022522 - New York & New Jersey Edition

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FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2022 Volume 15 - No.16 • 16 Pages

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NYC Mayor unveils ‘Subway Safety Plan’ DATELINE USA Crackdown on homeless people in subways is in effect FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

California becomes first in nation to shift to ‘endemic’ virus policy NEARLY two years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, California is the first state in the nation to announce a shift to an “endemic” approach to coronavirus. Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday, Feb. 17 unveiled the SMARTER Plan, which outlines the state’s management of COVID-19 while prioritizing recovery. “We are moving past the crisis phase into a phase where we will work to live with this virus,” Newsom said, speaking from Fontana, California. “In that light, we have put together a

by MOMAR

G. VISAYA

AJPress

MAYOR Eric Adams on Friday, Feb. 18 released the city’s “Subway Safety Plan,” which lays out how his administration will begin addressing public safety concerns and supporting people experiencing homelessness and serious mental illness on New York City’s subways.

The next 48 hours saw at least 6 people stabbed in the subway system, the latest incident happening on the 6 line near Canal Street in Chinatown. Adams stood with NY Gov. Kathy Hochul in announcing their efforts to combat the rising transit crimes in the city. According to the Subway Safety Plan, there will be NYPD officers, clinicians, and community-based providers deployed to canvas the subways

to help homeless New Yorkers and those suffering from mental illness. “It is cruel and inhumane to allow unhoused people to live on the subway, and unfair to paying passengers and transit workers who deserve a clean, orderly, and safe environment,” said Mayor Adams. “The days of turning a blind eye to this growing problem are over, and I look forward to collaborating

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COVID is third leading cause of death in PH from Jan to Nov 2021 by ZACARIAN

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This February 2021 photo shows tourists in Boracay. Malay Municipal Tourism Office / Facebook

SARAO

Inquirer.net

SUBWAY SAFETY PLAN. Mayor Eric Adam and New York Governor Kathy Hochul announce subway safety plan at the Fulton Street Subway Station on Friday, February 18, 2022. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

MANILA — COVID-19 is the third leading cause of death in the Philippines from January to November 2021, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), trailing ischemic heart diseases and cerebrovascular diseases. Based on the latest PSA data released Tuesday, Feb. 22, 67,494 or 9.6 percent of all the recorded deaths during the mentioned period died of the severe respiratory illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. “Deaths due to COVID-19 virus identified were now the third leading cause which accounted for 67,494 deaths (9.6% share), rising from rank 14 with 8,390 deaths (1.5%

Philippine tourist arrivals hit 25,000 Marcos, Duterte campaigning Mayor Adams announces NYC’s since reopening separately a strategy, says Sara Economic Development Team MANILA — Almost 25,000 foreign and Filipino tourists have arrived in the country since it opened its borders to international leisure travelers early this month, Malacañang has reported. Acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles said 24,826 inbound arrivals from various countries registered through One Health Pass as of Feb. 20. Up to 13,492 foreign tourists and 11,334 balikbayans arrived. Most of them were from the US and Canada.

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by NEIL

ARWIN MERCADO Inquirer.net

MANILA — Vice presidential candidate Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio described as “strategy” the move of her tandem with Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to campaign separately most of the time this month. In an interview with reporters in Batangas on Tuesday, February 22, Duterte-

Carpio was asked why she and Marcos are mostly doing their campaign separately. The vice presidential candidate attended an event in Batangas without Marcos. “Ganun po talaga ang strategy ng UniTeam dahil hindi pwedeng magkasama kami palagi otherwise hindi namin maco-cover ang buong Pilipinas,” Duterte-Carpio said. (That is really the strategy of

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Led by Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, the team includes Anne del Castillo who will continue as MOME Commissioner by MOMAR

G. VISAYA

AJPress

NEW York City Mayor Eric Adams unveiled on Wednesday, Feb. 23 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard the new members of his economic development team, which has two of the highest-ranking Filipino-Americans in the Adams

cabinet. The team — which will be led by Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer — includes several new appointments, as well as a handful of previously announced appointments.

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COVID is third leading cause of death...

Vice President Leni Robredo.

Screengrab/ Inquirer.net file photo

Couples for Christ international council backs Robredo for president by John

Eric MEndoza Inquirer.net

MANILA — The Couples for Christ (CFC) international council (IC) on Wednesday, February 23 announced their support for the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo. The council of the Catholic lay ecclesial movement said they have reached the decision after their so-called “circle of discernment” process on Sunday, February 20. This is the first time the council is announcing its support for a particular candidate. “We began our discussion of the criteria on the premise and realization that there is no perfect candidate. At the end of our prayerful

immersion and meaningful discussion, the members of the IC reached the decision to support the presidential candidacy of Leni Robredo,” the CFC-IC said in a pastoral letter. But it also said that despite their public endorsement of Robredo’s candidacy, they recognize the right of each of their members to make their own choices. “Thus, we are not imposing this decision on everyone,” it said. The council added, “As has been our policy over the years, we do not and will not endorse candidates because we do not want to see CFC as an institution imposing bloc voting on the brethren.” Members of the CFC are being encouraged to go through the same process of

discernment. “Should your decision differ from ours, we will respect your choice in the spirit of love and brotherhood that has characterized and will continue to characterize, our being CFC,” the council said, addressing their members. This is not the first time that a Catholic organization professed its decisive support to the candidacy of Robredo. The leadership of the Council of the Laity of the Philippines has also endorsed Robredo, which is also an unprecedented move for the Catholic organization. Some 569 Filipino priests, nuns, religious brothers, and deacons likewise expressed their support for Robredo and her vice-presidential running mate, Senator Francis Pangilinan.g

NYC Mayor unveils ‘Subway Safety Plan’... PAGE 1 with the state, the federal government, TWU, advocates, and law enforcement to solve this challenge. It will take time, but our work starts now.” The plan, the mayor and governor said, includes comprehensive investments in short- and medium-term solutions, including expanded outreach teams with New York Police Department officers and clinicians, additional housing and mental health resources, and outlines long-term systems improvements through changes to state and federal laws to connect more New Yorkers to the care they need. A key component of the plan will also direct NYPD personnel to assist in enforcing certain subway rules, such as sleeping across multiple seats, exhibiting aggressive behavior to passengers, or creating an unsanitary environment. “For too long our mental health care system suffered from disinvestment, and the pandemic has only made things harder for New Yorkers with serious mental illness who

are experiencing homelessness,” said New York Governor Kathy Hochul. The police will also ramp up enforcement against spitting, lying down, aggressive behavior towards riders, smoking or open drug use, and littering on subways. NYPD officers will also be requiring — instead of requesting — everyone to leave the train and the station at the end of the line. “No more smoking, no more doing drugs, no more sleeping, no more doing barbecues on the subway system,” Adams said, addressing the press at the Fulton Street subway stop. “No more just doing whatever you want. No, those days are over … The system was not made to be housing, it’s made to be transportation.” “I am proud to stand with Mayor Adams and share our efforts to boost mental health treatment services for those who lack stable housing, and bring more psychiatric beds online,” Hochul said. “We must work together to keep our subways — the lifeblood of New York City — safe for all riders, and to get help and services to those in need.” g

PAGE 1 share) in the same period of 2020,” the PSA explained in its report. Calabarzon registered the highest number of deaths due to COVID-19 from among the country’s 17 regions with 20,409 or 21 percent of the total COVID-19 deaths from January to November 2021, followed by Metro Manila with 20,154 and Central Luzon with 17,865. “On the other hand, ARMM reported the least number of registered COVID-19 deaths with only 149 cases,” the PSA noted. In Metro Manila, the PSA said Quezon City posted the highest number of COVID-19 deaths during the 11-month period with 3,955. Meanwhile, the PSA places ischemic heart diseases as the top cause of mortality in the country from January to November 2021. Its data shows that of all the fatalities recorded in that period, 125,913 or 17.9 percent were due to ischemic heart diseases. The PSA said this figure is an increase of 31.9 percent from the

recorded 95,439 deaths due to ischemic heart diseases from January to November 2020. Cerebrovascular diseases, on the other hand, are the second leading cause of death in the country from January to November 2021 as they accounted for 68,180 fatalities during that time. The PSA said the latest sum increased by 16.6 percent from the 58,476 cases logged the year before. The PSA data further indicated that neoplasms or “cancer” is the fourth while diabetes mellitus is the fifth leading causes of mortality in the country from January to November 2021, registering 54,853 and 44,491 deaths, respectively. Also included in the top 10 causes of death in the Philippines from January to November 2021 are: • Hypertensive diseases • Pneumonia • COVID-19 virus not identified • Other heart diseases • Chronic lower respiratory diseases. g

California becomes first in nation to... PAGE 1 plan that we coin as the ‘SMARTER’ plan because we are smarter two years later. We are more adaptable. We are more capable to understand the nature of this disease,” Newsom added. The plan covers “shots,” “masks,” “awareness,” “readiness,” “testing,” “education” and “Rx.” Under shots, California will maintain capacity to administer at least 200,000 vaccines per day on top of existing pharmacy and provider infrastructure. Though the statewide mandate for indoor public masking has been lifted as of Feb. 15, the state said it will maintain a stockpile of 75 million high quality masks and the capability to distribute them as needed. The governor added, “We move out of the pandemic phase and we move into a phase which should allow you confidence that we are not walking away, that we’re taking the lessons learned and we’re leaning into the future.”

