JULY 30-AUGUST 2, 2022 Volume 32 - No. 60 • 2 Sections – 18 Pages
LA County avoids new mask requirements as cases decline by KLARIZE
MEDENILLA AJPress
LOS Angeles County has dropped the plan to reissue the universal mask mandate as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations have decreased over the last week, LA County Public Health said on Thursday, July 28. “As I noted last week, any indication that the county would soon be moving to the medium community level would be a good reason to not move forward with universal indoor masking,” LA County Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer said in a
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briefing on Thursday. She added, “It will be a welcome relief if this current surge has peaked.” The warning for a reinstate mask mandate came on July 14 when the county reported a “high” level of transmission, per a recommended metrics system provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Though the county currently remains in the high category, Ferrer said that the county is likely to drop to “medium” levels as local backlogged data are being collected. As reported in the Asian
USA
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Majority of AAPI voters have never been contacted by political parties, survey finds FOR the last decade, it’s been known that Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) voters comprise the fastest growing electorate in the United States. However, a recent study shows that AAPI voters are still largely ignored by political parties and organizations, rendering the diverse community underrepresented when it comes to policy decisions. The Asian American Voter Survey — which was released on Monday, July 25 by a coalition of AAPI-focused organizations — observed current political attitudes and voting behaviors among Asian American voters at a time whenthe spotlight is pointed at the collective civic AAPI identity.
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‘I was not allowed to have my own thoughts’: CA Courts start penalizing domestic abuse
Journal, LA County Public Health said they wouldn’t reissue the mask mandate — affecting many restaurants and bars, entertainment venues, educational settings, and retail shops — if conditions improve. Recent surges in positive cases over the summer prompted concern over whether or not the county will revert back to early pandemic protocols. The spread of the highly contagious BA.4 and BA.5 and the onset of monkeypox in LA County exacerbated the possibility of stricter public safety mandates. Previously, several jurisdic-
Filipinos trust US the most; China, Russia the least - Pulse Asia survey FILIPINOS are generally more trustful towards the United States while strongly wary of China and Russia, new survey results released by Pulse Asia suggest. The survey results released to the media on Friday, July 29, found that the Filipinos felt a "fair amount of trust" should be afforded to the United Kingdom, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, the United States, Germany and Australia. Those countries made up seven out of the ten countries the survey asked respondents about. The remaining countries were India, Russia and China, for whom 48%, 62% and 67% of respondents said they had "not too much trust" or "no trust at all," respectively. "In the case of Russia, nearly the same percentages of adults are of the view that the Philippines must extend either a fair amount or not too much trust in the said country (31% versus 36%). While as far as China is concerned, virtually the same percentages say the Philippines should either trust China a little (36%) or not trust the said country at all," Pulse Asia said. Of note, 31% of interviewees said they felt that the Philippines should extend "a great deal of trust" to the United States, the country’s longest ally both militarily and economically. 22% said the same for Japan. "For the most part, public opinion on the matter is essentially constant between September 2019 and June 2022," Pulse Asia said. In that time span, trust in Australia, China, and Great Britain improved by up to seven percentage points, while Filipinos who said the country should not trust South Korea PAGE A3
RUINS. A police line is placed on a ruined old house in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur province north of Manila on Wednesday, July 27, after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit the northern Philippines, shattering windows of buildings at the epicentre and shaking high-rise towers more than 300 kilometres (185 miles) away in the capital Manila. Photo courtesy of NDRRMC
Earthquake-battered Abra placed under ‘state of calamity’ by VALERIE
DAMIAN, ZACARIAN SARAO Inquirer.net
BAGUIO CITY — The province of Abra declared a state of calamity on Thursday, July 28, a day after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the province and rattled much of Luzon. This was declared through Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution No. 180 S. 2022, which was unanimously approved by the province’s council, citing extensive damage brought by the earthquake to the province. “In order for the Provincial Government of Abra
Debris of a construction site in La Trinidad, Benguet following the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Abra earlier on Wednesday, July 27. Photo courtesy of NDRRMC
to immediately address the needs of the people in the aftermath of the earthquake, it is imperative to declare the entire province of Abra under a State of Calamity,” said the provincial government in the resolution. Apart from the unanimous approval from members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Governor Dominic Valera also signed the resolution. According to the resolution, initial reports from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) showed that the earthquake caused damage to 80 percent of the total population of Abra. “Major infrastructure facilities, both private and government properties, were severely damaged,” said the provincial government in the resolution. It also stated that the earthquake destroyed power lines placing Abra into a province-wide blackout. According also to the PDDRMO, several houses, buildings, and bridges sustained damage due to the powerful tremor, which also paralyzed the operations of business establishments and displaced many of its citizens. Data also showed that at least 1,227 families had been evacuated, and 123 were reportedly injured. Five percent of the calamity reserve fund is authorized to be utilized to respond to the needs of the residents of the 27 towns there. Classes and work in the public sector, not including frontline services, have also been suspended in the province until August 1. PAGE A5
First case of monkeypox detected in PH PH to assert arbitral ruling at Infected Filipino, 10 close contacts under ASEAN foreign ministers’ meet strict isolation, monitoring at home, gov’t says
A JUDGE in Southern California embraced a new state law allowing victims to claim coercive control, that was designed to tip the balance in favor of women seeking child custody and restraining orders. It didn’t take long for Emily Caesar to realize that her husband Trevor had to have his way on everything — how she dressed, who she spoke with, how much she ate, where she went. He never let her forget that he was head of the household, Emily told the court. Emily provided written documents and audio to show how he had allegedly abused her time and again. “I felt I was not allowed to have my own thoughts,” she recalled. Her attorney, Minty Siu-Kootnikoff, filed for a temporary restraining order in February 2021 and custody of the couple’s then 6-yearold son. Siu-Kootnikoff was one of the first lawyers to The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently declared
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monkeypox a global health emergency. Photo courtesy of DOH
by NEIL
ARWIN MERCADO
Inquirer.net
by PIA LEE-BRAGO Philstar.com
MANILA — The Philippines will assert the 2016 arbitral ruling on the South China Sea issue at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia next month, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Thursday, July 28. “Secretary Manalo is expected to assert the 1982 UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and the arbitral award as the twin anchors of our actions and policies on the South China Sea,” said DFA Assistant Secretary for ASEAN Affairs Daniel Espiritu, referring PAGE A5 to DFA chief Enrique Manalo.
MANILA — The first case of monkeypox has been detected in the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) reported on Friday, July 29. DOH’s Dr. Beverly Ho said the case is a 31-year-old Filipino national who arrived from abroad last July 19. The case had prior travel to countries with documented monkeypox cases. Ho said the case was tested and confirmed positive for monkeypox through reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) done at the DOH Research Institute for Tropical Medicine on July 28. “The DOH detects the first confirmed
The 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting will be held in Phnom Penh from Aug. 2 to 6. At the meeting, the foreign ministers will be discussing ASEAN priorities for cooperation in 2022, the process of building the ASEAN Community, the directions for ASEAN development for 2025, COVID-19 response, ASEAN external relations, ASEAN centrality, as well as other relevant regional and international issues. On July 12, Manalo rejected attempts by China to undermine the ruling, saying the tribunal’s findings are “indisputable.” Manalo made the statement during the 6th anniversary of the Award on the South China Sea
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FROM THE FRONT PAGE
LA County avoids new mask... PAGE A1
tions — Beverly Hills, El Segundo, Pasadena, and Long Beach — announced that they would not adopt an indoor mask mandate even if one were implemented countywide. Critics of the mask mandate — including some members of the LA County Board of Supervisors — argue that imposing masking requirements shouldn’t be the first step in curbing the spread of
coronavirus. “I’m hopeful that we will now be able to move on from this heightened focus on masking mandates to what really matters — focusing on promoting the efficacy of vaccines and boosters, improving access to COVID-19 treatments, and continuing to educate our County’s residents on the benefits of masking,” LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said in a statement Thursday. "I am comfortable
leaving this decision in the public’s very capable hands.” Businesses may still choose to require masks within their vicinities as they have been throughout the pandemic, and masks are still required in health care settings, homeless shelters, cooling centers, corrections facilities and airports. Public health experts like Ferrer still recommend wearing masks in highly concentrated public spaces to avoid getting sick.
Majority of AAPI voters have never been... PAGE A1 The survey’s main takeaway is that even though more than two-thirds of AAPI registered voters are planning to vote in the upcoming midterm election, less than half have been contacted by the major parties. What’s more is that 52% of Asian Americans said they haven’t been contacted by the Democratic Party while 60% haven’t been contacted by the Republican Party. Among Filipinos who surveyed, 52% said that the Democratic Party hadn’t reached out to them and 57% said that the Republican Party hasn’t reached out to them. “Asian American communities, despite the progress we have made and increasing political power, are still being ignored by many politicians, to their detriment,” said Christine Chen, director of APIAVote. Among the “extremely important” issues among these subjects included health care, education, economy, public safety, and gun control. Notably, Filipinos were the largest group who considered health care (66%) an extremely important issue when deciding who and what to vote for.
“Many people, including candidates, think about Asian Americans as very singledimensional or dual-dimension, but they don’t think about these complexities and how to really appeal to the broader Asian American agenda,” Janelle Wong, co-director of AAPI Data, said in a press briefing. Following the trends shown in past surveys, the majority of the subjects of this survey support Democratic or left-leaning lawmakers and politicians. As a whole, 56% of Asian Americans consider themselves more leftleaning. However, Filipinos in the survey had the second-largest share of self-identified Republican or conservative voters, with 32% identifying as such. Likewise, 54% of Filipinos surveyed reported leaning more toward Democratic ideology. About 54% said they would vote for Democrats in congressional races and a majority agreed with generally liberal ideals: a more streamlined citizenship system, stricter gun laws, opposing bans on books and critical race theory, to name a few. Notably, 73% of Asian Americans today worry about
hate crimes and harassment, which is likely due to the uptick in anti-Asian hate incidents over the last two-and-a-half years. The survey was conducted in June 2022 and consisted of 1,601 voters of Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese descent. This survey’s main limitation is the makeup of its subjects as the Asian diaspora in America comprises of dozens more broad ethnic groups. However, this survey is only one of a few dedicated to the Asian American voting bloc, and the researchers are confident that more disaggregated data will lead to more race and ethicity-inclusive policies and attitudes among seats of power. Jiny Kim, vice president of policy and programs at Asian Americans Advancing Justice, said in a statement, “Asian Americans are part of a diverse community comprising over 50 different ethnicities and 100 different languages, so it is critical that we conduct this survey every two years because often we are either left out of the polling data or considered an afterthought in the numbers that get reported.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)
PH to assert arbitral ruling at ASEAN foreign... PAGE A1 Arbitration. He said the award and the UNCLOS are the twin anchors of the Philippines’ policy and actions on the maritime issue. Meanwhile, China has downplayed a warning by U.S. officials of rising cases of Chinese provocations in the South China Sea targeting other states with
maritime claims in the region. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the U.S officials’ remarks misrepresented the facts as the South China Sea is the common home of countries in the region. On July 26, deputy assistant secretary for East Asia at the State Department Jung Pak told a U.S. think tank event that Chinese provocations were increasing.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense Ely Ratner warned that considering China’s behavior, it would only be “a matter of time” before a major incident occurs in the region. Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian debunked the U.S. officials’ claim but admitted, “we are soberly aware that the South PAGE A3
MARKER UNVEILING. Mayor Abby Binay (left) and National Museum of the Philippines Director General Jeremy R. Barns lead the unveiling of the marker of the Old Presidencia of San Pedro Macati at Museo ng Makati in Barangay Poblacion on Thursday, July 28. It has has been declared as important cultural property by the National Museum of the Philippines. PNA photo by Avito Dalan
‘I was not allowed to have my own thoughts’: CA... PAGE A1 invoke a new legal tool California had enacted just a month earlier that allows victims to claim a pattern of “coercive control” — psychological abuse that does not necessarily end in physical harm. Siu-Kootnikoff, legal services director at Sojourn, a domestic violence shelter in Santa Monica, viewed the recently enacted law as the best tool for getting her client a legal remedy. “Domestic violence is about control, and is not limited to physical abuse,” she said, noting the new law is “critical to addressing abuse that is not dealt with in the criminal codes, yet is as damaging and destructive as a black eye or broken arm.” While not all judges are sympathetic, the conclusion of the judge who heard Emily’s case shows that at least a few jurists seem to have gotten the message. “The court’s views of domestic violence are evolving over the years,” Judge Michael J. Convey of the Los Angeles County Superior Court noted in his Feb. 5, 2021, ruling on the case, to “reflect more subtle, more insidious, if you will, behaviors that can be called violence or abuse.”
