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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Volume 21 - No. 25 • 14 Pages

T HE F ILIPINO A MERICAN C OMMUNITY N EWSPAPER

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USA

DATELINE Filipino lawyer John Albert Laylo killed in Philadelphia random shooting FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Consul General Cato meets Philly mayor to demand action

FILIPINO lawyer John Albert Laylo and his mother Leah were on their way to the Philadelphia International Airport aboard an Uber at 4:10 a.m. Saturday, June 18 when as many as 15 shots were fired into the rear window and driver’s side of the car at 38th and Spruce near University City. They did not make their flight. The 35-year-old Laylo, a lawyer in the Philippines, was hit in the head and was taken to Penn Presbyterian where he was declared in critical condition. The mother sustained minor wounds from shattered glass from the car window. Laylo succumbed to his injuries the following day. Consul General Elmer G. Cato and the Philippine Embassy Police met with Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and other city officials on Tuesday, June 21 to urge

JUNE 24-30, 2022

Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, SAN DIEGO, LAS VEGAS, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY

California to roll out COVID-19 vaccines for children under 5

and Prevention voted last week to recommend vaccinating children ages 6 months to 5 years with two separate COVID-19 vaccines. CHILDREN under the age of 5 years old will now Under the emergency use authorization, be able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. children in the age group can receive either This comes after an independent panel of Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines. advisers to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control CDC Director Rochelle Walensky endorsed the

by AJPRESS

Suspect arrested amid investigation FILIPINO American community members are calling on the Los Angeles Police Department to continue to investigate an incident during which a man violently attacked and hurled racial slurs against a Fil-Am family last month. A community rally held on Friday, June 17 outside the Los Angeles Superior Court in Van Nuys, California demanded that police conduct a full and thorough investigation into the verbal and physical charges the Roque family filed against Nicholas Weber on May 13 this year. The rally was jointly organized by Filipino Migrant Center, the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns and Migrante Los Angeles. Weber has been arrested, as of

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Palace: Pres. Duterte turns down drug czar post under Bongbong Marcos admin by DAPHNE

GALVEZ Inquirer.net

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Community calls for justice for Fil-Am family targeted in racist attack

recommendation of the panel. “We know millions of parents and caregivers are eager to get their young children vaccinated, and with today’s decision, they can,” Walensky said in a statement. “I encourage parents and caregivers with questions to talk to their doctor,

WINNING PAIR. President-elect Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and Vice President-elect Sara Zimmerman Duterte engage in a discussion during the inauguration of Vice President-elect Duterte as the 15th Vice President of the Philippines at San Pedro Square, Poblacion District in Davao City on Sunday, June 19. Malacañang photo by Ace Morandante

MANILA — Outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte has declined the offer to serve as the drug czar of his successor President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Malacañang said. “The last offer that I saw was to head, to become the drug czar. Pero tinanggihan niya na iyon eh (he declined it already),” acting presidential spokesman Martin Andanar said Wednesday, June 22 when asked if the incoming administration had standing offers to Duterte. “Iyon ang lumabas sa pahayagan,” he added. (That’s what appeared in the news.) Marcos Jr. earlier said he was open to including Duterte in his Cabinet as a drug czar. Duterte is the father of his running mate Vice President-elect Sara Duterte. “We have not talked about it but I’m open to anyone who’s able to help in the government. Matagal na kaming magkabigan ni PRRD, noong mayor pa siya (We have been friends for a long time, back when he

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Fil-Ams urged to pour in capital in Philippine franchise industry by DONNABELLE

GATDULA-AREVALO AJPress

LOS ANGELES — Buoyed by optimism of higher economic growth this year, the Philippine government is encouraging Filipino Americans to pour in more investments in the country’s franchise industry. In a recent hybrid seminar on franchising hosted by Philippine Consulate GeneralLos Angeles and the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA), Consul General Edgar B. Badajos said this first of a series seminar is

aimed at “making all of us business savvy.” Conducted through in-person and virtual participation via Zoom, the seminar was attended by members of various U.S.based FilAm business groups such as the Coalition of Filipino American Chamber of Commerce (COFACC), Filipino American Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, and some Fil-Am business leaders. Badajos is particularly pushing for this kind of business venture because he believes this is the safest form of investment for FilAm investors, who normally have a lot of

NEW VICE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT. Sara Duterte takes her oath of office as the country’s 15th Vice President before Supreme Court Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando at San Pedro Square, Poblacion District in Davao City on Sunday, June 19. Sara was accompanied by her parents, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Elizabeth Zimmerman. PNA photo by Joey Dalumpines

Vice President-elect Sara Duterte Philippine Consul General meets takes oath as 15th vice president first-ever FilAm catholic priest to be ordained at SF archdiocese  PAGE 2

by KAYCEE

VALMONTE Philstar.com

Consul General Neil Ferrer and Rev. Fr. Jerald Geronimo at the 5th floor meeting room and museum of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco. Photo courtesy of San Francisco PCG

PHILIPPINE Consul General Neil Ferrer received Reverend Father Jerald Geronimo, the first Filipino American to be educated and ordained as a Catholic priest at the Archdiocese of San Francisco since its founding in 1853, during the latter’s call at the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco on Friday, June 17. ConGen Ferrer was joined during the call by Consul Vanessa Bago-Llona and Vice Consul Adrian Baccay. Accompanying Father Geronimo was his family, and Peter and Estrelle Chan of the Filipino Catholic Ministry of the San Francisco Archdiocese.

ConGen congratulated Father Geronimo, who was ordained as priest by San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone last June 4 at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco. During the ordination ceremony, Archbishop Cordileone himself acknowledged the historical significance of Father Geronimo’s sacerdotal ordination to the Filipino American Catholic community. Vice Consul Baccay attended Father Geronimo’s ordination on June 4, as well as the latter’s first Eucharistic celebration as a priest at the

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MANILA — Vice presidentelect Sara Duterte, mayor of Davao City, took her oath of office as the country’s 15th vice president on Sunday, June 19. While her inauguration was held 11 days earlier than usual, the constitution provides that her term as vice president officially begin at noon on June 30. She took her oath of office before Supreme Court Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando on a Bible held by her mother Elizabeth Zimmerman with President Rodrigo Duterte as witness.

In her remarks after taking her oath, the president’s daughter said she had wanted to be a doctor but that she was led in another direction: law school and becoming a lawyer. “When I committed myself to governance and public service, I was also determined to finish three consecutive terms as mayor,” Duterte said in her speech. “That will not happen anymore. I am now the vice president-elect.” She said that she was called to run for vice president and that “the voice of 32.2 million Filipinos was loud and clear with

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JUNE 24-30, 2022 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

From the Front Page

California to roll out COVID-19... Fil-Ams urged to pour in capital in PH... PAGE 1

PAGE 1 nurse, or local pharmacist to learn more about the benefits of vaccinations and the importance of protecting their children by getting them vaccinated.” Following the news, California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary, Dr. Mark Ghaly, and Director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and State Public Health Officer, Dr. Tomás J. Aragón, issued a joint statement supporting the recommendation by the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “Although our youth are resilient, COVID-19 hospitalizations for children under 4 years old were five

times higher during the Omicron surge than during Delta, and one in five children hospitalized with COVID-19 were also admitted to the ICU. COVID-19 has become one of the top five leading causes of death in children and vaccines make these deaths preventable. Studies have shown that getting our children vaccinated is the safest way to protect them from the worst outcomes of COVID-19, including hospitalization, long COVID, Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), and death. Getting everyone in our homes and communities vaccinated reduces the chances for the virus to spread to those we love most,” they said. The vaccine made by Moderna for 6-month-olds to 5-year-olds is a two-dose series, administered four weeks apart. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for 6-month-olds to 4-year-olds

is a three-dose series. The first two shots are given three weeks apart, and the third one eight weeks after the second shot. The authorization will add young children aged 6 months through 4 years old to those eligible to get a Pfizer vaccine (ages 5-17 are already eligible), and children and adolescents aged 6 months through 17 years old to get a Moderna vaccine. In alignment with California’s SMARTER Plan, the state is operationally ready to immediately begin administering vaccines for infants and toddlers aged 6 months and older this week. To find a vaccine, visit myturn. ca.gov or call 1-833-422-4255. Parents can also talk to their child’s health care provider, or visit Vaccinate All 58 to learn more about the safe and effective vaccines available for all Californians aged 6 months and older. g

capital money but do not have the luxury of time to personally run a business. “To me, franchising simply means that you can grow your business by letting the others do the work for you. There’s no risk of losing your own money or getting into bankruptcy,” the consul general said. According to Badajos, there are a lot of positive developments in the Philippines that would definitely boost the franchising industry. Aside from bright economic prospects, Badajos is optimistic that business climate in the Philippines will be brighter with the start of the new administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The government official also noted that outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte had already set in place a number of legislative and administrative reforms that would propel investors’ confidence in the Philippines. “We now also have among the world’s lowest personal and corporate income taxes, thanks to Tax Reform Laws enacted by the Philippine Congress, and signed by President Duterte in 2021,” Badajos said. Early last year, Duterte signed the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Bill or Republic Act No. 11534 which lowered corporate income tax (CIT) to 25% from 30% for large corporations; and 20 percent for small business from 25 percent. This previous CIT rate was the highest in Asia, which made the Philippines less attractive to prospective investors. The Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law (TRAIN Law) or RA 10963, on the other hand, lowers the personal income tax. Individual taxpayers with taxable income not exceeding P250,000 annually are exempted from income tax. The exemption for minimum wage earners is retained. Tax rates for individual taxpayers still follow the progressive tax system with the maximum rate of 35 percent, and minimum rates of 20 percent (taxable years 2018 to 2022) and 15 percent (2023 onwards). Badajos also cited another significant measure adapted by

the Duterte administration, the Executive Order 169 which seeks to strengthen the franchising industry and protect micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) investors. “There’s a lot of opportunists and scammers who are taking advantage of small entrepreneurs by prescribing minimum terms and conditions for franchise agreements. This EO puts into place measures to ensure a transparent and businessfriendly environment as well as fair and equitable business processes,” he said. Under the EO, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is tasked to create an MSME Registry of Franchise Agreements, which will only accept deals incorporating specified minimum terms and conditions. Franchisors which are part of registered franchise associations must register their standard franchise agreement with the DTI and execute an undertaking that all future agreements will incorporate the specified terms and conditions. The EO says those not part of such associations must register all agreements with MSME franchisees within 30 days from execution. These franchisors are also encouraged to join registered associations. With the implementation of all these legislative measures, Badajos said outlook for the domestic franchising sector would remain bright. “Given the great potential growth in the Philippine franchising industry and the complementary legislation I mentioned earlier, I hope that you have already been convinced to consider investing, at least in one franchise in the Philippines. By doing so, you’ll not only be contributing to the economic recovery of our country in the post-pandemic era but also providing employment opportunities to more Filipinos back home,” the consul told participants in the seminar. Latest macroeconomic forecast show that the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to expand 6.7 percent this year from 5.6 percent in 2021 and -9.6 percent in 2020. GDP is the sum of goods and services produced by a country’s

economy during a specified period of time. Based on ASEAN 6 Economic Update Report, in the first quarter of 2022 alone, the Philippine economy grew by 8.3 percent, the highest in Asia, compared to Indonesia (5 percent), Malaysia (5 percent), Singapore (3.5 percent)and Vietnam (5.03 percent). The net foreign direct investment (FDI) is seen to recover to $8.8 billion in 2022 from $10.52 billion in 2021 and a significant improvement from $6.5 billion in 2020. Foreign direct investment net inflow is defined as the total value of inward overseas direct investment made by foreign entities, including non-resident investors. The country’s gross international reserves, meanwhile, are expected to jack up to $117 billion this year from $108.89 billion in 2021 and $110.1 billion in 2020. GIR consists of holdings of gold, special drawing rights (SDRs) foreign investments, and foreign exchange, including reserve position in the International Monetary Fund. OFW remittances, main driver of Philippine economic growth, are projected to increase by four percent to $36 billion from $34 billion and $29 billion in 2021 and 2020, respectively. The seminar’s guest speaker Dr. Bing Sibal-Limjoco, PFA vice chairman and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) honorary chairman, on the other hand, noted the increasing contribution of the franchise industry to the country’s GDP. In her presentation, it showed that franchising industry is contributing about 7.8 percent to GDP. Specifically, these contributions are in food sector, 80 percent or P538 billion ($10.8 billion); and retail and service sector, 10 percent or P67 billion ($1.34 billion). Limjoco said there are estimated 200,000 franchise outlets in the Philippines, creating direct and indirect employment of two million, and providing high backward linkages to labor-intensive agricultural sector. u PAGE 4