As communities of color have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, the awareness pillar of the plan calls for the state to continue to promote vaccination, masking and other mitigation measures in all 58 counties and support engagement with at least 150 community-based organizations. Under readiness, the state “The state will maintain wastewater surveillance in all regions and enhance respiratory surveillance in the health care system while continuing to sequence at least 10% of positive COVID-19 test specimens. The state will also maintain the ability to add 3,000 clinical staff within 2-3 weeks of need and across various health care facility types.” Testing options for COVID-19 will remain in place with statewide capacity to administer at least 500,000 PCR and antigen tests a day. For education, the state said it “will continue to work to keep schools open and children safely in classrooms

for in-person instruction. The state will expand by 25% school-based vaccination sites supported by the state to increase vaccination rates as eligibility expands.” For Rx, the governor’s office said the state will maximize orders for the most clinically effective therapeutic available through federal partnerships, ensuring allocations of effective therapeutics are ordered within 48-hours. “California is prepared to lean in on the principles that have made us successful in our COVID-19 response. Under the SMARTER Plan, we will use the significant knowledge we have gained and the tools and resources we have developed over the last two years to adapt and respond to whatever is next,” said California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly. “Californians should rest assured we aare ready and prepared to meet any public health challenges that may lie ahead.” (AJPress)

ALTERNATE ROUTE. Motorcycle riders and other motorists wait for their turn to enter the zipper lane along Commonwealth Avenue going to University Avenue in Quezon City on Tuesday, February 22. The lane was opened to ease the vehicular traffic along the construction area of the Metro Rail Transit-7. PNA photo by

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From the Front Page

Mayor Adams announces NYC’s Economic... PAGE 1 Among them is Anne del Castillo who will continue to serve as commissioner of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME). “New York City is the economic engine of the nation and is going to lead this economic recovery, which is why we will need proven leaders who have a comprehensive understanding of the economic landscape of this city, and a track record of ‘Getting Stuff Done,’” said Mayor Adams. “Each member of this diverse group of individuals truly knows the communities they serve, and has the skills, the talent, and the emotional intelligence to shepherd an inclusive and equitable economic recovery for all New Yorkers. Appointing a team like this is how we bring back our city stronger than ever.” “Our primary focus is on rebuilding the city’s creative economy—arts, entertainment, nightlife, and championing NYC’s role as a global creative capital, attracting and supporting world class talent, local business and visitors from around the world,” del Castillo told the Asian Journal. Also joining the team are Andrew Kimball who will serve as president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), Lindsay Greene who will serve as CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, and Clare Newman who will continue to serve as president and CEO of The Trust for Governors Island. Along with del Castillo, they will all report to Deputy Mayor TorresSpringer. Collectively, they will be focused on building an equitable recovery across all sectors of the city’s economy and bringing New York City back following COVID-19. “Under Mayor Adams’ leadership, we are fighting every day to drive a recovery for all New Yorkers,” said Deputy Mayor TorresSpringer. “That is why I am so thrilled that we are appointing visionary leaders like Andrew Kimball, Lindsay Greene, Anne del Castillo, and Clare Newman, whose depth of expertise is matched only by their commitment to

Mayor Eric Adams introduced his Economic Development Team, which includes (second from left) MOME Commissioner Anne del Castillo, who will be reporting to Maria Torres-Springer, Deputy Mayor for Economic & Workforce Development (right).

New York City bouncing back better than before, with a stronger, more equitable, and more resilient economy.” At MOME, del Castillo will be a crucial partner for the city’s creative economy, from the film sector to the nightlife industry. She will also work with partners in and out of government to aid its recovery, as it was disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Del Castillo was first appointed as commissioner in 2019. “I am honored to be reappointed by Mayor Adams to continue the important work of recovering and strengthening New York City’s media, entertainment, and nightlife sectors,” said MOME Commissioner Anne del Castillo. “These industries are vital to our vibrant culture and economy — generating $150 billion and 500,000 jobs prepandemic — and define our city as a global capital.” Del Castillo holds more than 25 years of experience in film and TV production, public media, arts, and nonprofit administration. Since her appointment in 2019, Commissioner del Castillo has focused on bolstering New York City’s world-class arts, entertainment, and nightlife sectors and advanced an economy that works for all New Yorkers. “It is a privilege to work with Deputy Mayor TorresSpringer. As the first FilipinaAmerican Deputy Mayor, she is a trailblazer and an inspirational leader,” del Castillo said. “I have great admiration for her work. She brings tremendous experience to the role of leading our city’s economic

and workforce development and a deep commitment to public service.” In a previous interview with the Asian Journal when she was appointed as commissioner in 2019, del Castillo said it’s “a privilege and an honor to serve.” “I never ever thought that I’d be in this position. It’s a privilege and a very significant responsibility that I feel every day. It’s not just because I am Filipina that I feel like diversity is important in the industry,” she said. “New York City is an incredibly diverse city and I had the benefit… if I had grown up Filipina anywhere else, it would be a very different experience.” Prior to her appointment, Commissioner del Castillo served as director of Legal Affairs and then chief operating officer and general counsel of MOME. Since joining the agency in 2014, she has guided the development of numerous initiatives, including Broadway/Off-Broadway in the Boros to bring free live performances to the five boroughs; New York Music Month to provide resources, workshops, and seminars for New York City musicians and industry professionals at various stages in their careers; the Freelancers Hub to create a central resource hub for freelance workers in the creative industries, among others. Previously, del Castillo worked as vice president of development and business affairs at American Documentary, producer of the award-winning PBS documentary series POV, and associate director of the

Austin Film Society. Industry leaders have expressed their support to Mayor Adams’ announcement and del Castillo’s service at MOME. “Anne del Castillo has been a marvelous champion for the work that makes our city vibrant, and I’m delighted her leadership will continue in Mayor Adams’ administration,” said Ruth Dickey, executive director, National Book Foundation. “We are lucky to have her breadth of experience and creative thinking in this role, and I look forward to working with Commissioner del Castillo and the city to celebrate the critical role that books and publishing play in making New York an incredible place to live, work, and visit.” “We congratulate Commissioner del Castillo on her well-deserved reappointment,” said Fred Dixon, president and CEO, NYC & Company. “She’s a tireless advocate for our city and in promoting New York City as an iconic capital of film, television, theatre, nightlife, and so much more. Her support of the city’s tourism industry is immeasurable, and we appreciate her incredible spirit of collaboration and support. We look forward to working alongside her in the Adams’ administration.” “We’re thrilled that Mayor Adams is keeping Anne del Castillo on as commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment because her experience and expertise will be essential in ensuring our city is the media and entertainment capital of the world as we recover from the pandemic,” said Andrew Rigie, executive director, New York City Hospitality Alliance. “I commend Mayor Adams for reappointing Anne del Castillo in her role as commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment,” said Michael Royce, executive director, New York Foundation for the Arts. “Commissioner del Castillo’s leadership in the arts and entertainment industry broke new ground when she came into office by creating innovative opportunities for artists, and I look forward to her continually inspiring all of us in the cultural sector with her accessible, inclusive, and smart leadership.” g

Philippine tourist... PAGE 1 “Please take note that this is just the beginning of our efforts to encourage tourists to visit the country,” Nograles told a media briefing on Tuesday, February 22. “Our borders are open, but just a reminder that vaccination is very important for the country’s tourism to survive.” “If we want a surge of tourists instead of a surge of COVID cases, we enjoin everyone to get vaccinated and get their booster shots. Let us help our fellow Filipinos who work in tourism-related industries,” he added. Nograles said the InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has approved the vaccination

certificates of 64 countries, territories and jurisdictions. The Philippines started accepting foreign tourists on Feb. 10, following a drop in infections. Nograles had earlier said foreigners traveling for business and tourism may enter the country without visas as long as they are fully vaccinated and present the required proof of inoculation and testing documents. Meanwhile, foreigners who are parents or children of Filipinos may now enter the Philippines even without an entry exemption document from the Department of Foreign Affairs following new guidelines issued by the IATF. – Robertzon Ramirez (By Helen Flores/Philstar. com) n

Vice presidential candidate Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio

Inquirer.net photo

Marcos, Duterte...

