Weekend Balita (Los Angeles edition) May 15, 2021 by Balita Media, Inc

LOS ANGELES EDITION

VOL. XXX NO. 20

Saturday-Friday | May 15 - 21, 2021

TOP STORIES

Global News PNP denies allegations police sharing ‘red-tagging’ posts on social media 8  PDP-Laban exec defends Pacquiao from members criticizing his remarks on Duterte’s WPS stance 8  End of Ramadan ‘good time’ for Pinoys to unite —Lorenzana 9  Gov’t designates Joma Sison, 18 other CPP officials as terrorists 9  PNP to acquire 32K more body cameras 10  DOT probes Samal Island resort over discrimination complaint 11  VP Robredo to Muslims: Keep spiritual ties tight amid physical distancing 11  Joma Sison shrugs off terrorist designation, urges SC to invalidate anti-terror law 12  Trillanes says Isko Moreno eyeing presidency, calls him ’Johnny-comelately’ 12 

Sections BusinEss. Finance chief says P20B needed to vaccinate teens vs. COVID-19 13  EntErtainMEnt. How is Vice Ganda’s finances after ABS-CBN shutdown, amid pandemic? 19  HEaltH & FaMilY. DOH exec: AstraZeneca doses from COVAX only for top three priority groups 14  FEaturE. Pandemic gives working mothers more family time 16 

California roars back: Newsom announces $12B package to confront homelessness

ag ROB BONTa LaUNCHES RaCIaL JUSTICE BUREaU Fil-Ams hold self-defense workshop in Carson

GoVErnor Gavin Newsom unveiled the second challenge his $100 billion California Comeback Plan will confront – homelessness. Newsom’s $12 billion plan to tackle the issue of homelessness will be the largest investment of its kind in California history. This investment will provide 65,000 people with housing placements, more than 300,000 people with housing stability and create 46,000 new housing units. To build on the success of Homekey – a revolutionary program that provided safe shelter from COVID-19 to 36,000 Californians and created 6,000 affordable housing units in record time and at a fraction of the cost – Governor Newsom’s plan includes a massive expansion of Homekey and other similar strategies to get housing up and running quickly, investing $8.75 CALIFORNIA

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By ABNER GALINO

caliFornia attorney General rob Bonta, the first Filipino american to ever hold the post, has launched on tuesday (May 11) a new racial justice bureau to tackle hate crimes. The new bureau in the state’s Department of Justice will put together six attorneys who will be led by a supervising deputy attorney general. According to Bonta, the anti-hate bureau would help community organizations act on suspected hate crimes and as well as work with law enforcement to formulate practices and policies in investigating hate Photo by Nikki Arriola and Robert Gamo crimes. According to Bonta, government Fil-aM martial artist and Hollywood actor Ms. Diana lee inosanto and her husband ron Balicki demonstrate to attendees how to use walking canes and umbrellas in defending against attackers. AG 4

Appreciate Nurses – We Can All Do Our Part to Help End the Pandemic By RAYNALD SAMOA, M.D. Endocrinologist, City of Hope

Governor Gavin Newsom

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

tHrouGHout the COVID-19 pandemic, I have been inspired by the strength and resilience of California’s nurses, many of whom are Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). This May and every day, I urge everyone to express appreciation to nurses by helping to end the pandemic. As we celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and Nurses Month this May, let’s pause to honor California’s nurses, who have never wavered in their dedication to us during the pandemic. In fact, some of them paid with their very lives. We can never repay the nurses who lost their lives on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, but we can help honor them and thank the nurses who are still hard at work in hospitals and health clinics across California. I urge all Californians to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and to continue following public health guidance so that we can help end the pandemic. People must continue hand-washing and social distancing, as well as wearing well-fitting masks when appropriate. Simply put, we all need to do our part for our nurses. According to a 2016 Healthforce APPRECIATE

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Los Angeles County battles hunger with CalFresh By MARK HEDIN Ethnic Media Services

aMonG the many problems made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic in Los Angeles County is a familiar one: hunger. For the county’s Board of Supervisors it’s a top priority. “No one in Los Angeles County should be experiencing the

pangs of hunger,” First District Supervisor Hilda Solis said at a virtual town hall press conference May 11. “At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, food insecurity hit an all-time high in Los Angeles County.” It “affects young and old alike,” she said, “but it doesn’t stop there,” disregarding “edu-

cation level, income, race, ethnicity ...” In early May, the Board endorsed Solis’ motion declaring May “CalFresh Awareness Month.” Toget her w it h A ntonia Jiménez, director of the county’s Department of Public Social LOS ANGELES

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Mother’s Day tribute by MOTHER Movement, FASGI

celebration to honor mothers on their special day in the month of May was jointly held recently by the Movement to Help Eradicate Rape and Other Child Abuses (MOTHER) Movement and he Filipino-American Services Group Inc., (FASGI). No other than Philippine Consul General Edgar B. Badajos graced the Mother’s Day Tribute held at the Rosewood United Methodist Church

on Saturday. In his speech, Badajos said the roles played by mothers in the lives of their children and society, in general, are usually ignored. Among those roles, according to ConGen Badajos, include that of being an “influencer” way before “social media influencers” became fashionable. MOTHER’S

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Photos courtesy of Rosito Go

Program emcee Ethelina Mendoza Provido (extreme left) poses during a lull with her fellow mothers.

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ABNER GALINO, Fil-Am News Editor

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Saturday-Friday | May 15 - 21, 2021

AARP’s National Coronavirus Tele-Town Hall Spotlights the Asian American and Pacific Islander Community

ARP hosted a national coronavirus Tele-Town Hall focused on “Coronavirus, Vaccines, and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders” on April 22 at 7:00 p.m. (EDT). The livestreamed event involved a panel discussion among health experts who also answered live questions from callers all over the country about: how to stay safe and protected from the coronavirus and prevent the further spread, virus variants and vaccines, vaccine distribution, and ways to identify misinformation, fraud and scams. Guest speakers included Lieutenant Adelaida M. Rosario of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services; Dr. Alka Kanaya, Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco; Dr. Mary Joy Garcia-Dia, President of the Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA); and Daphne Kwok, AARP Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Asian American and Pacific Islander Audience Strategy. The panel was moderated by John Yang, National Correspondent for the PBS NewsHour. coViD-19 impact on the community The panel started with an acknowledgement of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community’s unique challenges faced during the pandemic. The speakers agreed that AANHPIs have had issues with obtaining information about the pandemic and the availability of the vaccines due to language barriers, a low level of familiarity with computer technology, misinformation, distrust in government, and a misunderstanding of the vaccines or the science behind the vaccines. The speakers also recognized that there are different solutions and approaches to these challenges. “The AANHPI community is extremely diverse and therefore, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach with communications,” said Dr. Rosario. Many of the speakers shared that there is a benefit for the community when materials are produced in their languages and when those materials are shared through trusted leaders of community-based organizations or trusted

staff members at local health centers to share information. Dr. Rosario commented, “HHS has been working on a number of print materials and virtual materials in the relevant languages so we can reach the community in their native tongue. HHS is also moving into a second sphere of subgroups which are also American Samoans and some of the smaller islands.” A barrier unique to the Asian American community is the recent increase in the number of anti-Asian hate crimes since March 2020. “In addition to this pandemic, there’s this heightened negative attention right now, focused on the Asian American community because of all the stereotypes and it’s terribly unfortunate,” Dr. Rosario said. “It becomes a ‘double pandemic’ essentially for all of our older Asian American community members because they’re dealing with all of this awful discrimination in addition to, layered with, this health crisis. There’s something to be said about disproportionate mental health impact that our community is dealing with.” On behalf of AARP, Kwok denounced the hate crimes: “AARP strongly condemns all racially motivated violence and harassment, and AARP stands with the Asian American community. Racism is a public health issue.” She added that the assaults had been “causing fear, especially for our older members, and the fear is keeping them from making their medical appointments and getting their vaccine. Fortunately, I know there are volunteers helping out at the local level, like accompanying elders to their appointments.” Kwok reaffirmed AARP’s commitment in supporting AAPI elders and their families through the production of translated materials. The AARP state offices are also engaging with the AAPI community at the local level. There is an upcoming #StopAsianHate forum taking place in May as well. “It’s important to shatter the Model Minority Myth as well as the Perpetual Foreigner image,” said Kwok. “And it’s important to tell Asian American and Pacific Islander history: the contributions we’ve been making in the United States dating back to the Civil War.” COVID-19 has also negatively impacted healthcare professionals

and frontline workers in different ways. A PNAA survey helped Dr. Garcia-Dia identify “the challenges that our nurses are experiencing and how we can unpack these feelings of depression, the morale injury that they feel because they survived [a COVID-19 infection], and the frustration that they feel because the pandemic is not going away.” PNAA started the “Resilience Program” to help their nurses recover socially and emotionally, for the long haul. PNAA also sent a survey through the Justly Project to find out how to make their nurses feel more appreciated. “A simple thank you will make us feel better,” was the response that the organization discovered, according to Dr. Garcia-Dia. “We will be celebrating Nurse’s Week … for the whole month of May. And we hope the audience will express their ‘thank you’ to all our nurses or healthcare and essential workers because it will go a long way in reaffirming the reason why they chose to be in the healthcare profession: to care for our patients and save lives. And we know we can only do our job if everyone will do their share in helping flatten the curve. So taking care of yourself, and getting your vaccine will be a huge help.” clinical trials According to the panel, AANHPIs were part of the vaccine clinical trials. In fact, Yang personally sought out and applied for the clinical trials even though he has underlying health conditions. Yang said, “I sought out an opportunity to apply for a clinical trial, and I ended up in the Moderna clinical trial.” On this note, Dr. Kanaya shared the importance of having People of Color and AANHPIs involved in these clinical trials as well as for clinical trials for all medications and drugs. “We need to have better representation of AANHPI groups in all types of studies, whether it’s vaccine studies or Alzheimer’s Disease studies. We need to change the narrative,” said Dr. Kanaya. “Especially in drug trials and vaccine trials, it’s really important to

have representation from diverse groups and communities because there may be certain biological differences in how we metabolize medications or how our bodies develop immune responses to vaccines that cannot be seen unless we have adequate numbers of participants in these trials.” Kanaya shared that at least 4-5% of Asian Americans were in the Moderna clinical trials in the United States, and in the Pfizer clinical trials that took place all around the world. While results showed that differences in efficacy of the vaccine or in side effects were not found for Asian Americans versus other groups, she warned that the results are only based on a small sample of 1,400-

vet or verify suspicious claims or potential fraud or a scam.

1,600 people in the trials. Still, Dr. Kanaya said, “This at least gives me some comfort knowing that there was some representation in these studies. But we can do better.”

own influence with people you know around you because we’re trying to get the world vaccinated. And one more person is one more step closer to getting our life back to normal.” Dr. Garcia-Dia said: “Have an honest conversation and have a listening session with the people in your community that you could trust and share experiences with. This is really our shot. We can stop the pandemic on its tracks. Let us be part of this solution and make this an opportunity to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Getting the COVID-19 vaccine protects you, your family and our community.” For more information about the vaccines, where you can register for one, and how AARP continues to protect older Americans 50+ and their families during the pandemic, please visit aarp.org/ coronavirus.

Frauds and scams Since the pandemic, there has been an alarming increase in coronavirus and vaccine frauds and scams. As a public health professional who is vigilant of these issues for AANHPIs, Dr. Rosario noted that each state has a health department website with updated information on authorized vaccine providers. The FDA’s website also shares the latest with vaccine emergency authorizations. The CDC also shares a list of trusted medical professionals should anyone need to verify information. Rosario encouraged everyone to be vigilant and to turn to local trusted resources to seek help to

Final takeaways The bottom line for all the panelists? It’s important to get vaccinated. Dr. Rosario said, “The benefits far outweigh the risks. Return to what was your norm with confidence that you won’t end up hospitalized, death won’t be a looming threat, and you can be with your loved ones. It’s a significant step back to the life that we knew.” Dr. Kanaya said: “Get vaccinated. Get people around you to get vaccinated. Anyone you get in contact with, help them to get vaccinated. We need everyone to pitch in here. It’s important to use your

How communities can heal after the pandemic By JENNY MANRIQUE

isparities in health care and education. Lack of affordable housing. Racism and police abuse. Loss of jobs. These are just a few of the crises already faced by low-income communities of color, that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Closing those inequity gaps will require not only federal and state investment in these communities, but sincere attention to their mental health and a commitment from the wealthiest classes, who were marginally affected by the pandemic while preserving their income and privileges. Experts who work directly

with ethnic communities in California warn about this complicated healing process during a press conference organized by Ethnic Media Services. "We know that COVID is the disease that has revealed our illness as a society: the valleys of inequality that pre-existed COVID have been flooded with the tsunami of the disease," said Manuel Pastor, Distinguished Professor of Sociology and American Studies & Ethnicity and Turpanjian Chair in Civil Society and Social Change at the University of Southern California. At the beginning and different stages of the pandemic, Pastor cautioned how COVID would especially impact immigrants who are the labor force that

does the essential work treated as “disposable”. “We’ve got (mixed-status) families that until the passage of the American Relief Act were essentially locked out of federal relief funds… Now they are kind of reluctant to tap in, because they’re worried that may count against them, if there’s eventually a route to legalization in the future”. In California, more than twothirds of undocumented immigrants have been in the country for longer than a decade and are waiting for Congress to work out their path to citizenship. It is a population deeply embedded in business and communities, who have experienced the disease like no other without being able to access local health pro-

grams, due to lack of insurance, mistrust and fear. "Every state relief program should try to think about what it can do to be fully accessible to undocumented Californians," said Pastor, who also sits on the Governor's Council of Economic Advisers, where he pushes these issues. Since last summer, the California Healthy Places Index already indicated that the virus was going to devastate blacks, Latinos and Asians but the state did not bring COVID tests to those communities. This health equity metric requires to assess test positivity rates in the poorest communities, to analyze their vulnerability to county opening plans. But it was till recently with

vaccination plans that the state of California made a pivot and decided to allocate 40% of vaccines into the 25% of the communities that are scoring worse on this index. Community mobile clinics receive doses, mobilize trusted messengers and run health promoters campaigns to encourage vaccination. "The vaccine rollout has also been a recipe for racial inequality," added Pastor, referring to the fact that although the doses were available to anyone of a certain age category or occupation, the older populations are overwhelmingly white while younger populations belong to communities of color. “It could be argued that everyone in that age category contnuED on PaGE 16

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MOTHER’S... from Page 1 Mothers, added ConGen Badajos, are paragons of selflessness even before modern-day philanthropists came hugging the headlines with their gazillion donations to charitable causes. He c om mende d t he MOTHER Movement and FASGI, led by Ms. Perla Santos and Ms. Yey Coronel, respectively, for organizing social programs for the senior members of the Filipi-

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no-American community in Los Angeles, including a weekly virtual Health Perspectives workshops. The said workshops provide the seniors the opportunity to come together, promote a healthy lifestyle, and help them cope with fear, isolation and loneliness during the pandemic. Badajos serenaded the audience with his unrehearsed but soulful rendition of Original Pilipino

Music (OPM) song “Kahit Isang Saglit.” The gathering was attended by around 70 members of both organizations and the Los Angeles Philippine Women’s Club, who came in their formal traditional Filipiniana attire. The Mother’s Day tribute was the first in-person event organized by MOTHER Movement and FASGI since the onset of the pandemic last year.

