122521 - Los Angeles Weekend Edition

DECEMBER 25-28, 2021 Volume 31 - No. 102 • 2 Sections – 18 Pages

Odette’s impact on PH described as ‘catastrophic’

by TONY

S. BERGONIA Inquirer.net

MANILA — The extent of destruction dumped on the Philippines by Super Typhoon Odette (Rai) has not been fully inventoried but could be gleaned through one word used by scientists to measure the storm’s impact on at least five regions in the country—catastrophic.

Scenes reminiscent of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), which ravaged parts of the Philippines in 2013, are rising like ghosts of Christmases past.

The scale of the relief effort needed is indescribable but could be partly painted by the presence of at least 10 United

Nations agencies, 40 international and local nongovernment organizations and dozens of private sector groups that are now on the ground to help.

A rapid assessment report by the UN Office of Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), which compiled damage estimates in areas hit by Odette, said initial data would show that at least five regions were hardest hit by the typhoon, which made landfall nine times carrying Category 5 winds of up to 260 kph.

These regions were Caraga, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Mimaropa, according to the UN OCHA report. The UN OCHA report said communities in three of the

hardest hit areas—the provinces of Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Island and Southern Leyte—bore the brunt of Odette.

Assessments, said the report, “identified extensive damage and humanitarian needs also in Bohol and Cebu.”

UN OCHA said satellite imagery showed “large inundated areas” in Siargao Island, a popular tourist destination. Satellite images also showed “an increase of standing water level” in the southern part of Dinagat Island on Dec. 17, a day after Odette made its first landfall.

At least 95 percent of households in Siargao alone were affected in different ways—some u PAGE A2

GOING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS. Commuters waiting for provincial buses flock at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) in Parañaque City, two days before Christmas on Thursday, December 23. Many provincial buses have resumed operations at allowed passenger capacity as the coronavirus restrictions have been eased.

PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.

WHO warns against reliance on boosters

USA

by

DATELINE LA County records another spike in new COVID cases FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

AHEAD of the holiday season, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health released new data on COVID-19.

As of Thursday, December 23, there were 8,633 new COVID-19 cases and 24 new deaths.

The county has recorded 1,585,313 positive cases to date and 27,512 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

Currently, 770 people are hospitalized with COVID-19. More than 9,880,000 individuals tested with 15% of people testing positive.

“We extend our deepest condolences and prayers to all who have lost neighbors, coworkers, friends, and family during this difficult time,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of public health. “These numbers make it crystal clear that we are heading into very challenging times over the winter holidays. u PAGE A3

Omicron and a collapsed health care system: this is how COVID closes 2021 ALMOST two years after COVID-19 pandemic started, 270 million people have been infected with the virus and 5.3 million have died worldwide. Cases in the United States exceed 50 million, while more than 800,000 Americans have lost their lives. As the planet grapples with the deadly Delta variant, new challenges appear with the arrival of Omicron, an even more contagious strain for which the level of protection that vaccines provide is still unknown.

Experts convened by Ethnic Media Services insist that the only way out of this pandemic is vaccination with boosters, the use of masks and permanent testing. They view with concern the collapse of the health system and the lack of vaccine equity.

“Our healthcare system has been stretched to the breaking point several times during this pandemic and is poorly equipped to deal with this wave,” said Dr. Tung Nguyen, Professor of Medicine at the University of Cali-

u PAGE A3

Unsplash.com photo by Parang Mehta

RED MENDOZA AND KRISTINA MARALIT ManilaTimes.net

THE World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Wednesday, December 22 that rich countries cannot use boosters to escape the coronavirus.

“No country can boost its way out of the pandemic,” said the WHO’s secretarygeneral Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Wednesday.

“Blanket booster programs are likely to prolong the Covid-19 pandemic, rather than ending it, by diverting supply to countries

that already have high levels of vaccination coverage, giving the virus more opportunity to spread and mutate.”

Nor should a third dose of vaccine be seen as carte blanche, he added. “Boosters cannot be seen as a ticket to go ahead with planned celebrations.”

Unrestrained end-of-year celebrations could still prove to be a major source of new infections, the WHO warned. u PAGE A3

Pulse Asia’s December survey: Marcos and Duterte-Carpio team is top choice

by NEIL

ARWIN MERCADO Inquirer.net

MANILA — The tandem of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio topped the December 2021 survey of Pulse Asia.

Some 53% of the respondents in the Pulse Asia poll conducted December 1-6 picked Marcos as their presidential bet while 20% chose Vice President Leni Robredo. Both Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and Senator Manny Pacquiao re-

ceived eight% of the respondents’ approval while Senator Panfilo Lacson garnered six%.

For vice president, Duterte-Carpio got 45% while Senate President Vicente Sotto III had 31%. Trailing them were Senator Francis Pangilinan with 12%, Dr. Willing Ong with six%, and House Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza with one%.

A total of 2,400 respondents 18 years old and above participated in the survey, which Philippine airports have imposed quotas for arrivals ahead of the holiday season.

ManilaTimes.net file photo has a ± 2% error margin. u PAGE A5

Cap on arrivals hurting PH no longer at last spot of Bloomberg’s returning Filipinos monthly COVID-19 resiliency ranking

by JOHN

ERIC MENDOZA Inquirer.net

MANILA — The Philippines is no longer as the last spot in an international ranking that assesses the resiliency of selected countries in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, breaking a third-consecutive month combo when the country placed at a rock bottom of the list.

The archipelago now ranked 50 out of 53 countries in Bloomberg’s monthly COVID-19 resiliency ranking.

“The Philippines — ranked last the past three months — edges up three places as restrictions were eased, vaccination rates improved and the positive test rate fell, suggesting that undetected infection is finally coming under control,” said Bloomberg in its report published Wednesday, December 22.

The indicators used in the Bloomberg report include vaccination coverage, virus containment, the severity of lockdowns, quality of healthcare, progress toward restarting travel, and the overall mortality throughout the pandemic.

Bloomberg noted that Southeast Asian countries continue to occupy the bottom rankings on the list for seven months in a row. Replacing the Philippines, Vietnam is now at the bottom of the list.

The vaccination rate continued to increase after the Philippine government administered a total of 101,656,214 vaccine doses with 45,284,617 individuals now fully vaccinated as of Wednesday.

The country saw a continuous decrease of cases despite the detection of three confirmed cases of Omicron variant of the new coronavirus. ■

HUNDREDS of overseas Filipinos are flying home for family reunions this Christmas, but there are concerns that airport quotas for arriving passengers might strand many of them.

“Our frontline teams in several countries are receiving a constant stream of requests from OFWs and other Filipinos, begging for a chance to come home and see their families or attend to urgent matters, all the way up to January,” said Dexter Lee, Philippine Airlines’ (PAL) senior vice president and chief strategy and planning officer.

“We have the planes and the crew ready to fly them, and we appeal for the chance to do so. We will do all we can to help secure hotel rooms in coordination

with OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) and the other agencies,” said Lee. The flag carrier estimates that about 2,500 passengers, mostly OFWs, are affected, and the number could rise if PAL is required to cancel or adjust more flights.

“The pandemic kept families away from each other, but as rates of vaccination increase in the country and lower cases are being reported, it opens up opportunities for loved ones to reunite. We should at least give our kababayans this chance,” said Jose Maria “Joey” Concepcion III, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder. u PAGE A2

A2 DECEMBER 25-28, 2021 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

FROM THE FRONT PAGE

Cap on arrivals hurting returning...

PAGE A1 The government has imposed a quota of 4,000 arrivals per day at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). The move was in response to fears of the Omicron COVID-19 variant slipping into the country.

The cap on arriving passengers has led to forced cancellations of many inbound flights.

Lee said PAL is not asking to lift the arrival cap but for some cooperation with the airlines to maximize the cap from where it is today. He gave as an example the exclusion of non-OFWs from the cap since they book their own hotel rooms anyway.

The suggestion is in response to reports of a bottleneck resulting in a shortage of hotel rooms in Metro Manila reserved for returning OFWs. The shortage triggered flight cancellations and affected OFWs who had already booked flights.

Airlines are reported to be facing heavy fines if they exceed

their quotas.

Health authorities, airlines, local hotels and the OWWA had planned for the influx of inbound OFWs and increases in international flights from Middle East and Asian countries and calibrated adjustments to quarantine requirements.

“We have established solid quarantine and testing protocols for arriving passengers that effectively screen out any community transmission of Omicron and other Covid variants from arriving travelers,” Concepcion said in a separate interview.

“We have the resources in place to guard against Omicron without afflicting our OFWs and other returning Filipinos, so we should have the confidence and foresight to increase our arrival quotas to enable our countrymen to fly home,” he added.

Concepcion said airlines can work with OWWA in sourcing more hotel rooms, saying that

airlines like PAL can ensure that returning Filipinos already have pre-arranged hotel reservations in Metro Manila. The OWWA is in charge of finding OFW quarantine accommodations.

Other airlines have their own arrangements with hotels that OWWA could tap, he said.

It is estimated that the OWWA will need to block 25,000 rooms for OFWs during critical weeks.

“To airlines and hotels, we must have a partnership approach, not a punitive approach,” said Concepcion. He said local efforts to increase vaccinations and speed up booster shots are helping drive down new Covid cases in the country.

“We have built a wall of protection around the NAIA by vaccinating close to a hundred percent in the NCR (Metro Manila),” he said. “We must trust that we have done what we can to keep the spread of the virus in check, and let our OFWs come home.” (ManilaTimes.net)

LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN SERVING MY FELLOW KABABAYANS FOR OVER 17 YEARS

CIVIL AND PERSONAL INJURY LITIGATION • Breach of Contract and Fraud • Auto and Other Injury accidents

IMMIGRATION

• Family and employment based green cards • Business and Investor Visas • Deportation defense • Motions to Reopen • Appeals • Humanitarian Reinstatement of revoked petition • Naturalization • H-1B and student visas

FAMILY LAW • Divorce/Separation/Nullity • Property Division • Spousal Support • Child Custody and Support • Restraining Orders

CALL TODAY FOR A CONSULTATION 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, California 90010

323-639-0277

Email: info@dtanlaw.com • Website: www.dtanlaw.com

Darrick V. Tan, Esq. Licensed in California for over 17 years Licensed in Nevada for over 12 years* UCLA, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science with Cum Laude honors Southwestern University Law School, Juris Doctor Admitted to U.S. District Court, Central District of California Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association Member, Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles Former Member, Board of Governors, Philippine American Bar Association *Inactive

Odette’s impact on PH described...

PAGE 1

losing their homes or seeing severe damage to their houses.

“Banks and remittance centers were damaged and resumption of operations may take weeks,” said the UN OCHA report.

The report said the education cluster of the UN team on the ground reported up to 30,000 schools had been affected in 11 regions. These schools. have at least 12 million students, the report said.

The UN OCHA report said schools were either damaged or being used as shelters, which meant class activities—whether face-to-face or remote—were suspended.

“Wind damage, flooding and landslides interrupted road access, power, and communication throughout affected areas,” said the UN OCHA report.

In the first 72 hours, Odette cut power in 277 cities and towns while cutting communications in 135 other locations. On Dec. 19, or two days after Odette made its first landfall, power had been restored in only 21 of 95 cities and towns that lost their electric supply.

“Some major cities, including Cebu and Puerto Princesa, as well as large areas in Southern Leyte, remained without power even 72 hours after landfall,” the UN OCHA report said.

At least 80 seaports had been closed and 160 domestic and international flights had been cancelled.

The UN OCHA report counted initially 20,102 houses destroyed and 34,681 others damaged across the regions on Odette’s path. Houses made of light materials were hardest hit.

“In Loboc, Bohol, floods reached the roofs of houses and people were observed on their roofs waiting to be evacuated within hours after landfall,” the report said.

In the town of Bubong, Lanao del Sur province, 23 of 36 villages were flooded when the river overflowed.

“In Caraga, people built makeshift shelters beside houses and in the streets as infrastructures were heavily damaged,” the report said. “Local governments fear lack of necessities would result in

AFTERMATH. This aerial photo taken on Friday, December 17, shows houses destroyed by Super Typhoon Rai (local name Odette) after the storm crossed over Surigao City in Surigao del Norte province.

Inquirer.net photo by Erwin Mascarinas

potential looting,” it said.

“While experiencing reduced wind gusts, Palawan—which does not typically experience the brunt of typhoons—was also hardly hit,” UN OCHA said.

“As assessments were yet to be conducted, partners were concerned that communities and response structures in Palawan were less experienced and might require significant humanitarian support in the coming weeks,” the report said.

As of Dec. 20, or four days after the first landfall, Puerto Princesa City remained without power, water and communication.

The airport remained closed to commercial flights.

The provinces of Bohol, Cebu and Negros Occidental and Butuan City had declared states of calamity on Dec. 19 “though there is an expectation entire regions may be put under the state of calamity,” said the UN OCHA report.