PAGE 1 the UniTeam–that we cannot be together all the time otherwise we will not be able to cover the entire Philippines.) Duterte-Carpio explained that there are certain areas in the country identified by their campaign strategists as areas where their tandem should campaign together. “Kung saan man siya pupunta, dala-dala niya ang Bongbong Marcos-Sara Duterte at ganun din ako. So that way, we cover so many areas sa Pilipinas and we only collaborate and converge sa areas where our strategists say doon kami magsama,” she added. (Wherever he goes, he brings with him the Marcos-Duterte tandem and the same goes for me. So that way, we cover so many areas in the Philippines and we only collaborate and converge in areas where our strategists tell us we should be together.) Duterte-Carpio is having her own campaign, dubbed the “Mahalin Natin ang Pilipinas Ride,” where she visits various provinces and cities in the country. g

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OPINION

Vanguard against corruption

FEATURES

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Philstar.com

ANY genuine campaign to stamp out corruption calls for a strong, independent auditing agency. The Commission on Audit is one of the vanguards against graft. The COA rank and file should never lose sight of their constitutional mandate as the agency gets a new chairperson. Rizalina Justol is taking over the top COA post from Michael Aguinaldo, whose seven-year term ended on Feb. 2. Justol served as COA auditor when President Duterte was mayor of Davao City. Prior to her new posting, she was the deputy executive secretary for finance and administration in the Office of the President. As the President himself has acknowledged, corruption has become deeply entrenched in government, and there are certain agencies that are “rotten to the core.” Even during the COVID pandemic, graft cases have been filed against public officials including barangay captains for the misuse of emergency assistance funds. Probes by the two chambers of Congress uncovered alleged corruption even in the purchase of COVID protective

equipment from Pharmally Pharmaceuticals by the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management. The President had constantly railed against the probes particularly by the Senate, and had demanded that the COA audit the Philippine Red Cross, whose chairman Richard Gordon is leading the Senate’s Pharmally probe. Even before the pandemic, however, the President had been a critic of the COA, saying at one point – in what Malacañang later stressed was a joke – that its auditors should be kidnapped and tortured for hampering the implementation of government projects. The complaint might be valid, but the extent of corruption in government makes it even more important to strengthen the COA rather than denigrate the work of

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS THERE was a dark chapter in the history of the Philippines just a generation ago when the very institutions of government entrusted with the Constitutional mandate of protecting the integrity of our elections betrayed public trust. Already on its 21st year, the claws of the Marcos regime continued its grip on power,

state auditors. Justol should know this well enough, along with the importance of the commission’s independence, even from the

appointing power. She and the COA must remain true to their constitutional mandate. (Philstar.com)

Will the heroes of Comelec please rise up? condoned and enabled by co-conspirators in the three branches of government, and by Marcos cronies who benefitted from his corrupt government practices. What started as the promising golden years of the Philippines in the mid60s turned into a dictatorship that brainwashed people with lies about Martial law and the economy, destroyed institutions and businesses critical to Marcos, violated the human rights of those who dissented.

Lurking behind the facade of new infrastructure, buildings and edifices that give the perception of “progress” in the minds of the people was the shadow of the ballooning debt and deficit of the Philippines that started with the declaration of Martial Law. The well-connected became rich; the rich became millionaires and billionaires; and the wallets of those in the complex labyrinth of systemic corruption became fatter as they profit from projects after

projects. With the decline in the Philippines’ credit rating came a tighter budget for the Philippine government. The first aspects to suffer were basic social services for the people as the rich and the powerful got to hide their illgotten wealth offshore like in the Swiss banks. The gap between the rich and the poor became wider. Karmic boomerang finally caught up with Marcos when public awareness and dissatisfaction reached

a tipping point with the assassination of Marcos’ most vocal and fierce critic, Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., in 1983. Public pressure for Marcos to resign compelled the dictator to hold a snap election on February 7, 1986 — ahead of the 1987 schedule. Aquino’s widow, Corazon Aquino, served the purpose of uniting the opposition and became the candidate on the mission to defeat and unseat Marcos. With Marcos’ hold in

virtually all branches of government, he thought he had everything in the bag, and that the Snap Election was just a ploy to “legitimize” Marcos’ continued presidency. BUT…on February 9, 1986, 35 computer programmers and technicians of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) walked out of the Batasang Pambansa during the canvassing of votes for the snap elections. They protested against massive poll fraud and rampant cheating they said PAGE 10

The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal. ADVERTISING AND ADVERTORIAL POLICIES ROGER LAGMAY ORIEL Publisher & Chairman of the Board

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Dateline PhiliPPines

Moreno: Doc Willie still More former government my VP, but I respect officials, biz execs back Robredo choices of other voters by Helen

Flores Philstar.com

by JoHn

eric Mendoza Inquirer.net

MANILA — Presidential candidate and Manila mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Tuesday, February 22, said that he will stick with his running mate Dr. Willie Ong but also remarked that he respects the choice of his other supporters who paired him with vice presidential bet and Davao mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. Despite this, Ong stressed that he has no hard feelings with the development, saying he is thankful for Moreno choosing him as his running mate and that he will stick with the mayor until the end.

“Same thing ako (for me). Isko-Doc Willie. Period,” Moreno told reporters in an ambush interview in response to Ong’s statement that he will stand with him until the end. “As a candidate hindi naman natin mapipigilang ‘yung choices [of voters], kasi hindi naman tayo two party system,” Moreno added, noting that the country’s system differs to that of United States, where the president and vice president come from the same party. (As a candidate we can’t control the choices of other people since we are not a two party system.) Moreno called this the PAGE 7

MANILA — More former government officials and business executives have expressed their support for presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo. In a joint statement entitled, “An Earnest Appeal to Our Fellow Filipinos,” 16 signatories, including former senators Rodolfo Biazon, Ramon Magsaysay Jr., Sergio Osmeña III and Wigberto Tañada, said Robredo “is the most qualified and trustworthy presidential candidate who has the political will to rebuild our sordid past, engender hope and inspiration among our people regardless of social standing, and bring about change that has long eluded us.”

“We deserve a president who is fearless, actionoriented, inclusive and decisive – leadership qualities that VP Leni has successfully demonstrated in the last six years despite the limited resources of her public office and undeserved open hostility from the present administration,” they said. “We need a leader who puts great premium on transparency, accountability and collaboration. VP Leni champions only truths and facts while others hide behind lies, excuses and denials,” they said. “We want a president who respects our democratic processes and will uphold our country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity at all times,” they said. The former officials and

business leaders also cited her outstanding leadership and unifying qualities, exemplified “in the timely, efficient and innovative ways with which she implemented her own pandemic response plan.” Aside from the four exsenators, the 12 others who signed the statement include former congressmen Tomas Apacible, Raul Daza and Felicito Payumo; former Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca; former Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, former Agriculture Secretary Senen Bacani, Interior and Local Government Secretary Cesar Sarino and Tourism Secretary Gemma CruzAraneta; former Higher Education Commissioner Ester Garcia, former Philippine Retirement Authority chairman Luis

Sison; former PTV4 chai Virgilio Yuzon; and forme Poro Point Managemen Corp. director Jose Osias. One hundred and forty four former officials and employees of the Departmen of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also backed Robredo and he running mate, Sen. Francis Pangilinan. “We believe that VP Len and Sen. Kiko have the mos extensive experience in socia welfare and development As Vice President, VP Leni, with the help of the private sector, pushed fo the Angat Buhay program that helped thousands o families and communities and became a bridge to relie operations during disasters and provided assistance to people and health workers PAGE 7

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Duterte legacy: A strong military San Juan City mall on US list of notorious markets for knockoffs by KristinA

MArAlit ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said he will confidently step down believing he delivered on his promises, particularly in strengthening and modernizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP). In his pre-recorded “Talk to The People”’ public briefing on Monday, February 21, Duterte cited the policies he implemented, such as the procurement of assets and increasing the salaries of soldiers and policemen which resulted in their improved “fighting spirit.” “At the start of my administration, I think it was in Jolo when I said

that I will leave my office with a strong military. That’s what I promised and within our limited income dito sa gobyerno (here in government), setting aside the small but equitable portion of which sa (to the) military. Naibigay ko naman siguro (I think I was able to provide), especially in the upgrade of the armaments, the new air assets, naval,” the President said. “I am comfortable with the thought that I have done my best, lalo na ‘yung ipinangako sa military (especially with what was promised to the military),” he added. Duterte shared that he realized the importance of maintaining good rapport with the military and police to be able to effectively lead. “Let it be a policy that you

care for people who die for you. So, I made a promise that I will double your salary. So, maligaya ako (I’m happy). In hindsight, malaking tulong sa fighting spirit ng mga sundalo, pati mga pulis (it was a big help to the fighting spirit of the soldiers and policemen),” he added. Under the Duterte administration, the AFP was able to complete 54 projects as mandated by Republic Act 7898, or the “AFP Modernization Act,” and RA 10349, or the “Revised AFP Modernization Act.” Among the notable achievements related to the military’s upgrade is the procurement of the country’s first missile-capable frigates, the BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) and the BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151). g

More former government... PAGE 6 during the pandemic,” they said. “We support their platform and slogan ‘Gobyernong Tapat, Angat Buhay Lahat (Honest Government, A Better Life for All), which emphasizes rights and concern for the people,” they said. Among those who declared their support for the Robredo-Pangilinan tandem were former DSWD secretaries Judy Taguiwalo and Lina Laigo. Double seniors’ stipend Meanwhile, Robredo vowed on Monday, February 21 to double the monthly stipend being received by indigent senior citizens from the national government and expand the program to include all elderly Filipinos if she wins the presidency.

