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DATELINE USA

crimes

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

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

Law enforcement agencies are currently not mandated to report data for UCR reports: reporting is voluntary. Data for the 2021 report — released on Dec. 12 — was derived

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

by DANIZA FERNANDEZ Inquirer.net

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

“The United States supports the Philippines’ continued calls upon the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to respect

the international law of the sea in the South China Sea, as reflected in the UN (United Nations) Convention on the Law of the Sea, and its legal obligations pursuant to the 2016 arbitral ruling,” U.S. Department of State spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement

by CATHERINE S. VALENTE ManilaTimes.net

MANILA — The Philippines has welcomed almost 2.4 million foreign tourists since the country reopened its borders to international travel in February, data from the Department of Tourism (DOT) showed.

As of Dec. 15, the tally recorded 2,397,919 foreign arrivals with majority of them coming from the United States (447,278), South Korea (374,097), Australia (118,228), Canada (109,041) and the United Kingdom

by ROBERTZON RAMIREZ Philstar.com

MANILA — The traditional pre-dawn novena masses, popularly known as “Simbang Gabi” in the Philippines, will officially started on Friday, December 16.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president and Caloocan Bishop Pablo

Virgilio David said most parishes in the country would adopt “synodality” as the theme for this year’s nine-day pre-dawn masses to promote journeying with Jesus Christ and with one another.

“It looks like most parishes all over the country will be adopting synodality as the main running theme for the ‘Simbang Gabi’ celebration

Marcos, who heads the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) board, approved the plan prepared by the agency on Friday, December 16.

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

The President enjoined agencies to employ a

CPP founder Joma Sison dies

JOSE Maria Sison, founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), has passed away after being confined for two weeks in a hospital in the Netherlands where he was in exile for years. He was 83.

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

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

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

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

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

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

PRAYING. Catholic devotees kneel down as they pray during the sixth day of the Simbang Gabi at Mary the Queen Parish on Belfast Avenue, Neopolitan, Novaliches, Quezon City on Wednesday, Dec. 21. The Simbang Gabi is a novena of Masses celebrated daily until Christmas day in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. PNA

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

US Supreme Court to review conviction of hired gun in murder of Filipina

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, December 13 agreed to hear an appeal by a North Carolina man serving life in prison after being convicted of taking part in a plot to murder a woman in the Philippines at the behest of the head of a multinational criminal organization.

Adam Samia, 48, was convicted in 2018 alongside former U.S. Army sergeant Joseph Hunter and another North Carolina man, Carl David Stillwell, on charges related to the murder of Filipino real estate agent, Catherine Lee,Prosecutors said Samia killed her while working as a mercenary for Paul Le Roux, a Zimbabweborn transnational crime leader who was sentenced in 2020 to 25 years in prison after cooperating with authorities investigating his organization.

Prosecutors said his organization committed money laundering, drug and weapons trafficking and murder in multiple countries.

Prosecutors said Joseph Hunter, a former U.S. Army sergeant who led Le Roux’s teams of mercenaries, recruited Samia and Carl David Stillwell for a “kill team,” and in exchange for money the two murdered Lee, who Le Roux believed had stolen from him.

In 2018 all three men were convicted at trial and are serving life sentences.

At trial, prosecutors introduced a post-arrest confession by Stillwell in which he named Samia as the person who pulled the trigger.

Stillwell did not testify at trial, so Samia’s lawyers could not question him. To protect his rights under the U.S. Constitution’s Sixth Amendment to confront

US supports PH amid swarming of Chinese...

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on Tuesday (Philippine time), December 20.

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

The U.S. also shared the Philippines’ concerns on the unsafe encounter between the Chinese Coast Guard and Philippine

naval forces in the West Philippine Sea.

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

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

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

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

Pinoy faithful gather for...

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because Christmas is really about God who has been journeying with us so that we learn to journey with one another,” David said.

“Synodality has to do with promoting communion within the Church as well as greater participation towards mission, and our dream is missioning Church and we hope that through these nine novena masses, our priests will be able to impart message, good news of synodality of communion participation and mission,” he added.

In a video message, CBCP vice president and Pasig Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara urged the Catholic faithful to attend the first of the nineday novena masses as he emphasized that the first day will determine the faithful’s disposition toward the coming of Jesus Christ.

Vergara said the faithful should emulate St. John the Baptist who served as the Lord’s “precursor” and led a greater majority to the protection of the Lord.

The Simbang Gabi will run from Dec. 16 until Dec. 25.

