Weekend Balita (Los Angeles edition) May 1, 2021

LOS ANGELES EDITION

PH Navy awaiting US nod on transfer of Cyclone patrol boats PAGE 12

VOL. XXX NO. 18

Saturday-Friday | May 1 - 7, 2021

TOP STORIES

Global News Makabayan solons to Duterte: Philippines doesn’t owe debt of gratitude to China 8  Leila de Lima cleared of stroke, released from hospital 8  No considerations left for Parlade to stay as NTF-ELCAC spox — Drilon, Lacson 8  LGUs urged to link local biz to community pantry organizers 8  Lorenzana: China no authority to stop PCG from marine drills 10  Over 44K local, overseas jobs up for grabs in Labor Day 10  PH, Russia vow stronger cooperation on vax, trade, tech 12  Rizal Park mobile hospital, vax site completed in 2 months — DOT 12  Online registration for National ID to start on April 30, says NEDA chief 12  $541M net ‘hot money’ exited Philippines in March — BSP 13 

Sections FIL-AM COMMUNITY. Filipinos join celebration of Workers’ Memorial Day 2  BUSINESS. IMF says PH economy could grow by 6.9 percent but warns of COVID-19 risks 13  ENTERTAINMENT. Derek Ramsay says no bad blood between him and John Lloyd Cruz 19  FEATURES. Bohol’s ‘mushroom queen’: Reaping the fruits of fungi culture 16  HEALTH & FAMILY. Local clinical trial for ivermectin eyed by end-May or early June —DOST exec 15 

THE LEADING SOURCE OF NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR FELLOW FILIPINO-AMERICANS

PCG-LA LAUNCHES LUTONG PINOY: LASANG PINOY SA LOS ANGELES

By ABNER GALINO

The Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles (PCG-LA), led by Consul General Edgar B. Badajos, officially launched its Lutong Pinoy: Lasang Pinoy sa Los Angeles in the popular Gerry’s Grill in Artesia.

T he pr oje c t i s meant to promote F i l ipi no C u i si ne through a sustained online campaign in consonance w ith the celebrations of the Philippine Food and Heritage during the months of April and May. During the program, ConGen Badajos pointed out the strength of culinary arts not only in proPHILIPPINE Consul General in LA Edgar Badajos hands a plaque of recognition to Gerry’s Grill moting the culture of owner Dr. Ray Mangune as Consul Dyan Miranda-Pastrana and PDTI director Richmond Jimenez a people, but as well look on. Photo by Myrna Aquitania

as in building up the economic strength of an ethnic community.

The newly arrived consul general also took the opportunity to meet and dine with the members of the local media which included Weekend Balita’s Myrna Aquitania, Philippine Post publisher/ed itor Va l Abelgas, Asian Journal’s managing editor Christina Oriel,

Got your 1 shot? st

Here are 8 things to know before your second COVID-19 vaccine shot

1 2 3 4

Side effects will likely be stronger

While many people report the second shot packs a punch, the good news is that older adults are less likely to experience vaccine reactions.

Avoid taking pain relievers before your shot Pain relievers taken preemptively ahead of a shot could dampen the effectiveness of the vaccine.

Timing between doses doesn't need to be exact

The second dose of the Pfizer shot is recommended to be given 21 days after the first; for Moderna, 28 days. But if you miss it, the second dose can be given up to 6 weeks after the first.

The second dose should be from the same manufacturer as the first

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A rash at the injection site isn't a reason to skip your second dose

A rash at the injection site after getting the first shot should not deter from getting the second shot.

6

Temporarily avoid all other vaccines

7

Full immunity is not immediate

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Continue preventative measures

Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are not interchangeable with each other or with other COVID-19 vaccine products.

Avoid other immunizations in the two weeks before and after both doses.

It takes 2 weeks after the second dose to build full protection to the virus.

Continue to wear a mask and practice social distancing after vaccination. It’s still possible to carry the virus and silently transmit it to others.

AARP is fighting to protect the health of Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders 50+ and their families by providing trusted information and resources surrounding COVID-19.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccination at aarp.org/vaccineinfo

PCG-LA

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ABNER GALINO, Fil-Am News Editor

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Transform your out-of-style jewelry and make them trendy and stunning for Mother's Day

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ward - winning jewelry designer, Alon Vivat offers new trends in transforming your loved one's out-of-style jewelry, such as unused diamonds or gold and use them to create more trendy pieces in time for Mother's Day. By creatively re-designing the outdated jewelries, it will enable your loved ones to have lesser expense, as compared to buying new ones. Alon Vivat can hopefully give you credit for your diamonds, gold or other stones they can use to create "newer" more trendy look.

As a former diamond salesman in 1985, Alon has since founded and established their diamond and jewelry business along with his wife Gila, who has a background in software and hardware computer systems, which helps her fuse aspects of technology in their jewelry design business. Their company, Vivat & Co. received the JCK Jeweler's Choice Awards, for their Trophy Collection pieces (Rings, Earrings, Bracelets), during their annual show in Las Vegas in 2018.

In transforming out-of-style jewelries, Alon Vivat has the creative artistry in designing each piece of jewelry, by transforming complex pieces into classy items. In 2015, Alon has received the Best Bracelet Design Award for jewelries over $10,000 as well as Best Bracelet Design for $2,501 $10,000 jewelry categories in the annual Jewelry show in Las Vegas in 2018.

Alon's innovative designs hold United States Copyrights and Design Patents on certain items. Their Trophy Bracelet Collection, won the JCK Jeweler's Choice Award in 2018 because the bracelets were intricately designed, where each one of its links were

created as a Trophy replica, that has a sparkling diamond inserted on top. The smaller surface base of each link makes it appear as if the diamonds are floating on air. These Trophy Bracelets are more affordable than Tennis or Line Bracelets in the market, because between each link lies a secret space which carries about 30 per cent less diamond

TURN THIS

INTO THIS

Alon and Gila Vivat, owners of Vivat & Co. weight enhanced with a more creative look.

For those of you who are interested in transforming your out-of-style jewelry and make them appear more trendy, in time for Mother's Day, log on to Vivat and Company's website: www.vivatandco.com or CALL: 213.622-5870. Wishing you all a HAPPY and memorable MOTHER’S DAY!

Filipinos join celebration of Workers’ Memorial Day

By ABNER GALINO

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contingent of Filipino workers, particularly belonging to the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC), joined fellow laborers on Wednesday (April 28) in celebrating the 50th Workers’ Memorial Day and in honoring workers who recently died from COVID 19.

The memorial, organized by the Southern California Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health, was held outside the Los Angeles City Hall. It was attended by caregivers, domestic workers and other laborers involved in the service sectors.

Aliya Plaza, who spoke for the PWC delegation, expressed her grief for fellow workers (some of them members of the PWC) who recently met their untimely death.

Plaza honored the memories of fellow workers she named as Eligio Cabungcal, Anthony Navalta, Nestor Bautista Fedelina Lugasan, Esther Laguinod and

Rodrigo Sabino.

The PWC representative also honored the memory of hip-hop artist and US Marine veteran Mark “Bagyo” Villamac Ho. Bagyo was a devoted supporter of the PWC. He did not only performed for the group during events but also participated in its activities, among them; driving the PWC’s famous “jeepney” around Filipinotown for visitors and young Filipino Americans.

Plaza said that the deaths of her fellow workers should not go in vain but should inspire others to fight for better wages and working conditions.

One of the speakers, domestic worker Andrea Lopez, narrated to the crowd her own experiences in the past and in the recent days as the pandemic hardly hit her sector.

Lopez revealed how she was exposed to the virus by an insensible client who did not disclose to her that he had a COVID 19 infection when he asked her to clean his house.

The domestic worker told the

crowd how she feared her life and the lives of her children when she found out the truth.

Lopez also had a miscarriage some time ago in another unfortunate episode in her life as a domestic worker.

One of the main speakers, Rev. Jennifer Gutierrez, told her audience that people should stop believing that the recent deaths of their fellow workers as mere circumstances of them being on “their time to go.” She explained that those deaths were not only unfortunate but preventable as well.

Simultaneously, California Governor Gavin Newsom has issued a proclamation declaring April 28, 2021 as “Workers’ Memorial Day” in the State of California.

In the proclamation, Newsom acknowledged the workers’ contributions to the growth of the fifth largest economy in the world and said the government of California is committed to securing safe and healthy working conditions for everyone.

PCG-LA... FROM PAGE 1 GMA 7’s Josh Andowitt, ABS CBN’s Steve Angeles and Weekend Balita’s editor for Filipino American news Abner Galino.

Badajos also tried his hands in grilling seafood that were prepared Filipino style.

The consul general was joined by Philippine Department of Tourism director Richmond Jimenez, Consul Dyan Miranda-Pastrana and Gerry’s Grill owner Dr. Ray Mangune.

In a brief provided to the media, the PCG-LA said the project seeks to “expand mainstream media awareness of Philippine culinary tradition through actual photo shoots and videos of Filipino cuisine and food preparation on social media platforms; promote and support Filipino and Filipino-American-owned small and medium scale enterprises (particularly restaurants); and foster a better understanding of Filipino culture with emphasis on the contributions of Fil-Am and Filipino owned businesses to the US economy.”

Fortunately, the PCG-LA project comes at a time when the City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County are already preparing to open up more on its businesses due the declining cases of coronavirus transmissions.

In a press statement, the Los Angeles County said it has begun “to meet the qualifications for the least restrictive yellow tier in the State's Blueprint for a Safer Economy framework.”

If the numbers continue to decline in the case rate and test positivity rate for an additional week, LA County could possibly move up to the less restrictive “Yellow Tier” by early May. In the yellow tier, capacity limits at various businesses and events can increase. Bars would be allowed to resume indoor service at 25% capacity.

On Tuesday, L.A. County's adjusted case rate dropped from 2.7 new cases per 100,000 people to 1.9 new cases per 100,000. The overall test positivity rate dropped from 1.2% to 0.9%, and in areas with the fewest health affirming resources, L.A. County’s test positivity rate dropped from 1.4% to 1.0%.

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$2 billion help for CA small business

By MARK HEDIN Ethnic Media Services

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s the COVID-19 pandemic continues to take a toll on California’s small businesses, the state has dedicated more than $2 billion for grants to help keep them afloat.

All roads to those $5,000-$25,000 grants go through Lendistry, the sole intermediary between the state and the business community.

At a telebriefing cohosted by EMS and California Black Media, Everett Sands, Lendistry’s founder and CEO, described what’s new and different about the California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program.

“No one expected us to have 344,000 applications in the first 15 days,” he recalled, looking back at the Dec. 30, 2020, inception of what was then a $500 million program.

Since then, the state has raised the funding total to more than $2 billion, distributed in six rounds, including one targeting nonprofit cultural institutions only. The sixth and final round opens April 28 and will close May 4, with grants to be announced May 7.

“Hats off to the governor and the state and the Cal OSBA (Office of the Small Business Advocate) for seeing

the need,” he said.

“California is actually setting a tone that I guarantee you we’ll see other states follow in upcoming months with the American Rescue bill.”

“It’s a grant, not a loan,” Sands emphasized.

“The first thing to do is just apply. I can’t stress that more.”

Applications can be initiated through this link (https://careliefgrant.com/) in any of 18 languages.

The program is open to both for-profit and non-profit businesses. Sands reiterated that simply opening up an application is the most important step in the process for COVID-19-impacted small business seeking some financial help.

“You don’t have to get wrapped up in the paperwork. Lendistry will provide support. Just apply. Because applying is the opportunity to get selected.”

Lendistry has been approving between 3,000 and 5,000 applications per day, he said.

Once an application is on file, Lendistry representatives and partners will help businesses complete them, even after the deadline to apply has passed.

“That’s not normal,” Sands admitted.

But, he said, “the spirit of this program is to try to help those who were un-

US, PH 'successfully' conclude child protection compact A total of 356 child victims of online sexual exploitation have been assisted while 97 traffickers were arrested through the four-year Philippine-United States Child Protection Compact (CPC) Partnership that successfully concluded this month, the US Embassy in Manila reported Thursday.

foundation reflected in various efforts" aimed at eliminating all forms of exploitation against children.

"I remain confident that this Partnership will become even more effective at combating many forms of abuse against of children in the years to come,” he said.

The CPC partnership was signed in 2017 and concluded on April 11, 2021.

Over its four-year implementation, it strengthened both the government and civil society's capacity to address the online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC) and child labor trafficking, specifically on prosecuting and convicting traffickers as well as providing trauma-informed care for victims.

Throughout the partnership, the TIP Office committed PHP237 million (USD4.9 million) while the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking in Dr. Kari Johnstone, Acting Director for the Office Persons (IACAT) pledged approximately PHP44.6 million to Combat and Monitor Trafficking in Persons (USD921,760).