From the present stipend of P500, Robredo said her administration will increase it to P1,000, which is a more realistic amount to cover the daily expenses of senior citizens that include their basic medicines. This amount, she said, will progressively increase. Robredo said of the P202.5-billion budget for the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for 2022, a total of P25 billion is earmarked for the P500 monthly stipend for indigent senior citizens. She said she intends to increase the funding to at least P50 billion in the first year of her presidency without resorting to the imposition of new taxes. “We can achieve this by implementing a more rational way of spending the people’s

money. We must rethink the non-essential expenses such as travel, seminars, vehicle acquisition and the representation allowance given to government officials,” Robredo said in a statement. “We will encourage sacrifice on the part of everyone in the bureaucracy, starting with the Office of the President, to raise funds for important programs,” she added. Among the expense items in the government’s annual spending program on which savings could be mandated are travel, for which P19.6 billion is allocated, trainings (P39.5 billion), supplies and materials (P167.7 billion) and professional services or the hiring of consultants (P48.5 billion), Robredo said. g

Moreno: Doc Willie still my VP, but... PAGE 6 “sad truth” of the country’s electoral process. “But then again, nirerespeto natin yung choices ng taumbayan dahil karapatan nila yun,” he added. (We respect the choices of the people because that’s their right.) Ong was absent from Aksyon Demokratiko’s three-day sortie in Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato, where local officials declared their support to the IskoSara tandem. Even the vehicle Moreno used for his motorcade bore the poster of him together with Duterte, which received a mixed reaction online. Moreno, who is the president and standard-bearer of Aksyon Demokratiko, said Ong was not included in the sortie lest

he would be “humiliated,” since the local chief executives of the said areas have their preferred vice-presidential candidate. “Ayaw namin siya mapahiya. We don’t want to put my partner, if you are true to your partner, baka maalanganin ka lang. Kasi may iba silang preferred candidate. Which is sila naman ang nag-host, sila naman ang gumastos, sila naman ang tumulong,” Moreno explained. (We don’t want to humiliate him. We don’t want to put my partner, if you are true to your partner, you don’t want to put him in a difficult situation. Because they have a different preferred candidate, and since they are the host, they organized and spent money for the event.) g

by AngelicA

Y. YAng

Philstar.com

MANILA — Greenhills Shopping Center, a mall in San Juan, is still among the world’s 35 physical markets known for counterfeiting and piracy, according to a new report by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). “Many of the storefronts in this mall sell counterfeit goods, including electronics, perfumes, watches, shoes, accessories, and fashion items,” USTR said in its “2021 Notorious Markets List.” “Although the Philippines government established an enforcement and monitoring agreement with the city of San Juan and created a working group composed of various agencies from the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), sellers of counterfeit goods are reportedly becoming bolder in displaying and openly discussing the illicit nature of the counterfeit goods, instead of discreetly hiding the counterfeit goods under the tables as they did in the past.” it added. Greenhills Shopping Center has long been part of the list, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) said on Monday, February 21. The agency serves as the vicechair of the NCIPR. IPOPHL Deputy Director General Teodoro Pascua said they are looking at new strategies

in implementing intellectual property (IP) rights in the mall. “We are considering new approaches and efforts in institutionalizing IP respect in the mall, from the seller-community up to toplevel management, to see its culture changed for the better,” Pascua said in an emailed statement. Fake goods and merchandise appeal to cashstrapped buyers because they are cheaper than the original brands. Aside from violating the IP rights, these counterfeit items may pose health and safety risks to consumers. ‘Positive developments’ IPOPHL pointed out that the USTR’s latest report highlighted the Philippines and four other countries for notable efforts or positive developments in anti-counterfeit actions. The report mentioned of the Bureau of Customs’ seizure of counterfeit medicine and personal protective equipment in Manila, and a significant amount of fake luxury goods in Baclaran Bagong Milenyo Plaza, a mall in Pasay City. USTR also brought up some initiatives of IPOPHL which signed several memorandums of understanding with institutions and shopping platforms to curb counterfeiting. Since 2011, the USTR has been releasing its yearly notorious markets list which identifies physical and online markets which are reportedly involved in substantial trademark counterfeiting or copyright piracy.g

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FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2022 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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SFIO appoints experts across F&B, real estate and technology onto advisory board STARFLEET Innotech, Inc. (OTCPink: SFIO), a leading asset management company and innovation group, is pleased to share details about the advisory board it has assembled to lead its global expansion plans across its core divisions. Starfleet Innotech, Inc. has formalized its change to the new company name. Various media have already begun updating their databases to reflect this change, so expect see more of Starfleet across your feeds as they mobilize the communication efforts around the roadmap for 2022. SFIO chairman Jeths Lacson shared a comprehensive look at the strategy towards uplisting to the Nasdaq within the next three years. This strategy revolves around SFIO’s three core divisions: Food and Beverage, Real Estate, and Technology. As SFIO expands the global footprint and scale across these three sectors, the company must be able to effectively anticipate and stay ahead of the nuanced forces shaping each facet of the growing conglomerate. To do this, SFIO has gathered a truly remarkable advisory board, bringing decades of expertise and perspective to SFIO’s leadership team. With perhaps the widest breadth of experience on the team, Roger Oriel serves as an advisor on board, commanding decades of experience as a businessman, investor, and enterprise leader. Roger is chairman of the board of wine distributor Napa Valley Distribution and Premier Asia Pacific Real Estate and Development, the developer of one of the major real estate projects in the

Philippines, Lombard by the Bay. Most recently, Roger joined the board of directors of BayaniPay, a California-based fintech firm bridging millions of Filipinos based in the U.S. with their families in the Philippines. Roger will also be providing strategic guidance on their communications efforts, pulling from his experience as the CEO and publisher of Asian Journal Publications, a U.S.-based multimedia publishing company focused on the Filipino diaspora, and as the chairman of the board of Trending Entertainment, an entertaining company focused on immersive streaming platforms. Also supporting the communications efforts on the advisory board is Vince Caruso, the founder and CEO of enterprise marketing firm FMW Media Works Corp. Through FMW Media Works, Vince oversees the production of New to the Street, a monthly business news show that profiles public and private companies for an audience of 83.1 million U.S. households. He is a serial entrepreneur and marketing expert, having led projects spanning fitness, ecommerce and the metaverse. As SFIO continues to broaden their efforts in technology development, Vince will be an invaluable asset to SFIO, ensuring the stakeholders are kept abreast of the progress. On the point of technology, SFIO is thrilled to have Stanley Yang advising the pioneering work

in technology development. Stanley is the CEO of NeuroSky, Inc., a Silicon Valley-based biosensor solutions company innovating on the frontlines of body and mind analytics. NeuroSky’s wearable devices range from smartwatches to brainwave monitoring headsets. It’s this work in mass market brain-computer interface technologies that has made him a global leader in the field, closely collaborating with Fortune 500 industry leaders and innovative independent developers alike. For the real estate developments, SFIO is hard at work building data-driven wellness systems for healthier and more resilient communities. To support SFIO’s efforts building the data gathering tools necessary for those systems, there are few business leaders with the same depth of expertise that Stanley brings to the table. Finally, Jose Gerardo Noble, or Jinggoy, rounds off SFIO’s advisors, bringing over 25 years of experience across banking, stock brokering, and real estate. He’s a licensed real estate broker, currently serving as the Deputy Sales Head of SM Development Corporation (SMDC), managing roughly 500 of the company’s organic sellers. Under his leadership, his team at SMDC has generated over $600 million in sales over the past two years. While it was his deep well of experience leading real estate projects that first drew