Masses at the Manila Cathedral from Dec. 15 to 23 will be held at 8 p.m. while

pre-dawn masses will be held from Dec. 16-24 at 4:30 a.m.

Masses at the Quiapo church will be held from Dec. 15-23 at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. while pre-dawn masses will be from Dec. 16-24 at 4 a.m. and 5 a.m.

Quiapo church spokesman Fr. Earl Valdez said they are preparing for “a slight increase” of people attending the nine-day masses as he urged the faithful to continue observing health protocols to avoid the spread of COVID-19.

“We are preparing for a slight increase in mass attendance so cleaning and maintenance, plus placement of markers for physical distancing. We also have several volunteers deployed for ushering and observance of safety protocols (particularly masking),” Valdez said.

He added that they are also in close coordination with the Manila city government and the police for increased security measures as he hopes that the observance of Simbang Gabi will become meaningful and not become a super spreader event.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Thursday, December 15 all security measures are in

place to ensure the public’s safety at the start of dawn masses.

Col. Jean Fajardo, PNP spokesperson, said they went on full alert status on Thursday, December 15 which will run until Jan. 10, “so that all available police officers are ready for deployment and respond in case of emergencies.”

In compliance with the directive of PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., all police commanders are required to deploy 85 percent of their personnel on the streets to secure churches and other places of convergence.

Fajardo told dzBB that least 85 percent of the PNP force or 192,950 policemen should be on field duty.

While the PNP has not monitored any credible threat to security, she said policemen are not keeping their guard down to prevent lawless elements from disrupting the Simbang Gabi and the rest of the Yuletide season.

In Metro Manila, Lt. Col. Dexter Versola, National Capital Region Police Office spokesman, said at least 14,000 policemen are deployed for Simbang Gabi –Emmanuel Tupas g

People gathered outside for an anticipated mass at the Our Lady of Atonement Cathedral in Baguio City on December 15.

Photo by Fernando Zapata

Filipina real estate agent, Catherine Lee was murdered in the Philippines by contract killers. DOJ photos

Adam Samia, 48, was convicted in 2018 alongside former U.S. Army sergeant Joseph Hunter and another North Carolina man, Carl David Stillwell, on charges related to the murder of Filipino real estate agent, Catherine

Almost 2.4 million...

(90,196).

The number exceeded DOT’s 2022 target of only 1.7 million tourists, which was achieved in October.

Tourism Secretary

Christina Garcia-Frasco attributed the increase in the country’s tourist arrivals this year to the relaxation of travel restrictions like mandatory COVID-19 testing, wearing of face mask and quarantine period that were imposed by the government to control the spread of the virus.

Easing the travel requirements, according to Frasco’s statement, also gave the country higher tourismrelated revenue – estimated to be at P130 billion as of last month.

Relaxing pandemic-related travel rules also pushed the DOT, in partnership with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the

private sector, to introduce its Bisita Be My Guest (BBMG) program last Thursday, December 15.

The program aims to promote the country’s tourism industry by encouraging overseas Filipino workers and Pinoys living abroad to fly back to the Philippines and bring potential tourists, especially foreigners, along with them.

According to the DOT, the program offers a raffle promo, BBMG passport and a privilege card, which participants can use to avail of discounts, special rates and packages.

Frasco said the program is one of the ways a Filipino can show love for the country by inviting their foreign friends to visit the Philippines and allowing them to experience world-class Filipino hospitality. (By Ghio Ong/ Philstar.com)

Marcos approves PH...

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whole-of-nation approach in the implementation of the PDP 2023-2028 and steer government instrumentalities into the “same direction.”

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

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

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

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

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

founder

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

‘A new era dawns’

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

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

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

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

“The loss of a ‘teacher’ and ‘guiding light’ leaves the organization with no purpose and clear direction,” he said.

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

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

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

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

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

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

“A new era without Jose Maria Sison dawns for the Philippines, and we will all be better for it. The greatest stumbling block of peace for the Philippines is gone; let us now give peace a chance,” Andolong said.Former National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) spokesman Lorraine Badoy was less sympathetic.

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

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

“The entire revolutionary forces in Southern Mindanao pay our highest revolutionary tribute to CPP founder, Ka Jose Maria Sison for his immeasurable contribution to the national democratic revolution,” wrote the NDF-Southern

Mindanao executive council’s publication, Pasabilis.

Who is Joma Sison?

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

A graduate of literature from the University of the Philippines Diliman in 1959, Sison, then a literature professor, founded the Kabataang Makabayan in 1964, alongside Nilo Tayag, who was involved in the 1970 First Quarter Storm against then president Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr.

