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From the Front Page
CDC warns against travel to PH...
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The CDC also reminds travelers to wear well-fitting masks in indoor public spaces and follow all requirements and recommendations in the Philippines. As of January 31, the Philippines reported 190,818 active cases with 14,546 marked as new cases. The CDC uses travel health notices to alert to health threats around the world and advise on how to protect themselves, using data reported by the World Health Organization and other official sources. “If a destination does not provide data, their THN level is designated as ‘unknown’ and travelers are advised to follow THN Level 4 recommendations,”
according to the CDC website. The Philippines is among nearly 130 countries and territories listed as a Level 4 risk, including Mexico, Brazil, Singapore, Ecuador, Kosovo and Paraguay. The four-level system categories international destinations into the following levels: • Level 1 (low): travelers are advised to be fully vaccinated before traveling to the destination • Level 2 (moderate): travelers should be fully vaccinated before travel and unvaccinated travelers at high risk for severe illness are advised to avoid nonessential travel to this destination • Level 3 (high): travelers are advised to be fully vaccinated before traveling to the destination
and unvaccinated travelers should avoid nonessential travel to this destination • Level 4 (very high level): avoid travel to this destination Meanwhile, as of Tuesday, February 1, the Philippines is suspending its risk classification for countries and is allowing fully vaccinated Filipinos to return without going through mandatory quarantine at a facility. By February 10, fully vaccinated foreigners from visafree countries will be allowed to enter the Philippines for tourism or business purposes. Both fully vaccinated Filipinos and foreigners will need to provide a negative RT-PCR test within 48 hours before they depart for the Philippines. n
Dream come true: Philippines qualifies...
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Ting Chi and Wang Hsiang-huei scored for Chinese-Taipei and Sara Castañeda and Tahnai Annis connected for the Philippines. Ying-Hui Chen pushed Chinese Taipei ahead 3-2 when she scored on her penalty try. Things looked bleak for the Philippine side when Jessica Miclat’s kick was saved by Cheng Ssu-Yu. Yi-Yun Hsu’s kick then bounced off the left post, but the Philippines failed to equalize after captain Hali Long fumbled her attempt. Despite the tremendous pressure, Philippine goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel thwarted SinYun Su’s fifth kick, which would have given the Taiwanese a 4-2 edge. McDaniel then sent the ball swooshing past Cheng to even the score at 3-3. McDaniel showed her nerves of steel anew as she stopped Zhuo’s penalty kick, giving Sarina Bolden the golden chance to send the Philippines to the World Cup next year. Bolden did not disappoint, directing the ball to the left corner for the decisive goal. The team, who used to be known as the Malditas, exploded in celebration. “It’s an unbelievable
achievement of the team,” said head coach Alen Stajcic after the match. “The group is really proud of each other, but we are more proud that we can inspire the next generation of players.” It has also been a historic stint in the Women’s Asian Cup for the Filipinas. They upset Thailand, 1-0, the Philippines’ first win against the regional powerhouse in 13 matches. The Filipinas lost to Australia, 0-4, but managed to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time after they demolished Indonesia, 6-0. The Philippines will face South Korea in the semifinal round on February 3. “It hasn’t really hit me yet. It’s really surreal. I’m really proud of this team,” McDaniel said. “How we can do it for the country and be able to bring history like this and be able to create longevity for this team and be able to move forward and play a chance for us to go to the World Cup. It was just a dream a couple of months ago but now, it’s reality,” she said. Among the first to congratulate the team was Hidilyn Diaz, the country’s first Olympic weightlifting champion. “Nakakaiyak naman panuorin ito (This is such a tearjerker).
Congratulations to the Philippine women’s national football team. Bound to the World Cup,” Diaz posted on Instagram on Monday. “It’s amazing and it’s something to be proud of. It’s really tears-inducing to see the athletes’ joy after (the World Cup clinching) goal. I felt their love for the sport and I know they gave their best; and the reaction of their coaches,” she added. “Priceless. Thank you for the good news. Thank you for bringing pride to our country,” Diaz said. Malacañang on Monday lauded the Philippine team for its history-making feat. “Gumawa ng kasaysayan sa larangan ng palakasan ang ating Philippine women’s football team (Our Philippine women’s football team made history in the field of sports). Congratulations on clinching the country’s first FIFA World Cup berth,” Cabinet Secretary and acting spokesman Karlo Alexei Nograles said in his virtual presser. “Iba talaga ang galing ng Pinay (The excellence of the Filipina is truly one of a kind),” Nograles said. The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 will be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand. n
YEAR OF THE TIGER. SM Mall of Asia’s Chinese New Year centerpiece is inspired by classic Chinese gardens with blooms of peonies, tall bamboos and three moon gates decorated with red lanterns which symbolize birth and renewal and wisteria flowers for long life. The main showpiece is a larger-than-life tiger fully covered in flower petals, resting in a floral bed with gold coins and ingots welcoming fortune and prosperity. ManilaTimes.net photo
Tax season is open! Here’s how to get your... PAGE 1
two years during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. For those hoping to avoid costly online tax filing portals, the IRS recommends using the free file program at: https:// www.irs.gov/filing/free-filedo-your-federal-taxes-for-free. The service is available to those with Adjusted Gross Incomes of under $73,000. For those lacking broadband access, the IRS offers another service: the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, also known as VITA. The service is available to those who earn less than $58,000 annually, seniors or people with disabilities, and people with limited English skills. Services are offered in 350 languages, either by phone or by going into a local IRS office. Several VITA sites are located at community centers. https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparationfor-qualifying-taxpayers Rettig advised those availing of free services to only use sites from irs.gov, to avoid scams. Ken Corbin, Wage and Investment Division Commissioner and Chief Taxpayer Experience
Officer at the IRS, noted at the briefing that multiple changes have been made to the Earned Income Tax Credit program, allowing more people to avail of its benefits. For families without children, the benefit has almost tripled from a maximum of $529 for the 2020 tax season, to $1502 this year. The credit has also been raised for families with children; one qualifying child allows for a maximum credit of $3,733, provided that household income is under $43,492. two qualifying children allow for a maximum of $6,164, provided household income is under $49, 399. Families with three or more children with an annual income below $53,000 can receive a maximum credit of $6,935. The minimum age to qualify for EITC has been lowered from 25 to 18, said Corbin, adding that minors who have aged out of foster care or experiencing homelessness can now also qualify for the credit. People who have investment income under $10,000 and meet the household income guidelines may also qualify for
EITC this year, said Corbin. He noted that the Economic Impact Payments sent out last year to individuals earning less than $72,000 are not considered taxable income, but must nonetheless be reported on your tax return. Both Rettig and Corbin noted the large number of scams, stemming from people who represented themselves as IRS agents. “The IRS will not call you by phone without a notice in advance. Don’t accept a text, a call, especially if they ask for bank info or to pay with a gift card. That is a scam,” cautioned Corbin. Consumers can read about the most-prolific IRS scams at https://irs.gov/newsroom/dirtydozen Corbin said the agency defines its success when “we meet our taxpayers in the communities where they live and to expand options and choices.” To meet that goal, the IRS is hiring, especially those who speak a language other than English. Job seekers can search for open positions at the agency usajobs.gov. (Ethnic Medica Services)
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Guanzon out of Marcos DQ cases... PAGE 1 the last working day of her seven-year term as election commissioner, Guanzon released an undated 24-page “separate opinion” on the disqualification cases brought by Akbayan and other activist groups, the Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses and Martial Law (Carmma), and a group claiming to be original members of Marcos’ adopted political party, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas. Like Guanzon, Comelec Chair Sheriff Abas will also end his seven-year term on Wednesday, while Commissioner Antonio Kho Jr., who joined the poll body in 2018, has completed the remainder of Abas’ term of office as commissioner. The petitions argued that Marcos’ conviction for tax offenses while he was vice governor and later governor of Ilocos Norte from 1982 to 1985, the final years of his father’s dictatorship, was punishable by perpetual disqualification from holding public office under the 1977 National Internal Revenue Code. Guanzon wrote that while the Court of Appeals did not impose disqualification when it upheld Marcos’ conviction for failure to file income tax returns, the former senator’s “repeated violation of the law” involved moral turpitude, which is a ground for a candidate’s disqualification. “Instead of setting a good example for his constituents to emulate, [Marcos] acted as if the law did not apply to him. Thus the inevitable conclusion is that he knowingly and deliberately chose not to comply with a positive duty enjoined by law,” she said further in her opinion. She added, “Taken together, all of these circumstances reveal that his failure to file his tax returns for almost half a decade is reflective of a serious defect in one’s moral fiber.” Not part of records Before releasing a copy of her opinion to the media through Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez, Guanzon challenged Ferolino through Twitter for both of them to “resign together” before Feb. 3, “since the integrity of the Comelec is now in question.” Last week, Guanzon claimed that an “influential” senator was interfering in the Marcos
