121522 - Las Vegas Edition

Filipino couple in San Francisco charged with tra cking nanny from PH

DISTRICT Attorney Brooke Jenkins filed charges against a Filipino couple for allegedly trafficking a nanny they brought from the Philippines two years ago.

Jose Aguila and his wife, Lorraine Lim, are facing several felony and misdemeanor charges as a result of an investigation into the working conditions of their nanny, “Nicel R.,” the District Attorney’s office announced.

According to prosecutors, a neighbor alerted the San Francisco Police after finding out how Nicel R. was being treated. The SFPD Special Victims Unit rescued the nanny on November 29, 2021.

The couple allegedly brought Nicel R. to the U.S. in June of 2019 and forced her to work seven days a week to take care of their disabled child in addition to other forms of forced labor inside and outside their residence.

The victim told investigators that the couple promised her she would be in the U.S. for only three months, but that turned into more than two years. Through various means, they allegedly isolated Nicel R., who does not speak English, like keeping her passport,

Kenneth Mejia sworn in as Los Angeles City controller

FILIPINO American Kenneth Mejia was sworn into office as the Los Angeles City Controller, officially becoming the first Filipino to be elected to the LA City government.

Along with the new Mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, Mejia was sworn into office in front of LA City Hall on Sunday, Dec. 11, following a landslide victory in November.

As previously reported in the Asian Journal, Mejia’s campaign promised increased transparency regarding city spending, anchored by a successful billboard campaign that illuminated the whopping police budget compared to that of social services.

“Our first day in office. We’re here to hold power accountable in order to make it a better city for all Angelenos,” Mejia’s team tweeted on Monday, Dec. 12.

As the city’s controller, Mejia will oversee the city’s spending and consult the Office of the Mayor over the city’s budget — however, the controller does not have power over how

Give Maharlika bill a chance – Marcos

by KRISTINA MARALIT AND MOISES CRUZ ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. voiced his support for the Maharlika Wealth Fund (MWF), saying the controversial proposal will benefit the country through the added investments it will bring.

“For sure, I wouldn’t have brought it up otherwise. It’s very clear that we need added investment. This is another way to get that,” he said in a brief interview while on a chartered flight from Manila to this European

city on Sunday night, December 11 for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-European Union (AseanEU) Commemorative Summit.

The administration’s economic managers — Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Felipe Medalla — are strongly backing the MWF, insisting it would fast-track the government’s efforts to reach inclusive and sustainable economic growth outlined in the President’s Medium

Term Fiscal Framework, 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda and 2023-2028 Philippine Development Plan. Among the direct benefits they cited are increased investments in and funding of big-ticket infrastructure projects through Marcos’ “Build Better More” initiative, high-return green and blue projects, and countryside development.

The long-term benefits include increased access of future generations to income from investments, such as potential earnings from extracted natural resources such as in mining.

Filipina actor Dolly de Leon makes history with Golden Globe nomination

by KLARIZE MEDENILLA AJPress

FOLLOWING her celebrated performance in the film “Triangle of Sadness,” Filipina actor Dolly de Leon has earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture.

She is believed to be the first Filipina to get a Golden Globe nomination in this category.

Before the Golden Globe nominations were announced on Monday, Dec. 12, de Leon — who was born in Manila and whose career primarily centered around television — tied for the award for Best Supporting Performer at the 2022 Los Angeles Film Critics Association. (De Leon tied with Ke Huy Quan, who won for “Everything Everywhere All At Once.”)

In response to her historic Golden Globe nomination, de Leon, 53, expressed excitement and hope that more Filipino actors get international, mainstream recognition.

“Thank you for including me in that very short list of very talented supporting actresses,” de Leon told

US Treasury freezes Quiboloy assets

LAWYERS for televangelist Apollo Quiboloy denounced the U.S. Department of the Treasury for punishing him even before his trial on sex trafficking charges has started.

“They’ve already convicted him! He’s never been heard! His human rights have been trampled on!” Quiboloy’s American lawyer Michael Jay Green said in an interview with the religious pastor’s own television network SMNI on a breaking news program on Saturday, December 10.

“That’s not the American way,” he added. “It is hard for me to believe this is coming from the United States.”

On Friday, Dec. 9, the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) blocked all transactions of Quiboloy, his Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) religious sect, and other properties within U.S. territory, effectively freezing their assets.

“For more than a decade Apollo Carreon Quiboloy (Quiboloy) engaged in serious human rights abuse, including a pattern of systemic and pervasive rape of girls as young as 11 years old, as well as other physical abuse,” OFAC said in a press statement.

Quiboloy was one of 40 individuals and entities in nine countries sanctioned for corruption and human rights abuse by the U.S. treasury department as it marked International Anti-Corruption Day (Dec. 9) and Human Rights Day (Dec. 10).

Good news on Rights Day

“This is good news during Human Rights Day and we hope that other human rights violators would be held to account in the coming days,” said House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Rep. France Castro.

“We hope that this would serve as a signalto

Hidilyn Diaz wins only gold missing from her collection

HAVING fame, fortune, being a wife and very little time for herself haven’t stopped Hidilyn Diaz from performing at her best as she set her bid to qualify for Paris 2024 in swashbuckling motion on Thursday, December 8 by collaring three gold medals in the 55-kilogram division of the World Weightlifting Championship in Bogota, Colombia, to rake in the only hardware missing in her medal collection.

The 31-year-old, who won the only gold staked in the same division in the Tokyo Olympics last

year, was the best in the snatch, clean and jerk and total in the Colombian capital as she finally reigned in the Worlds while getting her bid for Paris—where the Philippines’ second Games gold can be won—right on track.

“Finally, I [get a] win at the World Championships,” Diaz told the International Weightlifting Federation website after the win. “I am so happy with that.”

Diaz snatched a total of 93 kgs for her first gold before ruling the clean and jerk with an effort

Manny Pacquiao dominates DK Yoo in exhibition

by MARK GIONGCO Inquirer.net

MANILA — Manny Pacquiao expectedly outclassed South Korean YouTuber and martial artist DK Yoo on Saturday, December 10 at KINTEX in Goyang, South Korea.

Pacquiao, who could’ve easily stopped Yoo inside their six-round charity boxing match if he wanted to, settled for a unanimous decision win.

But more than the victory, Pacquiao relished his return to the ring after stepping away in September of last year.

“[It’s] nice to be back in the ring, especially this charity exhibition match and I’m going to continue my training to get

back in shape,” said Pacquiao, who tipped the scales at 161.1 pounds during the weigh-in.

Pacquiao, who turns 44 on Saturday, Dec. 17, picked up the pace in the third round while Yoo was noticeably exhausted from that point on.

The eight-division champion knocked down the much bigger Yoo several times including twice in the sixth round though the referee called one a slip.

The exhibition would’ve ended in the fifth but Yoo managed to buy himself a lot of time by claiming Pacquiao hit him behind the head.

Part of Pacquiao’s proceeds in the match will be used to provide shelter for the poor and

PBBM ARRIVAL. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. delivers his speech upon his arrival at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Thursday night, Dec. 15. Marcos earned praise from European business executives for his performance at the C-Suite Luncheon where he pushed for investments and climate change action. PNA photo by Rey S. Baniquet

Manny Pacquiao is being held by the referee as DK Yoo falls during their exhibition fight in South Korea. Photo from MP Promotions

Hidilyn Diaz sweeps all golds in the women’s 55kg division in the World Weightlifting Championship.

Photo from Instagram/@hidilyndiaz

Mejia becomes first Filipino elected to LA city office

Give Maharlika bill a chance...

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The pitch, however, is being met with opposition over its timing, when the Philippines is struggling with a more than P13trillion national debt.

Initially, government financial institutions like the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Social Security System (SSS), Land Bank of the Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and National Treasurer were tapped to pool money to raise the P275-billion startup fund for the MWF as provided for by House Bill 6398.

Proponents of the fund in the House of Representatives have since revised the measure, removing the GSIS and SSS as funding sources.

The Appropriations panel also approved Marikina City Rep. Stella Quimbo’s proposal to exclude the General Appropriations Act (GAA) as one of the mandatory funding sources.

Marcos said he will “let them do their jobs” as legislators and appealed to the public and critics of the MWF to hold off criticisms until the final version is released.

“We’re just doing the regular process of looking at the bill. Well, not we. It’s the legislature. So, let them do their jobs. Para gawin

nilang perfect (So they can make it perfect),” he said.

“Let’s not debate until we see the final form because we could be debating about provisions that will no longer exist. So, antayin natin kung anong gawin ng legislature (let’s just wait for what the legislature will do),” he said.

Aside from Quimbo, the main authors of the still unnumbered bill at the House are Speaker Martin Romualdez, Majority Leader Mannix Dalipe, Committee on Accounts Chairman Yedda Marie Romualdez, Deputy Majority Leader Jude Acidre, and Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Jose Ma. Clemente “Joey” Salceda, Manila Rep. Irwin Tieng, and Quimbo.

House leaders broke political boundaries to support the Maharlika fund.

Deputy Speaker and Pampanga Third District Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. said “the objective of maximizing or optimizing gains from the investment of excess state funds or assets is laudable. That is what every nation on this planet would want to do.”

Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga, one of the stalwarts of the Nationalist People’s Coalition in the House, said the proposal “has become

contentious, but it is important to recognize that the country needs the MWF to fund its needs.”

Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona of the Nacionalista Party said investing government assets for optimal return for the public is what 49 countries with sovereign wealth funds are doing.

Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats said the Philippines should learn from the best practices of nations with successful investments and avoid the mistakes of others while establishing a sovereign wealth fund.

Northern Samar Rep. Paul Daza, who belongs to the minority bloc, said he was leaning toward supporting the fund measure after the House leadership made changes to it.

“It’s now a much better bill and I can see the effort of the authors and the proponents. So it looks good at this point and it looks much better,” Daza said.