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

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

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

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

Before his death, Sison served as the NDF’s chief political consultant. g

Major metropolitan areas did not...

from 11,883 law enforcement agencies. 6,929 agencies — almost one third — did not provide data.

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

New Reporting Platform

John Duran, a Southern California-based civil rights attorney and LGBTQIA activist who served on the California Hate Crimes Commission in 1987, told Ethnic Media Services that the FBI made significant changes in reporting requirements, but failed to train law enforcement personnel in the new procedures.

The new data collection system is known as National Incident-Based Reporting System. Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta issued

a statement Dec. 12, saying the system was designed to provide “significantly more detailed data for each individual criminal incident.” The FBI has set out a fiveyear timeline and provided technical assistance and funding for the transition.

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

Trump and Anti-Semitism

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

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

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

‘Wheel of Misfortune’

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

next year — immigrants will be the targets of hate crimes and incidents.

At a news briefing Dec. 14 organized by the Act Against Hate Alliance, Duran equated the U.S.’s national discourse to a modern day “Tower of Babel.” The dizzying array of social media platforms run unfettered, with no guard rails to reign them in. “Truth suffers. If I only talk to people who look like me and think like me, I would be subjected to a lot of misinformation and disinformation about other communities, with the revival of old prejudices,” he said.

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

Nefarious Intent?

Manju Kulkarni, Executive Director of the AAPI

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

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

FEATURES OPINION

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

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

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

Considering that the SARS-CoV-2 originated from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the country has registered one of the lowest COVID death rates, at 5,235 as of Dec. 3. Chinese officials attribute this to the wide availability of several locally developed coronavirus vaccines and to the zero-COVID policy. But scientific modeling by the U.S.-

From My Point of View

DAN E. NINO

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

Tough love is an example of unconditional love with one’s partner, siblings, relatives, kids and even with my

based Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation now projects over a million COVID deaths in the country for 2023, with infections peaking by April 1 when the fatalities hit 322,000. An earlier peak is projected by next month, as the country’s 1.4 billion population celebrate the Lunar New Year holiday.

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

The WHO and other health experts are pressing Beijing to speed up approval of new-

COVID is still around Tough love

generation Western-made bivalent vaccines that tests have shown to be effective against the emerging SARS-CoV-2 strains.

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

The government will have to further intensify the COVID inoculation effort while speeding up the procurement of the bivalent vaccines. At the same time, the country must tighten screening of visitors from China particularly when many resume international travel next month for the Lunar New Year. The ongoing surge in China provides ample warning that COVID is still around, and countries become complacent at their own risk. (Philstar.com)

fraternity brods and sisses with whom I have shared common denominators, experiences, initiations and rituals.

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

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

As a tax preparer and business consultant, I encounter clients who pour out their problems to me. Sometimes, I also serve as a marriage counselor. So I listen. There’s an issue of division of property. And when

the couple don’t agree with what to divide between them with the termination of that relationship, the marriage take its toll like anxiety, mental health issues and no peace of mind. It’s only the lawyers who are benefiting. The more the issue of divorce gets longer, the more the lawyer gets more money from both litigants.

Do you know the meaning

of this idiom, “familiarity breeds contempt?” What does it mean?

I’ll answer that with an example: Because you know someone very well like a member of your family, you stop respecting them and show your hostility by uttering words that are hurting. In that you think the recipient of that tirade can just bear it, can just take the bullet or can just take

it for granted. That’s wrong! No matter how we have known each other in a relationship, we have to say our statements lovingly, tenderly and with respect.

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

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ROGER

MOMAR G. VISAYA

Dateline PhiliPPines

Inflation top concern of Filipinos

by Kristina Maralit ManilaTimes.net

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

The top concerns of the country the respondents want Marcos to immediately resolve are the high inflation rate and skyrocketing prices of commodities, the survey found. “The PH economy is still considered the topmost priority for President BBM to focus on. Prices/inflation moves up as a clear second place indicating a growing concern, particularly in NCR (National Capital Region),” it said.

Also listed as issues needing

resolution are difficulty in finding employment and not getting enough pay for those already with jobs.

The President “needs to arrest inflation increase to prevent turning Filipinos’ worries into disappointment with his administration,” the PUBLiCUS summary for the

survey which was conducted from November 25 to 30, said.

