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APRIL 29 - MAY 5, 2022 Volume 15 - No.25 • 16 Pages
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DATELINE
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FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
California Joint AAPI Legislative Caucus to celebrate APIA Heritage Month, honor leaders THE California Joint Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Legislative Caucus will celebrate May as Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) Heritage Month and recognize distinguished AAPI leaders through this year’s “Excellence Awards.” The honorees range come from advocacy, health, civil rights, business, arts and entertainment, and more fields. “It has been two years since the start of the pandemic and the AAPI community continues to face anti-Asian hate, while dealing with the inequities that have been exacerbated by the pandemic. Despite these challenges, each honoree continues
Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
PH wraps up WTTC Global Summit, Saudi Arabia to host the next one DOT focuses on ‘regenerative tourism’
by MOMAR
G. VISAYA
AJPress
THE president and chief executive officer of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) praised and thanked the Philippines
for successfully hosting the three-day summit in Manila. “I’m not often stumped for words, but I am now. Wow! What an amazing summit. We really have rediscovered travel,” Simpson said at the closing ceremony of the summit, which
MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has canceled the last round of presidential and vice presidential debates this weekend due to the unavailability of the candidates just days before the May 9 polls. The supposed town hall debates rescheduled on April 30 and May 1 will instead be replaced with pre-taped, hourlong interviews of the candidates to be aired from May 2 to 6, the Comelec announced on Monday, April 25. The poll body was forced to cancel the final presidential and vice presidential debates originally set on April 23 and 24 after its partner organizer, Impact Hub Manila, was unable to pay P14 million of its P20.5-million obligation to Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, the venue of the Comelec-sponsored PiliPinas Debates. The fiasco has prompted an internal investigation within Comelec of its top
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US House passes bill to study new Asian Pacific Heritage museum by AJPRESS
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Final president, VP debates canceled ahead of May 9 polls
gathered leaders of the tourism industries across the world. Simpson, who considered the “extraordinary Philippine welcome” as her personal highlight of the two-day summit, added that its success
PH ELECTIONS 2022. Kababayan overseas voters in New York have been dropping off their ballots at the Philippine Center on Fifth Avenue. The Consulate is advising those who will be receiving their packets this week should do so as well or mail them back to them soon. Photos courtesy
PLANS to create a national Asian Pacific American museum in Washington, D.C. have moved to the next step as the U.S. House of Representatives this week passed a bill to form a commission to study the issue. The bill approved unanimously by the House on Tuesday, April 26 would create a new commission to consider the development a new National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture. The measure will head to the Senate for voting. The group would be responsible for studying the costs of building a National Museum of Asian
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International arrivals in Steven Raga announces candidacy PH surpass 300,000-mark for AD30; endorsed by Rep. Grace by DANIZA
FERNANDEZ Inquirer.net
MANILA — International arrivals in the Philippines have surpassed the 300,000-mark since the country reopened its borders to fully-vaccinated tourists last February 10, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat reported on Tuesday, April 26. “From February 10 to
April 25, na-surpass na natin ‘yung (we surpassed the) 300,000-mark. We received about 313,050 international arrivals,” Romulo-Puyat said in a Laging Handa public briefing. Romulo-Puyat, however, said that the figure is far from the eight million prepandemic international tourist arrivals registered in 2019.
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Meng, Sen. John Liu, AM Catalina Cruz, and other community leaders FIL-AM community leader Steven Raga announced his historic candidacy for Assembly District 30 from Diversity Plaza in Jackson Heights on Saturday, April 23. “I am so excited and pumped up to announce my candidacy. I
grew up here and have seen our diverse immigrant communities land here and take root, building vibrant neighborhoods,” said Raga. “It is time that we take our voice to the Assembly and that we are
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California Joint AAPI Legislative Fil-Am teen killed in car Caucus to celebrate APIA Heritage... crash in Riverside County PAGE 1 to uplift the voices of the AAPI communities and enriches our history and culture through their achievements. They give us hope, solace, and courage in times when we need it most,” the caucus said in a release. The Joint AAPI Legislative Caucus is honoring the following individuals: • Excellence in Advocacy: Tammy Cho, Co-founder and CEO of Hate Is A Virus • Excellence in Arts & Entertainment: Dr. Ken Jeong, Actor, Producer, and Writer • Excellence in Business: Dr. Charles Huang, Entrepreneur, Founder and Chairman of Pasaca Capital Inc. • Excellence in Civil Rights: Manufou Liaiga-Anoa’I, Board Trustee of Jefferson Elementary School District Governing Board and Community Leader • Excellence in Health: Dr. Peter Bretan, Transplant and Urologic Surgeon, and First Filipino-American Physician to serve as CMA’s 152nd President • Excellence in Labor: Bryan Ha, Director of Government Relations for the California Faculty Association • Excellence in Science: Samaira Mehta, Entrepreneur, STEM Promoter, and Creator of CoderBunnyz • Excellence in Sports: Shohei Ohtani, Pitcher and Designated Hitter for the Los Angeles Angels “It is an honor to be a part of the Asian and Pacific Islander community,” said Dr. Richard Pan, Senator (D-Sacramento) and Chair of the Joint AAPI Legislative Caucus. “We celebrate
the diversity of our varied communities recognized during APIA Heritage Month. This year, the AAPI Legislative Caucus is honoring eight amazing AAPI Leaders who not only led but uplifted our community during a time when we needed it most. These honorees elevated AAPI voices and insisted that our community be visible and heard in our country.” “I’m incredibly proud to join my colleagues in recognizing APIA Heritage month as we honor the accomplishments of our awardees and other heroes. Their respective excellence in a wide range of fields stands in sharp contrast to the antiAsian hate our community has been facing,” said Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Silicon Valley), Vice-Chair of the AAPI Legislative Caucus. “We will continue to stand up and rally in solidarity with our allies to root out all forms of racism and xenophobia.” “It is an absolute joy to see so many outstanding individuals nominated and honores this year, including Los Angeles Angel’s superstar Shohei Ohtani! I look forward to celebrating the achievements of this year’s nominees,” said Assemblywoman Janet Nguyen (R-Huntington Beach), Vice Chair of the Joint AAPI Legislative Caucus. On May 9th, Senate Resolution (SR) 80 and House Resolution (HR) 102, which were authored by Senator Min and Assemblymember Low, respectively, will be presented during floor sessions to establish May 2022 as Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Month. (AJPress)
by AJPress A FILIPINO American family is mourning the loss of their 17-year-old daughter who died in a car crash on Easter Sunday in Riverside County. Sharmaine Legaspi was killed in a car crash around 10:50 p.m. on Sunday, April 17 when she reportedly lost control of the sedan she was driving and hit a light pole on Murrieta Hot Springs Road, according to the Murrieta Police Department. Legaspi was pronounced dead at the scene. A 19-year-old passenger was taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and is expected to recover, per reports. “My daughter is in heaven
Sharmaine Legaspi
now. Thank you for the loving family and friends who shared their time to be with her in this life. I love you and you will always stay in my heart forever,” Legaspi’s mother Marieanne wrote in a Facebook post. A high school senior, Legaspi participated in
beauty pageants, most recently in the Miss Philippines USA Pageant in 2021 as a Miss Young Philippines contestant. “I want to give back the kindness others have shown to me and to use whatever privileges I possess help others who don’t have the things I do. Finding ways for Filipinos and Americans to improve the lives of the people (physically and mentally) is what I choose to advocate for,” Legaspi wrote as a candidate for the pageant. “Gone too soon. You are well-loved by so many, you will be missed,” the Miss Philippines USA Pageant said in its Facebook page in her memory. Legaspi will be laid to rest on Wednesday, April 27 in Murrieta. g
Steven Raga announces candidacy... PAGE 1 represented by someone who understands the spirit and the needs of this amazing community. Together, we can reimagine the future of Queens!” Joined by Congresswoman Grace Meng, State Senator John Liu, and Assemblymember Catalina Cruz as well as a diverse group of community leaders and supporters, Raga committed himself to representing the community that he grew up in. The newly drafted borders for Assembly District 30 include Woodside, Elmhurst, and Maspeth. The district is one of the most diverse districts and is majority AAPI. If elected, Steven Raga would be the first ever Filipino American elected to office in New York State. “Steven is the best choice for our community,” said Rep. Meng. “He is a dedicated and passionate public servant who has been working for our
Steven Raga made his announcement in front of other Asian American community leaders.
communities for decades. I am proud to support Steven in his candidacy.” District Leader Melissa Sklarz added “As a member of the Committee of Vacancies, it was an honor to select Steven Raga to be our Democratic candidate for the 30th Assembly District. Steven is smart, experienced, compassionate for both neighborhood and community, and essential to represent us all in Albany.
