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MARCH 31 - APRIL 6, 2022

T H E F I L I P I N O A M E R I CA N C O M MU N I T Y N E WS PA PE R

Volume 33 - No. 13 • 12 Pages

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FDA allows second COVID boosters for 50 and older by AJPRESS ELIGIBLE adults can start getting a second booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine following the United States Food and Drug Administration’s authorization this week. The FDA on Tuesday, March 29 announced that it is expanding emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to allow adults 50 and older to get another booster shot at least four months after they received their first booster dose. “Current evidence suggests

DATELINE

some waning of protection over time against serious outcomes from COVID-19 in older and immunocompromised individuals. Based on an analysis of emerging data, a second booster dose of either the PfizerBioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine could help increase protection levels for these higherrisk individuals,” said Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, in a news release. “Additionally, the data show that an initial booster dose is critical in helping to protect all adults from the potentially severe

outcomes of COVID-19. So, those who have not received their initial booster dose are strongly encouraged to do so.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) likewise updated its recommendation to allow certain immunocompromised individuals and people over the age of 50 to receive their second booster shot. Further, based on newly published data, adults who received a primary vaccine and booster dose of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19

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PACQUIAO MOTORCADE IN QC. Presidential candidate Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao waves to the crowd during his motorcade campaign with his wife Jinkee in Barangay Tatalon, Quezon City on Tuesday, March 29. Pacquiao asked city residents to vote for him in May elections. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Fil-Am Nani Coloretti makes history in Biden’s administration

USA

by MOMAR

G. VISAYA

AJPress

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

NANI Coloretti is now the highest ranking Filipino American in the Biden Administration as the U.S. Senate voted Tuesday, March 29 to confirm her nomination as deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget. “Nani will bring strong leadership experience and the ability to inspire the next generation of Filipino American leaders in Hawaii and across the country,” said Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii. “I am proud to call Nani a friend, and I look forward to continuing to work with her in her new role at OMB.” Sen. Schatz was one of the 57 senators

BA.2 COVID variant now accounts for more than one third of new infections, says CDC THE BA.2 variant of Omicron now accounts for 35 percent of new COVID infections in the U.S., and more than 50 percent in New York and New England. But experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that cases overall will be less severe. “As we’re learning from our colleagues in Europe, Asia and South Africa, the BA.2 has resulted in varied peaks of cases. But there is no evidence that the BA.2 variant results in more severe disease, nor does it appear to be more likely to evade immune protection,” said Dr. John Brooks, senior science adviser to the CDC’S COVID-19 Emergency Response team. Brooks and Dr. Shannon Stokely, co-lead

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Tagalog bystander trainings aim to reduce hate incidents in Fil-Am community TO help put an end to the proliferation of anti-Asian hate and harassment, the Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Los Angeles (Advancing Justice-Los Angeles), in partnership with Hollaback!, is holding a series of virtual trainings entitled “Bystander Intervention To Stop Anti-Asian/American and Xenophobic Harassment.” Starting with the first training last March 23 which was carried out using the native Filipino language, Jeanette Sayno, Advancing JusticeLos Angeles community legal advocate, said these workshops are aimed at empowering everyone to build a world that is free of harassment and filled with humanity. “Our work focuses on turning the care we have for each other into simple, creative and effective action,” Sayno said, noting that the training participants will be able to learn to intervene effectively as a bystander without

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Nani Coloretti

who voted to confirm Coloretti. The Office of Management and Budget works with federal agencies to oversee the execution of spending programs approved by Congress. According to Schatz, OMB is the largest office within the office of the president, “overseeing the implementation of the president’s vision across the Executive Branch. OMB also manages department and agency organization, the regulatory process, and ensures that funds appropriated by Congress are properly spent.” Coloretti has led public, private and non-profit organizations to achieve outstanding results, with a focus on increasing opportunity for all. She was

a Senior Vice President at the Urban Institute, an independent policy research organization and think tank dedicated to using evidence, insight, and analysis to advance upward mobility, equity, and shared prosperity all Americans. Coloretti’s federal government service includes deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Assistant Secretary for Management and Acting CFO of U.S. Department of the Treasury, and Acting COO of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Before joining the Obama Administration in 2009, she served as Policy and Budget Director for San

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PH allows entry of fully-vaccinated foreigners Two Filipinos attacked in NYC as community leaders stage #FilipinosRiseUp rally by CATHERINE

S. VALENTE ManilaTimes.net

FULLY-vaccinated foreigners may enter the Philippines “without need of an entry exemption document” starting on April 1, Malacañang said on Friday, March 25. Acting Palace deputy spokesman Kris Ablan said the new guidelines, which were approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on Thursday, March 24 would only require foreigners to present proof of full vaccination against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and to undergo additional protocols. “Beginning April 1, 2022, foreign nationals may enter the Philippines without need for an entry exemption document; provided

that they comply with the applicable visa requirements and immigration entry and departure formalities,” Ablan said during a Palace press briefing. Ablan said they must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and possess acceptable proof of vaccination, except only for minor children below 12 years old traveling with their fully vaccinated foreign parents. These foreigners, Ablan said, must also present a negative reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction test taken within 48 hours or a negative laboratory-based antigen test taken within 24 hours, prior to the date and time of departure from the country of origin/first port of embarkation in a continuous travel to the Philippines. They must not have also left the airport

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Marcos Jr. still hopeful of Duterte’s endorsement by DAPHNE

GALVEZ Inquirer.net

MANILA — Presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, March 29 said he is still counting on the endorsement of President Rodrigo Duterte despite the support he has obtained from the PDP-Laban faction led by the Chief Executive. “Alam mo naman si President, he keeps us on our toes. I hope so, I hope so,” he said in a chance interview when asked if he expects Duterte’s support for his candidacy. The PDP-Laban wing formed by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and backed by Duterte has earlier announced their endorsement of Marcos Jr. and the

president’s daughter, Sara DuterteCarpio, who is running for vice president in tandem with the late strongman’s son. But Duterte has yet to reveal his personal choice for the next president. According to him, an ideal president should be a decisive, compassionate lawyer. Marcos Jr. is not a lawyer and Duterte has previously said that Marcos Jr. is a “weak leader.” According to Duterte’s long-time assistant Senator Bong Go, the President met with Marcos Jr. a few days before the PDP-Laban faction openly endorsed his candidacy. Go said the two had a “productive” meeting, where Duterte shared his experiences and even gave advice on being president. 

by MOMAR

G. VISAYA

AJPress

TWO Filipinos in New York City were added to the growing list of community members who have been victims of brutal, unprovoked attacks. Both incidents happened in midtown Manhattan a few blocks from each other. On Sunday, March 27, a 73-year-old Filipino was reported to have been assaulted by a homeless individual while on his way to church between 8th Avenue and 40th Street in Manhattan. The following morning, a 53-year-old Filipino was beaten unconscious and robbed by another homeless individual at a McDonald’s store on 7th Avenue near 34th Street. According to a Daily News report, the man assaulted inside McDonald’s identified as Melvin Dizon pleaded for help from the staff and customers but no one came to help him. “I said, ‘Help, help, please call the cops,’” Dizon told the Daily News from his Bellevue Hospital bed on Tuesday, March 29. “I was hoping people were going to help me, but they didn’t ... they were just watching and they didn’t get involved. I guess they’re scared.”

Based on a security video released by the NYPD, Dizon was making a purchase from a kiosk when his attacker came up from behind and pummeled him to the ground before stealing his phone and cash. An ABC7 news report on Wednesday, March 30, said that police have arrested the man who assaulted Dizon. He was identified as Rasheed Osundairo, 30, and was arrested after he was recognized by an off-duty police officer while on the subway. He was additionally charged with an assault on the subway on March 23 and for criminal possession of stolen property said to be found in his possession at the time of his arrest. The Philippine Consulate General in New York has issued a statement condemning the latest attacks against members of the Filipino Community and the senseless violence that has left many Filipinos in fear. “The Philippine Consulate General in New York condemns in the strongest terms the latest attacks against members of the Filipino Community,” Consul General Elmer Cato said in a statement.

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MARCH 31 - APRIL 6, 2022 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

From The FronT Page

FDA allows second COVID...

PAGE 1

vaccine at least four months ago may now receive a second booster dose using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, either Pfizer or Moderna. “Boosters are safe, and people over the age of 50 can now get an additional booster 4 months

after their prior dose to increase their protection further. This is especially important for those 65 and older and those 50 and older with underlying medical conditions that increase their risk for severe disease from COVID-19 as they are the most likely to benefit from receiving

an additional booster dose at this time. CDC, in collaboration with FDA and our public health partners, will continue to evaluate the need for additional booster doses for all Americans,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in the statement. g

Two Filipinos attacked in NYC as...

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“The Philippine Consulate General in New York reminds kababayans to be vigilant at all times and to take the necessary precautions, especially when in public,” the statement added. “The Consulate again calls on authorities to do more to make sure that the streets of New York City are safe again for everyone.” The assaults, which follow the

brutal attack against a 67-yearold Filipino woman in Yonkers, New York, two weeks ago, bring to 34 the number of anti-Asian hate incidents and criminal violence involving Filipinos since last year. According to Consul General Cato, the incidents in Manhattan bring to seven the number of cases involving members the Filipino Community reported to

or monitored by the Philippine Consulate General in New York this year. The Consulate issued a call for authorities to “do more to make sure that New York City is safe again for everyone by removing dangerous individuals, especially PFIZER VAX. Boxes containing Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine are loaded onto a reefer van at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in those with criminal records, Pasay City on Wednesday, March 30. The reformulated life-saving shots for use by minors, totaling 1,872,000 doses, were procured by the PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler from the streets and addressing national government through the World Bank. concerns related to homelessness and mental health”. g

Tagalog bystander trainings aim to reduce hate...

