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Volume 22 - No.46 • 12 Pages

T HE F ILIPINO A MERICAN C OMMUNITY N EWSPAPER

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NOVEMBER 17-23, 2023

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

Marcos visits Filipino community in San Francisco DATELINE USA FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Distinguished Fil-Am physician to be part of 72nd Miss Universe selection committee A FILIPINA American physician is among the selection committee members of the 72nd Miss Universe competition. Connie Mariano, who was a doctor of former United States presidents, is among the personalities who will determine the fate of the 80 candidates vying for the elusive crown in the prestigious pageant. The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) unveiled the names of the members of the committee on social media on November 14. “We are excited to announce our phenomenal selection committee for the 72nd MISS UNIVERSE competition,” MUO said. Mariano, meanwhile, is the first Filipino American to become a Navy Rear Admiral

by KRISTINA MARALIT ManilaTimes.net

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, November 14, met with the Filipino community in San Francisco, California where he expressed his profound gratitude and admiration to them for making their marks not just in the West Coast but in the whole United States. The chief executive particularly lauded Filipino and Filipino-American healthcare workers for their unrivaled dedication and hard work at the height of the coronavirus pandemic during the event ahead of his participation in the 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooper-

ation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting. "Americans experienced firsthand the Filipino way of caring and acting on the needs of others. One in every 5 nurses here in the West Coast are trained in the Philippines. Our Filipino nurses, doctors, our first responders, essential workers – they have all demonstrated the timeless Filipino virtues of compassion and brotherhood," he said during the gathering held at the South San Francisco Conference Center. "We are all grateful for your selfless service to humanity and we look up to you as role models for future generations of Filipinos and FilipinoAmericans," he added. Marcos likewise recognized Filipinos who have

Marcos to meet with US VP, not Biden – envoy by ALEXIS ROMERO Philstar.com

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Biden campaign releases first TV ad featuring Fil-Am business owner, his wife LOS ANGELES – President Joe Biden has released the Biden-Harris 2024 campaign’s first TV ad featuring a Filipino-American and his Vietnamese-American wife, who are small business owners. The ad is part of a paid media program targeting the Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities across the United States, according to a Democratic National Committee (DNC) update sent by Brencia Berry, director of Coalitions and Community Engagement at the DNC, to supporters. The media program will include a diverse array of print, TV and radio advertising. The TV ad “Family Business” spotlights Fil-Am Odeen Domingo and Jenny Poon, who run a small business in Phoenix, Arizona. Domingo praises Biden for directing his attention to smaller businesses instead of corporations since “it wasn’t like that before.” The 30-second spot will run on general market programming in Phoenix, which includes target-rich programming like “Dancing With the Stars,” “Bachelor in Paradise” and high-rated local and network news programs, and on national cable news, according to the DNC update. In the TV ad, Poon talks about her  PAGE 5

been making waves in American politics, including Utah Attorney General Shaun Reyes and California Attorney General Robert Bonta whom he tagged as prime examples of Filipinos in America seen, felt, and heard "in all walks of life." He then expressed hope that this niche of Filipinos in the U.S., specifically in the Bay Area, would further pave the way for the Philippines' innovation ecosystem. California, he noted, is "an important trade and investment partner" of the country. "Our country is also important to the state as it has been a popular destination for green field investment from our country," stated the president.  PAGE 2

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. hailed Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the United States on Tuesday, November 14 for their success as well as contributions both to the Philippines and their host country that encompass different fields. Speaking during his meeting with the Filipino community in South San Francisco, California, President Marcos recognized Filipinos who won statewide elective positions in the U.S. Malacañang photo

MANILA — The White House is seeking a meeting between President Marcos and United States Vice President Kamala Harris during this week’s AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in San Francisco, California, according to the Philippines’ envoy to the U.S. Marcos left for the U.S. on Tuesday, November 14 to attend the APEC Leaders’ Summit in San Francisco and to visit Los Angeles and Hawaii, where his family went into exile after the historic 1986 EDSA people power revolution. Last week, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Marcos may have bilateral meetings with fellow leaders on the sidelines of the APEC meet, but there was no confirmed schedule yet. “Due to the tight (U.S. President Joe) Biden schedule … there is a (White House) request for VP Kamala Harris for a meeting with PBBM (President Bongbong Marcos) at the APEC summit,” Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez told The STAR on Monday, November 13.  PAGE 2