disqualification cases, but she has yet to name that lawmaker. In a hastily called press briefing on Monday afternoon, Jimenez said Guanzon’s separate opinion would not be part of the records of the case. “I cannot put a label on the value of it but it is obviously very important to know what the commissioners think right now, what Commissioner Guanzon thinks right now, having the opportunity to actually hear the case. But in terms of the disposition of the case, what is crucial and what really matters is the main decision,” he said. Asked if Guanzon’s opinion will not be part of the eventual decision, Jimenez replied: “That is possible because she is about to retire, so there is that thing hanging over our heads. But at least she would have made her opinion known.” He said that once Guanzon retires before the promulgation, her vote will no longer be included in the decision. “The ones who will decide the case should be members of the commission and that point of decision is when the main decision comes out,” he stressed. ‘Erroneous’ decision Also on Monday, Ferolino released to the media her response to Guanzon’s Jan. 28 memorandum ordering her to explain the delay in the promulgation. “There is nothing to explain because I do not submit to your pronouncement that there is a delay in the release of my ponencia on the Marcos cases,” Ferolino wrote, as she recalled Guanzon’s words to former Comelec Chair Andres “Andy” Bautista: “I am not your subordinate.” She said the three disqualification petitions were raffled off to her office on Jan. 10 and were submitted for resolution in just four days. Ferolino said, however, that she was taking her time to review the case records to avoid releasing an “erroneous” decision like Guanzon’s. “While you have the privilege and liberty to take down your [social media] posts and correct it, I am not afforded the same opportunity should I release a flawed resolution
Dateline USa
especially when it has already been promulgated,” she said. “The only reason for the unavailability of the resolution after [15] days is that I am reviewing three consolidated cases, among others, thoroughly to craft an objective resolution,” she added. Ferolino also denied that she stood to benefit from any decision in the Marcos cases, telling Guanzon “whether your vote is supported or defeated, it will not benefit me in any way.” “As a coequal member of this Commission, I am asking you to please stop conditioning the minds of the people that there is a delay [in the resolution] because there is none,” she said, pointing out further that the Second Division took more than a month since the Nov. 26 preliminary conference before it resolved the case. “More importantly, I am asking you to spare the Commission from all these controversies because you are destroying the credibility of the agency which you claimed to have previously served with integrity and candor,” Ferolino said. ‘Put into question’ Several groups continued to clamor for the immediate disclosure of the First Division’s ruling. The UP Women Lawyers’ Circle said: “The Comelec must strictly observe its own rules and procedure and ensure that its independence is not compromised.” Carmma, in its statement, said that “[w]ith every day that our petitions remain undecided, the independence of the Commission on Elections is further put into question.” The Marcos camp, meanwhile, maintained that he did not commit moral turpitude as Guanzon had concluded in her opinion. Marcos’ spokesperson, lawyer Victor Rodriguez, cited a 2009 ruling by the Supreme Court on the appeals court’s 1997 decision, in which the high court said a mere failure to file an income tax return does “not… constitute a crime involving moral turpitude.” The Second Division of the Comelec also cited that ruling in throwing out the petition to cancel Marcos’ certificate of candidacy. n
SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • FebRUARy 2-4, 2022
February 2-4, 2022 • SoCal aSIaN JOurNaL
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SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • FebRUARy 2-4, 2022
‘US, Japan maritime stance aligns with... PAGE 1 “International law grants all nations of the world, including the U.S. and Japan, freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea – which is critical for global economic trade and maintaining peace and security in the region,” he added. The international law that applies in the South China Sea is embodied in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and, specifically, the 2016 Arbitral Ruling won by the Philippines against China in The Hague. P29 billion for AFP modernization A total of P29 billion has been earmarked for this year’s modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) amid incursions committed by China in the West Philippine Sea. Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, chairman of the strategic intelligence committee
of the House of Representatives, said the “fresh funding” for acquisition projects is higher by P2 billion, or 7.6 percent, from the P27 billion the AFP received in 2021. “The bulk of the new money would enable the Department of National Defense to make the initial payment for the procurement of 32 additional S70i Black Hawk helicopters worth P32 billion,” Pimentel said. He said the combat utility choppers from Polish aerospace manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. would be “delivered in batches between 2023 and 2026.” Pimentel also disclosed that in December 2021, the DND made the down payment for the acquisition of two brandnew 116-meter corvettes worth P28 billion from South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. At the same time, the administration lawmaker said the
DND is also expected to finalize this year the procurement of six 83-meter offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) worth P30 billion from Australian defense contractor Austal Ltd. Pimentel said he was glad that while super typhoon Odette devastated provinces in Mindanao and Visayas in December 2021, it also “clearly demonstrated the growing importance” of AFP’s naval and air assets in disaster relief operations. Global risk agencies have tagged the Philippines as one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, being at the center of a typhoon belt and inside the Pacific Ring of Fire frequented by volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Pimentel cited the crucial role played by Philippine Navy vessels and Philippine Air Force planes in mobilizing disaster relief workers, equipment and supplies in the aftermath of Odette. n
Moderna vaccine receives full FDA... PAGE 1
hundreds of millions of doses, according to the FDA. The coronavirus vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech received full approval last August, which was granted after months of review. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that more than 204 million doses of the Moderna vaccine have been administered across the U.S. so far with almost 75 million people across the nation having been fully vaccinated with it. The CDC is expected to meet on Friday, Feb. 4 to review the FDA’s approval and vote whether or not to endorse it. The FDA’s approval on Monday also allows Moderna to officially market the name Spikevax as well as increase flexibility to physicians to prescribe the vaccine; under emergency use authorization, specifics on how vaccines are administered are more restrictive than when they’re granted full FDA approval. In a statement, FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said that while the Moderna vaccine has become a popular option for Americans, “[full] FDA approval of this vaccine may instill additional confidence in making the decision to get vaccinated.” As reported in the Asian Journal,
Unsplash.com photo by Ian Hutchinson
fully vaccinated individuals became eligible this past fall to receive Moderna booster shots, which are designed to “boost” immunity against disease and infection. The CDC now considers three doses of the vaccine (two full doses and one booster) in order to be “up to date” in a vaccine regimen. The move to announce full FDA authorization formalizes the agency’s confidence in the vaccine, a move that could influence more Americans
to get vaccinated against the coronavirus. Currently, more than 539 vaccine doses (from all available brands) have been administered across the country, with more than 211 million fully vaccinated — 64.1% of the entire population. California continues to have the most vaccine doses administered per capita with more than 69 million doses given and 27.3 million people fully vaccinated, making 69.1% of the state fully vaccinated. n
BACK TO LEVEL 2. Passengers show their vaccination cards before entering the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange on Monday, Jan. 3). The “no vaccination, no ride” policy in Metro Manila will be lifted Tuesday, February 1 as the quarantine classification will be lowered to Alert Level 2. PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.
