2 FEBRUARY 16-18, 2022 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL
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From the Front Page
Unperturbed Pacquiao says presidential bid... PAGE 1 all Visayans being the only Visayan candidate among the presidentiables,” he said. Marcos also has a power base in Eastern Visayas through the Romualdezes of Leyte, while his running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio also has a strong following in Mindanao. Ateneo School of Government senior research fellow Michael Yusingo earlier told Philstar.
com that Pacquiao will be “competitive, but not enough to be the clear frontrunner” in the central and southern Philippines. Not backing out In a briefing Monday, the retired boxer said he would focus on going around the country and penetrating the ground or the lower-income D and E segments of the society. When asked to explain his strategy, Pacquiao said his game plan is unique, and he wanted to keep it under
wraps for now. Pacquiao also denied the speculation that he will end his presidential campaign. “I am a fighter at walang atrasan ito. Wala sa vocabulary ko na aatras para sa bayan,” he told reporters. (I am a fighter and there is no backing out. Backing out for the country is not in my vocabulary.) Pacquiao’s presidential bid is centered on fighting corruption and poverty. g
Masks still required in schools...
PAGE 1 apply until at least the end of February, which is when the state will review guidelines. “We will, today, not make a change,” Dr. Mark Ghaly, state secretary of health and human services, said of the possibility to lift masking requirements in schools. “Two weeks from now we will reassess the data and we will look at the information on case rates, confirm case numbers will continue to come down.” Despite the state’s announcement, individual counties still have control over mandates within their jurisdictions, allowing them to uphold masking mandates or follow the state’s recommendation. However, public health officials, continue to encourage indoor masking to mitigate the spread. Ghaly said, “As we move from a requirement to a strong recommendation, I keep saying it that way because it’s important to understand that we’re not lifting a masking concept in California. We aren’t going from masks one day [to] don’t mask the next.” Counties confirmed to follow
the state’s lead and lift indoor mask mandates include Ventura, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. On Tuesday, Feb. 15, Los Angeles County — which has been one of the many counties most severely hit with coronavirus surges since the beginning of the pandemic — announced that it will lift its outdoor mask mandate at midnight for mega-events and outdoors at K-12 schools and child care institutions. However, indoor masks in other public spaces in LA County will remain in place until the virustransmission rate decreases to and maintains at the “moderate” level for two weeks, according to federal recommendations, or until COVID-19 vaccines have been available to children under 5 years old for eight weeks. Earlier this month, LA County Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer said that the county will be considered out of the current COVID-19 surge when hospitalizations due to Covid will drop below 2,500 for seven days in a row, which the county achieved on Wednesday,
Feb. 9. As of Tuesday, 1,995 people were hospitalized across the county due to COVID-19, and according to trends over the last week, Ferrer said that the county could reach “moderate” level within the next month. In the Bay Area, most counties will follow the state’s mask mandate, except Santa Clara County which will not relax its indoor mask mandate. “Masks are very important additional layer and have been throughout the pandemic,” Santa Clara County Health Director Sara Cody said in a statement. “We need to layer up, need many layers in place when there’s a lot of COVID circulating right now. We are still at the high levels of community transmission, we are in the CDC red, and that’s why we are still requiring masks indoors.” In San Francisco, masks will still be required in city facilities, like San Francisco City Hall as well as “libraries, recreation centers, offices, and other service sites operated by the City,” according to a statement. g
US turns over port facility to...
SFIO receives letter of interest from US EXIM Bank for up to $28.75-M in debt financing STARFLEET Innotech, Inc. has received a letter of interest from the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM), in support of SFIO’s real estate development projects in the Philippines. In their letter, EXIM, the official export credit agency of the United States, expressed interest in extending financing of up to $28.75 million, towards SFIO’s medical and retirement resort in Montemaria, Batangas, just south of Metro Manila in the Philippines. Potential debt financing from EXIM would be eligible for a maximum repayment term of seven years. This follows a series of partnerships and exploratory talks SFIO has spearheaded
towards non-dilutive debt financing for its various projects. SFIO is currently engaged with a number of local banks in the Philippines to secure similar financing arrangements for their real estate developments, including a bayside, eco-friendly tech village in Batangas. These projects play a crucial role in the global asset
management company’s strategy of collaborative innovation towards building better communities. Profits from these high-yield projects are intended to be reinvested into future growth, helping carry the group towards their plans to uplist from the US OTC Markets to the NASDAQ by 2024. (Advertising Supplement)
PAGE 1
Variava said. collective commitment of our Marine deputy commandant nations to invest in long-term, Brig. Gen. Raul Jesus Caldez shared success,” U.S. embassy said the grant testifies the trust Chargé d’ Affaires Heather and friendship between the
Philippines and the U.S. as well as their shared interest in regional cooperation and mutual capability development. (Pia LeeBrago/Philstar.com)
SNACK TIME. Residents, including children, flock to a mobile food stall selling siomai (Chinese dumplings) and sago at gulaman (tapioca with gelatin) near a public park along Gov. D. Mangubat Avenue, Barangay Burol Main in Dasmariñas City, Cavite on Tuesday, Februay 15. Movement restrictions on minors have been gradually eased as the government started inoculating children aged 5 to 17 against COVID-19. PNA photo by Gil Calinga
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CALL FOR GREEN SOLUTIONS. Members of the environment watchdog, EcoWaste Coalition, urge lawmakers to pass laws that will address problems brought about by climate change at the Rajah Sulayman Park, Malate, Manila on Monday, February 14. The Senate in January passed on third and final reading Senate Bill 2425 or the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which seeks to amend the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, which will mandate large companies to adopt and implement policies on the proper management of plastic packaging wastes. PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.
Pulse Asia: Marcos’ lead grows, VP Robredo’s... PAGE 1
vice president posted doubledigit voter preferences across geographic areas and socioeconomic classes, with Mindanao being the sole exception at just 8% support. Robredo’s numbers in December were noted for their clear increases over the last surveys, indicating steady momentum. Within the time period the survey’s interviews were conducted, the Commission on Elections unanimously dismissed a petition to cancel the certificate of candidacy of former Senator Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. over his tax offense conviction. In that same frame, Marcos refused to join other presidential candidates in the taped Jessica Soho Presidential Interviews because he claimed Soho was “biased” against him and his family. Pulse Asia also noted that in one forum he did attend, Marcos said he has no plans to release his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth or SALN to the public because he claimed it would only be “used for political attacks.” As in the last survey, Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno still had the highest second-choice voter preference or among voters whose first choice for the presidency decides to withdraw
from the elections, notching 24% of second-choice votes. But when it came to firstchoice votes, Moreno was still tied with Sen. Manny Pacquiao with just 8% of the total vote. Sen. Panfilo Lacson was last among the top 5 candidates with just 4%. Marcos’ lead on his rivals was clear across all regions and all social classes. In both Metro Manila and Mindanao, he took more than half of voters with 61% and 64%, respectively. Sara Duterte, Tito Sotto lead vice presidential race In the vice-presidential race, Pulse Asia noted that Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte is the frontrunner in the May 2022 vicepresidential race while Senate President Vicente Sotto III posts the highest second-choice voting figure. Surveys serve as a snapshot of public sentiment during the survey period and are hardly conclusive pictures of the actual election results later on. These have historically changed over time, but serve as guides for candidates and their campaign teams. The national campaign period prescribed by the Commission on Elections is set to continue for 85 more days until the elections on May 9. “A small majority of likely voters (53%) have a complete
slate for the May 2022 senatorial election; 13 out of the 64 senatorial candidates have a statistical chance of winning, with Mr. Raffy Tulfo enjoying solo 1st place (66.1%),” Pulse Asia also said of the senatorial race. “Most likely voters (62%) are aware of the party-list system; nine (9) party-list groups succeed in surpassing the 2.0% voter preference threshold needed to secure at least one (1) congressional seat.” For the nationwide survey, Pulse Asia interviewed 2,400 Filipino adults aged 18 years old and above and reported a ± 2% error margin at the 95% confidence level. Subnational estimates for each of the geographic areas covered in the survey also have a ± 4% error margin, also at 95% confidence level. “Pulse Asia Research’s pool of academic fellows takes full responsibility for the design and conduct of the survey, as well as for analyses it makes based on the survey data,” the report read. “In keeping with our academic nature, no religious, political, economic, or partisan group influenced any of these processes. Pulse Asia Research undertakes pre-election surveys on its own without any party singularly commissioning the research effort.” g
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Why millions on Medicaid are at risk of...
