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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Volume 22 - No.43 • 12 Pages
T he F ilipino A mericAn c ommuni Ty n ewspAper
Volume 18 - No. 17 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages
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OCTOBER 27 - NOVEMBER 2, 2023
Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, SAN DIEGO, LAS VEGAS, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY
US, Philippines reaffirm alliance after DATELINE USA Fil-Am candidate for state China’s dangerous maneuvers in WPS assembly leads in California FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Democratic Party vote
LOS ANGELES – Jessica Caloza, the Filipino American millennial running for a seat in the California State Assembly, emerged as the leading candidate in Assembly District 52’s California Democratic Party pre-endorsement conference vote over the weekend. “As a lifelong Democrat, I am honored to have earned the support of a diverse coalition of so many local grassroots Democrats across the district,” said Caloza, a longtime public servant and community organizer, in a statement. “Democratic activists make up the backbone of our party, and I’m proud to have earned their critical vote. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to all of the local delegates in AD-52 who gave me their support,” she said. Caloza finished first place, receiving 45 votes (45.5 percent of those voting) while the other three candidates received a range of 0 to 16 votes. Since none of the candidates received over 50 percent of the vote, the
MANILA — The Philippines and the United States reaffirmed their commitment to their alliance following China’s dangerous maneuvers during a resupply mission in the West Philippine Sea. According to a White House readout, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke with Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Año
after Chinese vessels hit a Philippine resupply boat and a Philippine Coast Guard vessel. “Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Año reaffirmed the enduring alliance and friendship between our nations and discussed upcoming U.S.-Philippine engagements and ways to further strengthen our close partnership,” the statement read. “Mr. Sullivan emphasized the ironclad U.S.
More Pinoys seeking repatriation from Israel by Mayen JayMalin Philstar.com
u PAGE 2
The new vaccines and you: Americans better armed than ever against the winter blechs LAST year’s “triple-demic” marked the beginning of what may be a new normal: a confluence of respiratory infections — RSV, influenza, and COVID-19 — will surge as the weather cools each year. Like blizzards, the specific timing and severity of these outbreaks are hard to forecast. But their damage can be limited in more ways than ever before. More protective vaccines against influenza are on the horizon. And new vaccines against respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, were approved this year, as were updated COVID vaccines. Although the first days of rollout for the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines saw hiccups, with short supplies at some pharmacies and billing confusion with some insurers, the shots now are generally available at no cost. What’s more, after enduring the worst pandemic in a century, people are more u PAGE 4
‘UNDAS’ PREPS. With barely a week to go before the observance of All Saints’ Day (Undas), families and relatives clean and repaint the tombs of their dear departed at the Manila South Cemetery on Wednesday, October 25. The Manila Cemetery earlier said cleaning, painting, and renovation of tombs would only be allowed until Oct. 25. PNA photo by Yancy Lim
MANILA — Aside from the three batches of 60 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have arrived from Israel, 120 are still expected to come home, according to Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) officer-in-charge Hans Cacdac. “We still have more or less 120 requests for repatriation,” Cacdac said in a radio interview, noting that the Philippine government is already processing the repatriation. “When I say process, it means calling them three times and making sure that they really want to go home.” Half of those who requested repatriation assistance, Cacdac said, had already finished their employment contract and were scheduled to return home when hostilities in the Gaza Strip broke out. Cacdac said the government is ensuring that OFWs will still be on good terms with their employers so they could have the option to return when the situation in Israel improves. Most of the Filipinos requesting repatriation are caregivers while the rest are hotel workers. The repau PAGE 4
Lawmaker pursues criminal charges vs ‘No Filipino should be left ex-president Duterte over death threats behind in Israel-Hamas conflict’ by ian laqui Philstar.com
MANILA — Rep. France Castro (ACTTeachers) filed criminal charges against former President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, October 24 at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office. The Makabayan Bloc lawmaker, along with lawyers Tony La Viña, Rico Domingo, and others from the Movement Against Disinformation, initiated legal action in response to Duterte’s death threats against
Castro. The death threats stem from her scrutiny of the confidential funds of vice president and Education Secretary Sara Duterte. “Kailangan niyang harapin ang accountability sa matinding pagbabanta sa aking buhay (He [Duterte] must be held accountable for the serious threats to my life),” Castro said in a press conference. The charges filed fall under Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), aimed at addressing Duterte’s tirades against u PAGE 5
Marcos vows ‘world-class’ AFP by Catherine S. Valente ManilaTimes.net
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
alliance commitments to the Philippines under the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, which extends to armed attacks on Philippine public vessels, aircraft, and armed forces — to include those of its Coast Guard — in the Pacific, including in the South China Sea,” it added. Manila and Beijing have traded blame u PAGE 2
THE government will continue implementing programs and policies to make the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) “world-class,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said. “Rest assured that we will remain steadfast in transforming and modernizing the AFP into a world-class force that is respected by its counterparts and is a source of national pride,” the president said during the traditional dinner for the AFP Council of Sergeants Major in Malacañang on Monday, October 23. “So, let me likewise assure Malacañang file photo you that we will continue to
implement programs and policies that will promote your welfare, and not only those who are in active service but those whose families I consider also to be in active service. So, keep up the good work. Know that this administration and the entire country are behind you as you fulfill your duties to the nation,” he added. Marcos noted the enlisted personnel’s crucial role as “the backbone of the military force.” Enlisted personnel comprise 90 percent of the troops, and their specialized abilities support the daily operations and institutional activities of the AFP. “You are vital to our u PAGE 5
by Delon Porcalla Philstar.com
MANILA — A senior administration legislator is calling on the Marcos administration to do all it can in ensuring that no Filipino is trapped in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. “Let us stand united, ensuring that no Filipino is left behind, and reaffirm our commitment to their welfare during this critical period,” Rep. Ron Salo, chairman of the House committee on overseas workers affairs, said following the recent opening of the Egypt-Gaza border. “It is crucial to seize this opportunity for the safe exit of Filipinos. We urge the Department of Foreign Affairs to coordinate closely with Egyptian officials and international organizations,” he said.
“It is imperative that we ensure Filipinos won’t be left behind when other nationalities are allowed to exit. Every effort must be made to bring our countrymen home swiftly and securely. In the midst of this operation, maintaining clear and constant communication with Filipinos is paramount,” he said. Eighteen Filipino repatriates arrived on Sunday, October 22 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from Israel. They were the second batch of repatriates who arrived in the country over the weekend since Oct. 20. As of October 21, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has assisted a total of 34 overseas Filipino workers through the provision of u PAGE 4
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OCTOBER 27 - NOVEMBER 2, 2023 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160
From the Front Page
US, Philippines reaffirm alliance... PAGE 1 over Sunday’s (October 22) incidents near Ayungin Shoal, with both sides filing diplomatic protests and
releasing videos to support their accusations. The Presidential Communications Office said Monday, October 23 that the incidents are
This video frame grab from footage taken and released on October 22, 2023 by the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) through the Chinese embassy in Manila shows a collision between a Chinese Coast Guard ship (R) and a Philippine resupply boat (L) during a resupply mission in Second Thomas Shoal, in the disputed South China Sea. Handout / Chinese Coast Guard / AFP
“being taken seriously at the highest level of government.” President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. also ordered the PCG to conduct an investigation into the maneuvers of Chinese vessels. No Filipino crew members were injured, but one of the supply boats was damaged and forced to turn back. A second supply boat reached the BRP Sierra Madre and unloaded its cargo. The Department of National Defense said on Tuesday, October 24 that it acknowledges the statements issued by the governments of France, South Korea and Japan supporting the Philippines. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered Monday the PCG to conduct an investigation RESPONSIBLE VOTERS. Juliet Pilongo and her husband check their polling precincts at the Commission on Elections office in Davao City on into the maneuvers of Chinese Wednesday, October 25. The couple said they decided to prepare a few days before the Oct. 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr. vessels. (Gaea Katreena Cabico/ for a smoother voting experience. Philstar.com with reports from Agence France-Presse)
Fil-Am candidate for state assembly leads in...
