122122 - Southern California Midweek Edition

IN one of her first moves leading Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass today issued an executive directive to accelerate and lower the cost of building affordable housing and temporary housing.

This comes as the city continues to grapple with a homelessness crisis.

For affordable housing built under Executive Directive 1, the City must complete the approval process within 60 days. When construction starts, the permit, utility and certificate of occupancy process will be completed in just 5 days for 100% affordable housing and in no more than 2 days for temporary housing. The Executive Directive comes on the heels of the mayor’s Emergency Declaration on Homelessness (her first act as mayor) and her activation of the Emergency Operations Center.

“This is a dramatic reduction in red tape and acceleration of the construction

US supports PH amid swarming of Chinese vessels in West Philippine Sea

by Daniza FernanDez Inquirer.net

“The

Adrian Gidaya Roxas, 43, was sworn in on Friday, Dec. 16 during an enrobing ceremony in Downtown Los Angeles attended by county judges and members of legal organizations and the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.

California Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Roxas to serve as a judge in October, according to a release from the Governor’s Office.

The Fil-Am lawyer fills in the vacancy created by the appointment Judge Maame Frimpong to the federal bench.

“The only thing I remember was how grateful I was for the people who got me here — from the people who trusted in me, from the people who believed in me,” Roxas recalled in his speech during the reception. “There’s a lot of work that

Former TV host Daphne Oseña-Paez is ‘Malacañang press briefer’

by Xave gregorio Philstar.com

MANILA — Former TV host Daphne OseñaPaez began serving on Tuesday, December 20 in Malacañang as its “press briefer” who will relay news and information about the activities and programs of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“She’s not new to the industry because she has been a reporter who was also assigned to cover Malacañang,” Office of the Press Secretary officer-in-charge Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil said in Filipino of Oseña-Paez’ appointment.

It is not clear what Oseña-Paez’ exact designation is. Asked whether she should be called an undersecretary or an assistant secretary, she replied: “You can just call me Daphne.”

“My role here is to amplify and communicate the message of President Marcos and the Cabinet and the government. And you are my partners in this,” she told

by Pia Lee-Brago Philstar.com

MANILA — A majority of Filipino adults will be facing the coming year with hope, according to a Pulse Asia survey.

The survey released on Monday, December 19 found only 8 percent were ambivalent or could not say if they were hopeful or not for 2023, while only 0.1 percent said they were hopeless for the new year.

“Virtually all Filipino adults (92 percent) will face the year ahead with hope, a sentiment echoed by 89 percent to 99 percent across geographic areas and by 86 percent to 94 percent in the various socioeconomic classes,” Pulse Asia said.

“Ambivalence on the matter is expressed by 8 percent of adults while less than 1 percent say they will face the coming new year without hope,” the polling firm added.

The nationwide survey, conducted from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1, showed 43 percent of adult Filipinos believed their Christmas celebration this year would be more prosperous.

It also showed that 42 percent expect their celebration to be the same as last year, while 6 percent said their Christmas celebration would be poorer than last year.

Pulse Asia said the same pattern of public

top concern of Filipinos

by Kristina Maralit ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte continue to enjoy "stable" approval and trust ratings, but he has to attend to the economy and address inflation, the top concerns of Filipinos, according to PUBLiCUS Asia's end-of-theyear survey.

The top concerns of the country the respondents want Marcos to immediately resolve are the high inflation rate and skyrocketing prices of commodities, the survey found. "The PH economy is still considered the topmost priority for President BBM to focus on.

Prices/inflation moves up as a clear second place indicating a growing concern, particularly in NCR (National Capital Region)," it said.

Also listed as issues needing resolution are difficulty in finding employment and not getting enough pay for those already with jobs.

The President "needs to arrest inflation increase to prevent turning Filipinos' worries into disappointment with his administration," the PUBLiCUS summary for the survey which was conducted from November 25 to 30, said.

PUBLiCUS said 64 percent of the 1,500 respondents approved of Marcos' performance, and 57

CPP founder Joma Sison dies

'A new era dawns' The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said that its disagreement with Sison ended with his death.

He was 83.

Sison died around 8:40 p.m., Friday, December 16, according to the information relayed through an email account of CPP chief information officer Marco Balbuena.

He said the "Filipino proletariat and toiling people grieve the death of their teacher and guiding light."

Balbuena added that the entire CPP will give the highest possible tribute to its founding chairman, "great MarxistLeninist-Maoist thinker, patriot, internationalist and revolutionary leader."

"We may have an opposing stance on the methodology he adopted to effect societal reforms but still, we pay our respect to the dead and extend our sincere condolences to his bereaved family, " the AFP said.

"Let us now all pray for peace to reign in our country, " it added.

Col. Medel Aguilar, AFP spokesman, meanwhile, said the death of Sison will surely weaken the underground movement.

"The loss of a 'teacher' and 'guiding light' leaves the organization with no purpose and clear direction," he said.

He said the organization needs

Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chairman Jose Maria “Joma” Sison ManilaTimes.net photo

MANILA — The Philippines received support from the United States amid the swarming of Chinese vessels in the Philippine territory.

The Department of National Defense earlier expressed concern on the surge of Chinese vessels at the Iroquois Reef and Sabina Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

United States supports the Philippines’ continued calls upon the People’s Republic of

China (PRC) to respect the international law of the sea in the South China Sea, as reflected in the UN (United Nations) Convention on the Law of the Sea, and its legal obligations pursuant to the 2016 arbitral ruling,” U.S. Department of u PAGE 2

JOSE Maria Sison, founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), has passed away after being confined for two weeks in a hospital in the Netherlands where he was in exile for years.

A FILIPINO American lawyer is now a sitting judge for the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Former TV host Daphne Oseña-Paez is...

reporters on her first day in her position.

She also made it clear that she is not speaking for Marcos, whom she said “will speak for himself” as she is “just here to support the Office of the Press Secretary for now.”

LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION

AUTHORITY (LACMTA)

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

LACMTA will receive Proposals for PS47365Employee Engagement and Recognition Program at the 9th Floor Receptionist Desk, Vendor/Contract Management Department, One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012 or electronically at: bids@metro. net.

A Virtual Pre-Proposal Conference will be held on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, 2:00 p.m. Local Time; attendance is optional.

All Proposals must be submitted to LACMTA in one of two ways: either (1) one hard copy original sealed envelope and marked with the RFP No.: PS47365 of the entire Proposal, including all submittal forms, submitted by mail or hand delivered to the reception desk: One Gateway Plaza, 9th floor V/ CM Department, Los Angeles, CA 90012. or (2) submitted electronically via email to bids@ metro.net. on or before 2:00 p.m. Local Time on Thursday, January 26, 2023. Proposals received after the above date and time may be rejected and returned unopened.

For a copy of the Proposal/Bid specification visit our Solicitation Page on our Vendor Portal at https://business.metro.net or for further information email Shannon Thoene at thoenes@ metro.net. 12/21/22

CNS-3652670#

ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)

Oseña-Paez acknowledged her past as a reporter, saying “this is no longer new to me.” She later said that she only reported on Malacañang for six months.

“Since I will be the one who will be regularly your source of updates from the Palace, I look forward to working with all of you, of course, in a harmonious and collegial manner because I’m also one of you,” she said.

“I’m very honored to be communicating the message and programs of this administration, of course, in an accurate and effective way and I will do my best.”

According to a 2021 feature story by The STAR, OseñaPaez first started as a reporter and newscaster on ABS-CBN and Studio 23 for two years beginning in 1997. Following this, she began hosting lifestyle and magazine show F that aired for seven years on the same networks.

Oseña-Paez then hosted other lifestyle shows including Urban Zone on ABS-CBN, which she “conceptualized, wrote and created,” and Cignal TV’s Recreate.

During the 2022 presidential campaign, Oseña-Paez caught the attention of social media users when she posted a photo of her wearing a red blazer embroidered with the Philippine flag along with a caption echoing Marcos’ campaign slogan: Samasama tayong babangon muli.

A 2009 column by Tanya T. Lara said Oseña-Paez’ father was the pilot of the president’s father and namesake. Her father was assigned as a diplomat to Canada in the early 1980s, but his papers were “lost” following the People Power Revolution.

“My father was not allowed to come back because he was a senior military official. It was just sad and strange that he was on the wanted list — and he was simply a pilot and a diplomat when all this heaviness happened,” Oseña-Paez was quoted as saying.

“As a teenager it made me confused. I rejected the Philippines altogether; I didn’t have Filipino friends in Canada. But in my adult life, I ended up coming back here — and I was the only one of all my siblings who married a Filipino.” n

US supports PH amid swarming...

State spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement on Tuesday (Philippine time).