DATELINE USA

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SFCHC joins SF Pride ‘united in love’ for this year’s in-person festivities SAN FRANCISCO – After a twoyear hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the San Francisco Community Health Center (SFCHC) returns this Pride season with an exciting line-up of festivities that boost LGBTQ+ BIPOC visibility amid recent antitransgender legislation, threats to queer youth, and continued acts of Asian hate. “We are thrilled to once again celebrate Pride in person this year with our clients, staff, and neighbors,” SFCHC CEO Lance Toma says. “Today, in the face of so many threats to our hardearned civil rights, and even to our safety, it is more important than ever that the queer BIPOC communities that we represent as an agency are seen and heard. As we gather this Pride season, we stand together with our community partners as a united front against ignorance and hate.” Managing Director Nicky “Tita Aida” Calma, says the SFCHC Pride committee designed this year’s line-up of Pride events under the theme of “Infinite Love Unites,” inspired by the overarching SF Pride theme of “Love Will Keep Us Together.” As in previous years, Calma says

all activities aim to uplift the experiences of queer people of color — populations who are at the heart of the agency’s mission to promote health equity and social justice in San Francisco. “From a Pride kick-off party at CityHopeCafe in the Tenderloin to the highly anticipated Trans March, our parade contingent at the 52nd Annual SF Pride Parade, and a full afternoon of live entertainment at the API LGBT Stage, we have something for everyone,” Calma says. “We invite everyone to enjoy all our activities, including a variety of on-ground programs and services at each event, like free HIV and Hep C testing, and SHE Boutique. We will also have plenty of fun Pride swag, so be sure to join us!” The SF Pride Celebration following the parade on Sunday, June 26 features more than 20 community-run stages, including the API LGBT Stage at Polk and Golden Gate Streets that is produced by Calma and SFCHC. Among this year’s API LGBT Stage headliners are American Idol’s Jasmine Trias, X-Factor USA’s Ellona Santiago, and international R&B artists Kiana V and Wils.

The SFCHC Pride activities schedule include: • SFCHC Pride Activities Schedule SFCHC Pride Kick-Off Party Wednesday, June 22, 6 to 9 p.m. CityHopeCafe, SF (750 Ellis Street) • Trans March Friday, June 24, 3 to 8 p.m. • SFCHC SF Pride Parade Contingent Sunday, June 26, 10 a.m. Embarcadero, SF • API LGBT Pavilion & Stage Sunday, June 26, 12 to 6 p.m. Polk & Golden Gate Streets, SF The San Francisco Community Health Center is an LGBTQ and people of color community health center that believes everyone deserves to be healthy and offers the highest quality medical, dental, and behavioral health care. We foster resilience, belonging, and healing for all communities. To us, health care will always be grounded in social justice. For more information regarding available sponsorships or to learn more about San Francisco Community Health Center, visit https:// sfcommunityhealth.org or call (415) 292-3400. 

Community calls for justice for Fil-Am family... PAGE 1

Wednesday, June 22, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. He was taken into custody in Orange County for an unrelated matter and held on the warrant, officials said. The groups also have issued a letter addressed to District Attorney George Gascón to “launch a full-scale criminal investigation on this hatemotivated attack.” “We are adamant that the suspect must be held responsible and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and we wholeheartedly support the Roque family’s decision to pursue justice,” the letter reads, adding, “Please help bring the Roque family peace of mind in one of the darkest times of their lives.” An arrest warrant was issued on Thursday, June 16 against 31-year-old Weber from North Hollywood who failed to appear in court last June 8 to face charges of felony and misdemeanor battery hate crime. Around 10 p.m. on May 13, Patricia Roque, 19, and her mom, Nerissa, were getting late-night snacks at the McDonald’s drive-thru on Victory Boulevard in North Hollywood when a dark blue jeep, driven by Weber, hit their car from behind. As Patricia thought it was just a simple case of a hit-andrun, she went out of the car and started taking cellphone videos of the damages to their car. This was when the suspect went to the side of their car and started throwing racial slurs with a mock Asian accent. The suspect threatened them by saying, “I’ll kill you,” Patricia recounted. While waiting for the police to respond to their 911 call, Patricia called her dad, Gabriel, who arrived in time to stop Weber who was trying to enter the car to get to Patricia. In the process of stopping the suspect from hurting his daughter who was seated in the passenger’s seat of the car, the 62-year-old father was pushed

down to the pavement by the suspect. Gabriel suffered injuries, including a broken rib and bruises on his arms. “My family and I were victims of anti-Asian hate. What initially started off as a minor traffic collision quickly escalated to verbal and physical assaults. We were taunted, ridiculed, and belittled because of our appearance as Asian Americans. Specifically, the suspect called us ‘ching chong’ and made squinting eye motions as he verbally threatened us,” Patricia Roque told the Asian Journal. The young Roque said they have waited for almost an hour for police to arrive at the scene. “We called the police, but they were slow to respond, so we called my dad for help. When my dad arrived, the suspect continued to verbally assault us and attempted to open our car door as I was seated in the passenger seat. When my father tried to stop the suspect from further attacking us, the suspect viciously attacked my dad by beating him and throwing him on the ground,” she narrated. After attacking her father, Weber reportedly turned to her mother and strangled her. “My mom tried to intervene to stop the attack on my dad. At that point, the suspect turned his anger and hate towards my mom and started strangling her with his bare hands. We all screamed for help. We all pleaded for the suspect to stop,” Patricia said. She said luckily, a bystander helped stop Weber from further attacking her family. When the police finally arrived, Weber was taken by an ambulance to the hospital and later on, was released with a citation to appear in court last June 8 but he never did. Living in the U.S. for more than 10 years, Gabriel and Nerissa never thought something like this would happen to their family. “We are just seeing stories about hate crimes on television. We can’t believe this had happened to us,” said Gabriel, who works as an accountant.

He had to take time off work leave due to the injuries he sustained from Weber’s attack. “We hope that the authorities would seriously look into these hate crimes,” said Nerissa, a caregiver and a member of the Filipino Migrant Center. “Nobody, whatever the color of their skin, deserves this kind of treatment.” The 47-year-old mother of three said that the family will choose not to live in fear, despite the harrowing attack. “The fear will not disappear any time soon but we need to be strong for our family. We cannot live with fear. We should stand together against these hate crimes,” she said. “There is no doubt that the suspect’s actions and attacks were motivated by hate. This was the most traumatic experience of our lives. I feared that the suspect would kill us because of what we looked like—because we are Asian,” Patricia said. This fight, Gabriel said, is not only for their family but for all underrepresented groups living here in the U.S. “Authorities should show these perpetrators that they don’t just do this crime to whoever they want. They should know that there’s a law that prevents them from doing these. They should be held liable for persecuting or hurting people just because they look different,” he said. The Roque family is continuing to call for a full investigation and “demand that this case be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Patricia said. During this ordeal, Patricia said they are grateful for the support they are getting from the Filipino community here. “We thank the community for supporting us at this difficult time. The Filipino American and Asian American communities have rallied behind us, so we know we are not alone,” she said. The Filipino Migrant Center, meanwhile, has created a fundraiser on its website for the Roque family’s physical and emotional recovery. (Donnabelle Aravelo/AJPress)

PAUNAWA NG HULING PAMPUBLIKONG PAGDINIG NG FY 2022-2023 TAUNANG PLANONG AKSYON ANG PAUNAWANG ITO AY NAGBIBIGAY NG MGA PETSA NG PAMPUBLIKONG PAGDINIG AT MGA PAGKAKATAON PARA SA PAMPUBLIKONG PAGSUSURI AT KOMENTO SA HULING FY 2022-2023 TAUNANG PLANONG AKSYON. Ang FY 2022-2023 Taunang Planong Aksyon (Plano) ng San Jose ay namamahala sa paggamit ng apat na uri ng pondo mula sa U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Ang mga pondo ng Lungsod na natanggap sa pamamagitan ng pormula mula sa HUD ay kinabibilangan ng Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), at Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA). Ang mga pondo ng pormula ng Lungsod ay may average na humigit-kumulang $14 milyon taun-taon, depende sa pederal na badyet. Ang pagbuo ng Plano ay higit na nalalaman sa feedback ng publiko. Kung gusto mong magbigay ng mga komento sa Huling FY 2022-2023 Taunang Planong Aksyon, tinatanggap ng Lungsod ang mga komento mo. Bilang karagdagan, ang mga komento ay maaaring ibigay sa pamamagitan ng telepono, regular na koreo (sa Lungsod ng San José Housing Department, 200 E. Santa Clara Street, 12th Floor, San José, California 95113), o sa pamamagitan ng email sa impormasyon sa kontak na nakalista sa ibaba para sa parehong mga English speaker at ang mga may limitadong kaalaman sa Ingles. Ang FY 2022-2023 Taunang Planong Aksyon ng Lungsod ay magagamit para sa pampublikong komento sa website ng Housing Department mula Abril 1, 2022, hanggang Agosto 9, 2022 Iskedyul ng mga Pampublikong Pagdinig Ano Binagong Draft ng Taunang Planong Akskyon FY 202223 na may mga contingency plan sa mga huling antas ng pagpopondo

Sino Ang Draft naTaunang Planong Aksyon ng Lungsod na may contingency plan sa bawat huling antas ng pagpopondo ay dininig ng Konseho ng Lungsod sa Abril 26, 2022, pulong nito (Item 8.2, File 22-568)

Saan Lungsod ng San José - Housing 200 E. Santa Clara St. 12th Floor (Tower)

Kailan Panahon ng Binagong PampublikongKomento: Abril 1 hanggang Agosto 9, 2022

Huling Pampublikong Pagdinig at Pagpapatibay ng HulingFY 2022-2023 Taunang Planong Aksyon

Konseho ng Lungsod ng San José

City Hall ng San Jose 200 E. Santa Clara Street Hybrid meeting – Council Chambers o Online:https://www.sanjoseca.gov/ news-stories/watch-a-meeting

Agosto 9, 2022, mula ika-1:30 pm

Tingnan ang website ng Housing Department. http://www.sanjoseca.gov/ housingconplanupang makahanap ng mga elektronikong kopya, o tumawag sa (408) 793-5542 o (408) 294-9337 (TTY) para sa mga papel na kopya

Maaaring magbago ang mga petsa ng pagpupulong. Pakitingnan ang http://www.sanjoseca.gov/housingconplan para sa mga update. IMPORMASYON SA KONTAK: Para sa mga tanong o komento tungkol sa Huling FY 2022-2023 Taunang Planong Aksyon, mangyaring makipagugnayan kay Stephanie Gutowski sa (408) 535-3500 o kay stephanie.gutowski@sanjoseca.gov. PARA RESIDENTES QUE HABLAN ESPAÑOL: Este anuncio esrespecto a el Enmienda sustancial de El Plan de AcciónAnual para 2022-2023. El Plan de AcciónAnualidentifica las necesidades de viviendas y deldesarrollocomunitario de la ciudad. También, es un plan de accion de un año para demostrarcómo la cuidad va a invertir sus fondosfederales para hacerfrente a esasnecesidadesidentificadas. Para mas información, favor de llamar a Luisa Galdamez (408) 535-8357. ThôngbáonàydànhchongườinóitiếngViệt: ThôngbáonàyliênquanđếnBảnSửaĐổiĐángkểchoKếHoạchHoạtđộngHàngNămchoniênkhóa2022-2023. Kếhoạchhoạtđộngnàyxácđịnhcácnhucầuvề sự pháttriểngiacưvà pháttriểncộngđồngcủaThànhphố, đồngthờiđề ramộtchươngtrìnhhoạtđộngcho cả nămvềcáchThànhPhố sẽ sửdụngquỹliên bang củamìnhđểgiảiquyếtnhữngnhucầuđó. Quý vị nàomuốnbiếtthêmchi-tiết, xinvuilòngliênlạcvớicôJanie Le, qua số điện-thoạiJanie Le (408) 975-4414. 使用華語的聖荷西居民：此通知是關於 2022-2023 年計劃的重要改變。年度計劃是列出社區發展需求，並提供市府應用基金以舒解需求的方䅁。詳細資料，請電，華語 Ann Tu (408)975-4450.