Convey agreed with SiuKootnikoff that what Emily had undergone for years was indeed coercive control, affirming what proponents say is the purpose of the reform, which is to give victims like Emily the benefit of the doubt. The 2020 California law, introduced by state Sen. Susan Rubio, herself a survivor of domestic abuse, widens the definition of domestic violence and allows victims to introduce evidence of coercive control in applications in family court for a restraining order or child custody. The coercive control law applies to civil, but not criminal, cases. California became the second state in the nation to adopt such a reform, following Hawaii in September 2020. In July 2021, Connecticut passed a law similar to California’s, with two additional provisions: It set up barriers that prevent abusers from dragging their partners to court for frivolous reasons, while also establishing a grant program for low-income survivors needing legal assistance when applying for a restraining order. Coercive control occurs when an abuser isolates an intimate partner from friends and
family, takes over their personal finances and surveils their activity, or uses verbal attacks to reinforce authority. It is “about domination and control,” noted David A. McLeod, an associate professor in the Social Work Department at the University of Oklahoma, who has researched and published papers on intimate partner violence. “If the abuser feels he is losing control, he will push his partner back into compliance.” The view from the bench Women’s rights advocates say enshrining the concept of coercive control gives family courts additional options to punish behaviors that have severe mental and financial consequences for victims and might become violent if not addressed early. But they acknowledge it is hard to convince court officials that victims who claim coercive control should be taken seriously. Indeed, the education of judges in how to apply the law will be key to its success. Chitra Raghavan, a women’s rights advocate and forensic psychologist at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, says it may take at least 10 years to know how well PAGE A3
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‘I was not allowed to have my own thoughts’: CA... PAGE A2 the laws are working. Drawn-out court battle Emily tied the knot with Trevor in 2011, two years after they began dating. She was 30 and he was 28. They ran their web designing business out of their home in Castaic, in Los Angeles County. But early on she also noticed how “controlling and narcissistic” Trevor could be, she said. In 2015, they divorced, sharing joint custody of their son, then a toddler. Three years later, they got back together, agreeing it would be better if Trevor were more involved in the child’s life, according to both parents. “He’s absolutely my world,” said Trevor about his son in a recent telephone conversation. But once they were back together, Emily said the abuse only intensified. In November 2020, when Emily was trying to get her son ready for school and sought Trevor’s help because the boy would not cooperate, Trevor held her by her arms and pushed her “multiple times” in front of their son, according to testimony. She included pictures of bruises on
her arm as exhibits. Trevor’s attorney, Matthew J. Chung, defended his client’s behavior on that day. “Emily was the one that was getting up in Trevor’s face,” Chung told the court. “Emily was the one who was yelling” at the boy. Trevor alleged that he was a victim too. “It’s difficult to summarize these very personal events,” he said over the phone. “But I can tell you there was a lot of violence perpetrated by her against me.” At the trial, Chung said that Emily smoked marijuana in the presence of their son to deal with her diagnosed anxiety disorder, diminishing her parenting skills. But Convey dismissed that allegation: “There has been insufficient evidence that this use of either prescription drugs or marijuana has altered or impacted her ability to care,” he said. He just as emphatically dismissed Emily’s accusations that Trevor was using nonprescription opioids and alcohol to excess. But in his ruling, Convey granted Emily a temporary restraining order against her ex
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for three years along with sole custody of their son. “I made mistakes,” Trevor said in an interview. But he said he found the judge’s decision distressing: “I’m having to entrust our child to someone who’s not stable.” Both Trevor and Emily were ordered to attend parenting classes separately, while Emily said she continues to attend court-mandated group therapy. Asked why she went back to Trevor after all she experienced, Emily said that’s a question she has often asked herself. “All that I went through,” she said, “is behind me now.” (Viji Sundaram/Ethnic Media Services) This article is part of a series on California’s coercive control law produced by the San Francisco Public Press, a nonprofit investigative news organization. It was excerpted, edited, and translated by Ethnic Media Services. Read the full story and others in the series at sfpublicpress.org/series/ coercive-control. This reporting was underwritten by a Domestic Violence Impact Reporting Fund grant from the Annenberg Center for Health Journalism at the University of Southern California.
Filipinos trust US the most; China, Russia... PAGE A1 too much also dropped by seven percentage points. Pulse Asia conducted face-toface interviews with 1,200 adult Filipinos from June 24 to 27 and reported error margins of ±2.8% good for a 95% confidence level. ‘Enemy of none’ Over his six years in office, former president Rodrigo Duterte was largely antagonistic towards the United States, which found itself on the receiving end of not-so-diplomatic rants while the then-chief executive cozied up to China.
After a 75-year history of diplomatic relations, Duterte time and time again threatened to scrap the Visiting Forces Agreement, which outlines the agreement for military exercises between the Philippines and the U.S. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at his first State of the Nation Address on Monday said that he would push for an independent foreign policy of being a "friend to all and enemy of none." “I will not preside over any process that will abandon even a square inch of territory of the
Republic of the Philippines to any foreign power...If we agree, we will cooperate and work together. If we differ, we will talk more until we agree,” he said. “But we will not waver, we will stand firm in our independent foreign policy, with the national interest as our primordial guide. We commit to maintaining good relations with the rest of the world,” he added. Diplomats have met Marcos to discuss cooperation between the Philippines and their respective states. (Philstar.com)
PH to assert arbitral ruling at ASEAN foreign... PAGE A2 China Sea is not entirely tranquil.” He noted that China and ASEAN countries jointly commemorated the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and agreed to continue to fully and effectively implement the DOC and actively advance consultations on a
code of conduct (COC) to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea and the region. According to Zhao, the South China Sea is not a place to be turned into a wrestling ground by big powers outside the region. In March, U.S. Indo-Pacific commander Adm. John Aquilino said that the construction of
missile arsenals, aircraft hangars, radar systems and other military facilities at Zamora (Subi) Reef, as well as Panganiban (Mischief) and Kagitingan (Fiery Cross) Reefs “appeared to have been completed.” The function of China’s artificial islands is “to expand the offensive capability of China,” he said.
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Kai rejoins 36ers still in pursuit of NBA dream A call for help from LA’s lifeline – deal by JOHN
BRIAN ULANDAY Philstar.com
After going undrafted in the NBA, Filipino wunderkind Kai Sotto is returning to the “Land Down Under” to rejoin the Adelaide 36ers in the Australia National Basketball League (NBL). “Let’s run it back, Adelaide 36ers,” Sotto announced last night on his social media account. The NBL followed suit in welcoming back Sotto for the 2022-2023 season, marking the 7-foot-3 Filipino’s second year in the Australian league. Sotto averaged decent
numbers of 7.52 points on 50-percent clip and 4.48 rebounds for the 36ers last season that served as his international pro debut. With the first Filipino cager in the Australian major league, the 36ers finished seventh with a 10-18 card in the NBL last season that was ruled by the Sydney Kings. After that season, the 20-year-old giant opted to throw his hat to the NBA draft sweepstakes last month but was not fortunate to be selected in the two-round proceedings. Sotto, who had a brief stint with Ignite in the NBA G
League before his detour to NBL, also did not see action in the NBA Summer League before signing with renowned Wasserman sports agency as his new representation. In the NBL for his second year, Sotto is expected to unleash his full potential under mentor CJ Bruton. The ultimate goal is to still make it to the NBA down the road. The NBL has been a gateway for some NBA prospects over the years like the Charlotte Hornets’ Lamelo Ball and the Oklahoma Thunder’s Josh Giddey, who played for the Illawarra Hawks and Adelaide, respectively.
Earthquake-battered Abra placed... PAGE A1 Meanwhile, the resolution also included a request for immediate assistance from all National Government Agencies for Disaster response, relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction support. The NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Timbal previously said that five people have already died due to the earthquake. Meanwhile, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned that aftershocks might occur for several days and even months. As of 7:00 a.m., Thursday, Phivolcs said it had recorded 808 total aftershocks ranging from Several buildings in Bangued town were damaged after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake jolted Abra on July 27. Photo courtest of PDRRMO magnitude 1.5 to 5.0.
First case of monkeypox detected in... PAGE A1 case of monkeypox in the Philippines,” Ho said in a press briefing in Malacanang. “The case has been discharged well and is undergoing strict isolation and monitoring at home,” she added. Ho said the case is “recovering well at home”. Close contacts also under quarantine Ho said DOH had completed its case investigation and identification of close contacts. “Ten close contacts were recorded, of which three were from the same household. All have been advised to quarantine and are being monitored by the
department,” Ho said. Ho said there are no symptoms so far for the close contacts as they remain under quarantine. She said that based on guidelines, close contacts need to quarantine for 14 to 21 days upon the onset of symptoms. “The DOH assures everyone that our public health surveillance systems [can] detect and confirm monkeypox cases,” she added. Screening The health official said the Filipino who contracted monkeypox underwent screening upon arrival in the Philippines. “We all know that the
symptoms do not necessarily come out earlier. Yung iba much later,” Ho said. As to passengers coming from abroad, Ho said the Bureau of Quarantine has screening questions about monkeypox. Temperature screening is also conducted in airports, she added. The World Health Organization earlier said the rapidly spreading monkeypox outbreak is a “public health emergency of international concern” – designed to signal that a coordinated international response is needed and could unlock funding and global efforts to collaborate on sharing vaccines and treatments.
would take humans out of human services by MARK HEDIN Ethnic Media Services
HUNDREDS of thousands of Los Angeles County’s most vulnerable residents know they can get help by calling 211. But depending on how the County Board of Supervisors vote on Aug. 3, the people who answer those calls – primarily women and people of color – are at risk on Jan. 1 of being replaced by computers. Health and social service providers fear the change will destroy the effectiveness of a system that’s been in place for 40 years if the Board agrees to take the contract for 2-1-1 services away from the nonprofit that’s been doing the work for 40 years and giving it to a big corporation with no such experience that proposes automating it. In June alone 2-1-1 responders in Los Angeles County received more than 42,000 requests for help from across the county – 307,564 in 2022 as of mid-July. Issues ranged from emergency
shelter needs to counseling, food assistance, and COVID-19 services, among many others. Although most calls were conducted in English (87%), 11% were in Spanish, with thousands more in languages as varied as Mandarin, Armenian, or Tagalog. The 2-1-1 lines are currently staffed by a team of 59 “community resource advisors” (CRAs) who are familiar with the network of mostly nongovernmental health, human and social services providers in the county. “Our CRAs regularly handle 600-700 contacts per month and a total of 7,500-8,500 calls per year,” said Alana Hitchcock of 211LA, the nonprofit organization that runs the call centers, in an interview with Ethnic Media Services. “It’s a very intensive training. Trauma informed, culturally informed, handling crisis calls, suicide, de-escalation, empathy, validation, assessments for stated and unstated needs,” Hitchcock said, adding, “Often people don’t know what to ask for, what’s
available.” According to Hitchcock, 211LA maintains a database of “approximately 50,000 health and social services available to Los Angeles County residents for free or low cost.” There is also a website, 211la.org available in more than 130 languages with filters to help people locate the services they need. As of July 15, Hitchcock said, the site had 747,950 users and more than 1.17 million pageviews this year – not counting the “FoodFinder” tool that generally has several thousand users per month. “Adding together the people we’ve directly assisted and the website, we’re already well over 1 million served this year,” Hitchcock said, “far beyond what the county pays for.” 211LA has been operating the program as an independent nonprofit since 1981 and currently gets $7.6 million annually from the county, good for 60% of its PAGE A7
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OPINION
FEATURES
Efficiency, not bloat
THE the rightsizing program at the top of his legislative priorities, it’s good to know that President Marcos has dumped proposals to create a Department of Disaster Resilience. The President announced his decision last Thursday, July 28, as he met with officials involved in the disaster response efforts in earthquakehit Northern Luzon. The proposed department was supposed to consolidate under one roof all agencies involved in prevention, emergency response and mitigation efforts during natural calamities and other major disasters. But any new department will still require its own offices with satellites nationwide, its own bureaucracy as well as “five undersecretaries and so many assistant secretaries” with their own staff, as pointed out by the President’s sister, Sen. Imee Marcos. Agreeing with his sister, the President said that instead of “another whole department,” he preferred “a specialist agency” that will oversee the various aspects of disaster response and mitigation. The country has the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, which is supervised by the Office of Civil Defense under the Department of National Defense. The NDRRMC works with the regional DRRM offices nationwide.