If elected, Raga will be the first Filipino American elected to office in New York
The 30th Assembly District needs Steven Raga.” Steven Raga is the Executive Director of Woodside on the Move, after previously serving as Regional Manager for Policy & Advocacy for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Senior Advisor for AARP, and Chief of Staff for Assemblymember Brian Barnwell (AD30). Currently, he is an Advisor for the United States Civil Rights Commission, Member of the Queens District Attorney Commission for Asian American Affairs, and sits on the Boards for the National Association for Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), Western Queens Community Land Trust, the National Urban Fellows Alumni, Queens Community Board 2, Queens LGBT Pride, and Pilipino American Unity for Progress (UniPro) which he founded in Woodside in 2009. g
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From the Front Page
PH wraps up WTTC Global Summit, Saudi Arabia to...
2ND BOOSTER SHOT. An elderly woman on wheel chair receives her second Moderna booster shot for immunocompromised individuals at the Virra Mall Greenhills in San Juan City on Tuesday, April 26. Individuals who belong to the immunocompromised category are those in immunodeficiency state, with HIV, active cancer or malignancy, transplant recipients, undergoing steroid treatment, patients with poor prognosis or bed-ridden, and other conditions.
International arrival... PAGE 1 “Sa pre-pandemic levels naman with regard to international tourist arrivals, medyo malayo pa kasi nung 2019, we received about 8.26 million tourists. Pero masaya tayo kasi (But we are happy because) at least, we already received 313,050 international arrivals,” she added. According to the tourism chief, most of the international travelers are from the United States, Canada, and Korea. Romulo-Puyat reminded travelers to observe health protocols while on their trips. “’Yun na nga syempre paalala pa rin, masaya tayo na we are slowly getting back to normal pero paalala rin that we still really have to follow minimum health and safety protocols,” she advised. (Just a reminder, we are happy that we are slowly getting back to normal but I remind you that we still really have to follow minimum health and safety protocols.) g
A worker disinfects chairs at the airport in Manila. Inquirer file photo by Ted Aljibe
US House passes bill... PAGE 1 Pacific American History and Culture and if it will be part of the Smithsonian Institution. Rep. Grace Meng (DNY) called it a “joy” to see the legislation advance in Congress, noting the contributions Asians and Pacific Islanders have made to U.S. history. “Those contributions are often unheard of and simply forgotten,” she said. “It is time to change that.” AAPI Victory Alliance Executive Director Varun Nikore said the Asian American and Pacific Islander community is “more
than the tragic headlines” during the pandemic, referring to the uptick in anti-Asian hate. “This bill would be monumental for the Asian American Pacific Islander community as well as the rest of America: it will allow future generations and our neighbors to understand and appreciate our long-standing history in this country and show that there is no America without the AAPI community,” said Nikore. The commission will have 18 months to report its findings back to Congress and the president. g
PAGE 1 was a “testament that the country’s tourism industry is well on its feet.” Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat pulled all the stops to make sure that the country’s first-ever hosting of the global summit would be memorable as she took pride in setting an example of how to open safely and showcase “how beautiful the country is.” It was also the first major in-person conference attended by more than 1,200 delegates, 600 of whom were from more than 50 countries. According to the DOT, there were over 10,000 virtual registrations during the various events of the WTTC held at the Marriot Hotel in Resorts World Manila. Puyat said that as the pandemic forced the global tourism industry to raise its game and change the way it gets things done, “we have likewise put much effort into discerning the most effective combination between the enforcement of health and safety guidelines and personal convenience - the delicate balancing act of implementing measures to ensure everyone’s safety without placing unreasonable burdens on the traveling public.” “Our shared hopes and dreams for the future are reflected in the policies we have developed, and the measures we have put in place to plan and realize this sector’s full and complete recovery,” she added. Timely and Important “I consider that this as a very timely and very important event because it is useful for many countries and the tourism sector is important for the economy, and the experience, the information that has been provided during the meeting is very important for all countries,” Mexico’s Ambassador to the Philippines Gerardo Lozano Arredondo told the Asian Journal. The ambassador also shared that he discovered Filipino food and Mexican food “are really quite related.” “There are several dishes that it is not so easy to differentiate in Mexico and Philippine cuisine and there are many in common though one of my favorites is the lechon,” he said, citing the similarities in the preparation in both countries. Now in the last year of his tour of duty, Arredondo said he is looking forward to bringing back and introducing to Mexico new ingredients that are not common there, referencing the galleon trade, which he called the first experience of globalization and trading. He also expressed his optimism about the full economic recovery of countries like Mexico and the Philippines which are both major tourist destinations. “I am very optimistic about the recovery of the economy and I am sure that at least in the case of Mexico and the Philippines touristical sector will play a very important role in the recuperation of the economy,” Arredondo said. “This has been a wonderful global summit and, to echo your brand campaign, we certainly had lots of fun in the Philippines. This is an experience all
Exhibited at the WTTC Summit are season’s harvests of the Philippines’ finest produce such as mangoes, pomelo, calamansi, avocado, dragon fruit, pineapple, native coffee beans, adlai grains, black rice, pili nuts, passion fruit, capsicum, mangosteen and lanzones. This is a sight and taste to behold to many foreigners since these crops are native to the Philippines. AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya
the delegates of the Summit can definitely attest to,” WTTC Chairman Arnold Donald said in his closing address. Gloria Guevara, special advisor of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism and former president and CEO of WTTC, said the Philippines “has exceeded all of our expectations. Thanks to the leadership of Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat before and during the pandemic, the Philippines has been successfully repositioned as a top destination and she delivered an impactful Summit. The Filipino hospitality has also made it memorable.” Beautiful Destinations “I’m really excited to be supporting tourism in the Philippines,” said Jeremy Jauncey, founder and CEO of Beautiful Destinations. We had a chance to chat as we waited for the gala dinner at the Philippine International Convention Center to begin. “Hopefully, this is the start of the recovery as we are serving the people again and the country is open. It’s beautiful. It is the kind of tourism you want to be doing now – sustainably focused, regenerative tourism, out in nature, all the stuff that we’ve been missing in the last two years,” Jauncey shared. Jauncey and his girlfriend Pia Wurtzbach have been traveling even during the pandemic and as such, they have experienced how travel has changed. Asked to give a couple of advice to those raring to travel once more, he quipped, “Plan ahead of time, you need a lot more paperwork so plan ahead of time. Unfortunately, you can’t just turn up at an airport anymore, because you need all the paperwork. That means you have to be early at the airport as well.” He also believes in the importance of having a global health passport of sorts. “It is really important for our industry if we can make it work but it is a complicated and lengthy process,” he admitted.