The House banks committee said the latest amendments introduced to the measure include reverting the name to Maharlika Investment Fund of MIF and allocating 20 percent of the fund’s net profit to social welfare projects. g

Filipina actor Dolly de Leon makes history...

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ABS-CBN in a video sent on Tuesday, Dec. 13. “Hindi ako sanay sa nomination na ganito — ang sarap! Sana mas marami pa sa atin ang makatanggap ng ganitong recognition because so many of us deserve it. (I’m not used to getting a nomination like this — it feels good! Hopefully, more of our community will receive recognition because so many of us deserve it).”

“Triangle of Sadness” — written and directed by Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund — is a black comedy that follows several luxury cruise guests and one cruise ship housekeeper (played by de Leon) who are marooned on a desert island following a disastrous shipwreck.

In a story that reveals the follies of hierarchy, de Leon’s breakout “scene-stealing” performance as the resourceful Abigail caught the attention of the international

film community.

According to an interview with Variety, de Leon said that her performance of Abigail was largely motivated by real-life people she knows, saying, “I see Abigail in my aunts, my mother, our grandmother, our cousins. She’s in a lot of Filipinos that I’ve

met over the years.”

The film received praise earlier this year when it premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, winning the coveted Palme d’Or, widely recognized as the top award in international cinema.

Prior to “Triangle of Sadness,” de Leon’s career began in the 1990s, in the Philippine theater scene. She starred in several soap operas and has worked with renowned Filipino directors, including Lav Diaz. “Triangle of Sadness” is her fourth feature film role.

De Leon is up against Angela Bassett for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Kerry Condon for “The Banshees of Inisherin,” Jamie Lee Curtis for “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” and Carey Mulligan for “She Said.”

The Golden Globes will be presented on January 10, 2023 in Los Angeles. g

US Treasury freezes Quiboloy...

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local authorities to also look into the illegal activities of Quiboloy here. There should be no sacred cows,” she said.

The sanctions imposed meant that “all property and interests in property” in the United States “or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC.”

“The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person,” OFAC said.

Significant consequences

The action was taken to implement the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act of the U.S. through Executive Order No. 13818.

“The United States seeks to impose tangible and significant consequences on those who commit serious human rights abuse or engage in corruption, as well as to protect the financial system of the United States from abuse by these same persons,” Ofac said.

It did not give an estimate of the value of Quiboloy’s U.S. assets.

The move followed a U.S. federal grand jury indictment of Quiboloy and his two top officials, Teresita Dandan and Felina Salinas, in November 2021 for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, and sex trafficking of children.

OFAC said Quiboloy’s victims were mostly minors and were required to do scheduled “night duties” which was to have sex with him. The victims were told by the pastor to “offer your body as a living sacrifice,” it said.

“Quiboloy exploited his role within KOJC to rape his victims and subject them to other physical abuse, describing these acts as sacrifices required by the Bible and by God for the victims’ salvation,” OFAC said.

On Jan. 31 this year, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation published a poster declaring Quiboloy as one of the most wanted suspected sex traffickers in America. The U.S.-based lawyers for Quiboloy on Saturday said that his U.S. trial was to start only in 2024 and that the accusations against him were bogus and politically motivated by the U.S. “liberal administration” that saw him and his sect as a “threat.”

Green denied all of the

allegations against his client, saying such would be unbecoming of a pastor who helped the poor.

Asked if he had proof to counter the claims of the alleged victims, he said emphatically: “I didn’t find any victims because there were no victims!”

Another lawyer for Quiboloy, Manny Mendrano, said that as long as there was no trial, “that paper (federal indictment) is worthless.”

“No one had their day in court (yet),” he pointed out.

“There’s a lot to be done between now and then and the pastor has a real fire power legal team to assist him and defend him aggressively,” Mendrano said.

‘Not losing sleep’

According to Green, if Quiboloy were to face trial in the United States, he would surely be held in jail for years without bail, so they would represent him instead. Quiboloy’s lawyers also said they were confident that his business transactions in the United States would remain untouched despite the sanction.

Mendrano said KOJC, which claims 7 million members worldwide, was “not losing sleep” over the recent pronouncements from U.S. authorities.In a

FESTIVE MOOD. Two young ladies wearing Santa hats take a selfie at the Christmas Village attraction inside the Manila Ocean Park in Manila on Wednesday, Dec. 14. After two years of the pandemic and only 10 days left before Christmas, amusement centers and parks are all set to welcome visitors this holiday season.

PNA photo by Yancy Lim

Dolly De Leon on the Cannes red carpet last May.

Photo from Instagram/@dollyedelean

COVID treatments readily available, but access disparities still huge

“TEST and treat, and you can beat COVID!”

As Californians brace for a winter surge of COVID infections, that’s the message of Dr. Rita Nguyen, speaking at an online news conference on behalf of the California Department of Public Health’s COVID 19 Treatments Task Force.

Her message was echoed by four frontline medical practitioners serving some of the most vulnerable populations in the state.

“We are in the winter surge,” said Dr. Nguyen, who directs the Population Health Division of CDPH. “We are already seeing increases in hospitalization rates for COVID. Rates are increasing and we expect to see even more as we head through December.”

But there is a unique opportunity to address the crisis head-on, Nguyen emphasized. “This is the first winter surge of a three-year pandemic where we actually have treatments that are highly effective, readily available, and free to anyone over the age of 12.”

The challenge, Nguyen noted, is that most people aren’t accessing the treatments.

Paxlovid, or its alternative Molnupiravir, are antivirals and they are free to everyone, even those who lack health insurance or are undocumented. Remdesivir, which is given via infusions, is not free: costs vary with the level of insurance coverage. All three treatments

are time sensitive. Paxlovid or Molnupiravir, must be started within the first five days after symptoms start; remdesivir must be started within seven days.

Timely treatment can prevent the severity of the infection by 50% to 88%. Even among those who are vaccinated, it decreases risk of long-term COVID, by 45% to 50%. Paxlovid treatment in 2022 alone averted an estimated 16,000 – 48,000 severe hospitalizations in California, and an estimated 10,000 deaths, according to Nguyen.

But while treatment supplies are plentiful, access challenges remain huge.

The digital divide Dr. Daniel Turner-Lloveras, executive director of the Latino Coalition for Health Equity, believes lack of internet access and digital skills may be the biggest obstacle.

He cited the case of his mother who recently tested positive for COVID-19. She had phoned her clinic to try to get a doctor but had been waiting all day for a return phone call. Turner Lloveras also called his mother’s clinic, but was forced to leave a voice mail which was not returned.

“As a physician, I am very aware of the benefits of getting early treatment with Paxlovid,” he said. When he sent a message to the clinic’s online patient portal, he got a call back within an hour. “It made me realize that almost every social determinant of health now is enveloped by the need to have internet access and the ability to navigate the World Wide Web.”

More than 35% of Latino workers have no digital skills, and 20% have just limited digital skills, Turner-Lloveras added, noting that digital inclusion now impacts most factors in modern society, including the ability to get a job and support a family.

“Without digital literacy and digital skills, you’re offering gas to a family that has no car. Telehealth is a valuable resource but cannot be used without those skills.”

Dr. Oliver Brooks, chief medical officer of the Watts Healthcare Corporation in Los Angeles, concurred with TurnerLloveras. He noted that 1 out of 5 Black households have no internet access, limiting their ability to access healthcare in a timely manner. He stressed the importance of testing as soon as any symptom appears: runny nose, cough, gastric distress, fever, and other conditions.

The Black community has much lower rates of treatment, not because it wasn’t accessible, but because it isn’t offered to them, said Brooks. “Treatment doesn’t work if you don’t take it or get offered it. So as a person you need to advocate, you need to know about treatments and then say, ‘I tested positive. Do I take this pill? Do I take something?’”

According to new data from the CDPH shared by Dr. Nguyen, 37% of White patients who presented with COVID symptoms received treatment, while only 20% of Black people got access to care.

Treatment for older adults, rural communities

One of the most vulnerable populations are adults who are 65 years and older and account for nearly 90% of COVID deaths.

Dr. Wynnelena Canio, who specializes in geriatric medicine at Kaiser Permanente in Petaluma, Ca., and is an advisor with the California Department of Aging, noted that “as people age, we accumulate chronic conditions that cause us to have decreased reserves with which to compensate or recover from stressors such as infection.

“A lot of older adults become more frail, losing more muscle mass and becoming more dependent on others after hospitalization. That in turn leads to more disability and possible

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Hidilyn Diaz wins only gold missing from...

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of 114. She failed to improve on this, though, by failing at 117 and 121 as she tried to establish a personal best for the year.

Her 207-kg tally was eight kilos better than hometown bet Rosalba Morales’ effort for the silver. Diaz and the rest of Team HD prepared well and hard for this, arriving in Colombia ahead of the rest of the field to acclimatize, a factor that spelled the downfall of many others with Bogota being 2,640 meters above sea level.

The PH contingent first set up camp in the United States before heading to Colombia a week before the competition.

“It was good timing because this is the last time that I will compete at 55 kg,” said Diaz, who would need to choose between going down to the 49-kg division or moving up to 59 kg in Paris.

After winning in Tokyo, Diaz was understandably the toast of

the country last year. It was a victory that not only wrote history, but also kept her busy with numerous appearances, commercial shoots and her own work in giving something back to the sport.

“It’s really hard when you become famous,” Diaz told the website. “I have been able to control it, but it’s very hard time management.”

Diaz also tied the knot with her long-time coach Julius Naranjo earlier this year.

“[This win] is absolutely amazing,” said Philippine Weightlifting Federation president Monico Puentevella. “It shows her incredible commitment.”

“This recent breakthrough of Olympic champion Hidilyn Diaz is proof that Filipinos are strong and talented individuals,” Philippine Olympic Committee president Bambol Tolentino said in a statement released to media outlets.

“We are truly grateful to Team HD for this is a result of hard work,” the statement said. “[This latest achievement is] a combination of determination, continuous training and confidence.”

