good fit and filtration. The “Good, Better, Best” ruleof-thumb is surgical masks are good, KN95 or KN94 masks are better, and N95 are best.
Consider masking a statement of kindness
Still not sure you want to mask up? Remember you can never be sure if someone around you has a compromised immune system, is going through chemo treatment, or has asthma. Wearing a mask helps slow the spread of germs and shows kindness concern for other’s health and well-being. n
MANILA — The Senate
women, children, family relations, and gender equality panel filed its report recommending the passage of the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics or SOGIESC Equality bill to the tune of 19 signatures out of 24 senators, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said.
“I am ecstatic that 19 of us colleagues in the Senate have come together to support the SOGIESC Bill. In just one day, we persuaded them to sign the committee report. I am even more encouraged that in this Congress, the SOGIE bill will finally be passed,” Hontiveros said in a statement. “It’s 2022 already; our laws should reflect the reality of our culture.”
In the 18th Congress, just eight senators signed the committee report. The following were the 19 who signed the report and expressed “strong and immediate support to move the bill forward” according to Hontiveros:
• Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel
• Senator Sonny Angara
• Senator Imee Marcos
• Senator Cynthia Villar
• Senator Nancy Binay
• Senator Bato dela Rosa
• Senator Grace Poe
• Senator Mark Villar
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•
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The five remaining senators, including Majority Leader Joel Villanueva and Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, signed with reservations or have signaled their intent to interpellate.
“The swiftness with which the committee report was signed and filed is surely a sign of good things to come. I am hopeful that this bill can continue to move forward to show that our Senate is a true supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community,” Hontiveros said in mixed Filipino and English.
What does the bill say?
The SOGIESC Equality bill mandates the State to address all forms of discrimination and violence on the basis of SOGIESC. This includes:
• refusing admission to or expelling a person from any educational or training institution
• imposing disciplinary sanctions harsher than customary that infringe on the rights of students
• refusing or revoking the accreditation of organizations, groups, political parties, or
institutions, among others Penalties include a fine of not less than P100,000, but not more than P250,000 or imprisonment of not less than one year, but not more than six 6 years. The bill also penalizes those who deny a person access to health services on the basis of the person’s SOGIESC. Those who refuse medical and health services based on SOGIESC can be penalized with a fine of not less than P100,000, but not more than P300,000, or imprisonment of not less than six months, but not more than two years and four months.
The measure also explicitly states that nothing in the law should be interpreted to disturb the exercise of parental authority or academic freedom.
“One of the most important things that the SOGIESC bill does is to ensure that every Filipino, regardless of gender, can receive competent medical services when needed. The stories of LGBTQIA members who are denied medical services simply because of their gender are heartbreaking. This is flat out discrimination,” Hontiveros said.
“The SOGIESC Bill’s message is clear: our country should not tolerate any act of discrimination. We are depriving LGBTQIA+ members of their lives and jobs simply because of beliefs and traditions that need to be corrected.” n
KEY job indicators have returned to prepandemic levels, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Wednesday, December 7, a development said to be the result of further economic reopening.
Unemployment eased to 4.5 percent in October, preliminary results of the PSA’s latest Labor Force Survey showed, down from the 5.0 percent and 7.4 percent, respectively posted a month and a year earlier.
“This is the lowest unemployment rate recorded for all October rounds since 2019,” the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said
in a statement.
Employment, at 95.5 percent from 95 percent in September, “was the highest rate recorded since January 2020 and registered to have bounced back to the pre-pandemic levels,” the PSA separately said.
“The country’s sustained recovery of the labor market backs our confidence that our policies and interventions to reinvigorate our economy are working,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said in the NEDA statement.
“Our move to finally open face-to-face classes at
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 cofounder 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.
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
NOTICE TO PROPOSERS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of San Diego (City) is seeking to receive Electronic Proposals for the below named Request for Proposal (RFP).
The solicitation may be obtained from the City’s website at: https://www. sandiego.gov/cip/bidopps RFP Title: As-Needed Stormwater Design and Engineering Services Contract Number(s): H2326146, H2326147, H2326148, & H2326149
As-Needed Not-to-Exceed: Each contract NTE $3,000,000
Pre-Proposal Meeting Date: December 13, 2022, at 11:30 A.M.
Proposal Due Date: January 17, 2023, at 4:00 P.M. It is the policy of the City of San Diego to encourage equal opportunity in its Construction and Consultant contracts. Bids or proposals from local firms, small, minority-owned, disabled, veteran-owned, and women-owned businesses are strongly encouraged. Consultants are encouraged to subcontract with and/or participate in joint ventures with these firms. The City is committed to equal opportunity and will not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, gender expression, gender identity, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, or disability; and will not do business with any firm that discriminates on any basis. Proposals shall be received no later than the date and time noted above at: City of San Diego’s Electronic Proposal Site – PlanetBids at: https://www.planetbids. com/portal/portal. cfm?companyID=17950.
Claudia Abarca, Director Purchasing & Contracting Department December 6, 2022 12/9/22 CNS-3649414# ASIAN JOURNAL
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-year-olds 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
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
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 polio-free. 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)
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 calamity-hit 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.. 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. Faceto-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)
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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.
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and advanced by the 2014 EDCA and the 1999 Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) would be reviewed for possible “evolution.”
BEFORE the headline topic, immense gratitude to our Lord, our Blessed Mother, and organizers and participants of the November 26 to 27 Eucharistic Marian Prayer Event in Palawan and the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea), seeking peace, protection and succor for our nation and our security forces amid threats of war, disaster, disease and deprivation.