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of the Vaccine Task Force at the CDC’S COVID-19 Emergency Response team, spoke March 25 at a news briefing organized by Ethnic Media Services, in collaboration with the CDC. Brooks cautioned that the BA.2 variant does have an increased rate of transmission in comparison to the first variant of Omicron that arrived in the US last winter and caused peaks in infections throughout the country. The CDC is watching closely the rise of infections in the Northeast to determine if there is also an uptick in the severity of the disease, said Brooks. The agency has pivoted to monitoring potential increases in cases and transmission through its COVID-19 Wastewater surveillance system. Over the past two weeks, the CDC has seen increasing wastewater signals in New York City and parts of New England and a correlating increase in the number of new infections, as well as some increased hospitalizations, he reported. The CDC is also looking at any changes in genomic surveillance that monitors for circulating variants. “I would like to emphasize that if cases rise from the Omicron variant or for any other variant, we

have the tools, we have vaccines, we have testing, and we have Therapeutics and we are prepared to react,” concluded Brooks. Stokely noted that the US thus far has administered 159 million doses of the available COVID vaccines, nearly three times the number administered during a typical flu season. The majority of vaccines distributed in the U.S. are the mRNA-based Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. “These vaccines have been proven safe and effective at preventing complications from COVID-19, including severe disease, hospitalization and death.” Pivoting to the question on the minds of parents with young children, Stokely addressed the issue of when vaccines might become available for children under 5-years-old. She noted there are multiple manufacturers that are conducting clinical trials to assess the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine for very young children. The results of the rigorous clinical trials must then be presented to the FDA for emergency use authorization before the vaccine can be administered to under-5s. The trials will take into account the side effects of the vaccine in young children, including fatigue, soreness at the injection site, and myocarditis, a rare symptom for

some young people. “We are in a much stronger position than we were two years ago with the tools we need, including vaccines and boosters, that are protecting people from hospitalization and death, said Stokely. “If you are boosted, you are 21 times less likely to die from COVID-19. So the vaccination Remains the most effective and safest way to prevent COVID-19. And I encourage everyone to remain up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations,” she said. Brooks addressed the issue of global vaccine equity. Currently, less than 7 percent of the developing world has received a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. “We live in one world, and we’re only as safe as a plane ride away,” he said, “So it’s important that we protect everyone in our world community.” “Untreated COVID-19 infections are the source of new variants. People who are not vaccinated and become infected can become the source of new emerging variants,” added Brooks. “By preventing infection, we prevent the emergence of new variants, and reduce the threat of COVID worldwide.” (Sunita Sohrabji/Ethnic Media Services)

BA.2 COVID variant now accounts for more than... PAGE 1

compromising their safety. Earlier reports showed that in 2020, hate crimes against Asians jumped 107% in California. Some 89 hate crimes were reported against Asian/Americans compared to 43 in 2019. The total number of hate crimes in the state in 2020 reached 1,330, the highest in more than a decade. During the first training session of Advancing JusticeLos Angeles, the concept of 5Ds (Distract, Delegate, Document, Delay, Direct) was introduced as an effectively tool to implement bystander intervention. “I hope more people will sign up to the program so we could explain to them how the 5Ds concept work,” Sayno said. The workshops are free for the public but donations are also welcomed to reach out to as many Asian/Americans as possible and to further expand these capacity building and awareness efforts. To donate, go to https://bit.ly/ donatetoadvancingjusticela Sayno said they also encouraged the participants to tell at least 10 of their friends and/or families about the training program. More free training sessions will be posted at https://advancingjustice-la.org/ bystander-intervention-trainings Advancing Justice-Los Angeles volunteer coordinator Mai Mao Yang, on the other hand, said these discussions would help

increase awareness on the role of “bystanders” amidst the rising cases of harassment against Asian/American across the U.S. and the world, especially during the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the aim of training up to 40,000 people, Advancing JusticeLos Angeles is planning to hold these comprehensive and detailed workshops via Zoom on a monthly basis. The next Tagalog training is scheduled on April 21 at 6pm, Pacific time. To sign up, go to https://www.ihollaback.org/standstreet-harassment/ “Essentially, we want to reach out to everyone. We see that during the pandemic, this really solidifies the need for these trainings. The more, the better. Hopefully, next month we will have more people joining the training,” Yang said. Aside from Tagalog/Filipino, the training program will also be offered in other languages such as Mandarin/Cantonese, Vietnamese, Korean and English. The Advancing JusticeLos Angeles-sponsored trainings initiative is consistent with President Joe Biden’s pronouncement in May 2021 at the signing of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act which called for the creation of specialized hate crime units that will help states create hotlines for hate crimes at state and local levels that will be accessible for people with limited

English proficiency. President Biden also noted that the Act provides resources for training for state and local law enforcement to identify, investigate, and report these heinous crimes. Advancing Justice-Los Angeles is one of California’s largest legal and civil rights organization for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI). Founded in 1983 as the Asian Pacific Legal Center, Advancing Justice-LA serves more than 15,000 individuals and organizations every year. Through direct services, impact litigation, policy advocacy, leadership development, and capacity building, Advancing Justice-Los Angeles focuses on the most vulnerable members of Asian American and AANHPI communities while also building a strong voice for civil rights and social justice. At present, Advancing Justice-Los Angeles is based on downtown Los Angeles, with satellite offices in Orange County and Sacramento. Hollaback!, meanwhile, is a non-profit global organization formed to raise awareness about and combat to harassment, both online and in-person, through intervention trainings and grassroots initiatives. (Donnabelle Arevalo/AJPress)

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 31 - APRIL 6, 2022

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USS Abraham Lincoln arrives in Manila with proud Fil-Am sailors

IT’S ON. Philippine and U.S. officials attend the opening of the Balikatan exercises on Monday, March 28. In photo are Philippine Navy MGen. Charlton Sean Gaerlan, PH Exercise Director Gen. Andres Centino, United States Charge d’ Affaires to the Philippines Heather Variava, Department of National Defense Undersecretary Cardozo Luna, U.S. Marines 3rd Division Commanding General Maj. Gen. Jay Bargeron and Armed Forces of the Philippines Deputy Chief of Staff for Education, Training and Doctrine Commodore Donn Anthony Miraflor during the opening ceremony of the Philippines-United States Exercise Balikatan 2022 at the AFP headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, on Monday. ManilaTimes.net photo by John Orven Verdote

US, Philippines kick off largest war exercises CLOSE to 9,000 soldiers will take part in the "largest-ever" war games between the Philippines and the United States which opened Monday, March 28 in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. The exercises will take place across Luzon from March 28 to April 8. The two-week military exercises, dubbed as Balikatan 2022, will focus on maritime security, amphibious operations, live-fire training, urban operations, aviation operations, counterterrorism, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Lt. Gen. Andres Centino led the opening ceremony. In his speech, Centino cited the importance of the war exercises "in light of the domestic landscapes as well as in the international environment." "In light of the volatile, uncertain and ambiguous nature of the security setting that we are faced and the fast-changing advancements in warfare, it has indeed been a shared responsibility to address our vulnerabilities and ensure that both our armed forces are able to promptly and effectively respond to any crisis or emergency under all circumstances," Centino said. "The Balikatan exercise truly embodies the friendship and alliance between our two countries, after all Balikatan from the Filipino word balikat means shoulder to shoulder, thus as we continuously shoulder to shoulder this exercise shall certainly strengthen the interoperability of both of our armed forces for mutual defense, humanitarian assistance and disaster response and decisively contribute to the

ALLIES. Maj. Gen. Charlton Sean Gaerlan (2nd from left), exercise director of the Balikatan 2022 for the Philippines, and his US counterpart Maj. Gen. Jay Bargeron (center) lead the unfurling of the Balikatan flag at the start of the annual joint military exercises in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Monday, March 28. This year's exercise will run until April 8. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

peace and stability of the IndoPacific region," he added. Of the total number of troops, 3,800 are from the Philippines while 5,100 are from the United States. "I urge all the Filipino and American soldiers who are taking part in this year's Balikatan exercise to embody professionalism, excellence and camaraderie as we maximize the opportunities offered to us in these events. Please take advantage of this exercise to learn from each other, foster teamwork and improve all your individual proficiencies. I am confident that both of our armed forces shall reap immense benefits from this exercise as we continue to pursue our shared goals of regional peace, security and stability," Centino said. US Embassy to Manila Chargé d'Affaires ad interim Heather Variava said this year's Balikatan also includes a command post exercise that tests the AFP and US forces' ability to plan, command and communicate with each other in a simulated environment. The

AFP and US military will also conduct multiple humanitarian and civic assistance projects, including the renovation of four elementary schools, multiple community health engagements and the exchange of advanced emergency rescue and lifesaving techniques. These construction projects, health engagements and community relations events improve local infrastructure, facilitate the exchange of lifesaving medical skills and strengthen ties between Philippine communities and Philippine and American military forces. "Our enduring alliance and deep bilateral military cooperation that we have built over the past seven decades and longer plays a key role in sustaining peace and security in the IndoPacific region... to reaffirm our commitment to even more robust ties and to our relationship that remains highly relevant as the world faces new and continuing challenges," she said. (Francis Earl Cueto /ManilaTimes.net)

MANILA — The United States Navy continues to foster its ties with the Philippines and its other allies by conducting military exercises, showing off joint-capabilities with the arrival of USS Abraham Lincoln that’s manned by several Filipino American sailors. “Our commitment to allies and partners and friends has never been more important to this region than right now,” Rear Adm Jeffrey T. Anderson said on Thursday, March 24. Select representatives of the media were brought to the aircraft carrier that was in the middle of the West Philippine Sea via a CMV-22 Osprey last week. Among USS Abraham Lincoln’s 5,000 crew members are Filipinos, some of whom have not been home in years. “Ang total mission ng barko is makapag-launch ng mga eroplano kung kailangan. Kada isa sa amin may role kami dun sa sa big, overall picture ng condition na makapag-launch siya ng eroplano,” Logistics Specialist Senior Chief Petty Officer Rommel Pasive said. (The ship’s total mission is to launch aircraft when needed. We each have a role in the big, overall picture of having it conditioned to be able to launch an aircraft.) Filipino crew members will be

given a chance to take a quick break while in the Philippines, with some of the sailors expressing excitement to spend time with their friends and family. They said sailors on board are often busy with the tasks assigned to them, but FilipinoAmerican sailors said they find time to bond with one another when sharing meals or by having small get-togethers. The Fil-Am crew said they were able to create a community that feels like home. Petty Officer 2nd Class Danmichael Canta said: “Kulang lang talaga is ‘yung lutong bahay.” (The only thing missing is homemade food.) Around 80 aircraft onboard The ship is the United States’ fifth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. It can accommodate around 80 aircraft, which can be deployed both day and night and in all types of conditions. This is not her first time in the Philippines. USS Abraham Lincoln’s first deployment was in the region, executing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief when Mt. Pinatubo exploded in 1991. Last week, USS Abraham Lincoln Commanding Officer Capt Amy Bauernschmidt said it can do “pretty much anything that [it is] tasked to do by [its] government.” The crew went through a

