122223- San Diego Edition

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DECEMBER 22-28, 2023 Serving San Diego Since 1987 • 12 Pages

T h e F i l i p i n o –A m e r i c a n C o m m u n i t y N e w s pa p e r

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DATELINE California EDD language access expanded to include Tagalog FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

LOS ANGELES – California’s Employment Development Department (EDD) is expanding language access options, which will include Tagalog starting March 2024.

By that time, California residents can apply for unemployment benefits in the myEDD web portal and UI Online and manage their claims via application forms translated into Tagalog, Korean and Armenian, EDD has announced.

This is in addition to the Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Vietnamese application forms already being offered.

These seven languages represent the top languages spoken by working-age adults in California.

“This significant enhancement to myEDD and UI Online is an important milestone in our multilingual expansion to better serve California’s diverse communities,” said EDD Director Nancy Farias.

“This significant enhancement to myEDD and UI Online is an important milestone in our multilingual expansion to better

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Marcos says ‘paradigm shift’ needed in diplomacy with China

by Gaea Katreena Cabico Philstar.com

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized the need for a “paradigm shift” in tackling China’s increasingly aggressive behavior in

the West Philippine Sea as diplomatic efforts with Beijing were heading in a “poor direction.”

In an interview with Japanese media Saturday, December 16, Marcos said “traditional methods of diplomacy”—such as sending note verbales and summoning Chinese envoys—had been disregarded

Man who assaulted Filipina in New York pleads guilty to anti-Asian hate crime SC asked to press the brakes on jeepney phaseout

BUDGET. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the ceremonial signing of the P5.768-trillion 2024 national budget on Wednesday, December 20, calling on agencies to carry out the expenditure program lawfully and to honor the taxpayers who made the next year’s budget possible.

Speaking during the signing ceremony in Malacañang, President Marcos reminded agencies implementing the expenditure program to fight red tape “that leads to underspending and overspending that disregards legal guardrails,” emphasizing further that these are ‘two sides of the same coin.’

Malacañang photo

WITH anti-semitic attacks on the rise, let’s not forget that anti-Asian hate is still in the picture. Recently, a man fresh out of his parole hit off an unpleasant encore brutally assaulting a 65-year-old Filipino woman in New York.

Brandon Elliott, who pleaded guilty to anti-Asian hate crime, already had a crime history. He was on parole for killing his mother. This time, a Filipino American woman in New York was left battered and bruised.

According to the criminal complaint, Elliott approached the victim shouting, “F*ck you, you don’t belong here,” before the violent attack, reported by AM New York.

And as if that wasn’t enough, Elliott took out a knife and threatened a Good Samaritan trying to thwart the assault. Police caught him a few days later. He pleaded guilty to

TRANSPORT and commuter rights groups petitioned the Supreme Court on Wednesday, December 20 to stop and ultimately void all government orders requiring the consolidation of franchises

by Dec. 31 for the phaseout of traditional jeepneys under the government’s public PARCHED. In this photo taken in May 2023, a boy walks through a parched rice field in Tanza, utility vehicle modernization program Cavite, as the state weather bureau issued an El Niño alert.

(PUVMP).

File photo by Marianne Bermudez / Philippine Daily Inquirer In the 56-page petition, Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) president Mody Floranda, along with stakeholders from commuter and transport sectors, moved to prevent the Department of Transportation

Piston president Mody Floranda

Inquirer photo/Lyn Rillon

Inflation uptick seen with strong El Niño, says BSP official Filipinos upbeat on 2024 u PAGE 2

by Ronnel W. Domingo Inquirer.net

Inquirer.net

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday, December 20 signed into law the 2024 national budget. This came more than a week after Congress approved and ratified the proposed spending plan.

Marcos signed the P5.768-trillion national budget in a ceremony held in the Malacañang Palace, marking the second full budget of his administration since 2022.

“Although it is teeming with numbers, this budget is more than a spreadsheet of

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Inquirer.net

by Faith Argosino

Inquirer.net

MANILA — After another fresh wave of accusations that the Philippines has been stirring up “trouble” in the West Philippine Sea, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Wednesday, December 20 that no country has condemned the Philippines over its actions in the tense waterways.

“I just want to react, I think there was a comment that the Philippines is provoking activities here and that we are creating trouble in the South China Sea as stated by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

My response to that is that only China believes in what they are saying,” Teodoro told reporters at the sidelines of an event in La Union.

“And no country in the world, none, to this type has condemned the Philippines in what it’s doing.

That is the best proof of what I said,” Teodoro added.

Teodoro also said that no nation “unequivocally”

by Tina G. Santos

Bongbong Marcos signs economic prospects P5.768-trillion 2024 nat’l budget

by Zacarian Sarao

u PAGE 2

Defense chief rebukes China, says no country has condemned the Philippines over SCS

u PAGE 3

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by Beijing.

“We have been doing this for many years now, with very little progress,” Marcos was quoted as saying in a release issued by the Presidential Communications Office.

amounts of a ledger of projects, rather, it details our battle plan in fighting poverty and combating illiteracy in producing food and ending hunger and protecting our homes and securing our border, treating the sick, keeping our people healthy, creating jobs and funding livelihoods,” Marcos said in a speech after signing the 2024 national budget.

“It is wrong to say that the budget merely pays for the overhead of the bureaucracy, it is more than that, it funds the elimination of problems that we as a nation must overcome,” he added.

According to Marcos, the national

u PAGE 3

MORE Filipinos are optimistic about the country’s economic prospects for 2024, the Publicus Asia’s yearend survey showed.

Conducted from November 29 to December 4, the poll reflected a slight improvement in the public outlook of the country’s current state, from 43 percent to 45 percent.

In terms of region, optimism in NorthCentral Luzon rose from 43 percent in the third quarter to 49 percent in the fourth quarter, South Luzon from 40 percent to 45 percent, and the Visayas from 41 percent to 47 percent.

Optimism sharply declined in Mindanao,

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MANILA — The likelihood that the ongoing El Niño weather phenomenon will become a “historically strong” event in the next two months has increased, with the probability raised to 54 percent from just 35 percent as assessed just a month ago, according to the U.S. Climate Prediction Center (US CPC).

If this comes to pass, the current El Niño will potentially be among the five worst El Niño events since 1950, the scientific agency said.

One of these is the El Niño occurrence in 2015-2016, which the World Bank said inflicted $325 million or

about P18 billion in damage and production losses to the Philippine agriculture sector.

El Niño brings lower than normal rainfall or even drought to areas in the Philippines, threatening major crops like rice and corn production. The reduced output will, in turn, lead to higher prices.

The phenomenon occurs on average every two to seven years and can last nine to 12 months, according to the Genevabased World Meteorological Organization.

State meteorologists officially declared the onset of this latest

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DECEMBER 22-28, 2023 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (619) 474-0588

From The Front Page

SC asked to press the brakes...

HOMEBOUND. Passengers on their way home for the holidays queue up at the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal on Wednesday, Dec. 20. Police authorities managed the flow of passengers into the terminal as security measures were heightened to ensure public safety.

PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.

Marcos says ‘paradigm shift’...

PAGE 1 “We have to do something that we have not done before. We have to come up with a new concept, a new principle, a new idea so that we move [...] the needle the other way. It’s going up, let’s move the needle back. So that paradigm shift is something that we have to formulate,” he added.

Relations between the Philippines and China have deteriorated under Marcos, who has sought to strengthen ties with the United States and push back against Beijing’s aggressions in the West Philippine Sea. In contrast, his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte pursued a foreign policy shift toward China in exchange for investment pledges.

Earlier this month, the government accused the China Coast Guard of ramming and firing water cannons at Philippine supply boats.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, encompassing waters and islands close to its neighbors’ shores. It has ignored an international tribunal ruling in 2016, which stated that its claims

have no legal basis.

De-escalate tension Marcos also said the Philippines will continue talking to its partners not only in the Indo-Pacific region but also globally if necessary, to de-escalate the tension in the vital waterway.

“We do not want to go to the point where there are incidents that might cause an actual violent conflict,” the chief executive said.

“And so, we have, in my review, it’s time that the countries that feel that they have an involvement in this situation, we have to come up with a paradigm shift,” he added.

Marcos was in Tokyo to attend the commemorative summit for the 50th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Japan friendship and cooperation.

Southeast Asian and Japanese leaders agreed to “strengthen dialogue and cooperation for the maintenance of maritime security and safety and maritime order based on the rule of law” in the face of China’s growing assertiveness. n

Defense chief rebukes China, says...

PAGE 1 backs China’s claim to the whole of the South China Sea, which includes its use of a ninedash line that cites sovereignty claims already rejected by an international tribunal seven years ago.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. this week raised the need for a “paradigm shift” in how the Philippines handles disputes in the South China Sea as its diplomatic relations with

Beijing have been heading south.

The president also said that “traditional methods of diplomacy” — such as sending note verbales and summoning Chinese envoys — have failed to work with Beijing.

Stressing the need for a careful approach, Marcos said that the government will continue talking to its partners to come up with a WPS strategy that will not result in “violent

conflict.”

Marcos was in Tokyo last week to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Japan friendship and cooperation, where Southeast Asian and Japanese leaders agreed to strengthen dialogue and cooperation in implementing maritime order in the face of China’s growing assertiveness. — Cristina Chi with reports from Gaea Katreena Cabico (Philstar.com) n

PAGE 1 (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) from implementing the controversial program.

The petitioners sought a temporary restraining order and a writ of preliminary injunction to block enforcement of the year-end deadline for franchise consolidation, as they urged the high court to nullify all orders and circulars formalizing the PUV modernization plan for being unconstitutional.

The other petitioners are jeepney operator Jason Fajilagutan; Gaylord Despuez, Bayan Muna party list’s Metro Manila coordinator; Elmer Forro, No To PUV Phaseout Coalition of Panay member; and Ma. Flora May Cerna, spokesperson of the commuter group Komyut.

Impact on ‘millions’ “The matter of the mandatory consolidation of franchises is a matter of public and personal interest for the petitioners in this case. It is more so a matter of transcendental importance, with potential effect on millions of operators, drivers, users and beneficiaries of jeepney operations,” they wrote in the petition.

Named respondents in the petition were the DOTr, represented by Secretary Jaime Bautista; and the LTFRB, represented by its chair, Teofilo Guadiz III. The petitioners argued that the administrative orders were issued in grave abuse of discretion and violated their constitutional right to freedom of association and the voluntary nature of a cooperative under Republic Act (RA) No. 9520 or the Cooperative Code. “[They] are overly broad and infringe the constitutional freedom of association… these issuances force the drivers and operators to join an organization or cooperative,” they said, noting that the Supreme Court, in previous decisions, had repeatedly ruled that the right to join an association carried with it the right not to join.

Thus, the government orders are “oppressive, overreaching and confiscatory” in nature, violating their right to due

process, equal protection of laws, and right against unreasonable seizures, the petitioners said. “[T]he revocation of the individual operators’ provisional authorities for failure to consolidate into juridical entities thereby prohibiting them from being registered as a public utility vehicles are confiscatory and oppressive of their property rights,” they argued.