In recent years, there has been a growing propensity, in both the executive and legislative branches, to respond to a problem by creating a new executive department. The new office is then packed with people benefiting from political patronage, with little improvement in services and in addressing the problem. Even if an entirely new executive department is created for disaster resilience, other state agencies will continue to carry out their own programs for disaster prevention, emergency response, relief and recovery. These include local government units as well as the departments of environment and natural resources, the interior and local government, social welfare, national defense and health. What has always been needed is better coordination to improve disaster prevention, response, relief and mitigation. The objective must be efficiency, not additional bureaucratic bloat. (Philstar.com)
Editorial
Philstar.com photo
PBBM’s SONA: Roadmap to recovery
Babe’s Eye View BABE ROMUALDEZ FOR more than a week now, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has been working on his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) that he will be delivering tomorrow. The President has been getting inputs from his Cabinet secretaries and from other segments of society, including the private business sector, to elucidate on the roadmap for the next six years, not only for our economic recovery but to bring the Philippines towards a place that is “better than the one we lost before the pandemic,” as he had stressed in his inaugural address. From the President’s pronouncements, there is no doubt that he will be conducting a significantly different approach to our independent foreign policy. But while we will be strengthening relations with old allies such as the United States, we will also be reaching out to other countries, particularly within the ASEAN region, in order to pursue mutually beneficial en-
gagements while upholding our national interests. As the President had emphasized on several occasions, the Philippines must maintain good relations with the global community, considering that economies have become so interconnected today. And if we are to recover from the pandemic, we must work with allies and friends from the international community. Obviously, agriculture is also high on the priority list of President BBM, who has also decided to hold the agriculture secretary portfolio for now, knowing that the sector – described as the backbone of the economy – is crucial for the country to attain food security. To this end, the President has tasked executives of the Department of Agriculture to come up with a farm-to-market roads (FMR) master plan with priority areas to be identified in order to address supply chain issues. Meetings with the private sector were also held to come up with projects that could help our farmers. The President is also focusing on climate change and global warming because the
Philippines is one of the most vulnerable when it comes to the impact of extreme climate disasters. PBBM knows very well the kind of devastation that typhoons, earthquakes and other disasters can bring to people in provinces such as Leyte, where his mother hails from. The President’s climate change mitigation agenda dovetails very well with his advocacy for clean energy and renewables – something that he started when he was governor of Ilocos Norte where he built the Bangui wind farm that harnesses wind power to supply electricity. The province, which has been dubbed as the renewable energy capital of the Philippines, also utilizes solar and hydro energy. On several occasions, the President told me that he wants the United States to play a major role in helping us develop clean and renewable energy sources to avert a looming energy crisis. In fact, we have been in discussions with U.S. Special Presidential Envoy on Climate John Kerry as well as several U.S. energy companies on the impact of
climate change and alternative sources such as nuclear to accelerate the shift to clean and renewable energy. With regard to the economy, there is no question that the President’s appointment of the economic team managers that include Finance Secretary Ben Diokno and NEDA chief Arsenio Balisacan has not only been well received but also lauded even by those who did not vote for him. For obvious reasons, I am not accustomed to praising relatives, but one cannot help but recognize someone who has stood out as the biggest asset of the President: presumptive House Speaker Martin Romualdez. Speaker Martin’s experience in the legislative branch has been described as “par excellence” because of his exemplary work, having authored over 290 bills including RA 10754 that expanded the benefits and privileges of persons with disability. This is not surprising because when he first ran as congressman for the First District of Leyte in 2007, it was out of a desire to give
back to the people. He went around the province when he was young and met with fellow youth leaders for livelihood, financing and other projects for out-of-school youth. I must admit – I admire Speaker Martin’s energy and extremely pleasant personality that enables him to “unite” legislators from different party affiliations to push for the timely passage of important bills such as the two Bayanihan laws during the height of the pandemic, and the COVID-19 vaccination program law that is crucial to our economic recovery. In fact, the presumptive Speaker is known for being a “consensus builder” – necessary in the world of politics to get proposed bills moving in Congress. Anyone who knows Speaker Martin finds him amiable – particularly members of Manila Golf where he has been president for many years. He is basically an all-around type of person and I find him extremely astute and very good at anything that he sets his mind on. While younger than me,
Martin is street smart, resourceful, intelligent and has a good feel for people. He is highly educated, having obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Government at Cornell University, then went to Harvard for a Certificate of Special Studies in Administration. He finished his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines College of Law, and bravely joined the Upsilon Sigma Phi – the oldest Greek-letter fraternity in Asia – in 1985. Incidentally, Martin is currently the chairman of the Upsilon Sigma Phi Alumni Association. I am of the strong belief that the country is fortunate to have a young and progressive Speaker like Martin Romualdez, and we certainly wish him well as he takes on the leadership of the House of Representatives in the 19th Congress. (Philstar. com) *** Email: 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.
The Rodrigo Duterte phenomenon revisited
Vantage Point VAN YBIERNAS AFTER Rodrigo Duterte called Ferdinand Marcos Jr. a “weak leader” and a “spoiled child” during a pre-recorded speech in Mindoro on Nov. 18, 2021, I realized how little I knew about the latter outside of being the only son of Ferdinand Sr. I mention this because I have seen clips of Marcos Jr. answering live questions incoherently. Duterte, for his part, famously leaves most of his sentences hanging. The elderly Duterte has dropped out of public view for days at a time, sparking speculation — often malicious — from critics that something bad had happened to him. By comparison, Marcos Jr. has not been as active as most newly elected presidents have been early in their terms. Duterte did not strike me as a micromanager, unlike former presidents Gloria Macapagal Arroyo or Fidel Ramos, for instance. Marcos Jr. strikes me as the same. He does not look to be hands-on in government affairs. Of course, he has only
been in office for less than a month but his habits have become quite apparent. If Duterte and Marcos Jr. are alike in many ways, why would the latter be a “weak leader” in contrast to the former? Context is key. While Duterte leaves his sentences hanging for the most part during speeches or whenever he fields questions from reporters, the public behaves as though they know what he is talking about. Rodrigo’s leadership brand is “action speaks louder.” Filipinos understand — at least they think they do — what Duterte means because of the events on the ground. In the case of Marcos Jr., action has been few and far between during his initial days in office, unlike Duterte’s gruesome (literally) opening salvo as president. Duterte does not micromanage but the Filipino people seem to have no problems with it — Rodrigo’s approval and trust numbers as president have been phenomenal over his six years in office. I surmise this has to do with the harmony between Duterte’s public declarations concerning his administration’s
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte
PNA photo by Avito Dalan
direction with the public’s lived experience of them. Duterte’s leadership is felt on the ground, not heard. For Marcos Jr., it is too early to tell whether the government machinery will produce the kind of results he has promised in his speeches and statements. Concerning Duterte’s prolonged absences on a number of occasions, critics tried to extract mileage out of this but it did not work because, as mentioned, government functions on the
ground were perceived to be largely consistent with the promises made by him. Thus, it did not really matter if Duterte disappeared from time to time because the government functioned as promised and as expected. Marcos Jr.’s absence from public view may be excused, in a manner of speaking, because he caught the Covid-19 virus recently but there are rumblings in social media that he has not yet left his mark on governance. Marcos Jr.’s
hardcore supporters have asked for patience and understanding but he is being unfavorably compared to Duterte in his first days in office when he went on a grueling speaking tour of military bases all over the country. Simultaneously, Duterte loomed large over his bloody war against illegal drugs. Thus, the key here is how Duterte established his brand of leadership very early. Marcos Jr. has not. Duterte started like a house on fire, furious in activity and results. He was bombastic in his promises to the Filipino people about ridding the country of illegal drugs and crime (in three to six months). Duterte was able to electrify the whole country through this in an unbelievably short period of time. Afterwards, the Duterte administration further captured the imagination of millions of Filipinos, making them believe that their government and leaders faithfully served the needs of the country. Each positive action taken by the government, in education, health, the economy, the welfare of overseas Filipino workers, among other important national (and
international) concerns looked like it had the distinct handprint of Rodrigo. Duterte was able to gain the trust of the Filipinos, making him virtually invulnerable to criticism and mudslinging. The “Tatay Digong” persona seemed apt. Filipinos viewed and revered Duterte as the father of the nation in the sense of being a provider, defender, protector, among others. His critics obviously have a different image of Duterte in their minds but I have never ever seen an outgoing president get 87-percent approval ratings. In contrast, Marcos Jr. started his presidency with barely a whimper. He has not had anything to feed a Filipino public eager for instant gratification so far. Compared to Duterte during his initial days in office, Marcos Jr. looks quite lost and perplexed. Is the situation fair for Marcos Jr.? Crying is not an option. He needs to do something about it. (ManilaTimes.net) *** 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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Sandiganbayan rules Marcoses only get to keep 4 properties MANILA — The Fourth Division of the Sandiganbayan said in a recent decision that the Marcos family will only get to keep four properties, in a partial reversal of a 2019 ruling that said the first family did not need to return P200 billion in ill-gotten wealth. In a 12-page ruling on July 22 but only made available Tuesday, it was revealed that the government partially won its appeal on the 2019 decision as the court ruled that a “sweeping dismissal … on the ground of the Best Evidence Rule … is not warranted, considering that many of the subject properties have long been recovered by the government.” A status report provided by the Presidential Commission on Good Government attached in the recent ruling showed that a substantial amount of the Marcos loot that is the subject of the case has already been seized and taken control of by the
government. This includes the stocks of 10 companies, P934 million and $8 million worth of deposits in a bank account, 13 real estate properties, 10 land titles and 526 art pieces. Other companies no longer exist, while others are now in possession of private persons or local governments. What remains with the Marcoses, as per the PCGG report, is the Currimao Beach House which is registered under the name of former President Ferdinand Marcos, a house in Pandacan, Manila, the Batac Museum and the Batac Guest House. The court said that it allowed the PCGG to submit more evidence in support of its report, but this did not come as it said that “all material and relevant documents and pieces of evidence for the instant case have already been presented during trial.”