The prayers, led by film and TV artist Baby Nebrida and supported by military, police, Coast Guard and other uniformed services, and a major corporate sponsor, may have already borne fruit to help keep our nation out of superpower conflicts.
After United States and Philippine defense officials declared in recent weeks that U.S. forces would get ten bases to use under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (BBM) announced last week that the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) underpinning the Philippine-American alliance
If the MDT review by a committee under National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos leads to scrapping or stalling EDCA, it would help keep the country out of a devastating, possibly nuclear war feared between America and China, especially over Taiwan, which U.S. President Joseph Biden has thrice pledged to defend against invasion.
But that’s a gigantic if, since powerful forces are pushing to fast-track EDCA and weaponize the Philippines for possible hostilities not just over Taiwan, but also in the East China Sea and South China Sea, Korea and Japan.
Hence, six of the 10 bases Washington wants to use are in Luzon and two are in Palawan, according to its wish list disclosed by incoming Defense Secretary Jose Faustino Jr. (the last two are near Cebu City and Cagayan de Oro).
So we have to keep praying that despite political advantages for Marcos from accelerating EDCA (“Bases for America: What’s in it for the BBM camp” https://bit.ly/3UqdrZs), he will heed his father’s warning about
U.S. bases as magnets for conventional or even nuclear attack and let the agreement expire next year despite U.S. pleas for rapid implementation and access to ten bases, not just five.
Asian powwow or American power?
Turning to the headline topic, three questions, among many others, must be addressed by the Carlos committee reviewing the MDT and its ancillary accords. The first may be termed a prejudicial question: Should the review body include members or representatives of the Senate, which ratified the treaty in 1951 and may need to affirm any revision?
The need to get senators’ views and support early on is clear from the long delay in ratifying the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade pact, delaying benefits for the country, even as most other signatories have ratified the accord. With escalating geopolitical tensions, holding up a new defense treaty in the Senate could have serious security implications for the nation.
The next and most important question is one that President Marcos must be pondering, given his repeated statements about the MDT evolving amid
new global realities. Hence, the review should ask and answer: What major changes have happened since 1951 in geopolitics, the Philippines, America and other nations, and military forces and technology, among other factors; and how should our alliances be recast to better address our defense needs?
Back in the 1950s, the U.S. and its allies were in ideological and geopolitical competition with the communist bloc, including China and Vietnam and led by the communist Soviet Union, from 1917 to 1991, the intervening state between the Russian Empire and the Russian Federation at present.
This Cold War turned hot in Asia, with some of the region’s bloodiest conflicts in Korea from 1950 to 1953 and in Vietnam from 1954 to 1975. China was a hostile communist power then, reputedly backing insurgencies in Southeast Asia, including the New People’s Army in the Philippines.
In this ideologically charged climate, East Asia sheltered under Uncle Sam’s nuclear umbrella and even formed the U.S.-led Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (Seato) for mutual defense much like the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Europe.
Fast-forward to 2022: Instead of insurgency, China now boosts investment and trade with its neighbors. Seato is gone; economic groupings flourish: Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) and RCEP. There is even travel and trade between Taiwan and mainland China.
While war risk remains in disputed waters, Korea and Taiwan, the region is more keen to work out differences than fight over them, as Pyongyang and Seoul did in 2017 and South China Sea claimants in 2002 and recent years.
While China dwarfs all East Asia militarily, it knows aggression would devastate its economy and army, stampede the region straight into rival blocs, and leave America as a preeminent global power with economic and military might largely intact, as seen after two world wars and with the Ukraine conflict.
In this radically changed situation, Washington wants to augment Asia’s relationshipbuilding approach with an oldstyle balance of power. So it aims to move massive naval, air and missile assets to the region, mostly in 10 Philippine bases, including six in Luzon for hostilities in Taiwan, Korea and
Japan.
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Which approach will best keep war away from us — Asian relationship-building or U.S. arms deployment weaponizing us against China?
The answer partly depends on the future of our relations with China: Will we see growing peace and cooperation with disputes resolved by dialogue — or more and more aggressive encroachment on our sovereign economic rights under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) also ratified by China (though not the U.S.)?
President Marcos should press for a clear answer in Beijing next month. And that may determine if our nation and our region gear up for peace or war.
Former Cabinet secretary Ric Saludo holds an MS in Public Policy and Management (University of London) and a Diploma in Strategy and Innovation (Oxford), and is a resource speaker at the Enterprise Risk Management Academy, Singapore. (ManilaTimes.net)
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
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by Franco Jose c. Baroña ManilaTimes.net
BUREAU of Corrections Officer in Charge Gregorio Catapang Jr. vowed to file plunder charges against BuCor officials involved in the release of funds for the upgrading of prison facilities.
Catapang said he discovered that 95 percent of the budget for the modernization of three of BuCor’s seven prisons and penal farms have been released, but only 60 percent of the projects have been completed.
“It is very frustrating because 95 percent of the money has already been released, but the percentage of work is only 60 to 65 percent in the two penal colonies that we visited,” he said on Tuesday, December 6.
Catapang was referring to the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Palawan and the Davao Prison and Penal Farm in Davao del Norte.
He announced that he is scheduled to visit the Leyte Regional Prison in Southern Leyte.
Aside from the Iwahig and Davao prisons, BuCor’s other operating units include the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa
City, Abuyog Penal Colony in Leyte, Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City, Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro, and San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City.