Mother’s Day Tribute attendees include Consul General Edgar Badajos.

MOTHER Movement founder Perla Santos (second from left) poses with celebrants.

10 Things the Fully Vaccinated Need to Know

he CDC has published some specific guidance about what the fully vaccinated can do and cannot do, and AARP has asked experts to answer other common questions about life after vaccination. Here are 10 things you should know now that you've been jabbed.

You can also spend time inside with unvaccinated people from a single household without wearing masks or physical distancing if you choose, the CDC says, as long as no one is at increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease and no one lives with somebody who's at increased risk as well.

1. You still need to wear a mask

5. You don't have to quarantine after exposure

Even though COVID-19 cases are down from their peak in January, the coronavirus is still circulating in the U.S., and new and more contagious variants have emerged. So wearing masks and social distancing are still important in helping slow its spread until we can reach herd immunity. Masking will also help slow the spread of coronavirus variants — and prevent the emergence of new ones — because the virus can't mutate if it is not spreading.

You do not have to quarantine or get tested after an exposure to someone with the coronavirus, as long as you aren't experiencing any symptoms, the CDC says. If you develop a cough, fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea or other symptoms of COVID-19, however, you should get tested.

2. You could still catch COVID-19

This is the other reason experts don't want you to put aside your mask just yet. Although all three vaccines authorized for emergency use in the U.S. were found to be highly effective against severe disease and death from COVID-19, there's still a chance you could get infected with the virus. The whole point of a vaccine is that it prevents you from dying or ending up in the hospital, but you may still get sick.

4. You can visit friends and family

Fully vaccinated people can gather indoors with others who are also fully vaccinated, without wearing masks or physical distancing if you choose, the CDC says.

8. It's a good time to go to the doctor or dentist

Countless Americans put their health care on hold due to the pandemic. Now that you're vaccinated, it's time to schedule that colonoscopy, dental cleaning or elective surgery you've been putting off. The only screening you may want to hold off getting right away is your mammogram. Many women develop swelling in the lymph nodes in their underarm after vaccination, the CDC says. Therefore, some experts recommend waiting four to six weeks after you are fully vaccinated to get a mammogram.

9. You may need a booster shot

3. You could infect someone else

There's also a small chance that you could get infected with the virus and not even realize it, and then you could transmit it to someone who is not vaccinated. Researchers are still studying whether the vaccines prevent the asymptomatic spread of the virus; early data indicates that they likely do. But the evidence is preliminary and more research is needed.

Rochelle Walensky said: "In terms of travel, here's what we know: Every time that there's a surge in travel, we have a surge in cases in this country. We know that many of our variants have emerged from international places, and we know that the travel corridor is a place where people are mixing a lot. We are really trying to restrain travel at this current period of time, and we're hopeful that our next set of guidance will have more science around what vaccinated people can do, perhaps travel being among them."

6. You should keep your vaccine record card handy

In the future, you may need proof of vaccination to travel, work in certain industries or attend large events. Your card may also come in handy to confirm which vaccine you received, and when you received it, if a booster dose is required.

7. Travel is still discouraged

Even though the number of airline passengers has been rising, the CDC continues to recommend against travel, even for those who are vaccinated. CDC Director

Researchers still don't know how long immunity from the vaccines will last. The current vaccines should provide some protection against the coronavirus variants. The vaccine manufacturers are working to create booster shots or updated versions of their shots to improve protection against variants. Chances are that we will have to get some kind of COVID-19 shot on a regular basis, perhaps once every three years or every year, like the flu shot.

10. A return to normal hinges on herd immunity

Before life can get totally back to normal, experts say that first we need to reach herd immunity — when enough Americans are vaccinated to significantly slow the spread of the virus. Estimates of when we will reach that point range from this summer to early 2022.

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McDonald’s Spotlights Barrier-Breaking Stories of Asian Pacific Americans During May In partnership with Dear Asian Americans and the Center for Asian American Media, the #WeAreAPA photo series is celebrating the depth and breadth of the community this Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

(CHICAGO – May 10, 2021) – May is a meaningful time for Asian Pacific Americans as we celebrate their achievements and contributions to this country. This Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM), McDonald’s is shining a light on the beautifully diverse APA community through unique stories being told by the #WeAreAPA photo series. This new series starts today in partnership with Dear Asian Americans (DAA) podcast and the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM). #WeAreAPA is spotlighting eight people through seven stories. These stories are those of trailblazers in industries less traveled by Asian Pacific Americans, whose work and paths exemplify the rich and varied experiences within this community and country: • Carol and Andrew Chin – Carol, a Chinese immigrant from Venezuela, and McDonald’s franchisee, with her son Andrew, a former professional baseball player • Kana Hatakeyama – a Japanese-American actor and CAAMfest 2021 filmmaker who explores her experiences of living in Japan and the U.S. in her works • Steve Kim – a Korean-American and formerly incarcerated University of Southern California professor who founded Project Kinship, a prison reform and human rights advocacy organization

• Mike Magpayo – a Filipino-American and current head basketball coach of University of California, Riverside, and the first-ever Asian American Division 1 basketball head coach • Sapna Pandya – a queer Indian-American pandita (Hindu religious scholar and marriage officiant) who is reimagining inclusivity within South Asian faith and cultural traditions • Georgina Pazcoguin – a half-Filipina New York City Ballet

dancer who is leading the charge to remove "yellow face" in ballet • Sunmi – a non-binary diasporic Korean cartoonist whose zines and upcoming graphic novel inspire other Asian American youth “Every day at McDonald’s, we strive to uplift the communities of which we are a part,” said Jimmy Ferguson, an Austin, TX McDonald’s franchisee and chair of the Asian McDonald’s Operators As-

sociation (AMOA). “And during this important month, with the APA community in the spotlight now more than ever, we’re honored to amplify these powerful stories that showcase the diversity and strength of our community.” Up to three stories will be featured weekly on DAA’s Instagram, while CAAM’s social channels will post select content throughout May. Each feature will include a set of portraits that represent their story, and a complementary inter-

AG.... from Page 1

view that will highlight life lessons and what it means to them to be APA today. “Dear Asian Americans is rooted in authentic and diverse storytelling,” said Jerry Won, founder and host of Dear Asian Americans. “We’re excited to partner with McDonald’s to tell seven stories of perseverance that will inspire others and also show the strength of the APA community.” Independent photojournalists Eric Lee and Emanuel Hahn, whose work has been featured in major national publications, captured each person and their story. Lee and Hahn’s personal ties to the APA community provided an authentic point of view that aided in capturing the complexity of each story. As a company that serves diverse communities, McDonald’s is committed to celebrating and bringing awareness to important moments that reflect the communities we serve. McDonald’s has previously celebrated Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with APA Legacy, a series of public service announcements highlighting Asian-American changemakers, that aired nationally for more than seven years. Be sure to view DAA’s Instagram weekly to read the seven powerful stories, starting now through the end of May.

Photos by Nikki Arriola and Robert Gamo

Participants and organizers of the self-defense workshop at Carson Park.

Consul General Edgar Badajos poses with City of Carson Mayor Pro Temp Jim Dear, Carson Councilmembers Jowane Hilton and Cedric Hicks. branches and law enforce- mayors from the state’s major ment agencies need to build cities before this month ends. trust with members of the “We want to provide culcommunity to encourage turally competent and in-lanthem to report and help in guage support to improve the investigation of suspect- hate crime reporting,” Bonta ed hate crimes. said. Bonta said the bureau is set When people come to hold a virtual meeting with foraward to repor t hate

crimes, Bonta added “the approach has to be victim-centered, using trauma-informed care.” Meanwhile, in the City of Carson which has the biggest population of Filipinos and Filipino Americans in Southern California, a self defense workshop titled “Defend our elders” was held at Carson Park. Philippine Consul General in Los Angeles Edgar B. Bada-

jos, the event’s guest speaker, assured the FilAm community that the consulate “stands in solidarity with Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI).” “I reiterate to you the call of both the LAPD and the LA Sheriff for community members who experienced or witnessed racially-motivated violence or other incidents to report the matter directly to law enforcement authorities and relevant agencies for immediate action,” Badajos said. Badajos was joined by Assemblymember Mike Gipson of District 64, City of Carson Mayor Pro Temp Jim Dear, Carson Council-

members Jowane Hilton and Cedric Hicks. The #DefendOurElders workshop was organized by the Alliance Against AAPI Hate in celebration of the AAPI Heritage Month. The workshop taught seniors and other vulnerable members of the community how to defend themselves from attackers using ordinary things such as keys, fans, umbrellas, purses, walking canes and other objects. The workshop in Carson was led by Fil-Am martial artist and Hollywood actor Ms. Diana Lee Inosanto and her husband Ron Balicki. They were supported by martial guru Alvin Catacutan of Pamana Kali.

LOS ANGELES... from Page 1 Services, Solis introduced representatives from two community partners, the Los Angeles Food Banks and Chinatown Service Center, to highlight the CalFresh program and encourage people to apply for it. CalFresh benefits are distributed via a card that can be used to buy food at grocery stores and farmers’ markets, for curb-side pickup or deliveries, and also for packaged meals from restaurants. CalFresh was recently expanded to include college students eligible for state or federal work study programs, whether or not they’re yet approved. Also this year, the state has increased the benefit by 15%. “We want to make sure no one in Los Angeles County goes to bed on an empty stomach,” Jiménez said. Jiménez also said that the federal government plans to boost the state-administered benefit by $95 monthly. “This is a program that’s here for you when you need it,” Michael Flood, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Food Banks (https://www. lafoodbank.org/find-food/pantry-locator/), said. “We all pay taxes,” he noted, and CalFresh is simply another example, akin to unemployment benefits and more, of programs those taxes are intended to cover.

His organization also has information on how people can access food programs specifically aimed at women, infants and children (the federal WIC program) or seniors and older adults (800 510-2020). “You’re not alone and we’re here to help you. Sign up for CalFresh today!” said Amy Zhou, of the Chinatown Service Center (https://www. cscla.org/). Her nonprofit organization works with more than 100,000 low- to moderate-income people every year, she said. If people need help applying for CalFresh, the center can provide it, just as it already does with citizenship applications and, especially since COVID, a growing need for connecting people to Covered California health care, utility and rental payment assistance and more. Among the avenues to applying for CalFresh are the phone number: (866) 613-3777 and the websites getcalfresh.org, which promises a 10-minute application process, as well as dpss. lacounty.gov. Flood said there’s been a huge uptick in people seeking food assistance for the first time – “more than 40%,” he said, and encouraged people to apply for CalFresh benefits. “You might be surprised to find you’re eligible,” he said.