‘The science and data continue to speak loud...
PAGE 1 On Tuesday, Feb. 1, LA County reported 8,786 new positive cases, with an average of 18,617 daily cases — a representation of a 38% decrease from the 29,978 daily cases reported last week. Hospitalizations also declined by 24% from last week. However, deaths due to coronavirus continue to trend upward due to a lag in the hospitalization reports. On Tuesday, the county confirmed 37 deaths due to COVID-19, a 7% increase of 7 day average daily deaths from the previous week, prompting the county to continue to encourage residents to be mindful of activities and behaviors that could put people at risk. “For residents who are at high risk, including those older, immunocompromised or with underlying health conditions, gatherings can be especially risky given the still high rates of transmission,” said LA County Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer in a statement. According to Ferrer, all attendees of the Superbowl will receive KN95 masks to wear inside SoFi Stadium. Ferrer also urges patrons to keep masks on when not eating or drinking, whether they’re at the game or watching the game in public spaces like bars, restaurants, and lounges. LA County steady improvement from the beginning of the omicron surge in early December mirrors that of California’s metrics
as a whole. On Tuesday, the California Department of Public Health reported that the state’s daily case rate is down 39%, or 180 positive cases per 100,000 residents — a significant drop from the 295 per 100,000 residents reported two weeks ago. Currently, California still leads in the most vaccine doses administered per capita with more than 69 million doses given and 27.3 million people fully vaccinated, making 69.1% of the state fully vaccinated. But the state is still ramping efforts to encourage more people to get vaccinated if they’re eligible. According to Dr. Erica Pan, California’s state epidemiologist and deputy director of the Center for Infectious Diseases said that while those who have been vaccinated and boosted still risk getting sick from new variants, the severity of illness will remain low compared to those who are not vaccinated and/or boosted. “The risks of hospitalization and death remain high for unvaccinated individuals, so the most important thing we need to continue to do is [to] get vaccinated and get boosted,” said Pan at a news briefing on Jan. 20. “All three available COVID-19 vaccines continue to be highly effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death.” “Even if you had previously had COVID-19, you should still get vaccinated, especially considering highly contagious
variants impacting our communities,” Pan said. “Immunity acquired from a previous infection of COVID-19 is strong but often variable from person to person and antibodies developed from a previous infection are also temporary, with immunity declining over time.” Pan added that immunity protection in the form of vaccination is broad and provides a strong shield “against the virus and variants.” However, the state’s lead epidemiologist reminds the public that vaccination doesn’t eliminate the need for public safety precautions, like wearing a face mask or social distancing as much as possible. As the scientific community at large has said previously throughout the pandemic, Pan said that vaccines may not be 100% effective in the regard that it doesn’t prevent people from ever catching COVID-19 and its variants, but that they are “extremely effective” against the more severe effects of the virus. “The more vaccinations get into the arms of eligible Californians, the more we prevent the spread and shrink the pool of people vulnerable to COVID-19,” she said. “The science and data – now inclusive of younger children – continue to speak loud and clear: These free, safe vaccines will help kids fend off the worst outcomes of this highly contagious virus.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)
6 FEBRUARY 2-4, 2022 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL
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OPINION
FEATURES
Back to the bottom
AFTER edging up by three spots last December, the Philippines sank back to the bottom of the COVID-19 Resilience Ranking this January, for the third time in five months. The ranking, drawn up by media and data company Bloomberg, again rated the Philippines as the worst place to be during the pandemic among the world’s 53 largest economies. The slide back to the bottom was due to the return to Alert Level 3 in the National Capital Region and several other areas following a renewed surge in COVID-19 cases driven by the highly contagious Omicron variant. Explaining the Philippines’ return to the bottom spot, Bloomberg also said in its report: “Difficulties administering vaccines in remote areas continue to be a vulnerability as the country sees an Omicron surge worse than other Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.” The resiliency rankings are based on the number of COVID cases and deaths, vaccine coverage, lockdown severity, universal health care coverage, community mobility and human development index. While the Philippines managed to emerge last year from deep recession in 2020, its worst
economic performance since World War II, the quality of the pandemic response has led many analysts to describe the country as the regional laggard in recovery. The response has been hampered by insufficient COVID testing, disastrous contact tracing, and a health infrastructure that has been inadequate even before the pandemic. Coming from a low base amid the 9.5 percent gross domestic product contraction in 2020, GDP grew by 5.6 percent last year. The government says this is the best proof of the country’s resilience. Economic growth from a low base, however, must be accompanied by greater effort to improve public health care capacities. COVID19 has highlighted the weaknesses of the health care system. The country does not need the resilience index to see where improvements are urgently needed. (Philstar.com)
Editorial
The Fil-Am Perspective
Philstar.com photo
Filter out the noise: Watch ‘PANATA SA BAYAN: The 2022 Presidential Candidates Forum’ February 3 at 7pm PST/ Feb 4 at 9 am PHL Time
GEL SANTOS-RELOS STOP whatever it is you are doing on February 3, Thursday at 7 pm PT and watch “PANATA SA BAYAN: The 2022 Presidential Candidates Forum” to know who can and will possibly be the next President of the Philippines. This is especially important if you are a dual citizen like this author, and/or you have family in the Philippines whose lives will be very much affected by this very consequential election happening on May 9, 2022. This first Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) forum, simulcast over 300 member stations of the KBP, will give you the chance to get to know six Presidential candidates: Vice President and Former Representative Atty. Leni Robredo, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, Former Senator and Ilocos Norte Governor Bongbong Marcos, Former Senator and PNP Chief Panfilo Lacson, Representative and boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and unionist/labor rights activist Ka Leody de Guzman. With the highly divided nation in the age of social media and fake news, a lot of us do not really have the opportunity to earnestly get to know these candidates
who are applying for the position of President of the Philippines — the most powerful position in the nation accorded with public trust. Who will be the true tried and tested leader and public servant who deserve our trust and our vote? The future of our Motherland in the next six years and even thereafter depends on this election because votes have consequences not only in the near six years but even beyond that. The results will have tremendous effect on the lives, health, safety, education, opportunities, and values system of people, not only of this generation but of the succeeding ones. The May 9, 2022 elections will also define who we are as a nation and as a people because we make a decision based on our values, we pick the candidate who shares the same values. We elect the next President and Commanderin-Chief of the Philippines based on what we know about them — their qualifications, their personality, their character, their achievements, their vision, and the programs and initiatives they will put forward to help our lives become better and our democracy stronger.