High court affirms dismissal of ill-gotten wealth case vs Marcoses by FRANCO JOSE C. BAROÑA ManilaTimes.net

THE Supreme Court has affirmed a 2012 Sandiganbayan decision dismissing the illgotten wealth case filed by the Philippine government against the estate of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and others. The high court’s decision resolved the consolidated cases which originated from the complaint for recovery and reconveyance of ill-gotten wealth filed by the Presidential Commission on Good Government’s (PCGG) before the Sandiganbayan. “The recovery of ill-gotten wealth, with its laudable purpose initiated as it is ‘not only

out of considerations of simple justice but also out of sheer necessity,’ places a heavy responsibility on the Republic and poses a demanding task for the Sandiganbayan and this Court,” the Supreme Court said in its decision promulgated on October 3 but only made public on Tuesday, November 14. “As the party seeking the recovery, the Republic has the burden of establishing its claim through admissible and relevant evidence. As vanguards of justice, the Sandiganbayan, and ultimately, this Court, have the obligation not only to meticulously analyze and weigh all the pieces of evidence - separating the unsubstantiated from those  PAGE 2

Vice President Sara Duterte

ManilaTimes.net file photo

Duterte is country’s caretaker After 6 years, De Lima free as court okays bail while Marcos is in US by RUSSEL P. LORETO Inquirer.net

Former Sen. Leila de Lima is all smiles and thankful after the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court on Monday, November 14 grants her petition for bail in her remaining drug case. De Lima has been in detention at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame since February 2017. Inquirer.net photo by Richard Reyes

MANILA — “FINALLY, FREEDOM!” These were the first words former Sen. Leila de Lima said in the courtroom on Monday, November 14 immediately after the judge in charge of the third and last case against her granted her petition for bail. She then sobbed uncontrollably as her family, friends, and legal team celebrated her imminent release after nearly seven years in detention, with some also breaking down in tears. Later, a composed but still

emotional De Lima faced the media and her supporters who were waiting outside the courtroom. “Finally, I will be set free. For years, my whole team has been crying out for justice and freedom, for more than six long years I’ve been praying so hard for this day to come,” she said as chants of “Free Leila Now!” from her supporters echoed in the background. “It is very painful to be jailed if you are innocent, and I don’t want this to happen to others. But I don’t want to be sad or bitter today. This is a moment of  PAGE 4

by CATHERINE S. VALENTE ManilaTimes.net

MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio is the country’s caretaker while President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is in the United States, Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said on Tuesday, November 14. Marcos left the country on Tuesday for a weeklong trip to the U.S. to attend the 2023 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in San Francisco, and to visit Los Angeles and Hawaii. Last week, the Department

of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Marcos may have bilateral meetings with fellow leaders on the sidelines of the APEC meet, but there was no confirmed schedule yet. In his speech during the 1st Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Legislative General Assembly in Davao City on Tuesday, the president described as’very important’ his participation at the APEC summit that will be held on November 15 to 17. “I am on my way today, later on today, I am going to San Francisco, United States to  PAGE 5

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From the Front Page

Marcos visits FIlipino community... PAGE 1

Francisco to seek mutually bene"On the sidelines of the APEC ficial exchanges and partnerships. meetings, my delegation will con- Our presence in the bay area this duct business meetings in San week also supports the develop-

ment of the Philippine innovation ecosystem, in line with the national innovation agenda framework," he added. g

High court affirms dismissal of ill-gotten wealth... PAGE 1

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family during his proclamation on May 25, 2022. ManilaTimes.net file photo

proved, discarding the irrelevant and inadmissible - but also to ensure that issues already passed upon are not litigated anew,” it added. Named as respondents in the consolidated cases were former First Lady Imelda Marcos and her children Senator Imee Marcos, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Irene Marcos-Araneta. The PCGG filed a complaint before the Sandiganbayan in 1987 against Marcos Sr., Imelda, Lucio Tan, Don Ferry, and 22 others for alleged illgotten wealth. In 2012, the Sandiganbayan dismissed the complaint, saying the prosecution failed to prove that the assets and properties were ill-gotten. g

MARCOS AT PHILIPPINE ECONOMIC BRIEFING IN SF. Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. listens as U.S.-ASEAN Business Council, Inc. president and CEO Ambassador Ted Osius (right photo) poses a question during a brief chat at the Philippine Economic Briefing at the sidelines of the APEC Summit in San Francisco, California on Wednesday, November 15. Minutes earlier. the president delivered the keynote address (left photo) after panel discussions that featured some Cabinet members and entrepreneurs where he touched on the cooperation between the private sector and his administration, as well as the whole-of-government approach they are doing, to lift the economy and make better the lives of the Filiipino people. AJ Press Photo by Joseph L. Peralta

Marcos to meet with US VP, not Biden...