Each of the prison facilities has a budget of P300 million.
“So, if 95 percent have been released, more or less P290 million has been received. I reported to [Justice] Secretary [Jesus Crispin] Remulla about this last Sunday (December 4). I said, if need be, I really don’t feel guilty, I will file a plunder case against those involved in this,” Catapang said.
Republic Act (RA) 10575, or the “BuCor Modernization Act of 2013,” primarily aims to make the BuCor’s systems at par with international prison management standards.
RA 10575 authorizes the construction of additional prison facilities to decongest the NBP.
“Why plunder? Because how was the money released if it didn’t go through them? Who authorized the payment? Although the contractor is responsible to finish the project, in the same manner, BuCor is responsible for the
release of the money,” Catapang pointed out.
Based on RA 7080, plunder charges are filed when a public officer, by himself or in connivance with others, through a combination or series of criminal acts acquired ill-gotten wealth of at least P50 million.
Any person who conspired with the public officer shall also be punished for the crime.
Meanwhile, 500 newly hired corrections officers took their oath on Monday at the NBP sunken garden.
The hiring of 415 male and 85 female officers is part of the BuCor’s efforts to boost manpower in prisons and penal farms nationwide.
The recruits include licensed architects, agriculturists, civil engineers, psychologists, social workers, teachers, nurses and foresters, among others.
They will undergo rigid training before their deployment to BuCor facilities, Catapang said.
RA 10575 mandates the hiring of additional prison guards to satisfy the optimum corrections officer to persons deprived of liberty (PDL) ratio of 1-to-7. The current ratio is 1-to-35. n
MANILA — Senators Imee Marcos and Grace Poe on Wednesday, December 7 highlighted the pride and honor brought by May Parsons, the Filipina nurse who received the George Cross Award in the United Kingdom for being the one to administer the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
Marcos, who sponsored Senate Resolution No. 230, said the prestigious George Cross Award from Her Majesty, the late Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness then Prince Charles, was given to Parsons for her courage, compassion, dedication, and bravery in the face of grave and mortal danger.
“It is yet another highlight in the extraordinary history of Filipino nursing and May today stands proudly in the llocana tradition of her mother Zenaida and Philippine Nursing’s founder Anastacia Geron Tupas from 1922,” she said in her sponsorship speech.
Born and raised in Pasay City, Parsons graduated from Jose Abad Santos Highschool and finished her nursing degree at the University of Santo Tomas (UST).
Meanwhile, Poe said that Filipino nurses, as heroes of the country’s healthcare system even before the pandemic, deserve not only praise but also higher perks and pay.
Poe made the call as she commended Parsons in a separate resolution (No. 347) which also reaffirms the role of Filipino nurses in the global healthcare scene.
“Tunay na isang inspirasyon si Nurse May sa buong (Nurse May is a real inspiration for the whole) nursing profession. Like her peers in the health sector, her commitment to saving lives, delivering the best care possible, and creating a better and healthier future is truly commendable and worth these recognitions,” Poe said in her speech.
The lawmaker said her resolution should not only be about recognition and commendation for Parsons from the government.
“Hindi lang dapat bragging rights ang ambag ng gobyerno dito (The government should not only contribute bragging rights). Our nurses can only do these heroic sacrifices to the extent that they are taken care of. We need to resuscitate our nursing profession,” Poe said.
“We should give back not just in terms of recognition but also in terms of actual benefits to make the nursing practice a genuine livable career for practitioners. Upgrading the minimum salary of nurses is the least that we can do for the sacrifice they gave in nursing us all back to health,” she added.
Parsons left after three years of working at the UST hospital to join the United Kingdom’s National Health Service. She has since been with the University Hospital’s Coventry and Warwickshire and is presently a Modern Matron for Respiratory Services. (PNA) n
PAGE 5
full capacity has paved the way for us to immediately address the learning losses from the pandemic — this is a precursor to a workforce that demonstrates competence and high productivity,” he added.
“Also, with children back in school, parents-athome — especially mothers — are also able to pursue more income opportunities.”
National Statistician Dennis Mapa, in a briefing, said the lower unemployment rate translated to 2.24 million Filipinos without jobs, down from 2.50 million in September and 3.50 million in October last year.
The ranks of the employed expanded to 47.11 million, up from 43.82 million a year earlier but slightly lower than September’s 47.58 million.
Mapa attributed the job gains to expanded levels of production in manufacturing as well as increased tourist arrivals ahead of the year-end holiday season.
Underemployment — a measure of those employed who want more work or an extra job — also improved to 14.2 percent or 6.67 million Filipinos. The rate was lower than September’s 15.5 percent and the year-earlier 16.1 percent.
The NEDA, however, noted that the invisibly underemployed — those working in jobs not in their chosen fields or skill sets — “continues to increase as more seek to earn additional income amid the persistent rise in commodity prices.”
Services remained the biggest employer, accounting for 59.2 percent of those with jobs. Agriculture (22.5 percent) and industry (18.3 percent) shared the rest.
Year on year, the wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycle sector posted a higher increase in jobs (672,000), while quarter on quarter it was transportation and storage (239,000).
Agriculture and forestry accounted for the most job losses both year on year (197,000) and quarter on quarter (511,000).
Storms that hit the country in October were primarily responsible, the NEDA said.
“While the employment numbers have improved, we recognize that we need to expand efforts toward creating more and high-quality employment by improving workforce employability,” Balisacan said.