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 24-30, 2022

Dateline USa

JUNE 24-30, 2022 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

Palace: Pres. Duterte turns down drug czar post... PAGE 1

was still mayor). I’m sure if he wants to play a part, sasabihin naman niya sa akin (he will let me know). I am certainly open

to all of that,” Marcos Jr. had said. Bongbong Marcos also said Duterte told him to continue his controversial war against illegal

drugs, which has killed thousands of drug peddlers and users, and is the subject of a probe by the International Criminal Court. g

Vice President-elect Sara Duterte takes oath...

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the message [for me] to serve our motherland.” Vice President-elect Duterte earlier said that she wanted to hold her inauguration early because she wanted the people of Davao — where she was mayor from 2010 o 2013 and from 2016 — to witness her oathtaking. She garnered over 32.208 million votes or a commanding 61% of the total votes in the recently concluded 2022 May polls. “Hindi ako ang pinakamagaling o pinakamatalinong tao sa Pilipinas o sa mundo ngunit walang makakatalo sa tibay ng puso ko bilang isang Pilipino,” Duterte said. (I am not the best or the smartest in the Philippine but nobody in the Philippines or even the world has greater heart than I

do as a Filipino) Challenges ahead Duterte, who is to be appointed as secretary of education, also recognized that today’s children face a “very complex future, one that is rife with conflict and uncertainties.” Duterte noted challenges such as poverty, the trauma of broken families, “life-long baggage” due to irresponsible parenting, and abandonment issues. She also said children are also burdened by the effects of illiteracy, bullying, “recruitment to support terrorism,” and misinformation. The drug problem also did not go unmentioned. Duterte, who repeatedly referenced God and family in her remarks, called on Filpinos to “commit to [our hearts] the priorities of God, country and

family.” Held at the San Pedro Square in Davao City, those who attended Duterte’s inauguration included President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. along with his wife Liza AranetaMarcos, Sen. Imee Marcos, Ilocos Norte Congressman-elect Sandro Marcos, as well as Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Duterte’s mentor and who has been elected as Pampanga representative. Vice President Leni Robredo was invited to her successor’s inauguration but had to skip it due to earlier commitments in her hometown, Naga City in Camarines Sur. Duterte’s team has reportedly been preparing for the transition in both her roles as vice president, in coordination with Robredo’s team, as well as the country’s future education secretary. g

Consul General Neil Ferrer presents a gift, a copy of “Rekindling Travel,” to Rev. Fr. Geronimo.

Philippine Consul General meets first-ever...

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Church of the Epiphany in San Francisco on June 5. As a gift, Consul General Ferrer gave Father Geronimo a copy of “Rekindling Travel,” the Third Edition of the “Bucket List Philippines” series of the Philippine Department of Tourism.

Father Geronimo was born and raised in Daly City, with his parents tracing their roots in Bulacan, Philippines. In an interview published on the San Francisco Archdiocese’s official website, the 28-year-old priest said, “My Filipino culture has played a significant role in my

upbringing. Through my culture, I have learned the values of family, communion and self-sacrifice. These values will be of the utmost importance as I soon embark on a vocation that is precisely centered on sacrificial love, all for God and neighbor.” (San Francisco PCG Release)

Consular officials as well as family members and friends of Rev. Fr. Jerald Geronimo pose with the newly-ordained priest at the Consulate in San Francisco. Photos courtesy of San Francisco PCG

Filipino lawyer John Albert Laylo killed in... PAGE 1

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action and find a resolution to the case. In a tweet following the meeting, Consul General Cato said, “We thank @ PhillyMayor Jim Kenney and @ PhillyPolice for their assurance that they will do everything they can to bring to justice whoever is responsible for the death of our kababayan John Albert Laylo.” Mayor Kenney took to Twitter to say that the senseless violence will always be unacceptable and that Laylo’s death is “another horrific example of the tragic impact of the prevalence of guns in our city: whether it’s a visitor or a native Philadelphian affected, there are too many guns on our streets, with devastating consequences.” “I’m appalled to learn of this heinous and senseless crime that has completely devastated an entire family. Mr. Laylo’s loved ones are in my prayers,” Kenney tweeted.

Filipino community leaders in Philadelphia held a memorial vigil on Monday evening, June 20 for Laylo outside the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center where he passed away a day after he was fatally wounded in a shooting incident. According to Philadelphia police, the shooter emerged from another car that pulled behind the Uber, which was stopped at a red light. According to Chief Inspector Frank Vanore, at least a dozen cartridge casings were recovered from the scene. Vanore, who attended Tuesday’s meeting at City Hall, said the deadly shooting may have been a case of mistaken identity, and that another black Nissan of the same make and model driving near the Uber may have been the intended target. Cato also met with Laylo’s mother in the hospital on Sunday, a few hours after the lawyer passed away. “I said a prayer for him and

assured him that we will do everything we can to bring him home as soon as possible,” Cato posted. In her own post on Facebook, Leah Laylo shared photos taken during their vacation. “We traveled together and we are supposed to go home together!” Laylo said in the post. “I will bring him home soon in a box!” Laylo was 35 years old, a graduate of Makati Science High School, University of the Philippines Diliman (Political Science), De La Salle University (Law), and Central European University in Budapest, Hungary (International Business Law). He is survived by his mother Leah, father Albert, and sisters Ann and Althea. A GoFundMe page has been set up to support the family for funeral and other related expenses. Visit https://www. gofundme.com/f/john-albert-jallaylo. (Momar G. Visaya/AJPress)

partner Chamber organizations in the U.S. “We can help the PFA in linking up its portal to all our platforms. This may facilitate a systematic release of vital information like data on accredited branches, short summary sheet, franchisors’ contact information, franchise fee, among others,” Palon said. Limjoco welcomed the COFACC’s initiative saying that being well-informed of the ins and out of the franchising business will effectively shield potential investors from scams. Among the signs of fraud, she said, are: if they are being promised with too good to be true claims of profitability; used of pressure tactics when selling their franchises, absence of list of franchisees and outlets and vague company profile and list of officers. “This data sharing will let the investors know if they are dealing with credible franchisors. We want to avoid these fraudulent activities because it will destroy the franchising industry,” she said. She also invited the FilAm investors to participate in the upcoming Franchise Asia Philippines Conference (virtually) on September 20 to 22, 2022 and Franchise Asia Philippines Expo (face-toface) on October 14 to 16, 2022. Badajos, meanwhile, said that

the Philippine consulate is likely to hold more franchising-related seminars in the coming months to address all the concerns of the prospective FilAm investors. Moreso, Limjoco also highlighted in her presentation some potential franchise businesses for FilAms such as: Potato Corner, World’s Best Flavored Fries (Capital P300,000-P600,000; required space 4 sqm and above); The Generics Pharmacy (P700,000 to P900,000; required space 1530 sqm); and Reyes Haircutters, Ang Salon ng Bayan (P800,00 to P3.5 million). Other potential franchise opportunities are: Bang Bang Bangus ( Capital P450,00 to P550,000 (Franchise Fee P200,000, Required Space:6-12 sqm), first flavored big boneless crispy bangus; Farron Cafe, quality, affordable coffee for students and young professionals (Capital: P499,000 to P879,000; required space 4-10sqm) Special Promo Package Farron Fix (P119,000; 3 sqm); and Famous Belgian Waffle, country’s most famous waffle (Capital: P550,000- P730,000; required space 3-8 sqm). Limjoco said the interested Fil-Am investors may have an option to bring these franchise businesses here in the U.S. or invest/buy a franchise in the Philippines. g

Fil-Ams urged to pour in capital in PH... PAGE 2 She also said the Philippines has been recognized as a franchise hub in Asia “because many of the brands that we have really have to make sure that the franchisee will make money and the customers keep coming back.” The PFA official took note that franchise industry had remained resilient and even boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic. “It is also worth noting that many businesses have decided to go into franchising to survive the COVID-19 crisis. This is how the franchise sector is adapting to COVID-19, they went digital through E-commerce sites; cashless transaction and online buy-and-sell communities. They went hyperlocal by opening outlets/offer delivery services in residential communities, food trucks/mobile outlets and community resellers Mister Donuts and Tokyo Tokyo were the prominent ones who adapted such strategy. They carried out intensified delivery via drive thru and pick up schemes,” she said. During the seminar, COFACC president Gerry Palon suggested a collaboration with PFA for the possible link-up of their systems to effectively address some logistics concerns including information dissemination and data availability. COFACC is an umbrella organization of 22

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OPINION

FEATURES

A pressing priority

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WHAT’S taking the incoming administration too long to appoint the next health secretary? Surely there are other individuals blessed with medical and administrative skills more qualified and capable than the current health chief, who had blithely ignored deafening calls for his resignation, no thanks to the enabling support of his patron, outgoing President Duterte. In August 2020, a Senate hearing called for Health Secretary Francisco Duque III’s ouster for his possible role in the P15-billion corruption scandal at the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., as its former president and board chair. Almost two years after the exhaustive hearing, the state insurance firm has yet to exact accountability from officials involved in the scandal that saw billions lost in members’ contributions through fraudulent, often nonexistent, medical procedures in selected and favored hospitals. In February this year, a Senate panel recommended the filing of charges against the health official and several others for the allegedly anomalous purchase of COVID-19 equipment and supplies from Pharmally, an undercapitalized Chinese company. Duque, the partial report by the Senate blue ribbon committee stated, had moved over P40 billion from his agency to the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management to supposedly hasten the delivery of the medical supplies, which later turned out to be substandard and grossly overpriced. Such reckless handling of public funds intended for the government’s pandemic response has contributed to the country’s outstanding debt now standing at P12.68-trillion as of end-March 2022. Finding a competent health secretary should be a priority by the incoming administration, given several health situations that could endanger health and lives. And we’re not just talking about COVID-19,

Editorial

because although the virus is still very much around and Metro Manila has a “continued increase” in the number of cases in 11 cities, the National Capital Region remains under low risk, according to the Department of