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“It’s still for the approval of the president,” Romualdez added. Marcos will attend the APEC Summit as fresh tensions grip the West Philippine Sea, the part of South China Sea inside Manila’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, due to China’s aggressive acts, including preventing Filipino vessels from accessing the resource-rich area. Last Friday, November 10 the Philippines accused the China Coast Guard (CCG) of using a water cannon to prevent a routine resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre, a rusty ship that serves as a Philippine Navy installation at the Ayungin Shoal. The incident happened weeks after CCG and maritime militia vessels hit Philippine Coast Guard ship BRP Cabra and Unaiza, a boat contracted by the Philippine military to conduct a resupply mission also in Ayungin, on May 2. China claims virtually the entire South China Sea, but it was voided by a Hague-based court in 2016. Beijing does not recognize the court’s decision, downplaying it as “a mere piece of paper.”

FRIENDLY MEETING. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. shares a light moment with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris during a courtesy call at Malacañan Palace in Manila during the vice president’s visit in 2022. PNA file photo by Rey S. Baniquet

Philippine security officials have assailed what they described as China’s “illegal” activities in the West Philippine Sea and have vowed to protect the country’s interests. ‘Ironclad’ commitment Marcos and Harris met on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-U.S. Summit in Jakarta last September

and tackled various topics, including the alliance between the Philippines and the U.S. and the South China Sea dispute. During the meeting, Harris reiterated Washington’s “ironclad” alliance commitment to the Philippines and highlighted the role that their alliance plays in ensuring a free, open and prosperous u PAGE 5

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NOVEMBER 17-23, 2023 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

After 6 years, De Lima free as court... PAGE 1

triumph and thanksgiving,” De Lima added. She thanked God, her family and friends, her legal team, supporters, and the judge hearing her case, Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court Branch 206 Judge Gener Gito, for his “loyalty to the law and justice.” She also thanked the Marcos administration “for respecting the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law.” ‘A great gift’ At a press briefing in the evening in Quezon City, De Lima reflected on her ordeal which according to her lasted for six years, eight months, and 21 days. She described it as one of her “greatest achievements” in her career and life, saying, “Not only did I survive all these years of persecution and unjust detention, I came out stronger than ever, with an even stronger commitment to truth, justice, human rights, democracy and the rule of law.” “They may have taken years of my life, but they will never take away my humanity,” she added. Acknowledging that her case was still pending since she was only granted bail, De Lima, however, called the development “a great gift” from God. She also reiterated her gratitude to the government for respecting the independence of the judiciary. Lack of substantial evidence “When the Marcos administration came in, there was hope, at least in my case, that justice will happen. I always knew that while the former president was in power, I will not be set free because my persecution was his project,” De Lima said, referring to Rodrigo Duterte. Asked if she had a message

for him, she replied: “God forgive him and God bless him. That’s it for now. I can say a lot more but not now. I don’t want to be political sounding tonight because this is a moment of joy, this is a triumphant moment for me so as much as possible I want to be gracious. God forgive him and God bless him. He knows what he did to me, I suppose.” In his ruling allowing De Lima to post bail of P300,000, Gito pointed to the lack of substantial evidence presented by the prosecution, noting that her guilt was not sufficiently established. Duterte had accused her of colluding with drug gangs inside New Bilibid Prison (NBP) while she was justice secretary, leading to the filing of three cases against her. De Lima, who was charged and arrested in 2017, had always maintained her innocence, claiming that the charges were baseless and in retaliation for the investigation she conducted in the Senate of his bloody drug war. Her legal team earlier foresaw the weakening of the final case against her due to the recantation of witnesses and the change in the political landscape after Duterte left office last year. De Lima had already been acquitted in the first two cases in 2021 and 2022. In Monday’s hearing on the last case against her — where she and her co-accused were charged with conspiring to enable drug trading at NBP to raise money for her senatorial bid in 2016 — the judge cast doubt on the prosecution’s case against De Lima. In a 69-page ruling, Gito, who had replaced Judge Romeo Buenaventura, said the testimonies provided by the nine witnesses against her