“We need to do this if we really want to pursue economic transformation.”
He called for more public-private partnerships to expand skills development and opportunities in the country.
“Accelerating economic recovery requires a whole-of-nation approach; on the government’s part, this entails enabling a vibrant economy — sound macroeconomic fundamentals, a level playing field, and ease in doing business transactions and service delivery — so it would be easier for the private sector to participate,” the NEDA chief said.
“Accordingly, we hope that the citizens will be more aggressive in improving their skills as well as maintain good health by continuously following the Covid-19 minimum health protocols and getting fully vaccinated,” he added. (By Eireene Jairee Gomez/ManilaTimes.net) n
MANILA — A United Nations Special Rapporteur recognized Manila’s commitment to address the scourge of sale and sexual exploitation of children.
Mama Fatima Singhateh, the UN Special Rapporteur on sale and sexual exploitation of children, including prostitution, pornography and other forms of child sexual abuse, is in the Philippines upon government invitation from Nov. 27 to Dec. 9.
“The invitation, cooperation and collaboration provided during my visit indicates that there is commitment to address the scourge of sale, sexual abuse and exploitation of children in light of the needs of communities and survivors,” she told reporters in a briefing Thursday, December 8.
“I am encouraged by the significant efforts made and work undertaken by the
government over the past few years. I am also hopeful that the efforts will be advanced further subsequent to my visit,” she added.
Among her initial recommendations were the creation of a children-specific court, increased attention to travel and tourism-related sexual exploitation, as well as a centralized data system.
Establishing a reliable database on child abuses, Singhateh said, is key to gauge how effective current interventions are.
Meanwhile, there had been a lot of focus on combatting online abuses but attention “has not been adequate” on transactional sex and travel and tourism-related sexual exploitation of children, she said.
“Child sexual abuse and exploitation should be seen holistically. The risk of focusing too much on one part is you’re creating a gap for children,” she added.
The UN expert suggests raising
awareness among the public that not all exploitation is committed online.
“I’m just highlighting on sexual abuse and exploitation in the context of travel and tourism, and transactional sex because I didn’t hear the government talk much about it. So that means if the government is not talking about it, that means interventions that are being used are not focused on that areas,” she said.
Prior to the presser, Singhateh paid a courtesy call on Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla who himself reiterated Manila’s commitment to strengthen efforts to address child sexual exploitation.
Singhateh’s visit had been in the works for at least a year, according to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Philippines.
She is expected to come up with a detailed report following the trip. (PNA) n
MANILA — The Bureau of Customs filed criminal complaints against consolidators and deconsolidators who abandoned some 7,000 balikbayan boxes meant for the families of Overseas Filipino Workers.
To recall, the BOC found in October that 32 containers of balikbayan boxes were abandoned by consolidators and de-consolidators from August 2021 to July 2022 containing 6,693 balikbayan boxes.
In a statement, the bureau said that BOC data and complaints received from OFWs, the consolidators following consolidators were found to have abandoned balikbayan boxes:
• All Win Cargo LLC
• Island Kabayan Express Cargo LLC
• Carlos Martin Guinto Co.
CASE NUMBER: 37-2022-00040738-CU-PT-CTL
PERSONS: Petitioner Anthony Jesus Hernandez filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Anthony Jesus Hernandez to Jesus Hernandez.
THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.
NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 01/03/2023 Time: 8:30 AM Dept. 61
Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. 61 San Diego, CA 92101
A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county.
Asian Journal: NOV. 17, 2022
NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT
Michael T. Smyth Judge of the Superior Court AJ 1077 11/25, 12/02, 12/09, and 12/16/2022
ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME (JC Form #NC-120)
NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE.
The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).
If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.
If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.
If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.
A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date.
Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court.
AJSD 1077
NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9025277
Irma R Smith located at 2010 McCloud River Rd., Chula Vista, CA 91913.
Registrant: Irma Rebeca Smith, 2010 McCloud River Rd., Chula Vista, CA 91913.
This business is conducted by Individual.
REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.
Signature: Irma R Smith. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/17/2022.
AJ 1079 12/02, 12/09, 12/16, and 12/23/2022. AJSD 1079
CASE NUMBER: 37-2022-00046712-CU-PT-CTL
TO ALL INTERESTED
PERSONS: Petitioner Peter D. Chu, Esq. State Bar# 98935
Attorney For: Sin Lee filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Sin Lee to Shin Lee.
THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.
NOTICE OF HEARING
Date: 01/04/2023 Time: 8:30 AM Dept. 61
Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. 61 San Diego, CA 92101
A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county.
Asian Journal: NOV. 18, 2022
NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT Michael T. Smyth Judge of the Superior Court AJ 1080 12/02, 12/09, 12/16, and 12/23/2022.
ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME (JC Form #NC-120) NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE.
The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).
If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.
If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.
If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.
A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date.
Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court. AJSD 1080
CASE NUMBER: 37-2022-00047634-CU-PT-CTL
PERSONS: Petitioner Christy Kha Phung on behalf of a minor filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Megan Kha Phung to Mei Kha Phung.
THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.
NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 01/17/2023 Time: 8:30 AM Dept. 25
Superior Court of California, County of San Diego North County Division 325 S. Melrose Drive, Suite 1000 Vista, CA 92081
A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county.
Asian Journal: NOV 29, 2022 James E. Simmons JR. Judge of the Superior Court AJ 1081 12/02, 12/09, 12/16, and 12/23/2022
ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME (JC Form #NC-120)
NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE.