PUBLiCUS said 64 percent of the 1,500 respondents approved of Marcos’ performance, and 57 percent rated his trustworthiness in addressing the country’s problems as “high” or “very

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

by Xave GreGorio Philstar.com

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

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

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

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

She also made it clear

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

Oseña-Paez acknowledged her past as a reporter, saying

PRICE CHECK A shopper checks the prices of canned goods at a supermarket in Manila. The Philippine Statistics Authority said the inflation rate jumped to 8 percent in November. ManilaTimes.net photo

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

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

by Xave GreGorio Philstar.com

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

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

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

Law students must carry a full load of subjects every semester and must finish the

Aside from tuition fees, Sen.

entire program within the time frame prescribed by the SUC where they are enrolled in and must take the Bar Examination within a year of graduating.

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

The proposed law also

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

Also disqualified from enjoying the benefits of the proposal for free tuition in law schools are students who have already obtained a Bachelor of Laws or a Juris Doctor degree, those who fail

to comply with admission and retention policies of SUCs and those who fail to complete the Juris Doctor degree within the prescribed period.

Those who do become lawyers after graduating from the free legal education program must work in government for two years within four years after obtaining their license either in the Public Attorney’s Office or “any government agency lacking lawyers” as determined by the Legal Education Board.

Those who fail to comply with the mandatory return service will be required to reimburse the government the full cost of scholarship, including other benefits and expenses.

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

US Supreme Court to review conviction of hired...

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witnesses against him, his name was redacted.

But Samia’s lawyers say the confession remained incriminating and that the

federal appeals courts are divided on how to assess whether how such redacted

confessions should be used at trial. (Reuters/INQUIRER. net U.S. Bureau)

Major metropolitan areas did not...

PAGE 4

Alliance, and co-founder of the web portal Stop AAPI Hate, believes there is no “nefarious intent” by law enforcement agencies who did not submit data this year. “I believe most state and local law enforcement agencies in California do take hate crimes very seriously.”

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

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

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

Distrust of Law Enforcement

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

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

FBI Recruiting Informants?

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

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

Marshall Wong, who serves on Los Angeles’ Human Rights Commission, and is the primary author of the

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

Amid the Pandemic

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

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

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

Former TV host Daphne...

PAGE 6

“this is no longer new to me.” She later said that she only reported on Malacañang for six months.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Inflation top concern...

PAGE 6

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

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

The high trust in the President spilled over to members of his Cabinet. Social Welfare and Development Secretary Erwin Tulfo and Duterte, as Department of Education chief, took the top two spots with 65 and 61 percent approval ratings, respectively.

Marcos, who concurrently heads the Department of Agriculture, is third with 50 percent, followed by Finance chief Benjamin Diokno (32

percent) and Department of Health Officer in Charge Ma. Rosario Vergeire (25 percent).

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri preserved his approval scores, with 49 percent, along with House Speaker Ferdinand Romualdez (44 percent), although their trust ratings have declined with Zubiri at 36 percent and Romualdez at 35 percent.

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

WORLD CHAMP. New weightlifting world champion Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo poses with her fans upon her arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on Tuesday, Dec. 20. Diaz-Naranjo, the country’s only Olympic gold medalist, won three gold medals to rule the 55-kg. category in the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Championships in Bogota, Colombia on December 8.  PNA photo by Avito Dalan

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

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

By REALTOR FELY QUITEVIS-BATEMAN

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

for NYE celebrations, fun and revelry.

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

According to news reports, fireworks display will be launched from the rooftops of eight casino

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

The eight properties taking part in the event are MGM Grand, Aria, Planet Hollywood, Caesars Palace, Treasure Island, The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, Resorts

World Las Vegas and The STRAT.

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

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

festivities.

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

If you want to escape the crowds along the Strip and

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

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

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

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

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

Most Pinoys facing new year with hope – Pulse

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

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

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

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

The nationwide survey, conducted from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1, showed 43 percent of adult

Filipinos believed their Christmas celebration this year would be more prosperous.

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

Pulse Asia said the same pattern of public opinion may be observed in the rest of Luzon, Mindanao, Class ABC, Class D and Class E.

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

The survey was conducted on 1,200 Filipinos aged 18 years old and above, and has a plus/minus 2.8 percent error margin at the 95 percent confidence level. (by Pia LeeBrago/Philstar.com)

Tough love...

Centers Shaquille O’Neal or Kareem Abdul Jabbar; Forwards Lebron James or Kawhi Leonard?

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

As you know I belong to the old school. I grew up in a family that cannot just answer back one’s father, no matter how wrong or right a father is. Never answer a father.

The tough love mentality kicks in. You might face serious consequences like

belting you in the buttocks.