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party’s official recommendation was “No Consensus.” Caloza – a first-generation immigrant who was born in Quezon City, Philippines – has gained high-powered endorsements from top elected leaders, including lawmakers Judy Chu and Ted Lieu, California Assembly Majority Leader Isaac Bryan, California Attorney General Rob Bonta and State Senators Lola Smallwood-Cuevas and Dave Min. She is also backed by powerful unions — the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California State Council and the California Federation of Teachers. SEIU represents 2 million workers in health care, property services and the public sector. Speaking at a recent campaign fundraiser, Caloza thanked her working-class parents who have inspired her to fight for working families. “My mom was a cashier at different gas stations, at the 99 Cents store, and put herself through vocational school and retired as a nursing assistant,” Caloza told the Fil-Am community and business leaders
Jessica Caloza, who is running for California’s 52nd district, finishes 1st place, with nearly triple the vote of the 2nd leading candidate. If elected, she would make history as the first Filipina in the state legislature. File photo
who attended the event. “My dad was a janitor who worked his way up and retired as a hospital orderly.” The Oct. 12 fundraiser was hosted by Emmy Award-winning producer Lisa Lew, the daughter of the late lawyer and former Monterey Park Mayor Gonzalo Monty Manibog, the first Fil-Am to become an elected official in
Southern California. If elected, Caloza would be the first Filipino woman in the state legislature. Caloza was the first in her family to graduate from college. After graduation from UC San Diego, she knew she wanted to be in public service. “I saw how government can change lives,” she said. She has served in various roles in government, most recently as the deputy chief of staff to California Attorney General Rob Bonta. Previously, Caloza served as a Los Angeles public works commissioner and also worked in President Barack Obama’s administration as an education policy advisor. Jessica Caloza has also served as a community organizer on President Obama’s campaign and worked for social justice nonprofits that provided critical services to immigrants, working families and youth. The 52nd Assembly District includes parts of Highland Park, Eagle Rock, Glendale and Silver Lake. The incumbent, Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo, is retiring to run for the L.A. City Council District 14. (Nimfa Rueda/Inquirer.net)
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OCTOBER 27 - NOVEMBER 2, 2023 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
Dateline USa
More Pinoys seeking repatriation from...
PAGE 1 triation from Israel remains voluntary. Cacdac, however, said the number of those seeking repatriation is expected to increase. The returning OFWs will receive a one-time P50,000 grant as well as other assistance, including livelihood, re-employment facilitation and skills retooling. At this time, Cacdac said, the Philippine government continues to locate the remaining two Filipino caregivers still unaccounted for. In Gaza, Cacdac said there are 137 Filipinos who are hoping to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) from Israel arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport return to the Philippines. Cac- (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City on October 23, 2023. Philstar.com photo by Jesse Bustos dac said they are not OFWs, but Tuesday, October 24. ment of Social Welfare and DeFilipinos married to Palestinian The newly built evacuation velopment, as well as livelihood nationals. He said they would be center within Cadiz Viejo Nation- package from the Department of repatriated as soon as they are al High School in Barangay Cadiz Labor and Employment. able to cross from Gaza to Egypt. Viejo, Cadiz City is to be named Aside from OWWA’s payment The DMW official said the gov- Loreta V. Alacre Evacuation Cen- of P104,000 funeral expenses of ernment is also in the process of ter in honor of the school alum- Loreta, Escalante said it also asrepatriating Filipinos from Leb- na’s “heroism” for 19 years as an sured full scholarship grants to anon, although they still do not OFW, Escalante said. the four nephews and nieces of have the actual number of OFWs This was relayed by Escalante the slain OFW, whose education returning home from Lebanon. to Overseas Workers Welfare Ad- she had financed while she was The Department of Foreign ministration (OWWA) adminis- still alive. Affairs (DFA) reported that there trator Arnel Ignacio, who visited He added that the Cadiz City are more than 17,000 Filipinos in Loreta’s wake at the family’s res- government is also willing to inLebanon. But migration consul- idence in Sitio Camay an, Baran- clude the nephews and nieces of tant Manny Geslani said the fig- gay Cadiz Viejo. Loreta is sched- Loreta in the city government’s ure could be higher since there uled to be buried on Nov. 5. scholarship program, at P5,000 are many Filipinos who entered Escalante described Loreta as per semester, for college stuLebanon illegally. Cadiz’s “Bagong Bayani” and dents. Alacre Center Escalante said they are also that the request for renaming the The local government of Cadiz evacuation center was already looking at the possibility of emCity, Negros Occidental will be forwarded to the Sangguniang ploying Nelia Alacre, youngest naming its newly built evacua- Panlungsod for deliberations and sister of Loreta, and her brother, tion center in honor of slain Ne- approval. in the city government. grense caregiver Loreta Alacre, Speaker Martin Romualdez After the mass, Ignacio and the who showed heroism in the face DMW turned over P50,000 each has extended P500,000 financial of the attack staged by Hamas financial assistance to the family assistance to the family of Alacre, militant fighters in Israel, May- of slain OFW, aside from the fi- which was received by Loreta’s or Salvador Escalante Jr. said on nancial assistance of the Depart- siblings last week. n
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The new vaccines and you: Americans better...
PAGE 1 attuned to protecting themselves and those around them. Wearing face masks and staying home when sick can stop the spread of most respiratory infections. The rate of flu vaccinations has climbed over the past five years. “It seems like the pandemic reminded them of how important vaccination is,” said Brian Poole, a microbiologist at Brigham Young University in Utah. In a study of college students, Poole and other researchers found that flu vaccination rates have nearly tripled since 2007, from 12% to 31% in the respiratory infection season of 2022-23. Only a minority of students expressed “vaccine fatigue.” T h e r e i s , h o w e v e r, o n e dangerous departure from the past. Vaccination has become politicized, with college students and older adults who identify as Republican or conservative being less likely to get COVID vaccines, as well as vaccinations against flu. Before 2018, studies found that political affiliation had no influence on vaccine uptake. But as measures to limit COVID, such as school and church closures, became controversial, some political leaders downplayed the effects of COVID — even as the pandemic’s U.S. death toll soared above 1 million. That messaging has led to a disbelief in public health information. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports data showing that COVID hospitalizations nearly tripled in the latest surge, with more than 40,000 hospitalizations in the first two weeks of September compared
with about 13,600 in the same period of July. But in a recent KFF poll, half of Republicans did not believe in the surge, compared with just 23% of Democrats. Messaging to minimize the toll of COVID also makes vaccines seem unnecessary, with 24% of Republicans leaning toward getting the updated COVID shot versus 70% of Democrats in the KFF poll. A larger share of vaccineeligible adults said they planned to get, or have gotten, the flu shot and a new RSV vaccine. “It’s important to recognize that the flu, COVID, and respiratory viruses still kill a lot of people, and that the vaccines against those viruses save lives,” said David Dowdy, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Flu vaccines prevent up to 87,000 hospitalizations and 10,000 deaths each year in the United States. “I like to highlight that,” Dowdy added, “as opposed to making up terms like ‘triple-demic’ to make people cower in fear.” Dowdy predicted this fall and winter will be better than the past few, when patients with COVID, influenza, or RSV filled hospitals. Even so, he estimated that more people will die than in the seasons before COVID appeared. About 58,000 people died from the flu last season, and hundreds of thousands more were sickened, staying home from school and work. This year, the flu doesn’t appear to be kicking off unusually early, as it did last year with cases picking up in November, rather than in January. And more people are partially immune to COVID due to vaccines and prior infections. The effectiveness of flu vaccines varies depending on how well its formula matches the virus circulating. This year’s vaccine appears more protective than last year’s, which reduced the risk of hospitalization from the flu by about 44% among adults. This year, researchers expect an effectiveness of about 52%, based on data collected during South America’s earlier flu season. Its benefit was higher for children, reducing hospitalizations by 70%. The flu’s toll tends to be uneven among demographic groups. Over the past decade, hospitalization rates due to the flu were 1.8 times as high among Black people in the United States as among white individuals. Just 42% of Black adults were vaccinated against the flu during that period, compared with 54% of white or Asian adults. Other issues, ranging from a lack of paid sick leave and medical care to a prevalence of underlying conditions, probably contribute to this disparity. People who have asthma, diabetes, or cardiovascular issues or are immunocompromised are at higher risk of a severe case of flu. Sean O’Leary, an infectious disease pediatrician and the chair
of the American Academy of Pediatrics committee on infectious diseases, urges parents to vaccinate their kids against influenza and COVID. Children hospitalized with co-infections of the two viruses last year were put on ventilators — an intense form of life support to allow them to breathe — far more often than those hospitalized for the flu alone. And COVID is surging now, O’Leary said. Hospitalizations among children under age 18 increased nearly fivefold from June to September. “Almost all of our kids who have died have been completely unvaccinated” against COVID, he said. The FDA greenlighted new RSV vaccines from the pharmaceutical companies GSK and Pfizer this year. On Sept. 22, the CDC recommended that pregnant mothers get vaccinated to protect their newborns from RSV, as well as infants under 8 months old. The disease is the leading cause of hospitalization for infants in the United States. The agency also advises people age 60 and older to get the vaccine because RSV kills between 6,000 to 10,000 older adults each year. Rather than vaccination, the CDC advised a new long-acting antibody treatment, nirsevimab, for children between 8 to 19 months old who are at risk of RSV. However, the price could be cost-prohibitive — anticipated at $300 to $500 a dose — and many hospitals lack the staff needed to administer it. Although insurers cover it, the American Academy of Pediatrics warns that reimbursement often lags for a year. “We don’t have the infrastructure in place to ensure all children can access the product,” said its president, Sandy Chung, in a statement. “And that is alarming.” If the wrinkles can be ironed out, said Helen Chu, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Washington in Seattle, better tools could arrive as early as next year. Pfizer, Moderna, and other pharmaceutical companies are developing mRNA vaccines against influenza and RSV that may more precisely target each year’s circulating virus. Today’s flu and RSV vaccines are produced using traditional vaccine platforms, such as within chicken eggs, that are more cumbersome to handle, and therefore the vaccines take longer to develop each year. And President Joe Biden has awarded companies $1 billion to develop COVID vaccines that provide longer protection. “The future is going to be all three vaccines together,” Chu said, “but that will be a while yet.” (Amy Maxmen/KFF Health News) KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.