The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).
If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.
If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.
If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.
A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date.
Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court.
CASE NUMBER: 37-2022-00048678-CU-PT-CTL TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Michell Anh Nguyen filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Michell Anh Nguyen to Michael Khoianh Nguyen.
THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.
NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 01/19/2023 Time: 8:30 AM Dept. 61 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. 61 San Diego, CA 92101
A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county. Asian Journal: DEC. 06, 2022 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT Michael T. Smyth Judge of the Superior Court AJ 1084 12/09, 12/16, 12/23, and 12/30/2022
ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME (JC Form #NC-120) NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE.
The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).
If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.
To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, drivers license, passport, and other identification, a certificate copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issues the legal document that need to be changed to determine if a certificate copy is required.
A certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be obtained form the Civil Business Office for a fee.
Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for information on obtaining certified copies.
If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.
If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.
A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date.
• GM Multi Services
• Anhar Al Mawalah Trading. Their deconsolidators include CMG Int’l Movers and Cargo Services, Cargoflex Haulers Corp., FBV Forwarders and Logistics, Inc. and Etmar Int’l Logistics.
“For our fellow OFWs who have been victims of the said companies, you can contact the BOC to strengthen the cases against the said exploitative consolidators and deconsolidators,” the BOC said.
Earlier, the BOC also said it was looking into blacklist such forwarders, consolidators and de-consolidators.
It also reminded OFWs to email batas@customs.gov.ph with [BALIKBAYAN BOXES] as the email subject, and include their contact details. (Franco Luna/Philstar.com) n
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9024295
Jiménez Painting & Coatings located at 4077 1/2 Beta Street, San Diego, CA 92113.
Registrant: José Antonio Jiménez, 4077 1/2 Beta Street, San Diego, CA 92113.
This business is conducted by Individual.
REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 01/31/2021.
Signature: José Antonio Jiménez. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/03/2022.
AJ 1072 11/18, 11/25, 12/02, 12/09/2022. AJSD 1072
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9023258
Billionaires Barber Club II located at 2220 E. Plaza Blvd., Unit No. 1, National City, CA 91950.
Registrant: a. Angela Nguyen, 5940 Kenwood St., San Diego, CA 92114.
b. Julian Hodges, 5940 Kenwood St., San Diego, CA 92114.
This business is conducted by General Partnership REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 10/20/2022.
Signature: Julian Hodges. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 10/20/2022.
AJ_1073 11/18, 11/25, 12/02, 12/09/2022. AJSD 1073
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9024806
Carpenters Cartel located at 158 W. Calle Primera #16, San Ysidro, CA 92173.
Registrant: Juan Pablo Bastidas Hernandez, 158 W. Calle Primera #16, San Ysidro, CA 92173.
This business is conducted by Individual REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 11/10/2022
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9023277
Mammys Express located at 1070 13th St., Suite F, Imperial Beach, CA 91932.
Registrant: Jessica Perez, 5641 Surfrider Way #186, San Diego, CA 92154.
This business is conducted by Individual.
REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.
Signature: Jessica Perez.
Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 10/20/2022.
AJ 1075 11/18, 11/25, 12/02, and 12/09/2022. AJSD1075
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9025080
K & D Trans located at 11814 Via Hacienda, El Cajon, CA 92019.
Registrant: Karam Jameel, 11814 Via Hacienda, El Cajon, CA 92019.
This business is conducted by Individual.
REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 11/15/2022.
Signature: Karam Jameel. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/15/2022.
AJ 1076 11/18, 11/25, 12/02, 12/09/2022. AJSD 1076
NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9024824
The Garden State Of Mind Psychotherapy Services located at 142 Diamante Rd., San Marcos, CA 92078.
Registrant: Maria Aurora San Pedro, 142 Diamante Rd., San Marcos, CA 92078. This business is conducted by Individual.
REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 06/23/2021.
Signature: Maria Aurora San Pedro.
AJSD 1081
Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court. AJSD 1084 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9026049
Mahamud, Nafisa Ali
Family Child Care located at 3806 Fairmount Ave. #130, San Diego, CA 92105.
Registrant: Nafisa Ali Mahamud, 3806 Fairmount Ave. #130, San Diego, CA 92105.
This business is conducted by Individual.
REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.
Signature: Nafisa Ali Mahamud.
Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/30/2022.
AJ 1082 12/02, 12/09, 12/16, and 12/23/2022. AJSD 1082
NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9026440
Alpha Dental located at 4276 54th Place Ste. D, San Diego, CA 92115.
Registrant: Tyler Kuwamoto DMD Inc, 5048 Merrimac Ct, San Diego, CA 92117.
This business is conducted by Corporation.
REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 09/19/2022.
Signature: Tyler Kuwamoto. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 12/06/2022.
AJ 1083 12/09, 12/16, 12/23, and 12/30/2022.
AJSD 1083
BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9026582
Strictly Maids located at 105 Fourth Ave. Apt B, Chula Vista, CA 91910.
Registrant: Teresa Godinez, 105 Fourth Ave. Apt B, Chula Vista, CA 91910.
This business is conducted by Individual.
REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 07/15/2017.
Signature: Teresa Godinez. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 12/07/2022.
AJ 1085 12/09, 12/16, 12/23, and 12/30/2022. AJSD 1085
Signature: Juan Pablo Bastidas Hernandez. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/10/2022.
AJ 1074 11/18, 11/25, 12/02, 12/09/2022.