Health (DOH). Outside the metro, however, recent developments have been less than reassuring. There are reports of arsenic contamination of groundwater in nine areas in Batangas, with some 5,000 residents who may be at risk, authorities said. A task force created to handle this health hazard has said that signs of contamination in wells were first observed after Taal Volcano’s eruption in January 2020. According to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, drinking water contaminated with arsenic could adversely affect one’s health, and in severe cases, could cause death. While local government units (LGUs) have handled the crisis as well as they could—providing bottled water to residents, setting aside P3.5 million for conducting more tests, looking into the reverse osmosis process to purify the water supply, and seeking to place Balete, Batangas, under a state of calamity to access more funds—a more comprehensive health plan is needed to address the problem in the long term. An extensive information campaign spearheaded by a health chief vested with official authority can answer the questions that worry residents the most: Who are most at risk? How do people mitigate those risks? Where and how can households source safe drinking water? What are the symptoms of arsenic and radon poisoning? What treatment is available for those affected? How can local health centers respond more effectively to identified cases? With more resources at his or her disposal, a health chief appointed on merit can draw

ManilaTimes.net photo

up a response plan that addresses the urgent needs of residents while anticipating worst-case scenarios. In Sorsogon, the phreatic explosions of Mount Bulusan in the past two weeks have unleashed a totally different but just as worrying health hazard: ashfall which contains toxic sediments that can cause difficulty in breathing and worsen respiratory problems. While the LGUs and several government agencies have taken charge of warning and evacuating residents who are within the fourkilometer permanent danger zone and providing them the needed provisions and services, the national government must take a more proactive role, especially with regard to the health of those who are exposed to or have inhaled the toxic ash. As well, a comprehensive health awareness campaign

can give people better and safer ideas on how to cope with a situation that remains highly fluid and far from ideal. In Cebu, the bickering between its governor and task force COVID-19 officials over the mask mandate can do with a more health-oriented approach instead of the belligerent hierarchical turn it has assumed lately. A credible health chief can certainly do the job as the DOH has all the data and facts to support its stance of an abundance of caution in regard to transmission of the virus. The new government should also be careful about the candidates being pushed by certain groups as they could prove to be a liability, rather than an asset to the DOH. Hopefully, the new administration won’t bide its time finding the right one. (Inquirer.net)

Historical facts about presidential inaugurations

Babe’s Eye View BABE ROMUALDEZ ON June 30, Filipinos are poised to witness one of the most momentous events in the history of the Philippines: the swearing in of Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as the country’s 17th president. The inauguration will be historic in more ways than one, since as everyone knows, Bongbong Marcos Jr. is the son of Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., the 10th president of the Philippines who was sworn into office on Dec. 30, 1965. People who can still remember the 1965 presidential elections between incumbent president Diosdado Macapagal and thenSenate president Ferdinand Marcos describe it as a hotly contested one, with Marcos winning by a margin of more than 670,000 votes and getting 51.9 percent of the total votes cast against Macapagal’s 42.8 percent. There was so much acrimony between the Nacionalista and Liberal party candidates that, according to some accounts,

Macapagal had preferred not to attend the inaugural of Marcos Sr. But in the end, however, they both observed tradition and propriety and rode together in a Cadillac from Malacañang to the Quirino Grandstand (formerly known as Independence Grandstand) in Luneta for the inauguration of the new president. Traditionally, the Quirino Grandstand serves as the venue for the swearing in of presidents, among them Elpidio Quirino for whom it was obviously named, Ramon Magsaysay, Carlos P. Garcia, Diosdado Macapagal, Fidel Ramos and Noynoy Aquino. However, there have been times when this tradition was broken, like when Cory Aquino was sworn into office in Club Filipino. But those were different times. In 2004, Gloria Arroyo delivered her preinaugural speech at the Quirino Grandstand in the morning then flew to Cebu for her oath taking at the Provincial Capitol at noon of June 30. Joseph Estrada also broke with tradition and was sworn in at Barasoain Church in Malolos,

Bulacan. Since it was 1998 – the year when we commemorated the centennial of our proclamation of independence, Estrada saw it as symbolic to be sworn into office in the same place where Emilio Aguinaldo took his oath as president of the First Philippine Republic. President Duterte, on the other hand, opted to have his inauguration at the Rizal Hall in Malacañang because he did not want to be the cause of traffic jams going to Luneta. President-elect Bongbong Marcos had wanted his inauguration to take place in Quirino Grandstand like his father did. But since the place is being used as field hospitals for COVID-19 patients, BBM did not want to cause any disruption so he opted for the National Museum of the Philippines. Which is just as well, since the place is also imbued with historical significance. NMP used to be known as the old Legislative Building and was also the venue for the inauguration of Manuel Roxas, Jose P. Laurel and Manuel Quezon, who also proclaimed the Commonwealth of the Philippines on the same

Love of country

Sentinel

RAMON TULFO VICE president-elect Sara Duterte called on Filipinos to love their country – a motherhood statement – after she was sworn into office, a little more than a week before she would take over the second highest position in the land. “The days ahead may be full of challenges that call for us to be more united as a nation. But let me reiterate this – we can never go wrong if we are a people dedicated to honoring the will of God, to serving our country and our fellowmen and protecting the integrity of our families and the future of our children,” said the daughter of President Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte. Platitudes or motherhood statements like “love your country” or “love your fellowmen” are insipid. Ms. Duterte and her speechwriters had plenty of time

to come up with an ear-catching or interesting speech, if I may say so. President Joseph Estrada’s speech during his inaugural of “Walang kai-kaibigan, walang kumpare, walang kama-kamaganak o anak na maaaring magsamantala sa ngayon (I will not allow any of my friends, relatives or children to take advantage of my position)” was a classic, although it was not followed. Still, people who heard the speech were enthralled by its beauty. * * * This may hurt the sensibilities of many of my compatriots: Are Filipinos capable of loving their country? How does a foreigner view us vis-à-vis love of country? Let me quote some excerpts of a short essay on the Filipinos by Jaeyoun Kim, a Korean student in the country. “Do you really think (that) corruption is the problem in the Philippines? I don’t think so. I strongly believe that the problem is the lack of love for the

Philippines. “Have you cried for the Philippines? I have cried for my country (South Korea) several times. I also cried for the Philippines because of so many poor people. “The Philippines is the only Catholic country in Asia, but there are too many poor people here. People go to church every Sunday to pray, but nothing has changed. “(My parents) told me that Korea was much poorer than the Philippines when they were young. They are sorry that there are so many beggars and street kids (in the Philippines). “Koreans have a great love for Korea so that we were able to share our wealth with our neighbors. The owners of factory and company were distributed their profit (sic) to their employees fairly so they could buy what they needed and saved (sic) money for the future and their children.” South Korea was a devastated country after the war that divided Korea into North and South

day as his inaugural in 1935. During presidential inaugurations, a lot of traditions and protocols are observed. Usually, the incoming president would go to Malacañang and fetch the outgoing president, after which they would travel together to the inauguration venue. The outgoing president would then conduct a final review of troops before departing, after which the new president will be sworn into office. Preparations are now underway for the inaugural of president-elect Bongbong Marcos, who is very much aware of the importance of old traditions, knowing the historic significance and symbolism of inaugural events. BBM was telling me that he inquired why he had to sign the Palace guest book when he was in fact going to be living there during his term of office. According to traditional protocol, BBM would be the last guest to be visiting Malacañang during the administration of President Duterte, after which the guest book will be closed. A new guest book would then be opened with Ferdinand Marcos

Jr. as president. Apparently, not too many people are aware of this. I was grateful to him for sharing this piece of historical trivia with me. In the United States, inaugurations are similar to ours, with traditions, ceremonies and protocols that are also observed to mark the transition from one administration to another. But during the day of Dwight Eisenhower’s inauguration in January 1953, he refused to go inside the White House for a preinauguration coffee ceremony with outgoing president Harry Truman. The two men had so much bitterness between them because Truman campaigned against Eisenhower, who took the attacks of the outgoing president personally. Traditionally, the outgoing president would invite the president-elect to the White House for coffee and a friendly chat. By that gesture, the peaceful transfer of power is also underscored. The outgoing president would also leave a letter of encouragement to his successor, with pieces of advice usually thrown in. On inauguration day, the departing

president would be waiting on the steps of the White House North Portico to welcome the incoming president. After the Oval Office traditional chat, they would ride down Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol for the inaugural ceremonies. Outgoing president Donald Trump did not carry out the customary welcome ceremonies (coffee, waiting at the steps), refusing to attend the inauguration of his successor Joe Biden – breaking 152 years of White House tradition. The last time an outgoing president refused to attend the inauguration of his successor was in 1869 when Andrew Johnson stayed in the White House while Ulysses Grant was being sworn into office. Trump followed one tradition however: he left a letter for President Joe Biden – who described it as “very generous.” (Philstar.com) ***

segments in the 1950s. South Korea after the Korean War was so poor there was famine, which resulted in thousands dying of hunger. But South Korea rose to its feet when the people worked day and night even at meager pay so their country would become at par with other nations in Asia. In the 1950s up to the late ‘60s, the Philippines ranked second to Japan in economic progress. * * * One problematic issue that Inday Sara, who will become vice president and concurrent secretary of education, faces is that of female public-school teachers doing suggestive dances on Tiktok. Another public-school teacher, who teaches at the Panukulan National High School in Quezon province, has joined a colleague from Surigao del Sur who gyrates and makes thrusting motions suggestive of the sex act. Like her Surigao del Sur colleague – whom this column featured on June 7 – the Quezon teacher dances on Tiktok wearing the uniform of public school teachers.

Both teachers perform sexy dance numbers in an empty classroom or in the campus with their school buildings in the background. Since both teach high school students, we can be sure that their male students look at them with lust in their eyes. Strong sexual desire develops among high school students, especially the boys, who are in their adolescent years. One male student commented on social media that if he would be under the tutelage of one of these teachers he wouldn’t care if he repeated the same grade so long as he could keep looking at her. Look guys, I’m not a prude or lacking in sex drive when I call out those two teachers who could be Binibining Pilipinas candidates with their stunning looks. What I’m saying is that these teachers are becoming sex objects to their male students, and not good role models to their female students. Times have changed. Back in my high school days, teachers were the epitome of good behavior; they inspired respect

from their students. * * * Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretarygeneral Renato Reyes says that Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao, officer-in-charge of the Philippine National Police (PNP), fails in comparison to Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar when the latter was PNP chief. Eleazar ran for a Senate seat in the recent elections but lost. Eleazar, says Reyes, would reach out to protesters to ensure peace and order during rallies. Danao is aloof and says that he will only allow rallyists near the inaugural of president-elect Ferdinand “BBM” Marcos Jr. if they would shout “Mabuhay!” This Danao is funny or just trying to catch the attention of the incoming president. Comparing Eleazar to Danao is like comparing a Germanmade Mercedes Benz to a jeepney assembled in Cavite. (Philstar.com) ***

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

*** babeseyeview@gmail.com

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

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Robredo to graduates from alma mater: Amid uncertain times, lend skills to serve Filipinos by GABRIEL

