JANUARY 8-11, 2022 Volume 32 - No. 2 • 2 Sections – 18 Pages
DATELINE
USA
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
CDC recommends COVID-19 booster for kids ages 12 to 15 THE United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this week is recommending children ages 12 to 15 receive a booster shot five months after receiving their second dose of the PfizerBioNTech vaccine. The announcement on Monday, January 3 comes after the agency’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted 13-1 approving a booster dose for minors in this age group. The Food and Drug Administration on Monday also expanded the emergency use authorization to 12 to 15 year olds as schools begin to reopen after the holiday break and the omicron variant continues to spread throughout the country. “It is critical that we protect our children and teens from COVID-19 infection and
California extends mask mandate into February by AJPRESS AMID the surging cases of the omicron variant of the coronavirus, California is extending its statewide indoor mask mandate for another month. The state Department of Public Health announced on January 5 that masks should be worn in all indoor public settings, regardless of vaccination status, until February 15. The mandate went into effect on Dec. 15, 2021 with expiration on Jan. 15, 2022, but will be extended for another month. The move comes as the state has experienced an increase in seven-day average case rates by six
times and doubling of hospitalizations. “Omicron is here,” California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said on Wednesday, January 5. “We can’t abandon the tools that we’ve used to achieve our collective success throughout this pandemic.” The guidance recommends wearing well-fitted masks, such as surgical masks or higher-level respirators, such as N95s, KN95s and KF94s, be worn when in indoor public settings. Exemptions to mask requirements include those younger than two years old; individuals with a medical condition or disability that prevents wearing a mask; persons who are hearing
Comelec trims list of presidential bets by WILLIAM
DEPASUPIL ManilaTimes.net
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California ballot will be heavy on health care SACRAMENTO, Calif. — When Californians go to the polls later this year, they will confront contentious health care choices. Voters will weigh whether to overturn a state law that bans flavored tobacco products and will likely consider increasing the cap on medical malpractice awards. They may also vote on proposals that effectively legalize psychedelic mushrooms and regulating dialysis clinics. Two pandemic-related measures also could qualify for the Nov. 8 general election: One would tax California’s wealthiest residents to create an institute to detect disease outbreaks and bolster the state’s public health system. The other would limit government officials’ ability to shutter schools and businesses during a public health emergency. Although the election is about 10 months away, money is already pouring in from deeppocketed interests eager to defeat measures that would eat into their profits. Big tobacco has invested $21 million to overturn the ban on flavored products, and the health care industry has dropped $43 million to beat back the proposal to raise California’s cap on medical malpractice awards, according
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PLANE RIDE. Passengers gather at the check-in counter of the departure area at the NAIA Terminal 1 in Parañaque City on Friday, January 7. The threat of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has disrupted domestic and international flights worldwide. ManilaTimes.net photo by Rene Dilan
Photo from his Facebook page
PARTIDO Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) standardbearer Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is now the only presidential candidate surnamed Marcos, based on the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) final list of candidates for the May elections. The Comelec trimmed the number of presidential bets to 11 from 97 after the end of the filing of certificate of candidacy (CoC) on Oct. 8, 2021. Among the candidates dropped from the list were Maria Aurora Marcos, a businesswoman from Tarlac, and Tiburcio Marcos. The son of former president Ferdinand Marcos is listed as presidential candidate number eight. There are at least seven petitions with the Comelec seeking to disqualify Marcos as a candidate. Tiburcio Marcos was among the petitioners. He wanted Marcos declared as a nuisance candidate, claiming he was an impostor. The Comelec has junked Tiburcio Marcos’ petition. Another petition, filed by Danilo Lihaylihay, to
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Are omicron’s effects mild? What we know so far by MOMAR
G. VISAYA
AJPress
THE COVID-19 numbers are staggering and infections, particularly in the United States, are at an all-time high. Most of these new infections now are of the omicron variant. Since it is everevolving, it took a while before doctors and scientists found out that omicron is a mild variant, and those infected have a lower chance of getting seriously ill. A New York Times newsletter mentioned
three main reasons why omicron’s effects are generally mild: less hospitalization, milder hospitalization, and lower mortality rate. The report mentioned that somebody infected with omicron is “less likely to need hospital treatment than somebody infected with an earlier version of COVID.” It cited an analysis of patients in Houston, for example, found that omicron patients were only about one-third as likely to need hospitalization as delta variant patients. In u PAGE A2
Literary giant F. Sionil Jose dies at 97
National Artist F. Sionil Jose
impaired, or communicating with a person who is hearing impaired, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication; or persons for whom wearing a mask would create a risk to the person related to their work, as determined by local, state, or federal regulators or workplace safety guidelines. With the statewide guidance, Los Angeles County this week also announced that those who work indoors will be required to wear medicalgrade masks starting Jan. 17. The county’s Public Health Department modified its health order to reduce transmission risks for u PAGE A2
FILIPINO novelist Francisco Sionil Jose, whose widely translated works delved into the Philippines’ painful colonial past and social injustices, died Thursday, January 6, according to a literary guild he had founded. He was 97. In a prolific writing career spanning seven decades, Jose penned more than a dozen novels, several short story collections, essays and a regular newspaper column. He also owned a bookshop. He died at the Makati Medical Center in Makati City one day before he was to undergo an angioplasty, the Philippine Center of International PEN said in a statement on its Facebook page. His death was also announced by The Varsitarian, the student paper which he had edited at the University of Santo Tomas where he studied. A self-declared “agnostic,” the writer took to Facebook earlier Thursday in what
would effectively be his last words, thanking God as well as his “brave heart” for “this most precious gift” as he waited for his blood vessel procedure. “Now, that I am here in waiting for an angioplasty, I hope that you will survive it and I with it, so that I will be able to continue what I have been doing with so much energy that only you have been able to give,” he wrote. The son of a church minister and a dressmaker, Jose grew up in a poor rural village in Pangasinan — where he developed an early love for reading and later set many of his novels. His writing was deeply influenced by the national hero Jose Rizal, and he was best known for his “Rosales Saga.” The five-novel series follows several generations of two families over 100 years from the Spanish colonial period to martial
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AFTERMATH. Residents of Brgy. Trinidad, Surigao City, recover what’s left of their homes as Typhoon Odette flattens communities right before the holidays. Survivors also continue to clamor for food and water as supplies run dry. Photo by Erwin Mascariñas/Greenpeace
Odette damage breaches P13.4-B
MANILA — The damage caused by Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) to the essential agriculture sector surged further to P10.8 billion as of Tuesday, January 4, the Department of Agriculture said as the National Electrification Administration said the damage to the facilities of electric cooperatives increased to P2.6 billion. Odette affected 356,486 farmers and fishers in the regions of Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas,
Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen and Caraga. Production losses reached 239,656 metric tons while 399,531 hectares of agricultural areas were damaged. Meanwhile, Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said the Department of Energy is monitoring the restoration of electricity before the agency provides a definite timeline for restoring electricity in areas affected by the typhoon. (Jordeene Lagare/ Inquirer.net)
A2 JANUARY 8-11, 2022 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
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FROM THE FRONT PAGE
California extends mask mandate...
PAGE 1 employees who work indoors in close contact with others. The mandate notes that employers will be required to provide their employees with the masks. The health order also aligns with the state’s guidelines for attendance threshold for mega events — outdoor mega events, the new attendance threshold has been lowered to 5,000 attendees, and for indoor mega events, the new threshold is 500 attendees. “Given the explosive spread of the virus, activities that put us in close contact with many other people now have an increased risk. As such, everyone needs to be sensible about how to protect themselves and those they love by layering on protections whenever around non-household members. At work, this means upgrading your mask if you work indoors and you are in contact with other workers or members of
the public. At entertainment venues, this means limiting the time you spend without wearing your upgraded mask. And for other activities, this may mean postponing your participation until community transmission is much reduced,” Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of the LA County Department of Public Health said. On Friday, January 7, the county recorded 43,712 new positive cases, setting a record for one day, with a positivity rate of 20.9%. The previous day was another record-breaking case load with over 37,000 cases. Public Health has identified a total 1,887,526 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of the county. The county also confirmed 28 additional deaths and 43,712 new cases of COVID-19. Of the 28 new deaths reported, three people were between the ages of 30 and 49, four were between the ages of 50-64,
Literary giant F. Sionil Jose...
PAGE 1 law under former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, exploring issues such as social inequalities, land rights and insurgencies. “One of the greatest tasks of Filipino writers is how to make Filipinos remember. Not only to remember but to love this country,” Jose said in a 2011 interview. Jose was born on Dec. 3, 1924, when the Philippines was an American colony. After working in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during World War II, he studied literature and edited The Varsitarian. He quit college before finishing his degree. After a stint at the now-defunct United States Information Agency at the U.S. embassy in Manila, Jose joined The Manila Times where he worked for a decade. In the early 1960s, he moved to Hong Kong to edit Asia magazine. He later returned to the Philippines, where he opened the Solidaridad bookshop in 1965 in what was then the middle-class neighborhood of Ermita in Manila.