Dream medal haul

To say that Diaz is the best Philippine athlete of her generation is an understatement as she completed a medal collection others could only dream of.

Before being queen of the Tokyo Games, Diaz had pocketed gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games, the Asian Games and the Asian Championships. She could be the Philippine Sportswriters Association’s Athlete of the Year yet again.

The Bogota event is a required event on the list of qualifying events for Paris 2024, where Diaz will hope to win a second straight gold even after her old division had been taken out of the events. (Musong R. Castillo/ Inquirer.net)

Filipino couple in San Francisco charged with...

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and preventing her from having a cellphone. Nicel R. depended on the couple for her food, shelter, and other necessities. She had to sleep a storage room, authorities said.

According to investigators, Aguila and Lim only paid Nicel R. $240 a month for the first several months and then reduced that to $40 per month. She was also required to be available at all times,

even in the middle of the night, to care for the couple’s child.

Prosecutors said Aguila and Lim did not provide other mandatory employee benefits such as payment for the substantial overtime hours she worked, meal and rest breaks, paid sick leave, workers’ compensation insurance and proof of wages.

“Each of the suspects posted bond on $100,000 bails set by the court,” the District At-

torney’s press release stated. “Pre-trial release conditions include electronic monitoring by the San Francisco Sherriff’s Department, surrendering passports and abiding by the terms of a Criminal Protective Order which states that they must have no contact with the victim and must stay 100 yards away from her. If convicted of all charges, they each face over 19 years in State Prison.” (Inquirer.net)

AFFORDABLE ONIONS. Onions are among the fresh produce that get sold fast at Kadiwa stores such as this one at the 3rd floor of the GSIS Building in Pasay City on Wednesday, Dec. 14. The price of red onions has gone up to as much as P400 per kilo, making it a hot sell among buyers at Kadiwa stores that offer them at a cheaper price.

PNA photo by Avito Dalan

Early treatment of any conditions in older adults has proven to have better outcomes, Canio emphasized. That includes especially getting the new updated boosters, which only 12% of Americans overall have received.

Photo by Jakayla Toney on Unsplash

Dateline PhiliPPines

Marcos sees EU as new growth driver in Asia-Pacific

Marcos, along with several Cabinet members and other delegates, returned to the country on Thursday, December 15 from his participation at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-the European Union (Asean-EU) Summit in Brussels, Belgium.

In his arrival speech, the President described his trip "as very productive" as he exchanged views "on what is in store for Asean-EU cooperation, particularly on areas of mutual interest and concern such as connectivity, trade, digital transition, food security, climate change, geopolitics, amongst others."

"I was honored to deliver one of the opening remarks during the Commemorative Summit, in which I was proud to note the recent milestones in Asean-EU relations under the Philippines' coordinatorship – the adoption of the Asean-EU Plan of Action for 2023 to 2027 and the successful conclusion of the first-ever Summit between Asean and EU Leaders," Marcos said.

"And this is a very significant development that EU has turned very, very distinctly towards the Asia-Pacific region when it comes to the driving force behind the new global economy. And this is not really surprising considering that in terms of geopolitical aggrupation, the EU and the Asean are two of the most active, best organized, and cohesive organizations in the world," he added.

The President said this is a very important partnership "because it is servicing over billions and billions of people both in Europe and in the Asia-Pacific."

He also welcomed the adoption of the Joint Leaders' Statement at the Asean-EU Commemorative Summit, which is the product of intensive discussions between Asean and EU Member States.

At the 10th Asean-EU Business Summit, Marcos said he shared the Philippines' perspective on deepening Asean-EU trade through efforts in sustainable development, which is the theme of the Business Summit spearheaded by the Asean-EU Business Council.

"The Asean-EU Business Council has a pivotal role to play in advancing Asean's regional economic integration and post-pandemic economic recovery efforts, through its various initiatives and valuable recommendations, which have been very useful in terms of prioritizing areas and initiatives for Asean's regional economic integration," he said.

The President said he also met with several business leaders from different European companies during his visit.

"All of them committed to be a part of our development and our economic growth, particularly in renewable energy, infrastructure, food security [and] climate change initiatives," he said.

"With European technology and innovation with Filipino talent and ingenuity and industry, we will be working on addressing some of our key economic challenges," he added.

The President also announced that they have met with various leading shipowners all over Europe and "we were able to get their commitment to help our country hurdle some of the challenges in our seafarers' EMSA accreditation through the creation of an advisory council composed of our concerned government

agencies, international and local shipowners and other stakeholders."

"Beyond that, I was able to meet with the EU Commission President, President Ursula von der Leyen who is actually in charge of the – it is the Commission, it's not the EU. They are the ones who actually are the ones who provide that accreditation," Marcos said.

"So I explained to her what we have done, that we have this new advisory council and she made a promise that she would – that the Commission itself would provide technical help to us so that within the three months –we have a three-month deadline – within the three months that we will be able to remedy all of the deficiencies that EMSA has been pointing out and hopefully we finally solve this problem," he added.

The President said he was also looking forward to "share more good news in the next few months that reaffirms the optimism which how international investors view the Philippines today."

"Once again, as part of the Asia-Pacific region, we are still seen as coming back to our role as the driver of the global economy. And the Philippines is very much part of that and we are considered as an investment -- by the Europeans, this is what they told me – that we are considered by the Europeans as number two in terms of investor – the attractiveness next to Vietnam. So we are doing all right but of course, there's room to grow," he said. g

Advocates call on gov’t to sustain gains, address gap in RH law implementation

MANILA — The Philippines should sustain the gains of the of the reproductive health law and address the gaps in the implementation of the measure, sexual and reproductive health rights advocates said Tuesday, December 13.

Late President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III signed Republic Act 10345 in December 2012 amid staunch opposition from various groups, including the Catholic Church. Even after the law’s enactment, it had to overcome legal battles.

“A decade after its enactment, it is everybody’s task to sustain the gains and maintain the momentum of the RH Law,” said Leila Saiji Joudane, country representative of the United Nations Population Fund Philippines.

“We need to address gaps in policy and implementation and guarantee that the benefits of the law reach especially the most vulnerable women and girls in the country,” she added.  Citing data from the National

Demographic and Health Survey 2022, the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc. said the modern contraceptive prevalence rate rose to 41.8% in 2022 from 40.4% in 2017.

The total fertility rate decreased to 1.9 children per woman in 2022 from 2.7 in 2017, while the unmet need for family planning also declined to 12% in 2022 from 17% in 2017.

In a briefing Tuesday, Department of Health officer-incharge Maria Rosario Vergeire said that taking birth control pills remain the most common contraceptive method in the country.

She added there is an increased use of implants and intrauterine devices (IUDs). More people are also undergoing vasectomy and bilateral tubal ligation.

Gaps

“Despite these significant gains, several essential gaps remain, including barriers to minors’ access to modern contraceptives and the absence

of comprehensive sexuality education,” said Romeo Dongeto, executive director of PLCPD.

Vergeire acknowledged the difficulties in implementing the reproductive health program, especially in local communities. She also noted that the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the access to and utilization of of sexual and reproductive health services.

“The DOH commits to centrally procure commodities that we can be able to provide high gap areas and low capacity areas. We will not neglect areas and women whose local governments are unable to provide these commodities for them,” the health official said.

According to PLCPD, other challenges to the full implementation of RH law include budget, and the integration and streamlining of RH activities into a comprehensive set of services that local government units can adopt.  (Gaea Katreena Cabico/ Philstar.com)

Manny Pacquiao dominates DK Yoo in...

homeless families as part of his Pacman Village projects.

Pacquiao’s last appearance in an official fight was in August 2021 when he took a stunning decision loss to Cuba’s Yordenis Ugas, announcing his retirement a month later to pursue his bid for the Philippine presidency.

Pacquiao, however, doesn’t seem like he’s planning to

stay retired after he recently expressed his eagerness to challenge undefeated welterweight champions Terence Crawford and Errol Spence.

He also hinted at a potential comeback next year during his post-fight interview in the ring after toying with Yoo.

“You’ll see,” Pacquiao said when asked about fighting in 2023.

He had suggested prior to the match that he may not be done with fighting, calling Sunday’s bout a “very good stepping stone to come back”.

“This is a great opportunity to come back in the ring,” he added. “I thought it was easy to retire… I really missed boxing.”

Pacquiao, who hung up his gloves with a 62-8-2 record, admitted: “I felt lonely when I retired from boxing.” g

Kenneth Mejia sworn in as Los Angeles...

finances are allocated throughout the city.

But Mejia promised to hold City Hall accountable and probe the city’s spending on homeless

initiatives and law enforcement, among other top issues.

This is Mejia’s first time serving in public office. With a background in finance, Mejia also ran for U.S. Congress in 2018

US Treasury freezes Quiboloy...

campaigning on progressive policies and ideals inspired by Bernie Sanders and Jill Stein, as previously reported in the Asian Journal. (Klarize Medenilla/ AJPress)

statement after the FBI poster was published, Quiboloy, who claims to be “the appointed son of God,” branded all accusations against him as lies instigated by the “Devil.”

In January 2020, U.S. federal agents arrested three of his church leaders on immigration fraud charges following a raid on its U.S. headquarters in Los Angeles City.

Workers allegedly solicited donations year-round for the church’s charity and were beaten and psychologically abused when they did not reach their daily quotas. The money raised, originally for the benefit of poor children, allegedly went to church operations and the “lavish”

lifestyle of Quiboloy.

Around $20 million was sent back to the church in the Philippines from 2014 to the middle of 2019, according to federal investigators.

In 2018, Salinas, leader of the church’s Hawaii branch, was arrested for smuggling cash onto a private plane in Honolulu bound for the Philippines with Quiboloy on board. A witness saw Salinas and Quiboloy order church members to smuggle hundreds of thousands of dollars inside black socks packed in suitcases from California to the Philippines in 2013 and 2014.