Regenerative Tourism As Jauncey mentioned, the Philippines is stepping up its game as far as sustainable tourism is concerned, focusing as well on regenerative tourism, which leaves a lasting and positive impact on the host destination. “We want sustainable tourism and we want a tourist destination to be even better than it was before, (we want the kind of travel) that does not destroy nature but at the same time benefits the host communities,” Puyat said. “We have to think of the future generations... We want to make sure that each tourist destination is taken care of for our future generations,” she added. In one of the panel discussions at the WTTC, regenerative tourism champions and Masungi Georeserve trustees Ann and Bullie Dumaliang said stakeholders must first localize their approaches and understand how they could protect the destination. “When we talked about regenerative tourism it focuses on an ecosystem-wide approach which we tend to forget when we talk about sustainability,” Ann said. “A lot of us have limited the concept of sustainability to simply reducing plastic waste, offsetting our carbon, and all of these. We tend to forget that we need to localize our approach and that means getting to know all the places and understanding the geographical nature of the destinations,” she added. Masungi Georeserve Foundation provides forest enforcement support to deter and eliminate threats to the georeserve and surrounding watershed areas. Through on-ground patrolling, installation of ranger stations, and investments in monitoring technology, the foundation was able to accelerate efforts and secure more areas for conservation in the area. At present, the nature reserve project located in Baras, Rizal has so far planted 60,000 native trees, engaged more than 100 park rangers, supported 200 local households, and rescued 2,000 hectares of land from encroachment and illegal activities. “All of that now is sustained and protected using the fund that we raised through tourism, it really goes on to show how tourism can be a force for good for nature,” Ann shared. “Regenerative tourism is really a change in mindset, it’s a paradigm shift from a tourism that leaves no trace to a kind of tourism that leaves things better than they were before, both for businesses and for travelers,” his sister Billie added. For the Dumaliangs, the government plays an important role in replicating Masungi’s successes. “You need to be open to innovation, to new policies, and actually incentivize that. If you don’t restore the watersheds around us, you will lose water. If you don’t protect the area from extractive industries, the entire landscape and all the communities will suffer,” Billie said. (With reports from PNA) g
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OPINION
FeATUres
Onion-skinned
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EXPOUNDING on his threat to have the Armed Forces of the Philippines arrest critics of the Commission on Elections, Comelec Commissioner Rey Bulay lamented at a press conference on Monday, April 25 that he had been subjected to flak particularly on social media. Welcome to the digital age, commissioner. For peace of mind, there are public officials who simply disengage from social media or ignore critical posts, with the thought that one can’t please everybody. Instead Bulay, a law classmate of President Duterte who was appointed as commissioner last November, said last Friday, April 22 that the poll body could order the AFP to arrest critics who accuse the Comelec of bias or express concern about cheating. And Filipinos thought martial law ended in 1986. Fellow lawyers had to remind the former Manila city prosecutor that the Comelec’s deputization of the AFP to ensure orderly elections does not include the power to muzzle free speech and criticism. With just two weeks to election day, the Comelec currently has enough problems in ensuring honest, orderly and peaceful elections or HOPE on May 9. While HOPE has always been the ideal in electoral exercises in
Editorial
The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS THE enlightenment, zeal. commitment, and sense of volunteerism of the Filipino people have turned the tide in favor of candidates Vice President Leni Robredo for President and and Senator Kiko Pangilinan for Vice
this country, it has never been fully attained. Even before the official start of the campaign period, certain politicians have been implicated in the assassination of potential
rivals. Aside from armed violence, the Comelec is grappling with the new challenges posed by COVID pandemic restrictions as well as widespread disinformation on social media and a data breach controversy involving its vote counting machine provider Smartmatic. Complaints about disenfranchisement have surfaced following the opening of the Comelec’s online precinct finder service. It must decide which political parties will have dominant party privileges, amid the prevailing chaotic party situation. The poll body’s effort to help voters make informed choices has been undermined by its inability to compel all candidates to attend the Comelec-organized debates, and now by controversy that has forced a shift from the
Philstar.com
planned final debate to one-on-one interviews with the aspirants. These are all matters crying for urgent attention and efficient response by the Comelec. There will be opportunities for more criticisms ahead, both for the Comelec and its
officials, in all media platforms. Public officials who can’t take the heat should get out of the kitchen and enjoy peaceful retirement. The AFP also has more pressing problems on its plate than to be sicced on critics of onionskinned public servants. (Philstar.com)
If we want Leni and Kiko to succeed as ‘Gobyernong Tapat,’ vote for these trusted candidates for senator President. This growing and burning momentum has been manifested in successful jam-packed record breaking political rallies in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao powered by volunteers around the nation — a testament to the grassroots movement clamoring for
change toward good and honest governance. Kababayans have found renewed hope in the leadership by example of Leni and Kiko with their proven integrity, tried and tested honesty, transparency, accountability, faithfulness to the rule of law and the heart of true public servants even
before they entered politics. The rise of this grassroots support move in the same direction of the endorsements for Leni and Kiko by private citizens’ groups like doctors, nurses, lawyers, teachers, farmers, colleges and university leadership, scientists, etc. along with former government officials,
retired military officers, priests of the Catholic Church and many nongovernment organizations. Even the results of Google Trends, a website by Google that analyzes the popularity of top search queries across various regions and languages, has shown the momentum
is on Leni and Kiko now, surpassing the supposed frontrunners Bongbong Marcos Sara Duterte Carpio if (questionable) surveys are to be the sources. Google Trends correctly predicted, based on the scores on search queries, that French President Emmanuel Macron PAGE 10
The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal. ADVERTISING AND ADVERTORIAL POLICIES ROGER LAGMAY ORIEL Publisher & Chairman of the Board
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Dateline PhiliPPines
Jimuel Pacquiao to return to the 2nd booster shot rolled out ring in California bout on May 12 for immunocompromised by Franco Jose
by Mark
GionGco Inquirer.net
MANILA — Jimuel Pacquiao is set for his ring return in the United States on May 12, this time he will be parading his wares before a bigger audience at Quiet Cannon Montebello Country Club in California. The eldest son of boxing legend Manny Pacquiao will figure in a three-round featherweight fight against a soon-to-be-named opponent. Pacquiao second amateur bout is part of the Hollywood Fight Nights series under Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions. The event will be shown live globally on UFC Fight Pass. Pacquiao, 21, had his first amateur fight in the U.S. in March, beating Mexican-
c. Baroña
ManilaTimes.net
Jimuel Pacquiao won his first amateur match in March, beating Andres Rosales. Photo from Instagram/@mannypacquiao
American Andres Rosales at House of Boxing Gym in San Diego, California. He has been training at
Wild Card Gym under the tutelage of Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach and Marvin Somodio. g
THE government started administering the second COVID-19 booster shot for the immunocompromised, or people with comorbidities, in the National Capital Region. The Department of Health (DOH) said it plans to administer jabs for an estimated 690,000 immunocompromised individuals across all priority groups. “Operations will initially aim to reach approximately 1 [to] 2 percent of this target, which corresponds to about 7,000 to 13,000 individuals. LGUs (local government units) will take the lead in gradually expanding the rollout,” the DOH said in a statement. The Philippine Children’s Medical Center, Tala Hospital (Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital), Valenzuela Medical Center and the local government of Makati were the first sites that administered the fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccinations. “More vaccination sites will start administering second boosters as the days progress,” the department said.
The vaccine brands that will be used as a second booster are AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer, Sinopharm and Sinovac. Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje, head of the National Vaccination Operations Center, said the country’s supply of COVID-19 vaccines was enough for the rollout of the second booster shots. “We have enough vaccines for primary doses, first and second booster shots,” she said in a radio interview. Cabotaje said the government would put up special vaccination sites in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao after Ramadan because of the low vaccination rates. The DOH, she said, was also monitoring Ilocos Norte, Kalinga, Quirino, Catanduanes, Olongapo City, Tarlac City, Angeles City and Eastern Samar for possible increases in COVID-19 cases. The Food and Drug Administration has authorized a second booster shot for senior citizens, immunocompromised individuals and health workers. For immunocompromised individuals, the PAGE 7
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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 29 - MAY 5, 2022
Police may have underestimated crowd size at Robredo’s Pasay rally, online tool suggests by Xave
GreGorio Philstar.com
MANILA — The crowd at Vice President Leni Robredo’s rally in Pasay City on the occasion of the presidential candidate’s 57th birthday must have been quite sparse in the eyes of National Capital Region Police Office, which estimate that only 70,000 to 80,000 people attended the event. According to online crowd estimation tool MapChecking, the NCRPO’s lower-end estimate would mean 1.3 people for every square meter of the venue and 1.5 people per square meter for the higher-end estimate.