“The reported escalating swarms of PRC vessels in the vicinity of Iroquois Reef and Sabina Shoal in the Spratly Islands interfere with the livelihoods of Philippine fishing communities, and also reflect continuing disregard for other South China Sea claimants and

states lawfully operating in the region,” he added.

The U.S. also shared the Philippines’ concerns on the unsafe encounter between the Chinese Coast Guard and Philippine naval forces in the West Philippine Sea.

In November, the Philippine military said that the Chinese Coast Guard forcefully retrieved Chinese rocket debris from them.

CPP founder Joma Sison...

to have "a good teacher and guiding light who will lead its members away from violence and destruction."

Most Pinoys facing new year with...

PAGE 1

opinion may be observed in the rest of Luzon, Mindanao, Class ABC, Class D and Class E.

Most Visayans (66 percent) said their Christmas celebration this year would be more prosperous while 58 percent of Metro Manila residents said their celebration would be just as prosperous as what they had last year.

The survey was conducted on 1,200 Filipinos aged 18 years old and above, and has a plus/minus 2.8 percent error margin at the 95 percent confidence level. n

Arsenio Andolong, Department of National Defense's public information officer and spokesman, said that Sison's death is but a symbol of the crumbling hierarchy of the CPPNational Democratic Front and its armed wing, the New People's Army, which he founded to violently put himself in power.

"His death deprived the Filipino people of the opportunity to bring this fugitive to justice under our country's laws," Andolong said.

"Sison was responsible for the deaths of thousands of our countrymen. Innocent civilians, soldiers, police, child and youth combatants died because of his bidding," he added.

The Defense spokesman called on the remaining few believers, "who have unwittingly turned themselves into the enemy of the people, still blinded by Sison's duplicitous and failed promises," to turn their backs on the violent and false ideology of the CPPNPA-NDF.

The DND official said further that five decades of brutal and bloody aggression against the state and the Filipino people have led to nothing but destruction and strife for thousands of Filipinos.

"A new era without Jose Maria Sison dawns for the Philippines, and we will all be better for it. The greatest stumbling block of peace for the Philippines is gone; let us now give peace a chance," Andolong said.Former

National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) spokesman Lorraine Badoy was less sympathetic.

"Death is too good for this evil communist terrorist. I bitterly spit this one out. How I wanted so badly to, at the very least, kick his ugly face in. I take great comfort at the thought that he saw the start of the end of his evil empire and he saw it crumbling via the NTF-Elcac and that we cut him to size and sent him to his grave," she wrote on Facebook.

Sison's 'legacy' Bagona Alyansang Makabayan head Renato Reyes, in a tweet on Saturday, said Sison's legacy was "the profound understanding and exposition of the problems of Philippine society. Second is establishing a movement that would address those social issues. It was never enough to interpret the world. The point always was to change it."

"The entire revolutionary forces in Southern Mindanao pay our highest revolutionary tribute to CPP founder, Ka Jose Maria Sison for his immeasurable contribution to the national democratic revolution," wrote the NDF-Southern Mindanao executive council's publication, Pasabilis.

Who is Joma Sison?

Sison was born in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur on Feb. 8, 1939.

A graduate of literature from the University of the Philippines Diliman in 1959, Sison, then a literature professor, founded the Kabataang Makabayan in 1964, alongside Nilo Tayag, who was involved in the 1970 First Quarter

Inflation top concern of...

percent rated his trustworthiness in addressing the country's problems as "high" or "very high."

Duterte earned 68 percent for performance and 63 percent for trustworthiness.

The high trust in the President spilled over to members of his Cabinet. Social Welfare and Development Secretary Erwin Tulfo and Duterte, as Department

of Education chief, took the top two spots with 65 and 61 percent approval ratings, respectively.

Marcos, who concurrently heads the Department of Agriculture, is third with 50 percent, followed by Finance chief Benjamin Diokno (32 percent) and Department of Health Officer in Charge Ma. Rosario Vergeire (25 percent).

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri preserved his approval

China, however, disputed and claimed that a “friendly” consultation took place.

Following the incidents, the U.S. expressed solidarity with the Philippines.

“The United States stands with our ally, the Philippines, in upholding the rules-based international order and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea as guaranteed under international law,” Price said. n

Storm against then president Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr.

He founded the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on Dec. 26, 1968, from the First Great Rectification Movement that criticized the 1930-era Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas. The current CPP is currently designated as a terrorist group by the government of the United States, along with the NPA.

Sison was imprisoned from 1977 to 1986. Since 1987, he had been living in the city of Utrecht in the Netherlands. In 1992, Sison and National Democratic Front (NDF) negotiator Luis Jalandoni had an ideological campaign called the Second Great Rectification Movement, which split the Filipino Left in the 1990s.

On Aug. 28, 2007, Sison was arrested in the Netherlands for the deaths of three people between 2003 and 2006. He was released on Sept. 13, 2007.

In 2016, Sison, who also served as chairman of the International League of Peoples' Struggles and then president Rodrigo Duterte were awarded the Gawad Supremo award, as part of their efforts to revive peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the Communist rebels, with mediation from the Royal Norwegian Government. However, the relationship soured in 2017 when Duterte branded Sison and the CPP-NPA-NDF as a terrorist organization. Before his death, Sison served as the NDF's chief political consultant. n

scores, with 49 percent, along with House Speaker Ferdinand Romualdez (44 percent), although their trust ratings have declined with Zubiri at 36 percent and Romualdez at 35 percent.

Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo's rating dipped, compared to the previous quarter, with 38 percent for performance and 30 percent for trust. n

Several ships believed to be Chinese maritime militia were spotted by fishermen in Iroquois Reef in the West Philippine Sea in this photo taken in September. The military said an average of 25 vessels have been monitored there from September to December based on their patrols. PCG photo

Former TV host Daphne Oseña-Paez began serving on Tuesday, December 20 in Malacañang as its press briefer. Malacañang photo

champion Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo poses with her fans upon

Diaz-Naranjo, the country's only Olympic gold medalist, won three gold medals

category in the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Championships in Bogota, Colombia

photo by Avito Dalan

San Diego’s Fil-Am mayor to lead California’s Big City Mayors coalition

SAN DIEGO – California’s Big City Mayors selected San Diego’s Filipino American mayor to lead the statewide coalition in 2023 and 2024.

The influential bipartisan group composed of the mayors of the 13 largest cities in California by population recently selected San Diego’s Mayor Todd Gloria as its leader. The coalition is composed of the mayors of Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Fresno, Sacramento, Long Beach, Oakland, Bakersfield, Anaheim, Stockton, Riverside and Irvine.

In assuming this new role in statewide leadership Gloria has opted not to seek the chairmanship at the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) and supports County Supervisor Nora Vargas for the role.

“California’s cities face daunting challenges, and I’m humbled by the trust my colleagues in the Big City Mayors Coalition have placed in me to lead them,” Mayor Todd Gloria said in a press statement.

“Since taking office, I’ve worked with the Big City Mayors coalition to secure funding to get thousands of people off the streets into housing and to pass the Governor’s CARE Court proposal, enacting badly needed reform to the state’s mental health system. I’m committed to working with federal and state leaders to leverage our voice to get results on homelessness, housing costs, and mental health for all Californians.”

The Big City Mayors Coalition represent nearly 11 million residents in the state, more than a quarter of its population.

The bipartisan coalition was successful over the last several years in securing dedicated funding to address homelessness in the state’s big cities through California’s Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) program.

The group will continue to strengthen HHAP’s focus on accountability for the funding that goes to cities, counties and continuums of care,

highlighting the successes cities are having with the funding and conveying the need for continued investment at the local level to help the state address its most critical challenge.

The coalition also was a powerful voice in securing federal pandemic relief and economic recovery funding for cities, ensuring continuity of critical neighborhood services and positioning California’s residents and businesses on a path to faster recovery.

It was also a driving force in pushing for the passage of SB 1338 (Umberg) last year, the bill that carried Governor Newsom’s CARE Act, to reform California’s approach to mental health to help people struggling with mental illness access services.

Additionally, the group secured a dedicated allocation through the state’s CaliforniansForAll Youth Jobs Corps program to fund public-service job opportunities for underserved youth ages 16 to 30, engaging them in the workforce. (Inquirer.net)

Fil-Am sworn in as Los Angeles County...

PAGE 1

went into this appointments process, a lot of behind the scenes support.”

Prior to the judgeship, Roxas has been a partner at Roxas Law, a boutique law firm in Southern California, specializing in family law and victims’ rights.

He previously served as a prosecutor with the LA County District Attorney’s Office from 2007 to 2020, where he prosecuted and tried to verdict a wide array of crimes, from misdemeanors to serious/violent felonies, including sexual assault crimes, domestic violence, murder and special circumstance murders.

Roxas was joined by his wife Sandy, also a lawyer and founding partner of Roxas Law, their two daughters, his mother and extended family.