“rigorous nine-month training cycle” before the ship departed its home port in San Diego earlier this year, January 3. USS Abraham Lincoln has traveled over 24,000 miles and performed 15 replenishments at sea since. “Since leaving San Diego, we’ve executed about 5,192 hours of flight operations, watching and recovering aircraft both day and night everywhere from San Diego over to the South China Sea,” Bauernschmidt said. The crew also went through carrier interoperability exercises as well as double fusion and jungle warfare while at the West Philippine Sea. “We are here to help build interoperability, capacity, and capability throughout the region with both our allies as well as our partners in order to provide reassurance as well as to deter our adversaries and should deterrence fail, we’re here to fight and win,” Anderson said. Filipinos on board said they are trying to do their best to fulfill their mission, hoping to best represent the country even while they are away from home. “Ang mindset ko ay kung ano po ang misyon ang pinapagawa po nila sa amin, nandito po kami para gawin iyon. So as a parang representative ng mga Pilipino, gagawin po namin ang aming PAGE 4

VERTICAL GARDEN. A Metro Manila Development Authority worker douses plants using water hose on the vertical gardens under the tunnel walls along Edsa corner P. Tuazon Boulevard in Quezon City as part of its continuing effort to beautify Metro Manila on Thursday, March 31. MMDA personnel have been regularly watering the plants to keep them fresh, especially this summer season. PNA photo by Ben Briones

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MARCH 31 - APRIL 6, 2022 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

Dateline USa

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HOT WORKDAY. Traffic constables of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) manage vehicular traffic at the U-turn slot in front of the Quezon City Academy along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Quezon City on Thursday, March 31. Starting April 1, MMDA traffic enforcers and street sweepers will be entitled to a 30-minute "heat stroke break" to protect them from the ill effects of hot weather during the summer season. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Fil-Am Nani Coloretti makes history in Biden’s... PAGE 1 Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. Her prior experience includes work in San Francisco to improve the lives of children, youth, and families; program examiner and Presidential Management Fellow in the Office of Management and Budget and work on the State of Hawaii budget. Ms. Coloretti currently serves as an independent director on

the board of the Bank of the West. She is a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, Strategic Advisor to Government Executives with the Partnership for Public Services, and has been independently recognized for innovation and leadership, receiving the UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy Special Award for Policy Innovation, the Public Policy

and International Affairs (PPIA) Alumni Achievement Award and the National Public Service award. She holds a BA in economics and communications from the University of Pennsylvania and an MPP from the University of California, Berkeley. She was raised in Hawaii and currently lives in Bethesda, Maryland with her husband and together they have a son in college. g

PH allows entry of fully-vaccinated...

PAGE 1 premises or admitted into another country during such lay-over, according to Ablan. They must also have passports valid for a period of at least six months at the time of their arrival to the Philippines, he added. Under the guidelines, foreign spouses and/or children of Filipino citizens and former Filipino citizens with balikbayan privilege, including their foreign spouse and/or children who are not balikbayans and traveling with

them to the Philippines shall no longer be required to have return tickets, not later than 30 days from date of arrival in the Philippines. They must obtain, prior to arrival, a travel insurance for COVID-19 treatment costs from reputable insurance providers, with a minimum coverage of $35,000 for the duration of their stay in the Philippines. A facility-based quarantine is no longer required but they have to self-monitor for any sign or symptom for seven days upon the

date of arrival. However, they are required to report to the local government unit of their destination if they manifest any COVID-19 symptom. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Department of Justice (DoJ), the Department of Transportation (DoTr)One Stop Shop, the Bureau of Quarantine (BoQ), and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) are directed to ensure the smooth implementation of the updated protocols. g

USS Abraham Lincoln arrives in Manila... PAGE 3 makakaya para ma-fulfill ang aming mission,” Romero said. (I put on the mindset that whatever the mission they are asking us to do, we are here to do it. So as a somewhat representative of the Filipino people, we will do our best to fulfill our mission.) Meanwhile, the Philippines and the United States are set to begin the largest joint military drills in the country this week. War games are expected to last 12 days near

the Luzon islands. Exercises include maritime security, live-fire training, counterterrorism, as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. “This year’s way more robust, it’s somewhere on the order of over 5,000 U.S. service members and somewhere on the order of over 3,500 Philippine service members, so a lot more robust exercises than it has been in the past,” Anderson said.

“I think it underscores those strong military-to-military ties that we possess between the United States joint force and the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he added. Anderson said they did not need to shift the ship’s operations or exercises due to the pandemic. Its strike group is 100% vaccinated, while a vast majority of their service members have received their booster shots. (Philstar.com)

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Dateline PhiliPPines

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 31 - APRIL 6, 2022

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‘Human rights violations continue in Philippines’ by Alexis

RomeRo Philstar.com

MANILA — Malacañang on Tuesday, March 29 dismissed as “recycled issues” and “false narratives” the alleged human rights violations cited in a latest report of rights watchdog Amnesty International (AI). According to the AI 2021-2022 report, lack of accountability continued to facilitate unlawful killings and other human rights violations under the government’s war on drugs.

LOCAL BETS' SORTIE. Local candidates supporters wait on the side of the road as aspirants pass by and give out campaign posters and tarpaulins during a motorcade in Barangay Salitran 3, Dasmarinas City, Cavite on Thursday, March 31. The campaign for local candidates began last March 25, less than two months before the May 9 polls. PNA photo by Gil Calinga

Elon Musk’s SpaceX to bring Starlink to PH by RAmon

RoyAndoyAn Philstar.com

M A NIL A — Sp ac eX, t he aerospace company of eccentric billionaire and world’s richest man Elon Musk, is set to enter the Philippines, the government announced on Thursday, March 31. This could propel the country as the first in Southeast Asia to access SpaceX's low earth orbit satellite network constellation called “Starlink”, the Department of Trade and Industry said Thursday. Starlink is comprised of over 1,600 satellites. “Preparations are underway for their registration,” the DTI said in a statement. “At present, their application is being processed and the locations of their gateways are being visited.” Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said SpaceX’s entry would give better internet speeds and connectivity in the country, which is notorious for its poor telecommunications especially in remote parts of the archipelago. The company is currently establishing a local Filipino entity that will be their wholly-owned subsidiary and is targeting to deploy three gateways in the first phase of their launch, he added. “Their system will augment,

as well as complement existing broadband capacities. This will further capacitate micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), facilitate online learning, e-commerce, and fintech," Lopez said. The aerospace company is optimistic about the country's growing consumer base, according to DTI, adding that the signing of the amended Public Service Act was crucial in SpaceX’s decision to enter the local market. The new law now allows full foreign ownership in key industries in the country, including telcos, in a bid to encourage competition and corner more foreign investments. For Terry Ridon, convenor at public policy think tank Infrawatch, the satellite broadband service's entry to the Philippines will keep competitors on their toes. "Most certainly, this will be a gamechanger in the country’s internet landscape, with various providers competing for customers through mobile and fixed-line internet. SpaceX will have to compete with the local providers on price, speed and reliability of service, as SpaceX customers will have to pay at least $710 upfront for their service, against the lower barriers to entry for mobile and fixed-line internet services," Ridon said in a text message.

"This should however be taken as a challenge by local ISPs to improve their current level of service and provide better value for the prices charged to customers," Ridon added. Talks between the government and SpaceX began after a US Investment Mission in November last year. This was followed by a slew of online meetings that became more frequent in early March after the signing of amendments to the PSA. "Starlink's entry into the Philippines sends a positive message to the world: The Philippines is open for business and there's a sustainable growing demand here for better and alternative ways to connect to the Internet," Grace MirandillaSantos, independent ICT policy analyst and lead advocate of Better Internet PH, said. "It's critical for the government to show that the various reforms it put in place are accompanied by equivalent changes in licensing and regulation that are consistent with the reforms intended by these landmark and innovative policies," Mirandilla-Santos added. SpaceX's Starlink made headlines in the past weeks after sending a shipment of terminals to Ukraine in the face of Russia's invasion of its neighbor. g

Human rights defenders, political activists and politicians were subjected to unlawful killings, arbitrary arrest and detention and harassment, the report added. The group also criticized the supposed inadequate access to health care and mentioned the cases filed against Ressa, for which she could face up to 60 years in prison if found guilty. Acting presidential spokesman Martin Andanar said the report of the AI, a group that has been critical of the Duterte administration’s

policies including its war against drugs, was never vetted with the Philippine government. “We consider the Amnesty International Report 20212022 as simply a cut-and-paste collection of recycled issues and arguments used by perennial detractors and critics of the Duterte administration,” Andanar said in a statement. “Sadly, AI’s reports were never vetted with the Philippine government if only to authenticate their information. The absence of

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Starfleet Innotech partners with startup Luyten to enter $19-M global 3D printing construction market STARFLEET Innotech, Inc. announced a new strategic partnership with Australiabased 3D concrete printing startup Luyten. The exclusive agreement will see Luyten’s revolutionary construction technologies utilized across SFIO’s real estate projects in the Philippines, towards the conglomerate’s goal of building a more sustainable, equitable future for community living. As SFIO continues growing its portfolio of development projects through its real estate division, led by premiere wellness tourism brand Moraya, Luyten will play a pivotal role in championing Moraya’s mission of wellness through purposeful innovations. According to Grand View Research, the global 3D printing construction market is estimated at roughly $19 million and is expected to reach almost $5 billion by 2030. Using their own 3D printing devices and proprietary mixtures, Luyten is able to complete construction projects with 60% less waste, 70% less production time, and at only 20% of the labor costs of traditional means. According to the startup, walls for a twobedroom home can be printed in as little as two days. Optimized for quick deployment, Luyten’s devices can be mobilized and operational in hours, as opposed to the multiple days it takes to set up traditional machinery. Through their robotic systems, Luyten can remotely control their machinery from anywhere in the world. These innovations translate to more productive, and, therefore, more cost-effective,

construction periods. Over the next few years, Luyten will be providing the machinery and materials needed to augment SFIO’s real estate developments – an exclusive arrangement in the Philippines, where a majority of the Moraya developments will be placed. Under this agreement, SFIO will have exclusive distribution rights to Luyten’s devices in the Philippines and projects to sell at least fifty units of 3D concrete printing machinery to other developers and organizations over the next 12 months, following regulatory approvals. “Our partnership with Luyten stems from our commitment to invest in the futures of the industries we operate in,” said Starfleet Innotech CEO Jeths Lacson. “Joining Moraya’s divisional ecosystem, Luyten will play a key role as an enabler for our various real estate initiatives. Their affordable, sustainable offerings will allow us to build exciting projects that champion both the new communities we hope to build, as well as the existing communities we hope to serve.” In addition to augmenting Moraya’s current township developments, this partnership will see up to 500 low-cost housing units constructed across the Philippines over the next two years. Through this exclusive agreement in the Philippines, SFIO will also be able to distribute Luyten’s machinery to local government units and nonprofit organizations seeking more affordable means to build quality, resilient homes. (Advertising Supplement)