“Considering that the evidence already offered by the plaintiff during trial do not sufficiently establish its claims as to the properties mentioned above that are purportedly still within the Marcoses’ control, the court is constrained to deny the plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration … as regards the said properties,” the Sandiganbayan said. The decision was penned by Associate Justice Alex Quiroz and concurred to by Associate Justices Maria Theresa MendozaArcega and Maryann CorpusMañalac. The resolution came out just a day before Quiroz was appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as chairperson of the Governance Commission for Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations. Quiroz said he is going to avail of optional retirement for him to occupy the position appointed to him. (Xave Gregorio/Philstar. com)
TALAVERA Philstar.com
MANILA — Various business groups remain optimistic about the country’s continued economic growth this year, as envisioned by President Marcos in his first State of the Nation Address recently. Speaking at the Pandesal forum on Thursday, July 28 Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) president George Barcelon said he expects the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) to grow by seven to eight percent this year. Barcelon attributed the optimistic forecast to the continuation of major projects such as Build Build Build as well as the continued remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). While acknowledging the impact of global geopolitical issues, particularly on energy and food commodities, Barcelon emphasized that the negative effects are beginning to taper off, saying crude oil prices have been going down in recent weeks. He also cited the arrangements between Russia and Ukraine regarding the exports of wheat. Earlier this month, Russia, Ukraine, the United Nations and Turkey signed a deal to reopen three Ukrainian Black Sea ports for grain exports, according to a Reuters report. “So those are good indicators that the economy will not be held hostage because of these uncertainties,” Barcelon said.
The PCCI president also noted that there is demand for the country’s exports. “It would be higher if not for these logistics problems that we’re facing both in North America and Europe,” Barcelon said. “Having those that are anchors – the range of GDP growth at least should be seven to eight percent (this year),” he said. He also expressed confidence in the new administration’s Cabinet secretaries: “They are all familiar names with track records.” Barcelon added that the PCCI is scheduled to meet with some of the new secretaries to discuss how they can work together. “We’re stepping together as partners. So I am very confident of our country’s rebound and economic growth,” Barcelon said. For his part, Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) president Henry Lim Bon Liong said his group is expecting GDP growth to hit seven to nine percent, also citing OFW remittances as one of the growth factors. In addition, Lim stressed the importance of developing the agriculture sector toward selfsufficiency. With President Marcos taking the helm of the Department of Agriculture, the FFCCCII head said he is eager to see how the government would navigate the agency. Employers Confederation of
A call for help from LA’s...
PAGE A5 budget. Other funding comes from contracts with the State of California, LAHSA (Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority), SoCal Gas, Southern California Edison, the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons), and foundation grants, including from the National Institutes of Health. In a 2017 audit, the county found it had saved $11.9 million over the previous five years by not allowing for adjustments to 211LA’s 2005 contract to cover increased demand or CPI (consumer price index) increases. As a result, it found, 211LA has been understaffed and callers have faced longer wait times, which can have a domino effect, Hitchcock explained, as CRAs need to de-escalate frustrated callers who may try to get help for more issues on that one call. But under a proposed 10year contract before the County Board of Supervisors, 211LA will be replaced by the New York accounting and consulting giant Deloitte. Deloitte would use artificial intelligence programs and “chat bots” to further automate the work 211LA does, receiving a base pay of $114 million over the life of the contract, without some of the mandates 211LA has, including living wage requirements for staff. Fully funding 211 services as they are now, the organization estimates, would run $16 million per year. Although there are 211-type services run by local jurisdictions throughout California, across the country and in Canada, Deloitte, long one of the biggest accounting firms in the country, has no experience in 211 work. And a fully automated system such as Deloitte is advocating, Hitchcock said, may not work well for people who have language barriers, don’t have tech literacy, and are in crisis to begin with.
“They’ve lost sight of the human service quality,” she said. “We really feel it would be a disaster for the community.” Despite cost overruns and performance issues going back decades, California agreed to new contracts with Deloitte for its overwhelmed Employment Development Department (EDD) call center early in the pandemic when millions were pushed out of work. But EDD data found that starting in late September of 2020, only 5.5 million of almost 80 million calls directed to it were answered. By January 2021, fewer than 5% of those calls were being answered. California declined to renew the Deloitte contract in February 2021. “Deloitte’s poor track record of public service response and their plan to heavily rely on chat bots to address urgent social needs of L.A. County callers is moving counter to every one of the leading 2-1-1s across the country,” said Erik Sternad, executive director of 211 Ventura. “These 2-1-1s like in Ventura County are moving toward greater service integration, more personal human engagement to address the complex situations that 2-1-1callers are in.” Gloria Cruz of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles pointed to Deloitte’s history of working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “Our organization is alarmed,” she said, adding that 211LA “has been a trusted partner and a critical agency getting important information to immigrant Angelenos.” Advocates for Los Angeles’ 2-11 call system remaining under current management are urging people to contact their county supervisor to oppose adoption of the proposed contract. *This story has been updated to show the date for the upcoming vote scheduled for Aug. 3 on the proposed contract.
US Secretary of State Blinken to meet Marcos
SECRETARY of State Antony J. Blinken will visit the Philippines in August as part of a five-nation, 10-day swing that includes Cambodia, South Africa, the Deomcratic Republic of Congo the Philippines and Philippine and Rwanda, according to a Exporters Confederation Inc. statement released by the U.S. president Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. Embassy on Friday, July 29. Blinken, the U.S. Embassy said his group would wait for the said, will visit Manila on August Department of Finance to make a 6 to meet with President GDP forecast. Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos
Businessmen forecast 7-8% GDP growth this year by CATHERINE
RIVER CLEANUP. Marikina City personnel remove the water lilies and other debris stuck beside a pontoon bridge at the Marikina Riverpark in Marikina City on Friday, July 29. Workers took advantage of the fair weather in removing the debris. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon
Jr. and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo to discuss bilateral efforts to "strengthen U.S.-Philippines alliance, including through increased cooperation on energy, trade, and investment, advancing our shared democratic values, and pandemic recovery". Before his trip to Manila, Blinken will first travel to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from August 3 to 5 to participate in the U.S.-
Asean Ministerial Meeting, the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting, and the Asean Regional Forum, the U.S. Embassy said. It said that at each ministerial, the Secretary will emphasize the United States' commitment to "Asean centrality and successful implementation of the Asean Outlook on the Indo-Pacific". He will also address the
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COVID-19 cases still rising – DOH by RHODINA
VILLANUEVA Philstar.com
BACK TO SCHOOL PREPS. Customers take a look at school supplies being sold at a store along Recto Avenue in Manila on Thursday, July 28. The Department of Education earlier announced that School Year 2022-2023 begins on August 22 under blended learning modes, while full face-to-face classes start on November 2. PNA photo by Rico H. Borja
Padilla admits he’s struggling with plenary debates by DAPHNE
GALVEZ Inquirer.net
MANILA — It was a baptism of fire so to speak and Senator Robinhood Padilla has confessed his ears are somewhat bleeding. The neophyte legislator admitted Thursday that he had difficulty following plenary debates because his colleagues normally engage in debates in English. And so, he would make sense of the floor discussions by reading about them in the Senate journal the next day. He also said his staff would brief him. “Nahihirapan lang ako pag nage-Englishan na, medyo ‘pwede dahan-dahan lang?’ Gano’n. Kaya mahalaga ‘yung journal eh, kaya binabasa ko ‘yung journal kasi nandun lahat eh, mahalaga ‘yun,” Padilla told reporters during an interview in his first week as senator. (Whenever they speak English, I find it difficult to understand what they are saying. It was like, ‘hey, could we slow it down?’ So that’s why the journal is so valuable. All the proceedings are in it, so I read it.) “Nakatunganga ako. Tangotango. Bukas mababasa ko sa journal ito,” he added. (I just try to listen. And I just nod. Tomorrow I will read about it in the journal.) Padilla, however, clarified that he could still comprehend some of the conversations. A challenge comes when senators debate and use English words which may require the use of a dictionary. “Hindi naman lahat hindi ko naiintindihan. Kapag gumamit lang sila ng mga English na pangdictionary, marami talaga eh,” the
MANILA — The country’s positivity rate for COVID-19 went up to 14.8 percent this week from 12.5 percent last week, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Thursday, July 28. At the same time, the DOH said it has recorded more than 3,047 cases per day this week, which is 32 percent higher compared to last week’s cases. At a virtual briefing, Beverly Lorraine Ho, DOH officer-in-charge undersecretary of the public health services team, said the National Capital Region (NCR) has the highest daily moving average of 1,100 cases per day. “This was followed by the rest of Luzon with 700 cases per day, and by the Visayas and Mindanao areas, though the rise in cases here was slow,” Ho said. Ho clarified though that, nationally, the country will still be under the low risk classification with a daily average attack rate of 2.43 cases per 100,000 population, with all regions showing increase in cases in the recent one to two weeks. “That is the trend now, though all regions are still under low risk classification,” she added. Ho stressed that while there is an increase in cases, less than 1,000 cases of severe and critical admissions were recorded since middle of March. “The rise in cases didn’t mean rise in hospital admissions,” she said.
As of last Tuesday, 734 cases or 8.32 percent of total admissions were severe and critical. Of the total admissions, 16.49 percent were classified as asymptomatic and 40.97 percent mild. Ho also revealed that the DOH has recorded 1,997 cases of the highly transmissible Omicron subvariant BA.5 and 154 cases of the subvariant BA.2.12.1 in the country. “All regions detected the (BA.5) variant except Region 12 and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARMM,” she said. She noted that there were 29 cases in Region 1; 59 in Region 2; 46 in Region 3; 13 in Region 5; 252 in Region 6; five in Region 7; one in Region 8; five in Region 9; one in Region 10 and one in Region 11. Out of the 890 cases, 650 are fully vaccinated, 18 are partially vaccinated while the vaccination status of the remaining 222 still being verified. Include antigen results The OCTA Research group on Thursdsay urged the DOH to include antigen test results in the official COVID-19 case counts, noting that fewer reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests are being conducted compared to previous surges. “During the Delta surge, there were about 300 daily tests per 100,000 people (in NCR). During the Omicron surge in January, testing was really
stretched to about 400 per day,” OCTA fellow Guido David said in a webinar organized by the Cardinal Santos Medical Center. David said the actual number of cases may be significantly higher than the reported 2,000 to 3,000 per day because of the low testing rate. “We’re not saying that there should be more testing necessarily because there are antigen tests being conducted,” David said. “But we’re hoping that data from antigen tests could be incorporated in the numbers that are being reported.” Under the present guidelines, only positive results from RT-PCR tests are included in regular case reports released by the DOH, even as the cheaper antigen tests became more common in recent months. OCTA fellow Ranjit Rye expressed support for President Marcos’ pronouncements regarding the health sector during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA). These include sustaining the vaccine and booster programs, revising health protocols and alert systems, building more health centers and hospitals, improving the welfare and hiring more health personnel and ensuring accessibility to cheap and effective medicines. “All of these disparate initiatives should be part of one comprehensive masterplan as roadmap or blueprint for moving out of the pandemic,” said Rye.
US Secretary of State Blinken to meet...