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Remembering the springtime birthdays of two dearly beloved aunts in heaven

AY gray makes me remember the springtime birthdays of two dearly beloved aunts who are now in heaven. These dearly beloved aunts (we called them "Tia Meding" and "Tia Toning") who both celebrate their birthdays on May 10th and May 15th, used to spoil us (my first cousin Amang Parong and I) whenever we went on family vacations to our fun hometown. The beach of course, always beckoned and enticed us. There was one summer time when the Cathedral's parish priest (Father Walsh) invited one of our aunts (Tia Meding) to join him swimming and to go sailing on a small open wooden raft or "balsa," along with members of the youth religious group called "Teresitas." While we there were around six of us kids who were having fun sailing, Father Walsh surprisingly frolicked and made fun with us by tuning the raft upside down, Luckily, our Tia Meding was there and she literally scooped each of us (Amang and I particularly), from the deep waters and saved us from drowning, Lesson learned from Father Walsh's pranks. As always, I used to call Tia Meding, my angel and my saviour. There was another time when we (along with Amang and another first cousin Goya Yap), were walking through the woods, as we were on our way to harvest fresh coconuts from our family's plantantion, when suddenly a large lizard fell from the tree and it landed on me while I screamed so frightfully. Luckily again, my angel and saviour Tia Meding bravely scraped the large insect from me and killed it

abruptly. What a nightmare! As brave as she was, Tia Meding had this admirable soft heart and love for gardening. She has planted various flowers and plants such as: Bougainvilleas, Sampaguitas, Ylang ylang and various varieties of Roses around our ancestral house. Townspeople would sometimes stop by in our house to admire all the flowers seen on our patio and side roofs. As a background, Tia Meding was a schoolteacher who graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the Philippine Normal College and she taught Sixth Grade in the town's Elementary School, but later on transferred to the Capitol Provincial Office as the Property Division Chief for the whole province, where she would travel through 13 towns from Olongapo to Santa Cruz, to bring educational books to each of the 13 towns and provide each of them school materials and books provided by the Department of Education. I learned of her job as I always tagged along, whenever I was in town and she would teach me how she painstakingly did her duties, as a government official. So indeed, I learned a lot from her. On an exciting trip to Los Banos during the Boy Scouts Jamboree, Amang and I were lucky to have tagged along with our Tia Toning as well, as she supervised the food for the whole Zambales contingent of around 100 people from our province. It was such a delightful childhood experience we had joining in with their festivities, contests, singing and dancing in the luscious mountain area of Mt. Makiling from dawn to ear-

The Yap sisters of Iba, Zambales from left: Antonina Ebuen-Yap ("Tia Toning"), Paulina Yap-Parong ("Tia Ninay"), Remedios Yap-Rimando ("Tia Meding") and my mom, Rogelia Yap-Aquitania ("Roging") ly sunrise the following morning. As a setting up our tents and our Food Booth Home Economic Supervisor for the whole which enabled us to serve all of the peoprovince, Amang and I also used to tag ple in the delegation. along when Tia Toning visited all the There was yet another memorable cafeterias of the 13 towns, making sure childhood experience I had tagging they have nutritious meals each day. At along with Tia Toning during her trip the Jamboree site, we helped Tia Toning to attend a Hotel and Restaurant Assocooked and prepared the food and acted ciation (HRAP) conference in Legaspi, as Food servers to the Boy Scouts dele- Albay. Likewise, she was a graduate of gation as well as their families. We were the Philippine Normal College, majorthere for a week, along with our father ing in Home Economics. She became figure, Tio Rim, who was Tia Meidng's an officer of the prestigious (HR AP) husband, and he was our big helper in contnuED on PaGE 16

Pilipino po tayo!

CaLIfORNIa... fROM PagE 1 billion to unlock at least 46,000 new homeless housing units and affordable apartments. The plan focuses on those with the most acute needs, with at least 28,000 new beds and housing placements for clients with behavioral health needs and seniors at the highest risk of homelessness. The Newsom Administration’s plan also comes with greater accountability and transparency measures, to make sure investments are put toward effective solutions and money is well-spent. Under the California Comeback Plan, the state seeks to functionally end family homelessness within five years through a new $3.5 billion investment in homelessness prevention, rental support and new housing opportunities for people at risk of homelessness. To achieve this, the Newsom Administration is investing $1.85 billion in new housing for homeless families and $1.6 billion in rental support and homelessness prevention for families. “Within a year, Homekey did more to address the homelessness and affordable housing crisis than anything that’s been done in decades and became a national model. Now is the time to double down on these successful efforts,” said Governor Newsom. “The California Comeback Plan invests a historic $12 billion to expand these successful programs and seeks to end family homelessness within five years. That’s the idea behind the Comeback Plan’s homelessness investments – more, faster and with accountability and efficiency stitched into the fabric of these new investments.” The California Comeback Plan includes almost $50 million in targeted

programs and grants to local governments, to move people out of unsafe, unhealthy encampments and into safer, more stable housing. Governor Newsom’s plan aims to provide stable housing for thousands of vulnerable aged youth experiencing homelessness or at-risk of homelessness by targeting resources through Homekey and supporting various youth-focused grant programs. In addition, the plan calls for stricter enforcement measures of state housing law and investments into proven strategies, ensuring local governments are meeting targets to reduce homelessness. The Governor is proposing an additional $1.5 billion investment to clean public spaces near highways and transform public spaces through arts and cultural projects. The initiative is expected to create an estimated 15,000 jobs, including for people experiencing or exiting homelessness, at-risk youth, veterans and formerly incarcerated individuals. The California Comeback Plan outlines comprehensive strategies and major investments to address five of the state’s most stubborn challenges. The Governor yesterday unveiled the first challenge his plan will tackle, immediate relief for Californians recovering from the pandemic, which includes the largest state tax rebate in American history and expanded rent relief and utility assistance. The Governor has also announced a $5.1 billion package supporting the state’s drought response and water infrastructure, improving the state’s resilience to climate change impacts. Under Governor Newsom’s $100 billion plan, California will come roaring back from this pandemic.

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

kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com

FAMILY LAW - Divorce - Community Property Division - Child Custody and Spousal Support - Domestic Violence Restraining Order - Legal Separation and Nullity - Parentage - Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements

IMMIGRATION - Marriage Petitions - Relative Petitions - Removal of Condtional Green Card - Humanitarian Reinstatements - Child Status Protection Act Issues - Deportation Defense - Employment Based Petitions and PERM - H-1B Visas

ESTATES AND TRUST - Living Trust - Wills - Probate - Conservatorship CIVIL LITIGATION - Contract Disputes - Business Disputes - Corporate and Partnership Disputes

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Rates are down again compare Mortgage rates and points before buying or refinancing your home

IN order to understand the closing cost, your lender will supply you with a complete breakdown of where these fees would be applied. However, for the sake of this discussion, a brief explanation of the closing cost is: >> Closing costs, or settlement costs, that are paid when the homebuyer and the seller sign the final documents at closing. On the average, closing costs run approximately 1.5% to 2.5% of the house price. This percentage may vary, depending on where you live but may be payable even on no money down type loans. >> Closing costs include the loan origination fee (if not already paid), points, prepaid homeowner's insurance, appraisal fee, lender processing and underwriting fees, recording fee, title search and insurance, tax adjustments, agent commissions, mortgage insurance (if you are putting less than 20% down) and other expenses. >> Points: Points are finance charges calculated at closing. Each point equals 1% of the loan amount. For example, 2 points on a $100,000 loan equals $2,000. Companies may charge 1, 2 or 3 points in up-front costs in addition to the down payment. Commercial loan points may be higher. In some cases, you may be able to finance the points. In some cases, the smaller the loan, the more points are charged. In most cases, points can be negotiated.

Tips on what to ask for when buying or refinancing your home. >> What the actual interest rate is on your mortgage >> Term of the loan ( 30 years fixed, Adjustable rate mortgage, Negative amortization etc… ) >> Does the loan/s carry a prepayment penalty clause and if yes for how long. >> How many points are being charged for this loan. >> Request for a complete breakdown on all closing cost and fees to this loan and request for guaranteed rates and fees. If you are getting pre-qualified and providing all the information to a lender, then the lender should be able to provide you with a complete list of rate options and fees involved. In some instances, if your credit has not been checked and or all the income documentation have not been verified, the process might take a bit longer. I have received too many calls from new homeowners calling me asking me about their closed loans,they were not properly educated and informed on the program, the fees are not disclosed. Unfortunately if the loan has closed theres not much we can do for you about it. Please be a smart buyer and make sure the money you saved could help you in the

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future. If you have low credit scores or bad credit, that should only affect your rates not fees. Most lender do charge more because you have bad credit but that should not be the case. Be very careful with lenders that thrive on your credit mishaps, you have to shop your loan and get this loan rate quotes and fee quotes in writing, this could help you keep your property for a long term. If you are given a loan that you don’t understand and you have to refinance in two to three years you might end up losing the property due to higher rates or not enough equity build into the home. For refinancing, even if you have signed loan documents to close, the

law gives you three full days from that day to rescind on the loan if you think you can get a better program with better fees. I have help multiple customer understand their new loans and have requested for a number of clients not to sign their loans due to excessive charges and high rates from other lenders. Please feel free to consult with our office if you are getting a fair market rate and fees on your existing loan application, I will be more than happy to give you a free advise on this subject. Good luck and again be a smart home loan borrower. KenGo (888) 822-5363. Cell phone (562) 508-7048

How to obtain Custody and Visitation Rights for Unmarried Dads

ESTABLISHING parentage rights for Moms is a lot easier than establishing one for unmarried Dads. Moms can establish this by simply showing proof of her having given birth to the child. Family Code §7610. Establishing parentage rights, including custody and visitation rights, becomes more problematic with unmarried Dads because proving yourself as the biological father does not automatically make you the natural father of the child. Under the family code, there are competing presumptions of paternity which allows the non biological father to be deemed the natural father of the child. A typical situation is when boyfriend gets girlfriend pregnant. Girlfriend for some reason decides to exclude boyfriend from baby's life so she breaks up with boyfriend, does not give the boyfriend any information about her delivery, and does not state the boyfriend as the father in the birth certificate or decides to name someone else as the father. Girlfriend does this because her parents disapprove of the ex boyfriend. One way a presumption of Paternity is created is by executing a voluntary declaration of paternity. A Voluntary declarations executed before 1997 give rise to a conclusive presumption of paternity and can be overcome only by blood or genetic tests ordered on noticed motion by the mother or presumed father must be made within three years of the date of execution of the voluntary declaration Family.Code. § 7576; Kevin Q. v. Lauren W. (2009) 175 CA4th 1119, 1133, 95 CR3d 477, 485 If the voluntary declaration of paternity is executed after 1996, it is not characterized as a conclusive presumption. Instead, it “shall establish the paternity of a child and shall have the same force and effect as a judgment for paternity issued by a court of competent jurisdiction” and trumps §7611 presumptions discussed below. A post 1996 voluntary declaration of paternity “shall be recognized as a basis for the establishment of an order for child custody, visitation, or child support.” Family .Code §§ 7573, 7644; Kevin Q. v. Lauren W., supra, 175 CA4th at 1132, 95 CR3d at 485; In re J.L. (2008) 159 CA4th 1010, 1019, 72 CR3d 27, 33. Another way of establishing presumed father status is if you fall under any of the categories listed (a) to (f) under family code §7611:

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(a) He and the child's natural mother are or have been married to each other and the child is born during the marriage, or within 300 days after the marriage is terminated by death, annulment, declaration of invalidity, or divorce, or after a judgment of separation is entered by a court.

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(b) Before the child's birth, he and the child's natural mother have attempted to marry each other by a marriage solemnized in apparent compliance with law, although the attempted marriage is or could be declared invalid, and either of the following is true: (1) If the attempted marriage could be declared invalid only by a court, the child is born during the attempted marriage, or within 300 days after its termination by death, annulment, declaration of invalidity, or divorce. (2) If the attempted marriage is invalid without a court order, the child is born within 300 days after the termination of cohabitation. (c) After the child's birth, he and the child's natural mother have married, or attempted to marry, each other by a marriage solemnized in apparent compliance with law, although the attempted marriage is or could be declared invalid, and either of the following is true: CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

VIEWPOINT VIEWPOINT Here Are 4 Ways To Get Out of Debt

Saturday-Friday | May 15 - 21, 2021

ARE you seriously in debt and don’t know what to do about your situation? Are you afraid that unless you do something about it, thing will just continue to get worse every day? When people are going through financial difficulty and are unable to pay their bills, their first reaction is often to ignore their debts and avoid contact with creditors. They think that by doing this, somehow the creditors will simply give up and go away. Then one day the problem blows up in their face. They either get served a wage garnishment at work or they find out that their bank account has been frozen by a judgment creditor that they have ignored. I see this happen all the time. That’s when they rush to see a bankruptcy attorney to find out what can

be done to protect themselves. This is when they realize that they should have done something about their debt problems sooner in order to avoid the unpleasant consequences of their inaction. Most states have a statute of limitations- this is the period of time in which a creditor must file a lawsuit in order to collect on an unpaid debt. In California, that is generally 4 years from the time you stopped paying. A debt can go unpaid for years and you may not hear anything about the debt at all. Well, don’t hold your breath. When the collection accounts gets close to the 4-year mark for the creditor to file suit, that’s when you often get served a lawsuit before the statute runs out. If a creditor does sue you and obtains a judgment, the judgment is good for 10 years in California

BARRISTER’S CORNER…

FROM PAGE 6

(1) With his consent, he is named as the child's father on the child's birth certificate. (2) He is obligated to support the child under a written voluntary promise or by court order. (d) He receives the child into his home and openly holds out the child as his natural child. (e) If the child was born and resides in a nation with which the United States engages in an Orderly Departure Program or successor program, he acknowledges that he is the child's father in a declaration under penalty of perjury, as specified in Section 2015.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure. This subdivision shall remain in effect only until January 1, 1997, and on that date shall become inoperative. (f) The child is in utero after the death of the decedent and the conditions set forth in Section 249.5 of the Probate Code are satisfied. An alleged biological father who does not meet any of the § 7611 conditions for presumed father status has no constitutionally-protected “liberty interest” in establishing a parentage relationship with a child as against the rights of a presumptive father who has an extant parentage relationship with the child. Dawn D. v. Super.Ct. (Jerry K.) (1998) 17 C4th 932, 940–942, 72 CR2d 871, 876–877 The facts get even more complicated if the girlfriend, whom boyfriend gets pregnant is married to another man because the law provides a conclusive presumption of paternity to the husband of the girlfriend. Under Family Code §7540, the child of a wife cohabiting at time of conception with her husband, who is not impotent or sterile, is “conclusively” presumed to be a child of the marriage. This conclusive presumption may be challenged by showing that the husband was sterile. It may also be challenged by filing a motion for blood or genetic testing under Family Code §7541 but this has to be done within 2 years of the childs birth. In addition, only persons with standing can bring this motion which is limited to the husband, child, mother and a presumed father as listed in Family Code §7611 and 7612. Even absent a recognized rebuttal, the court has discretion as a matter of due process not to apply § 7540 conclusive presumption of paternity when it would not further the statute's underlying policies of preserving the integrity and stability of an extant marital family, protecting children from the stigma of “illegitimacy,” and promoting individual rather than State responsibility for child support ... as where the ostensible § 7540 presumptive father never developed a parental relationship with the child and the only established parent-child relationship is with a third person. Brian C. v. Ginger K. (2000) 77 CA4th 1198, 1200–1201, 92 CR2d 294, 296; In re Kiana A. (2001) 93 CA4th 1109, 1115, 113 CR2d 669, 675. Procedurally, the ex boyfriend should file a Petition for Parentage as soon as the child is born. While the case is pending, the ex boyfriend may seek temporary visitation order although this may be on a limited or even monitored basis. If successful in proving parentage, the ex boyfriend may be granted custody and visitation rights. However, the ex boyfriend would also have the obligation of paying child support based on California guidelines. 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, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APLC is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail Kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com