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MARCH 31 - APRIL 6, 2022 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

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AS BA.2, the more infectious “stealth” subvariant of the Omicron strain spreads in the United States, reports on Monday, March 28 said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration would approve a second booster or fourth dose of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID vaccines to ages 50 and older. Israel, which began administering a second booster of the Pfizer vaccine early this year to ages 60 and above, reported over the weekend that the additional dose lowered the mortality rate in that vulnerable group by 78 percent. The report was based on a 40-day study among more than half a million people aged 60 to 100, conducted by Israel’s largest healthcare provider. Last month, the United Kingdom also offered a second booster to ages 75 and above as well as anyone from age 12 up who is immunocompromised. In the Philippines, the government wants people aged 60 and older as well as the immune suppressed and those with other serious health problems to get their booster shots against COVID. As of mid-March, however, only 13 percent of the targeted segment had received boosters. Even in Metro Manila, which has the highest COVID vaccination rate, the booster uptake is only 30 percent. Scientists have said immunity to COVID

provided by vaccines wanes after a few months, and recommend a booster four months after the second primary dose. The additional protection is important as the stealth Omicron spreads in parts of Europe, the U.S., Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland. On Monday, Shanghai began its most extensive lockdown since the start of the pandemic to contain a COVID outbreak. The World Health Organization has repeatedly warned that the COVID threat is far from over, and might yet be entering a deadlier phase as restrictions are eased too quickly and vaccinations fall. The WHO warning is not being heeded in the Philippines, where the sight of large political gatherings for the election campaign is giving people the impression that the pandemic is over. While the stealth Omicron threatens to push up cases again in the Philippines, pandemic response officials are lamenting that COVID vaccines available for boosters are set to expire by June. The country is buried up to its neck in debt to finance the pandemic response, particularly

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS THE Philippine election is less than six weeks away. The momentum has been shifting to the Leni-Kiko campaign as evidenced by the jam-packed political rallies in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, the growing number of endorsements that Vice President Leni Robredo gets from former government officials, military leaders, universities and colleges, businesses and business analysts, nongovernment organizations, and even more from sitting local officials in the towns, cities and provinces. However, there has been online buzz about pushing for an all-women power tandem with Leni Robredo-Sara Duterte Carpio. Sara is the incumbent mayor of Davao City, the daughter of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, sister of Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, preceded by the father, and succeeded by her other brother, Sebastian Duterte. Fellow Filipinos: if we are truly sick and tired of chronic corruption in the Philippines, if we are truly done with family dynasties that perpetuate the cycles of corruption from generation to generation, if we are truly serious and committed to finally fighting for and getting the honest, clean, good government that we deserve, then we need to vote not only for Leni Robredo for president, but also for her chosen and trusted

Philstar.com photo

for the procurement of vaccines. Every dose is precious and cannot be wasted, especially since there are still millions of Filipinos who have not received even their primary dose. The national and

local governments must not be distracted by the upcoming elections in carrying out the vaccination program. Otherwise, the country could face a renewed COVID surge. (Philstar.com)

If we want Leni Robredo’s ‘Gobyernong Tapat’ to succeed, we need to vote for Kiko Pangilinan as her vice president public servant to be her vice president, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan. This is one of the biggest and most consequential differences between the United States and the Philippines’ way of electing the top two positions of the Executive Office. Here in the United States, we are voting for a ticket — a team. A vote for the president is also a vote for the running mate for vice president. According to the White House website: “The primary responsibility of the Vice President of the United States is to be ready at a moment’s notice to assume the Presidency if the President is unable to perform his or her duties. This can be because of the President’s death, resignation, or temporary incapacitation, or if the Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet judge that the President is no longer able to discharge the duties of the presidency.” “The Vice President also serves as the President of the United States Senate, where he or she casts the deciding vote in the case of a tie. Except in the case of tie-breaking votes, the Vice President rarely actually presides over the Senate,” WhiteHouse.gov added. The U.S. president also has the prerogative to assign a special role or mission to the VP to help fulfill their campaign promises to the people. WHY does the U.S. vote for

the President-VP as a team? Let us focus on the most important function/role of the VP that is true for both the U.S. and Philippine government: The VP is the second highest and second most powerful position in government, especially, God forbid, something happens to the president, the VP will take over as president. Because the president and the VP are a team, then they share the same values and philosophy in governing, the same vision, platform and programs so that whatever happens to the president, the American people who have given them the mandate to govern will continue to fulfill the campaign promises the American people voted them for in the election. Unfortunately, we do not vote the same way for our president and VP in the Philippines. Sadly, too, we vote based on personality, instead of vision and ideology and programs. This is exactly why it is so easy for parties to merge, collapse, be renamed, and for candidates to jump from one party to another. It is a batabata type of Padrino politics. It is driven by political expediency and survival based on who is more popular with name recall, including those who capitalize on the surname or family brand. Think about this: Public officials earn meager salaries and yet most of them live questionable lavish lifestyle.

Why? There is money in politics, suggested by no less than the ousted dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos, shared on video “The Kingmaker” by Sandro Marcos, son of Presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos. This is also why traditional politics and family dynasties are perpetuated, and those in power do not want to touch it because almost all of them benefit from this corrupt system. They already have their “people” in the corrupt system, they have protectors in the complicated labyrinth of those who serve not the people they vow to serve but their own personal interests — and they all benefit from it and would fight hard and break rules just to perpetuate the status quo. You know how family dynasties work. They have been there for the longest time — generations after generations, doing the dizzying merry-goround and musical chairs of positions they hold, keeping power within the family in both the national and local levels. Why? Because they are fully invested and reaping much return in this game of politics. Perhaps most of them started with good intentions, but many of them end up being eaten up by the cancer of corruption in government because of the power vested upon them by the positions in government they hold.

That is the daunting part of Philippine political reality. However, let us remember that there have been times in our political history when the people decisively chose to elect a new kind of politician — those who live up to their role as true public servants. On the local level, we have the likes of Vico Sotto of Pasig who has unseated the Eusebios. The same is now true in our national election. This is what this PINK wave is all about. It is Leni bringing forth to public attention that we still have people like her and her chosen VP Francis Pangilinan who have proven to be true and genuine public servants with proven integrity and excellence through their years in public service. Leni and Kiko never compromised the honor and dignity of the position entrusted to them by the voters in exchange for money, power and political survival. This is why they are able to give hope to people that this time things can really change for the better. This is why they are able to inspire volunteerism and service because of their own leadership by example. Because they bring out the best in people as they work toward a common goal. Think about the importance of the choice of VP and how that may impact our collective aspiration to finally have a

good and honest government that will truly serve the Filipino people, work in the best interest of our people, be transparent and accountable to us, protect and defend the Constitution and abide by the rule of law, and end corruption that has been plaguing our government bureaucracy from top to bottom to the detriment of the quality of life of the Filipino people. Do not let any Trapo or member of a family dynasty like Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte Carpio corrupt this one chance we have in this generation because they will always be who they are. Kiko Pangilinan is the only worthy VP to work with Leni Robredo to make #GobyernongTapat a reality, come what may. *** 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

Masking up helps, but getting vaccinated critical to keeping kids safe Commentary DR. JAY YEH

MEDICAL DIRECTOR, PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LABORATORY, UC DAVIS HEALTH WHETHER or not kids should wear masks in school remains a heated topic with strong opinions on both sides. Adding to this conversation is the state’s latest masking guidance, which went into effect on March 12. Schools are no longer required to enforce a mask mandate and instead are maintaining masking as a strong recommendation to keep students, teachers and school staff safe. Some school districts have even chosen to continue to keep mask requirements in

place, and masks continue to be mandatory in certain highrisk settings like healthcare facilities and public transit. Despite the latest guidelines and varying views, many families are choosing to continue to mask up to protect themselves against COVID-19. While masking remains a key tool in protecting ourselves and our families against this deadly virus, as a doctor and parent myself, I think the big question to consider is: Have you and your kids been vaccinated yet? The reality is, getting vaccinated offers the safest protection against contracting COVID-19. Children 5+ are eligible for vaccination, so if you have not yet done so, I strongly urge you to get your kids vaccinated today. And if they are 12+, make sure they get their booster when eligible.

Vaccines are overwhelmingly safe thanks to the rigorous safety trials that included people of different genders, ethnicities, ages and preexisting conditions, as well as the ongoing efforts to monitor safety as millions of people receive the vaccine. The pandemic is still here, and real-world evidence continues to show that the vaccine is preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death. In fact, based on the latest data collected March 3, 2022, unvaccinated Californians are 17 times more likely to die and nearly nine times more likely to be hospitalized from COVID-19 than fully vaccinated and boosted Californians. Generally, children may have lower rates of COVID-19 and are less likely to spread the virus than adults, but it is still

possible for children to become severely ill and experience serious complications from the coronavirus. It’s simply not worth the risk. Children eligible for the vaccine should get vaccinated as soon as possible to significantly reduce their risk of becoming sick or spreading the virus to someone else, including younger children or older relatives in the home. If your children are vaccinated and you feel better keeping them masked up, follow your instincts and know that you are not alone. As a health expert, I strongly recommend keeping kids masked up if they feel comfortable doing so. Masking in schools has been a successful strategy to keeping schools open and our kids in the classroom for a better learning environment.

It’s worth noting that California represents only 1 percent of the nation’s school closures despite educating 12 percent of the nation’s students. Safe in-person instruction is essential, particularly for vulnerable populations. It is important to take the necessary steps to ensure that there is low risk of catching COVID-19 in school for students and staff alike. We must remain vigilant and prepared to adjust with conditions of the virus. If transmissions increase again, be prepared for schools to follow public health guidance around COVID-19 mitigation efforts including testing. We may be in a new phase of the pandemic, but COVID-19 remains a threat. Schedule a vaccination or booster appointment today at Myturn. ca.gov or by calling 833-422-

4255. Support is available in over 250 languages via the state’s vaccination hotline. Take precautions to protect yourself against COVID-19 and keep your family, friends and community safe and healthy. Together, we will end the pandemic. *** 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. ••• Dr. Yeh is a board-certified pediatric cardiologist with advanced training in echocardiography. He specializes in diagnosis and treatment of congenital and acquired heart disease. He cares for a wide spectrum of patients ranging from newborns to adults with congenital heart disease. He has special clinical interest in pre-operative and post-operative care for congenital heart defects.