PAGE A7 "COVID-19 pandemic, economic cooperation, the fight against climate change, the crisis in Burma, and Russia's war in Ukraine". Neophyte Senator Robinhood Padilla (left) consults with Senator Ronald dela Rosa during the The U.S. Embassy said second day of the regular session of the 19th Congress at the Senate on Tuesday night, July Blinken will meet bilaterally with 26. PNA photo by Avito Dalan Cambodian Prime Minister Hun up the words in a dictionary.) senator said. Sen and Deputy Prime Minister The political rookie said that and Foreign Minister Prak (My problem isn’t that I don’t understand everything. A dictionary during his first week, he felt Sokhonn to discuss "U.S. support would only be needed if they used “happy” and “excited” about his for Asean and efforts to strengthen new job. English words.) our bilateral relationship with But he admitted he still needs to Cambodia". “Lalo ‘pag nagtatalo na. ‘Yun naglalabasan ng mga webster get used to the culture and “break Secretary Blinken will also doon. Medyo dumudugo tenga ko. in” to the inner circle in the Senate. engage with alumni of the Young “Hindi pa masyado. Pinipilit Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative. Hindi naman ako pinagsalita eh,” naman ni Senate President na Padilla also said, laughing. Blinken will then travel to (Especially when they are ma-welcome ako. Siyempre bago South Africa from August 7 to 9 to arguing already. That’s the time ka eh, parang sa eskwelahan din, launch the "U.S. Strategy for Subthat dictionaries come out. My ears ‘pag bago ka, makisama ka muna. Saharan Africa, which reinforces are somewhat bleeding. It’s a good Pinipilit ko naman makisama,” the U.S. view that African Padilla said. thing I am not asked to speak.) countries are geostrategic players (I am not in the circle yet but the and critical partners on the most “Ang journal ko, may mga linya. ‘Pag may linya ‘yun ibig sabihin Senate President tries to make me pressing issues of our day, from kailangan ko ng dictionary,” he feel welcome. But, of course, I’m promoting an open and stable new. It’s like in school. When you’re international system, to tackling further shared. (I have marked my journal with new, you need to adjust first. So I’m the effects of climate change, food lines. Lines mean that I have to look trying to adjust.) insecurity and global pandemics,
to shaping our technological and economic futures". In Pretoria, Blinken will lead the U.S. delegation to the U.S.-South Africa Strategic Dialogue to "reinforce and deepen its commitment to bilateral cooperation on global issues as well as a wide range of shared priorities, including health, infrastructure, trade and investment, and climate". In Johannesburg, Blinken will join in the South African celebration of National Women's Day. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo where he is scheduled for August 9 and 10, the Secretary will meet with senior DRC government officials and members of civil society to discuss "mutual interest in ensuring free, inclusive, and fair elections in 2023, promoting respect for human rights and protecting fundamental freedoms". "He will also focus on combating corruption,
supporting trade and investment, addressing the climate crisis, building agricultural resilience, and support regional African efforts to advance peace in eastern DRC and the broader Great Lakes region," according to the U.S. Embassy statement. The Secretary will end his 10day tour in Rwanda where he will stay from August 10 to 12 to meet with senior Rwandan government officials and civil society members to discuss shared priorities, including peacekeeping. "The Secretary will focus on the role the government of Rwanda can play in reducing tensions and ongoing violence in eastern DRC," according to the U.S. Embassy. He will also raise "democracy and human rights concerns, including transnational repression, limiting space for dissent and political opposition, and the wrongful detention of U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident Paul Rusesabagina". (ManilaTimes.net)
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MSG Sphere in Las Vegas is on track for late 2023 opening by RealtoR
Fely Quitevis-Bateman
EXPECT Las Vegas to always be in the forefront of groundbreaking venues. In the second half of 2023, Madison Square Garden Entertainment’s one-of-a-kind shaped venue, the MSG Sphere, will debut. It is located just east of the Strip and near the Venetian. It is the largest spherical structure in the world, and is a reported 516 feet wide and 366 feet tall. The MSG Sphere is a project of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, which owns the Venetian, and MSG Entertainment. When completed the MSG Sphere will be able to host anywhere from a 17,500 to 18,500 seated audience, which can ultimately expand to 20,000 when standing room is added, on seven levels. It is going to be built at a reported cost of $1.9 billion. The Sphere is connected to the Venetian Expo by an indoor pedestrian bridge.
According to news reports, the MSG Sphere will be able to host a wide variety of events, including concerts, corporate events, musical residencies, custom-made live or pre-taped events, product launches and sporting events (boxing, wrestling or mixed martial arts, but reportedly not basketball or hockey). What makes the venue stand out, aside from its shape, is a curved interior display plane that is about 160,000 square feet, and standout resolution that should blow people’s minds. According to an official, “the display wraps from behind the stage over the top of the seating sections and goes all the way back behind the audience.” To create a fully immersive experience for the audience, the company is working on 4-D technologies, such as immersive seating, evocative scents and changing temperatures that will take attendees’ experience to a
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.
Day and night view (above, left and right) from the penthouse balcony of Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman of the MSG Sphere, which is scheduled to open in the second half of 2023. The Sphere will provide a fully immersive, state-of-the-art experience for audiences. At 366 feet tall and 516 feet wide, it is reportedly the largest spherical structure in the world.
whole new level. It is also working with German electronics firm Holoplot to have beam-forming audio comprising of 164,000 speakers that will deliver consistent, targeted and crystalclear audio to every guest. And viewing is not limited to its interiors. The exterior shell, or exosphere, will have the ability to show programming. The 580,000-square-foot, fully programmable outer shell will be a canvas where content creators can display elaborate visuals for brands, events, and artists. Imagine seeing your favorite artist, band, celebrity, product and whathave-you on a grand scale… it will surely push content developers to go out of their boundaries as the exosphere can be seen from quite a distance. It could become quite the attraction for those in Las Vegas already, or those flying in by plane due to its size. As traveling has resumed after strict lockdowns due to the pandemic, Las Vegas has experienced considerable gains in passenger traffic in its airport, with a reported 4.7 million travelers arriving or departing in June 2022, which is a 23% increase from the past year. Similar to when the Luxor debuted in the 1990s and people regaled at the beam of light emanating from the top of the pyramidical structure, the MSG Sphere can be quite the sight for those coming in from the sky and looking at the Las Vegas skyline. And since MSG Entertainment is one of the partners for the Formula 1 race taking place in 2023 in Las Vegas, it is a safe bet that the exosphere will play a part in enhancing the racing experience for both drivers and spectators. The racecourse will actually have the drivers racing around the MSG Sphere’s exteriors before it takes
Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (left) met recently with Nye County Chief Planner Brett Waggoner (middle) and newly-elected Nye County Commissioner Ron Boskovich (right) to discuss the huge impact of various projects being built on the Strip.
them to the straightaway on the Strip. Reportedly, the popular band U2 is scheduled to open the MSG Sphere when it debuts in 2023. It is rumored that the secondhighest grossing band will have a residency at the venue to be spread in multiple months and on non-consecutive days. U2, which formed in 1976, is said to be the longest-running band with its original lineup. It only trails the Rolling Stones among highest grossing bands, having earned a reported $2.2 billion and having sold more than 28 million tickets in concerts around the world. It will be interesting to see the MSG Sphere when it opens in 2023. If everything goes according to plan, it should become a leading venue for companies, musical acts and immersive events where both attendees on the inside and onlookers from outside can get the experience on different scales. The MSG Sphere is just one
Lunch business meetings with Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman are usually held at the Stirling Club Restaurant, while dinner business meetings are held at Benihana’s or Fresco Italian Restaurant in Westgate. Both places are just walking distance from her penthouse at Turnberry Place.
of the many venues planned for Las Vegas in the next few years. Expect the Las Vegas skyline to undergo some more changes as companies are planning to pour in billions of dollars in projects to the city, which includes the planned $3 billion entertainment hub by the Oak View Group that is in its starting stages. Hard Rock International, which recently purchased The Mirage Hotel and Casino for a reported $1.075 billion, is pursuing its plans to construct a guitar-shaped hotel in Las Vegas. If they are successful, that would make two guitar-shaped hotels in the United States for the company. The first one is located in Florida. What does this all mean for the consumer in Las Vegas? It means continuous construction jobs and more employment opportunities when these projects open. And that could translate to more demand for housing in the future, even if there seems to be a slowdown in home sales recently.
I have many decades of experience in assisting clients who are looking for their first home, second/vacation homes, investment properties or land (for future use/development). I can assist you in looking for these opportunities, given your budget and things you are looking for. Many of my clients have begun to reap the benefits of their investments, including turning their properties to rentals or Airbnb, or getting a good return on investment for the properties they bought in previous years. My company, Precious Properties, is a full-service company that has served its clientele since 1992. You can reach me at 775-513-8447, 805-5592476 and 702-538-4948 for more information, or send me an email at fely@precious-properties.com or fely.precious@gmail.com. We have investors who buy houses in California and Nevada for cash and quick escrow in as short as 7 days. (Advertising Supplement)
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Told she must leave, Marie was able to receive her green card in the US IN 2002, Marie and her three children visited the U.S. as tourists. They planned to visit family and then return home to the Philippines. However, Marie later decided to remain and became out of status. In 2009, Marie’s mother, a green card holder, petitioned Marie in the F2B category. When the priority date on her petition became current, she consulted with at least four attorneys, all of whom told her that because she was out of status, she had to go back to the Philippines to apply for her immigrant visa. But Marie did not want to go back, because she was worried about the uncertainty of applying in the Philippines, and that she might not be able to return to the U.S.
She finally decided to consult with the “Attorney of Last Hope,” Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel, who was able to find a way for Marie to apply for a green card (adjust status) in the U.S. After retaining Attorney Gurfinkel, Marie got her green card in October 2021 in the U.S., and can now get healthcare, find a better job, and enjoy the other benefits of being a green card holder. Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, July 31 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET thru select Cable/Satellite providers), right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download free app. (Advertising Supplement)
Maine, Arjo now engaged By Jan
Milo Severo Philstar.com
CELEBRITY couple Maine Mendoza and Arjo Atayde are now engaged. In her Instagram account, Maine posted photos of her with Arjo showing her engagement ring. “Wait, whaaaat??? We’re engaged?!” Maine captioned the post. Celebrities such as Ria Atayde, Pauleen Luna, Maja Salvador to name a few commented on Maine’s post. Rumors of Maine and Arjo dating began in December 2018 when they co-starred in the movie “Jack Em Popoy: The Puliscredibles.” In January 2019, Arjo admitted that he and Maine are exclusively dating. The couple marked their third anniversary as a couple with a romantic sunset date on a yatch on December 21, 2021. g Celebrity couple Maine Mendoza and Arjo Atayde Photo from Instagram/@mainedcm
GREEN CARD ACQUIRED AFTER BEING TNT FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS, THIS SUNDAY ON CITIZEN PINOY. Marie was petitioned as single by her father in the ‘90s, but she got married in 1998, revoking her father’s petition. The marriage did not last, and in 2002, Marie and her three children went to the U.S. as tourists. Since then, they had been overstaying and living in fear. Marie’s mother, a green card holder, petitions her daughter this time. Marie had consulted with four attorneys who all told her she had to go back to the Philippines once her priority date becomes current. Marie refused to go back to the motherland for fear that she might not be able to return to the U.S. She consults with leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel who was able to find a way for Marie to remain in the U.S. and be interviewed here, and eventually get her green card in October 2021. Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, July 31 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. (Advertising Supplement)
Andre looks forward to working with dad Benjie again By Jerry
Donato Philstar.com
AFTER a year of hiatus from the limelight, Andre Paras has resumed his showbiz career. His way of re-entering is via the drama-fantasy show, Daig Kayo Ng Lola Ko, whose fifth anniversary special is titled Bida
Kontrabida and airs the finale episode on Sunday. July 31. “Yes, I am,” replied Andre to the question about him concentrating on acting (and hosting) this time around after pursuing his interest in basketball in a recent virtual group interview. The Andre Paras PAGE B2
GMA photo
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EntErtainmEnt
What made Jamie forgive hubby Baron Geisler By Dolly
Anne CArvAjAl
Inquirer.net
SOMETIMES, couples have to be apart in order to realize what they had together. Just like what happened to Baron Geisler and his wife, Jamie. When Baron had an alcohol relapse, Jamie was on the verge of filing for the annulment of their marriage. But love should not be wasted, so they have eventually patched things up. May Jamie’s and their daughter Talitha’s love be more intoxicating than alcohol for Baron so they will live soberly ever after. Here’s my chat with Jamie: What made you forgive Baron? When I discovered that my husband gave in to his addiction again and violated our marital vows, of course I was hurt and fuming with anger. However, I had learned that the more you let your anger consume you, you are giving it power to control you, which often leads to chaos. Thankfully, he admitted his mistake and asked forgiveness. How I wish the pain would go away in an instant. It would have been easier for me to get an annulment and move on with my life, but God did not allow it. We committed ourselves to marriage counseling and attended a couples’ retreat with CCF (Christ’s Commission Fellowship). These sessions reminded me that I am a sinner too and was forgiven by Jesus and
Baron Geisler (right) with wife Jamie and daughter Talitha Photo from Instagram/@baron.geisler
that these issues are not exclusive to us. Forgiveness is a daily decision and a painful process, but the good news is, healing is possible. How is your relationship with Baron now? To be honest, it still feels like a rollercoaster ride. Just because you see happy family photos on social media doesn’t mean everything is perfect. There are days when I get triggered by the pettiest things, but I acknowledge my emotions and try to manage it so I don’t turn into a monster. I, too, have tendencies of being selfrighteous, judgmental and domineering.