During the final high-level dialogue Programming was implemented by on CPC, US State Department’s Office partner organizations International to Monitor and Combat Trafficking Justice Mission and The Salvation in Persons (TIP Office) Acting Direc- Army. tor Dr. Kari Johnstone said she looks The Salvation Army trained more forward to new initiatives to sustain than 355 social workers on victim-centhe government and the civil society's tered care and directly supported 44 "improved capacity" achieved under survivors while the International Justhe partnership.” tice Mission has identified 312 child "We celebrate the tremendous work victims and facilitated the arrests of accomplished under the Child Protec- 97 perpetrators. tion Compact Partnership over the last In a statement, Justice Secretary four years and look ahead towards new Menardo Guevarra said: “Through the initiatives to sustain the improved ca- CPC, the Philippine government has pacity of both the Government of the been able to carve out a more targetPhilippines and civil society organiza- ed and focused response to OSEC by tions achieved under this partnership,” identifying key objectives and adjusting she said. critical resources in order to address Embassy Chargé d’Affaires John Law priority responses in the prevention added that the CPC allowed the US, and prosecution of OSEC cases as well the Philippine government, and civil as the protection of victim-survivors." society organizations to build a "solid (MNS)

able to get into larger programs that might have been more conducive to bigger companies,” possibly because they’re more adept at and accustomed to working with traditional financial institutions.

Furthermore, unlike the federal Paycheck Protection Program, the funds will not be simply distributed “first-come-first-serve” as applications arrive.

“We decided to make sure that we gave everybody a chance,” he said. Of the five rounds of financing now completed, two were only open to those companies that had been wait-listed in an earlier round.

The upcoming one is also open to new applicants.

Lendistry is working with more than 100 partner organizations, located in all 58 California counties, to help facilitate the application process.

In Fresno County alone, for example, there are 16 potential partners an applicant can work with. Among them are the American Indian Chamber of Commerce, ASIAN Inc., the Asian Business Institute and Resource Center, the Black Small Business Association of California, California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, CA Women’s Business Center, the Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce & Chamber Foundation, the Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation and eight more.

“We’re all here to help provide access to the program,” another panelist, Lamar Heystek, president of ASIAN, Inc., one of those partners, explained.

“First-come, first serve does not work for the neediest of our businesses, and that is not how we determine eligibility,” he said.

He touted the five or six explanatory videos each offered in eight different languages on the Lendistry website: https://careliefgrant.com/videos-on-demand/ and provided his and ASIAN Inc.’s email addresses (president@asianinc.org and CAreliefgrant@ asianinc.org) for further support.

Hestek and Sands pointed out that the California Relief Grants Program has the potential to help businesses with costs that the federal Paycheck Protection Program would not.

“These funds are not so restrictive that you couldn’t use them toward the normal course of business,” Hestek said, citing as examples instance, insurance, taxes, inventory or maintenance costs.

“The most impacted businesses are going to get that money first,” Julian Canete of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce said, another of Lendistry’s partners. “It’s based on need.”

“We’ve really been concentrating on businesses that may fall through the cracks, those real small businesses, those micro-businesses who think they may not qualify.”

“What we don’t need to do is put businesses further in debt,” he said, reflecting on the decision to make the Relief Grant Program not loans, but grants or forgivable loans.

Pleshette Robertson, CEO of Sac Cultural Hub and a recipient of one of the grants, expressed her appreciation of the relative simplicity of the application process. She used the Sac Cultural Hub’s grant to make payroll and lease payments.

“The grant has really served its purpose and continues to serve its purpose,” she said.

Pilipino po tayo!

LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH U. REYES, P.C. ATTORNEY-AT-LAW

*Certified Family Law Specialist The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization - Certified Family Law Specialist - Certified Public Accountant (Inactive) -J.D Southwestern University Law School Los Angeles, CA - B.S Accounting California State University, San Bernardino, CA

CALL OR E-MAIL FOR AN APPOINTMENT 213-204-6366 or

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A Doctor’s Word: Keeping Kids Safe as They Return to School

By SUNITA SOHRABJI EMS Contributing Editor This is one of a series of EMS columns by doctors and health care experts on how to stay safe in the pandemic.

Children can and should safely return to schools even before they are vaccinated, according to University of California San Francisco pediatric infectious diseases specialist Brian Lee. “I am a parent. I worry about my kids getting sick from COVID when they go back to school. I share your anxieties,” said Lee, at an April 22 town hall meeting organized by UCSF’s Asian Health Institute. Lee practices at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals in San Francisco, where he was born, and in Oakland, where he grew up. Lee is also a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at UCSF’s School of Medicine.

The Pfizer vaccine for COVID is currently available for children over the age of 16, and the company has submitted data for administering to children 12-15.

Lee anticipates young teens will be eli-

gible for the Pfizer vaccine this summer.

Moderna and Johnson and Johnson are studying their vaccines for delivery to children ages 6 months to 17 years.

By this fall, as children return to classrooms, most should be eligible for the vaccine, anticipated the physician.

But children can return to in-person learning even before they are vaccinated, said Lee, citing the viewpoint of the American Association of Pediatrics, which noted that the pandemic has taken a toll on children’s physical and mental well-beings. There is a low risk of transmission at schools even in communities with high levels of transmission, he said.

In San Francisco, for example, 20,000 people, including children, teachers and staff, attend public schools, but only 5 children have become infected at school, said Lee. Protective measures do not eliminate the risk of infection, but greatly reduce it, said the physician. Children over the age of two must wear well-fitted masks, which cover their nose, mouth, and chin, and should carry an extra one in case of

2 Fil-Am orgs form part of LA County Public Health Councils

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t least two prominent Filipino American organizations form part of the 10 partners organizations that will participate in the implementation of the so-called Public Health Council initiative in Los Angeles county.

Last fall, Supervisor Sheila J. Kuehl and former Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, directed the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) to implement the Public Health Councils initiative to protect workers that have been highly impacted by COVID-19.

Today (April 28), Public Health recently launched the Public Health Councils initiative and collaboration with the Liberty Hill Foundation, UCLA Labor Occupation Safety and Health Program, and the Southern California Coalition for Safety and Health. It will be partnering and training ten community-based organizations to provide outreach, engagement, and technical assistance to workers in the following sectors: food manufacturing, apparel manufacturing, warehousing and storage, restaurants, and grocery stores and supermarkets.

The ten partners organizations include: Filipino Migrant Center, Garment Worker Center, Hospitality Training Academy, Icaza Foundation, Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance, Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, Restaurant Opportunities Center-LA, Pilipino Workers Center, Thai Community Development Corporation, and Warehouse Workers Resource Center.

Initial training for these partners began in March and education and outreach efforts are underway.

The initiative supports workers form “Public Health Councils” to help ensure that employees in hard hit industries are protected by Los Angeles County Health Officer Orders.

Public Health Councils are comprised of workers that conduct peer-to-peer education with their co-workers regarding required safety measures and worksite compliance.

CONTNUED ON PAGE 5

tears or breakage. Children who have temperatures higher than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit should stay home.

In the classroom, children should be seated at least three feet apart. Cohorting — assigning groups of students to remain with each other throughout the day — should be implemented, and teachers can be rotated, rather than students, to avoid crowding in hallways.

Outdoor areas can be employed for in-person learning, particularly in good weather, said Lee. Indoors, ventilation can be increased in classrooms by opening doors and windows.

Cleaning with soap and water is important, but disinfecting daily is unnecessary, said Lee. Kids do very well with COVID, even when they get infected, and they are normally asymptomatic, or have only mild symptoms, said Lee. Less than two percent of people under the age of 18 have been hospitalized with COVID, and only .03 percent have died, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control. Of those who have been hospitalized, more than 40 percent have an underlying illness — such as obesity, chronic lung disorder or a neurological order — which makes them more vulnerable to getting ill from an infection.

The symptoms of a COVID infection in children include fever, coughs, headaches, muscle aches, and sore throats.

Less common are diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and a loss of taste or smell.

One area of concern is Multi-system Inflammatory Syndrome in Children — known as MIS-C — an extremely rare,

but very severe inflammatory condition associated with COVID which infects multiple organs, especially the heart.

MIS-C is most prevalent in children aged 8-9 and typically shows up twofour weeks after a child has been infected with COVID. Children do not play a major role in transmitting COVID, said Lee, stating the point of view of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

But the disease has taken a toll on children’s mental and physical well-beings, said Lee. 36 percent of girls and 19 percent of boys have experienced anxiety during the past 15 months, as schools reconfigured into online learning. 31 percent of girls and 18 percent of boys have experienced depression. Both sexes are experiencing greater levels of withdrawal from friends and family, and are exhibiting increasingly hostile behavior, said Lee, citing CDC data.

“I’ve seen this with my own children: they are spending a lot of time in their rooms, looking at their I-pads, not going outside to get fresh air and exercise.

Nagging does not help,” said Lee, noting that two-thirds of children in virtual classes had decreased physical activity, and more than a third had worsening mental health.

Moreover, there has been a 24 percent increase in children going to the emergency room with mental health emergencies, and a 31 percent increase for teens.

“The benefits of in-person learning — academic improvement, better physical and mental health outcomes — far outweigh the risks,” said Lee.

Clergy, faithful urged to pray for India

Anadolu photo

An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) asked priests and the faithful to include in their prayers the people of India which is currently grappling with an unprecedented surge in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

“Let us always remember and include India in our prayers and Holy Masses, that with the rest of world, this Covid-19 pandemic will end and healing will come to all of us,” Bishop Ruperto Santos, vice chairman of CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People said in a statement on Thursday.

He also encouraged prelates and the faithful to bring hope and help everyone who is affected by the pandemic.

"All of us must beg our almighty God to lead us to safety, sound health, and success in combatting this coronavirus,” the Balanga bishop added.

He reminded Filipinos to strictly adhere to the safety protocols provided by the government to prevent the further spread of the virus.

“With what is happening in India, let us here in our country, be more serious and be stricter to implement and follow the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) protocols. Let us do what is most necessary to prevent the spread of the virus, to protect and help one another from this Covid-19 pandemic,” he added.

India is currently battling a second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic with over 18.3 million cases and over 200,000 deaths.

The South Asian nation has been recording over 300,000 new Covid-19 cases and 2,000 deaths daily for the past week. (MNS)

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Cases of domestic abuse skyrocket during pandemic

By JENNY MANRIQUE Ethnic Media Services As a child, Tina Rodríguez was a victim of domestic violence and sexual abuse and repeatedly called 911 to report mistreatment by her father against her mother and siblings. His attacks not only caused her serious eating disorders but also a deep trauma only healed after years of family therapy.

This healing path however, led to an unexpected outcome: over time, Rodríguez reconciled with the man who destroyed her childhood.

As part of her work with survivors of sexual assault, Rodríguez has invited her father to share his experience with other abusers on what punishment means in the criminal justice system. But what he considers more hurtful than prison is dealing with the harm done to his own family.

"There is a gap in cultural accountability for both those that have been impacted with anger issues or violent impulses and the inability to control them, and those that have been victims of domestic violence," Rodríguez said during a conference organized by Ethnic Media Services.

"We rely on education for prevention and intervention from (criminal) systems that have helped create pain, and then want to keep us trapped in that pain ...

We need to hold ourselves culturally accountable for educating our youth about domestic violence and prevention," added the advocate, who today serves as the California manager for Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice.

According to a 2020 report from the New England Journal of Medicine, during the pandemic one in four women and one in 10 men have faced abuse from their intimate partner or spouse. Anecdotal reports point to a dramatic increase in domestic violence amid COVID-19.

"It has been hard for victims to access resources or help when quarantining with

their abusive partner," said Monica Khant, Executive Director of the Atlanta-based Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-based Violence.

"It is difficult to take time to run to the bathroom to make a secret call ... even accessing information on computers has been hard when a lot of immigrant families do not have the same technological access that we’ve needed to survive the pandemic," she added.

The way the criminal justice system works in cases of domestic violence, especially for ethnic and immigrant communities, begins with a call to 911. Then a complaint is filed with the police and a court intervenes, issuing a restraining order or an anger management treatment, measures that may remove the abuser from the family, but do not resolve the causes of the violence.

The solution often offered is to break up the family and not a path to reconciliation, even though abusers and victims will have to share custody of the children.

Not to mention the fear of a black mother that the police will intervene and kill her partner or that of an immigrant mother that someone in the family will end up being deported because of a call to law enforcement.

"Divorce or leaving the abusive situation is not the first choice," said Kant, who has represented hundreds of domestic violence clients. "It is important to reconcile using social services, rather than criminally endorsed systems in place.”

However, these resources are less accessible to immigrants due to language barriers or cultural nuances that sometimes force victims to stay in situations of violence to avoid “shaming the family”.

The loss of jobs during the pandemic has also increased the financial dependence of the abusive partner, in situations where immigrant survivors are ineligible for unemployment benefits.

2 FIL-AM... FROM PAGE 4 The initiative also includes educational outreach to employers in these sectors regarding required infection control measures issued through Health Officer Orders. Support for this initiative comes from the County of Los Angeles and several private foundations.

“The launch of our Public Health Councils as well as the County’s new anti-retaliation ordinance send a very strong message that the County is serious about workplace safety and protecting employees who identify potential health order violations.

While this new program, the first of its kind in the country, emerged from the pandemic, its importance will be felt long, long after the pandemic has subsided, reassuring every employee in LA County that they will be safe at work,” said Supervisor Sheila J. Kuehl.

