2 January 5-7, 2022 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL
PH back in high-risk...
PAGE 1 Health care utilization rates in national and regional levels were low, after the DOH alerted hospitals and local government units to prepare for the possible increase in cases. Meanwhile, Health Undersecretary and Treatment Czar Leopoldo Vega warned that Omicron could become the dominant variant in the next three to four weeks. “I think in about three to four weeks, as predicted, the Omicron will be dominant in terms of 50 to 90% of the cases, overtaking the Delta variant. But the Delta variant is still around with us,” he said in an interview with ANC. He noted that studies on the Omicron variant showed that it only brought mild symptoms. However, he warned that the huge number of cases that could be caused by the Omicron variant could overwhelm hospitals. Vega urged the public to get vaccinated against COVID-19. “Vaccines prevent severe cases [of the virus] and even death. Definitely, all of these vaccines would wane in terms of the neutralizing antibodies for Omicron, but they can prevent serious disease and death,” he said. On Monday, January 3, the DOH reported 4,084 new cases of COVID-19, pushing the total number of infections to 2,855,819 with 24,992 active cases. Majority of the active cases were either asymptomatic or mild. Hospital bed utilization increased in Metro Manila to
29% occupancy for intensive care unit beds, 27% for isolation beds, and 30% for ward beds. At the national level, they were at 23% each for ICU and isolation beds and 16% forward beds. Vergeire reminded the public to follow health protocols. She also advised against visiting the three Cs — close spaces, crowded places, and closecontact settings — where the virus could easily spread. “[DoH] would like to remind all our citizens that if you experience symptoms, please isolate at once and have yourself tested — it is better to test and be sure,” she added. Vergeire said that PhilHealth now offers free Covid testing. Stay home Malacañang on Monday urged the public to stay indoors unless they have to do essential business outside. Cabinet Secretary and acting Presidential spokesman Karlo Alexei Nograles particularly addressed the call to those who “are not feeling well” and are exhibiting flu-like symptoms. “Ang panawagan namin sa lahat (our appeal to everyone), when you feel something is not right, ‘wag ka nang lumabas (don’t go out anymore). Isolate then treat it as if you have Covid,” Nograles said in an interview with ANC’s Headstart. “Any symptoms... Mag-isolate ka muna, ‘wag ka munang magreport sa work, magpa-test ka agad (Isolate first, don’t report to work, get tested immediately). Try to protect your families, those in the community, your workplaces,” he added. Alert Level 3 means limited
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From the Front Page mobility anew especially for minors and senior citizens. Officials of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases will meet on Tuesday, January 4, to discuss the restrictions to be applied in areas under Alert Level 3. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said on Monday that unvaccinated people will not be allowed outside. MMDA Chairman Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. said in a virtual press briefing that Metro mayors unanimously agreed to pass ordinances that will restrict the movement and activities of unvaccinated people. Abalos said unvaccinated people should stay at home. They will only be allowed out to buy food, water and medicine. They will also not be allowed in restaurants, malls, hotels, event venues and sports and country clubs. They will also not be allowed to take public transportation. “This is like [Enhanced Community Quarantine] but only for the unvaccinated, and for their own protection,” Abalos said. “It will be hard for us to go into lockdown again. We must learn how to live with the [Omicron] variant,” he added. Individual outdoor exercises may be allowed for unvaccinated people but it should be limited to “within the general area of residence.” Those who have to report to work will have to take RT-PCR tests every two weeks at their own expense. They must also present a negative COVID-19 test result. n
LAUSD orders mandatory COVID testing for... PAGE 1 said in the release. “Because higher community transmission creates additional challenges at our schools, everyone needs to do their part to slow the spread of the virus.” For information on testing centers and to make a COVID-19 test appointment at a Los Angeles Unified site, please visit lausd.net/ covidtestingappt or call the Family Help Desk at (213) 443-
1300. While appointments are encouraged, no appointment is needed for Los Angeles Unified COVID-19 tests. For a link of operating hours by testing site, please visit achieve.lausd.net/ covidtestingappt. COVID-19 at-home rapid self-tests are available for K-12 students. Students can pick up a free at-home COVID-19 rapid self-tests on Friday, January 7 and Saturday, January 8 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at any of the
district’s 63 Grab & Go sites. Each student may receive two self-tests. Please visit lausd. net/covid for a map of pickup locations. Weekly testing will continue for all students and employees through the month of January. Masking will be required at all times, indoors and outdoors. Students 12 and older will be required to be vaccinated by the fall 2022 semester. (AJPress)
ADDED PROTECTION. Micah Martinez, who is afflicted with the motor disability disease cerebral palsy, avails of a Moderna Covid-19 booster shot at the Dasmariñas II Central Elementary School in Cavite on Tuesday, January 4. The booster shot is timely as the province is placed under Alert Level 3, along with Bulacan, Rizal, and Metro Manila, due to rising infections. PNA photo by Gil Calinga
FDA approves booster shots...
PAGE 1 found that side effects are rare among younger people. Israel’s data included information from 6,300 people aged 12 to 15 who received a booster shot at least five months after the initial second dose. “Throughout the pandemic, as the virus that causes COVID19 has continuously evolved, the need for the FDA to quickly adapt has meant using the best available science to make informed decisions with the health and safety of the American public in mind,” said acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock in a statement. The FDA’s announcement was preceded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) announcement that it will shorten the waiting period for the Pfizer vaccine booster shot. The CDC also supports administering the booster shot to children ages 5 to 11 who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, a recommendation shared by the FDA. Despite the controversy surrounding the CDC’s guidance surrounding isolation periods for people who test positively for coronavirus, the agency has been pushing to get more people vaccinated and boosted. “As we have done throughout the pandemic, we will continue to update our recommendations to ensure the best possible protection for the American people,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky, CDC Director, wrote in a statement. “Following the FDA’s authorizations, today’s recommendations ensure people are able to get a boost of
protection in the face of Omicron and increasing cases across the country and ensure that the most vulnerable children can get an additional dose to optimize protection against COVID-19.” Confirmed by multiple scientific studies and trends across the country, those who are vaccinated and boosted are less likely to succumb to the more severe effects of the coronavirus. Walensky said last week that daily case counts across the country have climbed about 60%, but hospitalizations and deaths have been relatively low, leading to the conclusion that the omicron variant may be less fatal. According to the CDC, more than 70% of people aged 12 or older in the United States are fully vaccinated, as of Tuesday, Jan. 4. Since receiving clearance to get vaccinated in November, more children between 5 and 11 are getting vaccinated; as of Tuesday, about a quarter of all U.S. children in that age bracket have received at least one dose. On Monday, Jan. 3, the CDC reported 828,417 new cases across the United States. Additionally, the seven-day average for positive Covid cases stands at 480,916 new cases per day, according to the CDC. In comparison, the CDC reported 151,140 new cases nationwide a month before, on Dec. 3. The seven-day average then was 107,434. The surge this week is likely due to holiday gatherings, and health regulators are expecting an increase in the following weeks due to the holiday break.