Even the NCRPO’s initial estimate of around 90,000 to 100,000 people might be an undercount, considering that these numbers would have meant that only 1.7 people per square meter to 1.9 people per square meter were present. At these rates, the crowd along the stretch of Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard should not have been as dense as what Philstar.com witnessed when we covered the rally last Saturday. From our vantage point on a platform situated close to the main stage near Jose W. Diokno Boulevard, the crowd fluctuated from around three people per square meter to
four people per square meter. According to MapChecking, this would have yielded a crowd that ranged from 159,987 to 213,316 people. If bumped up to five people per square meter, which is the maximum number of people allowed by the online tool, the crowd would have been at 266,645 people. These estimates are far lower than the numbers released by organizers, who said that around 412,000 people were present at the Pasay rally. But it bears noting that MapChecking cannot account for spillovers into nearby roads. Former DILG chief Alunan gives own estimate
A now-viral Facebook post by former Local Government Secretary Rafael Alunan III also attempted to provide an estimate for Robredo’s rally in Pasay City, which was graced by A-list celebrities and entertainers including Vice Ganda, John Arcilla and Maricel Soriano. Alunan said that given that Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard has an area of 175,000 square meters and assuming that there were around three people per square meter, there would have been at most 525,000 people along the street. “How many more people would you say spilled over to the peripheries
Final president, VP debates canceled... PAGE 1 officials for possible criminal liability for committing the poll body to an allegedly onerous deal with Impact Hub. On Monday, 14 senior Comelec officials submitted their formal explanation to Commissioner Rey Bulay, who is undertaking the probe, though several among them said they took “no part” in the decision on the debates. The Comelec tried to salvage the final round of televised debates by rescheduling them a week later, with the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) as the organizer. However, several candidates have begged off due to previous campaign commitments. “In consideration of the inevitable scheduling conflicts as the candidates approach the homestretch of the campaign period, and as advised by the KBP, the Comelec will now adopt a single candidate/team-panel interview format,” the Comelec said in an advisory on Monday. Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said the planned hourlong interviews with each candidate, or together with their running mate, would air next week, with the panelists provided by the KBP. The camp of presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has skipped previous Comelec-sponsored debates, on Monday welcomed the poll body’s decision to hold taped panel interviews in lieu of town hall debates. Lawyer Vic Rodriguez, Marcos’ chief of staff and spokesperson, said: “The panel interview of candidates is exactly the format that we have been advocating.” It is the format that “can measure the depth of a candidate, who is presenting himself to be the next president of our country, distanced from the usual political noise, personal bickering and worse, gutter politics,” Rodriguez said. Marcos has appeared only in the
presidential debate organized by Sonshine Media Network International, owned by Kingdom of Jesus Christ head and self-proclaimed “appointed son of God” Apollo Quiboloy, who previously endorsed the presidential and vice presidential candidacies of Marcos and his running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Monday also said he was fine with a one-on-one interview “if the schedule will allow it.” “As long as there’s free time, why not?” the Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer told reporters in Carles town, Iloilo province. “The thing there is we have commitments and as I mentioned earlier, we still have many provinces and towns to return to or visit. But if the schedule will allow, yes, of course. I’ll be happy to join,” he said. Domagoso said he also did not mind the new format. “Whatever it is, I’m applying for a job. And job applicants don’t get to choose how they will be interviewed by their future employer, which in this case are the people,” he said in Filipino. No editing Presidential aspirant Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Monday welcomed the move to convert the botched debate series into a panel interview with candidates on one condition: It should not allow edits of the pre-taped question-andanswer session. Lacson said he was wary that postprocess editing might take out portions that the candidates feel are vital to their intended message, or muddle the responses. “Editing will complicate matters because (the candidate) has no control (over the final content). My worry is that if something good I said was omitted, and that which is unpleasant is aired, that would be so unfair,” he said. Lacson said he and his running mate,
Senate President Vicente Sotto III, would rather have the interviews either aired live, or recorded but aired on the same hour. “So it will be pre-taped. But even if it’s taped (but aired) as live and no edits, we’re game,” he told reporters on the sidelines of their campaign sortie in Tarlac City. The presidential candidate said the modifications in the setup would allow for flexibility in the candidates’ tight schedule, with just 13 days left in their campaign. Platform discussion “That’s flexibility and that makes it viable; that’s a very feasible suggestion because it will allow us to adjust our schedules depending on when we can have that one-hour panel question-andanswer interview squeezed in,” he said. Asked for confirmation if he will participate, Lacson said: “Yes, we will find time.” Sen. Manny Pacquiao, meanwhile, wants the Comelec to ensure that all presidential candidates will have ample time to air their platforms of governance in the run-up to the May 9 elections. Pacquiao’s media team said the retired boxing champ turned lawmaker was amenable with the poll body’s decision not to push through with the debates. However, the senator is open to a forum where all candidates can explain their platforms one last time for the electorate’s scrutiny. “Debates have been conducted several times, during which major issues hounding the country and even personal issues were addressed,” Pacquiao said in a statement on Monday. “I appeal to the Comelec to ensure for the last time that the candidates will be given enough time to discuss our platforms so that the public can hear us,” he added. (By Dona Z. Pazzibugan, Jeannette I. Andrade, Melvin Gascon/ Inquirer.net)
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Supporters of presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo fill the stretch of Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard in Pasay City for a rally on the occasion of her 57th birthday on Saturday, April 23. Philstar.com photo by Michael Varcas
and tributaries - 50,000?, 100,000?, 150,000?” he said. “One thing for sure, the crowd was mammoth,
thanks to the organizers, volunteer groups and supporters. Take a bow everyone!” g
Arrested hackers can’t manipulate polls, only out to scam politicians by Gabriel
Pablo Inquirer.net
lau
MANILA — The hackers who were arrested for offering services to politicians who want to alter election results in the 2022 general polls apparently do not have the capability to do such things, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) claimed on Tuesday, April 26. Instead, CICC executive director and Undersecretary Cezar Mancao II said that the three hackers were really only out to scam politicians. Mancao clarified that while it is true that they got inside the system of automated election provider Smartmatic — with the help of an ex-
employee who gave them access — the group never got close to altering election results. “Sabi nila, actually naghanap sila ng mga kandidato na sumasang-ayon sa kanilang mga plano na magha-hack at papanalunin. Ayaw naming banggitin ang mga pangalan dahil sa probinsya, subalit meron na. At alam namin sa ngayon masasabi namin together with the PNP na ito ay napakalaking scam,” Mancao said during the briefing. “‘Yong kanilang na-hack, totoo nga, meron silang access sa Smartmatic system no’ng una, subalit dun sa nakuha kay Argana, ay ganoon din, hanggang do’n
u PAGE 10
2nd booster shot... PAGE 6 second booster should be administered at least three months after the first booster dose. Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd said that health workers and senior citizens are not included in the initial rollout of the second booster pending review by the Health Technology Assessment Council. Duque defined immunocompromised individuals
as those diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, cancer patients, transplant patients and individuals taking immunosuppressive medicines. The DOH said only 12.6 million Filipinos have received booster shots out of the 67.2 million fully vaccinated individuals. The Philippines now joins South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore as countries administering a fourth COVID-19 jab. g
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APRIL 29 - MAY 5, 2022 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
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SFIO announces 50% reduction of authorized shares from 5B to 2.5B STARFLEET Innotech Inc. (OTC Pink: SFIO), a global investment holding company, is pleased to announce that the company is reducing its current authorized share count by 50% from five billion to 2.5 billion. “We believe this reduction leaves enough shares in reserve for us to continue our capital raising efforts, while also minimizing dilution among our shareholders,” said CEO Jeths Lacson. SFIO is also announcing the creation of a new class of preferred shares pending processing on NVSOS, to be used for future acquisitions, as well as for onboarding new officers and key partners. The Series B Preferred Shares consist of 310 million shares – largely converted from common shares held by the company’s officers and key shareholders – amounting
Supreme Court upholds decision leaving Anti-Terror Act mostly intact by Kristine Joy
Philstar.com
to 22% of the total 1.415 billion. Approximately 1.105B outstanding shares is expected following the restructure. The new class of preferred shares will carry at least a 12-month moratorium on sales, further restrictions on sales and an opportunity for conversion to common shares beyond
the moratorium, as well as a right of first refusal for the company to repurchase offered shares. “These initiatives are only some of a number of moves we are making to champion transparency and maximize shareholder value across our community,” Lacson said. (Advertising Supplement)
Patag
BAGUIO CITY — The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeals filed by petitioners to reverse its ruling on their pleas against the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, which they warned would have long-lasting effects on civil liberties in the Philippines. The SC, in its final en banc summer session, denied with finality the motions for reconsideration on its Dec. 7, 2021 ruling that left most of the feared ant-terrorism law as intact. The SC PIO said the Court dismissed the appeals due to “lack of substantial issues and arguments raised by the petitioners.” “An entry of judgment was immediately ordered by the Court,” it added. In December 2021, the SC voted 12-3 to declare as null the “killer caveat” of Section 4 that defines terrorism, particularly the proviso qualifying “advocacy, protest, dissent, stoppage of work, industrial or mass action, and other similar exercises of civil and political rights” that cannot be considered terrorism. The court also voted 9-6 that allowing the Anti-Terrorism Council to adopt requests for designation by other jurisdictions or supranational jurisdictions is unconstitutional, the second method of designation under the law.
Petitioners however felt that the ruling was merely a consolation as the feared law was left mostly intact, including the broad powers of the Anti-Terrorism Council and the prolonged detention of suspected terrorists of up to 24 days Now-retired Associate Justice Rosmari Carandang wrote the December ruling, while Associate Justice Rodil Zalameda penned the resolution that junked the appeals. Appeals SC spokesperson Brian Hosaka said a total of six appeals were filed. At least two groups of petitioners focused their motions on the following: • Section 4: Terrorism • Section 9: Inciting to Commit Terrorism • Section 10: Recruitment to and Membership in a Terrorist Organization • Section 12: Providing Material Support to Terrorists • Section 25: Third mode of designation • Section 29: Prolonged detention The SC has yet to upload a copy of the resolution, but it said that justices maintained their voting, with newest Associate Justice Antonio Kho Jr. siding with the majority. Since the December 2021 ruling, the ATC has designated 16 new groups as terrorists during the period to appeal. Petitioner Chad Booc, a teacher for Lumads who had been red-tagged, was killed in what PAGE 10
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Trends continue upward for Boulder-Las Vegas-Henderson areas By reaLtor FeLy QUiteVis-BateMan
THE market continues to move up for many areas in Nevada, including the cities
Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman helps those who need business financing, including small businesses. For more information, call (702) 538-4948 or send email to fely@precious-properties.com.
of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Boulder and Henderson. In the most recent monthly report by First American Title Insurance Company, the aforementioned areas are still in a strong seller’s market segment, with market action indexes for each of the cities improving by a few points over last month’s numbers. In Las Vegas, the overall median list price is at $600,000, with the median price for new listings pegged at $535,000. The per square foot price is at $270. Inventory remains at around 1,529. The median rent, meanwhile, is set at $2,200. Analysis for the Las Vegas area says that “home sales continue to outstrip supply and the Market Action Index has been moving higher for several weeks” and it has issued a “watch for upward pricing pressure in the near future if the trend continues.” The City of North Las Vegas, for its part, has an overall median list price of $451,500, with the median price of new listings priced at $445,495. Price per square foot is at $237, while median rent is at $2,141. There are currently 264 homes counted in the inventory. Analysis for North Las Vegas is similar to that of Las Vegas – “home sales continue to outstrip supply and the Market Action Index has been moving higher for several weeks” and “watch for upward pricing pressure in the near future if the trend continues.” Boulder City, meanwhile, has an overall median list price of $774,499, with the median price of new listings set at $712,000. The city has a per square foot price at $339, and an inventory of 34. Median rent in Boulder City
Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (right) with National Association of Realtors president Leslie Rouda Smith at the Brokers’ Summit in Phoenix, AZ held on April 5-6, 2022.
is pegged at $2,240. The analysis for Boulder City says “the market continues to get hotter” with having fewer homes listed and more demand contributing to a relatively long run of increasing prices. The report says that “current supply and demand levels show no sign of prices changing from their current trend.” Finally, Henderson has an overall median list price of $650,000, with the median price of new listings set at $558,000. The per square foot price is at $299, and there are 441 homes in inventory. The median rent PAGE 10
Realtor Quitevis-Bateman and Russ Bateman attended the recent NAR Brokers’ Summit so they can be wellinformed on real estate trends nationwide and globally.