‘No Filipino should be left... PAGE 1 Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program. Each repatriated OFW received P10,000 cash aid and food assistance worth P10,000. “We will also endorse them to their respective DSWD Field Offices for possible provision of additional services,” Assistant Secretary for strategic communications Romel Lopez said. Repatriation from Lebanon The Philippine embassy in Beirut urged Filipinos in Lebanon to be voluntarily repatriated as tensions increase between Israel and Hezbollah. “Due to the heightened tension in the southern border of Lebanon, the Philippine embassy calls for the voluntary repatriation of Filipino nationals,” the embassy said in its advisory. Alert Level 3 was raised over Lebanon due to the worsening fighting related to the Israeli conflict. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said in a radio interview on Sunday that “Filipinos are being informed that there is a program for repatriation and advised to go home.” There are around 17,500 Filipinos in Lebanon. On Tuesday, the embassy urged Filipinos close to Lebanon’s southern border to evacuate preemptively amid persistent tension in the border. The embassy reminded Filipinos to “take caution and avoid public places, social gatherings, and unnecessary travels around Lebanon, especially to the South” due to the ongoing mass protests across Lebanon and persistent tension in the southern border, “posing a significant threat to the safety and security of civilians.” Since violence escalated between Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory on Oct. 7, there have also been clashes on the border between Israel and south Lebanon, resulting in casualties among civilians. Energy supply effects Meanwhile, the Department of Energy (DOE) is hoping the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas will be contained as the
agency continues to keep a close watch on developments abroad. Asked if the country should now be worried about the conflict’s potential repercussions to the local energy sector, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said “we continue to monitor.” The DOE earlier said it does not expect the attacks on Israel to have long-term effects on oil and gas prices, unless the conflict escalates. Last week, however, concerns escalated as Israel’s expected ground offensive against Hamas in Gaza was feared to set up a regional war involving Iran. “If dragged directly into the conflict amid the proxy war, Iran could potentially use as a threat the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, an important passage for international oil tankers, in retaliation to any action against it,” Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist treasury group Michael Ricafort said. Latest data from the DOE showed that all crude oil imported by the country for the first half was sourced from the Middle East. Bulk or 50.2 percent of it came from Saudi Arabia at 1,744 million liters, making it the country’s major supplier of crude oil. This was followed by United Arab Emirates, which provided 26.9 percent equivalent to 936 million liters, while the remaining 22.9 percent, equivalent to 796 million liters, were imported from Iraq. “To ensure a continuous, adequate and stable supply of oil in the country, the DOE still enforces the minimum inventory requirement (MIR),” the agency said. “Current MIR for refiners stands at in-country stocks equivalent to 30 days of crude and finished products, while an equivalent of 15 days stock of finished products is required for the bulk marketers/importers and seven days for LPG importers,” it said. The country’s imports volume of crude oil totaled to 3,476 million liters in the first semester, up by 23.7 percent from June 2022’s volume of 2,811 million liters. n
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Features
OpiniOn
OCTOBER 27 - NOVEMBER 2, 2023 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160
Maritime squatter
IT was described as a collision. But the West Philippine Sea is a vast expanse, and in fine weather, there is no reason for vessels in the area to be bumping into each other accidentally. China, whose greedy claim over nearly the entire South China Sea has been invalidated by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, keeps trying to prevent the Philippines from carrying out resupply missions to soldiers stationed in the transport ship BRP Sierra Madre, which is grounded on Ayungin or Second Thomas Shoal. The Philippines cannot let its troops, who are guarding the country’s maritime sovereign rights, starve to death or run out of needed supplies on the Sierra Madre. On Sunday morning, October 22, China coast guard vessels again blocked a Philippine resupply mission to Ayungin. One of its ships and a Philippine vessel collided. Ayungin is within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone as defined under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Based on UNCLOS, to which both the Philippines and China are signatories, the arbitration court had declared that the Philippines has sovereign rights over Ayungin as well as Panganiban or Mischief Reef and Recto Bank. China should be asking the Philippines for permission to be in that area.
The arbitration court, in the same ruling that defined the Philippines’ maritime economic entitlements, also invalidated China’s entire ninedash-line claim in the South China Sea, and declared that Beijing is violating Philippine rights by keeping out Filipino fishermen from Panatag or Scarborough Shoal. Beijing has tried to bolster its baseless maritime claims by taking over reefs including Panganiban in the South China Sea and turning these into military-fortified artificial islands, destroying the natural marine environment and posing a threat to freedom of navigation. It deploys hundreds of militia vessels and coast guard ships, which are under its military command, to operate in swarms and try to keep Philippine fishing and patrol vessels out of the West Philippine Sea. Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro has described China as a “squatter” in the West Philippine Sea. The government should do more to put an end to Chinese bullying. Yesterday’s collision should give urgency to mustering greater international support for a rules-based order in the South China Sea. (Philstar.com)
Editorial
ManilaTimes.net photo
APEC San Francisco summit preparations in full swing
Babe’s Eye View BaBe Romualdez THE city of San Francisco in California is pulling out all the stops for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Conference in November, with an estimated 30,000 delegates composed of CEOs, entrepreneurs, thought leaders, media representatives and other key stakeholders together with world leaders from the Asia-Pacific region. Several of my business friends joining the president privately messaged me wondering why San Francisco was chosen as the venue for APEC 2023. There has been a lot of news coming out depicting San Francisco as a deteriorating city due to the crime surge especially in the downtown area, but local officials, particularly the police, are putting things in order and tightening up security measures for such a high-level event as APEC, which has been described as the “Super Bowl of World Economies.” The San Francisco police, the Sheriff’s office and the California
Highway Patrol are all working together with various federal agencies to secure the areas where the leaders’ summit and other conferences will be happening. Road closures and parking restrictions will be implemented, delivery vehicles entering the secure zones will be strictly scrutinized and screened, while flight and maritime restrictions on the bay will also be imposed. The U.S. Secret Service of course is also involved in the preparations to help ensure the safety not only of the participants and the general public during the weeklong event but most especially the state leaders who will be taking part in the APEC Leaders’ Summit from Nov. 15 to 18, which has been designated by the Department of Homeland Security as a “national special security event.” Recognizing that such a mammoth event will undoubtedly impact the residents of San Francisco, the Secret Service through Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jeremy Brown had assured that the goal of their law enforcement and public safety partners is to “provide a secure environment
while minimizing impact and inconveniences to residents and businesses.” While acknowledging the great opportunity to showcase San Francisco on a global scale, police chief Bill Scott also issued a warning that “any act of violence against any members of the public or against law enforcement will not be tolerated” and that all available resources will be used to protect the city. The APEC is the biggest forum of international stature that the city will be hosting in almost 80 years, and local organizers are understandably excited at the economic boon that the event will bring to hotels, restaurants and other business establishments, with many expressing optimism that this would press the “restart button” for their tourism industry. APEC economies – composed of the U.S., Japan, Australia, Canada, South Korea, Singapore, China, Brunei, Chile, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines – account for close
to 40 percent of the world’s population or about 3 billion people, representing 62 percent of world GDP and 48 percent of world trade in 2021, with real GDP increasing from $19 trillion in 1989 to $58.2 trillion in 2021, according to APEC data. Established in November 1989, APEC has since become a dynamic engine of economic growth and has emerged as one of the most important regional forums in the Asia-Pacific region. The idea of a regional economic and trade forum was first brought forth by the late Australian Prime Minister Robert James “Bob” Hawke in January 1989, when he gave a speech before a Korean business community in Seoul. The idea was simple – economies in the region should help each other as they pursue more trade, partnerships and prosperity. Hawke saw the potential of the region in helping resolve global issues, and appointed then Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Richard Woolcott as his special envoy to hold consultations with leaders across the Asia-Pacific region on the possibility of holding a ministerial level forum. In
November 1989, the first APEC leaders’ meeting was held in Canberra, with the Philippines as one of the 12 founding members. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed his attendance at the Leaders’ Summit as early as August during a courtesy call in Malacañang by the members of the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council (U.S.-ABC) led by its president and CEO, Ambassador Ted Osius, who brought 30 members with him, the largest contingent ever to visit the Philippines. The U.S.-ABC expressed interest in pursuing investments in a number of industries such as infrastructure, agriculture, clean energy, green metals and semiconductors. We have been coordinating with the State Department for protocol, security and other details, with our San Francisco consulate taking the lead more or less in the arrangements for the president’s participation. Consul General Neil Ferrer has been attending meetings and other activities relative to the preparations for the summit under the theme of “Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Future for All,” with