Jose described Solidaridad as a “literary saloon” for political figures and local writers to discuss social issues. After he founded the Philippine chapter of PEN International in 1957, the bookshop also served as its headquarters. A married father of seven, Jose was a prominent member of the country’s literary scene where he was known as “Manong Frankie,” or “Old Man Frankie.” He was rarely seen without his trademark black beret. The notoriously acid-tongued writer earned plenty of detractors for his forthright, derisive and cantankerous manner. Jose was branded a racist and bigot in 2015 after suggesting the Philippines’ ethnic Chinese population could not be trusted if conflict broke out with Beijing. And he was accused of sour grapes after suggesting Philippine journalist Maria Ressa did not deserve the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize, saying on Facebook he had not “read anything memorable by her.” Jose, who wrote mainly in English and signed his works as
15 were between the ages of 65-79, and four were over the age of 80 years old. Of the 28 newly reported deaths, 24 had underlying conditions. To date, the total number of deaths in LA County is 27,756. With the new modifications given the surge, public health officials continue to urge individuals to get vaccinated and boosted to prevent severe cases. “Every resident can also do their part to protect our healthcare personnel and hospitals. Please get vaccinated or boosted as soon as possible if eligible,” Ferrer said. “Vaccinated individuals are between ten and thirty times less likely to need hospital care than those unvaccinated. We ask that you do not go to the emergency room unless you need care for a serious medical concern and please do not call 911 unless you have a life-threatening emergency.” ■
F. Sionil Jose, is one of the most translated Filipino writers, with novels printed in more than 20 languages. He was named National Artist for Literature in 2001, the highest award accorded by the Philippine government to writers. In 1980, Jose won the Ramon Magsaysay Award, Asia’s equivalent to the Nobel Prize — but to his apparent chagrin never received the latter. In a 2019 interview with CNN Philippines, Jose said he wanted his epitaph to read: “He wrote stories and believed in them.” On Friday, January 7, Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Alexei Nograles extended the condolences of President Rodrigo Duterte to the Jose family. “Sa kanyang maybahay na si Ma’am Tessie at ang kanyang buong pamilya, mga kasamahan at mga mahal sa buhay, ang aming panalangin,” Nograles said. (To his wife Ma’am Tessie and his whole family and loved ones, we offer our prayers.) (Aric John Sy Cua and Kristina Maralit/ManilaTimes.net with reports from Agence France-Presse)
VACCINATE
KIDS 5+ TO PROTECT
THEM FROM
COVID-19 Talk to a doctor or learn more by visiting MyTurn.ca.gov or calling 833-422-4255
ZERO SUPPLY. A small drug store in Barangay Langkaan 2, Dasmarinas City, Cavite province posts a notice that it has run out of branded paracetamol tablets on Friday, January 7. ManilaTimes.net photo by Boy Josue
Are omicron’s effects mild? What we... PAGE 1 Britain, people with omicron were about half as likely to require hospital care, the government reported. By now, we have seen close friends and family members — most of whom were vaccinated and boosted — get infected by the variant. Let’s look at it the same way we look at the flu shot, as suggested by Dr. Jeffrey Jahre, an infectious disease expert from St. Luke’s University Health Network in Pennsylvania. “What was the main purpose of the COVID vaccine, is the same way that we look at an influenza vaccine, and that is to keep one away from the most serious consequences of getting the disease. What we are speaking about there is hospitalization and obviously very severe hospitalization and in intensive care unit and also tragically, death. In that situation, the COVID vaccine has been very good at doing its job,” he told WNEP-TV. This is the reason why President Joe Biden keeps on hammering the fact that people need to get vaccinated and for those who have received their shots, they need their booster shot as well. In New York, almost 20,000 residents took advantage of the $100 gift card the city dangled as a bonus for everyone who got their booster shot. Omicron is not just less
likely to send somebody to the hospital, according to the NYT newsletter, saying that a crucial reason “appears to be that Omicron does not attack the lungs as earlier versions of Covid did.” Omicron instead tends to be focused on the nose and throat, causing fewer patients to have breathing problems or need a ventilator. As Dr. Rahul Sharma of NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell told The Times, “We’re not sending as many patients to the I.C.U., we’re not intubating as many patients, and actually, most of our patients that are coming to the emergency department that do test positive are actually being discharged.” In addition, a National Public Radio (NPR) article says scientists at Case Western Reserve University have preliminary evidence that the risk of being admitted to the hospital or the intensive care unit during the omicron surge in the U.S. is about half of the risk observed during the delta surge. That risk depends on many factors, including whether one is vaccinated and boosted, age. overall health, and economic situation. “In the older age group, it’s still a nasty disease, even if it’s less [nasty] than the delta variant,” says Dr. Pamela Davis, a pulmonologist at Case Western Reserve University and a senior author on the new study told NPR. “You don’t get off scot-free
just because you happen to be infected in the time of omicron.” For people who got the variant, the symptoms are milder and specially if one is vaccinated. A majority of people infected with omicron have a mix of symptoms that resolve relatively quickly and don’t require hospital care. The symptoms ranged from runny nose, sore throat, and nasal congestion - similar to the symptoms of the common cold. Said NPR article also mentioned a major difference doctors are noticing: loss of smell and taste — considered a telltale sign of COVID-19 — is not nearly as common with omicron infections. And fewer patients have symptoms related to lower respiratory problems, such as shortness of breath. Mild or not, the omicron variant still poses a big threat. This is why everyone should be vaccinated and boosted to be protected from the virus. A study from the U.K. government released last week found “a substantial reduction in risk of hospitalisation for Omicron cases after 3 doses of vaccine compared to those who are unvaccinated”. “In this analysis, the risk of hospitalisation is lower for omicron cases after 2 and 3 doses of vaccine, with an 81% (77 to 85%) reduction in the risk of hospitalisation after 3 doses compared to unvaccinated omicron cases,” the report said. ■
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DATE LIN E USA
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 8-11, 2022 A5
California ballot will be heavy on...
WAITING FOR JABS. Large electric fans are put beside the tent where residents are waiting to get COVID-19 jabs at the Quezon Memorial Circle covered court in Quezon City on Friday, January 7. Authorities continue to ramp up vaccination drives amid a surge in coronavirus infections. PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler
CDC recommends COVID-19 booster for... PAGE A1
the complications of severe disease. Today, I endorsed ACIP’s vote to expand eligibility and strengthen our recommendations for booster doses. We now recommend that all adolescents aged 12-17 years should receive a booster shot 5 months after their primary series. This booster dose will provide optimized protection against COVID-19 and the Omicron variant. I encourage all parents to keep their children up to date with CDC’s COVID19 vaccine recommendations,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a statement. Currently, only the Pfizer vaccine is authorized for children ages 12-17.
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 Wednesday, Jan. 5 the CDC reported 717,765 new cases across the United States. Additionally, the seven-day average for positive Covid cases stands at 547,613 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. ■
Comelec trims list of presidential... PAGE A1
declare Marcos Jr. as a nuisance candidate was also dismissed. Aside from Marcos Jr., the remaining presidential bets are Ernesto Abella, Senators Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao and Panfilo Lacson Jr., Vice
President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, Faisal Mangondato, Norberto Gonzales, Gerald Arcega, labor leader Leodegario “Ka Leody” de Guzman and Jose Montemayor Jr.
In the latest preference survey of OCTA Research, Marcos led the field with 54% of the respondents giving him the nod. His running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, is the runaway choice for vice president with 50%. ■
PAGE A1 to campaign finance records filed with the California secretary of state’s office from Dec. 27, 2019, to Dec. 30, 2021. “The stakes couldn’t be higher at a monetary and at a human level,” said Thad Kousser, who chairs the political science department at the University of California-San Diego. “Health care is a massive industry, as well as something that affects people in their most vulnerable moments.” Kousser, an expert in California’s initiative process, noted that big spending does not guarantee a win. He pointed to failed attempts by Mercury Insurance and its chairman in 2010 and 2012 to raise auto insurance premiums — ballot measures that voters rejected despite massive industry spending. The flavored tobacco measure is the only one that has officially qualified for the general election ballot, but supporters of the medical malpractice proposal have collected enough signatures for it to qualify, according to the secretary of state’s office. The health care industry isn’t waiting for the malpractice initiative to become official. The $43 million the California Medical Association, the California Hospital Association and their allies have given to defeat it represents nearly three-quarters of the amount they spent to successfully oppose a 2014 medical malpractice ballot measure, according to a KHN analysis of campaign finance records. That’s also nearly four times what supporters of the 2014 initiative, which also would have increased the cap, raised for their entire campaign. This time, the author of the medical malpractice ballot measure said he plans to invest up to $40 million of his own money to counter the health care industry’s opposition. “I don’t back down,” trial attorney Nick Rowley told KHN. “We have a grassroots effort. They have no idea what is coming.” The measure would raise California’s $250,000 cap on medical malpractice awards to about $1.2 million, adjusted annually for inflation. It also would change state law to allow a judge or jury to exceed the cap when a patient has been left permanently impaired, disfigured or disabled, or a loved one has died — categories that critics say would essentially include all patients and subject providers to a flood of lawsuits.