PABICO Inquirer.net

LALU

tautly, putting so many on edge,” she said. “Pero kaakibat ng (But included in this) formation na ito ang isang tungkulin (is a responsibility): To use all you have learned for what is good and true and right. To lend your skills, your knowledge, and your expertise in service of others. To uplift the lives of those most in need. This is what our school motto, in its fullest sense, teaches us: That we are part of something bigger than ourselves,” she added. Robredo, who spoke mostly in the local language, believes that the school has equipped graduates with the proud Bicolano tradition and trait of resilience not only during times of crisis but also the guts to go against the strongest opponents. “UNC has provided you with the training and values to rise to these challenges head-on. As the first university in the Bicol region, ours is a proud tradition that reflects the best in the Bicolano: Resilience, the ability to think quickly on your feet even in the face of crises, the courage to stand up even against the most formidable foes,” she said. The Vice President has been in Bicol for some time now, visiting her hometown Naga for the

Naga Day and the proclamation of winners in the local elections. Robredo, who got her law degree MANILA — Former Vice at the University of Nueva President Leni Robredo urged Caceres, also had different graduates of her law school alma engagements in other parts of mater to lend their knowledge Camarines Sur. and skills to serve Filipinos Robredo told graduates that and fight challenges despite they are proud of what they have uncertain times lurking ahead. achieved despite the hardships During her speech at the brought by the COVID-19 74the University Recognition pandemic. However, she also Ceremony of the University of asked the graduates to recall all Nueva Caceres held in Naga City the hardships they faced — and on Tuesday, June 21, Robredo use it as motivation to get things reminded graduates of the done when they seem lost. reality that they are living in, as “[…] I ask you also to never the COVID-19 pandemic is still forget the struggles that paved affecting different facets of life your path to today. I ask you including education. to remember that test you did Along with that, Robredo not ace, that recitation you also mentioned the rampant fumbled, that assignment you disinformation and historical were unable to submit on time. I revisionism taking place — ask you to remember how it felt which she said should prompt to log into your Zoom accounts, graduates of the said school to alone in the cold light of your do what is right. screens, to say present and “We live in extraordinary continue doing your schoolwork times full of extraordinary even as the world outside felt challenges […] it feels like like it was ending,” the Vice everywhere else we look, other President said. challenges abound: We see And when graduates feel lost, our institutions weakening. We Robredo reminded them to look see disinformation, historical back on what the said university revisionism on overdrive. We has taught them — including her see inequality widening, gaps — which is to fight for the good in our basic needs remaining even when it is hard. unfulfilled, the strain in the social “When you leave UNC, you fabric stretching even more will realize, as I did, that living your life and making meaningful change for others is not the easiest of tasks. Fighting for a better, kinder, more humane society is hard […] May mga panahong mararamdaman mo na parang nawawalan ka na ng pagasa, kahit ang totoo, nagsisimula pa lang ang iyong laban, at marami pang mga oportunidad ang naghihintay para sa iyo,” she said. (There are times when you feel that you are losing hope, but the truth is you are just starting your ﬁght, and more opportunities await you.) “And for as long as you hold on to the things you learned here, for as long as you stay true to the values that our university has taught you, you will remain a force for good, not just in your own fields and in your own communities, but in Bicol, in our country, and even in the world,” Vice President Leni Robredo Photo courtesy of VP Leni Robredo Facebook page she added. 

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PH inflation could hit 8% if DepEd, USAID seek private sector support Russia-Ukraine conflict drags on in improving early grade education MANILA — The Philippines’ inflation rate could shoot up to 8 percent especially if the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues, economist and Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said Monday, June 20. Salceda said the national government has to focus on ensuring food security and the protection of poor Filipinos as prices of commodities soar. “Puputok ‘yan (inflation) sa otso … I have my own model, tapos base last year was slow so I think it can shoot up to 8.1 [percent],” Salceda said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel about the inflation rate in the country. (Inflation rate could shoot up to eight percent.) Russia-Ukraine conflict “Depende ‘yan kung hindi titigil

ang Ukraine at Russia, mukhang ayaw namang tumigil. Mukhang we will see an escalation especially with the [European Union] now coming together to really fight the war,” he added. (It depends on whether or not the Ukraine-Russia war will stop, but it looks like it will not. It seems like we will see an escalation, especially with the European Union now coming together to really fight the war.) The inflation rate in the country in May reached a 42-month high of 5.4 percent, bringing the fivemonth average to 4.1 percent. The five-month average is slightly higher than the government’s target of 2 to 4 percent. Looking ahead Asked what the incoming administration of President-

elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. could replicate from the outgoing administration of President Rodrigo Duterte to address inflation, Salceda said tariffs on “essential food” can be brought down. “Pero ngayon kasi 80 percent ng inflation is basically energy and transportation so definitely dilemma ‘yan (Right now, 80 percent of the inflation is basically energy and transportation so that’s a dilemma),” Salceda said. “Parang ang natural atake mo ay bakit hindi mo na lang tanggalin yung excise tax at VAT? But that’s P500 million… The right thing to do there is really is to focus on the poor,” he added. (The natural way to attack this is to remove excise tax and VAT. But that’s P500 million.) g

‘Pinoys should encourage Marcos to be PH best leader’ by Pia Lee-Brago Philstar.com

MANILA — Filipinos should encourage president-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to be the “best ever” leader of the country, former foreign affairs secretary Albert del Rosario said. “Everyone has the capacity to be a better person. If one chooses to be a leader, one can also choose to be a better leader. Or, one can choose to be the best ever leader,” Del Rosario declared over the weekend. Marcos, he added, has the honor and privilege of constructively leading 110 million people. “He can successfully do this by subjecting every presidential decision to the test of what is best for our countrymen. Let us fully encourage him to do this,” the former chief urged. But for the three sons of the president-elect, the Filipino people are “lucky” to have Marcos as the next chief executive and father of the nation. In a video greeting for Father’s Day posted on YouTube on Sunday, June 19, his sons Sandro, Joseph Simon and William Vincent wished him luck for his incoming post as the country’s chief executive. The siblings added that,

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MANILA — More than 80 business and industry representatives joined the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of Education (DepEd) in a conference last Tuesday, June 21 to discuss how the private sector could channel support toward early grade education in the Philippines. The conference, themed “Early Grade Learning is Everyone’s Business,” highlighted the USAID’s ABC+: Advancing Basic Education in the Philippines – a project in partnership with DepEd to address low reading and math skills that trouble students from Kindergarten to Grade 3. DepEd Undersecretary Tonisito Umali joined representatives from USAID, Microsoft Philippines, Smart Communications, the League of Corporate Foundations, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Philippine Business for Social Progress, and other industry leaders in the event. "Everyone has a role to play, including the private sector,

who has the power to create [a] lasting positive impact in our communities through the advancement of early grade learning," Umali said. DepEd and USAID also emphasized the importance of their partnership with the private sector along with local government units in helping early-grade students transition to face-to-face classes. Jennifer Crow, USAID Philippines director of the Regional Office of Acquisition and Assistance, said that "raising good readers in the early years" would involve not just schools but also leaders in the community and other stakeholders. The ABC+ project is a five-year project launched in July 2019 by the USAID with DepEd to improve the learning outcomes of early grade students. Specifically, it aims to benefit up to two million students in Regions V and VI, as well as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, according to the website of RTI Philippines, the project implementer for USAID. When DepEd shifted to

distance learning at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, DepEd sought USAID’s assistance through the ABC+ project to provide additional teaching and learning resources for early grade students. In many countries, younger students experienced greater learning losses compared to older students during the pandemic, a joint report by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef) with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the World Bank in 2021 found. The country’s learning poverty – defined by the World Bank as being able to read and understand a simple text by age ten – worsened from 69.5% in 2019 to more than 85% in 2022, according to another joint report by Unicef, UNESCO and the World Bank in April. Education Secretary Leonor Briones said the department is expecting a 100% return to face-to-face classes in the next academic year, 20222023. (Philstar.com)

THE Department of Health (DoH) on Monday, June 20 reported an 82-percent increase in COVID-19 cases in the country. In its weekly case bulletin, the DoH said 3,051 cases were recorded from June 13 to June 19, or a daily average of 436. This is 82% higher than the cases reported from June 6 to June 12. Health Undersecretary and spokesman Rosario Vergeire said the National Capital Region or Metro Manila is particularly experiencing "a start in the peak in the number of cases" similar to the spikes in September 2021 and January 2022 driven by the Delta and Omicron variants. Vergeire made it clear that the current trend cannot be referred to as a "surge" and doing so will only confuse the public. She attributed the increase of cases to the Omicron subvariants, increased mobility and the waning immunity of the population due to the slow administration of booster vaccines. Out of 55 million Filipinos eligible for booster shots, only 14 million have received booster

doses. "So we are looking at around 14 million individuals who have not received their boosters, and we know that immunity is waning so we need to have this demand for our countrymen," Vergeire said. She said while Metro Manila tallied a positive two-week growth rate, it is still classified as low risk for COVID-19. "We are guiding our public, making them aware that this might be the start that the cases will continuously rise in the next couple of weeks," Vergeire said. The Health department has also detected a slight rise in cases in Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) and Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan). Dr. Edsel Salvaña, a member of the DoH technical advisory group, said that despite the steady increase in infections, Metro Manila is still far from being classified as moderate risk for COVID-19.

Salvaña said the region's average daily attack rate (ADAR) is still "a little bit above" 1 out of 100,000 cases, and the ADAR must be at least 6 out of 100,000 to qualify for a moderate risk classification. Worst of COVID-19 over 'for now' - OCTA He added that the hospital utilization rate of Metro Manila is still in the "low 20s," far from the 50-percent level for moderate risk. "We're far from the parameters used by DoH in terms of moving from low risk to moderate risk," Salvaña said in a public briefing. Based on World Health Organization ratings, Metro Manila should have at least 800 infections daily in the next two weeks before it can be classified as moderate risk, he said. PH logs 2,196 new COVID-19 cases The uptick in cases is expected because of the new Omicron lineages that have infiltrated the country, "but it all remains manageable" and "health care utilization is still low," Salvaña said. (ManilaTimes.net)

COVID-19 cases up by 82%

President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

together with their mother Louise Araneta-Marcos, they would be supporting him all the way. “To our beloved and incoming President, but most importantly my beloved father, I want to wish you the best of luck in what’s to come. I know you prepared all your life and you spent a significant time making sure that you are ready for the problems that our country is facing,” Marcos’ eldest son and recently elected Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos said. Sandro said his father’s “undying optimism” is the best trait that he wishes to emulate as he is set to become a public servant himself.

Philstar.com file photo

Marcos’ second son, Simon, meanwhile said his father is always objective and decisive and even gave him advice “to never make a decision when you’re too angry or too happy or too sad.” For Marcos’ youngest son, Vinny, the best advice he got from his father was “to never hate anyone.” “My favorite thing that you’ve always said to me is to never hate anyone even if they’ve crossed you, talked bad about you, criticized (you), never hate, just keep moving forward by doing the best you can. You’ve always led by example and always such a great person to be around,” Vinny said. g

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Continuing a legacy of sharing and caring Gawad Kalinga unveils new community center for SMDC GK Bayanihan Community

WHILE Leandro Capagcuan, “Tito Andy” to those close to him, lived a life of single blessedness, he was a father figure to many especially to the residents of SMDC GK Bayanihan Community where he helped build a community center. Last April 2022, representatives from Gawad Kalinga (GK), GK USA, the SMDC GK Bayanihan Community, and the local government unit of Dasmarinas, Cavite gathered for the turnover ceremony of the St. Joseph the Worker Winnetka Community Center, named after Tito Andy’s parish. As fathers provide a sense of security for their family, a community center is an integral structure as it can aid in building strong, safe, and inclusive communities. However, it is not

The late Leandro Capagcuan’s tireless efforts led to the eventual establishment of the St. Joseph the Worker Winnetka Center.

easy to build one as it requires own community center. a lot of time, effort, and money. Tito Andy initially wanted to Thanks to Tito Andy’s tireless build a GK village but due to his and generous efforts, the res- declining health, he was unable idents can now gather at their PAGE 10

A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place at the turnover ceremony for the St. Joseph the Worker Winnetka Center in Dasmarinas, Cavite.