emphasis on building a more interconnected, innovative and inclusive APEC region to bring about economic recovery and long-term prosperity. President Marcos, who is one of the speakers during the highlevel dialogue on “Intentional Equity in Sustainability,” has a very good opportunity to engage with the top CEOs and highlight the economic reforms that the country has been pursuing and implementing to attract more foreign investment and expand commerce, not only domestically but also globally. The president will also bring into focus energy security which, as he has explained on several occasions, is high on his economic agenda, particularly in sustainable land, water and ocean solutions that align with the Philippines’ climate goals and will support plans to transform the Philippines into an upper middle-income country by 2025. (Philstar.com) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
*** babeseyeview@gmail.com
South China Sea: Three ticking time bombs
Horizons
RichaRd heydaRian “AMERICAN leadership is what holds the world together,” declared United States President Joseph Biden amid an era of unprecedented strategic challenges, stretching across the Eurasian landmass and the IndoPacific. Accordingly, he called on the U.S. Congress to support the expansion of defense aid to besieged allies in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Billing himself as a “wartime president,” Biden asked for additional defense aid of $61.4 billion for Kyiv and $14.3 billion for Tel Aviv. Meanwhile, the entire Indo-Pacific theater, home to the world’s largest and most dynamic nations, would be entitled to $2 billion in additional funding. In many ways, the U.S. President’s speech was both understandable and baffling. On one hand, Biden sought to present the U.S. as an anchor of international stability as well as a reliable strategic patron to allies in multiple theaters of conflict. Yet, the gap between the U.S. defense spending priorities, on the one hand, and the American people’s threat perceptions, on
the other hand, is quite telling. According to the latest Pew Research Center survey, American people overwhelmingly see China (50 percent) as the greatest source of external threat, far ahead of Russia (17 percent) and North Korea (2 percent). Interestingly, Biden himself and the U.S. defense establishment themselves have repeatedly identified China as the greatest challenge to American primacy throughout the years. Moreover, the U.S. has been extremely generous to allies in both Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Last year, Ukraine received more than $46 billion in aid from Washington alone. As for Israel, it received more than $300 billion in military aid between 1946 and 2022. With both allies facing security challenges, the U.S. is signaling massive military aid for the foreseeable future. And this, dear reader, brings us to the Philippines and, accordingly, existential threats in the West Philippine Sea. To put things into perspective: America’s total defense aid to the Philippines in the past decade has been barely above $1 billion, even as we have been confronting the world’s largest naval force in the South China Sea. In fact, the Philippines is confronting three ticking time
bombs in the South China Sea. First is, of course, the Scarborough Shoal, which was coercively overtaken by China in 2012 after Washington refused to decisively intervene on behalf of its ally. And as the latest developments suggest, a potential armed confrontation between China and the Philippines over the contested shoal is far from unthinkable. Just as worrying is the simultaneous crisis in the Second Thomas Shoal. Our de facto base in the area, the dilapidated BRP Sierra Madre, is about to succumb to the elements, but China has made it crystal clear that they would intervene should we seek to refurbish our position in the area. So the Philippines is facing an impossible situation, whereby it risks either (i) confrontation with an Asian juggernaut or (ii) losing more sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea. As if that weren’t bad enough, the Philippines is also running out of time to secure its energy security. The Malampaya plant is set to run out in the coming years, but we are yet to develop our energy resources in the Reed Bank area amid China’s constant harassment. Yearslong negotiations over a joint exploration deal, under a “service contract” modality, collapsed,
China Coast Guard ship with bow No. 4302 shadows one of two Philippine Navy boats on a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. Inquirer.net file photo
thanks to Beijing’s refusal to respect both international law and the Philippines’ constitution. Next to Taiwan, which faces the real prospect of a full-scale Chinese invasion, the Philippines is arguably the most besieged American ally in the Indo-Pacific. And unlike America’s allies in other major theaters, we are yet to develop a minimum credible defense posture against a superpower. Against this backdrop, we should welcome Vice President
Sara Duterte’s (surprisingly) statesmanlike intervention last week, namely her call for a (humanitarian) ceasefire and “long-term peace” in the Middle East. We should also hope that Ukraine will soon be in a position to negotiate for peace from a position of strength in order to best protect its sovereignty against an aggressive Russia. The reality is that the Philippines can’t deal with the China challenge without robust U.S. assistance. Yet, the U.S. is no longer a
“hyperpower,” namely the colossus that could intervene in multiple theaters effectively. And China, like no other revisionist actor, is in a position to threaten multiple U.S. allies in the IndoPacific. (Inquirer.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.
*** rheydarian@inquirer.com.ph
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Zubiri: SC decision didn’t diminish Senate’s power DFA exec says 20 Filipinos in West Bank want to go back to PH by CeCille suerte Felipe Philstar.com
by Charie abarCa Inquirer.net
MANILA — Almost 20 Filipinos in the West Bank have signified their desire to return to the Philippines as fighting between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas intensifies. “There are a few. Almost 20 [Filipinos who have signified their intentions]. But [their repatriation] would be easier,” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said in a mix of English and Filipino during an interview with Radyo 630.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) official also said at least 122 Filipinos are in the West Bank, one of two designated Palestinian-occupied territories, the other being the Gaza Strip. “Out of that, mga 20 ang gustong umuwi. Well, hindi magkaka giyera doon. Pero ‘yung peace and order [ang concern at] maraming protest ngayon. Mas madali ‘yun kasi tatawid lang [sila] ng Jordan,” he added. (Out of that, about 20 want to go home. Well, there will be no war there. But peace and order [is the concern, and] there are
many protests now. That’s easier because [they] will just cross Jordan.) De Vega did not provide more details, including the repatriation schedule, but noted that the Philippine government will bring them home as “soon as possible.” The DFA has raised crisis alert level 2 over West Bank. The Philippine Embassy in Jordan said this alert level is issued when there are “real threats to the life, security, and property of Filipinos” arising from internal and external threats to the host country. n
Rice retail prices rise by P2 per kilo by bella Cariaso Philstar.com
MANILA — Retail prices of rice have increased by P2 per kilo amid the rising farmgate price of palay, according to retailers’ group Grains Retailers Confederation of the Philippines (GRECON). In an interview with The STAR, GRECON national president James Magbanua said that in the Visayas alone, the buying price of fresh palay increased to P19 from P17 per kilo, and between P24 and P25 for dry palay. “The farmgate price of palay has increased since last week and it follows that once the farmgate price goes up, the retail price of rice will also go up. The P45 per kilo and P40 plus per kilo of rice is still available,” Magbanua said. He said the buying price of palay is higher in Luzon. Farmers’ group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) chairman Rosendo So earlier said the farmgate price of palay has reached P27 per kilo. “The P27 per kilo buying price of palay is in Luzon. Here in the Visayas, it has yet to reach that level,” Magbanua said. He said he does not agree with So’s proposal for President Marcos to impose another price ceiling of P45 per kilo on rice next month amid the
increase in the farmgate price of the staple. “To me, the price cap is not advisable. It is not healthy for the economy,” Magbanua said. He said that farmers benefit from the upward trend in the farmgate price of palay. “For the first time, I did not hear farmers complain about the low buying price of palay,” he said. Magbanua said the government should subsidize the retail price of rice instead of imposing a price ceiling. “The government can subsidize, but not the price cap. If it will release funding, it is better to subsidize (the retail price of the grains),” he said, noting that farmers are encouraged to plant more because of the high buying price of palay. “We need to implement a long-term solution to increase the yield (of the farmers) and lower the production cost. These should include transfer of technology, modernization of the sector and lower the production cost of the farmers. The government should address the high cost of farm inputs,” Magbanua said. He gave assurance that the supply of rice amid the peak harvest season would be adequate. Meanwhile, Raul Montemayor, national chairman of the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF), said that traders antici-
pate high farmgate prices after the peak harvest season and the possible impact of the El Niño phenomenon in the increase in the buying price of palay. “There is an uptick in palay prices, which is good for farmers. But with the large harvest coming in, I don’t think prices will spike up very much. If ever in the short-term only, but the increase in palay prices – when these should be going down during the peak harvest season – indicates that traders anticipate higher prices after the harvest months, probably because of the continued high international prices and possible effects of El Niño,” Montemayor said in a separate message to The STAR. Montemayor said he is validating reports that retail prices of rice have increased. Like Magbanua, he also opposed a suggestion to reimplement the price ceiling on rice. “This (increase in the retail price of rice) should not be a reason to impose price caps and end up depressing palay prices and penalizing farmers again for something that is not their fault. The best and most reliable way to offset the increase in international prices and effects of El Niño is to encourage, not discourage, farmers to plant more by giving them a good price for their produce,” he said. n