“[This] is a testament to how important it is to surround yourself with a community of people who uplift you and support you,” Roxas said. “I have been blessed to have that community throughout my entire life, as a young child and up until now as a judge.” (AJPress)

LA Mayor Bass signs directive to address...

PAGE 1

timeline that will move people inside faster and save precious dollars that can be invested in more housing and more solutions for L.A.’s homelessness crisis,” said Bass. “By declaring a state of emergency; by activating the City’s Emergency Operations Center; and by signing this executive directive today, we

are breaking City Hall away from its traditional approach that is focused on process and replacing it with a new approach focused on solutions, results and speed. This is a sea change, and that is what we need to bring a new direction to Los Angeles.”

The signing of the Executive Directive took place on the active construction site

of Lorena Plaza in Boyle Heights, which took 14 years of navigating regulatory and legal hurdles to finally break ground. Under this directive, at least 31 pending 100% affordable housing projects will be immediately expedited with the urgency representing the emergency that the city of Los Angeles is facing. (AJPress)

5 TIPS FOR A HEALTHY HOLIDAY SEASON

Make COVID-19 an uninvited guest.

It's okay to set rules! Whether that's having everyone be up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines or getting tested, everyone wants to celebrate safely.

Stay healthy to ensure you can fully enjoy all the celebrations.

Getting your vaccine and updated booster will help protect you and your loved ones so you can make the most of the festivities together. The holidays are a busy time of year and staying healthy ensures you can fully enjoy all the celebrations with family and friends.

Enjoy your festivities in the fresh air.

Consider hosting your guests outdoors, if weather permits. If gathering indoors, open a few windows to keep fresh air circulating.

Test before gathering.

At-home COVID-19 tests provide a sense of security before you gather. Testing positive for COVID-19 means staying home until symptoms have passed.

Consider wearing a mask based on local transmission rates.

COVID-19 case rates and hospitalizations can change quickly. It’s a good idea to know what’s going on in your community and to recognize your own tolerance levels and those of your guests. If you’re hosting a large indoor event, consider placing a basket of masks at the door for your guests if they choose to wear one. Attending a large-scale event? Remember to bring a well-fitting mask to use when you arrive if it makes you feel more comfortable.

Medicare pay cuts will hurt seniors’ care, doctors argue

by Michael Mcauliff California Healthline

DOCTORS are urging Congress to call off cuts scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1 in the reimbursements they receive from Medicare.

In what has become an almost yearly ritual, physician groups are arguing that patients will have greater difficulty finding doctors who accept Medicare if lawmakers allow the pay cuts to happen.

A more than 4,000-page draft government spending bill released by lawmakers early Tuesday morning proposed much smaller-than-planned cuts to Medicare payments. But the bill, which Congress hoped to pass by the weekend to keep the government funded and avert a shutdown, would not go as far as doctors wanted.

“Despite overwhelming bipartisan, bicameral support to stop the full Medicare physician payment cut, Congress failed once again to end the cycle of harmful Medicare cuts, showing a disregard for vulnerable seniors,” the Surgical Care Coalition, an organization representing surgeons and anesthesiologists, said in a statement.

The doctors’ lobbying campaign had gained traction on Capitol Hill. A bipartisan group of 115 House lawmakers rallied behind doctors in a letter to congressional leaders and President Joe Biden last week, urging them to prevent

cuts that they argued would “only make a bad situation far worse” for Medicare patients.

In recent years, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services scheduled the pay cuts to offset the cost of increasing payments for underpaid services, like primary care. Physicians also stand to see reductions tied to broad cuts implemented by Congress in recent decades to try to control government spending.

Some Republicans have pushed to wait on passing the spending package until their party controls the House of Representatives next year and can have a greater say over what they call out-ofcontrol spending. One priority of the incoming House Republican majority is curbing Social Security and Medicare, a federal health insurance program for people age 65 and older, among others.

“We’re mortgaging our kids’ futures,” Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, a Republican on the Senate Budget Committee, told reporters, referring to overall spending. “This is killing us from a financial standpoint. It’s got to stop.”

Despite concerns about ballooning government spending, for years doctors have been successful in delaying or softening proposed pay cuts, arguing that there would be dire consequences if the cuts kicked in.

Physicians carry a lot of political weight in Washington. The American Medical Association,

the professional organization that represents and lobbies on behalf of physicians, has spent more than $460 million on lobbying since 1998, more than almost any other organization, The New Yorker reported this year.

Since the early 2000s, Congress has voted every year or two to delay or reverse plans to reduce Medicare payments to doctors. In 2015, Congress ended one measure that would have cut payments by 21%. Last year, Congress plugged a 3% hole.

If Congress is unable to pass the spending bill, physicians face a 4.5% cut in Medicare fees. Under the draft legislation released Tuesday, they would instead see about a 2% cut beginning Jan. 1. Other reductions — including a 4% cut under a congressional budget rule that balances spending and the expiration of a payment program that offered 5% bonuses — would be delayed further or reduced.

As in previous years, physicians have waged a frantic campaign to convince Congress that reducing the amount paid to care for Medicare patients would drive more doctors away from accepting them as patients at all.

Earlier this month, the American Medical Association sent a letter to congressional leaders signed by all 50 state medical associations, as well as that of the District of Columbia, arguing pay cuts would take a toll on doctors and patients.

7

PAROLE. A total of

deprived

liberty

Adrian Roxas, 43, is now a judge for the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Dateline PhiliPPines

Tulfo seeks free legal education in exchange for two-year gov’t service

by XaVe GreGorio Philstar.com

MANILA — Sen. Raffy Tulfo has filed a bill that seeks to make attending law school in state universities and colleges free, but those who graduate and eventually become lawyers must work in government for two years.

Marcos wants OFW investments, but overseas Pinoys face tough times too

by Kaycee Valmonte Philstar.com

MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has called on overseas Filipino workers to invest more in the Philippines to help the country bounce back from the economic effects of the pandemic.

However, OFWs emphasize that they, too, are still reeling from the pandemic’s economic effects. This is on top of having to deal with and pay for services rendered by the Philippine government to migrant workers.

"Christmas this year brings no joy to us, largely because of the policies of the Bongbong Marcos government," Migrante International, a coalition of overseas Filipino workers and their families, said in a statement. Included in Marcos Jr.’s itinerary for his overseas trips are meetings with Filipino communities abroad, where he has repeatedly called on OFWs to encourage or even start their own investments back home to help revitalize the economy.

But how can they send more money back home when OFWs — many of whom are abroad precisely because of a lack of opportunities in the

Philippines are also trying to get by?

Paying more for services

Rhodney Passion, a representative of Migrante Europe, said the Department of Foreign Affairs has increased service and document fees following the release of DFA Circular 2694.

For example, the price for passport services across the Eurozone has increased to 66 euros from 54 euros. Passion hopes that the government will rescind the circular, especially as Europe is also bracing for the impact of inflation.

"Marcos Jr. showered OFWs with praises when he took his three-day visit to the EU Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, but this is not enough… while he is praising us, he is also torturing us with a plethora of mandatory fees," Passion said in a briefing with reporters on Friday, adding that while expenses and payments keep going up, their salaries remain the same.

OFWs continue to call for the abolition of the required Overseas Employment Certificate, while seafarers are asking government to get rid of the expensive mandatory trianings for the crew that cost thousands of pesos.

The group also raised concerns over PhilHealth and SSS premium hikes that are expected to begin next month.

"The Marcos government continues to treat migrant Filipinos as milking cows," Migrante said.

Money needed back home

Inflation in the Philippines rose to 8% in November, the highest inflation print since November 2008 amid the Global Financial Crisis.

"It’s not true that OFWs are happy that we get to send a higher value of money because of exchange rates. We are getting sadder because our family will keep requesting for more remittances because of higher commodity prices back home," Mark Aquino, a Filipino based in the Middle East, said in the same briefing.

Now that Christmas festivities near, OFWs said that while their families have asked for money for their celebrations at home, the parties will have to remain simple.

As much as they want to send more support back home, resources remain limited and overseas Filipinos find themselves tightening their own belts. n

“One of the reasons for lack of access to justice in the Philippines is the shortage of practicing lawyers,” Tulfo said in his explanatory note for Senate Bill No. 1610. “This measure seeks to ensure that law students will have access to legal education in the SUCs and at the same time increase the workforce of the legal profession.”

Filipino students taking up the Juris Doctor program in state universities and colleges will be qualified for free legal education should the bill pass into law in its current form.

Law students must carry a full load of subjects every semester and must finish the entire program within the time frame prescribed by the SUC where they are enrolled in and must take the Bar Examination within a year of graduating.

Aside from tuition fees, Tulfo’s bill also seeks to waive Bar Exams and licensure fees and other school fees like books, student registration fees and library fees.

The proposed law also mandates SUCs to create a mechanism which will ensure that “students with the financial capacity to pay for their education” need not apply.