“It is unjust that essential workers in low-paid sectors have borne a disproportionate impact of COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths,” said Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell.

“The death rate for people living in under-resourced communities is more than three times higher than for people living in higher income areas. This novel program helps support our efforts to protect essential workers and to create a more equitable and just LA County.”

Communities of color are particularly vulnerable when there is a lack of workplace compliance, and exposures at worksites contribute to significant inequities in health outcomes.

In order to reduce rates of community transmission, businesses, particularly those newly re-opening or expanding capacity, will need to attend to all the County’s Health Officer Orders includ-

ing masking, distancing, and infection control.

“Protection of workers through workplace compliance with public health requirements is critical to reduce COVID transmissions in Los Angeles County, particularly with the relaxing of many restrictions. We know many employers and employees are united in their desire to protect workers and customers, keep communities safe, and continue our recovery journey,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health.

“With support from trusted organizations including workers’ centers and community-based organizations, workers can form Public Health Councils to improve COVID safety on the job and keep themselves and their families safe.”

April 28 is the 50th anniversary of Workers Memorial Day, an annual event where communities come together to remember those who have suffered or lost their lives on the job.

Sadly, we have seen the number of work-related deaths and illness increase over the past year due to COVID-19.

Through the Public Health Councils initiative, the County is investing in the health and wellbeing of workers, and honoring the sacrifices made by some of our hardest hit communities which can help workers feel safe and more protected on the job.

"It's important that workers feel safe and are protected. When the team is happy and they work in a great environment, everyone wins and businesses make a profit,” said Lazaro Martinez Jr., an employer with TMG Cut & Sew in Los Angeles.

A societal problem Rodriguez's father paid a prison sentence for the abuse inflicted on her family, after which he agreed to participate in a restorative justice process that she described as "brutal", full of "candid and vulnerable" discussions.

“I learned that, like me, he also struggled with suicidal ideation,” said Rodriguez, for whom these encounters not only helped her to heal but also inspired her to lead a domestic violence prevention program at Valley State Prison.

“Society has gender assignments, and assumes men are expected to be the provider of the household,” Rodriguez observed. “Nobody talks about the type of pressure for a black man who, whether he is college educated and highly skilled, is screened out of about five interviews because of his skin color… the anger comes from that trauma of being oppressed and screened out of opportunities to be a provider”, she added.

Among Latinos, the multigenerational expectation of being the provider of a family that migrates in search of a better future, can also generate the fear of failure and end in violent impulses.

"We see domestic violence as a result of personal experience, but it’s really a societal and cultural problem," said Reverend Aleese Moore-Orbih, Executive Director of the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence.

“It speaks to the health of our society, to the brokenness of our society. The trauma one experiences in domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, child abuse, any of those has a lifetime impact."

In her work of more than 20 years with these victims, Moore-Orbih has observed how post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is transferred from generation to generation, which hasn’t allowed them to “live into the fullness of their capacities as human beings.”

"Women, girls, and those who identi-

fy with the feminine energy are always the most vulnerable," said Moore-Orbih.

“But if we talk about healthy masculinity, how about a healthy femininity as well?

We all need to be healthy individuals...

How do we shift the paradigm? When we stop worshiping control and power as a glorified way to be, when we stop encouraging our children to seek to have power and control, then we can start to see the change that happens in our intimate relationships."

For Jerry Tello, Founder and Director of Training and Capacity Building at Compadres Network, it is impossible to talk about domestic violence without talking about oppression, racism, white supremacy, and generational trauma.

“Where are the programs that understand this? There are none!"

Raised alongside seven siblings in a neighborhood of black and brown families in Compton, California, Tello lost his father -an immigrant from Chihuahuawhen he was very young. Because of a strong macho culture, he did not mourn his death.

“I kept the grief inside me. I learned that in order to survive I couldn't feel.

Feeling was going to make me vulnerable," he said. Tello also did not know how to express his pain when seeing many parents of his friends get locked up and sent away, or even get shot. "I couldn't cry."

32 years ago, together with another psychologist colleague, he created the Compadres Network to develop healing circles, and curriculum for rites of passage for young orphans, for teen fathers and for bringing families together.

“We made the decision that the first step of healing is healing ourselves, we have to reclaim the sacredness of ourselves as men. We have the medicine within us and our neighborhoods,” he said. "Lifting us up is an important aspect of this transformation," he concluded.

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More Real Estate Predictions

WE certainly have a very unpredictable RE market and it has been roughly one year when the pandemic put the housing market on hold for several months last spring. But the real estate market bounced back quickly and has been booming since then. More existing homes were sold in 2020 than in any year since 2006. Many market watchers are curious to know how long will this housing boom last or will the market eventually crash? Well, so far, the housing market continues to be sizzling hot resulting in higher home prices and quick-selling homes.

Housing demand remained strong in the first quarter of 2021 but the supply still lags behind. Buyers who are currently struggling to find a house are likely to see improvement in the number of listings available to them as more sellers list their houses for the spring buying season. Existing-home sales fell 3.7% from the prior month to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 6.01 million as sales in all major regions declined. It marks two consecutive months of decline in home sales, according to the latest data released by the National Association of Realtors. There is still a huge inequality between number of buyers and sellers therefore I am concluding that the move up sellers cant help push the move up buyers market.

Single-family home sales decreased to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 5.30 million in March, down 4.3% from 5.54 million in February, and up 10.4% from one year ago. Despite

the drop in home sales housing market continues strong even as mortgage rates tick up to the highest levels this year amid rising long-term bond yields. The housing market has been struggling to keep up with the demand for the past decade.

The pandemic has led to a surge in demand. The median sales price of an existing home has risen 17.2% from last year and they have increased even more in some regions of the country. It has reached a historic high of $329,100, with all regions posting double-digit price gains. March's national price jump marks 109 straight months of year-over-year gains. The median existing single-family home price was $334,500 in March, up 18.4% from March 2020.

Hence, the supply-demand dynamics will continue to push home prices up by 8 percent in 2021 – up from the previously predicted rate of 4.2 percent (FHFA Home Price Index). Another interesting thing is that this higher home price forecast more than diminishes the modestly higher interest rate forecast. Therefore, the mortgage originations are also expected to tick up by 14.5 percent year-over-year in 2021.

Fannie Mae predicts overall single-family mortgage market originations in 2021 and 2022 to total $4.0 trillion and $3.0 trillion, up from $3.9 trillion and $2.9 trillion, respectively. However, according to another mortgage giant, Freddie Mac, the total originations will decline to $3.5

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trillion in 2021 as higher mortgage rates have the potential to soften the robust demand the housing market has been experiencing.

Even with rising mortgage rates and higher prices, the housing market should remain strong due to very tight inventories and increasing demand as more millennials are projected to buy houses this year. Now millennials make up the largest share of homebuyers in the US, according to a 2020 survey from the NAR. According to a new study by Realtor.com, buying is more cost-efficient than renting in a growing number of the largest cities in the country. This is encouraging news for the millions of millennials who are approaching peak homebuying age.

With the increasing prices, the monthly mortgage payments have also increased by almost $100. The monthly payment for an 80% loan for the typical listing hit $1,260 in March 2021, matching the previous peaks in both fall 2018 and spring 2019, according to Realtor.com. We are now in a period where we can compare housing trends against the early days of the pandemic when the real estate market was largely halted.

The U.S. housing market is 3.8 million single-family homes short of what is needed to meet the country's housing demand, up 52% as compared with 2018's shortfall, according to a new analysis from mortgage-finance company Freddie Mac. In 2018, Freddie Mac had estimated that the housing market was 2.5 million units short of what it needed to meet long-term demand. The new estimate is as of the end of 2020 and it emphasizes the severity of the housing supply.

While the current housing short-

Saturday-Friday | May 1 - 7, 2021

age is also due to the moratorium on foreclosures but it's mainly because of home builders not keeping up with long-term demand growth.

Single-family housing starts rose last year to 991,000 units but builders would need to construct between 1.1 million and 1.2 million single-family homes a year to meet long-term demand. The last time single-family housing starts broke 1 million was in 2007.

The results of more listings in the spring-summer buying season and higher mortgage rates are that both could slow down the pace of home price appreciation. If homes would sit on the market longer, markets will then accumulate more active listings.

In the second half of this year, we will see higher mortgage rates and, as they continue ticking up, which may begin to create a ceiling on the median home price growth, as monthly payments on new mortgages become less and less affordable.

Homebuilding will continue and new homes will pile up a bit which will slow down the rate of price appreciation. There are reasons to believe that the housing market will remain tight in 2021 because there are firsttime buyers (Millennials) coming into the market. First-time buyers were responsible for 32% of sales in March, up from 31% in February.

I believe if you can afford, save and qualify for a home, its always a good time. Quoting a famous persons saying “ Its always a good time to buy 5 yerars ago”. Thanks for your inquiries and comments, please call Ken Go of 1st Innovative Finance Group or email kennethgo@verizon. net . CABRE01021223 NMLS 238636

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YOU may not like what I have to say in this article. But oftentimes, the truth hurts. But if you find yourself broke every payday because of too much debt, you may find the information here helpful to change your life for the better.

Did you know that more than 90% of the population lives from paycheck to paycheck? And a lot of these people don’t even have any kind of savings that they can access in case of a financial emergency.

As a matter of fact, a study has revealed that most people have less than $5,000 in their savings account. I don’t know about you but for most people, that amount can’t even cover one month’s worth of living expenses! What would happen to you and your family if you had a sudden loss of income? That’s a scary thought, isn’t it?

As a bankruptcy attorney, I have found that the reason most people find it impossible to save is because a huge portion of their income goes to simply paying debts each month, mostly credit cards.

For example, if you are leaving paycheck to paycheck, every penny that you take home from your job is already accounted for every month. A portion goes to rent or your mortgage, a portion goes to your other living expenses and a portion also goes to paying debts every month. Thus, after all your bills and debts are paid, you are left with nothing - so you wait for next payday again.

OK, maybe there’s not much you can do about your expenses because they are what they are (unless you are living beyond your means). But maybe there is something you can do about your debts so that a lesser portion of your income goes to debt payments every month.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

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CAN I GET REIMBURSED FOR MY SEPARATE PROPERTY CONTRIBUTION FROM ALL SUBSEQUENT COMMUNITY PROPERTIES PURCHASED DURING MARRIAGE? QUESTION: I contributed money which I saved before the marriage into purchasing a property during the marriage which I acquired with my spouse in joint name. During the marriage we cashed out most of the equity in that house to purchase several properties. The first house we purchased no longer has a lot of equity due to the cash out refi but the subsequent houses we purchased has a lot of equity.

My spouse just filed for divorce.

Can I seek reimbursement for my separate money that I contributed from all the subsequent houses we purchased during the marriage?

Answer: Family Code Section 2640, subdivision (b), provides, “In the division of the community estate under this division, unless a party has made a written waiver of the right to reimbursement or has signed a writing that has the effect of a waiver, the party shall be reimbursed for the party’s contributions to the acquisition of the property to the extent the party traces the contributions to a separate property source.

The amount reimbursed shall be without interest or adjustment for change in monetary values and shall not exceed the net va lue of t he propert y at t he time of the division.” Section 2640, subdivision (a), provides, “ ‘Contributions to the acquisition of the property,’ as used in this section, include downpayments, pay ments for improvements, and payments that reduce the principal of a loan used to finance the purchase or improvement of the property but do not include payments of interest on the loan or payments made for maintenance, insurance, or ta xation of the property.” Under Family Code Section 2640, the separate property contribution is reimbursed prior to the division of community property. In re Marriage of Witt (1987) 197 Cal.App.3d 103, 105, 108–109, 242 Cal.Rptr. 646; In re

Marriage of Tallman (1994) 22 Cal.App.4th 1697, 1698–1700, 28 Cal.Rptr.2d 323; Hogoboom & King, Cal. Practice Guide: Family Law 2 (The Rutter Group 1997) ¶ 8:466, p. 8–118.1 In other words “A reimbursement award comes off the top of the community property item in question ***859 **1127 before the [community property] interest in that property is divided.” (Italics omitted.) ].)

If there is insufficient equity at the time of dissolution in the property to which the contribution was made to fully reimburse the contribution, the entire asset is awarded to the contributing spouse. In re Marriage of Witt, supra, 197 Cal.App.3d at pp. 105, 108–109, 242 Cal.Rptr. 646.

The right of reimbursement under family code section 2640 goes further than the initial proper t y pu rcha sed du r i ng the marriage. In Marriage of Walrath, 17 Cal. 4th 907, (1998), the California Supreme Court held that a spouse’s reimbursement right upon dissolution for a separate property contribution to a community property acquisition ca r r ies t h roug h to ot her community property subsequently acquired with proceeds from original acquisition. Marriage of Walrath, 17 Cal. 4th 907, (1998).

In other words, you can seek reimbursement for the separate money you contributed, not only from the initial property purchased jointly during the marriage but also from any subsequent properties

MINDING YOUR FINANCES…

you were able to purchase during the marriage by refinancing the initial property provided you can trace the separate funds through the various purchase transactions.