AJSD 1074
Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/10/2022.
AJ 1078 12/02, 12/09, 12/16, and 12/23/2022. AJSD 1078
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-award-winning 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 mixedrace 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 extended García Family travels to the beautiful Riviera Maya in Mexico, a place full of selfdiscovery, where they will all learn what it really takes to 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 self-tape 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 “Huh-Garcia” 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 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 non-work 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 handson things like that.
Every Thanksgiving day, my brother and I give out paper
By Ronnie CaRRasCo ManilaTimesnet
PERHAPS to get Dina Bonnevie to sit down and converse with you, you definitely have to be like her: a good conversationalist.
It is a known fact this side of the world that Dina is one of the few actresses who’s both smart and articulate.
In fact, it is an exaggeration to say that guesting with her on a talk show maybe can be an intimidating experience.
Dina has this “dating” that
makes you feel you weren’t born with as much grey matter as she was.
In fairness though to her, Dina can also share her thoughts so much.
Politics for a topic? I doubt if Dina has ever been passionately interested in dwelling on it.
Yes, she may have married a politician (former Ilocos Sur Governor JV Savellano) but that’s just about it.
Never have the netizens chanced upon a single entry
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
SAN DIEGO – Continuing
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria’s vision to build thriving and healthy mixeduse communities, the City Council on Monday, December 5 adopted the Mayor’s recommended Mira Mesa Community Plan Update.
The update will serve as the framework for land use and urban design policies to guide neighborhood development over the next 20 to 30 years.
“As one of San Diego’s largest communities by land area, population and employment, Mira Mesa will greatly benefit from having more mixed-used areas where people can live, work and play. The plan adopted by the City Council today will allow for just that,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. “In addition to helping achieve our Climate Action Plan goals, it also adds capacity for much-needed housing and encourages diversifying those homes for a variety of incomes and ages.”
The community plan update, which replaces the 1992 Mira Mesa Community Plan, expands the capacity for homes by 24,000 and adds the capacity for 5,000 jobs in areas near existing and planned high-frequency transit. With that added capacity, Mira Mesa will be able to accommodate 58,000 homes and 117,000 jobs in total.
“As one of San Diego’s most diverse and popular neighborhoods, Mira Mesa is home to amazing businesses, shops and restaurants,” said City Councilmember Chris Cate, who represents Mira Mesa. “This new Community Plan sets a vision for the next three decades that builds off the hard work and successes by community leaders who have made Mira Mesa what it is today.”
To help meet the city’s Climate Action Plan goals, the updated
community plan encourages mixed-use development with pedestrian-friendly spaces and easy access to transit. It calls for bus flex lanes on Mira Mesa Boulevard and Miramar Road to alleviate congestion. Flex lanes are created by using the left or right shoulders of an existing roadway for temporary travel during certain hours of the day.
The plan also calls for a dedicated transitway along Carroll Canyon Road to accommodate express buses and an aerial skyway to connect the community to the Mid-Coast Trolley Extension, University City, UC San Diego and the San Diego Association of Government (SANDAG)’s proposed commuter rail.
“Mira Mesa is a vibrant area and we are thrilled to have a plan that creates a better balance of homes and jobs, with community infrastructure that will provide residents and workers with safe, convenient and enjoyable ways to travel,” said the city’s Planning Director, Heidi Vonblum. “More opportunities for homes and jobs in Mira Mesa is a win for our city and another step forward in achieving our housing and climate goals. We are thankful to the community and stakeholders for all their hard work over the past four years in helping us craft a vision that will make it an even better place for all San Diegans.”
The plan identifies more than 91 lane miles of new bike facilities. It also proposes more than 100 acres of new parkland, 17 miles of trails, two new recreation centers and one new aquatic complex.
The city has completed 14 other community plan updates since 2015 and three more are in progress. The Planning Department is also working on Plan Hillcrest, a focused amendment to the Uptown Community Plan.
(City of San Diego Release) n
PAGE 9
posted by Dina on social media on the country’s political or social goings-on. It doesn’t make her “un-woke” or “walang pakialam” though. It is simply not her cup of tea.
Same thing with her seeming reluctance to engage in a huddle with Pauleen Luna, her “predecessor” in Vic Sotto’s colorful lovelife.
Matter-of-factly, Dina finds it awkward to be chewing the fat with her ex-husband’s present, “Ano naman ang pag-uusapan namin ni Pauleen, si Vic?”
What Dina is actually driving at is that the TV host-comedian is part of her youthful past long before relegated to her archives of sorts, no point of digging up the files.
It’s not Vic that Dina and Pauleen can solely talk about. It can be about motherhood or how to maintain longevity in the business or how to remain beautiful in their respective husbands’ eyes.
Oh, there can be too many talk points for a glib talker like Dina you wouldn’t want to be caught with your pants down. n
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 co-lead 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
SAN DIEGO – Following weeks of outreach to sidewalk vendors, the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) began citing violators of the City of San Diego’s Sidewalk Vending Ordinance in the Gaslamp Quarter starting Friday, December 2.
The Sidewalk Vending Ordinance, which was passed by the City Council in May, permits roaming and stationary sidewalk vendor entrepreneurs to use the public right of way or public property for sidewalk vending, while regulating how, when and where permitted sidewalk vendors conduct business in San Diego. However, the ordinance specifically bans sidewalk vending in the Gaslamp Quarter and other specified areas, which has spurred the stepped-up enforcement.
illegal sidewalk vending. This focused enforcement also follows recent violent incidents involving illegally operating sidewalk vendors in the Gaslamp.
