2 december 29-31, 2021 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL
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US sends additional aid for...
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logistics and emergency telecommunications support in typhoon-affected areas, the embassy said. WFP will set up four emergency logistics hubs in Surigao del Norte for storing and distributing relief supplies, it added. Under the funding, the WFP will also transport food from the Philippine government to feed tens of thousands of Filipinos and assist with re-establishing the telecommunications networks to support response efforts. “The United States is pleased to provide this additional assistance to support the immediate needs of individuals and families in the
areas hardest hit by Typhoon Odette,” said U.S. Embassy in the Philippines Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Heather Variava. “This support will help ensure that food and other life-saving supplies reach communities most in need,” she added. With the initial P10-million funding that was announced last week, USAID partner Action Against Hunger has been providing immediate food, water, hygiene, and other relief supplies to storm-affected communities in Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands. The International Organization for Migration, with support from USAID, is also managing evacu-
ation shelters in Caraga and Eastern Visayas and providing relief supplies, including heavyduty plastic sheeting to meet the shelter needs of at least 4,800 families. The embassy said the U.S. will continue to partner up with the Philippine government to respond to natural disasters and support the people of the Philippines in its recovery efforts. Since 2010, the USAID has provided over P17 billion in disaster relief and recovery aid and boosted the disaster risk reduction capacity of over 100 cities and municipalities in FRUITS OF THE SEASON. A vendor displays round fruits in her stall in Malate, Manila on Sunday, December 26. Round fruits sell fast during the Philippines, the embassy the countdown to new year as Filipinos believe that having a collection of various fruits on New Year brings good fortune. ManilaTimes.net photo by John Ryan Baldemor noted. n
Death toll due to Typhoon Odette... PAGE 1
the typhoon, according to the agency. “A total of 284 cities/municipalities experienced power outage/interruption in MIMAROPA, Region 6, Region 7, Region 8, Region 9, Region 10, Region 11, CARAGA, BARMM. Power has been restored in 154 cities/municipalities,” read the NDRRMC report. “A total of 18 cities/municipalities experienced water sup-
ply outage/interruption in MIMAROPA, Region 10, CARAGA. Water supply has been restored in 1 cities/municipalities,” the report added. Some 371 cities and municipalities experienced interruption in telecommunications in Mimaropa, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, and BARMM. Telecommunications have been fully restored in 115 cities and munici-
palities. Typhoon Odette has caused more than P28 million worth of damages in 506,404 houses; more than P16 billion worth of damages to 276 infrastructures, and; P5 billion worth of damages to agriculture. According to NDRRMC, a total of 334 cities and municipalities in Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, and Caraga had declared a state of calamity. n
With no presidential pick of their own... PAGE 1 has decided to support whomever the president [endorses] if any... The party believes that this is imperative to ensure the continuity of the president’s programs to achieve the Filipino people’s aspiration towards justice, peace, and progress,” PDDS president Greco Belgica, former head of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission, said. Belgica, who is running for senator, said that consultations are ongoing while the final short list will be submitted after vetting. “The criteria for vetting shall be loyalty to country, track record of service to the people, adherence and capability to carry on the president’s reform agenda and advocacies in fighting corruption, red tape, drugs, crimes, terrorism
and to push for federalist form of government, amongst others.” Cusi-led PDP-Laban: We will move forward Earlier, the Cusi wing of the ruling PDP-Laban said that it would “move forward” despite lacking candidates for both president and vice president. “The party remains steadfast and is committed to [supporting and campaigning] for all its candidates,” lawyer Melvin Matibag, secretary-general of the wing of PDP-Laban that President Rodrigo Duterte leads, said in a letter to party members. Matibag said that despite Go’s withdrawal, the party will “move forward and march on to promote plans and programs for the continuity of good governance started by President Duterte.”
A separate faction of the party is fielding Sen. Manny Pacquiao for president, though Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi has since asked the Commission on Elections to determine which faction is the legitimate party. Duterte earlier said that his decision to run under PDDS was a “political strategy,” adding that PDP-Laban’s constitution allows it to enter into alliances with other political parties to strengthen its chances of achieving victory in the elections. “I assure the members of the PDP Laban and PDDS are one. We campaign as one and we will work as one,” the president was quoted as saying in late November. (Franco Luna with a report from Xave Gregorio/Philstar. com)
Los Angeles County expands COVID-19 testing... PAGE 1
if they believe they have been exposed or are experiencing symptoms. We will continue to closely monitor testing needs and adjust capacity as needed in the coming weeks.” All services are free and can be accessed at https://covid19. lacounty.gov/testing/ Capacity expansion includes: • Extended hours of opera-
tion at sites across Los Angeles County • Additional week and weekend dates • Additional mobile testing units in hard-hit areas • Relaunch of Holiday Home Test Collection Program with new guidelines to reach more people and make it easier to get tested. The link is here: https:// covid19.lacounty.gov/hometest
Any LA County resident who is symptomatic or believes they were exposed to COVID-19 can order a home testing kit. Home testing kits require swab collection to be mailed back for PCR test result. LA County COVID-19 testing services are available at no out-ofpocket cost and can be accessed by anyone regardless of insurance or immigration status. n
Bongbong-Sara team continues to...
PAGE 1 preferred candidate drops out of the race. The next choice was Pacquiao at 15%, followed by Marcos at 14%, Lacson at 13%, Robredo at 12%, and De Guzman at 0.14%. The survey also showed that 63% of respondents from the A, B and C socio-economic classes wo uld vote for Marcos if the elections were held during the poll period. He also led in the Class D group with 55% and Class E bracket with 46%. At least five% of the respondents were undecided. “The latest results showed that Marcos will dominate the May 2022 presidential derby in all areas in the country and all social classes,” Marcos’ camp said. The OCTA survey results “reinforced” previous polls by Social Weather Stations, Publi-
cus, Kalye Survey, dzRH radio, Radio Mindanao Network, and Pulse Asia showing Marcos “pulling away from the pack of other presidential hopefuls five months removed from the May 2022 elections,” it said. The candidate said he will continue to push for a “unifying leadership,” which he said is the only way for the country to get back on its feet after the debilitating Covid pandemic. Marcos’ running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio was also the runaway leader in OCTA’s vice presidential survey. Duterte-Carpio had a 50% rating with her closest opponent, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto 3rd, garnering 33%. Duterte-Carpio validated her dominance in Mindanao where she registered 71%, compared to Sotto’s 17%.
Among the socio-economic groups, she polled 61% in the ABC Class, 41% in the D Class, and 58% in the E Class. Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan was in third place with 9%, Dr. Willie Ong with 4%, Buhay party-list Rep. Jose “Lito” Atienza with 1%, and Professor Walden Bello at 0.07%. Among the second choices for the vice presidential bet, Sotto garnered 31%, Pangilinan 18%, Ong and Duterte-Carpio with 12% each, Atienza at 5%, and Bello at 0.4%. Marcos and Duterte-Carpio have fortified their position as the team to beat with a doubledigit lead over their rivals in the December 1-6 Pulse Asia poll. OCTA surveyed 1,200 adults using face-to-face interviews. The poll had a margin of error of ±3% at a 95% confidence level. n
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Slow but steady rise in eviction filings...
PAGE 1 Between August 27 and November 26, for example, 11,799 eviction cases were filed in Las Vegas, Nev., at 126% of the historical average. Eviction filings exceeded 75% of pre-pandemic levels in 11 other cities, including Columbus, Tampa, Indianapolis, and Milwaukee. Cities with more protections like New York, Albuquerque, Austin, Pittsburg and Richmond have held steady in terms of filings or fallen slightly. New York is only about 15% of historical levels, a testament to its strong protections. “In some of the places we are looking at, there are currently limitations on whether you can file to evict when a tenant has already applied for rental assistance,” said Emily Lemmerman, a research specialist at the Eviction Lab. “That’s definitely something that could be affecting the number of filings.” Lemmerman added that direct financial support like emergency rental assistance, income support and the Federal Child Tax Credit might be helping as well. But she made it clear that these numbers may not accurately reflect everything happening on the ground. “We are missing (data on) informal evictions: walk outs, utility shut offs, intimidation and tenants moving out due to landlord harassment or lack of knowledge of their rights or support availability,” she said.