PAGE 1 ends, state Medicaid officials face a huge job of reevaluating each person’s eligibility and connecting with people whose jobs, income, and housing might have been upended in the pandemic. People could lose their coverage if they earn too much or don’t provide the information their state needs to verify their income or residency. Medicaid provides coverage to a vast population, including seniors, the disabled, pregnant women, children, and adults who are not disabled. However, income limits vary by state and eligibility group. For example, in 2021 a single adult without children in Virginia, a state that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, had to earn less than $1,482 a month to qualify. In Texas, which has not expanded its program, adults without children don’t qualify for Medicaid. State Medicaid agencies often send renewal documents by mail, and in the best of times letters go unreturned or end up at the wrong address. As this tsunami of work approaches, many state and local offices are short-staffed. The Biden administration is giving states a year to go through the process, but officials say financial pressures will push them to go faster. Congress gave states billions of dollars to support the coverage requirement. But the money will dry up soon after the end of the public emergency — and much faster than officials can review the eligibility of millions of
people, state Medicaid officials say. In Colorado, officials expect they’ll need to review the eligibility of more than 500,000 people, with 30% of them at risk of losing benefits because they haven’t responded to requests for information and 40% not qualifying based on income. In Medicaid, “typically, there’s always been some amount of folks who lose coverage for administrative reasons for some period of time,” said Daniel Tsai, director of the CMS Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services. “We want to do everything possible to minimize that.” In January the eligibility of roughly 120,000 people in Utah, including 60,000 children, was in question, according to Jeff Nelson, who oversees eligibility at the Utah Department of Health. He said that 80% to 90% of those people were at risk because of incomplete renewals. “More often than not, it’s those that just simply have not returned information to us,” he said. “Whether they didn’t receive a renewal or they’ve moved, we don’t know what those reasons are.” Arizona Medicaid director Jami Snyder said 500,000 people are at risk of losing Medicaid for the same reasons. She said that processing all the eligibility redeterminations takes at least nine months and that the end of the federal funding bump will add pressure to move faster. However, she said, “we’re not going to compromise people’s access to care for that reason.”
Still, officials and groups who work with people living in poverty worry that many lowincome adults and children — typically at higher risk for health problems — will fall through the cracks and become uninsured. Most might qualify for insurance through government programs, the ACA insurance marketplaces, or their employers — but the transition into other coverage isn’t automatic. “Even short-term disruptions can really upend a family,” said Jessie Mandle, deputy director of Voices for Utah Children, an advocacy group. ‘More Marginalized People’ Low-income people could still be in crisis when the public health emergency ends, said Stephanie Burdick, a Medicaid enrollee in Utah who advocates on behalf of patients with traumatic brain injuries. In general, being uninsured can limit access to medical care. COVID vaccination rates among Medicaid enrollees are lower than those of the general population in multiplestates. That puts them at higher risk for severe disease if they get infected and for exorbitant medical bills if they lose their insurance. “They’re more marginalized people,” Burdick said. She said she worries “that they’re going to fall off and that they’re going to be more excluded from the health care system in general and just be less likely to get care.” Burdick knows this firsthand as someone who
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experienced traumatic brain injury. Before COVID-19, she would periodically lose her Medicaid benefits because of byzantine rules requiring her to requalify every month. The gaps in coverage kept her from seeing certain specialists and obtaining necessary medicines. “I really do remember being at the pharmacy not being able to afford my medication and just sobbing because I didn’t know what to do about it,” she said. “It was horrible.” The COVID Medicaid continuous coverage requirement was enacted under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which gave states an increase of 6.2 percentage points in federal funds if they agreed to maintain eligibility levels in place at the time. The boost meant tens of billions of additional dollars would flow to states, estimates from KFF show. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services can extend the public health emergency in 90day increments; it is currently set to end April 16. Groups that advocate for the needs of low-income Americans say the renewal tidal wave will require outreach rivaling that of almost a decade ago, when the ACA expanded Medicaid and created new private insurance options for millions of people. Independent research published in September by the Urban Institute, a left-leaning think tank based in Washington, D.C., estimated that 15 million people younger than 65 could lose their Medicaid benefits once the public health emergency ends. Nearly all of
them would be eligible for other insurance options, including heavily subsidized plans on the ACA marketplaces. Tsai said the 15 million estimate provides a “helpful grounding point to motivate everybody” but declined to say whether the Biden administration has its own estimates of how many people could lose benefits. “I don’t think anyone knows exactly what will happen,” he said. Tsai and state officials said they have worked hand in hand for months to prevent unnecessary coverage loss. They’ve tried to ensure enrollees’ contact information is up to date, monitored rates of unreturned mail, worked with insurers covering Medicaid enrollees, and conducted “shadow checks” to get a sense of who doesn’t qualify, even if they can’t disenroll people. Some enrollees could be renewed automatically if states verify they qualify by using data from other sources, such as the Internal Revenue Service and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. For others, though, the first step entails finding those at risk of losing their coverage so they can enroll in other health benefits. “It’s a big question mark how many of those would actually be enrolled,” said Matthew Buettgens, a senior fellow in Urban’s Health Policy Center and author of the September report. One factor is cost; ACA or job-based insurance could bring higher out-ofpocket expenses for the former Medicaid enrollees.
“I am particularly worried about non-English speakers,” said Sara Cariano, a policy specialist with the Virginia Poverty Law Center. “Those vulnerable populations I think are at even higher risk of falling out improperly.” The law center is planning enrollment events once the unwinding begins, said Deepak Madala, its director of the Center for Healthy Communities and Enroll Virginia. Missouri, already sluggish in enrolling eligible people into the state’s newly expanded Medicaid program, had 72,697 pending Medicaid applications as of Jan. 28. Enrollment groups worry the state won’t be able to efficiently handle renewals for nearly all its enrollees when the time comes. By December, the Medicaid rolls in the state had swelled to almost 1.2 million people, the highest level since at least 2004. The state — one of several with histories of removing from the program people who were still eligible — did not say how many people could lose their benefits. “I want to make sure that everybody that is entitled to and is eligible for MO HealthNet is getting the coverage that they need — all the way from babies to older individuals to individuals on disability,” said Iva Eggert-Shepherd of the Missouri Primary Care Association, which represents community health centers. ‘No End in Sight’ Some people argue the current protections have been in place long enough. PAGE 5
PAMPUBLIKONG PAUNAWA AWTORIDAD SA PABAHAY NG COUNTY NG SAN DIEGO PLANO NG AHENSYA NG PAMPUBLIKONG PABAHAY TAUNANG PLANO PARA SA TAONG PISKAL 2022-2023 Ito ay isang paunawa na ang Lupon ng mga Komisyoner ng Awtoridad sa Pabahay ng County ng San Diego ay magsasagawa ng pampublikong pagdinig sa Abril 6, 2022, sa alas 9:00 ng umaga. sa Room 310 ng County Administration Center, 1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA. Ang patotoo ng publiko ay maaaring marinig sa iminungkahing Taunang Plano para sa Taong Pananalapi 2022-2023, Pampublikong Pagtanggap sa Pabahay at Patakaran sa Patuloy na Pagsaklaw, at Patakaran sa Pagpipilian sa Pabahay na Voucher Seksyon 8 Planong Administratibo. Sa Pebrero 18, 2022, ang mga tinukoy na Plano ay ilalabas para sa isang 45-araw na pampublikong pagsusuri at panahon ng komento. Ang patotoo ng publiko ay maaaring marinig sa iminungkahing Taunang Plano para sa Taong Pananalapi 20222023, Pampublikong Pagtanggap sa Pabahay at Patakaran sa Patuloy na Pagsaklaw, at Patakaran sa Pagpipilian sa Pabahay na Voucher Seksyon 8 Planong Administratibo. Ang Plano ng Ahensya ng Pampublikong PAbahay (Public Housing Agency o PHA) ay isang komprehensibong gabay sa mga patakaran, programa, operasyon, at estratehiya ng PHA para matugunan ang mga pangangailangan at layunin ng lokal na pabahay. Ang Pampublikong Pagtanggap sa Pabahay at Patakaran sa Patuloy na Pagsaklaw, at Patakaran sa Pagpipilian sa Pabahay na Voucher Seksyon 8 Planong Administratibo ay ang mga dokumentong namamahala para sa pangangasiwa ng PHA sa programang pampublikong pabahay nito at Seksyon 8 na programa. Sa halip na personal na pagdalo, ang mga miyembro ng publiko ay mahigpit na hinihikayat na magsumite ng kanilang mga komento sa iminungkahing Taunang Plano ng Ahensya ng Pampublikong Pabahay para sa Taong Piskal 2022-2023, Pampublikong Pagtanggap sa Pabahay at Patakaran sa Patuloy na Pagsaklaw, at Patakaran sa Pagpipilian sa Pabahay na Voucher Seksyon 8 Administratibomg Plano sa pamamagitan ng e-mail sa publiccomment@sdcounty.ca.gov. Ang lahat ng komentong isinumite ay ipinapadala sa mga miyembro ng Lupon ng mga Komisyoner at Punong Administratibong Opisyal para sa kanilang pagsasaalang-alang. Ang mga komento ay tatanggapin hanggang sa katapusan ng pulong. Simula sa Pebrero 18, 2022, ang mga natukoy na dokumento at mga sumusuportang dokumento ay maa-akses kaagad sa www.sdhcd.org at makukuha para suriin sa mga sumusunod na lokasyon: County ng San Diego Mga Serbisyo sa Pagpapaunlad ng Pabahay at Komunidad 3989 Ruffin Road San Diego, CA 92123 Towncentre Manor Apartments 434 F St., Apt. 101 Chula Vista, CA 91911 Dorothy St. Manor Apartments 778 Dorothy St., Apt. A Chula Vista, CA 91911 Melrose Manor Apartments 1678 Melrose Ave., Apt.13 Chula Vista, CA 91911 L St. Manor Apartments 584 L St., Apt. F Chula Vista, CA 91911 Website ng Mga Serbisyo sa Pagpapaunlad ng Pabahay at Komunidad: www.sdhcd.org Ang mga nakasulat na komento ay maaaring isumite bago ang pampublikong pagdinig at sa loob ng 45-araw na panahon ng komento na magtatapos sa Abril 6, 2022 sa: County ng San Diego Housing and Community Development Services Attn: Anthony McCall 3989 Ruffin Road, San Diego, CA 92123 2/16/22 CNS-3555649# ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)
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Filipinos pick health over love...
