122222 - Las Vegas Edition

Major metropolitan areas did not submit data to FBI, causing severe undercount of hate crimes

THERE was a huge spike in hate crimes against Asian Americans last year, nearly doubling the number of such crimes in 2019.

Several major law enforcement regions, including Los Angeles County, New York, Miami, and Chicago did not submit data for the FBI’s 2021 Uniform Crime Reports, which likely led to a dramatic under-count of hate crimes.

Law enforcement agencies are currently not mandated to report data for UCR reports: reporting is voluntary. Data for the 2021 report — released on Dec. 12 — was derived from 11,883 law enforcement agencies. 6,929 agencies — almost one third — did not provide data.

Overall, 7,303 hate crimes were reported for 2021, a drop from 2020, in which 8,263 hate crimes were recorded by the FBI. New reporting platform

John Duran, a Southern California-based civil rights attorney and LGBTQIA activist

Fil-Am sworn in as Los Angeles County Superior Court judge

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

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,”

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

by DANIZA FERNANDEZ Inquirer.net

Marcos approves PH Dev’t Plan for 2023-2028

by CATHERINE S. VALENTE ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday, December 16 approved the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028, providing a roadmap to a deep economic and social transformation for the country.

Marcos, who heads the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) board, approved the plan prepared by the agency on Friday .

“I’m happy to announce that today, at the NEDA board meeting, we approved the Philippine Development Plan for 2023 to 2028 and this sets out the framework of the development plan for the Philippines and we have included all of the priority areas,” Marcos said in a message.

The President enjoined agencies to employ a wholeof-nation approach in the implementation of the PDP 2023-2028 and steer government instrumentalities into the “same direction.”

“This will facilitate the coordination and the alignment of all departments and all agencies in government to a single plan so that we are all working in the same direction,” he added.

Most Pinoys facing new year with hope – Pulse

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 opinion may be observed in the rest of

DOT sets ‘conservative’ target of 4.8M international arrivals in 2023

MANILA — The Department of Tourism bared its “conservative” targets for the tourism industry for 2023.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco happily reported that as of December 19, the number of visitor arrivals to the Philippines has reached 2.464 million since the country relaxed border restrictions to foreign tourists last Feb. 10, 2022.

Frasco said the initial target was pegged at only 1.7 million international visitors while the high-scenario was set at 1.4 million.

The United States remains the top tourist market.

The following are the country’s top ten tourist markets as of December 19:

• United States – 461,967 visitors

• South Korea – 387,780

• Australia – 122, 971

• Canada – 112,015

CPP founder Joma Sison dies

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. 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 Marxist-Leninist-Maoist thinker, patriot, internationalist and revolutionary leader.”

‘A new era dawns’

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said that its disagreement with Sison ended with his death.

“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

by ROSETTE ADEL Philstar.com

photo by Joey O. Razon

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.

“The 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

Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chairman

Jose Maria “Joma” Sison ManilaTimes.net photo

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco

Philstar.com file photo

US supports PH amid swarming...

State spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement on Tuesday, December 20 (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.

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. g

Most Pinoys facing new year with hope...

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. g

Marcos approves PH Dev’t Plan for...

The PDP 2023-2028 aims to reinvigorate job creation and accelerate poverty reduction by steering the economy back on the high-growth path and push for efficient economic transformation for a prosperous, inclusive and resilient society.

Last week, NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the

PDP “offers an inclusive way forward, identifying the program priorities, strategies, and targets — as well as enabling policies and governance mechanisms — toward a ‘matatag, maginhawa, at panatag na buhay (strong, prosperous and peaceful life)’ for all Filipinos.”

“Addressing inflation and the

constraints to rapid economic growth, job creation, and poverty reduction in the new normal requires a whole-ofgovernment and whole-ofsociety approach,” Balisacan said in a statement.

With the approval of the development plan, it will be ready for immediate implementation in 2023. g

DOT sets ‘conservative’ target of 4.8M

• United Kingdom – 93,440

• Japan – 91,557

• Singapore – 50,964

• India – 49,330

• Malaysia – 44,357

• Vietnam – 37,028

It should be noted that the People’s Republic of China, a major tourism source market of the Philippines, was knocked off the list after the country implemented restrictions on leisure travel amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the continuous presence of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators.

As of October, China only registered 23,482 visitors to the country.

Meanwhile, as of Nov. 20, 2022, the country’s estimated tourism revenue (tourism receipts) is at P149 billion or $139.3 million US dollars.

In view of these developments, the DOT exceeded its targets this year.

Frasco is optimistic that the country will further surpass its expanded target of 2.4 million international visitors and reach 2.5 million guests by the end of the year.

“If this happens, then we would have about 30% of our

pre-pandemic arrivals. A far cry from the 164,000 international visitors that we received in 2021,” she said during the yearend media briefing.

'Optimistic but cautious'

For 2023, the DOT chief disclosed that the agency is targeting 4.8 million international visitors as its baseline.

Before assuming office, Frasco said she saw an alarming projection that the country would only reach its prepandemic tourism numbers by 2025.

The country recorded 8.26 million visitors in 2019.

In view of this, she took an inward look at what the DOT can do to strengthen the tourism industry and set in goals with conservative numbers.

“We look at it with optimism in a sense that our goal is to exceed our conservative projections in the same way that we have been able to exceed it this year,” Frasco said.

Director Warner Andrada of DOT-Tourism Development Planning likewise said the tourism department is “optimistic but cautious” given the various factors that are beyond the control of the DOT including

the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and volatile fuel prices as well as the continued lockdowns in China.

“We’re optimistic but cautious, that’s the word, because of the Ukraine-Russia war which the economic fundamentals may affect travel, especially on the oil or gasoline fuel prices,” Andrada said, saying this changing fuel price affects the movement in the country.

Despite these unpredictable events, Frasco is bullish that the Philippines will reach the prepandemic numbers way earlier than the past projection.

“And we feel that we would be able to exceed our pre-pandemic numbers way earlier than the 2025 year that was told to us when we assumed office with the improved policies under the Marcos administration,” she added.