It said Philippine government agencies had already asked for support from the UN team’s logistics cluster for transport of relief items to the hard-hit areas.

It said UN agencies with existing agreements with government agencies had also received requests for help from the government. “Assessment largely confirmed that additional capacity would be required to attend to growing humanitarian needs,” said UN OCHA. But deployment by UN humanitarian partners, the

report said, is being “hampered by prevailing COVID-19 related precautionary measures and travel restrictions.”

The trail of destruction left at least 385,374 people displaced or homeless with 10,856 houses destroyed or damaged in three areas alone—Surigao del Norte, Siargao Island and Southern Leyte. The data excluded those in Dinagat island.

49 percent below poverty line What’s more disheartening, according to the report, was that nearly half—49 percent—of the people in the worst-hit areas were already living below the poverty line before Odette struck.

According to the UN OCHA report, basic needs included rice supply good for at least two months, meat, water and hygiene items. The supply of meat was expected to have been wiped out.

People who sought shelter in evacuation sites continued to plead for communication with their families through either satellite phones or other means of relaying messages.

“To rebuild livelihoods, fishing boats and gears as well as agricultural inputs are needed,” the UN OCHA report said.

Bringing in supplies was one of the biggest challenges. The report said supplies for Dinagat Island may have to come from Cagayan de Oro City, Davao City or the Agusan provinces.

u PAGE A5

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

DATE LIN E USA

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 25-28, 2021

A3

Omicron and a collapsed health care system...

PAGE A1

‘MERCI BEAUCOUP’. National Task Force Against COVID-19 medical consultant Dr. Ma. Paz Corrales (4th from left), French Ambassador to Manila Michele Boccoz (3rd from left), and United Nations Children’s Fund immunization specialist Carla Orozco (5th from left) welcome the 1,697,000 doses of AstraZeneca donated by France through the COVAX Facility that arrived via Emirates Airlines Flight EK334 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal on Tuesday, December 21. The same flight also carried 1,623,960 doses of Pfizer vaccine donated by the United States via the COVAX Facility.

PNA photo by Avito Dalan

WHO warns against reliance...

PAGE A1

The threat of the highly mutated Omicron variant is looming large over the end-of-year holidays, pushing many governments to roll out new restrictions and urge citizens to get vaccinated.

The latest data suggest Omicron does not cause more severe illness than previous variants, including Delta, but as soaring infection numbers threaten to overwhelm health systems, scientists warn it could still cause more deaths.

France on Wednesday opened vaccinations to children aged between 5 and 11, warning that daily infection rates could hit 100,000 by the end of the year, up from a weekly average of 54,000 daily cases.

“There is one certainty,” said Health Minister Olivier Veran.

“Omicron is very contagious, it will spread, and no country will be spared.” But vaccines did have an effect on the variant, he stressed.

Britain approved Pfizer’s Covid jab for children aged 5 to 11, announced it would buy millions of Covid pills, and cut the isolation period for infected people from 10 to seven days with negative tests.

It also signed deals to acquire 4.25 million courses of Pfizer’s ritonavir and US rival Merck/ MSD’s molnupiravir antiviral drugs, which have raised hope for an easy at-home treatment.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), meanwhile, authorized Pfizer’s Covid pill for high-risk people aged 12 and over, calling it an important milestone in the pandemic that will allow millions to access the treatment.

The FDA has approved a brand of the antiviral pill molnupiravir and the dosage regimen of the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 years old. n the Philippines, the local FDA has approved the use of the molnupiravir brand Molnarzhad.

In issuing an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the drug, FDA Director General Eric Domingo cited studies by Merck attesting to its effectivity among Covid patients with mild and moderate symptoms.

Molnarz is produced by Aurobindo Pharma of India, a licensee of Merck’s international subsidiary MSD (Merck, Sharp

and Dohme), “Sila po ang unang nag-apply and so far po, naka-comply po sila sa mga requirements ng safety, efficacy and quality (They were the first to apply and so far, they have complied with the requirements for safety, efficacy and quality),” Domingo said during a press briefing on Thursday.

Based on the EUA, four capsules or equivalent to 800 mg should be administered orally every 12 hours for five days as soon as possible after Covid19 has been diagnosed and within five days of the onset of symptoms.

The drug is not recommended for women of child-bearing potential, and pregnant and lactating women.

With the EUA issuance, the FDA has automatically canceled the brand’s compassionate special permit (CSP), giving the National Task Force Against Covid-19 and the Department of Health (DoH) sole authority to procure the drug.

The CSPs for other molnupiravir brands remain in effect until they have been issued EUAs, Domingo said.

Faberco welcomed the EUA, saying it will allow the product to be used in government health care facilities and by health care workers.

“This development is another big step in the country’s still ongoing fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and will provide Filipinos more options for treatment,” said Faberco Chairman Vinay Panemanglor.

The FDA has also issued a modification of Pfizer’s EUA to include children aged 5 to 11, which will involve a smaller dose than the one used for adults and adolescents.

The dose for 5 to 11 year olds will be at 10 micrograms per dose and will still be administered at two doses 21 days apart.

According to studies, the vaccine had an efficacy rate of 90 percent among 5 to 11 year olds in clinical trials and realworld studies in countries where the vaccine is used, such as the United States, Canada and Europe.

Malacañang, meanwhile, expressed confidence the government will still reach its yearend vaccination target despite suspending jabs in areas affected by Typhoon “Odette.”

LA County records another spike...

PAGE A1 If our case numbers continue to increase at a rapid pace over this next week, we could be looking at case numbers we have never seen before, well over 20,000 cases a day by the end of this year. Although hospitalizations and deaths remain relatively stable at this time, these are both known to be lagging indicators because most people don’t experience severe illness until a few days after testing positive.

While many will be protected against the most severe illness from Omicron because they are fully vaccinated and boosted where eligible, very high case numbers can easily cause significant stress to the health care system if even a small percentage of those infected require hospital care.”

Public Health is reminding residents that getting vaccinated and boosted, testing, and masking remain critical while in the surge.

Boosters help restore highlevels of COVID-19 protection, similar to the levels offered two weeks after the second dose.

According to Public Health data, between December 5th11th, fully vaccinated people with boosters were 20 times more protected from infection versus only 4 times more protected for fully vaccinated without boosters, as compared to unvaccinated people.

Testing is also critically important since it helps identify potential sources of transmission before they have contact

with high-risk individuals. This week, with assistance from the California Department of Public Health, hundreds of thousands of over-the-counter testing kits will be distributed for vulnerable residents through service provider networks, daycare centers, and community partners. Public Health is encouraging residents to get tested before and after travel, if exposed or sick, and if gathering with people outside their home.

Masks are also very important as they provide a good physical barrier against the virus, and help prevent people from both getting infected, and from inadvertently spreading infection. Given that Omicron is spreading quickly, it’s also best to consider upgrading to a medical-grade, surgical, or KN95 mask when in close contact with others.

Public Health would also like to remind residents that staying home and away from others if you’re sick keeps everyone safe, including your loved ones and the essential workers who will continue showing up for work throughout the holiday season.

To find a vaccination site near you, or to make an appointment, please visit: www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) If you need assistance, you can also call 1-833-540-0473 for help in finding an appointment, connecting to free transportation to and from a vaccination site, or scheduling a home visit if you are homebound. (AJPress)

“We’ll continue to ramp up our vaccination efforts and we will still continue to stick with the 54 million target by end of 2021,” Cabinet Secretary and acting Palace spokesman Karlo Alexei Nograles said Wednesday.

Nograles said Galvez and the National Vaccination Operations Center have directed unaffected regions to “intensify Covid-19 vaccination activities until Dec. 31, 2021.”

“We are mindful, aware and sensitive to the realities on the ground, especially para doon sa mga tinamaan ng Typhoon Odette (in areas hit by Typhoon Odette),” he added. (With reports from Agence France-Presse)

fornia in San Francisco. “Many of my colleagues are leaving the healthcare system and those who are staying are burnout and depressed. This matters to all of us.”

The Omicron wave has caused 120,000 cases a day, an increase of 40% compared to the last two weeks and 68,000 hospitalizations, 21% more than in the last 15 days. The projection is 200,000 cases a day in the coming months. Before the appearance of this variant originated in SouthAfrica, the risk of contracting COVID among the unvaccinated was five times higher than among those who are fully vaccinated, and the risk of death was 13 times higher.

Although to date 61% of the population is fully vaccinated, “the bad news is the effectiveness of the two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines are significantly reduced against the Omicron variant… so now we have to assess the rate of boosters,” Nguyen said.

Only 31% of people over 18 have received a booster, while that rate is 53% for people over 65.

23% of COVID cases in the United States have occurred in people under the age of 18, although hospitalizations and deaths among this population are very rare, said Roshni Mathew, Co-Medical Director of infection prevention and control at Stanford Children’s Health.

Only about 1% of the seven million pediatric COVID cases have required hospitalizations and

around 660 pediatric patients have died from the coronavirus.

“Having seen what COVID often can do in children (the so-called Multisystemic Inflammatory Syndrome in Children or MISC), I do think that not vaccinating is a risk not worth taking,” Mathew added.

According to Dr. Ben Neuman, Chief virologist at the Global Health Research Complex at Texas A&M University, scientists are tracking four sub-lineages of the Omicron variant that appear to grow at a higher rate than the Delta variant.

Neuman said that while we may not need a booster for each variant, Omicron “sticks to the cell differently” so it would be wise to have additional protection. “Don’t underestimate Omicron,” he added.

And he recommended caution with the term “fully vaccinated” because “no scientist can tell you how many doses are going to provide lifelong immunity, and that can give a false sense of security.”

Dr. Dali Fan, Davis Health Science Clinical Professor at the University of California, said that challenges with the unvaccinated persist. “Human nature is that we’re looking for certainty and safety but unfortunately, the vaccination science does not give you 100% certainty. That opens a lot of doors for misinformation”.

Fan recognizes the many myths and lies on social media that feed the fear of the vaccine.

But there are also answers that the scientific community still

doesn’t have. ”What are the consequences of vaccination in 20 years? We don’t know. So we have to listen (to people’s concerns). Sometimes arguing with them is counterproductive,” he observed.

Globally it is estimated that more than 50% of the population have received at least one dose of the vaccine, but in some third world places such as SubSaharan Africa, this figure is still in the single digits. “It is the result of a regime that I consider to be vaccine apartheid,” said Peter Maybarduk, Director of Public Citizens’ Access to Medicines group. “It is a perfect purposeful systemic inequity, not only of doses but also of consumables and raw materials by the wealthy and more powerful countries that had slowed global production (of vaccines), and of course, a refusal to share technology.”

Although COVAX, the World Health Organization’s global vaccine equity initiative, had a goal of delivering 2 billion doses to low- and middle-income countries by the end of 2021, that number will barely reach 800,000 doses.

“Poor countries are more likely to receive poor vaccines, something that is going to have serious consequences as we get deeper into the pandemic,” Maybarduk said.

“This underscores the need to equip adaptable capabilities globally that can put out largescale vaccine manufacturing that can be adapted to variants more quickly.” (Jenny Manrique/ Ethnic Media Services)

A4 December 25-28, 2021 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

DATE LIN E USA

Cold temperatures expected in parts of Los Angeles County

A5

Odette’s impact on PH described...

are exposed to cold temperatures. Early symptoms of hypothermia include: shivering, fatigue, PAGE A2 families come back to the center as their primary or secondary loss of coordination, and confusion and disorienFindings made by assessment after repairing their homes,” the source of livelihood,” said the tation. Late symptoms of hypothermia include: no UN OCHA report, using Odette’s shivering, blue skin, dilated pupils, slowed pulse teams showed that priority needs UN OCHA report said.

“Partners highlighted that the international name. included shelter, water, sanitation, and breathing, and loss of consciousness.

Backyard gardens, which help People exposed to extremely cold weather con- food security, health, education, spread of COVID-19 was more likely in the crowded shelters,” it families earn income and add ditions, such as places where it snows and where psychosocial intervention. nutrition to their food intake, had “Equally important were said. freezing occurs, may be at risk of frostbite. FrostAmong items needed been destroyed. bite is a bodily injury caused by freezing that re- emergency telecommunications, “People, including farmers and sults in loss of feeling and color in affected areas. logistics and coordination,” UN immediately were mosquito nets, solar lamps, shelter equipment. fishers, were in need of food to The most common affected areas are the nose, OCHA said.

The report took note of some prevent food insecurity,” said the Needed with urgency are ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, or toes.

Gently warm the person and seek immediate food, potable water, fuel, medical positive developments in the UN OCHA report. sector The lack of food carried security medical care if you believe someone is showing supplies. In areas where markets telecommunications had been restored, the UN OCHA in the hardest-hit areas. “The and law enforcement threats, the signs of hypothermia or frostbite.

Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning when heat- report said, people were pleading private sector mobile operators report said. were making progress in getting Displaced people, who have for cash instead. ing your home: signals working again,” said UN not been getting enough food, Education pummeled • Only use approved heaters, such as electric had admitted they may resort to The UN team’s education OCHA. or natural gas heaters and fireplaces. Never use The Department of Information “negative coping mechanisms”, stoves, barbecues and ovens to heat your room or cluster reported 29,671 schools home, as these appliances can produce a deadly affected and forced to suspend and Communications Technology like looting, in the absence of gas known as carbon monoxide that can collect in- class activities. At least 71 (DICT) had already asked for the long-term food assistance.

In the region of Caraga, the UN schools were damaged and 3,935 help of World Food Programme side your home.

• Install a carbon monoxide detector in your classrooms were being used as to restore communications of OCHA report said, food stock may government offices for better last only up to two months. shelters. home to reduce the risk of poisoning.

Citing the Philippine As of Dec. 19, the UN OCHA coordination and response.

•If you use an outdoor generator at home, place Agriculture damage is a major Department of Health (DOH), UN it at least 10 feet away from all doors and windows report said, classes in 16,666 concern, too, said the UN OCHA OCHA said at least 128 health schools were suspended. to avoid exhaust gases entering the home.

“The repair of damaged schools report. Two days after Odette’s facilities in areas hit by Odette Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause shortness of breath, headaches, muscle and joint pain, and classrooms was likely to take first landfall, the Philippines’ took a beating from Category of Agriculture 4 wind gusts. Early data, said and nausea. Exposure to high levels of carbon several months and hamper the Department monoxide could lead to death within minutes. education of learners,” the report already estimated initial loss of the UN OCHA report, counted P127 million. This was the initial at least nine facilities damaged Those suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning said.

In areas where schools had cost of at least 8,600 metric tons or destroyed. “Several hospitals should be taken outside, into fresh air, immediately, and should be taken to an emergency room for been destroyed or damage, UN of produce destroyed. At least had patients in damaged hospital OCHA said the immediate needs 6,695 hectares of farms were hit buildings,” the report said. immediate medical treatment.

The impact of Odette on the Los Angeles County residents and business were temporary learning spaces, and 2,582 farmers were facing Philippines’ vaccination campaign owners, including people with disabilities and oth- learning kits and psychosocial income loss.

“The effect of Typhoon Rai was significant, too, according to ers with access and functional needs may also call support.

While assessment and was expected to severely and UN OCHA. It said at least 637 2-1-1 or visit www.211la.org for emergency preimpact families local governments had cancelled paredness information and other referral services documentation of the damage negatively 24 hours a day and seven days a week. For the continued, UN OCHA said dependent on farming and fishing vaccination activities. ■ deaf and hard of hearing, call the TDD line at 1- preliminary data showed 20,102 LUNGSOD NG CERRITOS houses had been destroyed while 800-660-4026. ■ PAUNAWA SA ELEKSYON AT 34,681 others had been damaged.

Most are made of light materials.

YUGTO NG NOMINASYON NG KANDIDATO In two areas—Siargao and SA PAMAMAGITAN NITO AY NAGBIBIGAY NG PAUNAWA na magdaraos Dinagat—“assessment indicated ng Pangkalahatang Munisipal na Eleksyon sa Lungsod ng Cerritos sa Martes, that 95 percent of structures in Abril 12, 2022, para sa mga sumusunod na Opisyal: coastal areas were destroyed or Para sa dalawang (2) Miyembro ng Konseho ng Lungsod – Buong damaged,” said the report. terminong apat (4) na taon Quoting the National Disaster Ang yugto ng nominasyon para sa mga Tungkuling ito ay magsisimula sa Risk Reduction and Management Lunes, Disyembre 20, 2021 sa ganap na 8:00 a.m. at magsasara sa Biyernes, Council, the report said as of Enero 14, 2022, sa ganap na 5 p.m., sa Tanggapan ng Clerk ng Lungsod/Opisyal Dec. 20 at least 631,402 people ng Eleksyon ng Cerritos.

Kung hindi maghahain ng mga papeles ng nominasyon para sa isang had been displaced in areas on kwalipikadong opisyal ng Lungsod ng Cerritos na kasalukuyang nakaupo bago Odette’s path.

In two areas—Surigao City and sumapit ang Biyernes, Enero 14, 2022, at 5 p.m., (ang ika-88 araw bago ang Bohol province—it was estimated eleksyon), magkakaroon ang mga bontante ng hanggang ika-83 araw bago ang eleksyon, Miyerkules, Enero 19, 2022 sa ganap na 5 p.m., para mag-nominate that people may have to stay in ng mga kandidato maliban sa (mga) taong kasalukuyang nakaupo na kwalipikado evacuation centers for three to sa ika-88 araw bago ang eleksyon, para sa inihahalal na tungkulin ng incumbent six months until their homes had na iyon. Ang pagpapalawig na ito ay hindi naaangkop kapag walang incumbent been rebuilt. na kwalipikadong maihalal.

People in Surigao City are Kung walang sinuman o walang iisang (1) taon na mano-nominate para appealing for supplies of sa isang inihahalal na tungkulin, ang pagtatalaga sa inihahalal na tungkulin ay Presidential aspirtant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio face supporters in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, on after a caravan on corrugated sheets and tarpaulins isasagawa ayon sa itintatakda sa § 10229, Kodigo ng Eleksyon ng Estado ng Nov. 21, 2021.

Photo from the Facebook page of Marcos as they start repairing their California.

Ang botohan ay magbubukas sa pagitan ng oras na 7:00 a.m. at 8:00 p.m. danao (82%) while Sotto led in presidential aspirants in terms houses.

“Inside evacuation centers, LUNGSOD NG CERRITOS Balance Luzon (36%) and Vi- of voters from Class ABC (47%), /s/Vida Barone Vida Barone, Clerk ng Lungsod/ sayas (38%).

Class D (44%), and Class E assessmentsobservedovercrowded Petsa: Disyembre 17, 2021 spaces, especially at night when Tagalog Opisyal ng Halalan Duterte-Carpio led other vice (48%). ■

THE Los Angeles County Health Officer is issuing a Cold Weather Alert due to the National Weather Service’s forecast for low temperatures.

Wind chill temperatures are expected to be below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

Affected areas include: • Santa Clarita Valley – Saturday, December 25, through Monday, December 27 • Antelope Valley – Friday, December 24, through Monday, December 27 • Mount Wilson - Friday, December 24, through Monday, December 27 “Children, the elderly, and people with disabilities or special medical needs are especially vulnerable during cold weather. Extra precaution should be taken to ensure they don’t get too cold when they are outside,” said Muntu Davis, MD, MPH, Los Angeles County Health Officer. “There are places where people can go to stay warm, such as shelters or other public facilities. We also want to remind people not to use stoves, barbeques or ovens to heat their homes due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.”

Take precautions to protect yourself from the cold: • Dress in layers of warm clothing if you plan to be outdoors.

• Protect head, hands and feet from the cold by wearing a hat, scarf, gloves, and socks.

• Check on and help family members, friends and neighbors with limited mobility and limited access to heat, such as seniors or those who are ill.

Check on them frequently.

• If you have pets, bring them indoors and do not leave them outside overnight.

Take shelter during peak cold times: • The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority has a Winter Shelter Program available for those who need shelter. Locations and transportation information are online at www.lahsa.org or by calling the LA County Information line at 2-1-1 from any landline or cell phone.

People exposed to cold weather for prolonged periods can lose body heat and develop hypothermia. Symptoms vary depending on how long you

Pulse Asia’s December survey: Marcos and...

By the numbers The latest survey posted on Pulse Asia’s website showed that Marcos bested other presidential aspirants in the National Capital Region (61%), Balance Luzon (51%), Visayas (42%), and Mindanao (64%).

In comparison, Robredo garnered 14% in the NCR, 24% in Balance Luzon, 42% in the Visayas, and 10% in Mindanao.

Marcos likewise outpaced other presumptive candidates in terms of voters from Class ABC (53%), Class D (54%), and Class E (49%).

Competition for the vice-presidential post appeared a lot closer in the recent Pulse Asia poll.

Duterte-Carpio led in National Capital Region (45%) and Min-

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 25-28, 2021

A6 DECEMBER 25-28, 2021 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

OPINION

COVID and Odette

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

FEATURES

CORONAVIRUS cases are down, and it’s hard to think of physical distancing when one has been rendered homeless and is jostling for dole-outs of the family’s meal for the day. Aid workers and local government officials, however, must exert effort to promote compliance with COVID-19 health safety protocols as they undertake relief operations in the areas devastated

by Super Typhoon Odette.

Images from the typhoon-hit areas show people not only forgetting physical distancing as they wait for relief packs but also no longer wearing face masks. Health professionals are worried, especially as the country is monitoring the possible community transmission of the Omicron variant, which is fueling a fresh wave of COVID cases in Europe affecting even the fully vaccinated.

Health experts have said the lifting of masking mandates has aggravated the high transmissibility of Omicron in several countries. Masking can still be observed even in crowded evacuation centers and areas without electricity, safe water, telecommunication service and basic supplies. The distribution of relief goods and other forms of aid can be

orderly, with distancing promoted through the use of ropes and other physical dividers or visual cues.

After nearly two years, people understand the threat posed by COVID-19, and would want to protect themselves and their loved ones from infection and possible death.

Fear of COVID, however, can be relegated to the back seat by more immediate concerns caused by Odette, including the lack of clean water, food and shelter.

Desperate people will need a gentle reminder about the continuing need to protect themselves from COVID. No one will want to survive the super typhoon only to see the crisis replaced by a resurgence of the coronavirus in their communities. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

What is life? My 2021 Christmas column

Commentary

ERNIE D. DELFIN WRITING this Christmas column is neither easy nor difficult. However, it required deeper thinking after almost two years of coronavirusinduced changes in our lives.

There is a myriad of unexpected topics and occurrences on the world stage brought by this devastating pandemic for almost two years now that can be written.

However, after watching several CNN interesting episodes of “This Is Life” produced and narrated by Lisa Ling, I decided to write about a related topic “What is Life?” with the backdrop of the world that is still suffering from this horrific coronavirus.

When this COVID-19 pandemic was officially announced in early 2020, I was in Taiwan. A week or so after that, I was in the Philippines when the government required mandatory lockdowns in Metro Manila, that profoundly altered human activities worldwide, especially how businesses, schools, offices or even churches conduct themselves.

My planned activities including a few rotary speaking engagements and workshops and personal events were totally strapped! My threemonth vacation was short-lived and I was compelled to go back home just after a month! The tourist belt, where thousands of tourists flock, turning Metro Manila like a fiesta environment suddenly turned into a melancholic Good Friday

campground! Since then, our lives were forever changed to the so-called NEW normal, with required masks, social distancing and showing proofs vaccination before entering indoor events!

The global pandemic increased heavy demands in health care and many essential services that caused untold sufferings of millions of people.

Unemployment skyrocketed, the hotel and hospitality industry collapsed and even attendance to schools stopped!

For almost two years now, our lives are forever changed. And the end is not yet certain to come very soon!

As human beings, however, we have learned to adapt in many areas of our life, from health care, economy, politics, travel, to business and in almost all things that that we do to survive. For many people, the impact was worst than others. Fewer people and companies like Amazon, Pfizer, Moderna, and Google, Uber and Facebook benefited from these drastic changes in doing business. The ongoing pandemic forced people to have serious reflections and discriminating to choose what is truly essential and important and what “things” can be discarded in our lives.

Like millions of people, this writer has had to change also what he does to be productive and to keep his sanity. After weeks of reflection, I had embarked on a never-beforethought project, writing and compiling a book that I christened, a “legacy book.”

With the wonders of the internet and social media, this personal ambitious project

WITH 139 days or less than 20 weeks before elections, political analyst Mon Casiple advised this columnist not to believe what election surveys are saying today. In my TV interview, Casiple says the people, by and large, are not yet “serious” enough today in revealing their “final presidential, vice presidential or even senatorial preferences” asked by pollsters.

“They will critique the entire campaign period and watch their performance in televised debates before making a final decision,” Casiple added.

He says the poll survey in last quarter of the month of April, or less than two weeks before

that was conceived during the pandemic will be born prayerfully in 2022! Without the pandemic, possibly this project will not even be an activity that I am doing now!

Indeed, there is a “reason for every season!”

I had invited and chose 25 successful men and women from the Philippines, Singapore, Mexico, and of course the USA, whom I personally know and admire, to pen and share a condensed version of their life, around the philosophical theme: “Finding Life’s Meaning & Leaving a Legacy.” Having read them first before their essays are forwarded to my editorial team, I am humbled to read and critique them while I am also mesmerized by the inspiring personal story of each author-contributor.