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Comelec logs over 7.22 million deactivated voters Carpio says gov’t can’t collect P203-B MANILA — Over 7.229 million voter registrations have been deactivated after failing to participate in the last two elections, the Commission on Elections reported. Comelec is also calling on the relatives of deceased voters to report their deaths so their registration could be canceled. In a briefing on Thursday, the poll body gave updates on voter registration for the upcoming May polls. The data provided was based on Comelec data from August 2019 to end-October last year. Comelec said it logged 6.95 new registered voters. Meanwhile, 763,729 voters had their registrations reactivated and 213,918 had theirs reactivated with corrected entries. “Ganyan kadami ang gustong bumoto sa darating na eleksyon na dalawang beses nang hindi bumuboto sa dalawang magkasunod na eleksyon,” Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said. (That’s how many of those who haven’t voted in the previous two elections want to participate in the

upcoming polls.) The poll body canceled the registration of 755,769 deceased voters. Comelec is calling on relatives of the recently departed to report the death to the commission. “Kung ‘yung mismong pamilya naman ay nagbigay ng certification mula sa civil registrar na namatay talaga ‘yung kaanak [nila], sure po na tatanggalin ‘yun ng local Comelec natin. Hindi na maghihintay ng certification mula sa civil registrar nila kasi nagbigay na ng death certificate ‘yung pamilya,” Garcia said. (If the family itself gives a certification from the civil registrar that [their] relative actually died, our local Comelec will surely remove their record. They will no longer wait for certification from their civil registrar because the family has already issued a death certificate.) Comelec said it might have missed some registered voters who died of COVID-19, especially those whose deaths occurred outside their hometowns. The poll body said it usually waits for the civil registrar to

issue a certification about the death of a person. However, Garcia said it becomes a problem if, for example, a man from Nueva Ecija dies in Manila. “We do not expect the civil registrar of Manila to issue a certification addressed to the election officer of Nueva Ecija [about the death],” Garcia said. Garcia said the poll body had asked the Philippine Statistics Authority if it could send Comelec data on nationwide deaths to Comelec’s main office. The poll body will then send the names to its local offices. However, the idea was put on the backburner because Comelec could not afford the cost of the proposal. “May bayad po silang i-chacharge sa amin. Hindi ko nalang po babanggitin ‘yung bayad, medyo malaki, wala pong budget ang commission sa ganoon so it will require legislation,” Garcia said. (They will charge us a fee. I will not mention how much, it is quite expensive, the commission does not have budget for that so it will require legislation.) (Philstar.com)

SWS survey: Most Filipinos believe gov’t must provide free medicines by cathrine

GonzaLes Inquirer.net

Filipino families or shared by financial subsidy to cover full or a voluntary private insurance. portion of medication expenses” Out-of-pocket spending is the as the most helpful way to MANILA — Most Filipinos expense of medical care that obtain medicines, followed by believe that the government families pay directly from their “acquiring free medications should provide free medicines own money or savings. procured by the government from to Filipinos, based on the Social PHAP noted that the country’s public hospitals, health centers, Weather Stations (SWS) survey. p r i v a t e s h a r e i n m e d i c a l and government pharmacies.” The survey, commissioned expenses is one of the highest The third most helpful way to by the Pharmaceutical and in the world compared with obtain medicines, according to Healthcare Association of the Malaysia (45 percent), South respondents, is to “fully pay for Philippines (PHAP), showed Korea (42 percent), New Zealand the total cost of the prescribed that 78 percent of adult Filipinos (32 percent), and Thailand (9 medicines at a discounted price,” believe that the government percent). and the fourth is to “fully pay for “should definitely” provide free The survey further reported the the total cost of the prescribed medicines, while 17 percent high preference of Filipinos for medicines first, and ask the believe the government “should free and subsidized medicines as government to reimburse the full probably” give free medicines to the most helpful way of obtaining amount after.” those who need them. The survey was conducted medicines for grave illnesses. The survey also found that “At present, the government from December 12 to 16, 2021 medicines ranked first as the is providing subsidized or free using face-to-face interviews most burdensome healthcare medicines for certain diseases of 1,440 adults nationwide, expense, followed by the payment but would need to be expanded to c o n s i s t i n g o f 3 6 0 e a c h i n for doctor’s fees, laboratory fees, provide more support to patients, Balance Luzon, Metro Manila, and hospital room. and cover more health conditions, Visayas, and Mindanao. It used According to a press statement especially for economically a sampling error margin of ±2.6 from PHAP sent to the media on challenged patients,” PHAP percent for national percentages Thursday, it is estimated that for noted. and ±5.2 percent for Balance 2022_CTW-30340_OEP_Print_Las Vegas Asian Journal_ENG_11.5x10.56_03-03-22_F.pdf 2/28/22 every P100 spent on medicines, Vegas_Las Luzon, Metro Manila,1 Visayas, Specifically, the respondents P85 is paid “out-of-pocket” by ranked “guaranteed PhilHealth and Mindanao. g

estate tax if Marcos wins presidency by Franco Luna Philstar.com

MANILA — If former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. becomes president, the unpaid P203-billion estate tax his family owes the Philippine government is "gone forever," retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said on Thursday, March 31. Speaking in an interview aired over ANC's "Headstart," Carpio, who is also lead convenor of opposition coalition 1Sambayan, said that the Bureau of Internal Revenue can sue citizens for "willful refusal to pay their taxes." "I think we should ask the BIR why they did not do anything. And if they did do something, they should tell us what they did. They owe an explanation to the Filipino people," he said. "They will collect that if you are an ordinary person. But if you are a government official, you are a senator or governor, they will not collect it. How much more if you are now president? Can the BIR collect if you are the president? That's gone forever." But why were these issues only raised now, instead of when Marcos ran for the Senate or the vice presidency? "Nobody questioned it. Everybody was, they were not worried. But now that he wants to be the president, if you are president you must be the model for the nation, and a model taxpayer, too. But if you are the biggest tax evader in the country, then who will now pay taxes to the government?" he said. "For the Marcoses, it's almost,

from the time the case became final in 1999, it's almost 25 years. That's willful already," he also said. No charges have been filed over the issue in that time span. The Marcos family has not paid its estate tax despite a 1997 Supreme Court court decision ordering the Marcoses to pay a tax liability of P23.29 billion. Carpio earlier said that penalties in the decades that Marcos heirs failed to pay the debt have seen the amount balloon to P203 billion. To recall, the Presidential Commission on Good Government, the agency created to recover illgotten wealth from the Marcoses and their cronies, said that the tax bureau determined the following liabilities in 1991: • Deficiency Estate Tax Assessment against the Estate of Ferdinand Marcos in the amount of P23,293,607,638. • Deficiency Income Tax Assessments against Ferdinand Marcos and Imelda Marcos in the aggregate amount of P184,159,289.70 for the years 1985 to 1986 • Deficiency Income Tax Assessment against Ferdinand Marcos Jr. [for the years] 1982 to 1985 in the aggregate amount of P20,410. Marcos filed a petition against this before the Court of Appeals, which dismissed the petition on June 5, 1999 on the ground that the estate tax assessment of BIR — amounting to P23,293,607,638 — had already become final and unappealable. The Supreme Court would later affirm the Court of Appeals' decision. Carpio earlier said

the written demand has to be renewed every five years for the debt to be collectible. Since the 1997 ruling by the Supreme Court, five administrations have been unable to collect the tax. Carpio said that under the tax code, "the heirs cannot get a single centavo from the estate of Marcos Sr. unless the estate tax is paid." "So how are they able to live? They are running every election, spending money, but how are they getting this money?" Despite the ruling, lawyer Vic Rodriguez, Marcos' spokesperson, has taken on the narrative that the estate tax owed by the Marcos family from 1982 to 1986 was still pending a decision on the forfeiture of the properties used as the basis for the taxable amount. "[If elected, Marcos] will appoint the BIR Commissioner. Will the BIR commissioner send him a notice of payment for the estate tax? That commissioner will be fired...because the president has supervision and control over the entire executive department," Carpio said. "Control means he can reverse their decisions. He can preempt them and make the decision himself." The survey frontrunner is heavily banking on the Marcos brand, seen by victims of his father’s martial rule to carry him to Malacañang as a way for his family to get back to the presidential palace from where they were forced to flee due to a popular military-backed uprising called the People Power Revolution 36 years ago. g

‘Human rights violations continue in... PAGE 5

such vetting relegates AI’s report to a mere false rehash,” he added. Andanar said the AI report contained “false narratives” about the drug crackdown and the issues surrounding journalist Maria Ressa and detained opposition Sen. Leila de Lima, matters that he said have been previously answered. The AI r ep o r t ca lle d De 4:18 PM who is in jail over drugLima, related charges, a “prisoner of

conscience.” “Sadly, without the benefit of fact-checking, AI even referred to the government’s COVID-19 response as ‘mishandling,’ which is far from the truth as all regions in the Philippines are presently at minimal risk case classification,” Andanar said. Andanar urged the AI to sit down with the government to clarify whatever concerns them. He urged the rights watchdog to engage with the Presidential

Human Rights Committee Secretariat and discuss and resolve the issues it raised in its report. “In all this, let it not be missed out, especially by AI, that the Philippines’ election to a fifth term in the United Nations Human Rights Council is a recognition by this global body of the government’s faithful adherence to promote, protect and fulfill the human rights of the Filipino people,” Andanar added. g

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March 31, 2022

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Fil-Am filmmaker Ida Del Mundo’s new project ‘Never Forget’ explores historical revisionism amid a contentious Philippine election

The new short film, which is currently in production, boasts a majority Filipino cast and crew by

IN the Golden Age of Asian American cinema and entertainment where the hunger for diverse stories is far from sated, the influx of filmmakers of color telling personal stories is certainly at an all-time high. One such filmmaker, the Filipina American filmmaker-to-watch Ida Anita del Mundo, is taking full advantage of the expanding cinematic landscape. Del Mundo— who previously won the Special Jury Prize at the 2014 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival for her directorial debut, “K’na the Dreamweaver” — is currently working on a new short film called “Never Forget,” a deeply emotional story about family, history, and how Filipino American culture shapes the identity of the global Filipino community. The film follows Vera, a 33-year-old Filipina American, who reconnects with her estranged father, Pablo, who is battling dementia. Vera, who