To achieve this, Frasco is looking into tapping Southeast Asian neighbors in promoting Philippine tourism. She said that the visitors from SEA countries "are not that high as how we want it to be" citing that the countries are being visited more due to their landlock advantage. g

FOR THE INDIGENTS. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. talks to one of the children during the “Pangkabuhayan at Pamaskong Handog ng Pangulo at Unang Ginang sa Sambayanang Pilipino” at the Open Amphitheater in Rizal Park, City of Manila on Thursday, Dec. 22. Led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the gift-giving activity was for 400 children and 574 families, including several members of indigenous peoples groups and children in street situations coming from all local government units of the National Capital Region. PNA photo by Alfred Frias

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

Maharlika Fund crucial in boosting Philippine investments - DBP Marcos vetoes three items in 2023 budget Dateline PhiliPPines

MANILA – The passage of the country’s pioneering Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) is crucial in boosting Philippine investments and sustaining its growth momentum, said veteran banker and current president and CEO of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) Emmanuel Herbosa.

In a statement on Thursday, he said the establishment of a sovereign wealth fund (SWF) could help the country broaden its investments, especially in critical areas like food, water, green energy, agro-industrial ventures, telecommunications, public infrastructure and road networks tollways.

“From my personal standpoint, the creation of an SWF is a superb opportunity to address the dearth in sources of long-term capital which is integral to support these capital-intensive investments,”

Herbosa said.

He explained that the SWF is closely aligned with DBP’s operating principle of bolstering economic additionality through timely and meaningful support of critical industries and sectors.

Moreover, the SWF, he said, can offer better rates of return that will result in a more significant socio-economic impact.

After President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. certified the passage of the MIF as urgent, House Bill 6608 received solid support from 90 percent of the members of the House of Representatives with 282 out of the 312 congressmen officially named as its co-authors.

On Dec. 15, the bill was approved on third and final reading with 279 affirmative votes, six against, and no abstentions.

The approval of the bill came after exhaustive floor

deliberations as it underwent several refinements.

“The introduction of additional safeguards in the proposed measure such as heavy scrutiny by the Commission on Audit apart from regular examinations by both an internal and external auditor has assuaged concerns of various sectors and ensures that the fund will be adequately shielded from fraud, abuse, and undue political interference,” Herbosa said.

“The provision of sovereign guarantees for specific contributions adds another layer of confidence in the sustainability, reliability, and integrity of the SWF especially in funding projects with long-gestation periods while attracting private sector and even foreign funders that would ensure transparency and greater accountability in managing the fund,” he added. (PNA)

Senate bill wants 2-year required military, police training for college, techvoc students

by Maila ager Inquirer.net

MANILA — A two-year mandatory basic military and police training program for all college and technical vocational students is being proposed in the Senate.

Students who fail to undergo the training program would not be qualified for graduation, according to Senate Bill No. 1565 filed by Senator  Francis Tolentino.

Tolentino explained that his proposed measure aims to increase the awareness of students on the country’s need for human resources in times of war, calamities and disasters, and national or local emergencies.

This, he added, is also in support of the government’s law enforcement strategy against crimes and other civic obligations.

“The proposed bill provides safeguards for the protection of all higher and technical vocational students against abuses such as bribery, corruption, graft, hazing, sexual harassment, and others

which had become the concern of the public in the past,”  the senator said.

“With this proposed measure, the youth – the hope of our motherland – will rekindle in their hearts their love of country and fellow citizens, nationalism and patriotism, and will once again make their mark in the annals of history,” Tolentino  added.

Students  may be exempted from undergoing mandatory training if they are physically or psychologically unfit; chosen by their school to serve as varsity players in sports competitions; and for other valid reasons as approved by concerned government agencies, upon recommendation by any educational institution.

The bill, at the same  time, provides several incentives for students undergoing the military and  police  training program.

They could be eligible, for instance, for enlistment in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology,

and Bureau of Fire Protection “unless a waiver is issued by the Department Secretaries of the aforementioned military and civilian organizations.”

For those undergoing the training and accepted in the Advance Military Training Course, the measure proposed free hospitalization in any government hospital in case of accident or injury during the training.

Public and private higher education and technical vocational schools are likewise mandated under the bill to provide insurance to students undergoing the military and police training.

Those who could complete the training and a four-year baccalaureate degree would be considered as First Level Civil Service Eligible while graduates of Advance Military Training Program with a fouryear baccalaureate degree would be considered a Second Level Civil Service Eligible in the Civil Service, according to the proposed law. g

Major metropolitan areas did not submit data...

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who served on the California Hate Crimes Commission in 1987, told Ethnic Media Services that the FBI made significant changes in reporting requirements, but failed to train law enforcement personnel in the new procedures.

The new data collection system is known as National Incident-Based Reporting System. Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta issued a statement Dec. 12, saying the system was designed to provide “significantly more detailed data for each individual criminal incident.” The FBI has set out a five-year timeline and provided technical assistance and funding for the transition.

“The FBI wanted to collect more data on perpetrators and victims, to provide a more detailed composite and demographics. Unfortunately, it did not equip law enforcement for those changes with proper resources,” said Duran.

Trump and anti-semitism

“As a result, hate crimes were vastly under-reported this year, in what would have been a peak year with the rise of antiSemitism,” he said. “Trumpism has unleashed so much hidden hate and allowed it to come into the open.”

Duran’s statement is borne out in FBI data. In 2019, 963 hate crimes targeted Jewish Americans. This year, because of the number of agencies that did not report, anti-Semitic hate crimes dropped to 324.

Black Americans have consistently and overwhelmingly been the targets of hate: the community was subjected to 2233 hate crimes in 2021, a drop from 2020 data, which noted 2,871 hate crimes against the community.

‘Wheel of misfortune’

The activist attorney said he has witnessed the ebbs and flows of hate crime targets in his almost 40 years of advocacy on the issue. “I call it the Wheel of Misfortune: we see peaks in rises against specific communities,” he said, predicting that — as Republicans take the House next year — immigrants will be the targets of hate crimes and incidents.