Social inequality The petitioners added that implementing the jeepney phaseout would only further social inequality, arguing that the assailed orders and circulars would violate their rights to gainful employment and livelihood and cause a deleterious impact not only on drivers and operators but also on commuters.

“The jeepney modernization program, to reiterate, was not created by law. It was merely crafted through administrative issuances of the DOTr and the LTFRB, whereby the former directed the latter ‘to encourage and require the consolidation of operators and the establishment of bigger coordinated fleets of PUVs,’” they said.

The petitioners also raised the difficulty of accessing public transport, saying commuters scrambled to get into jeepneys and buses during peak hours.

“Prohibiting [thousands of] jeepneys from plying their route next year will result in longer lines, longer wait and even inability of commuters to get transport to their work. Worse, the scarcity of public transport could result in more expensive fares for taxis and transport network vehicle services like Grab,” they said.

They added that more people would be forced to buy secondhand cars and motorcycles, resulting in heavier traffic and carbon emission in urban areas.

No more extensions Intended to make the transport sector “dignified, humane, and on par with global standards,” the PUVMP was launched on June 19, 2017, by the DOTr through Department Order No. 2017-011.

The program has

several components: fleet modernization, route rationalization, local public transport route planning, industry consolidation regulatory reform, and a vehicle useful life program.

Under the program, jeepney units 15 years old or older will be phased out and replaced by those with Euro 4 or electrically powered engines. Considered a modernized jeepney, it has features like GPS, an automated fare collection system, and a closed-circuit television camera.

In April, the LTFRB issued Memorandum Circular 2023017, which gave PUV operators until Dec. 31 to join an existing consolidated entity, or else they would no longer be allowed to continue their operations.

For the DOTr and LTFRB, franchise consolidation would make it easier for PUV operators to secure loans for purchasing new units, facilitating route rationalization based on passenger demand, implementing a fixed salary scheme for drivers, and running their units “in a systematic and predictable manner.”

The original deadline for consolidation had been moved at least four times since December 2021.

But on Dec. 12, President Marcos said there would be no more extensions.

“Adhering to the current timeline ensures that everyone can reap the benefits of fully operationalizing our modernized public transport system. Hence, the scheduled timeline will not be moved,” he said.

“We cannot let the minority cause further delays, affecting the majority of our operators, banks, financial institutions, and the public at large,” the president said, adding that 70 percent of all transport operators had already committed to or consolidated under the PUVMP. Various transport groups, including Piston and Manibela, had staged sporadic strikes in Metro Manila and other parts of the country since March to oppose the program with mixed results. —with a report from Inquirer Research n

Inflation uptick seen with...

PAGE 1 El Niño event on July 4 this year and it would likely persist until January 2024.

Wary The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is particularly wary of the impact of El Niño as this will mean an uptick in inflation just when the rate of increase in the prices of basic goods and services has been inching closer to the government’s target range of 2 to 4 percent.

This is important for the BSP, one of whose main tasks is to shepherd inflation within what the central bank considers an acceptable range of price growth. The BSP does this mainly by tweaking interest rates on money borrowed from banks.

BSP Senior Assistant Governor Iluminada Sicat said at a press briefing that a strong El Niño was expected to add 0.02 percentage point to monthly inflation readouts.

“Inflation could temporarily accelerate above the target [range in the second quarter] due to the impact of El Niño weather conditions and also

due to the lagged impact of wage adjustments in 2023,” Sicat said.

Inflation was pegged at 4.1 percent in November, down from a peak of 8.7 percent recorded last January.

El Niño, according to a U.S. CPC bulletin, is expected to continue through the northern hemisphere winter, but with a 60-percent chance of dissipating into a “neutral” scenario — when there is neither El Niño nor its twin and opposite, La Niña — as early as April.

“Based on the latest forecasts, there is now a 54-percent chance of a ‘historically strong’ El Niño during the NovemberJanuary season,” the CPC said.

Securing food supply According to Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, intensified efforts to increase agricultural productivity will be supplemented by measures to improve the importation of needed goods.

This is to help secure food supply amid global threats of El Niño and other natural calamities, trade protectionism by other countries, and

geopolitical tensions.

Related to this, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved another yearlong extension — up to Dec. 31, 2024 — of Executive Order (EO) No. 10, which temporarily reduces import duties on key commodities, including rice, corn, and pork.

The extension of EO 10 was based on the recommendation of the National Economic and Development Authority board, which Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said would help ensure an adequate supply of agricultural commodities and maintain stable and affordable prices, thereby better managing potential inflationary pressures.

Last week, Balisacan said that the government could not, and would not, be complacent, as the Philippines continued to have the highest inflation rate among Southeast Asian peers.

“This is amid our many risks, including the El Niño phenomenon and the simmering geopolitical tensions that may increase uncertainty and disrupt supply chains,” Balisacan said. n

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SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 22-28, 2023

Bongbong Marcos signs...

Nonpartisan voters – what you need to know to vote for president CALLING all registered nonpartisan voters! If you want to vote for president in the March 5, 2024 primary election, you must inform the Registrar’s office which crossover party ballot you want

by Jan. 5 so it is included in the initial mailing of ballots going out the week of Feb. 4.

Otherwise, you will automatically receive a nonpartisan ballot in the mail, and it will not show the presidential primary contest or candidates.

The Registrar’s office sent the county’s nearly 490,000 nonpartisan registered voters a pre-paid return postcard requesting their selection of crossover ballot for the March 5, 2024 primary election.

If your postcard became lost among all the holiday mail, here is what you need to know.

Political parties allowing nonpartisan voters to crossover This year, the American Independent Party, Democratic Party, and Libertarian Party are allowing nonpartisan voters to take part in their presidential primary elections.

Nonpartisan voters must request one of these three parties’ ballots to vote for that party’s presidential primary candidate. Selecting one of these three political party ballots will not register you with that party. You will remain a nonpartisan voter.

Without the postcard, you can still complete the Registrar’s

nonpartisan crossover party ballot request form at sdvote. com or from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday through Friday at the Registrar’s office in Kearny Mesa.

Also note that the Democratic Party is allowing nonpartisan voters to vote in its presidential contest, but not its Central Committee contest.

If requested, you will receive the nonpartisan version of the Democratic ballot.

Political parties NOT allowing nonpartisan voters to crossover This year, the Green Party, Peace and Freedom Party, and Republican Party have closed their presidential primary to nonpartisan voters.

Nonpartisan voters will not be able to select one of these ballots.

Nonpartisan voters who want one of these parties’ ballots will need to reregister with that party.

You can fill out a new voter registration form online

File photo/www.countynewscenter.com

at sdvote.com.

No matter what your party preference, all registered voters will be allowed to vote on nonpartisan contests and voternominated offices, such as U.S. congressional offices and state legislative offices.

The top two vote-getters in voter-nominated contests will advance to the Nov. 5 general election.

Not sure which political party you’re registered with or if you’re registered to vote? You can check your registration, re-register and register to vote at sdvote.com.

The Registrar’s office encourages you to do so well before Feb. 20 to avoid delays and long lines at vote centers.

Learn more about voting in the March 5 presidential primary at sdvote.com or call (858) 565-5800 or toll free at (800) 696-0136.

(Tracy DeFore/County of San Diego Communications Office)

PAGE 1 budget for 2024 includes the means to “boost both the physical and the human capital of the nation” although he likewise admitted that it will not be able to fully fund all the government’s plans for the country and its people.

“I will be the first to dispel any claim that this budget fully funds all our plans for this country and our people,” he said.

“How I wish we could wipe out with one budget cycle all our infrastructure backlogs, how I wish that we had unli[mited] revenues to realize our country’s unlimited potential,” he added.

Several lawmakers and government officials attended

the national budget signing ceremony, namely, Senate president Juan Miguel Zubiri and Speaker Martin Romualdez, among others.

Vice President Sara Duterte was not present in the event.

The 2024 budget saw the removal of controversial confidential funds among several civilian agencies including the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education – which are being helmed by Duterte in concurrent capacity.

The removed secret funds were eventually realigned to increase funding for government agencies tasked with safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea. These agencies

Filipinos upbeat on 2024...

PAGE 1 from 50 percent to 44 percent.

The outlook on the country’s direction has recovered, surging from 61 percent in the third quarter to 66 percent in the fourth quarter.

The positive views on economic prospects for the next quarter went up from 57 percent to 67 percent. This positive trend was observed across all demographics.

“Household Financial Prospects for the Next Quarter also exhibit a positive trajectory, increasing from 62 percent in Q3 to 70 percent in Q4. This optimistic outlook is shared across all demographic

groups,” Publicus said in a statement released Monday, December 18.

Overall, the positivity about the “state of the country heading into the year 2024” saw a substantial increase from 59 percent to 68 percent. Negative sentiments about the country’s state heading into 2024 have declined from 41 percent to 32 percent, Publicus Asia said.

The survey had 1,500 respondents randomly drawn from the market research panel of over 200,000 Filipinos maintained by the Singapore office of PureSpectrum, a U.S.based panel marketplace with a multinational presence. n

California EDD language access expanded...

PAGE 1 serve California’s diverse communities,” said EDD Director Nancy Farias.

“We are committed to knocking down language access barriers and improving the EDD customer experience for everyone.”

Applicants can access the UI Online process in their preferred language, and they will receive real-time, in-language updates about the status of their claim, including payment notifications sent by email or text message.

The new Simplified and Traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese language options

when logging into myEDD will only be available to individuals applying for unemployment benefits in UI Online. They are not yet available when applying for disability insurance or paid family leave benefits, or when accessing benefit overpayment services.

Expanding UI Online access adds to the previously announced several actions EDD has taken to improve language accessibility in its programs and services, including: Requesting funds from the U.S. Department of Labor for these efforts Creating dedicated phone

lines in the seven top languages allowing customers to directly reach an agent to help with their claims Launching in July 2022 an EDD Language Access Office and hiring its inaugural Language Access Officer Increasing its website’s translated content, including vital program information, forms and publications, contact information and access to interpreters in over 200 languages at no cost Providing customers helpful how-to-videos for UI Online in different languages. (Inquirer. net) n

STEADY SO FAR. The prices of fruits sold at the Bankerohan Public Market in Davao City remain stable, vendors said on Wednesday, Dec. 20. The regional agriculture office earlier said the prices of fruits would slightly increase during the holiday season.

PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.

3

include the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Army, Air Force, Navy, the General Headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, National Intelligence Coordination Agency, and National Security Council.

In total, the national budget for 2024 was 9.5 percent higher than the P5.268 trillion spending plan in 2023.

The education, transportation, and defense sectors received the biggest funding increases for next year. n NOTICE TO BIDDERS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of San Diego (City) is seeking to receive Electronic Bids for the below named Public Works project.