Klarize Medenilla / AJPress

is played by Filipina Japanese actress Mara Lopez (who previously starred in “K’na the Dreamweaver”), hires a caregiver for Pablo (played by the Filipino theater performer and educator Miguel Braganza, II). In an interview with the Asian Journal, del Mundoexplains that on the story’s surface, the film explores a common Filipino custom: taking care of your parents when they get older. But as the characters develop throughout the story, the broader context of historical revisionism and family secrets — rooted in the tumultuous martial law era in the Philippines — start to emerge. Filmmaking is in Ida’s blood. Her father is the Filipino screenwriter and filmmaker Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr., and her paternal grandfather, Clodualdo del Mundo, Sr., was an author, comic book artist, was a savant in Philippine arts. However, del Mundowas reluctant to follow in their foot-

Del Mundo filming her first film, the feature-length picture “K’na the Dreamweaver,” which tells a story about the indigenous T’boli people in the Philippines.

steps and had originally started out as a journalist, writing Philippine tourism pieces. But, it wasn’t until meeting the T’boli community in Southern Mindanao while traveling for work that the cinema bug bit her and inspired “K’na, the Dreamweaver,” released in 2014. “I was actively trying to do other things besides filmmaking because of my family,” del Mundosays, laughing. “I wanted to do my own thing.” “While on that early 2010s media tour in Mindanao, del Mundo says she and her group got stranded in the middle of the mountains when a local village welcomed them in and began performing music and sharing their culture with them. “It was so welcoming and I felt such a connection with them,” she says of that on-thefly experience. “So when I got home, I realized I wanted to do something more than just write an article about them.” The young journalist-turned-filmmaker’s background in journalism also helped inspire “Never Forget,” she says, telling the Asian Journal that while on a media tour in the Philippines, she visited a small town on the 31st anniversary of the Escalante massacre. The tragedy — which occurred on Sept. 20, 1985 in Escalante in Negros Occidental — was an attack by paramilitary forces of the Philippine government on civilians who were engaged in a protest rally that commemorated the 13th anniversary of the martial law declaration. Twenty people died and 30 were injured, and every year, the community reenacts the incident as a way

As a Filipina filmmaker, del Mundo is proud of the strides the wider AAPI community has made for Asian filmmakers, but she hopes more Filipino filmmakers get their shine, too.

Del Mundo on set. For “Never Forget,” del Mundo recruited a majority Filipina crew.

of preserving history, and del Mundo got to see the reenactment in 2016. “I thought it was so impactful because every year, a younger generation reenact what happened. And these young people didn’t actually witness what happened but they still somehow embody the older generations and what they went through. And they say that they’re doing it every year until they get justice,” del Mundo said. The film’s themes of historical revisionism speaks to current discourse on how we should remember geopolitical tragedies. del Mundo said that among their filming locations (which are largely centered in New York City) includes the statue of Christopher Columbus in Central Park, but the story plays into contemporary, Philippine issues, as well. “When we [in the Filipino community] talk about historical revisionism, it’s often surrounding martial law and what actually happened and what people say happened,” del Mundo explained. “And it’s especially relevant now because it’s an election year in the Philippines, and the son of the dictator (Bongbong Marcos) is running, and a lot of what we know and don’t know in our history will inform how we vote.” She describes the film as “a personal experience of historical revisionism. It shows how you can be affected by it directly and how it can make you question your identity and who are because history shapes all of us.” Early scripts of “Never Forget” captured a more historical tone, but when she returned to New York City (where she is based) to complete her master’s in directing at the School of Visual Arts, s shifted the lens to a more Filipino American story.

“Never Forget” challenges historical revisionism and how it affects future generations.

Del Mundo was awarded the Special Jury Prize at the 2014 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, a Manila-based awarding body that honors Filipino independent filmmakers.

The film was initially imagined as a feature-length story, but the filmmaker ultimately decided to create a short film as part of her school’s directing program and to lay the groundwork for a later expansion of the story. Del Mundo said that she would like to explore the story later on and would like to possibly shoot in the Philippines and build upon the themes and narratives in the short film. Without giving away too many spoilers, the film’s central narrative involves the characters grappling with the realization that her family is tied to the Escalante massacre and how generational trauma manifests itself, even after the family moves to a different country. “The film is really about history, and our memories and how those shape our identity, and that informs who we are and how we think,” she explained. For “Never Forget,” del Mundo brought together friends and past collaborators to work alongside her, making the cast and crew a majority-Filipino cadre. “Representation in film

shouldn’t only be on screen with the actors and the type of story you’re telling,” del Mundo said. “I really wanted to have that Filipino crew, especially because the theme of the film is identity and history, which are universal themes, but for a film like this I knew that having Filipinos on crew would be very meaningful for them as well.” Because “Never Forget” is currently in production, no release date has been announced yet. But del Mundo’s work and her journey as a filmmaker is just beginning, and the landscape is ripe for pictures like hers. But even though the demand for more Asian stories is louder than ever, del Mundo believes that Filipino American filmmaking still needs more of a push among not just AAPI entertainment but in entertainment, in general. She says that “Asian films being recognized in Hollywood and all over the world and are really opening doors for us as filmmakers, but I think we need louder Filipino voices in there. There’s a lot of Korean, Chinese, and Japanese making their way,

4th Impact makes a sterling comeback SONY Music Philippines and ShowBT Philippines officially revealed 4th Impact as the newest addition to their roster of music talents, which include P-Pop kings SB19 and five-member girl group KAIA. No stranger to conquering the international music scene, 4th Impact made waves in the UK after finishing fifth on the British singing contest, "The X Factor" and peaking at No. 10 on iTunes Brazil with their 2020 single "K(no)w More." Late last year, the award-winning girl group co-headlined the crossover orchestra concert, "Forte" with SB19, which received glowing reviews for its exemplary fusion of classical and Pinoy pop music on a live stage format. After being officially welcomed as part of the family, 4th Impact expressed gratitude for the interesting developments in their career. "It's an answered prayer for us," the sister act shared in a statement. "We once prayed for a management who will really take care of us and believe in what we can do. We feel ShowBT and Sony Music are the right companies to help us reach more of our dreams. And it is such a great honor to be part of their roster and be lined up with the P-Pop Kings, SB19," they added. To mark the beginning of this eventful partnership, 4th Impact has released their new single "Here We Go," which was produced by Choi YoungHo

(Handsome People) and Zrademusic (Adrian K, Methuselah K.). With a masterful blend of R&B diva chops, hip-hop sass, and stadium-sized energy, the upbeat track positions 4th Impact as a vocal powerhouse deserving of global acclaim. "We wanted it to be a new anthem. It's an empowering song that aims to celebrate Filipinas all around the world, and how they've shown grace and excellence amidst troubling times," said the charttopping quartet. 4th Impact revealed that it's their first time writing a song, and that their own life story is the main inspiration behind the lyrics. "We wanted to empower everyone, especially Filipino women, to believe in themselves and hold on to their dreams. Everything is possible if we just work together as one." The pop-R&B jam is accompanied by a music video which finds the Cercado sisters Almira, Irene, Mylene, and Celina looking all sassy and confident in a starmaking performance. It's also part of 4th Impact's first single album, which contains the following tracks: "Here We Go," "K(no)w More," "Here We Go (Instrumental)," "K(no)w More (Instrumental)." 4th Impact's "Here We Go" is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Philippines. (ManilaTimes.net) 4th Impact is comprised of Cercado sisters (Mylene, Celina, Irene and Almira

Photo from Instagram/@4thimpactmusic

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There are many things to do in Pahrump Racing, biking, shooting among recreational activities for residents, visitors by RealtoR

THERE are times when the question of “What activities can we do in that place?” becomes one of the main questions when a person is considering a location to invest property in, buy a first or second home, or retire to. This makes sense, obviously, because you would not want to move to an area where there is absolutely nothing for you to do. Of course, aside from this, there is the question of availability, affordability and getting a good return on your investment. In this week’s article, I will focus on some of the things that you can do recreationally in Pahrump, which is located about 62 miles west of Las Vegas. If racing or motorsports is your passion, look no further than Spring Mountain Motor Resort and Country Club, which is currently owned by John Morris. The place hosts various driving schools, track rentals and is the

Fely Quitevis-Bateman

home of a private motorsports country club. It has North America’s longest racetrack at 6.1 miles, and there are signs, and perhaps already in the works, of an expansion for additional track (as well as facility expansion) that will make the total racetrack grow to over 9 miles when completed. It has generated excitement in the community as job openings have resulted with these expansion plans, with some reports saying that “Spring Mountain will be one of the most exciting places to work and build a long-lasting career.” Incidentally, right next to the racetrack is Spring Mountain Estates, luxury trackside homesites where homeowners will have access to all the amenities that Spring Mountain has to offer, which includes the Clubhouse Lounge, workout facility, and other services (e.g.

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (right) with Dr. Philip Palarecio (left) who is planning to expand his dental clinic to Pahrump. Dr. Palarecio has one of the most advanced dental facilities in Las Vegas.

and neighboring communities. The group’s rides can be shifted to accommodate cyclists of all levels, from beginners to the more experienced. If walking or hiking is what drives you, there are many trails and parks in the area that are of interest. Among them are Discovery Park, Ian Deutch Memorial Park, Calvada Eye, Simkins Park and Petrack Park. These areas offer trails, opportunities for bird watching and nature-tripping, and wonderful walkways to share with the four-legged members of your family. What’s more, there are friendly residents to chat with or share a moment with as you enjoy your walk or hike. Golf, one of the popular sports in the country, has a presence in Pahrump with the Mountain Falls Golf Club, which is codesigned by famed architecture firms Nicklaus Design Group and Cal Olson Design. It is an 18-hole golf course and country club that is capable of hosting events of all types, be it weddings, holiday parties, corporate weddings and more. It has visually striking, breathtaking views, and is a mustvisit visitors to the area. I had the pleasure of hosting former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos at Mountain Falls Golf Club many, many years ago. He was impressed with it, and enjoyed playing golf at the club. Aside from these, there are many other activities to do in the area. Sports activities include leagues for soccer, basketball, baseball and softball. Residents can indulge in tennis, bowling, martial arts (karate, jiu jitsu, muay Thai) and even horseback riding. There are gambling establishments in Pahrump, which include the Pahrump Nugget Casino, Terrible’s Lakeside Casino, Saddle West Hotel, Casino & RV Resort, Irene’s Casino and Terrible’s Road House Casino. When you have partaken of all the things that you want to do in Pahrump, there is Las Vegas, which is less than an hour’s drive from Pahrump. Concerts, theater shows, more gambling, shopping and dining is at your fingertips in Tony and Neneth Suarez are extremely happy with their Airbnb in Las Vegas. Whether you want to consider Pahrump, which is always fully booked. All their kids own properties Pahrump as your retirement in Pahrump as well. massage therapist). What’s more, owning a home at the Spring Mountain Estates puts you minutes away from the cool, clear waters of Lake Spring Mountain where you can enjoy activities like paddle boarding, kayaking, flying on jetpack and more. There are 80 homesite lots (for home and mixed-use), 50 of which have been sold. As of now, there are 17 homes built or are under construction. If cycling is your passion, a new bicycling group in Pahrump called Pahrump Valley Cyclists, is inviting the community to ride with them, according to the Pahrump Valley Times. This social club gathers biking enthusiasts for fitness and for fun, and welcomes riders of all age levels and gender. The club’s goal is to connect cyclists and allow them the opportunity to get together and enjoy group rides in Pahrump

Gloria Estillore of Silicon Valley (right) is looking for a large commercial parcel to build at least a minimum 100-bed assisted living facility. She is in photo above with Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman.