The Philippine government has an International Legal Cooperation agreement with the United States. Under the agreement, the United

States can request the Philippines to extradite or surrender a suspect to stand on trial in America. The United States has yet to make such a request for Quiboloy.

The chief state counsel of the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) has said that if a request came, the DOJ could work on the possible extradition of Quiboloy, but it could take years due to the various processes that it would have to undergo.

Quiboloy supported former President Rodrigo Duterte’s presidential campaign and later became his spiritual adviser.

In this year’s presidential election, he endorsed the winning tandem of President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte. (Jacob Lazaro/Inquirer.net)

COVID treatments readily available, but access...

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institutionalization.”

Early treatment of any conditions in older adults has proven to have better outcomes, Canio emphasized. That includes especially getting the new updated boosters, which only 12% of Americans overall have received.

Dr. Jasmeet Kaur Bains, a family physician from Kern County in California’s Central Valley, who was just elected to the California State Assembly, spoke about the challenges in accessing health care for rural residents.

Bains, who grew up in the

county, said when she was a child, a pediatrician could usually be seen within a day. Today, it can take two to three months.

The pandemic brought accelerated rates of retirement for doctors and skyrocketing unemployment rates. As people lost their jobs, they also lost health insurance coverage, Bains noted. Language barriers added to the access challenges. Many resources were not available in Spanish or Punjabi, two commonly spoken languages in Kern County. Added to this, issues like poor air quality and resulting lung disease led to high levels of

hospitalization and deaths in her region.

“The lens needs to be focused here. The surge is real, it’s happening and it’s at the detriment of areas like rural California.”

Access issues notwithstanding, all five physicians agreed that getting tested and treated early is the message underserved communities need to hear.

“Don’t wait till the illness gets worse,” said Nguyen. “If you start feeling a runny nose, cough, or generally not like yourself, act fast and take a COVID test. If you test positive, seek treatment right away.” g

HONORED. Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) Vice President Jeffrey Ng (left) hands over the plaque of honor to Ricardo “Ricky” Lee (center) for his outstanding achievements as a multi-awarded screenwriter, journalist, novelist, playwright and educator, among others, at the Kamuning Bakery Cafe in Quezon City on Thursday, Dec. 15. Also in photo was FFCCCII Public Information and Media Committee Chairman Wilson Lee Flores (right). PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

Pre4sident Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Malacañang file photo

PRESIDENT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. sees the European Union (EU) as "very significant" driving forces behind "the new global economy" in the Asia-Pacific region as the world continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Protection of OFWs, utmost priority of Marcos admin

MANILA – The protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and overseas Filipinos is one of the utmost priorities of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration.

During the National Forum on Migration that gathered migrant workers and their families on Thursday to celebrate the OFW Month, Commission for Filipinos Overseas (CFO) officer-in-charge

Undersecretary Abdulgani Macatoman vowed to strengthen its efforts to protect migrant workers as well as their families.

“The protection of our kababayans abroad is among the priority of our beloved President Bongbong Marcos and we will continue to institute measures to do so,” Macatoman said.

He said that through the newly established Department

of Migrant Workers (DMW), the government is expected to speed up the process of addressing OFW complaints.

The conduct of the predeparture seminars is also set to be improved to better inform and brief Filipinos going abroad to work to know about the culture of their host countries.

Macatoman cited the important contributions of OFWs based in different countries worldwide to the country's nation building through the foreign remittances that help keep the Philippine economy afloat.

“This Administration really wants to address the needs of OFWs,” he said.

During the celebration, some OFWs shared their stories while living and working abroad.

During his recent meeting

with the Filipino community in Brussels, Belgium to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-European Union Commemorative Summit, Marcos vowed to invest more in human capital development, infrastructure and the digital economy in order to create more jobs in the country.

“Sana naman dumating ang panahon, at ito ang ating pangarap na wala ng kailangan umalis ng Pilipinas dahil walang mahanap na trabaho sa Pilipinas. Aabutin din natin ‘yan (Hopefully the time will come, and this is our dream that no one will have to leave the Philippines because there is no job to be found in the Philippines. We will reach that too) ,” Marcos told the Filipino community across Europe. (PNA)

DOJ getting more testimonies on deaths of high-profile Bilibid inmates

by Xave GreGorio Philstar.com

MANILA — Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Thursday, December 15 that they are getting more testimonies on the deaths of high-profile inmates at the New Bilibid Prison as the Bureau of Corrections investigates these fatalities which an inmate claims are killings.

“We just have to look for the truth behind every issue. We cannot allow speculation to rule our lives. That’s why we’re eliciting testimonies from people who may help us uncover the truth,” Remulla told reporters in a chance interview.

“A lot of people are going to my office, sending word about news. So little by little, until we get the name of the person, then we have them interviewed properly. Of course we have to go through the process. We vet the information before we act on it,” he added.

The justice chief said they are still “trying to establish facts” and are not yet looking at who could be behind these alleged killings of high-profile inmates.

BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. said these deaths have long been in their radar, but were only superseded by other events related to Bilibid and suspended corrections chief Gerald Bantag, including the assassination of broadcaster Percy Lapid and the discovery of

a 200-meter wide and 30-meter deep hole inside the national penitentiary.

Catapang told DZBB that testimonies they received related to the fatalities have been forwarded to the National Bureau of Investigation, although he said the BuCor is also conducting its own probe on the deaths of seven or eight “drug lords.”

Among their findings was that convicted drug trafficker Jaybee Sebastian died at the Bilibid Extension School of the University of Perpetual Help and not at the COVID-19 quarantine facility inside Bilibid or a hospital.

“He was brought there. That’s why we’re also investigating why he didn't die at the hospital,” Catapang said.

Several high-profile inmates died at Bilibid at the height of the pandemic, with officials typically writing off their deaths as having been caused by COVID-19.

But detainee Rodel Tiaga claimed in a report by GMA Integrated News that aired Tuesday on “24 Oras” that some of these inmates were actually killed, including convicted drug trafficker Eugene Chua.

Tiaga alleged that Chua, who supposedly died of cardiopulmonary arrest due to COVID-19 on June 19, 2020 according to his medical certificate, was suffocated by two people using a rope and a

plastic bag.

He also claimed that a “frontliner” asked him to wash the plastic bag used to kill Chua.

Catapang said they will be asking Tiaga’s companions who may have also witnessed Chua’s alleged killing, along with hospital officials and Metro Manila police, whom the corrections chief said handled COVID-19 cases at the time.

On top of these, Catapang also said they will be asking who were the attending doctors, who autopsied, who said that the inmates died from COVID-19 and who authorized the deceased inmates’ cremations. g

Dangerous Drugs Board open to medical use of cannabis

by CeCille Suerte Felipe Philstar.com

MANILA — The proposal to allow the medical use of cannabis is gaining ground, as the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) – the government agency tasked with creating policies in dealing with illegal drugs – is open to the idea.

During Thursday’s public hearing (Dec. 15 )at the Senate committee on health presided over by Sen. Robinhood Padilla, DDB Chairman Catalino Cuy Jr. said the board has issued a resolution approving the creation of the technical working group (TWG) which could study the proposal to allow medical use of marijuana.

“The DDB is open to the use of cannabis to be administered by a medical expert,” said Padilla. He clarified that the use is subject to regulation and constant monitoring. The DDB promulgated resolution 19 –approving the creation of TWG with people to evaluate the use of cannabidiol composed of experts from the Department of Health, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Science and Technology.

In the continuation of the Senate hearing for the use of medical marijuana or the Medical Cannabis Compassionate Access Act of the Philippines, Cuy clarified that those who will apply for access must first get a special permit from the FDA.

At present, the use of medical grade cannabis and the THC or tetrahydrocannabinol content should not exceed 0.1 percent but the use of oil form of medicinal cannabis is not yet allowed.

The FDA also allowed another medicine with medical cannabis – Epidiolex – for a rare type of epilepsy and seizures but the DDB said there is no pending request for them for a permit to use it.

The senators also learned that Epidiolex, currently being patented in the US but manufactured in other countries, is quite expensive as a 60ml vial costs $982 or about P50,000.

Dr. Katerina Tanya Gosiengfiao, president of the Philippine League Against Epilepsy, said aside from the price of the medicine, the cost of shipment would be added on and that the medicine could not be easily secured nor carried by an ordinary person. Apart from securing an import permit from the DDB, the doctor said it is also

necessary to find a company that will import here since it cannot be handled by an individual.

Acknowledging those apprehensive of possible abuse, anti-drug advocate Sen. Ronald dela Rosa has called on them to open their hearts and minds for compassionate use and support the bill.

“Open our hearts and minds to this possibility. I advocate against illegal drugs but for compassionate use, why not give it a try. Let’s open our minds and hearts, let’s see,” said Dela Rosa.

Duterte worried

The recent high-profile arrests of law enforcers involved in illegal drugs is worrying former president Rodrigo Duterte as it could be signaling the return of “ninja cops,” Dela Rosa said on Thursday

Dela Rosa said he was able to talk to Duterte recently and “he was really saddened that these things are happening, but he doesn’t want to interfere with how this government is running its own show.”

“He (Duterte) was just expressing his concern that the ninja cops, narcopoliticians… pity our children,” Dela Rosa told reporters partly in Filipino. “Ninja cops” is slang for law enforcers involved in the illegal drug trade, particularly those who resell seized drugs.

“As chairman of the public order committee, we’re concerned. I’m not saying our police force and the PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) are not doing their jobs but we must press them. It’s like the fear factor from President Duterte is now gone so they must compensate through their efforts,” he said.

He cited the ongoing investigation of the Philippine

“Rodrigo Roa Duterte was the only President of this Republic who dared to wage an all-out war against the proliferation of illegal drugs in the country. One might say that it was like opening a can of worms. Yes, this argument might be true. However, waging the war on drugs also opened our eyes to a reality we refused to acknowledge. Or was it merely hiding in plain sight?” he said in his speech.