In fact, housing organizers on the ground say they are seeing an increase in illegal evictions compared to when the moratorium was in effect. “Our allies are seeing increases in tenant harassment and illegal evictions, which continued during the moratorium but seem to be increasing now,” said Francisco Dueñas, executive director of Housing Now! A California statewide housing justice advocacy coalition. In some cities, like Dallas, Tx., advocates report that black single mothers are particularly affected by increasing evictions. Areas with more protections but a high number of undocumented immigrants, like Los Angeles, could be seeing more incidences of harassment of tenants and illegal evictions, they added. Aaron MacDonald, a consumer rights project attorney with Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, said that local advocates worked all throughout the pandemic to put in place strong state protections. But state protections are not automatic. The tenant needs to file something called the ‘tenant answer’ to dispute an eviction. “If they don’t, they will be evicted without a hearing,” MacDonald said. In Dallas, Tx., where filings are up by 45.7%, a new Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center has now hired two full time attorneys to represent tenants in eviction cases. The large majority are
African Americans and of those, the majority are single mothers, according to attorney Mark Melton. Latinos do not ask for help as much, but he plans to hire another attorney with bilingual abilities to help that community. “On the one hand, the Texas Supreme Court has issued an emergency order that says if a tenant has applied for rental assistance and the landlord agrees to participate in the program, the case is delayed 60 days,” Melton said in an interview. “But unlike other similar local protections, if the landlord says they won’t participate, then it is game over for the tenant.” There are few hard data points on race and ethnicity of the latest eviction filings, but the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities and the latest U.S. Census Household Pulse data show that 28 percent of Black renters, 18 percent of Latino renters, and 20 percent of Asian renters report they are not caught up on rent, compared to 12 percent of white renters. The rate was 18 percent for American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and multiracial adults taken together. The December relief package and the American Rescue Plan, which included over 46 billion in emergency rental assistance, are still making their way to people behind on rent, which leaves many millions of Americans vulnerable to eviction over the next few weeks and months. (Pilar Marrero/Ethnic Media Services)
SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • deCembeR 29-31, 2021
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Cold temperatures expected in parts of Los Angeles County
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: Woodland Hills – Monday, December 27, through Tuesday, December 28 Burbank – Tuesday, December 28, through Wednesday, December 29 San Gabriel Valley – Tuesday, December 28, through Wednesday, December 29 Pomona – Tuesday, December 28, through Wednesday, December 29 Santa Clarita Valley – Monday, December 27, through Friday, December 31 Lancaster – Monday, December 27, through Friday, December 31 Mount Wilson - Monday, December 27, through Friday, December 31 “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 OVER 200M DOSES. The Royal Dutch Airlines plane carrying a shipment of 1,957,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine procured by the private sector arrives at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on Sunday, December 26. Based on the latest data from Services Authority has a Winter the National Task Force against Covid-19 as of Sunday, the country has so far received a total of 200,885,005 doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Shelter Program available for PNA photo by Avito Dalan those who need shelter. Loca-
tions 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 are exposed to cold temperatures.
Early symptoms of hypothermia include: shivering, fatigue, loss of coordination, and confusion and disorientation. Late symptoms of hypothermia include: no shivering, blue skin, dilated pupils, slowed pulse and breathing, and loss of consciousness. People exposed to extremely cold weather conditions, such PAGE 5
4 december 29-31, 2021 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL
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Pandemic poses short- and long-term risks to babies, especially boys by Liz Szabo Kaiser Health News
SCREENING. Dr. Marilou R. Espiritu (right), Department of Health-Calabarzon Regional Non-Communicable Disease Prevention Cluster Head, interviews a recipient before allowing him to get Pfizer booster shot against Covid-19 during the vaccination activity at the DOH regional office in Quirino Memorial Medical Center Compound in Project 4, Quezon City on Monday, December 27. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved to shorten the interval for the administration of booster doses to adults at least three months after the second dose of a primary two-dose vaccine or at least two months after the primary single-dose vaccine is given. PNA photo by Ben Briones
CDC shortens recommended COVID-19...
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booster shot do not need to quarantine following an exposure, but should wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure. For all those exposed, best practice would also include a test for SARS-CoV-2 at day 5 after exposure. If symptoms occur, individuals should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19. Isolation relates to behavior after a confirmed infection. Isolation for 5 days followed by wearing a well-fitting mask will minimize the risk of spreading the virus to others. Quarantine refers to the time following exposure to the virus or close contact with
someone known to have COVID19. Both updates come as the Omicron variant continues to spread throughout the U.S. and reflects the current science on when and for how long a person is maximally infectious. “The Omicron variant is spreading quickly and has the potential to impact all facets of our society. CDC’s updated recommendations for isolation and quarantine balance what we know about the spread of the virus and the protection provided by vaccination and booster doses. These updates ensure people can safely continue their daily lives. Prevention is our best option: get vaccinated, get boosted, wear a mask in public indoor
settings in areas of substantial and high community transmission, and take a test before you gather,” said CDC Director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky. Data from South Africa and the United Kingdom demonstrate that vaccine effectiveness against infection for two doses of an mRNA vaccine is approximately 35%. A COVID19 vaccine booster dose restores vaccine effectiveness against infection to 75%. COVID-19 vaccination decreases the risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. CDC strongly encourages COVID-19 vaccination for everyone 5 and older and boosters for everyone 16 and older. n
Cold temperatures expected in parts of...
PAGE 3 as places where it snows and where freezing occurs, may be at risk of frostbite. Frostbite is a bodily injury caused by freezing that results in loss of feeling and color in affected areas. The most common affected areas are the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, or toes. Gently warm the person and seek immediate medical care if you believe someone is showing signs of hypothermia or frostbite. Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning when heating your home: Only use approved heaters, such as electric or natural gas heaters and fireplaces. Never
use stoves, barbecues and ovens to heat your room or home, as these appliances can produce a deadly gas known as carbon monoxide that can collect inside your home. Install a carbon monoxide detector in your home to reduce the risk of poisoning. If you use an outdoor generator at home, place it at least 10 feet away from all doors and windows to avoid exhaust gases entering the home. Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause shortness of breath, headaches, muscle and joint pain, and nausea. Exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide
could lead to death within minutes. Those suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning should be taken outside, into fresh air, immediately, and should be taken to an emergency room for immediate medical treatment. Los Angeles County residents and business owners, including people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs may also call 2-1-1 or visit www.211la.org for emergency preparedness information and other referral services 24 hours a day and seven days a week. For the deaf and hard of hearing, call the TDD line at 1-800-660-4026. n
ThE pandemic has created a hostile environment for pregnant people and their babies. Stress levels among expectant mothers have soared. Pregnant women with covid are five times as likely as uninfected pregnant people to require intensive care and 22 times as likely to die. Infected moms are four times as likely to have a stillborn child. Yet some of the pandemic’s greatest threats to infants’ health may not be apparent for years or even decades. That’s because babies of covid-infected moms are 60% more likely to be born very prematurely, which increases the danger of infant mortality and long-term disabilities such as cerebral palsy, asthma and hearing loss, as well as a child’s risk of adult disease, including depression, anxiety, heart disease and kidney disease. Studies have linked fever and infection during pregnancy to developmental and psychiatric conditions such as autism, depression and schizophrenia. “Some of these conditions do not show up until middle childhood or early adult life, but they have their origins in fetal life,” said Dr. Evdokia Anagnostou, a child neurologist at holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation hospital and a pediatrics professor at the University of Toronto. For fetuses exposed to covid, the greatest danger is usually not the coronavirus itself, but the mother’s immune system. Both severe covid infections and the strain of the pandemic can expose fetuses to harmful inflammation, which can occur when a mother’s immune system is fighting a virus or when stress hormones send nonstop alarm signals. Prenatal inflammation “changes the way the brain develops and, depending on the timing of the infection, it can change the way the heart or kidneys develop,” Anagnostou said. Although health officials have strongly recommended covid vaccines for pregnant people, only 35% are fully vaccinated. At least 150,000 pregnant people have been diagnosed with covid; more than 25,000
of them have been hospitalized, and 249 have died, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although most babies will be fine, even a small increase in the percentage of children with special medical or educational needs could have a large effect on the population, given the huge number of covid infections, Anagnostou said. “If someone has a baby who is doing well, that is what they should focus on,” Anagnostou said. “But from a public health point of view, we need to follow women who experienced severe covid and their babies to understand the impact.” Learning From History Researchers in the United States and other countries are already studying “the covid generation” to see whether these children have more health issues than those conceived or born before 2020. Previous crises have shown that the challenges fetuses face in the womb — such as maternal infections, hunger, stress and hormone-disrupting chemicals — can leave a lasting imprint on their health, as well as that of their children and grandchildren, said Dr. Frederick Kaskel, director of pediatric nephrology at the Children’s hospital at Montefiore. People whose mothers were pregnant during surges in the 1918 influenza pandemic, for example, had poorer health throughout their lives, compared with Americans born at other times, said John McCarthy, who is a medical student at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and co-wrote a recent review in JAMA Pediatrics with Kaskel. Researchers don’t know exactly which moms were infected with pandemic flu, McCarthy said. But women who were pregnant during major surges — when infection was widespread — had children with higher rates of heart disease or diabetes. These children were also less successful in school, less economically productive and more likely to live with a disability. Because organ systems develop during different periods of pregnancy, fetuses exposed during the first trimester may face different risks than those