Realtor Quitevis-Bateman (left) with CA Realtor Lauren Honey Marcus, who also attended the Broker’s Summit. Both have talked about the possibility of doing business with each other.
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APRIL 29 - MAY 5, 2022 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426
If we want Leni and... Trends continue upward for Boulder...
PAGE 5 would be re-elected. The power of this movement has proven to be stronger than questionable surveys, fake news and disinformation peddled by their political opponents who only have their own political and personal interests driving them instead of true and genuine public service. May 9, though, is the ONLY survey that will matter. But the success of the cause transforming our corruptionplagued government into a “gobyernong tapat” headed by Leni and Kiko does not end with a Leni and Kiko victory on election day. We need to elect Senators who also share the same integrity, commitment and faithfulness to the cause as the President and Vice President. Senators do not only write and pass laws, they have other roles and responsibilities that are intended by the Constitution to help protect, defend and strengthen our democracy as one of the three co-equal branches of government, especially in its fulfillment of its obligation to provide checks and balances so that not one official nor institution will abuse its power — something that we are already seeing and have been witnessing in the systemic corruption in government. Powers and responsibilities Create bills, resolutions, concurrent resolutions, and simple resolutions Debate measures in respective committees and during plenary sessions Conduct inquiries in aid of legislation Propose or concur with amendments in the appropriation of funds by the House of Representatives Try and decide cases of impeachment Declare the existence of a state of war (two-thirds vote along with the House, voting separately) Authorize the president to exercise powers to carry out a declared national policy “for a limited period and subject to restrictions” in times of war or other national emergency Revoke or extend the president’s proclamation of martial law Concur with or reject amnesty by the president Concur with or reject treaties or international agreements (two-thirds vote) Propose amendments to the Constitution through
a constituent assembly or constitutional convention Make full disclosure of financial and business interests, and notify the chamber of possible conflicts of interest when filing legislation of which they are authors (Rappler) WITH these tremendous powers given to the Senate, we need Senators who will be part of the SOLUTION and NOT the problem. We need to FIRE senators who have betrayed public and been convicted and implicated in crimes and transgressions against the country for corruption, plunder, violation of the rule of law, loyalty not to the people but to their party and selfish personal interests, etc. We NEED to vote out candidates who have proven to violate the rule of transparency, accountability, delicadeza. We need to VOTE out candidates who have been lying to us, deceiving us with disinformation and robbing us with the truth that we need to have to make informed and conscientious decisions. We need to VOTE for candidates who have been faithfully and dutifully fighting for us and the greater good all their life, and not just during campaign season. Therefore, I submit to you the following names to vote for on May 9 as our Honorable Senators: Chel Diokno Antonio Trillanes IV Risa Hontiveros Leila de Lima Neri Colmenares Teddy Baguilat Jr. Alex Lacson Sonny Matula Luke Espiritu Richard Gordon Elmer Labog Dr. Minguita Padilla *** 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
PAGE 9 in Henderson is pegged at $2,330. The analysis for Henderson says that “home sales continue to outstrip supply” and that it is a seller’s market so “watch for upward pricing pressure in the near future if the trend continues.” This is great news for areas in Nevada and only confirms that real estate prices in the state continue to rise. This greatly benefits the many individuals who have invested their money in real estate and properties in Las Vegas and its surrounding areas as they have gotten a great return on investment on their initial ventures. With construction projects aplenty and developers looking at neighboring areas for development opportunities, per square foot prices and real estate/ property will continue to be on an uptrend. That bodes well for those who are looking to put their hard-earned money into land and/or property, which
almost always continues to appreciate as time goes by. In other news in Las Vegas, the Palms Casino Resort is slated to open this April. It is now under the ownership of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, and had a $690 million renovation in 2019. It has been closed since March of 2020. According to a release, the 31.5-acre property will have an updated casino floor with a new layout for slot machines and table games. The 14 movie theaters have been updated with new reclining seats, an American gastro-pub named Serrano Vista Cafe has been added, and a new rewards program, Club Serrano, is ready. Club Serrano is shared with players at the Yaamava’ resort and casino located three and a half hours away in Highland, California. A recent news report said that the Palms aims to bring something fresh and exciting to the Strip while also honoring the San Manuel tradition. The property’s
management and team will be focused on both quality of service and offering fabulous amenities to its clients and visitors. Whether you are looking to settle down in the area, purchase a second home, or just invest your money in real estate, now is a good time to scout for opportunities as prices are more affordable. I can help you find that piece of real estate that will match your needs and your budget. Together, we can comb for the best real estate/properties available in Las Vegas and its neighboring cities/towns. 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 775-513-8447, 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)
Arrested hackers can’t manipulate polls, only... PAGE 7 lang sa preparation,” he added. Mancao said that it is nearly impossible to hack into Comelec’s system and change the results of the elections, as hackers would have to face high-level security covered in multiple layers of protection. “Pero sa actual election, hindi na ho (kaya) i-access ‘tong ating Comelec system na nakuha from Smartmatic. Ang dami hong mga klase-klaseng firewalls, multi-level checking,” the former intel cop noted. Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza of the Philippine National Police, who has been assigned to coordinate with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), said that he tried to ask the Comelec representative to explain things . However, Comelec’s information technology expert declined because of a tight schedule. Still, Nobleza assured the public that the Comelec’s system is “foolproof.” “We invited the presence of the Comelec IT expert regarding this concern, but they are too busy to attend this because of previous commitment today. But sir the Comelec assures
the public that the systems, these are foolproof. It is next to impossible that this elections will be rigged, so napakahirap daw po talagang i-rig ito, it is next to impossible,” Nobleza said. “So the Comelec assures the public that the system that they have in place — they have placed high-level security on their system, so napakahirap po talagang pasukin,” he added. Information relayed by CICC earlier said that Joel Adajar Ilagan alias ‘Borger’, Adrian de Jesus Martinez alias ‘Admin X’, and Jeffrey Cruz Limpiado alias Brake/ Vanguard/ Universal/ LLR’ were arrested in an operation in Laguna and Cavite last Saturday, April 23. The three, who belong to the ‘XSOS Group’, are facing cases for violating Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 for the following reasons: • hacking the Smartmatic system • disrupting the Comelec website • hacking the Napocor website • hacking the credit cards and other online transactions • ransomware committed against local commercial website Mancao said that even the hackers led
by Limpiado — despite having access from ex-Smartmatic employee Ricardo Argana — conceded that it was hard to pull off such a stunt. Some of the victims of the trio appear to be local candidates seeking elective posts, but the CICC chief declined to give out names as the list has not been validated. “Sa initial statement ng ating mastermind-suspect, sinabi niya despite of the many access given by the contact sa Smartmatic, napakahirap daw talaga mang-hack sa transmission at saka sa results. More on mangi-iscam lang talaga sila,” Mancao noted. Earlier, Mancao confirmed that the three hackers were connected to Argana who is currently missing after first surrendering to the National Bureau of Investigation. Just this January, there were fears that the election results may be rigged in favor of a candidate due to rumors of Comelec being hacked. However, Comelec officials back then clarified that they are confident enough that their system cannot be hacked, as they did not see any evidence of a data breach. g
Supreme Court upholds decision... PAGE 8 the military claim was an operation, but Booc’s group fiercely denied. Lawyer Tony La Viña said in March: “It is very important that the SC reconsiders because the ATA has deadly consequences. Election issue The SC ruling comes weeks before the Philippines elects a new president — where dictator’s son Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. leads in latest polls — who will appoint
cabinet members who will sit as members of the feared ATC. The new president will also inherit a Philippines reeling from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the trail of blood from the “war on drugs” of President Rodrigo Duterte. Counsels to petitioners said 2022 polls candidates should be asked on their stand on the law, because “human lives are at stake here,” lawyer Virginia Suarez said.