This forum will be the first time we will see them all together in one platform, unfiltered, unscripted, unedited. We will listen to how they answer to the hard questions we hope the moderators and panelists will ask all off them, and we will pay attention to the content and substance of their responses, as well as on their demeanor and attitude as they present their positions to the Filipino people. This will be the first of the series of debates for both President and Vice-President in the near future, leading up to election day. The 2022 Presidential Candidates Forum will be moderated by Rico Hizon of CNN Philippines and Karen Davila of ABS-CBN. Panelists include: Elmer Acol of Bombo Radyo; Roby Alampay of One News; Dan Andrew Cura of Far East Broadcasting Company; and Ed Lingao of TV-5. Make an informed decision. Watch this forum and subsequent debates before casting your sacred vote as a responsible and conscientious citizen of the Philippines. *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily
Gel Santos Relos has been in news, talk, public
Vice President Leni Robredo
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno
Former Senator Bongbong Marcos
Former Senator Ping Lacson
Senator Manny Pacquiao
reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
service and educational broadcasting since 1989 with ABS-CBN and is now serving the Filipino audience using different platforms, including digital broadcasting, and print, and is working on a new public service program for
Labor rights activist Leody de Guzman Philstar.com file photos
***
the community. You may contact her through email at gelrelos@icloud.com, or send her a message via Facebook at Facebook.com/Gel. Santos.Relos.
Major global challenges ahead
Babe’s Eye View BABE ROMUALDEZ THERE has been a rapid increase of cybercriminals hacking the online accounts of depositors from major Philippine banks. So far, there have also been a number of arrests. However, many continue to be apprehensive because hacking syndicates keep developing new and more sophisticated ways to launch cyberattacks. According to the Bankers Association of the Philippines, more than P1 billion was lost last year due to cyber fraud, with the criminals using emails, text messages and even social media to dupe people into disclosing sensitive data or personal information to hack credit cards, debit cards and the like. But more than individual credit card holders or depositors, cyber criminals are focusing their attacks on private businesses and government institutions. Earlier this month, a news report claimed that the servers of the Commission on Elections had been hacked, with the usernames and PINs of vote counting machines
allegedly downloaded, raising concerns that the outcome of the May 2022 elections could be compromised. During an inquiry last Friday by the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Automated Election System, Department of Information and Communications Technology Undersecretary and Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) executive director Cezar Mancao – a recent visitor here in Washington, DC – said their preliminary investigation showed that the Comelec servers have not been hacked because they were offline when the supposed attack happened, but raised the possibility that the system of Comelec contractor, Smartmatic, may have been compromised. Experts warned that cyber criminals are getting more creative and sophisticated in their tactics, increasing their reach across industries. According to a Californiabased cybersecurity research company, the annual cost of global cybercrimes is projected to reach $10.5 trillion by 2025. Aside from the use of social media to target victims, one particular trend that everyone
should watch out for is the rise in ransomware attacks. Simply put, a ransomware attack involves the use of malware (malicious software) to gain access to a computer system, which would then become inaccessible unless the victim pays a ransom. Sometimes, hackers also threaten to leak sensitive information unless payment is made. While there are instances when a hacking attempt fails, the damage to a system may still be costly. This is what happened to the Defence Academy of the UK (a school for diplomats and British personnel from the Armed Forces, the Civil Service and other government departments) that was targeted by hackers in March last year. Although the hackers did not succeed, the damage was still significant due to the time that had to be spent in repairing the damage to the system and restoring the network. Just very recently, Canada’s Foreign Ministry was also targeted by hackers, resulting in the disruption of internetbased services and downtime in some internal systems, preventing diplomats from accessing some online services.
The attack came just a few days after Canadian officials issued a warning for the public to be vigilant in the face of cyber threats including “statesponsored” cyberattacks. A few days ago, the domestic intelligence agency of Germany disclosed that a Chinese hacking group known as APT (Advanced Persistent Threat) 27 has started attacks against German companies, particularly those involved in technology and the pharmaceutical industry. Active since 2010, APT 27 has been targeting critical sectors and foreign embassies to collect information pertaining to government, defense and technology sectors, according to German officials. The United States of course is one of the biggest targets of these cybercriminals. Last year, hackers targeted oil companies, among them Colonial Pipeline Company, the biggest pipeline system in the US for refined oil products. The attack caused such panic that the company officials decided to shut down the 5,500-mile pipeline system – the first time ever in its 57-year history – effectively cutting off the supply of gasoline and other fuels to the
East Coast, causing shortages, higher prices and long lines at gasoline stations. According to investigators, the hackers, who were affiliated with Russian cybercrime group DarkSide, were able to obtain a password from a private network account used by employees to remotely access Colonial’s computer network. The company paid a $4.4million ransom, although the FBI was able to recover $2.3 million of the ransom money. The FBI also said that Eastern European cybercriminals have been trying to hack US companies engaged in the transportation, defense and insurance industries by sending fake letters containing a USB stick loaded with malicious software that, if inserted into a computer, could steal information or access a company’s network. As the World Economic Forum’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2022 report noted, the pandemic has demonstrated the interconnectivity of businesses, and how digitalization has exposed the global population to a new trajectory of cyber threats and attacks. The experience of such companies
as Colonial Pipeline clearly shows that an attack on one can have a domino effect on others. No less than US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas had said that they “consider ransomware to be one of the gravest threats in the cybersecurity domain that we in the United States and, quite frankly, the world is vulnerable to.” There is absolutely no doubt we need to support the CICC team of USec Mancao and increase their yearly budget (which was a meager P11 million) if we are to strengthen our anti-cybercrime efforts and capacitate the agency in performing its mandate as lead agency in coming up with effective measures to “prevent and suppress increasing future cybercrime activities” that will surely pose the greatest threat not only to private businesses but our national security as well. (Philstar.com) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
*** Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com
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Dateline PhiliPPines
Pope Francis appoints Filipino Pharmally execs face estafa raps priest as envoy to Rwanda by Ma.
rEina tolEntino ManilaTimes.net
by John
Eric MEndoza
Inquirer.net
MANILA — Pope Francis has named a Filipino priest as an apostolic nuncio to Rwanda, a landlocked country in east Africa, according to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). The CBCP said the appointment of Monsignor Arnaldo Catalan as an apostolic nuncio was made public by the Holy See Press Office on Monday, January 31. An apostolic nuncio is an
ecclesiastical diplomat who serves as an envoy or a permanent diplomatic representative of the Holy See — the government of the Catholic Church — to a state or international organization. “In appointing Catalan as a Vatican envoy, the pope also elevated him to the titular See of Apollonia, with the dignity of Archbishop,” the CBCP said in a report on Monday. Catalan replaced Poland’s Archbishop Andrzej Józwowicz who was transferred to Iran in June 2021, the CBCP added. Before his current post,
Catalan served as the chargé d’affaires — or a diplomatic official who assumes a post of an ambassador — of the Apostolic Nunciature in China since 2019. The 55-year-old priest also joined the Holy See Diplomatic Service in July 2001, serving in the Apostolic Nunciatures in Zambia, Kuwait, Mexico, Honduras, Turkey, India, Argentina, Canada, and the Philippines. Catalan, who is also a priest of the Archdiocese of Manila, was ordained to priesthood in March 1994. n
Quiboloy endorses Marcos–Duterte tandem by nEil
arwin MErcado
Inquirer.net
MANILA — Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy endorsed on Tuesday, February 1 the pridential and vice presidential bod, respectively, of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte -Carpio. Quiboloy made the remark as he prayed over Duterte-Carpio during the send-off ceremony for the “Mahalin Natin Ang Pilipinas Ride” national caravan from Davao City to to Ilocos Norte. The send-off was done at the compound of Quiboloy’s church
in Davao City. “Marami ang nagtatanong kung ano ang susuportahan ng Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Sabi ko, maghintay tayo sa tamang panahon. At ngayon na ang panahon para lahat sa inyo ang aning suporta. 100 percent ako ay sumusuporta sa UniTeam,” Quiboloy said, referring to the Marcos-Duterte-Carpio tandem. (A lot of people are asking which candidates the Kingdom of Jesus Christ will support. I said, let’s wait for the right time. Now is the time for to support the UniTeam.) “Sinasabi ko na sa inyo, itong team na ito will have a landslide win sa darating na eleksyon. Ako ay nananalangin na tayong
lahat ay sumama sa UniTeam,” he added. (I am telling you, this team will score a landslide victory in the coming elections. I am praying that we all join the UniTeam.) Quiboloy, who was recently indicted in the United States for sex–trafficking charges, is a close ally of the Duterte family. Quiboloy is the spiritual adviser of President Rodrigo Duterte. According to Atty. Vic Rodriguez, the spokesperson of Marcos Jr., the tandem will hold its proclamation rally at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan on February 8—the official start of the campaign period for national candidates. n
BI ready for Philippines reopening to foreigners by robErtzon
raMirEz
Philstar.com
MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is ready for the influx of international passengers after the government scrapped facility-based quarantine for fully vaccinated foreigners starting Feb. 10. “We have the manpower to address this projected increase in passenger volume at our airports,” BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said on Monday, January 31. He said 401 immigration per-
sonnel, most of them assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), have returned to work after they recovered from COVID-19. Morente said they would continue to operate at full capacity at various airports. He said the BI formed a reserve team of immigration officers to assist their frontliners at the airport if the need arises. NAIA Terminals 1, 2 and 3, which are serving more than 40 foreign airlines, have daily quotas of only 3,000 international passengers.