Also disqualified from enjoying the benefits of the proposal for free tuition in law schools are students who have already obtained a Bachelor of Laws or a Juris Doctor degree, those who fail to comply with admission and retention policies of SUCs and those who fail to complete the Juris Doctor degree within the prescribed period.

Those who do become lawyers after graduating from the free legal education program must

Those

work in government for two years within four years after obtaining their license either in the Public Attorney’s Office or “any government agency lacking lawyers” as determined by the Legal Education Board.

who fail to comply with the mandatory return service will be required to reimburse

the government the full cost of scholarship, including other benefits and expenses.

“The requirement to render return service in the public sector shall pave the way for a sustainable human resource deployment in the public sector that is critical for the nation’s justice system,” Tulfo said. n

Aside from tuition fees, Sen. Raffy Tulfo’s bill also seeks to waive Bar Exams and licensure fees and other school fees like books, student registration fees and library fees. Philstar.com file photo

GIFT ITEMS. Dolls in colorful dresses are among the bestselling items at a toy shop in Cubao, Quezon City on Tuesday, Dec. 20. Malls have extended operating hours until midnight to allow shoppers to complete their Christmas purchases. PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

COVID is still around

THE World Health Organization keeps saying it: COVID-19 isn’t over. The world is seeing this in China, which only recently lifted its zero-COVID policy and loosened most restrictions following unprecedented public protests and calls for the resignation of President Xi Jinping.

Now the Chinese on their own are confining themselves to their homes as a COVID surge similar to the one at the start of the pandemic sweeps across the country, particularly in densely populated urban centers such as the capital Beijing and financial hub Shanghai.

Editorial

Trading was thin at the Shanghai stock exchange on Monday, December 19 as many employees called in sick or preferred to stay home to avoid infection in the workplace. Many schools in the city shut down anew starting Monday.

Considering that the SARS-CoV-2 originated from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the country has registered one of the lowest COVID death rates, at 5,235 as of Dec. 3. Chinese officials attribute this to the wide availability of several locally developed coronavirus vaccines and to the zeroCOVID policy. But scientific modeling by the USbased Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation now projects over a million COVID deaths in the country for 2023, with infections peaking by April 1 when the fatalities hit 322,000. An earlier peak is projected by next month, as the country’s 1.4 billion population celebrate the Lunar New Year

From My Point of View

D A n e n ino

BASED on my experience as I age up going through tough battles in life, I encounter some tough love. We all do.

Tough love is an example of unconditional love with one’s partner, siblings, relatives, kids and even with my fraternity brods and sisses with whom I have shared common denominators, experiences, initiations and rituals.

Tough love is about recognizing faults of our partners and loved ones without being affected or distracted emotionally — overcoming, overlooking or forgiving their faults or sins because we are really stuck with

holiday. As always, the elderly and immunocompromised, particularly the unvaccinated or partly vaccinated, are the most vulnerable to critical infection. Health experts attribute the surge to the new and highly transmissible Omicron variant BF.7, against which the traditional COVID vaccines made in China are reported to be ineffective. Booster uptake is also low as many Chinese, according to reports, do not want their domestically developed vaccines for their boosters.

The WHO and other health experts are pressing Beijing to speed up approval of new-generation Western-made bivalent vaccines that tests have shown to be effective against the emerging SARSCoV-2 strains.

Vaccine uptake has also slowed down in the Philippines, and booster uptake is even more lackluster. People seem to be waiting for the arrival of bivalent vaccines against the new COVID variants, with little awareness about the reminder of health experts that these can be given only to those who have received their second boosters.

The government will have to further intensify

that relationship until one gives up. There’s no turning back, so to speak because it creates more problems especially when you’re married.

As a tax preparer and business consultant, I encounter clients who pour out their problems to me. Sometimes, I also serve as a marriage counselor. So I listen. There’s an issue of division of property. And when the couple don’t agree with what to divide between them with the termination of that relationship, the marriage take its toll like anxiety, mental health issues and no peace of mind. It’s only the lawyers who are benefiting. The more the issue of divorce gets longer, the more the lawyer gets more money from both litigants.

Do you know the meaning of this idiom, “familiarity breeds contempt?" What does it mean?

I’ll answer that with an example: Because you know someone very well like a member of your family, you stop respecting them and show your hostility by uttering words that are hurting. In that you think the recipient of that tirade can just bear it, can just take the bullet or can just take it for granted. That’s wrong! No matter how we have known each other in a relationship, we have to say our statements lovingly, tenderly and with respect.

Topics to avoid in a gathering I found out are: politics, religion, inheritance and sometimes sports. An avid fan would dispute who is the better

Tough love

shooting guard: Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan. Centers Shaquille O’Neal or Kareem Abdul Jabbar; Forwards Lebron James or Kawhi Leonard?

But the most toxic topic is politics especially those who are avid pro-Republicans like Trumpism, conservative values, anti-abortion, or election deniers vis-a-vis pro-Democrats who are mostly pro-immigration reform, spousing abortion rights, medicare reform and lower drug prescription, among others.

As you know I belong to the old school. I grew up in a family that cannot just answer back one’s father, no matter how wrong or right a father is. Never answer a father. The tough love mentality kicks in. You might face serious consequences like belting you in

the buttocks. I know of someone when a son answered his dad here in California. He did not let his son enter the family home. The son slept in his car for many months and didn’t talk for years.

The loving mother had no choice but to buy the son a house.

How do you do deal with tough love? Many times, the practice of tough love reveals that a person uses it because they assume their partner is incapable of learning by showing soft love or affection. They assume that is the only way to make their partner understand something and that being 'soft' with them won't help them learn. So they resort to TOUGH LOVE.

This is what our Lord Jesus said: “If someone sins against you, then you're to confront that

person in a respectful way. If he or she listens and repents, you're to forgive, and the relationship is healed. If there's no repentance, you must take additional steps of TOUGH LOVE. The purpose isn't revenge, but redemption.”

To me, that's TOUGH LOVE.

Another way of getting over a tough love situation is: lean on trusted friends to help you remain motivated, confident and on track. This way, you can release your pent-up emotions and feel better. It’s cathartic.

* * * 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.

* * *

What if the US asks for Quiboloy’s extradition?

any case, to study any request for extradition, if one is made.

The “sanctions” imposed by the United States Department of Treasury on Apollo Carreon Quiboloy, founder and selfproclaimed “Appointed Son of God” of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) religious sect for alleged human rights violations (fittingly on Dec. 10, Human Rights Day) and other offenses recall the case of the late congressman Mark Jimenez.

WHEN THE SANCTIONS WERE IMPOSED, Quiboloy was no longer in the US but his and the KJC’s properties and bank accounts there were frozen. US citizens and residents were barred from transacting with him and the KJC.

May I add, in fairness, that Quiboloy, in local media briefings, claimed he was deprived of his human rights when the US, without prior notice and due process, suddenly imposed the sanctions.

While no request for Quiboloy’s extradition has been made, many have asked what our country’s response should be and, specifically, what process would be undertaken, if such a request were made. When asked these questions, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, in an abundance of caution, was noncommittal, saying the Department of Justice (DOJ) has no official notice of the sanctions and would have, in

TO BE CLEAR, AN EXTRADITION TREATY BETWEEN THE PHILIPPINES AND THE US was signed on Nov. 13, 1994, which our Senate later ratified. The extradition process has two phases or stages: (1) a preliminary or an evaluation stage during which the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) ascertains whether the extradition request of the US is supported by the documents and information required under the Treaty; and (2) the extradition hearing during which the DFA, in coordination with the DOJ, after determining that the extradition request is properly supported by the required documents, files the extradition charge in an appropriate Regional Trial Court or RTC, which in turn determines whether the wanted person should be extradited. The first is essentially an executive determination, while the second is a judicial process. The issue in the Jimenez case is whether during the first phase, the wanted person is entitled to notice and hearing and whether he/she had the right to have copies of the extradition request and its supporting documents.

IN SECRETARY OF JUSTICE V. LANTION (Jan. 18, 2000), the Supreme Court, voting 9-6, answered the question in the affirmative: Yes, Mark Jimenez—the Filipino wanted by the US government for the criminal offense of donating to the election campaign of Bill

Clinton (who was subsequently elected US President but who did nothing to stop the criminal suit and extradition request against Jimenez)—was entitled to be heard. (Foreigners like Jimenez are barred by US law from making political donations.)

The decision written by Justice Jose A. R. Melo (joined by JJ Bellosillo, Vitug, Kapunan, Quisumbing, Purisima, Buena, Santiago, and De Leon) mainly ruled that Jimenez was already at risk of being “deprived of his life, liberty or property” even at that early phase because under the Extradition Treaty, the US, “in case of urgency,” could ask for the provisional arrest and detention of the wanted person to prevent him/ her from fleeing.