“At the start of his term, then President Duterte made us realize that the drug problem was massive and complex – a web of intricate systems that branched out into other different criminal activities. Fortunately for the Philippines, our President was ready and willing to be the first to do the dirty and difficult work in order to untangle the knots of the criminal web,” he said. He cited a conversation with a mayor who lamented that drug syndicates are now back in business while asking authorities to continue to go after both big fishes and lowlevel pushers.

Dela Rosa also cited a 2019 Supreme Court ruling in the case of People v Ameril that expressed disappointment that the judiciary was swamped with cases involving small fry arrested for minuscule amounts and admonished law enforcement agencies to go after leaders of drug cartels. g

National Police (PNP) into two cops, who allegedly withheld P6.7 billion worth of shabu that was previously seized in raids. The senator delivered a privilege speech calling for the sustained fight against illegal drugs even as he cited Duterte’s unorthodox methods that yielded results felt by ordinary Filipinos.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla Philstar.com file photo

Senator Robinhood Padilla Philstar.com file photo

Uniting the world against corruption

OVER the weekend the U.S. government announced an asset freeze and other sanctions on about 40 persons in nine countries, among them Philippine televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, on charges related to corruption, fraud and human rights abuses including, in the case of Quiboloy, child rape.

Washington said the sanctions were part of moves coinciding with the observance of International Anti-Corruption Day on Dec. 9 alongside Human Rights Day. The United Nations is counting down to the 20th anniversary in 2023 of the UN General Assembly’s adoption of the UN Convention Against Corruption. The Philippines is among 189 parties that have committed to the obligations under UNCAC, which went into effect on Dec. 14, 2005.

Editorial

to be so complicated that people transacting with the government are compelled to pay grease money or “facilitation fees” just to get things done. The failure to punish officials implicated in large-scale corruption has bred impunity; corruption pays handsomely in this country.

UNCAC is legally binding to parties, and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime serves as secretariat for the convention’s Conference of States Parties. The U.S. move against the 40 persons is in keeping with the theme picked by the UN for Anti-Corruption Day, which is to unite the world against corruption.

In a message for the special day, the UN stressed that corruption fuels armed conflict, inhibits peace processes, aggravates poverty, slows economic development, and undermines democratic institutions and the rule of law.

Sadly, Filipinos know this only too well, with corruption deeply entrenched across all levels of government. Public service processes are designed

On the Move

SEGUNDO ECLAR ROMERO

THE continuing tussle over the Maharlika Wealth Fund (MWF) reveals the nature of the controversy—it is an ongoing vote of confidence in the Marcos Jr. administration’s economic strategy. As things stand in the public sphere, the people’s verdict is leaning toward a vote of no confidence.

My summary of the top infirmities of the MWF are: (1) dubious conceptual, legal, and contextual soundness; (2) no consultation with powerless, voiceless Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and Social Security System (SSS) stakeholders; (3) imagining that legal safeguards automatically translate into scrupulous implementation; (4) undue haste in ramming crucial

Sketches

A NA M ARIE P AMINTUAN

AS in our post-pandemic economic growth numbers that benefit from a low base, Ferdinand Junior is blessed with a predecessor who dramatically lowered the bar for public officials’ upholding of human rights. Everything is better by comparison.

Instead of cursing God, BBM and his family are attending mass.

This President respects women and isn’t the type who will crack rape jokes, leer at the Vice President or order soldiers to shoot female communist rebels in the vagina.

Presidential addresses to the nation and media interviews are no longer Rated R when aired. We haven’t heard BBM utter a cuss word in public, ever.

The most noteworthy improvement, of course, is in the approach to fighting the drug menace. Sure, there are still killings believed linked to drugs – as law enforcement agencies have warned, lethal encounters with criminals cannot be completely ruled out.

But in the absence of a president whose marching order in the anti-drug campaign is to kill, kill, kill, the level of violence is undeniably down. The days of Tokhang and Double Barrel are over.

Even when drug suspects are

Proceeds from corruption are also successfully laundered into politics, further weakening the quality of governance. With the political establishment unable to provide leadership against graft, there is no push for the urgently needed reforms. Instead, the push is for the preservation of the corrupt status quo and the protection of the unholy marriage of politics and family businesses.

The UN has emphasized the need to promote transparency and strengthen institutions. The Philippines, unfortunately, has been going in the opposite direction in terms of transparency. Undue restrictions have been imposed on public access to statements of assets, liabilities and net worth of officials starting with the president. The national budget has an ever-growing chunk allotted to confidential and intelligence funds that can evade

The people’s vote of no con dence

legislation through the House of Representatives; and (5) lack of clear progeny and responsibility for the current MWF concept. The very size and urgency of the MWF are its very weakness— lack of prototyping in proper context makes the scheme very risky.

But the optics are just as fatal. First is the insensitivity to the unsavory historic reputation of the Marcos family’s handling of public funds while in power. Second is the frontloading of credit to the Marcos family, while due diligence has yet to be completed by the economic managers.

The MWF could have been very timely when historic opportunities like the sale of Fort Bonifacio or Malampaya indeed created surplus government funds. The current context is also inauspicious—a world unsettled by COVID-19 and the Russian war against Ukraine sending destabilizing ripples

of inflation, shortages, and imbalances across the globe.

The regional optics also strike fear in the hearts of ordinary people as former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak goes to jail for plundering the 1MDB funds. The conjugal caper of Najib and Rosmah looks like “nothing but a second-rate, trying hard copycat” of the plunder of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos. So, what Shakespearean cruelty is contemplated for the nation when Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, and Ferdinand Martin Romualdez now push this “Maharlika” scheme, as if to evoke the blessing of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.?

In the wake of the recent OCTA survey that reports that the Filipino people give President Marcos Jr. an 86-percent trust rating and a 78-percent performance rating, how do we square these sparkling statistics with the incendiary pushback

the Marcos Jr. administration is getting? It is as if the people are saying: “You can help yourself to my vote and surveyed opinion, but don’t you dare touch my money.”

It is revealing how three economists display their support for this MWF. Albay Rep. Joey Salceda seems a reluctant promoter, but he pinpoints for us the real raison d’être for the Fund: “The General Appropriations Act (GAA) is restricted by the fact that you have 300 congressmen with parochial concerns. ’Pag dumaan sa Kongreso, every congressman wants something for his constituency.” So, Salceda looks at the MWF as if it were a traffic counterflow scheme to deal with a constipated Congress.

On the other hand, Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo thinks relying on the GAA is too slow. The MWF will energize investments and hasten Philippine development beyond

what the GAA can generate. She is so much more animated in defending the bill than Salceda. However, she admits the scheme needs tweaking and awaits the economic managers to perfect their submission to the House committee.

Confident and articulate as she is, Quimbo appears oblivious to the reputation of Congress as an institution that is footloose with the people’s money as suggested by the approval of the hefty intelligence and confidential funds of the President and the Vice President. She also affects naïveté in believing that the letter of the law and formal safeguards will dictate the success of a long-term project’s implementation.

As to our third economist, Central Bank governor Felipe Medalla, he seemed sure and sincere when he publicly expressed his initial doubts about the MWF. Apparently, as Quimbo explains, he was

Rights under Marcos 2.0

killed in police operations, the cops enjoy greater presumption of regularity in carrying out their work, unlike in the previous administration.

A good proof is that police raid on no less than a district office of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Taguig.

Rodrigo Duterte would have also gone after rogue elements in the PDEA. But under Double Barrel, a bloodbath would have ensued in that raid, with the three principal suspects likely killed ostensibly after nanlaban or resisting arrest.

*      *      *

The kinder, gentler approach to the drug menace has surely helped BBM in his personal interactions with his foreign counterparts. You can’t imagine Justin Trudeau of Canada, where marijuana is completely legal, comparing sock design with Duterte.

BBM and his officials have said the justice system in the country is functioning so they see no need for the International Criminal Court to push through with a formal investigation of possible crimes against humanity committed in Duterte’s bloody war on drugs. They also see no need for the country to rejoin the ICC.

Still, for the first time since 2015, the Philippines has allowed a special rapporteur of the United Nations to visit the country and freely conduct a study of the rights situation.

Although Mama Fatima

Singhateh is the UN special rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children and her visit has nothing to do with the Philippine campaign against illegal drugs or insurgency, her 10-day visit – which included a meeting with Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla – is another plus for Marcos Junior’s government.

Singhateh commended the Philippines for progress in the fight against child sexual exploitation.

The BBM administration’s commitment to this cause will be tested in the sanctions imposed by the U.S. on Marcos supporter and Duterte spiritual adviser Apollo Quiboloy (and about 40 other individuals in nine countries), to mark International Anti-Corruption Day and Human Rights Day.

*      *      *

In a press statement, the U.S. Department of the Treasury declared: “For more than a decade, Apollo Carreon Quiboloy engaged in serious human rights abuse, including a pattern of systemic and pervasive rape of girls as young as 11 years old, as well as other physical abuse.”

It added: “Quiboloy also subjected pastorals and other KOJC members to other forms of physical abuse. Reports indicate Quiboloy personally beat victims and knew where to hit them so there would be no visible bruising.” KOJC refers to Quiboloy’s church, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above

Every Name. That’s a serious indictment of the televangelist, who is on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Most Wanted List for, among others, sex trafficking, fraud and coercion and bulk cash smuggling.

Quiboloy’s lawyers have decried the sanctions as politically motivated and questioned its timing. Between KOJC and Washington, however, you can see which one suffers from a credibility problem.

Is BBM willing to be tainted with sleaze, particularly one involving child rape? On Sunday, December 11, Remulla said the government would gather “verified information” and seek legal advice from the U.S. on Quiboloy’s case.

Shortly after the FBI released his wanted poster, Quiboloy appeared in public with Duterte, whose dislike for the U.S. is no secret.

The Philippines under BBM has improved ties with Washington, but Quiboloy’s Sonshine Media Network International is Marcos’ (and his VP’s) favorite media organization. What if the U.S. formally seeks Quiboloy’s extradition?