The Clark International Airport is requesting the InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to increase its daily international passenger quota from 800 to 1,200. The national pandemic task force reduced international tourist arrivals at Clark due to the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Aside from Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and Air Asia, Clark airport services Jin Air, Jetstar, Jeju Air, Scoot, Emirates Air and Qatar Airways. n
THE House of Representatives’ Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability has recommended that six people, including former and current officials of Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp., be charged with syndicated estafa before the Department of Justice in connection with the questionable government purchase in 2020 of medical goods for its pandemic response. The committee had concluded its investigation of the anomalous procurement. Among those the committee wants to be charged were Linconn Ong and Mohit Dargani, both of whom are Pharmally officials. “We respect the findings of the House committee and look forward to whatever action the appropriate government offices may take in relation to the recommendations of the committee. We are confident that, given a full and fair hearing with all constitutional safeguards freely at hand, the evidence we will present will result in the complete exoneration of my clients,” Ferdinand Topacio, the lawyer for Ong and Dargani, said in a statement on Monday. Others recommended to be charged were Huang Tzu Yen, Twinkle Dargani, Justine Garado and former Pharmally employee Krizle Grace Mago. DIWA Party-list Rep. Michael Aglipay, the committee’s chairman, said on Monday that because of “insufficiency of evidence,” the committee did not recommend charges against former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang and former Budget undersecretary and former Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) officer in charge Lloyd Lao. Aglipay said the committee also recommended the abolition of the PS-DBM “in order to streamline government functions and services.” The PS-DBM, he said, “has outlived its purpose consider-
In this file photo, Pharmally executives Mohit Dargani (left) and Linconn Ong (right) being escorted by security detail from the Senate of the Philippines as they are being brought to the Pasay City Jail in Pasay City last November 29. ManilaTimes.net photo by Enrique Agcaoili
ing that all agencies now have their own procurement department and” bids and awards committee. “In connection with emergency procurements, the committee strongly recommends that the Office of the President and its attached agencies like DBM, PS-DBM and GPPB consider institutionalizing standard requirements that can better gauge a supplier’s legal, financial and technical capacities,” he said. GPPB is the Government Procurement Policy Board. The report of the House committee has yet to reach plenary. Aglipay said the panel “found that there was no overpricing in the purchase of materials, supplies and equipment by” the PS-DBM on behalf of the Department of Health. “The procedure on emergency procurement pursuant to Bayanihan Act One” that PS-DBM undertook “was consistent with applicable rules and regulations. There was nothing irregular nor illegal in the procedure applied by PSDBM,” he said. However, Aglipay said the committee found that requirements “imposed by GPPB on suppliers under the emergency procurement of the Bayanihan Act One” were “extremely deficient in genuinely evaluating the capacity of a supplier.” n
LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (LACMTA) REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL LACMTA will receive Proposals for AE83974 - I-105 Express Lanes Program & Construction Management Support Services at bids@metro.net. All Proposals must be electronically (via email) submitted to LACMTA at bids@metro. net, on or before 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Thursday, February 3, 2022. Proposals received after the above date and time may be rejected and returned unopened. Each proposal electronic submittal must be marked Proposal No. AE83974. For a copy of the Proposal/ Bid specification visit our Solicitation Page on our Vendor Portal at https://business. metro.net or for further information email Victor Zepeda at zepedav@metro.net. 1/26, 2/2/22 CNS-3548343# ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)
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Duterte prays for a ‘better’ 2022 for Filipinos by Helen
Flores Philstar.com
MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte prayed for a “better” 2022 for Filipinos, as the nation celebrated the Lunar New Year on Tuesday, February 1. In his message, the President said he hopes the year of the Water Tiger would bring Filipinos good fortune and renewed strength, as the country recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic and “other challenges that have tested our mettle as a nation.” “Through our courage, faith and determination, we have become more resilient and capable (of building) back better,” he said. “It is my fervent prayer that 2022 will be a better year for all of us, in terms of wealth, health, relationships and progress,” Duterte said.
He also urged Filipinos to continue to demonstrate the ideals of bayanihan (volunteerism) and malasakit (compassion), especially to those who are most in need. “Let us all look forward to more opportunities for growth and prosperity in the New Year and become instruments of peace, harmony and generosity to all,” Duterte said. The President, through Proclamation 1236, has declared Feb. 1, 2022 as a special nonworking day to commemorate Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year is “one of the most revered and festive events celebrated, not only in China but also in the Philippines,” the proclamation read. Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday joined the FilipinoChinese community in
celebrating the Lunar New Year. Robredo said the message of the new year remains the same even if the celebration is different due to the continuing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Despite all the challenges, there is always hope, we can always start again. Whatever obstacle we face, we can overcome this not individually, not amid hostility, but by working together and being there for each other,” she said in Filipino. “Thank you for the trust, support and solidarity with our dreams for our country. I wish you all a happy, peaceful, and prosperous year ahead,” the Vice President said. The local government of Manila prohibited the holding of public events celebrating Chinese New Year to prevent the spread of COVID-19. n
Former gov’t officials back Robredo presidential bid by Ma.