MANILA — Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Tuesday, October 24 downplayed the impact of the Supreme Court (SC)’s decision denying the Senate’s petition challenging the constitutionality of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to bar executive officials from attending Senate hearings. “It is my position that the ruling does not in any way diminish or disturb long-established doctrines on the legislative’s power to conduct inquiries in aid of legislation,” Zubiri said. The SC denied the petition for certiorari and prohibition filed by the Senate, which challenged the constitutionality of Duterte’s memorandum barring executive officials from attending hearings conducted by the Senate Blue Ribbon committee on the budget utilization of the Department of Health (DOH). Through a memorandum in October 2021, Duterte, through then executive secretary Salvador Medialdea, prohibited executive officials and employees from attending the Senate hearings on the government’s disbursement of COVID-19 funds. Zubiri clarified that the Senate “respects the Court’s decision and the body will discuss how to move forward with this.” He said they would “certainly study the decision and use it to strengthen our internal rules while preserving our constitutional mandate.” The Senate president explained that the SC dismissed the case on procedural and not on substantive grounds – it considered the filing of the case as premature, saying that the jurisdictional issue raised by the executive branch should have been first resolved by the Senate using its own rules. “We note that the decision recognizes and upholds the inherence and breadth of the power of Congress to conduct inquiries in aid of legislation, provided that the inquiry is material or necessary to legislation,” he said. For former Senate president Vicente Sotto III, the SC decision only supported the Senate as a co-equal branch of the executive, maintaining that he has yet to read the complete SC decision.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri Philstar.com file photo
“While the SC denied the Senate’s petition, its decision only buttressed the independence of the Senate as a co-equal branch of the executive by declaring that the Senate rules should be followed in resolving matters within its committee’s jurisdiction,” Sotto said. “Also, as already pronounced by the SC in the case of Senate vs. Ermita in 2006, the Congress has the right to compel the appearance of officials to hearings in aid of legislation, which the Senate used as a basis in its petition and still the case law on the matter,” he added. Dissenting opinion Meanwhile, Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa asserted that the SC should not have dismissed the petition challenging the constitutionality of a Duterte’s 2021 memorandum. In his dissenting opinion, Caguioa said the high court should not resort to “technicalities to conveniently justify” the dismissal of the petition and “ultimately, evade its obligation to be the final arbiter on questions involving the validity of the legislative or executive’s exercise of its authority.” In the SC ruling, penned by Associate Justice Amy LazaroJavier, the high court found that there is no actual case or controversy ripe for judicial adjudication, considering that the Senate itself has its own rules in resolving committee jurisdiction challenges and should have resorted to that before bringing the case to the SC. The ruling also found that the memorandum posed no immediate or threatened injury to the powers of the Senate. Caguioa argued that the
SC’s power of judicial review is based on its duty to settle actual controversies and determine whether there has been grave abuse of discretion on the part of any branch or instrumentality of the government. “More than a power or authority to settle disputes, the court has a duty to fulfill its role in the system of checks and balances,” he said. He added that it is “completely illogical” to claim that there was no immediate or threatened injury to the powers of the Senate with the issuance of the memorandum, since executive branch officials attended the previous hearings prior to the order. “I therefore disagree with the pretextual dismissal of the petition because of the supposed absence of an actual case or controversy before the court. That is simply not the case,” Caguioa said. “By dismissing the petition on the ground of prematurity, the court deliberately closed its eyes to the public statements of the president prior to and contemporaneous with the issuance of the subject memorandum,” he added. The associate justice also argued that it is a “trivial and vain exercise” to require the Senate to rule on its own on the jurisdictional challenge before filing a petition before the SC, saying the Senate’s petition mainly questioned the constitutionality of the memorandum. “This bone of contention presented by the Senate is already beyond and above a mere assertion of its jurisdiction to conduct inquiries and to compel the executive officials to again attend its hearings. This time, the Senate is already questioning the constitutionality of the action of a co-equal branch,” he said. “When there is a perceived encroachment by one branch of the government on the mandate and functions of the other, there is no other arbiter than the court itself,” he added. Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo and 12 other SC justices concurred with the ruling penned by Javier, all of whom are Duterte’s appointees. Caguioa and Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, who were appointed by Duterte’s predecessor, the late former president Benigno Aquino III, issued dissenting opinions. n
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Heart Evangelista claims someone ‘Don’t read the comments’: Pia Wurtzbach supports, advises Philippines’ stole her contacts to enjoy Europe Miss Universe bet Michelle Dee by JaN milo Severo Philstar.com
MANILA — Kapuso actress Heart Evangelista revealed that someone stole her contacts for that person to enjoy Europe. In her Instagram live session, Heart said that she will give her contacts if that person just asked her. “Women should support each other. You just ask me. If you asked me for contacts, I would have given it to you,” she said. “Imagine mo, years and years ko siyang trinabaho tapos ganu’n lang? Kinuha lang ‘yung sheet, eh. Pero ganu’n talaga. Baka kailangan nila,” she added. When asked by her followers if it was Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach she was referring to, Heart said: "I'm not gonna name names." "You know, I think everybody naman, lahat naman, pwedeng gawin. I mean, you could do everything and if you like to do it, you can do it. It’s just the way or matter of doing it. That’s the only thing that sucks. Like, I expected more from you know, but I don’t know, ganu’n talaga," she said. “Parang kung baga, survival mode na ‘to. And ako, ‘di naman ako kailagang mag-survive. Okay naman ako. I think this is the sad part here in the Philippines. Everybody’s really crab mentality. Like, pwede namang ‘Girl, pwede bang ganyan?’ Sure, why not, no?' Hindi Heart Evangelista ‘yung ganu’n. Nakaka-turn off. Nakaka-sad,” she added. Photo from Instagram/@iamhearte
by Nathalie tomada Philstar.com
MISS Universe 2015, Pia Wurtzbach, has complete confidence in Michelle Dee as she represents the Philippines in this year’s Miss Universe pageant. The 72nd Miss Universe coronation event will take place in El Salvador on Nov. 19 at 9 a.m. (Philippine time). When asked what she thought about Michelle’s chances to become the fifth Filipino to win the Miss Universe title, Pia said, “We’re ready.” “We’ve produced winners. We have that advantage. And what I love about Michelle, she’s very clear about her vision, she knows what she wants, and she also says it. “She’s firm about it but in a very sweet and gentle way. It’s very queenly. You really need somebody who’s firm in her stance. She knows na gusto niya yung hair niya na ganun. She knows her advocacy. She knows what she wants to talk about. She knows what kind of styling to go for. And I appreciate that in a winner. So, I’m very excited to see what she has in store for us.” Pia shared that she had a brief conversation with Michelle during the recent Avon fun run in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month and had a sneak peek at her gown. She said, “I loved it!” She’s going to have a longer chat with Michelle this week before the latter leaves for abroad. “I’m actually gonna have a moment to speak to her, mas private and mas matagal this week. And I’m already preparing little notes that she must remember, just to make her experience a little easier. Trivial things nalang ‘to like ‘wag mong kalimutan i-pack ganito, ganyan, just so she can get into a nice routine every day. I think they will be there for three weeks. So medyo mahaba yung competition nila,” she said. As for her advice to Michelle, she just wants her to embrace the whole Miss Universe experience. “I have a lot of advice, haha, but one thing that comes to mind right now is to simply savor the experience, have a strategy, stick to the plan, and when it comes to social media, people will be waiting for updates, and they will rely on her postings for her activities,” Pia said. “I mean, people are going to be looking at pageant pages for updates but people also want to see what she will be posting. So plan that, but don’t read the comments. Don’t read the comments, girl! It’s tempting but it’s time to focus on the bigger thing, which is the goal and that’s the crown.” Meanwhile, Pia welcomed the recent developments within the Miss Universe competition. Over the past year, the Miss Universe Organization has been introducing significant changes to the eligibility criteria, permitting mothers, married women, pregnant contestants and women of all ages to participate in the pageant. These new rules are expected to be in place for this year’s edition. “I’m very open to the changes happening now, in-expect naman natin na magiging mas inclusive na ang Miss Universe. I think it’s going in the right direction because isipin mo nga
Former Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach is joined by Miss Universe Philippines Michelle Dee during the Fun Run to Boob Love event to promote awareness against breast cancer. Philstar.com photo
naman, ano ba ang Miss Universe? Like, what are her roles? She’s a spokesperson, she’s an inspiration, she will be using the platform to push for her advocacies and her causes as well,” she said. “Kung iisipin mo, may age limit ba yun? ‘Di ba wala naman talaga? Parang these are things that should be pushed by women, regardless of their age, regardless if they’re married or not, regardless if they’re 5’3” or 6’2”. “Like, bakit nga ba may restrictions? Parang I sometimes go back to that question, bakit nga ba may age limit? Bakit nga ba may height requirement? Bakit nga ba women lang or exclusive lang sa women before? And we always have to go back to what our definition of Miss Universe is, and if it’s still the same as my time where she’s a spokesperson, she has to inspire, she has to push for her causes, why can’t it be anyone? “And this opens the doors to so many more women who, in a way, missed out on the chance because they reached the age limit or because they had already decided to start a family and couldn’t compete again. So now, our wishlist is getting longer because we have former candidates who are considering a comeback, and that makes it even more interesting.” Pia has her own list of women she hopes will grace the Miss Universe Philippines stage again. One beauty queen she is keen on seeing return is Christi McGarry, who was crowned Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental when Pia finally won the Miss Universe Philippines title. “Christi McGarry is also a really good friend of mine,” she noted. “She kinda pivoted her career into hosting, DJ-ing and modeling now. She also has a few businesses. And she’s very tall and very morena, Pinay, ang ganda din. “I think it will be so interesting to see somebody who decided to let go of pageants, but now that the restrictions are off, decide to try again,” said Pia, who famously made three attempts before securing the spot to represent the country at Miss Universe. “Ang ganda din ng kwento na ganun na nagbalik loob. So, sila yung mga naisip ko. Marami sa