California lawmakers set the $250,000 cap in 1975 after doctors and hospitals complained that malpractice lawsuits were driving up costs and could push providers out of state. More than four decades later, physicians and other providers are making a similar argument. “The biggest fear that we have, if this is successful, is having to stretch resources that are already thin,” said Leslie Abasta-Cummings, CEO of Livingston Community Health and board chair for the Central Valley Health Network, which represents more than 100 health clinics. Patients, she warned, could “lose access in certain areas to health care.” Rowley, a Montana resident who practices law nationwide, dismissed that argument, pointing to a growing number of states that no longer have a cap or have raised it. Doctors, he said, continue to practice in those states while California victims of malpractice have limited legal options. Health care providers are also gearing up to defend a 2020 state law that bans the sale of flavored tobacco products popular with young people who smoke or vape. When lawmakers approved the ban, they argued that the tobacco industry should not be allowed to market menthol, candy and fruitflavored electronic cigarettes to children. Tobacco companies counter that the law removes legal products from the market that adults should be allowed to use — and that it discriminates against Black smokers who favor menthol cigarettes. The California Coalition for Fairness — funded largely by tobacco giants R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and Philip Morris USA and its affiliate U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. — is trying to overturn the law with a referendum. The coalition flexed its political muscle early, raising $21 million in the three months after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the legislation in August 2020. Health care groups have banded together to defeat the ballot measure but are far behind, with just $2.7 million in contributions — nearly 60% of them coming from former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Several other health proposals could appear on the ballot: • Backers of a measure to decriminalize the possession and cultivation of psychedelic mushrooms have until March 15 to
collect the needed signatures. Psilocybin-containing mushrooms, known as “magic mushrooms,” are a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law. A growing number of states and cities — including Oakland, Santa Cruz and Arcata in California — have decriminalized the mushrooms. • A health care worker union is back with a third try to regulate dialysis clinics via the ballot process, calling for greater transparency of clinic ownership and tougher staffing requirements. If the past is any indication, the dialysis industry will once again spend heavily to defeat the initiative should the SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West union get the signatures it needs by April 27. The industry defeated two earlier dialysis ballot measures, flooding the airwaves with ads and spending $111 million in 2018 and $105 million in 2020. • Frustrated by school and business closures during the pandemic, backers of one proposed initiative want to limit business restrictions during public health and other emergencies to 30 days, unless they are extended every 30 days by state and local lawmakers. The proposal would require big box retailers to be treated as small businesses, noting that many small businesses were forced to shutter early in the pandemic while larger retailers remained open. The proposal also describes schools as an essential service that should remain open “to the maximum extent possible.” Supporters have until May 3 to collect signatures. A proposal to strengthen California’s public health system, which proponents say has crumbled during the covid-19 pandemic, would increase the personal income tax rate by an additional three-quarters of a percentage point on income over $5 million. The tax would last 10 years and generate up to $1.5 billion a year. Half the proceeds would fund an institute to detect and prevent new disease outbreaks, 25% would pay for safety upgrades at schools, and 25% would help rebuild local public health workforces and infrastructure. Backers have until May 23 to gather signatures. (Samantha Young/Kaiser Health News) California Healthline’s Angela Hart contributed to this report. This story was produced by KHN, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. ■
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OPINION
Pandemic black market
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FEATURES
IN Valenzuela, the city government shut down a sari-sari or neighborhood convenience store that reportedly sold fake paracetamol drugs. Authorities are also pursuing reports of possible hoarding and overpricing as people worried about Omicron snap up supplies of paracetamol and other analgesics, especially the branded ones. Demand for the ordinary medications for cough, colds and flu has spiked along with the continuing surge in COVID cases believed driven by Omicron. And with shortages of items such as Biogesic, Bioflu and Neozep reported in many areas, the unscrupulous have stepped in. Aside from fake paracetamol, prescription medications for COVID and certain essential drugs are reportedly being sold in the black market. Apart from the higher price, health officials have warned that such drugs may also be fake. Health officials have also warned about the proliferation of rapid antigen tests that are not registered with the Food and Drug Administration. President Duterte has ordered the Philippine National Police to arrest profiteers, hoarders and black market operators, and to file criminal charges in relation to food and drug regulations as well as the law defining illegal acts during a state of national health emergency. The PNP must carry out the order with zeal and dispatch, to send a strong
message that the government means business. A strong response must be complemented with efforts to address supply issues that encourage public patronage of COVID medications and test kits sourced from the black market. The government has moved to quickly stabilize the supply of paracetamol and other analgesics. But it must also improve access to medical consultations and telemedicine services, so that infected people can get proper diagnosis and treatment without joining the ever-growing crowds in hospitals. The high demand for antigen kits, including those not vetted by the FDA, is due to the steep cost of COVID testing in this country. For sure, the reluctance to undergo a reliable RT-PCR test is in turn contributing to the rapid spread of new cases, which stood at 21,819 on Friday, January 7 – a dizzying surge from just 318 on Dec. 27. Several local government units offer free RT- lines get longer every day, and there are many PCR testing, with the city of Manila allowing even other parts of the country where free testing is non-residents to get drive-through tests. But the not available. Until this problem is addressed,
Editorial
Privilege and right in a pandemic
Commentary
ANTONIO P. CONTRERAS IT is understandable why the so-called “Poblacion girl” has drawn the ire of the public. It is the image of being privileged, of having the money to bribe someone for her to skip quarantine to party with her friends, coupled with the audacity to flaunt by posting it in social media. It is such an “in your face” assault to the sensitivity of a public that is now facing another surge of the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19). She is the face that became the punching bag for a public that is looking for something, or someone, to blame for the resurgence of cases, once again threatening the very freedom of mobility that many have begun to enjoy. And yet, to be fair about it, the girl is not even the cause of the surge. She can be faulted for her crime of skipping a mandated quarantine, and there is no issue in prosecuting her, and those who have enabled her. She should be shamed
Philstar.com photo
people will opt for affordable, accessible alternatives – including antigen tests in the black market. (Philstar.com)
for her wanton disregard of protocol, and her deliberate corruption of the process by bribing her way out of it. But as we do this, what should not escape us is the glaring fact that the current surge is mainly because many of us also partook of the privileges granted to us when the COVID-19 restrictions were relaxed. The surge is not because some privileged girl positive with COVID-19 decided to skip quarantine and party where she infected some of her friends and those who served them. It is happening because many of us decided to take advantage of the lowered restriction protocols to party too with our family and friends during the holidays. Thousands of Filipinos descended on airports, seaports and bus terminals as we took advantage of the very first holiday season where we had more mobility. We traveled to our hometowns and vacation spots. We congregated in malls and restaurants, even watched movies in cinemas. We even brought our unvaccinated children with us. This is a moment where we took advantage of the privilege
to commune with friends and family. It is therefore not surprising that circles of friends and family members, including children, are getting infected. Often mentioned in contact tracing reports is a history of attendance at reunions and parties among the COVID-19 positive. Aside from family reunions and gatherings related to the holidays, we also saw the unbridled mass mobilization attendant to the various political campaign activities of different candidates, from caravans to relief goods distribution. These mass gatherings that defied the protocols of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases were practically breeding grounds for community transmission. We do not have full documentation of the extent to which these activities contributed to the current surge. The only possible case is that of the closed-in security of Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo who was infected, possibly exposed during one of her campaign sorties, which is the reason Robredo went into a self-imposed quarantine.
The Department of Health already attributes the current surge of cases as possibly due to the Omicron variant of COVID-19, which has already breached our borders and where local transmission has already been documented. At the moment, our only comfort is that the variant, while highly transmissible, appears to be causing only mild to moderate symptoms, and rarely leads to hospitalization for those who have been fully vaccinated. What is not comforting, however, is that aside from the National Capital Region (NCR), where vaccination rates are relatively higher, most areas in the country have yet to meet their vaccination targets. Nationally, we fell short of the target of fully vaccinating 54 million eligible Filipinos by the end of 2021. And yet, there are quite a few Filipinos who refuse to get vaccinated, with one court worker even filing a case questioning the mandatory vaccination required by the Supreme Court. Mandatory vaccination is resisted even by some in government not only because it requires the passage of a law, but that it may run
contrary to the Constitution. Reacting to the threat of, and to help stave off, a surge, mayors of NCR decided to limit the mobility of people who are unvaccinated. And this triggers resistance among some people who are now raising the constitutionality of such a move, arguing that it is an assault on the fundamental right of an individual. It is in this context that the fight to contain this disease is in a quandary. In order to reopen the economy to allow it to recover, people are allowed more freedom of mobility. Yet, many would freely abuse their privileges in defiance of legal requirements to prevent infection and transmission, just like that girl who partied in Poblacion and the many others who partied during the holidays. On the other side are those who would challenge the legal, even constitutional, basis for these requirements. We are fortunate that this latter group appears to be a minority, and we have so far not encountered defiant groups holding anti-masking and antivaccine mass mobilization and riots. The task of the government
is to protect collective welfare, and this becomes an imperative during a period like a pandemic. Indeed, the vaccinated can still get infected and can transmit this to the unvaccinated. But science shows that vaccinated people are less prone to severe illness and hospitalization, and thus do not seriously threaten the capacity of the public health system. This is not the case with the unvaccinated who are more likely to get severe illness and be hospitalized. They are being restricted precisely because they offer a more serious threat to the health system. What the Constitution gave us is the freedom to choose, but it did not give us total liberty to get away with the adverse consequences of those choices. People may have the right not to get vaccinated, but the state has a right to impose restrictions on them to protect public interest. (ManilaTimes. 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.