The solicitation, including plans and specifications, may be obtained from the City’s website at: https://www.sandiego.gov/ cip/bidopps Contractors intending to submit a Bid must be prequalified.

Please refer to the solicitation for instructions.

Project Name: South Mission Beach Storm Drain and Green Infrastructure Project Number: K-24-2115DBB-3 Estimated Value: $26,400,000.00 Pre-Bid Virtual Meeting: 01/10/24 at 10:00 A.M Site Visit: 01/10/2024 at 1:00 P.M. Bid Open Date: 02/15/2024, at 2:00 P.M. License Requirement: A It is the policy of the City of San Diego to encourage equal opportunity in its Construction and Consultant contracts. Bids or proposals from local firms, small, minority-owned, disabled, veteran-owned, and womenowned businesses are strongly encouraged. Contractors are encouraged to subcontract with and/or participate in joint ventures with these firms.

The City is committed to equal opportunity and will not discriminate with regard to race, religion, color, ancestry, age, gender, disability, medical condition or place of birth; and will not do business with any firm that discriminates on any basis.

Bids shall be received no later than the date and time noted above at: City of San Diego’s Electronic Biding Site PlanetBids at: h t t p s : / / w w w. p l a n e t b i d s . com/portal/portal. cfm?CompanyID=17950 Claudia C Abarca, Director Purchasing & Contracting Department December 20, 2023 12/22/23 CNS-3767470# ASIAN JOURNAL

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DECEMBER 22-28, 2023 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

Dateline USA

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (619) 474-0588

Clean California shares eco-friendly tips for greener holiday season ‘Tis the season when Americans produce 25% more waste

AFFORDABLE OUTFIT. A stall owner at the Baclaran area in Parañaque City arranges affordable dresses and ladies’ wear on Wednesday, Dec. 20. Sales of products are up during the Christmas Season including the outfits for gift-giving.

PNA photo by Avito Dalan

Man who assaulted Filipina in New York...

PAGE 1 assault as a hate crime and criminal possession of a weapon.

As for the 65-year-old Filipina victim, the aftermath of the antiAsian assault left her a forehead contusion, fractured pelvis and other contusions all over her body.

A broader issue of anti-Asian hate crimes This alarming incident is a reminder of the still rising anti-

Asian assaults in the community.

And it’s happening not just to average Asians. Even Asian American doctors are feeling the blows of racism as they battle against discrimination in educational institutions and hospitals, a recent study confirmed.

Meanwhile, in lieu of the same issue, LA County breaks a 21year record of hitting the highest hate crime rate, showcasing an

18 percent increase in 2022.

“Brandon Elliot brutally and repeatedly assaulted a 65-yearold mother in a hate-fueled attack that shook our city,” said District Attorney Bragg in a statement.

His message echoes loud and clear — hate-driven assaults must stop. If you’ve been a victim or witnessed a hate crime, call 212-335-3100. (by Mary Villegas/Inquirer.net) n

SACRAMENTO — This holiday season, Caltrans and the Clean California Campaign, in partnership with Keep America Beautiful, are encouraging Californians to make the holidays greener by reducing their trash and waste.

This is especially important this time of year as studies show Americans produce 25% more waste between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. “By making simple yet impactful changes, Californians can minimize waste and help keep their communities cleaner,” said Tony Taveras, director of Caltrans, which oversees Clean California. “By making greener choices this holiday season, Californians will also set a great tone to maintain a Clean California throughout the new year.”

Caltrans and Keep America Beautiful’s recommended wastereduction holiday tips include: • Recyclable gift-wrapping paper: Instead of traditional wrapping paper that often ends up in landfills, opt for recyclable or reusable alternatives. This includes reusing newspaper and paper bags in place of wrapping paper for gifts. Don’t forget to recycle the paper afterward – just remove the tape. Another creative idea for wrapping can be gentlyused scarves, handkerchiefs, or tea towels to wrap gifts. You can also package baked goods and other edible gifts in reusable glass bottles or tins.

• Recyclable/e-holiday cards: In an age of digital connectivity, sending electronic holiday greeting cards can be an eco-conscious alternative to traditional paper cards. Making your own or using recyclable paper are other sustainable alternatives to traditional holiday cards.

• Natural decorations: Buy a live, potted Christmas tree to decorate – then plant it in your backyard (if you have one!) after

the holiday. If you do cut down a tree, be sure to recycle it after the holiday. Clean California and Keep America Beautiful recommend using items like pinecones, holly, and evergreen branches, emphasizing the beauty and sustainability of such choices. You’ll save money by not splurging on decorations and be able to return everything to nature after the holidays.

• Greener gatherings: When entertaining, cut down on excess waste by using real dishware and cutlery instead of disposable plates and utensils. Also, use washable cloth tablecloths and napkins instead of paper options.

Make recycling easy for guests by placing recycling bins beside every trash bin, and make sure the products you provide can be reused or recycled.

For more tips and tricks to make your celebrations ecofriendly, check out this free “Keep the Holidays Beautiful” e-book (https://kab.org/keep-theholidays-beautiful/) from Keep America Beautiful.

This campaign is made possible by Governor Gavin Newsom’s Clean California initiative, a sweeping, $1.2 billion, multiyear cleanup effort led by Caltrans to remove trash, create thousands of jobs, and join with communities throughout the state to reclaim, transform and beautify public spaces.

Since launching Clean California in July 2021, Caltrans has helped fund about 320 different community beautification projects and removed an estimated 2 million cubic yards of litter from state highways. That is enough to fill 634 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The program has also created nearly 8,700 jobs that have helped Californians overcome barriers to employment and drawn more than 10,000 volunteers to events ranging from community cleanups to large debris collections for appliances, tires, and mattresses.

For more information, visit CleanCA.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

California awards $116.8M to conserve agricultural lands across the state, strengthening rural economies and climate action

SACRAMENTO – The California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) approved over $116 million in Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program grants recently to permanently protect approximately 50,500 acres of croplands and rangelands, as well as lands utilized by California Native American tribes for the cultivation of traditional resources.

This year, for the first time, SALC funding will support California tribes with land acquisitions, advancing the state’s work to support tribal access, co-management, and acquisition of ancestral lands. SALC investments from this round of funding also provide pathways to land ownership and access to agricultural lands for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

This is the ninth round of annual SALC funding, which is in the process of protecting 244,000 acres of agricultural and working lands statewide, making further progress on California’s goal to conserve 30 percent of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030.

“The Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program is helping California fight climate change by advancing healthy soils and permanently protecting agricultural and working lands at risk of development,” said Lynn von Koch-Liebert, executive director of the California Strategic Growth Council. “What’s exciting this year is that our SALC investments are continuing to take a multi-benefit approach by ensuring those who seek access to land can do so regardless of their background, helping California bolster rural economies and support the health, access, and diversity of California’s land stewards and farmers.”

Investments from this round of funding will create 33 agricultural easements and result in the purchase of 4 properties across 23 counties spanning from San Diego County almost to the Oregon border. When completed, this suite of acquisitions will permanently protect approximately 50,500 acres. Safeguarding this agricultural land will avoid an estimated 4.65 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent over the next 30 years, which amounts to taking 133,424 cars off the road for one year.

SGC has also awarded its second round of SALC capacity grants to 19 capacity building applicants.

These projects will facilitate the development of agricultural conservation acquisition projects in 21 counties as far north as Modoc and Humboldt counties and as far south as San Diego County.

Of the 19 capacity projects recommended for funding, four are for projects led by tribes or nonprofits serving tribes and 12 are from applicants that have never applied for a SALC acquisition grant before.

Logan Robertson Huecker, executive director of the Sequoia Riverlands Trust said: “Sequoia Riverlands Trust is so honored that our SALC Capacity and Acquisition grants have been recommended for funding. With the implementation of SGMA, our organization is serving multiple critically overdrafted subbasins, all of which are facing significant impending land use changes. Strategic conservation efforts on agricultural and working lands are critical to addressing regional issues, and will also contribute to statewide efforts to reduce impacts

from climate change, create sustainable markets, and support coordinated land use planning.”

Additionally, the SALC Program has awarded eight planning grants to seven public agencies and one California Native American tribe to support planning for the implementation of Sustainable Community Strategies and the protection of agricultural lands.

“To date, this program has permanently protected agricultural land roughly eight times the size of San Francisco, avoiding millions of metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions associated with development on that scale,” said David Shabazian, Director of the California Department of Conservation. “Our partnership with SGC and landowners is helping California reach its climate goals while supporting the nation’s most vibrant agricultural economy.”

The Department of Conservation administers the program on behalf of SGC, developing guidelines, providing technical assistance to applicants, and identifying projects and communities with greatest impact on reducing emissions while protecting California’s valuable natural and working lands.

Over the life of the program, Conservation staff have recommended 283 projects for funding.

SALC Round 9 Awardees: Acquisition Grantees, 40 Acre Conservation League, Ag Land Trust, Bear Yuba Land Trust, California Farmland Trust, California Open Lands, California Rangeland Trust, County of San Diego, El Rio Reyes Conservation Trust, Land Trust for Santa Barbara, Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, Marin Agricultural Land Trust, Mendocino Land Trust, Mother Lode Land Trust, Northcoast Regional Land Trust, Northern Chumash Tribal Council, Placer Land Trust, Sacramento Valley Conservancy, Sequoia Riverlands Trust, Shasta Land Trust, Sierra Foothill Conservancy, Siskiyou Land Trust, The Nature Conservancy, Trust for Public Land.

Capacity Grantees: Ag Land Trust, Anderson Valley Land Trust, Bear Yuba Land Trust, Blue Lake Rancheria, Ducks Unlimited, El Rio Reyes Trust, Garden 31, Lassen Land & Trails Trust, Native American Land Conservancy, Northern California Regional Land Trust, Northern Chumash Tribal Council, Oswit Land Trust, Possibility Labs (Ujamaa Farmer Collective), Resource Conservation District of Monterey County, Sequoia Riverlands Trust, Starlight Universal Church, Sutter Buttes Regional Land Trust, World Be Well and ytt Northern Chumash Nonprofit.

Planning Grantees: City of Tulare, Cold Springs Rancheria of Mono Indians, Nevada County RCD and County of Nevada, Placer County, San Benito County, Solano County, Southern California Association of Governments and Ventura County.

The California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) is a 10-member council comprised of seven state agencies and three public members with the mission to build healthy, thriving, and resilient communities for all. Funded through California’s Cap and Trade system and the California General Fund, SGC’s grant programs, strategic initiatives, and interagency coordination focus on multibenefit and community-centric solutions at the nexus of climate and equity. Since 2008, SGC has invested over $4 billion in projects strengthening communities and addressing climate change.

(California SGC Release) n

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SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 22-28, 2023

D ateline Philippines Lawmakers divided on Charter change CBCP: Vatican nod on blessing for

by Aric John Sy Cua, Jenica Faye Garcia and Red Mendoza ManilaTimes.net

LAWMAKERS offered contrasting views on the House of Representatives proposal to amend some economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez earlier said that the House would study how to amend the Constitution to better entice foreign investments.