PAGE 1 although it rises with education among both sexes. Women who picked health were highest among college graduates with 64 percent, followed by junior high school graduates (62 percent), elementary graduates (53 percent) and non-elementary graduates (48 percent). A similar pattern runs among male respondents. The survey also showed that 84 percent of the respondents said they are more attracted to a person’s brain than body, while 15 percent said the opposite. SWS said 53 percent said they have a “very happy” love life, 28 percent said it “could be happier” and 18 percent said they “do not have a love life.” Compared to 2019, those “very happy” with their love life hardly changed from 54 percent. Those who said “it could be happier” fell by 4 percent and those who said they “do not have a love life” rose by 4 percent. Married men and women re-
ported that they have a happier love life than their single and livein partner counterparts. The poll noted that 68 percent of married men said they have a “very happy” love life, followed by 65 percent of those with a live-in partner and 26 percent of those who were single. SWS said 62 percent of married women said they have a “very happy” love life, followed by those with a live-in partner at 60 percent and those who are single at 27 percent. The survey showed that 28 percent of married people wish their love life “could be happier,” the same sentiment as 18 percent of single men and 33 percent of men with a live-in partner. Thirty-five percent of married women said their love life “could be happier.” The same opinion was shared by 38 percent of women with a live-in partner and 16 percent of single women. Married men and those with live-in partners who admitted they have no love life make up 2
percent each and single men, 56 percent. Three percent of married women said they have no love life. The same sentiment is shared by 2 percent of women with a live-in partner and 56 percent of those who are single. SWS noted that happiness in their love life was higher among older men, with those below 35 years old saying they have a “very happy” love life ranging 59 to 60 percent of respondents, compared to 40 to 52 percent of male respondents ages 18 to 34 years old. Among women, those 25 to 54 years old said they have a “very happy” love life, making up 51 to 65 percent of respondents, 47 percent of respondents in the 18 to 24 years old group and 41 percent of those 55 years old and above. SWS did face-to-face interviews with 1,440 respondents from December 12 to 16. The survey has a ±2.6 percent sampling margin error. g
More than 9,000 overseas visitors entered PH... PAGE 1
continue to support our partners in achieving this goal.” “International travel and tourism saw an unprecedented decline in visitor arrivals amid the pandemic; the re-
opening of Philippines’ borders to visitors from visa-free countries will surely help in improving our numbers,” she added. Fully vaccinated tourists are required to present proof of
vaccination as approved by the country’s pandemic task force or the World Health Organization, as well as a negative RT-PCR swab test result taken within 48 hours before their departure in their
Why millions on Medicaid are at risk of... PAGE 4 “There’s no end in sight. For two years, it’s still a quoteunquote ‘emergency,’” said Stewart Whitson, a senior fellow with the Foundation for Government Accountability. The conservative think tank has argued that states can legally begin trimming people from Medicaid rolls without jeopardizing their funding. “This is the kind of problem that just grows worse every day,” he said of not removing ineligible people. “At the beginning of the pandemic, people were in a different position than they are now. And so responsible legislators and government officials in each state have to look at the facts as they are now.” Tsai said “it’s quite clear to us” that for states to be eligible for the COVID relief bill’s enhanced Medicaid funding, they must
keep people enrolled through the emergency. “Those two things are interlinked,” he said. Meanwhile, states still have no idea when the renewal process will begin. HHS has said that it would give states 60 days’ notice before ending the emergency period. The additional Medicaid funds would last until the end of the quarter when the emergency expires — if it ended in April, for example, the money would last until June 30. “It’s hard to do a communication plan when you say, ‘You’ve got 60 days, here you go,’” Nelson of Utah’s Department of Health said. Colorado officials had debated sending letters to enrollees when the public health emergency was nearing its scheduled end on Jan. 16 but held off, expecting that it would be extended. HHS announced a
90-day extension only two days before it was set to expire. “Those kinds of things are really confusing to members,” Medicaid Director Tracy Johnson said. “OK, your coverage is going to end. Oh, just kidding. No, it’s not.” (Rachana Pradhan/Kaiser Health News) KHN senior Colorado correspondent Markian Hawryluk and Midwest correspondent Bram Sable-Smith contributed to this report. This story was produced by KHN (Kaiser Health News), a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation. g
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OPINION
Digital vote buying, laundering
FEATURES
DIGITAL technology has facilitated many aspects of life, unfortunately including illegal activities. In this election season, digital technology is being used for unfair campaigning including spreading fake news, revising history, trolling rivals and sowing scurrilous disinformation. It may also be used for money laundering and vote-buying during the election period, the Anti-Money Laundering Council has warned. In an advisory, the AMLC reminded banks and financial institutions to conduct customer due diligence measures and file reports on suspicious transactions, as stipulated in the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001. Also covered by the AMLC advisory are foreign exchange dealers, money changers, remittance companies, pawnshops, jewelry dealers, casinos, offshore gaming operators, and real estate brokers and developers. The task isn’t as daunting as it seems. The covered institutions and transactions can watch out for red flags such as large transactions within a short period of time, and those that seem inconsistent with a customer’s financial profile or business. Also suspicious are “unjustified” large cash deposits and withdrawals, transactions that are unusual when compared with everyday dealings, and structured cash deposits and money transfers. The use of multiple accounts by a single person
as well as the use of several money service businesses to send funds are also red flags. On Dec. 31 last year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas had issued a similar warning about vote buying through online banking and mobile wallet applications.The absence of a law regulating campaign finance has made election spending an ideal way of laundering dirty money. In certain cases, those directly engaged in jueteng, smuggling and drug trafficking have used their illegal earnings to propel themselves to elective office. Others have seen their personal wealth rise through hefty contributions from supporters who often become influence peddlers if the candidates win. Such assets are not declared and are beyond the reach of the tax police.While the Commission on Elections has been largely toothless in enforcing caps on campaign spending, banks and financial institutions can do their part in curbing illegal campaign activities and money laundering. financial transactions in the country more difficult, This would also help the country get out of the affecting business dealings and the remittance of money laundering gray list of the Financial Ac- overseas Filipino workers’ earnings. tion Task Force. Inclusion in the gray list makes Banks that exert effort to reinforce the electoral
Editorial
Babe’s Eye View BABE ROMUALDEZ FROM where I sit, it’s really looking good for our country in 2022. There are clear indications that the country is poised to have brighter prospects by the second quarter this year. Last week, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported that the economy grew 7.7 percent year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2021, bringing the annual growth to 5.6 percent, which was better than expected. The latest report from IHS Markit also projected continued growth in the next decade, with the country’s GDP hitting $1 trillion by 2033. IHS Markit also predicted a 7 percent growth for the country this year as the economy moves toward normalization, driven by private consumption spending and strong growth in urban household incomes. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Chua articulated the optimism that people are beginning to feel, saying that – the door to our economic recovery is now fully open – and hopeful-
A LENI Robredo-Sara Duterte combination winning in the May elections may be unthinkable to rabid partisans and most poll analysts, but with politics being the art of the impossible, such an unlikely pair could just be the key to national unity and economic recovery. We are talking of a scenario where voters ignore party tags, which have become meaningless anyway, and by some political alchemy pick from opposing camps – maybe Robredo (Independent) for president and Duterte (Lakas-CMD) for vice president. Their working as partners could help bring together disparate partisan forces, tone down divisive diatribes and heal the wounds of political combat. Pumping blood back into the anemic economy could then become easier. Surveys show that the following of the two ladies is substantial enough to make them win without having to ride on the supposed drawing power of their partners. They could win
process and promote good governance will reap the returns in the form of a grateful public’s trust – a critical element in banking strength. (Philstar. com)
It’s looking good for the Philippines in 2022 ly will return to pre-pandemic levels by third quarter 2022. “We are on the correct path to economic recovery,” Secretary Chua added – a sentiment shared by analysts, especially with COVID-19 cases showing a steady decline. In fact, OCTA Research sees the number of COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region – which has been placed under a less strict Alert Level 2 – going down to 500 a day by the end of February. The vaccination of children aged 5 to 11, which will start tomorrow, is also another positive development in protecting a wider segment of the population that now includes children and other vulnerable groups. With the COVID-19 situation becoming more manageable, the Department of Tourism is ready to welcome fully vaccinated tourists starting this Feb. 10, as this is something that they have long been preparing for since the pandemic hit in 2020, which compelled the government to close its borders. More than 288,000 tourism workers or close to 90 percent have been fully vaccinated with about 13,500 hav-