Living with Omicron
Second Opinion GIDEON LASCO PHOENIX, AZ — Doubtless due to the Omicron variant, the past few weeks have seen a dramatic rise in COVID-19 cases in many parts of the world, including the Philippines and the United States. But here in Arizona, one does not feel that way with everyone going about their everyday lives mostly without masks or restrictions, whether indoors or outdoors. The rules and customs vary by state. In California, an indoor mask mandate was reinstated on Dec. 15, and in some restaurants, I was asked to show my vaccination card. On the other hand, my brother who lives in Texas avers that masks are even rarer; if anything, the mandate is that no one can require masks. Regardless of state, however, anywhere in America the rules continue to be far more relaxed compared to the Philippines, or even the two other countries I’ve visited during the pandemic: Mexico and Peru. When I was last
in the U.S. in July, things were even looser, but that was when the cases had reached a nadir, when Joe Biden could declare “Independence from COVID19” on the Fourth of July. The Delta variant surge, which saw over 2,000 people dying daily at its peak, did little to change people’s minds, and today, with an even more contagious (albeit supposedly milder) variant, major cities still pushed through with their New Year celebrations (if with some restrictions, like New York City celebrating its famed ball drop with only 15,000 people). Perhaps the most visible face of this attitude are the people who adamantly refuse to get vaccinated (let alone boosted), wear masks, or follow any kind of public health protocols, claiming that such mandates are against America’s sacrosanct values of individual freedom and libertarianism (“Mas pasaway ang mga tao dito,” as a Phoenixbased doctor puts it). Many are also likely influenced by the way the issue has been politicized, and if nothing else, of peer pressure, given that, as I have seen for myself, one could feel
like an odd man out by wearing a mask in settings—for instance, in the evangelical church I joined my family in attending where nobody else wore a mask. But part of it is also due to people’s confidence that being vaccinated and boosted means that getting infected would only cause, at the worst, some minor illness. And, in any case, they could access good health care. “I still wear a mask indoors, but I can’t live my life based on the very small risk that I’m gonna get hospitalized from Omicron,” one East Coast-based FilipinoAmerican doctor who lives alone told me. Especially against the backdrop of “pandemic fatigue,” it is hard to argue against such individual calculus of risk, even as from a public health perspective, such decisions mean more chances of the virus spreading. (Tellingly, more people in the U.S. have died of COVID-19— almost 850,000—than anywhere else in the world.) The coming weeks will reveal how Omicron will unfold. Some see hope in South Africa’s experience that the surge will be faster and the infection milder (at least for the vaccinated).
But, as others caution, such assessments, even if seemingly corroborated by the outbreak of trangkaso in the Philippines, can overlook other important outcomes like “long COVID” and the strain on the health care system. As Dr. Kris Tan, a Philippine General Hospital pulmonologist, told me, “Aside from having so many sick patients at the same time, ang nakaka-stress ay yung nauubos ang workforce.” Then there are many other variables, both known and unknown, that can affect the magnitude of a surge, from a country’s demographic profile to its vaccination rates and the kinds of vaccines that were administered. And it can disrupt people’s lives and livelihoods anew, as well as resurrect spectacular but irrational responses. Even as I write this, those ridiculous face shields are once again being mulled by the Philippine government; it will be a pity if children are locked down once again, forced indoors with their adult counterparts when the outdoors offer safety to everyone. As in the U.S., those who
Unsplash.com photo by Elizabeth McDaniel
have been fully vaccinated and boosted in the Philippines may be able to hold some confidence that they can live through the surge and continue the slow march back to a semblance of normalcy. But given how inequitable access to vaccines and health care continues to be a reality, and given how the virus can affect vulnerable groups more, this perspective— as it has been throughout the
pandemic—comes from a position of privilege. Living with Omicron requires us to consider that we live with other people, too. (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.
*** glasco@inquirer.com.ph
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DATELINE PHILIPPINES
Another Filipina from US who skipped COVID-19 quarantine hit with complaint by NEIL
ARWIN MERCADO Inquirer.net
ANOTHER returning Filipina from abroad who violated the country’s COVID-19 quarantine policy has been slapped with a complaint by the government. The Philippine National PoliceCriminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) said on Friday, January 7 that a case was filed against the Filipina on Thursday afternoon, January 6 for violating Republic Act No. 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern
Act. The Filipina who returned to the country from the United States avoided quarantine requirements upon arrival on December 21, 2021, according to the PNPCIDG citing the incident report received by the Task Group on Management of Overseas Filipino Workers from a hotel in Makati City. Investigation showed that instead of taking her arranged shuttle ride from the airport to her assigned quarantine facility – a hotel in Makati City, she took an airport taxi and went straight to her condo unit in Bonifacio
Global City in Taguig City. The PNP-CIDG said the Filipina stayed in her condo unit from December 22 to January 4 — going out of her residence on several occasions. At one point, authorities noted, the Filipina even availed massage services. This is the second reported case of a returning overseas Filipino skipping quarantine protocols. Before this, another Filipina who returned from the United States avoided quarantine requirements and attended a party in Makati City. The Filipina’s COVID-19 test later yielded a positive result. ■
Marcos isolated due to COVID-19 risk, skips Comelec conference on disqualification cases by KRISTINE JOY
Philstar.com
PATAG
MANILA — Presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is in isolation following exposure to confirmed COVID19 cases, causing a delay in the proceedings at the Commission on Elections’ preliminary conference on disqualification bids against him on Friday, January 7. Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, head of the 1st Division, earlier said the conference on three petitions for disqualification would start at 9 a.m., and would be streamed on Facebook, but proceedings only started past 10:30 a.m. “Hearing cannot begin, we are waiting for the medical certificate of Marcos Jr. to prove he is not well, hence he is absent,” she wrote in a tweet. When the preliminary conference started, lawyer Hanna Barcena, Marcos’ counsel, told the Comelec that the presidential aspirant is “not feeling well” and cannot join through a videoconference. “But why can’t he be on Zoom?” Guanzon raised, pointing out that Marcos need only have a laptop or can even use his mobile phone to attend via Zoom. “I want to see him because he
has no medical certificate,” the commissioner said. In a statement later Friday, Marcos apologized to the poll body, particularly to Guanzon for the “inconvenience” of his nonappearance. Exposure to COVID-19 Guanzon warned Barcena of consequences if Marcos fails to attend the conference such as the division moving to submit the case for decision without evidence from the respondent’s legal team. In the middle of the proceedings, Barcena raised that the summons dated December 20 said respondent or counsel may attend the hearing on Friday. But Guanzon pointed out that a second summons was sent, received by Marcos’ counsel on December 29 that requires both the counsel and party to be present. Campaign spokesperson Vic Rodriguez also confirmed the reporters that Marcos “was initially exposed to his chief security who is confined in one of the isolation/quarantine facility since last Tuesday, January 4.” Marcos, son and namesake of the ousted dictator, also had contact with Rodriguez who found out on Friday that he tested positive for COVID-19. Towards the end of the proceedings at the Comelec, Barce-
na finally got a copy of the medical certificate for Marcos, which was also read by the commission clerk in the conference. Dr. Benedict Francis Valdecanas said Marcos was experiencing body malaise and that his throat is congested or swollen. The certificate also noted that Marcos had direct contact with two confirmed cases. Marcos recovered from COVID-19 in March 2020. Preliminary conference The preliminary conference on the three cases ran for a little more than an hour. Also absent in the proceedings on Friday is petitioner Abubakar Mangelen, who identified himself as former chairman of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, and his legal counsel. Barcena moved to have the petition of Mangelen, which argued that Marcos’ Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance is void, dismissed for non-appearance of the parties. Guanzon said the division acknowledges their manifestation and will have the case submitted for resolution. The Comelec then proceeded to discuss the issues of the case and stipulation of the facts. Lawyers Antonio Salvador Jake Rey Fajardo (for Martial Law victims led by Bonifacio Ilagan) and
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US embassy cancels visa interviews until January 31 by JANVIC
MATEO Philstar.com
MANILA — The United States embassy has canceled scheduled interview appointments for non-immigrant business and tourist visas until the end of the month. In an advisory, the embassy said the cancelation was due to the recent sharp increase in COVID-19 infections in the
country and the continued significant worldwide challenges related to the pandemic. It said applicants can only reschedule their canceled visa interview once routine business and tourism visa services resume. “There is no need to contact us at this time,” it added, advising applicants to regularly monitor the visa update page on their website.