“We have to look at the procedural aspects of amending the Constitution. We must tackle that. And to make sure that the economic provisions are backed up, we must have a story of continuity in the government,” he added.

The 19th Congress’ legacy could be how it made the Constitution more attuned, sensitive and responsive to the times, Romualdez said.

Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said that the passage of laws that circumvent the constitutional prohibitions is an “admission” to the flaws of the 1987 Constitution and its failure to adapt to the changing needs of the country.

Barbers said that a revised constitution was a better option that would serve as a tool for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to sell the country to foreign investors.

“Even if Congress passes thousands of economic laws in contravention of the Constitution, nothing will change. They will be questioned before the Supreme Court. It is a waste of valuable resources. It is an admission that the Charter has failed us economically,

politically and socially,” Barbers said.

Albay 2nd District Rep. Edcel Lagman expressed reservations on the matter, saying Congress should not liberalize foreign equity and ownership of sensitive corporations and enterprises at the expense of patrimony.

Lagman said that the amendment of constitutional provisions is not among the “imperative inducement[s]” for the entry of foreign direct investments as listed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

“The following major determinants for foreign investment are listed by the OECD: (a) ease of doing business; (b) elimination or significant reduction of official corruption; (c) predictability of government policies; (d) adequate and enabling infrastructure; (e) faster and reliable internet speed; and (f) cheaper cost of power,” Lagman, the president of the Liberal Party (LP), added.

He cautioned that the extension of term limits of executive and legislative officials must not be an agenda of charter change as the issue has been popularly rejected by Filipinos in surveys.

The LP is unequivocally opposed to charter change.

“Changing the Constitution costs the people time and money,” the group said. “This will take away resources that could otherwise be used to address rising commodity prices, the education crisis,

and new environmental and health threats,” the LP said in a statement on Tuesday, Dec. 19.

“When the amendment to the Constitution is opened, nothing prohibits the change in other provisions, which also includes those on term limits and the prohibition of political dynasties.

Any additional office, officials, positions, or even expenses are added to the burden of the Filipino people, especially in the midst of the biggest budget deficit and debt-financing in our history after the reckless borrowing from the [Rodrigo] Duterte administration,” it said.

Meanwhile, Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual said he was confident that the initiative to amend the Constitution would push through.

“Yes, it will help the country.

Anything we do that will give confidence and increase the trust of the foreign investors to invest in the Philippines will help,” Pascual said in a radio interview.

He urged Filipinos to support the government’s drive to attract foreign investors.

“The good thing that I can say is let us all help to welcome foreign investments because foreign investments could bring not just capital, but also technology, expansion of industries, and increase the country’s exports. Also, jobs that it could create. That is why let us all help from different levels of government, from national to local, to ease the entry of foreign investors,” he said. n

Marcos ratings up but Duterte’s fall

by Al Jacinto and Red Mendoza ManilaTimes.net

AN independent and noncommissioned survey by Pahayag showed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s approval and trust ratings improved from 55 percent in the third quarter of the year to 58 percent in the fourth quarter.

This recovery was attributed to increased support in NorthCentral Luzon (NCL) from 56 percent to 62 percent, special land (SL) from 49 percent to 55 percent, and the Visayas from 52 percent to 57 percent. The president’s resurgence was

also buoyed by middle-income voters (51 percent to 60 percent), Catholics (51 percent to 57 percent), and the self-employed group (54 percent to 62 percent), Pahayag said in a statement sent to The Manila Times on Wednesday, December 20.

But the same survey also showed a decline in Vice

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same-sex couples ‘self-explanatory’

MANILA – The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Wednesday, December 20 said Pope Francis’ pronouncement of allowing Catholic priests to administer blessings to same-sex couples is self-explanatory.

“In fact, in paragraph 41, What has been said in this Declaration regarding the blessings of samesex couples is sufficient to guide the prudent and fatherly discernment of ordained ministers in this regard. Thus, beyond the guidance provided above, no further responses should be expected about possible ways to regulate details or practicalities regarding blessings of this type,” CBCP president Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David said in an advisory.

He added that the declaration reaffirmed the Church’s teaching on marriage as a sacrament and indissoluble union entered into by one woman and one man.

“This declaration remains firm on the traditional doctrine of the Church about marriage, not allowing any type of liturgical rite or blessing similar to a liturgical rite that can create confusion.”

Meanwhile, Lingayen-Dagupan Bishop Socrates Villegas said same sex couples that seek blessing will only receive a “blessing of mercy”.

Villegas said the declaration opens up the possibility of blessing couples in irregular situations and same-sex couples “without officially validating their status or changing in any way the Church’s perennial teaching on marriage.”

“Therefore, when a Catholic priest prays a blessing of mercy on a couple in an irregular situation, who ‘desire to entrust themselves to the Lord and his mercy, to invoke his help, and to be guided to a greater understanding of his plan of love and of truth’, he is asking God to have pity on both of them and to give them the grace of conversion so that they can regularize their relationships,” Villegas said in his pastoral guidance.

On Monday, December 18, Pope Francis approved the document allowing Catholic priests to bless couples in irregular situations including those who are in cohabitating relationships, non-sacramental civil marriages, divorced and remarried unions, polygamous bonds, and same-sex unions. (PNA) n

SIM registration most searched news in Philippines for 2023 – Google

by Janvic Mateo Philstar.com

MANILA — The new law requiring Filipinos to register their SIM cards is the most searched news in the Philippines this year, according to technology company Google.

Google Philippines on Tuesday, December 19 unveiled the Year In Search 2023, its annual compilation of the top trending keywords and terms that Filipinos searched for.

“These top 10 lists serve as a record of the many events and issues that people have gotten caught up in over the year.

For example, SIM registration topped the News list because of the new law that mandated everyone to register their phone numbers, and because Filipinos wanted to know more about the process,” the company said.

Following “SIM registration” in the most searched news category was “precinct finder,” which allowed Filipinos to look for their voting precincts in the barangay and Sangguniang

Kabataan elections last October.

“Persona non grata” ranked third, which Google said was due to the controversy involving drag queen Pura Luka Vega. It was followed by “Nipah virus” and the “War in Israel and Gaza.”

Sixth on the list was “latolato,” a toy that surged in popularity in the country this year.

Philstar.com photo

Other top searches in the news category included updates and information on disasters, including “Typhoon Egay,” “Taal Volcano” and “Turkey earthquake.”

Completing the list was “MoCa Farm,” the subject of an advisory from the Securities and Exchange Commission in June for supposedly offering

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DECEMBER 22-28, 2023 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

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Opinion

Rights-based campaign vs drugs

Features

Human rights are supposed to underpin the criminal justice system and national security operations in democratic Philippines. The bloody crackdown on the illegal drug trade in the previous administration, however, turned the country into a global hotspot for human rights violations.

The drug killings were on top of the murders of environmental activists, legal professionals and journalists even after the restoration of democracy in 1986, along with the human rights violations in connection with counterinsurgency operations.

Now the government has informed the United Nations that a Human Rights Coordinating Council will be created in the Philippines to promote an approach to drug control and counterterrorism that is steeped in human rights, accountability and the rule of law. The move is in line with initiatives under the UN Joint Program on Human Rights. The UNJP is a three-year program launched in 2021, under which the UN provides technical and capacity-building assistance to the Philippines for rights-based approaches to drug control and other matters such as reforms in the justice sector.

Speaking for the government, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin announced the move in Geneva, Switzerland as the UN marked the

75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on Oct. 10. While the Philippine commitment is laudable, its fulfillment needs careful monitoring.

From the start, human rights have been enshrined in the basic law of the Philippines. Yet the country saw gross human rights violations during martial law and the Marcos dictatorship.

In the six years since 2016 under Rodrigo Duterte, over 6,000 people were killed in what law enforcement agencies described as legitimate operations against the illegal drug scourge. Drug suspects who weren’t killed were packed like sardines in poorly ventilated jails, in conditions that also violated the rights of persons deprived of liberty.

Police officials have said that given the nature of the illegal drug scourge, an end to drug killings cannot be guaranteed. But it’s not impossible to prevent police abuses in the conduct of the antinarcotics campaign. Bersamin told the UN that comprehensive reforms in the justice sector

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

include setting up a training institute for forensic science and investigation.

The judiciary can do its part by speeding up adjudication. Impatience with snail-paced justice is among the reasons why there are Filipinos who support extrajudicial short cuts in law

enforcement. Old habits die hard; after six years of being given free rein under Oplan Tokhang and Double Barrel to fight the drug menace, law enforcers must be made to go along with initiatives to promote human rights in the antidrug campaign. (Philstar.com)

NAPCA shares info on Medicare open enrollment, Covid vaccination

Commentary

National Asian Pacific Center on Aging MEDICARE Open Enrollment Period is ongoing. We chose several questions about this subject and want to share the information in this month’s column. We added one question to address the areas where many people are confused about the COVID-19 vaccine more clearly.

Question#1: Why do I need to check my Medicare plan every year during the Open Enrollment Period and how do I check my plan?

If you don’t take any action, your existing plan will be renewed for 2024. But that could come with cost and benefit changes. Your plans’ coverage may change, and your health care needs may have changed, too. This is why it’s

important to check-up on your current plan during the period even if you’re happy with your current plan. Your plan will send you a “Plan Annual Notice of Change” (ANOC) each fall. If you don’t get this important document, contact your plan. The ANOC includes any changes in coverage, costs, and more that will be effective in January.

Review any coverage changes including drug formulary. Think about any changes to your healthcare and/or prescription drug needs, and healthcare expenses to decide whether the plan will continue to meet your needs in the next year. Just remember to do so before Medicare Open Enrollment ends on December 7.

Question#2: I signed up for a Medicare Advantage plan during my Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) this year, but I would like to change it to Original Medicare because I

plan to travel to different states throughout the next year. How can I switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare?

You should contact your current plan to cancel your enrollment and call MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) during the Medicare Open Enrollment period. The change will take effect on January 1 of the following year. Original Medicare does not provide any additional benefits such as drug coverage, dental, or vision you may have with your Medicare Advantage plan. If you make this switch and you want drug coverage, be sure to sign up for a Medicare standalone prescription drug plan (PDP). If you do not, and you decide to sign up for Part D coverage later, you may need to wait for another year until the next Open Enrollment Period and face a penalty for late enrollment. You may also

want to consider purchasing a Medicare supplemental insurance policy, known as Medigap, that helps to pay your cost-sharing requirements under Original Medicare. You also can switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31).

Question#3: If I make a mistake when I change my coverage during the Medicare Open Enrollment Period, what can I do to fix it?

If the Medicare OEP is ongoing: you can simply pick a different plan instead (by the December 7 deadline) and the new choice will take effect on January 1.

If the Medicare OEP has ended: you can use the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MAOEP, Jan 1~Mar 31) to pick a different Advantage plan or switch to Original Medicare

and a Part D plan. If you’ve enrolled in a stand-alone Part D plan that doesn’t fit your needs, your options are more limited.