In Los Angeles County — once the most concentrated coronavirus hub last winter — officials reported 21,790 new positive cases and 24 new deaths from coronavirus on Tuesday, suggesting that “vaccines remain extremely protective against the most severe outcomes from Covid infections,” the county said in a statement. “Rate ratios are a key metric for evaluating the protection offered by vaccines. These ratios compare rates of an outcome in unvaccinated people with rates of the same outcome in fully vaccinated people; the higher the rate ratio, the more protective the vaccine is against the outcome,” the county said. Between Dec. 15-28, the rate ratio for admission into intensive care units was 21.3, which suggests that ICU admission was 21.3 times higher for unvaccinated patients than fully vaccinated individuals. “We are grateful to the 80% of eligible residents who have already received at least one dose of [the] vaccine – and we hope that the almost 2 million people who have yet to be vaccinated take time to talk with their health care provider to receive additional information about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines,” Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of LA County Dept. of Public Health. “Choosing not to take the vaccine during this explosive winter surge is very risky since so many of those ill with Covid in the intensive care units at hospitals are unvaccinated, and tragically, some of these individuals will not survive. n
hotel where she was supposed to who skipped quarantine last have been under quarantine. December — Gwyneth Anne Chua Chua breached COVID-19 — along with her parents, and quarantine protocols by leaving five employees and officials of the the Berjaya Makati Hotel to attend
a party in Barangay Poblacion, Makati. The hotel had earlier apologized for “failing to stop” Chua from skipping quarantine. n
Pres. Duterte wants cops deployed in...
PAGE 1
In California, redistricting by the people works...
PAGE 1 themselves and their allies reelected. They rig the redistricting process through so-called “gerrymandering” that “packs” political districts to boost their supporters or “cracks” them to divide their opponents. But prior to the 2010 Census, California became the first state — and still one of just a handful — where the redistricting process is instead conducted by private citizens. Such commissions in other states operate under rules different from California’s. Russell Yee, one of five Republicans serving with four independents and five Democrats on California’s 14member commission, described the process as “the most participatory, open-access redistricting effort in the nation, and probably in all history.” He was one of 2,000 people to apply to serve on the redistricting panel, charged with drawing new, equally populated districts for the state’s 53 U.S. Congressional seats, 80 state Assembly seats, 40 state Senate seats, and four Board of Equalization seats to represent the state’s nearly 40 million people. An analysis of California’s new maps by MALDEF, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, found that the number of districts where the majority of the votingage population is Latino grew from 10 to now 16 for the 53 Congressional seats, from 17 to 22 in the state Assembly, and from seven to 10 in the state Senate. “On behalf of MALDEF,” said Thomas Saenz, its president and general counsel, “I have to say that the commission did a terrific job in complying with the Voting Rights Act in drawing maps — not a perfect job, but as good as
you can expect.” Since the 2010 Census, California’s Latino population has grown by 11.2% — 69% of all population growth in the state and 70% of the growth of voting-age citizens – and is now 27% of the state’s voting population. All other ethnicities combined grew at a 3.1% rate as the state population grew by 6.1% overall. Asian Americans are California’s fastest-growing ethnic minority, Census data found, though still fewer and less widely dispersed as compared to the Latino population. In three of the new U.S. Congressional district maps, the voting age population is more than a third Asian American, Mitchell said. Mitchell said the Commission worked to maintain the ability of California’s Black population – now at 7% statewide — to choose its representatives even as it has tended to disperse across the state. The Commission, for example, drew a Northern California district spanning Richmond and Vallejo that has an approximately 25% Black population. Yee said the commission fielded and honored tribal requests both to maintain or separate various tribal territories. Jonathan Mehta Stein, executive director of California Common Cause, described how the commission held hundreds of public meetings, with translators for public testimony and materials printed in 13 different languages, and hosted 23 commission meetings that heard almost 200 presentations from a wide range of stakeholders, including the Black Redistricting Hub, the Dolores Huerta Foundation, Asian Americans Advancing Justice and many others.
Outreach also took the form of ads, town hall meetings, roundtables, and more, ultimately eliciting 32,000 written public comments and 3,900 verbal ones. Other efforts yielded 1,300 forms returned from state and federal jails and prisons, Stein said. The commission detailed its processes on its wedrawthelines. ca.gov website in a 221-page report on Dec. 26. “Community input actually did influence us, all the time and throughout the process,” Yee recalled. “Ordinary citizens’ stories absolutely had an influence on us, absolutely did affect how the lines were drawn.” Yee also highlighted the important role of Kathay Feng of Common Cause in advocating for a citizen’s commission in the first place, an effort Common Cause continues to propel nationwide. The panelists emphasized that although California is notoriously “blue,” ensuring that any given district includes a certain community does not guarantee specific outcomes. To “perform,” that is, make their voices heard, people still have to be eligible to vote, choose to register and vote, and often also form coalitions. No community’s political loyalty is assured. “Recognizing and honoring diversity does not necessarily advantage Democrats,” Mitchell stated. “The test in elections is, when they’re campaigning, are they trying to earn those votes? When they’re in office, are they responsive to those individuals? Because that’s ultimately what the framework of districts is trying to establish.” (Mark Hedin/Ethnic Media Services)
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SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 5-7, 2022 3
4 January 5-7, 2022 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL
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SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 5-7, 2022
Dateline PhiliPPines
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2022 election spending: Will it boost PH GDP amid COVID? by Cristina
Eloisa Inquirer.net
TEMPORARY CLOSURE. Devotees are kept out of the Quiapo Church on Tuesday, January 4. The Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene is closed until January 6 for massive disinfection. PNA photo by Rico H. Borja
More similarities than differences...
PAGE 1 However, symptoms may develop longer after infection for those with COVID-19 than those who have flu, the CDC said. A person with COVID-19 typically shows symptoms five days after being infected, while a person with flu can experience symptoms one to four days after infection. Those with COVID-19 can also be contagious for a longer time than people with flu, who are contagious for only about a day before they show symptoms. Health experts from the WHO had said that some may have few symptoms for flu or COVID-19 depending on one’s immunity level. The Johns Hopkins University, meanwhile, said both illnesses can be asymptomatic and symptoms may range from mild to fatal. Flu
and COVID-19 may also lead to pneumonia. Cooler weather and lower humidity are also key factors in the spread of viruses, the US National Institutes of Health said in its January 2022 newsletter. It quoted health experts who said cold and flu viruses survive better and become more transmissible during winter. Likewise, health experts had said that preventive measures are similar for the two diseases, namely washing of hands, wearing of masks, maintaining physical distancing and staying in well-ventilated areas. A preliminary study in The University of Hong Kong (HKU) showed that Omicron thrives in airways, where it multiplies itself 70 times more quickly, compared to the Delta variant. Omicron, however, replicates 10 times
more slowly in lung tissues, which might contribute to less severe illness. But the peer review for the formal report of the study has yet to be completed. In the Philippines, influenzalike illnesses increased by 30 percent last year. From Jan. 1 to Nov. 13, there were 71,708 influenza-like cases, up from 55,331 cases recorded during the same period in 2020, based on a surveillance report of the Department of Health. Davao region had the most number of cases in the same period with 16,013, followed by Northern Mindanao (10,168) and Central Visayas (8,773). Deaths due to influenza-like illnesses also rose to 831 from Jan. 1 to Nov. 13 last year, up from 577 deaths registered in the same period in 2020. (Inquirer.net)
DOT chief: Passenger from US arrested... PAGE 1 “I leave it up to them,” she said. ‘Poblacion incident’ The latest quarantine breach came after a woman, identified as Gwyneth Anne Chua, was able to skip isolation at a hotel in Makati to party and then eventually tested positive for COVID-19. Chua also arrived from the U.S. Berjaya Makati Hotel, the hotel under probe for the quarantine breach, said sorry “for failing to stop the guest from jumping her quarantine.” The DOT earlier served a Notice to Explain directing the establishment to submit its response to
the allegations within the three days. Puyat said she already read the press release of the Makati hotel but had yet to receive a formal reply from the establishment. Under the country’s quarantine rules, passengers who arrived from countries and territories under the Yellow list such as the U.S. are required to undergo facility-based quarantine with an RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day, with the date of arrival being the first day. “Regardless of a negative result, they shall be required to undergo home quarantine up to the 14th day from the date
of arrival,” the Department of Health said. Meanwhile, quarantine facilities such as hotels that would break the health and safety protocols of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases may be penalized. “Failure to comply with the health and safety protocols of the DOT, the DOH, or the IATF-EID may lead to criminal penalties of fines and/or imprisonment, and administrative penalties such as suspension or revocation of accreditation depending on the gravity of the offense,” the DOT said in a previous statement. n