H o w e v e r, y o u r r i g h t t o reimbursement is limited to the separate money you actually contributed. You do not get to share in any of the of appreciation of the community property houses. Any appreciation above your separate contribution gets credited to the community. Where spouse contributes separate property to an acquisition of community property, and proceeds from original acquisition are later used to acquire other community property, spouse’s recovery of proceeds from subsequent ly acquired property is limited in dissolution proceeding to the a mount of spouse’s orig ina l contribution that can be traced to that subsequently acquired asset; community is entitled to any appreciation in that asset above the amount necessary to reimburse spouse for original separate property contribution.

Marriage of Walrath, 17 Cal. 4th 907, (1998).

I n Wa l r at h, Hu sba nd cont r ibuted $146,000 of his separate property into a house purchased jointly in California du r i ng t he ma r r iage wh i le Wife contributed $20,000 of her separate property into that house. During the marriage, the couple refinanced and took out $180,000 which was used to

purchase a house in Utah and a house in Nevada. Due to the refi and due to a decrease in real estate prices, the California property only had $1,000 in equity which was clearly insufficient to reimburse husband and wife during their divorce of each one’s separate property contribution.

However, the couple was able to get reimbursement from the subsequently purchased Utah and Nevada property by tracing their respective separate property contributions to the subsequently purchased property.

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 Board 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, APLC is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010.

Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com

FROM PAGE 6

Believe it or not, most people cannot survive even for just one single month without a paycheck! That’s right! These are the people with zero savings in the bank and with nothing to tap into in case of a financial emergency. Are you one of these people? If you are, I suggest you sit down and figure out a way to make some changes with your finances so that you will never, ever be put in such a helpless situation. Plan in advance and so you are not caught unprepared.

Financial problems can “snowball” easily. If you don’t pay your bills this month, next month you would need twice as much to get current. Well, if you have no savings whatsoever, just imagine how you can easily go from “being OK” to being bankrupt over a very short period of time.

That is why it is important that you keep your finances in check at all times, and do not be pulled by the world’s way of thinking. Going with the “crowd mentality” only assures you that you will wind up exactly where the crowd winds up. Dare to have a different way of thinking. Did you know that statistics show that 95% of the population will never achieve financial independence? Thus, if you do what everyone else is doing, you will get the same results that 95% of the population gets. Think about that for a minute.

We are living in a society where “excess” has become the norm and people’s “yearning” capacity has exceeded their “earning” capacity. To account for the difference between the two, these people amass large amounts of debt to support a lifestyle that their income

cannot afford.

The result: Empty bank accounts and no plan in place to keep the family’s welfare secure should an unforeseen financial crisis strike. And remember: Life is uncertain, and you never know when the next financial challenge could come. People die, get sick, disabled or they get laid off. If you do not carry insurance to protect yourself against these catastrophic events, the best insurance you can have are smart financial and debt management at all times.

Remember that debt is your enemy, not your ally, in your quest for financial security.

If you are struggling with serious debt problems, have zero savings and are worried about your financial future, you may be feeling frustrated and hopeless about your situation. Don’t give up! For a free consultation and debt analysis, call Toll-Free 1-866-477-7772.

NOTE: Due to COVID-19 concerns, I am offering free consultations

BY PHONE OR VIDEO to anyone who needs help in dealing with their debt problems.

(None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped over 5,000 clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call RJB Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1-866-477-7772).

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Makabayan solons to Duterte:

Philippines doesn't owe debt of gratitude to China MANILA (Mabuhay) — Members of the Makabayan Bloc on Thursday slammed President Rodrigo Duterte for saying that the Philippines owes China a huge debt of gratitude.

At a virtual press conference, Bayan Muna party-list Representative Ferdinand Gaite said it is Duterte who has a debt of gratitude to China, not the Philippines.

"Katrayduran nga ang ginawa ni Pangulong Duterte sa West Philippine Sea. Siya lang ang may utang na loob sa China, hindi ang taongbayan dahil marami siyang pakinabang, in terms probably ng utang," Gaite said.

ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro, for her part, said it is China that owes the Philippines because it continues its incursions even in the area where the Philippines has territorial rights.

She said Duterte should disclose its agreement with China regarding the COVID-19 vaccines Beijing donated to the country.

"Wala tayong utang na loob sa

China. Actually 'yung China pa 'yung dapat na magbayad sa atin dahil sa pagpasok nito sa exclusive economic zone ng Pilipinas na kung saan Pilipino lamang ang dapat mag-fish," Castro said.

"Parang ipinagpapalit ni Pangulong Duterte ang bakuna sa ating soberanya. There is something fishy here. Kailangang ibukas ni President Duterte 'yung naging usapan nila ng China kaugnay ng mga donasyon sa bakuna," she added.

Meanwhile, Kabataan party-list Representative Sarah Elago stressed that the Philippines' sovereign rights in the region could not be bartered with COVID-19 vaccines.

"Sa pagitan ng bakuna at soberanya, hindi naman makakapili lang ng isa. Hindi puwedeng ipagpalit ang soberanya sa bakuna. Huwag nating hayaan na pagbayaran ng ating pambansang soberanya ang kapalpakan, ang kapabayaan ng Duterte administration pagdating sa pagkanti para sa West Philippine Sea," Elago said.

During his public address on Wednesday night, Duterte said he would not wage war against China despite its incursions in the West Philippine Sea because the Philippines owes it a huge debt of gratitude.

The President mentioned China's donation of Sinovac vaccines against COVID-19. This was the first vaccine used by the country when it started its vaccination program in March.

"China is a good friend, mayroon tayong utang na loob na marami, pati na 'yung bakuna natin. So China, let it be known China is a good friend and we don’t want trouble with them especially with war," Duterte said.

(China is a good friend, we owe them a huge debt of gratitude, including our vaccines.)

Duterte said authorities would observe first China's actions within the Philippines exclusive economic zone.

Reports stated that Chinese vessels continue to occupy islands covering the Philippines exclusive economic zone. (MNS)

No considerations left for Parlade to stay as NTF-ELCAC spox — Drilon, Lacson MANILA (Mabuhay) — For Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Senator Panfilo Lacson, there are no considerations left for Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr. to stay as National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTFELCAC) spokesperson as his civilian post violates the 1987 Constitution.

The lawmakers were reacting to NTF-ELCAC’ vice chair and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon’s statement, saying Parlade and Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy will retain their positions in the task force while they review the concerns of some lawmakers against the two.

“Yes, Sec. Esperon should review, but insofar as Gen. Parlade is concerned, there are no options to consider,” Drilon said in a text message to reporters.

Drilon pointed out anew that the Constitution prohibits active members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to hold civilian positions.

“Moreover, that General Parlade should be relieved of his designation as NTF-ELCAC's spokesperson is not a matter of President (Rodrigo) Duterte's micro-managing the NTF-ELCAC as Sec. (Harry) Roque claims, but a matter of compliance with the constitutional prohibition,” he argued.

Recently, Roque said it is up to the anti-insurgency task force, and not to the President, to decide whether Parlade should be fired as its spokesperson as the Duterte is not a micromanaging NTF-ELCAC. Similar to Drilon’s argument, Lacson told Esperon to simply read Article XVI, Sec 5, paragraph 4 of the 1987 Constitution in deciding on Parlade’s fate as NTF-ELCAC’s mouthpiece.

“He may not even need one week to review,” Lacson said.

The said provision states that: No member of the armed forces in the active service shall, at any time, be appointed or designated in any capacity to a civilian position in the Government, including government-owned or controlled corporations or any of their subsidiaries.

“As such, Sec. Esperon and Malacañang’s legal staff can simply ask themselves the question: is NTF-ELCAC a civilian office or a unit of the AFP?” Lacson asked.

He also raised Article XVI, Section 5 (3) of the Constitution which states that armed forces shall be insulated from partisan politics and no member of the military shall engage, directly or indirectly, in any partisan political activity, except to vote.

On Tuesday, 15 senators filed a resolution censuring NTF-ELCAC spokesperson Parlade over his “stupid” remark against members of the upper chamber.

Senators also called for the defunding of the NTF-ELCAC, following "red-tagging" of community pantry initiators, who provided free food for those severely-affected by the COVID-19 lockdown.

LIEUTENANT GENERAL ANTONIO PARLADE JR. Parlade then said that it is “stupid” for the senators to recall the budget for the task force as they were the ones who approved the budget to continue with the program. (MNS)

PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE

Leila de Lima cleared of stroke, released from hospital MANILA (Mabuhay) — Detained Senator Leila de Lima left the Manila Doctors Hospital on Tuesday as she finished the appropriate medical tests and is now under stable condition.

To recall, the senator was feared to have suffered a mild stroke and was allowed by two Muntinlupa courts to seek medical attention.

In a press statement, de Lima's doctors bared that De Lima's Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (BMRI) imaging and CT angiography showed no evidence of stroke (acute infarct or hemorrhage).

According to the medical team who assisted de Lima, the senator experienced headaches due to hot the weather, poor ventilation and noise.

"This is associated with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and reactive hypertension," read the statement.

Despite already being in stable condition, doctors advised that de Lima's blood pressure and sugar level must be regularly monitored. The medical professionals also asked De Lima to avoid stress.

Her doctors also recommended increasing ventilation in her detention room.

“But how can I avoid stress, especially during these very trying times? Stress practically defines my adult life as a public servant,” de Lima said.

De Lima underwent medical examination at the Manila-based hospital from April 24 to 27 to rule out the “cerebrovascular accident.” (MNS)

LGUs urged to link local biz to community pantry organizers MANIL A (Mabuhay) — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) urged local government units (LGUs) to connect community pantry organizers to local businesses for their needs.

"At ang LGU din po ang pupuwedeng magbigay ng link sa ating mga organizer kung halimbawa kailangan ng mga supplier ay mayroon namang mga local producers (the LGUs can give links to our organizers, if ever they need suppliers, we have local producers)," DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said in a televised briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday night.

He added that this will help the local economy recover from the impact of the pandemic.

The measure is among the guidelines released by the DILG on the conduct of community pantries aimed at providing food and other essential items to the needy.

Año also emphasized that community pantry organizers should ensure the safety of their beneficiaries by implementing health and safety protocols to prevent a spike in Covid-19 cases and also should coordinate with

the local government units (LGUs) even if no permits are required for this charitable act.

“There must be a system on how aid from community pantries can reach those who cannot leave their houses such as senior citizens and persons with comorbidities What we want is these are localized. People from other places should not flock to these pantries so if necessary, there must be roving pantries,” Año said.

Community pantries will not be allowed to give alcohol, cigarettes, and other harmful substances, Año said.

He also said both the LGU and organizers are prohibited from collecting fees for the activity.

More than a year ahead

of the elections, he said putting of signs, posters, billboards, or streamers indicating the names, images, initials, and projects of politicians who are out to gain popularity mileage in community pantries are prohibited.

Año also noted that the community pantry organizers should coordinate with LGUs and enforce health protocols like physical distancing and wearing of face masks and face shields to the beneficiaries to avoid being closed for such violations.

“There is a need for coordination because the LGU has a big role to play.

First, the LGU must determine where the community pantry must be set up.

The venue should be at the area where it is needed the

most,” he stressed.

In the same meeting, Duterte also ordered local chief executives (LCE) to implement laws against health protocol violators after expressing disbelief over the continued spread of Covid-19.

"Rules are there and you do not follow, well, let me tell you, under the police power of the state, the mayor, the barangay capta in, because t hey are persons of authority.

Ang guidance binibigay sa (is given to the) police because the supervision belongs to the mayor," said Duterte. "Ang gawin ko ganito (This is what I will do), I will hold responsible and I will direct the Secretary of the Local Government, DILG to hold the mayors responsible for this kind of events happening in their places."

T he P r e s ident a l s o warned barangay officials that authorities will hold them responsible for mass gatherings in their areas where the modified en ha nced com mu n it y quarantine (MECQ) remains in place.

Malacañang earlier described community pantries as a representation of “the best in the Filipino character.” (MNS)

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IN-HOME CAREGIVERS: IF you are employed as a 24-hour caregiver, working around-the-clock to provide care and assistance to an individual inside their home, you are most likely entitled to overtime compensation. If you are paid a fixed daily rate, regardless of the actual hours you work or the quality and quantity of work you perform, you are not receiving overtime compensation and likely have a valuable claim for wage theft. This is true whether you are hired directly by the care recipient or paid though a home care agency.

In 2014 the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights (“DWBR”) became law in California. The law was passed as part of a movement to enhance the rights of domestic workers, whom the California Legislature deemed to be some of the most invisible and vulnerable workers in the state. Now, under the DWBR, in-home caregivers are entitled to receive overtime wages for all hours worked in excess of 9 in a day or 45 in a week.

Starting in 2021, most 24-hour caregivers working in California must be paid a minimum of $409.50 per day to comply with the requirements of the DWBR. The first 9-hours of work should be paid at the legal minimum wage rate of $13.00 per hour, which equals $117.00. Then, for the remaining 15 hours, the law requires overtime payments at a rate of $19.50 per hour, which amounts to an additional $292.50 per day.