“There is no fee to change an appointment, and the validity of the visa fee payment… is extended until Sept. 30,2023 to allow applicants who are unable to schedule a visa appointment because of the suspension of routine consular operations an opportunity to schedule and/or attend a visa interview appointment with the already paid fee,” the embassy said. ■
OSG: No to ABS-CBN franchise bills by WILLIAM
DEPASUPIL ManilaTimes.net
NO PROCESSION ANEW. Devotees stand near the vicinity of Quiapo Church on Wednesday, January 6. For the second straight year, the annual ‘traslacion’ or grand procession of the Black Nazarene is suspended due to soaring coronavirus infections. PNA photo by Rico H. Borja
New tack needed to resolve West Philippine Sea row by JAVIER JOE ISMAEL
elections, offered a new and different tact to the West Philippine Sea dispute that will result in FORMER Defense Secretary economic welfare in the form of Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Friday, job and livelihood opportunities January 7 said diplomacy is the for Filipinos. key to resolving the country’s He said previous efforts have dispute with China over territo- failed, and it is time for new rial claims in the West Philip- strategies that will be good for pine Sea, but it must ultimately all concerned. bring economic benefits to FiliTeodoro, however, said the pinos. Philippines must also pursue a In an interview, Teodoro, a credible deterrent. Senate candidate in the May He said there is no justificaManilaTimes.net
tion to China’s threats and intimidation, and that the 2016 arbitral tribunal decision that unanimously favors the Philippines must be fully enforced. Teodoro, a former Tarlac congressman, also expressed disappointment with some sector’s use of the West Philippine Sea issue for political mileage. He stressed that the solutions must emanate from diplomatic and security experts and that politics must be set aside. ■
Marcos isolated due to COVID-19 risk... PAGE A7 Antonio Salvador (Akbayan) presented their issues which include whether Marcos is perpetually disqualified from holding public office, whether Marcos was convicted of a crime of moral turpitude, and whether he is perpetually disqualified because of his conviction that carried penalty of more than 18 months. Marcos lawyer Barcena said they only have one issue they wish the Commission to determine: Whether or not Marcos is qualified to run as president. The commission took time to discuss stipulations of facts from both parties, during which lawyers for the petitioners also earned warning from Guanzon to be courteous to their colleague and not appear before the Commission not knowing the G.R. number of the cases they were
citing. This included Marcos’ government posts from 1982-1986, during which years he was convicted of non-filing of his Income Tax Returns. On the stipulation that Marcos had not paid deficiency income taxes and subsequently fines, Barcena denied these and refuted it with the Bureau of Internal Revenue certification in their possession. She said the payment was “made a long time ago”, on Dec. 27, 2001 to be exact. But petitioners’ lawyers meanwhile said have certification from the Quezon City trial court stating that there was no satisfaction or compliance of its earlier order. Only 48 hours given Guanzon wrapped up the proceedings minutes before noon
and said parties will be given 48 hours from Friday noon to file their respective memoranda. But Barcena had asked to be given a longer time to file their memorandum of 15 days instead of two days — but Guanzon stressed that the case should be resolved as soon as possible. “Memorandum is there for you as an option to organize your arguments and your exhibits,” she said, adding that Marcos’ legal team already submitted their answer. “So it’s not necessary to have 15 days unless you want to delay your case,” Guanzon said, but Barcena denied wanting to delay the proceedings. Parties were given until January 9 at noon to file their memoranda via e-mail and submit the hard copy to the Comelec on January 10. ■
THE Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) has registered its strong opposition to two pending bills that may revive ABSCBN franchise, saying they are absolutely unconstitutional. The OSG said the passage of pending bills in both the Senate and House of Representatives effectively grant a “hold over franchise” to ABS-CBN Corporation, despite the expiration of such license previously granted by congress. In a position paper submitted to the House Committee on Legislative Franchises chaired by Rep. Franz Alvarez, Solicitor General Jose Calida assailed House Bill 7923 authored by Parañaque City Rep. Joy Myra Tambunting and Senate Bill 1530 filed by Senator Franklin Drilon, which seek to amend Section 18, Book VII, Chapter 3 of the Administrative Code of the Philippines, as “unconstitutional and illegal.” “Both bills suffer from legal infirmities which may render the subsequent law as void and unconstitutional,” OSG said, warning that “these issues should be raised before Congress lest these bills become law which could lead to grave consequences later on.” Calida’s position paper strongly opposing the two controversial legislative measures was submitted by National Telecommunications Commission Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba to the House Committee on Legislative Franchises, which the agency adopted as its own position against the SB 1530 and HB 7923. Cordoba informed the House Committee on Legislative Franchises that the NTC adopted the OSG’s position paper on the
pending bill. Commenting on the two bills, the OSG has rejected the proposals for being violative of the Constitution. According to the OSG, the proposed bills disregard the legislative nature and origin of a franchise in contravention of the Constitution. “The proposed bills seek to provide a ‘hold over franchise” to be enjoyed by an entity which has applied for a renewal while congress is still deliberating on the merits of such renewal,” the chief state lawyer stressed. Calida lamented that by institutionalizing the system of “hold over franchise” in the broadcast industry, the legislative measures already violate the “settled rule that the privilege to operate a broadcasting station requires a legislative franchise in the form of a law.” The OSG emphasized that the practice of “hold over franchise” poses the danger of allowing a broadcasting entity with an expired franchise to continue using its assigned frequency without a definitive legislative finding that it remains qualified to retain such privilege. The said policy is also open to abuse because it paves the way for “shrewd broadcasting entities the incentive to delay an impending denial of an application for franchise renewal.” “Furthermore, to allow an expired franchise holder to continue its operations thereby extending its use over the free signals granted by the State is akin to promoting ‘exclusivity’ which the Constitution abhors,” the chief state lawyer said. The OSG noted that Article XII, Section 10 of the Constitution provides that no such fran-
chise, certificate are exclusive. This is to support and encourage equity participation in public utilities by the general public also provided in Section 11. “By allowing the select few to use these privileges despite having an expired franchise limit the public to apply for these privileges. This promotes exclusivity which will run counter to the true intention of the Constitution,” the OSG said. According to the OSG, since the bills were filed on the same date and contained identical wordings, it can be “reasonably” hypothesized that the legislative move was aimed at granting the reinstatement of the legislative franchises of ABS-CBN and the Amcara Broadcasting Network, whose franchises have both expired and had been the subject of a cease-and-desist order issued by the NTC. It was learned that Tambunting used to work for the ABSCBN as a producer. She was among the vocal supporters of the network’s bid for an extension of the legislative franchise that the Lower House did not grant. On the other hand, ABS-CBN critic and Cavite Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla had been insistent in his claim that Amcara was a mere “dummy’ of ABSCBN. “Therefore, the OSG urges Congress to further review and study Senate Bill No. 1530 and House Bill No. 7923 as they both raise constitutional and legal questions and issues that are not to be taken lightly. Should the bills be passed into law, the OSG stands ready to raise the constitutionality of the law passed before the Highest Court of the land,” Calida warned. ■
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Told she must leave, Marie was able to receive her green card in the U.S.! IN 2002, Marie and her three children visited the U.S. as tourists. They planned to visit family and then return home to the Philippines. However, Marie later decided to remain and became out of status. In 2009, Marie’s mother, a green card holder, petitioned Marie in the F2B category. When the priority date on her petition became current, she consulted with at least four attorneys, all of whom told her that because she was out of status, she had to go back to the Philippines to apply for her immigrant visa. But Marie did not want to go back because she was worried about the uncertainty of applying in the Philippines, and that she might not be able to return to the U.S. She finally decided to consult with the
“Attorney of Last Hope,” Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel, who was able to find a way for Marie to apply for a green card (adjust status) in the U.S. After retaining Attorney Gurfinkel, Marie got her green card in October 2021 in the U.S., and can now get healthcare, find a better job, and enjoy the other benefits of being a green card holder. Watch this success story on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” this Sunday, January 9 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET thru select Cable/Satellite providers), right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download free app. (Advertising Supplement)
Andi opens up on ‘tough time’ in aftermath of typhoon Odette By Dana
Cruz Inquirer.net
ANDI Eigenmann has admitted that she is having a tough time emotionally after super typhoon Odette wreaked havoc on her family’s home island Siargao. The actress, who was in Manila when Odette made landfall on Siargao last month, talked about how her family is dealing with the aftermath of the typhoon while showing photos of them together on her Instagram page on Friday, Jan. 7. “Been having a tough time
assessing how I feel but I [realize, never mind] that for now because after all of life’s uncertainty, there’s still so much to be grateful for,” she said. Eigenmann added that while her children do not consider the place they have outside Siargao as “home,” being with her fiancé, celebrity surfer Philmar Alipayo, made the situation better. “My kids know for sure this is not ‘home,’ but having both of us around somehow makes everything better,” she told fans. She then disclosed that Alipayo will be returning to
Siargao, and she is happy knowing that he will be able to help those affected on the island. Eigenmann also gave fans a glimpse of Alipayo’s efforts to give aid to Siargao by showing a house that he helped rebuild, as seen on her Instagram Story. “The house papa and the boys worked on before he went to Manila. He’ll be flying home soon with more materials to help rebuild more homes using the earnings we got from our December YouTube videos and [from] our dear friends who PAGE B5
GREEN CARD ACQUIRED AFTER BEING TNT FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS, THIS SUNDAY ON CITIZEN PINOY. Marie was petitioned as single by her father in the ‘90s, but she got married in 1998, revoking her father’s petition. The marriage did not last, and in 2002, Marie and her three children went to the U.S. as tourists. Since then, they had been overstaying and living in fear. Marie’s mother, a green card holder, petitioned her daughter this time. Marie had consulted with four attorneys who all told her she had to go back to the Philippines once her priority date becomes current. Marie refused to go back to the motherland for fear that she might not be able to return to the U.S. She consulted with leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel who was able to find a way for Marie to remain in the U.S. and be interviewed here, and eventually get her green card in October 2021. Watch this success story on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” this Sunday, January 9 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. (Advertising Supplement)
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Filipina entrepreneur and skin expert Imee Ong-Maghanoy on building a destination med spa in Beverly Hills, maintaining timeless beauty By aJPress
IT’S a new year and with the blank slate comes an ambitious list of resolutions, whether it’s kickstarting a healthier and more active lifestyle or prioritizing self-care. While it may be daunting to tackle these personal goals alone, iSkin Face and Body Spa in Beverly Hills, California is a sanctuary where you can jumpstart a new routine and maintain this lifestyle year-round complete with the personalized attention, relaxing environment and beauty treatments you can get locally at approachable prices. For iSkin’s Imee OngMaghanoy — a beauty and skincare expert who owns and operates the spa alongside her husband Richard — the mission of her company has always been beyond physical aesthetics, but rather the confidence and self-esteem one exudes when taking of his or herself. “Whatever an individual does, whether it’s through fashion or beauty, you think about what image you want to present. When you take care of yourself, it’s the image you want to portray,” OngMaghanoy said in an interview. For the past decade, since opening Image Spa in Rancho Cucamonga, OngMaghanoy has championed a non-surgical, non-invasive approach to beauty, enabling her to build a loyal client base, especially within the Filipino American community and eventually venture out to Hollywood to rack up celebrity clientele and be accessible to those who live in Los Angeles. “With technology now, there’s so much you can do without surgery. In the medical spa industry, we talk about how look younger, like 10 years back, so we combine a lot of services to achieve. Of course, you need some good skincare so we have a line of products as well. Our team puts together
iSkin is located at 8665 Wilshire Blvd (Penthouse) in Beverly Hills. Imee Ong-Maghanoy and husband Richard own and operate iSkin Face and Body Spa in Beverly Hills, California.