Each mini-biography is unique and is sprinkled with colorful anecdotes and challenges that each author has overcome. (STAY TUNED! I wish and pray that all my Metamorphosis column readers will contact me for a complimentary copy of this legacy book, next year, with a voluntary donation to our “G-PEN Foundation For Next Gen”) What is Life? Like the noun love, no two people define this word LIFE in the same or identical way. Every life is different from one person to another like his thumbprint or DNA. Even to this writer, his answer to this three-word question, What is Life, changes depending on the state of his mind, and the circumstances of his life on that day. It can be likened may be to the flexible

“form” of water that he holds in the palm of his hands when he tries to prevent the water from escaping totally from my his palm.

Let me expound.

During my Bible Study every Monday morning, our discussions about life is always different compared to my meetings with businessmen or during my regular weekly meetings with my fellow Rotarians. My conversation about “life” is also quite different whenever I am with prisoners inside the county jail where I volunteer as a prison minister several times a month.

As a living human being, my concept of life is quite inexplicable. Life is a “state of being” where countless kinds of energy (mental, physical, social and spiritual) are joined and blended to become ONE stronger unit with all diverse invisible forces/energies that will then create or produce and hold another “being” that may not even be possible in any other way.

A simpler analogy can be the birth (creation) of an innocent child, the most beautiful creation of God, we call a baby, with millions of cells that are perfect and complete even in the early stages of the baby’s development! The act of creation in everything under the sun, in our vast galaxy since the beginning of time is the most complex or may be the simplest way to describe what life is all about.

When life ends, comes death which is another phase in the mystery of Creation. It is said, that while the body (corpus) corrupts and returns to dust

where it came from, the spirit (soul) lives on. To ponder on this LIFE topic, it may be wise to reflect that there are only three things that are inscribed in one’s tomb when he dies, the year of his birth and the year of his death, separated by an insignificant little thing called the hypen (-) That little hypen contains the totality of one’s life that will determine whether the deceased person will be remembered fondly and missed OR totally forgotten by his fellowmen that live after him. That little hyphen then is the ultimate container of a person’s legacy to the world he leaves behind. While alive, you and I can contribute to the quantity and quality of matter that will be stored in that unassuming hypen of our life.

We have the free will to do or not to contribute to it.

During this Christmas Season (others simply call it just another holiday where people take time off work) this writer, a believer of life after death, respectfully challenges you, my readers to ponder and to find your own answer to this question “What is Life”?

Reflecting on this neverending question always brings me to another state of being that prevents me from being totally attached to anything physical. That discipline that I have acquired along my seven-decade journey of life has granted me a wholesome metamorphosis and healthy perspectives in my life.

Philosophers have called that higher dimension or state nirvana, or enlightenment, or even paradise or “heaven on earth.” If you are like me, who

have read lives of remarkable human beings, like the likes of Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Manila, or Saints like St. Francis, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Ignatius and hundreds of Saints, St Mary, Sts. Peter and Paul or St. Johm the Baptist, and hundreds more, you can find a common thread in their extraordinary lives: Detachment from this material world and focus on things unseen but powerful, ideas that comforts and prayers that magnify SomeBODY bigger than ourselves! It is their formula for true peace and JOY despite their sufferings that for many resulted in their untimely death!

As this is my last column for 2021, I sincerely pray and wish you all a peaceful and JOYful Christmas Season. Authentic JOY is better than just being happy as it is much deeper and last longer. However, as I often share with the prisoners, the formula for true JOY is very hard for the average person as it involves a different mindset and discipline: Jesus, Others, Yourself is the best formula that is given by Him whose birthday we are celebrating this month! May all of us have a real JOY filled Christmas Season and a better healthier and prosperous 2022!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! *** 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: ernie.delfin@gmail.com

Don’t believe those poll surveys yet

Commentary

JAKE J. MADERAZO

Philstar.com photo

the polls open, will reveal the “winning candidate”.

With our experience from the 1992 (FVR win), 1998 (Erap), 2004 (PGMA), 2010 (Pnoy), and 2016 (Duterte), I would agree that past surveys during the pre-campaign periods are purely “mind conditioning” or “posturing” by candidates to look “winning” and therefore “collect” much needed and substantial donations from “gambling” businessmen. Senatorial candidates, particularly, do this.

Let us remember that two primary issues today are our economic situation and the other is the pandemic threat of Omicron. The opposition continues to fan the issue of “pandemic corruption”, the arbitral ruling, the drug problem, and the ICC issue of Duterte, hoping to score points. Analysts

also argue that the massive damage inflicted by recent super-typhoon Odette is becoming a political issue from voters in Central, Western Visayas and Northern Mindanao especially on how government and presidential candidates responded.

Very interesting questions, but which candidate must be blamed by the opposition?

After Senator Bong Go formally withdrew his candidacy followed by President Duterte in the senatorial race, it is very clear that they will assume roles as “kingmakers” in the May 2022 polls. Of course, daughter Sara Duterte is the chosen one but she is just a vice presidential aspirant.

Now, who is the presidential candidate do you think will be blessed by Duterte? Who among the legislators will receive the massive resources

of the incumbent administration? Who among the allies will receive the more than P141-B pesos For Later Release (FLR) budget allocation for this year 2021 and P280-B carryover of last year 2020?

The opposition has been clamoring for the immediate release of these line-item funds (pork barrel) but the General Appropriations Act requires the approval of the President.

And now that Digong is a kingmaker, these massive funds empower him as a very influential lame duck, one that can dictate the outcome of the coming polls.

And so, what kind of political game is the President playing?

Early in the day, he lambasted Bongbong Marcos for being lazy. He never retracted his accusation even if his daughter chose Bongbong as her run-

ning mate. And what about the great possibility that the Comelec, of whom all will be Duterte appointees, will cancel Bongbong’s COC and disqualify him?

What will the Supreme Court, the majority of which will be Duterte’s appointees also next year, say on this matter?

Is the President waiting for a third or a fourth candidate outside of the Marcos and the yellow groups? There are strong views that if either Bongbong Marcos or Leni Robredo wins, this country will be further divided and sunk by unending partisan politics.

Or is the President waiting and playing on the geopolitical ramifications of the coming elections? It is established fact that Leni Robredo is the American and Western preference. It is also known that Mrs. Imelda Marcos has direct ties with

Mainland China’s leaders, after her husband opened diplomatic relations in 1974. It was rumored that when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited here years ago, he attended a private party with the Marcoses.

Of course, at stake here is our next President’s future assertions on the South China sea arbitral ruling, our alliance with the US or diplomatic relations with China.

And so, hold your horses. A lot of things will happen from today until the last week of April. And President Duterte, the political genius-lame duck, will keep us all guessing, as always. *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

The 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.

ADVERTISING AND ADVERTORIAL POLICIES ROGER LAGMAY ORIEL Publisher & Chairman of the Board

CORA MACABAGDAL-ORIEL President

CHRISTINA M. ORIEL Editor-in-Chief

MOMAR G. VISAYA Executive Editor

US HEADQUARTERS: 1210 S. Brand Blvd Glendale, CA 91204 Tels: (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 Fax: (818) 502-0858 • (213) 481-0854 e-mail: info@asianjournalinc.com http://www.asianjournal.com

IVY MANALANG Vice President - Marketing Los Angeles Asian Journal

MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA Senior Vice President Los Angeles Asian Journal

With offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York/New Jersey Las Vegas, San Diego, Philippines

DING CARREON Videographer

ANDY TECSON Photographer

Asian Journal Publications, Inc. (“AJPI”) reserves the right to refuse to publish, in its sole and absolute discretion, any advertising and advertorial material submitted for publication by client. (“Client’s Material”) Submission of an advertisement or advertorial to an AJPI sales representative does not constitute a commitment by AJPI to publish a Client’s Material. AJPI has the option to correctly classify any Client’s Material and to delete objectionable words or phrases.

Client represents and warrants that a Client’s Material does not and will not contain any language or material which is libelous, slanderous or defamatory or invades any rights of privacy or publicity; does not and will not violate or infringe upon, or give rise to any adverse claim with respect to any common law or other right whatsoever (including, without limitation, any copyright, trademark, service mark or contract right) of any person or entity, or violate any other applicable law; and is not the subject of any litigation or claim that might give rise to any litigation.

Publication of a Client’s Material does not constitute an agreement to continue publication.

Client agrees and covenants to indemnify AJPI and its officers against any and all loss, liability, damage, expenses, cost, charges, claims, actions, causes of action, recoveries, judgments, penalties, including outside attorneys’ fees (individually and collectively “Claims”) which AJPI may suffer by reason of (1) Client’s breach of any of the representations, warranties and agreements herein or (2) any Claims by any third party relating in any way to Client’s Material.

AJPI will not be liable for failure to publish any Client’s Material as requested or for more than one incorrect insertion of a Client’s Material. In the event of an error, or omission in printing or publication of a Client’s Material, AJPI shall be limited to an adjustment for the space occupied by the error, with maximum liability being cancellation of the cost of the first incorrect advertisement or republication of the correct advertisement.

Under no circumstances shall Asian Publications, Inc. be liable for consequential damages of any kind.

ASIAN JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS, INC. publishes the Los Angeles Asian Journal, published twice a week; the Orange County and Inland Empire Asian Journal, Northern California Asian Journal, Las Vegas Asian Journal and the New York / New Jersey Asian Journal which are published once a week and distributed to Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange Counties, Northern California, Las Vegas and New York and New Jersey respectively.

Articles published in this paper do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Letters to the Editor are welcome.

Letters must contain complete name and return address. The materials, however, are subject to editing and revisions.

Contributions and advertising deadlines are every Mondays and Thursdays. For advertising rates and other informations, please call the L.A. office at (213) 250-9797 or send us an email at info@asianjournalinc.com

DATELINE PHILIPPINES

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 25-28, 2021

A7

PH approves use of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine in children aged 5-11

by XAVE

GREGORIO Philstar.com

MANILA — The Philippines’ drug regulator has granted emergency use authorization to the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech to be used on children aged five to 11.

Food and Drug Administration director general Eric Domingo told state-run People’s Television on Thursday that local experts have found that the “data submitted is sufficient” for approval.

The approval came a week after Domingo announced Pfizer and BioNTech have submitted an application for an EUA for its COVID-19 vaccine for children aged five to 11.

“It is reasonable to believe that the vaccine may be effective to prevent COVID-19 and the benefits of vaccination outweigh the known and potential risks,” he

said.

He added that the vaccine has an efficacy rate of 90% in children aged five to 11, while side effects of the shot in this age group are “very mild.”

Currently, the Philippines is using Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna’s coronavirus vaccines to vaccinate minors aged 12 to 17.

With the new FDA approval, the Pfizer-BioNTech jab can be used in children aged five to 11, albeit not immediately as the dosage and concentration of the drug to be used in this age group is lower.

Domingo said this means that the Philippine government would have to procure new jabs specifically for the inoculation of children aged five to 11.

The Philippines has rolled out a series of regulatory approvals amid the worrying threat of the

Omicron variant, that appears to be more infectious than the already transmissible Delta variant, which caused a devastating surge in the country from August to September.

Among these are the shortening of the interval for booster doses from six months to three months and the emergency use authorization of a brand of the anti-COVID pill molnupiravir.

Philstar.com’s independent monitoring shows that over 40% of the Philippines’ population has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Monday — way behind the 90% target the health This handout photo shows the BRP Malabrigo on December 23. The coast guard ship will bring relief supplies to Pag-asa Island in Palawan. authorities are eyeing to achieve Photo courtesy of Philippine Coast Guard herd immunity.

Still, the vaccination program is attributed to have curbed infections in the country, where only 9,238 people are still grappling with the disease as of Wednesday. ■ MANILA — A Philippine in the West Philippine Sea. “Moreover, a total of 830 A Coast Guard station on the packs of purified drinking water Coast Guard left on Thursday, December 23 for Pag-asa Island island was destroyed by the ty- donated by the De La Salle Uniin Palawan to bring supplies as phoon, which also caused wide- versity (DLSU) were also loaded indicating that Marcos made full coast guard vessels continue spread damage in Palawan prov- aboard the said Coast Guard vespayment of taxes and fines in- to assist relief operations in ar- ince. BRP Capones is bringing sel for immediate distribution to eas affected by Super Typhoon construction materials like hol- typhoon-stricken communities,” volved his tax case. low blocks and cement to repair the coast guard said.

The document, signed by Ar- Odette.

President Rodrigo Duterte has the station there.

According to an update on senio Tomeldan of the Collection The coast guard also brought Wednesday, more than a dozen Section of BIR San Juan, showed declared a state of calamity in Marcos paid at the LandBank of six regions across the country toys to be given to children on coast guard ships were already unloading relief supplies, en the Philipines, the amount cover- to implement price frezes and Pag-asa Island.

According to a separate re- route to deliver aid, or preparing ing the computation in the defi- speed up relief and rehabilitalease from the coast guard, to set sail for typhoon-affected ciency of the income taxes and tion work.