Changes to these plans can generally only be made during the fall Medicare OEP. Question#4: I have already received COVID-19 vaccines and the last vaccination was in January 2023. Do I still need to get another COVID-19 vaccine?

Like Flu virus, the virus that causes COVID-19 has changed over time. A new vaccine has been developed and was approved by the FDA on September 11, 2023. The new vaccine provides better protection against the currently prevalent COVID-19 variant and is available for administration starting from late September 2023. If your last vaccine was before September 2023, please get this new vaccine. You can get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines, including a Flu vaccine, at the same

visit. Possible side effects after getting vaccinated are generally the same when given alone or with other vaccines. *** 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.

*** National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of AANHPI older adults and their families. We operate a NAPCA Senior Assistance Center for Older Adults and Caregivers and is available in 5 different languages. If you have additional questions on Medicare, Medicaid, Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace, Social Security Retirement Benefit, Supplemental Security Income, or COVID/Flu vaccination, there are 3 ways you can reach us today – Call: (English) 1-800-336-2722; Email: askNAPCA@napca.org; Mail: NAPCA Senior Assistance Center, 1511 3rd Avenue, Suite 914, Seattle, WA 98101.

Maharlika and ill-gotten wealth

Eyes Wide Open Iris Gonzales MUCH of the public’s concerns against the much touted Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF), the country’s first ever sovereign wealth fund, has to do with billions in ill-gotten wealth supposedly stashed in secret bank accounts abroad.

Opposition lawmakers raised the alarm bells early on. Maharlika may be used to bring back the ill-gotten wealth amassed during the administration of Ferdinand Marcos Sr., they say.

Ill-gotten wealth Ah yes, ill-gotten wealth. In case people have forgotten, on July 15, 2003, the Supreme Court ruled that roughly P36 billion worth of assets of the Marcoses and their associates were considered ill-gotten wealth. This is according to the Human Rights Violations Victims’ Memorial Commission.

However, it is also important to note that the Supreme Court has affirmed the Sandiganbayan’s dismissal of the complaint filed by the Republic of the Philippines for the recovery of supposed P41 billion in ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses. It is one of many illgotten wealth cases.

In any case, assuming there’s still unrecovered ill-gotten wealth in some hidden vaults abroad, would Maharlika be used to launder this back to the country?

I asked Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC) president and CEO Joel Consing, a topnotch investment banker and multiawarded CFO, about this.

Consing, who has the Herculean task of making this wealth fund succeed, said there are measures in place to make sure this does not happen.

“Regarding the Fund being used to get back ‘ill-gotten wealth,’ the banks through which funds will be transmitted for investment into Maharlika would have gone through a KYC (know your customer) process, especially for materially significant amounts, on both sides of the remittance process,” he said.

MIC itself will conduct further due diligence, he added.

“That said, while banks conducting KYC on inward and outward remittances provide a layer of protection against money laundering, the MIC itself will implement further due diligence measures to verify the legitimacy of investment funds, particularly for substantial amounts. This additional layer of scrutiny would strengthen the presumption of regularity and build public trust in the Fund’s operations,” Consing explained.

It’s reassuring to hear this. Of course the real test would be to see it actually happen.

The public’s deep mistrust is understandable, given the hard lessons from Marcos Sr.’s era.

After hearing Consing talk about his plans, however, I am significantly more at ease now about the Maharlika Fund and I

fervently hope it succeeds.

As Consing’s track record would show – he has been involved in many successful start-ups and has worked with tycoon Enrique Razon’s sprawling global ports empire ICTSI as CFO – he is a no-nonsense professional executive.

He specializes in mergers and acquisitions, treasury management, balance sheet management, global capital markets and strategic planning.

Upon hearing about the planned Maharlika Investment Fund, Consing already knew that he wanted the job because of the huge role the wealth fund could play in nation building and equally interesting for him was the challenge.

He strikes me as a man who loves challenges – the more difficult the task is, the more rewarding for him.

More importantly, he said that his loyalty is to the country and to the Filipino people – no vested interest or hidden agenda.

His plans for Maharlika are quite impressive and challenging for sure because it’s never been done before, but Joel said if the Marcos administration wanted someone who would simply do what’s already been done before, then he is not the man for it – an indication perhaps of how his mind works, the kind that likes to solve complex problems before they even appear.

National development fund In summary, he said MIF would start as a national development fund that would invest in critical

Lawmakers applaud President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. after the signing of the law the establishing the Maharlika Investment Fund (R.A. 11954) in simple rites held at Malacanang Palace October 17, 2023.

Philstar.com file photo

areas in the country and address different pain points, including creating much needed jobs for Filipinos. This would be done by initially investing in four areas in the country: tourism infrastructure, energy security, digital infrastructure and agroforestry industrial urbanism.

I particularly like the plan to help address the digital divide through digital infrastructure.

He envisions that the state corporation will play a role in building telecom towers in rural areas that still do not have internet access or mobile phone signals. I can’t wait for this to happen so that Filipinos in rural areas will finally have access to the internet.

Once the Maharlika Fund generates excess funds from

several low-hanging fruits, it can invest in the fixed income and capital markets, Consing said.

It all sounds exciting and reassuring to hear Joel Consing discuss the Maharlika’s blueprint, which is of course still subject to the approval of MIC’s board of directors.

But as with every good plan in this nation of 114 million, the real test will be in the execution.

MIC will be facing our impossibly slow bureaucracy as it needs to deal with other government agencies. It also needs to work with local executives, some of whom are notoriously corrupt.

As I said, I hope Joel succeeds in making the Philippines’ first ever sovereign wealth fund work for Filipinos.

Now if and when that happens,

the next thing to watch out for is what happens when the next guy comes along after Joel’s term ends in three years.

Will the safeguards Joel put in place be retained? As former central bank chief Felipe Medalla once said, “will the guys five years from now still be OK?” For the sake of this nation of 114 million, I fervently hope so.

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

*** Email: eyesgonzales@gmail.com. Follow her on Twitter @eyesgonzales. Column archives at EyesWideOpen (Iris Gonzales) on Facebook.

The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.

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7

Philippines, China foreign Four new Maharlika directors sworn in ministries press for dialogue on maritime issues

executive, is currently serving in the Capital Markets Integrity Corp., the “independent audit, MANILA — Four new surveillance and compliance directors of the Maharlika arm” of the Philippine Stock Investment Corp. (MIC) were Exchange Inc. sworn in by President Marcos Lichauco, a seasoned on Wednesday, December 20, corporate litigator, has been Malacañang said. a director and corporate Vicky Castillo Tan, Andrew secretary of several firms in the Jerome Gan, German Lichauco country. and Roman Felipe Reyes took Reyes is currently a director their oath before Marcos, of various entities, including formally assuming their roles Radio Philippines Network Inc. and Converge ICT Solutions Inc. He is also the current chairman and founding partner of professional services firm Reyes, Tacandong & Co. Marcos swore in Rafael Consing Jr. as president and chief executive officer of the MIC last month.

The MIF was created by Republic Act 11954, which was enacted in July and intended to draw and sustain high-impact infrastructure and development projects, ease fiscal constraints and maximize expected returns for the country’s investments.

While economic managers of the administration claimed that the MIF is a linchpin for the country’s socio-economic development through strategic investments, critics have been warning against its risks to the Philippine economy and the likely possibility of the wealth fund’s misuse.

A petition seeking to declare the MIF Law unconstitutional President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. leads the celebration of the OFW Family Day at remains pending before the the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on December 20, 2023.

STAR / KJ Rosales Supreme Court. n

by Neil Jayson Servallos Philstar.com

MANILA – The Philippines and China’s top diplomats are pressing for continuous dialogue in tackling the current situation in the South China Sea as tensions heat up over Beijing’s previous actions in the disputed area.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo on Thursday, December 21 said he and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a “frank and candid exchange” over a phone call on December 20 and ended their conversation “with a clearer understanding of our respective positions on a number of issues.”

He said both he and Wang “noted the importance of dialogue in addressing these issues.”

State-run Xinhua has quoted Wang as saying that the Philippines and China relations are currently facing “severe difficulties” over the country’s change in its policy stance.

Wang noted that the bilateral relationship between the two countries “now stands at a crossroads, with its future yet to be decided” and that the Philippines side “must act with caution.”

He said China is ready to resolve differences through dialogue and consultation but warned that if the country “misjudges the situation, goes

its own way, or even colludes with ill-intentioned external forces to continue to stir up troubles, China will defend its rights in accordance with law and respond resolutely.”

The Philippine government earlier asked China to stop lingering in waters around Ayungin Shoal, a feature in the South China Sea situated within the country’s 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.

This month alone, it protested the Chinese Coast Guard’s aggressive actions that led to collision, illegal shadowing, and undue use of water cannons during the country’s rotation and resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal on December 10.

A day prior, China also used water cannons against three Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels that were providing fuel and groceries to Filipinos fishing at Bajo de Masinloc.

During their phone call, the Chinese side said Manalo and Wang agreed to actively create “favorable conditions” for the next Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) on the South China Sea. The last BCM was held in March. (PNA) n

Marcos ratings up but Duterte’s...

PAGE 5 President Sara Duterte’s approval rating, dropping from 62 percent to 59 percent.

Duterte’s downward trend is particularly pronounced in Mindanao, where approval decreased from 84 percent to 76 percent.

Contributing to the decline were various demographic groups, including the age groups 40-49 years old (68 percent to 63 percent), 5059 years old (56 percent to 51 percent), senior citizens (57 percent to 49 percent), low income (66 percent to 62 percent), high income (60 percent to 53 percent), private workers (65 percent to 60 percent), government workers (70 percent to 61 percent), the unemployed (54 percent to 50 percent), non-OFW families (62 percent to 56 percent), vocational (70 percent to 58 percent), and college-educated individuals (62 percent to 59 percent).

Previous survey polls by other independent firms also showed Duterte’s popularity decreasing in many areas of the country, especially during the inquiries by the Senate and House of Representatives on her controversial P650 million in confidential funds — P500 million for the Office of the Vice President and P150 million for the Department of Education — in the proposed 2024 budget which was rejected by lawmakers.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri also showed a notable recovery in the survey, bouncing back from a decline of 43 percent to 47 percent.

This recovery was driven by increased support in special land (SL) from 35 percent to 47 percent.

Additionally, positive shifts are observed among the age group 30-39 years old (44 percent to 55 percent), middle-income (43 percent to 50

percent), Catholics (42 percent to 47 percent), the unemployed (35 percent to 44 percent), and college-educated individuals (44 percent to 48 percent), Pahayag said.

The same survey showed that House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez’s approval rating has stabilized, though a downward trend was evident, declining from 42 percent in the second quarter to 37 percent in the third quarter, and further to 36 percent in the fourth quarter.

Meanwhile, Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo had the most stable approval rating at 37 percent and a trust rating of 28 percent. Though approval and trust are low, the chief magistrate does not lose or gain much and is just stable across quarters, demographics and psychographics, said Pahayag.