programs to help you achieve your goals,” she said. iSkin’s menu includes a lineup of facial treatments, body wraps, cosmetic injectables and skin tightening and slimming. Among the newest offerings includes the Emsculpt Neo, a non-invasive body shaping procedure that provides simultaneous fat elimination and muscle building in a combined 30-minute session. “During the pandemic, people were less active and consumed more so in demand treatments for us have been the Emsculpt, slim shots, or other body machines. That’s why we’ve invested in new machines,” Ong-Maghanoy said. The grand opening for the Beverly Hills location was held in the summer of 2021, demonstrating the spa’s loyal customer base and demand since the start of the pandemic. Not too far from its previous West Hollywood space, iSkin now occupies the penthouse floor of a building along Wilshire Boulevard and features several
Ruffa Gutierrez, Imee Ong-Maghanoy and Hilda Koronel during a grand opening celebration for iSkin Photos by Sheri Determan/courtesy of iSkin
treatment rooms plus an outdoor patio to relax post-treatment with a sprawling view of the city. The celebration was also an opportunity to re-introduce its lineup of aspirational and timeless Filipina celebrity endorsers and beauty ambassadors across ages: veteran actress Hilda Koronel, model and beauty queen Ruffa Gutierrez, singer Pops Fernandez, and actress and host KC Concepcion. “The power of celebrities is different because we always look up to them and they’re an inspiration. These women reflect our company because as they age, they look better and they have more wisdom to share. That’s what we want to impart to clients: you can’t stop aging but there is something you can do about it. You have an option to let go or do something about it, and I think these women really represent that concept,” OngMaghanoy said. As for what to expect in 2022, Ong-Maghanoy said iSkin is ready to welcome new and old
Kathryn Bernardo, Daniel Padilla and Barbie Imperial
clients to its Beverly Hills space for a moment of self-care amid the external stresses. “We always try our best to improve our services and to make sure our clients are
happy. In 2022, I can see we’re bringing more new treatments and improving the techniques in the beauty industry,” she said. iSkin is located at 8665
Wilshire Blvd (Penthouse), Beverly Hills, CA 90211 and is open Tuesday to Saturday. For more information, please call (424) 382-1002 or visit www. iskinbeverlyhills.com.n
Hilda Koronel, KC Concepcion, Ruffa Gutierrez and Pops Fernandez are among the celebrity endorsers and beauty ambassadors of iSkin.
Kathryn laughs off Daniel being linked to Barbie
posts on the same day, asking By daNa Cruz Estrada if there was anything Inquirer.net romantic brewing between her KATHRYN Bernardo knows son and Imperial. her place exactly in Daniel Bernardo poked fun at the Padilla’s heart and it showed issue in her text conversation in her humorous reaction with Miss Universe Philippines to insinuations made by an 2014 MJ Lastimosa, shown on internet personality, linking the latter’s Twitter page, also her boyfriend with their fellow yesterday. actor Barbie Imperial. “Alagang Ford po, opo Fears that Padilla might be (Taken care by Ford, yes),” cheating on Bernardo first Bernardo said, referring to arose when internet personality Padilla’s real name. Xian Gaza showed Imperial at “Kabogera ‘yun [as a] what is apparently the house of trending topic (That was sassy Padilla’s mother, Karla Estrada, as a trendy topic)!” Lastimosa, as seen on his Facebook page meanwhile, quipped, though on Thursday, Jan. 6. Gaza also she did not elaborate on the released a series of Facebook details of her conversation with
An immigrant and long-time beauty expert, Imee Ong-Maghanoy has expanded her business to help others achieve their beauty and wellness goals.
Bernardo. Padilla, for his part, told fans to ignore the issue as he described it as “nonsense.” This was his reaction to one @solidkathniel who defended them on Instagram, also yesterday, by saying, “Ang bumangga, giba (those who oppose will break.)” “Salamat haha. Pero ‘wag niyo na pansinin ‘yun. [Nonsense],” Padilla told the fan. Other fans also came to the couple’s defense by showing various moments where Padilla can be seen taking care of Bernardo. PAGE B7
Photos Instagram/@bernardokath, @msbarbieimperial
John on Hollywood dreams and joy of not being typecast By Nathalie
tomada
Philstar.com
FOLLOWING a big year in 2021, highlighted no less than by his Volpi Cup win, John Arcilla is looking forward to an even more exciting 2022. In a recent virtual encounter, the veteran actor expressed what he wanted to do next — a Hollywood film. “I want to play a villain in Hollywood superhero films or if not one of those X-Men’s, whatever. Parang ang saya, sana, sana,” John said in the presscon for his Metro Manila Filmfest entry, the Viva Films-produced action thriller A Hard Day. This was a reiteration of his earlier pronouncements after joining the circle of Volpi recipients — with the likes of Sean Penn, Willem Dafoe and Liam Neeson as predecessors — for his portrayal of a journalist in Erik Matti’s OTJ: The Missing 8. It’s the highest honor given to an actor at the Venice International Film Festival, the world’s oldest filmfest. As John previously told The STAR, his dream was to become a global actor. “I really wish so. Sana, sana! Kasi wala ka naman ibang gusto mangyari kung di humakbang paakyat. Kung meron pa akong makikitang paraan para umakyat, sige, sige, sige!” he shared. “I want to see the possibilities, I want to see doors. Kung wala akong nakikita, hahanapin ko kung may stamina pa ako. And I wish naman na may stamina pa ako, lalo na ‘pag matatapos na itong pandemic na ito. Siguro mas masarap mag-adventure kasi, whether we like it or not, nakalagay na yung pangalan ko sa
John Arcilla, who is set to juggle multiple projects again this 2022, shares his deciding factor for choosing fi lm work: ‘It should be a combination of both entertainment and quality. It should be understood by all audiences.’ ABS-CBN photo
mga world’s best actors, modesty aside.” Since John wasn’t able to accept personally the award in September 2021 due to travel restrictions, he is set to be feted by the Italian Embassy in Manila this month. “It is such a great honor that the Italian Embassy is providing me a space and stage because I wasn’t able to receive the Volpi Cup myself during that special day in Venice. Now, they’re providing me with a space and program to receive it personally. It is really such a big honor. And I’m thankful to the producers (Reality Entertainment) and my director in the film.” Meantime, the FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano actor who starred in two Metro Manila filmfest 2021 entries — the other one is Jun Lana’s Big Night which won him the Best Supporting Actor at the recently-held Gabi ng Parangal — is set to juggle several projects
again this 2022. “There are a lot of invitations for different genres. I’m so happy I’m not typecast to just doing badguy roles. There are some lineups for two comedy films, a dark character again and a lot of more exciting projects,” he said. Having done multiple projects at the same time, he made it sound so easy while explaining how he would transition from one role to another. “I realized, whether I like it or not, every other script has its own requirement that cannot be interchanged with every other character you’re doing. Hindi ka pwede malito. Para sa akin maliit yung possibility na malito kasi iba yung universe ng each character. Each character has its own universe that I have to deliberately tell myself and deliberately remember. “Parang sandali ano ba yung ginagawa ko, then papasok ko na yung universe niya sa akin… Sandali, ano yung ginagawa ko ngayon, ah si… mayabang artista na mayor na ngayon, OK! Or ito si Sisoy, na isang (radio) commentator na may pagmamahal sa kanyang bayan at uto-uto sa kanyang mentor. So, definitely yung dalawa iba na kaagad yung storya, so ‘di talaga ako malilito. Magche-change backbone mo automatically.” Nevertheless, he stressed that no work is “easy” for him. “That’s how I treat work — with the easy work, I have to challenge myself. The hard work, I have to make it easy.” Asked more about the kind of projects he’s looking for, he told The STAR: “It should be a combination of both entertainment and quality. I should find that in a PAGE B6
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Growing in relationship with Jesus New laws taking effect in 2022 Pastor’s Notes reverend rodel G. BAlAGtAS WHEN I was in the college seminary, an American Jesuit priest, Father Thomas Greene, wrote two books that became primers for developing a good prayer life. These books were Opening to God: A Guide to Prayer and When the Well Runs Dry: Prayer Beyond the Beginnings. They became popular among seminarians, priests, and anyone who wanted to grow in their prayer life. This past week, I was excited to find another book in our rectory library that Fr. Greene wrote. It’s entitled Drinking from a Dry Well, a sequel to When the Well Runs Dry. It was a gift given to Fr. John O’Brien and signed by the author. Immediately, I glanced through the pages of this book published in 1990 to gain insights on spirituality this new year. One insight on “truth” related to “faith” caught my attention. Truth, Fr. Greene wrote, “is that which is solid, steadfast, unchanging—that in which one can believe. The true is not merely an object
of intellectual assent but something that demands a personal commitment. To hear the truth, then, is to commit oneself to Jesus Christ. It involves not only the head but also, and even more, the heart and the will.” Fr. Greene’s words go well with what I intend to do this year: to go more inward, in other words, to strengthen my relationship with Jesus and my commitment to serve him, especially during these challenging times of the pandemic and the church ministry. It’s also my desire for you as we start the new year. I wish you all to go more inward through prayer to and with Jesus as you experience the fears and anxieties of these times. In this way, you can attain peace of mind and heart. There is nothing like growing in intimacy with Jesus and receiving the gifts of his Spirit, which are “charity, joy, peace, patience, endurance, kindness, generosity, faith, mildness, and chastity.” (Galatians 5:19-22) I also wish that you grow stronger in your commitment to serve Him in the best way that you can. As I wrote to you last week, every crisis should allow us to become the best version of ourselves. Committing ourselves to growth in prayer and our
service to Jesus entails seeking knowledge, according to Fr. Greene. He proposed that we use the analogy of human love: Who is this person I am drawn to love? What are his values? What would it mean to spend my life with her? This knowledge we seek is not only knowledge of the other person. I also seek to know myself. Who am I really? What am I seeking in life? What do I bring to this relationship? What would I have to change in myself in order to share my life happily and fruitfully with the person I am drawn to love? There is no more appropriate time to ask these questions than the start of the year and as we celebrate the Baptism of our Lord, the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. As adopted brothers and sisters of Jesus through Baptism, God, our Father, is also pleased with us as we grow in love and fidelity to Him and our mission to transform this world with the power of His love. *** 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. *** Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.