At a news briefing Dec. 14 organized by the Act Against Hate Alliance, Duran equated the U.S.’s national discourse

to a modern day “Tower of Babel.” The dizzying array of social media platforms run unfettered, with no guard rails to reign them in. “Truth suffers. If I only talk to people who look like me and think like me, I would be subjected to a lot of misinformation and disinformation about other communities, with the revival of old prejudices,” he said.

The LGBTQIA community suffered 1,084 hate crimes in 2021, including crimes against gay males and lesbians.

Nefarious intent?

Manju Kulkarni, Executive Director of Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council, and cofounder of the web portal Stop AAPI Hate, believes there is no “nefarious intent” by law enforcement agencies who did not submit data this year. “I believe most state and local law enforcement agencies in California do take hate crimes very seriously.”

Despite under-reporting, FBI Uniform Crime Reports data reveals that hate crimes against the AAPI community have nearly doubled since 2019. In 2021, 305 hate crimes targeted Asian Americans, 214 targeted Sikhs, 33 targeted Pacific Islanders, 29 targeted Buddhists, and 10 targeted Hindus. Disaggregated data for other Asian subethnicities is not collected by the FBI.

Stop AAPI Hate, a web portal which allows victims to selfreport hate crimes or incidents, logged 4,632 reports in 2020, and 6,273 reports in 2021. The vast majority of these incidents were not hate crimes, said Kulkarni, noting that verbal harassment which makes up the bulk of reports, is not prosecuted.

One in 5 AAPI individuals have experienced some sort of hate incident amid the pandemic, she noted, adding that victims need access to resources that can help them report and heal.

Distrust of law enforcement Amr Shabaik, Civil Rights Managing Attorney for the Council on American Islamic Relations’ Los Angeles chapter, said Muslim Americans are historically under-reported in FBI data collection of hate crimes because victims are often too afraid to report to law enforcement.

“There is an inherent distrust

of law enforcement, which has a history of surveilling our community,” he said. In a recent case he worked on, a victim was verbally and physically attacked by his neighbor who uttered racist epithets. The victim reported the incident to LAPD.

FBI recruiting informants?

A few days later, he was contacted by the FBI. “They said they would help him with his immigration status if he would be an informant for the community,” alleged Shabaik, noting media reports of similar incidents in other cities.

The Muslim American community, including Arab Americans who are disaggregated in the UCR report, were targeted in 171 hate crimes in 2021. This is a dramatic drop from 2019, when 273 hate crimes involved Muslim American victims.

Marshall Wong, who serves on Los Angeles’ Human Rights Commission, and is the primary author of the Commission’s 2021 report on hate crimes in Los Angeles County, noted that FBI UCR data has always been imperfect, because it is based on voluntary reporting. Previously, more than 85 percent of law enforcement agencies did not report crime data to the FBI. However, that number has been rising in recent years.

Amid the pandemic

The HRC dropped its own report for hate crimes in Los Angeles County in 2021 earlier this month. The number of such crimes rose by 20 percent in 2020 and by 23 percent in 2021. Wong believes the “pent-up frustration” of the Covid-19 pandemic and “the need to blame someone” for pandemic related issues such as unemployment, the housing crisis, and Covid-mandated lock-downs contributed to the jump in hate crimes.

In Los Angeles County, there were 77 reported hate crimes against Asian Americans in 2021, the largest number on record.

Hate crimes in Los Angeles are up by 13 percent in 2022, according to Police Chief Michael Moore, who spoke at a police commission meeting Dec. 13. Surprisingly however, Asian Americans experienced a 20 percent decrease, he reported. (Sunita Sohrabji/Ethnic Media Services)

by Alexis RomeRo Philstar.com

MANILA — President Marcos has rejected three items in the P5.268-trillion national budget for next year, describing them as “inappropriate provisions” that can amend other laws and are not related to any appropriation.

In a 16-page veto message dated Dec. 16, Marcos said he has vetoed provisions on the use of income by the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC); revolving fund of the television-based instruction program of the Department of Education (DepEd) and prohibition against the use of the budget to change the government’s tourism slogan.

“In keeping with my constitutional duty to ensure faithful execution of the laws, I am constrained to directly veto the provisions introduced in this budget which do not relate to any particular appropriation and would effectively amend substantive laws,” the President said.

“These are considered inappropriate provisions that warrant the exercise of presidential veto,” he added.

He cited a 1994 Supreme Court ruling that categorized as inappropriate provisions those that are unconstitutional and are intended to amend other laws.

Thus, Marcos vetoed Special Provision No. 1 on “Use of Income” under the budget of the NLRC, a quasi-judicial agency attached to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Marcos said the income already forms part of the revenue and financing sources of the national expenditure program for fiscal year 2023 which was submitted to Congress.

He noted that Section 65 of Presidential Decree No. 1445 (Government Auditing Code of the Philippines, as reiterated in the Administrative Code of 1987) provides that unless otherwise specifically provided by law, income accruing to the agencies by virtue of the provisions of the law, orders and regulations shall be deposited in the National Treasury or in any duly authorized government depository and shall accrue to the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund of the government.

“It is noteworthy that the NLRC is not granted authority to use its in-

come under existing laws. Further, the funding requirements for the operations of the NLRC are already fully provided under its budget under this Act,” Marcos said.

DepEd TV

Marcos also rejected Special Provision No. 4 on the “Revolving Fund of DepEd TV” under the budget of the Office of the Secretary.

He said there is no law authorizing the DepEd to establish a revolving fund for the purpose.

“Moreover, the DepEd TV is not a business-type activity of the DepEd, which may be considered within the contemplation of the general provision on revolving funds in this Act, which permits the constitution of a revolving fund from receipts derived from business-type activities of agencies,” the President said.

DepEd TV is the agency’s television-based learning delivery that is broadcast through the internet and TV stations across the country.

Third to be vetoed by the President was Special Provision No. 4 on “Branding Campaign Program” under the budget of the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT).?