BaClig
MANILA — With the national and local elections inching closer this year, can the country’s economic growth—which has taken a beating from the COVID-19 pandemic these past two years— get a boost from this year’s poll spending? In 2020, the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) shrank by a record 9.6 percent—the worst annual recession in the Philippines’ postwar history—caused by then longest and most stringent lockdowns due to COVID-19. The economic output slid to P17.9 trillion that year. In 2021, GDP was expected to rise to P19.4 trillion. The government aims for a 7 to 9 percent GDP expansion in 2022, which was much faster than the 4 to 5 percent target last year but at the same rate as economic growth in years before the COVID-19 pandemic. In this article, INQUIRER. net will try to answer the question of whether the upcoming major elections will help boost the Philippine economy this year—as the country continues to battle against the impact of the dreaded disease. Elections and PH economy “[O]ne of the things that we look forward to … is the favorable impact of the national elections,” said De La Salle University school of economics associate dean Mitzie Conchada in a quarterly census survey on Asian economies by think tank Japan Center for Economic Research’s (JCER) released December last year. Elections, according to former National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) directorgeneral Cielito Habito, always boost the Philippine economy. “A quick scan of GDP growth data over the past 25 years would readily show that election years tend to be marked by higher than usual economic growth,” Habito said in a column piece published on INQUIRER.net. Based on data presented by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin E. Diokno in a 2016 column piece on Per SE—
which publishes commentary and research on current events and public policy by economists from the University of the Philippines (UP)—there has been a strong economic growth recorded during past presidential election years. “Every election year, especially in a presidential election year, the economy gets an extra boost,” said Diokno. Economic peaks which coincided with the presidential and local elections include 6.7 percent in 2004, 6.6 percent in 2007, 7.6 percent in 2010, 7.1 percent in 2013, and 6.9 percent in 2016, still according to Diokno’s report. In 2016, the same year Rodrigo Duterte ran and won the presidential elections, GDP grew by 6.8 percent in Q1, 7 percent in Q2, 7.1 percent in Q3, and 6.6 percent in Q4. A report by First Metro Investment Corporation (First Metro) in 2019, ahead of the general elections that year, said the country’s GDP was 7 percent average during the five past election years, while GDP during non-election years was an average of 5.1 percent. “While there are surely many other determinants of economic growth, the above data seem to suggest that elections have a substantial growth-inducing effect on the economy, pushing growth by up to 2-3 percentage points,” said Habito. But how exactly does poll spending affect economic growth? A lot of money flows out during the election season. Habito explained that whether this money came from hidden or unhidden local or offshore bank accounts, out of government coffers, or other legal or illegal sources, this election money goes around the country’s economy. “All this money buys campaign posters, streamers and tarps; radio, TV and newspaper ads; land, sea and air transport services for candidates and their entourage; hotel and other accommodations; T-shirts and caps emblazoned with candidates’ names;
show business personalities’ talent fees; salaries and wages of various campaign workers; food and meals consumed and given away during the campaign, and so on and so forth,” he added. A 2010 NEDA paper detailed that at least P13.5 billion additional spending in 2007 can be directly attributed to elections. This was equivalent to a 0.34 percentage point increase in overall GDP, according to Habito. This figure was comprised of campaign spending by both candidates and political parties, and government spending, specifically by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on election preparations and the conduct of elections. The GDP growth, as a result of election spending, however, can be predictably short-lived according to Diokno. “[T]he economy decelerates right after the election-related boom,” he said. “[GDP] growth slowed from 6.7% in 2004 to 4.8% in 2005; from 6.6% in 2007 to 4.2% in 2008; from 7.6% in 2010 to 3.7% in 2011; and from 7.2% in 2013 to 6.1% in 2014,” he added. COVID-19: low boost While election spending was expected to boost the economy this year, Diokno said it might be at a slower rate compared to previous election years. “There will still be a bump but not as big as the previous elections,” said Diokno last year at the European-Philippine Business Summit. He added that the bump brought by the May 2022 elections might be 0.50 percent, half of the usual poll-related contribution to the country’s total GDP growth. “I don’t think this election would be as expensive as previous elections. I can say that because there will be no open campaigning,” he explained. “It will be through the social media and as you know, to me, that’s less expensive than the physical campaigning of politicians,” he added. According to Republic Act No, u PAGE 7
6 JANUARY 5-7, 2022 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL
OPiniOn
Tracing, testing urgently needed
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FeatURes
HERE we go again, forced to tighten public health safety restrictions as the latest COVID variant of concern threatens lives and economic recovery. After nearly two years, everyone should be familiar with the drill by now. And authorities should know the weaknesses in the pandemic response that still wait to be addressed, starting with contact tracing and testing. The government never fully dealt with the weakness of contact tracing capability, leaving the task largely to local government units while hoping that vaccination would make up for the inadequacy. Only international travelers have been properly documented for contact tracing. The StaySafe.PH tracing app is a national embarrassment and LGUs have yet to fully link their respective tracing apps to a central database. Contact tracing will be critical if the government wants to contain what is said to be the most transmissible variant yet of SARS-CoV-2. At the same time, timely testing must be made more affordable and accessible. Even when showing possible symptoms of COVID and the potential to spread the disease to the entire household, the cost of a reliable RT-PCR test – the cheapest being P1,500 for a saliva test – discourages many people from getting tested. Some LGUs with small populations have offered
free testing to residents in low-income communities. Even those who are not extremely poor, however, but have lost their livelihoods due to the pandemic will be deterred by the cost of testing. If they get infected, the absence of contact tracing will raise their risk of spreading the virus. On Monday, January 3, the first working day of the year, the Department of Health reported that the entire country was back to “high risk” for COVID. At the same time, the DOH said people should behave as if there is now community transmission of the Omicron variant, said to be several times more infectious than the virulent Delta. The DOH is basing its warning on the leap in new infections. Within a span of one week, cases nationwide have surged from just 318 on Dec. 27 to 4,600 by Jan. 2. Monday’s cases were at 4,084, the stricter Alert Level 3 also began yesterday. Rewith no reports from 21 laboratories. In Metro Manila, epicenter of the contagion stricting mobility and vaccination are not enough. since the onset of the pandemic in the country, From the start, efficient contact tracing and ag-
Editorial
Philstar.com photo
gressive testing have been shown to be effective in containing a surge. They will be indispensable in fighting Omicron. (Philstar.com)
Irresponsible travelers
Babe’s Eye View BABE ROMUALDEZ THERE is absolutely no doubt that the highly contagious Omicron is now raging quickly all over the world, with countries in Europe as well as the United States and Australia reporting record-high cases of infection this week. To manage and control the transmission of this virus to the extent possible, strict health protocols need to be implemented. Clearly, the number one health protocol is to quarantine travelers from abroad. In the United States, a staggering 580,000 cases were reported last Thursday, and experts have already warned of an “Omicron blizzard” as cases of infection continue to rise dramatically, averaging 290,000 daily during the week. One good news is that recent studies on laboratory animals and human tissues indicate that compared to earlier variants, Omicron causes milder illness because it largely attacks the upper respiratory tract – the
nostrils, throat and larynx – and causes less severe damage to the lungs, most especially for those triple vaccinated. However, the speed at which it spreads still makes it dangerous in overwhelming hospitals and may cause deaths, especially to unvaccinated individuals. A study conducted in South Africa, specifically on the city of Tshwane which was described by researchers as the “global epicenter” of the Omicron surge, showed that the peak has passed roughly one month after a surge in cases, with milder illness and no corresponding jump in hospitalizations and deaths. But this is likely due to high levels of prior infection and vaccination coverage, since about two thirds of the people in Tshwane already had some form of immunity from COVID19 either through vaccination or prior infection. Yet there is still so much that we don’t know about Omicron so we have to be cautious. Even if studies indicate that it is milder, particularly for those who received mRNA vaccines, it is still the responsibility of every single person – especially those
who remain unvaccinated – to take precautions because they could actually be the carrier of a lethal weapon. Ultimately, no one will argue that it is our responsibility to make sure we do not contribute to the spread of COVID-19, even if in places like the US, freedom and choice are preeminent. Some countries are imposing masking and vaccination mandates, limiting the choices of people: either you get vaccinated or risk isolation because you could potentially kill another person if you pass on the virus. Aside from the elderly and people with co-morbidities, younger individuals have also become susceptible, with reports confirming that younger people are getting hospitalized due to Omicron. In the Philippines, the Omicron variant is already spreading with new cases spiking to 2,961 last Friday – the highest in almost two months, with the positivity rate recorded at 10.3 percent which is way above the five percent standard set by the WHO. Local cases of Omicron infection have