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and can be renewed thereafter. That’s a pretty long time for a creditor to be chasing you and your assets, if you have any. If you own a home and a judgment lien is filed against it, the debt becomes a secured debt and it must be paid in full plus accrued interest when you sell your property someday. Filing a bankruptcy doesn’t automatically remove a lien but under certain circumstances, there is a procedure by which it can be removed. This will depend on the value of your home, outstanding loans on the property and your homestead exemption amount. Your homestead exemption is the amount of the equity in the property deemed protected by law if the house is your primary residence. An attorney can explain to you how this works. OK, so before any of the above happens, what are the ways to get out of debt before things take a turn for the worse? The key to your success is to be pro-active instead of being reactive. In other words, take action now instead of waiting until something bad happens. There basically only 4 ways to get out of debt if you’re on the verge of insolvency: (1) increase income so you can start paying larger amounts on your debts to hopefully avoid filing bankruptcy, (2) reduce expenses so that you can increase your disposable income and have more money availa-

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ble for debt repayment, (3) Convert assets you don’t need into cash and use the money to negotiate with creditors, and (4) File bankruptcy to wipe out debts or consolidate your bills (This requires filing either a Chapter 7 or a Chapter 13). If you’re feeling paralyzed by debt and can’t think clearly at the moment, you need a good attorney who can properly evaluate your situation and recommend possible solutions. The first thing you need to do when you don’t know what to do is to realize that sometimes, you cannot do it on your own. There is nothing wrong with getting legal help. The sooner you get help, the sooner you would be able to protect your home, your job, your car, your bank account, and other assets. For a free consultation and debt analysis, call Toll-Free 1-866-4777772. 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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CAREGIVERS: What are you waiting for? A Letter from Caregiver Attorney Daniel Chaleﬀ I RECEIVED a call the other day from a caregiver who has been reading my articles in Weekend Balita for over 3 years. I was so happy to receive this call. I am sure many of you reading this advertisement now have cut out and saved my articles or read them over the years and thought “I have that exact claim.” Many caregivers have valuable claims for unpaid overtime but are fearful of moving forward with a claim. Now is the time to take action and learn more about caregiver overtime law. I want to hear from you. I want to assure you that all communications with me are confidential and all consultations are free. I understand many caregivers work long hours with little free time. I am available for free consultations early in the morning before your patient awakens or late at night after your patient is asleep. I also work weekends if you have a 24/5, Monday to Friday job. I do not pressure caregivers to make a claim. If I simply educate you about the law and give you some free advice that would make me very happy. Even if you are not ready to make a claim now, you should reach out and speak with me about your claim. I can provide valuable advice about your situation and talk with you about the best time to make a claim. If you are a 24/7 caregiver, working for a day rate (i.e. $160 to $240 per day), with no overtime, for several years, your claim may be worth several hundred thousand dollars. Many of my clients have claims that exceed $500,000. One key to a successful claim is your employer needs to be wealthy to afford to pay for a large settlement. If I am provided information about your employers, I can research public records and get a snapshot of your employer’s wealth and evaluate your potential claim. If you are interested in a detailed explanation of claim values, you can visit my website at www.caregiverovertime.com/pa/worth/ for an article that calculates a

hypothetical claim’s value. I know many caregivers are f e a r f u l of mov i n g f or w a r d with valid claims due to their immigration status, a failure to pay taxes, or fear of the legal system. While all of these are valid concerns, in my opinion, the risks associated with these concerns are minimal versus the potentially lifechanging reward that awaits caregivers with the courage to move forward with claims. So many of my clients had recovered life changing settlements allowing them to retire to their home countries, make a down payment or build a home, help a child with education expenses, or send money to their families. If you would like to review an article that addresses common concerns caregivers have in pursuing an overtime claim, please visit my website at www.caregiverovertime.com/pa/concerns/. I understand that the decision to move forward with an overtime claim can be difficult. Many caregivers I speak with are simply not ready to move forward at this time. That is okay. Even if our call does not result in your making a claim, I can provide valuable insight into your rights, educate you on the evidence needed to pursue your claim, and help you understand the powerful laws that can protect you from wage theft. I want to hear from you now. Please call me at (818) 807-4168, this is my personal cell phone. I have a passion for helping caregivers and provide confidential and free consultations. Sincerely,

DANIEL CHALEFF

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 also offer a 24-hour chat line on our website.

PNP denies allegations police sharing ‘red-tagging’ posts on social media MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Philippine National Police Thursday denied allegations that local police stations have been sharing so-called red-tagging posts on social media. Last month, the Maginhawa community pantry suspended operations after its organizer was red-tagged by state forces and government officials on social media. "Nire-remind natin ang kapulisan mag-ingat sa pagpo-post ng mga ito dahil nami-misintrepret siya," PNP

chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said. Eleazar also denied that policemen were "profiling" community pantry organizers. "Sa pagkakataon na nakatutok ang lahat, tingin niyo po ba ay gagawa pa kami ng anumang bagay na pwedeng makasira sa aming reputasyon at imahe?" he said. "Kung meron po kayong nakukuhang impormasyon . . . Iparating niyo lang sa amin at we will caution them and we will make the proper sanction sa mga pulis natin."

The PNP chief, meanwhile, said it would enforce maximum tolerance to violators of minimum health standards. President Rodrigo Duterte earlier ordered law enforcers to arrest persons who wear face masks improperly. Enough warnings: PNP to 'accost' persons who wear face masks improperly "Ang bilin ko, paghuli sa kanila, bigyan agad ng face mask at dalhin sa lugar na pre-identified na. Hindi sila ikukulong at di sila sasaktan," Eleazar said. (MNS)

PNP CHIEF GEN. GUILLERMO ELEAZAR

PDP-Laban exec defends Pacquiao from members criticizing his remarks on Duterte's WPS stance

SENATOR MANNY PACQUIAO

M A NIL A ( Mabu hay) — An official of ruling party PDP-Laban has defended Senator Manny Pacquiao from their members condemning the latter for issuing a statement seen as criticizing President Rodrigo Duterte’s stand on West Philippine Sea. The PDP-Laban Bulacan provincial council recently released a local resolution expressing strong disapproval to Pacquiao’s statement that he found Duterte’s action on China as lacking. “Sa akin nakukulangan ako doon sa kumpara doon sa bago pa siya tumakbo, mage-eleksyon pa lang. Dapat ipagpatuloy n’ya ‘yun para magkaroon din ng respeto sa atin ang China,” Pacquiao said in an online interview with reporters.

T he pa r t y members deemed the remark of Pacquiao, the party’s acting president, a n attack on Duterte, their party chairman. R o n w a l d Mu n s a y a c , PDP-Laban executive director, said the while the party leadership is cognizant of the various sentiments of the members, there is a process by which they must all adhere to before issuing public pronouncements that are detrimental to the interest of the party and its general membership. “As a fellow partymate, I lament the fact that you have issued this resolution and press statement without any actual fact-checking and proper verification of the full context of Senator Pacquaio’s narrative,” he said.

He said the party members could have directly communicated with him or Pacquiao for clarification. “If you look at the said interview, you will realize that Senator Pacquaio was even defending the President when he said that people should not take the President’s 'jetski statement' literally. Senator Pacquaio said nothing to criticize President Duterte and in fact expressed his respect and admiration for what the President had stated in his 'jetski' bravado, by saying 'ito, 'yung gusto ko.' Then, even as he said 'nakukulangan ako.. kumpara sa dati...' referring to the President's stance now versus the President's stance before on the same subject, Sen Pacquiao continued to say quickly,

'sana ibalik niya 'yung dati',” he said. He added t he senator simply gave a personal assessment of the President's stance now but immediately hoped that the state leader goes back to his own previous tougher stance. “Where is the criticism? Moreover, isn't stating a point of view for the good of a party mate and the party itself welcome and even encouraged by our members, if the same is to enrich the common good?” he added. Munsayac further said that they welcome the move of Bulacan council to elevate their resolution to the national council “without prejudice to other actions that may impact on your standing as members of the PDP Laban.” (MNS)

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End of Ramadan 'good time' for Pinoys to unite —Lorenzana M A NIL A (Mabuhay) — Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana called the end of the holy month of Ramadan a good opportunity for all Filipinos to unite for peace and prosperity. "A s ou r Mu s l i m brothers and sisters mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan, we reflect and renew our sense of hope and devotion. Indeed, this celebration is an opportune moment to come together in our collective drive to achieve peace and prosperity for our country," Lorenzana said in a statement as the Muslim faithful celebrates Eid-al-Fitr on Thursday. Despite the trials caused by the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, Lorenzana said he is grateful for the compassion and unity showed by Filipinos from all walks of life in caring and helping the less fortunate members of society, "May the spirit of harmony and understanding according to the teachings of the Islamic faith continue to inspire us all as we work together to heal as one. Eid al-Fitr Mubarak from your One Defense Team! May the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon us!" Lorenzana further said. Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) also joined Muslim Filipinos in the celebration of a meaningful and inspiring conclusion to the holy month of Ramadan. "The pandemic that has persisted in the past year and months have indeed compounded the existing challenges to Filipino Muslim communities here

(PNA photo by Robert Oswald Alﬁler)

and abroad," AFP chief Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said. He also expressed hope that Ramadan and Eid-al-Fitr have given Muslim brothers and sisters fortitude and strength, and empowered them to live their best life according to their faith. "Rest assured that the AFP will continue to stand beside you in all the challenges that will come our way. A solemn and blessed Eid-al-Fitr to all!" Sobejana said. In his message for the occasion, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Guillermo Eleazar urged Filipino Muslims to share the dream of a peaceful, harmonious, and progressive community "(Eid-al-Fitr) reminds us not of our differences, but of the ideals and goals that unite us as one people, as Filipinos seeking to rise above difficulties and to triumph amid adversity," Eleazar said. He also expressed hope that Filipinos, despite having different beliefs, will unite in the pursuit of peace, equality, and progress. "We affirm that all human beings are brothers unto one another. With this, let us be one in building a strong nation with continuous economic growth and with good and honest leaders," he added. (MNS)

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Gov't designates Joma Sison, 18 other CPP ofﬁcials as terrorists

MANIL A (Mabuhay) — The Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) has designated 19 alleged ranking members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), including its founder Jose Maria Sison, as terrorists. The designation of the 19 individuals, contained in the council's Resolution Number 17 (2021) dated April 21, 2021, authorizes the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to freeze their assets. Aside from Sison, also included in the list are his wife Julieta, Vicente Ladlad, Jorge Madlos, Adelberto Silva, Rey Casambre, Rafael Baylosis, and Wilma and Benito Tiamzon. The 19 are all members of the CPP's Central Committee. "The Central Committee is the highest decisionand policy-making body of the CPP and also leads and commands the NPA, its main weapon in attaining the Party's goal of overthrowing the duly elected government by seizing and consolidating political power through violent means," the ATC said in a press release published in a local broadsheet. Citing “verified” and “validated” information, the ATC accused the CPP central committee members of violating several sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act “for planning, preparing, facilitating, conspiring, and inciting the commission of terrorism and recruitment

to and membership in a terrorist organization.” Petitions challenging the constitutionality of the anti-terror law are pending before the Supreme Court. Sison says list 'dubious' In a statement, Sison said he and his wife were “not at all bothered” by the designation. “To start with, the list of names in the designation appears to be arbitrary, dubious and even contradictory or inconsistent with the various public and purportedly personal statements even of its own NTF-ELCAC (National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict) evil minions,” said Sison, who is in self-exile in The Netherlands. “Moreover, it includes mostly publicly known p ol it ic a l c on s u lt a nt s of the NDFP (National Democratic Front of the Philippines) negotiating panel in the peace negotiations with the Manila government who are all entitled to the protection of the GRP-NDFP Joint Agreement of Safety and Immunity Guarantees(JASIG) and other binding bilateral agreements.” In a separate resolution, Resolution Number 16 (2021), the ATC also designates 10 members of "local terrorist groups" such as the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, the Abu Sayyaf Group and the Daulah Islamiyah as

terrorists. “Designation plays a critical role in the fight against terrorism and is an effective means to eliminate, prevent or suppress the financing of terrorist acts, the provision of support to entities and persons involved in terrorist acts, the recruitment of members of terrorist groups, and the supply of weapons to terrorists,” the ATC said. A request for delisting may be filed before the ATC within 15 days from publication of the designation. The grounds for delisting include mistaken identity, relevant and significant change of facts or circumstance, newly discovered evidence, death of a designated person, dissolution or liquidation of designated organizations, associations or groups of persons, and any other circumstance which would show that the basis for designation no longer exists. The ATC is headed by Executive Secretary Salvador Media ldea w it h National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. as vice chairperson. Its members include the secretaries of foreign affairs, national defense, the interior and local government, finance, justice, information and communications technology, and the AMLC executive director. (MNS)

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Saturday-Friday | May 15 - 21, 2021

PNP to acquire 32K more body cameras

MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Philippine National Police (PNP) plans to acquire another 32,136 body cameras for its police stations and units nationwide for use in anti-crime operations. In a statement on Thursday, PNP chief, Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said this would complete the police force's requirement of 34,832 body cameras. He said 2,696 body cams earlier purchased by the PNP have already been distributed to the different police stations and units in key cities across the country. “But in the meantime that there is still no budget for this additional procurement, we will make use of what we have and hopefully, this would convince our lawmakers to fund additional body cameras for the PNP in the spirit of transparency and effective law enforcement,” he added. Eleazar is confident that the use of body cameras will finally happen under his leadership.