Marcos said the provision intends to limit the exercise of the functions of the executive branch in implementing the Tourism Act of 2009 and that “in no case shall the appropriations be utilized to change the tourism campaign slogan.”

He noted that under the law, the DOT is mandated to be the primary planning, programming, coordinating, implementing and regulatory government agency in the development and promotion of the tourism industry, both domes-

tically and globally.

The agency is tasked to promote tourism as an engine of socioeconomic and cultural growth in the country, he added.

The Chief Executive said the provisions he vetoed have no place in an appropriations bill and are “matters of general legislation more appropriately dealt with in separate enactments.”

He vowed to use the 2023 budget to achieve national development goals through “transparent and inclusive governance.”

Senators agreed with Marcos’ decision to veto some provisions of the 2023 General Appropriations Act, acknowledging his power and prerogative as the Chief Executive.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III vowed to monitor the budget implementation for next year, particularly for education which he hopes will be provided the biggest allotment.

Sen. Nancy Binay also agreed with the President that while the DOT should be a high priority for budgeting, its funds should not be spent on rebranding of the country’s tourism slogan.

“We still hope that the DOT considers deferring its plan to ‘rebrand’ and replace the ‘It’s More Fun in the Philippines!’ campaign,” said Binay, who chairs the Senate committee on tourism.

Binay stressed that while she agrees with the veto, the Senate will still support efforts to boost the DOT’s campaigns to help fast-track the country’s economic recovery.

Like Pimentel and Binay, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said “it is the President’s prerogative to veto some of the provisions of the General Appropriations Act, and we trust in his wisdom.” g

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

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Roxas recalled in his speech during the reception. “There’s a lot of work that 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)

CPP founder Joma Sison...

PAGE 1

and clear direction,” he said.

He said the organization needs to have “a good teacher and guiding light who will lead its members away from violence and destruction.”

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 CPP- National 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 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. g

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

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Malacañang photo

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.

holiday.

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 U.S.based 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

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

D AN 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

With Due Respect

ARTEMIO V. PANGANIBAN

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 U.S. but his and the KJC’s properties and bank accounts there were frozen. U.S. 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 U.S., 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

we are really stuck with 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

Tough love

who is the better 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.

* * * denino1951@gmail.com

What if the US asks for Quiboloy’s extradition?

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

TO BE CLEAR, AN EXTRADITION TREATY BETWEEN THE PHILIPPINES AND THE U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. government for the criminal offense of donating to the election campaign of Bill

Clinton (who was subsequently elected U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S., “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 U.S. where he would have to face the criminal charges and argue his defenses.

Eventually, Jimenez had to face criminal charges in the U.S. 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

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)

From My Point of View

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

NAIA third most stressful airport in Asia – study

MANILA — For the longest time, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), considered as the main gateway to the Philippines, has been named one of the worst airports in the world and has received numerous complaints from passengers across the globe.

Ahead of the holiday season and the expected holiday rush, a new report released by the travel website hawaiianislands. com has once again ranked NAIA as among the worst airports in Asia and the world.

Last month, the travel website released its report titled “The Most Stressful Airports in America and the World,” which was done through analysis of over 1,500 Google reviews for over 500 airports across the world.

“We analyzed the sentiment of Google reviews and ranked airports around the world and within the United States based on the percentage of reviews that indicate stress,” hawaiianislands. com explained.

Delays, long queues, and crying babies—according to the report—are just among the many reasons that air travel can be stressful for passengers, adding issues such as turbulence, baggage claim, and costly beverage on the flight.

NAIA: 3rd most stressful airport in Asia

Although airports in Southeast Asia and Oceania had an average of just 34.0 percent stress levels based on reviews by passengers— the least of any region included in the report—it was still home to some of the most stressful airports in the world, including NAIA.

NAIA—with 57.81 percent of its passenger reviews indicating stress—ranked the third most stressful airport in the region next to Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport in Australia (58.98 percent) and Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Vietnam (60.13 percent, the most stressed out reviews of any airport in Southeast Asia).

Based on recent reviews for NAIA in Google Maps, among the common complaints left by passengers were the alleged lack of organization, long lines, overcrowding, lack of seats at the departure gates, and delayed luggage release.

Other passengers also pointed out that most, if not all, food stalls and restaurants or cafes

inside the airport only accept cash for payment—which several tourists and passengers found inconvenient.

Three other airports in the country were analyzed by the travel website, although not included on the worst airport list in the region. These were the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (38.9 percent of stressed reviews), Subic Bay International Airport (30.8 percent), and Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City (22.1 percent).

Disputing longstanding worst airport claims

Another travel website, the widely cited Guide to Sleeping in Airports, described NAIA as a “large and often frustrating airport.” It also advised travelers to “expect to wait in numerous long lines as you make your way to your flight.”

Similar to some Google Maps reviews, the website also noted that some shops and restaurants are mainly cash only, pushing travelers to find ATMs inside the airport.

It also warned passengers of scams and to take “extra care” of their belongings due to numerous reports about bullet-planting scams—or the “tanim-bala” which became widely known in 2015—demand for bribes such as the notorious “pastillas” scheme in 2020, broken CCTVs, and general theft.”

Meanwhile, around May, global luggage storage app Bounce named NAIA as the worst airport in the world—out of 38 airports included in the study—for business class travelers, with a 0.88 out of 10 business class score.

The study looked at the airports’ number of lounges, number of destinations served, percentage of on-time flights annually, and Skytrax rating.

According to Skytrax, NAIA is “certified as a 3-Star Airport for facilities, comfort, cleanliness, shopping, food & beverages, and staff service.”

“Manila Airport is a congested hub. Immigration and security queues can be excessive, while comfort for transfer passengers is low. Terminal spaces have poor air-conditioning, often busy and offering limited facilities and dining choices,” it noted.

However, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) disputed these previous claims against NAIA, saying that such claims are “unsubstantiated.”

“While the ‘study’ shows unfavorable rating and unsubstantiated claims about NAIA, it cannot be denied that significant improvements have been carried out in the country’s main gateway in the past six years under the Duterte administration,” the transportation department said in a statement.