Unfortunately, in actual practice, most caregivers receive far less than the applicable minimum wage,

Saturday-Friday | May 1 - 7, 2021

ARE YOU PAID OVERTIME?

often earning as little as $180 to $240 per day. A 24hour caregiver who is earning less than $409.50 per day likely has a very valuable claim for wage theft.

For example, if you are a caregiver working 24-hours per day, 5 days per week for a daily rate of $200/day, your weekly unpaid overtime claim is calculated as follows: Your daily rate of $200 is divided by 9 hours to calculate a regular rate of pay, equal to $22.22 per hour. Your overtime rate is 1.5 times your regular rate of pay, which amounts to $33.33 per hour.

Your pre-determined salary does not compensate you, at all, for the 15 daily overtime hours you work. So, each day, you accrue $500.00 of unpaid overtime wages. Employers, who willfully fail to pay an employee the requisite overtime compensation, are also subject to liquidated damages, which could add an additional $195.00 per day to the wage theft claim. Plus, the law provides for interest, attorneys

fees, and penalties.

In the above example, the hypothetical caregiver is owed $3,475 in unpaid overtime wages per week. On a yearly basis, the overtime claim alone exceeds $180,000. We have helped many caregivers whose claims exceed $500,000 in damages with the addition of penalties, liquidated damages and interest, after working for several years.

Caregivers, who are victims of wage theft, may recover their unpaid wages going back 4 years from the date a lawsuit is filed in court. We have helped many caregivers file claims against their former employers. Even if you last worked several years ago, you still have time to pursue a claim. The one exception is if the care recipient patient has passed away. In that instance, a claim against the care recipient’s estate must be filed within 1 year of their passing, or sooner if an estate has been opened.

If you are a caregiver and are hesitant to proceed with claims for wage theft against your current or former employer please visit our website at www. caregiverovertime.com/pa/concerns/ to review our article that addresses many of the common concerns we have heard from caregivers.

If you are a caregiver working 24-hour shifts without overtime compensation, we want to talk with you about your legal rights. We provide compassionate and confi dential consultations.

Please contact us at (818) 807-4168, for a free case evaluation.

This article is an attorney advertisement written by Daniel Chaleff, employment law attorney at Chaleff Rehwald Peterson. Our office is located at 5855 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Suite 400, Woodland Hills, California. We accept cases throughout all of Northern and Southern California.

Our examples are of a general nature and are not a guarantee regarding the outcome of your individual matter. The law firm focuses on caregiver rights. Please call us at (818) 807-4168 for a free and confidential consultation. Please visit us at www.caregiverovertime.com/ to learn more about caregiver overtime law. We offer a 24-hour chat line on our website.

Lorenzana: China no authority to stop PCG from marine drills

MANILA (Mabuhay) — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Wednesday that China has no legal basis to prevent Philippine authorities from conducting maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea. Likewise, he noted that China's so-called nine-dash line demarcating its massive claims has no legal basis in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and has been invalidated by the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling favoring Manila's claims over the South China Sea. "They have no authority or legal basis to prevent us from conducting these exercises within the WPS (West Philippine Sea). Atin yan (It's ours)," Lorenzana told reporters.

He made the remark in reaction to Chinese government's statement saying that the Philippines must end its maritime exercises in the disputed sea.

"Their claims according to their so-called historical rights have no basis while we have two international documents saying the area is ours: the UNCLOS of which China is a signatory, and the Arbitral award of 2016," he pointed out.

Earlier, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Philippines' sovereignty patrols would escalate disputes and complicate situations.

But Lorenzana retorted that China is the one complicating the situation because of its continued incursion into the Philippine exclu-

MARINE DRILLS. Utilizing eight capital ships of the national government, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) conduct comprehensive maritime exercises in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Crewmembers of participating PCG vessels, as well as PCG-manned BFAR vessels have started their intensified training on navigation, small boat operations, maintenance, and logistical operations. (MNS photo)

sive economic zone (EEZ).

"No, it is they who are complicating the situation by their illegal occupation of reefs which they built into artificial islands. Walang basis ang nine-dash line nila (the ninedash line has no basis) according to an international tribunal," he said.

Therefore, sila ang nagko-complicate (they are the ones) complicating the situation by insisting to stay within our WPS," the defense chief added.

Earlier, the Department of For-

eign Affairs downplayed Beijing's statement, saying the Philippines has rights over the WPS by virtue of the Hague-based arbitral court ruling, which China has consistently dismissed.

At present, the National Task Force on West Philippine Sea reported that Chinese vessels continue to stay within the Philippine EEZ, including the Bajo de Masinloc (BdM), Municipality of Kalayaan, and in Ayungin Shoal areas.

(MNS)

Over 44K local, overseas jobs up for grabs in Labor Day MANIL A (Mabuhay) — Over 44,000 local and overseas jobs are up for grabs in the scheduled nationwide online job fair on May 1, Labor Day. Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) data showed that as of April 28, there is a total of 44,125 employment opportunities that will be available during the annual event.

It said there are 578 employers and 530 locals participating in the celebration.

Of the number of job vacancies, it said 36,951 are local employment while 7,174 are jobs abroad.

The National Capital Region (NCR) has so far recorded the highest number of job vacancies at 17,777 with 75 employers while the least number of available jobs being offered is in Region 12 (Soccsksargen) at 45 with 9 employers participating.

The top five local vacancies are production operator, factory worker; customer service representative; police officer; contact tracers; sewer; mason, carpenters; and rebarman.

Top industries are manufacturing, business processing outsourcing, government, textile, and construction.

For overseas, the five top employment opportunities are: nurse, factory worker, mechanic, nursing aide/healthcare assistance and cleaners.

The 119th Labor Day is observed with the theme, “Mayo Uno sa Bagong Pa na hon – Manggagawa at Mamamayan: Babangon, Susulong!” (MNS)

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KAPAG PINOPROTEKTAHAN MO ANG IYONG SARILI, PINOPROTEKTAHAN MO AKO. Alam kong umaasa ka sa akin, gaya ng pag-asa ko sa iyo para manatiling safe—sa pagsuot ng maskara, sa pagpapanatili ng 6 feet na agwat, at sa pagpabakuna kapag panahon mo na.

Sa mga bagong form ng virus na tinatawag na variants na kumakalat ng mas madali, napakahalagang ipagpatuloy nating lahat na gawin ang ating bahagi para pabagalin ang pagkalat ng COVID. Habang naghihintay ako na magpabakuna, pwede ko pa ring siguraduhin na makuha ng bawat isa ang kailangan nila nang ligtas hangga’t maaari.

Pag-aralan pa sa cdc.gov/coronavirus Inihahandog sa inyo ng U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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PH Navy awaiting US nod on transfer of Cyclone patrol boats

M A NIL A ( Mabu hay) — The Philippine Navy (PN) is awaiting the official approval of the United States government regarding the transfer of its newly-decommissioned Cyclone-class patrol vessels to the country.

"To date, PN is still wa it ing for t he of f icial approval from the State Department, USG (United States Government) on the authority to transfer the CCV (Cyclone-Class Vessels) to the PN. While waiting for the said approval, PN already requested the Price and Availability (P&A) of the CCV in order to identify the acquisition cost for planning/ programming purposes of the end-user," said Navy chief Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo in a message on Wednesday night.

He added that the US government has an outstanding offer regarding the Cyclone-class patrol vessels to the PN under its Excess Defense Article (EDA) program.

Bacordo said the PN has already expressed its intent to acquire these ships as early as December last year.

"PN is also waiting for the official offer from USG that will serve as an invitation for the PN to conduct JVI (Joint Visual Inspection) as part of the planning and future programming for its acquisition," he said.

PH, Russia vow stronger cooperation on vax, trade, tech

BRP GENERAL MARIANO ALVAREZ (PS-38), EX-USS CYCLONE

Bacordo added that the end-user technical working group, which is the PN, will prepare the proposal based on the P&A and JVI result.

"P&A is expected to be forwarded to PN anytime next week," he said.

Bacordo earlier said he will be happy if the PN acquires at least five of these Cyclone-class patrol vessels which will be a boost to its fleet.

At present, the PN has one Cyclone-class patrol vessel in its service, the BRP General Mariano Alvarez (PS-38), formerly the ex-USS Cyclone, which was transferred to the PN in 2004.

"We have manifested our interest

with JUSMAG (Joint US Military Assistance Group) and US INDOPACOM (Indo-Pacific Command)," he added.

The Cyclone-class patrol ships are a class of US Navy coastal patrol boats consisting of some 14 ships.

These vessels weigh around 328.5 long tons and have a length of 179 feet, a beam of 25 feet, and a draft of 7.5 feet.

Their maximum speed is placed at 35 knots and they have a range of between 2,000 to 2,500 nautical miles.

Cyclone-class patrol vessels are armed with two 25mm autocannons and several high-powered machine guns. (MNS)

Rizal Park mobile hospital, vax site completed in 2 months — DOT MANILA (Mabuhay) — The mobile field hospital and drive-thru vaccination site being built at Rizal Park's Burnham Green would be completed within two months, the Department of Tourism (DOT) announced Wednesday.

“Both the mobile field hospital and drive-thru vaccination site will

be open to all, regardless of whether you are a resident and non-resident of Manila. These two endeavors will contribute significantly to scaling up the nation’s Covid-19 response in light of the current surge in cases and the anticipated arrival of more vaccines,” DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.

Online registration for National ID to start on April 30, says NEDA chief MANILA (Mabuhay) — Applicants for the country's national identification system may be able to register online starting April 30, Friday, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Karl Chua said Tuesday.

Chua said NEDA will launch its online system which will collect demographic data of those who will apply for the national ID. However, Chua pointed out that applicants must still personally go to their registration centers for their biometrics as well as open their own bank account.

Chua said the national ID system would help in fast tracking

vaccination program as well as distribution of financial aid during the lockdown.

He added that the system will help low-income families to put up their own bank accounts.

Earlier this year, President Rodrigo Duterte signed up for the national ID, which includes Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) Act number, full name, facial image, sex, date of birth, blood type, and address.

In 2018, Duterte signed into law the proposed national identification system to harmonize and integrate the several and redundant government IDs by setting up a single national ID system.

The national government also approved an additional P3.52-billion funding to register 20 million more Filipinos to the national ID system this year.

(MNS)

SECRETARY KARL CHUA

The City of Manila would spend for the construction, development, and operation of the temporary facilities.

The DOT, through the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC), and the City of Manila formally signed on Wednesday the memorandum of agreement on the construction of the facilities.

Signing during the virtual ceremony were-Puyat, NPDC Executive Director Cecille Lorenzana-Romero, and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso.

During the virtual ceremony, Puyat welcomed the repurposing of the site to support the government's efforts to protect the public’s health and safety during the pandemic.

“We welcome the repurposing of more tourism sites into medical facilities that will help us get through this public health crisis. I hope that this collaboration between different national agencies and the Manila LGU will inspire other LGUs around the

MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Philippines and Russia vowed stronger bilateral cooperation in Covid-19 vaccines, trade, technology, and protection of overseas Filipinos.

During the virtual 12th Political Consultations, co-chaired by Acting Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Bilateral and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Affairs Elizabeth Buensuceso with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor V. Morgulov on April 23, both sides expressed satisfaction at the trajectory of Philippine-Russia bilateral relations.

Following the telephone call between President Rodrigo Duterte and Russian President Vladimir Putin on April 13, where the two leaders reiterated their pledge to cooperate in the fight against Covid-19, Morgulov confirmed during the consultations the arrival of an initial shipment of 15,000 doses of Sputnik V vaccines in the Philippines on April 28.

The Philippine-Russia bilateral relations has shifted from being defense-centric to more robust cooperation in trade and investments, culture, outer space, nuclear technology and energy, labor, and people-to-people ties.

Both sides agreed to celebrate their 45th anniversary of bilateral relations with meaningful activities throughout the year.

Other regional and international matters discussed include cooperation in the United Nations, Asean, developments in the South China Sea, and the geopolitical situation in the Asia Pacific region. (MNS) country to work with the national government in developing innovative solutions that will bring about a swift end of this pandemic and allow us to embark on the road to recovery,” she said.

The Manila Mega Field Hospital will be constructed at the 16,327 square meter area of Burnham Green located at the western section of Rizal Park.

With 336 beds, it will augment the bed capacity of hospitals for moderate and severe cases of Covid-19.

The drive-thru vaccination site will rise at the Independence Road, commonly known as the Parade Grounds of the Quirino Grandstand, also under the management of the NPDC, a move seen to boost Manila's immunization program by vaccinating up to 450 people a day. (MNS)

TEMPORARY HOSPITALS. Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat speaks at the groundbreaking of Manila Mega Covid Field Hospital on Tuesday (April 20, 2021). The temporary facility will be constructed at the Burnham Green of Rizal Park in Manila. (Photo by DOT Philippines)

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$541M net ‘hot money’ exited Philippines in March — BSP MANILA (Mabuhay) — Foreign portfolio investments or “hot money” in the Philippines posted a wider net outflow in March due to investors reaction to various domestic developments such as the reimposition of the strictest lockdown in Metro Manila and its four neighboring provinces, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported Thursday.