As for the trust ratings of the national leaders, recovery to a flat trend is seen for Marcos (from 47 percent to 48 percent) and Zubiri (33 percent to 35 percent), and a downward trend for Duterte (from 55 percent to 53 percent). Romualdez’s trust rating continues to plunge from 29 percent to 25 percent, resulting in a low/no trust of 29 percent.

The recent Pahayag End of Year Survey, conducted from November 29 to December 4, provided a different perspective on the approval and trust ratings of key political figures in the Philippines.

The latest survey, conducted by Publicus Asia Inc., used purposive sampling of 1,500 respondents randomly drawn from the market research panel of over 200,000 Filipinos maintained by the Singapore office of PureSpectrum, a U.S.-based panel marketplace with a multinational presence.

The sample was restricted to registered Filipino voters. n

to “help steer” the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF).

Tan was a long-time officer in the Asian Development Bank, serving in various capacities from 2002 to 2021.

Prior to her MIC appointment, Tan served as deputy president of SteelAsia Manufacturing Inc. and Maybank Inc.’s independent board of directors and chair of its corporate governance committee.

Gan, a seasoned corporate

SIM registration most searched...

PAGE 5 investments to the public without proper registration.

Aside from the top news searches, Google’s Year in Search also featured top searches in other categories.

In sports, “Lakers vs Warriors” was the most searched keyword among Filipinos, referring to the National Basketball Association games between Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors. It was followed by “Lakers vs Nuggets” and “FIBA World Cup.” Korean series “Duty After School” was the most searched show or series, followed by local series “Maria Clara at Ibarra” and Korean show “Moving.”

“Say You Won’t Let Go,” a 2016 song by James Arthur,

was the most searched song or lyrics, followed by local songs “ERE” of Juan Karlos and “Pasilyo” by SunKissed Lola.

“Oppenheimer” was the most searched film among Filipinos, followed by “John Wick: Chapter 4” and “Barbie.”

Top male personalities included South Korean actor Ahn Bo-hyun, who had a brief relationship with Blackpink’s Jisoo, as well as Japanese actor Mackenyu of One Piece fame and Filipino actor Marco Gumabao.

Top female personalities included British actress Katy Louise Saunders, wife of popular South Korean actor Song Joong-ki, as well as Filipino actress Cristine Reyes and British actress Millie Bobby

Brown.

Google also released the most searched Korean series in the Philippines, which included “Duty After School,” “Moving” and “The Glory.”

It also had a list of most searched farewells, led by broadcast journalist Mike Enriquez, actor and comedian Joey Paras and “Friends” actor Matthew Perry.

For gamers, the most searched in the Philippines was “Blade Ball codes,” followed by “Delta Executor” and “Soldier, Poet or King quiz.”

Globally, the “War in Israel and Gaza” was the most searched news this year, followed by “Titanic submarine,” “Turkey earthquake,” “Hurricane Hilary” and “Hurricane Idalia.” n

8

DECEMBER 22-28, 2023 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (619) 474-0588

ANNOUNCEMENT

ANNOUNCEMENT / LEGAL SERVICES Advertisement for Bids

SD#0287

Notice is hereby given that the San Diego Unified School District, acting by and through its governing board, will electronically receive bids for the furnishing of all labor, materials, transportation, equipment, and services for:

SINGLE POINT OF ENTRY AT MIRA MESA HIGH SCHOOL AND CHALLENGER MIDDLE SCHOOL A mandatory site visit is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2024, outside the main office of Challenger Middle School, 10810 Parkdale Avenue, San Diego, CA 92126. Upon completion, all contractors will proceed to Mira Mesa High School, 10510 Marauder Way, San Diego, CA 92126. Contractors and subcontractors must preregister with the District prior to attending the site walk at sandiegounified.org/sitewalks. The Bid and Contract Documents may be downloaded free of charge at the District’s online Planroom at sandiegousdplans.com. All bids must be received electronically at or before 1:00 p.m. on JANUARY 25, 2024. Firms interested in submitting a bid package must go to tinyurl.com/SDUSD-PlanetBids then search under “Bid Opportunities” for “Invitation number” CC24-0699-52-00-00 Single Point of Entry at Mira Mesa High School and Challenger Middle School. For new vendors, please register under “New Vendor Registration.” The project estimate is between $165,000 and $180,000. This is not a PSA project and does not require prequalification. The District requires that Bidders possess any of the following classification(s) of California State Contractors License(s), valid and in good standing, at the time of bid opening and contract award: B, or other appropriate license, subject to District approval. SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, George A. Harris III, Director, Fiscal Controls and Information Systems, Facilities Planning and Construction CC24-0699-52-00-00

LEGAL SERVICES CASE NUMBER: 37-2023-00051220-CU-PT-CTL

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Eric Arredondo-Garcia filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Eric Arredondo-Garcia to Eric Arredondo.

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 01/16/2024 Time: 8:30 AM Dept. 61 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. 61 San Diego, CA 92101 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county. Asian Journal: NOV. 28, 2023 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT Michael T. Smyth Judge of the Superior Court AJ 1297 12/01, 12/08, 12/15, and 12/22/2023 ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME (JC Form #NC-120) NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, drivers license, passport, and other identification, a certificate copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issues the legal document that need to be changed to determine if a certificate copy is required.

A certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC230) may be obtained form the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for information on obtaining certified copies.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date.

Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court.

AJSD 1297

CASE NUMBER: 37-2023-00053395-CU-PT-CTL

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Shamiran Dawood Oshana filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Shamiran Dawood Oshana to Samira Dawood Oshana.

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 01/23/2024 Time: 8:30 AM Dept. 61 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. 61 San Diego, CA 92101 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county. Asian Journal: DEC. 11, 2023 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT Michael T. Smyth Judge of the Superior Court AJ 1302 12/15, 12/22, 12/29/203, and 01/05/2024 ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME (JC Form #NC-120) NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, drivers license, passport, and other identification, a certificate copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issues the legal document that need to be changed to determine if a certificate copy is required.

A certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC230) may be obtained form the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for information on obtaining certified copies.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date.

Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court.

AJSD 1302

Request for Proposals (RFP) Regional Plans: Public Outreach & Engagement SANDAG is seeking consultants that specialize in outreach, marketing, communications, and media support to aid their Public Affairs Team in an engagement campaign for the Regional Plan, from March 2024 through March 2027, with the option to continue work for four additional years.

Estimated range: 0% to 25%. DBE goals will be set at the time Task Order proposals are requested, based upon the Scope of Work, applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Codes, subcontracting opportunities, and funding source(s) of the Task Order. For Task Orders with FHWA funds, the Task Order DBE goal may exceed this range.

Proposal Due Date: Proposals must be submitted via SANDAG’s vendor portal, hosted by BidNet Direct, at https://www.bidnetdirect. com/sandag no later than 4:00 p.m. PT on January 12, 2024. A copy of RFP# SOL1191725 along with other related documents can be obtained using the BidNet portal, or by contacting: Jennifer Howell, Jennifer.Howell@sandag.org, SANDAG, 401 B Street, Suite 800, San Diego, CA 92101.

SD#0286

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9023676

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9023208

a. East West Trading Company located at 8455 Westmore Rd #102, San Diego, CA 92126. b. The Happy Nest located at 8455 Westmore Rd #102, San Diego, CA 92126. c. Saca Food located at 8455 Westmore Rd #102, San Diego, CA 92126.

Registrant: Andy Ngoc Tran, 8455 Westmore Rd #102, San Diego, CA 92126.

This business is conducted

by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 02/13/2019.

Signature: Andy Ngoc Tran.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/27/2023.

AJ 1296 12/01, 12/08, 12/15, and 12/22/2023. AJSD 1296

Villa Zosaneli located at 9381 West Lilac Road, Escondido, CA 92026.

Registrant: Zosa Ranch, 9381 West Lilac Road, Escondido, CA 92026.

This business is conducted by Corporation.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME. Signature Noli Zosa.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/16/2023.

AJ 1298 12/08, 12/15, 12/22, and 12/29/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9024615

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9024638

APO Metropolitan San Diego, Service ORG located at 3001 E 19th Street, National City, CA 91950.

Registrant: a. Edwin R. Apostol, 3001 E 19th Street, National City, CA 91950. b. Pedrito M. Villaver, 3001 E 19th Street, National City, CA 91950.

This business is conducted

by General Partnership.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 12/07/2023.

Signature: Edwin R. Apostol Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 12/07/2023.

AJ 1300 12/15, 12/22, 12/29/2023, and 01/05/2024.

AJSD 1300

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9022681

Star Fruit Collective located at 4364 Bonita Road Unit 784, Bonita, CA 91902.

Registrant: Minifig Prints LLC, 4364 Bonita Road Unit 784, Bonita, CA 91902.

This business is conducted

by Limited Liability Company.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 10/27/2023.

Signature: Charlene Estiva Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/07/2023.

AJ 1304 12/15, 12/22, 12/29/2023, and 01/05/2024.

AJSD 1304

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9024354

Dollys Pawsy Dog Grooming located at 826 S. V Ave, National City, CA 91950.

Registrant: Joanna Sofia Diaz Guadarrama, 826 S. V Ave, National City, CA 91950.

This business is conducted

by Individual.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME. Signature: Joanna Sofia Diaz Guadarrama Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 12/05/2023.

AJ 1307 12/22/2023, 12/29/2023, 01/05/2024, and 01/12/2024 AJSD 1307

AJSD 1298

GL’s Painting Inc located at 3768 Cottonwood St, San Diego, CA 92113.

Registrant: Gabriel Ramon Lopez Arias, 3768 Cottonwood St, San Diego, CA 92113.

This business is conducted

by Individual.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME. Signature: Gabriel Ramon Lopez Arias Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 12/07/2023.

AJ 1301 12/15, 12/22, 12/29/2023, and 01/05/2024.

AJSD 1301

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9023634

Seoul Mobile Dent Repair located at 688-A Sea Vale St, Chula Vista, CA 91910.

Registrant: Joseph Jiovanni Kim, 688-A Sea Vale St, Chula Vista, CA 91910.

This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME. Signature Joseph Jiovanni Kim. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/22/2023.

AJ 1295 12/01, 12/08, 12/15, and 12/22/2023 AJSD 1295

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9023675

a. Master Fix Specialist located at 4725 Mercury St, San Diego, CA 92111. b. PM Solutions INC located at 4725 Mercury St, San Diego, CA 92111.

Registrant: A PM INC, 4725 Mercury St, Suite 210, San Diego, CA 92111.

This business is conducted

by Corporation.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME. Signature Changgeun Park.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/27/2023.

AJ 1299 12/15, 12/22, 12/29/2023, and 01/05/2024

AJSD 1299

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9024636

Natural Gomez located at 4356 Poplar St, San Diego, CA 92105.

Registrant: Juana Gomez, 2017 Valle Vista Ave, National City, CA 91950.