exposed toward the end of pregnancy, McCarthy said. For example, people born in the fall of 1918 were 50% more likely than others to develop kidney disease; that may reflect an exposure to the pandemic in the third trimester, while the kidneys were still developing. Nearly two years into the covid pandemic, researchers have begun to publish preliminary observations of infants exposed to covid infections and stress before birth. Although Anagnostou noted that it’s too early to reach definitive conclusions, “there is evidence that babies born to moms with severe covid infections have changes to their immune system,” she said. “It’s enough to make us worry a little bit.” Damaging a Fetal Security u PAGE 7
LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (LACMTA) REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL LACMTA will receive Proposals for OP80969 - Waste Management Services at the 9th Floor Receptionist Desk, Vendor/Contract Management Department, One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012. All Proposals must be submitted to LACMTA, and be filed at the reception desk, 9th floor, V/CM Department, on or before 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Monday, January 31, 2022. Proposals received after the above date and time may be rejected and returned unopened. Each proposal must be sealed and marked Proposal No. OP80969. For a copy of the Proposal/ Bid specification visit our Solicitation Page on our Vendor Portal at https://business. metro.net or for further information email Marc Margoni at margonim@metro.net. 12/29/21 CNS-3540264# ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)
6 DECEMBER 29-31, 2021 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL
OPINION
Safety in revelry
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FEATURES
THE pandemic dampened the previous New Year’s Eve revelry. Health officials said financial constraints brought by COVID-19, mobility restrictions as well as heightened awareness of health safety issues helped bring down fireworks-related injuries between Dec. 21, 2020 and Jan. 1, 2021 by a record 85 percent from the previous New Year celebration. There were 340 fireworks-related injuries reported in the New Year revelry before COVID-19 hit the country. The number fell to a record low 49 for the same period in the last revelry as authorities also ramped up the campaign to discourage the use of firecrackers. SARS-CoV-2 was still rampaging across the globe last Christmas, however, with the first peer-vetted COVID vaccine, made by Pfizer-BioNTech, just starting to be administered in the United Kingdom. Vaccination in the Philippines went off to a slow start only in March, as the Alpha and Delta variants fueled a deadly summer surge. This Christmas, with about 43 percent of the population now fully vaccinated and the booster program underway, new COVID cases have fallen, allowing restrictions to be eased and more economic activities to resume. Families and friends separated by lockdowns for nearly two years were able to reunite and share Christmas meals. With people able to celebrate the holidays, the New Year revelry is expected to be livelier this year. health officials are reminding everyone to stick to safe merrymaking as they note an increase in firecracker-related injuries in the run-up to New Year’s Eve compared to last year. As of yesterday morning, the Department of health had recorded 19 firecracker-related injuries. While the number is still 67 percent lower than the five-year average of 58 cases from 2015 to 2019, the DOh says the 19 injuries are 58 percent higher than the cases recorded last year. Production, sale and use of fireworks are regulated by law and by an executive order signed by PresiIn the last holiday revelry, the DOh reported that dent Duterte in June 2017. The fireworks industry, centered in Bulacan and struggling to survive, has 84 percent of the injuries were caused by illegal made an effort to upgrade product quality to allay safety concerns and compete with imports. But more fireworks such as piccolo and boga or improvised effort is needed to enforce product standards and safe fireworks use. cannon while the rest were due to legal fireworks.
Editorial
Commentary DR. JAY YEH
MEDICAL DIRECTOR, PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LABORATORY, UC DAVIS HEALTH LAST month, COVID-19 vaccines became available for 5- to 11-year-olds, and that could not have come at a better time. With new variants like Delta and Omicron, health experts know that COVID-19 has not gone away. Protecting our children against the virus should be every parent’s top priority, especially with the winter holidays upon us. As a pediatric cardiologist and the medical director of the pediatric echocardiography lab at UC Davis health, I am seeing patients impacted by COVID19 regularly. healthy children are getting sick, and many of the children I see are suffering from heart-related complications from COVID-19. COVID-19 is the 8th leading cause of death for children ages 5-11, and with vaccines now available for this age group, I urge all parents and caregivers to get their children vaccinated. I am proud to see that California has already administered more than 400,000 doses of the vaccine to 5-11-year-olds, but our work is not done. With the
Postscript
FEDERICO PASCUAL JR. AS the year 2021 that is about to end has not been easy for most of us, we pray for discernment as we prepare to elect on May 9, 2022 a new president, a vice president, a dozen senators, a full house of Representatives, among other officials. The campaign starts Feb. 8, but there is already partisan excitement leading to May 9 when the nation decides if it must remain in the hands of inept and corrupt nominees of political dynasties or elect reformists attuned to true public service. The latest survey of Pulse Asia shows ex-senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ahead in the presidential race, getting 53 percent of the 2,400 respondents against the 20 percent of Vice President Leni Robredo. This is the first time that anyone had garnered a majority. If the son of the former dictator maintains his wide lead, he would be able to recapture the presidential palace that his family abandoned in 1986 as they fled in panic to hawaii at the height of the People Power Revolt.
Philstar.com photo
The fireworks industry itself should want to bring down injuries and even achieve zero cases. Ringing in the New Year need not start with a harmful explosion. (Philstar.com)
Vaccines for children ages 5-11 available – Get them vaccinated and keep them safe winter holidays upon us, it is more important than ever for families to protect their children. The vaccine not only protects them, but also the people around them—siblings, parents, grandparents, schoolmates and teachers—helping to keep everyone healthy and well. I get questions from parents about vaccinating their young children, and I understand their concerns. The vaccine is safe. Children receive a lower dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as authorized by the FDA. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that all children ages 5-11 get vaccinated as soon as possible. The lower-dose PfizerBioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has been proven to be safe and effective on children in clinical trials, and getting your child vaccinated is the best defense against COVID-19 and its variants. Below are answers to frequent questions I get asked about the vaccine. I hope these answers help parents make the decision to protect their children and get them vaccinated.
Are the vaccines safe for children? Comprehensive clinical trials in more than 4,500 children ages 5-11 demonstrate that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective in this age group, resulting in a strong antibody response in children who received the vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine was found to be safe for children ages 5-11, with only mild side effects like fatigue, fever, and headache. The nation’s immunization experts have analyzed all the reports concerning any possible serious side effects following a COVID-19 vaccine. Serious side effects are rare — and the benefits of vaccination far outweigh any risk. Additionally, the risk of getting extremely sick from COVID-19 and suffering long-term effects are high in unvaccinated people, which is why getting vaccinated is so critically important. The science and data – now inclusive of younger children – continue to reinforce that these free, safe vaccines will help kids fend off the worst outcomes of this highly contagious virus.
Should parents be concerned about whether the vaccine may affect their children’s health or reproductive organs? There is no evidence that suggests any vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine, cause female or male infertility. There is no reason to suspect the vaccine’s ingredients can harm youth development. No concerns regarding growth and development have been identified in clinical trials in children ages 5-11, nor have any been raised in ongoing trials with children as young as six months. COVID-19 vaccines do not change or interact with your DNA in any way. The ingredients in the mRNA vaccine never enter the nucleus of a cell, which is where our DNA is kept. If my child already tested positive for COVID and has recovered, do they still need to receive the vaccine? Yes, doctors and scientists recommend that children and adolescents ages five and older get the vaccine, even if they have had COVID-19. We do not know how long someone is protected from getting sick again
after recovering from the virus, and we do not know whether the immunity developed against one strain provides enough protection against new variants. We do know that getting vaccinated is the best way to be protected against COVID-19. Is it safe for my child to get the COVID vaccine and the annual flu shot at the same time? Yes, it is safe to receive both your flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine at the same time. Both the flu and COVID-19 vaccines work toward keeping us safe from disease. Slowing the spread of the flu this year will be important to protect families and loved ones, especially around the holidays. Overall, I remind my patients that vaccinations have safely been administered to millions of adolescents. Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is what has allowed kids ages 12-17 to return safely to school, to rejoin sports teams, drama clubs, and other activities – programs that enrich their lives and help them grow into healthy adults. Our younger children deserve the same opportunities. Above
all, the most important thing we can do to stop the spread of COVID-19 is to get vaccinated and be vigilant around those unable or not yet eligible to get vaccinated. I have vaccinated my children. Please do the same for yours. If you have more questions, I encourage you to contact your pediatrician. To get your child vaccinated, it’s easy. You can go to MyTurn.ca.gov or call the hotline, which offers information in more than 200 languages, at 833-422-4255, to find a vaccination site near you. *** 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.