Then Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade also told Filipinos not to believe the Bounce study, saying it had “no fundamentals nor parameters” to support its claim that NAIA is the worst airport.

“There was some press release saying that NAIA is one of the worst business class airports. Don’t believe that. It is an app based on a study that has no fundamentals and parameters, and you don’t know how the conclusion was made,” Tugade added.

Where travelers get stressed the most

The study by hawaiaanislands. com found that out of the many airports in the world, Manchester Airport in the United Kingdom (UK) was the most stressful, with 82.5 percent of reviews indicating stress.

“Many of the millions of passengers traveling through Manchester may feel stressed from the recent staff shortages and long lines. Some of the most common terms that crop up in reviews include ‘embarrassment,’ ‘shortages,’ ‘queuing,’ ‘farce,’ and ‘jobsworth’,” the study stated.

“In April 2022, Manchester Airport apologized to customers for long security queues, blaming the inconvenience on growing passenger demand in the wake of the pandemic,” it added.

It found that nine out of 10 most stressful airports overall are in Europe, four of which are (UK) airports.

The study also saw that, surprisingly, the busiest airports are “not necessarily the most stressful.”

“While heavy passenger traffic can create long queues and other issues, the busiest airports in the world are not necessarily the most stressful. The 20 busiest airports by passenger traffic, for example, all rank outside the top 25 most stressful airports, according to our analysis,” the study explained.

“The one busy airport that does rank as particularly stressful is Amsterdam Schiphol in the Netherlands.” g

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

by 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 Garcia-Molina and also features Ivana Alawi, is an entry to the 48th Metro Manila Film Festival.

“It may be a comedy film, but it’s also about an over-achiever who has unconsciously set aside 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, 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.”

Cherry Pie, Edu shut down breakup rumors

by Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

Fans of the pair were alarmed with their relationship after the couple didn't post photos of them on Instagram for months, sparking split speculations.

In her Instagram account, Cherry Pie posted photos of her relativces in New Zealand with Edu.

The actor, meanwhile, posted last Monday a photo of him with the actress, hanging out in a new bar in Quezon City.

It was December last year when Edu's son Luis Manzano confirmed the relationship between the two.

“Kung maibabalik ang prangkisa ng ABS-CBN next year, baka si Daddy at Tita Pie, itapat sa KathNiel,” Luis joked.

“Sobrang we were caught off guard. No one saw it coming. I

don’t even think Dad and Tita Pie saw it coming,” he added.

Luis shared that he was able to confirm the relationship when a friend sent him a photo of his dad and Cherry Pie.

“I think a friend of mine took a picture with them and he sent me a picture. He was with Daddy and Tita Pie. Date night yata sila. So I sent the picture back to Daddy.

I said, ‘Uy daddy, happy boy ka.’ Sabi niya, ‘Yes anak, happy',” Luis said.

“It would boil down to the same thing, kung paano niya nirerespeto ang kanyang kasama. That’s one thing na nakikita ko kay Daddy. How he takes care of his partner talaga. Nakikita ko rin naman how happy he is with Tita Pie,” he added.

Dimples shares glimpse of daily life with baby Elio

by HannaH Mallorca Inquirer.net

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

“Usual 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.

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 closeup 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.

How Jose Mari celebrates Christmas

by cHarMie Joy Pagulong Philstar.com

EVERY time someone sings Christmas In Our Hearts, it gives wing to the song and brings the spirit of Christmas close to the heart and home, remarked Jose Mari Chan, who’s also dubbed as the “father of Philippine Christmas music.”

The veteran singer-songwriter and businessman serenaded the audience with the holiday anthem during Uniqlo’s event held recently at the Glorietta 4, Dolphin Park.

“That song was composed in 1990,” he recalled the making of the enduring Filipino Christmas carol, a new version of which was recorded this year by Lea Salonga and American a cappella group Pentatonix.

“I’m so blessed that every year, year after year, young and old people alike, they sing that song and it gives meaning to (it). Every time you sing that song, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, you give wing to the song and you bring the spirit of Christmas into your heart and into your home,” he added.

Known for his iconic Christmas songs, Jose Mari would usually usher in the yuletide season by decorating and trimming the Christmas tree with his loved ones. He would spend time with his five children, in-laws and nine grandchildren.

“We will gather together, we will have food that they love and we’re gonna trim the Christmas tree. What makes the Christmas tree interesting? It’s because we have had that tree since my children were kids. And so each of them has their special décor ornaments,” he shared.

Jose Mari shared that his children would tell him, “‘I remember this, Dad, when I was five years old.’ My grandchildren would also bring their own ornaments and say, ‘May I join the Christmas tree?’ So, it’s really the Chan family tree. That’s really putting the meaning of Christmas

in context.”

During the same event, Jose Mari shared the stage with the local pop-rock band The Juans as they performed their hit songs and Uniqlo’s holiday jingle.

The band, which consists of Carl Guevarra, Japs Mendoza, Chael Adriano and RJ Cruz, will spend Christmas with their loved ones, enjoy the traditional noche buena and exchange gifts.

Japs shared, “Kumain ng sama-sama. Mag-catch up. Kasi siyempre sobrang busy ng mga family members. Laging wala sa bahay so yun yung perfect time na mag-catch up and yes, kwentuhan with parents.”

“Meron kaming ginagawa sa family, we play games. We play card games, board games. Sinisimulan namin maglaro. (We) play together,” added Carl.

The quintet from Bulacan will also attend church together on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, as they always do.

The Japanese global apparel retailer’s Christmas campaign “Celebrate Together” seems fitting for this year’s celebration, said Carl.

“I love the idea of encouraging everyone to finally celebrate

together. ‘Cause during the two years of the pandemic, we were all apart. This is one thing that we always prayed for na parang I hope I get to see my cousins, yung mga malalayong kamag-anak. So, I love that Uniqlo is echoing that anthem to everybody and now is the perfect time to celebrate together. And we are just glad to be a part of that,” he noted.