reina TolenTino
ManilaTimes.net
FORMER government officials, including members of the late president Benigno Aquino III Cabinet, support Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo’s presidential bid. “We are former Cabinet members, senior government officials, former chiefs of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,
retired Ambassadors, and career civil servants who served under various administrations, most particularly that of President Benigno S. Aquino 3rd,” they said in a joint statement dated February 1. “We believe that the best candidate who embodies these aspirations is a true leader who brings with her a solid track record of serving the public; one who possesses all the qualities
of an ideal Chief Executive and Commander-in-Chief of our Armed Forces,” they said. “We commit ourselves fully to Vice President Leni Robredo’s bid for the presidency to lead the Philippines on an upward path of recovery and greatness. We thus enjoin the Filipino people to give our country the leader that we all deserve”, they said. The joint statement has 95 signatories. n
while Pacquiao claimed that the Mayor had corruption issues. “One, I did not watch the Vice President’s interview. So I don’t know if she aids something like that, and I wish her good luck,” Moreno said. “With regard to Senator Manny Pacquiao, we would like to thank Senator Pacquiao for giving us such honor and pride to the world of boxing. And yung dangal na naibigay sa atin ay hindi natin makakalimutan yon, so maraming salamat sa karangalang ibinigay sa atin ni Senator Pacquiao sa mundo ng boxing,” he added. (About Senator Manny Pacquiao, we would like to thank Senator Pacquiao for giving us such honor and pride in the world of boxing. And the pride that he has given us, we will nev-
er forget that, so thank you very much for the glory that Senator Pacquiao has given us in the world of boxing.) After the interviews with Abunda, Robredo’s answers gained controversy after she launched criticisms of the other aspirants — calling former senator Bongbong Marcos a liar and an absentee during tough situations, Senator Panfilo Lacson a person who talks a lot but has no on-the-ground action, and saying that good attitude may not be enough for Senator Manny Pacquiao. Pacquiao, on the other hand said that aside from Moreno, Marcos also had corruption issues. Meanwhile, the boxerturned-senator said he does not know why Robredo and Lacson should not get votes. n
Corrupt, vague stand? Isko ignores criticisms and offers kind words to Robredo, Pacquiao instead by Gabriel
Pabico Inquirer.net
lalu
MANILA — Instead of engaging in a new word war with Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Manny Pacquiao — fellow presidential aspirants in the 2022 polls — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno offered kind words to both officials despite their scathing accusations against him. In a press conference after he delivered his 10-point economic agenda on Monday, January 31, Moreno was asked about the recent comments of Robredo and Pacquiao about him during an interview with talk show host Boy Abunda, where aspirants were asked why people should not vote for other candidates. Robredo said that Moreno sometimes has no clear stand,
EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT
VIOLATION. The campaign period has yet to start but candidates’ posters are already seen all over the Don Antonio footbridge along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City on Tuesday, Feb. 1. Under the law, campaign materials are allowed only in designated common poster areas. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon
‘PH ready to move on from pandemic’ PRESIDENTIAL Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Maria “Joey” Concepcion III hailed the decision of the government’s pandemic task force to scrap travel restrictions for foreign nationals entering the country for business and tourism and the easing of quarantine and testing protocols for inbound travelers, saying this is a sign that the country is ready to “move on” from the pandemic. The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATFEID) last week ruled to suspend the Red, Yellow and Green list classification countries, scrap mandatory facility-based quarantine for arriving passengers and allow the entry of travelers from non-visa required nations for business and tourism. “Nagpapasalamat kami sa (We thank the) IATF for heeding the call of the private sector. Ang nakikita namin (the way we see it), we are now starting to move on. ‘Yun ang pinakaimportante (that’s important),” Concepcion said during Monday’s “Laging Handa” public briefing. The official expressed hope the government will soon consider completely phasing out the alert levels in Metro Manila
and around the country and instead put in place a “pandemic exit strategy” to further spur the country’s economic recovery. “Mag-meeting kami ng IATF kasama namin ‘yung lahat ng grupo ng (we will meet with the IATF and all the groups from the) private sector, restaurants in the coming three weeks,” noted the Go Negosyo founder. “We will craft a plan on how each sector can develop their exit plan. The idea is to reach a point wherein there are no more alert levels. We will develop a standard protocol,” he added. If all goes well, Concepcion said it is likely that Metro Manila and other areas where COVID-19 cases are steadily on the decline may be placed under Alert Level 1, which will allow business establishments to operate on increased capacity. “That’s the objective of the private sector and hopefully that can be done by April,” the official said. From there, the next goal will be to bring students back into classrooms. Concepcion said that with the rollout of the pediatric vaccination, the private sector will urge the IATF to open schools for face-to-face classes “provided
EMPLOYMENT
that both students and teachers are already fully vaccinated.” “We are finally starting to move on and hopefully, this move will help our economy,” he said. He added that the next priority must be to bring students back in classrooms as long as they come from households with 100-percent vaccination rate or with no unvaccinated senior citizens in the house. “Vaccinated kids belonging to 70 percent vaccinated households or no unvaccinated senior citizens in the house and living in areas with 80 percent of the population vaccinated can also attend face-to-face classes,” Concepcion said. He allayed concerns on students and teachers being infected, saying the mask mandate should be strictly implemented. Concepcion stressed that bringing students back to schools is part of the change in mindset about living with the viral disease. “The country cannot afford a long-term effect of less than ideal quality of education due to the online learning modality being implemented by the Education department,” he said. (ManilaTimes.net)
9 The
Asian Journal
MDWK The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - February 2, 2022
Wednesday FEBRUARY 2, 2022
MAGAZINE
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LUNAR NEW YEAR 2022: How to usher in the Year of the Tiger by AJPress
and good luck. Most people wear red clothing as it represents vitality as well as strength. Elders also hand out Ang Pao (Red envelopes) to children. These envelopes contain money, and giving them is believed to bring good luck
Lunar New Year! Welcome the Year of the Water Tiger! HAPPY
Unlike the fixed new year of the Gregorian calendar commonly celebrated on January 1st, the date of the Lunar New Year (also known as Chinese New Year) varies, determined by the appearance of the new moon — which is why it’s called the Lunar New Year, as it’s based on the lunisolar Chinese calendar. The Lunar New Year usually falls sometime between January 21 and February 20. The Year of the Water Tiger began on February 1 and lasts until January 21, 2023. During the Lunar New Year celebration, people across the globe greet with either Gong Xi Fa Cai, which means “you attain greater wealth,” or Kung Hei Fat Choi, which means “congratulations and be prosperous.” The 12 zodiac animals are, in order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. 2022 is the Year of the Water Tiger, “which indicates a prosperous year due to the Tiger’s auspicious signs (strength, exorcising evils and braveness),” according to ChinaHighlights.com. 2022, 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962, 1950, and 1938 are regarded as Tiger years. Tigers are known as natural born leaders who are courageous, assertive and stubborn, yet generous. Similar to the January 1st new year, there are several traditions
and rituals observed during the Lunar New Year, including: Dragon and lion dances In the Philippines, Filipinos who celebrate the holiday typically flock to Binondo in Manila, which is considered the oldest Chinatown in the world. They crowd the streets of Chinatown to watch the Parades of Dragons and Lions, a colorful and dynamic performance accompanied by the loud banging of drums and cymbals. The dragon, in China, is believed to represent great power, auspiciousness, and strength. Meanwhile, the lion represents safety and luck. Wearing and gifting red
The color red is prevalent during the festivities as it is a special color in Chinese culture, signifying energy, happiness,
AJPress illustration by Jillian Peñalosa
and long life to both the giver and receiver. Symbolic dishes Families also gather to have their New Year’s Eve dinner where they usually serve Continued on Page 10
SFIO adopts new corporate name ‘Starfleet Innotech, Inc.’ STARFLEET Innotech, Inc. announced the formal change of its corporate name, replacing its previous name “Smokefree Innotec, Inc.” The new identity reflects the conglomerate’s ambitious new direction as a global asset management company. “This is an important moment in our history as a company,” said Jeths Lacson, chairman and chief executive officer of SFIO. “When we began developing our plans for a network of innovative companies working in conjunction to explore new frontiers of innovation, we couldn’t help but draw inspiration from the scifi classics we grew up with. As Starfleet, we’re leading this new alliance, sharing knowledge and resources to help our businesses go where none of their industries have gone before.” SFIO is focused on innovation through disruptive collaborations across its three key industries: Food and Beverage (F&B), Real Estate, and Technology. With a strong presence across New Zealand, Australia, and the Philippines — as well as new offices in the United States and United Arab Emirates — the company invests in high-growth businesses, supporting them through partnerships and opportunities, before leveraging their international presence to help them scale exponentially. Guided by tradition, driven by innovation, and enabled by collaboration — SFIO says they are on a hyper-growth path towards building a
thriving global business ecosystem. “This past year, we’ve gathered a formidable roster of technologists, strategists, communicators, and leaders to drive Starfleet Innotech, Inc. into the future,” Lacson said. “Armed with what I believe is a truly interstellar team, our goal is to kick our businesses across the F&B and Real Estate industries into warp speed.” Over the next three years, SFIO plans to elevate their portfolio on the global market and pioneer new technologies, with the goal of uplisting to a major stock exchange by 2024. (Advertising Supplement)
entertainment Catriona Gray, other Pinay beauty queens mourn Cheslie Kryst’s passing 10
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - February 2, 2022
By Marane
a. Plaza
Philstar.com
FILIPINA beauty queens Catriona Gray and Pia Wurtzbach paid tribute to the late Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst, who passed away on Sunday, January 30. Miss Universe 2018 mourned the death of her co-beauty queen, posting a photo of herself with Cheslie. Gray captioned her post, “Ches… I can’t believe the news. Rest in peace angel. The world will miss your light.” Catriona then urged the public to reach out to their friends and loved ones who are in need of mental health support, “Let’s reach out to friends and loved ones. These
continue to be isolating times, mental health is so important, let’s not downplay its importance in the lives of every individual.” The two were reportedly close because they were together for a while at the official New York residence of the Miss Universe Organization, when Gray won the Miss Universe 2018 title while Kryst won the Miss USA 2019 title, respectively. Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach also expressed her sadness on her Instagram page, “So sorry, Cheslie… you were so kind. Thank you. You’re an inspiration & loved by so many. Rest in peace Cheslie.” Miss Universe Philippines
2019 Gazini Ganados, who was Cheslie’s batchmate during the 68th Miss Universe pageant held in Georgia, USA last December 8, 2019, also mourned the death of Kryst. Ganados posted on social media, “Woke up to the saddest news! I can’t believe i’ll never see you again. You will be missed and the light you shone so bright. Heaven has gained another angel. Gone too soon!” If you or anyone you know is suffering from suicidal thoughts or tendencies, please know you can talk it out and reach out to someone at Manila’s Suicides Crisis Lines, with landline number (02) 8893-7603 and Globe number 0917-8001123.
Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray with the late Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst
Lunar New Year 2022: How...
From Page 9 tikoy (year cake), which is made from sticky rice and symbolizes unity among family members; pancit/noodles, for long life and represent the eater’s life; and fish and dumplings, which are believed to signify good fortune. Fireworks The Lunar New Year won’t be complete without setting off fireworks and firecrackers or generally just making noise as it is supposed
to drive away bad spirits, bad luck, and the mythical beast called Nian. Filipinos commonly use horns and cooking pots to create noise. 12 round fruits Families also prepare 12 different round fruits as they are believed to bring luck and fortune to them. The New Year’s Eve dinner is perhaps the most important dinner for families — that’s why it’s necessary for all the members of the family to be present for it.
Hope after the rain
An operation walang iwanan: Typhoon Rai/ Odette update LAST December 17, 2021, Gawad Kalinga Philippines (GK) activated Operation Walang Iwanan: Typhoon Rai: Odette (local name) in response to the calamity that struck thousands of Filipino families residing in Visayas and Mindanao. In the wake of such massive and widespread destruction reminiscent of the 2013 Typhoon Haiyan, GK wasted no time in rallying generous donors from all over the world to help our kababayans get back on their feet. Calls for donations rang on the ground and online, and those who possess selfless hearts readily answered. It was through their generosity that GK was able to provide assistance in the form of food packs, relief packs containing sleeping mats, hygiene kits, and protective covers, and funds for roof repairs/replacements to those who are in need. A month after Operation Walang Iwanan: Typhoon Odette began, GK USA has remitted almost $85,000 and scheduled to send an additional $110,000 to GK Philippines to support its relief efforts. To date, GK has distributed more than 16,000 food packs to affected provinces, including Cebu, Negros Occidental, Surigao del Norte, Leyte, and Bohol through the help and dedication of volunteers, donors, and mission friends like GK USA. GK reached as far
as Palawan, crossing seas and mountains to deliver food packs, drinking water, sacks of rice, and clothing to Dumaran and the island town of Araceli, which were among the hardest-hit areas in the province. While GK has made significant progress in its
mission to uplift those who have been severely affected by the devastating storm, the bayanihan is not yet over. GK USA stands by Gawad Kalinga Philippines as it moves towards the next phase of rehabilitation. The Philippines has an average of 20 typhoons every year. Supporting GK USA’s Disaster Relief/ Preparedness Fund allows us to respond quickly when natural calamities strike. A donation of $15 provides a family with emergency relief packs containing food, water, first aid/ hygiene kits, mats and other basic needs as communities struggle with no electricity and no communications. $595 can help restore homes, reinforcing roofs and windows to grant them the safety and security that they deserve. Help GK USA intensify the light of hope that the new year brings by donating today. Visit https://gk-usa.org for more information.
Gold House, other API brands to usher in Year of the Tiger with campaign for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Gold House is partnering with several Asian and Pacific Islander-owned brands for its second annual Lunar New Year campaign for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® to bring good fortune to St. Jude patient families and raise awareness and support for its lifesaving mission: Finding cures. Saving children.® From February 1 through April 30, when shoppers purchase from participating brands, they will have the option to donate to St. Jude during the checkout process. Additionally, a portion of the proceeds from each sale will go toward St. Jude research and treatment of childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Pediatric cancer is a trilliondollar, multi-year problem, requiring millions of supporters coming together to solve. The public and partnerships like this one make it possible for St. Jude to save children together. “Gold House is proud to once again partner with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to direct the collective power of API-founded businesses in the Gold House community toward supporting and advancing its crucial research and treatment of cancer and other catastrophic children’s diseases,” said Mikkoh Chen, Head of Gold House Futures. Last year St. Jude launched its six-year, $11.5 billion strategic plan – the largest in St. Jude history – to create a brighter future for children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases by delivering on its promise to triple its global investments and help more of the 400,000 children with cancer around the world each year.
Thanks to generous supporters, St. Jude has pressed ahead with a vital collaboration with the World Health Organization to increase global access to pediatric cancer medicines, which will allow St. Jude to impact as many as 120,000 young cancer patients in 50 countries by 2027. Participating brands in the Lunar New Year campaign include Covry, Dagne Dover, Duck Duck Books, Fly By Jing, Glow Recipe, Health-Ade, Neuro Gum, Nona Lim, The Qi, Sanzo, and Tochi Snacks. These companies offer a wide array of products, including food, condiments, beverages, books, eyewear, beauty and handbags. Several of them are members of the Gold House Founder Network, a cross-industry community of promising
Asian and Pacific Islander entrepreneurs and business leaders. St. Jude patient families embody the strength and courage of the Tiger. Among the children who are thriving after receiving treatment at St. Jude are Calvin who had an aggressive, noncancerous brain tumor called craniopharyngioma, Max who had retinoblastoma, a cancer of the eye, and Maelin-Kate who was diagnosed with a rare blood disease called Fanconi anemia. A limited-edition Tiger plush toy named after St. Jude patient Maelin-Kate is available via the St. Jude Gift Shop. For additional campaign information, visit stjude.org/ lunarnewyear. (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Release)
Why using your married child as a co-borrower to refinance your house is a bad idea 50% share of your house. According to In re Marriage of Branco, a community property loan used to pay off a preexisting separate loan gives the community an interest in the amount of that loan. In re Atty. Kenneth Marriage of Branco, (1996) 47 UrsUA reyes Cal.App.4th 1621. Thus, the refinance described above allowed for the new loan to pay MANY parents who may have problems refinancing their off the old separate property loan, and for a community house due to low income in interest to arise. retirement or due to low credit Your married child’s score sometimes resort to the spouse can claim that adding idea of having their married your child’s name to the deed child serve as a co-borrower to was not a gift but instead refinance their house As part property your child acquired of the refinancing process, the parents usually adds their adult during marriage as community property because your child children to the deed of the house then have them apply as paid for that interest by getting a mortgage as a co-borrower a co-borrower in a mortgage. during their marriage. Family This is a really bad idea Code Section 760 provides that especially if there your child’s all property, real or personal, marriage is in trouble. This becomes a big problem wherever situated, acquired by a married person during the if your married child ever gets divorced from his or her spouse. marriage while domiciled in this state is community property. Your child’s spouse will have a Procedurally, your married claim for half the community child’s spouse will join you as interest in your house even if your intent was only to use your an indispensable party in the child’s credit to help you qualify divorce case. Once you are joined as a party, you will be for the refinance. served with a summons and Although you can argue that adding your married child’s complaint for joinder into the action. You then would have name to the deed of your to retain your own lawyer to house was only a gift which should be characterized as your defend you in your married child’s divorce case. child’s separate property, the If you can avoid this fact that your married child’s situation and refrain from credit was used to obtain adding your married child the refinance mortgage loan to the deed and serving as a during the marriage which co-borrower in your refinance. was then used to pay off However if refinancing would your prior mortgage creates really make a big difference a community interest on his
Barrister’s Corner
in your mortgage interest and you are willing to give one half ownership interest in your house to your married child, then you may be able to plan around this situation by having your married child execute a post nuptial agreement with his spouse before you enter into the refinance transaction. Although not bullet proof, it should offer you some protection in case your child gets divorced. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APLC. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APC is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com. Visit our website at Kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com.