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failed to convincingly establish a conspiracy for illegal drug trading. A key witness, retired Police Supt. Jerry Valeroso had alleged that he saw P65 million in drug money inside a Chinese inmate’s “kubol” or makeshift dwelling. But the court emphasized that even if his claim was true, it would not constitute direct or circumstantial evidence of a shared intent among the accused to commit the alleged crime. As for the testimonies of other witnesses, including Nonito Arile, Renante Diaz, Engelberto Durano, Noel Martinez, and Joel Capones, the court said that it found a lack of substantial evidence to support the charge against De Lima. Leaving Crame “Leila will not sleep tonight (Monday night) in Crame,” one of her lawyers, Dino de Leon, told reporters immediately after the hearing, referring to the detention center at the Philippine National Police headquarters where the former senator had spent almost seven years. Her camp has also started preparing for countersuits, with De Leon saying, “There will always be a day of reckoning.” “My lawyers and I are still talking about it. We have no specifics that we can announce now. There’s always that option but as to definite plans, we’re still talking about it,” De Lima added. The welcome development in her case came amid mounting international pressure for her release and as Duterte faces an International Criminal Court investigation for alleged crimes against humanity related to the drug war he waged during his presidency and as Davao City mayor. g

Marcos to meet with US VP, not Biden...

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Indo-Pacific, according to a recent White House statement. Marcos and Harris also talked about the maritime security environment in the South China Sea and reviewed opportunities to strengthen bilateral maritime cooperation, including alongside like-minded partners. The meeting was intended to build on the meetings of Biden and Harris with Marcos

in Washington last May and the U.S. vice president’s visit to the Philippines in November last year. Marcos, Harris and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio also met during the ASEAN gala dinner in Jakarta and discussed the South China Sea issue and “unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force.” Earlier this month, the Philippines and Japan agreed

to begin the negotiation on a reciprocal access agreement or the status of visiting forces and to further strengthen the trilateral cooperation among Manila, Tokyo and Washington. The West Philippine Sea dispute may also be discussed during Marcos’ engagement with U.S. security officials at the Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii after the APEC Leaders’ Summit. g

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LET IT SNOW. Baguio Country Club’s Christmas Village teems with tourists. The village, open until Jan. 7, 2024, charges entrance fees of P100 for children, P120 for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, and P150 for adults. The so-called Summer Capital of the Philippines is bracing for the influx of tourists during the Christmas season until the Panagbenga flower festival in February 2024. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Distinguished Fil-Am physician to be part...

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and the first woman in the U.S. military to be appointed as the White House Physician. Her career in medicine included serving three U.S. presidents: - Bill Clinton - George H.W. Bush - Barack Obama. In 2001, Mariano completed her colorful 24year career as Rear Admiral. She retired to join the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona. The distinguished doctor is also an author. She published her memoir titled “The White House Doctor: My Patients Were Presidents, A Memoir” in 2010. She also leads two podcasts, namely, “House Calls with Dr. Connie” and “The Widow’s Talk.” In 2020, Mariano was a recipient of the Global Beauty Awards Lifetime Achievement Award. This award highlights and honors the excellence of the international beauty pageant community. Several Filipinos expressed Pinoy pride after finding out about her inclusion in Miss Universe judges. “Mabuhay, Dra. Connie!” a Filipino commented on Facebook. “Proud to be Filipino,” another Facebook user said. “Huge RESPECT to Dra. Connie Mariano,” a Facebook user expressed. Mariano now joins other distinguished Filipinos who became part of the MUO selection committee. They included: • Diplomat Carlos P. Romulo in 1974 • Philanthropist businessman Don Emilio Yap in 1994 • Multi-awarded star Lea Salonga in 2011 • Marian Rivera in 2021 The rest of the selection committee members of this year’s competition are: • Halima Aden – Kenyan supermodel • Mario Bautista – Mexican singer-songwriter • Giselle Blondet – Puerto Rican television personality • Janelle Commissiong – Miss Universe 1977