Data released by the central bank showed that foreign portfolio investments (FPIs) or “hot money” in March yielded net outflows of $541 million, larger compared to the $40-million net outflow in February.

Foreign portfolio investments are also called hot money because of the ease by which the funds enter and leave markets.

The net outflow last month resulted from the $1.37-billion gross outflows, which exceed gross inflows of $824 million.

In particular, the gross outf lows in March were lower compared to the level recorded for February’s level of 1.38 billion by 1% or by $13 million.

The US received 61.6% of total outflows.

Mea nwh i le, i n f lows i n Ma rch ref lected a 38.4% decline compared to t he $1.34-billion recorded in February.

The BSP said that about 90.5% of investments registered were in Philippine Stock

Exchange-listed securities mainly to banks, property companies, holding firms, food, beverage and tobacco companies and transportation services firms.

The remaining 9.5% went to investments in peso government securities.

The United Kingdom, United States, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Hong Kong were the top five investor countries for the month, with combined share to total at 78.7%.

The central bank said the development in March that could have affected the inflow and outflow of foreign portfolio investment are the “investor reaction to rising inflation and vaccine rollout amid the surge in virus infection” and “reimposition of restrictions on mobility in the National Capital Region and nearby provinces.”

For January to March, FPIs yielded net outflows of $483 million, lower compared to the $1.4-billion net outflows recorded for the same period last year “amid the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to the global economy and financial system.”

“This has been accompanied by international and domestic developments such as the new US administration, vaccine rollout and the reimposition of additional quarantine measures amid the surge in virus infection,” the BSP said. (MNS)

IMF says PH economy could grow by 6.9 percent but warns of COVID-19 risks MANILA (Mabuhay) — The International Monetary Fund has upgraded its Philippine economic growth forecast this year to 6.9 percent from 6.6 percent but warned of downside risks due to uncertainties brought by the pandemic.

The upgrade was attributed to the stronger than expected fourth quarter gross domestic product growth and "expansionary" fiscal policy stance, IMF Resident Representative to the Philippines Yongzheng Yang said.

Unused funds from the 2020 budget and the emergency response Bayanihan laws, which will be carried over to 2021, can boost fiscal stimulus this year, he said.

"Taking these two factors, we thought there is ground for upgrade in the forecast. But of course, since then things have changed quite rapidly. This is a significant downside risk that we will take into account going forward," Yang said.

"Overall we’re facing uncertainty and any forecast should be viewed that way and be revised as new information comes in," he added.

The government on Wednesday announced that Metro Manila and 4 adjacent provinces would remain under modified enhanced community quarantine for 2 more weeks or until May 14.

Experts have said quarantine restrictions could negatively affect growth, but improved global prospects could serve as a boost, the IMF official said.

When asked if the worsening COVID-19 cases in India could affect the Philippines' growth prospect, he said "direct impact maybe not huge partly because there is relatively smaller trade between Philippines and India compared to large countries."

The IMF noted the country's healthy gross international reserves that hit $109.08 billion by the end of February.

Economic managers have been reiterating that the country's solid macroeconomic fundamentals have helped speed up COVID-19 response and have mitigated overall pandemic impact to the economy.

The Asian Development Bank earlier said the Philippine economy could grow by at least 4.5 percent this year, while Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua earlier said the governIMF RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE ment approved a growth forecast of 7.5 PHILIPPINES YONGZHENG YANG percent this year. (MNS)

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500,000 more doses of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine arrive in Philippines MANILA (Mabuhay) — A total of 500,000 more doses of COVID-19 vaccine from Chinese firm Sinovac Biotech arrived in the country on Thursday morning, according to Ian Cruz's report on Unang Balita.

It was the sixth batch of Sinovac vaccine doses delivered to the Philippines. The fifth batch, composed also of 500,000 doses, arrived on April 22.

The latest batch was among the vaccines purchased by the Philippine government, the report said. It arrived via a chartered Cebu Pacific flight from China.

All in all, the country has received 3.5 million doses of Sinovac vaccine called CoronaVac, including those donated by the Chinese government.

The latest batch underwent disinfection after arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. It will be brought to a storage facility in Marikina City.

Based on Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluation of Sinovac's vaccine, it has the following efficacy rates: 65% to 91% among healthy individuals aged 18 to 59, 50.4% for health workers, and 51% to 52% on senior citizens or those aged 60 and above Sinovac's vaccine is given in two doses.

According to Department of Health's tally, the countr y has 1,020,495 COVID-19 cases as of April 28, of which 67,769 are considered "active" cases.

Meanwhile, the number of recoveries was at 935,695 and the death toll at 17,031 as of April 28.

The Philippines officially rolled out its vaccination program on March 1 but it has been hampered by supply problems.

Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. on Wednesday night said the Philippines is eyeing to start the vaccination of the general public by August. So far, only frontline health workers, senior citizens and persons with comorbidities have been vaccinated. (MNS)

SINOVAC VAX ARRIVAL. National Task Force Against Covid-19 Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. (left) leads the other offi cials in welcoming the life-saving 500,000 doses of government-procured Coronovac vaccines at the NAIA Terminal 2 on Thursday (April 29, 2021). Also in the photo is Department of Health Procurement and Supply Chain Management Team Director Ariel Valencia (2nd from right). (MNS photo)

SC approves aid for employees who contracted, died of Covid-19 MANILA (Mabuhay) — Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo has approved the grant of financial assistance to judges and court personnel who contracted Covid-19.

In a circular dated April 27, 2021, Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez said Gesmundo, with the concurrence of the Supreme Court (SC) en banc, gave the greenlight for the financial assistance for court officials and workers who required in-patient care or hospital confinement.

The assistance will cover those who sought treatment as well as those who died from March 2020 until the pandemic ends.

Mild to moderate illness will be equivalent to PHP15,000; critical illness which include but not limited to acute respiratory distress syndrome, septic shock requiring ventilation, oxygenation or renal replacement therapy, and the like, will be granted PHP30,000; and families of court workers who died due to Covid-19, whether hospitalized or not, will get PHP50,000.

Qualified SC beneficiaries must file the necessary documents at the Office of Court Administrator’s Financial Management division.

The requirements are reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test results, medical certificate indicating findings, and death certificate indicating that the patient died of the virus or complications due to Covid-19. (MNS)

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DOH: Delays in some vaccine deliveries possible due to India’s COVID-19 surge MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Philippines is anticipating delays in the delivery of coronavirus vaccines from India as the South Asian nation battles a surge in cases, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the vaccine cluster is reassessing the distribution of vaccines to account for possible delays.

“Because of what’s happening in India they have stopped muna ‘yung kanilang commitments to other countries. Hindi lang naman tayo ang medyo nagkaroon ng ganyang issue,” she said in an online briefing.

“Flexible po ang mga plano natin (Our plans are flexible) so that we can be able to adapt and to adjust if ever there will be these kinds of things that will happen,” she added.

The Philippine envoy to India earlier said 8 million doses of Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin will be delivered by the end of May. The country also expects 30 million doses of the Novavax jab later this year.

The Philippines has imposed a temporary ban on travelers from India, which is grappling with a spike in COVID-19 cases and a new coronavirus variant.

“Mag-iingat tayo kasi nakikita na natin ‘yung nangyayari sa kanila at ayaw na natin na magkaroon pa ng enabler ang ibang variants na pumasok dito sa ating bansa para makapag-cause pa ng further transmission ng sakit,” Vergeire said. (MNS)

PH Covid-19 situation may not be comparable to India: expert

MANILA — The country's Covid-19 situation may that we have reached the peak and are slowly de- Salvana said. not be comparable to India's problem considering creasing. I still expect excess deaths to show up Though the emergency rooms in hospitals were the absolute numbers, population-adjusted num- in the next 4 to 6 weeks, but hopefully it has pla- full in the past month, the Philippines’ health care bers, reproduction number (Rt), and healthcare teaued. No such luck for India for now and that is utilization rate for isolation care units (ICU) is 64 utilization rate contrary to the implications of an why the whole world is scrambling to help it," percent nationwide and 72 percent in the National infographic shared online, an infectious disease Capital Region as of Thursday. expert said Thursday.

"Still not ideal, but we are able to admit critiIn a recent social media post, Dr. Edsel Salvana cally ill people nowadays in about 1 to 2 days as said India has over 200,000 Covid-19-related deaths opposed to almost a whole week in the recent past. tallying over 3,000 fatalities per day while the PhilIndia's ICUs in the surge areas are completely overippines has 17,000 averaging 100 to 150 deaths a day. whelmed and they haven't peaked yet. They're out The country's population adjusted death rate of oxygen, meds and supplies. This is really scary," similar to India - is less than one-tenth that of more Salvana said. advanced countries like the United States, France, "But India right now is on a whole different level Spain, Italy, and the United Kingdom. than anyone else - except maybe Brazil - and I pray "The case fatality rate for both countries is less they see their cases go down soon. I would not wish than the global average. However, cases in India that on anyone, and this is why everyone is working are surging at unbelievable numbers right now and so hard to keep this virus under control until we these population adjusted numbers will change. It can get everyone vaccinated," he added. will take time for the data to catch up but it will get However, Salvana noted that the Philippines still there, unfortunately," Salvana said. needs to increase its healthcare capacity, following As for the reproduction number of cases, the its challenges in the past for weeks. country's Rt is close to one while India's Rt con"We do have vaccines and I wish we can get them tinues to go up which means transmission is not distributed faster to decrease transmission. We being controlled and has not reached its have a lot of work to do to increase healthpeak. care capacity and make our country INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERT DR. EDSEL SALVANA (SCREENGRAB) "Indications for the Philippines are more resilient," he said. (PNA)

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Local clinical trial for ivermectin eyed by end-May or early June —DOST exec MANILA (Mabuhay) — The local clinical trial for the use of antiparasitic drug ivermectin on COVID-19 patients is seen to start at the end of May or in early June, an official from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said Thursday.

Executive director Jaime Montoya of the DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development said the trial will run for about six months, with Metro Manila being eyed as the venue for ease of patient recruitment.

Around 1,200 patients are expected to participate, Montoya said, adding the trial will target mild and moderate COVID-19 cases who are still in quarantine facilities.

“Based on a review of the Living CPG (Clinical Practice Guidelines) and the recommendation of the World Health Organization, these are the types of patients na insufficient ang evidence for benefit of ivermectin,” he said in an online forum.

Dr. Marissa Alejandria, president of the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, said the study will look at whether ivermectin will prevent progression to severe disease and hospitalization as well as lead to a faster resolution of symptoms and viral clearance.

She added that the results from the Philippine trial will be included in the experts’ systematic review of existing evidence, which has so far shown that ivermectin cannot be recommended

as a COVID-19 treatment yet.

Montoya also said a local trial for ivermectin will be “very useful” in determining the effects of the drug on Filipinos.

“Maaaring ikaw nga ay maraming trial… Pero iba rin po siyempre ‘yung trial na mga Pilipino ang lumalahok (You may have a lot of trials… but it’s still different when the trial has Filipino participants),” he said.

“Makikita natin paano ba talaga nag-re-respond ang Pilipino sa ganyang gamot at ano bang side effects ang nakikita (We will see how Filipinos respond to the drug and what side effects manifest).”

The trial will be led by Dr. Aileen Wang from the Philippine General Hospital.

Just last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) disclosed that President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered a local clinical trial for ivermectin amid calls to authorize it for the use of COVID-19 patients.

Prior to this, the DOST had said that there was no need to conduct a local trial for the antiparasitic drug since there were already several studies ongoing across the globe.

Aside from local health agencies and experts, the WHO, US FDA, European Medicines Agency, and even ivermectin manufacturer Merck do not recommend ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment based on current evidence. (MNS)

Solon suggests targeted home vaccination for PWDs, elderly MANILA (Mabuhay) — Senior Citizens party-list Representative Rodolfo Ordanes is pushing for house-tohouse vaccination for persons with disability and senior citizens aged 70 and above, but he said it does not necessarily have to be done on a large scale basis.

In a press statement issued Thursday, Ordanes said the present conditions and variables are still not conducive for proper large scale implementation of the house-to-house vaccination.

"For now, the houseto-house tactics can be done on a targeted

basis by concentrating efforts of specific areas where the spread has been high or quite difficult," Ordanes said, noting t hat he had written to Metro Manila mayors regarding the matter.

“The COVID spread is like a major fire, so some firefighting tactics would be useful.

Target the larger clusters and create a firewall. Isolate and contain specific areas," he added.

Accord i ng to t he lawmaker, local government units have to allocate some ample resources to make the house-to-house inoculation happen on a

targeted basis.

As early as January, t he Depa r t ment of Health already considered the possibility of conducting house-tohouse vaccination for vulnerable and highrisk senior citizens.

In Taguig City, home service vaccination is already being offered to bedridden residents.

Meanwhile, the DOH said a total of 246,986 ind iv idua ls a re a lready fully-vaccinated against COVID-19 as of April 27.