SFIO to Jinggoy, it’s his entrepreneurial spirit and passion for F&B that sealed the deal. Beginning with his first Metro Manila-based restaurant franchise in 2012, he now manages over a dozen branches of multiple F&B brands, a restaurant service management company, and a cloud kitchen concept. Let’s trace SFIO’s roots back to the first Epiphany Cafe founded in New Zealand. SFIO is blazing a trail forward through F&B, fueled by the real estate efforts, and enabled by the SFIO technology initiatives. SFIO has set out to accomplish a bold mission and developed a comprehensive, cross-divisional strategy to achieve it. As such, the brilliant team has assembled a similarly bold and multidisciplinary board of advisors to guide its execution. As SFIO progresses towards the goal of uplisting to the Nasdaq, SFIO will continue to grow the advisory board, as well as the voting board, through similar strategic appointments. Via their individual networks, their experience in their respective fields, and the diversity of perspectives they command as a group, SFIO’s board members will play an integral role in SFIO’s journey these next few years. “I would like to thank you all for your continued support and generous guidance as we shape our shared future as a corporate community. On behalf of Starfleet Innotech, Inc., our division leaders, and our new advisors, I am thrilled to have you onboard in this journey with us,” says Jeths Lacson, CEO and Chairman of SFIO. (Advertising Supplement)

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Pahrump, NV real estate is a great investment

Fely Quitevis-Bateman with Nye County Photo above shows two of Fely’s clients Chief Planner Brett Waggoner. – A Japanese and a Chinese investor.

Quitevis-Bateman (extreme right) with Nye County Commissioners at a meeting in Mountain Falls Countyn Club during a glove factory presentation.

“LAND will always be a great investment because there will never be any more made, which is why it is ‘precious’,” thus says Precious Properties owner and Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman. With a career spanning more nearly five decades, QuitevisBateman knows what she is talking about. From her start in 1974, the Pangasinan-born businesswoman has helped hundreds of clients invest wisely in real estate, and since 1992 has been actively selling real estate in Pahrump, Nevada (NV) which sits at an elevation of 2,695 feet above sea level. The Harvard Business School graduate sees the potential for growth and continued development in Pahrump. It has come a long way from the time it was inhabited by the Southern Paiute, a Native American tribe, and later when other settlers came to the area in the late 19th century. Its name is derived from the Southern Paiute name for “Water Rock” which is Pahrimpi. Even though the area does not see a lot of rainfall, Pahrump sits on the third largest aquifer in the United States, which means there is plenty of water underground. According to the latest data available, real estate in Pahrump

Fely Quitevis-Bateman with Dan Harris, whose family donated the land where Desert View Hospital is located.

has appreciated about 155% over the last ten years alone, which puts the unincorporated town in the top 10% nationally for areas whose real estate values have appreciated exponentially. Due to this, many observers see Pahrump as being one of the best long-term investments that people can make in the United States over the past decade and into the future. Despite a

downturn in the housing market, Pahrump’s real estate portfolio has continued to appreciate. According to QuitevisBateman, Pahrump, which is located in Nye County, the largest county in Nevada and the third largest in the U.S., has continued to attract many investors in many fronts – real estate, business, entertainment, dining – and that about

hundreds of millions worth of projects are in the pipeline, some of which have begun construction. America West will be building thousands of new homes, Quitevis-Bateman added. The Precious Properties owner also shared additional advantages for the companies and residents of Pahrump, and Nevada for that matter: a competitive business state tax, a county sales tax of 6.75% (not on food items), and no taxes associated with estate/inheritance, franchise, gift, inventory/interstate commerce, corporate income and personal income. Pahrump is only located about 63 miles northwest of Las Vegas and eight miles from the California border. Located in the southwest corner of Nye County, it is approximately 364 square miles in size. The latest census data available places the population at 48,000; the area has experienced an annual growth rate of about 15-17% in the past few years, pre-pandemic. Currently, Pahrump has 11 zip codes, and the main area code for the town is 775. While it is accessible by

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FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2022 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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Will the heroes of Comelec...

PACQUIAO IN PATEROS. Presidential aspirant Senator Manny Pacquiao greets residents during his motorcade in Metro Manila’s lone municipality of Pateros on Tuesday, February 22. Pacquiao, accompanied by his wife Jinkee, also attended a community forum in Barangay Sta. Ana where he met with fire victims, vendors and tricycle drivers. PNA photo by

‘Church remains nonpartisan but will never be neutral on social, moral issues’ by John

Eric MEndoza Inquirer.net

MANILA — The Catholic Church remains non-partisan but it “can and will never be neutral” in the face of social and moral issues, its social advocacy arm Caritas Philippines pointed out. Caritas national director and Kidapawan Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, in a statement published by Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines news agency on Monday, February 21 called this the Church’s moral obligation. “We will proclaim what is true, just, and right. That is our moral obligation,” Bagaforo said. “That is why we will speak

and act in favor of human rights, the sacredness of life, ecology, and the truth, among others,” he added. Bagaforo issued the statement as a response to accusations that the clergy is meddling in politics. Many bishops have spoken against certain issues like the war on drugs and corruption allegations during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, which prompted calls, particularly from the administration’s supporters, for the separation of church and state. Bagaforo said the Catholic Church maintains its stance as a non-partisan organization, urging all diocesan social action centers to remain the same.

The bishop has also encouraged its laity and the faithful to choose its candidate based on what they call a LASER (lifestyle, action, supporters, election conduct, and reputation) Test. “It is our sacred duty to know our candidates well,” Bagaforo said. “Let our choices be a reflection of our life-earned values. Let us choose who among them will help us be better, not the one who only promises instant gratification,” the bishop added. The Council of the Laity of the Philippines, in an unprecedented move, has since endorsed vice president Leni Robredo’s presidential bid. g

Pahrump, NV real estate is a great... PAGE 9 road, Pahrump also has an airport, Calvada Meadows, which is open 24 hours. Pahrump’s most notable residents have included the late Art Bell (who was married to a Filipina, Airyn Bell), Apple co-founder Ronald Wayne, filmmaker J. Niel Schulman and members of the Escape the Fate band. The late Michael Jackson was said to have purchased a home in Pahrump in 2008, where he had a music studio. Quitevis-Bateman, who has been a Nye County commissioner and who has helped countless of her kababayans invest in Pahrump real estate, find meaningful opportunities in Nevada, or connect people to each other, can help those who are looking to invest in real estate find a good opportunity to do so in Pahrump. Having seen the growth of the community since 1992 has provided Quitevis-Bateman a wealth of knowledge and insight

Anything grows in Pahrump due to the abundance of water. The unincorporated town sits on the third largest aquifer in the U.S.

into what areas in Pahrump are the best places to plunk down your hard-earned money in. Whether your desire is to invest in real estate, buy a place in preparation for retirement, or just to own property or a second home, Quitevis-Bateman can find that special niche for you.

Schedule a call with Fely Quitevis-Bateman of Precious Properties today at (702) 5384948, (775) 513-8447 or (805) 559-2476 and find out why buying real estate in Pahrump is a solid investment and a great plan for your future. (Advertising Supplement)

PAGE 5 was happening, supposedly at the behest of the dictator. This was corroborated by my long-time friend Arlene Martin, who used to be married to the son of Col. Remigio Octavio, the man who engineered and executed the cheating following orders from Malacañang. Arlene said “Papang” (Octavio) was loyal to Marcos until the very end. “In our Iloilo ancestral house, he had a signed blow-up picture with him {Marcos}. I witnessed a lot of Papang’s corruption na parang normal way of life, she added. Had it not been for the 35 brave truth-tellers from Comelec, Marcos’ dirty tactics to stay in power could have succeeded. But this act of radical love for the country and our democracy was among the confluence that empowered people to fight in EDSA and many parts of the Philippines through the bloodless People Power Revolution. Ordinary people from all walks of life soldiered on, armed with only their rosaries, flowers, prayers, smiles and love they shared with the soldiers manning the tank that could have killed the people demonstrating against Marcos. Radical love for the country and our democracy. Where are the heroes of Comelec in this generation, as our nation again faces crossroads? The intervening reality this time is the use of fake news and malicious disinformation to erase the history of the Marcos family’s transgressions against the Philippines, and the strategic rebranding of the Marcos brand by hiring Cambridge Analytica. This is part of the strategy to reclaim power, protect their family’s ill-gotten wealth, and save themselves from paying the price of their abuses, while at the same time, looking like they are the heroes and those who courageously fought to protect our democracy the villains. The red flags are again up in the air, trying to reveal the truth to the Filipino people as the May 9, 2022 election draws near. The Marcos family claims to “unite” the country by bringing together past and present leaders who have been convicted of crimes against the country, hiding the truth with their cloak of lies and deception. The son of the dictator who is now running to be president has been deceiving the country and robbing the people of the truth that is important for the electorate to make an informed conscientious decision with his lies — shamelessly claiming again to have graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Oxford University and Wharton for postgraduate studies, declaring ownership of the Windmill project from conception to execution, bragging that he paid his taxes dutifully even when he had a conviction from the Regional Trial Court for tax evasion and should, in fact, have been imprisoned and banned from ever running for public office again — a law that his own father enacted. Bongbong Marcos’ disqualification case had been brought up to the Comelec for a decision, and the outgoing Commissioner Rowena Guanzon had to make public her dissenting opinion to protect the integrity of our elections. True to what Guanzon warned the people about, the Comelec leadership was just waiting for her to retire on February 2 before releasing the majority decision to allow Marcos to run, disregarding her dissenting opinion. The lesson from the Comelec decision? There is no moral turpitude when Bongbong