La Viña also said they hope “candidates will talk about their stand, whether they will repeal it or what is their interpretation” of the law, “because this is potentially a big disaster for the next government.” With the decision of the SC to uphold its earlier ruling, National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers president Edre Olalia said they are still hoping that the law, “in good time,” will be struck down, amended, if not appealed. But while the feared ATA is
enforced in the country, they vowed that they will guard and defend against its abuse and misuse against the very people it is supposed to protect. It is even more imperative that we stand our ground for our rights.” Survey frontrunner Marcos, in a January 17 release, vowed full support to the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, which groups have long been accusing of red-tagging activists and dissenters. g
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COMMUNITY JOURNAL
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Told she must leave, Marie was able to receive her green card in the US IN 2002, Marie and her three children visited the U.S. as tourists. They planned to visit family and then return home to the Philippines. However, Marie later decided to remain and became out of status. In 2009, Marie’s mother, a green card holder, petitioned Marie in the F2B category. When the priority date on her petition became current, she consulted with at least four attorneys, all of whom told her that because she was out of status, she had to go back to the Philippines to apply for her immigrant visa. But Marie did not want to go back because she was worried about the uncertainty of applying in the Philippines, and that she might not be able to return to the U.S.
She finally decided to consult with the “Attorney of Last Hope,” Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel, who was able to find a way for Marie to apply for a green card (adjust status) in the U.S. After retaining Attorney Gurfinkel, Marie got her green card in October 2021 in the U.S., and can now get healthcare, find a better job, and enjoy the other benefits of being a green card holder. Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, May 1 at 7:00 PM PT (10:00 PM ET thru select Cable/Satellite providers), right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download free app. (Advertising Supplement)
GREEN CARD ACQUIRED AFTER BEING TNT FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS, THIS SUNDAY ON CITIZEN PINOY. Marie was petitioned as single by her father in the 90’s, but she got married in 1998, revoking her father’s petition. The marriage did not last, and in 2002, Marie and her three children went to the U.S. as tourists. Since then, they had been overstaying and living in fear. Marie’s mother, a green card holder, petitions her daughter this time. Marie had consulted with four attorneys who all told her she had to go back to the Philippines once her priority date becomes current. Marie refused to go back to the motherland for fear that she might not be able to return to the U.S. She consults with leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel who was able to find a way for Marie to remain in the U.S. and be interviewed here, and eventually get her green card in October 2021. Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, May 1 at 7:00 PM PT (10:00 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. (Advertising Supplement)
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APRIL 29 - MAY 5, 2022 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS THE pandemic is far from over. While we want to celebrate the tapering cases in the United States, statistics still show there were 76,612 cases and 353 deaths on Monday (April 25) and a 7-day average of almost 47,000 cases and around 400 deaths, an increase of about 51 percent compared to a week ago. Only around 66 percent of the 332.6+ million U.S. population has been fully vaccinated (about 109 million still unvaccinated), a much lower vaccination rate than many other developed countries around the world. China is currently facing a massive surge. Spillover to other parts of the globe is inevitable. In the midst of the masking controversy and confusion, it is prudent to be on the safe side – to continue using a mask inside stores, public buildings, and mass transits, which will also protect the vulnerable seniors and immunocompromised people besides the wearer. Wisdom, humility, patience, and compassion are essential in defeating this pandemic. T cells protect Why are some unvaccinated people not getting infected with COVID-19? Findings of recent studies revealed that those who previously had common cold coronavirus infections have higher levels of T cells, which are a part of the immune system that protects the body from infection. The study provides “the clearest evidence to date that T cells induced by such common cold infections play some protective role against SARS-CoV2 infection. However, such “immunity” could not be relied upon solely as protection against COVID-19. Vaccination is still the best protection against COVID-19 infection and its potentially fatal complications. Ventilation vs COVID-19 While it is obvious that the lower the viral load and exposure, the lower the chances of infection. Outdoor is safer as far as transmission of any air-borne infection is concerned because the airflow dissipates and “dilutes” the germs in the air, markedly reducing the
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Unmasking insanity concentration of the “bugs” in the air. Studies over the past couple of years, since the pandemic started, have shown that good ventilation system in buildings, like schools, and enclosed areas, like our home, is vital in controlling the transmission of COVID-19. E-Cig is worse Electronic cigarettes (E-Cig or Vapes), introduced to be a safe substitute for tobacco smoking, are churning out grave concerns about a range of diseases and deaths related to their use. Studies show that using pod-based e-cigarettes daily elevates inflammatory markers involving multiple organ systems, including the heart, lungs, and the brain, which impacts how organs respond to infections like COVID-19. It is estimated that more than 12 million adults in the United States use batteryoperated e-cig (vape) devices and the highest number of users are between the ages of 18 and 24. E-Cig and vaping are certainly not healthier alternatives to cigarettes, merely changing the killer. Breastfeeding Evidence-based clinical studies have proven oldfashioned breastfeeding to be robustly associated with reduced risk for maternal diabetes mellitus Type 2, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer. Breast-fed children are also healthier and more secure. Marijuana dangers The legalization and wide use of recreational marijuana in the United States give society the delusion that it is totally safe and devoid of health risks. Appropriate use of medical marijuana under a physician’s supervision is one thing; its use for recreational purposes is another. Nearly 55 million Americans have used marijuana at one time in their life. Marijuana is illegal in the Philippines. The United Nations Office of Drug and Crime reports that in 2016, 1.1 percent of Filipinos aged 10-64 used this illegal drug. Marijuana has negative long-term health effects. Ten percent of users get addicted to it. Among those aged 18 and younger, the addiction rate goes up to 1 in 6. Some adverse effects: • Brain – can cause permanent IQ loss of as much as 8 points, which do
not come back, even if the user quits marijuana. • Mental health – marijuana causes anxiety, depression, psychoses, and suicidal tendencies. • Driving – driving under the influence of marijuana slows down reaction to other cars, signals, and sounds, lane-swerving, reduces coordination, and concentration, worse than alcohol. • Athletic Prowess – marijuana use negatively impacts movement, timing, reaction, and coordination, and can diminish total performance. • Baby’s health and development – marijuana use during pregnancy may cause restriction of fetal growth and development, stillbirth, premature birth, and poor brain health, resulting in hyperactivity and poor cognitive function among children. Chemicals in marijuana also pass to the baby through breast milk, further impairing the child’s health and development. • Life itself – The use of marijuana controls how well people perform in life; chronic users are more likely to have worse educational outcomes, poorer relationships, lower career achievement, and severely lower life satisfaction. Title 42, the Wall On April 1, 2022, the Biden administration announced it would lift Title 42, a public health policy adopted by the Trump administration that empowers the government to immediately expel any person who makes an illegal border crossing into the United States to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Title 42 also prevents the entry of drug cartels, weapon smugglers, convicted criminals, and rapists into the country. The President and Congress seem to be having difficulty seeing the obvious and making the right decision. Give the problem to a class of 5th graders to solve and I guarantee you we’ll get a Solomonic decision within minutes, not months. It might even include bonus wisdom of completing the entire wall to stop the severe hemorrhage and save trillions for the U.S. As a cardiovascular surgeon, my natural instinct is to control any massive bleeding immediately to save the patient by patching
Archdiocese of Newark to celebrate 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines Cardinal Tobin to preside over anniversary mass following cultural procession
NEWARK, NJ – The Archdiocese of Newark’s year-long celebration of the 500th anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines will conclude with a cultural procession and joyous Mass at Newark’s Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Sunday, May 1, at 2 p.m. Traditional Filipino attire is welcomed. The festivities will begin with a massive procession meant to embody the pageantry that is a hallmark of Filipino Catholic worship. This procession will include parishioners from each of the Archdiocese’s four counties — Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Union — who will walk in carrying items representing some of the Philippines’ many Catholic traditions like Simbang Gabi and the Sinulog-Santo Niño Festival. Additionally, 500 children will offer flowers to the Blessed Virgin Mary in honor of the Flores de Mayo devotion held each May. Following the procession, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., archbishop of Newark, will preside over a liturgy commemorating the first Mass celebrated in the Philippines on March 31, 1521. This liturgy will feature performances from the 130-member Filipino Apostolate choir, which will sing significant songs from Filipino Catholic history. Bags containing Filipino the wall of the leaking main artery, instead of giving expensive wasteful blood transfusions ad libitum and allowing the hemorrhage to go unabated. I bet that Biden, Pelosi, Schumer and others who are against completing the border wall to protect the United States would instantly employ carpenters to do immediate repairs if a large part of the wall protecting their own (security-guarded) homes were missing and strangers are invading their homes, for them to house, feed, and provide education for the kids and healthcare for all of them, all at these politicians’ expense.