According to a release, BRP BRP Malabrigo (MRRV-4402) areas. fines.

Among the areas where coast The computation covered the Capones (MRRV-4404) sailed has delivered 2,000 liters of taxable years 1982, 1983, 1984 from Puerto Princesa City in gasoline and 16 portable gen- guard ships have also already Palawan carrying relief supplies erator sets to Cebu and Bohol, offloaded supplies are Surigao and 1985.

The total deficiency in tax- and drinking water meant for where Odette cause power out- del Norte, Leyte, Iloilo and Palawan. (Philstar.com) es and penalties paid in 2001 300 families on Pag-asa Island ages. amounted to P67,137.27, which was the exact amount stipulated in the decision of the Court of Appeals (CA) in 1997.

MANILA — The construction tered in covered courts or Filipino.

BIR Collection Section chief He said the Department of Adelfa Mateo attested to the cer- of permanent evacuation cen- barangay halls while others tification, which was noted and ters in the communities should stayed in classrooms during Public Works and Highways should be allocated with a spesigned by Revenue District Offi- be planned by the government the typhoon.

“We cannot take away the cific budget for the constructo address the lack of facilities cer Thelma Mangio.

“This certification from the for victims of calamities such fact that many typhoons pass tion of permanent evacuation our country each year, so we centers.

BIR is undeniable proof that for- as typhoons and earthquakes.

Senatorial aspirant Gen. have to focus on preparing “It’s better if we can have an mer senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. complied with the payment Guillermo Eleazar made the for these. Once elected, I will evacuation facility in each city of deficient taxes and fines as or- proposal after noticing the lack push in the Senate the estab- or municipality so we don’t dered in the 1997 CA ruling. This of evacuation centers for vic- lishment of strong and orderly have to use schools or basketevacuation centers where peo- ball courts,” Eleazar, former invalidates the ‘mother of all lies’ tims of Typhoon Odette.

Eleazar lamented that some ple can go during a typhoon national police chief, said. being propagated by some petiof the victims had to be shel- or an earthquake,” he said in (Philstar.com) tioners,” Rodriguez said. ■

Coast Guard sends relief, construction materials to Pag-asa Island in Palawan

Marcos disqualification preliminary hearing set January 14

by ROBERTZON

RAMIREZ

Philstar.com

MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has set on Jan. 14, 2022 the preliminary conference on a petition seeking to disqualify aspiring president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the May 2022 polls.

The petition was filed by the Pudno nga Ilokano.

In a four-page summons, the Comelec said the preliminary conference would be held virtually at 10 a.m. and focus on seven important matters such as the production of a special power of attorney and comparison between the original or certified true copies of documents and physical documents, among others.

The Comelec said the simplification of issues, necessity of desirability of amendments to pleadings, possibility of obtaining stipulations or admissions of facts and documents to avoid unnecessary proof, and setting the period for submission of memoranda would also be discussed.

The submission of respective memoranda will be held not later

than three days from Jan. 14, the poll body said.

Aside from setting the preliminary conference, the Comelec directed the camp of Marcos to file a verified answer to the petition filed by the Pudno nga Ilokano “within a non-extendible period” of five days upon receipt of the order.

The Comelec also directed Marcos to furnish the petitioners copies of his verified answer.

The camp of Marcos insisted there is no basis to disqualify him from the presidential election due to a 26-year-old tax case.

In a press conference on Wednesday, December 22, Marcos’ spokesman Vic Rodriguez said the 1995 tax case had been closed and settled.

Rodriguez debunked allegations that Marcos has not yet paid the taxes and penalties stated in the decision handed down by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.

He presented documents from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), to deny the allegations against Marcos.

Rodriguez presented a BIR certification issued on Dec. 9,

‘PH needs permanent evacuation centers’

A8 DECEMBER 25-28, 2021 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

DATE LIN E PH ILIP P IN E S

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

DOF: PH to borrow P4-B from WB for Odette response

by BEN

O. DE VERA Inquirer.net

YUMMY ‘PASALUBONG’. Workers of an espasol (rice cake) shop demonstrate the process of making the delicacy during the Green Corridor Initiative (GCI) experiential tour of the Department of Tourism. The DOT has launched five tourism circuits in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) featuring “visitor-ready” destinations in the region.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

‘May polls at risk’: Guanzon scores bid to stop Comelec from printing ballots

by JOHN

ERIC MENDOZA Inquirer.net

MANILA — Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner Rowena Guanzon on Thursday, December 23 rebuked certain personalities who filed cases to stop the poll

body from printing ballots, saying the delay would put the May 2022 national election at risk.

“Those who filed cases to stop Comelec from printing ballot numbers of party lists, I hope you realize what [you] have done,” Guanzon, who did

not mention a specific name, said in a Twitter post.

“If ballots are not printed

by January, May elections is at risk,” she added.

The Comelec would have begun the printing of 2022 ballots on January 12 next year. ■

MANILA — The government would tap a P4 billion facility from the World Bank’s $500 million quick-disbursing credit line to bring aid and help rehabilitate areas flattened by Super Typhoon Odette, according to the Department of Finance (DOF) on Thursday, December 23 The DOF announcement came two days after President Rodrigo Duterte, in a televised talk to the nation, said the government has run out of funds for aid and rehabilitation in Odette’s wake because of the strain on finances caused by COVID response.

Duterte’s statement, however, was clarified by Palace spokesperson Karlo Nograles who said the President didn’t mean it that way.

Aside from the amount to be drawn from the fourth disaster risk management development policy loan with a catastrophedeferred drawdown option (CATDDO 4) approved by the World Bank last month, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will also release P1 billion to local government units (LGUs) worst hit by Odette, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III told reporters.

Odette made landfall nine times in different Philippine regions carrying winds of up to 260 kph. The first landfall happened on Dec. 16.

Citing a message from DBM officer-in-charge Tina Rose Marie Canda, Dominguez said the money to be charged to the contingent fund will be released on Thursday or Friday, December 24 at the lat-

est, upon instruction of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

The DBM was currently computing the allocation or share of each LGU affected by Odette, Canda told Dominguez.

In a statement, the DOF quoted Dominguez as saying that “this week, the DOF will draw $80 million from the World Bank disaster financing loan to fund the amount with cover in the 2021 budget.”

The amount is around 4 billion in Philippine peso.

“The Philippine government will draw another $120 million [about P6 billion] from the same World Bank standby loan facility in the first week of January when the loan cover will be available in the 2022 national budget,” Dominguez said.

The total of $200 million—or about P10 billion—to be drawn this month and next month was based on financing requirements as determined by the national government’s assessment of the damage wrought by Odette.

The Philippines will be able to draw from the CAT-DDO 4 facility following Duterte’s declaration of a state of calamity in the regions of Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Caraga.

The state of calamity declaration would last for a year starting on Dec. 21, 2021.

The World Bank loan was already in effect since it was signed with the Philippine government last Nov. 29. The financing facility had an available balance of $497.5 million, which was net of a 0.5-percent front-end fee, the DOF said.

The Philippines already benefited from World Bank loans with CAT-DDOs in 2011 and 2015, both amounting to $500 million.

The first CAT-DDO extended by the World Bank 10 years ago was the first of its kind liquidity facility in Asia-Pacific.

The CAT-DDO 2 loan that the World Bank approved in 2015, meanwhile, released $496.25 million to the government in 2018 to rehabilitate the areas flattened by Typhoon Ompong in Luzon back

then.

In another statement, the DOF said Dominguez also ordered 24/7 processing of donors’ tax- and duty-exemptions for imported goods intended for Odette survivors.

“Upon the request of Finance Undersecretary Antonette Tionko, Dominguez tasked several officials and personnel of the revenue office of the DOF to be deployed and work in shifts on a 24-hour period to speed up the processing of tax exemption indorsements (TEIs) and the quick release of importations of donated relief consignments expected to come from various foreign governments and international organizations or institutions,” the DOF said.

“Appropriate government agencies such as the departments of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and of Health (DOH), and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) may apply for TEIs that grant tax and duty exemptions to importations under relief consignment in the Bureau of Customs (BOC),” it said.

“Local government units (LGUs) as well as private or non-government organizations (NGOs) dulyregistered, licensed or accredited by the appropriate government agencies may also apply for TEIs,” the DOF added.

The DOF said covered by the tax- and import duty-exemption were relief consignments like food, medicine and equipment and materials to build shelter to be distributed for free to those by affected the typhoon.

Vehicles and other transportation means donated or leased for rescue and relief operations by both the government and the private sector would get the same tax perks.

Also, Dominguez said the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) was expected to issue regulations related to the President’s declaration of a state of calamity, in particular to extend tax deadlines as a form of relief to corporate and personal taxpayers in areas badly hit by Odette. ■

17 government agencies flagged over idle projects

by ELIZABETH

MARCELO Philstar.com

MANILA — The Commission on Audit (COA) has called out 17 government agencies over delayed, abandoned and idle infrastructure projects amounting to P1.44 trillion, saying this may result in complete wastage of government funds.

In its consolidated annual financial report for national government agencies for 2020, the COA said various infrastructure projects implemented by the agencies “were either not executed in accordance with the plan, with noted deficiencies, not completed on time (or) not completed at all, which may result in waste of government funds or delayed enjoyment of project benefits.”

This was on top of uncompleted infrastructure projects amounting P1.1 billion implemented by various state universities and colleges, he said.

The audit body attributed the delays in the project completion to “abandonment by the contrac-

Senate President Vicente Sotto

tor, inefficiency in monitoring of project implementation, poor planning and workmanship and lack of coordination with local government units and other agencies concerned.”

One of the agencies identified as responsible for the bulk of the delayed projects was the Department of Transportation-Office of the Secretary (DOTr–OSEC).

The COA noted that 15 foreignassisted projects (FAPs) under the DOTr-OSEC for 2020, amounting P1.313 trillion, have encountered “various issues/setbacks,” resulting in extension of project implementation period, further delays, change in total project cost, slippages and low to no actual physical project accomplishments, “which consequently will require project restructuring.”

“The overall causes of delays in the project implementation also resulted in the incurrence and payment of additional commitment fees for the seven FAPs amounting to P158.224 million in calendar year 2020 per Bureau of Treasury report,” the COA added. ■

Inquirer.net photo

Sotto calls latest Pulse Asia survey showing Sara Duterte’s lead a ‘good guide’

by GABRIEL

PABICO Inquirer.net

LALU

MANILA — Senate President Vicente Sotto said that the latest Pulse Asia survey for the 2022 presidential and vice presidential race is a good guide for that particular week.

In a short statement sent by Sotto to INQUIRER.net on Wednesday, December 22, he said that the survey by Pulse Asia — done from December 1 to 6, 2021, is a snapshot of that week.

“Good guide. It’s a snapshot of that particular week,” Sotto said in a text message.

Sotto, who is running for the vice presidency with Senator Pan-

filo Lacson as his running mate, was overtaken by fellow vice presidential aspirant and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

The Senate President got 30% of the respondents’ vote, if elections were held on that day. Dutete-Carpio on the other hand got 45%.

For the presidential race, former senator Bongbong Marcos leads the presidential race with 53% of the respondents picking him. He was followed by Vice President Leni Robredo who got 20% of the respondents’ votes, and then Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Senator Manny Pacquiao who are at a statistical tie with both getting eight%. ■

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • DEcEmbER 25-28, 2021

A9

A10 December 25-28, 2021 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • DEcEmbER 25-28, 2021

Asian Journal

WKND Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ

B1

Sat urday, dec ember 2 5 , 2 0 2 1

LifestyLe Consumer Guide Community marketpLaCe

The January 2022 priority dates The priority dates for the Philippines for January 2022 are:

Application Visa Issuance EACH month, the Visa FAMILY CATEGORY: Filing Date Date Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, Unmarried sons the priority dates for that and daughters of April 22, March 01, U.S. citizens (21 particular month, for the various First Preference 2015 2012 years old or older) family and employment-based categories. A priority date is (2A) Spouse and a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant Second Preference minor children October 01, Current (below 21 years old) visas (or green cards) would 2021 of green card holders be available for persons whose priority date is earlier than the (2B) Unmarried sons cut-off date listed below. If your and daughters priority date was “current,” but October 22, (21 years old or older) October 01, 2011 later retrogressed (or “moved of green card holders 2013 backwards” and became unavailable) before your immigrant visa was issued (or Married sons and October 01, June 08, daughters of U.S. before you adjusted status in Third Preference 2003 2002 Citizens the U.S.), you would have to wait until it becomes current again.

Brothers and February 01, August 22, *** Fourth Preference sisters of U.S. 2004 2002 Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an Citizens attorney for over 40 years and is licensed, and an active member of the LABOR CERTIFICATION: Application Visa Issuance State Bars of California and New York.