Andi opens up on ‘tough time’ in... PAGE B1 were kind enough to donate,” she said. Eigenmann earlier showed the devastation on the resort island, including a road that leads to where her family lives. While the actress is relieved that her loved ones are safe, she stressed that Siargao will need some time before it can go back to normal. The couple also earlier announced that they would donate the earnings from their YouTube vlog “Happy Islanders” to help rebuild Siargao. As of Jan. 1, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council recorded a death toll of 407 related to typhoon Odette. Meanwhile, 82 individuals are still missing and Andi Eigenmann 1,147 were injured. n
EMPLOYMENT
Photo from Instagram/@andieigengirl
EMPLOYMENT
Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr. Minimum Wage Increases Effective Jan. 1, 2022, the California state minimum wage will increase to $15 per hour for employers with 26 or more employees. For employers with 25 or fewer employees, the minimum wage will increase to $14 per hour. Some local cities and counties may have higher minimum wage requirements. For exempt employees, the minimum wage increase will also adjust their minimum salary. To satisfy the administrative, executive, and professional exemptions, California employers must pay exempt employees a salary that is at least twice the state minimum wage. As of January 1, 2022, employers with 25 or fewer employees will be required to pay exempt employees at least $1,120 per week or $58,240 annually. Employers with 26 or more employees will be required to pay exempt employees at least $1,200 week or $62,400 annually. (Please note: employees who are paid salaries must satisfy the exempt duties test to be correctly exempt from overtime.) Warehouse Distribution Centers Must Disclose Quotas to Nonexempt Employees (AB 701) AB 701 expressly prohibits any quota that prevents an employee (1) from being provided a meal or rest break; (2) from using the bathroom; or (3) from complying with health and safety laws. AB 701 also requires employers to disclose detailed documentation of any applicable quota to each employee either upon hire or within 30 days of the effective date of the new law. Employers are prohibited from taking adverse employment action against an employ-
ee for failure to meet any quota that was not properly disclosed to the employee. Expanded Definition of Family Member Under CFRA (AB 1033) California Family Rights Act (“CFRA”) provides protected unpaid leave of up to 12 weeks to bond with a baby, to deal with one’s own serious health condition, or to care for a family member with a serious health condition. “Family member” may be a spouse, domestic partner, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, and sibling. AB 1033 adds “parents-in-law” to the list of included family members for whom an eligible employee can take protected leave under (CFRA).
origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, age, and other protected characteristics under the FEHA. • An employer may not require an employee to sign a release of a right to file and pursue a civil action or complaint with a state agency, law enforcement agency, or any court, in exchange for a raise or bonus, or as a condition of employment or continued employment. • An employer cannot require an employee to sign a non-disparagement agreement or other document to the extent it effectively denies the employee their right to disclose information about unlawful acts at work such as harassment or discrimination or any other conduct that the employee has reason to believe is unlawful.” • However, the above does not apply to a “negotiated” settlement agreement. “Negotiated” means that the agreement is voluntary and provides consideration of value to the employee. It further requires that the employee is given notice and an opportunity to retain an attorney or is represented by an attorney. *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential and at no-cost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www. joesayaslaw.com. [For more than 25 years, C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is a past Presidential Awardee for Outstanding Filipino Overseas.] (Advertising Supplement)
“California Family Rights Act (“CFRA”) provides protected unpaid leave of up to 12 weeks to bond with a baby, to deal with one’s own serious health condition, or to care for a family member with a serious health condition.” Intentional Wage Theft May Now Result in Criminal Charges (AB 1003) AB 1003 provides that the intentional theft of wages or tips of more than $950 for one employee or $2,350 for two or more employees in a 12-month period is now punishable as a grand theft. This may result in either misdemeanor or felony charges. This new law also defines employees to include independent contractors. The “Silenced No More” Law Impose Limits on NDAs and Settlement Agreements (SB 331) • Employees who signed a confidentiality agreement may not be restricted from disclosing facts related to their claims of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation under the FEHA. Such facts may include claims based on race, sexual orientation, religion, color, national
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John on Hollywood dreams... Resolve to have no more debt for 2022 PAGE B2 project. It should be understood by all levels of the audience, and at the same time, they should get something relevant from the project. Or if it’s a wacky and really fun movie, at least they will get something or take home something that can help them deal with their everyday life.” John has been consistent in our interviews that his deciding factor ever since he began his acting career in theater was
that the project should be both entertaining and enlightening. “One of the best films I did which can actually attest to that is ang Heneral Luna. It’s historical but at the same time, it’s entertaining for everyone. In fact, it was appreciated from A-Z, from the tricycle drivers to the elite people, and that’s what I really want, yung talagang maintindihan ng lahat at ma-appreciate ng lahat. Even yung 10-year-old kids, hanggang ngayon ‘pag nakikita nila ako,
they call me Heneral Luna. And even the college professors can appreciate the film as exciting, the way 10-year-old students approached me about how they appreciated the film. Sana laging ganun yung magiging appeal ng pelikula natin.” As an actor, he also has to be aware and sure, from the onset, how and who the film serves. “Kesa yung tipong hindi ko alam kanino naglilingkod yung pelikula. Yung ginagawa kong pelikula ay lalo lang sila naging tanga bilang audience and ginagawa ko pa rin — I’m actually helping them to be tanga. Kung ang ginagawa kong pelikula ay ginagawa ko silang escapist, then ‘di ko sila nili-liberate. Dapat malinaw sa akin yun.” Meanwhile, during the recent presscon, John looked back on the year that was, reflecting that it was marked by both the ups and downs especially after losing loved ones over the pandemic. He shared, “There are some ups and downs, especially this pandemic, but I have to move on. Life goes on. I mean, those downs have to pull me up as inspiration, so that I can inspire the people that I love who are still with me.” John said he clung to his faith to get past the hardest of times. “You have to hold on to your faith, you have to recreate the joy and the happiness that you knew before because whether you like it or not, when loved ones passed away during the pandemic — you know, (they were) actually victims of this virus — it’s not really very easy to accept. But then you cannot question the will of God, the will of Nature. Maybe, there are more reasons why I should understand. Or maybe, if I don’t understand, I just have to accept because maybe those people who left us had parang good reasons why they had to go,” he opened up. “Whatever happens, you have to find a different meaning that will make you move on, if not you will be constantly broken, your life will be miserable. You have to look for a positive meaning, you have to look back on the good and joyful memories with the people you loved so much who left. “In my daily life, somehow naovercome ko na yung hurdles na mas mabibigat. Faith and spirituality really helped me a lot, and the people around me, knowing you’re not alone and that it’s part of life.” n
WHAT’S in store for us for 2022? I was just thinking that this is the year we beat the pandemic permanently and the coronavirus decides to mutate into something that’s mild and not fatal which omicron appears to be based on all current data. But omicron is 10 times more contagious than the original coronavirus so keep masking and double mask even if you have the booster shot. Avoid going to Costco on Fridays to Sundays as people tend to flock there on weekends. Mondays and Tuesdays have the thinnest crowds. If you have to go get stuff there, make sure you keep social distancing although that’s easier said than done. Omicron is so contagious that we just clocked 1 million new cases in one day on Monday, January 3 in the good old USA. It’s spreading like wildfire. We were all packed and planned a family road trip out of state during the holidays but at the last minute decided against it when we read that new omicron cases had reached a one-day high of half a million. It’s in every state of the union. Fortunately, all the data suggests that it’s not fatal. The symptoms are like the common cold but with a sore throat, headache, and shortness of breath. The incubation period is two days and it’s gone in four days. In fact, the experts say that half of the common cold now is actually omicron. If you’ve had the booster and have no comorbidities, you’re good to go. You’re safe even if you get it. It won’t kill you. It just stays in the upper respiratory area and does not get into the lungs where it can kill you. If you double mask, you cut infection risk by 70%. So mask and double mask. It’s just safer for everyone since all of us breathe the same air. It doesn’t matter what our race is, we breathe the same air. Racial distinctions and arguments of the superiority of one race over another are so stupid and idiotic. If one race were indeed superior, then it stands to reason that their DNA should prevent them from getting infected and dying from the virus, right? But there’s no such thing is there? In the last two years of the pandemic, no race was spared. All races succumbed to the virus. Skin color or the lack of it was no defense against the virus. As long as you’re human, the virus will hunt you down and
Debt Relief
Atty. LAwrence yAng get you. Let’s get back on track. We know we can protect ourselves with the booster and masking from the virus. But how do we protect ourselves from debt? Well, if you still can, just don’t borrow money. Or, if you borrow money, make sure to pay it off immediately so it does not accumulate and mutate into something unmanageable. Debt is just like the virus, it mutates into something so debilitating it can make your life really miserable. Am I exaggerating here? Nope. Clients are in their 50s. The Husband and wife have a household income of $100,000 a year, gross, before deductions. They have three kids who are all done with college and live by themselves, with their own incomes. Their mortgage payment is $2,500. Home insurance and real estate taxes are another $500. Two car payments total $800. Just the house and cars need about $4,000 a month. They still have to eat, pay for other necessities, for gas, car insurance, etc. Even if they gross $100,000, after deductions, they have $6,000 a month. They have a tight budget because $6,000 net covers all monthly necessities only, namely food, shelter and clothing. With $6,000 net a month, there’s nothing left to save or for additional debt service. It’s great to know all your kids are already self-sufficient, sure that’s a big relief, but what about the clients’ own financial situation? The problem is they have $30,000 of credit card debt. They need $1,000 a month (which they don’t have) for minimum monthly payments to keep the $30,000 current each month. Where’s the money coming from? Not everyone likes to drive for Uber. It’s true you can get another $1,000 a month driving for Uber. But not everyone is made for Uber, especially for those with back problems or diabetes is what I hear in stories from clients who actually rely on Uber for extra income. In the clients’ case, neither husband nor wife likes to drive for Uber. So what’s happening