On Friday, officers from SDPD’s Central Division started contacting vendors operating illegally in the area and citing them for violations. Those found in violation face potential fines ranging from $200 up to $1,000. Violators can also be subject to impoundment of carts, equipment and goods.
City Park Rangers are responsible for sidewalk vending enforcement at beaches and parks in San Diego. To review the ordinance and learn more about the application process for vendors, visit sandiego.gov/ sidewalk-vending.
(City of San Diego Release) n
SAN DIEGO – On Friday, December 2 the City of San Diego’s Office of Child and Youth Success launched a new website that lays out resources – from childcare to educational opportunities and more – for San Diego’s youngest residents and visitors. The website provides a central location for San Diegans to find information about supportive services and programming for youth ages 24 and younger.
“Investing in the success of our children and youth is important to build a better future for San Diego,” said Andrea O’Hara, Executive Director of the Office of Child and Youth Success. “The new website offers easier access to information and programs that can help our young residents reach their full potential.”
The city currently provides a variety of events and activities – from reading challenges, STEM education, music and
dance and more – and learning opportunities at libraries and recreation centers. Now, the Office of Child and Youth Success will serve as the connection point between these programs and future services established in partnership with local education agencies.
The website highlights upcoming highquality programs to improve social, health and educational outcomes. This includes the city’s first Child and Youth Master Plan, an intentional roadmap that creates a citywide shared vision to uplift the voices of children, youth and families in San Diego. Additionally, the website includes a guide aimed at entrepreneurs seeking to open a childcare center or family childcare home. With the scarcity of safe and affordable childcare, it is a priority for the Office of Child and Youth Success to dedicate specific resources and assist business owners through the process of providing childcare services for families in
our region.
To learn more, visit sandiego.gov/childyouth-success. For the first time, the Office of Child and Youth Success co-sponsored the Family Zone last weekend at December Nights. In line with its mission to support San Diego’s youth, the area included safe activities for young kids including hula hoop contests, bean bag toss, ornament making and more fun options. A private space was also available for nursing mothers.
As part of the City’s fiscal year 2022 budget adoption process, Mayor Todd Gloria and the City Council approved funding to establish the Office of Child and Youth Success. In April 2022, Executive Director Andrea O’Hara was hired to lead this new office. The office is dedicated to prioritizing San Diego’s children and youth by safeguarding current and future policies.
(City of San Diego Release) n
SAN DIEGO – With cybersecurity concerns on the rise following several major ransomware attacks nationwide, the City of San Diego has launched the San Diego Regional Cyber Lab to help local agencies prevent and protect against cyberattacks.
The Cyber Lab serves as a regional resource for small businesses, public agencies and educational institutions to utilize for specialized training with safe environments to simulate and defend against cyberattacks. The lab’s mission is to provide coordinated cybersecurity awareness for the greater San Diego region through collaborative access to the latest technology, intelligence and training tools.
“We’ve all heard the horror stories of highprofile attacks that have held companies and public agencies hostage, costing them millions in lost productivity or ransoms,” said Darren Bennett, the city’s Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). “We must remain vigilant in defending against these ever-evolving threats and, with this new San Diego Regional Cyber Lab, we’ll be stronger as a region by working together against a common enemy.”
The San Diego Regional Cyber Lab’s physical lab space is a no-risk sandbox environment where information technology professionals can further develop their cybersecurity skills in real-time scenarios.
The lab has both PC and Mac environments connected to multiple servers running various virtual machines that can be manipulated, modified and attacked in different ways.
The Cyber Lab offers free cyber simulation tools, including:
• The Free Range – Provides a collaborative, cloud-based platform for training, development and testing of cybersecurity tools in a safe and controlled
environment.
• The Haiku Range – The cybersecurity equivalent of a flight simulator that allows users of all levels develop real-world skills in a game-like virtual environment.
• Cyber Catch – A cloud-based cyber incident simulator specifically designed for small and medium-sized organizations.
“Cybersecurity is now everyone’s business! The FBI reports a 300% increase in cybercrimes across all industries since the pandemic began with more than half of these costly attacks aimed at small and medium-sized businesses – our region’s economic engine,” said Lisa Easterly, President and CEO of Cyber Center of Excellence, a San Diego-based nonprofit dedicated to growing the regional cyber economy and creating a more secure digital community for all. “The Cyber Lab will now provide these organizations with collaborative resources to gauge and harden their cyber readiness and train staff in riskfree scenarios, ultimately strengthening the region’s cyber resiliency.”
Cybercrime has soared in recent years with an estimated $7 trillion in damages in 2022, according to industry expert Cybersecurity Ventures. There have also been several recent attacks on San Diego’s local agencies and institutions, including Scripps Health, the Port of San Diego, the City of San Marcos and UC San Diego Health.
The city received two grants from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security totaling about $928,000 to create the San Diego Regional Cyber Lab. The city formed a working group of cybersecurity experts, academics, local CEOs and public officials from across the San Diego region to help design and develop the lab.
As part of the development process,
the city surveyed about 200 agencies in the San Diego region about cybersecurity preparedness. Most had zero cybersecurity professionals on staff or assigned cybersecurity responsibilities to a single IT staff member with little to no experience or training in cybersecurity.