failed to pay his taxes for years even when he was a sitting governor of Ilocos Norte. I Bongbong Marcos above the law? So can we not pay taxes anymore, Filipino people? Is it ok to misrepresent one’s qualifications and history to deceive people? Is it ok for Bongbong Marcos to skip debates which should be an important tool for people to compare and contrast candidates and fact check them for lies and disinformation right there and then? What is Bongbong hiding? Is it ok for Comelec to deny people of their right of expression in supporting Leni Robredo by demolishing and destroying their posters, billboards and tarps in their own private properties? Is it ok for Comelec to favor one candidate over the others? Is that in the best interest of the Filipino people according to the spirit of the law in the Constitution? Unfortunately, there are people in Comelec, as there had been a generation ago, who were tactically appointed to positions of leadership by the very people who wanted to continue to hold on to power, especially with the DuterteMarcos unholy alliances, sealed by the running of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter Sara Duterte as Marcos’ running mate. The Philippines’ democracy is at stake. What will happen to the integrity of our elections in May? Where are the heroes of Comelec? The right to vote is the cornerstone of democracy. The sacred exercise of this right is how the citizens of the country claim their Constitutional power to decide the direction the country should be heading and to choose the Captain who will steer the country in the right direction. It is therefore important that the government ensures the integrity of the elections so that they will truly reflect the will of the people. All the branches of government — the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary — should faithfully fulfill their Constitutional obligation of checks and balances to make sure that no individual or institution will abuse its power and betray the people’s trust to manipulate the electoral process and disregard the will of the people for their own personal evil agenda. The Fourth Estate — the free, independent press — should serve its purpose to be the watchdog of the government without fear and intimidation from or connivance with government institutions, candidates, political parties or special interests that maliciously wants to rob the people of their power. Finally, and most importantly, the citizens of the country should proactively and diligently guard, not only their sacred individual votes, but the whole election process itself. Regardless of their political affiliation or stance, they should demand transparency and accountability from government, especially from the Commission on Elections. *** 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. *** Gel Santos Relos has been in news, talk, public service and educational broadcasting since 1989. She was a news anchor, TV host and radio commentator and public service host for ABS- CBN and DZMM. She is now working on her advocacies independently, serving the Filipino audience using different media platforms. You may contact her through email at gelrelos@icloud.com, or send her a message via Facebook at Facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos. Also on Twitter, Instagram: Gel Santos Relos

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2022

COMMUNITY JOURNAL

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Immigration questions of the Fil-Am South Bay Community take centerstage in this Sunday’s special episode of Citizen Pinoy CITIZEN Pinoy features a new episode, where the show’s host, leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel, reaches out to various Filipino American community organizations across the U.S. and gets to know more about them. On the premiere of Citizen Pinoy’s community outreach, Atty. Gurfinkel meets the Fil-Am South Bay Community of San Jose, California, and neighboring areas. He sits with their officers and finds out that the FASBC was created to uplift the members and support one another during the bleak times of the pandemic, when many people lost their livelihood and source of income. Atty. Gurfinkel also answers immigration questions from the local community, like “What are the requirements for petitioning siblings of a U.S. citizen? Can a 3-time

divorcee petition and marry her soulmate in the Philippines even if she was deported 26-years ago? Will a green card holder, who overstayed in the Philippines due to COVID restrictions, be allowed to return to the U.S.?” Other Fil-Am community organizations in the U.S. may also get the chance to be featured on Citizen Pinoy. Visit the Facebook page of the Law Offices of Michael J. Gurfinkel and signify your interest by sending a private message via messenger. Watch this special community episode on brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, February 27 at 7:00 PM PT (10:00 PM ET thru select Cable/Satellite providers), right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app. (Advertising Supplement)

CITIZEN PINOY FEATURES A NEW EPISODE WHERE ATTY. GURFINKEL REACHES OUT TO FIL-AM COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY. Leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (center) meets with the officers and members of the Fil-Am South Bay Community (L-R: Rhea Salazar, Jen Young, Joyce Lynn Layos, and Ana Rita Reyes) in this special episode where Citizen Pinoy reaches out to the Filipino community and organizations. Atty. Gurfinkel discusses the mission and purpose of the FASBC, and highlights the group’s service to the community. He also addresses some of the immigration questions and concerns from some members of the community. Watch this special episode on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, February 27 at 7:00 PM PT (10:00 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo.

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FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2022 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

Deaths still high

Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS THE recorded average daily COVID-19 deaths in the United States, as of last Monday, February 21, 2022, was 2,308 the past week (almost 330 per day), and the daily average COVID-19 infections are 108,056. Yes, still that many in one day. The total confirmed cases are so far 78,688,566, and the total confirmed deaths are 939,320 (almost a million), the highest of any nation. While the cases are 64 percent down and the deaths 13.4 percent lower compared to two weeks ago, which are hopeful signs towards flattening the curve, these data are still too high for us the let our guards down at this time. The latest clinical data show that those fully vaccinated (with two shots plus a booster) are greatly protected from Omicron and its Stealth subvariant, from severe symptoms, hospitalization, and deaths, but this does not guarantee even 70 percent immunity. Fully vaccinated individuals could still get a breakthrough infection but when they get it, they do not turn serious. This virus rapidly replicates and mutates, especially in the body of those unvaccinated and even in children, and is spread around. As I have repeatedly stated in the past, so long as there are unprotected (unvaccinated) persons, who are the most vulnerable and are the main targets of the virus, we will not be able to totally eradicate SARS-CoV2. The unvaccinated, compared to those who had the three shots, have a much higher risk of getting a severe infection, a higher hospitalization rate requiring a ventilator, and a much greater chance of dying. COVID-19 predictably could become endemic in the United States which we have to live with, and for which we will be required to have an annual (semi-annual because it wanes?) COVID-19 vaccination, like the flu. Science, not politics People are confused because they are left on their own to decide what to do, unfortunately, because we do not have unified national

mandates on mitigation and vaccination to guide us wisely. The government left the decision to “We, The People,” who are not epidemiologists or trained experts and are actually ignorant in managing infectious diseases. For political correctness, those spineless medically uninformed/misinformed politicians, in order not to alienate future voters, continue to defend their “medical” position by proclaiming they only want to empower the parents, the people, and allow them to exercise their civil liberties, their freedom of expression, and choice about vaccination, masking, and social distancing. All this sounds good, but they are medically wrong. Should we allow untrained people to do electrical works in our home, or let parents decide whether to have their child with ruptured appendicitis have surgery or not, or for a non-physician to do surgery on us or our loved ones? So why allow medically untrained people to make medical decisions as to whether to accept the vaccines or not, to wear a mask or not, earlier during the pandemic or at this juncture of this calamity? The wrong medical positions championed by most politicians, including physician-legislators in Congress and Governors of various states are against science and against the proven, effective, evidencebased epidemiologic protocol we already have for decades, accepted by scientists around the world in managing infectious diseases, especially for a killer virus that has so far infected 426,238,625 and killed 5,908,923 (almost 6 million) around the globe. Political correctness, fake news, misinformation and disinformation, rampant in social media, have contributed to the increase in infections and the number of deaths of countless people among those reported victims. Yes, politics and erroneous information could be deadlier than the killer virus. Masking issues Questions have been raised about whether we still have to wear a mask and do social distancing in public places at this phase of the pandemic. The short realistic answer is this: medically, yes,