mga mothers eh. Mga kasabayan ko rin sila kaya.” Also on her wishlist is Alaiza Malinao, a beauty queen and model from Davao City, who became a Miss Universe Philippines 2020 finalist. “I’ve been seeing her posts. She’s very open (about her life), she shares about motherhood, she’s a working mother now. I can envision it. I don’t know if it’s her goal. Sorry Alaiza if I’m putting you on the spot, but I’m sure I’m not the only one,” observed Pia. On the topic of family and motherhood, she opened up about her own aspirations now that she is Mrs. Jauncey. “Definitely, one day, we want to have a family, we want to have kids. Jeremy loves the idea of a big family. Then that means, I’m gonna take a break haha! But, you know, he’s also very supportive of my career. We’ve agreed that we take this time to focus on our careers now and work towards our goal. We’re not in a hurry naman. I’m just glad I have somebody who’s very supportive in all of the decisions I make.” Pia tied the knot with Scottish businessman Jeremy Jauncey in Seychelles last March 24, with the announcement following almost two months after on May 5. When asked about her married life, she said, “I don’t feel much of a difference from when we were engaged. Except that now I’m getting used to being called Mrs. Jauncey already. Nung una parang ‘di pa ako sanay. I’m excited because I feel very safe in the relationship.” Pia also shared how big of an influence Jeremy is in her life, not just personally but professionally as well. “Jeremy has really been a big guiding light for me when it comes to all aspects of my life. Even my career. Like he gives good business advice, he pushes me to try things that I wanna do, he pushes me to go for my book. I mean the book was already finished bago ko pa siya nakilala. But he just pushes me to go for the things that I want and that’s a really nice feeling.” The press got to interview Pia during an intimate media huddle last Tuesday, October 24 about her latest milestone as National Book Store’s bestselling author for her first novel, Queen of the Universe. It’s now available in Singapore and set to launch in the U.S., Australia, Canada, UAE, and the UK later this year. The e-book version will be accessible worldwide starting on Nov. 7. Queen of the Universe is published by Tuttle Publishing, one of the oldest American publishing houses, and the world’s largest publisher of books about Asia. ABS-CBN Books represents Pia in this literary venture. The book can be found at National Book Store and Fully Booked branches in the Philippines, as well as at Kinokuniya and Times Bookstores in Singapore. For Pia on building a family with Scottish husband Jeremy Jauncey: ‘Definitely, one day, we want U.S.-based readers, pre-orders are available on Amazon.com to have a family, we want to have kids. Jeremy loves the idea of a big family.’ Instagram/@piawurtzbach and BarnesandNoble.com.
Hamilton cast admires Filipinos’ respect for elders and even strangers by Nathalie tomada Philstar.com
THE international production of the Broadway megahit musical Hamilton has been playing at Theatre at Solaire for a month now, affording its stars ample time and opportunity to observe and soak in some local culture. In case you don’t know it yet, the Manila season serves as the Asian premiere of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony, Grammy, Olivier and Pulitzer-winning hip-hop musical about one of America’s founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton. Australian actor Jason Arrow, cast in the titular role of Alexander Hamilton, and US theater veteran Darnell Abraham, who brings to life the character of the first American president George Washington, recently shared their experiences and insights so far during this Manila run. When asked about their encounters with Filipino fans, the actors were quick to highlight the warmth and respect they have received from the local audience. Jason particularly noted the level of respect that Filipinos exhibit towards strangers. In hallways or random interactions, he said there’s an immediate display of courtesy, regardless of whether they know you or your background. That respect left a lasting impression on him. Jason said, “I would say respect. That one really sticks with me… One of the things I’ve noticed is a lot of respect for people who don’t even know you, just randomly walking in the hallways or something. And there will just be an immediate respectful person next to you without knowing who they are, what they do, where they’re from. It doesn’t matter. It’s respect. It just sort of happens here a lot which you don’t really get anywhere else so it is very unique.” Darnell, in turn, expressed appreciation for the strong sense of community in the Philippines. He observed a deep reverence for elders and a preference for a “communal spirit” that extends beyond one’s immediate household. Darnell said, “Literally, the very first thought we talked about before we came out and that is the community. There really is a really a community here. “I think that’s not always the case in places that I visited all over the world. But there are places where there really is a preference for community that goes beyond your immediate house… and in fact, you see a respect for the elderly, for the elders.” Both actors agreed that the Filipino audiences are very polite. “Just to see folks interact and say thank you, po and for understanding that. We are not opposed to ‘sir.’ It’s even higher than that. It is so beautiful, and to be out in the community, but then to also experience the spirit of any audience that we can totally say Filipino audiences are so polite,” Darnell said. Jason also offered a peek into his daily routine that prepares him for the demands
Jason and Darnell with Smart Infinity executives (from left) Richard Mathew Dimagiba, VP/ head of postpaid marketing; Ruth Coloma, AVP and brand head; Eden Techico, VP for Retail Operations; John Palanca, FVP for consumer sales and development; Alex Caeg, SVP for Consumer Business; and Sandra Laurel, AVP for Retail Operations. Philstar.com photo
of each performance night. His preparation varies from day to day, but he dedicates his mornings to both his mental and physical condition. This includes hitting the gym and engaging in exercises. The rest of the day unfolds organically, influenced by the requirements of his performance. Darnell, on the other hand, got to open up about his early introduction to the theater world. Growing up singing in church, he developed an interest in music and performing arts. He was in first grade when he was introduced to Shakespeare and classic Hollywood movies, perhaps helping lay the foundation for his acting career. His grandmothers had always envisioned him as a pastor or performer. He said his role as George Washington in Hamilton combines both aspects, with the character delivering a sermonlike speech in the song One Last Time. “You know, it’s an exhortation. And then, that validation was the most rewarding and I thank my parents and my families for nurturing that,” he said. Both actors also spoke about the unique challenges of being part of an international tour. After the Manila season, the international tour will head to Dubai and then Singapore, as just recently announced. Jason mentioned the aspects of navigating a foreign city, being away from home and living out of a suitcase. “Navigating how to get to work, where to buy things. All that stuff. And just things like waking up to an alarm clock. Being away from home, living out of a suitcase, things like that. You see two guys who are forced to go (on a tour together) for a long time… I see that as like, you know, I have to be open minded. I sort of meditate my way through the whole experience. What I’ve seen is pretty enjoyable,” he said. Darnell, on the other hand, considered the entire tour as a blessing but also stressed the emotional challenge of portraying historical figures. Ultimately, he learned to embrace the “historic significance” of a black man playing Washington as a celebration of the complexities of history. “In addition to what Jason said, for me, (the challenge) is taking the role of Washington because, I mean, these are historical figures
(in the musical). And so anyone can pick up a book and read about these people, especially George Washington because he’s the most captivating US president in history. Everyone has an idea of who George Washington is… He is in the pictures or, at least, artist renditions and illustrations.” Playing Washington as a human with imperfections rather than an idealized figure proved to be a difficult undertaking. “It’s a challenge, taking him off the pedestal, and humanizing this human being who had flaws and all. Also for me, as a descendant of enslaved black Americans, George Washington enslaved black Americans, and so it’s trying to reconcile that reality. And again, that was really difficult for me in the beginning. It was very, very difficult for me,” Darnell admitted. “Through a lot of time spent in meditation, prayer, and also in therapy quite frankly and speaking with my family, with people that I trust, I was able to work my way through it. While I represent George Washington, I represent my ancestors first. And this reconciliation can still be beautiful in that it’s not that we’re trying to rewrite history. “I think that’s what makes this moment so historical, another black man (playing) George Washington. And I think there’s beauty as a celebration of all it. It’s just a really great experience to share with audiences here in Manila. That’s been probably the single biggest thing I had to overcome.” Darnell and Jason had the opportunity to talk to the press during the recent launch of the new Smart Infinity Lounge at the BGC store. The event not only showcased the lounge but also the exclusive services it offers to Smart Infinity members. It also marked the announcement of the Hamilton VIP Experience in collaboration with Smart Infinity. Subscribers to Smart Infinity’s premium plans (5000 and 8000) now receive a pair of complimentary Hamilton VIP tickets for the entire duration of the Manila musical, which runs until Nov. 26. These plans include flagship devices, unlimited mobile data, calls and texts to all networks, exclusive access to Smart Infinity pre-show and afterparty events, as well as the chance to meet and greet the Hamilton cast.