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He said he would initially want these body cameras used by policemen in the service of court-issued search warrants to clear up allegations of irregularities in such operations. “These body cameras will ensure transparency in police operations and, hopefully, put a stop to allegations that policemen are engaged in the planting of evidence or even the summary execution of suspects,” he added. Eleazar said the PNP has been in touch with the Supreme Court (SC) regarding the use of body cameras in the service of search and arrest warrants. A meeting was held last month between the police force and the SC to discuss other matters as well. Eleazar said the police force is still awaiting guidance and protocols from the high court in the use of body cameras to address privacy concerns and avoid legal repercussions. (MNS)

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BALITA 11 global NEWS DOT probes Samal Island resort over discrimination complaint

Saturday-Friday | May 15 - 21, 2021

MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Department of Tourism (DOT) will investigate a resort in Samal Island over a sexual harassment and gender discrimination complaint against its employees and management. "The DOT is an advocate of gender equality and mainstreaming, and does not tolerate any form of gender-based harassment nor discrimination in its systems, structures, policies, programs, and processes. We enjoin the entire tourism industry to abide by our national laws on Gender and Development," it said in a statement on Thursday. Isla Reta Beach Resort in Samal Island is under fire after Shannon Gonzaga, a transgender woman, reported that she experienced discrimination from the management of the establishment after she was prohibited from using the women's bathroom. The said resort on Wednesday confirmed that it has a policy "not to allow transgenders to use the female shower area" and that the management has "no facility yet to cater to the transgenders' demand for a separate shower room." Supporting Gonzaga, the University of the Philippines (UP) Babaylan said the policy itself is "discriminatory" and emphasized that "trans women are women, and as this and many other cases have proven, trans people are actually the ones getting harassed in restrooms." Numerous Filipino transgender advocacy groups, through a joint statement, also scored the resort, saying the policy violates a person's basic rights and dignity. "The resort owner’s statement tries to justify their discriminatory policy and the incident of harassment through remarks that reeks of stigma and prejudice. Aside from it being an act of gender-based discrimination, it violates a person’s basic rights and dignity," the statement reads. "Furthermore, this is in direct violation of the Safe Spaces Act, which prohibits gender-based and sexual harassment in public spaces, an act of violence that the trans community has endured for so long," they added. (MNS)

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VP Robredo to Muslims: Keep spiritual ties tight amid physical distancing MANIL A (Mabuhay) — Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday joined Muslims as they observed the end of Ramadan, reminding them of spiritual ties amid physical distancing. "As you each end your fasts, cherish these bonds and remember that as we maintain our physical distance, the spiritual ties that bind us tighten with every act of communal responsibility," she said in her Eid'l Fitr message. President Rodrigo Duterte has

declared May 13, 2021 a regular holiday nationwide in observance of the Eid’l Fitr, which Muslims celebrate for three days after the end of the month of fasting. In her message, Robredo said that the celebration is "more than a feast that marks the end of a period of fasting; it is a continued reminder that we are a single community." "While the pandemic and its many challenges may prevent us from coming together as we

did in the past, today we are reminded that we are a community not just through proximity, but through the numerous acts of solidarity, kindness, justice, and collective resolve that we practice every day," Robredo said. Echoing widespread sentiment during the pandemic, Robredo said she is looking forward "to the day when we can reclaim our lives fully, and emerge stronger under a better normal for every Filipino." (MNS)

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Joma Sison shrugs off terrorist designation, urges SC to invalidate anti-terror law MANILA (Mabuhay) — Self-exiled communist leader Jose Maria Sison on Thursday shrugged off government's terrorist tag as he slammed as "fascist" the Anti-Terrorism Law and urged the Supreme Court to invalidate the measure. Sison and his wife were among the 29 persons designated as "terrorists" by the Anti-Terrorism Council. The Communist Party of the Philippines "cannot be engaged in any act of terrorism as it cannot victimize and offend the very people it relies on to achieve national and social liberation," said Sison, who has been in exile in the Netherlands for over 30 years. "It is utterly wrong to misrepresent acts of a revolutionary movement as a case of common crime. This is a violation of international legal standards and the Manila government’s own Hernandez political offense doctrine, which recognize the social roots of rebellion, the nobility of its motives and purpose, and keep open the possibility of peaceful resolution of the armed conflict," he said in a statement. "It will be faithful to its own distinct role in government if the Supreme Court will invalidate the Anti-Terrorism Law as instruments of fascism and state terrorism because of its massacre of basic hu-

man rights and democratic principles." The ATC and the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) are "wantonly engaged in red-tagging and making up lists of 'communist terrorists,' depriving suspects of their rights, usurping judicial authority and castrating the judiciary," Sison added. Sison said he and his wife were "not at all bothered" by the council's move as political consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) are entitled to the protection of the Joint Agreement of Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) and "other binding bilateral agreements." "The list of names in the designation appears to be arbitrary, dubious and even contradictory or inconsistent with the various public and purportedly personal statements even of its own NTFELCAC evil minions," he said. "We are not bothered even by the threats of (Rodrigo) Duterte death squads coming over to hit us which have been persistently reported to us by various sources. We have been alert to these threats. Our main concern is for those who are in the Philippines and are designated by the aforesaid resolution and many more people who are red-tagged and vulnerable to the

criminal violence of the Duterte regime." Sison cited an earlier ruling of the European Court of Justice when the European Commission opposed his appeal to remove his name from the EU terrorist list. "The European Court of Justice ruled that even if the listing of my name was done as an administrative act, I was made to suffer the sanction of having my assets frozen... and 3 of my rights had been grossly violated: the right to be informed of the charge, the right to counsel, and the right to judicial review," he said. "At all events, we are confident that the Dutch and EU authorities respect our right to stay in The Netherlands and understand fascism and state terrorism regnant in the Philippines under the tyrannical and genocidal Duterte regime. They are well aware that we have been detached physically from the Philippines for more than 35 years and that the Duterte regime has often tried to insult me for my political beliefs and advocacy." Ties between Sison and Duterte, his former student, soured in 2018 after the chief executive accused communist rebels of attacking government troops despite peace talks, which have since collapsed. Offensives against communists have since resumed. (MNS)

PRRD urges Muslims to continue being ‘generous, compassionate’ MANILA (Mabuhay) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday expressed hope that the Muslim community’s “generosity and compassion” will never fade. In his Eid’l Fitr message, Duterte said he is optimistic that the occasion would inspire everyone to continue promoting “peace, unity and goodwill among our fellow Filipinos.” “As you mark the end of a month-long journey of reflection, prayer, and fasting, may Allah continue to instill in you the virtues of generosity and compassion for others,” Duterte said. He made the message, as he wished the Muslim Filipinos to have a “solemn” observance of Eid’l Fitr or the Feast of Ramadan despite the country’s ongoing battle against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). Duterte said this year’s celebration of Eid’l Fitr is memorable because the country’s fight against Covid-19 is nearing an end. “This joyous occasion celebrating personal sacrifice and unity is made more relevant as the country makes a significant step closer to beating the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said. Duterte said he is optimistic that the Muslim com-

munity would help his administration bring “peace, prosperity, healing, and strength” to the country. “Let us welcome a new hope that this Eid brings -- for peace, prosperity, healing and strength as we build a progressive and brighter future for our people. I wish you a blessed and joyous celebration! Eid Mubarak,” he said. Duterte, through Proclamation 1142 inked on Monday, declared May 13 as a regular holiday to “bring the religious and cultural significance of the Eid’l Fitr to the fore of national consciousness.” Under the proclamation, Muslim Filipinos are reminded to observe community quarantine, social distancing, and other health protocols amid the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic. Eid’l Fitr, one of the two most important Islamic celebrations, is observed by the Muslim community three days after the fasting month of Ramadan. Muslims traditionally gather in mosques for an Eid prayer to express their gratitude to Allah for having been able to perform their personal sacrifices. However, they will have to celebrate inside their respective homes as a precaution against Covid-19. (MNS)

JOSE MARIA SISON

DFA files another protest vs. 287 Chinese militia vessels in WPS MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) fired off another diplomatic protest on Thursday, this time, against the presence of some 287 Chinese militia vessels in the waters of Kalayaan, Palawan. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. ordered the DFA to lodge the note verbale over Twitter, the latest in Manila's relentless protests against Beijing's incursion in Philippine waters. The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF WPS) reported that at least 287 Chinese maritime militia vessels were spotted over various features of Kalayaan when the Area Task Force-West conducted a maritime patrol last May 9. Bigger groupings of the militia vessels were sighted near China's artificial islands while some were observed near islands occupied by the country. The NTF WPS assured that the Philippine government will sustain its sovereignty patrols in the West Philippine Sea not only to enforce the law within the country's jurisdiction but also to deter illegal, unreported, unregulated fishing. Further, it encouraged Filipino fisherfolk to continue sailing and fishing in the West Philippine Sea as it vows to protect their welfare and safety in the area. "The National Task Force remains guided by the national policy and interest in asserting our territorial and sovereignty rights as upheld by the 2016 arbitral ruling," the NTF WPS said in a statement Wednesday. "We reiterate that the Philippines shall continue to defend its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction over the West Philippines Sea, and shall not yield an inch of our territory," it added. (MNS)

Trillanes says Isko Moreno eyeing presidency, calls him ’Johnny-come-lately’ MANILA (Mabuhay) — "A confluence of events." This is the reason why former senator A ntonio Trillanes declared his intention to run for president amid reports that Vice-President Leni Robredo will seek a lower post while Manila Mayor Isko Moreno is also considering a presidential run in the 2022 elections. Trillanes said Robredo's decision to transfer her place of residence outside Naga City was the first step toward a possible gubernatorial run in Camarines Sur, her home province. "The act of transferring your place of residence is the first step in that eventual run or probable run for governorship and that is part of the preparation

process," Trillanes said. He added: "We cannot lose by default. If Vice-President Leni Robredo decides to run for a local post, then there will be no one else from the opposition to take her place." Robredo's spokesman has denied such reports, saying the Vice-President has not made a decision regarding the 2022 elections Meanwhile, Trillanes said Moreno has signified his intention to run for president during the prequalification process of opposition coalition 1SAMBAYAN. He described Moreno as a "Johnny-come-lately" or new arrival who is still openly courting the endorsement of President Rodrigo Duterte.

"T hese Joh nnies-come-lately are just being opportunistic because of the changing political tides, switching and shifting alliances. It is duplicitous in nature and we don't want that. [President Duterte] has been duplicitous from the very start," Trillanes said. "Until such a time that (Moreno) genuinely breaks away from Mr. Duterte, it should only be the time that he should be considered by a coalition of 1Sambayan." 1SAMBAYAN earlier said the coalition intends to endorse a single slate of presidential, vice presidential and senatorial candidates in the 2022 polls. T he coa l it ion sa id it met with Robredo, More-

no, Trillanes and Senators Grace Poe and Nancy Binay earlier. "They interviewed the five of us and only 2 were open to run for president . . . When I was interviewed I manifested that position that I would only be an alternate of Vice-President Leni Robredo because we need to unify the opposition," Trillanes said. "Senators Grace Poe and Nancy Binay declined when they were asked if they intend to run for president. So that left only two of them . . . In the event that Vice-President Leni would decline the nomination then therefore by default, that position would go to Mayor Isko Moreno." In the interview, Trillanes

ANTONIO TRILLANES denied that he is trying to divide the opposition or is pressuring Robredo to make a decision to run. He added that he will step aside if the Vice-President decides to seek the presidency. The former senator said Robredo's seeming indecisiveness can be seen as a negative. "If you are wishy-washy, we can only imagine what kind of governance would happen after. I am not concluding that yet with the vice president. Once she decides, it has to be a constant stream of decisiveness from then on," Trillanes said. "It cannot be a difficult decision process . . . And after that, it would go through that same deliberate decision-making process." (MNS)

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Saturday-Friday | May 15 - 21, 2021

DA targets to gain over 440K hog breeders by 2023 MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is eyeing to produce 440,563 hog breeders by 2023. DA Secretary William Dar also announced in a press briefing on Wednesday that the estimated total output of the hog breeders will be 142 percent which is more than enough to offset the recorded 332,928 breeders lost due to the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak. "By the end of the implementation of INSPIRE (Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion) Program in 2023, we will recover the more than three million hogs lost because of ASF," he said. INSPIRE is a three-year repopulation program of the DA which starts this year. The DA has partnered with the private sector to guarantee a bigger production. From the government-initiated breeder farms, there will be a total of 225,103 hog breeders that will be produced while private-led initiatives will produce 215,460 breeders. With a combined budget of PHP29.6 billion, INSPIRE and its concurrent program "Bantay ASF sa Barangay" (BABay ASF) aims to address the industry's problem. Recent data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the value of agricultural production, at constant 2018 prices, showed a -3.3 percent drop in the first quarter of 2021. Livestock production, which shared 14.2 percent in the total agricultural output, contracted a -23.2 percent. Dar has already vouched for a rebound in the livestock sector through the current repopulation and awareness programs of the DA. This as President Rodrigo Duterte signed on Monday the declaration of state of calamity in the country due to ASF. Presidential Proclamation No. 1143 which will be in effect for a year will enable a whole of nation approach to solve ASF. The local government units will be able to utilize its standby fund and law enforcers can keep watch on the retail prices, among others. (MNS)

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Finance chief says P20B needed to vaccinate teens vs. COVID-19 MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Philippine government would need about P20 billion to inoculate the country’s younger population against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said Thursday. “About P20 billion for approximately 15 million teenagers,” Dominguez said in a text message. Dominguez's estimation came after reports that US regulators have authorized Pfizer and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine for use on children as young as 12. Pfizer is also seeking British approval for the use of its COVID-19 vaccine among 12 to 15-year-olds in submitting its data to the health regulator. Under t he 2021 Genera l A ppropr i at ion s Ac t , t he Ph i l ippi ne gover n-