“Two years ago, when we were celebrating Christmas in pandemic, this is one thing that we always wanted to do — to encourage everybody to celebrate Christmas. This time, it’s worthcelebrating and we are glad to be at the forefront of this,” he furthered.

Uniqlo Philippines chief operating officer Geraldine Sia, meanwhile, stated, “One of the most enduring Christmas traditions in the Philippines is gift-giving. It is the perfect way to show our love and care for each other. When we give to each other, we celebrate togetherness this holiday season. We hope that our special offers, promotions, and events in the coming weeks can add more warmth and comfort to everyone’s lives.”

Vice Ganda Photos from Instagram/@praybeytbenjamin

‘Father of Philippine Christmas music’ Jose Mari Chan (center) and the band The Juans ‘celebrate together’ for Uniqlo’s holiday campaign.

Edu Manzano and Cherry Pie Picache Photo from Instagram/@yescppicache

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

CELEBRITY couple Cherry Pie Picache and Edu Manzano shut down breakup rumors after they posted photos on social media.

Pahrump housing market remains somewhat competitive

by RealtoR Fely Quitevis-Bateman

WITH mortgage costs impacted due to the Federal Reserve increasing interest rates as it tries to curb signs of inflation for the United States economy, the once very hot real estate market has cooled considerably.

Homes and real estate in competitive real estate markets around the U.S. that were being lapped up by buyers in the past couple of years in a matter of days or weeks, with some diving head-on into waitlists in order to be considered, are now staying in the market for a month or two, or even longer.

This has created a wonderful opportunity for serious home buyers who are looking for affordable homes/real estate, including in the developing town of Pahrump.

Originally inhabited by the Southern Pauite tribe, this

unincorporated town that lies adjacent to the California-Nevada border has seen its population rise through the decades. It now has an estimated population of 44,738 per the 2020 U.S. Census.

While known for its casino resorts, legal brothels and its wineries, it is a destination for outdoor enthusiasts, with its proximity to Death Valley National Park and different mountain ranges. It is home to the 332-acre Spring Mountain Mountain Motor Resort and Country Club, which houses the longest road course in North America. Spring Mountain is a state-of-the-art racing facility and motorsports club, which is a destination for many racecar enthusiasts who want to attend the many driving schools located in Spring Mountain, and who want to drive in its challenging racetrack, which can be sized into

different variations.

Pahrump is also home to Mountain Falls Golf Club, which is a course designed by famed architecture firms Nicklaus Design Group and Cal Olson Design. It is a favorite among golf enthusiasts as its course, while challenging, is a visual feast for the eyes.

Describing Pahrump and what you can do in town, Redfin says, “There are many cool ways to spend your time in Pahrump, NV from enjoying local art, dining at some of the best restaurants in town, or spending time at a park. While living in Pahrump, make sure to stop by some of the museums like Pahrump Valley Museum and Yucca Mountain Science Center. The city is also known for its parks and green spaces like Discovery Park, Ian Deutch Memorial Park, Devil's Hole National Park, just to name a few. There are a variety of diverse eateries and restaurants that appeal to every palette in the city…”

According to Redfin, the median price for homes in the town is about $365,000 as of November 2022, while townhouses have a median sale price of $165,000. For those who cannot afford to buy a home as of yet, apartments for rent in the area are available, with 2-bedroom, 2-bath units costing as low as $1,050 a month, and 3-bedroom 2-bath units priced at $1,525 per month.

The median sales price of $365,000 for homes in Pahrump is about 6% higher when compared to the previous year. Depending on the type of home and the area where it is located, a house in the market can be sold in as little as 25 days (for “hot” homes). The median days for homes in the market is around 74 days.

Consider this: The median home price in the State of Nevada was $20,700 in 1940. That median price became $136,000 in 1980 and increased to $142,000 in 2000. In 2021 the median price for homes in the Silver State exploded to $420,000, with previously owned single-family homes priced in the $350,000 range in 2020.

Pahrump continues to be one of those real estate markets searched by individuals and families nationally. Per net flow search (those searching to move into Pahrump minus the number of people searching to move

out) statistics offered by Redfin, Los Angeles (5,502), Salt Lake City (2,216) and San Francisco (2,187) are the top three cities whose people have searched for possibilities to move into town. Other areas in the top eight whose residents have searched moving into town include Seattle, Washington (DC), San Diego, Chicago and Honolulu.

The town, which is located in the southernmost tip of Nye County, still exudes a small-town feel, as opposed to its big sister Las Vegas, which is about 62 miles away. You can say that those living in Pahrump can have the best of both worlds as they get to experience living in a quiet, peaceful town, but are able to dive into the big city lights and entertainment of Las Vegas when they want to as Sin City is an easy drive from Pahrump.

Many national brands and emerging companies are finding a

home in Pahrump. Big companies and franchises like The Home Depot, Burger King, Chevron, Coyote Corner, CVS Pharmacy, Domino’s, Davita, Enterprise, Family Dollar, US Bank, Bank of America, Taco Bell and Supercuts have established operations, along with hundreds of businesses that cater to the needs of the diversified, growing population of the town.

With affordability and location as the biggest drivers in any real estate purchase, Pahrump presents a good opportunity for those looking at the market, especially for those who can afford to buy right now.n

Traditionally, real estate has always been a solid investment for those looking to grow their portfolios – while there are highs and lows, those who invest early tend to come out winning in the end, as real estate prices continue moving upward.

I have helped many clients look for their piece of real estate heaven in Pahrump (and in Las Vegas as well). I have decades of experience in assisting my clients find their American Dream, property-wise – one that fits their budgets and needs. Many of my clients have even become repeat buyers and investors, with some now reaping the benefits of their real estate investments via rentals or through Airbnb.

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

(Advertising Supplement)

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

A more than 8-acre parcel of land, which is part of a 29-acre piece of land, near Blagg Road and Basin Avenue has been proposed to be zoned from commercial to village residential recently. The project under the Home Means Nevada Initiative would bring about 140 units of affordable housing to Pahrump, with unit prices ranging from $435 to $1300 per a news report recently on KPVM. Photo above shows part of the plans submitted to the Nye County Commission. Screen capture from web

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman’s (extreme left) clients from Palm Springs, CA, Clark and Angelica Games, bought another lot in Pahrump.