YOUR TANONG, MY SAGOT FROM CHICAGO, PART 4. Leading U.S. Immigration Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel (4th from left) answers immigration questions from Kapamilya in Chicago, in Part 4 of Citizen Pinoy’s “Your Tanong, My Sagot”. Some of the questions Atty. Gurfinkel answers are – From Priscilla (2nd from left): How much must a person earn to petition a family member as nanny, caregiver, or babysitter?; From Jeffrey (left): My friend entered the U.S. as a tourist and overstayed. What are her options now that she is out of status? What will happen if she decides to go back to the Philippines? Watch this fourth and final installment of “Your Tanong, My Sagot” in Chicago on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, June 26 at 7:00 PM PT (10:00 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. (Advertising Supplement)

Getting a work visa, options for an overstaying tourist, and how to petition a nanny – Just some of the immigration questions Atty. Gurfinkel answers on part 4 of ‘Your Tanong, My Sagot’ on Citizen Pinoy CITIZEN Pinoy’s “Your Tanong, My Sagot” will air its fourth and last installment from Chicago with leading U.S. Immigration Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel answering more immigration questions from Kapamilya in Chicago and its neighboring areas. Cora wants to know if she can petition her niece from the Philippines to work at her newly opened restaurant. Jeffrey’s friend entered the U.S. as a tourist, but overstayed.

He wants to know what options are available for his friend who is now undocumented, and if there are risks if she decides to return to the Philippines. Vany petitioned her daughter in January 2020 and received a receipt from the USCIS in February 2020. She is asking what are the next steps since she has not received any updates from the USCIS. Priscilla wants to know the required minimum income to be able to petition a

family member as a nanny or babysitter. Atty. Gurfinkel answers these questions and more in Part 4 of “Your Tanong, My Sagot,” with Kapamilya from Chicago. Watch this brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, June 26 at 7:00 PM PT (10:00 PM ET thru select Cable/Satellite providers), right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app. (Advertising Supplement)

JUNE 24-30, 2022 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

celebrityworld By Ferdie Villar ANOTHER Filipino beauty queen has slayed the pageant stage – Shane Quintana Tormes was recently crowned Miss Global 2022 in Bali, Indonesia. Held at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center on June 11, Tormes bested close to 70 contestants in this year’s edition to win the 2022 crown. Miss Malaysia Sandra Lim was first runner-up, Miss Australia Brooke Rankin was second runnerup, Miss Lithuania Sandra Boriseviciute was third runnerup and Miss Brazil Natalia Gurgel was fourth runner-up. Aside from winning the crown,

Tormes won the Miss Talent special award. The 8th edition of the pageant, hosted by Altaf Vicko and Natalie Glebova, also crowned the 2021 Miss Global winner, Jessica Da Silva of the UAE. On her way to the title, Shane displayed poise and the ability to think fast. She made a quick impact with a national costume that she called “Pearl of the Orient Seas,” one of the unique titles attributed to the Philippines. In the final round, all five finalists were asked to give their own interpretation of a

Elvie and Alex Angeles were guests at the recent 85th birthday party of beauty impresario and Celebrity World By The Bay columnist Ferdie Villar.

At Ferdie Villar’s (seated, front) birthday party were (from left) Elvie Angeles, Manny Caberera, Violet Orence and Joseph Cabrera.

Features

Shane Tormes wins Miss Global 2022 quote from notable women. Tormes elaborated on a quote from Hollywood star and activist Angelina Jolie (“Everyday we choose who are by how we define ourselves.”). According to a report from ABSCBN News, Tormes interpreted Jolie’s message by relating it to empowering young girls to create their own identities. “In the Philippines, I've started mentoring girls in 2016. I can truly say that we define ourselves in how we act in the community or how we serve others. I always wanted to encourage people and young girls to pursue their careers or whatever they wanted to move forward in life,” Tormes said was quoted as saying. “It's very important that we don't just define ourselves as an individual. It gives so much gratitude in heart to be able to carry out it with other girls, to encourage them to pursue their dreams in life. I always believe that life is like an echo, it gives back to you what you have given. So I encourage everyone of you to be fearless in the pursuit that sets your soul on fire.” Prior to being trimmed down to the five finalists, Tormes, along with the top 13, took part in the question-and-answer portion. She was asked to talk about Miss Global’s theme song, “Built to Last,” which she related to her own personal life. Tormes revealed that her mother passed away in December, but said that it motivated her to continue on to the pageant and do her very best. “Before my Miss Global journey, I just lost my mom last December due to cancer. And she was the very inspiration why I took the motivation to continue my journey. Built To Last, it means rebuilding my life until the very end. I believe that in every chapter, in every adversity, we have to stand up,” she said. She continued: “I believe that even though my mom is not physically here anymore, she has the best seat in heaven watching over me. And I believe, whatever you've set to, pray to, cried to, is the setup for your next best season.” Congratulations to Shane Tormes, another Filipina beauty who has made it big in the international beauty pageant scene! *** ABS-CBN Star Hunt artist

Colma hosts PH Independence day flag raising for second straight year COLMA – Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Ferrer joined the officials and residents of Colma, California on June 8, 2022 for the raising of the Philippine national flag, in what is becoming a yearly tradition for the San Francisco Bay Area town in celebration of Philippine Independence Day. In his remarks, Consul General Ferrer expressed his gratitude to the Colma government, led by Mayor Helen Fisicaro, for spearheading the Philippine flagraising ceremony for the second consecutive year. “In events like this, it gives me great joy and pride to see the national flag flying and the national anthem being played on foreign soil,” Consul General Ferrer said. Consul General Ferrer also thanked Colma’s leadership for its support to the sizeable Filipino and Filipino American Community in the town, and its recognition of the significant contributions of the more than four million Filipinos and Fil-Ams in the United States. “Colma is a special place for the Filipino Community. Not only is Colma the first town in the Bay Area to have both female Mayor and Vice Mayor of Filipino descent, but it is also the first to have elected two female Mayors of Filipino descent,” the Consul General added. Prior to the raising of the flag, Mayor Fisicaro presented to Consul General Ferrer a proclamation signed by all members of the Colma City Council, recognizing Philippine Independence Day, which falls on June 12. “Colma is proud to have strong ties to the Filipino and Filipino American Community; Colma has a significant Filipino and Filipino American population, as does the whole San Mateo County,” the City Council proclamation reads. “The Filipino community is also represented in our business community; the Town’s largest business, Lucky Chances Casino, is a Filipino American-owned business; Colma also has several Filipino American community organizations that help serve our community, including Pilipino Bayanihan Resource Center and ALLICE Kumares and Kumpares, a nonprofit organization

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Beaver Magtalas wants to have a long showbiz career. He is one of the lead stars in the upcoming action/sci-fi movie “Genius Teens.” Former Tourism Attache Rene de los Santos (left) is shown with May Philstar.com file photo birthday celebrant Ferdie Villar.

Beaver Magtalas is excited that the sci-fi fantasy film “Genius Teens” is finally coming out in July. Beaver is one of 27 teens chosen from a pool of 500 talents who auditioned to join the cast of the film, which started shooting in 2019 but was halted by the pandemic and only finished shooting and post-production this year. According to the Philippine Star, Beaver expressed the desire to have longevity in the industry. “It took us two years to finish. I really couldn’t go out before. Teenagers were not allowed. Only my parents were going out of the house. Finally, Genius Teens is going to be shown,” he said. “Doing this film was very exciting for me. I didn’t expect na magiging ganyan ang outcome ng film. It really exceeded my expectations. Getting into acting and improving my talents, the more fun it gets. I’m sure I want to stay long in this industry,” he added. Aside from “Genius Teens,” Beaver wrapped up another film, Julius Bergado’s “Tahanan ng mga Pangarap,” where he got the chance to work with veteran actress Deborah Sun. Aside from action/sci-fi, Beaver wants to make drama and romance films. “I love to do adventure, so those kinds of roles, I am excited

Shane Quintana Tormes is the newly-crowned Miss Global 2022. Photo above shows Shane during her homecoming press conference after her win. Photro from Instagram/@shaneytormes

to do,” Beaver, who also plays the guitar and the piano, admitted. “I know I can do those kinds of roles.” His journey to showbiz is a study in determination. In 2017, he had auditioned for Star Hunt in Cabanatuan but only went past the second stage. He had also auditioned for Pinoy Big Brother but did not get past the

final cut. Years later, he learned of another audition in Ilocos Norte which rekindled his enthusiasm for showbiz, and he convinced his parents, who have always been supportive of his endeavors, to accompany him. In 2021, Beaver signed a threeyear contract with ABS-CBN’s Star Hunt. g

Fil-Am actor Nico Santos joins ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ cast WRITER-DIRECTOR of Marvel Cinematic Universe’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” James Gunn officially announced that Filipino-American actor Nico Santos will be joining the film’s third installment. He wrote on Instagram Thursday, “Yes @nicosantos is in #GotGVol3. Hilarious and talented and sweet guy who, like me, got engaged during Vol. 3 because magic and love were in the air.” Santos has raised the Philippine flag in a number of Hollywood films and shows such as “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2” (2015) as Brian; “Crazy Rich Asians” (2018) as Oliver; and NBC series “Superstore” (2015 to 2021) as Mateo Liwanag which earned him a nomination for the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2018. He also appeared in the Off-Broadway play “Happy Talk,” in 2019.

“Punch me! I mean pinch me! We wrapped a month ago but I’ve thought about my time on set every day since. Thank you @ jamesgunn for your genius, kindness and for fostering and creating such an incredibly fun world to work and play in,” Santos reacting on his Instagram account. “I believe it was early nineties R&B songstress Gabrielle who said ‘Dreams can come true...’ Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go frolic in a meadow to celebrate all the joy I’m feeling,” the 43-year-old continued. Details about his character in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” is yet to be disclosed. But he will for sure be joining a powerhouse cast including fellow Fil-Am actor Dave Bautista, Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Sylvester Stallone, Karen Gillan, Elizabeth Debicki, Will Poulter, Chuk Iwuji, Maria Baka-

Filipino American actor Nico Santos is the newest addition to ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ franchise. Photo from Instagram/@nicosantos

lova, and Daniela Melchior. The movie is set to release May 5, 2023 in the U.S. (ManilaTimes. net)

Continuing a legacy of sharing and caring

PAGE 9 t

Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Ferrer (5th from left), joined by Colma Mayor Helen Fisicaro (4th from left), holds the Colma City Council proclamation which recognizes June 12 as Philippine Independence Day, following the raising of the Philippine flag in Colma, California on last June 8. With ConGen Ferrer and Mayor Fisicaro in photo above are (from left) Colma Councilmember John Irish Goodman, Colma Councilmember Joanne del Rosario, Colma Councilmember Diana Colvin, Consul Vanessa Bago-Llona, Vice Consul Adrian Baccay and Tourism Attaché Soleil Tropicales.