*** Dr. Yeh is a board-certified pediatric cardiologist with advanced training in echocardiography. He specializes in diagnosis and treatment of congenital and acquired heart disease. He cares for a wide spectrum of patients ranging from newborns to adults with congenital heart disease. He has special clinical interest in pre-operative and post-operative care for congenital heart defects.
It’s a BBM-Robredo showdown in 2022 But a statistical detail cautions that it may not be that easy for Marcos to sweep the 2022 election, even if he and Robredo generally maintain their early campaign momentum. Robredo sprung to second place to Marcos after leaping to a 20-percent share from her 8 percent in the previous September survey, where her scores across regions and economic classes ranged from 8 to 12 percent. In this last survey of Dec. 6-11, her range across classes improved to 10 to 25 percent. Robredo’s regional percentages have shot up since September in the National Capital Region (14 from 10 percent), Balance Luzon (24 from 8 percent), Visayas (25 from 10 percent) and Mindanao (10 from 4 percent). Across classes, her standing also improved: ABC (24 from 8 percent), D (19 from 8 percent) and E (21 from 11 percent). * * * Robredo’s spokesman Barry Gutierrez said her big jump is a “definitive affirmation of the energy and momentum of the people’s campaign that emerged” after she declared her candidacy. Like other observers, he said the 2022 elections loom as a showdown between Robredo and Marcos, who dueled in 2016 for
the vice presidency. Their fight, triggered by Marcos’ protest, went all the way to the Supreme Court that sat as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, which resolved it in favor of Robredo. “We are confident that in the next four months, VP Leni’s consistent, hands-on leadership and the enthusiastic efforts of our volunteers, will continue to broaden and increase her support,” he said. Some of the factors that may have influenced respondents in the survey were the decision of some presumed aspirants not to run for president. In September, Pulse Asia listed Davao Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, Sen. Grace Poe and Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano as possible presidential bets. Among the top news current during the survey was President Duterte’s saying that Marcos was a weak leader and that an unnamed presidential aspirant was a cocaine user. Also, several petitions had been filed with the Commission on Elections for Marcos’ disqualification. In Metro Manila, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso led Robredo 17-14 percent. he also scored close to her among the poorest voters with 14 percent in Class E to Robredo’s 21 percent.
“Should their original pick for president end up not pursuing his/her candidacy, 23 percent of those with a first choice for the post would instead vote for Domagoso,” Pulse Asia said. Sharing second place in terms of second-choice voting figures were Lacson (17 percent) and Robredo (14 percent), while in third place were Pacquiao (11 percent) and Marcos (11 percent). * * * The Comelec has ordered Marcos to answer the disqualification cases filed by martial law survivors led by Bonifacio Ilagan, Akbayan Citizens’ Action Party and Abubakar Mangelen, who claims to be the chair of the Partido Federal ng Filipinos that fielded Marcos. Preliminary conferences for the cases are set for Jan. 7, 2022. The poll body has received memoranda filed by Marcos and the petitioners to cancel his certificate of candidacy or declare him not qualified to run for president. Marcos through his lawyers, led by Martial Law-era solicitor general Estelito Mendoza, has pointed out that he was able to file his COC numerous times in various elections and his eligibility was never questioned. he said the Supreme Court has the exclusive jurisdiction
Inquirer.net file photos
to decide on qualifications of presidential bets. For a misrepresentation to be material – the sole issue – it must pertain to the candidate’s eligibility for public office, he said, adding that there must be “a prior authoritative finding” of Marcos’ ineligibility, which is not the case presented by the petitioners. Marcos’ submission also mentioned a point of defense put forward by the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas in an answer-in-intervention that was not allowed by the Comelec. he said that the 1977 National Internal Revenue Code did not impose “perpetual disqualification” as a penalty. This was part of PD 1994 that took effect on Jan. 1, 1986, he
said, under which the mandatory filing of Income Tax Returns for the years of 1982 to 1984 already lapsed before PD 1994 took effect. Applying it would give the law an ex post facto effect, which is unconstitutional. For the filing for the year 1985, Marcos said he was already out of government and forced to leave the country. (Philstar.com) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
*** NB: All Postscripts are also archived at ManilaMail.com. Author is on Twitter as @ FDPascual. Email: fdp333@yahoo.com
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SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • deCembeR 29-31, 2021
Dateline PhiliPPines
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Comelec trims down presidential bets Duterte assures Odette-hit areas: All to 15, VP to 9 in updated tentative list gov’t assets will be used to provide aid MANILA — The Commission on Elections has trimmed down its tentative list of candidates for the 2022 elections with 15 presidential and nine vice presidential aspirants. On Friday, December 24, the Comelec issued a tentative list, cutting down the names of presidential aspirants from 97, as published on October 20, to just 15. Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez has yet to reply to questions from reporters on whether the aspirants included in the tentative list will be the names to be printed on the official ballot for the 2022 polls. For presidential bets, the Comelec listed the following in alphabetical order: • Former presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella (Independent) • Hilario Andres (Independent) • Arcega Gerald (Independent) • Leody de Guzman (Partido Lakas ng Masa) • Isko Moreno Domagoso (Aksyon Demokratiko) • Norberto Gonzales (Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas) • Sen. Ping Lacson (Partido para sa Demokratikong Reporma) • Danilo Lihaylihay (Independent) • Faisal Mangondato (Katipunan ng Kamalayang Kayumanggi) • Bongbong Marcos (Partido
Federal ng Pilipinas) • Maria Aurora Marcos (Independent) • Jose Montemayor Jr. (Democratic Party of the Philippines) • Edgar Niez (Independent) • Sen. Manny Pacquiao (Abag Promdi) • Vice President Leni Robredo (Independent) The Comelec Second Division has yet to resolve the petition to cancel the Certificate of Candidacy of former Sen. Bongbong Marcos, who emerged as top bet in latest Pulse Asia pre-elections polls. Both parties already submitted their respective memoranda or their final bid. Marcos is still facing a slew of disqualification suits, which may take longer to resolve. Summonses have already been sent to his legal team on four of the petitions. The list also does not show Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go who withdrew his COC, and retired military Gen. Antonio Parlade, the controversial former officer of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict. Parlade sought to substitute for the presidential bet Antonio Vales, for Katipunan ng Demokratikong Pilipino, however the Comelec document showed that the latter is running as an independent candidate. Meanwhile, for vice presidential candidates, the Comelec listed nine names. They are: • Lito Atienza (Abag Promdi) • Walden Bello (Partido Lakas
ng Masa) • Rizalito David (Democratic Party of the Philippines) • Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte (Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats) • Manny Lopez (Workers and Peasants Party) • Dr. Willie Ong (Aksyon Demokratiko) • Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan (Liberal Party) • Carlos Serapio (Katipunan ng Kamalayang Kayumanggi) • Senate President Tito Sotto (Nationalist People’s Coalition) The list already reflects the name of Duterte-Carpio who substituted for Lakas-CMD’s Lyle Uy in November. For potential senatorial candidates, the Comelec has 70 names. The list already excluded the name of President Rodrigo Duterte who withdrew his senatorial bid on December 14. The Comelec said that the Tentative List of Aspirants/Candidates for the coming polls “are based on the initial evaluation of the Certificates of Nomination, Certificates of Candidacy and Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance.” “Consequently, the contents of the list, particularly the names of the aspirants/candidates, political parties, as well as the name to appear on the ballot are subject to change as a result of any further evaluation and/or resolution of the Commission En Bac in relation thereto,” it added. (Kristine Joy Patag/Philstar.com)
PH detects 4th Omicron variant case by Gaea
Katreena Philstar.com
CabiCo
MANILA — The Philippines has detected its fourth case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in a traveler who arrived from the United States, the Department of Health said on Monday, December 27. The 38-year-old woman arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on December 10 via Philippine Airlines PR127, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.