I know of someone when a son answered his dad here in California. He did not let his son enter the family home. The son slept in his car for many months and didn’t talk for years. The loving mother had no choice but to buy the son a house.

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

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

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

To me, that’s TOUGH LOVE.

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

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

New Year’s Eve fireworks expected...

display and other goings-on.

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

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

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

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

Later in the year, specifically in November, Formula 1 racing takes centerstage – crowds will hear the roar of racing cars as they navigate the twists, turns and straightaways of a 3.8-mile, 12-15m wide street track where F1’s seasoned drivers will aim to win the title. Racing fans from around the world were reported to have rushed to buy tickets to the F1 Las Vegas race when it went on sale last November, about a year away from the actual race date.

Secondly, there are major changes taking place with the casino properties. Bally’s has been rebranded into a Horseshoe Casino after a multimillion-dollar renovation. Visitors to Sin City will want to be the very first ones to experience the rebranded hotel-casino, which is part of Caesar’s Entertainment Inc.

Also, the Fontainebleau will be opening in late 2023 after undergoing many changes since its announcement in 2005. With a 2-story retail

complex, lots of meeting/ convention space, a hotel and casino, it will add to the bevy of spaces where expos, big meetings and corporate events can take place in Las Vegas.

The MSG Sphere at The Venetian, a music and entertainment arena, has been rescheduled to a 2023 opening. The MSG Sphere will rise to a height of 366 feet and width of 516 feet (at its broadest point), and can accommodate up to 20,000 people (17,500 seating, plus standing capacity).

The sphere’s exterior venue can accommodate 580,000 square feet of programmable lighting, while the interor wraparound screen will measure 160,000 square feet.

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

Jobs will be available in Las Vegas in the foreseeable future, with all the construction, activities and openings scheduled in 2023 and in the foreseeable future. Perhaps that is why Las Vegas continues to be an

attractive addition to those wanting to expand their real estate portfolio. Despite the increase in mortgage rates, Las Vegas properties – and those in nearby cities, towns and areas – continue to be affordable. Whether as an investment property or real estate holding, those who want to invest in Las Vegas surely have something to look forward to as the city continues to expand and develop.

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

My company, Precious Properties, is a full-service company that has successfully helped its clientele find the best deals since 1992. You can reach me at 775-513-8447, 805-559-2476 and 702-5384948 for more information, or send me an email at fely@ precious-properties.com or fely.precious@gmail.com. We have investors who buy houses in California and Nevada for cash and quick escrow in as short as 7 days.

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

ROUND AND LUCKY. Round fruits such as apples, oranges, grapes, persimmons, pears and longan are being sold at a stall in Quiapo, Manila on Tuesday, Dec. 20. Round fruits are believed to usher in good fortune for the New Year.

PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.

COMMUNITY JOURNAL

Atty. Gurfinkel answers more immigration questions from Kapamilya on Citizen Pinoy’s Christmas episode

In this episode, leading U.S. Immigration Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel provides answers and helpful information to the following inquiries:

• Marites’ friend secretly married her boyfriend who was petitioned as single. She now wants to know if her friend can come to the U.S. as a tourist so they can get married again in the U.S. • Janet would like to know if she can petition her nephew in the Philippines as a caregiver, to take care of her parents who are now in their 90s.

• Meriel asks about her friend’s brother who had a green card when he was 14 years old but moved back to the Philippines before PAGE 12

YOUR TANONG, MY SAGOT PART 2 IN GLENDALE. This Christmas, Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel answers more immigration questions from Kapamilya at Arko Foods in Glendale, CA in “Your Tanong, My Sagot” Part 2. Among the questions Atty. Gurfinkel answers are – From Janet (top photo): Can I petition my nephew in the Philippines to be a caregiver for my parents who are already in their 90s?; From Meriel (bottom right): My friend’s brother had a green card when he was young, but he went back to the Philippines before turning 18 to become an actor. What steps can he take if he wants to return to the U.S. now that he is 55 years old?; From Marites (bottom left): My friend secretly married her boyfriend who was petitioned as single. Can she come to the U.S. as a tourist to marry him again? Watch Part 2 of “Your Tanong, My Sagot” at Arko Foods in Glendale, California on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, December 25 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo.

(Advertising Supplement)

THE second part of Citizen Pinoy’s “Your Tanong, My Sagot” brings more immigration questions from Kapamilya shoppers at the family-owned Arko Foods International in Glendale, California.