Those are just a few of the character defects that I am working on. I also rely on support groups (families and friends of alcoholics and my CCF family) for guidance, comfort and enlightenment. I am once again reminded that I cannot do it alone. I know my husband is going through his own process. Most of the time, it’s harder to forgive yourself. When we sin, we have to deal with the guilt and shame. Even if you are resentful, you cannot escape the consequences of your actions. I’m praying that he will take his recovery seriously and also for me to be more compassionate. What’s your advice to wives who are wary of giving their erring husbands a second chance? Acknowledge the painful reality and sit with the feeling. Do not make decisions when you are still emotional. Seek counsel from the right people, like your pastor, lawyer or psychologist. Have a heart-to-heart talk with your spouse to discuss how you will deal with the situation. Pray. I do not encourage staying in an abusive and toxic relationship. Although I am aware that my husband is an alcoholic, I remind him that his illness is never an excuse for bad behavior, so I have set firm boundaries in situations that may pose a threat to me and my family’s safety. I’m not certain what the future holds for us, so I will be still and let God work on our marriage. g
How ‘incredibly lucky’ Alden avoids getting starstruck by Bea before launch of their screen tandem ALDEN Richards isn’t one to get easily starstruck. In his 12 years in the biz, only a handful of people, he said, managed to leave him feeling that way. One of them was Bea Alonzo. And now that he’s living his dream of
headlining a television series with the actress, Alden admitted that it can be hard setting aside the fanboy in him when shooting their scenes for the upcoming Philippine adaptation of the Korean drama series “Start-Up.” “It was hard… There’s still the fan in me,
but I don’t show it too much to Bea because things could get awkward; the scenes could become more difficult than they should be. I just have to remind myself of my character; I’m not Alden, the fan. After the scene, I go PAGE B6
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August at Plaza West Covina brings parents, kids, and law enforcement together AUGUST 1-October 31: School Spirit Spree The School Spirit Spree Rewards Program kicks off in August and is an easy way to earn additional funds for local schools. Students, parents, and faculty can earn points by shopping at Plaza West Covina (double points in select stores or during school spirit week) and then dropping receipts into the “school lockers” or submitting online. Winners will be based on the most points received on a sliding scale calculated based on student body population. First place is $5,000, second place is $3,000, and third place is $2,000. Winners will be notified by November 10th and presented with their rewards on November 18th during the Tree Lighting Ceremony. #plazaschoolspirit Tuesday, August 2 from 4:30 – 5pm: National Night Out Kick Off The West Covina Police and Fire Department kick off National Night Out, a celebration meant to enhance the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. This is a great way to bring everyone together under positive circumstances. Come meet these local heroes as well as some of your favorite heroes from TV and enjoy festivities for the whole family. Wednesday, August 3 from 10am – 1pm: Get-School-Ready Charity Breakfast One hundred West Covina School District students ranging from elementary to high school will each receive a $200 back-to-school shopping spree! Plaza West Covina and West Covina Rotary Club each donated $10,000 for a combined $20K effort. The event will start with a breakfast and keynote speaker then volunteers will accompany each student to shop at Plaza West Covina retailers. Saturday, August 20 from 10am-2pm: FREE CHP Child Seat Check-up Event The California Highway Patrol is conducting a free Child Seat Event. Come get your seat inspected. Car seats reduce the risk of death by 71% for infants and by 54% for children ages 1 to 4 and reduce the need for hospitalization by 69% for children ages 4 and under. Your child’s safety is important. For appointments, please call Officer R. Salcido at 818-240-8200. Inspections are by appointment only. Plaza West Covina is located at 112 Plaza Drive, West Covina, CA. For details, visit https://plazawestcovina.com/events/. g
Andre looks forward to... PAGE B1 Kapuso talent became a part of AMA Online Education and Blackwater Bossing for PBA D-League and PBA, respectively. He also played for the UP Fighting Maroons. Doing showbiz and sports is in his blood since dad Benjie Paras was a professional cager before he caught the entertainment bug. “It does (run in the family) and it’s hard to resist,” added Andre, “and whatever happens, you know what, ‘Kobe, sa’yo na yung basketball,’ nahati yung talent ni dad, OK, dun na ko sa showbiz, and sa pag-aartista, sa pagiging isang aktor.” Kobe is Andre’s younger brother, who has played for UP Fighting Maroons, the Philippine national team and a Japanese team. “Well, I was gone for a year, if I’m not mistaken. I guess you can call it a break,” said Andre, whose last project, prior to Daig Kayo Ng Lola Ko, was co-hosting the GMA News TVGTV show Game of the Gens, directed by Rico Gutierrez, with Sef Cadayona. “I’m just very thankful,” shared Andre of being a member of the Daig Kayo Ng Lola Ko ensemble cast. “With its title Bida Kontrabida, akala ko magiging mabigat siya kasi kontrabida nga ako, it was my first time… to play kontrabida… (but) it (was) very light dahil nga po para sa mga bata po ito.” Featuring familiar antagonists Rumpelstiltskin, Sea Witch and Evil Queen and protagonists Sleeping Beauty, the Prince and Little Mermaid from fairytales and children’s books, the show tapped Andre to play the Big Bad Wolf, who tries to be good. Portraying the role allowed him to reminisce his childhood memories of reading stories and characters about like Hansel and Gretel that catch a young mind’s attention and imagination.
“Yung feeling na nagiging bata ka ulit in a way, you feel young because it’s about a fairytale,” said he, who had fun time working with fellow stars Jo Berry, Cai Cortez, Rufa Mae Quinto, Beverly Salviejo, Barbie Forteza, Rocco Nacino and Thea Tolentino, and director Rico Gutierrez. The latter also helmed Andre’s Game of the Gens. Playing and looking the part required him to wear makeup, which was a test of patience. “Yung pagiging patient means (being) on the make-up chair.” “As of now, I’m here, back home in GMA,” shared Andre and expressed excitement over upcoming projects. “I will be wholeheartedly here with them to learn and to just enjoy my stay. To be honest, ako lang po, tanggap lang ako nang tanggap (I will accept whatever comes my way)… I would just be willing to accept anything, but if you were to ask me about my dream (projects), I would really love to work with my dad again… I would really love to work with my dad in the future.” Andre would love to see himself and dad Benjie sharing the screen for a game show, a movie or a series. “I think the last time I worked with my dad was (for) The HalfSisters na nag-guest siya for, I guess, a month (where he guested for a month),” recalled he. “And then after that, there were other shows and series that we did under GMA in which I guested in his shows. Just being able to work with him, of course, it doesn’t feel like work, but I get to learn from him as well kasi my dad is someone I look up to when it comes to comedy.” Since acting is a lifelong learning and commitment, Andre said, “Ako nga po, obviously, there’s a lot of work that I need to do. Kung may workshop man, kukunin ko yan… I still want to better my craft.” g
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Xian thrives as director
Writes and directs his second movie, ‘Hello Universe’ By Tessa
Mauricio-arriola ManilaTimes.net
Bay Area-based Hensley Sy marries Kristi Ikeda of Hawaii at the Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina last July 2, 2022. The couple met at the Santa Clara University - School of Business in Santa Clara, CA where they both studied and graduated with honors as Cum Laude. Photo by Hensley’s Father, Henry Sy
EMPLOYMENT
ACTOR and newbie filmmaker Xian Lim’s excitement bounced off the Zoom screen during the media conference for the second film he completed from the director’s chair. A fantasy comedy titled “Hello, Universe!” his giddy energy made more and more sense as he eagerly chatted away about the upcoming Vivamax Original release. First of all, Lim’s follow-up to his first directorial project, “Tabon” in 2019, is likewise his screenplay and a story that is very close to his heart. “If you will remember, the main goal as to why I moved from the States to the Philippines was to become a basketball player. I remember na wala akong iniisip na plan B, plan C. Yun lang talaga ang dream ko,” he started to explain. “Pero, life has a way of steering you to another direction, di’ba? Hindi kaagad ibibigay ng buhay sa’yo kung ano ‘yung hiningi mo but it eventually led me to a better path in showbiz.” Hello, Universe lifts its plot from Lim’s very experience, which he entrusts to Janno Gibbs in the story as lead character Ariel. Ariel is a man full of regrets. He believes
EMPLOYMENT
Xian Lim
P h oto f ro m I n sta g ra m / @
his life became miserable when he failed to clinch the winning shot for his high school basketball team many moons ago. What’s worse, Ariel lost the game to his archrival Mac (portrayed by Gene Padilla), who went on to become a rich and famous basketball coach. A family man now, Ariel feels deeply dissatisfied with his job as a quality manager
in some factory and is always wondering how life could have been different if he had just made the basket. One day, Ariel meets Jessie (Benjie Paras), a mysterious yet hilarious jeepney driver who magically transports him to an alternate universe. What was waiting for him there turned out to be everything he wanted. In this world, Ariel is the rich and famous basketball coach Mac was in reality and finally gets to live out his dream. But after the initial thrill, Ariel realizes his dream come true wasn’t all it was cut out to be. Unfortunately, Jessie tells him this was his new reality and that he couldn’t send Ariel back to the simple life he had hated before but so wanted now. “So Hello Universe is based on that time in my life, my experience playing basketball and trying to make it as a pro. I was very disappointed, but over time, I became OK and found my place here in showbiz. Gusto ko lang maikuwento yon, how life may crush your dreams but leads you to where you’re meant to be. I want the movie to provide hope and inspiration sa mga manonood,” said the successful 33-year-old actor, who is determinedly cementing his name as a filmmaker, too. Appreciating the heart that went into PAGE B5
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Now ‘happy with someone,’ Janine also learning to show true feelings with her eyes, actions By MariNel
Cruz
Inquirer.net
FOR actress Janine Gutierrez, recalling real-life experiences – either from the past or present – is the most effective way to bring a character to life. “If you’re happy in real life, you can use that feeling if you have to be happy in a particular scene. For me, it really helps to use my own experiences to make the situation true in a movie or story,” Janine told Inquirer Entertainment during a recent virtual chat to promote her latest movie, “Bakit ‘Di Mo Sabihin?” We then asked if her heart is currently in a happy state, and Janine replied with: “Yes, happy.” Happy alone or with someone, we prodded. “Happy with someone,” she added. Janine’s answer could very well mean that she would soon be ready go public with her rumored romantic relationship with actor Paulo Avelino, who played her leading man in the defunct
Janine Gutierrez Photo from Instagram/@janinegutierrez
romantic-comedy series “Marry Me, Marry You.” For now, however, Janine would rather talk about her new film, Real Florido’s “Bakit ‘Di Mo Sabihin?” and JC de Vera, her costar. It is about a deaf couple, Miguel and Nat, who are struggling to keep their marriage intact. “It was enjoyable to learn FSL
(Filipino sign language) because it’s something I’ve always been interested in. I learned Spanish in college, and FSL is another language so I approached it the same way. I really enjoyed the process. Our teachers, Disney [Aguila] and Jamil [Carvajal] helped a lot,” Janine began. “The challenge was applying it in the shoot since we only received our FSL guide a week prior. I felt anxious because I wasn’t sure I’d be able to learn everything in time for the shoot. Luckily, we were well-guided. I eventually became so comfortable that I was able to ad-lib in sign. During breaks, I would talk to my coactors using FSL, that’s what I really enjoyed,” she recalled. Different processes Janine added that it was good she and JC have already worked together prior to this project. “I know that JC is fun on the set, but for this particular project, we didn’t get to bond much. Medyo nag-solo ako. I would practice PAGE B6