Vergeire said the patient had throat itchiness and colds by December 13. She was discharged from a government facility on December 24 after 10 days in isolation. Currently, the individual is asymptomatic and isolated at home. She is rescheduled to be re-tested. “The detection of Omicon cases remains to be among international arrivals. Its entry is inevitable and we want to further delay its entry to ensure that lo-
cal health systems are ready,” Vergeire said. The heavily-mutated Omicron variant has been classified as being “of concern” by the World Health Organization. Early studies suggest that Omicron is more infectious than the already transmissible Delta variant. In the Philippines, the Delta variant remains the most common, accounting for 42.43% of the 19,922 samples with lineage. n
by alexis
romero Philstar.com
MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered security forces to use all government resources to provide relief and to rehabilitate areas ravaged by Typhoon Odette. Speaking to local chief executives of Cebu last Thursday, Duterte said the government is ready to provide money to typhoon-struck areas and assured them that agencies are ready to address their concerns. “When I came here, I also called for a meeting with all the generals of the Army, Navy, police, and the Air Force. I told them to utilize all government resources to meet the challenges brought by the problem that we are facing now. It’s a big problem. So they came here and I gave my directives,” Duterte said. Dutetre said he would inform the Coast Guard about the mayors’ request for a seacraft to reach typhoon survivors. “I’ve instructed them to bring all their small ships here so that it can be used for the distribution
of relief goods especially in areas that cannot be accessed by vehicles,” the president said. During the meeting, mayors said their constituents need food and access to clean water and electricity. “Many electric posts were toppled. And if those electric posts aren’t put back up, it will take a long time to restore the power. The longer we go without power, the longer time we don’t have water. If we don’t have water supply, fuel will continue to be a problem,” Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said. Duterte gave assurance that Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi would take care of the damaged electric posts. He said he would ask Cusi to fly to Cebu to handle the problem. The president also promised to inform Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu about the oil spill in Lapu-Lapu City. Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan said 42 vessels ran aground in mainland Lapu-Lapu City and the ships haven’t been pulled out. Two other ships had completely sunk and are causing the oil spill, the
mayor added. One of the vessels sank in the tourist spot Punta Engaño, threatening the livelihood of its residents. According to Chan, the Coast Guard has located the oil spill, and its personnel are working from a passenger ship. Duterte reiterated that the National Housing Authority would provide P100-million worth of housing materials for each typhoon-hit province. He added that the military and the police would maintain peace and order to ensure discipline and to allow state workers to perform their functions. The president ended the meeting by thanking the people of Cebu for helping him win during the 2016 elections. “So in about four months’ time, six months, I’ll leave Malacañang... It makes me want to cry but - so many people voted for me in Cebu. That added six million to my votes. Cebu helped me win. So I owe you a huge debt of gratitude. If I don’t get to pay it, maybe my children will,” he said. n
Pandemic poses short- and long-term risks to...
PAGE 5 System The good news about the coronavirus is that it seldom crosses the placenta, the organ tasked with protecting a developing fetus from infections and providing it with oxygen. So moms with covid rarely give the virus to their children before birth. That’s important, because some viruses that directly infect the fetus — such as Zika — can cause devastating birth defects, said Dr. Karin Nielsen-Saines, a specialist in pediatric infectious diseases at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine. But studies also suggest that inflammation from a mother’s covid infection can injure the placenta, said Dr. Jeffery Goldstein, an assistant professor of pathology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. In a study published last year, Goldstein and his co-
authors found that placentas from covid-infected moms had more abnormal blood vessels than placentas from patients without covid, making it harder for them to deliver sufficient oxygen to the fetus. Placental damage can also lead to preeclampsia, a serious complication of pregnancy that can cause a mother’s blood pressure to spike. Preeclampsia occurs when blood vessels in the placenta don’t develop or function properly, forcing the mother’s heart to work harder to get blood to the fetus, which may not receive enough oxygen and nutrients. Preeclampsia also predisposes women to heart attacks and strokes later in life. Rewiring the Immune System In some cases, covid also appears to rewire a baby’s immune response, Nielsen-Saines said.
In an October study in the journal Cell Reports Medicine, Nielsen-Saines and her co-authors found that infants born to people with severe covid infections had a different mix of immune cells and proteins than other babies. None of the newborns tested positive for the coronavirus. The immune changes are concerning, Nielsen-Saines said, because this pattern of immune cells and proteins has previously been found in infants with respiratory problems and in some cases poor neurodevelopment. Notably, all the babies in her study appear healthy, said Nielsen-Saines, who plans to follow them for three years to see whether these early signals translate into developmental delays, such as problems talking, walking or interacting with others. u PAGE 8
8 december 29-31, 2021 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL
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Pandemic poses short- and long-term risks to... PAGE 7
“How big of a difference does any of this make in the baby?” asked Anagnostou. “We won’t know for a few years. All we can do is try to be as prepared as possible.” Increasing the risk for boys Boys could face higher risks from covid, even before birth. Males are generally more vulnerable than females as fetuses and newborns; they’re more likely to be born prematurely and to die as infants. Preterm boys also have a higher risk of disability and death. But coronavirus infection poses special dangers, said Sabra Klein, a professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. That’s because boys are disproportionately affected by conditions linked to maternal infections. Boys are four times as likely as girls to be diagnosed with autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, for example, while men are 75% more likely than women to develop schizophrenia. Scientists don’t fully understand why boys appear more fragile in the womb, although testosterone — which can dampen immune response — may play a role, said Dr. Kristina Adams Waldorf, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Washington. Men generally mount weaker immune responses than women and more often develop severe covid infections. Recent researchsuggests boys with covid are more likely than girls to become seriously ill or develop a rare inflammatory condition called multisystem inflammatory syndrome. New research on covid could help illuminate this vulnerability. In a study published in October, researchers found that the sex of a fetus influences the way its placenta responds to covid, as well as how its mother’s immune system responds. Pregnant people infected with covid made fewer antibodies against the coronavirus if they were carrying male fetuses than if they were carrying females. Mothers also transferred fewer antibodies to boys than to girls, said Dr. Andrea Edlow, senior author of the study and a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Massachusetts General Hos-
EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT
pital. When examining the placentas of male fetuses after delivery, researchers found changes that could leave boys less protected against damaging inflammation. The sex of a fetus can influence its mother’s response to other illnesses, as well. For example, research shows that pregnant women with asthma have worse symptoms if they’re carrying a female. Women carrying males are slightly more likely to develop gestational diabetes. Edlow said her findings raise questions about the “cross talk” between mother and baby. “The mom’s immune system is sensing there is a male fetus,” Edlow said. “And the fetus is actively communicating with the mom’s immune system.” Boosting toxic stress Rates of depression and stress among pregnant women have increased dramatically during the pandemic. That’s concerning because chronic stress can lead to inflammation, affecting the babies of both infected and uninfected women, Anagnostou said. Studies consistently show that infants born to mothers who experience significant stress during pregnancy have higher rates of short- and longterm health damage — including heart defects and obesity — than babies born to women with less stress. “We know that inflammation directly influences the way a baby’s brain develops,” said Elinor Sullivan, an associate professor in psychiatry at Oregon Health & Science University. Lockdowns, travel restrictions and physical distancing left many pregnant women without the support of family and friends. The stress of losing a loved one, a job or a home further heightens the risks to moms and babies, said Sullivan, who is following children born during the pandemic for five years. In research that has not yet been published, Sullivan found that babies of women who were pregnant during the pandemic showed more sadness and negative emotions in the first year of life compared with infants of women who were pregnant before the pandemic. The findings show the impor-
HOUSING