Speaking of mass media, journalists are still targeted during the new administration, although this isn’t due to any systematic policy of the national government, but due to entrenched weaknesses in

the criminal justice system that breed impunity.

The murder of broadcaster Percy Lapid stands out for being one of the rare journalist killings perpetrated in Metro Manila, and of course because the accused mastermind is the suspended chief of the Bureau of Corrections – a holdover from the Duterte administration.

But the fact that the bizarre story behind the murder came to light and Gerald Bantag now faces criminal indictment together with his sidekick (now AWOL) plus hired guns and Bilibid inmates, is a plus for the new administration.

BBM now seems more relaxed with media organizations that he avoided during his election campaign. He has also said he would not block a new legislative franchise for ABS-CBN. This is noteworthy particularly because his father had also shut down ABS-CBN (plus all other independent media) when martial law was imposed.

Where there has been no improvement in the human rights department, as far as the Left is concerned, is in the approach to counterinsurgency.

The military continues to report lethal armed encounters with communist rebels. The Left maintains that there are no encounters, and those killed were summarily executed.

In this area, BBM is more like Duterte, supporting the military’s version of events.

BBM’s congressional allies have

absent when the economic managers forged their common position. Committees have a way of bending individual wills and convictions. Now, Medalla is portrayed in a joint press statement of the economic managers as fully supporting the Fund.

As it stands, the MWF is no longer “sovereign” nor about “wealth.” Without the contribution of GSIS and SSS and other excluded sources, it may be too modest for a sovereign fund. As for the word “Maharlika,” it is valid if by this we mean an edifice complex prone to hyperbole and incapable of real achievement.

(Inquirer.net)

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

* * * doyromero@gmail.com

also approved the P10 billion funding for the National Task Force to End Communist Armed Conflict.

Junior’s VP has also retained the P150-million confidential fund for her education portfolio, which the Left also suspects will be used not just to protect school children from sexual predators and drug pushers but also from “subversive” ideas. But what the VP will do with the funds still remains to be seen.

Overall, in the light of the abuses during the first Marcos presidency, plus Duterte’s record in the past six years, when it comes to human rights, Marcos 2.0 is already a major improvement. (Philstar.com)

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

ROBERT

close scrutiny by state auditors. It is no coincidence that the world’s advanced economies, which rank high in the happiness index that is based on quality of life, also rank high

in surveys on transparency and good governance. Unless the Philippines deals decisively with corruption, it cannot attain that quality of life. (Philstar.com)

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Malacañang file photo

Introducing Ayva Severy of HBO’s ‘The Garcias’

by MoMar G. Visaya / AJPress

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

“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 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!”

by Tessa Mauricio-arriola ManilaTimes.net

SO there I was, mic in hand, in the middle of Dolphy Theater, looking up the stage when someone sang, "So no one told you life was gonna be this way?"

I would've done the "clap-clap, clap-clap" response had my hands been free, not only because that's what you do, but because it was one Raymund Marasigan singing the iconic line from the "Friends" theme to me. To his left, of course, were the rest of the legendary Eraserheads, Buddy Zabala, Marcus Adoro and frontman Ely Buendia.

I had the sing-song quip coming, though. I started my series of questions by telling the Fab Four of Filipino Alternative Rock that I can only liken the magnitude of their reunion concert, "Ang Huling El Bimbo," to that of Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Monica, Joey and Phoebe's. So, if the Friends reunion was a global event, this has to be a national event at the very least.

For didn't time come to a standstill in early October as fans scrambled for tickets that completely sold out in four days? Didn't the mighty collaboration of four producers — WEU Event

To that, Raymund didn't burst into song but said instead, "We don't think about it [the magnitude of our reunion]. We know it's a big deal, we know it's a high-profile event, we know there are more seats available, and we know we will be streamed worldwide, but we don't think about it. Because if we start thinking about it, we'll be overwhelmed. We're focusing on the good show, but we're grateful it's being made a big deal."

Still the same guys who started the band in Diliman, QC in 1989, if there's anything the group insisted for the reunion, it's for as many people as possible to get to watch their show. Family men themselves, the EHeads value togetherness all the more today.

"It's not every day that people

enjoy the music a band makes, much less this band. It just makes everything all the more special," Buddy stepped in. "We've been together for some 30-odd years, and we've had music appreciators who have grown with us, grown older and have families now, and their kids are listening to our music. If that means that our music continues to create more fans of OPM, then we're really grateful and we're really happy."

Thick into rehearsals now, all signs point to an all-out spectacle on D-Day from the EHeads. After all, besides being their very last onstage, Huling El Bimbo is happening 13 long years after they mounted their first reunion, "The Final Set," in 2009, and 20 years since they disbanded to pursue different paths in music.

With concert director du jour Paolo Valenciano at the helm of this one, fans can expect some high tech stuff to happen too. Like the much talked about hologram of the "fifth head," the late iconic rapper Francis M., who was meant to be part of their first reunion. To top it all off, an 18-piece orchestra with the legendary Mel Villena as musical director will play the music for the rock-solid classics like "Pare Ko," "Magasin, "Ligaya," "Toyang,"

"Overdrive" and "With a Smile," to name a few.

Longtime EHeads producer Francis Lumen put it more eloquently when he said, "On December 22, we are going to attempt to make some historical achievements that no other local concert has ever done. It will be their last that's why we want to

give the fans one last epic show." With the final countdown underway, Raymund confessed, "We're excited with the music but napapagod kami physically because we're not as young as we want to be.

"But you can't help it. When you play rock 'n roll, you can't just play 20 percent. It always has

to be a 110 percent or you won't rock 'n roll."

With some 50,000 fans expected at SMDC, Marcus is right, ever the joker got it right in ending, "Suwerte ng audience na mapaanood kami ng live... kasi kami hindi namin kami mapapanood ng live kahit kailan." Gusto mo bang, sumama?

Ayva Severy

Photos courtesy of Ayva Severy

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

Ayva Severy at the premiere of “The Garcias”

Management Services, Ant Savvy Creatives and Entertainment, Inc., DVent Productions and Myriad Entertainment Corporation — work their butts off and convince SMDC to allot more space for December 22 and open up more tickets to frustrated fans? And hasn't the production partnered with iWantTFC to be able to live stream the definitive last time the EHeads will perform together on Philippine stage? One could well argue the reunion concert will be of global proportions anyway.

The band that started from Diliman in 1989 come together one last time for an epic show: (From left) Marcus Adoro, Buddy Zabala, Raymund Marasigan and Ely Buendia.

Photo from Instagram/@elybumbilya

New Year’s Eve fireworks expected to draw more than 300,000 to LV Strip

by RealtoR Fely Quitevis-Bateman

WHEN Las Vegas does one thing, it typically goes big. And that goes with New Year’s Eve (NYE) celebrations, which can rival the party atmosphere in New York, which has the traditional, glittering ball that drops at the stroke of midnight on December 31. That’s why Sin City has become a go-to destination for NYE celebrations, fun and revelry.

There will be fireworks galore and many parties taking place in the Strip, in the downtown area, and across the Las Vegas Valley to usher in 2023.

According to news reports, fireworks display will be launched from the rooftops of eight casino properties in the Strip, as part of the ‘America’s Party 2023” event in Las Vegas. If past fireworks displays are taken into consideration, this year’s display should be quite the spectacle that many are looking forward to seeing.

The eight properties taking part

in the event are MGM Grand, Aria, Planet Hollywood, Caesars Palace, Treasure Island, The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, Resorts World Las Vegas and The STRAT.

Whether you are out on the streets or inside one of the casinos, prepare to be amazed at the pyrotechnic displays prepared by organizers of this year’s NYE celebrations.

Aside from the fireworks, each of the casino-hotel properties have their own New Year’s Eve parties going on so visitors will have plenty of opportunities to join the revelry and enjoy the festivities.

Plus, the Strip is not the only place to party in Las Vegas. The downtown area, courtesy of Fremont Street, will have its own festival-type atmosphere where ticket holders get to experience fireworks, acrobatic performances, live entertainment, drink and dining options and a lot more.

If you want to escape the crowds along the Strip and in downtown,

there are a bevy of options – places like M Resort Spa Casino or Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa where one can also view the fireworks display happening in Las Vegas at a distance.

So, if you are planning on being in Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve, it’s advisable to have a location or two singled out so you, along with family, friends and other guests, can enjoy the NYE fireworks display and other goings-on.

Of course, fun and entertainment is on the menu in Las Vegas all year round.

Aside from artist residencies, major concerts, sporting events, shows, great restaurants, 24-hour gambling, and nearby tourist attractions (yes, one can visit the spectacle that is the Hoover Dam and the great wonder of The Grand Canyon easily from Las Vegas), locals and tourists have many things to look forward to in 2023.

For one, major sporting events are taking place in Las Vegas, which is poised as the next big sports capital in the United States. It already has football, soccer, triple-A baseball, hockey and recentl-crowned WNBA champion, the Las Vegas Aces. There are rumors of a Major League Baseball franchise moving to the city in the near future, and there is one group planning to construct an entertainment/shopping hub with an NBA-ready arena should the National Basketball Association decide to expand on its current size.

Las Vegas hosts Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games for the NCAA tournament in 2023 for the first time. Typically, Sin City hosts March Madness watch parties for the NCAA tournament, but with games scheduled in Las Vegas, this could even become a bigger event for sporting enthusiasts.

Later in the year, specifically in November, Formula 1 racing takes centerstage – crowds will hear the roar of racing cars as they navigate the twists, turns and straightaways of a 3.8-mile, 1215m wide street track where F1’s seasoned drivers will aim to win the title. Racing fans from around the world were reported to have rushed to buy tickets to the F1 Las Vegas race when it went on sale last November, about a year away from the actual race date.