Justice (later CJ) Reynato S. Puno and I (joined by CJ Davide and JJ Mendoza, Pardo, and Reyes) wrote dissents principally because Jimenez was not at risk of being arrested; the DFA would merely determine the questions of whether the documents were complete and whether the charge against him was politically motivated. It was the RTC that would determine whether a warrant of arrest should be issued.

THIS INITIAL VICTORY OF JIMENEZ WAS SHORTLIVED. Acting on a motion for reconsideration, the Court, on Oct. 17, 2000—by the same vote of 9-6 (JJ Quisumbing, Purisima, and De Leon somersaulted and joined the erstwhile dissenters)—reversed itself and adopted the dissents

of J Puno and me. Principally, an extradition case is not criminal in nature. Its purpose is merely to determine whether the wanted person should be placed in the custody of the US where he would have to face the criminal charges and argue his defenses.

Eventually, Jimenez had to face criminal charges in the US courts where he was given the usual constitutional rights accorded to the accused.

To close, for fairness sake again, may I stress that as of now, no request has been made

for the extradition of Quiboloy. But if and when made, the Philippines will have no choice but to follow the Extradition Treaty as it did in the case of Mark Jimenez.

Though a member of Congress, Jimenez was still subjected to the extradition process. And though he was close to both former presidents Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Joseph Estrada, neither intervened in the process without endangering our diplomatic relations with America. Jimenez was charged

merely with prohibited election contributions to the winner (Clinton), while Quiboloy was sanctioned for alleged violations of human rights, dollar trafficking, and rape of young women-members of the KJC.

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

* * *

Comments to chiefjusticepanganiban@ hotmail.com

Artemio V. PAngAnibAn

ANDY

MOMAR

ManilaTimes.net photo

the COVID inoculation effort while speeding up the procurement of the bivalent vaccines. At the same time, the country must tighten screening of visitors from China particularly when many resume

international travel next month for the Lunar New Year. The ongoing surge in China provides ample warning that COVID is still around, and countries become complacent at their own risk. (Philstar.com)

Founder and self-proclaimed “Appointed Son of God” of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC), Apollo Carreon Quiboloy Inquirer.net file photo

Medicare pay cuts will hurt seniors’ care, doctors argue

“Burnout, stress, workload, and the cumulative impact of COVID-19 are leading one in five physicians to consider leaving their current practice within two years,” the letter said. “Payment cuts will only accelerate this unsustainable trend and undoubtedly lead to Medicare patients struggling to access health care services.”

According to the American Medical Association, the costs of running a medical practice climbed 39% from 2001 to 2021, but Medicare payments to doctors, adjusted for inflation, dropped by 20% over that span.

“Running our businesses is more expensive than it was,” said Dr. Loralie Ma, a radiologist in the Baltimore suburbs, citing rising costs for expenses ranging from gauze and surgical tubing to salaries for office staff. “It’s very hard, and when Medicare does something like this, it decreases access, specifically for seniors.”

“There are patients looking for physicians they can’t get. They’re on Medicare, and physicians aren’t accepting new Medicare patients,” said Dr. Donaldo Hernandez, a physician based in Santa Cruz, California, who is president of the California Medical Association.

It is difficult to “break even” caring for Medicare patients under the current government rates, he said. “It just doesn’t make economic sense.”

An agency that advises Congress on Medicare matters has expressed concern about certain Medicare payments for primary care and has reported that, from 2015 through 2020, the number of primary care physicians treating Medicare beneficiaries dropped from 2.8 to 2.4 per 1,000 beneficiaries.

According to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), about 3% of Medicare beneficiaries surveyed in 2021 said they had looked for a new primary care provider in the previous year and had trouble finding one.

However, looking at a broader picture based on data from 2019 through 2021, “access to clinician services for Medicare beneficiaries appeared stable and comparable to (or better than) that for privately insured individuals,” MedPAC Chair Michael Chernew said in an Oct. 28 letter to members of Congress.

Gerard Anderson, a professor of health policy and management at Johns Hopkins University, said doctors’ objections to the scheduled pay cuts have a familiar ring.

“For 40 years I have heard providers argue that they will go out of business or not accept Medicare patients if … cuts go through,” Anderson said. “Medicare patients are still seeing their physicians, hospitals, and other providers 40 years later.”

For most doctors, fee-forservice payments from Medicare represent a small portion of their business, Anderson added. The rest can include payments from Medicare Advantage health plans, which have their own payment systems, and private insurers, he said.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, a top Senate Democrat, and Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, a top Senate Republican, in November wrote a letter signed by a bipartisan group of 44 other senators in November urging party leaders to block the looming cuts.

“We’d like very much to have a health package that would stop cuts and do some other policy changes that we need. It’s not agreed to yet, but I’d love to see it happen,” Stabenow said in an interview with KHN on Dec. 15.

Asked if she was optimistic, she said, “I think we have a reasonable chance.” n

KHN Washington editor and correspondent David Hilzenrath contributed to this report.

This story was produced by KHN (Kaiser Health News), a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

Romualdez vows to pass remaining development measures in 2023

by Zacarian Sarao Inquirer.net

MANILA — Speaker Martin Romualdez on Tuesday, December 20 vowed to pass the remaining 12 LegislativeExecutive Development Advisory Council’s (LEDAC) Common Legislative Agenda (CLA) measures for job creation, sustainable health system, and economic recovery and growth in 2023.

Romualdez was referring to the 12 priority measures under the CLA of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.:The Enactment of an Enabling Law for the Natural Gas Industry

• Amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA)

• The Unified System of Separation, Retirement, and Pension

• The E-Governance Act and E-Government Act

• The National Land Use Act

• The National Defense Act

• The National Government Rightsizing Program

• The Budget Modernization Bill

• The Department of Water Resources

• Establishing the Negros Island Region

• Magna Carta Filipino Seafarers

• The Establishment of Regional Specialty Hospitals

He also noted that the House of Representatives had already passed “pro-people measures” such as the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF), the P5.268-trillion national budget for 2023, and 20 other priority bills of the Marcos administration, 19 of which were also listed under the LegislativeExecutive Development Advisory Council’s (LEDAC) Common Legislative Agenda (CLA).

“We approved the 19 bills under LEDAC’s CLA because we are in agreement with the Chief Executive that these measures will directly alleviate poverty, trigger economic progress, and harness competencies in government for the delivery of no less than the highest degree of service to the Filipino people,” said Romualdez.

“We are set to deliberate and approve the rest of the priority measures when we resume next year,” he added Romualdez then reiterated

Congress’ lower chamber’s “unwavering commitment to support the Agenda for Prosperity of President Marcos.”

“In the first five months of the 19th Congress, the House has approved a total of 19 of the priority legislations of our President. The rest are in advanced stages of consideration,” Romualdez said.

According to Romualdez, the passage of the national budget gave the Marcos administration the resources to “sustain our economic expansion momentum and keep the country on the highgrowth path.”

The controversial Maharlika Investment Fund, on the other hand, would serve as “an effective vehicle” to sustain high-impact programs that would generate jobs and economic activity in the country — which he said could shield the economy from “headwinds that external factors may bear upon us.”

House processed 1,150 bills, measures since July 25, 2022

Meanwhile, in the same statement, citing a report from House Majority Leader and Zamboanga City 2nd District Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe, Romualdez said the lower chamber has processed a total of 1,150 bills and resolutions from July 25 to December 15, 2022.

A total of 7,402 measures were filed in the House of Representatives — 6,716 were bills, 685 were resolutions, and 263 were committee reports.

Approved bills on the third and final reading total 173, 21 measures are on the second reading, while 43 resolutions have been adopted.

Meanwhile, while the House of Representatives is on congressional break, all standing and special committees have been authorized to hold hearings

to “continue with our mandate of producing vital pieces of legislation.”

The 19 bills under LEDAC’s CLA that have been passed by the House of Representatives consist of the following:

• Passive Income and Financial Intermediary Taxation Act or PIFITA (The fourth package under the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program or CTRP)

• Virology Institute of the Philippines

• Agrarian Reform Debts Condonation

• Philippine Passport Act

• Waste-to-Energy Bill

• National Disease Prevention Management Authority or Center for Disease Control and Prevention

• Medical Reserve Corps (HEART)

• Internet Transaction Act / E-Commerce Law

• Leyte Ecological Industrial Zone

• Eastern Visayas Development Authority (EVDA)

• Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery (GUIDE) bill

• Free Legal Assistance for Police and Soldiers

• Public–Private Partnership (PPP) Act

• Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers

• Valuation Reform Bill

• Apprenticeship Act

• National Citizens Service Training Program (NCSTP).