also been confirmed in Metro Manila, which will be placed under the stricter Alert Level 3 starting tomorrow. The report about this particular individual who flouted mandatory hotel quarantine protocols and even went partying despite knowing she may be carrying the virus is really the height of irresponsibility. This person arrived from the United States and after checking in at a quarantine hotel on Dec. 22, had dinner with some friends the next day and even went partying at a bar in Makati later that night. On the fifth day since her arrival, she tested positive for COVID-19. After an initial denial, the woman admitted that she violated quarantine protocols, said Tourism Secretary Berna Puyat, who also disclosed that the hotel is now under investigation and was issued a show cause order to explain why the person was able to leave the hotel when she was supposed to be in isolation. Reports say at least 15 people who came into close contact with the violator have tested
positive for COVID-19. The bar where the individual went partying also expressed its dismay and disappointment at the turn of events, with the health and safety of the guests and staff already compromised because many have been infected. “For the past two years under this pandemic, we have worked tirelessly to ensure that our venue is a safe place for our customers to have a good time without fear of contracting the virus,” the bar said in a statement. The establishment had no idea that the woman came from abroad as she was with a group that had prior reservation. She showed proof of vaccination, had her temperature taken and even filled a health declaration form. As a consequence, the bar decided to close for the meantime, with the rest of the staff undergoing testing and strict isolation for the next few weeks. Aside from potentially passing on the virus which could prove fatal to high-risk individuals, this irresponsible behavior of one individual could also kill
businesses that are crucial to the country’s economic recovery. People should not forget that more than ever this pandemic continues to be lethal. More than five million people all over the world have died, with over 286 million infected and counting – which means their families have also suffered and may be continuing to suffer through this pandemic. Add to that the trillions of dollars in terms of global economic losses. All of us may have different political beliefs or “colors” but at the end of the day, we all live on the same planet and only have one country. As true Filipinos, we should think of doing good to our fellow citizens and act responsibly. I pray the New Year will bring a renewed spirit of hope in our country. (Philstar.com) ***
father left behind. If Leni Robredo wins, however, change will have found a willing and committed partner. That does not spell success as dismantling something old and decrepit will not be smooth. How many children and grandchildren have tried to wrest power away from older generations yet encountered hell while trying. Her political will and moral code will be severely tested, even and especially if she will be in the right. The 36-year period from 1986 to 2022 may seem like forever to many, but to life, it is but a wink. Change has not come as expected because the needed work by the citizens, and not just by the powers-that-be, has been minimal. Filipinos must awaken to the fact that they are their final
saviors and not the politicians. The needed leader of the Filipino people must then be a powerful inspiration, motivator, and determined enabler. That is the parent that the younger generations need to become the engine of growth and the future. Covid-19. A weakened economy. A divided people. Poverty. Hunger. Drugs. Corruption. Against these is the promise of 2022, a promise of even more difficult times lies ahead. At the same, a silver lining is there, an opportunity will be placed in our hands in the new year. (Inquirer. net) ***
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
*** Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com
The promise of 2022
Glimpses
JOSE MA. MONTELIBANO IN most cases, an ending year simply ushers in a new year in a chronological manner. Of course, the change in numbers from one year to another remains important because many things in life, especially history, are documented numerically. But some new years are beyond symbolic, beyond numeric. They really are new because they carry with them a new energy, a new spirit. 2022 is one such year. The pandemic is morphing into a new variant, Omicron, milder, it seems, but many times more infectious. There are lessons from Great Britain and other European countries now undergoing new surges despite their highly vaccinated populations. 2022 will not just be about more vaccinations but booster shots, and maybe fourth shots. The new normal is not any clearer two years down the road with Covid-19. In fact, it is only Covid-19 that is sure about what its future is. At no time during its inception did Covid-19 waver from its nature, from its capacity to infect and to mutate. New normal can only come after eliminating Covid-19 or learning how to live with it in a humanly productive way.
For the Philippines, what is differently new? The pandemic may be changing form but that is not new. What may be uniquely challenging is adapting to active life outside the home despite high levels of Covid. It is not only the fact that there will be no hundreds of billions anymore of subsidies left but that the economy cannot survive more paralysis and bankruptcies. It may be that circumstances will force government to avoid lockdowns so businesses can stay open, and people allowed to work and earn. The early highlight, though, of 2022 is the campaign and elections that have already captured so much attention among Filipinos. The changing of the guards, so to speak, causes unusual excitement and apprehension. Saying goodbye to a visibly tired and ailing Duterte gives hope to a healthier and younger replacement – and Filipinos deserve a fully active and creative president in one of our worst moments. At the same time, old faces of power hardly ever want to willingly cede away power and the control of awesome resources. Now increasingly known among their detractors as the Gang of Four, in reference to the old Gang of Four of China after Mao’s death, the MarcosDuterte-Estrada-Arroyo alli-
ance pits powerful, traditional powers against democracy and transparency advocates. While each past president did say they were for democracy, they did try their creative ways to seek legal means to circumvent the oneterm condition of the Constitution. Except Estrada for obvious reasons. Change advocates will challenge established institutions that are known to controlling everybody else. It is not power that is challenged because power will always exist. Rather, it is power that is controlling in both intent and application. In other words, it is dictatorial power versus enabling power. Naturally, dictatorial power is established. It has long been the dominant force of Philippine society. The new wave of consciousness, however, is characterized by its distaste of how traditional power had dominated society and seeks to find its own expression of independence. This young and fresh mindset does not often confront traditional power but refuses to blindly kowtow to it. Moreover, the spirit of innovation and radical expression finds ways to do its own thing in its own way. In its desperate attempt to perpetuate power in its old form, traditional, controlling power, using the great wealth it amassed in the domineering exercise of
power and authority, has a great edge over its opponents. But the current of life does not presently favor the deliberate extension of what is obsolete. It is like cryptocurrency, one of the most creative rebellions against established dictatorial power in the financial world. Central banks all over the world have not managed to kill or abort it. Rather, it is cryptocurrency that has increased its variations and is forcing financial institutions to adapt. Slowly, maybe, but steadily. In politics, the change will not come easily except possibly on the surface. Since there is no party system that works beyond the name and the primary personalities who control all of them, there is nothing that needs to be dismantled. But the value system driving politics in the Philippines will be confronted with a thirst for something else, something new, something young. That is the promise of 2022. While it matters, the victory or defeat of old or new forces will not stop the unstoppable march of evolution. If Marcos wins, it will mean that the old way has found temporary players to represent itself. But Marcos will never sit comfortably as president unless he junks what evolution asks – which he will resist so he can try to alter the legacy his
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Dept. of Migrant Workers to streamline services for OFWs
MANILA – A lawmaker on Tuesday, January 4, said the new department dedicated to serving migrant Filipinos will streamline and speed up services for the country’s overseas workers, especially those in distress. Camarines Sur Representative Luis Raymund Villafuerte said the newly signed law creating the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) would help better track Filipinos abroad, especially those in distress, as it provides for information system that will serve as a database for all overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). He noted that OFWs would no longer have to go from one government office to another to provide for their needs, highlighting that the new department would regulate overseas employment and the reintegration of Filipino
workers. “Government must make a much better effort in providing assistance and protection to OFWs, from recruitment to overseas employment, more so now with (the) upward trend in remittances as economies hiring migrant workers have started to recover from Covid-19 and are rehiring again,” he said. He said OFW remittances have helped keep the economy afloat during the height of the pandemic and will continue to boost ongoing efforts to recover from this global health crisis. Citing the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Villafuerte said personal remittances from overseas Filipinos rose by 4.8 percent to USD2.889 billion from USD2.756 billion in the same month last year as of August 2021.