ing received booster shots, and they are all raring to get back to work. The move will significantly contribute to job restoration primarily in tourism-dependent communities, and in the reopening of businesses that had to shut down, said Tourism Secretary Berna Puyat, who also assured that health and safety protocols in every destination will remain in place to prevent virus transmission. There has also been a lot of interest in the Philippines as an investment destination, with many opportunities opening up for investors. During the virtual forum organized by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority with US investors, we highlighted that with our ecozones providing the necessary infrastructure and incentives, the Philippines can already engage in climate-ready investments and infrastructure, supply chain resilience, technology advancements, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. US embassy chargé d’affaires Heather Variava noted that investments in the health and manufacturing sectors are areas where US firms and in-
vestors may have expertise to offer. “We know that the Philippines is looking for additional investment across the board especially in 5G, internet, clean energy, health and security areas,” she said. While the coronavirus may still be around for many years with new variants emerging over time, scientists are also working non-stop in developing vaccines, treatments and medicines to fight COVID-19. A booster shot significantly increases protection against many variants, including Delta and Omicron. “Vaccination and booster doses substantially decrease the risk of death from COVID-19,” said CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky. According to CDC data, those who have received boosters are 97 times less likely to die of COVID-19 than those who have not been vaccinated. Additionally, the risk of death for unvaccinated individuals is 14 times higher compared to those who have received the primary series of vaccines, Dr. Walensky disclosed. This clearly underscores the protection that vaccines provide and their significant contribu-
tion in preventing poor outcomes such as hospitalization and even death. Scientists from Bharat Biotech, maker of COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin, are also developing intranasal booster doses. An intranasal vaccine is sprayed into the nostrils and inhaled, making it easier to administer, especially during mass vaccinations. It’s also cost effective because it will not require needles and syringes. According to Bharat Biotech, the nasal vaccine stimulates immune responses in the nose which is the site of infection, making it very effective in blocking infection and virus transmission. Aside from vaccines, there are also medications such as Paxlovid and Molnupiravir that are used for treating those at serious risk of illness due to COVID-19. Paxlovid especially has been shown to be active against prevailing variants of concern including Delta and Omicron, reducing the risk of hospitalization or death by 88.9 percent when given within three days after the onset of symptoms. The Philippines in fact is
looking at the possibility of producing its own vaccines and establishing a virology center, and a bill seeking to create the Philippine Center for Disease Control and Prevention – similar to the US CDC – will bring us closer to this aspiration. Many are optimistic that we are on track to recovery despite the challenges that we have faced since the onset of the pandemic in 2020. We are certain of having clean and credible elections in May, which would usher in a fresh start with a new set of leaders taking over the reins of government. We should all pray that the elections will not be marred by people who have their own personal agenda instead of thinking of the country. No matter what the outcome is, we should learn to accept it and be ready to move forward and unify our country. *** 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
Is a Leni-Sara mix possible on May 9?
Postscript
FEDERICO PASCUAL JR.
Philstar.com photo
on their own. That they are both women should not detract from their individual winning potential, as they would be voted for separately, and not as a pair. Without block voting, they would not be mutually exclusive. Even if President Duterte has an iron-clad deal with the Marcoses (he says he has none), his daughter Sara is known to have a mind of her own, meaning she is not bound by any agreement of the father. As for ex-senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., he said after his teaming up with Sara Duterte was announced last November that they have no deal or agreement about term-sharing, that they would not split the six-year term in case they both win. It is curious that President Duterte said in his Jan. 25 report to the nation that one of the leading presidential aspirants is very corrupt and that all but one of the frontrunners in the race are hounded by negative issues. He did not mention any candidate by name. On Wednesday, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda announced he was backing Robredo for president. That move surprised many since he was presumed to
be also supporting Marcos (just because he is paired with Sara). After Salceda announced his support for Robredo and reiterated his backing Sara’s VP bid, she said that she and Marcos had agreed not to refuse endorsements “whether individually or collectively.” Their teamup is not that tight? Before she consented to run with Marcos, Sara was being pushed by Salceda to run for president, but she agreed instead to be the VP nominee of the Lakas-CMD party of former president Gloria M. Arroyo. Salceda announced that he had been talking with a group of financial managers and representatives of big foreign investors, who he said expressed confidence that if Robredo becomes president the local economy would be in good hands. Economic challenges await new president The Philippines posted a 7.7 percent 4th quarter growth in gross domestic product in 2021, resulting in full-year growth of 5.6 percent. It was slightly better than expected, considering the mobility restrictions imposed to stem the COVID-19 surges traced to the Omicron variant.
Most economists believe, however, that recovery prospects remain dim. For certain, the winner in this year’s presidential race will inherit a challenging fiscal situation. As of November 2021, the country’s debt reached P11.93 trillion as the administration borrowed more money to fund support measures it had to roll out during lockdowns while also dealing with falling revenue collection during the pandemic. With the country’s debt projected to reach P13.4 trillion in 2022, the incoming administration will inherit a substantial debt bill that could curtail its fulfilling campaign promises and sustaining the modest economic momentum gained in the last quarter of 2021. As we inch closer to May 9, we will need a leader who can walk the tightrope while putting the pandemic in check and getting more businesses to open safely and restore jobs and incomes. We’ll need someone who has the head to understand the economics involved in running a country and the heart to put the needs of the country first. We’ll need someone strong, steadfast and who can make the tough
calls and sacrifices to shepherd us into a brighter future. On Friday, Robredo was endorsed for the presidency by at least 163 Filipino economists, including five former chiefs of the National Economic and Development Authority who served in the previous and the present administrations. Calling themselves “Economists for Leni,” they said in a statement: “At this time when our country is struggling to recover from its deepest economic crisis since the 1980s, we believe that government’s role has never been more indispensable. We are convinced that only a competent leadership can restore the people’s trust and confidence in government, enabling it to effectively preside over the collective effort of economic recovery in the wake of the pandemic.” Among the signatories were former NEDA chiefs Ernesto Pernia (who served under Duterte), Winnie Monsod, Cielito Habito, Dante Canlas and Emmanuel Esguerra. Other prominent economists supporting Robredo are Diwa Guinigundo, former deputy governor of the Bangko Sen-
tral ng Pilipinas; Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo and two former presidents of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (the government’s official think tank), Gilberto Llanto and Mario Lamberte. The economists cited Robredo’s “solid” background in economics and law, pointing out that this will be “necessary for crafting policies to accelerate economic recovery.” Before entering politics in 2013, Robredo was an alternative lawyer and economist who obtained her economics degree from the University of the Philippines-Diliman in 1986. They said Robredo has proven her track record for running “efficient and responsive” pandemic response programs despite the measly annual budget of the Office of the Vice President. (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.
*** NB: All Postscripts are also archived at ManilaMail.com. Author is on Twitter as @ FDPascual. Email: fdp333@yahoo.com
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SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 16-18, 2022
Dateline PhiliPPines
7
Anakalusugan, 1-UTAK forge strategicalliance to push for wider health benefits for PUV drivers
‘HEARTS’ FOR SALE. A woman vendor sells heart-shaped gift items to a motorist at a street near the Rajah Sulayman Park in Manila on Monday, February 14. Flowers, chocolates, and other gifts are being sold as the country celebrates Valentine’s Day. PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.
Some Filipinos flee Ukraine capital amid threat of Russian invasion by Xave
GreGorio Philstar.com
MANILA — Some Filipinos have fled the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv amid the looming threat of a Russian invasion of the former Soviet state, feared by Western intelligence officials to happen on Wednesday, February 16. Shirley Santosildes, head of United Filipino Global in Ukraine, told ANC’s “Rundown” on Tuesday that some Filipinos have headed nearly 500 kilometers west of Kyiv to the city of Lviv, where a number of foreign governments, including the US, have relocated their embassies in light of the conflict. “Lviv is the safest place that we can go to. So far, some Filipinos are already there,” Santosildes said in Filipino. Santosildes, however, remains in Kyiv as the school that she teaches at assures her that a Russian invasion would not happen, despite the continued massing of Moscow’s troops at its border with Ukraine. ‘All political propaganda’ “We’re still working offline, face-to-face. Our school still has no order for us to leave. They tell us not to worry, that nothing like that will happen and that it’s all just political propaganda,” she
said. She added that the Filipino community in Ukraine is regularly meeting with the Philippine Embassy in Poland, which is offering free flights back to Manila. Around eight Filipinos have so far availed of the free flight back home, Santosildes said. Unlike the UK, the US, Canada, South Korea and Japan which have all called on their nationals to leave Ukraine as tensions continue to rise, the Philippines has yet to issue a similar advisory to some 380 Filipinos living in the eastern European country. The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs said Saturday that most of the Filipinos living in Ukraine are in Kyiv, which is “far from the eastern border near Russia.” Filipinos are “encouraged to contact the embassy, report any untoward incident they might observe in their respective areas, and continue monitoring their Filipino friends through social media.” Why is there conflict? Ukraine had long been a part of the Russian empire for centuries before becoming a Soviet state and then becoming independent following the fall of the USSR in 1991. It has since moved to forge closer ties with the West.