This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME. Signature: Juana Gomez Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 12/07/2023.

AJ 1303 12/15, 12/22, 12/29/2023, and 01/05/2024.

AJSD 1303

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9024658

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9025207

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9025097

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9025337

Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice Bonita Point located at 736 Otay Lakes Rd, Chula Vista, CA 91910.

Registrant: S&D Legacy, LLC, 2108 N St Suite N, Sacramento, CA 95816.

This business is conducted by Limited Liability Company.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME. Signature: Marijun Dilay Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 12/08/2023.

AJ 1305 12/22/2023, 12/29/2023, 01/05/2024, and 01/12/2024 AJSD 1305

Yard Upholstery located at 1911 J Ave Apt B, National City, CA 91950.

Registrant: Geovani Arambula Gtz, 1911 J Ave Apt B, National City, CA 91950.

This business is conducted

by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 12/15/2023.

Signature: Geovani Arambula Gtz Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 12/15/2023.

AJ 1308 12/22/2023, 12/29/2023, 01/05/2024, and 01/12/2024 AJSD 1308

A&J Diversified Services located at 2883 Buena Vista Ave, Lemon Grove, CA 91945.

Registrant: a. Julissa Y. Vallejo, 2883 Buena Vista Ave, Lemon Grove, CA 91945. b. Alan G . Vallejo, 2883 Buena Vista Ave, Lemon Grove, CA 91945 This business is conducted

by Married Couple.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 07/19/2022.

Signature: Julissa Y. Vallejo Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 12/18/2023.

AJ 1306 12/22/2023, 12/29/2023, 01/05/2024, and 01/12/2024 AJSD 1306

LTEK Diagnostics located at 8580 Avenida de la Fuente Sta H, San Diego, CA 92154.

Registrant: Jose L. Salgado, 1925 F Ave #1, National City CA 91950.

This business is conducted

by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 02/01/2017.

Signature: Jose L. Salgado Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 12/20/2023.

AJ 1309 12/22/2023, 12/29/2023, 01/05/2024, and 01/12/2024 AJSD 1309

SAN DIEGO

(818) 502-0651 • (619) 474-0588 • http://www.asianjournal.com

SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 22-28, 2023

9

9

JOURNAL Vice Ganda on starting a family Sharon hopes MMFF film ‘A Family of Two’ inspire mothers to let children spread their wings D EC E M B E R 22 , 2 0 23

by Kathleen A. Llemit Philstar.com

TV host Vice Ganda earned the nod of many internet users when he shared his take on starting a family in one of the segments of the popular noontime show “It’s Showtime.”

The opinionated host was giving advice to the featured guests in the segment “Especially for You” on Wednesday, December 20.

Vice and his co-hosts Ogie Alcasid and Jhong Hilario were sharing their own dating/ relationship advice.

Vice talked about being honest, especially when it comes to splitting or paying the bill when a couple goes out on dates. He shared that it’s okay for the couple to split or that it is better to be honest with each other when they cannot afford to splurge for the date.

Their conversation took a turn when Jhong discussed the initial phase, when the couple tries to impress each other.

Vice Ganda interjected that this should not be the case when the couple decides to start a family. “’Pag gagawa ka ng pamilya,

by Hannah Mallorca Inquirer.net

Vice Ganda

Photo from Instagram/@praybeytbenjamin

‘pag wala kang pera, ‘wag kang gumawa ng pamilya. ‘Yun lang ‘yun,” he stressed.

“Sorry this opinion might offend other people pero kung wala kang pera, ‘wag kang gumawa ng pamilya dahil kawawa lalong-lalo na kung may iluluwal kang batang hindi mo mapapakain nang maayos,” Vice explained.

The TV host reiterated this nugget of wisdom about being

able to support or provide financially for oneself before starting a family.

He argued that a person is solely responsible for himself.

The responsibility of taking care of oneself lies solely on the individual, not on other people or the government.

“At the end of the day, ikaw ang sasalba sa sarili mo. Hindi ibang tao, ni hindi gobyerno.

Ikaw,” Vice said. n

Cherry Pie confirms breakup with Edu

by Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

VETERAN actress Cherry Pie Picache confirmed that she and Edu Manzano have broken up.

In an interview with the media on the sidelines of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry “Firefly,” a reporter asked Cherry Pie how her heart is.

“Hindi ba sa edad kong ito ngayon, I cannot depend my happiness anymore on somebody else, hindi ba? Besides dapat din ay buo ako or whatever or kumpleto ako kung magmamahal ako — ulit,” she said.

“We are very good friends, he is a very good person. We are very good friends. We will always love each other, so ‘yon. ....I think we are okay naman. I think we will always love each other and ‘yun nga we are friends, we are good friends,” she added.

Cherry Pie also said that she is open to falling in love with someone again.

“Pero habang wala, eh di masaya ka sa sa sarili mo. Lalo na after nu’ng pandemic, hindi ba ‘yung self love? ‘Yung hindi mo na pwedeng iasa ‘yung kaligayahan mo o kabuluhan mo sa ibang tao. Nasa sa iyo,” she said.

“And ako personally I can’t complain. God

Edu Manzano and Cherry Pie Picache

Photo from Instagram/@yescppicache

has been blessing me so much. Tapos tayo as tayo, ‘yung magmahalan lang, magtulungan na lang, hindi ba? We’ve learned so much from the pandemic. So ngayon may partner o wala, ayan na, may partner o wala, okay lang, hindi ba? Let’s be grateful for everyday,” she added.

Cherry Pie and Edu rekindled their love after two decades when they joined the ABS-CBN teleserye “Marry Me, Marry You.” They admitted their relationship in December 2021. n

A screenshot of the City of San Diego’s Police Chief Recruitment webpage, which can be found at https://www.sandiego.gov/police/nextpolice-chief.

Screen capture from web

City of San Diego invites community members to participate in Police Chief recruitment forums San Diegans encouraged to provide input about what they want to see in the next Chief

SAN DIEGO – As the City of San Diego conducts a nationwide search for a new Chief of Police, community members are invited to a series of public forums intended to gather San Diegans’ thoughts and opinions about the qualities and characteristics they desire in the city’s next Police Chief.

“There are few decisions as consequential to public safety than choosing who will lead our police department,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. “City Councilmembers and I are eager to hear from the community what they want in San Diego’s next police chief to keep their neighborhoods safe, and we encourage them to participate in helping guide the future of law enforcement in our city.”

The complete schedule for the community forums, which will take place in each of San Diego’s nine City Council districts throughout the month of January, can be found on the Chief Recruitment webpage (https://www.sandiego.gov/police/nextpolice-chief).

“Every person in every neighborhood deserves to feel and be safe. Providing safety to all people of all backgrounds requires understanding the nuanced and varied needs of the 1.4 million San Diegans. We can only gain that understanding with the help of the community,” said City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera. “The Police Chief Search Forums offer an opportunity for the city to learn directly from community what sort of leader will help us achieve

our goal of making all people feel safe. I hope we’ll have the sort of robust community participation that helps San Diego find the ideal Chief to achieve our goal of providing safety and justice for all.”

Community members who are interested in participating in the meetings are encouraged to RSVP online. An RSVP is optional and not required to attend. Language interpretation and accessibility services will also be available during the meetings upon request in advance. An online survey will be available in early January for those unable to attend in person.

San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit, who was promoted to the top position in 2018, officially announced his retirement last month and will complete his service in June 2024. Nisleit joined the San Diego Police Department in 1988.

Candidates for the job will undergo a series of interviews, including one conducted by a panel of community leaders nominated by city councilmembers and Mayor Gloria.

The process to hire a new Chief of Police, outlined in Council Policy 300-08, calls for the Mayor to appoint a candidate to be confirmed by San Diego City Council. For more information on the recruitment process and upcoming community meetings, please visit the city’s Police Chief Recruitment webpage at https://www.sandiego. gov/police/next-police-chief.

(City of San Diego Release) n

SHARON Cuneta couldn’t help but see the similarities between her character Maricar in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry “Family of Two (A Mother and Son Story)” and herself as a mom, as she noted that letting go of a child will always be a “heart-wrenching” part of life.

The MMFF entry tells the story of Mateo (Alden Richards) who wants to find a partner for his single mother Maricar (Sharon Cuneta), before he moves to Singapore with his girlfriend.

During the film’s press conference, Cuneta related Richards’ character to her reallife children KC Concepcion and Kakie Pangilinan, who opted to finish college abroad. “I’ve been through this twice already. I have two more [children], Miel is leaving next year.”

“We brought KC to Paris back in 2003, then Frankie to New York in 2019. While Miel, who’s still in her gap year, she’s leaving next. And I only have Miguel left,” she continued. “I realized na talagang dadating sa point (you will arrive at a point) when your children will leave you.”

As a mother, Cuneta is aware of the reality that her children “will live their own lives” at some point, but admitted that it will always be—if not even more—“hear-wrenching” when it finally happens.

“Your children will live their own lives. I’ve been through that.

My brother has been through that. I’m sure my parents went through the emotions I went through. You’re kind of thinking that you’re prepared. Pero kapag aalis na siya, nadudurog ang puso ko (But when they leave, it

Alden Richards and Sharon Cuneta

Photo from Instagram/@sparklegmaartistcenter

breaks my heart),” she said.

The actress-singer, however, reminded mothers about the “two gifts” they can give to their children which they can impart in their daily lives. “It’s heart wrenching for a mother. But like I said, you give them roots, then you give them wings. And when you give them wings, you don’t pull them back.”

“You just keep on reminding them. And you have to trust them [based] on how you raised them. And if they decide to be something other than what you expect, that’s their life. You will love them anyway,” she further explained.

‘Instantaneous’ On the other hand, Richards

admitted that his late mother was one of his key inspirations in bringing Mateo to life. His character in the film deals with the loss of his father when he was five years old.

“I felt that I could relate to every scene. Ang bilis ko talagang na-attach sa character ni Mateo (I got easily attached to the character of Mateo). In real life, my mom is absent,” he said. “But this time, my father is absent. When we do scenes, our emotions are instantaneous and it’s like we’re not acting at all.”

The Nuel Naval-helmed film also stars Miles Ocampo, Pepe Herrera, Jackie Lou Blanco, Tonton Gutierrez and Donita Rose. n

10 DECEMBER 22-28, 2023 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

Blue envelopes let law enforcement know of communication issues IMAGINE a scenario in which your loved one is being pulled over or approached by a Sheriff’s deputy and is unable to communicate effectively with the officer. Whether your loved one has an autism spectrum disorder, dementia, becomes anxious around authority figures or is living with another condition that could impact how they react to the deputy, the deputy should be aware.

Often, there are no outward indicators of these conditions, and without this extra information, a deputy might think the person was uncooperative or was acting suspiciously. That is where the Blue Envelope Program comes in with people displaying a Blue Envelope logo on a sticker, pin, a seat belt cover, ribbons, key chains, lanyards, wallet information card or a bracelet. Immediately deputies who see the logo know

there is some communication issue to consider.