Eugene recalls humble acting beginnings under renowned directors By Boy
ABundA Philstar.com
I LOVE Eugene Domingo onscreen, onstage and in life. She was recently seen in the 2021 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry, Big Night, topbilled by Christian Bables. But before Eugene became one of local cinema’s acting gems, she was a theater stalwart who worked with well-renowned directors like Tony Mabesa, Behn Cervantes and Ishmael Bernal. Eugene, also known as Uge, intimated that her first acting exposure before the camera in 1994 was with the brilliant Bernal in the movie titled Divided by 2 with Charo Santos. It was produced by the UP Film Center. “It was the most significant to me up to this day,” said Uge as she began reminiscing about her early years in acting during our conversation on my podcast, Who Are You When No One’s Watching?. “Probably, I was 19 then at virgin pa (laughs). Wala pa akong experience na umaarte sa kamera and Charo Santos (now Charo Santos-Concio) was, of course, already Charo Santos. “If you’re aware of Filipino films, then you’re very aware of Ishmael Bernal. Ang role ko ay katulong na mag-bibigay ng sulat sa aking amo, kay Charo Santos. Galing sa labas, ibibigay ko sa kanya na may mga dialogue akong masasaya, pa-biba,” she continued. According to her, she (Advertising Supplement) memorized her lines, put on her makeup and wore a floral duster. Then, the actress was presented to Ishmael who, after examining her look, said, “You change.
“Our lives are like a journey in the open seas.”
Monette AdevA MAglAyA A LIGHTHOUSE is a standing sentinel on high ground, a guide to navigation for those out on the open sea heading in to port. As a very young girl, I learned that from my father, a ship captain in the merchant marine industry for decades. When the seas are rough and huge waves are tossing your boat in the stormy night, that pinprick point of light blinking in the distance brings hope and faith in one’s heart that somehow if you follow the light and hold fast, you will make it home. American lighthouses these days, except for the Boston lighthouse, are fully automated. With satellite technology, GPS and other advances, navigating seems easier for the seafarer. Still, nature can throw its hissy fits. In days gone by however, well before technology made lighthouses poetic yet anachronistic curiosities and light keepers expendable things of the past, men struggled to keep blazing fires on the shore to help seafarers navigate their vessels to port. The light helped sailors to steer clear of rocks, shoals and reefs that threaten to wreck vessels or make them run aground in low tide. The light in the distance meant hope despite pouring rain, swells and dark clouds obscuring the stars at night. Our lives are like a journey in the open seas. Some seasons are calm and uneventful and we coast merrily along in the sunshine and soft breeze. Yet here is this niggling fear that
things can change. And they do, in the blink of an eye. We have heard of cautionary tales and seen far too much wreckage. There are certainly times when we experience those very dark and threatening storms of life when rough seas and tsunami-sized waves engulf us and toss us about like a rag doll. Some call it the dark night of the soul. Through life, these can be a whole host of problems of varying difficulties in the physical, mental and spiritual realms. The hard realities of life stare us in the face. It can be the struggle to make ends meet or keep a roof over our head. It can mean the storm of sorting through, getting cut and bleeding from the sharp shards of broken relationships and heartbreak. For many these days, this storm can be the pervasive and seemingly insurmountable struggle of trying but failing to break the demon’s grip of any form of self-imposed addictions that mutate into a stranglehold of deep depression. It can be the final storm of facing the end of one’s mortality when the doctor gives the diagnosis of terminal illness. The meaning of the words, “Time is of the essence” hits home even if we know that death was never a matter of if, but when. How does one come home to port from weathering all these storms of life? Do you have a lighthouse in the distance that can guide you home through it all?
Or have you strayed so far from your faith that light has gone out from your line of sight? Are you resigned to groping and moping in the darkness and allowing the black hole of self-pity and despair swallow you whole? But should you, if you knew that there is THE LIGHT OF CHRIST that can help you head home? Don’t be daft. Grow a spine and fight the darkness. Fight with all your might to seek that light. Get all the help you can get. Yet in the end, it is YOU that must make the choice to seek Christ who won for us victory and eternal life more than two thousand years ago. Or have you nurtured through the seasons of your life, no matter the weather, this blazing yet steady light and love of Christ burning within you? Do you have that megawatt light in your heart so bright that it lights the path of those in your orbit as well? If so, praise the LORD. Perhaps without meaning to, you have been transformed by Christ’s light and presence and became a lighthouse yourself. Christ’s love is the illuminant that burns so bright and steady that you know that no matter what storm you may be going through, you will come home safe. *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
*** Nota Bene: To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@asianjournalinc.com
It’s a boy for Angeline Quinto
Photo from Instagram/@loveangelinequinto
SINGER Angeline Quinto on Monday, January 31 revealed she is pregnant with a baby boy at a gender reveal party with Vice Ganda. The event was organized by comedian and talk show host Vice Ganda, and premiered on their YouTube channel on Monday. “ITS A BOY!!! Sa wakas ma i- sshare ko na rin sa inyong lahat ang gender ng aking baby (finally, I can share the gender of my baby with you all),” Quinto later posted through her Instagram. She then expressed her excitement and joy in starting her new journey as a mother. The singer and actress first shared the news of her pregnancy in an interview with Boy Abunda on December 10. While Angeline has yet to reveal the identity of that baby’s non-showbiz father, she recently shared that her baby is due in April 2022. The singer-actress also just recently celebrated her 10th showbiz anniversary in 2021. (Inquirer.net)
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - February 2, 2022
Are you a lighthouse?
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond
Angeline Quinto
entertainment
Eugene Domingo
GMA photo
Erase your makeup, change your hair.” “Tanggalin ko daw yung Spraynet, palitan ko yung damit, tapos sabi change again. Palit ako, darker shade. Galing ako sa
pink, red, blue — napunta ako sa brown. Yung buhok ko gulogulo. Inayos ko buong umaga yung makeup ko, nawala at dinungisan pa ko kasi kailangan madungis.”