“We owe it to our over 10 million modern-day Filipino heroes, who have helped keep our economy afloat amid all external and domestic challenges, to have a line Department in charge of protecting and advancing their interests, in keeping with the commitment to them of President Duterte,” Villafuerte said. President Rodrigo Duterte signed before the end of 2021 the law creating the DMW, which will absorb the functions of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and will be tasked to protect the rights of migrant workers. The DWM is expected to benefit an estimated 2.2 million Filipinos abroad, based on the 2019 Survey on Overseas Filipinos released in 2020 by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). (Filane Mikee Cervantes/PNA)
2022 election spending: Will it boost... PAGE 5
7166 which the Comelec implements, candidates or political parties are allowed to spend only P10 per voter if running for president or vice president and P3 per voter if running for other positions. Candidates without support from any political party, or those running as independent, may spend up to P5 per voter, the law said. Political parties could spend P5 for every registered voter. “Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, any contribution in cash or in-kind to any candidate or political party or coalition of parties for campaign purposes, duly reported to the commission, shall not be subject to the payment of any gift tax,” the law said. Still, some economists were hopeful that the elections can bolster the country’s economic recovery. For this year, economists forecast a 7.1 percent GDP growth, higher than the 6.6 percent in 2021 and within the government’s 7 to 9 percent goal for 2022. Meanwhile, the Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC), in its Fiscal Risks Statement 2022 report released last December, said the upcoming elections “may af-
fect the country’s political and economic climate.” “The implementation of the government’s infrastructure projects may be disrupted, as public works and the release of public funds during the election period are prohibited under the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines,” said the DBCC. The DBCC was referring to the ban on public works, which will be implemented 45 days before the general elections. During this period, the government is prohibited from releasing funds for public works construction and the hiring and movement of government personnel. The ban aims to prevent government officials from using government resources and facilities to influence voters in their choices. “The prohibition on public works, as well as for social welfare dole-outs, may contribute to a slowdown on infrastructure disbursements during the first half of 2022,” said the DBCC. What’s ahead As the country moves closer to the 2022 general elections, the next administration would not only face the graft and corruption issues that gripped the nation in 2021 and in previous years, but also a gargantuan eco-
nomic challenge and a mountain of debt, according to Sen. Panfilo Lacson. “The presidency—I’m saying this without politics, this is just practical application—cannot be practiced because the problems which will be faced by the next administration are already massive. It’s not OJT (on-the-job training),” he said. “You have to appreciate the problems. Don’t just enter without knowing your problems because you will have a hard time finding solutions,” he added. Data from the Department of Finance (DOF) showed that the country has so far borrowed a total of P1.15 trillion for the COVID fight. The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) released data that showed that the country’s total debt has reached a historic high of P11.97 trillion as of October 2021. This was at least 0.46 higher than P11.92 trillion in September. The BTr also said year-onyear debt stock rose by 19.4 percent from over P10 trillion in October 2020. The DOF reported last month that the national government’s outstanding debt might reach a record-high P13.42 trillion by the end of 2022—which will be faced by the next president and his or her administration. n
FOR SAFETY. The “Promenade Des Dasmariñas”, a public park by the riverside on Mangubat Avenue at the City of Dasmariñas, is temporarily closed as seen on Tuesday, January 4 to prevent people from converging in the area. It has been closed as a safety measure against the spread of COVID-19, even as the province of Cavite is placed under Alert Level 3 from Jan. 5 to Jan. 15 due to rising number of infections. PNA photo by Gil Calinga
CHR to press on with rights education despite vetoed creation of Human Rights Institute by Gaea
Katreena Philstar.com
CabiCo
MANILA — The Commission of Human Rights said it is “saddened” by President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to veto the establishment of the Human Rights Institute, but vowed it will continue to make human rights education accessible to people. Duterte rejected a provision in Republic Act 11639 or the General Appropriations Act of 2022 that establishes the HRI, a flagship program of the CHR. The president said no “appropriation is provided for the purpose,” meaning there is no funding set aside for it. In a statement Tuesday, CHR Commissioner Karen GomezDumpit maintained the item appropriation is for the discharge of the agency’s constitutional mandate. “The establishment of a Human Rights Institute is a longtime vision of previous and present commissions in ensuring crucial human rights education is made accessible to the people and for government personnel to better understand their role as primary duty-bearers in fulfilling human rights obligations to faithfully comply with human rights standards and principles,” GomezDumpit said. “The HRI was envisioned to
fight against revisionism and provide a gateway for robust human rights education programs with other government institutions,” she added. Duterte’s term—which will end on June 30—has been characterized by extrajudicial executions, rise in the climate of impunity, and deteriorating human rights situation, observers said. The president has repeatedly said that he does not care about human rights although the government maintains that it is aware of its obligations to uphold and promote human rights. Relevance in addressing world’s problems During the institute’s launch last month, Gomez-Dumpit stressed the need to study human rights, which is relevant in addressing impunity, climate change, inequality, and other modern-day challenges. HRI offers general, special and professional courses online, which can be availed by law enforcers, jail personnel, judges, and prosecutors. It will also offer webinars, learning modules, and specialized courses on human rights. “The institute will not cause additional burden to the government as this will be undertaken with existing resources of the commission while harness-
ing its potential for collaboration and partnerships with other institutions and organizations to further support it,” GomezDumpit said. Despite the “disheartening” veto, the CHR will press on, the commissioner vowed. “We shall continue to pound the walls of impunity to convey the message of human rights straight and across to our people. We are fully committed to continuously engage government and encourage them to do better as we work towards educating the people about human rights and promoting human rights of all,” Gomez-Dumpit said. Gender responsive restrooms also vetoed The commission also expressed disappointment with the veto of the transportation department’s Gender Responsive Restroom Program. “This appropriations item sought to address a specific gender and human rights issue—it was meant to recognize diversity of DOTr clients and ensure safe access to essential facilities without discrimination,” Gomez-Dumpit said. “Efforts showing commitment to gender equality and non-discrimination deserve support through the provision of sufficient resources.” n