• Republic Act (RA) No. 11934 or An Act Requiring Registration of Subscriber Identification Module (SIM)

• RA 11935 or An Act Postponing the December 2022 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections to October 2023. n

ROUND AND LUCKY. Round fruits such as apples, oranges, grapes, persimmons, pears and longan are being sold at a stall in Quiapo, Manila on Tuesday,

PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.

Speaker Martin Romualdez

Inquirer.net

Marinel Cruz Inquirer.net

IN spite of being on top of his game, comedian-TV host Vice Ganda admitted that he still continues to work hard for things he doesn’t have, something that, at this point, has to do with time.

“I’m in constant need of more time. If I could only ask God to add more hours to a day, more days to a week, more weeks to a month, more months to a year, I’d definitely do it,” Vice told a group of writers over lunch recently.

“People will probably react to this article and ask, ‘You’ve already been given so much in life, but you’re still unhappy?’ I tell you, not everything is about fame and fortune. Sometimes, the simplest things are valued, like time—time to be silent, time to just be myself, time to talk to myself and, most of all, time to be unfunny,” the comedian pointed out.

He said that because of his work, people expect him to be funny all the time. “I don’t always allow this. Sometimes, even though I know people will get disappointed, I become unfunny just so I’d get my personal space,” he pointed out.

Family matters

“Just like most people who work so hard, I also wish to have time to go to the beach, soak in the sun and feel the sand and water inbetween my toes. I also want time with friends, something I rarely have now because I need to protect them. It’s hard to do this, especially whenever we go to public places. I know that I also have to have time with my partner (Ion Perez), but because I’m doing

two TV shows (‘It’s Showtime!’ and ‘Everybody, Sing’), a movie, some endorsements, and concerts, we hardly see each other,” he explained.

“Now, the time I give for my mother is another thing. I always have to chase time for her. She once called to ask me if I could come over to play bingo with the family—they have sessions every Wednesday and Saturday—but I said I couldn’t and would just send her money. She said she already has money. What she wanted was for me to be there, so she could cook for me,” Vice recalled.

The comedian said he was surprised to discover that this is also what his next movie, “Partners in Crime,” is all about. “Sometimes, I suspect that Star Cinema purposely made this story for me,” Vice said, laughing. The film, directed by Cathy GarciaMolina and also features Ivana Alawi, is an entry to the 48th Metro Manila Film Festival.

his family, or people who truly matter to him, because he was too focused on achieving his dreams or serving other people,” he said.

Turning serious, Vice recalled the time he asked to be excused from work because he had to be at home to celebrate Ion’s birthday. “I understand why the team didn’t want me absent at work, it’s because we’re so delayed with the shoot. So when they asked me, “Can we meet halfway?” I said, “OK. I can only stay until 7 p.m.” Yes, there are a lot of times when I would feel guilty because I know that when a shoot gets packed up, we lose money; when I’m not present in ‘Showtime,’ they’d tell me the ratings dipped. I’m very concerned about those things, too.”

Vice admitted that he would often feel the heavy weight of pressure on his shoulders.

“I would just cry it out. I’d say, ‘Deadma na! I’m able to provide for my family, anyway; or, I have money, anyway!’ I’d tell myself, ‘It’s OK. You’re able to entertain people, make them happy. You can’t be selfish!’”

Explaining the film’s concept further, Vice said: “It’s about one’s struggle to figure out what really is of value in life. It’s how one personally discovers when to take a pause or stop. I’m really convinced that the writers purposely wrote the story for me. There were some scenes that would make me pause because they hit so close to home.

“The last scene was really something. Direk Cathy had to ask me to do a Take Two because,

“It may be a comedy film, but it’s also about an over-achiever who has unconsciously set aside Continued on Page 10

Dimples shares glimpse of daily life with baby Elio

By HannaH MallorCa Philstar.com

Friday, Dec. 16. In her posts, Romana can be seen showing off baby Elio as she couldn’t

“Usual

Romana also uploaded an Instagram Reel of baby Elio who’s learning how to make eye contact and say his name. “Mornings are for tiny conversations with tiny people [emoji] Making eye contact with #ElioJuanManolo and slowly introducing to him his name,” she wrote in the caption.

In a separate post, the actress shared close-up photos of baby Elio as she swooned over her youngest child.

“Sending you all some real GIGIL goodness [emoji] Them rosy cheeks. Them dimples. Them lashes. Them gummy smiles and biggggg, sweeeepppy eyessss,” Romana said in the caption.

Romana confirmed that she’s pregnant with baby Elio in March, as well as his gender in the same month. The actress welcomed her youngest child in June. She has been married to Ahmee since 2003.

Christ is the reason

ONE of the things that make living in this land exciting is coming to an appreciation of the culture, the language and the origins of certain phrases that are repeated like a refrain year after year when Christmas comes. I have often wondered who Virginia was and what was the reason Francis Church made famous the line, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.”

But lest we forget. The generosity of Santa Claus and everyone all around us comes from the love of God who sent His only begotten Son as a gift to the world. CHRIST IS the reason for the season and every season.

Forget the Grinch who would like to steal the joy of Christmas and the Scrooges who would rather shrivel up and die than give love on Christmas Day. There are unseen and unseeable wonders of Christmas that live in the hearts of many FilipinoAmericans year round who squirrel and stash away gifts and send them in balikbayan boxes.

There are millions of others worldwide who work and save and remit to make Christmas for their families abundantly blessed. Yes, indeed, there is a Santa Claus that lives in the hearts of each and every one of us who makes the spirit of Christmas alive and well.

The weather is highly unusual in most parts of the world this year but if you tune in to sky watchers’ websites and internet segments devoted to science,

the heavens are putting out spectacular light shows seen during midnight and the early morning hours. The auroras about 50 miles above the poles are probably breathtaking. At no other time during the year is the line, “Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.” more appropriate to ponder than at Christmas time when all the splendors of the world around us, if we look carefully and listen well, take on special meaning.

Enjoy Christmas. By now, friends and loved ones back in Philippines would have received the balikbayan boxes filled with goodies that we have been dutifully squirreling away and generously sending since September this year. Remittance companies have never been busier as we send the much appreciated dollars that go a long way in making Christmas merry across the miles.

The spirit of giving seems to burn brighter in women during the season. As a rule, women do Christmas. If you are the woman of the house, my best guess, is that you make Christmas happen in your family by doing practically everything from shopping to wrapping to cooking to decorating. If your mate pitches in and helps you, you are one of the lucky ones.

Women have complicated their lives far more than they care to admit to themselves. We need to simplify. We need to take stock of all the good that has come and quietly nurture a grateful heart. More than likely,

all we have is all we need. We need to forget all the whatmight-have-beens because these are like excess baggage that makes the journey on life’s road even more cumbersome, even torturous.

I personally like to imagine my troubles, real or imagined particularly come Christmas time, tied in neat little bundles on the computer screen of my mind that I can drag and drop to the little trash bin icon and simply empty them all out into cyberspace never to be seen again— or at least, for the time being.

Christmas is a time for remembrance of things past, mostly the good ones. It is a time for editing out and leaving the unwanted footage on the cutting room floor those memories that are best left forgotten.

It is a time to say “thank you”, a time to draw lessons from the year about to draw to a close and to use a new and fresh supply of God’s gift called TIME, given in equal measure to all men, rich or poor, from one glorious day to the next. May we all be centered in Christ this season and beyond.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Can I enforce a form I-864 affidavit of support in divorce proceedings?

THE Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 requires that U.S. Citizens sponsoring an alien for legal permanent residency execute an immigration form I-864 Affidavit of Support. This is an agreement between the U.S. Government and the Sponsor to promise to support the immigrant beneficiary seeking admission to the U.S. at a level not less than 125% of the national poverty level. The purpose of the I-864 Affidavit is to prevent the noncitizen from becoming a public charge. The sponsor’s obligation continues until either 1)

the intended immigrant becomes a permanent resident; 2) the intended immigrant is no longer permanent resident by departing the U.S. or relinquishing his or her residency; 3) the immigrant is subject to removal or deportation but applies for and obtains anew adjustment of status based on a new affidavit of support; 4) the intended immigrant or sponsor dies; or 5) the intended immigrant worked for 40 qualifying quarters under the Social Security Act.

The I-864 affidavit is legally binding and enforceable contract between the Sponsor and the U.S. Government. The enforceability even goes beyond this. The sponsored immigrant spouse can also enforce this contract against the sponsor and file an action to enforce the sponsor’s support obligation separately from any support rights the sponsored immigrant spouse may have under Family Code Section 4320. Erler v.

Erler, 824 F.3d 1173 (9th Cir. 2016). This obligation becomes an important issue where the marriage between the Sponsor and the immigrant beneficiary breaks down and a Divorce Petition is filed. The I-864 obligation does not terminate with divorce or dissolution of marriage. Pursuant to Erler, neither a divorce judgment

a premarital agreement

terminate an obligation of support under the I-864 affidavit. The obligation is not dischargeable even if the immigrant spouse is later supported by a third party or attempts to be self-sufficient.