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tance of helping and protecting pregnant people before and after delivery, said Sullivan, who conducted a separate study that found women who received more social support were less depressed. Italian researchers are also studying the effect of maternal stress on infants’ behavior, as well as the way their genes are regulated. Although stress-related inflammation doesn’t alter the structure of a baby’s genes, it can influence whether they’re turned on and off, said Livio Provenzi, a psychologist at the C. Mondino National Institute of Neurology Foundation in Pavia, Italy. In Provenzi’s study of 163 mother-baby pairs, he found differences in how genes that regulate the stress response were activated. Genes that help people respond to stress were more likely to be turned off in babies whose moms reported the most stress during pregnancy. The same moms also reported that their babies cried more and were fussier when they were 3 months old. Researchers usually prefer to make in-person observations of babies as they interact with their mothers, Provenzi said. But because of the pandemic, Provenzi asked mothers to fill out questionnaires about infant behavior. He plans to observe mothers and babies in person when the children are 12 months old. While vaccinating pregnant people is the best way to protect them and their fetuses from the virus, Anagnostou said, society needs to do more to preserve expectant mothers’ mental health. “We can’t escape the fact that we’ve lived through two years of a pandemic,” Anagnostou said. “But we can think about opportunities for reducing the risk.” [Editor’s note: In this article, study participants were known to be cisgender women. And KHN uses terms like “mother,” “mom” and “maternal” to refer generally to the expectant parent or the one who has given birth.] This story was produced by KHN, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. n
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Long live the Christ child! (Viva Pit Senyor) An archdiocesan celebration
ON Sunday, January 16th, 2022, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels (555 W.Temple Street, Los Angles) will celebrate 500 years of Philippine Christianity and 35th Anniversary of the Feast of Santo Nino. This year’s theme is” Gifted To Give.” Fr. Rodel Balagtas, Pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale and Advisor of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Filipino commented: “The theme itself means living and sharing love and compassion. It is evangelization -by by Ritchel Mendiola / AJPress how we relate kindly, living in peace and loving unconditionally.” A Eucharistic celebration will HE New Year has always been a countrywide celebration that be held at 3:30 p.m. to be presided by His is nothing short of fun, dynamic, and loud. Filipinos love to Excellency, Archbishop Jose H. Gomez. welcome the new year with as much fanfare as they can, partaking This year’s celebration is quite significant in the lives of Filipino Americans. The Filipino in traditions they believe will help in making the new year better, Ministry of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles happier, and more bountiful for them. Here are some of those will collaborate with Santo Nino Cruzada USA to make this event special and memorable for traditions: the faithful. Many prayer groups from various 4. Opening doors and 2. Having circles/round 1. Eating media noche parishes will participate in Pre-liturgy activities keeping all the lights on shapes everywhere Filipinos love eating — which include but not limited to a procession, When the new year arrives, Sinulog, a ritual dancing to call or hail Senyor Filipinos and Chinese alike but more than that, they love Filipinos would open all the believe the round shape is a eating together with their Santo Nino, the Christ Jesus. doors in their houses to symbol of prosperity, so it’s families. New Year’s eve gives In the 16th century, the first statue Santo Nino allow good energy and good common to see circles during them that opportunity to was presented to Queen Juana, wife of King fortune to come in, and turn New Year’s Eve. More often celebrate, complete with an on all the lights to welcome a impressive spread to welcome than not, you’ll see 12 round brighter year. fruits displayed on the dining the incoming year. 5. Making loud noises to table (one fruit per month for Roughly translated as drive off evil spirits a prosperous year) or people “midnight,” Media Noche is a Firework displays are wearing polka-dotted clothes. Filipino custom where family a common sight in every 3. Jumping when the members, their relatives, and country when they welcome clock strikes 12 friends all gather together The most popular tradition the new year, but in the to eat and drink. The menu Philippines, fireworks light up that Filipino adults and kids differs for every family but do as soon as the clock strikes the sky because it is believed there will always be some loud sounds would scare off January 1. Jumping as high food that remain a staple evil spirits that bring bad as you can is believed to be in every household such as luck. Aside from this, Filipinos a way to help you grow taller pancit (long noodles), which usually play loud music in the in the new year — there’s represent good health and open, and use horns or toy no scientific explanation to long life; and sticky rice, instruments to produce earsupport this belief, but it’s fun which represent tighter family and exhilarating to do anyway. piercing noises. bonds.
New Year’s Eve gives families that opportunity to celebrate, complete with an impressive spread to welcome the incoming year. AJPress Illustration by Kendrick Tan
Filipino traditions to welcome the new year
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Kathryn saves Alora’s lonely Christmas by inviting her over By Sam
mayoralgo Inquirer.net
KATHRYN Bernardo invited her “The House Arrest of Us” co-star Alora Sasam over for Christmas after finding out she was going to spend it alone. Bernardo insisted that Sasam come over to spend Christmas with Bernardo’s family, as per Sasam’s Instagram page on Sunday, Dec. 26. “I was okay being alone on Christmas day. Pero sabi niya wag,” she stated. “[Kathryn’s] My Christmas savior. Thank you mami! Love you. Regalo mo na sa akin presence mo at ng family mo. Tsaka yung sopas ni Kuya Marco.” (I was okay being alone on Christmas day, but she told me I shouldn’t be. [Kathryn’s] my Christmas savior. Thank you sis! Love you. Your gift to me is your presence and your family’s, and Kuya Marco’s soup.) The actress, who played “Yaya Marie” to Bernardo’s “Queencess,” then gave her followers a glimpse of her night with Bernardo’s family, who wore matching green apparel to celebrate the Christmas season, in a separate post also on her Instagram page. She thanked the Bernardo family for welcoming her into their home, again joking about how delicious the food was when she came over. “Thank you Bernardos for opening your home to me (especially your kitchen) on Christmas day. Sayang di ako nakapagdala ng tupperware,” Sasam stated. “Ang simple
Alora Sasam and Kathryn Bernardo
pero saya niyo po ka bonding! Wishing you all good health always. [Nagmamahal], Ang inyong Christmas ampon.” (Too bad I wasn’t able to bring any Tupperware. The celebration was simple but you guys were so fun to be with! Wishing you all good health always. Love, your adopted child for Christmas.) Sasam also wished the Bernardos a Merry Christmas and believed that good karma
Photo from Instagram/@alorskieee
is coming their family’s way because of their kind gesture, as per a third post also on Sasam’s Instagram page. “The House Arrest of Us” is a digital series that premiered via KTX last year. It starred real-life couple Bernardo and Daniel Padilla as its two leads. They were joined by Sasam, Ruffa Gutierrez, Herbert Bautista, Dennis Padilla and Arlene Muhlach, among others.
Humabon. She was overjoyed upon seeing the innocent and kind face of Baby Jesus. She was baptized and embraced Catholicism. The natives were also baptized. Ferdinand Magellan planted the Cross of Christianity on the day baptism occurred in Cebu. To this day, Filipinos from various walks of life bring prayers to the Santo Nino. He is the protector and has power to grant and answer their prayers. Devotions to him are part of every parish’s life. Every Filipino home has an image of Santo Nino. The image is particularly revered by people from Cebu where Spaniards established the first colonial capital. The devotion to Christ Child Jesus has spread beyond that region. A dinner banquet will follow at Casa Italiana, 1051 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012, at 6:30 p.m. Archbishop Jose H. Gomez will address the Lay leaders in relationship with their commitment to the Filipino faith community specially in the 500 Years of Philippine Christianity commemoration. For more information, please call: Romy Esturas at (213) 393-9405; e-mail: romyesturas@ hotmail.com or Lem Amit (323) 793-5144; e-mail: Lemamit@aol.com. (Contributed by Jo Solomonson)
entertainment John Lloyd is happy with his new show
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 29, 2021
By Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net
AFTER his four-year television acting hiatus, multi-awarded actor John Lloyd Cruz is finally returning to television with a new sitcom, “Happy ToGetHer.” It will remembered that On November 9, the 38-year-old heartthrob signed a contract under the GMA Network, marking his comeback in the showbiz industry. One of his first major projects since signing with GMA Network on November 9, “Happy ToGetHer” is a family-oriented weekly show that will premiere on December 26. It can be remembered that Cruz’s last television project in ABS-CBN was in the same genre — the weekend sitcom, “Home Sweetie Home.” Directing the show then was Edgar “Bobot” Mortiz so Cruz was more than happy to have Mortiz again as his director for “Happy ToGetHer.” Mortiz, in turn, is more than grateful for another project not just for him but for other industry workers as well. “Very involved si Lloydie dito, hindi lang sa paggawa namin ng show kundi kung bakit namin ginawa itong show na ito. Alam niyo naman yung
John Lloyd Cruz
pinanggalingan namin so nung medyo nawalan na lahat ng trabaho ang iba, kinausap ko siya kung pwede kami gumawa para matulungan namin ang mga kasamahan namin,” recalled Mortiz. “Sabi niya, ‘Sige Direk, kung makakabalik ako, tutulong ako.’ Yan ang una naming ipinagpapasalamat kay Lloydie. Pangalawa, talagang involve siya dito sa creative. Lahat ng ginagawa namin, kasama namin siya sa meeting,” he continued. Cruz is likewise happy to be able to pick up where he left off with the same family he has worked with before his break, all in a new home network. “I’m more than happy. I couldn’t be happier na may opportunity tayo na mabuo ulit yung aking pamilya na aking naiwan noon. Pangalawa, hindi ko naman inakala na kapag kumatok tayo, humingi tayo ng tulong sa mga tao eh pagbibigyan tayo. Hindi siya ganun kadaling proseso,” Cruz admitted. “Kaya kung tatanungin ako kung gaano ako ka-happy, I think it’s beyond happiness na nandito tayo at nagagawa natin itong nagagawa ko ngayon. Maraming element, especially yung mga taong naging instrumental sa kung nasaan ako ngayon,” he added.