especially when you are in an area with high COVID-19 infections, and when in enclosed rooms, restaurants, stores, schools, theaters, sports/entertainment arenas, or public transportation including buses, trains, ships, airplanes. Distancing, avoiding the crowd is most prudent. The rationale: the numbers of new cases and deaths are still too high to be safe without a mask; social distancing, except outdoors where the wind is a factor, helps a lot in dissipating the virus. Improper masks (made of cloth material, and using them improperly with the nose sticking out) provide no protection. The recommended mask is the NIOSH-approved N95 mask, which must be worn tightlyfitted around the face. The SARS-CoV2 virus is about 0.1-0.5 micron (600 times smaller than a grain of salt) and NIOSH-approved N95 masks have super-tiny pores, small enough to filter out 99.8 percent of the virus. For a better fit, double masking, the use of a gaiter or plastic brace over the mask will do the trick. Masking, even among children, does not hurt the wearer. Surgeons and nurses have been wearing them for hours on end and their oxygen saturation remains within normal levels. More than 12,341,801 children have been infected with COVID-19 since the pandemic started; 12,300 have died as of last month, 58 percent among ages 10-19, and 42 percent among ages 0-9. Yes, children could die from COVID-19 and they do transmit the virus to others. Evushield The combination of two long-acting Monoclonal Antibodies (tixagevimab and cilgavimab, brand name Evushield from AstraZeneca) to prevent COVID-19 has been approved by the FDA for high-risk individuals, including children 12 years and older (at least 88 pounds) for the prevention of COVID-19 among (1) those who are severely immunocompromised, or (2) did not respond to the vaccines, and (3) those who are severely allergic to the COVID-19 vaccines. The authorization does not include persons not infected or those not exposed to COVID-19. The clinical trials show the injection reduced getting the infection by 70 percent. The supplies are

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Arjo recounts bad acting in first ever scene: ‘Director wanted to send me home’ By Anne

PAsAjol Inquirer.net

ARJO Atayde marked his 10th anniversary in showbiz with reminiscences of his first acting experience, such as that of how a director reacted for disliking his performance. “I remember day (one) as if it was just yesterday… 18 takes on my first ever scene and the director wanted to send me home, [laughing out loud],” the actor said on his Instagram page on Friday, Feb. 18. “But here we are, 10 years later, surprisingly still here and still standing.” Atayde then expressed his gratitude to those who have been part of his “overwhelming journey,” adding that it has been full of “love, friendship and inspiration.” “More than the work I have been blessed with, I am grateful that the past 10 years have also blessed me with some of the best friendships and truest relationships I’ve had,” he added. “I am so blessed to get to do what I love and I’m

Arjo Atayde

Photo

still here for the same reason since day (one)… I just want to act.” Meanwhile, Ria, his sister, greeted him on his milestone while showing a childhood photo of them pinching each other’s cheeks, via her Instagram page, also on Friday. Ria then thanked him for inspiring and guiding her while referring to herself as Arjo’s “number one fan and OG (original gangster) baby sister.” “I am so proud of you and of everything you have

from

achieved,” she stated. “But among all the roles you’ve portrayed, my favorite would still have to be my brother because even with the craziness of everything else, that’s one thing you’ve never forgotten to do — to stay humble and to be the same Arjo you have always been.” Atayde also marked in December last year his third anniversary with his girlfriend, actress-TV host Maine Mendoza. The couple went on a boat picnic date to celebrate the occasion. g

Anne teases return to limelight on her birthday: ‘She’s back’ ANNE Curtis may be making her comeback soon as she dropped a teaser for what appears to be her return to the limelight after becoming a mom. The actress can be seen dancing and striking sexy poses as a spotlight follows her in the black-and-white teaser she released on her Instagram page for her birthday last scarce and those who simply opt not to get the vaccines but do not satisfy those three criteria above may not be eligible to get Evushield. Natural immunity About 10.5 billion doses of the vaccines have been administered worldwide, more than 212 million (64.24 percent) of the population of the United States have received the shots, proving how safe and effective vaccines are. Waiting to get infected to get natural immunity could be potentially deadly, even with Omicron, and not a guarantee the infection would confer good

Thursday, Feb. 17. She donned a full black body suit and her hair was up in a braid in the video. Curtis can be seen holding a red microphone as the words “she’s back” and “soon” were bannered onscreen. She used a similar microphone in performances PAGE 15

quality and lasting immunity. Vaccination is still the best option to prevent COVID-19. *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical

information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday. com, and philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2022

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Jake: ‘This is me’ By Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

SINGER Jake Zyrus shared a shirtless photo of him and became trending on social media. In his Facebook account, Jake said he thought about posting the photo because he knows it will receive criticism. “Pinag-isipan kong maigi kung ipo-post ko ba ‘to. Kasi lagi kong iniisip kung anong sasabihin ng ibang tao. Sa ilang taon na nag-transition ako, masaya ako sa naging takbo ng buhay ko, pero lagi pa rin akong nai-insecure sa katawan ko. Siguro dahil na rin sa standard ng karamihan,” he said. “Pero ngayon, palalayain ko na lahat yun. Pagtawanan mo o hindi, hindi mo alam ang sakit, iyak at mga dugo na pinagdaanan ko bago ako nagkaroon ng confidence na buong buo ko i-post ito,” he added. He also said that his photo aims to give strength to his co-transgenders to reveal who they really are.

Matteo Guidicelli and Sarah Geronimo

Photos from Instagram/@matteog

Matteo marks 2nd anniversary with Sarah Singer Jake Zyrus

“Masaya ako at gusto ko lang ipakita sa inyo na eto ako. Sa wakas, komportable sa nakikita ko. Hindi ako humihingi ng opinyon. Para ito sa mga kapwa ko transgender. Kung naghahanap kayo ng sign o confidence para ipakita

IMMIGRATION

Photo from Facebook/Jake Zyrus

at maging proud sa kung sino ka, tara sasabayan kita. Para sayo ‘to,” he said. “Kung hindi ka man handa pa, okay lang din ‘yun. Lahat yan may tamang panahon. Well. This is me guys. Mahal ko kayong lahat,” he added. g

SERVICES

MATTEO Guidicelli greeted his wife, actress-singer Sarah Geronimo, on their second wedding anniversary with a promise that they will be “partners for life.” Guidicelli penned a short message for his wife while showing photos of them hugging and making funny faces on his Instagram page on Sunday, Feb. 20. “Through thick and thin and all the ups and downs, we will be partners for life. I love you my beautiful wife! You’re the best,” he said. Guidicelli also showed fans the meal they shared for their anniversary which was cooked by Geronimo, via his Instagram Story. Fellow celebrities Iza Calzado, Angel Locsin and broadcaster Karen Davila greeted the couple.

The couple also recently enjoyed nature as they went horseback riding on their trip to Rizal with their pet dogs. Guidicelli and Geronimo tied the knot in a private Christian wedding in February of 2020. The ceremony had some unexpected events after Geronimo’s mom, Divine, reportedly confronted the couple during the wedding reception. Claims that Guidicelli punched the pop star’s bodyguard during the event also arose but was later on denied by the actor in a statement. The bodyguard agreed to settle with Guidicelli. Despite all this, Guidicelli opened up about his hopes of reconciling with Geronimo’s family, adding that he often imagines dining with them. (By Anne Pasajol/Inquirer.net)

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N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY F E B R UA RY 25, 2 0 22

people events arts culture entertainment

Filipino influence but thoroughly Scandinavian: How a young Filipino chef in Sweden won the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition T

by MOMAR

G. VISAYA / AJPress

HE biggest global talent search to find the best young chef in the world found its winner in Jerome Ianmark Calayag, a Stockholm-based Filipino chef originally from the Philippines. The young chef bested nine other chefs to win S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition 2019-2021, a grand, three-day gastronomic event held in Milan last October. The worldwide competition was designed to find and nurture the future of gastronomy. Calayag’s impressive “Humble Vegetables” Signature Dish wowed the Grand Jury with his choice of ingredients, his skills, genius, the beauty of the dish, and the message behind the plate, beating entries from the other talented chefs from around the world. The look of the dish he presented was inspired by the barbecued isaw or chicken intestines, something he remembers eating when he was growing up in the Philippines. “This is a reflection of my journey, who I am now and who I was,” he told the jury. “I was inspired by the carrot and this street food I used to buy in the Philippines, but this is a Nordic dish and it is very common in Sweden since we grow more carrots than potatoes.” Calayag moved to Sweden when he was 16 years old. His memory of the street food that he used to eat as a kid is still vivid in his memory and that is what he says he tries to recreate when he cooks using Scandinavian ingredients and techniques. “This was a great experience. I can easily say that joining the competition is one of the best decisions I have