Weight loss ‘cures’ diabetes

PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS

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

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

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

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

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

The show is both funny and full of subtle wisdom and practical earthly realities. This makes me look at myself and our society as a whole, and comment on our social behavior and attitude, especially about Christmas. Even atheists and nonChristians seem to have this perception of us, Christians, on how we celebrate the sacred day.

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

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

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

Everything during the Christmas season, including our conversation and greetings, is about Santa, about parties and gifts, and about all the material things we can buy and/or receive in

this highly commercialized world of today. Our mind seems to focus mostly on material things. Many of us hardly talk to our children and amongst ourselves about the Birthday Boy, the celebrant Himself. About His wonders, about His greatness, about His ultimate sacrifice. And why He deserves to be celebrated and honored every day and especially on His birthday.

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

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

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

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

Here’s wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful and blessed CHRISTmas, and

Labyu with an Accent is inspired by Coco, Jodi’s experiences of ‘living abroad’

By Marinel Cruz Inquirer.net

STAR Cinema’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2022 official entry  Labyu with an Accent is a romanticcomedy film based on Coco Martin and Jodi Sta. Maria’s experiences living abroad.

According to FPJ’s  Ang Probinsyano star, he got inspired by his adventures in Canada, where he previously worked. “When I started out as an actor in indie films, hindi naman talaga artista ang gusto ko, kundi talaga to work abroad,” said Coco during the media conference for  Labyu with an Accent. That was his “mindset” why he joined indie films as an actor. “Kasi nga ‘pag sinabi mo na indie films,  malaki

ang potential  na ilabas sa  abroad. And  yung mga na-experience  ko dun pinasok ko dito sa pelikula.”

“And then advantage naman ni  Jodi,  alam ko na meron din siyang magandang story or experience  sa abroad.  Kaya duon ko sinimulan yung story.  Dun ako na-

inspired  kaya binuo ko yung kwento ng film. Based  sa totoong karanasan namin,” he added.

Jodi, who once briefly lived and worked in Los Angeles, also shared, “I guess as actors,  parang us, we really know  kung anong yung hirap at sacrifices  ng

Atty. Gurfinkel answers more...

he turned 18 to become an actor. The brother is now 55 years old and would like to return to the U.S. Meriel wants to know what the brother can do?

to the Child in the manger: Happy Birthday, and thanks for the e-vite and for enabling us to attend.

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

* * *

The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis,

recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health.

* * *

Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international

In keeping with the season of giving, Atty. Gurfinkel also asks trivia questions to the shoppers and gives away food from Arko as prizes to the delight of Kapamilya Watch “Citizen Pinoy’s” Christmas offering in Part 2 of “Your Tanong, My Sagot,” with Kapamilya from Arko Foods International in Glendale, California. Watch this brand-new episode on Sunday, December 25 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET through select Cable/ Satellite providers), right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app. (Advertising

Supplement)

medical lecturer/author, a Health Advocate, Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He is a recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1996, whose other awardees include President Harry Truman, President George HW Bush, Astronaut Gus Grissom, Mohammad Ali and David Letterman. Websites: FUN8888. com and philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.

Marites (right) asks Atty. Gurfinkel an immigration question regarding her

Atty. Gurfinkel (right) gives away mangoes as a prize to Benjie, an Arko shopper, after he answered a trivia question on what is the name of Atty Gurfinkel’s YouTube channel.

FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano star Coco Martin and The Broken Marriage Vow actress Jodi Sta. Maria team up for Star Cinema’s Metro Manila Film Festival 2022 official entry Labyu with an Accent. ABS-CBN photo

people events arts culture entertainment

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

By MARINEL CRUZ Inquirer.net

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

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

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

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

Family matters

“Just like most people who work so hard, I also wish to have time to go to the beach, soak in the sun and feel the sand and water inbetween my toes. I also want time with friends, something I rarely have now because I need to protect them. It’s hard to do this, especially whenever we go to public places. I know that I also have to have time with my partner (Ion Perez), but because I’m doing two TV shows (‘It’s Showtime!’ and ‘Everybody, Sing’), a movie, some endorsements, and concerts, we hardly see each other,” he explained.

“Now, the time I give for

my mother is another thing.

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

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

“It may be a comedy film, but it’s also about an over-achiever who has unconsciously set aside his family, or people who truly matter to him, because he was too focused on achieving his dreams or serving other people,” he said.

Turning serious, Vice recalled the time he asked to be excused from work because he had to be at home to celebrate Ion’s birthday. “I understand why the team

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

Vice admitted that he would often feel the heavy weight of pressure on his shoulders. “I would just cry it out. I’d say, ‘Deadma na! I’m able to provide for my family, anyway; or, I have money, anyway!’ I’d tell myself, ‘It’s OK. You’re able to entertain people, make them happy. You can’t be selfish!’”