Hundreds of Filipino Catholics followed a replica of the Jubilee Cross, along with statues of Santo Nino de Cebu and Our Lady of Manaoag, as they traveled to parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Newark for the Archdiocese’s year-long celebration of 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. Photo courtesy of the Archdiocese of Newark
food will be distributed afterward. “It is very important to celebrate the 500th anniversary because our faith is a central part of our lives,” said Father JM Manolo A. Punzalan, director of the archdiocesan Filipino Apostolate, in reference to the fact that the most recent Pew Research Center statistics showed 81 percent of Filipinos identify as Catholic. “You can go to a church anywhere in the world and find Filipinos there. We’re very active in the Church because we were gifted with our faith, and now we want to share it with everyone. We were a mission area, and now we’re
the missionaries. That’s a reason to celebrate.” The Archdiocese’s yearlong celebration launched on the actual 500th anniversary of the Gospel’s arrival in the Philippines — March 31, 2021 — with a commemorative Mass at St. Joseph Church in Lodi, followed by a Jubilee Mass at St. Aloysius Church in Jersey City that April. Hundreds of Filipino Catholics then followed a replica of the Jubilee Cross, which Ferdinand Magellan erected at the Philippines’ first Mass, as it traveled to parishes throughout the Archdiocese every month for the past year. Along the PAGE 13
Why the administration and majority in Congress do not want to complete the wall to protect the health, security, and coffers of the country is deliberate insanity. *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis,
recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday. com, and philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.
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‘Mabuhay, Philippines!’: Miss Universe 2021 arrives Archdiocese of Newark to via ‘best friend’ Beatrice Luigi Gomez’s invitation celebrate 500 years of... By Earl
D.C. BraCamontE Philstar.com
REIGNING Miss Universe Haarnaz Sandhu arrived in Manila late afternoon Sunday, April 24, from Mumbai aboard the private jet of Mayor Luis “Chavit” Singson. She was accompanied by Miss Universe Organization’s (MUO) talent manager, Esther Swan, and Arch. Richelle Louise Singson-Michael, during the late afternoon flight that had a short fuel stop in Thailand. Garbed in a rainbow-hued mock turtle neck sundress, cinched at the waist with a black cummerbund, the 21-year-old Indian actress turned beauty queen, gladly spoke with mediamen at the Platinum Skies Hangar lounge inside the sprawling Manila Domestic Airport compound. “Mabuhay, Philippines!” were the first words she uttered after embarking from the plane unto the red carpet. Ten pageant fans, chosen from an online poll for a meet-
Reigning Miss Universe Haarnaz Sandhu
Photo from Instagram/@missuniverse
and-greet, readily greeted Haarnaz with “Namaste” amid shrieks of glee and excitement. As owner of the local Miss Universe franchise, Mayor Singson said it was a pleasure fetching Haarnaz from India and bringing her safely to the Philippines. His daughter, Arch. Singson-Michael, who once sat as member of the selection committee in 2018,
called Haarnaz “confidently beautiful.” The Philippines is the first country Haarnaz has visited after her homecoming a few weeks ago. She said she’s so pleased to finally come to Manila because “Bea (Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Beatrice Luigi Gomez) is my best friend from the pageant in Eilat. She’d been inviting me and our two other
roommates, Miss Universe Singapore 2021 Nandita Banana and Miss Universe Vietnam 2021 Nguyen Huyn Kim Duyen, and here I am! And I guess our roommates will be coming here, as well. “When women help other women, incredible things happen,” intoned Haarnaz, referring to a project collaboration with Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach that they’ll be talking about this week. “I never believed in the word ‘rollercoaster’ before but from the last few months, so many things has happened almost simultaneously. “Women are strong. You are unique. You are beautiful. Treat yourself the way you want people to treat you. Nobody can be like you so being yourself is the best thing you have. We all are women of all colors, all sizes, all shapes, and that’s what Miss Universe means to me,” enthused Haarnaz at the close of the short, but sweet, PAGE 15
PAGE 12 way, those who participated in the pilgrimage experienced a different Filipino faith tradition at each host church. And now that the once-dormant Filipino Apostolate has been revived under Father Punzalan’s leadership, there will be many more opportunities to unite the Filipino Catholic community. Up next, the Apostolate will raffle off a trip to the Holy Land and several other prizes to people who participated in the Jubilee Cross pilgrimage. A picnic at Liberty State Park, guest speaker presentations, and other faith-based events are also planned. “Filipinos have our own brand of Catholicism,” Father Punzalan said. “We have a lot of religious traditions and popular piety that are not in many American churches. So, we needed to bring back the Apostolate because we needed an organization that will make sure the Filipinos’ faith and spirituality are being acknowledged. We’re not making a separate Church from the Archdiocese; we’re actually looking to enhance how Filipinos live their parish life by encouraging them to become more active.” There are an estimated 67,740 Filipinos living within the Archdiocese of Newark, according to 2017 U.S. Census Bureau data. The Filipino Apostolate aims to connect those who are Catholic through spiritual programs, fun gatherings, and social justice initiatives. To learn more about the Apostolate, visit its Facebook page. The Archdiocese of Newark, under the leadership of Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., the sixth archbishop of Newark, serves approximately 1.3 million Catholics in 212 parishes and 73 schools throughout the counties of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Union. The Archdiocese serves the northern New Jersey community through faith, education, and social services. To learn more, visit www.rcan.org. g
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N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY A P R I L 29, 2 0 22
people events arts culture entertainment
Fil-Am mother-daughter duo joins CBS’ new dance competition series F
by DONNABELLE
GATDULA-AREVALO / AJPress
ILIPINO American mother and daughter duo Nicole and Emelyn Yniguez want to tell their story through dance as they join the newest CBS’ family dance competition series, “Come Dance with Me,” which premiered earlier this April. Nicole, 41, who works as a social media consultant, said showing their true selves in their dance routines would somewhat give them an edge over other teams in the competition. “The most valuable thing that I told Emelyn and myself was to be just ourselves and have fun,” Nicole, the mother of 4 children, told the Asian Journal when asked what people can expect from their performances in the 11-week dance contest series. “Yes, it’s a competition and we want to do our best but we just need to be ourselves and that’s what’s gonna come across the people watching on television that as long as we can stay true to who we are and not try to be anything other than Emelyn and Nicole, I feel that people can relate to us because we are just being our authentic selves,” Nicole added. “Come Dance with Me” features exceptionally talented young dancers from across the country who invite one untrained family member who has supported their dance dreams to be their partner, for a chance to strut their stuff for a grand prize. Never in her wildest dreams did Nicole imagine she would be joining a dance competition as big as this one. “I honestly didn’t expect to be in the show with her. We just applied and it was in 2020 and she was just 12 and it was mid-pandemic, we were home and the kids were
Fil-Am daughter Emelyn and mother Nicole Yniguez from Las Vegas compete in CBS’ new dance competition series “Come Dance with Me.”