How relationship with her mom inspired Lea in ‘Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin’ By Nathalie
M. toMada
Philstar.com
BROADWAY icon Lea Salonga took a page from her own relationship with her mother Ligaya for her acting performance in the HBO Max Original series Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin. Original Sin, another tale that exists within the Pretty Little Liars (PLL) universe, premieres its 10-episode season today, July 28, with three episodes airing the same time as the US, on HBO GO. Two new episodes will be dropped on subsequent Thursdays, Aug. 4 and 11, with the last three episodes debuting Aug. 18. As the synopsis puts it, PLL is a dark comingof-age story where a new generation of Liars is being tormented by a masked killer hellbent on punishing them for sins committed by their parents two decades earlier. Lea portrays Elodie Honrada, the Filipino mom of one of the liars, Minnie Honrada, who is played by 22-year-old Filipino-American actress Malia Pyles. Joining Malia as the “new breed” of Liars are Bailee Madison, Chandler Kinney, Zaria and Maia Reficco. The Pretty Little Liars reboot marks Lea’s return to acting after the 2019 film about Filipino immigrants in the US, Yellow Rose. “So, (the series is) about these five young women and there is someone chasing after them who is very dangerous, and there’s a mystery that they are all trying to solve. They’re all from this small town,” Lea told The STAR during a spoiler-free, one-onone Zoom chat. “It’s part of the horror-slasher genre. And because it’s HBO, they can take a few more risks as far as language and blood and guts and gore are concerned. “It’s been really an enjoyable process, and all the actors are so fantastic and everyone is so nice. I just felt so fortunate and lucky to be working in the middle of a pandemic on something that I think a lot of people are going to enjoy.” During our virtual interview, Lea just got back in Manila — fresh from her Dream Again UK Tour to “celebrate the release of her latest song with the same title and the 30th anniversary of her recording the Disney theme, A Whole New World, as Princess Jasmine.” She was also the surprise guest at a special press screening for the series last week. Playing a Filipino character in PLL inevitably led our conversation to the topic of Asian representation. The Tony award-winning singer and actress, who began doing theater in the US when she was 20 via Miss Saigon, has been credited to have helped open opportunities for Asian representation in the international entertainment scene. Lea, now 51, happily noted that there are “more and more representations as the years have gone on.” “I get to see more of our faces and that casting for shows is much more diverse. I feel like okay, we’re not being shoehorned into something just so there can be a diversity hire. It feels like we are included, considered and given consideration to be part of these stories,” she further attested. Read more excerpts from our exclusive chat: How did you become part of PLL: Original Sin? Did you still have to audition? “Yes, I had to audition. I had to audition on Sept. 1 and I remember the date because I’m a huge fan of BTS, that’s not a secret, and Sept. 1 is the birthday of their youngest (member). I knew it was his birthday when I was preparing my setup here in order to get ready for the audition. So, maybe Sept. 1 is going to always be a lucky day. “I auditioned and sent the recordings to my manager who was reading with me and he sent it to the creatives of PLL. It was a very quick hiring process. Maybe about a week. And then I had to start packing and get ready to go… But yeah, I had to audition like a whole lot like everybody else that was part of the show. It wasn’t just offered.” Was HBO looking specifically for an actor of Filipino or Asian descent? “I think they were looking for a Filipina specifically because Malia is of Filipino descent. I think that if there is a future for the show past this season, there’s a lot of common ground as far as culturally… I mean, there might be stuff to explore later on, if we’re given the opportunity. “I think Filipinos are also very unique as far as how we look, as far as our culture. I don’t think we’re really swappable with a lot of others. I think they needed specifically to hire somebody for her mother who was of the same culture. “I don’t know what went into the decision to hire me. But I’m very glad for it, especially since in the original series, Shay Mitchell was one of the Liars. Her mom is my first cousin. So, our family is kind of
Should you sign that severance agreement? Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr. Q: I WORKED for many years for a company in Los Angeles. During the last year, I have felt that the company is no longer a good place for me to continue working at. I want to leave. When I talked to my boss, I was offered a severance package and asked to sign a severance agreement? Should I accept and sign? A: A severance agreement is a contract between an employer and an employee who is about to leave the employer’s employment. In a typical severance agreement, the employer agrees to give the employee additional compensation (the severance pay) in exchange for the outgoing employee’s agreement not to sue the employer for any employment-related claims such as wrongful termination or back wages. Employers are not required by law to provide any severance pay to their employees, regardless of whether the end of employment is due to a resignation, a firing, or a layoff. Even if an employee has worked for several years for the same employer, the employer is still generally not obligated to provide a severance pay. Most employers do not sponsor formal severance pay plans. However, some employers offer formal severance pay plans that provide conditions for eligibility. An employer,
for example, may provide severance pay to long-time employees in the event of a layoff. This means severance pay is a matter of agreement between the employer and the employee. An employee may try to negotiate for more severance pay than what is being offered, especially if the employee has been with the company for many years, has an excellent service record, or has provided increased value to the employer’s business. An employee may also negotiate how to receive the severance pay, for example, as a lump sum payment, as a salary continuation for a specific period, or as periodic payments. Each method has an advantage and a pitfall. Most importantly, before signing a severance agreement, an employee should keep in mind the following things: • Has the employer paid all hours worked by the employee, including overtime? • Has the employer paid the employee for meal or rest breaks that were not provided to the employee? • If the employee is entitled to vacation, has the unused vacation been paid? • If the employee is being terminated, what is the reason for the termination? If an employer fired an employee for a discriminatory or retaliatory reason, the employee may be entitled to damages. • Does the severance agreement protect the employee from any potential claims for wrongful behavior or harassment that might be brought by the employer?
So, should you sign a severance package? It depends. If you had been paid correctly for all hours worked, if you received all your meal and rest periods, and if you have no issues regarding your termination, then a severance package is a generous and welcome benefit. But if you were not paid all your hours worked, including overtime, and you were not provided meal and rest periods, or the termination was wrongful – then a severance package may be a way for your employer to stop you from asserting your rights and seeking remedies in court. If this is the case, you would be in a better position to consult with a knowledgeable employment attorney before you sign anything. *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential and at no-cost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www.joesayaslaw.com. [For more than 25 years, C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is a past Presidential Awardee for Outstanding Filipino Overseas.] (Advertising Supplement)
Xian thrives as director... Lea is the surprise guest at the exclusive screening of Original Sin’s pilot episode at Powerplant Cinema in Rockwell. P h i l s t a r. c o m
going wow, that I’m also part of this PLL universe. It’s kind of nuts when I first told my cousin after I got the job. We were screaming for at least five minutes when I told her the title. “She was like, oh my god, of all the people that they could get for that show, it was you. Same family, man, that they tapped for this, I mean, of all the actors of Filipino descent that they could have hired. It was just one of those things that I think felt karmically favorable.” What were the challenges you experienced while trying to flesh out this role? “I think it’s trying to find and figure out where our similarities were. And what I discovered was that Elodie was, I think, more similar to my mom, as far as personality, as far as parenting, as far as her own unique circumstances. I found more similarities and more common ground between Elodie and my mother than I did between Elodie and myself. “So in a way, it made it a little easier to play. Because I had so many years of experience and of watching my mother. I had a lot to draw upon in creating who this character is. It’s kind of easier when I am able to kind of clinically be a little bit distant, see what’s happening, then jump back into it and make it my own. If anything, I think I’m a little more empathetic with regards to my mom. I’d like to think that I understand things about her a little bit better because of this experience.” How’s your working relationship with Malia who plays your daughter? “She’s talented and lovely on screen, and generous. She’s so much fun, very open and allows herself to be vulnerable. And the cool thing about that set is that it felt so safe. It felt really safe to explore the humanity of these characters. It just sounds like a really good working environment to do the kind of work that we needed to do for this. It was lovely getting to play her mother because she’s a fantastic human being.” Many consider you as having helped pave the way for Asian representation on the global stage or entertainment scene since Miss Saigon days. What changes and developments have you observed since then? “At the start of my career doing theater in the States, I remember being — Miss Saigon is an exception — like in Les Miz (Les Miserables), for example, I was the only person of color in that entire company. “And then, I did Les Miz years later playing a different role. All of a sudden, there were three, then four of us Filipinos in the cast. Then the cast was incredibly diverse. So, I think there are more and more stories coming from people of color now than there used to be. “Just this year, we have PLL, which has a very diverse cast. Jo Koy’s film is coming out next month, Easter Sunday, which I hope is supported and I hope that it does well. There are more of our stories being told, which I never dreamed I would see. Being able to witness all of it, it makes me feel happy and proud to have been there when it wasn’t there or when it was just starting to be there. And now to see it bloom even more. “But there’s still a lot of work to do. There are still other stories from all kinds of people that need to be told. Not just the Filipino or Filipino-American perspective but, you know, people that have come from India, other families from China and you know, it was a Singaporean family that was at the center of Crazy Rich Asians. So, to be able to see more of our faces and to be represented in a way that is fun and funny, not just one-dimensional, and to show us as sexy, intelligent and beautiful, but can also be mean, catty, petty and all of these things, to show the fullness of who we are, it’s been really fun to watch.” g
PAGE B4 Hello, Universe’s screenplay, Gibbs meanwhile expressed how honored he is to get to play such an important role for Lim. “I consider him a good friend and I believe in his talent. Very artistic talaga siya. Artista na, director pa at writer. He plays the piano, he sings, and he paints. He’s really very talented and we’re excited to work with him,” said the singer-comedian who heartily reciprocated his director’s enthusiasm for the project.
Grateful to Gibbs and the rest of the cast for appreciating and helping him bring to life his “dream movie,” Lim will definitely thrive even more behind the camera. “Dito po lahat naka-focus sa ‘Hello, Universe’ ang puso at kaluluwa ko,” he finally said. “And I can’t wait for everyone to watch it.” Hello, Universe also stars Anjo Yllana, Maui Taylor, Sunshine Guimary and Gene Padilla. The streaming date on Vivamax is yet to be announced. g
B6 JULY 30 - AUGUST 2, 2022 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL
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Client relieved she chose Chapter 7 instead of consolidation of $60K credit cards Debt Relief
Atty. LAwrence yAng
Bea Alonzo and Alden Richards
GMA photo
How ‘incredibly lucky’...