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

“The last scene was really something. Direk Cathy had

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

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

Source of happiness

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

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

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

Hannah re ects on Miss International journey

by ARMIN P. ADINA Inquirer.net

HANNAH Arnold captured her Binibining Pilipinas crown, her ticket to the 60th Miss International pageant, in June 2021, which gave her more than a year to prepare for the global tilt. But there was still something that she was not ready for, she said.

“I didn’t expect all the bloggers to be so updated every day, that was a new thing for me. I was like ‘wow, they see everything,’” she told the Inquirer after the international pageant’s coronation program held at the Tokyo Dome City Hall in Tokyo, Japan, on Dec. 13. She finished in the Top 15.

The 26-year-old AustralianFilipino forensic scientist and model from Masbate said pageant followers have been commenting on just about everything, to the smallest detail of her styling.

Arnold said “everyone” already warned her not to browse social media while in Japan. “I said ‘no, it’s fine.’ But it can get to you. Sometimes it did get to me. I was like, ‘oh they don’t like my hair today? Okay,’” she confessed.

Because of this, she would like to impart the same advice she received to her successor,

and jested an additional tip: “So Nicole [Borromeo], practice your hair.”

Borromeo inherited Arnold’s Bb. Pilipinas International title in July, even before the latter got to participate in the global competition. And the predecessor said she is grateful for the trust that the national pageant organization gave her.

“Binibini believed in me enough to allow me to compete here today. They could have told me ‘you’re reign is over.’ They could’ve told me ‘you’re gonna crown someone and she would compete.’ But the fact that they believed in me, that was the most outstanding thing for me. When they told me that, my heart got so happy that they believed in me,” Arnold shared.

“I’ve been a big fan of Miss International for years. So everything that happened, I saw in the past. And I’m so grateful I got to be the girl to do all of those activities,” she continued.

And aside from veering away from social media, she also gave Borromeo another piece of advice:

Vice Ganda

Photo from Instagram/@

Hannah Arnold Photo from Instagram/@arnoldhan_

Dimples shares glimpse of daily life with baby Elio

By HannaH Mallorca Inquirer.net

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

The actress expressed her love for her baby boy through a series of posts on her Instagram account on Friday, Dec. 16. In her posts, Romana can be seen showing off baby Elio as she couldn’t stop gushing over her youngest child.

“Usual mornings with the boys #AlonzoRomeoJose

#ElioJuanManolo [emoji]

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

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

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

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

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

Fortune and fame...

of her, that’s fine.”

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

Bela Padilla turns her K-drama fantasy into reality

By HannaH Mallorca Inquirernet

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

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

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

described by the actor as a “pretty face.”

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

“I am telling you. I am really serious this time,” Shiwoo said, in response to Jae. Reports of Padilla starring in the project first emerged in January 2019, when film producer Dondon Monteverde uploaded a photo of the actress with Erik Matti and representatives from Korean production company Group Eight. Filming took place in 2020

in the Philippines and South Korea, as seen in behind-thescenes photos uploaded on Viva Artists Agency’s official Instagram account.

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

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

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

Labyu with an Accent is inspired by Coco, Jodi’s...

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mga tao, who are working abroad. It’s because we were once in their shoes. It happened to us. We experienced that and I guess  yun yung beauty nito, it’s relatable, hindi lang sa amin kundi sa ibang manonood.”

As per media release,  Labyu with an Accent follows the story of Gabo (Coco) and Tricia (Jodi) which starts off with a whirlwind fake relationship.

Tricia is a businesswoman based in the US, but after catching her business partner-turned-fiancé cheating on her, she returns to the Philippines to mend her broken heart.

She then encounters Gabo, who is also looking for a fresh start. After availing of the latter’s “Ultimate Jowa Experience,” Tricia falls in love with him.

ng ‘Jods, ito lang sasabihin mo, ito lang yung sasabihin ko.’ Pero lagi akong may baon.

“Hinahayaan ko lang si Jodi  maglabas ng baon niya kung meron siyang naisip. Which is  ‘pag pinanood mo yung mga hindi mo inaasahan na sinasabi namin  or inaadlib namin, nandun yung kilig.”

He also praised Jodi as a “great actress,” saying: “Nadadala niya ako. Nahihila niya ako.”