Officers from the Colma Police Department raise the Philippine national flag in a ceremony held at the Colma Community Center in Colma, California on June 8 as Philippine Tourism Attaché Soleil Tropicales (behind the podium) sings the Philippine national anthem. Photos courtesy of San Francisco PCG

dedicated to promoting healthier relationships,” the proclamation further said. Aside from Mayor Fisicaro, other local government officials in attendance include Fil-Am

Colma Councilmember Joanne del Rosario, Fil-Am Colma Councilmember Diana Colvin, and Colma Councilmember John Irish Goodwin. (San Francisco PCG Release)

to pursue this huge project. Instead, he used the remaining funds from a past housing initiative to build the St. Joseph the Worker Winnetka Community Center in Dasmarinas, not far from his hometown of Silang. A few days before the unveiling of the new community center, Tito Andy passed on but he left a legacy – both to the beneficiaries of the community center and his own family. On Tito Andy’s behalf, his nephew, Lhon Capagcuan expressed his desire to continue the good work and advocacy that his uncle started. This is wonderful news for GK and the residents and they are extremely grateful for Tito Andy and his family’s generosity. “First and foremost, we would like to thank Tito Andy,” started Gawad Kalinga Leader Louie Lagman. “On our own, we cannot afford to have a multipurpose hall built here in our area. Rest assured that we will maintain and improve this community center, and utilize it for our community’s various gatherings, seminars, and values formation sessions,” he shared. Meanwhile, GK Key Accounts Manager Bing Importante

talked about the impact of such an effort to the community. “Building a multi-purpose hall like this takes years, but it is all worth it because all the projects are really meant for the community to live a better life,” she said. “Both young and old can use the multi-purpose hall, but we hope everyone will help in maintaining it.” When a person passes, only

their physical presence is gone. They stay with us through memories treasured by people whose lives they touched, or tangible testaments of goodness that they have left behind. Tito Andy has already laid the foundation for a bright future; it is up to us now, the living, to carry the torch and shine a light on those who are in search of their path towards a good life.

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 24-30, 2022

Las Vegas to evolve as future new entertainment, sports capital of the world by RealtoR

Fely Quitevis-Bateman

THE potential is great for Las Vegas, and many companies are taking the opportunity to develop projects in the city. The Oak View Group, which is slated to build on 25 acres south of the Las Vegas Strip, recently released more details on its planned development, which it says will definitely be a game-changer – something that will “usher the evolution of Las Vegas as the new entertainment and sports capital of the world.” A state-of-the-art privately financed sports and entertainment arena, according to a recent news report, “will set a new global standard for events in Las Vegas.” That arena will also be NBA-ready should the National Basketball Association go through with their plans to expand their league (Las Vegas and Seattle are the two cities often mentioned as places that the NBA will expand to). The $1 billion, 20,000-seat arena at Las Vegas Blvd. and Blue Diamond Road, will be part of a $3 billion entertainment complex that is also expected to attract major events into the city. It will bring in a gaming partner to operate the planned hotelcasino in the development, while the group will be fully responsible for arena operations.

Aside from the arena and hotelcasino, the Oak View Group plans to build an amphitheater and convention facility. The entire project will take about 30 months to build, and should be completed by 2026. The site of the planned Oak View Group project is adjacent to the planned train station for a high-speed rail of Brightline that would eventually link Las Vegas and Southern California. Just imagine the opportunities that such a project would bring to the city! That high-speed rail project has been talked about for many years now, and it looks like the $8 billion project may be pushing forward. That will be a game-changer for Las Vegas as it will provide a transportation mode that will be clean energy – on zero-emission electric trains. The trip between Las Vegas and Los Angeles, which is 260 miles long, is expected to take 3 hours. The same group that is developing the high-speed rail project is looking at the possibility of building a major league soccer stadium on vacant land adjacent to the proposed train station. Soccer, which is a sport followed by millions of people worldwide, is gaining popularity in the United

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (middle) with her savvy investors both in Las Vegas and Pahrump, Dr. Philip Paleracio (left), the best dentist in Clark County and the City of Las Vegas, and Las Vegas auditor Virgilio Longakit Jr. (right). They are closing almost a million-dollar deal before June 30.

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman helps those who need business financing, including loans for small businesses. For more information, call (702) 538-4948 or send email to fely@preciousproperties.com or fely.precious@gmail.com. Another of Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman’s Turnberry Tower neighbors and clients is Gloria Estillore (right) of Cupertino, CA.

States. That arena would bring a tremendous boost to the city and continue its journey to truly becoming a sports destination as well. Las Vegas already has football, triple AAA baseball, women’s basketball, hockey and soccer teams, among the many professional sports teams that make Las Vegas their home. And talking about Las Vegas, the city has diversified itself to attract many other businesses and activities that present other opportunities for both residents and visitors to enjoy themselves with. Whether it is shopping, dining, relaxation, indooroutdoor sports, walking/hiking, watching musical acts or shows or nightlife, Las Vegas is no longer Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman’s (middle) young investors from Palm Springs, CA are Kenneth (right) and Angelica Games (left). Their offer of $550K for a house in Pahrump was accepted just a gambler’s paradise – it is a complete travel destinatioin by the sellers.

that needs to be experienced and savored. That diversification has led to development in Las Vegas and to its neighboring communities, with housing extending beyond traditional boundaries. The Las Vegas skyline and the popular Strip has grown by leaps and bounds, and it will continue to do so as more projects are being planned and developed. If you are in the market for real estate, be it land or housing, Las Vegas and its neighboring communities are worth looking at. Besides being more affordable than other high-priced cities, property values in Nevada keep improving, and that is a tremendous benefit for those looking to gain a foothold in property ownership. Areas like Pahrump, for

instance, which is 62 miles west of Las Vegas, is barely an hour’s drive. If you crave for an easier, medium-paced lifestyle away from the bustling city lights and heavy traffic, but still want access to the nightlife and various offerings that a big city houses, Pahrump may just be the ticket for you. It certainly is worth taking a look at – especially since property values in the area continue to trend upward. In fact, in April 2022, home prices in Pahrump were up at least 23.5% compared to last year, which median prices of homes pegged at about $395,000, per industry analysts. Some of my clients have begun reaping the benefits of their investments – either in the uptick of property values, or through their rental properties. Now is the perfect time to take a look at what’s out there in the market, whether it’s in bustling

cities like Las Vegas or emerging towns like Pahrump. And I can assist you in your search for that perfect piece of real estate or property for your needs. I bring a few decades worth of experience in real estate that will help you, my kababayans, in your search for real estate – whether it is for a new home, a second/ vacation home, an investment property, or a piece of land where you want to construct your dream home. My company, Precious Properties, is a full-service company that has served its clientele since 1992. You can reach me at 775-513-8447, 805559-2476 and 702-538-4948 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)

JUNE 24-30, 2022 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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The one and only Ferdie Villar celebrates th 85 birthday ENTERTAINMENT and beauty impresario Ferdie Syquia de Villar celebrated his 85th birthday at his South San Francisco residence, surrounded by his closest family, relatives and friends. At a Mass celebrated by Fr. Abraham Alonzo prior to guests partaking of the food brought in from Lech Go restaurant, many of the guests shared with Ferdie their feelings of joy and gratitude, commending him for his generosity, religiosity, kindness and friendship, along with wishes for a blissful and blessings-laden life and hope that the Lord grants him the strength to reach a milestone rarely achieved by many – a century of life here on Earth. Throughout the decades, Ferdie Villar’s flamboyant sense of style and as well as his personal anecdotes and experiences with many celebrities and dignitaries have only added to his legendary status in both sides of the Pacific. One need only to visit his home to see how he has hobnobbed with prominent personalities as shown by the photos that adorn the walls of his living space – rock ‘n roll legend Elvis Presley and boxing great Muhammad Ali, beauty queen Evangeline Pascual, Philippine/international entertainment heavyweights like Lea Salonga, Superstar Nora Aunor, Megastar Sharon Cuneta, Gary Valenciano, Martin Nievera,

Piolo Pascual, Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, and politicians/government officials such as California Gov. Gavin Newsom, congressional candidate and San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa and Philippine Senator Franklin Drilon, among countless others. Decades of discovering beauteous Filipinas and debonaire Filipinos to showcase in his social events both in the Philippines and the United States – and which he has featured also in his ongoing column Celebrity World By The Bay – has made Ferdie Viillar a legend in showbiz and pageantry circles. Indeed, entertainment and pageantry have become synonymous with Ferdie, who at one point was anointed as “The King of (Beauty) Queens.” Early in his life, Ferdie discovered his calling. As a young boy, he was active in school – editor of his school organ in San Juan de Letran in Manila and voted as Teenage Prime of the Year by the Evening News, a leading paper during the pre-martial law years. Ferdie founded and headed many clubs/organizations like the Manila Teenager Social Circle (which he presided over with Mila Magsaysay, daughter of the late Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay, Sr.), the Manila Youth Circle, Circulo Novo Ecijano and Sociedad Nasingpet. In the late 1950s to the 1960s, he was the Youth

Demisean of the Philippine National Red Cross and Special Events Chairman of big events like the 1956 Boy Scouts Jamboree (which was headed by the late movie actor and Ambassador Rogelio de la Rosa), the AntiTB Fund Campaign and Miss Red Feather Beauty Contest. In 1960, Ferdie was awarded by then-President Carlos P. Garcia as the “Most Outstanding Youth Leader in the Philippines.” In 1969, Miss Republic of the Philippines, or Miss RP, was held under Ferdie’s Spotlight Promotions. The winner was chosen as the official delegate of the country to the Miss World pageant. In that iteration of the pageant, runners-up were awarded as Miss Luzon (1st runner up), Miss Visayas (2nd runner up), Miss Mindanao (3rd runner up) and Miss Manila (4th runner up). Under Ferdie’s watch, the pageant produced Evangeline Pascual, who would finish second in the Miss World tilt in 1973. He relinquished the Miss World national franchise to the Mutya ng Pilipinas organization in 1977. Among Ferdie’s beauty discoveries is Charo SantosConcio, who would become Miss Baron Travel Girl in 1976, and later on embark on a fruitful movie career (resulting in criticallyacclaimed roles in the late Lino Brocka’s Gumapang Ka Sa Lusak and Mike de Leon’s Itim, among many others) as well as CEO and president of

ABS-CBN. Having a knack for finding beauty queens early on did not stop him from branching out to other things, notably in the entertainment field. One of his most enduring and endearing contributions to showbiz is the Box Office King and Queen awards, then known as Mr. and Miss Philippine Movies, and which is now given out by the Guillermo Mendoza Foundation. (When Ferdie Villar left for the U.S. in 1979, the rights to the Box Office King and Queen awards presentation went to the heirs of Guillermo Mendoza; the foundation has, since then, continued the tradition of handing out the awards to the best performing male and female movie stars via the performance of their movies at the tills.) The one and only Nora Aunor and Joseph Estrada (who would later on become president) were the first winners of the award. Aunor was crowned by the late and former Philippine Board of Censors chair Manoling Morato (who graciously offered his residence to Ferdie during Villar’s visits to Manila) and by 1969 Miss Universe Gloria Diaz, the first Filipina to win the Miss Universe crown. Aunor’s gown was designed and executed by none other than the dean of Filipino couture, the late Ramon Valera. Though it may seem that Ferdie’s stature and his association with political,

Ferdie Villar is shown with the King of Rock ‘n Roll Ferdie Villar with the late boxing legend Newly-conferred National Artist awardee Elvis Presley (right). Muhammad Ali (left) , who was in the Nora Aunor (right) with beauty impresario Philippines in 1975 for a boxing match with rival Ferdie Villar. Joe Frazier. Ali was invited to be a judge in one of Ferdie’s pageants during that time.

social and entertainment events dominate his life, there is one thing that Ferdie is most proud of – his deep sense of religiosity and belief in the power of God, which he credits to a strong Catholic upbringing. Among his prized possessions, and which has a prominent place in his home, is a statue of the Black Nazarene, which he inherited from his mom, Doña Mercedes Angco Syquia (+). He brought the miraculous statue with him to the U.S. when he moved here in the late ‘70s. Yearly, he organizes the annual Fiesta of the Nuestro Jesus Nazareno de Quiapo, or the Black Nazarene, at his home in South San Francisco. Held from January 1 to January 9, the fiesta is highlighted by the nine-day Novena, Rosary

Celebrity World By The Bay columnist Ferdie Entertainment writer Ferdie Villar with Asia’s Queen of Songs Pilita Corrales (left) with beauty impresario Ferdie Villar. Villar with current California Gov. Gavin Gary Valenciano (right), who is known as Newsom (right). Mr. Pure Energy in Philippine showbiz.