PAGE B2 to the director and say, ‘So that’s how it feels sharing the screen with your idol!’” he told the Inquirer in a video conference. Alden considers himself incredibly lucky to be chosen as Bea’s leading man in her first primetime series as a Kapuso actress. “A few years after our first meeting, I was given the opportunity to work with her in [an acting project]. It’s a different experience,” related Alden, who first teamed up with Bea in 2020 for a product endorsement. “As I go along in show biz, the Lord continues to make my dreams come true,” he added. “I’m honored to be selected out of the many possible leading men here in the network. I’m happy. And I hope Bea is just as happy to have me as her leading man… I can see that she has been enjoying work so far.” ‘Welcoming committee’ Alden believes that “Start-Up PH” is the right platform to launch their screen tandem. Building chemistry, he said, wasn’t an issue. “It helped that I had already spent time with her behind the cameras for our endorsements … I got to know her better. So we didn’t have a hard time developing our chemistry,” he said. As a homegrown GMA 7 talent, Alden felt it was his responsibility to make Bea feel at home in her new network. “That’s why she calls me her ‘welcoming committee.’ She has just transferred here, while I’ve been here since the start of my career, so I know everyone,” he said. Released on Netflix in 2020, “Start-Up” is set in the cutthroat, Silicon Valley-esque world of fledgling tech companies, where four young entrepreneurs, Nam Do-san (Nam Joo-hyuk), Han Ji-pyeong (Kim Seon-ho), Won In-jae (Kang Han-na) and Seo Dal-mi (Bae Suzy) work their way up. Aside from giving the audience a peek into the intricacies and challenges that come with establishing a company, the love triangle among Dal-mi, Do-san and Ji-pyeong was a key ingredient to the show’s worldwide success. In the Philippine version, Alden plays Dosan’s counterpart named Tristan. Bea, on the other hand, plays Dani, or Dal-mi in the original. Unlike Louie – Alden’s character in his previous soap, “The World Between Us” – Tristan is already “masungit” from the get-go. “While he seems cold, slivers of kindness still come out. He’s not a bad person. He just has problems with expressing himself. He had to deal with challenges as a child. He’s not showy, so he often gets misunderstood,” Alden related. “I enjoyed being masungit—just onscreen, though!” Digging deeper The local adaptation – directed by Dominic Zapata and Jerry LopezSineneng – will expand Tristan’s backstory. “What I loved in this version is that the creatives dug into the character deeper. Details that were shown only in passing were given more emphasis. That gives more context to Tristan’s actions,” he said, adding that his role was just as challenging as his previous ones. “I don’t want to think that there’s an easy role. You have to work hard to make every character different from your past performances,” he said. “There’s a conscious effort to evolve from my previous roles, from the character’s small movements to the way I look.” The 30-year-old actor has never been in better shape. And he owes that to the lifestyle changes he made last year. “I had to change the mentality that I have to physically prepare for a project that I know is coming. Now that I have made some changes, I no longer have to cram,” related Alden, who took it upon himself to workout more often, eat a healthier diet and get enough sleep. “There’s no pressure anymore because that’s how I live my life now.” For Alden, one of the biggest challenges of doing an adaptation is meeting the expectation of the existing fans. “It’s tough because there’s already a benchmark. There’s already a finished product, which was very successful. Of course we want our version to be at par with the original. So we’re putting in extra effort; we can’t settle,” he said. That’s why he’s thankful to be surrounded by like-minded coworkers who put their heart into their craft. “What I appreciate about the whole production is that we share a vision. Our inputs on how to make things better are valued. There are no small roles. Everyone comes to the set prepared. It’s great to work with people who are as passionate as I am,” he said. (By Allan Policarpio/Inquirer.net)
THE client is 50 and has two grandchildren living with her who are teenagers still in high school. She is married but separated. She is not divorced from her husband. They still live in the same house but they no longer treat each other as husband and wife. She takes care of her two grandchildren because her daughter is not able to care for them. The daughter has her own problems and lives by herself and is not able to care for her two children much less herself. So the client took over the responsibility of raising her daughter’s son and daughter. She splits the rent with her husband and they take care of their own expenses. Pretty much, they have separate lives. She works in the health care industry as a certified nursing assistant and grosses $3,500 a month. This is not enough
for a family of three with two teenagers. She has a 2014 Camry which she bought used and still pays $260 a month with three more years to go. When she came to see me she said that she owes $60,000 of credit cards, and she’s thinking of consolidating them. I said what for? Obviously, she can’t afford to pay $1,900 a month of minimum payments every month to keep $60,000 of cards current. Maybe the consolidator might be able to reduce that a little bit to $1,500 with lower interest and a payment plan negotiated by agreement with her creditors. If she were grossing $12,000 a month, maybe she could actually set aside $1,500 a month, but this is the real world, not some fantasy world. Now, with $3,500 gross monthly, her net take-home pay is about $3,000. That’s really not much and barely enough to pay for rent, food and other living expenses for a household of three people. So, I advised her to file for Chapter 7 and just wipe out the entire $60,000 of credit cards. “Start fresh with no debt,” I told her. It’s the right decision. She
was nervous. I told her not to worry about it because it was the right thing to do. We went through her telephonic hearing last week with the Chapter 7 trustee. He asked for some more documents at the hearing but said that if those documents were submitted before the next hearing set for next week, then he would just take the matter off the calendar next week if he had no questions about the documents. Today, I informed her that the trustee called to advise that he had no further questions and that the hearing was concluded and no need to appear next week as he was taking that off the calendar. She then informed me that her hours had been reduced by the hospital and that her pay had decreased and that she felt really fortunate that she did not go for consolidation, and instead got instant relief with the Chapter 7 case. She did not have to pay anything on the $60,000 credit cards at all, and she kept all her assets. With her decreased income the $1,500 consolidation was a very, very big burden for her and her family. She said that she also felt
fortunate that she was assigned to give in-home care to patients instead of caring for patients at the hospital because there were a lot of COVID-19 cases in her hospital and she was afraid of getting sick. If something happened to her, then her grandchildren would have no one to turn to and they could not take care of themselves yet. Her older grandson at 15 had been working part-time after school at a local restaurant, but got laid off when the restaurant had to close down because of almost no business because of the lockdown. *** Disclaimer: None of the foregoing is considered legal opinion and there is no attorney-client relationship created between the reader, any third party and attorney. *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in Bankruptcy, Business, Real Estate and Civil Litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789 or 1000 S. Fremont Ave., Mailstop 58, Building A-10 South, Suite 10042, Alhambra, CA 91803. (Advertising Supplement)
Can you get out of debt without filing bankruptcy? Minding Your Finances Atty. rAymond BULAon IF you are searching for debt reduction solutions, no doubt you’ve been inundated with advertisements for various debt management programs, companies, and solutions. The choices seem confusing to the average consumer. The truth is that every situation is different and what may work perfectly for others is not necessarily going to work the same way for you. So, what do you do before your debt problems get worse? If you know your finances are a mess and you’re struggling with a mountain of debt, then you need to create a plan of attack to help you get rid of your debt properly. If you’ve ignored your debt problems for a while and you are now at
Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes ONE of the biggest problems of millennials and Gen Z are educational cost and student loan debt. This eats up a large part of a household’s budget even among married couples. However, what happens to all the money paid towards one spouse’s education and student loans if the marriage fails and leads to divorce? Well, California Family Code Section 2641(b)(1) provides that upon divorce or legal separation, the community “shall be reimbursed” for its “contributions” to a spouse’s education or training that “substantially enhances” the spouse’s earning capacity. Under Family Code Section 2641(a), reimbursable community “contributions” means payments made with community or quasicommunity property for a spouse’s education or training or for the repayment of a loan incurred thereof, no matter where the parties resided when the payments were made. Family Code § 2641 reimbursement is not limited to education or training received during marriage. Rather, by its terms, application of the statute is governed solely by whether community
a point where creditors have taken legal action to collect what you owe, self-help debt reduction may be out of the question, and you may need to immediately take the legal steps necessary to protect what you have. Many times, people come to our office with wage garnishments, bank levies or a lien filed by a creditor against their home, and they don’t know what to do to stop it. These are the situations where filing bankruptcy may be the only way to get out of debt as quickly as possible and to protect yourself from further creditor actions. It is important for you to have an accurate picture of your current financial situation before you embark on implementing a solution. This means understanding exactly how much income is coming in and how much you pay out in expenses. As a starting point, you should also write down your outstanding balances on all your current debts and add
up the totals. The total figure might shock you at first but it’s important for you to know where you’re starting to create a plan of attack. Alongside each debt balance, write down the amount of interest you’re being charged and how much you’re paying each month on that debt. Sadly, most people who are buried in a mountain of debt have lost track of what they owe. And because they have stopped paying their creditors, the bill collectors are now demanding the full amount which, of course, makes it even harder for the person to catch up on their delinquent debts. If you’re on a very tight budget or if your income is not even enough to cover your living expenses, it may be impossible for you to get out of debt without having to file bankruptcy to wipe out what you can no longer afford to pay. For many people, this may be the only realistic way to get rid of debts hanging over their head instead of trying to
pay their creditors slowly or even worse- not paying them and having to face the legal consequences later. Working out the right debt elimination or debt reduction plan to help you get out of debt can be tricky. Everyone seems to have all kinds of advice and they’re all convinced that their solution is the best. How can you know which one is the right one to help you? For a free consultation, call Toll-Free 1-866-477-7772. Let me evaluate your situation and recommend possible options. *** N OT E : D u e to t h e p a n d e m i c , consultations via phone or video are available. Questions? Email me at gethelp@rjb-lawoffices.com. *** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped over 5,000 clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call RJB Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1-866-477-7772. (Advertising Supplement)
Reimbursement for community contribution towards a spouse’s education and student loan during marriage funds were used to pay for the education or training. Thus, educational costs and loans paid with community funds are within the ambit of § 2641 reimbursement even if the education occurred before marriage. Marriage of Weiner, supra, 105 CA4th at 239-240, 129 CR2d at 291. In Marriage of Mullonkal & Kodiyamplakkil (2020) 51 CA5th 604, 607-608, 265 CR3d 285, 288, the court held that the community is entitled to reimbursement where the spouse paid off student loans for education she attained before marriage with funds from her salary earned during marriage. In Mullonkal & Kodiyamplakkil, the trial court erroneously held § 2641 did not apply because, among other things, the student spouse (Wife) repaid her premarital education with her own earnings during the marriage, and the nonstudent spouse (Husband) failed to contribute to Wife’s education/ loan repayments and family expenses. “[B]ut nothing in [§ 2641] contemplates denying reimbursement to the community where the student spouse
pays for her own education or where the nonstudent spouse did not somehow earn an entitlement to an equal share of the community. Indeed, the statute refers to community contributions to education, and makes no reference to the source of the community contribution.” Marriage of Mullonkal & Kodiyamplakkil, supra, 51 CA5th at 615-616, 265 CR3d at 294. At a minimum, reimbursable community expenditures include amounts paid for the student spouse’s tuition, fees, books, supplies and transportation. Fam.C. § 2641, Law Rev. Comm’n Comment, 23 Cal. L.Rev. Comm’n Reports 1 (1993). Beyond this, however, community expenditures are a reimbursable “contribution” only if directly related to the educational experience. Ordinary living expenses that would have been incurred regardless of whether one spouse was attending school such as rent, food and clothing, health care and entertainment, are not reimbursable under § 2641. Marriage of Watt (1989) 214 CA3d 340, 354, 262 CR 783, 791-792.
*** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APLC. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APLC. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail Kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com.
Now ‘happy with someone,’ Janine also learning... PAGE B5 sign language during my free time because I didn’t want to be the cause of delay. I guess you can say that I was very introverted during the shoot. JC and I have different processes. I would practice the whole day before the shoot, while JC only learns everything right before the scene. I guess that’s why he said he experienced headaches during filming,” she pointed out. “Doing this film was difficult for us. It helped that JC is so approachable, that he’s the kind of person you will immediately feel comfortable with. I really felt that we were partners here,” Janine recalled. Playing a deaf person resulted in Janine having moments of quiet introspection, she admitted. “As hearing individuals, we sometimes use words to mask our true feelings or hide behind all these pretty words.
What I learned from Disney’s experience was that usually, for a deaf person, whatever he wants to say can already be seen in his facial expression and that he merely uses signs to make sure that his message is better understood,” she explained. “For members of the deaf community, the FSL is their only form of communication—aside from their body language, of course. To me, it’s a reminder that an individual’s action is an important form of communication and a way to read through the words that often get in the way of what he really wants to say.” Power in deafness Wanting to share what she has picked up from the acting workshop she attended prior to the shoot, Janine said: “Disney and Teacher Jam were there. I was made to say the words ‘I love you,’ even when it wasn’t what I really wanted to say. Disney pointed out that my
true feelings should also be seen in my eyes. I learned that more than the hands, your face also helps you communicate.” Another lesson that Janine picked up was that “being deaf is not a handicap, that there is power in deafness, that FSL is just another language. These are what I want people to take away from watching the film.” She further explained: “At the same time, the film also wants to point out how the Philippines is really a bad place to be if you are deaf, blind, or are wheelchair-bound because it doesn’t offer enough opportunities for all kinds of people to thrive.” “Bakit ‘Di Mo Sabihin?” (Tell Her), by Firestarter Productions Inc., will be screened at the Cultural Center of the Philippines from Aug. 5 to Aug. 14; in selected cinemas from Aug. 10 to Aug. 17; and in several regional communities from Aug. 22 to Aug. 29. n
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