“Dahil sa organic  nga yung hindi masyadong planado yung bawat eksena  or  yung script, ang nangyayari (ngayon) mas nagiging  fluid  yung mga eksena namin. Kaya yung kilig, yung  chemistry  lumalabas siya,” he added.

why he did not settle with just being an actor. He also learned film production and directing.

Whatever blessings he is enjoying right now in his career, he is paying it forward to his colleagues in the industry. He said he sees himself in them when he was starting out.

“Opportunity is very important. Sometimes,  may lalapit sa akin na hihingi ng tulong, I see myself in them.  Dati may trabaho ako nung two days,  tapos six months,  wala. Kaya ‘pag alam ko yung mga kaibigan ko  or mga kakilala ko or actors who (are) struggling or lack the opportunity, naawa ako, eh,” he said.

However, when Tricia leaves, Gabo accepts his cousin’s offer in the U.S. to follow her. While in the U.S., Tricia hatches a plan to keep her domineering father from taking her ex-fiancé back for the family business. She makes Gabo act as an extremely wealthy businessman and her new boyfriend.

Will the ultimate jowa experience endure aliases and America’s challenges?

Jodi further described her co-star as “hard-working” and that the way he “values his craft” is worth-emulating. His other co-actors also attested how “dedicated and hard-working” Coco is.

on...

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

She also expressed her gratitude for her “Hannabees” (avid supporters) who “stayed with me for so long, since my first Binibini. That’s really amazing.”

Arnold also imparted a message to avid pageant followers online: “Thank

you. Even if it’s [a] negative [comment] it means you cared about my journey. There were constructive things also, a lot of positive. I’m just grateful for everyone.”

The 2022 Miss International crown went to Jasmin Selberg, the third winner from Germany. Borromeo will represent the Philippines in the global tilt’s 61st edition next year. g

In terms of onscreen chemistry, the two said they just let it come out naturally. The Broken Marriage Vow actress offered, “Hinahayaan lang namin na tangayin kami kung saan kami dadalhin nung eksena na yun na whilst staying faithful to our characters. So, may mga scenes talaga na alam mo yung parang bigla na lang sumisipa yung kilig. Yung tawa.”

“It’s very important that the scene is organic,” Coco chimed in and added that he just let Jodi give life to her character. “Like ako sinu-surprise ko rin siya. Hindi niya rin alam yung lines  ko, I don’t give scripts, eh. Nagbibigay ako

Coco couldn’t help but look back on his “struggling days,” which also served as his inspiration to be better at his craft. “When I was starting out, no one believed in me  dahil hindi talaga ako artistahin. Ang liit ko, bulol ako. As in  jologs. To be an actor was never in my vocabulary.  Basta hanap lang ako ng hanap ng kung saan lang ako makapagtrabaho ng maayos to support my family.”

But then he found his way to showbiz where he “excelled.” He said, “This is my chance to make my dream come true  na makapagprovide  ako ng maayos sa pamilya ko When I entered this job, I embraced it.  Kasi sabi ko marami akong kakulangan. Sabi ko nga pinakabasic  hindi ako gaanung nakakaintindi ng  English.  Pero sabi ko  I don’t want to limit myself.”

He firmly believed in the power of hard work and perseverance. That’s

The cast members of the romanticcomedy Labyu with an Accent during the recent grand media conference at ABS-CBN’s Dolphy Theater (from left): John Medina, Bassilyo, Jay Gonzaga, Nash Aguas, Manuel Chua, Nova Villa, Jodi, Coco, Rochelle Pangilinan, Nikki Valdez, Joross Gamboa, Sancho Vito and Marc Solis.

Photo from Dreamscape Entertainment Facebook

“Kinukuha ko sila… Kasi gusto ko kung anong nangyari sa akin, mangyari din sa kanila,” he explained on why he is “very dedicated” to his profession. “I know that  minsan lang darating sa buhay ko yung ganito, tsaka gusto kong sabihin na balang araw pagtanda ko, nung time  ko, ginawa ko pinakabest kasi ang alam kong talent  ko kasipagan, eh. Kaya yun yung ginagawa ko ngayon.”

Labyu with an Accent also stars Rafael Rosell, Manuel Chua, Rochelle Pangilinan, Joross Gamboa, Zeus Collins, Neil Coleta, John Estrada, Nikki Valdez, Nash Aguas, Marc Solis, John Medina, Jay Gonzaga, Bassilyo, Smugglaz, Michael de Mesa, Nova Villa, and Jaclyn Jose. Coco, credited by his real name Rodel Nacianceno, directs the movie with Malu Sevilla. g

Bela Padilla

Photo from Instagram/@bela

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