Filing Date Date All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an Advanced Degree Current Current active member of the State Bar of Second Preference (Masters) California. Each case is different and results may depend on the facts of the Professional/ Current Current particular case. The information and Third Preference Skilled Workers opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories”, Non-Skilled endorsements and re-enactments) Other Workers Current Current Workers are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular 1-866-487-3465 WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com case, and do not constitute a prediction, (866) – GURFINKEL Follow us on Facebook.com/ warranty, guarantee or legal advice Four offices to serve you: regarding the outcome of your legal GurfinkelLaw, YouTube: US Immigration LOS ANGELES ∙ SAN FRANCISCO ∙ NEW matter. No attorney-client relationship TV and Instagram.com/gurfinkellaw Call Toll free to schedule a YORK ∙ PHILIPPINES is, or shall be, established with any consultation for anywhere in the US: (Advertising Supplement) reader.

CATCH THE FIRST INSTALLMENT OF CITIZEN PINOY’S VERY FIRST VIRTUAL Q&A ON U.S. IMMIGRATION – AXG: ABUNDA AND GURFINKEL. Asia’s King of Talk, Boy Abunda, and leading U.S. immigration attorney, Michael J. Gurfinkel, lead the discussion in the first virtual forum where Atty.

Gurfinkel provides answers and relevant information to viewers’ immigration questions. Elaine, from Fairfield, California, wants to know if her sister’s family can be interviewed on an expedited basis. She is worried that her nephew might not be able to immigrate with the family, as he turns 28 in October 2021. Ifur, from San Jose, California, asks if her brother can come to the U.S. faster if he is petitioned by their mother as an employee in her care home rather than through a family petition. These questions and more will be answered in an encore episode of part one of “Citizen Pinoy Presents AXG: Abunda and Gurfinkel,” this Sunday, December 26 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/ Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo.

(Advertising Supplement)

B2 december 25-28, 2021 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Features

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

Watch out! Pechanga hosts 2 live Filipino shows in March, April 2022 Simbang Gabi celebrated at the Los Angeles Cathedral Filipino Catholics from throughout Southern California celebrated the beginning of Simbang Gabi, one of the oldest Filipino Christmas traditions, with a special Mass at the Cathedral of our lady of the Angels on Wednesday, December 15. Archbishop José H. Gomez presided at the liturgy, presented by the Filipino Ministry of the Archdiocese of los Angeles.

The mass was preceded by the traditional music band that led the “parade of Parols,” or lanterns, of more than 120 parishes from the five pastoral regions in the tri-county Archdiocese (lA, Santa Barbara and Ventura).

The parols, a philippine Christmas symbol, were blessed at the end of the Mass. in the philippines, the parol is used to light up people’s homes and is carried by parishioners attending Simbang Gabi Mass, or “Mass before dawn.” The procession also included parols of religious Filipino-American organizations, civic and professional organizations, and government offices, led by the philippine Consulate General.

Simbang Gabi is a time-honored philippine novena of Masses joyfully leading to the celebration of the birth of the child Jesus on Christmas Day. This year, more than 100 parishes in the Archdiocese of los Angeles held their own Simbang Gabi Masses. n

pECHAnGA Resort Casino, the multi-awarded casino hub in Southern California, besting all the other ranking casinos in the United States, recently announced twin treats for its patrons this new Year of 2022. live comedy will kick-off with Filipino entertainers in a show billed as “T.K.o. (Tawanan! Kantahan! overload!)” led by negi, Wacky Kiray, MC, and lassy, capped by special guest stars — Buboy Drilon and Kris lawrence. pechanga Resort Casino is well-known for hosting only the best and the brightest Filipino entertainers and performers aimed at providing the ultimate experience especially to its Filipino-American guests.

T.K.o.’s hours-long performances will be held on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at 8 p.m.

Tickets may be purchased, and starts at $38.

“Threelogy,” meanwhile, features another set of wellknown Filipino entertainers engaged in rendering award-winning music, and are set to perform live on Saturday, April 22, 2022.

To cap the new year, pechanga presents Erik Santos, Morrissette Amon, and Christian Bautista — a “three-in-one” packaged performance that will deliver the most sought-after pop songs made famous internationally. interested patrons may purchase tickets ahead of time

with a starting price of $68.

Both tickets for T.K.o and Threelogy, as well as reservations, may be done by calling 888-810-8871 or online at www. pechanga.com.

Shows at the pechanga Theater offer a comfortable and intimate concert experience.

AJPress photos by Andy Tecson

With 1,200 seats in its theater, each show features state-of-theart and acoustically perfected sound. Enjoying favorite artists at pechanga versus other venues proves effortless with free valet and self-parking for guests, gourmet and casual dining options on site, plus comfortable chairs and an up-close view from every theater seat. pechanga Resort Casino offers one of the largest and most expansive resort/casino experiences anywhere in the United States. Voted the number one casino in the country by USA Today and rated a Four Diamond property by AAA since 2002, pechanga Resort Casino provides an unparalleled getaway, whether for the day or for an extended luxury stay. pechanga offers more than 5,000 of the hottest slots, table games, world-class entertainment, 1,100 hotel rooms, dining, spa and golf at Journey at pechanga, pechanga Resort Casino features a destination that meets and exceeds the needs of its guests and the community. pechanga Resort Casino is owned and operated by the pechanga Band of luiseño indians.

For more information, call toll free (877) 711-2946 or visit www.pechanga.com. Follow pechanga Resort Casino on Facebook, instagram and on Twitter @pechangaCasino.

(Advertising Supplement)

Singer Kiana Vee entertains the crowd

Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell with LA Board of Public Works Commissioner Jessica Caloza and Council District 13 field deputy Juan Fregoso

Bretman Rock, Bella Poarch join Fil-Am community toy drive in Historic Filipinotown

Filipino American breakout stars Bretman Rock and Bella poarch joined community members at the first annual Historic Filipinotown Holiday Festival and Toy Distribution ahead of the Christmas holiday.

Both Bretman and Bella handed out toys from Funko — a toy maker known for pop culture figurines — and mingled with local families as a diverse lineup for Fil-Am artists and talents entertained the crowd.

Held at Rideback Ranch along Beverly Boulevard, the event was presented by one Down Media and community organization FilAm with a program hosted Bretman Rock and Bella Poarch pose with Everdeen Angeles during the Historic Filipinotown PAGE B5 Holiday Festival and Toy Distribution event on December 12.

Jules Aurora, Robin Nievera, Jennifer Paz and Joan Almedilla Photos by Sthanlee Mirador/courtesy of Lyle Del Mundo

AJ Rafael and Alyssa Navarro sing a duet.

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • DEcEmbER 25-28, 2021

SEAFOOD CITY FPFC

B3

B4 december 25-28, 2021 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

Are you feeling buried Do I have to disclose my Bitcoin to under a mountain of debt? my spouse in my divorce case?

ARE you facing a mountain of debt and don’t know what to do in order to avoid getting buried?

Debt problems can wreak havoc on your personal life in many ways. And left unsolved, they can spill over into other areas of your life, causing problems not only at home but maybe even at work or in your business, if you are self-employed.

If you are struggling every month to make even minimum payments on your debts, maybe you know what I am talking about. Maybe you’ve been trying hard to break free from the vicious cycle of debt, but you just don’t know where to start in finding a way out. Some people are trapped in an endless pattern of borrowing. They want to stop but they just don’t know how. These are the people who are already buried in debt as it is and yet they continue to borrow every month just to pay other debts. It seems to work for a little while and then soon-

EMPLOYMENT

Minding Your Finances Atty. RAymond BulAon er or later, they find themselves maxed out with no other choice but to file bankruptcy. Can you still avoid this situation or is it too late?

Every day, I see a lot of people who don’t even know how much they owe anymore. At some point, they knew that their debts have spun out of control, so they just stopped keeping track of them. When was the last time you reviewed your credit card statements to see how much you owe, how much interest you are paying and how long it will take you to pay off what you’ve borrowed? If you haven’t done this in a while, I suggest that you

take the time to do it in order to find out exactly where you are.

This may be an intimidating process to some people. Others simply don’t want to know because they are in denial about how serious their debt problems are. They are afraid to know and have to face the reality of their debts. What will it take for you to take action and do something to turn your situation around before things get worse?

In order to reduce the burden of debt in your life, you will need to conquer your fears and develop a strategy to get out of debt. Maybe you need to cut your spending and learn how to live on a budget. Perhaps you need to give up a few things in your life no matter how much you want to have or keep them.

To get out of debt, you need to make several commitments to yourself. One of them is being able to stick to a budget that allows you to live within your PAGE B5

EMPLOYMENT

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth uRsuA Reyes BITCOIn and other cryptocurrency has become popular lately as a new store of value. It is decentralized and not subject to regulation in any jurisdiction.

It can be stored in a digital wallet or hard drive. Due to its lack of regulation, it is easy for one to assume that it is not necessary to disclose this in one’s divorce case specially if the other spouse has no clue of its existence. Well, this assumption is clearly misplaced in the context of California Family Code.

Fam. Code, § 721, recognizes the confidential relationship held by spouses. That relationship is a fiduciary relationship imposing a duty of the highest

good faith and fair dealing on each spouse. Also within that division, Fam. Code, § 1100, addresses management and control of community property.

The fiduciary duty spouses owe one another continues after separation, including the accurate and complete disclosure of all assets and liabilities in which the party has or may have an interest or obligation and all current earnings, accumulations, and expenses, including an immediate, full, and accurate update or augmentation to the extent there have been material changes (Fam. Code, § 2012, subd. (a)(1)).

Taken together, Fam. Code, §§ 721, 1100, and 2102, impose on a managing spouse affirmative, wide-ranging duties to disclose and account for the existence, valuation, and disposition of all community assets from the date of separation through final property division. These statutes obligate a managing spouse to disclose soon after

EMPLOYMENT

PSYCHIC

separation all the property that belongs or might belong to the community, and its value, and then to account for the management of that property, revealing any material changes in the community estate, such as the transfer or loss of assets.

This strict transparency both discourages unfair dealing and empowers the nonmanaging spouse to remedy any breach of fiduciary duty by giving that spouse the information concerning the community’s business needed for the exercise of his or her rights, including the right to pursue a claim for impairment to his or her interest in the community estate.

What are the remedies available if a spouse breached his or her fiduciary duty? If a spouse breaches his or her fiduciary duty, Fam. Code, § 1101, subd. (a), affords each spouse a claim against the other for any breach of fiduciary duty that results in an impairment to his or her inPAGE B5

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • DEcEmbER 25-28, 2021

B5

Bretman Rock, Bella Poarch... ‘Managers’ may still be owed overtime

personality Tisha Alyn.

Badajos, Councilmember Mitch PAGE B2 by radio and TV personality Honored guests included O’Farrell and LA Board of Public Manny Streetz and golf media Philippine Consul General Edgar Works Commissioner Jessica Caloza. Eric Bauza, a FilipinoCanadian voice actor known for his roles as Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, read a Christmas story in various characters.

Performances AJ Rafael and Alyssa Navarro, Jules Aurora, Kiana Vee, Nievera, C-Tru, Annie Lux, Shaina Rae and Jeserey Sanchez and DJ-ing by Icy Ice and DJXSAM. Community organizations, including Pilipino Workers Center, Palms Up Academy, Arts, FASGI, also Event organizer and community leader Lyle Del Mundo (2nd from left) with Bretman Rock, Bella FilAm Poarch and Funko founder Mike Becker Photo by Sthanlee Mirador/courtesy of Lyle Del Mundo participated in the festival. n

Do I have to disclose my Bitcoin to...

PAGE B4 terest in the community estate, including, but not limited to, a single transaction or a pattern or series of transactions, which transaction or transactions have caused or will cause a detrimental impact to the claimant spouse’s interest in the community estate. Remedies for a breach of this duty that impairs another spouse’s interest in the community estate include an award to the other spouse of 50 percent, or an amount equal to 50 percent, of any asset undisclosed or transferred in breach of the fiduciary duty plus attorney fees and court costs (§ 1101, subds. (a), (g)) In re Marriage of DeSouza, 54 Cal. App. 5th 25, a trial court properly found that a husband breached his fiduciary duty to his former wife and ordered him to transfer bitcoins and other cryptocurrency to her pursuant

to the parties’ judgment of dissolution and to pay her attorney fees and costs because information he withheld about his cryptocurrency investments was material, and there was substantial evidence that his breach impaired the wife’s interest in their community estate. In re Marriage of DeSouza, 54 Cal. App. 5th 25. To avoid the costly outcome of getting sanctioned and awarded attorney’s fees against you, it is important to provide full and complete disclosure of all your financial affairs during your divorce case including any Bitcoin and cryptocurrency which you own during and after the marriage. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic

discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APLC. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APC is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@kenreyeslaw. com. Visit our website at Kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

Are you feeling buried...