is that they are using new debt to pay the old debt, borrowing from Peter to pay Paul. Yes, it’s a mini Ponzi scheme that they are perpetrating on themselves. In 2022, they will add $12,000 to their credit cards, just to be able to keep the $30,000 current. So by the end of this year, they will owe $42,000, instead of $30,000. So this mini Ponzi scheme will keep on snowballing until they actually hit the wall. When do they hit the wall? They hit the wall when they can’t get new debt anymore. At some point in time in the future, they will reach their borrowing limit where they won’t be able to get new credit cards to service old credit cards. It’s a financial death spiral. It’s a cancerous growth that will eat them up and destroy the quality of their life and ability to save for retirement. To make a long story short, clients should resolve to get rid of the $30,000 now by Chapter 7 or by Chapter 13. Chapter 7 will just wipe out the $30,000. Chapter 13 will allow them to reorganize with a partial payment plan to handle the $30,000. It’s the right thing to do. Each case is different. Chapter 7 may be good for some people, while Chapter 13 will be good for others. If you have debt problems, set an appointment to see me but mask up and get the booster first. I got the booster and always double mask when I see clients. Court hearings have been done telephonically and by zoom since 2020. It also helps to pray to our God, Jesus and the Blessed Mother Mary for divine protection against the virus, and financial problems, because we have a God who loves us and showers us with infinite mercy. All we have to do is humble ourselves and pray. *** Disclaimer: None of the foregoing is considered legal advice for anyone. There is absolutely no attorney-client relationship established by reading this article. *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in Bankruptcy, Business, Real Estate and Civil Litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789 or 1000 S. Fremont Ave., Mailstop 58, Building A-10 South Suite 10042, Alhambra, CA 91803. (Advertising Supplement)
Preparing your estate for the COVID-19 pandemic Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes THE COVID-19 Pandemic is a scary reality which affects everyone globally and has shut down the global economy. Individuals over 65 are more at risk of having serious complications with this virus. Although we cannot completely control how we would respond to such virus, we can prepare our finances and estate incase the worst happens. Legally, there are several ways you can do this. 1. Create a Living Trust If you pass away with at least $166,250 in gross assets and you do not have a living trust (even if you have a will), your beneficiaries would have to open up a probate case before title to the assets can pass to them. When I say gross asset, I mean regardless of how much debt you owe on them. For example if you own a house valued at $350,000 at the time of your death, it does not matter that your mortgage balance is $300,000, a probate case has to be opened in order to pass title to that property. The same is true with other types of assets such as owning a business, a professional practice, bonds, equities, etc. This is a very low threshold to exceed specially in California where real estate prices, even after the economic crisis, remains in the upper end of the curve among the 50 states. Commencing a probate case is expensive and a very slow process. Someone qualified will have to file a Petition with the probate court to have someone appointed as executor or administrator. The Petitioner’s attorney gets paid a statutory rate for attorney’s fees commencing with 4% of the gross estate. The probate referee will have to be paid for appraising the assets of the estate. If it is necessary to post bond, the premium on the bond would have to be paid as well. There is also the cost of administering the estate such as selling some of the assets to satisfy the estate’s obligations
and to divide the estate according to the will or the intestate line of succession if there is no will. The entire process could take up years specially if certain beneficiaries and creditors file certain claims. The probate court file would be public record. On the other hand if you have a living trust, your estate can avoid the entire court system and court supervision. In certain situations, the process may also save you estate taxes which may be substantial if your assets exceed a certain threshold. Basically, you and/or your spouse can be named as the initial trustee of the trust while you are alive. The trustee is the person who manages the trust. This means you retain control of all your assets the same way as if you never had a trust. For revocable trusts, you can later on, at any time during your lifetime, revoke the entire trust if you change your mind. The assets held in your living trust will be managed by the trustee and distributed according to your directions without court supervision and involvement when you pass away. This can save your heirs time and money. Since the trust would not be under the direct management of the probate court, your assets and their value and your beneficiaries’ identities would not become a public record. Your heirs and beneficiaries would still have to be notified about the living trust and advised, among other things, of their right to obtain a copy of the trust. Having a trust is also beneficial in case you become incapacitated. The person you name as successor trustee can step up and manage the assets in your trust on your behalf. 2. Power of Attorney A power of attorney designates another individual the power to manage your financial affairs on your behalf. You can limit this power and define what the scope of the power you are giving your attorney in fact. A power of attorney is also revocable if you decide to cancel the power you have given this individual. By giving another person the power of attorney, you do not lose the power to manage your financial affairs. You can continue to make financial decisions on your
own affairs. 3. Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare A Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare allows your to designate specific individual to have the power to make healthcare decisions on your behalf incase you no longer have the capacity to make decisions for yourself due to health conditions. You can define the scope of your agent’s authority. This is also revocable if you change your mind in the future. Your agent will have the authority to access and review your medical records and sign any authorization on your behalf. This is helpful incase you are unable to make healthcare decisions for yourself. 4. Last Will and Testament A Last Will and Testament allows your to designate how your assets will be distributed after you pass away. This allows you to customize how your estate will be divided and distributed. In the absence of a Will, you would pass away intestate and the probate court would simply follow the California intestate succession laws which are in the probate code. *** 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, APC 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. (Advertising Supplement)
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Can bankruptcy solve your debt problems?
A LOT of people who are contemplating bankruptcy as a solution to their debt problems often wonder if it can be avoided at all. They fear that they might be making the biggest mistake of their lives. If you are struggling with debt problems and are starting to feel hopeless about your situation because you are not getting anywhere in spite of your efforts, at what point do you consider filing bankruptcy as an option? Bankruptcy scares a lot of people and that’s understandable because everything that they’ve heard about it from friends, family and co-workers is negative. But is bankruptcy really all that bad? Well, most people don’t even understand it. The law says that bankruptcy is nothing more than a fresh financial start when you are no longer in a position to help yourself. Of course, this is not what the bill collectors want you to think. They want you to think that this is the ‘worst’ thing that you can ever do and that it will ruin your chances of ever buying a house or getting credit again. These are the lies that they want you to believe because they know that once you file bankruptcy, they can no longer get any of your money. From a legal standpoint, here are a few helpful questions you should be asking to help you assess whether it’s time for you to consider filing for bankruptcy: (1) Are you struggling to pay even the minimum payments on your credit cards? (2) Have you started borrowing money just to be able to cover your basic living expenses such as rent or mortgage, food, gas, etc? (3) Have you lost track of how much you owe? (4) Are bill
Minding Your Finances Atty. RAymond BulAon collectors calling you because you have accounts in collection? (5) Have creditors taken legal action against you such as filing a lawsuit, obtained a judgment and threatening to garnish your wages or levy your bank account? If you said “yes” to any or most of the above, you could be in a financial danger zone, and I suggest that you take immediate
wages and attaching your bank accounts. This is not what you want, is it? So why wait for the worst to happen if there is something you can do right now to prevent all of the above from happening. Never ignore your debts because they could come back and haunt you when you least expect them. I’ve seen this happen many, many times. At the very least, you should consult with an experienced attorney so you can plan in advance what you should do if your financial situation gets worse. I believe that bankruptcy should be a last resort and that you need to exhaust all debt relief options before resorting to it. But I also believe that a lot of people put off the decision to file bankruptcy for too long that they needlessly suffer in debt when they could have acted sooner to rebuild their finances and their life. Since 1997, I have helped thousands of clients get out of debt in order to live more financially secure lives. Let me help you determine if bankruptcy is right for your situation or if other options are available in order for you to avoid it. *** NOTE: Due to COVID-19 pandemic, I am offering free consultations BY PHONE to anyone who needs help in dealing with their debt problems. *** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped over 5,000 clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call RJB Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1-866477-7772.
Never ignore your debts because they could come back and haunt you when you least expect them. action before your situation gets worse. If you own a home and have assets that may be at risk if you were sued by your creditors, it is in your best interest to find out how you can protect what you have from creditors who are trying to collect from you. A lawsuit can lead to a judgment against you- and it can attach as a lien to your home which makes the debt secured while also earning interest. The lien may stop you from refinancing your mortgage and could be a hindrance in trying to sell your home unless the underlying debt is paid in full. A judgment can also be enforced by garnishing your
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Kathryn laughs off Daniel...
PAGE B2 “I believe in ‘alagang Ford’ supremacy,” one @onlykthnl said while showing Padilla tying Bernardo’s shoelace and embracing her. “Let Kathryn’s ‘alagang Ford’ statement be the assurance if some of you are still in doubt. Happy sila (They’re happy). Period,” another
netizen, @IM_IN_COMA, told fellow fans. Bernardo and Padilla have been in a relationship since 2012, but only confirmed it in 2018. They recently celebrated their pairing’s 10th anniversary and released the self-made documentary “KathNiel: Isang Dekada” to mark the milestone. n
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B8 January 8-11, 2022 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
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