ever made. It was awesome to meet all the chefs,” he told the Asian Journal, describing his journey in the global competition. Calayag’s family is originally from Paombong, Bulacan. His mother moved to Sweden and he followed when he was 16 years old. He is now fluent in Swedish. Life in Stockholm has been good, according to him. “I can’t complain, there are lots of opportunities,” he said. Calayag said that he misses eating Filipino dishes including his favorites sinigang and sisig, so when Jerome Ianmark Calayag and cravings start, he goes to the kitchen Mentor David Ljungqvist and cooks because there are no Filipino restaurants nearby. “Unfortunately I don’t think there is a proper Filippinerna restaurant here in Sweden,” he said. “When I cook, I usually make the Filipino dishes plant-based, which is challenging.” And that is his current dream: to help push the gastronomy world to be more sustainable. Rising to the Top S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy 2019-21 winner Jerome Ianmark Calayag “I wanted to be a chef when I was 14,” Calayag shared. This is the reason why he went to Rönnowska skolan in passing the preliminary selections and taking part in live cookHelsingborg to learn about the culinary industry. offs in front of international jury panels from the participating His efforts have paid off. Winning the S.Pellegrino countries of the 12 regions. Young Chef Academy Competition is already a major Calayag represented young chefs currently working in the bonus since he admits he enjoys doing what he does United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and every single day. Denmark. The Regional Winners arrived at the Grand Finale The 25-year-old Calayag is the fourth winner of after a mentorship path during which, thanks to the support of the search which began in 2015 and now stands as a a Senior Chef, they were able to refine their signature dishes. beacon of opportunity as he embarks on a stimulating “Jerome truly shone in front of our esteemed Grand Jury, journey to help shape the gastronomy of tomorrow. and our warmest congratulations go to him, with the wish Calayag’s journey to the top was not an easy he will bring his own passion and thinking to the table to one. help shape the gastronomy of tomorrow,” said Stefano This edition of the competition saw applicants Bolognese, Sanpellegrino International Business Unit Director. PAGE 15 from all over the world, with 135 young chefs

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2022

Anne teases return to limelight...

Anne Curtis Photo from

Instagram/@

PAGE 12 in the past, particularly when she staged “The Forbidden Concert Round 2: Annekapal” in 2014. “This is for everyone I LUV (love),” Curtis said. She did not provide further details related to the teaser. Fans expressed happiness over the possibility of Curtis making a comeback in the coming days, with one @ mskristineeeee asking whether she would be seen on “It’s Showtime” soon. “Back on [‘It’s Showtime’ ABS-CBN] on stage? Huhu finally!” she said. “Oh gosh I’m crying! The iconic red mic is back. I love you so much my concert queen,” another netizen, @ gladyzann, told the actress. Aside from her mysterious teaser, Curtis also dressed up as British actress Audrey

Hepburn for her birthday, as seen on her Instagram page. “Waking up happy and very, very grateful. Today is going to be a beautiful day!” she said. “Tickled pink to wear a piece once owned and worn by a woman I adore. #AudreyHepburn,” Curtis added in another post. Curtis has been on a hiatus from show biz for two years after giving birth to her daughter Dahlia. She started her break by leaving “It’s Showtime” in 2019 when she was still pregnant. She then gave birth in March 2020 in Australia and has since returned to the Philippines with Dahlia and her husband Erwan Heussaff in February last year. (By Dana Cruz/ Inquirer.net)

Filipino influence but thoroughly... PAGE 14 Recently, he got another feather to add to his cap as he became a member of the Swedish Culinary Team (2021-2024). The Swedish Culinary Team represents Sweden in international culinary competitions like the Culinary World Cup and the Culinary Olympics. ‘High on Flavors’ Calayag captivated the competition’s Grand Jury, an esteemed panel of internationally renowned chefs who are giants of global gastronomy – Enrico Bartolini, Manu Buffara, Andreas Caminada, Mauro Colagreco, Gavin Kaysen, and Clare Smyth, securing his victory as the best young chef in the world. David Ljungqvist, Calayag’s mentor and boss at Portal Restaurant in Stockholm, helped him improve his signature dish. He described his ward’s cooking as “brave, high on flavors” and that eating the dishes he prepares is “like getting a slap on the face, in a good way”. “The dish has intense flavors, it has high acid and salt in a way that makes you crave more. I love the creativity of taking the carrot and presenting it this way,” said Kaysen. “I really like what you achieved with these carrots, the flavor of meat from the smoking,” added Colagreco. One of the judges admitted to having goosebumps when he tasted Calayag’s dish. “It is so tasty and amazing. The carrot represents his roots. My hair on the back stand up…If you get a chance to try it, it is really bold, with deep and intense flavor. My mouth is happy, I am happy,” Caminada said. “I think it expresses the connection with the vegetables we all had to have, and the storytelling of the dish is also done very well,” Buffara said. Finally, Bartolini added: “I’m glad to have met you, as a magician you used an excellent technique to treat vegetables.” “It’s great that you understand how much flavor you can extract from a vegetable. There’s not many people who look at vegetables that way, you’ve really extracted so much flavor here, it’s absolutely delicious,” Smyth said.

Asked why he chose to build the dish around the everyday carrot, he said he was ‘inspired’ by the root vegetable. “Carrots are so delicious and packed with umami and sweetness. In Sweden we have so many carrots,” he said. Calayag added that he chose to showcase a vegetarian dish because that’s what he loves to cook and eat. “I believe that everyone should be cooking and eating more vegetables,” said the young chef. “We can take it slow and steady so we can push gastronomy to a more sustainable way. You can cook very good food with such humble ingredients.” While other chefs have pivoted to plantbased menus post-pandemic, Calayag first created his signature dish back in 2018. “The pandemic hasn’t changed the way that I think about food, it amplified my belief in what I am doing and what I can affect and how many good things I can do in this world,” he said. The overwhelmed young chef collected his award in front of an assembled audience of fellow chefs and food enthusiasts, who got to their feet to applaud him at the prestigious ceremony held at Palazzo del Senato in Milan. “I just wanted to express how it has been and what I have been learning through the years,” said the beaming young chef after hugging his mentor Ljungqvist on stage. “The taste of the food I enjoy eating was on that plate.” Looking forward, Calayag said he has big ambitions for the future. Whether it’s opening a restaurant, in Sweden or elsewhere, he is sure that he will do it sustainably. “I think it’s going to be vegetarian. It depends, maybe there will be sustainable ways of producing food that is sustainable and it’s not vegetables.” Addressing any young chef thinking about entering the competition in the future, Calayag has this advice: “Do it before you think you are ready, you shouldn’t wait until you are ready as you might never do it and that’s not good. You miss every shot that you don’t take.” g

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Rabiya hopes women of any weight can join Miss Universe Philippines pageant By Marane

a. Plaza

Philstar.com

MISS Universe Philippines 2020 titleholder Rabiya Mateo hopes women of any weight can also join the pageant, following its historic removal of height requirement that started last year. The beauty queen said it should also be time for pageants to open up more for each and everyone. “‘Yon yung tinatawag nilang real beauty. Next time, different molds naman yung makikita natin kasi beauty has no form, it has no size. Sana dito sa Philippines, onti-onti, makita natin,” she said. “It’s a beautiful message especially sa young ones na anybody can be Miss Universe,” she continued. In 2018, Miss Universe Spain Angela Ponce broke barriers as the first trans

Rabiya Mateo

woman to compete in the Miss Universe pageant for its 67th edition. Last year, the Miss Universe Philippines organization lifted its height requirement

Photo from Instagram/@rabiyamateo

for Filipina aspirants. Screenings for this year’s Miss Universe Philippines have started. A new titleholder will be crowned in April. g

How music kept JM company at rehab By Marinel

Cruz

Inquirer.net

JM de Guzman, who has always been very vocal about having entered rehab twice in the past for substance abuse, also recalled how he was able to write over 30 songs while inside the facility. The singer-actor released a single, aptly titled “Convalescence,” in 2021 under Star Music.

JM de Guzman

“It’s actually a combination of two songs that I wrote while inside the rehab. This was in 2016,” he told Inquirer Entertainment. “We’re not allowed to carry pens inside because these can be used as weapons. We’re also not allowed to write because we’re all busy with chores in there. I got hold of a pencil, which I used to write with while inside the bathroom. I

Photo from Instagram/@1migueldeguzman

would sneak in some writing whenever it was my turn to clean the toilet bowls.” JM said that it was in these small sheets of paper that he poured his heart out. “I wrote everything I could think of. I just kept them hidden until I became an officer, because officers are allowed to use ballpens and read books. I simply transferred everything to a notebook when I was finally allowed to own one. Sadly, the melody that was in my head while I was writing the lyrics were all gone by the time I got out. That was the annoying part… I had no way to record them,” the actor said. JM added that Red Bull Studios invited him to record in August 2021, “because they heard that I wrote some stuff while inside the facility. They asked me what beat I wanted as ‘peg,’ so I made them hear a rap song that I liked. They made their own beat for me, on the spot. What you hear in the single is actually what came out on the first take. The other takes were for the second voice and that whisper you will hear at the back,” he explained. g

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