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Court throws out case questioning mandatory jabs by Jomar
Canlas ManilaTimes.net
THE Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) has denied a court clerk’s petition for a temporary restraining order (TRO) to stop the implementation of a measure requiring court personnel to get vaccinated against COVID-19. In a 21-page order dated January 3, Judge Rosalyn Mislos-Loja of Branch 41 denied Las Piñas RTC Clerk of Court Kathryn Joy Hautea-Nuñez’s application for a TRO as well as her motion for reconsideration on a court order dated Dec. 13, 2021. Mislos-Loja earlier granted a petition to drop Maria Cunanan, chief administrative officer of the Supreme Court Office of Administrative Affairs and Judge Cristina Bersamin-Embuscado of Branch 198 as nominal respondents to the case. Bersamin-Embuscado is Hautea-Nuñez’s immediate supervisor. The suit stemmed from the petition for declaratory relief
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with urgent application for the issuance of a TRO and/or a writ of preliminary injunction) filed by Hautea-Nuñez before the Manila RTC. Hautea-Nuñez questioned the implementation of the mandatory vaccination for onsite workers in areas where there is an ample supply of vaccines. She also asked the tribunal to enjoin Cunanan and BersaminEmbuscado from implementing the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) resolution. The IATF resolution provides that employees who refuse to be immunized cannot be terminated, but they must undergo regular RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) testing or antigen tests at their own expense. It also mandated that establishments can refuse entry and deny service to unvaccinated individuals, or those partially vaccinated despite being eligible for vaccination. Thus, in her petition, HauteaNuñez argued that there is no
administrative remedy available to her considering that the official pronouncement sought to be enjoined and subsequently voided is of general application and not subject to any grievance mechanism. Hautea-Nuñez further claimed that the IATF order placed her under pressure because other vaccinated court personnel tried to encourage her to receive vaccine shots. After allegedly weighing the information on the vaccines being used and the other means available to prevent the spread and severity of Covid-19 infections, Hautea-Nuñez admitted that she is hesitant to get a jab because she came to the personal conclusion that vaccination is not for her and her family. In junking her appeal, the court held that “the petitioner’s resolve to seek the reinstatement of both the OAS-SC and Hon. Bersamin-Embuscado as nominal respondents is baseless.” n
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SOFT AND WARM. Marife Prado arranges mattress foams at her store in Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City on Tuesday, January 4. The bed foams that bring warmth with the colder weather retail between PHP300 and PHP1,400 depending on design, size, and thickness. PNA photo by Ben Briones
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Filipino cartoonist Manix Abrera explains Goodbye long hair: A new bob cut for Sunshine first ‘Batman’ DC Comics book cover By Deni
Rose M. AfiniDAD-BeRnARDo
By
AllAn PolicARPio
Philstar.com
Inquirer.net
FILIPINO cartoonist Manix Abrera shared his experience in creating his first ever DC Comics cover for “Batman: The Knight” #1 issue. In a recent interview ANC, the book author known for his Kikomachine Comix comic strip explained the concept behind DC’s new “Batman” comic book cover. According to him, DC discovered him when comic book retailer Comic Odyssey and artists’ collective Next Comic Art collaborated and pitched to DC if he could propose his version of the “Batman” cover. Manix admitted that DC’s style is far from his usual “goofy” style, so he hesitated that DC would not approve of his pitches. “Unang una, out of my comfort zone ‘yan kasi sanay ako sa cartoons eh tsaka sa comic strips so nag-collaborate kasi saktong sakto ‘yung Comic Odyssey and ‘yung Next Comic Art. Nag-pitch sila sa DC kung pwede akong gumawa ng variant cover for ‘Batman: The Knight.’ Tapos kinakabahan din ako nu’n n’ung sinabi nila sa’kin kasi dapat ma-approve ng DC ‘yung style ko, ‘yung draft nu’n.” How delightful Manix was when DC’s editor approved his drawings. “So nu’ng na-approve ng editor nila, so ‘yun, ang saya-saya ko kasi bagong bago ‘to for me kasi superhero comics eh. Hindi ito ‘yung usual na ginagawa kong drawings.” According to the Filipino artist, the new comic book zeroes in on Bruce Wayne’s journey as the Batman and return to Gotham City. “Inisip ko, bagay na bagay dito ‘yung metaphor ng ‘The Alchemist,’ ‘yung papano nila (matra-transform) ‘yung base metal into gold. Iniisip ko, bagay na bagay ‘tong parang story ni Batman eh. Ginawa kong symbolism d’un sa drawing, paakyat si young Bruce Wayne sa temple tapos me stages of grief dahil sa parents n’ya tapos
SUNSHINE Cruz typically prefers to wear her hair long. But for the right role, she’s willing to chop them off. Being part of the “Mano Po” movie franchise has always been a dream for the 44-yearold actress. So when she finally received a call, asking her to join the main cast of “Mano Po Legacy”—the new television drama anthology adaptation of the Filipino-Chinese-themed family drama, she went straight to the salon. “I wear my hair long most of the time since I started my career as an actress. But when they offered me a role and asked me to cut my hair, walang
kaabog-abog, sige! If that’s the look they want, game na game ako,” she said in a virtual conference for the “Mano Po Legacy’s” first installment, “The Family Fortune,” which is produced by GMA 7 and Regal Entertainment. Sunshine, who got herself a bob with bangs, said being part of the show is an exciting way to start 2022. She plays Cristine Chan, a member of the prominent Chan clan, whose intelligence and business savvy led to the success of the family’s conglomerate. “It’s a dream come true for me. I used to just watch the (‘Mano Po’) movies. And I would always wonder why I never got any offers in any of them. Continued on Page 10
Filipino cartoonist Manix Abrera of Kikomachine Comix fame showing his ‘Trese Vol 3’ version (left); his ever DC Comics cover for “Batman: The Knight” #1 issue (right). Photo from Instagram/@manix_abrera
kung papano s’ya naging Batman.” Although DC’s style is not his usual fare, he was still able to inject his signature style of incorporating occult elements. “Kasi mayroon akong style sa comics ko na mahilig ako sa mga occult, mahilig ako sa mga magic-magic. Lagi kong hinahalo ‘yun sa cartoons eh kasi parang magkaibang area sila tapos ang saya-saya kapag naghalo. So ‘yun ang ginawa kong style sa Batman.” Manix, however, clarified that he did not actually deviate much from his “Kikomachine” techniques in creating “Batman.” “Actually, hindi ko ga’no binago ‘yung style ko kasi nu’ng gumagawa na ‘ko ng mga superhero artworks, talagang nilabas ko kung pa’no ako mag-drawing ng Kikomachine Comix. Nagkataon na lang na superheroes ‘yung main na focus tapos
inisip ko, bahala na kung magustuhan nila. Kung hindi, hindi. Masaya naman ako d’un sa ginawa ko. Tapos tsumamba na lang na nagustuhan nila ‘yung gan’ung pag-agaw ng styles kasi for me ibang-iba s’ya eh, ‘yung cartooning na style sa mayroong superheroes.” In an Instagram post, Abrera exclaimed that the project with DC was “super exciting.” “To say we are super proud is an understatement. This is THE FIRST DC Comics Cover of @manix_abrera and we are absolutely thrilled!” he added. “Batman: The Knight” was written by Chip Zdarsky and illustrated by Carmine Di Giandeomenico and will be available for pre-order soon exclusively at Sanctum Sanctorum and Comic Odyssey comics stores.