The free program requires no registration and is voluntary. It includes an actual blue envelope that the person can give to the deputy or any other community service personnel that includes the person’s identification, pertinent documents such as medical information, instructions regarding communication preferences, and for driving, the vehicle registration, proof of insurance and contact information.

“The Blue Envelope Program is part of our commitment to foster connection and understanding of the people we serve,” said San Diego Sheriff Kelly Martinez.

To learn more about the program or to obtain the free materials, visit the Sheriff’s web page at https://www.sdsheriff. gov/community/blue-envelope.

The program expands on the Sheriff Department’s regional efforts to provide the highest standard of service for San Diego County. A related program is its Take Me Home Program (https:// www.sdsheriff.gov/community/ take-me-home-registry) which gives law enforcement quick

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (619) 474-0588

File photo/www.countynewscenter.com

access to critical information about a registered person with dementia, autism or other developmental disabilities in case they get lost or wander away.

(Yvette Urrea Moe/County of San Diego Communications Office) n

The pilot generated a lot of positive user feedback. Those who responded ranged in age from 18 to 63 years old and more than half said they had worried about paying for menstrual products in the previous year.

The pilot program, budgeted at $70,000, provided more than 277,500 menstrual products over its first two years.

The program is now expanding, with dispensers in all female and gender-neutral restrooms, along with one centrally located male restroom in each facility. More than 1,000 dispensers will be installed in over 300 county-owned and -leased facilities by May 2024.

The county shared resources and materials with other counties and cities with interest in replicating the program. In consultation with the county, the City of San Diego adopted the same Free4ME program model and name in October.

In all, 14 programs from 11 counties were recognized with 2023 California State Association of Counties Challenge Awards.

(Cassie N. Saunders/County of San Diego Communications Office) n

WHAT’S one way to keep your money safe from scammers during the holidays? If you’re in the check-out line buying gift cards, make sure they’re for gifts. Only gifts. Not because someone tells you to buy gift cards and give them the numbers off the back of the card.

Only scammers say that.

Gift card scams start with a call, text, email, or social media message. It’s usually for something urgent and they want you to pay right away. Scammers might say they’re from the government or a company you know. Or, thanks to AI voice cloning, they might even sound just like the friend or family member they call pretending to be, asking you to send money to fix their emergency. No matter what they say, it’s a trick to get you to go to a store, put money on a gift card, and give them the numbers. It’s a scam.

If you think you gave a gift card to a scammer, act fast. Grab your gift card and gift card receipt, then: • Report the gift card scam to the gift card company. It doesn’t matter how long ago the scam happened. Use this How To Contact Gift Card Companies list to report it.

• Ask for your money back. Some companies are helping stop gift card scams. They might give your money back. It’s worth asking.

Tell the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc. gov. Your report makes a difference and helps protect people in your community from fraud and scams.

And what about those free gift card offers? Lots of scammers send phishing emails promising free gift cards in exchange for your personal or financial information. Save your money. Don’t click on any text or email links.

So, gift card for your 17-year-old niece who’s impossible to buy for? Sure. Gift card for the person who just called with an urgent reason to go get a card and share the PIN numbers? Heck no. Learn more at ftc.gov/giftcards.

(Cristina Miranda/Consumer Education Specialist, FTC) n

Screen capture from video

County’s Free4Me program recognized with award Keep your money safe from gift card scammers this holiday season

THE County of San Diego’s Free4Me program was awarded the 2023 California State Association of Counties Challenge Award. The program provides free menstrual products in county bathrooms.

The Challenge Awards is an annual celebration recognizing innovative and creative programs across the state.

Nearly two-thirds of lowincome people in the United States report being unable to afford menstrual products at some point during the previous year and have faced a decision between purchasing food or other necessities and menstrual products.

This challenge, referred to as “period poverty,” disproportionately impacts people experiencing homelessness, transgender people, youth, and low-income individuals.

The County of San Diego identified this need, garnered input from community partners, and surveyed users across multiple county facilities. The county’s Health and Human Services’ Office of Strategy and Innovation led the pilot effort which crossed multiple county departments, including General

The Free4Me program is now expanding, with dispensers in all female and gender-neutral restrooms, along with one centrally located male restroom in each facility. More than 1,000 dispensers will be installed in over 300 county-owned and -leased facilities by May 2024.

File photo/www.countynewscenter.com

Services and Public Health.

The Free for Menstrual Equity, or Free4Me pilot program, was launched May 28, 2021 in restrooms at 24 countyowned buildings and included

the installation of 58 tampon and menstrual pad dispensers.

The locations of the dispensers were featured on a website and shared with local period poverty advocates.

(818) 502-0651 • (619) 474-0588 • http://www.asianjournal.com

SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 22-28, 2023

11

City of San Diego named a Asian Journal contributor 2023 Digital Inclusion Trailblazer decries the chaos, City recognized for bridging the digital divide through the San Diego Access 4 All program social decay in US

“THE sad and terrifying state of America today victimizes every citizen of the nation,” lamented Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, a columnist of the Asian Journal, in his new book, “Where is My America?,” which was just released on Amazon.

The book is an incisive, highly critical, penetrating, and honestly painful depiction of the chaos, decay, and fragmentation of society, an anthology of vital commentaries everyone, especially the young generation (our future leaders), needs to read. It is an inspiring

and refreshing journal that challenges the mind and warms the heart that belongs to every home library for the whole family.

“This is a great title, which will evoke different emotions…” says Kim Ridgeway of mcarusselljones- USA Today.

“Where is My America?” is available on Amazon in three versions: The instantlyaccessible-read eBook, paperback, and hardback. To request more information, send email to scalpelpen@gmail. com. n

SAN DIEGO – The City of San Diego has been honored as a 2023 Digital Inclusion Trailblazer by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) for its San Diego Access 4 All program. As part of the city’s commitment to closing the digital divide that leaves tens of thousands of San Diegans without internet access, the San Diego Access 4 All program offers free WiFi at hundreds of locations around town with new wireless networks, providing more opportunities than ever to access the web.

“We are proud of the work that the City of San Diego and our partners have done to increase digital equity through the San Diego Access 4 All program,” said Jonathan Behnke, Director of the City’s Department of Information Technology.

“We are honored to be a 2023 Digital Inclusion Trailblazer.”

Through San Diego Access 4 All, San

Diegans can log on to the internet at more than 300 locations including select libraries, parks, recreation centers, schools and other popular spots in neighborhoods across the city. The program provides laptops and cellular hotspots available for checkout from city libraries, along with new computer labs, city-sponsored athome affordable internet service, free tech support and internet navigation tutorials.

This year, San Diego joins a record number of Digital Inclusion Trailblazers, with 47 total awardees representing municipal, county and regional governments paving the way for digitally inclusive communities across the United States.

“Nonprofits, libraries, churches and other community organizations can’t reach digital equity on their own. For everyone to thrive in today’s digital world, we need all hands on deck,” said Angela Siefer,

NDIA executive director. “NDIA’s Digital Inclusion Trailblazers exemplify the key role local governments have in building connected communities for all of their residents.”

NDIA revised the seven-year-old Trailblazer program this year, identifying seven categories of current best practices.

Each applicant’s materials are verified for accuracy, assessed for community impact, and posted in an interactive map and searchable database on NDIA’s website. By sharing materials with open sourcing, NDIA provides community advocates and local governments ways to continue learning, connect with trailblazing peers, and plan their own digital inclusion solutions.

To find out more about San Diego’s Access 4 All program including a map of accessible Wi-Fi locations, visit sandiego. gov/sdaccess.

(City of San Diego Release) n

Veteran actor Ronaldo Valdez passes away

by Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

VETERAN actor Ronaldo Valdez has passed away.

According to ABS-CBN News, Quezon City Police District confirmed the death of Ronaldo. The cause of his death has yet to be disclosed.

Ronaldo has been in the showbiz industry for six decades. His last role was “Lolo Sir” in the hit teleserye “2 Good

‘Tis the season for giving, receiving and recycling!

THE holiday season often means there is plenty to recycle — from gift boxes and wrapping paper to lights and even those real Christmas trees.

In the holiday spirit, the County Public Works (DPW) has some handy tips “yule” love on what to recycle and how to do it properly.

Christmas trees When it comes time to say goodbye to that real Christmas tree, the county urges you to recycle it. When recycled in the right way, trees and wreaths can become mulch that improves soil health and helps soil retain moisture at our parks, farms and home gardens.

Check with your waste hauler to find out if they offer curbside pickup; many do. Another option is to visit the county’s recycling and hazardous waste database, WastefreeSD.org/TreeRecycling, to find Christmas tree drop-off sites near you.

Type “Christmas tree” in the “find an item” box, add your ZIP code, community and how you heard about the site, and you’ll see all the drop-off locations near you.

Don’t leave your old, dry tree or wreaths lying in your backyard.

They can become fire hazards. Meanwhile, putting them in the trash unnecessarily fills up landfills and generates unwanted greenhouse gases when they decompose.

Know what packaging can be recycled Between online shopping and gift exchanges, there’s usually a lot of stuff to recycle. Remember, not all packaging can be recycled. For example, cardboard boxes can be recycled (just break them down and put them into your recycling bin). But other items can’t — manila envelopes, padded plastic mailers and bubble-wrap, and traditional gift-wrapping materials including ribbons, bows, twine, tissue paper and cellophane. So please DO NOT put them in your blue recycling bins; consider re-using them instead. Here’s a link to learn more about how to Recycle Right (https://www.countynewscenter.com/ county-launches-recycle-right-campaign/), during the holidays and every day.

Christmas and holiday card recycling Like packaging materials, not all holiday cards should be added to your recycling. Simple paper cards and envelopes can be added to your blue bins. But cards with glitter, foil, metallic inks (made with tiny metal flakes) or other adornments can’t. Tear the cards in two if there’s a glitzy front and plain paper backing. Recycle the backs and put the glitzy fronts into the trash.

Holiday light recycling Please remember to not put old holiday lights in your recycling bins. They can tangle up recycling equipment and they also pose a danger to workers in those recycling centers. For recycling options, please visit WasteFreeSD.org, or contact a scrap metal or e-waste recycler.

It’s so easy! Remember, if you have other questions about what can and can’t be recycled, go to DPW Recycling’s webpage (https:// www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/dpw/recycling.html) or to DPW Recycling’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ CountyofSanDiegoRecycling/).

(Shauni Lyles/County of San Diego Communications Office) n

2 Be True” that stars Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla.

Last September, Ronaldo was spotted attending the premiere night of Kathryn’s “A Very Good Girl” film riding an electric scooter.

The actor was known for his movies “Seven Sundays,” “Labs Kita Okay Ka Lang,” and “The Mistress,” among others.

He is survived by his son Janno Gibbs and daughter Melissa Gibbs. n Ronaldo Valdez

ABS-CBN photo

12 DECEMBER 22-28, 2023 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (619) 474-0588