The current conflict is a continuation of Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula and its backing of a separatist rebellion in the eastern part of Ukraine in 2014, in response to the removal of Viktor Yanukovych as Ukrainian president due to his rejection of an association agreement with the European Union in favor of closer ties with Moscow. Ukraine, under the administration of comedian-turned-president Volodymyr Zelensky, has asked the West for help and has wanted to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance of 30 states. These moves have miffed Russia under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, who has ordered troops and military equipment to gather near its border with Ukraine. Russia appeared to open the door Monday to a diplomatic resolution of the deepening Ukraine standoff, as the United States said it believed Putin had yet to make a final decision on invading the eastern European country. While Russia said it was ending some military drills, signaling a possible easing of the crisis, in Washington the alert level remained high — with a top official calling the threat of invasion “more real than ever before.” g
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
HEALTHCARE advocate Anakalusugan Party-list and 1-United Transport Koalisyon (1-UTAK) on Tuesday, February 15 signed a strategic alliance accord to push for wider health protection for eligible public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers nationwide. “Our public transport drivers are frontliners, too. They are exposed both to COVID-19 as well as common health dangers as part of their everyday essential work,” Anakalusugan nominee Ray Reyes said. 1-UTAK chairman Vigor Mendoza II said the transport group has seen the commitment of Anakalusugan in pushing for key legislative measures that promote and protect the health of Filipinos. “Anakalusugan has been at the forefront of efforts to fight for free medical checkups, removal of VAT on maintenance medicines, and regularization and wider benefits of health workers, including our barangay health workers who are our first responders at the community level,” Mendoza said. “For the transport sector, we believe Anakalusugan is our best partner in Congress to push for wider benefits for our PUV drivers,” Mendoza added. Anakalusugan nominee Ray Roquero said as part of its advocacy to extend healthcare to all, the party-list will be extending its membership cards to bona fide members of 1-UTAK. The cards have the following benefits for PUV drivers: free teleconsultation, priority in case AnaKalusugan mobile clinics visit their respective areas, and priority in case there will be a Kalusugan Kard implemented in their cities or provinces. PUV drivers who have to deal with heavy traffic, pollution and changing weather almost every day, Anakalusugan nominee Gina Mandanas said, are most vulnerable to chronic health conditions such as hypertension, sleep apnea, diabetes, muscular-
skeletal problems, among others. “These medical conditions do not only impair the driving ability of drivers, but also impact on their health and well-being. And with the pandemic putting a dent on their income and amid the consecutive increases in pump prices, our PUV drivers can illafford to get sick, much less go to a hospital,” Mandanas said. In the province of Batangas, where the Kalusugan Health Kard was first implemented, patients can already avail of free medical services in any government hospitals within the province and other accredited health facilities. The medical services include the professional fees of doctors, laboratory fees and use of hospital rooms and
other medical facilities, among others. In the past three years in Congress, Anakalusugan partylist has principally authored 15 measures increasing the capacity and upgrading hospitals across the country, 10 measures to improve the welfare of medical and health workers, 16 measures to boost health services across the country, and 16 measures to beef up the country’s pandemic response. g
LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (LACMTA) REQUEST FOR SOUTHERN PROPOSAL CALIFORNIA REGIONAL LACMTA will receive ProRAIL AUTHORITY posals for PS85661 - G Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) ImIFB NO. EP224-22 provements Project under a Hi-Rail Crane Hi-Rail Crane The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) is seeking Bids for a Hi-Rail Crane. Bid documents may be downloaded at SCRRA’s website at http://www.metrolinktrains.com/contracts. Select Vendor Portal. Bids are due on March 16, 2022. The contract to be awarded will be funded in part by grants under the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transportation Administration and is subject to an DBE Participation Goal of 9.44%. For further information contact: Dorothea Cantero, Contract Administrator, at canterod@scrra.net. 2/16/22 CNS-3554430# ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)
progressive design-build contract at the 9th Floor Receptionist Desk, Vendor/Contract Management Department, One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012. All Proposals must be submitted to LACMTA, and be filed at the reception desk, 9th floor, V/CM Department, on or before 2:00 Pacific Time on Monday, April 11, 2022. Proposals received after the above date and time may be rejected and returned unopened. Each proposal must be sealed and marked Proposal No. PS85661. 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 Aielyn Dumaua at dumauaa@metro.net. 2/16/22 CNS-3555611# ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)
8 FEBRUARY 16-18, 2022 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL
Dateline PhiliPPines
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Reversal of rulings on Marcos unlikely by Jomar
Canlas ManilaTimes.net
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) sitting en banc is unlikely to reverse the rulings of its two divisions on cases filed against presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., a highly reliable source told The Manila Times. The Comelec’s Second Division has dismissed the petition to cancel Marcos’ certificate of candidacy (CoC) and the First Division the petition to disqualify him on tax return charges. Commissioners Socorro Inting and Reynaldo Bulay have junked the petition to void Marcos’ candidacy, while Commissioners Marlon Casquejo and Aimee Ferolino dismissed the disqualification case. The Comelec en banc is made up of the chairman and six commissioners. The chances are very slim that Inting, Casquejo, Ferolino and Bulay would reverse their ruling in favor of Marcos, unless new evidence is presented, the source said. It is rare in the Comelec for a division decision to be reversed en banc, the source said. There are three vacancies in the commission following the retirement of Chairman Sheriff Abbas and Commissioners
Rowena Guanzon and Antonio Kho Jr. Any new appointments will be ad interim because the Congress, which confirms appointments in agencies like the Comelec, is adjourning on February 4. The Commission on Appointments is made up mainly of senators and congressmen. The Times learned from another source that among the people being considered to fill the vacancies in the Comelec are retired Court of Appeals justices Romeo Barza, Danton Bueser and Francisco Acosta. Another set of names includes former Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, former Supreme Court Second Division clerk of Court Maria Lourdes Perfecto, former Comelec executive director Jose Tolentino and Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers Concerns Abdulla Mama-o. In its ruling, the Comelec Second Division argued that Marcos can run for president since he did not commit any misrepresentation in the filing of his CoC. The Court of Appeals decision dated Oct. 21, 1997 “did not categorically hold that [Marcos] is convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude nor did it positively pronounce that [he is] meted the penalty of
imprisonment of more than 18 months. There is likewise no definitive declaration by the said decision that herein respondent is perpetually disqualified from holding public office,” the division noted. It added that failure to file income tax returns is not tax evasion. The Comelec stated that the appellate court found that Marcos, “being an elected public official for taxable years concerned, was already subjected to the withholding tax system, hence, his tax liabilities were already paid as they were withheld by the government.” The division added that it becomes “ironic when we realize the thought that herein petitioners accused respondent of misrepresentations while they themselves are guilty of supposed misrepresentations in this very same proceeding.” The First Division said that “to erase doubts as to whether the failure to file tax returns is a crime involving moral turpitude,” it cited the pronouncement of the Supreme Court in the case against Ferdinand R. Marcos II and Imelda R. Marcos “wherein the high tribunal categorically ruled that a failure to file a tax return is not a crime involving moral turpitude.” g
Tulfo, Cayetano, Legarda top Pulse Senate survey by CeCille
suerte Felipe, Jose rodel Clapano Philstar.com
MANILA — Broadcaster Raffy Tulfo, Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano and Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda have topped Pulse Asia’s latest pre-election senatorial survey. The poll, conducted from Jan. 19-24, showed Tulfo garnering 66.1 percent voter preference, followed by Cayetano (58.2) and Legarda (58). Completing the list of the top 12 preferred senatorial candidates are Sorsogon Gov. Chiz Escudero (55.7), former public works secretary Mark Villar (52.9), Sen. Migz Zubiri (50.3), Sen. Win Gatchalian (45.9), former vice president Jojo Binay (44.5), former senator Jinggoy Estrada (40.4), Sen. Joel Villanueva
EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT
(40.4), Sen. Risa Hontiveros (37.1), actor Robin Padilla (35.9) and JV Ejercito (33.9). Of the top 12 candidates in Pulse Asia’s latest survey, Estrada made the most significant leap – jumping to No. 9 from his previous number 13 ranking in a similar Pulse Asia survey conducted last December. El Shaddai backs Villar Influential Catholic charismatic group El Shaddai has endorsed the senatorial bid of Villar who led the department in completing numerous Build Build Build projects of the administration. Villar thanked El Shaddai leader Mike Velarde and his followers for the support, and vowed to push for unity in the country. “Thank you so much for your support, I want to thank Bro. Mike Velarde and the millions
EMPLOYMENT
of members of El Shaddai. We, together with the BBM-Sara UniTeam, have the goal of unity,” Villar said. Velarde made the announcement of support for Villar at the El Shaddai International House of Prayer in Parañaque City last Saturday. Velarde also endorsed the candidacies of former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for president and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio for vice president, or the BBM-Sara tandem. During the prayer rally for El Shaddai, which has about six to eight million members nationwide, Velarde raised the hands of Marcos and Carpio. “We are always very grateful to Bro. Mike for all his support. Many thanks also to those who believe in us. We will continue to serve God and help our countrymen,” Villar said. g
9 The
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MDWK The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - February 16, 2022
Wednesday FEBRUARY 16, 2022
MAGAZINE
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Kiana V shares her latest single, ‘Heartbeat on Me’
“Multi-tracked vocal harmonies soar.” - NME “The combination of the snappy production and her dreamy vocals make for a seductive jam that’s both laid-back and hugely infectious.” - COMPLEX UK “Blends electronic, funk, and RnB into a mesmerizing mix.” - Lyrical Lemonade “[Kiana] utilizes her enthralling vocal prowess to induce an almost celestial high.” - Ones To Watch “A soulful vibe along with subtle elements of electronic pop.” - HYPEBAE “Kiana’s raw talent shines through.” - Office ATHLETE IN MOTION (FIL-AM). (From left-right) Charlie Bonilla, Rene Canent, Fredo Lazaro, Bernie Fabiosa and the Olympian Jun Achacoso. Magazine “An empowering heartbreak anthem not just Photo taken by Banjo Gilbuena for herself but also a new generation.” - MTV “A message of self-love threaded by delicate, ethereal melodies.” - SPIN “[Dazed] is an open love letter.” - Paper Magazine “Kiana is part of an exciting new wave of Filipino creators who are sharing their music and culture through a variety of innovative, genrebending lenses.” - American Songwriter being called that nickname By Alex BrosAs Kiana V recently released her latest single, for more than two decades Inquirer.net “Heartbeat on Me.” now, admitting he used to feel “Heartbeat on Me” opens with infectious uneasy hearing it in the past. AFTER an absence of some synths and gently tapping drums, allowing Kiana “Actually, at first it was years in acting on television, V’s featherlight yet instantly striking voice to really awkward kasi kapag may heartthrob Piolo Pascual mga bata na tumawag sa iyong enter with a gentle immediacy. It’s a sunkissed feels that doing his latest Papa P okay lang. Pero umabot delight that calls back to her native Philippines. “sweetcom” “My Papa Pi” Possessing the immediacy of Tinashe and the kasi sa punto na ‘yung mga is actually like taking a good knack for undeniable melody of Aaliyah, Kiana is cameraman ang tawag sa akin breather. a powerhouse, possessing a quiet intensity that ‘Papa P! Papa P!’. ‘Tol, pati ba “I think pagkatapos ng strikes bone deep. naman ikaw?’” he jested. show kailangan kong magpaA delectable confection of R&B and pop, (…Because when you are rehab,” he joked during the the track pulls forward with its flirtatious sound called “Papa P” by kids, that’s online press conference for the and deftly punchy vocals. It’s a display of both OK. But it has reached the show last Saturday, Feb. 12. patience and a rush towards pleasure, never point when even cameramen “Let’s say it’s a nice Piolo Pascual overdoing its pace, and sways seamlessly would call me “Papa P! Papa!” breather. I even surprised Photo from Instagram/@piolo_pascual between emotive verses and an addictive callso I would ask, “Bro, don’t tell myself dito sa show (here in me you’re calling me that too.“) and-response chorus. loves the feeling of being able the show). Ang sarap (It feels Kiana says about the track: “‘Heartbeat On So he just let the people good) to have a solid cast and a to give audiences something Me’ is a song about when you feel like you can call him by that nickname, director,” he said. “We all have that would cheer them up. really dive in and fall in love with someone, but and in the long run, Pascual Meanwhile, the sitcom’s the same intention.” you want to make sure the feeling is mutual first. learned that it was actually a title is a play on Pascual’s Since it is a light project, term of endearment and sign of You want to know that they’ll be there for you the moniker, Papa P. The actor Pascual does not feel the way you are for them.” respect. said he’s become used to burden of working. He also
How Piolo got the hang of being called ‘Papa P’
Kiana V
Photo by Andrei Suleik
Exploring the delicacy of a relationship at its peak, she sings of waking up right next to the person you adore, taking in their breath, their pulse; two people so in sync as to become one organism. At the same time, she can’t help but wonder if her lover is equally devoted. It speaks to that nagging fear in the back of our minds whenever we risk sharing every aspect of ourselves with someone else. “Will your actions meet the honey you speak?,” she ponders to herself. In March, Kiana will perform at SXSW as a 2022 official showing artist, along with Maxo Kream, Priya Ragu, Poppy Ajudha, and more. Continued on Page 10
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entertainment The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - February 16, 2022
World premiere of ‘Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia’ exhibition debuts at the California Science Center February 16
LOS ANGELES – The world premiere of “Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia” exhibition debuts at the California Science Center February 16, 2022. Through 120 original artifacts – half on tour outside Cambodia for the first time – and hands-on exhibits, guests will use the lens of science to explore the ancient empire of Angkor. Once considered the most extensive metropolis in the world, Angkor houses over 100 temples, now mysteriously quiet and surrounded by the dense Cambodian forest. “Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia,” developed by Museums Partner in collaboration with the California Science Center, the National Museum of Cambodia, and the Cambodian Ministry of Culture, uses science to reveal insights into the rise and fall of ancient Angkor as well as its enduring legacy. Guests will learn how the tools of archaeology, from decoding inscriptions to aerial surveying and laser scanning, have enriched our knowledge about the engineering and cultural marvels of an empire, the daily life of its people, and the environmental challenges that shaped its future. Exhibition tickets went on sale February 6, 2022 and can be purchased at https:// californiasciencecenter.org/visit/admission/ get-tickets. Science Center President and CEO Jeffrey N. Rudolph notes that, “I’m pleased to collaborate with the Cambodian Ministry of Culture, National Museum of Cambodia and Museums Partnerto bring the world premiere of this exhibition to the California Science Center. It shows, in a profound way, how the tools of science can advance our understanding of the ancient past
and preserve cultural heritage for future generations.” Science Center Senior Vice President, Diane Perlov, says “Our hope is that this extraordinary exhibition inspires interest not only in the legacy of Angkor, but interest in the process of science, the knowledge that science reveals, and the heritage it preserves.” “Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia” exhibition is on display at the California Science Center from February 16 through September 5, 2022, along with a visually stunning IMAX movie featuring an epic adventure where science, mystery and ancient civilization intersect. Adult combo tickets for both the exhibition and IMAX movie are $25.25, with various discounts available. Exhibition tickets are $19.95 for adults and IMAX ticket prices range from $6.75 to $8.95 with additional discounts when purchasing both the exhibition and IMAX movie, and special discounts for Members, groups of 15 or more people and private events. To buy exhibition and/or IMAX tickets call 213-744-2019 or visit https:// californiasciencecenter.org/visit/admission/ get-tickets. Please check the Science Center website for the latest COVID protocols. The exhibition is set to tour nationally and internationally at the culmination of its debut at the California Science Center. The California Science Center is a dynamic destination where families, adults and children can explore the wonders of science through interactive exhibits, live demonstration, innovative programs and awe-inspiring films. The California Science Center and IMAX Theater are located in historic Exposition Park just west of the Harbor (110) Freeway at 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles. Open daily from 10 am to 5 pm. Parking is $15 for cars.
Kiana V shares her latest... From Page 9 “Heartbeat On Me” follows the release of Kiana’s 5-track EP “Dazed,” which earned praise from SPIN, NME, HYPEBAE, Office Magazine, Paper Magazine, and more. Music has always been a permeating force in Kiana’s life. Her father, Gary Valenciano, is one of the Philippines’ most prolific musicians with a four decade spanning career. She’s already a star in her home country of the Philippines and currently splits her
time between LA and Manila. Kiana will continue to take fans behind the scenes of her musical journey and travels in the MYX original series documenting her musical journey, called The Crossover. The TV show will air globally on linear TV, MYX.GLOBAL digital and @myxglobal social platforms. With over 20+ million Spotify streams to date and Grammy.com calling her a Filipino artist to watch, Kiana is poised to bring her R&B/ Pop sound to the rest of the world.