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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 27 - NOVEMBER 2, 2023
PH Consulate in SF visits CAS for MANAMo 2023 celebration SAN FRANCISCO – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco led by Consul General Neil Frank Ferrer visited the California Academy of Sciences and attended its Nightlife event on September 28, 2023 as part of its celebration of Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANAMo) 2023 with the theme “Kapuluan, Kabuluhan, Kaunlaran” (Archipelago, Significance, and Development). Given the laboratory breakthrough
Steinhart Aquarium, which houses the Philippine Coral Reef display. Since 1923, Steinhart Aquarium has developed a colorful history of firsts. It is the first public aquarium to display flashlight fish and coconut octopuses and has been advancing exploration of the ocean’s mysterious “twilight zone,” exhibiting innovation and scientific excellence. The Philippine Consulate General’s personnel then watched the show “Expedition Reef: Hope for Corals in a Changing World” at the Morrison Planetarium. The 45-minute show lets the audience travel around the globe, including to the Philippines, to explore coral reefs, considered “rainforests of the sea”, and how scientists are developing sustainable solutions to protect and regenerate these for the future. Narrated by Philippines’ very own and Tony Award winner Lea Salonga, the show takes full advantage of the planetarium’s full dome screen to immerse the audience in the undersea adventure, and for them to discover how corals grow, feed, reproduce, and support over 25% of all marine life on earth while facing unprecedented threats from climate change, habitat destruction, and overfishing. The California Academy of Sciences, which has an aquarium, planetarium, rainforest, and natural history museum, is a powerful platform for biodiversity research and exploration, environmental education, and sustainability across the globe. For many years, the Academy scientists and Filipino scientists have been working together documenting the rich biodiversity San Francisco PCG officers and personnel at the Philippine Coral Reef exhibit at California of the Philippines. (PCGSF Academy of Sciences. Release) and innovative conservation strategies of the Academy, including its various techniques to advance coral science, the visit also fits in with the sub-theme adopted by the Department of Foreign Affairs, which is “Setting Sails Towards Sustainability: Ocean Science for Archipelagic Philippines.” During the visit, Consulate officers and personnel marveled at the Philippine Coral Reef, the gateway to California Academy of Sciences’ larger Coral Reefs of the World exhibit. At 25 feet deep, the Philippine Coral Reef tank is one of the deepest and largest displays of living coral in the world. It replicates some of the diversity found in the Verde Island Passage, recognized as the center of marine biodiversity in the world, which is an area of unbelievable beauty and importance. The Consulate personnel also witnessed the live dive show, which educates visitors on the marine ecosystems. The date of the visit coincided with the 100th Anniversary of the
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GREEN CARD OBTAINED DESPITE NUMEROUS INCIDENTS OF FRAUD, ON AN ENCORE SUCCESS STORY OF CITIZEN PINOY THIS SUNDAY! Some people commit fraud. They may have entered the U.S. under a different name. Some may have submitted fake documents. Reggie (left) committed multiple acts of fraud on his journey to legalization. Be sure to tune in and find out how leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel was able to secure a fraud waiver and green card for Reggie despite all of his fraud. Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, October 29 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. (Advertising Supplement)
From fraud to green card: Watch this inspiring success story on Citizen Pinoy this Sunday IT started in June 1998, when Reggie entered the U.S. under an assumed name. Since then, he obtained a fake
entry stamp to the Philippines to to renew his visitor visa at the make it appear he left the U.S. U.S. Embassy in Manila under even while he remained in the the assumed name. United States. He was also able PAGE 10
San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder and elections department moving website
REDWOOD CITY – Mark Church, San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder and Chief Elections Officer, announced the Department’s website has moved to a government domain. The website can now be reached at www.smcacre.gov. “Moving to a government domain is an important step in helping the public quickly identify our website as a trusted government source. The Department of the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder and Elections (ACRE) provides a vast array of information, services, and data. Using a .gov domain gives citizens and voters confidence that they are looking at official and correct information,” stated Church. “I invite the comConsul General Neil Ferrer (10th from left) and officers and personnel pose outside the California Academy of Sciences San Francisco PCG photos munity to explore our website,”
Church added. All .gov domains are managed by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). They are made available only to U.S.-based government organizations and publicly controlled entities after verification. Other domains like .org and .com can be registered to anyone, and malicious actors have sought to impersonate government agencies using non .gov domains. The ACRE Election’s website at www.smcvote.org has also moved to a government domain at www.smcvote.gov. During an election, this page has information needed by a voter such as where to vote in person, how to track their ballot, how to view their sample ballot and official
voter information guide, and how to find results. The prior websites’ URLs have now been redirected to www.smcacre.gov and www. smcvote.gov addresses. Along with the new ACRE website, www.smcacre.gov, the email address extension for Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder and Elections staff have been updated to @smcacre.gov. The prior email address extension @smcacre.org will remain active for the foreseeable future and emails sent to @smcacre. org will be forwarded to the @ smcacre.gov address. Questions regarding the new website domain names may be directed to Asa Chung, Graphics Specialist, at 650.599.1787 or achung@smcacre.gov. (SMACRE Release)
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OCTOBER 27 - NOVEMBER 2, 2023 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
Features
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Mayor Breed recognizes Graton Resort & Casino as premier sponsor of APEC leaders’ conference in SF The premier sponsorship serves as a testament to he organization’s ongoing dedication to San Francisco’s growth, development and success
SAN FRANCISCO – On Tuesday, October 24, Mayor London N. Breed recognized Graton Resort & Casino as the city’s Premier Sponsor committed to supporting San Francisco as the host city for the 2023 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting. Earlier this month, Graton Resort & Casino donated $4,625,000 to the San Francisco Special Events Committee, which is responsible for all APEC-related fundraising efforts. The committee has eclipsed its committed fundraising goal of $20,000,000, and intends to continue raising funds. Graton Resort & Casino’s generosity marks a significant contribution to APEC’s success and demonstrates the business’ commitment to fostering continued economic growth in the city. “Graton Resort & Casino’s contribution will help ensure that the thousands of visitors coming to San Francisco for APEC experience the best of the city,” said Mayor London Breed. “On behalf of the city, I’d like to extend my deepest appreciation to Graton for not only their extraordinary donation, but also their unwavering commitment to our city’s progress, prosperity, and innovation.” “Graton Resort & Casino’s generous support as the premier sponsor of the APEC summit marks not only a key partnership in ensuring the Summit’s success but also a partnership of shared values and commitment to showcasing the best of our state, our worldleading diversity, prosperity, and spirit of innovation,” said Lieutenant Governor and APEC Host Committee Finance Chair Eleni Kounalakis. Graton’s contribution will help enhance the experience for attendees at the conference next month. This support not only strengthens this international conference, but also underscores the company’s dedication to
Tribal Chairman Greg Sarris of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria (in podium) gives his remarks as San Francisco Mayor London Breed (left) and California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis (right) look on. Photos courtesy of Viv Yuan
From fraud to green card: Watch this... SF Mayor London Breed (left) extended her deepest appreciation to Graton not only for the donation to the APEC meet, but also for its “unwavering commitment to the city’s progress, prosperity, and innovation.” To her left is CA Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis.
California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis shares her remarks.
community engagement on a global stage. “Our business, Graton Resort & Casino, is committed to social justice and environmental stewardship,” said Greg Sarris, Tribal Chairman, Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. “The APEC conference will shine a light on all the important attributes of the Bay Area, including our diverse population and history of innovation. San Francisco is beautiful, vibrant and
welcoming. It remains one of the world’s best and most forwardthinking cities. That’s why we’re proud to be the premier sponsor and enthusiastically support APEC in San Francisco.” As a Premier Sponsor of APEC 2023 in San Francisco, Graton Resort & Casino supports the conference’s core themes of resilience, innovation, and inclusivity. Graton Resort & Casino is dedicated to helping our community in Northern California. The APEC conference will shine a light on all the important attributes of the Bay Area – including our diverse population and history of innovation. The APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) is the premier platform for the United States to advance economic policies in the Asia-Pacific region to promote free, fair, and open trade and investment and advance inclusive and sustainable growth. As part of our enduring commitment to the region and broad-based economic growth, San Francisco is excited to serve as host of the APEC Leaders’ Meeting taking place in San Francisco, November 11-17, 2023. APEC will be the largest convening of world leaders in San Francisco since the UN Charter was signed in 1945 during the UN Conference on International Organization, also called the San Francisco Conference. This November, the United States will chair the 2023 AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting in iconic San Francisco, California. The 21 APEC Member Economies account for nearly 40 percent of the global population and nearly 50 percent of global trade. APEC’s themes this year The Nov. 11-17, 2023 APEC conference is the largest convening of world leaders in San are sustainability, inclusivity, innovation and resilience. Francisco since the UN Charter was signed in 1945.