Sunshine Cruz
Photo from Instagram/@sunshinecruz718
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entertainment
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - January 5, 2022
30 years in the biz, Jay shares secret of his staying power By AllAn
PolicArPio Inquirer.net
WHILE his days of going full-on sexy in movies are well past him, Jay Manalo said he’s thankful to the supporters who still think he’s desirable at the age of 48. But now that he’s back with Viva Entertainment, which launched his career in 1994, Jay jested he may have to start taking extra care of his looks again, so he can keep up with the company’s new breed of sexy actors and actresses. “Since I’m with Viva again, baka magpabata ulit, so we don’t get left behind by the new ones!” he said in a recent virtual conference for the sexy action flick “Hugas,” which will be available for streaming on the online content platform Vivamax on Jan. 14. The movie had Jay working with Sean de Guzman, who recently starred in a couple of Viva’s sexy online films. He
couldn’t help but see a little bit of himself in the young actor. “When I was starting out in Viva, they couldn’t quite decide where to put me at first. I was put in action films, and then in sexy ones, much like what’s happening to Sean now. I was given daring roles and I was asked if I thought I could do it. I recall telling them, ‘Wala namang problema dun. Pinanganak naman tayong lahat na nakahubad.’” Guiding newbies When working with newbies, Jay tries his best to guide them—the same way his seniors guided them when he was just starting out. “It’s as if I’m looking at myself in the mirror when I work with them. Back in the day, there were veterans, or those who started ahead of me, who gave me advice on what to do in our scenes, what approach was needed,” he related. “That’s why I look after the younger ones and see if there’s
Jay Manalo
Inquirer.net photo
anything I can help them with,” he added. And when his less experienced coactors make mistakes, Jay makes them feel that it’s nothing to be ashamed of. “Umaalalay ako. We shouldn’t judge them, because that’s how we were at some point in our careers,” Jay pointed out. “We have to help them to make the film better.” In “Hugas,” Jay plays Boss Dencio, a syndicate leader who hires Al (Sean) for his skills as a hitman. Also part of the gang is Liezl (AJ Raval), a young girl who serves as an accessory to Boss Dencio’s operation. Liezl and Al fall in love and marry each other. Hoping to start their lives anew, the couple plans to break free from the syndicate. But Boss Dencio wouldn’t just let them get away. ‘No place like home’ Jay added that he didn’t hesitate when Viva offered him a contract to return to its stable of stars. “I have worked with various production outfits, but as they say there’s no place like home.” After almost 30 years in show biz, Jay remains in-demand in movies and television, where he’s able to hop from one network to another. His secret? Just do your job and don’t ever think you’re better than anyone, Jay said. “We’re all equal on the set. Magtulungan at makisama, not just with your costars and director, but with everyone,” he said. “We give our all in whatever project is given to us, so they end up getting us again.”
Goodbye long hair: A new bob cut... From Page 10 So when this was given to me, kulang na lang tumambling ako sa excitement,” she said. This is Sunshine’s first project on GMA 7 since 2018. While her fans are happy that she’s free to work wherever the opportunity arises, some people criticized her for the move. Freelancer She clarified that’ she’s a freelancer and isn’t tied to any one network. “I did experience some
bashing when I found out I was doing a project for GMA. But I just help some people understand what being a freelancer means,” said Sunshine, who’s also thrilled to be working with her godmother Boots Anson-Roa, colleague Maricel Laxa and the new breed of talents led by Barbie Forteza. “The beauty is that GMA 7 always welcomes me back with open arms,” she added. “And I pay it back by giving my best in every project.”
Santo Niño celebration in Glendale
ON Sunday, January 9th, 2022, Holy Family Church (209 E. Lomita Avenue, Glendale) will celebrate Santo Niño at 11:00 a.m. This year, a Sinulog, a praise worship dance ritual will be performed by Our Lady of Fatima Rosary Crusade Members at reception which will make this event special and memorable for the faithful. The group has been rehearsing for several weeks to share with parishioners the beauty of this cultural tradition. Dancers will wear costumes symbolizing the time Queen Juana and King Humabon embraced Christianity in Cebu. Limited seating indoors and outdoors are available. The celebrant is Fr. Michael Mesa. In the 16th century, the first statue Santo Niño was presented to Queen Juana, wife of King Humabon. She was overjoyed upon seeing the innocent and kind face of Baby Jesus. She was baptized and opened her heart to Catholicism.
The natives were also baptized. Ferdinand Magellan planted the Cross of Christianity on the day baptism occurred in Cebu. To this day, Filipinos from various walks of life bring prayers to the Santo Niño. He is the protector and has power to grant and answer their prayers. Devotions to him are part of every parish’s life. Every Filipino home has an image of Santo Niño. The image is particularly revered by people from Cebu where Spaniards established the first colonial capital. The devotion to Christ Child Jesus has spread beyond that region. This year’s celebration also commemorates 500 Years of Philippine Christianity. Devotees are requested to bring their Santo Niño statues. The Parish observes safety protocols. Please mask up. All are welcome. For more information, please call: Linda Gordon (818) 633-5600 Ping Bayani (913) 558-4332
Heart on Chiz Escudero fighting for her: ‘Mawala na lahat, wag lang ako’ By Anne
PAsAjol Inquirer.net
HEART Evangelista could not seem to contain her “kilig” as she looked back on how her husband fought for their relationship amid her parents’ disapproval of them in the past. Evangelista recounted her and her husband’s love story, as she responded to a fan asking about her age preference on a partner, as seen on her Tiktok page on Sunday, Jan. 2. “It’s not because I chose specifically that he was older — first and foremost, crush ko na talaga si Chiz ever since, 2007 pa (I already had a crush on him since 2007),” she said. The actress recalled being advised by the late senator Miriam Defensor to date Escudero, something she has shared in previous interviews. She then reminisced on how stunned she was by Escudero’s presence the first time they met, also noting how the latter exceeded her expectations on Continued on Page 12
Heart Evangelista and Chiz Escudero Photo from Instagram/@iamhearte
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - January 5, 2022
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community Herbert shares baking tips
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - January 5, 2022
By Marane
a. Plaza
Philstar.com
FORMER Quezon City Mayor and actor Herbert Bautista gets candid about love, baking and life in The Star’s interview. “Alam mo dapat ang
baking, nasa tamang measurement e. Talagang ‘di yan pwede sobra dito, sobra doon. Otherwise magiging maasim. ‘Di sya magiging (okay ang) fluffiness,” the actorpolitician, who is also into baking, advised. “Parang pag-ibig lang ‘yan,
dapat tama ang timpla,” the comedian said when asked about his tips when it comes to baking. “Tama ang pagmo-mold, pagmamasa. And siyempre ikaw nga, according sa ano, sa puto, put a lot of love, laughter and magic.” Bautista recently starred in the TV5 sequel of the comedyfantasy blockbuster “Puto,” a series based on his hit 1987 movie of the same title. He plays the father of McCoy de Leon in the TV series. The ex-politician also shared his thoughts on our current situation with the pandemic. “Ngayong pandemya, lahat naman tayo ngayon nagsastruggle especially ngayong panahon ng pandemic... Palala natin sa lahat ng kasamahan natin sa bahay, whether anak natin, asawa natin, mga kasambahay natin, mga kamag-anak natin, to observe safety protocols. Observe healthy protocols like (wearing) masks, face shields. Kasi kung talagang mahal mo mga kasama mo sa buhay, ikaw mismo mag-face mask ka and face shield,” he stressed. “And ‘wag matakot sa bakuna. Magpa-bakuna ho kayo kasi sa ikakabuti nating lahat yan. That’s how you can share your love para sa mg kapamilya mo.”