In photo above are some of my big repeat investors – Dr. Pete Racoma, and Wilmer & Gerlie Comahig – who got approved for a 100-bed senior living resort on Homestead Road.

place, your next residence or an investment, it has many factors going for it. Real estate prices continue to thrive in Pahrump and it is one of the many places that housing builders are looking at, especially with the skyrocketing land prices in Las Vegas. Pahrump’s proximity to Las Vegas and it’s having less crime and big city problems make it ideal for those looking to settle down with their family in another area, or a prospect for those wanting to invest in their future.

Now is the time to take a look at Pahrump. I can help you look for the best real estate opportunities in the area. My company, Precious Properties, is a full-service company that has successfully helped its clientele find the best deals since 1992. You can reach me at 775513-8447, 805-559-2476 and 702538-4948 for more information. We have investors who buy houses in California and Nevada for cash and quick escrow in as short as 7 days. (Advertising Supplement)

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MARCH 31 - APRIL 6, 2022 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

Health @Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS WATER is vital to life. Without water, there won’t be life as we know it on earth. Our body is 50-75 percent water, averaging around 57 to 65 percent. Infants are 75-78 percent water, dropping to 65 percent by age one year. And the value of water is even more evident during this COVID-19 pandemic. Drinking distilled water, even during this pandemic, as the main source of liquid daily is not as healthy as one might think. Water filtered by Zero Water filter is basically distilled water, with Zero TDS (total dissolved solids). The process of distillation produces vapor/moisture (the purest water one can get) that is collected in separate chambers, eliminating important essential minerals, besides chlorine and other harmful chemicals. The widespread misconception that distilled water, being the “purest,” is the best water for drinking, is scientifically and medically flawed. Drinking distilled water regularly every day is a health risk to everyone, especially for children. Distilled water may be used temporarily or occasionally as drinking water if filtered water purified through 8-stage reversed osmosis is not available. While distilled water is free of bacteria, parasites, and toxic chemicals, the process of distillation also removes all valuable minerals like fluoride, calcium, magnesium, etc., which are vital to our health. Information from APEC, one of the top-rated Reverse Osmosis and Whole House Systems in the United States, is worth noting: “According to research articles and news, most tap and well water in the U.S. now are NOT safe for drinking due to heavy industrial and environmental pollution. We have reached a point where all sources of our drinking water, including municipal water systems, wells, lakes, rivers, and even glaciers, contain some level of contamination. Contaminants range from naturally-occurring minerals to man-made chemicals and by-products. While many contaminants are found at levels not enough not to cause immediate discomforts or sicknesses, it is proven that even low-level exposure to many common contaminants will, over time, cause severe illnesses including liver damage, cancer, and other serious ailments. Even the chemicals commonly used to treat municipal water supplies such as chlorine and fluoride are toxic and are known to have significant adverse effects on the human body.” APEC adds, “Environmental water contamination is the

Unhealthy drinks

leading worldwide cause of death and disease and it adversely affects over 1 billion people every day in developing countries. Even here in the United States we often struggle with water pollution caused by natural disasters and human activities. A recent national report on our water quality revealed that 45% of assessed stream miles, 47% of assessed lake acres, and 32% of assessed bays square miles were classified as polluted. Ground and well water sources may also become contaminated due to the problems associated with industrial dumping, hydraulic fracking, and agricultural byproducts.” Distilled vs filtered water Distilled water, as we have alluded to above, is the purest water one can get. But for drinking, we do not need the purest because our body needs the minerals naturally present in water from mother nature. What we need, which modernday 8-stage reverse osmosis filtration does to water, is the removal of the chlorine and other contaminants, such as harmful heavy metals, parasites, bacteria, and odor, to make drinking water safe and palatable. Drinking distilled water regularly leads to 15 percent deficiency in calcium (osteoporosis), 30 percent deficiency in magnesium (heart rhythm, abnormality), and almost 100 percent in fluoride, which results in tooth decay. Distilled water is not the best for the human body. Genuine bottled water, which has gone through 8-stage reverse osmosis filtration manufactured by reputable companies, is the safest water to drink today. Alkaline water: Waste of money The hype about alkaline water as a healthier choice is nothing but a profitmotivated scam victimizing misinformed, unsuspecting, gullible consumers. Even the Mayo Clinic has warned the public about the health risks of alkalosis for those drinking alkaline water daily, which could lead to hypocalcemia and hypothyroidism. There is currently no scientific evidence that alkaline water is safe or beneficial to health. All advertised claims are unfounded, baseless, and theoretical, at best. Caveat emptor, as always! Our God-gifted body has an excellent electrolyte and acid-base regulator system that continuously monitors our levels of electrolytes to strictly maintain our blood pH between 7.38 and 7.42. Our bicarbonate buffering system regulates the carbon dioxide concentration to maintain an optimal pH level, shifting any acid-base imbalance. If we ingest acidic or alkaline food or drink, this natural buffering system adjusts to maintain a healthy balance. So, drinking alkaline water

daily will only induce the body to form more acid to equilibrate the system, a risky added work for our acid-base balance equalizer. If our body becomes too acidic from the food or drinks we consume, it normally automatically adjusts itself, without the need for drinking alkaline liquid, which has a pH of 8 to 9, compared to normal drinking water, which has a pH of around 7, the healthy level. The only indication for drinking alkaline water is when a person has cancer or other illnesses which make their blood pH level too acidic because the acid-base buffer system is not functioning properly. For all others, drinking alkaline water, instead of regular filtered water, could be hazardous. A life-threatening complication of regular consumption of alkaline water is metabolic alkalosis, which could lead to gastrointestinal problems (nausea, vomiting, hand tremors, muscle twitching, and skin irritation), or organ failure. A bit of an acidic stomach works best in killing bad bacteria, and alkaline water would deprive the stomach of its normal physiology and protection…and your wallet with less money. Even more unhealthy than distilled water and alkaline water are soft drinks of any variety on the market, “toxic liquid candy” as I call them, because, as a beverage, it increases the risk for the development of metabolic syndrome in adults, and more severely among children. Fruits juices with added sugar, especially those with preservatives, are also unhealthy. It is better to eat the fruits or juice them yourself, with no additive, except perhaps healthy seeds (chia, flaxseeds, hemp seed, etc.). Today, nothing beats clean, 8-stage-filtered, water!

*** 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, a Health Public Advocate, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian and anti-graft foundation in the United States. Visit our websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

Liza in sweet birthday greeting for Enrique by jAn

Milo severo Philstar.com

Liza Soberano with Enrique Gil Photo from Instagram/@lizasoberano

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KAPAMILYA actress Liza Soberano penned a short but sweet message to her boyfriend Enrique Gil who is celebrating his 30th birthday. In her Instagram account, Liza posted photos of them in El Nido, Palawan. “Paradise is anywhere with you. Happy birthday my love,” Liza captioned the post. In another post, Liza posted a video of them enjoying each other’s company. “My boy in his element. Happy 30th champ. I love you with all my heart,” she wrote.

Celebrities such as Rayver Cruz, Kean Cipriano, Rambo Nunez and Eruption, to name a few, greeted Enrique. Recently, Nadine Lustre was the guest of Liza in her mental health podcast “An Open Mind.” Nadine opened up about her decision to move to Siargao. “I needed a change in environment,” Nadine said. Nadine also admitted that she always feels sad especially during the height of the pandemic. “I couldn’t understand why I was always sad,” she said. “Everything felt automatic, and it didn’t have heart,” she added. She also mentioned how her music helped her mental health.

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Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray with her Madame Tussauds wax figure

Photo from Instagram/@mtssingapore

Catriona unveils Madame Tussauds Singapore wax figure by jAn

Milo severo Philstar.com

MISS Universe 2018 Catriona Gray is the latest Filipino to have a wax figure in Madame Tussauds Singapore. Catriona joined the starstudded lineup of famous personalities represented in the popular attraction. “Being invited by Madame Tussauds to be immortalized in wax is further testimony as to why I chose pageantry. While I thoroughly enjoy modeling, pageantry has enabled me to have a voice, to inspire change, and to help other women in my immediate communities and beyond,” Catriona said. According to Madame Tussauds Singapore General Manager Eric Mak, fans picked the Miss Universe 2018 winner as their top pick as the next personality they want to see in Singapore. In November 2019, Gray had her sitting process with the Madame Tussauds team, which took a total of six hours to finish. Unfortunately, due to the

pandemic, the initial launch set in 2020 was pushed back. After a long two-year wait, fans can now relive the historic crowning moment that united Filipinos from all over the world. Catriona’s wax figure is dressed in a bespoke reproduction of her iconic Mayon Volcano-inspired fiery lava red gown by renowned Filipino designer Mak Tumang, who made this version specifically for Madame Tussauds. “Since being crowned Miss Universe 2018, I’ve strived to say yes to anything that enables me to lift up fellow women, to give them a reason to believe in themselves and the collective power we have when we work together as one. I believe that if my figure being here inspires just one person to believe in themselves and to find a path that is true to them, it has all been worth it. I am so unbelievably proud to be the first Filipino to grace Madame Tussauds Singapore, not least the first female Filipino. May I now be the first of many,” Catriona said. To show her support for

healthcare workers in Singapore, Catriona and her team have donated care packs for the benefit of the nursing staff at IHH Healthcare during her visit. Catriona joined the wax figures of fellow Filipinos Miss Universe 2016 Pia Wurtzbach and boxing champ Manny Pacquiao in Madame Tussauds Hong Kong, then in Bangkok where the Miss Universe 2018 pageant was held. Fully-vaccinated Filipino tourists can now enter Singapore courtesy of the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) program. This program allows fully-vaccinated travelers to be quarantine-free upon arrival in Singapore. Apart from booking a VTL flight, Filipino travelers are required to present proof of vaccination, negative COVID-19 test result taken prior to traveling, and travel insurance. “With the easing of travel restrictions between the Philippines and Singapore, we look forward to welcoming even more of Catriona’s fans to see her up close and personal,” Mak said.