Further if a Joint Sponsor also signed an I-864 affidavit, the Joint Sponsor is jointly and severally liable for the support of the immigrant spouse.

The immigrant spouse has an independent standing to enforce the obligation under the I-864 affidavit against the sponsor

Vice Ganda Photo from Instagram/@praybeytbenjamin

Fortune and fame aside, this simple thing would make Vice Ganda truly happy

stop gushing over her youngest child.

mornings with the boys #AlonzoRomeoJose #ElioJuanManolo [emoji]

Music + Dancing + Lots and lots of loving,” she said, as she sent love to her husband and daughter Callie who are currently in Australia.

DIMPLES Romana seems to enjoy being a mother of three as she shared glimpses of her day-to-day life with baby Elio, her third child with husband Boyet Ahmee.

The actress expressed her love for her baby boy through a series of posts on her Instagram account on

Dimples Romana and her third child, baby Elio Photo from Instagram/@dimplesromana

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.

Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya writes for Asian Journal. Email monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com for comments.

“Lest we forget, Christ is the reason for the season.”

nor

may

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 casinohotel 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 festivaltype 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 hotel-casino, 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 fullservice company that has successfully helped its clientele find the best deals since 1992. You can reach me at 775-513-8447, 805-559-2476 and 702-538-4948 for more information, or send me an email at fely@precious-properties.com or fely. precious@gmail.com. We have investors who buy houses in California and Nevada for cash and quick escrow in as short as 7 days.

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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.

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 in last month, about a year away from the actual event. File photo/www.f1lasvegasgp.com

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

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

Sri Sai Krish Institute: Creating nurses that care

SUCCESS is something that can be earned by anyone and everyone in our diverse world. This is achieved not just by hard work, but by having heart and passion towards whatever you choose to do.

Sri Sai Krish Institute (SSKI), a nursing school located in Orange County, is a place that compassionately fosters this type of success for their students.

During the last few years, the pandemic has made clear that more than ever, nurses are a crucial part of maintaining the health of our society. “There is a shortage of nurses so the one difference we (SSKI) can make for society is producing good nurses,” said owner and director VJ Bhaskar. SSKI is therefore the ideal place to start or even continue one’s journey towards a fulfilling career in nursing.

The Sri Sai Krish Institute was founded by VJ Bhaskar in 2012. While initially only offering Nursing Assistant and Home Aide programs, in 2013 the school gained approval from the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education in the State of California to include other programs.

SSKI currently offers two programs. The first is their Vocational Nursing program, approved in 2015 by the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians. The second, is their Associate Degree Nursing (RN) program, which was established after approval from the Accrediting Bureau for Health Education Schools just this year. Each program spans a total of 19 months, ensuring that students get the best quality of education all the while preparing them for their future in nursing.

The Vocational Nursing program equips students with basic nursing skills in order to prepare them to care for reallife patients. Students enrolled in the program attend classes and are required to participate in clinical experiences that will prepare them to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). SSKI provides students with the following resources to ensure this comprehensive and thorough education: full Elsevier package, video clips, skills performance checklists, and review questions with answers.

The cost of this program is $29,900, which many students have felt is a fair price compared to what other schools tend to offer. “When you are an immigrant you don’t want to spend that much money. I already have my masters from India and I have two little ones so I said let’s try this (attending SSKI), it’s affordable,” said Balinder Chahal, current RN student, when asked about what makes the school stand out.

Many students, like Chahal, enjoy the affordability of SSKI, however it is not the only reason that keeps them attached to the school. After finishing the Vocational Nursing program, students have also returned to SSKI to continue their education through the Associate Degree Nursing (RN) program.

The Associate Degree Nursing program, which costs $70,000, allows for students to earn their Associates in nursing as well as gain additional skills that will aid them in their ultimate goals of a career as a nurse. Provided with the same resources given within the Vocational Nursing program, students enrolled have additional access to biology equipment, lab and clinical equipment, a global nursing glossary, Care Plan Creator, and many other valuable resources that are listed on the SSKI website.

“SSKI likes to give an opportunity to students who cannot afford it. Our program gives them a low amount to pay compared to other schools. $70,000 in comparison to $110-120,000. It gives them a chance to fulfill their dreams,” said SSKI Director of Nursing Maimoona Qadeer. She goes on to describe how SSKI is a school with excellent resources and how each student is even provided with their own personal Chromebook and supplies to ensure a quality education.

“I feel that SSKI is very pro-student. The students that come here, many times, are lower socioeconomically. Most of them pay for college themselves,” SSKI consultant Judy Corless added. No student at SSKI is truly left behind.

While SSKI provides an abundance of resources for students enrolled within their programs, the staff themselves are just as valuable. “Through SSKI, you’re able to contact instructors immediately and they come back to you with

any questions you have as soon as possible,” student Serena Zarate spoke on the supportiveness of SSKI staff.

“They expect you to exceed the standard, which is good because you’re not just at a minimum while being a nurse. This helps you assess the patient better,” Zarate continues, noting that the supportiveness of the staff directly influences how the students learn. Not only is the curriculum important to the staff, but how the students will apply it in caring for future patients.

“The instructors encourage and push me to study. Even when I am going through hardships, they encourage me not to give up,” student Kyeong Lee said, expressing how she was told that they have faith in her. “I never heard those words before. I graduated a long time ago in my country so I was not sure if I could make it. And she (my instructor) told me that one day I would,” Lee continued. Compassion and care is a core component in how SSKI runs and can be seen in how passionate the students are to pass, which is additionally reflected in their exam scores.

“I took the NCLEX and passed the first time,” student Julieta Smith described how SSKI had prepared her to pass with ease. Not only do students who graduate from SSKI pass the NCLEX for the first time, many also go into their board exams more prepared than most students.

“They (SSKI) were there every step of the way. I felt that I was

Continued on Page 11

When debt problems threaten your financial security

Minding Your Finances

Atty. RAymond BulAon

MOST people who are struggling with debt problems for the first time are often confused and don’t know what to do. They’ve never been in this situation before. They have always paid their bills on time. For the first time in their life, they are finding it difficult to fulfill their debt obligations. Bill collectors may be calling and they’re afraid to answer the phone or even go to their mailbox. They’re feeling embarrassed, desperate or even angry.

This can happen to anyone. Sometimes, it is the result of making bad financial decisions. But more often than not, it is caused by reasons beyond your control. For instance, these days I am seeing a lot of small business owners who are simply not making enough to even meet their payroll needs. Every month is a struggle, and they are not even paying themselves because there is not enough money in the business after paying their employees, suppliers, vendors, and other business expenses. What should they do?

Or you can be someone whose work hours just got reduced or perhaps got laid off by your employer. I feel bad when I hear of people being terminated from their job of 10, 20 or sometimes even 30 years. The job is the only job they’ve had and known for years- and

it is what they’ve considered to be their financial security. Then one day they get a notice from their boss saying that they are no longer needed by the company. They suddenly find themselves with no income and they are not prepared to deal with the fact that they may need to go back to school to learn new skills to find a new job or switch careers in mid-life.

If you rely on a paycheck or your business to feed your family, missing even one paycheck or one slow month (if you’re in business) can be devastating. This is when people find out that with no savings in the bank, they are literally just one month away from bankruptcy because without the income, they are unable to pay their bills.

The ideal situation is to have a few months’ worth of living expenses tucked away in a savings account, but the truth is that most people don’t even have $1,000 in the bank. It’s true because as a bankruptcy attorney, I see it every single day. Even people who earn high incomes, most of the time, have no savings. They spend it all every month. It seems like the higher the income, the higher the expenses. It’s not how much you make that matters. It’s what you get to keep.

Once you fall behind on your debt obligations, it is easy to ignore the situation and hope that things will get better on their own. But that will never happen until you do something about it. That means you should be aware at all times how much money you have coming in, how much money you have going out, and spend within your means.

Borrowing when you are

already in debt is not a good idea. I see a lot of people who resort to payday loans when their income is short, hoping this can be a quick fix. But they are not, and they will only put you in a bigger financial hole every month. When I see the interest rates that these payday loan “thieves” are charging, I get really angry. Who in their right mind will pay more than 1000% interest on a $300-500 loan? You read that right: more than 1000% APR is what most of these pay day loan companies are charging and this should be a crime! But desperate people fall for it all the time and that’s what keeps them in business.

Don’t wait until you get to a point of desperation before you start tackling your debt problems. In some cases, you can still avoid bankruptcy if you know what your options are. If you wait until your situation becomes a financial emergency, you will find that those options are extremely limited.

If you are in debt and would like to get out, I’d like to help you. For a free consultation, call my office at Toll-Free 1-866-4777772 so I can carefully review your situation and all available options.