Herbert Bautista
TV5 photo
Mining your acres of diamonds Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA A FARMER in Africa heard glowing stories of other farmers who have become rich by discovering diamond mines in the continent. Filled with excitement and visions of sparkling diamonds, he sold his farm quickly and set out to become a diamond prospector himself. He wandered far and wide for many years crisscrossing the huge continent hoping to strike it rich. Hope and change however proved to be a lame strategy. Alas and alack, the years took their toll and finally, having grown old, tired and despondent over his failures, he ended his life. Meanwhile, the man who bought his farm settled in and one bright day, while fording a stream on the land he now owned, was attracted to a gleam of colored rock at the bottom of the shallow water. He picked it up out of curiosity and displayed it on his mantel as décor. One day a visitor noticed the rock and almost fainted. He asked the farmer what he thought it was and the farmer innocently said, it was a pretty crystal. The visitor told him that it was probably one of the biggest diamonds he had ever seen. It turns out that the stream had many more such diamonds at its bottom. The first farmer never knew he was standing on his own acres of diamonds. He already owned the land free and clear which he had sold practically for a song and a dance. If he only took stock of what he had, surveyed his surroundings and explored and worked on his own acres, his story might have had a happy ending. This story is a staple used by noted motivational speakers and writers to bring home a point. And for good reason… The “Acres of Diamond” Story is a powerful metaphor to inspire people to explore and harness their own potential as human beings striving to reach their
“Your diamonds are not in far distant mountains or in yonder seas; they are in your own backyard, if you but dig for them.” - Russell H. Conwell, Acres of Diamonds goal of achieving the riches they seek, whether tangible, intangible or a hybrid of both. In the most obvious terms, riches could mean physical wealth like money in the bank, a comfortable retirement, celebrity status and the perks that come with it. However, there are also those parameters that are harder to achieve and can’t be bought outright by money, like inner peace, contentment, serenity, a healthy mind in a healthy body filled with good spirit and well being or a long, happy, meaningful life. The wisest ones go for a mix of both the tangible and the intangible. You get to choose your very own definition of wealth. Oftentimes, staying the course and having the wisdom and the patience to use the resources found directly right under our noses and the neurons firing in the brain between our ears offer better odds than seeking out those greener pastures. As one smart aleck pointed out, the other pasture is always greener simply because it has a gardener that waters, fertilizes and fusses over it all the time. (And used often as a multilevel marketing ploy to recruit people for get-rich quickschemes. But I digress.) Staying the course and mining your own acres of diamonds could also apply to married couples going through tough times. There are always critical moments that would require partners to fight for their marriage and stay committed no matter the struggle. There is the struggle of the infidelity of one partner attracted to another, maybe a
young spring chicken or a hunk with washboard abs waiting in the wings, the struggle to rise above health issues or the struggle to keep their heads above financial waters or the struggle to stay as a family despite the discord brought about by various debilitating addictions. Many seem to think they can hit the reset button by trading up to another partner. They think that if they can only find the right one, find Ms. or Mr. Perfect, life would be better. Oftentimes, that route simply leads to more troubles ahead, more complications, more heartaches and crushing disappointments. If one treasures the intangible acres of diamonds built by years of being together in the form of happy memories and achievements, scrapping the negativity, overlooking irritations or editing out the heartaches through genuine forgiveness brought about by unceasing prayers, perhaps staying the course and loving the one you’re with, might not be too difficult. With faith and determination, you can mine your own acres of diamonds right in your own marriage, right in your own backyard. The question is, are we mining our own acres of diamonds in every area of our lives right now? And if not, why not? ***
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
***
Nota Bene: To send comments, email monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com
Reimbursement for community contribution towards a spouse’s education and student loan during marriage Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes ONE of the biggest problem of millenials and Gen Z are educational cost and student loan debt. This eats up a large part of a households budget even among married couples. However, what happens to all the money paid towards one spouse’s education and student loans if the marriage fails and leads to divorce. Well, California Family Code Section 2641(b)(1) provides that upon divorce or legal separation, the community “shall be reimbursed” for its “contributions” to a spouse’s education or training that “substantially enhances” the spouse’s earning capacity. Under Family Code Section 2641(a), reimbursable community “contributions” means payments made with community or quasi-community property for a spouse’s education or training or for the repayment of a loan incurred therefor, no matter where the parties resided when the payments were made. Family Code § 2641 reimbursement is not limited to education or training received during marriage. Rather, by its terms, application of the statute is governed solely by whether community funds were used to pay for the education or training. Thus, educational costs and loans paid with
community funds are within the ambit of § 2641 reimbursement even if the education occurred before marriage. Marriage of Weiner, supra, 105 CA4th at 239-240, 129 CR2d at 291; In Marriage of Mullonkal & Kodiyamplakkil (2020) 51 CA5th 604, 607-608, 265 CR3d 285, 288, the court held that the community is entitled to reimbursement where spouse paid off student loans for education she attained before marriage with funds from her salary earned during marriage. In Mullonkal & Kodiyamplakkil, the trial court erroneously held § 2641 did not apply because, among other things, the student spouse (Wife) repaid her premarital education with her own earnings during the marriage, and the nonstudent spouse (Husband) failed to contribute to Wife’s education/ loan repayments and family expenses. “[B]ut nothing in [§ 2641] contemplates denying reimbursement to the community where the student spouse pays for her own education or where the nonstudent spouse did not somehow earn an entitlement to an equal share of the community. Indeed, the statute refers to community contributions to education, and makes no reference to the source of the community contribution.” Marriage of Mullonkal & Kodiyamplakkil, supra, 51 CA5th at 615-616, 265 CR3d at 294. At a minimum, reimbursable community expenditures include amounts paid for the student spouse’s tuition, fees, books, supplies
and transportation. Fam.C. § 2641, Law Rev. Comm’n Comment, 23 Cal. L.Rev. Comm’n Reports 1 (1993) Beyond this, however, community expenditures are a reimbursable “contribution” only if directly related to the educational experience. Ordinary living expenses that would have been incurred regardless of whether one spouse was attending school such as rent, food and clothing, health care and entertainment, are not reimbursable under § 2641. Marriage of Watt (1989) 214 CA3d 340, 354, 262 CR 783, 791-792. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APLC This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APLC. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail
Heart on Chiz Escudero fighting... From Page 10 him. “He is more than what I imagined him to be. How you see him on our adulting videos, that is exactly how he was in real life. So, I really liked that,” she said. Evangelista then expressed her admiration for her husband, as she spoke about how Escudero fought for their relationship, which according to her, no one has done before. “I met a lot of wonderful people, but I just met somebody greater than all of them and I felt that I think this time around I should fight
for him,” the actress shared. “He fought for me. It was the first time anyone did that for me and he wanted me to be in his life no matter what — kahit mahirap, okay lang (even if it’s hard, it’s okay),” she added. “Grabe, mawala na lahat, ‘wag lang ako.” (Let everything else disappear but me.) Evangelista and Escudero tied the knot in an exclusive ceremony in Balesin in 2015, after being in a relationship for two years. The couple recently revealed that they are still planning to have children in the future, and have been trying just before the actress started
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - January 5, 2022
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