PAGE B4 financial means. The goal is to spend less than you earn so that you can accelerate the process of getting out of debt by sending more than the minimum amount required to your creditors every month. Learn how to make better choices with your money and slash as many unnecessary expenses as you can. Stop using your credit cards except for emergencies. Avoid the temptation of purchasing anything on credit. If you can’t afford to pay cash for something that you want to buy, that means you can’t afford it, period.

If you need to get your financial house in order, we can help you evaluate your options. Some people are simply beyond help with their debts that unless they file bankruptcy to either wipe out

their debts or at least consolidate them into an affordable monthly payment, they have no other way out. If you think this describes you, it would help to talk to a professional who can help you explore your legal options. *** NOTE: Due to COVID-19 pandemic, I am offering free consultations BY PHONE to anyone who needs help in dealing with their debt problems. *** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped over 5,000 clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call RJB Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1-866-477-7772.

(Advertising Supplement)

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr. PAMELA Ruben-Knudsen and Marnine Casillas were employed as Client Service Managers by Arthur J. Gallagher and Co., a brokerage firm. Client service managers are salaried and considered exempt from overtime. However, their primary task is to coordinate between producers, clients and insurers to process insurance applications and renewals.

Pamela and Marnine do not manage or supervise other employees. They have no authority to exercise their discretion or independent judgment.

They regularly perform clerical tasks according to specific instructions.

The employer also had a uniform policy requiring Client service managers to regularly work more than eight hours per day or more than forty hours per week to complete their assigned tasks, which normally could not be completed in a forty-hour work week.

Pamela and Marnine sued Arthur J. Gallagher and Co. in a class action alleging misclassification in violation of California law. The employees also alleged that the employer failed to provide them off-duty meal breaks or accurate wage statements showing the total hours worked and the gross wages earned.

Under California law, employees are entitled to overtime pay for any work in excess of eight hours in one workday, or 40 hours in any one workweek, unless the employee qualifies for a legal exemption.

This means if the employee is properly exempt, they are not entitled to overtime pay or meal periods. To be correctly exempt, the employee must fall under one of these exemptions: Executive Exemption For executive exemption

to apply, an employee must be: (1) paid at least twice the state’s minimum wage for full time employment; (2) assigned as primary function the management of the business; (3) responsible for regularly directing the work of 2 or more subordinates; (4) has the authority to hire, fire, give pay treatment or recommend such actions; (5) regularly and customarily exercises discretionary powers; and (6) devotes less than 50% of work time to non-managerial duties.

Administrative Exemption To fall under the administrative exemption, an employee

visor likely is a “nonexempt” employee, and is entitled to overtime pay.

Tasks may be “exempt” or “nonexempt” based on the purpose they serve within the organization. For example, in a large retail establishment where the replenishing of stocks of merchandise on the sales floor is customarily assigned to a nonexempt employee, the performance of such work by the manager is nonexempt. Similarly, a manager’s participation in making sales to customers is nonexempt, unless the sales are made for supervisory training or demonstration purposes.

To resolve the case, the brokerage firm has agreed to pay $8 million to its client service managers.

Managers, supervisors, and administrators who receive monthly salaries and are not paid overtime should evaluate the nature of their jobs.

Being misclassified as exempt results in loss of money to the employee. If employees mostly perform non-executive and non-managerial work, they should be paid overtime, no matter how fancy their titles are. *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic.

All inquiries are confidential and at no-cost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www. joesayaslaw.com. [For more than 25 years, C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is a past Presidential Awardee for Outstanding Filipino Overseas.]

(Advertising Supplement)

“Even if the employee performs both managerial and non-managerial tasks, California courts have ruled that employers must classify each task as either exempt or non-exempt. If nonexempt work takes up a large part of a supervisor’s time, the supervisor likely is a “nonexempt” employee, and is entitled to overtime pay.” must be: (1) paid at least twice the state’s minimum wage for full time employment; (2) charged with the performance of office or non-manual work directly related to management policies or general business operations; (3) regularly exercises discretionary and independent judgment; (4) regularly assists a proprietor or an executive or administrative employee; and (5) works only under general supervision on special or technical assignments and tasks.

Even if the employee performs both managerial and non-managerial tasks, California courts have ruled that employers must classify each task as either exempt or non-exempt. If non-exempt work takes up a large part of a supervisor’s time, the super-

B6 december 25-28, 2021 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Manilyn recounts witnessing typhoon Odette in Cebu: ‘Destroyed houses, threatened lives’

ages suffered by the city.

The actress showed heavy Inquirer.net rains pouring outside the WaMANILYN Reynes recalled terfront Hotel in Cebu, as well her first-hand experience with as strong winds that toppled super typhoon Odette that hit down power lines and trees, in her hometown Cebu last week. a video on her Instagram page She also talked about the dam- on Wednesday, Dec. 22, Reynes

By Dana

Cruz

sought shelter at the hotel when the super typhoon struck the Queen City of the South.

Reynes also gave fans a look at the aftermath of the storm, which left the walls of the hotel knocked down, tables and chairs displaced, and parts of the structure’s ceiling destroyed.

“We were in my hometown, Cebu, when Odette hit the country last Dec. 16. We witnessed how she destroyed houses, structures and threatened the lives of many,” she told fans.

Reynes urged the public to pray for those who were badly affected by the typhoon in Cebu, Bohol, Southern Leyte, Siargao, Surigao del Norte and their neighboring provinces. “[If] there is anything we can do to help, in anyway we can, let us. Please,” she added.

Fellow celebrities who also called for help for their affected hometowns include Slater Young, Kryz Uy and Andi Eigenmann.

Super typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) made its first landfall on Siargao island on Dec. 16. It caused devastation to other parts of Visayas and Mindanao before exiting the country on Saturday, Dec. 18.

Data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said that about 258 individuals died due to the typhoon and 568 were injured, as of this writing. However, the national police tallied a higher death toll at 375. n

Manilyn Reynes Photo from Instagram/@manilynreynes27

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

What is a ‘hardship’ discharge in Chapter 13?

CHAPTER 13 is a reorganization of your financial affairs where you pay a portion of your debts over 36 months or 60 months depending on where your household income is.

If it’s over the state median for the same size family as yours following current government statistics, then it’s 60 months. If not, it’s 36 months. But in reality, as bankruptcy law is practiced, even if your household is below the median, the Chapter 13 trustee normally wants all of your available disposable income and can and will object to a proposed 36-month plan on the basis of good faith or lack thereof.

Simply put, if you have $500 of disposable income are below the median and propose a 36-month plan, it’s not a slam-dunk case to have your plan confirmed by the court. The trustee will object to the 36-month plan saying that good faith requires you to propose a 60-month plan because creditors can get paid 24 months more at $500 a month, or another $12,000 so your 36-month plan should be denied on the ground of lack of good faith.

What happens if you are now on a 60-month plan paying $800 a month and currently you’re on the 38th month, and tragedy has just struck. By tragedy I mean, you just got COVID-19 despite having your two shots, have been intubated and are on a respirator for a month.

So you pray like you’ve never prayed before as if your very life depended on it because it does.

And the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in its infinite mercy answers your prayers and gives you back your life! A week from now, you’re out of the ICU and sent back home to recuperate. Two weeks from now, your test is negative. You’re COVID free.

But even though your COVID free, you’ve lost 30 pounds, can barely walk straight and it looks like you went on a hunger strike for a month. Skin and bones are what you look like now and you need a walker. Hey, but you’re alive and happy to be alive. The problem is you can’t go back to work just yet, and you don’t know if you can continue making the $800 a month Chapter 13 plan payment.

The ‘hardship’ discharge At this time, there are two kinds of “Hardship” discharge that you might be able to access.

In both kinds, you may be able to get a discharge without actually finishing all plan payments.

The first kind is a normal part of bankruptcy law which provides that if you have been permanently disabled that drastically changes your ability to pay, and have already paid a substantial portion of your Chapter 13 plan, you might qualify for a ‘Hardship” discharge.

What is a substantial portion of your Chapter 13 plan? Most courts consider at least a 70 percent payment of your plan substantial.

The other kind sunsets at the end of this year unless it is extended. It is pandemic-related relief for those debtors in Chapter 13 that have been negatively impacted by COVID, provided for in the CARES Act, and the

Debt Relief

Atty. LAwrence yAng CAA. If certain conditions apply, debtors can request the court for a discharge without complying with the substantial portion requirement. Specifically, if you are at least two months behind on your mortgage after a certain date during the pandemic era and are negatively impacted by the pandemic, you can file a motion to request for discharge.

If you qualify for instance and you still owe $50,000 on your plan payments, you can now, before the law expires at the end of the year ask for a discharge of the $50K without any further payments.

Apparently, courts are given temporary discretion to disregard the best interest of creditors, and disregard the fact that the current market has increased home equities to the moon, beyond the exemptions applicable, and still give the eligible debtor a discharge.

From something bad comes something good. God is in control.

Don’t worry God has a good plan for you, even if something very bad has happened to you.

God can and does use something done by the evil one to you to bring about something very good for you and other people. What does this mean?

Joseph is sold into slavery In Genesis 50:20, the brothers of Joseph throw him into a well and sell him into slavery because they are jealous of him, being their father’s favorite. Their father is Jacob who is the grandson of Abraham, the father of the Israelites. Joseph is 17 years old when he is sold into slavery. He is brought to Egypt as a slave, but in Egypt, he is falsely accused of rape and is imprisoned for 13 years.

Clearly, the evil one has done a number on Joseph. But God gave Joseph the gift of interpreting dreams. The big boss in Egypt, the pharaoh keeps dreaming about 7 fat cows, which are eaten by 7 thin cows. He’s going nuts trying to understand what this means. So he puts up a show, Egypt’s got talent, to see if anyone can interpret his dream. No one is able to give him the right answer. Finally, the chief butler of the pharaoh tells him that there’s this guy in prison who can interpret dreams, Joseph. The pharaoh summons Joseph to his palace.

7 fat cows are eaten by 7 thin cows Joseph tells the pharaoh that there will be 7 years of extreme abundance followed by 7 years of extreme famine. Then Joseph proposes to the pharaoh that during the years of abundance the extra produce must all be stored in huge barns so that the stored produce will be used to feed the people during the 7 years of famine.

Joseph appointed CEO of Egypt

Pharaoh appoints Joseph as CEO of Egypt and is in charge of the storing and distribution of produce. During the years of famine, the brothers of Joseph go to Egypt to get their ration of food because there’s no food anywhere.

Joseph forgives his brothers and takes care of them.

S o t h e re y o u a re , f ro m something evil done to him, Joseph is elevated to become the CEO of Egypt and he is able to save the lives of many people including his brothers who sold him into slavery!

This is why Genesis talks about God’s plan for us, that He can turn something evil meant to harm us instigated by the evil one, into something good for us that helps not only us by many people. “As for you, you meant evil against me, God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to keep many people alive.” Genesis 50:20 God is truly awesome and allpowerful!

God’s plans are to prosper you not to harm you Despite all your problems, you can rest assured that our God’s plans are to prosper you and not to harm you. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you, not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future,” Jeremiah 29:11. What can be clearer than this that God loved as so that He sent His only beloved Son, Jesus Christ, who also loved us so, to die for us, to give us a chance to spend eternity with them in heaven. What an awesome and glorious plan for us underserving humans!”

Our God can and does wonders beyond our imagination. When you think all is lost, divine intervention springs out of nowhere to resolve your problems. “Do not call to mind the former things, or consider things of the past. Behold, I am going to do something new, now it will spring up; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert,” Isaiah 43:18-19.

Believe it or not, Walt Disney, filed for Chapter 7 not once, but twice before his Disney global empire became successful. He went on to become a billionaire after getting rid of all his debt twice. Milton Hershey, of Hershey chocolates, the biggest chocolate business in the world, also filed for Chapter 7 once before he became successful and a billionaire.

If you need debt relief, set an appointment to see me. I will analyze your case personally. *** Disclaimer: None of the foregoing is considered legal advice for anyone.

There is absolutely no attorney-client relationship established by reading this article. *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in Bankruptcy, Business, Real Estate and Civil Litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789 or 1000 S. Fremont Ave., Mailstop 58, Building A-10 South Suite 10042, Alhambra, CA 91803.

(Advertising Supplement)

K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa: Getting your significant other to the united states SEVERAL options exist for a U.S. citizen to bring his/her foreign-national fiancé(e) to the United States. One popular option is to marry the fiancé(e) in the country in which he/ she resides, and file an I-130 immigrant petition, with the fiancé(e) to undergo consular processing for an immigrant visa when the I-130 petition is approved. However, this option often is not advisable in that the U.S.-citizen petitioner would have to learn and comply with complicated, country-specific marriage license requirements, or legal barriers to marriage may exist to the U.S.-citizen petitioner in the foreign country (as in the case of the Philippines, which in some circumstances will not recognize a foreign divorce judgment). In such cases, the best way to get your fiancé(e) to the U.S. is via a K-1 Fiance(e) visa.