not in school. Everything was remote so we just did it on a whim, not really expecting to go far,” Nicole said. “When we had an interview, I was actually trying to suggest my husband to do the show with her but they inquired about me and I guess they liked the idea that I was a mom that was sacrificing her work so her kids can dance,” she added. Nicole left her day job to film the dance show’s twohour premiere episode in Australia mid-last year. While she never had a chance to shake a leg when she was younger, Nicole
wished to learn but her hardworking parents did not have the luxury of time to bring her to dance schools. “I always wanted to dance when I was younger but my parents, both working then, did not allow me because of time commitment issues. I never had the opportunities so when this presented itself and when Emelyn asked me to do it with her, then the rest is history,” said Nicole, who also used to hold an administrative office job at a dance studio in New Jersey before the family moved to Las Vegas. With a supportive family, 14-year-old Emelyn,
on the other hand, has been lacing up her dance shoes since she was three years old. She is now a preprofessional dancer and has been dancing competitively for over seven years. Emelyn got her inspiration and love for dancing from watching students in the dance studio where her Mom used to work. She began dancing at the age of 3. “When I was 7 years old, my mom started working at a dance school. One day, my mom took us to watch a dance contest. The dancers were on stage and I go watched them and I was just in awe and so inspired and I told my mom, ‘I wanna do this and I wanna dance on stage, too. I want to dress up and get a trophy and get an award for dancing,’” Emelyn said. Through years of experience and immense training, Emelyn could muster any dance style and genre, such as hip hop, tap, jazz, ballet, contemporary, ballroom and tumbling/ gymnastics. Preparing for the intricate and complicated dance routines, Nicole admitted, was a major challenge for her. “Before we went to Australia to film the show, I’ve never trained. I’ve never danced before. It was very physically demanding experience because you know at that time I was 40, my body doesn’t move the way my daughter’s does. So learning these intricate steps
Duo Emelyn and Nicole Yniguez show off behind the scenes photos while filming CBS’ “Come Dance with Me” in Australia. Photo courtesy of Nicole Yniguez/Instagram
was very hard and it took a lot of practice and a lot of corrections from my daughter so that I could at least try my best to match her energy and all the stuff that she does,” Nicole said. Emelyn, for her part, has been continuously honing her dancing prowess through intense and vigorous training. “I am actually competing with my current studio Dance Connection. I am also training at Dance Connection about five to six days a week, four to five hours per day and I train in all styles,” the teen said. With all these sacrifices and challenges, Nicole and Emelyn are just proud to be representing the Fil-Am community in the U.S. “We are so proud to be a Fil-Am mother-daughter duo representing the Filipino community. We hope that our story and our dances can inspire other young Fil-Am
dancers out there,” Nicole said. “We know that Filipinos are known to be great at everything, entertainmentwise. It’s so amazing that we have this opportunity to not only represent the Filipino community but the Asian community and the most beautiful thing that I would say about the cast is that we are very diverse. There are actually three families that are of Asian descent. We are so proud to be one of them representing all the Asian and Filipino families out there and we just really hope that we make all the Pinoys out there proud,” she said. This mother-daughter dance tandem from Las Vegas is one of the 12 teams from across the country who will vie for the competition’s grand prize of $100,000. Emelyn, Nicole’s oldest PAGE 15
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Fil-Am mother-daughter... PAGE 14 child, said if they win, they would want to use the prize money to buy a house. “Right now, we live in a condominium. A family of six in a three-bedroom condo, it’s very small compared to what we want to live in. We would really like to buy a house,” the teen dance enthusiast said. According to the 8th grader, they would also save some of the prize money for a college fund and other family expenses. “Come Dance with Me” is from creators and executive producers Chris O’Donnell, LL COOL J (stars of CBS’ “NCIS: Los Angeles”) and 3 Ball Productions. The show, which premiered in April 15, will air
every Friday thereafter for 11 weeks, at 8 p.m. Eastern/ Pacific and 7 p.m. Central. GRAMMY® Awardwinning songwriter Philip Lawrence hosts the series which features music from popular artists across all genres. Judges of the competition include one of Hollywood’s most prolific dancers and actresses, Jenna Dewan; professional celebrity dancer Dexter Mayfield; and renowned hip hop choreographer Tricia Miranda. Throughout the season, each duo will learn and perform different styles of dance, from hip hop and ballroom to contemporary and theatrical, among others. g
‘Mabuhay, Philippines!’... PAGE 13 colloquy. Pageant fans and supporters are invited to watch the National Costume presentation tonight, April 25, on the MUPH TikTok channel. Haarnaz will be gracing the preliminary night at the Cove Manila on April 27. She will also be part of the Miss Universe Philippines 2022 selection committee during the coronation night on April 30. Stay tuned! Reigning Miss Universe Haarnaz Sandhu arrived in Manila late afternoon Sunday, April 24, from Mumbai aboard the private jet of Mayor Luis “Chavit” Singson. She was accompanied by Miss Universe Organization’s (MUO) talent manager, Esther Swan, and Arch. Richelle Louise Singson-Michael, during the late afternoon flight that had a short fuel stop in Thailand. Garbed in a rainbow-hued mock turtle neck sundress, cinched at the waist with a black cummerbund, the 21-year-old Indian actress turned beauty queen, gladly spoke with mediamen at the Platinum Skies Hangar lounge inside the sprawling Manila Domestic Airport compound. “Mabuhay, Philippines!” were the first words she uttered after embarking from the plane unto the red carpet. Ten pageant fans, chosen from an online poll for a meet-and-greet, readily greeted Haarnaz with “Namaste” amid shrieks of glee and excitement. As owner of the local Miss Universe franchise, Mayor Singson said it was a pleasure fetching Haarnaz from India and bringing her safely to the Philippines. His daughter, Arch. SingsonMichael, who once sat as member of the selection committee in 2018, called Haarnaz “confidently beautiful.” The Philippines is the first country Haarnaz has visited after her homecoming a few weeks ago. She said she’s so pleased to finally come to Manila because “Bea (Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Beatrice Luigi Gomez) is my best friend from the pageant in Eilat. She’d been inviting me and our two other roommates, Miss Universe Singapore 2021 Nandita Banana and Miss Universe Vietnam 2021 Nguyen Huyn Kim Duyen, and here I am! And I guess our roommates will be coming here, as well. “When women help other women, incredible things happen,” intoned Haarnaz, referring to a project collaboration with Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach that they’ll be talking about this week. “I never believed in the word ‘rollercoaster’ before but from the last few months, so many things has happened almost simultaneously. “Women are strong. You are unique. You are beautiful. Treat yourself the way you want people to treat you. Nobody can be like you so being yourself is the best thing you have. We all are women of all colors, all sizes, all shapes, and that’s what Miss Universe means to me,” enthused Haarnaz at the close of the short, but sweet, colloquy. g
NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 29 - MAY 5, 2022
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Ai-Ai shares biggest regret in her relationship with biological mom By AllAn
PolicArPio
Inquirer.net
IT has been eight years since the death of Ai-Ai delas Alas’s biological mother. But to this day, the mere mention of it never fails to bring the actress to tears. “I didn’t get to spend enough time with her. I was able to reunite with her only when she already had dementia so she probably didn’t remember that. I took care of her by way of being a provider. But I wish I was able to at least bathe her,” Ai-Ai told the Inquirer in a recent interview for the new GMA 7 afternoon series, “Raising Mamay.” Ai-Ai was just an infant when she was entrusted by her then financially challenged parents, Rosendo and Gregorio delas Alas, to the 57-year-old actress’ aunt and eventual adoptive mother, Justa delas Alas. “I regret not being with my biological mother before she got Alzheimer’s disease, and making her feel that I still love her even if she had to give me up… because I still love her and owe her my life,” she said. Priceless gift “It made me emotional whenever she said sorry or asked for my forgiveness, because I know that [giving me up] was something she wished she didn’t have to do. She didn’t have to do that. The life she gave me is something I can’t repay,” Ai-Ai said, adding that the things she wasn’t able to do with her biological mother she makes sure she does with her 93-year-old adoptive mother now. “I get to bathe my adoptive mother, which I wasn’t able to do with my biological mother,” she said. “I get to take care of her.” As such, Ai-Ai feels that she’s a
Ai-Ai delas Alas
GMA photo
better mother than she is a daughter. “I’m able to devote more time to my children,” said Ai-Ai, who has two sons, Sean Niccolo and Sancho, and a daughter, Sophia. “They’re my source of pride. I’m happy that I was able to raise them well and give them
education… What I wasn’t able to experience as a child, I made sure to give them.” While she has played all sorts of mother roles in her career, her character in “Raising Mamay” is the most unexpected, she said. In the show, which airs weekdays starting April 25, Ai-Ai plays Letty, whose goal is to become a perfect wife and mother. But a shooting incident kills that dream. Other way around Her head injury results in brain regression, which has Letty acting like a 6-year-old kid. Her teenage daughter, Abigail (Shayne Sava) has no choice but to assume guardianship. “I think I have already played every kind of mother. But while my previous films focused on the mother’s sacrifices for her children, this time, it’s the other way around,” she said. “It’s my first time to do a role like this, and I’m thankful for the blessing. It’s very heartwarming and touching, but there are also light and funny moments,” she added. Psychiatrists and neurologists lent their expertise to the production team to ensure accuracy. “They explained what happens to you when your head gets injured and you suffer regression,” she said. “I also studied the gestures and nuances of young kids. It was physically and emotionally challenging.” Asked about her costar Shayne, AiAi had nothing but kind words. “She’s a good actress and she will only get even better as she matures. You can immediately sense if a child is talented. I didn’t have a tough time working with her, because she was able to keep up with the more experienced actors,” she said. g
Kris leaves PH in few days, to stay abroad for over a year for treatments By Anne
PAsAjol Inquirer.net
Kris Aquino
Photo from Instagram/@
KRIS Aquino will be leaving the country anytime now and is set to stay abroad for more than a year for her medical treatments. Aquino gave an update on her departure through a birthday greeting she sent to Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez, as seen on the singer’s Instagram page last Saturday, April 23. “Mare (Friend) sorry if my greeting is late — we leave in a few days and we’ll be gone for more than a year for my medical treatments. Medyo (It’s a bit) overwhelming,” Aquino said. The Queen of All Media
also expressed her gratitude to Velasquez and her husband, fellow singer Ogie Alcasid, for consistently checking up on Aquino through Darla Sauler, her former “Kris TV” sidekick and friend. Sauler earlier visited Aquino which marked their reunion after almost three years of not seeing each other. Aquino has recently been diagnosed with erosive gastritis and gastric ulcer on top of her autoimmune disease. Despite her condition, Aquino attended a campaign rally held in Tarlac last March 23 where she endorsed presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo. g
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