FINANCE SEC. CARLOS DOMINGUEZ III

ment has allotted P82.5 billion for mass vaccination program that aims to cover around 55% of the country's population. For its anti-COVID vaccination program, the government is targeting 50 to 70 million Filipinos, but the age bracket is 18 and above. Adolescents and children have been excluded since available COVID-19 vaccines area only allowed for use in the country is mainly for adults ages 18 years old and above, as because clinical trials have not involved children yet. On top of the P20 billion estimated for teenagers’ vaccination, around P55 billion is also need to purchase booster shots “likely for next year,” Dominguez said. Late in April, vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the Philippine government is considering to purchase Moderna’s booster shots for COVID-19. “We found out that Moderna is developing a booster. ‘Yung booster na 'yun, puwedeng gamitin kahit na Sinovac o kahit na Gamaleya ang ating nauna"(The booster could be used even for Sinovac and Gamaleya vaccines), Galvez said during a congressional hearing. Pressed on how the government would raise the the money, Dominguez said it is “still to be determined.” Of the country’s P82.5-billion budget for vaccination, P12.5 billion will be sourced from the COVID-19 vaccination program allocation under Republic Act (RA) No. 11494 or the Bayanihan To Recover As One Act or Bayanihan 2. And, the remaining P70 billion will be sourced from loans provided by multilateral lenders, the Philippines’ bilateral partners, and/or the domestic market. (MNS)

1 percent of 7M: PH ﬁrms to get 70,000 Moderna vaccines by June — Razon MANILA (Mabuhay) — Port magnate Enrique Razon on Thursday said the private sector would receive some 70,000 COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna next month, which account for only 1 percent of the total 7 million vaccines conglomerates have ordered from the pharmaceutical giant. Moderna said the vaccines would arrive by the week of June 21, Razon said. "As soon as it arrives, we want to start inoculation right away," he said. The private sector has already paid $93 million (P4.45 billion) for these vaccines, he said. "The government will have to pay more because the government's order is 13 million [jabs]," he said. The Philippines earlier allowed private firms to enter into a tripartite agreement so that they could procure vaccines for their respective employees. Last month, National Task Force

Against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. said that the Philippines would get 194,000 doses of Moderna's jab this month. Razon did not say why the number of initial doses from Moderna was reduced, and why the delivery date was pushed back. Companies who have bought vaccines will also have to prioritize giving the shots to the elderly and persons with comorbidities, Razon said. "The companies part of the consortium will vaccinate their employees following those priorities," he said. Razon, whose group is building a mega vaccination hub in Parañaque, said he hopes to procure more vaccines by the end of the year. "I think supply won't be as tight anymore then," he said. "By the end of the year, the country will have to buy booster shots," he added.

Several conglomerates are willing to spend millions for these vaccines, Razon said. Every time Metro Manila and Calabarzon are placed on a lockdown, "the economy is losing about P16-17 billion a day," he said. "The cost of vaccines is immaterial compared to the loss in the economy. That's why we need to ramp up vaccination," he said. "It's really opening the economy to get back to growth, and we cannot open the economy under these circumstances where the pandemic is still raging," he said. The Philippines hopes to inoculate between 50 million and 70 million Filipinos to achieve herd immunity this year. So far, only 500,000 have received 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, while another 2 million have been inoculated with the initial dose. (MNS)

House leader eyes approval of economic Charter reforms by June M A NIL A (Mabuhay) — The House of Representatives aims to pass on final reading the resolution proposing amendments to economic provisions in the Constitution before Congress adjourns sine die on June 4, a House leader said on Monday.

REP. ALFREDO GARBIN JR.,

AKO BICOL Party-List Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr., the chairperson of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments, said Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 2 would be put to a vote on third reading before the sine die adjournment. "Tapusin bago mag sine die adjournment (This should be passed before the sine die adjournment). Meaning it will be subject to a vote on third reading bago mag adjourn (before [Congress] adjourns)," Garbin said. The RBH 2 has already been sponsored in the House plenary in February, which signaled the start of the plenary deliberations on the measure. Garbin noted that only around seven lawmakers are left on the list to interpellate on the measure. Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, a principal sponsor of the resolution, said that the House has no

intention of introducing political provisions to the proposed revisions, stressing that RBH 2 is a "pure economic reform". “We know and understand that any political charter change will be dead on arrival,” Salceda said. Salceda cited a study from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) which outlined top investment barriers, three of which are present in the Philippines because of the economic restrictions in the Constitution. Salceda said these barriers include “foreign ow nership restrictions in the law, stipulations on management, such as regulations that nationals or residents must form a majority of the board of directors, and nationality-based restrictions on operations.” Salceda also cited that the Philippines is the most foreign

direct investment (FDI)-restrictive country in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). “We have t he most doors closed of any ASEAN country. And we expect visitors to come. This makes no economic or logical sense,” Salceda said. “We need invest ments to come. So, what makes sense is to open the doors that we can,” Salceda added. According to the 2019 OECD FDI restrictiveness index, the Philippines has the highest restrictiveness score of any country in the Asean region. “The Philippines has locked itself out of significant foreign investments, and therefore job creation. We have spent hundreds of billions of pesos in foregone revenue for tax incentives when we have not tried a simpler, cheaper solution: opening industries in need of capital to foreign

investment through legislative action. Instead of sending our labor force abroad, let us attract foreign investment and create the jobs here in the Philippines,” Salceda said. On Februar y 2, the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments had voted 64-3-3 to adopt RBH 2. The proposal, which is principally authored by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, aims to amend certain economic provisions of the Charter, particularly Articles XII (National Patrimony and Economy), XIV (Education, Science, Technology, Arts, Culture, and Sports), and XVI (General Provisions). It seeks to insert the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” to several sections of the Constitution that restrict foreign ownership of public utilities, educational institutions, media, and advertising. (MNS)

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DOH exec: AstraZeneca doses from COVAX only for top three priority groups MANILA (Mabuhay) — The AstraZeneca doses donated by the COVAX Facility, a global vaccine-sharing initiative, is only for health workers (A1), senior citizens (A2), and persons with comorbidities (A3), a health official said Wednesday. Health Undersecretar y Myrna Cabotaje said the two million AstraZeneca doses delivered over the weekend cannot be used on essential workers, the fourth priority group for vaccination. “Ang priority po ng COVAX ay A1, A2, and A3 so hindi po natin pwede ibigay sa ibang areas [The priority of COVAX is A1, A2, and A3 so we cannot give it to other areas],” she said in a Laging Handa briefing. Cabotaje added that only 6% of 7.7 million senior citizens and over 70% of 1.5 million health workers included in the vaccination master list have received a jab as of May 11. The latest AstraZeneca shipment is also set to expire in midyear, prompting the government to allot 1.5 million doses as the first shot. “Based on our experience from the past, noong pinayagan natin na lahat ito ay maging first dose [when we allowed all shots to be used as the first dose], we were able to have an

accomplishment, one-time highest, 90,000 [vaccine recipients] per day,” Cabotaje said. President Rodrigo Duterte previously approved the use of the entire first batch of donated AstraZeneca vaccines as the first dose for health workers. “So kaya natin kung may 1,000 tayong mga vaccination sites ngayon at sabihin natin mga [So we can do it if we have 1,000 vaccination sites now and let’s say we have] 100 vaccines per

day… we can produce the numbers,” Cabotaje said. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III also said that no AstraZeneca doses will be wasted after the Metro Manila Development Authority committed to inoculate 120,000 people in the capital region daily. The Philippines has vaccinated over 2 million people as of May 11, still far off from the government’s target of inoculating 50 million to 70 million individuals this year. (MNS)

Duque: No transmission of India variant in 2 OFWs before detection

MANILA (Mabuhay) — Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Wednesday said the COVID-19 India variant in two OFWs had not been passed on further prior to its detection, citing strict border protocols being implemented. “Our border control is very strict ... that is why we are able to quarantine them because we comply with the isolation, testing, quarantine protocols," Duque said when asked if he was sure that the India variant was not transmitted prior to detection. “It’s impossible that they had exposed others without our authorities knowing [it]," Duque pointed out. Likewise, he said he will “certainly recommend” stricter border control for passengers from countries in the Middle East, subject to the recommendations of the World Health Organization representative in the Philippines. Further, Duque said he will seek WHO’s advice on expanding the travel ban to countries where the India variant was detected. “We are able to implement an intensified border control, our quarantine and isolation protocols have been followed. We are able to detect these cases plus, of course, our heightened bio-surveillance and improved genomic sequencing,” he added.

Duque maintained that all variants are cause of concern in the Philippines. On Tuesday, the Philippines reported the detection of the B.1.617 coronavirus variant first discovered in India, following its classification as a “variant of concern” by the WHO. Earlier, the DOH reported that the India variant was detected from two overseas Filipino workers with no travel to India. They are now asymptomatic after recovering from COVID-19. Also on Tuesday, the DOH disclosed additional cases of the coronavirus variants first discovered in the United Kingdom (B.1.1.7) and South Africa (B.1.351) as well as the detection of the variant from India (B.1.617). Genome sequencing of 46 samples has yielded 23 new cases of B.1.351, four more B.1.1.7 cases, and two B.1.617 cases. It said the B.1.1.7 variant has already been detected in 12 regions, with 358 cases in pandemic epicenter Metro Manila and 145 cases in Calabarzon. The B.1.351 variant has also been detected in 15 regions, with Metro Manila having 602 cases and Calabarzon having 121 cases. (MNS)

Mega COVID-19 vaccination site in Nayong Pilipino pushing through, says Nograles MANILA (Mabuhay) — The proposed mega vaccination facility within the Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF) property will push through, w it h a memorandum of agreement to be signed "very soon," Cabinet Sec. Karlo Nograles said Thursday. The NPF earlier said the site "is not a vacant lot but has a thriving urban forest that hosts a variety of urban wildlife." In a statement, the foundation said cutting almost 500 trees and other works would "kill the existing ecosystem." Port magnate Enrique Razon, whose International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI) offered to build the facility, said the property is reclaimed land and not an urban forest. Asked if the mega facility

is pushing through, Nograles said, "Yes, it is." "Just the MOA to be signed and that MOA is forthcoming, just a few minor technical edits being done. It’s already been vetted by the Department of Tourism, been vetted by the Department of Health. It’s now going through our Government Corporate Counsel. Just a few minor edits and then it will be signed very, very soon," he told ANC's Headstart. The Philippines is rolling out its vaccination against COVID-19, with at least 70 million targeted to received the jab this year. The vaccination center at the Nayong Pilipino w ill reported ly accelerate inoculation by around 10,000 individuals daily. (MNS)

Saturday-Friday | May 15 - 21, 2021

Gov’t agencies ordered to enforce health protocols in workplaces MANILA (Mabuhay) — Malacañang has ordered the heads of all government agencies and instrumentalities of the executive branch, including government-owned and -controlled corporations, to strictly enforce and monitor compliance with all health protocols in their respective workplaces. Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Tuesday signed Memorandum Circular 86, seeing the need "to monitor compliance with health protocols in the workplaces of all government agencies and instrumentalities, to mitigate and suppress the spread of Covid-19 while ensuring the continuous delivery of public services.” "Accountability for ensuring observance of such protocols shall rest jointly with such heads of agencies and the Committee," the circular read. Agencies and instrumentalities of the executive branch are enjoined to encourage the active participation of employees' associations in their respective workplaces to ensure prompt communication and wider compliance. The circular describes the temporary closure of premises as "an extreme measure", reserved for situations where the spread of Covid-19 in the workplace has become overwhelming and unmanageable. However, the head of an agency or instrumentality considering to temporarily close its main or central office shall submit to the head of the department exercising control or supervision over it, or to which it is attached, a request for clearance to shut down the premises. The request shall state the proposed duration of the measure and must be supported by verified data and other documentation. No closure shall be implemented until the clearance is obtained from the head of the department. The temporary closure of branches, and regional or field offices can be decided by the head of the concerned department, agency, or instrumentality. In the case of agencies or instrumentalities, they shall notify the head of the department exercising control or supervision over them, or to which they are attached, of the temporary closure and the measures adopted to ensure the continuous and uninterrupted delivery of public service. Agencies or instrumentalities not under the control or supervision of or attached to any department, as well as departments considering temporary closure of their main or central offices, shall submit their request for clearance to the Office of the President. Temporary closures merely to conduct disinfection of premises shall not be allowed. Instead, disinfection should be done after office hours or on weekends. Violation or failure to implement the circular shall subject the head of the agency and the responsible members of the Safety and Health Committee to administrative sanctions. The offices of the legislative and judicial branches of government, independent constitutional commissions, and bodies, and local government units are strongly urged to adopt the applicable provisions of this circular. On Tuesday, the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed that the B.1.617 Covid-19 variant first detected in India has reached the Philippines. (MNS)

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Galvez: 2.2M more Pﬁzer COVID-19 vaccine doses arriving before end of May MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Philippines will receive an additional 2.2 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine from the COVAX facility this month, vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said Thursday. “‘Yung next na delivery ng ating Pfizer (Our next Pfizer delivery), more or less 2.2 million [doses], I was informed yesterday is before the end of the month,” he said during a symbolic vaccination ceremony at the Makati Medical Center. Galvez added that authorities are now conducting a rehearsal for the transport of the Pfizer-BioNTech jab. “Meron kaming arrangement with UNICEF na diretso na kaagad sa Davao, diretso na kaagad sa Cebu, diretso na sa mga areas na paglalagakan natin ng Pfizer para wala po tayong double handling,” he said. “‘Wag po kayong mag-alala, since February pa kami nagre-rehearse dito sa Pfizer (Don’t worry, we’ve been rehearsing since February) and we don’t see any problem.” The government held a simulation exercise in February in preparation for