Secondly, there are major changes taking place with the casino properties. Bally’s has been rebranded into a Horseshoe Casino after a multimillion-dollar renovation. Visitors to Sin City will

want to be the very first ones to experience the rebranded hotelcasino, which is part of Caesar’s Entertainment Inc.

Also, the Fontainebleau will be opening in late 2023 after undergoing many changes since its announcement in 2005. With a 2-story retail complex, lots of meeting/convention space, a hotel and casino, it will add to the bevy of spaces where expos, big meetings and corporate events can take place in Las Vegas.

The MSG Sphere at The Venetian, a music and entertainment arena, has been rescheduled to a 2023 opening. The MSG Sphere will rise to a height of 366 feet and width of 516 feet (at its broadest point), and can accommodate up to 20,000 people (17,500 seating, plus standing capacity). The sphere’s exterior venue can accommodate 580,000 square feet of programmable lighting, while the interor wraparound screen will measure 160,000 square feet.

Beyond 2023, the major hotel-casino properties are planning their own renovations and developments. Hard Rock International will be joining the scene as it purchased the operations of The Mirage and is scheduled to construct a guitarshaped property along The Strip.

Jobs will be available in Las Vegas in the foreseeable future, with all the construction, activities and openings scheduled in 2023 and in the foreseeable future.

Perhaps that is why Las Vegas continues to be an attractive addition to those wanting to expand their real estate portfolio.

Despite the increase in mortgage rates, Las Vegas properties – and those in nearby cities, towns and areas – continue to be affordable. Whether as an investment property

or real estate holding, those who want to invest in Las Vegas surely have something to look forward to as the city continues to expand and develop.

Now is the time to take advantage of deals in land and real estate properties. I have had decades of experience in helping people look for that piece of real estate heaven they want to build their special place, invest their money on and turn it into an income-generating property, or just buy something that their

budget can afford.

My company, Precious Properties, is a full-service company that has successfully helped its clientele find the best deals 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. (Advertising Supplement)

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

The 3.8-mile, 12-15m wide street track for the Formula 1 race in November 2023 will feature exciting twists, turns and a straightaway. Global race fans were among those who bought tickets to the Las Vegas F1 stop when it went on sale last month, about a year away from the actual event. File photo/www.f1lasvegasgp.com

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (left) with her clients and repeat investors Neneth Suarez (right) and husband Tony Suarez (not in picture) who are extremely happy with their properties in Pahrump. With Realtor Quitevis-Bateman and Neneth in photo is prospective client Josephine Devlin.

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (center) with her new Pahrump investors, (from left) Ron Quilang and Mico Osotio.

PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS

STUDIES have shown that the body relies on vitamin D to stave off heart disease, inflammation and even cancer. People with deficient vitamin D in their body are associated with a higher risk of dying prematurely and vice versa. Lack of vitamin D also results in poor cognitive function and increases the risk for dementia.

Recent groundbreaking research led by Dr. Kyla Shea, Ph.D., involving postmortem multi-data analysis of the brains of 290 patient-organ donors revealed (for the first time) that vitamin D is present in the brain tissue and a normal level of it is linked to better cognition and a lower risk for dementia among seniors. High concentration of vitamin D across the brain reduced the risk of dementia up to 33 percent.

How this vitamin acts to help maintain a healthy cognitive function is still unknown. More studies are needed to clarify this issue. Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is the form recommended and the dose to attain an optimal level is between 5,000 to 8,000 international units. Those with darker skin and people who rarely get exposed to the sun are the ones who most likely need vitamin D3 supplementation. Consult your physician before going on a medical regimen of any type.

FDA warning on LASIK LASIK stands for laser in-situ keratomileusis, a very comm procedure for vision correction in people who are farsighted or nearsighted with astigmatism. Each year, about 500,000 people undergo this 15-minute per eye, 25-year-old procedure, which costs thousands, and mostly not covered by insurance.

Last week, the FDA warned people about these possible aftermaths of LASIK procedure: double-vision, ongoing pain, dry eyes, and other complications. Some still need to wear eyeglasses following LASIK. The procedure is safe and common.

This caution will surely affect people’s thinking about LASIK. And eyeglasses today have wonderful pleasing and beautyenhancing designs.

Statins lower stroke

Popular cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, like atorvastatin (Lipitor) or rosuvastatin (Crestor) and others, appear to lower a person’s chance of having the deadliest form of stroke, the one caused by bleeding

D3 and the brain

in the brain, according to the journal Neurology. The stroke is medically termed intracranial hemorrhage, when an artery leaks and bleeds into the brain tissues.

Strokes are the country’s leading cause of disability and death. Statins, according to the report, are another powerful tool for stroke prevention. A healthy lifestyle, with abstinence from tobacco, a healthy diet, daily exercise, and stress management, reduce the risk for stroke and other cardiovascular and metabolic illnesses.

Statins reduce fatty deposits in the arteries that harden over time and block the arteries and cut off blood supply to vital organs, the brain in this case. Blockages in the heart artery lead to a heart attack. Around the world, people take statin to reduce the risk for heart attack and stroke.

466 died in a day

While COVID-19 seems to be easing up, wisdom dictates that people should still be concerned because as of last Monday, December 12, the 2-week daily averages were still 65,528 cases, 38,331 hospitalized and 468 deaths per day from COVID-19 in the United States alone. In the Philippines, there were 1,115 cases with 24 deaths from COVID-19. Worldwide, 6,658,727 have died as of Monday.

Even those with the 3rd booster (bivalent vaccines) could still be infected with the newer strains. Until there is a universal vaccine against COVID-19, we should consider each new strain to be a “different disease,” in order not to be surprised why those who are already vaccinated still get infected, and why we all should still be careful and get the latest booster. Since there is a tripledemic (Flu, RSV, COVID-19), masking and distancing in public places where there is a crowd is prudent, most especially for those with infants at home because RSV could be deadly for babies.

Pay attention, heed science and shun fake news and naysayers who claim vaccines and masks are useless. Vaccines and masks have saved billions of people around the world, multimillions in the Philippines and in the United States. This pandemic has clearly proven that beyond any reasonable doubt.

There is still no vaccine for RSV. There is a clinical trial vaccine for adults. There is a drug to protect premature babies and young children, palivizumab, as a series of monthly shots during the RSV season. There is wisdom, no shame, in being cautious.

Flurona two-punch

The combination of the flu and corona (COVID-19) infection, Flurona, especially this winter, could be significantly hazardous especially for seniors. In a UK study of about 7,000 individuals with COVID-19, 8 percent of them had a second virus, half of those with the flu. Those infected with Flurona were significantly more serious and required ventilation and more likely to die while confined. This is the reason why everyone should have both the COVID-19 booster and the flu shot.

Warning: Beta Carotene Diet and nutrition are vital drivers of diabetes T2 and cardiovascular diseases.

Researchers found that some micronutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, curcumin, and coenzyme Q10 reduced the risk for cardiovascular diseases.

Folic acid reduced the risk for strokes. They also discovered that beta carotene as food items could be beneficial but as drug supplements they are associated with increased cardiovascular risk and mortality and increases the risk for lung cancer. Vitamin C, D, and E and selenium had no effects on the risk for heart attack or stroke, or diabetes, one way or the other.

The American Heart Association recommends diets high in antioxidants (vegetables, fruits, nuts, etc.). Red meat is associated with higher morbidity and mortality, a shorter longevity.

Processed meats are linked to pancreatic, colon, and other cancers. The study, a review of 884 randomized controlled trials on 883,627 persons, was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

* * *

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

* * *

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

* * *

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

Boy Abunda’s unchanged good heart

by

THAT Boy Abunda was willing to sell his house (wonder which of his many properties?) for his artist Mariel Rodriguez to help her raise the P5 miilion she badly needed did not come as a surprise to me.

Before I go any further, the following is the back story of this item.

Mariel has joined the bandwagon of celebrities who dabble into vlogging.

But the content of her vlogs is mostly pranks on close celeb friends.

Yes, Mariel is able to juggle her time between online selling and vlogging, while taking care of her two daughters by Senator Robin Padilla.

As her manager, Boy suggests that Mariel do pranks sparingly and do vlogs on motherhood instead.

It was perhaps one last time she'd do a prankster that she thought of preying on Boy. Knowing the "King of Talk," he'd find it too difficult to tell a prank from what is real.

Still, Mariel believed it was worth the try. She already had a scenario in mind, she just needed to polish her story to make it seem seamlessly believable to achieve that sense of versimilitude.

The plot was such that she had to produce the balance of P5 million to fully settle the one truck of fresh beef she ordered for her Cooking Ina food market.

Mariel explained that the P5 million she was expecting to be paid to her that day by some client didn't come. That amount would have supposedly settled her obligation.

Mariel made it sound like it was a matter of life and death, that should she fail to pay the balance she'd be blacklisted by her suppliers.

After mentally weaving the story, an edgy Mariel phoned Boy who was then at a Zoom meeting.

Since she refused to bother Boy any longer, Mariel "abridged" her story but nonetheless told him

"O, sige, usap tayo after my Zoom meeting," Boy told Mariel reassuringly.

Mariel was promised by Boy he'd find a means to source the money.

But before Boy could hang up, a guilty Mariel quickly admitted to the prank for which she repeatedly apologized to her unknowing victim.

To which Boy said, "Prank or no prank, I'm still willing to help you. I'm even willing to sell my house for you!"

If I knew Boy (I address him as kuya) well enough, he is never the type who'd bombard you with questions why you failed to anticipate such problem would eventually arise.

It will always be a no-questionsasked conversation punctuated with words such as "Mag-iingat ka. Nandito lang ako if you need me."

In fact, Boy is right there even before the need arises!

Allow me to share this anecdote which I relish with fondness.

My friendship with Boy began in 1995 specifically in "Startalk" on GMA. He left the program sometime in 2000 to join ABSCBN.

Our respective network affiliations, however, hardly affected our friendship. In fact, it

all the more grew intense.