Photo from Instagram/@johnlloydcruztm
Deservingly so, Cruz gave his heartfelt gratitude to the bosses of GMA Network for welcoming him and his work family with open arms as he enters this new chapter in his career. “Bawat bagong opportunity is a new challenge for me. Mas malaking challenge din kasi nasa bagong bakuran tayo. Nangangapa yung aming grupo kaya napakaswerte namin dahil yung assistance na binigay nila Sir Joey [Abacan] sa amin ay hindi talaga matatawaran. Yung opportunity na galing kila Ma’am Annette [Gozon-Abrogar and Mr. [Felipe] Gozon, araw araw namin pinagpapasalamat sa bawat araw na nasa loob kami ng bubble merong opportunity na makapagtrabaho and we can all move forward from the current situation ng ating bansa,” Cruz mentioned. “And in return, ang gusto lang naman namin ay maibalik sa audience, sa viewers ng Kapuso network sa buong mundo yung favor na binibigay sa amin ng ating mga bosses dito,” he added. In “Happy ToGetHer,” Cruz plays the mechanic heartthrob named Julian. With him in this project are Miles Ocampo, Ashley Rivera, Jayson Gainza, Jenzel Angeles, Janus Del Prado, Carmi Martin, and Eric Nicolas. Cruz said that while he is more inclined to doing dramatic roles, he is thankful to his co-actors and director for helping him in comedy scenes. “Isa po sa pinakamahirap na role ang magpatawa. Hindi siya madaling trabaho pero yung character ko yung paguusapan, hindi naman talaga niya intension magpatawa. Baka mas natural sa akin yung drama kumpara sa comedy pero ang comedy kasi malakas yung suporta na nakukuha mo mula sa co-actors mo, yung mga totoong komedyante na sumusuporta sayo at sa mga totoong comedy writers and of course, headed by comedy director direk Bobot. “Kahit hindi natin forte or labas sa comfort zone natin ang pagpapatawa, kahit papaano nagagabayan at natutulungan naman tayo ng ating mga kasama,” the actor finally said.
Fil-Am music director Troy Laureta celebrates OPM in new album By
CharmIe Joy Pagulong Philstar.com
FOREIGN artists singing Original Pilipino Music (OPM) hits from your childhood is something that FilipinoAmerican music director Troy Laureta has always dreamed of and he just did that with the release of his latest album GILIW: A Troy Laureta OPM Collective Vol. 2. A year after he launched Kaibigan: A Troy Laureta OPM Collective Vol. 1, here comes GILIW, a 13-track album featuring some of America’s notable artists, rendering their own versions of Tagalog popular songs. Troy pays tribute to his roots as he continues to present Filipino music and talents on the international stage. GILIW includes Magkasuyo Buong Gabi, a duet by Deborah Cox and American Idol season 2 winner Ruben Studdard; Laging Tapat, performed by American singer Skylar Stecker; Paano Ang Puso Ko featuring R&B and pop group All-4-One; and Araw Gabi by Never Enough singer Loren Allred. Fernando Varela is likewise part of the album with his rendition of You Are My Song and singer-songwriter Shoshana in Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw. On the local front, Boy Abunda joined the music collaboration via the Interlude: Pag-ibig; Jona with her version of Someone To Love Me; The Voice Kids Philippines season 4 contestant Adah in Kaibigan intro; Cheesa, Troy’s sister, for Kaba; and Nicole Scherzinger and Regine Velasquez-Alcasid for Nandito Ako. And of course, Jake Zyrus sang Maghintay Ka Lamang and Outro: Kung Kita’y Kapiling. Jake dedicates Maghintay Ka Lamang to her mom and hopes that “more people will understand more of the Filipino culture and music.”
The MOTHER Movement held its Christmas fundraising drive on December 20 in light of the recent Super Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) in the Philippines. In attendance were FACLA board of directors Al Capati and Ike Rongavilla (standing extreme left); Cres Go and Perla Santos (seated at extreme right). Grand prize winner Remy Pascual is seated at the center.
MOTHER Movement holds fundraising drive for Typhoon Odette relief
SOME guests and members of the global MOTHER Movement pose for a souvenir photo during the Dec. 20 Christmas fundraising drive to raise money and send relief goods for the organization’s members who were impacted by Super Typhoon Odette. At the height of the typhoon, founder and president of the international group Perla Santos organized the movement’s members and in a very short notice together pulled their resources, invited and solicited prizes which were raffled off during the event. Immediately a grand prize – a 50-inch smart TV with accessories courtesy of LA Progressive Lions Club headed by Bessie Caynan and Lily Tabafunda, President and VP respectively which was won by Remy Pascual was made available. The second prize, a home entertainment Magic Sing Karaoke was won by Teresita Abdon; other prizes were an air-fyer; 5 units Bluetooth karaoke mike, wall clocks and many other small appliances. The group in no time raised $1,000 and cash as well as
the five boxes relief goods will be dispatched to the 20+ members of the MOTHER Movement residing in Negros Occidental whose houses and other properties were severely damaged by the Odette’s strong winds. The committee is com-
prised of Cres and Rosito Go, Tess Nones, Ancil Suaze, Emmylou Harris and Noel Lao, for the logistics. Santos mentioned in her remarks that this group is an extended family to its members all over the world, and thus, is demonstrating that charity begins at home.
Seth’s sweetest hello and saddest goodbye By alex
Brosas Inquirer.net
HE may still be young but actor Seth Fedelin has already experienced some of the sweetest and saddest things in life. As a former “Pinoy Big Brother” housemate, he considers himself lucky to be in showbiz. “My sweetest hello, siguro ‘yung pagpasok ko sa ABS, ‘yung pag-hello ko sa buong Kapamilya,” he said during the online press conference for “Saying Goodbye,” Dec. 20. It is a series which pairs him again with Andrea Brillantes and comes right on the heels of “Huwag Kang Mangamba,” an inspirational series. (My sweets hello is perhaps when I entered ABS-CBN, when I said hello to the whole Kapamilya.) But life’s not always a walk in the park and Fedelin acknowledged that he’s gone through the saddest phases in his life, such as when his grandpa died. “‘Yung saddest goodbye ko naman,’yung sa lolo ko po kasi noong pandemic lang siya sumakabilang-buhay. Si lolo ko kasi, sobrang lapit ko siya. Sabi ko sa kanya noong nawala na siya, sabi ko, ‘pahinga ka na ‘lo. Ako na ang bahala dito,’” he said. (My saddest goodbye is with my grandfather because he died during the pandemic. My grandfather, I was very close to him. I told him when he left, I said, “Please rest now, grandpa. I will take care of things here.) Meanwhile, Fedelin admits having experienced pressure while doing “Saying Goodbye.” “Talagang nakaka-pressure dahil ‘yun nga po, unang ilalabas na iQiyi na Filipino series. Sabi namin, kailangan may mapatunayan tayo dito,” he said. (It really pressures because this is the first Filipino series to be shown by iQiyi. We said, we need to prove something here.) To prepare for his role, that of a gravely ill guy named Ricky, Fedelin watched some movies, as advised by his leading lady Andrea Brillantes. “Bago pa ang “Saying Goodbye,” nu’ng patapos na ang “Huwag Kang Mangamba” ay
have that. When someone listens to GILIW, All-4-One singing Paano Ang Puso Ko or The Greatest Showman singer singing Araw Gabi, hopefully, they get inspired and be like, ‘Oh my God, I feel seen, I feel heard.’ I’m hoping that it makes more relatable to the people that aren’t Filipinos as well as Filipinos.” “I grew up listening to Filipino music. To be able to create and a beacon of hope and inspiration for somebody like myself that didn’t have that growing up is something that what GILIW and Kaibigan was about – is to inspire people to go for it,” he reiterated. “Who knew that All-4-One and Never Enough singer (are) gonna sing the Filipino songs that I sang at six years old? To be able to just use my voice and what God gave me to inspire and give hope to people that needed it, especially during this (pandemic) time (is my motivating force).” During this extraordinary time also, Troy got to reintroduce his relation with God, who is the greatest source of motivation of an Troy Laureta Photo from Instagram/@troylaureta artist. “It kinda taught me that life is too short. And it kinda The initiative of Troy to gave me the courage to do give new interpretation by it. I’m a musical director by Filipino and non-Filipino trait so I’m used to be in the collaborators to OPM is the background with these guys premise of the two albums, (Jake and Cheesa) and around that is, to “celebrate the the singers that you, guys, country’s music and create see. So, it was very scary for a face and voice for the me and very emotional time,” Filipinos” in the global scene. admitted Troy. “Using artists like All-4Troy has done various One, Loren, Skylar and Adah projects in the past with (will promote OPM to the Filipino talents and he still world stage). I’m hoping that wants to collaborate with more with the collaboration of OPM artists. “I still want to the two (Filipinos and noncontinue doing music. I love Filipinos), we are all able to singers, I love this kind of use our own voices to just music and I think that not a lot celebrate this kind of music. of it is being produced these I think it’s really important to days. So, I would hope to have Asian representation and continue making love songs, being aware of the Filipino beautiful songs and in terms identity,” said Troy in a digital of OPM, I’m gonna continue media conference. promoting Filipino music,” he He advocates for such Continued on Page 12 Sheryn Regis because, “Growing up, I didn’t
Seth Fedelin
Photo from Instagram/@iamsethfedelin
nag-uusap na kami (ni Andrea) ‘Ano kaya ang susunod natin?’ Kasi hindi pa po namin alam. Talagang ang sabi namin, kung meron mang dadating na bagong blessing ay talagang kailangan naming seryosohin.” (Before “Saying Goodbye,” when “Huwag Kang Mangamba” was about to end, we talked and asked, “What’s our next project?” Because we still didn’t know yet. We really said that if there would be a new blessing coming, we need to take it seriously.) When the love team finally learned about “Saying Goodbye,” Andrea told him about the movies he needs to watch so he can play his role effectively. “Talagang pinaghandaan po namin. Lagi kaming nag-uusap kung paano. Lagi kaming nagtutulungan,” he said. (We really prepared for it. We always talk about how to do it. We always help each other.)