Youngster Jake Merilo topped APO Golf For A Cause Tourney By
Dan E. nino
CORONA, CALIF. – Jake Taruc Merilo, the 22-year-old son of APO member Robert Merilo (APO San Diego) who was also the competitor of the former, topped the 1st Golf For A Cause hosted by APO Global Foundation at the tricky and challenging Dos Lagos Golf Course by the foothills of the scenic, wind-swept Cleveland National Forest. The young and lanky Merilo at 5’10”, carded a 72 low gross in the par 70 playing to 6,544 yards, 18-hole rolling hillside. He was probably inspired by his lovely girlfriend, Allison Kiehl of Filipina-German descent who also brought her pet dog named, Willow, of Pug breed. “Our dog is my caddie,” Jake jested. He added, “Of course, Allison was my inspiration.” Merilo, a great grandson of the late Hukbalahap Supremo Luis Taruc, turned in two birdies on the 14th’s par 5 and another on the 12th’s par 5. He described the golf course which he played for the first time as narrow, lots of hazards and slopes and “doglegs” a golf parlance of a golf hole having an angled fairway to the left or to the right. This future Fil-Am golf great who was trained by his dad at age 5 will graduate in May at Cal State of San Diego with a B.S. Degree in Real Estate Finance and has already a job offer awaiting for him in San Francisco. The APO Golf For A Cause is the 5th golf championships won by Jake organized by APO alumni chapters in the region. Golfers numbering a hundred, started to trickle in at 6 a.m., a chilly morning -- to
APO Global Foundation Board members and volunteers are pictured after the awarding luncheon and fellowship at Dos Lagos Golf Clubhouse: From left: Dan E. Nino, Mar Garchitorena, Irma H. Almazan, Pressy Marte, Rene Yambot, Betta David, MaryAnne Peneza, Alex Almazan and Christian David.
register and started promptly at 8 -- in a shotgun fashion. Some players however, begged off at the last minute due to health protocols. Among notable winners include Marco Antonio of Yucaipa, a Class A Champion with Nards Castillo of APO Golfers Club as runner-up; Doc Wille Del Mundo of 19th TEE is the Class B champion while fellow 19th TEE member Erwin Lopez is runner-up. APO San Diego-based Francis Franco and APO Golfers as Class C champion with APO-South Bay/ APO Golfers, Audie Grey as runner-up. Golfers became excited and full of anticipation in the “Hole-In-One” competition, covering three holes: Hole No. 5 with a free airline ticket as prize anywhere in the U.S., Hole No. 11 for a new car or $30,000 in cash and Hole No. 17 from a ridge overlooking the green with $10,000 in cash. Unfortunately, no one won but Paul Leary, Jr. came to the closest to the pin. Golf
For A Cause chairman, Mar Garchitorena said, “His ball was already moving towards the hole when it stopped about a foot short. The hole was even placed at 135 yards. Although we love for someone to bring home the huge prizes, no one won.” Closest to the pin winners are Renel Silverio in Hole No. 8, Rocky Marte in Hole No. 11 and Arthur Salonga in Hole No. 15, Paul Leary in Hole No. 17 and Ruel Umandal. AJ Beckly and Mervyn Gucilatar won the most accurate drive on Hole No. 4. This Golf For A Cause was also dubbed as a golf tournament within a tournament. Rival golf clubs competed against each other like a rematch between Pars & Better and 19th TEE as well as APO Golf USA and 19th TEE as a monthly tournament. The beneficiaries of the “APO Golf For A Cause”, according to Dan E. Nino and Mar Garchitorena, board chairman and golf tournament chair respectively of APO Global Foundation, a 501 C-3 public benefit, are earmarked for the disadvantaged and the marginalized Dumagat and Igorot minorities who are settlers of Sierra Madre Mountain in Nueva Ecija. There are now three household recipients who have been allotted with this Egg Laying Livelihood Program. Their poultries of 72 chickens per APO Golf For A Cause Overall Low Gross Champion Jake Merilo (2nd from left) flanked by golf module are being monitored on tournament chairman Mar Garchitorena, Jake’s girlfriend Allison Kiehl with her pet dog Willow, the ground by APO Agricultural dad Robert Merilo and APO Global Foundation treasurer, Irma H. Almazan. Continued on Page 11
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Need to file bankruptcy but worried about your credit? IF you are in debt and are seriously considering bankruptcy as an option, I am sure a lot of thoughts are President Jo Solomonson with ConGen Badajos and Protocol Officer FABAG Executive Board - (L-R) Edith Fuentes, Nini Maldonado, Celia De going through your mind. I just Tamayo Fato, Marlene Cagatao, Nelly Costanios and Jo Solomonson want to get out of debt and start over but how quickly can I recover from bankruptcy? What are the different types of bankruptcy available? How do I know I am making the right decision? These are all legitimate RINGING in the Lunar New concerns, and a competent Year with a “Mix-Meet-Mingle and knowledgeable bankruptcy and Membership Drive,” the Filiattorney should be able to pino American Business Associahelp you determine whether tion of Glendale (FABAG-GLAC) bankruptcy is in fact your best held a very successful mixer at course of action. I find that Panda Inn Restaurant in Glenmost people are concerned dale, California about the effects of bankruptcy The fully-packed event was on their credit more than attended by Special Guests anything else. They are under and Dignitaries, such as Hon. the mistaken notion that once Philippine Consul General Edgar they file for bankruptcy, their Badajos, Protocol Officer Elvis credit is ruined forever and that Tamayo, City of Glendale Hon. they will never be able to buy Mayor Paula Devine, Councila house or obtain credit again. members Agajanian, Brotman, Of course, this is simply not Kassakhian and Najarian, former true! Councilmember Vartan GharBoard Members Edith, Jo, Marlene, Nini and Celia with Glendale Mayor Devine Yes, bankruptcy is reported petian and GUSD PP Armine on your credit record for Gharpetian. 7-10 years (depending on FABAG’s p lans and prothe type of bankruptcy you grams for the year were anare filing) but I’ve seen most nounced, including the developpeople quickly bounce back ment of the Filipino-American from bankruptcy in as little Friendship Monument project. as 2-3 years. I also find that The Lunar event was successfully most people who are in debt coordinated and put togethtrouble already have bad credit er by Pres. Jo Solomonson, anyway and filing bankruptcy, PP Marlene Cagatao, PP Nini if anything, can only help them Maldonado, PP Celia De Fato, rebuild their credit in the long Treasurer Nelly Costanios and run. Yes, in most cases that I PP Edith M. Fuentes. Thank you see, bankruptcy can actually to FABAG Friends and Members for your unwavering help and Board Members Edith Fuentes, Nini Maldonado (standing) with Philippine Consulate Protocol support. Officer Tamayo, Hon. ConGen Badajos and Glendale Councilmember Agajanian.
Filipino American Business Association of Glendale hosts Lunar New Year mixer
Youngster Jake Merilo topped... From Page 10 & Livestock Association of the Philippines. APO Global would also thank the sponsors, volunteers and golfers for their participation despite the challenges of the pandemic. Among the Diamond and Platimum sponsors who made this golf for a cause a reality include Dr. Mac Lichauco, HGreg Auto Group c/o Vi & Manny Martinez, Speedpro Plus Signs c/o Rudy Emperado, Asian Journal Publications, Monte Maria Wine Cellars, Bayanihan Pay, Dr. Joselito &
Lucy Babaran, Dr. Tim Almazan, VCA Engineers c/o Virgil Aoanan, LA Financial c/o Loida Atienza, Hand n Hand c/o Flor Mendoza, Dr. Librado I. Ureta Foundation & APO Trekkers c/o Marc Barcelona, and in cooperation with APO Golf Club USA and 19th Tee Golf Club. For future donations for charitable purposes as espoused by APO Global Foundation, interested parties may call Irma Almazan @ 562298-6454 or Mar Garchitorena @ 661-317-1713. – denino1951@gmail.com
Minding Your Finances Atty. RAymond BulAon improve credit by allowing the person a chance to start over after wiping out debts. What most people don’t understand is that creditors look at several factors when evaluating a credit application, and that whether or not a bankruptcy shows up on your report is only one of those factors. For example, when buying a home, banks are not as concerned about it if your bankruptcy is at least 3 years old and all other credit characteristics are appropriate (good character, stable employment, amount of down payment, etc.). And if you are buying a car after bankruptcy, this is usually not a problem although in the beginning, you will obviously pay a higher interest rate or may even need a co-signor until such time you can prove creditworthiness. Whether or not bankruptcy is the right solution for you also involves looking at your long-term financial goals. For example, while your credit may suffer for a few years, the fact that bankruptcy may be your only and quickest way to recover financially outweighs
any temporary disadvantages. Have a long-term focus and start thinking outside the box. Filing bankruptcy often means getting rid of old ways of thinking and developing a new mindset. Filing bankruptcy may be just what you need in order to get immediate relief from creditor calls, harassment, wage garnishment and to protect your property and other assets. When appropriate for your situation bankruptcy protection can help you get out debt, rebuild your credit and give you peace of mind once again. If you are tired of being in debt and having sleepless nights worrying about your finances all the time, your life doesn’t have to be this way and there may be something you can do right now to turn things around quickly. Let me evaluate your situation and help you explore all possibilities. For a free consultation, call Toll-Free 1-866-477-7772. *** NOTE: Due to pandemic safety concerns, 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 J. Bulaon has successfully helped over 6,000 clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call RJB Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1-866-477-7772. (Advertising Supplement)
RK learns lessons from a breakup: ‘Give yourself time to grieve’ By Alex
BrosAs Inquirer.net
BREAKING up with a girlfriend during a holiday season made RK Bagatsing realize that pushing back realities can take its toll on one’s body. Bagatsing recalled how he broke up with the girl and how
he consequently got emotional a month after the break-up. “Nu’ng nag-break, parang ang daming distractions. A lot of things are happening – parties, may nag-birthday and my sister from the States umuwi, siyempre, may get-together. Sobrang daming nangyari for like a month. I was trying to push back everything, ‘yung
thoughts. Ayaw mong i-dissect what happened,” he said during the online press conference for the miniseries “The Goodbye Girl” last Jan. 31. (When we broke up, it seemed as if there were too many distractions… someone had a birthday and my sister from the States went back Continued on Page 12
community RK learns lessons from a...