A total of 1,809,801 doses have been administered at 3,415 vacci nat ion sites across the countr y.

(MNS)

Making COVID-19 vaccination mandatory 'very debatable', says FDA M A NIL A (Mabuhay) — Ma k ing pa 'yan natin na hindi pa alam. MeCOVID-19 vaccination mandatory dyo tricky na 'yung making vaccinais "a very difficult proposition," the tion compulsory, making a vaccine Food and Drug Administration said under EUA compulsory, that’s even a Tuesday. little more complicated for me. That’s Cavite 4th District Rep. Elpidio a very difficult proposition."

Barzaga earlier filed a measure seekThe Philippines aims to vaccinate a ing to make coronavirus jabs mandathird of its population or 50 to 70 miltory to achieve herd immunity. lion by end of the year to achieve "This is really personal auherd immunity. It has administonomy, to have someone tered a total of 1,739,656 COVbeing a healthy person being ID-19 vaccines as of Sunday. injected with something. 'Pag Government is expecting an nagbigay ako ng EUA (emer"accelerated delivery" of COVgency use authority) required ID-19 jabs from May even na kailangan merong as global production is consent ng patient na seen to stabilize only magpabakuna," FDA in June, vaccine czar director general Eric Secreta r y Ca rl ito FDA DIRECTOR GENERAL Domingo said.

Ga lvez Jr. ea rlier ERIC DOMINGO "May side effects said. (MNS)

DR. JAIME MONTOYA

DOH: Vaccination coverage at 90% for measles, 87% for polio MANILA (Mabuhay) — The government’s mass vaccination program against measles-rubella and polio reached the majority of eligible children even amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said 90.3% or 8.5 million out of the 9.4-million target population received a measles-rubella vaccine.

Over 87% or some 6 million children under five years old belonging to the 6.9-million target population also got an oral polio vaccine.

The first phase of the inoculation campaign was conducted in October to November 2020 in most Luzon regions and the whole of Mindanao.

The second phase, which took place in February this year, covered Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Visayas.

However, the DOH also acknowledged that the number of children who completed the routine childhood immunization in 2020 was “more than 30% below the national target” due to the pandemic.

“Many people were reluctant to leave their homes and have their children vaccinated because of fear of being exposed to people with COVID-19,” Vergeire explained in an online forum.

“Many of our healthcare workers on the ground were also unavailable because of redeployment to COVID-19 response duties,” she added.

Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, the World Health Organization’s country representative to the Philippines, also noted that around 600,000 children missed out on essential vaccinations last year.

UNICEF urged the Philippine government to improve the vaccine supply chain, reach more disadvantaged children in rural areas and poor communities, and increase the budget and staff of local government units. (MNS)

16

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Bohol’s 'mushroom queen': Reaping the fruits of fungi culture CEBU CITY – Rona Denque, the woman behind the success of the Green Thumb Farm in Corella town in the neighboring province of Bohol, is now figuratively and literally reaping the fruits of the fungi that she has been cultivating since a few years back.

She considers fungi as her lucky charm in her now successful agri-entrepreneurship venture.

Fungi often connote a negative meaning to some people, but for Denque, fungus is magical.

Her fungi, the oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus), has become the gem of the province of Bohol and Rona's venture into this earned her the acclamation as Bohol's "queen of cultured mushroom".

Denque's love for farming developed during her childhood days. She recalled that during those times in Tagum City, Davao, where she was born, her parents believed she had a green thumb and often wanted her to take care of plants for them to grow.

As an active zumba enthusiast, she then met a co-zumba attendee who introduced her to mushroom production after being trained by the Department of Agriculture-Central Visayas' Bohol-Agricultural Promotion Center (DA-7 B-APC).

Since then, her interest in mushrooms has kept burning.

She owed it to being active in zumba, which she considered a blessing in disguise.

In 2017, Denque officially

started her mushroom journey with a formal training on culture and production, which she attended at the DA-7 B-APC, after her trial and error self-learning from an online video.

The actual hands-on learning she gained from the DA training has enriched her skills and knowledge in mushroom production.

One of the significant lessons that she cannot forget is the proper way of using the media or substrate like the rice stalks or straws which must be well-sterilized in maintained medium fire for several hours.

"The process is very tedious, much more when these straws are to be cooled down and filled into a fruiting bag for spawning and then placed in a dim area for them to germinate and grow," Denque said in a press release from DA-7 on Wednesday.

All these she has to do for the love of mushrooms.

And with passion, detemination, and support of her husband Jares, she learned to perfect the production and culture of mushrooms.

Now, aside from the usual white mushroom, she and her husband also grow gray and pink ones. Even without an established market for their produce, this does not hinder them from continuously producing mushrooms.

"When you start on something, never quit as this will be the secret to success," she shared.

To enhance her mushroom

‘MUSHROOM QUEEN’. Agripreneur Rona Denque’s venture into fungi production has earned her the recognition as Bohol’s queen of cultured mushrooms. In 2017, she officially started her mushroom journey with a formal training on mushroom culture and production from the Department of Agriculture.

(Photos courtesy of Green Thumb Farm and DA-7)

enterprise (from production, processing, innovation, packaging, labelling, marketing to linkages), she attended various trainings and seminars offered by government agencies such as the DA, DA's Agricultural Training Institute-7 (DA ATI7), Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Science and Technology.

She said these trainings have contributed to achieving a 99 percent success, allowing her to do the whole value chain almost perfectly.

With this result, the Denque couple has expanded their mushroom farm as well as their markets from local to the international arena.

Aside from the mushroom production, Denque has also been promoting healthy organic foods which gained her numerous recognitions. Aside from being named Bohol’s "queen of cultured mushrooms", she became president of the Bohol

Malabon food pantry: Compassion in action

HELPING THE NEEDY. People line up to get food items at the community pantry along Gov. PascualBaritan Road in Malabon City on Monday (April 19, 2021). The initiative was the brainchild of Malabon resident Nina Louise Tesorero and her friends who are behind ‘Project Pay it Forward’. (Photo courtesy of Nina Louise Tesorero) MANILA – Compassion and kindness know no boundaries.

As the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic continues to cause a lot of economic dislocation and suffering among Filipinos, acts of kindness like the setting up food pantries, where hungry people can at least can get their basic needs for few days, is a sight to behold.

In Malabon, a food pantry for needy city residents has been set up along Gov. Pascual-Baritan Road, near the Jose Rizal High School campus over the weekend.

The initiative was the brainchild of Malabon resident Nina Louise Tesorero and her friends

who are also behind 'Project Pay it Forward'.

Tesorero said they were inspired by the series of community pantries that were first set up in Quezon City and other parts of the country.

Despite being busy with other projects tasked to help front-liners and tricycle and jeepney drivers who were affected by the pandemic, Tesorero said they decided to go ahead with their community pantry as they felt would be of big help to the people economically affected by Covid-19.

"Tatlo po kami na bumubuo ng Project Pay it Forward, ang nag-o-organize ng community

United Mushroom Growers Association, and was featured as a "JuanaWonder" during the Women's Month Celebration and in the "Kalamay Express" YouTube channel.

Amidst this pandemic, the Denques did not stop their passion for mushroom production. Blessings and opportunities came unexpectedly as they were able to purchase additional equipment for them to start their long dreamed Al Fresco Restaurant which they opened recently.

The said restaurant is located in Corella with a "farm to table" concept and offers mushroom-based food choices and meat-free delectable dishes.

Mushrooms are a rich source of protein, vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants. It is low in calories, fat-cholesterol-gluten free and very low in sodium. (PNA)

pantry sa Malabon. Tinutulungan din po ako ng parents ko and other relatives (There were three of us who set up Project Pay it Forward, which organized the community pantry in Malabon. My parents and other relatives help us in this initiative)," she added.

Asked how long they are planning to operate the community pantry, Nina said they aim to continue it until this coming Sunday (April 25). Some 180 people have so far benefitted from this initiative.

"At kung papalarin po, hanggang end of April (And if we will be lucky, until the end of April)," she added.

As the virus of kindness also spreads, the friends of Tesorero's friends are also helping in their own way.

When asked about the response of donors for the initiative, Nina said this has been proven overwhelmingly as a lot of people are giving donations.

"Nakakataba po ng puso na ang dami pong sumasadya sa community pantry dito sa Malabon para sila po mismo yung magbaba ng donations nila. May mga donations ng isang plastic bag na extra food supplies nila, meron din pong bagong bili na sadya pong idu-donate, meron din pong mga nanghikayat pa ng iba para mas marami silang mabigay (The response has been very heartwarming. A lot of people are coming to Malabon to personally give their

donations. There are those giving plastic bags containing their extra food supplies, there are those giving newly bought food items.

There are those convincing others to give more so that the needy will be helped)," she added.

Donors are from all age groups, Tesorero said.

"Hindi lang in-kind ang binibigay nila kundi may cash donation din (Donations are not only in-kind. Some are also giving cash as well), she added.

Like other community pantries, the one in Malabon also observes the same rule of "getting only what you need" for beneficiaries and "giving according to your capacity" for donors.

"Pero may mga instances po na kukuha sila ng one to two piece per item or more. Hindi na po namin pinipigilan, kasi po baka yun po talaga yung pangangailangan nila.

Na totoo po talagang kapos sila at mahirap po ang buhay (But they are instances that some beneficiaries would get one to two or more items. We are not stopping them as we are thinking that they are really poor and in dire need)," Nina said.

She said that the concept of the community food pantry is to take care and trust one another.

"So instead po na sawayin sila, nire-remind lang po and then, nagiging okay naman po (So instead of scolding them, we remind them of (the take only what you need rule), then everything is okay again)," she added. (PNA)

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Glaiza de Castro shares how she, fiance cope with long distance relationship

GLAIZA DE CASTRO WITH HER FIANCÉ DAVID RAINEY

Glaiza de Castro took to her YouTube channel to share how she and her fiancé David Rainey cope with their long distance relationship despite the ongoing global pandemic.

In the caption of her latest vlog, de Castro lamented how

it’s been almost a year since the Philippines imposed a travel ban.

“If booking f lights used to be so easy, sometimes surprisingly affordable, now it's a conundrum of trying to find ways on when or how you will see your loved one/s again,” she said.

De Castro said she’s affected by the travel restrictions “not because I’m itching to book my next travel destination” but because she is living miles apart from her boyfriend and that has been made more difficult by the current coronavirus situation.

“Anyone who's in the same situation as me probably checks updates everyday hoping things will change. But as COVID cases continue to grow, I guess we have to accept the

fact that it's not gonna happen anytime soon,” she said.

With the three-minute video she posted, de Castro shared how the pandemic tests their faith and challenges their creativity as a couple.

“This is the story of how we persevere, how we try to make each other feel that distance is never going to be a hindrance in keeping our relationship,” she said.

“As simple as it may seem, these (excerpts from) letters played a huge part in our journey,” she added.

Although miles apart, Rainey and de Castro shared in the video that they used to write old fashioned letters to each other thinking it’s a nice and thoughtful way to keep in touch.

The t wo got engaged last Christmas.

De Castro, however, maintained that they are not in a hurry to tie the knot.

“Definitely hindi pa this year. It might not even be next year. Pero we’re not in a hurry to get married kasi sigurado naman kami sa isa’t isa,” she said, as reported by Push in January.

“For now, we’re really planning kung ano 'yung pinaka-beneficial sa lahat. Kasi since 'yung family niya ay nasa Ireland, 'yung family ko nandito. Iniisip namin kung paano sila magtatagpo na hindi sila magwo-worry sa pagta-travel,” she said.

While they await for travel restrictions to ease up, de Castro said they will just continue to make plans for their special day. (MNS)

Sitti calls second baby a ‘miracle’ MANILA (Mabuhay) — Sitti has recently received a miracle in the form of her second child.

Shortly after sharing the happy news to the world, the bossa nova singer reflected on the timely reminder that there can be miracles.

"To be honest, I didn’t really want to announce this pregnancy. I didn’t want to make a fuss but then I realized that the good things that happen in my life are not really just for

me, they’re meant to be shared with others too especially if it gives them hope," she wrote in a Facebook post.

"And that’s what this baby gave us. A reminder that even if I had these chronic diseases (PCOS and APAS) that make it hard to conceive and keep a baby, God CAN work around it and give us His miracle," she added.

Sitti also shared a message of hope to couples who have been

waiting for "that baby blessing" for a long time.

"Pray, wait, believe, and trust that He, the Creator and giver of life, will make everything beautiful in its time. Hang in there, and while you wait, do enjoy the gift of intimacy with your husband. The Lord always has His purposes for us at any given season," she said.

Sitti and husband Joey Ramirez tied the knot in May 2015. They welcomed their

SITTI first child, Issiah Dañelle, in November 2018. (MNS)

Jennica Garcia tells fellow parents:

Self love is not selfish MANILA (Mabuhay) — Actress Jennica Garcia penned a letter addressed to her fellow parents, reminding them of the importance of self-love and surrendering one's marriage to God. Amid persisting breakup rumors with her husband Alwyn Uytingco, Garcia said self love can only go wrong if it starts to destroy a family.