“Cyberattacks are occurring with greater frequency and growing complexity, so it’s incredibly important that we have a united front as a region working collaboratively between commercial, critical infrastructure and government to defend ourselves against cybercrime,” said Macy Dennis, Founder of the San Diego CISO Round Table and partner at Ember River. “This new Cyber Lab will be an invaluable resource for small business owners, students and public-sector IT professionals who want to get hands-on experience with the latest technology and learn how to prevent and defend against attacks.”
The San Diego Regional Cyber Lab also launched a new website – sandiego. gov/cyber-lab – where organizations can schedule appointments to use the lab for training or educational purposes. The website serves as an information hub with training materials, threat intelligence feeds, and a collection of the most popular newsletters, podcasts and other resources to keep up with the ever-changing cybersecurity industry.
According to a report by RiskBased Security, there were over 4,100 publicly disclosed cybersecurity breaches in 2021 with over 22 billion records exposed – the second-highest amount of confidential data compromised since 2005. A 2022 report by IBM Security found the average global cost of a data breach is about $4.4 million – the highest ever recorded in its annual report.
of San Diego Release) n
IN a bid to strike a balance between the desires and needs of the Nye County communities, to which Pahrump belongs to, the Nye County Board of County Commissioners issued a moratorium on all applications for renewable energy generation facilities, which includes solar energy projects.
In recent years, applications for these types of projects have come at a fast clip for Nye County.
The county’s planning department, according to a report in the Pahrump Valley Times, requested the county commissioners to pass the resolution “instituting a temporary [six-month] moratorium on the processing of any future applications for permits for renewable energy generation facilities in order for the planning department to conduct discussions and hearings to determine whether amendments or changes to Nye County Code are necessary in order to protect the public health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of Nye County.”
Both local residents and representatives from solar companies spoke at a recent Nye county commissioners meeting where the item was included in the agenda. Residents spoke in favor of the moratorium, while solar company reps emphasized the need for the county to work with the renewable energy industry to develop standars that everyone could live by.
Part of the resolution passed, reads, “Whereas, the Nye County Planning Department has received a number of inquiries related to the creation and zoning of renewable energy generation facilities, which has resulted in a number of comments and concerns being made by Nye County citizens and members of the general
public. And whereas the Nye County Planning Department is under development pressure with inquiries and issues related to renewable energy generation facilities and… the Nye County Board of County Commissioners have been reviewing the Nye County Code with respect to renewable energy generation facilities and changes may be necessary…
“Whereas, several citizens of Nye County have publicly and privately questioned the provisions of the Nye County Code related to renewable energy generation facilities and the planning director is requesting the… board… pass a resolution instituting a temporary moratorium… to allow time for the planning department to study and research the proper classification, restrictions and requirements for renewable energy generation and other similar activities in Nye County and to propose amendments to the Nye County Code.
“Now therefore be it resolved, the Nye County Board of County Commissioners hereby adopt a temporary moratorium for a period not to exceed six months on the processing of any future applications for permits for renewable energy generation facilities and be it further resolved that said moratorium shall become effective immediately upon its passage…”
With the passage of the resolution, the Nye County Planning Department will work on scheduling public hearings so it can gather relevant information and data that can be used in the event that changes need to be made to the county codes for any renewable energy projects that will be developed in the future in Pahrump and other areas of Nye County.
This is another instance of government taking the reins in protecting the interests of its citizens by carefully looking at projects that are being considered for the future welfare of residents and businesses.
While renewable energy is at the forefront of people’s minds due to climate change, it is vital that the state, county, and city/town governments also look at the viability of projects, related costs, impact on the environment and local flora and fauna, and other factors that can affect the livability in the area.
Pahrump is a town that has grown by leaps and bounds since its founding in the late 19th century where large ranch-style holdings typified the area on which cotton and alfalfa were grown, and livestock raised.
It has gone through significant changes, and is one of the fastest-growing towns in the United States.
Big companies and franchises like The Home Depot, Burger King, Chevron, Coyote Corner, CVS Pharmacy, Domino’s, Davita, Enterprise, Family Dollar, US Bank, Bank of America, Taco Bell and Supercuts have established operations, along with hundreds of businesses that cater to the needs of the diversified, growing population of the town. Of course, Pahrump being in Nevada, there are a few hotel-casinos and legal brothels operating in town.
Pahrump is home to the Mountain Falls Golf Club, which has an 18-hole course co-designed by architectural firms Nicklaus Design Group and Cal Olson Design.
It is also where Spring Mountain Motor Resort and Country Club is situated, which has the
longest road course in North America with over 6 miles of challenging racetrack that can be offered in more than 50 unique configurations. The facility is home to car racing schools, and also houses Spring Mountain Estates where luxury trackside homesites are being offered and built.
With affordability the name of the game right now in real estate, Pahrump is one of those cities and/or towns that keep popping up in due to the lower, affordable real estate prices and its location in Nevada – it is only about 62 miles west of gaming and entertainment hub/emerging sports capital Las Vegas. People who are priced out of the Las Vegas real estate market are looking at areas near the city, and Pahrump is one of those places that offers a quiet, more peaceful alternative to the big city lights and traffic that are ever-present in Sin City.
I have helped many clients look for their piece of real estate heaven in Pahrump and in Las Vegas. I have decades of experience in assisting my clients find their American Dream, propertywise – one that fits their budgets and needs. Many of my clients have even become repeat buyers and investors, with some now reaping the benefits of their real estate investments via rentals or through Airbnb.
My company, Precious Properties, is a fullservice company that has served its clientele since 1992. You can reach me at 775-513-8447, 805-5592476 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.
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