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From Page 11 home, there were gettogethers. So many things happened for what seemed like a month… You wouldn’t want to dissect what happened.) When the holidays were over, that’s when the actor suddenly felt the rush of
emotions. “I remember I was just driving and then nag-park sa gilid kasi biglang bumuhos lahat sa akin ng emosyon. Parang ang tagal mong pinush back, hindi na pala kaya ng katawan mo,” he said. (I remember I was just
driving and then I needed to park at the side because all of the emotions just flowed in me. It’s as if I held them back for so long, it turned out that my body could not take it anymore.) “I guess, the lesson there is you just have to face it. Give yourself time to grieve about it, to be sad kasi tao ka lang (because you’re only human),” he said. The journey, he said, makes you learn something. “It’s a good lesson for you to be better. Sabi nga nila (As they say), someday you’ll find your better half but you have to do a better version of yourself muna (first). Keep rocking those experiences,” he advised. Bagatsing plays husband to Angelica Panganiban’s Ynna character in “The Goodbye Girl.” He said he realized something when he initially read the script. “Kapag iniwan ka kasi ay parang nawawalan ka ng identity kasi parang matagal nang nakakabit ang identity sa kasama mo. Kapag nawala ‘yung taong ‘yun, hindi mo alam kung sino ka, kung saan ka magsisimula uli,” he said. (When you are broken up with, it’s like you lose your identity because your identity appears to be attached to your partner for the longest time. When you lose that person, you don’t know who you are and where you will start all over again.)
Why using your married child as a co-borrower to refinance your house is a bad idea Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes MANY parents who may have problems refinancing their house due to low income in retirement or due to low credit score sometimes resort to the idea of having their married child serve as a co-borrower to refinance their house As part of the refinancing process, the parents usually adds their adult children to the deed of the house then have them apply as a co-borrower in a mortgage. This is a really bad idea especially if there your child’s marriage is in trouble. This becomes a big problem if your married child ever gets divorced from his or her spouse. Your child’s spouse will have a claim for half the community interest in your house even if your intent was only to use your child’s credit to help you qualify for the refinance. Although you can argue that adding your married child’s name to the deed of your house was only a gift which should be characterized as your child’s separate property, the fact that your married child’s credit was used to obtain the refinance mortgage loan during the marriage which was then used to pay off your prior
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA …)
(CONTINUED from last week
The belief in the presence and power of angels to intervene is strong in popular conservative culture. In a remarkable 1999 Hallmark film, “A Season for Miracles,” an angel plays a pivotal role RK Bagatsing Photo from Instagram/@bagatsingrk in helping a loving aunt to two children whose incarcerated, drug addicted mother places them in a situation forcing them to run and escape from the foster care system that threatens to split them apart during Christmas. The film is based on a novel by Marilyn Pappano and scripted by Maria Nation. It was very ably directed by Michael Pressman. It is a heartwarming story set in a small town called Bethlehem during Christmas with engaging characters like Agatha and Corrina. For those with a penchant for romance, the story has spades of it as well. So check this film out on youtube whether it is Christmas or not. In my opinion, this is a timeless piece of good work worth watching a hundred times. It will be an hour and some minutes to lighten your load and feel the presence of angels in your life as well. Suspend disbelief. That is the only way to feel the presence of angels. Trawl the internet and social media and read about how angels, though unseen in many instances, can be felt by many who believe in them. There are many instances when the presence and oftentimes the direct interventions of one’s personal guardian angel are a part of the twists and turns of the unraveling story of many people’s lives. Many have written about their encounters with angels, documenting how their guardian angels are a real part of their lives guarding, guiding and protecting them from harm and on many occasions, even from death, because their time had not yet
mortgage creates a community interest on his 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 Marriage of Branco, (1996) 47 Cal. App.4th 1621. Thus, the refinance described above allowed for the new loan to pay off the old separate property loan, and for a community interest to arise. Your married child’s spouse can claim that adding your child’s name to the deed was not a gift but instead property your child acquired during marriage as community property because your child paid for that interest by getting a mortgage as a coborrower during their marriage. Family Code Section 760 provides that all property, real or personal, wherever situated, acquired by a married person during the marriage while domiciled in this state is community property. Procedurally, your married child’s spouse will join you as an indispensable party in the divorce case. Once you are joined as a party, you will be served with a summons and complaint for joinder into the action. You then would have to retain your own lawyer to defend you in your married child’s divorce case. If you can avoid this situation and refrain from adding your married child to the deed and serving as a co-borrower in your refinance. However if refinancing would really make a
big difference 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. (Advertising Supplement)
Angels among us (Second of 4 Parts)
“Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.” — From Frank Capra’s film “It’s a Wonderful Life” come. I am sure many others have their own personal stories to tell about this unseen entity that can be ascribed to the presence of God himself – an ever-present help to aid us in navigating life on earth. The common image of an angel is a beautiful heavenly being with piercing eyes, big white pair of wings and long cascading golden hair, robed in androgynous white gown and who is neither male nor female but to which we ascribe the word “he” just for convenience. An angel, who is an eternal celestial being, is not subject to the constraints of gravity, time, space or language problems. Communication between protector and protectee is often wordless and automatic. Some are messengers and some bring punishment and death but each has a definite purpose, most of which are beneficial to humans. Some claim to have seen their angels appearing differently from the common image we believe of winged beings. Some morph into human form to lend a hand, to protect from danger or avert disaster then disappear quickly. They appear specially when the humans they are protecting find themselves in dire straits and need help. As one might imagine, angels are extremely busy considering the weakness of humans and their predilection to stray from the straight and narrow. In Frank Capra’s classic Christmas film, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Clarence, a portly, bumbling character aspiring to become an angel must earn his wings by doing something good
for a human being in desperate need and contemplating suicide. “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings,” is a memorable line in this classic film that never gets old and becomes new again for a new generation around Christmas. On the other hand, in the warped imagination of liberal film makers, “Michael” supposedly about Michael, the Archangel, who fought Satan and flung him to the burning sulfurous depths of hell and believed to be the protector of the nation of Israel, is portrayed as somewhat of a sleaze who is more human than angelic. In this film, Archangel Michael, played by Travolta, can charm females because he smells of cookies and who is a bit of a Lothario to boot. It may be somewhat funny to color outside the lines in portraying angels but don’t be fooled by the liberal yarn on angels. Hollywood, in my opinion, has no gravitas on angelic matters. Trust your own instincts. Your own personal experience will color the lens with which you view and relate with your personal guardian angel. God so loved the world, He sent His only son to redeem us from sin and death so we may gain eternal life. Angels are sent to help us during our time here on earth towards this arduous journey to eternal life. (To be continued…) *** 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
Edu wants to have a child with Cherry Pie ‘if given the chance’ EDU Manzano did not hesitate to express his willingness to have a child with girlfriend Cherry Pie Picache, if they would be given a chance. “Who wouldn’t want babies? I’d love to have one, oo naman (of course, yes),” Manzano said in response to a fan question (“Would you still want to have a baby given the chance?”) read in a vlog on Picache’s YouTube channel on Saturday, Feb. 12. Manzano also spoke about how he wants to dance with his child on her 18th birthday, which he was not able to do with Addie, his daughter with model Rina Samson. “Nung kay Addie kasi hindi, naghanda ako, nagpa-dancing lessons pa ako tapos sabi niya, ‘Daddy ‘yung gagastusin sa party, punta na lang kami ng mga kaibigan ko sa [Boracay],” he laughingly recalled. “Pinaghandaan ko pa naman, pinag-ipunan ko pero ang importante naman ‘yung kaligayahan niya, hindi ‘yung akin.” (Back then with Addie, I prepared and even had dancing lessons then she said, “Daddy, I’ll
just use the money allotted for the party on a Boracay trip with my friends.” I even prepared and saved for it but what’s important is her happiness, not mine.) Picache, for her part, told fans that she also shares the same sentiment with Manzano. “Lalo na ako (Most especially me), I only have one. It would be nice. Siguro ang ganda ng anak natin ‘no? (Maybe our daughter would be beautiful, right?)” she said. Manzano then talked about their relationship and what makes it special, noting how they do not crave attention or publicity. “We are not seeking anyone’s approval,” he stated. “Nothing to hide — we’re just being ourselves.” The veteran actors confirmed their relationship in November last year. The couple have since been enjoying trips with each other’s families, the recent one being their Palawan trip with Picache’s son, actor Nio Tria. (By Anne Pasajol /Inquirer.net)
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