“Dear Parents, self love is not selfish. It only becomes selfish when you love yourself too much to the extent that your family becomes broken because of it,” she said on Instagram.

The daughter of veteran actress Jean Garcia went on to discuss marriage, advising them that if one has already let go of the other, turn to God and do not beg for the spouse’s affection.

“If you are going through something in your marriage but both of you are helping each other to keep the marriage intact, all praises to God! However, if only the husband or the wife is trying to fix what is now broken

JENNICA GARCIA and your spouse already let go of you to start a journey that is all about them (me, myself and I) -- a journey without your family in it, cling to God and do not beg further for your spouse affection when you already tried getting them back many times,” she said.

Although she acknowledged that it is difficult to accept reality, Garcia said only God can “change your spouse's heart and you are not God.” She also cautioned her fellow parents of the strong desire for companionship that they might

feel when lonely but stressed that one is never alone in Christ.

“The desire for companionship will be so strong during moments of loneliness but take courage in the fact that the Lord knows your story from start to finish,” Garcia quipped.

“There are marriages that make it till their last breath, then there are those who end up parting ways for good. Which one among the two, will you end up in? Only God knows.”

The actress also encouraged people to seek for God’s will and not their own plan, reiterating that His plan is better than anyone else.

“So hold on tight to Jesus and pray for His will and not yours to be done. WHY? Because whether your family is restored or otherwise, there is no better life than the life God has planned for you,” Garcia said.

Last month, Garcia appeared to have deleted photos of Uytingco from her Instagram page.

Garcia also sought advice on how to change her Instagram username.

Garcia, 31, and Uytingco, 33, were married in February 2014.

In several Instagram posts, she further spurred speculation of breakup, when she posted a photo of her handwritten note for her children Athena and Severina, telling them that she is scared of what will happen in the future aside from speaking about “looking forward to a new life.” (MNS)

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Why Michelle Vito never gave up on dream of finishing college

MICHELLE VITO MANILA (Mabuhay) — Michelle Vito has been acting since she was a teen, but that did not hinder her from achieving her goal of earning a college degree.

Vito admitted that she had a hard time juggling both work and school.

“Sobrang saya pero nung mga time na ginagawa ko 'yun, to be honest, ang hirap talaga.

Parang may times na gusto ko nang sumuko, na piliin na lang 'yung showbiz or piliin na lang 'yung school. Pero ngayon na natapos na, very worth it naman talaga 'yung challenge na kahit sobrang hirap, at least natapos ko,” she said.

Early this year, Vito graduated from the De La Salle-College of St. Benilde with a degree in human resources management.

While she considers finishing college as a life milestone, Vito said she had to sacrifice a lot of things before achieving that feat.

“Nung pumasok ako ng showbiz, ang pinakauna kong sinacrifice, ayaw ko talagang umalis doon sa dati kong school nung high school pa lang ako.

Kasi last two years ko na 'yun noon. Since Grade 1, nandoon na ako. Gusto ko doon maka-graduate, nandoon 'yung mga kinalakihan kong friends and teachers. Sila 'yung gusto ko makasama kapag grumduate ako ng high school. 'Yun po 'yung pinakaunang ginive up ko para magawa ko yung showbiz,” she said.

When asked why she did not give up on her dream despite all the challenges, she said: “Bata pa lang kasi ako, elementary pa lang ako, gusto ko na talaga matapos 'yung pag-aaral. Factor na din na 'yung mga kapatid ko, nag-aaral sila, nakapagtapos sila. Ako rin, gusto ko rin na makapagtapos na rin ako.”

For Vito, having a degree is something she can always be proud about.

“Iba pa rin talaga 'yung nakapagtapos. Iba 'yung matututunan ko sa showbiz, ibang learning experience 'yun, and iba din 'yung sa college. Professional ka and meron kang degree,” she said.

Through it all, Vito said she was also fortunate to have her boyfriend, actor Enzo Pineda, by her side.

“Very supportive naman siya especially nung nagthe-thesis ako. Nagpapadala iyan ng ice cream sa bahay, 'yun na 'yung comfort food ko kapag nasstress na ako. Isa siya sa mga taong nagpu-push sa akin na laban lang. Okay kasi 'yung feeling na may mga tao sa paligid na naka-support sayo kasi if ako lang, talagang hindi ko kakayanin.”

Vito is currently working in the series "Bagong Umaga." It is is available via free TV (A2Z Channel 11), cable or satellite TV (Kapamilya Channel), livestreaming (Kapamilya Online Live), and on-demand streaming (iWant TFC). (MNS)

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Derek Ramsay says no bad blood between him and John Lloyd Cruz

A

s Derek Ramsay’s relationship with Ellen Adarna’s son Elias continues to grow, the actor clarified that he has no intention of replacing the boy’s real dad, John Lloyd Cruz.

Derek said John Lloyd is a good father to Elias. "I see how he cares for his son and I'm not replacing him," Derek said. ""I have no intentions of doing that because he is a very good father to Elias."

"I'm just being Tito Derek and Elias is a part of Ellen," he added.

Derek also said that there was no bad blood between him and John Lloyd.

"Nagkasalubong kami ni John Lloyd to drop off Elias sa bahay and he congratulated me after my engagement with Ellen," he shared. "But we have no bad blood against one another."

"I think Ellen and John Lloyd have been separated for quite a while, so there's no overlap here," he added.

Elias was born in 2018. Two years later, Ellen revealed that she is co-parenting with John Lloyd, whom she described as a “good father.”

Number two Derek also shared that he was fine not being Ellen's number one priority.

"I told Ellen that I'm happy to be number two in her life 'cause Elias should always be her number one," he said.

"I made it clear to her that I will be number two and I'm happy to be number two and Elias should be her priority," he added.

He said that one of the things he "really, really liked" about Ellen was her being such a "hands-on mother."

Derek, too, has a son named

Austin, aged 17. However, they weren't very close because Austin grew up with his mother.

He said that it was when Ellen entered his life that everything "just all fell into place." "'Yung pinakahinihingi ko talaga sa buhay para maging super close kami ng anak ko, like I am with my dad, nangyari when Ellen entered my life... Austin came up to me one day and said, 'It's time,'" he recalled. "Sabi ko, 'Time for what?' [Sagot niya,] 'It's time for me to call you dad.' It's the moment I'll never forget."

Derek expressed happiness at how his life has turned out.

"I'm super blessed like I have everything in life. I have a beautiful son, I have a beautiful family, I have a beautiful

DEREK RAMSAY AND ELLEN ADARNA fiancée," he said. "Elias is like a son to me, parang I have a beautiful second son." (MNS)

Pageant failure helped Kylie Verzosa build confidence for showbiz MANILA (Mabuhay) — Kylie Verzosa is among the many Filipina beauty queens who have joined showbiz after their reign.

But her road to the crown was not an easy journey since she was shy and soft-spoken before joining Binibining Pilipinas.

“Coming here to Manila and getting into showbiz, hindi na pwede 'yon. Kakainin ka na nang buhay ng industriya kapag masyado kang shy,” Verzosa said.

The beauty queen-turned-actress attributed her confidence to her loss in the national pageant.

“Parang kailangan ko munang matalo para sabihin na gusto ko ito. Feeling ko, kaya ko ito. ‘Bakit sila, bakit hindi ako 'yung nanalo?’ 'Yon ang nasa ulo ko. Feeling ko naman, deserve ko na manalo, pero bakit hindi ako nanalo?’” the “Parang Kayo Pero Hindi” star shared.

Fueled by her failure, Verzosa

KYLIE VERZOSA joined the pageant anew and this time went on to win Miss International 2016, which also opened the showbiz doors for her.

“It comes with experience. It comes with failure. Noong nanalo ako ng Miss International, natalo muna ako sa Binibining Pilipinas, so that really helped me,” she admitted.

Verzosa, who is in a relationship with actor Jake Cuenca, said her pageant journey built her confidence which also helped her in showbiz.

“Mas nagpursige ako na aralin kung ano ba talaga 'yung hinahanap nila. Over time, I figured it out na, okay, this is what they’re looking for,” she recalled.

“And over time, I was able to build confidence and make myself whatever they wanted me to be.

At feeling ko, nagagamit ko rin 'yon sa acting ngayon.”

Directed by RC De los Reyes, “Parang Kayo, Pero Hindi” is based on the 2013 best-selling book by Noreen Capili. Verzosa is joined by actors Xian Lim and Marco Gumabao. (MNS)

Dingdong Dantes wants to pay forward the kindness and generosity he's received with new business venture

MANILA (Mabuhay) — At the launch of his tech startup

"Dati sa pagsasayaw ko noon marami pa akong natuDingdong PH, Dingdong Dantes said he is where he is tunan. Siyempre bilang aktor, minsan bilang isang direknow because of all the people who "did not hesitate to tor, at higit sa lahat, [bilang] isang storyteller," he added.

Because of his experiences, Dingdong open their doors for me." promised himself to pay the kindness for"As a backgrounder, I wasn’t born and ward. raised with a silver spoon. I was born and "Sinasabi ko nga sa sarili ko, kapag duraised by hardworking parents. Dahil lima mating yung panahon na may kakayahan kaming magkakapatid, siyempre there are na akong tumulong sa iba, pag-tatapusin ko times that my parents would fall short in mga kapatid ko sa pag-aaral at sisikapin ko our budget for school. But we are extremely ring makatulong sa iba," he said. blessed to have relatives," Dingdong shared.

"People opened their doors for me and I The Kapuso Primetime King revealed that personally experienced how these opportuthey took on help from people who volunnities, when used properly, can help improve teered to pay their tuition, adding he really one’s life," he added. was "a scholar of so many people."

DINGDONG DANTES Dingdong is proud to say that all his siblings "Kaya ako nakapagtapos," Dingdong congraduated from college and he even has two of them, Vicki tinued. "They did this without thinking twice."

The people who helped them, their relatives mainly, and Aya, as part of his Dingdong team.

"When the pandemic happened, we realized that the did not ask anything in return.

"Pero kung meron man yang mga hinihingi 'yan, ay time is already ripe to open doors for other members of siyempre maging successful kami sa buhay at gamitin the society," he continued.

Dingdong PH has provided jobs for those who have sana naming mga magkakapatid ang opportunidad na 'to para makapagpabuti at mas maging mabuti, hindi been robbed of them amid the pandemic, especially those who have been affected in the entertainment industry. lang para sa 'min kung hindi para sa kapwa," he said.

The Dingdong PH has three services including DingDingdong has also experienced the generosity of the people in the entertainment industry who gave him pro- dong Delivery, Dingdong E-Commerce, and Dingdong jects "that not only paved the way for me para marating Marketplace.

Entrepreneurs whether home-based or not can become ko kung nasaan ako ngayon, but also to transform lives a merchant of Dingdong PH. (MNS) in many ways."

Why Ellen Adarna believes in 'living in' before marriage MANILA (Mabuhay) — Ellen Adarna talked about the advantages of cohabiting or "living in" before marriage in a podcast hosted

by Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach and her fellow beauty queens.

In the interview aired on Spotify, the actress revealed that she was "kicked out of the house" at the age of 18 so she can live independently, with her father later on encouraging her to live with her then boyfriend.

"My dad suggested na, 'Mag-live in na kayo, get to know your partner,'" she recalled. "Kasi 'yun talaga 'yung fear niya, na magpakasal kami at a very young age. So he wanted us to get to know our partner, know what we want and don't want."

While her parents are generally "not very conservative," Adarna said her mother was initially "scared" of the idea of her cohabiting.

But she is nevertheless thankful to have pushed through, saying she was able to learn more about herself.

"I remember my dad always telling my mom when I was in high school. 'You know, if you want your children to learn, you have to let them go.' Kasi ako I'm a mother, I know how it feels... na takot na takot siya," said Adarna, who has a son with ex-boyfriend John Lloyd Cruz.

"But because of that tough love, I learned a lot," she stressed.

Adarna acknowledged that cohabiting is not yet widely accepted in the Philippines, a predominantly

Catholic country.

She believes that she had an easier time relating to the concept as her father does not adhere to Catholic principles.

"Ano 'yun, parang practicing Buddhist, so kami ring kids, we are more inclined or mas nakaka-relate kami sa ganoong ways," she explained.

Adarna admitted that she has cohabited with all of her boyfriends, saying that she feels she "does not know" a person enough if she does not live under the same roof with him.

The actress pointed out that there are many things one can discover from his or her partner when they start living together.

"Feeling ko if I don't live in with a person... I don't know him. How will I get to know him, how will I get to know the truth? Kasi it's so different when you're in the same house," she said.

Citing her experience, she said cohabiting was able to help her get out of relationships that she feels were not a good fit, such as from a former partner who would "degrade me like it's a normal thing."

"He would throw things at my yaya," she added.

"Nakita ko ito after mga seven months... Doon na lumabas."

"I think that's why my relationships don't last long. Kasi 'di ako matiisin eh. Parang, 'Ayoko na 'to, so what's the point?'

Sasabihin ko, 'We lived in for months tapos ayoko na to be with this guy. I cannot see a future with this guy. So why would I waste my time?'" she stressed.

(MSN)

20

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