SERVICES
PH CONSULATE ATTENDS FANHS EAST BAY CHAPTER’S CELEBRATION OF FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH. The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco joined the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) East Bay Chapter in its celebration of Filipino American History Month at the Itliong-Vera Cruz Middle School — the first public school in the United States named after a Fil-Am — in Union City, California on October 7, 2023. On behalf of Consul General Neil Ferrer, Vice Consul Adrian Baccay conveyed the Consulate’s greetings to the FANHS East Bay Chapter, led by its president Linda Canlas. Also in attendance was South San Francisco Mayor Buenaflor Nicolas. FANHS co-founders Dr. Fred and Dr. Dorothy Cordova led the first commemoration of Filipino American History Month in 1992. Since then, U.S. federal, state and local governments have issued proclamations celebrating Filipino American History Month and recognizing the contributions of Fil-Ams in American society. San Francisco PCG photos
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PAGE 9 All these years, Reggie lived under a series of lies. Finally, Reggie and his wife consulted with leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel who obtained a fraud waiver and green card through a petition by his U.S. citizen wife. Find out how Reggie was finally able to legally acquire his green card. Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, October 29 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app. Leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (right) was able to get a green card (Advertising Supplement)
for his client, Reggie (left), despite the multiple frauds he committed.
SISTER CITIES BAGUIO AND VALLEJO CELEBRATE 30TH FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY AT VALLEJO SISTER CITY ASSOCIATION’S 17TH INTERNATIONAL DINNER & AUCTION. The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, represented by Vice Consul Adrian Baccay, attended 17th Annual International Dinner and Auction of the Vallejo Sister City Association at the Filipino Community Center of Solano County in Vallejo, California September 23, 2023. The event highlighted the sister city relations between Vallejo and Baguio, Philippines, which are marking their 30th founding anniversary this year. In attendance were Baguio Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan and Councilors Fred Bagbagen and Lilia Fariñas. In his remarks, Vice Consul Baccay cited community efforts to establish the Baguio-Vallejo sister city relations, which was formalized in Vallejo through City Council Resolution No. 93-250 on May 15, 1993. He presented a Certificate of Recognition signed by Consul General Neil Ferrer to the Vallejo-Baguio Sister City Committee, for its “invaluable contributions… to the strong people-to-people ties between the Philippines and the United States.” Bay Area-based Filipino cultural group Parangal Dance Company performed dances from the Philippine Cordillera region, where Baguio is located. Photos by Dinah Villanueva-Ryan and Mel Orpilla
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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 27 - NOVEMBER 2, 2023
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Los Angeles City Hall gets bathed in the colors of the Philippine flag by Consul General edGar B. Badajos
AS part of the month-long celebration of Filipino-American History Month this October, the iconic Los Angeles City Hall building was bathed in the colors of the Philippine flag in the early evening of October 20, 2023. City officials, Philippine Consulate representatives, and Fil-Ams representing local government, businesses and community organizations gathered at the city hall grounds to witness the momentous occasion. Although October was first officially declared as Philippine American History Month in 2009 by virtue of a resolution introduced in the California State Assembly by former State Senator Leland Yee, it was only in 2019 when lighting of the city hall in Philippine colors began with then Eric Garcetti as mayor. Every year since then, the city hall lighting ceremony has become a much-awaited occasion by the Filipino diaspora in Southern California and beyond. Completed in 1928, Los Angeles's City Hall has a total of 32 floors. At 454 feet (138 m) high, it is the tallest base-isolated structure in the world. It has a neoclassical base with an Art Deco tower. In 1976, it was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument. Just as the structure is a historic landmark in Los Angeles, lighting it in the colors of the Philippine flag is also of historic proportions. I say this because to me, this act rightfully shines light on the hard-fought and well-deserved recognition of the Filipino immigrant community as a full-pledged member of the city’s social, familial, political, and economic landscape. Indeed, from the first documented landing of a handful of Filipinos in what is now Morro Bay in San Luis Obispo, California in 1587 as crew members of a Spanish galleon en route from Manila to Mexico, to the sprinkling of Filipino immigrants in the early 1900s, Filipinos today comprise one of the largest Asian groups in the entire state of California and third largest in Los Angeles behind the Chinese and Indians. And Filipinos have made their presence felt not only through the sheer size of their community, but also by being generally successful at integrating themselves in all aspects of American life. Whether it be in the arts, media, and entertainment industry, trade or business, or in the political arena, the Filipino community has made inroads and made a difference well beyond the ordinary. California’s incumbent Attorney General is Rob Bonta is the first Filipino American to hold
that position. The city’s “chief accountant and paymaster” is Kenneth Mejia. He is the first Filipino elected official of the City of LA, and the first Asian American to be elected to the position of City Controller. The Commissioner of the Board of Public Works of Los Angeles, Susana de Los Reyes, and the executive director and General Manager of the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Street Lighting, Miguel Sangalang, are both of Filipino descent. Apl. de.ap, Olivia Rodrigo, Bruno Mars, Jokoy, and Cher Calvin of KTLA 5 News have become household names in America’s music, entertainment, and media industry. In business, several Fil-Ams have made it to the big leagues, including the stylish Priscilla Dulay Hunt, president and CEO of a multi-million dollar residential and commercial real estate leasing company; business-savvy Rupert and Grace Mercado-Ouano, owners and proprietors of three (3) skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers in Northern and Southern California; socialite couple Dr. Edwin and Lani Raquel whose other claim to fame is as owners of a magnificent estate in a gated community in Los Angeles that was once the home of the late “America’s Sweetheart,” Mary Pickford; and Fil-Am power couple Roger and Cora Oriel, owners and publishers of Asian Journal, the largest Filipino-American printed newspaper in Southern California with branches in San Francisco, San Diego, New York, and Las Vegas. Recently, the Oriels ventured into the wine industry. If they are not attending to their newspaper business, they are busy developing Philippine distribution networks for their Napa Valley-produced Montemaria wines. But the journey of the Filipino immigrant has not always been easy. It is well-documented that there were many road bumps along the way, including specifically, racial prejudice. Many a time, these road bumps challenged the world-renowned patience and tenacity of the Filipino immigrant in the face of adversity. On many occasions, the road bumps forced the Filipino immigrant to wonder whether America is truly a land of opportunity where the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is guaranteed to everyone regardless of race, sex, creed, or political belief, or just an imagined reality where nativism and xenophobia are the rule, making some groups feel like second-class citizens. This month’s celebration of Filipino American history, therefore, is a poignant reminder of not just the Filipino immigrant
Community leaders pose for a photo with surprise guest, comedian Jo Koy
Sangalang and Reyes with awardee, beauty influencer and entrepreneur Patrick Starrr (center)
Sangalang and Reyes with awardee, actor Nico Santos (center)
Sangalang and Reyes with a representative on behalf of culinary arts awardee Margarita Miguel Sangalang, DJ E-Man and Susana Reyes Manzke (center)
Sangalang and Reyes with awardee, Anna Lisa de Guzman of Malaya Filipino American Dance Arts (center)
Sangalang and Reyes with awardee, fashion designer Puey Quinones (center)
Consul General Edgar Badajos Photo from Facebook
community’s triumphs and successes through the years, but also of the many trials it faced and hurdled along the way. For it is not so much the triumphs that built and defined, and will continue to shape, the character of the Filipino immigrant community as did the trials. As for the lighting ceremony, it is a dramatic reminder to Angelenos, if not all the peoples of the United States, that the Filipino immigrant com- Los Angeles City Hall was bathed in the colors of the Philippine flag on October 20, 2023. munity is now as much an integral part of mainstream America as any other American or immigrant community on the street. No amount of racial prejudice, in any form or style, can change or erase that. Mabuhay ang Filipino sa Amerika! *** Mr. Edgar Badajos is a career Philippine Foreign Officer. He is presently serving as Consul General at the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles.
Photos courtesy of Jose Lozano
LA Board of Public Works Commissioner Susana Reyes welcomes Bob DeCastro, an anchor and reporter for FOX 11 News, was the emcee for the Oct. 20 FAHM event. guests to the annual FAHM celebration at City Hall.
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OCTOBER 27 - NOVEMBER 2, 2023 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL
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