Profile photo of Connie Mariano as Miss Universe selection committee member Photo from Facebook/MissUniverse

and also the first woman of color to win the crown • Avani Gregg – TikTok star • Carson Kressley – Emmy-Award-winning television personality and a mainstay judge of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” • Iris Mittenaere – Miss Universe 2016 and also a television host in France • Sweta Patel – the vice president of growth marketing and merchandising of Roku Channel • Denise White – Miss Oregon USA in 1994, and the sports crisis strategist and founder of EAG Sports Management. Several Filipinos have also expressed that they are looking forward to Kressley, Mittenaere and Bautista for their comments to the delegates on the coronation night. “The #MissUniverse2023 selection committee, pak lagot si Lola Carson Kressley is back hahahahaha. Pero continue to vote for Michelle Dee sa Miss Universe app,” an X user said. The Philippines’ delegate for this year’s Miss Universe is Michelle Dee, a Makati City beauty. The coronation night will be held in El Salvador on November 18. (Philstar.com)

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Duterte is country’s caretaker while... PAGE 1

attend the APEC, and that is a very important [thing] that I have to do,” Marcos said. This will be Marcos’ second time to participate in the APEC summit, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Charles Jose said during a pre-depature briefing last week. “For this year, the president is keen to push for financing a just, sustainable, and affordable energy transition through partnerships with the business sector. He will emphasize the need to invest more on clean energy to preserve and protect the environment while ensuring that we are energy secure and sufficient,” Jose said. “With our experience from the COVID-19 pandemic, the president wishes to push for deeper cooperation in health and modernizing health systems

and to ensure that our health professionals are recognized and provided with [the] welfare they deserve,” he added. On its official website, APEC said that its 21 member economies account for nearly 40 percent of the global population, almost half of global trade, and approximately 60 percent of global GDP. As of 2021, APEC member states were the destination for more than 60 percent of U.S. goods exports and seven of the top 10 overall trading partners for the U.S. are APEC members. While in San Francisco, the president will also lead a Philippine economic briefing and have several meetings with top U.S. companies. He will also attend the APEC CEO Summit and the APEC Leaders Dialogue with the APEC Business Advisory Council.

Marcos will also have working visits in Los Angeles, California and Honolulu, Hawaii where he will meet with the Filipino community. The president will also visit the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for security studies, and the Indo-Pacific Command headquarters while in Hawaii. While Jose did not give specifics on Marcos’ Hawaiian sidetrip, he said he expects discussions on security issues. “It adds a layer to the cooperation that we are trying to establish with like-minded states in order to promote what we have been advocating all along,” the DFA official said. The Marcos family was exiled in Hawaii in 1986 following the ouster of the President’s father and namesake, Ferdinand Marcos, through the “People Power Revolution.” g

The print ads will be inlanguage in media outlets targeting Indian, Chinese, Korean, Filipino, Vietnamese and other South Asian communities. “We are excited to announce our early investment into AAPI media, building on our campaign’s intentional, aggressive outreach to the voters that sent President Biden and Vice President Harris to the White House in historic numbers in 2020,” said Biden-Harris 2024 Campaign Manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez. “Our first ad, ‘Family

Business,’ communicates the clear choice facing the AAPI community next November – between President Biden’s commitment to investing in our small businesses and our families, or MAGA Republicans solely focused on tax breaks for the wealthy and powerful corporations.” The Pew Research Center reported that 72% of Asian voters in the 2020 election contributed to Biden’s victory and only 28% voted for former President Donald Trump. (Nimfa U. Rueda/Inquirer.net)

NAT’L CHILDREN’S MONTH. Wards of Child Development Centers in San Juan City perform in celebration of National Children’s Month during the State of the Children Address at the city hall on Monday, Nov. 13. In his address, Mayor Zamora (2nd from right) discussed the city government’s plans and programs aimed at improving the quality of life of the youth. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Mayors Breed, Harrell urge congressional leaders to Biden campaign releases first TV ad featuring... support increased funding to combat fentanyl crisis PAGE 1

experience as a daughter of Vietnamese immigrants who built a small business and how that shaped her into who she is today. Poon and Domingo said the shift of focus to investments in small business and away from large corporations has jump-started small businesses like theirs. Beyond the television spot, the media program will include print ads in national and local outlets in the battleground states Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

37 mayors ask Congress to support Biden Administration’s efforts to prevent overdose deaths