The K-1 Fiancé(e) visa allows a fiancé(e) to enter the U.S. for 90 days to allow marriage to take place. By having the marriage take place in the U.S., couples are able to bypass the foreign country’s license requirements and/or other impediments to marriage imposed by a foreign law.

To be eligible for the K-1 Fiancé(e) visa petition, the following are required: 1) the petitioner must be a U.S. Citizen, 2) the petitioner must have an intent to marry the fiancé(e) within 90 days of his/her arrival

Legal Advice Atty. DArrick tAn in the U.S., 3) the petitioner and fiancé(e) must have the ability to marry (i.e. any previous marriages were terminated by divorce or death), and 4) the petitioner and fiancé(e) must have physically met each other within 2 years of filing the K-1 Fiancé(e) visa petition (certain exceptions apply to this fourth requirement). Minor unmarried children of the fiancé(e) may also come to the U.S. under a K-2 visa classification.

Upon arrival in the U.S., the fiancé(e) can immediately apply for authorization to work in the U.S.. He/she does not have to wait until marriage to apply for work authorization. The work authorization issued to the fiancé(e) is valid for 90 days after entry. This provides the fiancé(e) the ability to immediately seek lawful employment.

Once married, the spouse of the U.S. citizen can file an I-485 application for adjustment of status (from K-1 to permanent resident), and remain in the U.S. while the application is pending. At the same time the I-485 application is filed, the fiancé(e) may apply for an extended work authorization. Upon approval of the I-485 application, the fian-

cé(e) is granted a conditional green card that is valid for 2 years, after which he/she can apply to remove the conditions on the green card.

The K-1 Fiance(e) status automatically expires after 90 days. If marriage with the U.S. Citizen who petitioned the fiancé(e) does not occur within that time, the fiancé(e) begins to accrue unlawful presence. Also, the fiancé(e) will be precluded from adjusting to permanent resident status in the U.S. if he/ she marries another U.S. citizen (however, he/she may be able to become a permanent resident through consular processing with a provisional waiver).

If you are a U.S. Citizen who is planning to marry your foreign national fiancé(e), or you are someone who arrived under a K-1 Fiance(e) visa whose marriage did not take place, it is recommended you consult with an experienced attorney. *** Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada. Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles, and the Consumer Attorneys of California. Previously, he was a member of the Board of Governors of the Philippine American Bar Association.

LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN, 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Tel: 323-6390277. Email: info@dtanlaw.com

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 25-28, 2021

SFIO leadership team: Ordinary people with exceptional dedication, passion

SFIO is an asset management company focused on innovation through disruptive collaborations across its three key industries: Food and Beverage (F&B), Real Estate, and Technology. With a strong presence across New Zealand, Australia, and the Philippines, as well as a roadmap for further global expansion, SFIO makes strategic investments in high-growth businesses, building synergies across its diverse portfolio to provide maximum shareholder value.

Guided by tradition, driven by innovation, and enabled by collaboration — SFIO is on a hyper-growth path to build a thriving business ecosystem, with plans to uplist onto a major stock exchange in the near future.

It is a company full of potential and it recently released the composition of its leadership team. These are ordinary people with extraordinary passion & dedication, leading SFIO as it navigates its ambitious roadmap.

Here’s a glimpse at the leadership team who will be guiding SFIO and helping concretize its plans: • Jeths D. Lacson, CPEng, CAMA – Chairman and CEO of SFIO

Jeths D. Lacson

Mark G. Epifanio

Richard Agluba

Michael Luis Venezuela

Chito Galvez

Jorge Gabin

Elvin Alcala

Richard Prodigalidad

Jonathan Petalver

Roger Oriel

B7

Jeths is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Starfleet Innotech, Inc. He is also the CoFounder of Epiphany Café, Ardent Bakers, Gorgeous Coffee and A+ Electrical. Furthermore, Jeths is a Chartered Professional Electrical Engineer and Certified Asset Management Assessor for ISO 55001, with over 15 years of professional and leadership experience in different industries.

Jeths graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering from Mapua University in the Philippines.

His expertise is in Asset Management and Business Development. Jeths was formerly one of the lead technical consultants in setting up a Polytechnic University in Saudi Arabia for the Waikato Institute of Technology (WINTEC) in New Zealand. He was also responsible for leading a team that manages the multi-million operational and capital expenditures of an electricity distribution company in Hamilton, New Zealand.

• Mark G. Epifanio, CPEng – Chief Operations Officer of SFIO

Mark is the Chief Operations Officer of SFIO. He oversees day-to-day operations to support the growth and add to the bottom line of the organization. He focuses on strategic planning and goalsetting and directs the operations of the company in support of the company’s goals. He also cofounded Epiphany Cafe, Ardent Bakers, Gorgeous Coffee, and A+ Electrical.

Mark has over 16 years of combined industry experience from business development, franchising, distribution, and food manufacturing. Mark was formerly managing the business development of ethical products within the pharmaceutical industry. Mark graduated with a Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southeastern Philippines in Davao, Philippines in 2002. Mark is a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) and APEC Engineer in Australia with areas of expertise in Leadership and Management and Asset Management. Mark is currently a Director of Epiphany Café and AIG. His ability to generate strategic partnerships and spearhead the growth and development of the company led the Board of Directors to the conclusion that he should serve as Chief Operations Officer. His expertise is in Asset Management and Business Development.

• Richard Agluba – Chief Secretary of SFIO

Richard is the Secretary of SFIO. He is responsible for the efficient administration of the company and ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, and implementing decisions made by the Board of Directors. Richard has over 20 years of experience in Electrical Design and Project Engineering with a demonstrated history of working in the Electrical Utility, Oil and Gas industry, Residential, Commercial & Industrial environment. Richard has been involved in multi-million-dollar projects in Saudi Arabia where he was in charge of Electrical, Controls and Instrumentation equipment ordering, Factory testing, Installation and Commissioning support which he handles a group of Electrical Engineers, Technicians and Electricians. He has also handled the design of Substations and Project Engineering of a multi-million-dollar Electrical Substation upgrading project in New Zealand.

Richard graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering from Manuel L. Quezon University and a diploma in Electrical Engineering from the University of Saint Louis, both in the Philippines.

Richard is also a member of Engineering New Zealand (MEngNZ) and a registered Electrician under the Electrical Workers Registration Board, New Zealand. Richard is a current Director of A+ Electrical and AIG. His various exposures in different companies have led the Board of Directors to the conclusion that he should serve as the chief secretary of the company.

• Michael Luis Venezuela, CPA – Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of SFIO

Michael is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of SFIO. He is a fully Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) in Australia, and managing director of a CPA public practice firm called MLV Accounting Pty Ltd,. He is also a registered SMSF Auditor and a registered tax agent in Australia.

Michael finished with a double degree of BS Business Administration and Accountancy from the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City in 1991. He passed the CPA board exams in Manila in November 1991 and became a member of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) in the same year. Michael worked as an audit staff at SGV & Co (Ernst & Young Manila) and started several businesses in the Philippines.

Michael migrated to Australia in 2002 and became a fully qualified member of CPA Australia. He worked in several suburban accounting firms and eventually started MLV Accounting, a Melbournebased CPA public practice that has grown by 20-30% annually since 2013. Presently, his accounting firm has 4,000 to 5,000 clients across Australia, serving clients of diverse multicultural backgrounds and businesses.

DIVISIONAL MANAGERS • Chito Galvez – Franchise Business Division

Chito Galvez has over 35 years of experience in franchise business development, retail site expansion, sales building, customer service, negotiations, and business relationship building. He held senior management positions in renowned companies in Asia such as SM Prime Holdings, Chowking Food Corporation, and Jollibee Food Corporation and has extensive experiences gained from working in several countries which include the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, India, and New Zealand.

• Jorge Gabin – Coffee Business Division

Jorge Gabin has over 25 years of experience in the manufacturing industry, as well as factory, operations, supply chain, management, logistics, and coffee roasting. He has extensive experience in food production, wine and spirits, and animal pharmaceuticals. Jorge led the team at Universal Robina Corporation (URC-Philippines) towards the plant’s certification to ISO9002, GMP and Halal.

He is also the current director of Gorgeous Coffee Co. in New Zealand.

• Elvin Alcala – Property Development Division

Elvin has over 25 years of experience in master planning, architectural design, interior design, and property development. He led numerous architectural firms in several Residential, Commercial, Public and Urban, Industrial and Institutional development projects. His collective professional experience includes stints in Singapore, the Philippines, and New Zealand.

• Richard Prodigalidad – Software & Technology Division

Richard Prodigalidad is the CEO at LEENTech Network Solutions Inc., managing an IT-BPO company based in the Philippines and a Co-Founder of several tech startups in the Philippines with over 15 years of experience in consulting, developing, managing and deploying software applications, turnkey websites, e-Commerce, internet portals, CMS Development, Online Business Solutions projects, Security Auditing and Internet Consulting. His collective experience include Technical Research & Business development, Cloud Computing, Offshore Service Management, Web Marketing & CMS Solutions, Server Administration, Remote Monitoring & Penetration Testing and Advanced Computer Troubleshooting. Richard has the ability to facilitate seminars, symposiums, and speeches in web design, security solutions, and ethical hacking related topics, and has a strong background in leading, developing, and executing ISO (International Organization for Standardization).

• Jonathan Petalver – Fundraising

Coach Jonathan Petalver is the CEO and Co-founder of the Global Academy, headquartered in New Zealand, with offices in New York, Melbourne, Dubai, and Manila. He has designed and developed programs for more than 25 years. In addition, he has conducted and facilitated masterclass programs in entrepreneurship and business leadership across Asia, the Middle East, North America and Europe. Coach Petalver is actively doing coaching programs and pursuing his PhD in Business Leadership.

Coach Jonathan will lead the strategic Business Education Roadshows for SFIO.

• Roger Oriel – Member, Advisory Board

Roger Oriel is a businessman, investor and leader. His breadth of knowledge and experience is tied to scaling and leading companies in numerous industries. Since 1991, he has served as the Publisher and CEO of Asian Journal Publications Inc., one of the largest Asian multimedia companies in the United States with a focus on the Filipino American community. He is the Chairman of the Board of Premier Asia Pacific Real Estate and Development, the developer of Lombard by the Bay in Montemaria, Batangas City, Philippines. Roger is the Chairman of the Board of Napa Valley Distribution, Inc., a distribution company for Montemaria Cellars and House of Pacquiao, a private label wine brand. Most recently, Roger became a Board of Directors for BayaniPay, a Los Angelesbased fintech innovator providing cross border financial services to millions of Filipinos to bridge the gap for Filipinos in the U.S. and the Philippines. He’s also the Chairman of the Board of Trending Entertainment, Inc., a Hybrid immersive and digitally interactive Streaming and Entertainment Company that offers platforms for all things trending to appeal to a wider variety of audiences.

• Jose Gerardo Noble – Member, Advisory Board

Jose, or “Jinggoy,” has more than 25 years of business experience from various industries, including banking and stock brokering. A graduate of De La Salle University with a degree in BS Legal Management, Jinggoy began his career with Far East Bank and Trust Co. before working as an Investment Analyst with Pryce Securities Inc. for 5 years. However, it is in the real estate business where he spent the majority of his time working only for the largest developers (Ayala and SM) while

Jose Gerardo Noble

earning several awards during that span. He is a licensed real estate broker and is currently the Deputy Sales Head of SM Development Corporation, managing between 400 to 500 of the company’s organic sellers. Under his leadership, the team has delivered an annual average of P30B ($600M) in sales for SMDC for the past two years.

Jinggoy is also an experienced entrepreneur and restaurateur dating back to 2012 when he opened up his first franchise – Hap Chan Tea House in the Mall of Asia Complex. Since then, he has opened up five more branches, while also venturing into another franchise called Mesa-Modern Filipino Cuisine that has three branches to date. To complement his businesses, Jinggoy co-founded FJ Prime Management Inc., a service management company, back in 2016. FJPMI currently handles four restaurants and has consulted for business owners who have opened restaurants in the Philippines.

FJPMI also recently partnered with the Mercato Group of entrepreneur RJ Ledesma to open its very first cloud kitchen in Makati City. As both an entrepreneur and real estate professional, Jinggoy currently manages a property portfolio of rental units in BGC, Makati and the Bay City area. A businessman, investor and sales leader, Jinggoy is first and foremost a husband and a father.

SFIO has put in place a team of capable and knowledgeable professionals to support the expansion of the company. The capability of the team will be an asset of SFIO by providing multiple business opportunities with hyper-growth potential and a high level of stability and viability. With that being said, SFIO has a powerful business team to form more lucrative solutions and products at the forefront of innovation that will suit the needs of their customers.

B8 december 25-28, 2021 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797