Angel no plans on having baby yet due to thyroid problem by Anne

PAsAjol Inquirer.net

ANGEL Locsin disclosed that she and her husband, businessman-producer Neil Arce are not yet planning on having a baby as they are still dealing with her thyroid problem. Locsin spoke about how an addition to her family is not her priority now after she was asked about her baby plans in an exclusive interview with talent manager and comedian Ogie Diaz, as seen on his YouTube channel on Wednesday, March 30. “Wala talaga sa plano namin ‘yun plus meron din kaming mga konting health issues na kailangan ayusin. I have a thyroid problem kasi, Hashimoto. Parang autoimmune disease siya sa thyroid pero under control naman siya, nag-under medication naman ako,” she answered. “‘Pag OK na siya tsaka pwede mag-baby.” (It’s really not on our plans yet and we’re still dealing with some health issues that need to be taken care of. I have a thyroid problem, Hashimoto. It’s like an autoimmune disease in the thyroid but it’s under control. I undergo medication for it. Once it’s OK, then we can have a baby.) The actress also pointed out that she doesn’t feel pressure amid her celebrity friends Dimples Romana and Angelica Panganiban‘s recent pregnancy announcements. “I’m so happy for them. Ang tagal nilang hinintay ‘yun, pinagplanuhan nila ‘yun talaga. Darating din tayo dyan,” Locsin

Angel Locsin and her husband Neil Arce

said. “Happy rin ako na wala pa ako sa gano’ng position, sa totoo lang.” (I’m so happy for them. They waited for their pregnancies for a long time and they really planned for it. We’ll also get there. I’m also happy that I’m not yet in that position, to be honest.) “‘Pag oras mo na talaga, ‘pag tingin ni Lord na you’re ready, bibigyan ka naman niya ng blessing,” she added. “Kumbaga moment pa nila ‘yun, ‘wag muna ako.” (When it’s your time, when the Lord thinks you’re ready, he will give you a blessing. This is their moment, mine can wait.) Locsin then got emotional when asked about how she would take on motherhood in the future, admitting that she also has her fears on how she’ll be a mother towards her child.

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Photo from Instagram/@therealangellocsin

“Natatakot din ako kasi feeling ko napaka-stage mother ko ‘pag naging nanay talaga ako,” she stated. “Natatakot ako kasi parang hindi ko alam kung paano mag-alaga [pero] basta ‘yung pagmamahal ko sa kanya talagang hindi ko mae-explain – kung gaano kalaki ‘yung pagmamahal na readyng-ready ako ibigay sa kanya.” (I’m also scared because I feel like I would be a stage mother. I’m scared because I don’t know how I’m going to take care of my child but I wouldn’t be able to explain the love I would have towards my child — how huge the amount of love I am very much ready to give.) Locsin married Arce in a civil ceremony last year. The couple, who got engaged in June 2019, initially planned a November 2020 wedding but it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Pia and BFFs say no to cancel culture but yes to redemption culture by MJ

Marfori Philstar.com

WE continue to up the ante as Women’s Month comes to a close. This time, we had a thorough conversation with three super women — Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, her best friends and former beauty queens Carla Lizardo and Bianca Guidotti-Santos, whom she shares a podcast with, Between Us Queens. Within a year of doing the show and starting with pageant related issues, they realized that there is so much more to be discussed as women. Just this month, they expanded and launched their first-ever vlog. Aptly named The Queens, the vlog is a passion project of the trio for their community to broadcast women empowerment with topics that range from beauty, womanhood, friendship, relationships and current events. They also hold online workbook sessions, so that they can answer and reflect on the workbook topics along with their listeners. Carla even took a break from her Sports 5 reporting, to focus on this. “I had to focus on this fulltime because the workbooks we also created on our website took time and we really want to grow the community. We realized that the content we created was just a conversation starter, but what was really important to us was this community,” she said. Just a little backtrack on their friendship, which formed during their pageant days, seven years in the making, and it all began at the Binibining Pilipinas 2014. The three met at the national pageant and became close friends. As the years went by, they dreamt of doing projects together but could never find the right one. Despite their careers leading them to different paths, The Queens — as what the three of them are collectively called — kept the friendship alive and when the pandemic hit, things simply fell into place. As Pia put it, “The Queens became a safe space online where you can be yourself.” Now, they are rebranding the whole ecosystem to “The Queens.” For the queens. By the queens. No issue is left unspoken between them and since it’s pageant season in the Philippines, they talked about the blackfishing that went down at the Miss Universe Philippines. Miss San Pablo, Laguna Shaira Aliyah Diaz allegedly claimed that she is a black woman and she was exposed by American pageant vlogger Davonna Finley. Turns out Shaira is purely Asian. With this, Pia tried to look for Shaira online but her socials are deactivated already. “She needs to be guided a

Nadine Lustre

ACTRESS Nadine Lustre revealed that she’s ready to accept sexy roles in her upcoming movies. Earlier today, in the press conference of her new movie “Greed," Nadine said she doesn’t want to be boxed in her past selfbranding. “If you say Nadine Lustre, that’s the first thing you think about and personally I don’t want to be in a boxed kind of branding because I know that there’s so much more I can do and there’s so much more I can offer,” Nadine said. “I really want to explore kasi do'n ako nae-excite talaga e. If something is really challenging, if something is really difficult. 'Di ba alam mo 'yung, ‘Wow, gagawin mo ‘to? Sobrang kakaiba nito ha.' It makes me excited kasi alam kong hindi madali. I know

by Marinel

Cruz

“THERE’S always someone to talk to if your family members and friends tell you to stop making drama,” advised TV and movie actor Markki Stroem, who is an advocate of mental health awareness. The 35-year-old FilipinoNorwegian said he was diagnosed with mild depression, social anxiety, and a severe case of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) a few years ago. This explains why he makes the effort to promote having good Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach (center) has been doing the podcast, Between Us Queens, mental health in all of his social with (from left) best friends and former beauty queens Bianca Guidotti-Santos and Carla Lizardo. media platforms. They have since expanded to launch their first-ever vlog. Philstar.com photo “There’s no sense in shaming lot,” said she. “Honestly, it is this now because it feels very someone for being depressed or difficult to be a candidate and fulfilling. I feel like I’m really being anxious because they’re there’s a tendency to overthink doing something meaningful acting a certain way. Let’s not put on how you might stand out in a with my time. You know, it feels them down because they’re that sea of beautiful women.” really nice to help and give way. We have no idea what they Pia also said that Shaira’s back.” are dealing with on their own,” back story is worth a listen and Meanwhile, Bianca looks he told Inquirer Entertainment the bashing right now surely is forward to sharing this passion during a recent virtual chat. not good for her mental health. project with all of the queens. “It’s basically about respect “Actually, medyo naawa ako “It kind of feels like my life’s and looking at someone as your kasi masakit ma-cancel,” she work, honestly. I’m just so equal. No one is better than the added. excited to be able to do it with other—that’s what I keep pointing Circling back to the trio, with two of my best friends and to out again and again,” the actor issues such as this, they also be able to share it with Filipino declared. began the #WeAreAllQueens women and hopefully, you Markki even had a TEDx social campaign, the goal of know, women all over the world. Talk session, titled “Unmasking which is to spread a powerful It’s everything.” Mental Health Through Music,” message. That we are queens This passion project is aimed in October 2021. In the video, he in our own right, regardless of at empowering queens all over talks about the state of his mental titles or appearances. the country and the world, and health and how he dealt with it We have our own crowns and despite their busy schedules, during the series of lockdowns therefore, we are all Queens. the three say that The Queen’s since 2020. To amplify the stories of other community will be a top priority Raising awareness women, those who share using for them. Also in the video, Markki the hashtag also get a chance to be featured on The Queens social media accounts. In their first YouTube vlog, The Queens shared their thoughts on what this project means for them. For Carla, it’s about finding purpose and direction. “It means the world to me because during the pandemic, I was feeling pretty lost. So, it was great that I was able to connect with so many amazing people through this platform,” said Carla. “So, it’s just something super special and I feel like it’s been years since we’ve been wanting to work on a passion project together. And it was also the realization that it is actually something that I want to do. I thought that it would be a ‘side thing,’ but no, it actually grew to be something that we are mainly focusing on, something that we really, really truly care about, and something that we want to grow in the years ahead.” To Pia, it’s the fulfillment of doing something you’re passionate about. “It is a passion project that I’m really proud of, finally for a while, for a few years,” she shared. “I’ve been so focused on, you know, work like endorsements, and acting projects but I didn’t really have a personal project like a real passion project. And I’m really happy that I have

Nadine: There’s so much more I can offer Milo Severo Philstar.com

Markki’s tips on dealing with mental health problems

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Inquirer.net

Photo from Instagram/@nadine

by Jan

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 31 - APRIL 6, 2022

there’s really a challenge so 'yon. Definitely more out-of -the-box project for me,” she added. Nadine also said that it was a strange feeling for her to go back to acting again when she shot the first few scenes of "Greed." “Ang tagal kong hindi umarte, so 'yung first day of shoot namin lagi akong nagtatanong kay direk kung tama ba 'yong ginagawa ko. Nakakapanibago din naman kasi because of pandemic ang daming projects na hindi natuloy. But when it comes to the story and the role, ito 'yung mga klase na gusto kong gawin,” she said. “Lahat halos ng mga films ko before ay all romance, rom-coms, drama, so sobrang na-excite ako nong kinwento sa akin ni direk 'yung storya. Gusto ko kasi 'yung nacha-challenge ako. Ayoko ng parang madali lang. Kasi 'yung growth comes out when you’re challenged, growth comes out

Markki Stroem

announces that he produced a song and a music video to help the Philippine Psychiatric Association raise awareness about the rising cases of suicide and self-harm in the country. “It’s important to understand that there are so many things going through your head, especially when you’re stuck alone in your house,” he pointed out. “Remember that there’s always someone to talk to. It’s OK to feel that way.” Markki said that it was interesting how the said TEDx

Photo from Instagram/@markkistroem

Talk session has “spawned” other things for him, too. One of them was when Nas Academy Philippines got him to conduct an online hosting workshop in January 2021. “It’s fascinating to see how things bloom,” he observed. “Don’t cut ties with people. Don’t destroy relationships with individuals. I’ve heard so many stories of people who cut ties because they felt like they might be better than the person they worked with. Never look down on anyone.”

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MARCH 31 - APRIL 6, 2022 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

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