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman is in photo with Alliance Concierge Banker Keith Saunders, who is visiting Pahrump on the possibility of funding the glove factory in the town.

PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS

OBESITY has been known to be a major risk for the development of diabetes mellitus Type2 (DMT2) for decades. Being overweight not only increases the risk for diabetes but also for high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke, and it also elevates one’s risk for cancer. Worldwide, there are about 463 million adults with DMT2. Many are undiagnosed. In the United States, about 37.3 million people have diabetes mellitus T2.

DIRECT (Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial) in the United Kingdom has shown that among T2 diabetics, who lost significant weight (more than 10 kilos or 22 pounds) sustained over 12-24 months) could lead to remission (reversal) of DMT2.

I know of people, even seniors, who lost 40-50 pounds and achieved their normal weight of 130-150 pounds for 12 months or longer by staying away from carbohydrates and controlling their daily total calorie-intake and exercising, and who were able to stop taking their insulin shots and maintained normal blood sugar level. Is this remission or a cure? Whichever it is, this “transformation” is amazing and is definitely an inspiring discovery for all diabetics. Obviously, this takes a lot of discipline, hard work, and personal sacrifices. Knowing how diabetes damages our organs, increases our risk even for cardiovascular illnesses, including cancer, and how it shortens lives, the great hurdles and pains of dieting and exercise (not by taking pills, which is dangerous) is worth all sacrifices, because health is, indeed, wealth!

The uninvited celebrant Christmas season, my favorite time of the year, is around. The King of all kings, the humble sacrificial lamb, the Savior of the world, born in a manger, is once again to be honored and celebrated. But watch how most of us behave in dashing through the snow, the silent night, and the jingling of the bells.

The plot in the old TV series God friended me in the United States portrays “an outspoken atheist whose life is turned upside down when he receives a friend request on social media from God and unwittingly becomes an agent of change in the lives and destinies of others around him.”

The show is both funny and full of subtle wisdom and practical earthly realities. This makes me look at myself and our society as a whole, and comment on

Weight loss ‘cures’ diabetes RFLF gives $5M grant to Barack Obama Foundation

our social behavior and attitude, especially about Christmas. Even atheists and non-Christians seem to have this perception of us, Christians, on how we celebrate the sacred day.

I remember well when movie icon, Marilyn Monroe, in her sexy tight-fitting gown, in May of 1962, sang “Happy Birthday, Mr. President,” and the attention of the world was only momentarily on her, but John F. Kennedy, 45, on whose honor the party was being given, was still center stage, the man of the hour, where the spotlight was redirected fully. After all, he was the honoree. He was not only invited but honored as should be.

Jolly Santa Claus, with his famous white moustache, beard, and long curly hair, red baggy outfit and winter black boots, is a most popular figure at Christmas. Every year, he gets the honor, and men and women, young and old, and children of all ages, have accepted him as a symbol of Christmas itself –holiday cheers, gifts, food, and merriment.

It almost seems that without Santa Claus, there would not be any reindeer, no sleigh, no stockings, no gifts, and no Christmas. Ask any child, and that will invariably be the answer you get. Santa Claus is very important during this holiday. Without him there won’t be any Christmas. There won’t be any gifts. He is, after all, the bearer of gifts from the North Pole. That’s what the children are led to believe by our actions, unintentionally I am sure, but nonetheless that’s the subliminal vibe they get from us adults as they grow up.

Everything during the Christmas season, including our conversation and greetings, is about Santa, about parties and gifts, and about all the material things we can buy and/or receive in this highly commercialized world of today. Our mind seems to focus mostly on material things. Many of us hardly talk to our children and amongst ourselves about the Birthday Boy, the celebrant Himself. About His wonders, about His greatness, about His ultimate sacrifice. And why He deserves to be celebrated and honored every day and especially on His birthday.

Many of us are focusing too much on the material and earthly things and too little on the sacredness of Christmas. There is nothing wrong with the glitz, glamor, festivities, food and drinks galore, and all the external grandeur we surround ourselves with during this greatest season of all, so long as we consciously invite to our midst, wherever we are celebrating, the Birthday

Boy, the Celebrant Himself.

I really think many of us around the Christian world habitually, albeit unintentionally and unwittingly, neglect to invite the Celebrant, which, sadly, is not only a great sacred omission but glaringly even a violation of Emily Post’s human rules on social etiquette.

We seem to have lost our focus, and Jesus, the celebrant, is often relegated to the background, even forgotten during His own birthday party.

Shopping, food, and merriment preoccupy and overwhelm everybody’s mind during this holiday. The honoree, the main event, the very reason why we are celebrating this blessed day in the first place, is no longer on centerstage. Sometimes, I feel that some of us are indifferent to even consciously invite Him to His own party. In many cases, He is nowhere to be found, because He may not be a conscious priority on our minds on this busy and festive occasion. The sheer joy of the celebration and the loud Ho! Ho! Ho! seem to have drowned Him out. We seem to be missing the significance and the holiness of it all.

Isn’t it time we invited the Birthday Boy and put the Celebrant back on centerstage where He belongs, and to pay homage and honor Him? After all, this is His party, remember? And we are only His guests.

Here’s wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful and blessed CHRISTmas, and to the Child in the manger: Happy Birthday, and thanks for the e-vite and for enabling us to attend.

Peace on earth to all men of goodwill! And to the others as well.

* * *

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

* * *

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

* * *

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

Janine gets real on holiday eating, PMS bloat

by Anne PAsAJol Inquirer.net

JANINE Gutierrez politely put down a netizen who pointed out that her stomach seemed “bloated,” with the actress calmly explaining that it was due to holiday eating and premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and not because she’s eating for two.