DOH coordinates with MMDA to ensure use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses before expiry date MANILA (Mabuhay) — Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Wednesday assured the public that there will be no wastage of the newly-arrived 2 million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine which are set to expire in June and July. Duque made t he statement after the National COVID-19 Vaccine Operations Center said that 1.5 million AstraZeneca doses will expire on June 30 and 525,000 doses will perish on July 31. “We will make sure nothing will expire. It will all be jabbed, it will all be used for inoculating our A1 to complete the health care workers, the A 2 for the senior citizens, and the adults with comorbidities,” he said. Duque a l s o e x-

plained that 525,600 of the 2 million AstraZeneca jabs will be used as a second dose for those who already got their first shots. The remaining vaccine will be used as first doses. To make sure that these w ill be used before its expiration, Duque said they already coordinated with Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Benhur Abalos to achieve the 120,000 inoculation per day in the National Capital Region. “In NCR, si Chairman Abalos has already committed we w ill put the lion share of the [A stra-

Zeneca] at the epicenter in the NCR. T hey com m it ted 120,000 vaccinees. So in 10 days mauubos mo. (You will use all of it.) That is before the expiry date,” Duque said. “So we are mindful of the expiration, you know this is gold. We cannot afford dilly-dallying in terms of implementing our vaccine program or plan so we are aggressively pursuing this,” he said. L a st Sat u rday, 2 million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 v ac c i ne f rom t he COVA X Facility has arrived in the Philippines. The Philippines earlier received 525,600 AstraZeneca vaccine doses from COVAX Facility, a World Health Organization-backed initiative that seeks to ensure equitable access to vaccines, especially poorer nations. So far, the government is inoculating the healthcare workers, the senior citizens, and adults w it h comorbidit ies. (MNS)

HEALTH SECRETARY FRANCISCO DUQUE III

the arrival of Pfizer-BioNTech doses that was later delayed. The long-awaited delivery, composed of 193,000 doses, arrived in the country on Monday night. Over 2 million individuals in the Philippines have received the Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, and Pfizer-BioNTech jabs as of May 11, still far from the government’s target of inoculating 50 million to 70 million people this year. (MNS)

9 high-risk areas priorities under ‘center of gravity’ plan MANILA (Mabuhay) — High-risk areas will be under the “Focus and Expand–Center of Gravity” vaccination strategy in a bid to defeat the Covid-19 pandemic. Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., Chief Implementer of the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19, said the center of gravity refers to economic centers that are most exposed to Covid-19 transmission. "Ang maganda po talaga magkaroon po tayo ng strategy na tinatawag nating focus and expand through center of gravity. Iyong center of gravity po, ito po ‘yong tinatawag natin na economic centers. At the same time, ito po ‘yung mga vulnerable areas (The good thing is that we have a strategy called focus and expand through the center of gravity. The center of gravity will be the centers and the vulnerable areas)," Galvez reported in the Cabinet meeting Monday night in Matina, Davao City. The government will focus its vaccination program on nine high-risk areas – National Capital Region (NCR) Plus (Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and

Rizal), Pampanga, Batangas, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao. The other regions in the country, he added, will be grouped under “expansion areas” – Region III, Region IV, Cagayan de Oro, Baguio City, Zamboanga City, Bacolod, Iloilo, General Santos, Iligan City in Region X, and Caraga Region. "So pagka na-address po natin, na-strengthen natin ang ating vulnerabilities at the same time we strengthen our economy, iyon po ang center of gravity po natin (Once we addressed that and at the same time we strengthen the economy, then that will be the center of gravity)” Galvez said. Metro Davao and Cebu will also get steady supplies of vaccines, Galvez added. In June, the Philippines will receive 1.1 million Pfizer doses, 4.5 million of Sinovac, 250,000 Moderna jabs, 1.3 million AstraZeneca doses, and two million doses of Russia’s Sputnik V. To date, the country is administering an average of 65,879 Covid-19 jabs daily. (MNS)

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Pandemic gives working mothers more family time DAVAO CITY – Mother’s Day on Sunday was mostly celebrated at home due to the prevailing coronavirus pandemic restrictions. Sandee Rato, a public school teacher in Compostela, Davao de Oro, is not complaining though as time spent with her three children is her best coping mechanism while she cannot physically connect with friends and other relatives. “The mere thought that the pandemic gave way for me to have quality time with my kids is consolation enough,” she told Philippine News Agency (PNA) in an interview. Gardening is another of Rato’s option when she gets frustrated with the pandemic situation. “I will rather spend my energy on things that will benefit me and my family. And above all, faith in the almighty Father that everything is not in my control, but He is in control,” she added. Jezreel Abarca, who teaches at the University of the Philippines-Mindanao, said the pandemic allowed her to discover and embrace the significant personality contrasts of her children. “Under the current social situation, our family also became closer to God since

we read the Bible and pray the Rosary everyday. I also have enough time to serve my family like by cooking, helping my children with their school requirements, and nurturing them with good values because of constant communication,” she said. Isabelle Oosthuizen, an employee of a private logistics company, lost her husband, Martin, to malaria in South Africa amid the pandemic. “I have to stand up again and mend the broken pieces because I have a son who depends on me. It is like living one day at a time, taking baby steps to rediscover myself and my strength because I have no husband anymore to support me,” she said. She must also continue working despite the threat of the pandemic “because people count on me, our family that needs me. How do I cope up? Prayers and faith that God is there.” Ultimate sacrifice Queenie Roxas, also a public school teacher and a mother of two, told the PNA that there is no greater sacrifice than nurturing a human being for nine months. “You give up your body for nine months for your baby. The labor and the pain, espe-

MOTHER’S LOVE. Despite her busy schedule as a public school teacher, Sandee Rato makes sure to have quality time with her three children. She said working from home allowed her to be closer to them. (Photo courtesy of Sandee Aquino-Rato) cially that I had a cesarean delivery. The sleepless nights that until now have not returned to normal were difficult but all worth it,” she said. As a working mother, she said one of her best rewards is seeing her daughters grow up God-fearing. Rato, who used to officiate sports events in provincial meets and the Palarong Pambansa but opted to concentrate with teaching after she gave birth to a girl.

LIGHTHOUSE... from Page 5

HOW... from Page 2

organization as she was the Home Economic Supervisor for the entire province of Zambales. We were booked at the then prestigious Ago Hotel, overlooking the majestic Mayon Volcano and the sight itself was unforgettable, admiring its perfect cone beauty, particularly in the morning wnen we open our windows and admire nature's beautiful sight. Thus, for three wonderful days we visited Legaspi's nearby areas such as the Cagsawa Ruins in the town of Daraga, Albay, where we saw the remnants of a 16th century Franciscan church, which was built in 1586 but was burned down and destroyed by Dutch pirates in 1636. It was apparently rebuit in 1724 by Fr. Francsico Blanco but sadly was destroyed again along with the town of Cagsawa during the Mayon Volcano eruption on February 1, 1814. The following day, we briefly visited the rainforest sight of the Calayucai Beach in the province of Sorsogon to see their Black sand beaches, and it was truly a refreshing experience to see and swim in it. Overall, Tia Toning taught a lot of us, the wonders of nature and appreciation for native dishes, cooked in the most minimal and simple ways. So undoubtedly, this month of May when the springtime blossoms of flowers and refreshing air surrounds us, it always reminds me to particularly THANK my two dearly beloved aunts, Remedios Yap Rimando " Tia Meding" and Antonina Ebuen-Yap, 'Tia Toning," in celebrating their birthdays in heaven and to be grateful, for their unconditional love in nurturing us. We will forever cherish all the unforgettable memories we had with them. May Our Lord bless them forever as they bring joy wherever they are. God bless.

had an equal shot at getting the shot, as long as they had a computer (to make the appointment), a high speed Internet, a kind of job where they could take three hours off in the middle of the day to chase down a vaccine and access to a car, rather than mass transit," said Pastor. In areas such as education, communities of color also experience a tremendous loss in learning and despite the progressive opening of schools, they are the most reluctant to come back. Black and brown families who suffered from the virus in their homes are not only afraid of sending their children to places where they can be infected, but the digital divide has accentuated their difficulties in keeping up with their homework during the school year. In Los Angeles County, 13% of white children who are in K through 12 lacked a computer with high-speed Internet. But that figure for black and Latino children was around 40%, Pastor said. All these inequalities only reveal that the pandemic has not caused a recession like the one that hit the economy evenly in 2008. According to the sociologist, what we face is a "micro recession" in which the stock markets and property are up, and people with incomes of more than $100,000 a year have not seen their wallets affected. But instead, those at the bottom of the labor market have received the full blow of the "economic damage", reflected in the loss of income, employment and wages. “We need to reposition resources and relief programs, especially for mixed-sta-

said being a mother is a blessing despite the sacrifices. “I became fat and have stretch marks. From being free and single to being entangled with domestic responsibilities of rearing and taking care of children,” she said. Rato’s greatest fear is not to be able to support her children. “From thinking only of my personal needs, I now put my children's welfare above my own,” she said. Oosthuizen advises fellow

tus families,” Pastor continued. “The level of mental health trauma is high and we need to have culturally sensitive mental health resources available… We need to destigmatize the issue and make it seen as something that is social and community level, and not just your individual failing, so that people feel confident accessing those resources.”

mothers to provide their children with good education and spend time with them as much as they can. “Celebrate the reason that we are called mothers. Spend time with your children because if it weren't for them, we won't be the women that we are now. Also, appreciate the reason of our existence, our own mothers who are the reasons why we are here and of who we are now,” she said. (PNA)

Healing circles An example of this approach is the Community Coalition, founded in South Los Angeles by Congresswoman Karen Bass, which seeks the multiracial and multigenerational integration of communities to generate the solutions they need. During the pandemic they instituted a teletherapy program to offer services by licensed therapists of color and healing circles in local parks, to address "the devastating impact (of COVID) all around on physical, financial and mental health," said Leslie Johnson, Vice President of Organizational Development at Community Coalition. They also designed a website in English and Spanish that allows residents to check on their emotional health. "Those community healing efforts are really important and with funding and with having people in elected office that understand those kinds of interventions, we can really bring those to scale because our resources are limited," said Johnson for whom "racism is the true pandemic that we are fighting against.” “COVID-19 has exacerbated a lot of pre-existing conditions in our commu-

nity that are fostered by institutional racism and white supremacy. We must call for solutions that are bold, not just at the individual level but at the systems level, and that address the root causes” of inequalities, she observed. During the pandemic, her organization raised funds to buy personal protective equipment and make direct cash payments to families to help cover rent and utilities. They also provided laptops and hardware to students and installed hotspots for community members. They managed to offer doses of Pfizer at a vaccination clinic in a local park, establishing a system of appointments that allowed people to attend even at night to not miss work. But even promoting vaccination through trusted messengers, often family or neighbors, they still face vaccine hesitancy among the community. "The way the vaccines were rolled out didn't make a lot of sense to us in terms of having overcrowded homes and multi-generational households," Johnson said. "If we want to have the economy open, if we want to be able to go to restaurants and so forth, then we should go to these businesses and vaccinate the people who work there," she added. As part of the relief package, Los Angeles will receive about $1.3 billion from the federal government. The Community Coalition introduced a plan called Make Los Angeles Whole to use these resources in loans to women business owners, help people with rent and mortgage payments and utilities, and increase youth employment opportunities.

tating effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on Filipino health workers. We have read the stories about the death rate among AAPI nurses and recognize that some nurses also face fear amid increases in anti-Asian hate incidents during the pandemic. This May is the best time for us to come together in honoring nurses through our

actions: wear our snug-fitting masks, wash our hands, get vaccinated. This is how we show our nurses we appreciate them, we care, and we want this pandemic to end. Visit https://myturn.ca.gov to find a vaccine site nearby and to register for a convenient appointment time. Or call the state’s COVID-19 hotline 1-833-422-4255, where translators are available in 250+ languages.

APPRECIATE... from Page 1 survey by UCSF, more than one-fourth of California Registered Nurses are AAPI, with Filipinos at 17.6% and Asians who are not Filipino at 8.8%. The survey also showed that non-Filipino Asians and Pacific Islanders account for more than 11 percent of nurses under 45 years old. Additionally, news reports from Propublica and LAist have chronicled the devas-

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Saturday-Friday May 15 - 21, 2021 Visit www.Balita.com

Andi Eigenmann reveals she’s still open to pursuing showbiz

ndi Eigenmann is happy with her peaceful island life, but she’s still actually open to pursuing what she has always loved: showbiz.