Sheryn on coming out as lesbian to ex-partner, daughter: ‘I’m living a lie’ By sam
mayoralgo Inquirer.net
Photo from Instagram/@sherynregis
SHERYN Regis continues to speak her truth: she is a lesbian and she is accepted by both her ex-partner and child. The singer recounted the separate moments she revealed her sexuality to her ex, Earl Echiverri who she calls Tito Earl, and daughter, Sweety, in an exclusive interview with Ogie Diaz on his YouTube channel on Sunday, Dec. 26. “Sabi ko sa kanya, ‘Tito Earl, I am a lesbian,” Regis said. “I’m living a lie. Not just to you, not just to the family, a lie sa sarili ko rin. Kasi dine-deny ko eh, di ko siya pinagbigyan, kaya siguro ako nagka depression, nagkasakit ako [with thyroid cancer], sinubok ako ng buhay. Kaya parang feeling ko, ‘Bakit hindi ko sabihin kay [Tito Earl]?’ Baka, bukas, wala na ako, di ko pa rin ma-fulfill yung gusto ko, na sabihin kung ano talaga ako.” Continued on Page 12
SFIO leadership team: Ordinary people with exceptional dedication, passion
community
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 29, 2021
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 highgrowth 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 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.
Jeths D. Lacson
Mark G. Epifanio
Richard Agluba
Michael Luis Venezuela
Chito Galvez
Jorge Gabin
Elvin Alcala
Richard Prodigalidad
Jonathan Petalver
Roger Oriel
• 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 goal-setting and directs the operations of the company in support of the company’s goals. He also co-founded 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 Angeles-based 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 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
Jose Gerardo Noble
($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 cofounded 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. (Advertising Supplement)
community Sheryn on coming out as lesbian to... 12
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 29, 2021
From Page 10 (I told him, “Tito Earl, I am a lesbian… I’m living a lie. Not just to you, not just to the family, but a lie to myself too,” because I’ve been denying my sexuality. I have not allowed it to manifest,
which is probably why I had depression and why I got sick [with thyroid cancer]. Life has challenged me, so I thought, “Why shouldn’t I tell my husband?” I might not be here tomorrow anymore to tell him the truth about who I
really am.) She added that her relationship with Echiverri has never been traditional, since she focused on her career more than on their family. Regis even went as far as saying she was “selfish.” “I became selfish in a way na hindi ako naging asawa, pero naging nanay ako,” the “Search for the Star in a Million” contestant said in the interview. “Kailangan madivert attention ko dahil gusto kong madeny na ganito ako. (I became selfish in a way, because I wasn’t a wife [to Echiverri], but I was a mother [to Sweety]. I had to divert my attention away from my sexuality because I did not want to accept who I was.) Regis then said that Echiverri accepted her after she came out and that she stills talks to him everyday. The two remain married, as appealed by their daughter who lives in the United States with Echiverri. “‘Oh well, I knew it mommy, but it doesn’t make you less of a person, it doesn’t make you less of a mom,’” Regis recalled her daughter saying when she came out, as per the same interview. “‘Wag mo muna divorce si daddy,’ that’s what she asked. ‘I don’t want to be a child without a mom and a dad na magkasama.’” (“Don’t divorce daddy yet,” that’s what she asked. “I don’t want to be a child without a mom and a dad together.”) The singer then happily shared that Echiverri and Sweety remain supportive of her and her girlfriend, YouTuber Mel de Guia. She even said that Echiverri talks to de Guia all the time. The singer gained stardom after joining the “Search for the Star in a Million” singing contest on ABS-CBN, where she placed second behind Erik Santos. She has been the voice behind several teleserye theme songs since, including “Gulong ng Palad” and “Maria Flordeluna.” This year, she released her first original song, “Tulad ng Dati,” after a decade of being away from the Philippines.
Planned obsolescence
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA NOW is a good time to ponder about the end. It is a grim thought, I admit, but it seems appropriate when taking stock of the year about to be filed away in some cosmic memory bank. Long ago when my daughter was a young girl and while driving one day on the freeway headed west in late afternoon while the summer sun in all its crimson splendor slowly sank in the horizon, I commented to my daughter who was seated beside me that the sun will die too someday, like everything else. Alarm showing in her face, she asked when it was going to happen and I smiled, patted her on the knee and said that it isn’t going to happen anytime soon. Then, I added to tamp down her visible concern, the sun will still be there, maybe, for another five to nine billion years or so to sustain life on earth, nearly twice the length of time it took to form the solar system and all its planets in its present form, if the educated guess of scientists are to be believed. The earth will still be around for some time. And provided of course, that there is no large sized meteor or cosmic debris careening off its track hurling itself helter-skelter onto earth as many believe happened some 65 million years ago, wiping off the dinosaurs and making the earth a new tabula rasa, a new canvass for a new thinking, feeling life form, called man, to take shape and conquer the planet. As grown-ups, we realize that our tomorrows have a finite
“We know we will soon be dead and another generation will come after us to look up at this same sky, experience the same awe.” — Michael Lerner number and each year-end, brings home that point that much more clearly. Alan Watts wrote perhaps to explain the results of man’s creative urges as a means to preserve itself, “It is because men know they will die that they have created the arts and sciences, the philosophies and religions.” What is overlooked in his statement is that there is our omnipotent, loving God who planned all these from the beginning of time. What perhaps separates us from other life forms is that we become aware of our own mortality, our own inevitable ending and seeks as a matter of self-preservation to extend it, not only by passing on genetic material to our own progeny but by the expression of thought. Everything that exists — whether natural or man-made — has an end. Whether it is a car, a pacemaker embedded deep in one’s heart, a computer, a tree, an ant or anything else on earth, there is a definite end. Most men in developed, wealthy countries with better standards of living, better health-care programs and barring unforeseen circumstances like accidents or murder, have an average life expectancy of about 28,000 days. In ideal conditions, the
planned obsolescence for man is to reach the ripe old age of 115 years, at which time, death could only be caused by natural causes, all worn out body parts simply too old and emaciated to function any longer. Should we at all care or worry about the end? Worry can only finish us off to an untimely end. Live as though each day were your last. To live in the moment is not only both art and science, it is a determined 24-hour mind-set you have to adopt out of your own free will. A few get it only after they have a clear brush with death. Many never get it at all. Some anonymous soul once described how best to live one’s life very aptly in terms of money — in plain phraseology that cuts across language barriers, “Yesterday is a cancelled check; tomorrow is a promissory note, today is ready cash — use it.” I want to wish all my faithful readers: A HAPPY, BLESSED, HEALTHY, PEACEFUL AND ABUNDANT 2022! ***
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
***
Nota Bene: To send feedback, email monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com
Do I have to disclose my Bitcoin to my spouse in my divorce case? 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 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
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.
“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.” 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 interest 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
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Fil-Am music director Troy Laureta... From Page 10 told The STAR. “It’s such a beautiful form of music, its songs of my childhood, it deserves its recognition. I hope that with this album and with my platform, my little voice, I’m hoping that one day, the world will be able to celebrate it the way that we do,” he added. Troy, who was raised in Honolulu, Hawaii
and now based in Los Angeles, has his roots in Barili, Cebu, where he would spend a lot of his childhood there. “We visit (Cebu) all the time. My mom is like the Cebuana queen (laughs). Bisaya kaayo ang akon mama (My mom is really a Bisaya native). We understand Cebuano. Cebuanos are such passionate people. Every time we go back home, we are just laughing and dancing, and eating lechon and all that,” he reminisced.
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 29, 2021
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