Gutierrez was responding to a remark thrown her way by a follower on Instagram who was commenting on the picture of her in a fitting cut-out dress that she was wearing during the ABS-CBN Christmas Special 2022. In the picture, she was with her rumored boyfriend, fellow Kapamilya actor Paulo Avelino.

“[Preggy] ka ba? Bakit ang laki ng tiyan mo?” one @ireneeee1969 asked via the comments section. (Are you pregnant? Why is your tummy big?)

“PMS bloat actually and I’ve been holiday eating since wala pang taping (I do not have tapings yet),” Gutierrez answered. “It’s okay to enjoy the off season. Diet na ulit (I will be on diet again) after Christmas.”

Gutierrez concluded her response with a wish for the netizen: “Sana masarap din kain mo this December.” (I hope you are also eating well this December.)

On her 33th birthday last October, Gutierrez disclosed that she has no plans of settling down anytime soon, also reminding fellow women that everyone has their own timeline in life.

THE Reginald F. Lewis Foundation (RFLF), one of the oldest African American and Asian private foundations in the world, is pleased to announce a milestone $5 million grant to the Barack Obama Foundation (https://www.obama.org) to support their mission to inspire, empower, and connect the next generation of leaders.

The Reginald F. Lewis Foundation's grant will go toward supporting the Obama Foundation's general operations and impact work, including support for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, and other national and global programs like the My Brother's Keeper Alliance, which addresses persistent opportunity gaps boys and young men of color face in society and the workforce, and the Girls Opportunity Alliance, an international initiative that seeks to empower adolescent girls around the world through education, enabling them to achieve their full potential and transform their families, communities, and countries.

“It is an honor to contribute to President Obama's ongoing work to educate and empower young people to become leaders in their communities and around

the world,” said Loida Lewis, Chair of The Reginald F. Lewis Foundation and widow to the late entrepreneur Reginald Lewis. “I know President Obama attended a speech Mr. Lewis gave at Harvard Law School while the President was there studying for his law degree. Both Mr. Lewis and the President show how education helps exceptional people break barriers and accomplish wonderful things, and I know, if he was still here, Mr. Lewis would be proud to help President Obama carry his work and legacy forward.”

“We are incredibly grateful for the generous support from The Reginald F. Lewis Foundation. It's through vital partnerships like this that we are able to build sustainable programming at the Obama Foundation centered around supporting boys and young men of color and girls all over the world through education,” said Obama Foundation CEO Valerie Jarrett.

In partnership with the Obama Foundation, a room at the future Obama Presidential Center will be named in memory of Mr. Lewis, with the hope of continuing to preserve his ongoing legacy and inspire others for years to come.

Mr. Lewis, a pioneering financier,

The Reginald F. Lewis

(RFLF Release)

Pardon, but Xian disagrees that ‘good things come to those who wait’

by Alex BrosAs Inquirer.net

ACTOR Xian Lim does not subscribe to the saying that “good things come to those who wait,” and he has a valid reason for this.

In his Instagram video posted on December 17, Lim said one’s dreams are waiting to happen but only if one acted on it.

“Good things come to those who wait— I disagree,” he said as a preliminary.

“While there is some truth to that, the best things in life do come when you least expect it. But your dreams, your goals are waiting for you — not the other way around. You have to be the one to claim your prize,” he claimed.

“So I say, let’s not be stagnant. Let’s not stay in the same place and let life pass us by. Let’s have an open mindset. Let’s grab life by the horns and steer our ship to the direction (we) want to go,”

he said.

Lim further said one must not wait for opportunities to land on his lap and instead, to “slowly pound on that marble until you see the beautiful sculpture.”

“Always be the hardest working person in the room. Be patient yet persistent enough to strive to be better every single day. No pressure. No rush. Just enjoy the process and have fun with it. A little food for thought,” he captioned his IG post.

“So I say, let’s not be stagnant. Let’s not stay in the same place and let life pass us by. Let’s have an open mindset. Let’s grab life by the horns and steer our ship to the direction (we) want to go,” he said.

Lim further said one must not wait for opportunities to land on his lap and instead, to “slowly pound on that marble until you see the beautiful sculpture.”

“Always be the hardest working person in the room. Be patient yet persistent enough to strive to be better every single day. No pressure. No rush. Just enjoy the process and have fun with it. A little food for thought,” he captioned his IG post.

Mylene shares what she learned from partner

by JAn Milo severo Philstar.com

ACTRESS Mylene Dizon shared what she learned in her current relationship with basketball coach Jason Webb.

During the press conference of her Metro Manila Film Festival entry "Family Matters," Mylene said her relationship with Jason is her longest.

"You cannot choose what’s going to happen. Si Jason, matagal ko nang kilala ’yun, e. College pa lang, pero kami pala ’yung magkakasama. So, hindi mo s’ya masasabi na he’s the one or I’m the one," she said.

"Sometimes ang timing din sa buhay. I’m more mature now, he’s more mature now. More responsible. We’ve already shaken off things that are not necessary," she added.

She also opened up on their blended family set up with Jason in an interview with Smart Parenting

Mylene has two sons with former partner Paolo Paraiso,

while Jason has two daughters with ex-wife Claudine Trillo.

"Wala pakialamanan. We respect that. If you start telling somebody how to rear a child, eh, he’s been rearing his children for a long time, parang it’s

overstepping," she said.

"Hindi naman namin sinadya, nangyari na lang. It turned out na ’yun pala, kumbaga kung ano sa amin ngayon, ang formula to make things work as a blended family," she added.

Janine Gutierrez

Photo from Instagram/@janinegutierrez

Loida Lewis, Chair of The Reginald F. Lewis Foundation Inquirer.net file photo

Xian Lim Inquirer.net photo

entrepreneur, and philanthropist, has been selected by President Obama as an honoree alongside other influential figures "on whose shoulders we stand" and whose significant contributions to society advanced justice and equality in America.

Foundation and the Obama Foundation are excited to continue working together in the pursuit of education, cultural enrichment, and positive change.

The blended family of celebrity couple Mylene Dizon and Jason Webb. Photo from Instagram/@missmylenedizon