Andi said she enjoys acting a lot and if an opportunity comes, she’s willing to come and check it out. “I loved every single moment I ever had in front of the cameras,” she said. “So [if there’s an] opportunity, right script, whatnot, why not?” She said. She clarified that doing so won’t be happening anytime soon, though, because “that would mean leaving [her] kids and [she] can’t do that.” Andi shares how she sometimes wonders what would've happened if she continued. She points to the Cannes Film Festival 2016, when her mom, Jaclyn Jose, won the Best Actress award for "Ma' Rosa" and her mind, rac-

ANDI EIGENMANN ing with possibilities of how far she could take her career. She revealed having even dreamed of joining the Berlinale to hone her skills but of course, she went back to the very reason why she quit. “I knew that I could do it but I was just like, ‘How will I do

this? How will this be possible when I have a child who I’ve been struggling to spend time with?’” She said. Andi has no regrets, though, and is more than happy with her choices. “Even if I look back and think what if [I pushed through with

Janine Gutierrez, Paulo Avelino excited for their teleserye pairing

it], I’m sure it would’ve been awesome, but I don’t regret anything,” she said. “I don’t feel bad. Not at all. Because I’m so happy to have this life now no matter how simple it may be,” she added. According to Andi, she also dreams of creating a clothing line for kids and a restaurant one day. “I’m taking it easy. I’m not rushing myself into any of those. Andi gave birth to Ellie when she was 21 years old. She quit showbiz after realizing that her career wasn’t compatible with how she wanted to be as a mother. “[‘Ellie is growing up] and time is ticking. I want to be able to spend more time with her.’ And in order for me to do that, I have to take time off showbiz,” she said. She is currently living in Siargao with her fiancé Philmar Alipayo, their two kids: Lilo and Koa, and Ellie, who is set to go home soon after spending time with her dad Jake Ejercito. (MNS)

Rica Peralejo once suffered from anorexia to meet ‘body standard’ in showbiz MANILA (Mabuhay) — Former actress and now vlogger Rica Peralejo admitted she once suffered from anorexia, an eating disorder where one has an intense fear of gaining weight, while she was in showbiz. In one of her vlogs, Peralejo said she was extremely cautious about gaining weight as people in the industry would usually remind her about gaining more pounds in front of the camera. She emphasized how showbiz personalities would give so much attention to their hair, face, and body back then. “Growing up in our industry was tough because as a performer, as a TV personality, we had to think about a lot of things — our hair, our face, naturally, but also

our body,” Peralejo said. “So much of our body was involved in the entire process because they always say to us na, ‘Di ka pwedeng tumaba kasi ten pounds palagi ang ginigain mo ‘pag nasa harap ka ng camera.” This forced her to be strict on food consumption and conduct excessive workouts, which led to her anorexia. “So, we always watched out for what we ate and that kinda brought me to the usual eating disorders. Kasi nga mas doon naka-focus ‘yung mga tao, doon sa katawan namin, that I would go through starvation, different kinds of diet, and excessive workouts. Kasi pinapagod mo talaga ‘yung sarili mo,” she said. “And there was a point there that I had anorex-

ia. I would not eat and I would get so thin. And still when I looked in the mirror, I felt fat. ‘Yun ang isa sa mga naging focus ng industriya namin,” Peralejo revealed. The former actress eventually realized that people’s definition of beauty is sometimes dependent on society’s perception. The YouTuber also acknowledged various personal experiences that affect one’s explanation of beauty and body image. “And that’s what I realized, thinking and contemplating about this, or at least reflecting on my beauty journey, how much of what we think is pretty or beautiful is actually dictated by an outside force more than something it is that we know deep within us,”

RICA PERALEJo she added. ‘Hindi ko pala kailangan ‘to’: Rica Peralejo says she once had breast implants, then had them removed “There are roots around why we are the way we are. And even as simple as something as beauty, your definition of beauty and what does body image mean to you all that, may pinanggalingan ‘yun e.” (MNS)

JANINE GuTIERREz MANILA (Mabuhay) — For her teleserye debut as a Kapamilya, Janine Gutierrez is co-starring with Paulo Avelino in the light family drama “Marry Me, Marry You,” ABS-CBN announced. The series will center on a couple, portrayed by Gutierrez and Avelino, who navigates the traditional expectations attached to marriage — that it extends beyond one’s partner, and includes their friends and family, too. “Sobrang excited na ako para sa ‘Marry Me, Marry You’! So honored to work with this stellar cast at hindi na ako makapaghintay na maibahagi sa mga Kapamilya ang nakakakilig at nakaka-inspire na kwentong ito,” Gutierrez said. Produced by Dreamscape Entertainment, the ABS-CBN unit behind “Huwag Kang Mangamba” and “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano,” the new teleserye will be helmed by Jojo Saguin and Dwein Ruedas Baltazar. “Ma r r y Me, Ma r r y You” will also mark the first Kapamilya series of award-winning actress Sunshine Dizon, as well as the first-ever teleserye of Jake Ejercito, whose character will figure in a love triangle with Gutierrez and Avelino. Cameras will start rolling for the project soon, according to Dreamscape Entertainment. The series will be seen on ABS-CBN platforms. (MNS)

Sunshine Cruz lauds daughter Sam’s friendliness to showbiz co-workers, staff MANILA (Mabuhay) — Sunshine Cruz was a proud mother as she opened up about the good stories she heard about her daughter, Sam, from fellow actors and other staff in showbiz. The actress believes she has nothing to worry about when it comes to Sam's work ethic, as many people have vouched for her daughter’s friendliness with co-workers and crew. “When it comes to that, I think wala naman akong problema. Kasi lahat ng nakakausap ko sa ABS-CBN na nakakatrabaho ni Sam, sinasabi nila sa akin na paborito daw nila si

Sam kasi sobrang friendly, sobrang machika,” she narrated. “So sabi ko nakakatuwa naman itong anak ko. I guess nakikita rin naman niya sa akin na friendly naman ako. I think 'yung pakikisama, wala akong magiging problema sa kanya,” the “Bagong Umaga” actress added. Cruz said she has always reminded Sam to treat everyone with respect, especially after the latter decided to join showbiz.

SuNShINE CRuz AND hER DAuGhTER, SAM “Sinasabi ko sa kanya to just be yourself. At saka important siyempre 'yung marunong ka makisama, marunong ka ru-

mespeto hindi lang ng mga kapwa mo singers or artista, kundi 'yung mga nakakahalubilo mong staff and crew,” she added. After working with her eldest Angelina in a TV commercial, Cruz also hopes to have a project with Sam in the future. “It would be an honor and I’ll be very, very excited to work with my children. Kahit si Angelina nakatrabaho ko na siya sa TVC and nakakatuwa kasi nagpapaka-stage mother pa ako

na, ‘Anak, ganito umiyak.’ Eh ang bilis naman pala umiyak ng anak ko,” she revealed. Cruz also attributed the innate talent of her daughters in acting from their father, actor Cesar Montano. “I guess it’s because napakahusay din naman na artista ng kanilang ama. Nakuha nila 'yun and nakikita rin naman nila sa akin yung pagtitiyaga ko at hindi ako tumitigil na matuto,” she said. Last March, Sam officially entered the entertainment industry, signing a contract with ABS-CBN’s Star Magic. (MNS)

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How is Vice Ganda’s finances after ABS-CBN shutdown, amid pandemic?

and host Vice Ganda said he is grateful that despite the many crises that Comedian beset ABS-CBN and the pandemic, he still has work and his finances remain stable. The “It’s Showtime” host said that it was the continued airing of the noontime show, to date, which helped him to remain afloat. Vice also said he was gearing up for the debut of ABS-CBN singing game show “Everybody, Sing!”, which he hosted. It was supposed to air on Channel 2 on March 15, 2020 but was delayed indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic. “Yung sa franchise (non-renewal), wala namang effect financially. Kasi may programa pa rin naman ako. Araw-araw kumikita pa din naman ako. In fact may bago na naman nga akong programa, dalawa na naman yung magiging programa ko,” he explained. However, Vice clarified that while his finances remain good, his income was cut by the pandemic as it prevented him from booking concert tours and corporate shows and acting in films. “Ang naka-affect sa akin nang malala financially hindi yung ka-

walan ng franchise kundi yung pandemic mismo. Kasi hindi nga ako makapag-concert tour, eh, ang laki ng binibigay sa akin ng concert tour,” he said. “Tapos yung raket sa labas, yung mga fiesta-fiesta na ini-enjoy ko. Yung mga corporate shows, pelikula, yon ang mga nawala sa akin, so malaki-laki din yon.” Despite his losses, the comedian still found a reason to be thankful, because he realized how he was given tons of opportunities before the pandemic to earn a significant amount of money which prepared him for the "new normal". “Hindi pa rin naman ako naghihirap dahil napakabait ng Diyos kasi binigyan niya ako ng maraming-maraming pagkakataon in the past para kumita at makapag-ipon. Kaya ngayong nasa ganito akong sitwasyon hindi ako salat na salat,” Vice quipped. His income might be a little less

than it used to be, but Vice said he still has the capacity to provide for himself, his family, and even extend help to selected people. The host also shared some takeaways he learned while navigating through tough times such as the pandemic. According to Vice, he found strength from the bad experiences and realized what truly matters in life. “From every bad experience magiging beautiful siya kung magkakaroon ng magandang learning and if that bad experience can bring strength within you, yon yung magiging beauty no’n,” the comedian added. Vice explained people were not fully aware of how valuable a thing or a person is until they face the threat of losing it. “Kasi minsan, di ba pag walang masakit na nangyayari parang tine-take for granted lang natin yung ibang valuable things, eh.

VICE GANDA Pero pag nagkaroon ka ng threat na baka mawala sa ’yo yung mga bagay at mga taong ito don mo malalaman na, ‘Ay, ang valuable pala nito,” he said. Meanwhile, aside from his new show and “It’s Showtime”, Vice is also preparing for his first-ever digital concert in July, dubbed as “Gandemic VG-tal Concert”. In an interview, the comedian hinted his show would be different from the previous virtual concerts of other celebrities, noting that his singing skill is not his strength. He assured viewers of comedy in his concert, aside from singing and dancing. The noontime show host said he will bank on humorous acts. (MNS)

Now a Kapamilya, Sunshine Dizon hopes to reunite with ‘Sang-gre’ sisters onscreen MANILA (Mabuhay) — As a newly signed Kapamilya, Sunshine Dizon joins her close friends and former co-stars Iza Calzado and Karylle in the same network, making a reunion project a bigger possibility. Dizon, Calzado, Karylle, along with Diana Zubiri co-starred in the 2005 fantasy series “Encantandia,” where they portrayed sisters referred to as “Sang’gre.” In 2008, Karylle transferred from GMA-7 to ABS-CBN, with Iza Calzado following four years later in 2012. For a time, Zubiri was also a Kapamilya, from 2012 until 2014. Dizon, a GMA-7 artist for 25 years, was the last “Sang’gre” to sign with rival network ABSCBN. Her switch became official on April 30, as she was introduced as one of the stars of the upcoming teleserye “Marry Me, Marry You.” Referring to her showbiz sisters, Dizon said, “To be honest, they were the first ones who actually knew. Sila ‘yung mga una kong nasabihan.” In fact, the group has been aware of her impending transfer as early as the time she got the offer, Dizon told ABS-CBN News. “When the offer came, biglang nagkaroon ng ECQ, and some productions had to stop taping,” she said, recalling the recent lockdown. “I was telling Karylle, ‘Sis, pray for me, na sana matuloy talaga ‘yung project, because I’m excited for it.’” The project did push through, with Dizon getting a grand virtual welcome through a media conference, to be followed by the lockin production of “Marry Me, Marry You” in mid-May. “They’re very happy for me. Actually, before the media con started, magka-text kaming lahat at nakakausap ko rin si Karylle. Masaya sila para sa akin,” Dizon said, beaming.

MANILA (Mabuhay) — LJ Reyes has expressed her gratitude to her partner Paolo Contis for making sacrifices for her and their family amid the pandemic. “I have so much gratitude for Pao. He has sacrificed so much. I realized that he would shield us from anything,” the actress said. LJ said Paolo always volunteered to do errands outside, such as buying groceries, to shield her and their kids from getting exposed to the coronavirus disease. Karylle, Iza Calzado, Sunshine Dizon and Diana Zubiri Prior to transferring to ABS-CBN, Dizon drama “Ang Sa Iyo Ay Akin,” which conmost recently worked with Calzado in cluded in March. “Nai-imagine ko ‘yung WeTV’s “The Battle of Brody and Bran- mga panahon na kami ang magka-partner! dy.” Dizon was assistant director, while Siyempre original love team ko talaga ‘yan. Calzado was the lead star in the series, Maybe an opportunity will arise now and which debuted in February. I could work with her.” The last time all four appeared onscreen She also named Angelica Panganiban together was “Mystified,” the iflix fanta- and Maricel Soriano, both ABS-CBN stars sy series produced by the company they whose respective teleserye recently finco-founded, Sanggre Productions. Dizon mentioned Karylle and Calzado ished, as dream co-stars. What’s certain for now is Dizon’s reunas among the current Kapamilya stars she ion another recent transferee from GMA-7, hopes to star with, now that she is with acclaimed actress Janine Gutierrez, with ABS-CBN. “Iyong recent show ni Iza is really good,” whom she co-star in “Marry Me, Marry Dizon added, referring to the primetime You,” alongside Paulo Avelino. (MNS)

Assunta de Rossi: Showbiz no match for motherhood

MANILA (Mabuhay) — Assunta de Rossi admits having a hard time dealing with the fatigue brought about by motherhood, but she is more than happy to do so for her little one. According to the actress, she is awake for up to 15 hours every day and wakes up every one to three hours for feeding or resettling her daughter Fiore.

LJ Reyes thanks partner Paolo Contis for his ‘sacrifices’ amid pandemic

“[Twenty-five] years of stress and puyat from showbiz is no match to motherhood,” she wrote on Instagram. “Very exhausting, but I’ll get through this. Baby is healthy and happy, and that’s all that matters.” In the comments, both friends and fans gave Assunta some words of encouragement. “I remember how exhaustion

brought me to tears! Hang in there,” said Dawn Zulueta. In October, Assunta gave birth to Fiore after almost two decades of trying to conceive and despite having myoma and endometriosis. Assunta has been married to Jules Ledesma for over 18 years. In 2017, she revealed she was undergoing treatment to be able to conceive. (MNS)

ASSUNTA DE ROSSI

LJ REYES AND PAOLO CONTIS “Slowly bumabalik to work. Lagi niya sinasabi, ‘you can stay at home. You have a choice.’ And importante sa ’tin ’yun na meron kaming choice. Hindi ka parang walang choice, kailangan ko i-risk pero iisipin mo din mga bata. Isasabay mo para maka-provide ka rin,” she said. “Nawala din sa ’kin before. Ngayon sobrang na-appreciate ko na mayroon akong katuwang ... talagang shinield niya kami para walang magkasakit,” she said. LJ and Paolo have a daughter together named Summer. She also has an older son, Aki, with actor Paulo Avelino. (MNS)

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Weekend Balita (Los Angeles edition) May 15, 2021

Articles inside

 FEaturE. Pandemic gives working mothers more family time

Ganda’s fi nances after ABS-CBN shutdown, amid pandemic?

 BusinEss. Finance chief says P20B needed to vaccinate teens vs. COVID-19

 PNP to acquire 32K more body cameras

AstraZeneca doses from COVAX only for top three priority groups