* * *

NOTE: Due to pandemic safety concerns, I am offering free consultations BY PHONE to anyone who needs help in dealing with their debt problems.

* * * None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray J. Bulaon has successfully helped more than 6,000 clients in getting out of debt. For a free evaluation of your situation, please call his office at TOLL- FREE 1-866477-7772.

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Can I enforce a form I-864 affidavit...

From Page 8

either in state court or federal court. In re Marriage of Kumar, 13 Cal. App. 5th 1072 (2017). This means the sponsor’s support obligation under the I-864 affidavit may be enforced within the family law case/ divorce action. In addition, the Court in Kumar held that immigrant spouse has no duty to seek employment to mitigate his or her damages. The bottom line is that in any divorce proceeding, one has to consider whether one spouse has signed an I-864 affidavit in the past for purposes of conferring a green card to the other spouse and whether that obligation continues on. It may be a separate claim for support available to the immigrant spouse within the family law case.

* * *

Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice.  The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article

is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APLC. This article is not a solicitation.

* * *

Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APLC is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com.

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Fortune and fame aside, this simple...

From Page 8

she said, it was too sad. I cried too much, and they were unable to stop me. Members of Direk Cathy’s staff, na puro barako, were all crying, too,” he recalled.

Vice said he really prepared for the final scene, even watched a video that made him recall a specific time in his life that’s similar to it. “That’s why when I was finally doing the take, I wasn’t just telling a story, I was reliving the moment. It took me 10 minutes to repeat the scene.”

Source of happiness

Vice was also quick to point out that there are a lot of things that make him happy, too. “My family makes me happy, that’s a given, but doing ‘It’s Showtime!’ is also my source of joy. Its set is my safest place, aside from my actual house. Even though I would quarrel with the staff, sometimes— this is normal because ours is a live show and I’m head of creatives—I would automatically feel happy when I’m already holding the mic and talking with people.”

Vice plays Jack to Ivana’s Rose in “Partners in Crime.” They’re an ex-couple who got involved in a crime. With the help of friends, they struggle to clear their name while, at the same time, they try to resolve unsettled past issues.

“Ivana is very cute,” Vice said when asked what it was like to work with the social media superstar

in a movie. “She feels insecure because, she said, she is really not a funny person. I would sometimes feel the pressure on her, especially when she gets told how to deliver specific lines. This is why I told her, ‘You don’t need to be funny. You’re fine the way you are. You look cute and sexy onscreen.’ She was able to deliver what was expected of her, that’s fine.”

Meanwhile, Vice said he personally asked Star Cinema for a chance to work with Direk Cathy. “I wanted to be ‘cathyfied.’ Throughout the shoot, when she would ask me to preview a scene and consult me, ‘I’d say, if it’s OK with you, then it’s already OK with me.’ If I kept on insisting on what I wanted and didn’t follow what she asked me to do, then that’s me ‘vicifying’ her. I was really conscious of that,” the comedian explained.

He also claimed to have discovered a lot about Cathy in their first collaboration. “That what people are saying about her is true—she is actually scary sometimes. She has a very strong personality, and that’s what I like about her. I respect people like her—she is good at what she does. I yielded to her, and that was very humbling. It was an experience that gave me a lot of wisdom,” he said. “I prefer working with someone who is good, but a little crazy than someone who is just kind to me. I want to work with someone who’s badass, and she is nothing but that.”

From Left: Balinder Chahal, Kyeong Lee, and Julieta Smith, all currently enrolled students within the RN program at SSKI. They all gave testimonials on their experiences, highlighting how the school has truly fostered their passion in pursuing a career in nursing.

Serena Zarate (left) with fellow RN student in one of the many simulation labs at SSKI. This lifelike equipment pictured with the two ensures that students get both practical and realistic experience. AJPress photos

From Left: Maimoona Qadeer (SSKI Director of Nursing) and Judy Corless (SSKI Consultant). Both gave their testimonials on the importance of caring for the students in order to foster success, highlighting how the staff are as valuable as the abundant resources offered at SSKI.

Bela Padilla turns her K-drama fantasy into reality

By HannaH Mallorca Inquirer.net

Sri Sai Krish Institute...

From Page 10

overly prepared and confident for my board exam. I finished and knew I passed because I felt prepared,” Zarate expressed.

According to Corless, SSKI has a “zero percent dropout rate” in both new RN program cohort. “I think when you make the student first, their success speaks for itself. We don’t lose anybody because we want to make sure that when they come, they have a passion to be a nurse and we’re going to help them succeed at that,” Corless adds, reflecting on what makes SSKI different from other schools.

SSKI is not only different through their student success,

they are also unique in how the owner and director, Ms. VJ connects with the students. “She wants us to know the duties of a nurse and she wants us to have empathy and good behavior in how to help people,” Chahal describes Ms. VJ’s intentions with SSKI’s ways of teaching its students. While the students may know how to be a nurse and can earn a degree, their compassion and care for their patients is what makes them good nurses.

Ms. VJ, who was a nurse herself, understands what it takes to become one. SSKI puts care into how they treat and teach its students, resulting in them having the same priority

of care towards their patients as nurses.

While SSKI is currently one of the top three nursing schools in Orange County, the reward is not the accolades, it is the students themselves and their success in becoming compassionate and competent nurses. “They (the students) are the real reward for us, especially when they are happy for the education they received here,” Ms. VJ expressed.

As a smaller school, students and staff, find themselves having a sense of closeness to one another at SSKI, almost like a family. They are a diverse group of people, all striving towards the same goal of success. “Students are treated as individuals and unique. We know them by name. I keep track of their attendance, academic performance, and clinical performance. Students at SSKI are like family,” Ms. VJ described SSKI’s views of its students.

As SSKI looks towards the future in creating more compassionate and hard working nurses, a third program is currently in the works, one that is testament of the success of both the school and its students. SSKI intends on the new addition of a program that allows for students to work towards receiving a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree. Students who are alumni or currently enrolled plan to join the program so book your spot soon!

If interested in any of the programs described above and attending the Sri Sai Krish Institute, please contact the school via the following details: Sri Sai Krish Institute Bhaskar Prabhakar & VJ Bhaskar vjbhaskar@sskinstitute.org

The official trailer, released on Prime Video Philippines’ YouTube channel on Saturday, Dec. 17, gave a glimpse into the romantic predicament of Yana (Bela Padilla) as she meets her favorite K-drama actor, Moon Shi-woo (Jasper Tae-kwan Cho), as well as his manager Jae (Kim Gun-woo).

Yana, who’s a huge fan of Shi-woo, gets the chance to meet the K-drama heartthrob in an all-expense paid trip to South Korea. Unbeknownst to her, Shiwoo and Jae saw a glimpse of her profile as a fanfic writer and was described by the actor as a “pretty face.”

Yana’s first encounter with Shi-woo didn’t go well as planned since she accidentally tripped in front of the actor, and her passport almost got lost if it wasn’t for Jae’s help. She soon finds herself in a romantic rivalry between the two men, as Jae reprimands the actor to not “fool around with an innocent girl.”

“I am telling you. I am really serious this time,” Shi-woo said, in response to Jae.

Reports of Padilla starring in the project first emerged in January 2019, when film producer Dondon Monteverde uploaded a photo of the actress with Erik Matti and representatives from Korean production company Group Eight. Filming took place in 2020 in the Philippines and South Korea, as seen in behindthe-scenes photos uploaded on Viva Artists Agency’s official Instagram account.

The film, directed by Hwang In-roi of “Princess Hours” fame, is a collaborative project between Philippine production companies Reality Entertainment and Viva Entertainment, as well as Group Eight. It is currently available on the streaming

service Amazon Prime Video. Jasper Tae-kwan Cho, who made his acting debut in 2016, has starred in the popular K-dramas “Descendants of the Sun” as Daniel Spencer and

“Start-Up” as Alex Kwon. Meanwhile, Gun-woo is known for his roles as martial artist Kim Tak-soo in “Fight For My Way” and Park Do-ha in “Record of Youth.”

BELA Padilla is caught in a love triangle between Jasper Tae-kwan Cho and Kim Gunwoo in the trailer of the film, “Ultimate Oppa.”

The students pictured are currently enrolled in SSKI’s LVN (Vocational Nursing) program. They proudly surround owners VJ Bhaskar (middle right) and Bhaskar Prabhakar (middle left).

Owners VJ Bhaskar (left) and her husband Bhaskar Prabhakar (right) in one of the many simulation labs at SSKI. Students, both alumni and those currently enrolled, had nothing but praise for the two, even commenting on how they feel like they are family.

All the students pictured are currently enrolled in SSKI’s RN (Associate Degree Nursing) program. They showed nothing but enthusiasm as they demonstrated what they do on a daily basis when learning with the school.