It was around 2005 or thereabouts that Boy learned about a gay comedian who threatened to sue me for libel (I had a regular column back then in a tabloid). By some fate, it was the same gay comedian who Boy detested for one reason or another.

I was at a presscon one afternoon when I got a call from Boy. First an exchange of pleasantries. Then after the blah-blahs, I told Boy about my dilemma. Although it wasn't my first taste of libel, I just thought how I'd manage to get out of it without spending on exorbitant lawyer's fees, etc.

There was Boy on the other end of the line, "Ron, if you like I can provide you with a lawyer. Don't worry, sagot ko na 'yon."

Of course, Boy would have to shoulder what was due the lawyer. And knowing how fiercely generous Boy is, there could be other freebies waiting on the side for me!

The gay comedian decided not to pursue the case until we became civil to each other.

And Boy? As usual, "Startalk" or no "Startalk,: TV or no TV, libel or no libel — Boy remains unchanged over time: always with a hand, if not a limb to help you rise above the most turbulent of times.

Matet vows to never talk to Nora again because of ‘tuyo wars’ US-based Filipino

by Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

ACTRESS Matet de Leon vowed that she will never talk to mom Nora Aunor again after the National Artist directly competed with Matet's "tuyo" business.

In her interview with Ogie Diaz, Matet said she talked to her mom before complaining about it publicly.

“Hindi ko na siya kakausapin ulit," Matet said.

"Kasi parang sa akin, ginawa ko na ang lahat," she added.

Matet said that Nora collaborated with her younger brother Kenneth and his girlfriend for their business.

“Ang alam ko, tinago nila sa akin because the girlfriend of my brother — both of them — kasama sila sa nagbuo nito,” she said.

“Kasama ko pa ‘yung girlfriend kasi lilipat sila malapit sa bahay namin… Tinitingnan ako sa mata nu'ng bagets nang parang walang nangyayari,” she added. “Bakit hindi niyo sinabi kung walang intensyong mang-asar?”

Nevertheless, Matet said she still respects her mom.

“Makakaasa pa rin naman siya ng respeto galing sa amin at katahimikan sa mga hindi dapat pag-usapan… Kaya lang, sana hindi na maulit ‘yung mga ganitong parang asaran,” she said.

in Beyoncé’s new video for ‘Break My Soul’

by KriStofer Purnell Philstar.com

U.S.-based Filipino mother Mama Lulu, a beloved personality on TikTok, could not contain her excitement after she and her two children appeared in a new video for Beyonce's song "Break My Soul."

Mama Lulu has become a viral sensation for Filipinos in the Philippines and abroad as she frequently appears on her son Olly's videos for TikTok.

One particular video sees Olly baiting Mama Lulu and his sister Apple by saying he doesn't like "Break My Soul," to which Mama Lulu responds, "Get out of here, before I break your

family featured

soul!" As of this writing, it has over 5 million views, 488,000 likes and surpassed 2,000 comments.

The said video is the opener for the new "Break My Soul (Hive Certified)" video on Beyoncé's YouTube channel which features videos of her fans — the BeyHive — dancing and jamming to the hit song.

Olly posted a new video on his TikTok account of Mama Lulu learning Beyoncé had included them in the video, and she was visibly ecstatic to see her face as the video's intro.

"I would like to thank Beyoncé, her mother Tina for having her, and my family... focus [on] the blanket, Oliver" said Mama Lulu

as she showed off her Beyoncé blanket, inspired by the singer's newest album "Renaissance."

Ollly added in the comments that his mother spent $100 (P5,500) and waited two months for the blanket, so it was only right she would share it with everyone.

Mama Lulu, Olly and Apple's content often revolve around family life, Filipino humor, and wholesome materials, with Mama Lulu's "eedjiot" phrase becoming a viral hit.

Olly's TikTok account has 16 million followers and nearing 775 million likes; the "Break My Soul (Hive Certified)" video, as of writing, is nearing a million views and 62,000 likes.

Matet de Leon

Photo from Instagram/@misismatet

Composite image of Mama Lulu and her son Olly

Photos from Facebook/@otakuyakisoba

Boy Abunda remains unchanged over time, always ready with a hand to help. Photo from Facebook/@The Real Boy Abunda what her urgent call was all about.

Sarah’s Christmas wish

by Anne PAsAjol Inquirer.net

SARAH Geronimo marked her comeback to the stage of the weekend variety show “ASAP Natin ‘To” with a performance of her single “Dati-Dati,” and a wish to be with her loved ones on Christmas.

After her song-and-dance number, the singer-actress spoke about how being on the show gives her a fulfilling experience as a performer, as seen on ABSCBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel on Sunday, Dec. 11.

Geronimo then disclosed how “Dati-Dati” was written by drawing inspiration from the sadness she felt reminiscing about “simple joys” and “simplicity of life.” She also addressed her ASAP family as well as her fans, dubbed as Popsters, and thanked them for their unwavering support.

“Maraming, maraming salamat po sa aking (Thank you so much to my) ASAP family for allowing me to promote my new original songs,” she said.

have taken some time but I’m here now. Thank you so much for accepting me again),” she added.

When asked what her Christmas wish would be, Geronimo responded, “Alam na ni Lord ‘yun, [‘yung] makasama ko ang mga mahal ko sa buhay habang buhay — habang ako ay nabubuhay.”

(The Lord already knows my wish, which is to be with my loved ones forever — as long as I live.)

Geronimo returned to the variety show last July but all her performances prior to “Dati-Dati” were recorded outside the studio. Geronimo’s comeback to the ASAP stage was confirmed to the public last Dec. 6.

Meanwhile, Geronimo addressed her parents through an open letter in October, with the singer extending her apologies for recent “life decisions” that affected their relationship.

While Geronimo did not mention anything specifically in her letter, it can be noted that the singer-actress’s relationship with her mother turned sour after her marriage to actor Matteo Guidicelli.

Andrea to play ‘Dyesebel’ in new ABS-CBN series

KAPAMILYA actress Andrea Brillantes will play the iconic role of "Dyesebel" in an upcoming ABS-CBN teleserye.

According to talent manager Ogie Diaz, Andrea will star in the iconic Pinoy mermaid role in 2023.

"Walang iba kung hindi si Andrea Brillantes, sa 2023 ito," Ogie said in his Ogie Diaz Showbiz Update YouTube channel.

"Andrea, good luck sa pagiging Dyesebel mo 'no? Kasi 'yong iba nagtatanong kung marunong bang mag-swim si Andrea. Yes, marunong mag-swim," he added.

Ogie said that Andrea's mom Belle is a certified diver and they are now training for the coveted role.

"Actually, 'yung nanay niya diver. Napakahusay sa diving ng nanay niya. Talagang nagpapractice na si Andrea. Mahusay na siyang sumisid," he said.

Ogie hopes that Andrea's boyfriend Ricci Rivero will be her leading man in the teleserye because of his manly features.

"Maganda kung si Ricci," Ogie said.

Conceived by Mars Ravelo,

Island Pacific Supermarket earns ‘great place to work’ certification

CITY OF INDUSTRY –Island Pacific Supermarket is proud to be the first Asian Supermarket chain in the United States to be Certified™ by Great Place to Work®. This prestigious award is based entirely on anonymous employee surveys of what current employees say about their experience working at Island Pacific.

Great Place to Work® Certification™ is the most definitive “employer-ofchoice” recognition that companies aspire to achieve. It is recognized worldwide by employees and employers alike and is the global benchmark for identifying and recognizing outstanding employee experience.

“Great Place to Work Certification™ isn't something that comes easily – it takes ongoing dedication to the employee experience,” said Sarah Lewis-Kulin, vice president of global recognition at Great Place to Work. “It’s the only official recognition determined by employees’ real-time reports of their

company culture. Earning this designation means that Island Pacific Supermarket is one of the best companies to work for in the country.”

Research shows that job seekers are 4.5 times more likely to find a great boss at a Certified great workplace. Additionally, employees at Certified workplaces are 93% more likely to look forward to coming to work, and are twice as likely to be paid fairly, earn a fair share of the company’s profits, and have a fair chance at promotion.

Maricel Aguilar, Island Pacific's Director of R&D, has worked in several large multinational companies and according to her, “What makes Island Pacific stand apart from the rest is that it’s a company that puts people first! When I was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, the company took care of me above and beyond my expectations. Not only did they keep me on the payroll with full pay and benefits for almost a year but after I recovered, they even built me a commercial home

kitchen that enabled me to work from home.”

Island Pacific is grateful to all its staff who have dedicated much of their lives to helping the company achieve its mission. Many of its staff have been with the company for over a decade while some have been there since the company was founded in the Year 2000. The company’s philosophy has always been that happy employees make for happy customers, which is why Island Pacific has always been known for the exceptional customer service it delivers.

If you want to grow your career at a company that puts its people first; visit Island Pacific's careers page at: https://islandpacificmarket. com/careers/.

[Island Pacific is supermarket chain dedicated to promoting Filipino Food and Culture to the rest of the world. It is headquartered in City of Industry, California and currently has 18 supermarket branches serving communities in California and Las Vegas.] (Yahoo Finance)

by jAn Milo severo Philstar.com

"Dyesebel" is a mermaid who becomes human through a deal with a sea witch. Other actresses who portrayed

the role were Vilma Santos, Alma Moreno, Alice Dixson, Charlene Gonzales, Marian Rivera and Anne Curtis.

Actress Andrea Brillantes

Photo from Instagram/@blyhte

Sarah Geronimo

Photo from Instagram/@justsarahgph

“Medyo natagalan po pero nandito naman po ako. Maraming, maraming salamat po sa muling pagtanggap (It may

Island Pacific is grateful to all its staff who have dedicated much of their lives to helping the company achieve its mission. Many of its staff have been with the company for over a decade while some have been there since the company was founded in the Year 2000. The company’s philosophy has always been that happy employees make for happy customers, which is why Island Pacific has always been known for the exceptional customer service it delivers.