Beauty queen Evangeline Pascual (left), who finished as first runner-up in the 1973 Miss World beauty pageant in London is shown with Ferdie Villar, who was the holder of the Philippines’ Miss World franchise from 1969 to 1977.

Concert King Martin Nievera (left) with entertainment columnist Ferdie Villar

Megastar Sharon Cuneta (right) with Asian Journal entertainment columnist Ferdie Villar.

West End and Broadway award-winning star Lea Salonga (left) with beauty impresario Ferdie Villar.

Christian Bautista (left), the king of romantic songs, with entertainment writer Ferdie Villar.

Philippine Senator Franklin Drilon (left) is shown with Asian Journal entertainment columnist Ferdie Villar.

Multi-awarded actor Christopher de Leon (right, seated) with beauty impresario and entertainment writer Ferdie Villar.

Robin Padilla (left), actor and newly-elected senator in the Philippines, with beauty impresario Ferdie Villar.

Beauty impresario Ferdie Villar with beauty queen Jady Smith (left).

and Holy Mass. Devotees to the Black Nazarene have participated in this annual fiesta, and is one of the many long-standing celebrations in the community devoted to the miraculous statue. Despite his connections and accomplishments, Ferdie Villar has stayed grounded and true to himself. To many, there will only be ONE Ferdie Villar – an entertainment and pageant behemoth who has lived his life to the fullest, a person who has kept his integrity and earned the respect of his peers and colleagues, a father, uncle, relative and friend who continually cherishes and remembers the important people in his life, and, most of all, a deeply religious individual whose unwavering faith has become a beacon to all who come into his life.

Popular actor and heartthrob Piolo Pascual (left) is shown with Asian Journal’s Celebrity World By The Bay columnist Ferdie Villar.

Celebrity writer Ferdie Villar with Asia’s Songbird Regine VelasquezAlcasid (left) and Concert Queen Pops Fernandez (right) at a Bay Area concert of the two singers.

Celebrity World By The Bay columnist Ferdie Villar with TV host/comedian Willie Revillame (left) and comedienne/actress Pokwang (right).

Reel and real life couple Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes (seated) with beauty impresario Ferdie Villar (standing, right) and a guest at a Bay Area event.

A galore of well-known actresses and movie queens is shown with Ferdie Villar (seated, left), including Amalia Fuentes, Barbara Perez, Jean Lopez and Liberty Ilagan.

Features

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 24-30, 2022

KalayaanSF 2022 celebrates Piña Couture – An Anthony Cruz Legarda 124th declaration of Philippine 30-year Piña collection retrospective Independence Day with a picnic and concert at the park SAN Francisco Bay Area based KalayaanSF usually celebrates Philippine Independence Day with a grand production right at the heart of the City, either on Union Square or at City Hall. This year, however, after being derailed by the pandemic for two years, KalayaanSF has partnered with organizations in the newlydesignated Filipino Heritage District, SOMA Pilipinas in South of Market, and its constant collaborator, the Philippine Consulate General-San Francisco to present “KalayaanSF Picnic and Concert at the Park,” will be held at 5M Park at 44 Mary Street (between 5th, Mission and Howard streets) on June 26, 2022 from noon till 7 p.m. A new interesting activity that’s been added to this distinct celebration is the SOMA Pilipinas Independence Day Crawl. Participating organizations whose centers are in close proximity to each other, open their doors to showcase their culturally themed arts, crafts, cuisine, and introduce visitors to exciting opportunities. Participants are the San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center at 814 Mission Street, Balay Kreatives at 863 Mission St @ 5th St Across from the Westfield Mall, Kapwa Gardens at 967 Mission Street between 5th and 6th Street, and 5M Park at 44 Mary Street between 5th, Mission and Howard streets, where the picnic and concert will be held. The 3-day festivities commenced with a celebration of Jose Rizal called “Tertulia: Rizal and Friends” at the SF Filipino Cultural Center on Thursday, June 23. A Fashion Show and Gala, “Pina Couture” by eco fashion designer, Anthony Legarda and The Hinabi Project will be held on

Saturday, June 25th from 6 to 10 p.m. at the San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center. The SOMA Philippine Independence Crawl on Sunday, June 26 including the KalayaanSF Picnic & Concert at the Park, an outdoor cultural and heritage event featuring live entertainment, Filipino food, arts & crafts, and a Gawad Bayani award ceremony honoring local heroes. Picnic fun will include an Open Mic for the daring contestants. Concert performers include Maddie B, Retro Pop Band, Mika Gorospe, Rachel Bergado, Taraine Iana Jimenez, Lil Jordan, Zeyoncé Brown, Kariktan Dance Company, and other surprise guests! The cultural heritage district spanning 1.5 square miles honors 120+ history of Filipinos in San Francisco, and celebrates the community’s living legacy of making home, celebrating culture, building community and fighting for economic and racial justice in the rapidly gentrifying South of Market neighborhood. In 2016, the City of San Francisco officially recognized SOMA Pilipinas as SF’s Filipino Cultural Heritage District, under the leadership of the Filipino-American Development Foundation. SOMA Pilipinas is proud to be part of a community-in-action — and a grassroots movement carrying on the legacy of Filipinos fighting for recognition and racial equity. In 2017, SOMA Pilipinas was one of the first selected cultural districts for state designation by the California Arts Council and in 2018 received the prestigious National Endowment for the Arts “Our Town” grant for creative place-keeping. (KalayaanSF Release)

PG&E, PAPC-USA to host wildfire safety webinar July 14 event to provide updates on wildfire safety progress, new programs for 2022 and steps customers can take to prepare OAKLAND – PG&E will partner with Philippine American Press Club (PAPC)-USA to co-host a wildfire safety webinar in Taglish on Thursday, July 14 to share wildfire prevention plans in 2022 and listen to customers’ feedback. The webinar will feature a brief presentation, after which participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback to PG&E subject matter experts. The webinar targeting Filipino Americans will be from 3-4 p.m. PT. Register in advance at bit.ly/ RSVPWebinar2022. After registering, customer will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. A dial-in number is available for those who are not able to join online. The first 50 participants who register AND attend the event will receive an emergency radio provided by PAPC-USA. While the webinar will be conducted in Taglish, all PG&E customers are welcome to join. During the webinars, the PG&E team will discuss: • PG&E’s wildfire prevention efforts, including the company’s 10,000-mile undergrounding program in high fire-risk areas • Resources to help customers and communities before, during and after wildfire safety outages • Improvements and updates to PG&E’s safety technology and tools. For the full webinar events

schedule, information on how to join, recordings and presentation materials from past events, and to learn more about PG&E’s Community Wildfire Safety Program, visit pge.com/ wildfiresafety. More information and resources to help you and your family prepare for and stay safe in the event of an emergency can be found at safetyactioncenter.pge. com. Established in 1988, PAPC was founded by former members of the National Press Club of the Philippines who had immigrated to the San Francisco Bay Area and saw the need for US based FilipinoAmerican media group. All fierce advocates for truth, fairness, and excellence in journalism, they realized the vital role of media education and advocacy for the fast-growing Filipino population. They represented a small but influential set of local Filipino publications and broadcasters with offices in the Bay Area such as ABS-CBN, Asian Journal, Philippines News Today, GMA7, FilAm Star and Inquirer.net Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge. com and pge.com/news. (Advertising Supplement)

Sharon, Robin in talks for next movie together by Anne

PAsAjol Inquirer.net

SHARON Cuneta was surprised by actor-turned-senator Robin Padilla’s presence in her concert, as she revealed that the two of them are planning on making their next movie together. The Megastar had the first night of her “ICONIC” concert with fellow singer Regine Velasquez on Friday, June 17, where Padilla was in attendance with former chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo. Cuneta showed moments from their meeting while announcing their film plans, via her Instagram page on Saturday, June 18. “Our beloved friends surprised us, including number 1 senator [Robin Padilla] who came with Sec. Panelo!” she said. “P.S. Robin and I are now planning a movie together for you!” Cuneta can be seen hugging Padilla as well as posing for a photo beside him and Panelo. Other celebrities who attended the concert include Jolina Magdangal, Nikki Valdez, Rica Peralejo and Darla Sauler. Meanwhile, it can be noted that Cuneta and Panelo’s meeting was their first public sighting together after they hit headlines last March. It can be recalled that the actress-singer called him out for singing her song “Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas” during a campaign event. Cuneta and Padilla’s films together include the box office hit “Maging Sino Ka Man” in 1991, “Pagdating ng Panahon” in 2011 and “Unexpectedly Yours” in 2017, where they starred alongside Julia Barretto and Joshua Garcia, among others.

SAN FRANCISCO – Hand woven Filipino fabric is getting attention on global runways these days. Though it has been an uphill effort, thanks in part to fashion designers proud of these indigenous weaves and to organizations such as The Hinabi Project (THP) which is dedicated to the promotion, preservation, and practice of the Philippine/American weaving arts in natural fiber. For its first major exhibit of the year, THP together with KALAYAANSF, and in collaboration with the San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center, and SOMA Pilipinas, they proudly present Anthony Cruz Legarda’s retrospective piña creations. This fashion show and gala is part of the celebrations in honor of the 124th proclamation of Philippine Independence Day. The highly anticipated event will be held on Saturday, June 25 at 6-10 p.m. at the San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center at 814 Mission Street, Mezzanine, in downtown San Francisco. Cruz Legarda, a Filipino American fashion designer and textile technologist, incorporates authentic handwoven fabrics from the Philippines and Asia into distinctive American apparel as well as modernizes luxurious ethnic cloth for the eco-fashion world. CruzLegarda is proud of his involvement with Philippine-based organization, CustomMade Crafts Center, whose mission is to promote and expand the market for fairly traded and sustainable Philippine indigenous handicrafts that respects traditions. He has also partnered with the Philippine Textile Research Institute in the development of innovative Philippine fabrics that he transforms into authentic handwoven works of art. Currently, his creations are on display at the San Francisco Anthony Cruz Legarda International Airport’s Museum at the Harvey Milk Terminal. It will run from April 18 to November 2022. His works have been featured globally since 2007, dressing the top 8 finalists in the Miss Earth beauty pageant, which promotes environmental awareness. Since then his ecofriendly clothing collection has been featured in several fashion shows from Manila to Shanghai, Rome, New York, San Francisco and many more. He has been a featured artist at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, The Guggenheim Museum Theater in New York City, and The World Trade Center in Metro. In the past few years, Cruz-Legarda has partnered with the Autism Hearts Foundation in showcasing art works of autistic kids and their colorful paintings on piña fabric from shawls, and fans to Philippine traditional “ternos.” Cruz-Legarda pursued a degree in Fashion Merchandising at the City College of San Francisco and furthered his education at the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, graduating in Fashion Design. For more information on the Piña Couture, please contact Maya Ong Escudero at mayaoe@thehinabiproject.org. Tickets are available at https://tinyurl.com/2ekukyut.

JUNE 24-30, 2022 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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