SAN FRANCISCO — On Tuesday, November 14, San Francisco Mayor London N. Breed, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, and 35 other U.S. mayors sent a letter to congressional leaders urging them to pass President Joe Biden’s supplemental funding request, which includes critical resources to address the fentanyl and synthetic opioid crisis. According to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drug-related deaths hit a new record in 2022 with over 100,000 Americans dying from fatal overdoses. Approximately 70% of those deaths involved fentanyl or other synthetic opioids. “Fentanyl is devastating communities in cities all across our country like no other drug we’ve ever experienced before and this crisis demands additional urgent intervention efforts,” said Mayor Breed. “President Biden’s funding request gets at the heart of what we need – more funding for treatment to help those struggling with addiction and to prevent overdoses, and support for public safety and enforcement efforts to hold those accountable who are profiting off this deadly drug. This crisis requires partnerships at all levels of government, and I’m The TV ad, “Family Business,” spotlights Filipino-American Odeen Domingo and his Vietnamese-American wife Jenny Poon, who run a small business in grateful for President Biden’s call Phoenix, Arizona. Photo courtesy of DNC for more support.”

“Cities across America are facing a deadly drug crisis driven by fentanyl and synthetic opioids, and we need all levels of government engaged in the fight against this epidemic that is taking too many lives and devastating our communities,” said Mayor Harrell. “President Biden’s supplemental funding request takes a much-needed dual public health and public safety approach, helping those with substance use disorder access life-saving treatment options, while also deploying more resources to stop narcotics from entering our communities and holding traffickers accountable. This is the balance we need to save American lives and keep our cities safe, and I strongly urge congressional leaders to support this additional funding.” President Biden’s supplemental funding request includes the following: • $1.5 billion in grant funding to localities through the Department of Health and Human Services’ State Opioid Response (SOR) grant program This critical program provides funding for opioid use disorder treatment, evidence-based harm reduction services, overdose prevention measures like naloxone, and recovery support services in all states and territories. Since

2018, the SOR grant program has provided treatment services to over 1.2 million people, and states have purchased nearly 9 million overdose reversal medication kits using SOR grant funds and helped reverse approximately 500,000 overdoses. • $1.2 billion to crack down on the trafficking of illicit fentanyl and halt its passage through U.S. borders with additional enforcement and investigative personnel and cutting-edge detection technology In Fiscal Year 2023, Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted more than 5,000 fentanyl-related arrests. The funds in President Biden’s supplemental funding request will enable both agencies to apply the lessons learned and keep up with the tactics of the transnational criminal organizations that control the fentanyl trade. The full letter sent by the U.S. mayors to congressional leaders can be viewed at https://sf.gov/sites/default/ files/2023-11/2023.11.14%20 MAYOR%20BREED%20 AND%20SEATTLE%20 MAYOR%20HARRELL%20 URGE%20CONGRESSIONAL%20LEADERS%20TO%20 SUPPORT%20INCREASED.pdf. (SF Mayor’s Office Release)

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Fake Filipinos

OVER a dozen foreigners holding fake Philippine passports were intercepted recently by the Bureau of Immigration and National Bureau of Investigation. In a related development, several Chinese nationals were reportedly found with Philippine birth certiﬁcates issued by a civil registrar’s ofﬁce in a town in the Caraga Administrative Region in northern Mindanao. A Philippine birth certificate or passport will allow the holder to obtain a driver’s license and even a permit to own and carry a gun outside one’s residence. The holder might even obtain a voter’s ID. Senators, seeing the risks posed by such fake identification documents, are set to investigate the racket, which could have only been perpetrated with the connivance of crooks in government. At the height of the bloody crackdown on drugs during the previous administration, anti-narcotics agents had asked arrested Chinese suspects why they continued to operate in Manila. Among the reasons, the Chinese reportedly replied, was the ease of getting away with illegal activities in this country with the help of corrupt Philippine government employees. Drug traffickers weren’t the only ones found to be bribing their way into the country. Crooked immigration personnel were also indicted for allowing the illegal entry of dozens of Chinese nationals who ended up working in Philippine offshore gaming operation firms. After this

racket was busted, there have been continuing reports of other foreign POGO workers, mostly Chinese, being arrested or charged for various criminal activities in the Philippines, including murder, kidnapping, torture, sex trafficking and, more recently, cyber scams. Foreigners cannot engage in illegal activities in another country without the involvement of locals, especially government employees. The NBI and the Bureau of Immigration must intensify efforts to ferret out those involved in these illegal activities, even as the Senate Blue Ribbon committee prepares to launch its own inquiry. Authorities must ensure that offenders face the stiffest penalties, with the heaviest punishment reserved for Filipinos working in government. At the same time, institutional measures must be implemented to prevent the issuance of government-issued identification papers to those who are not qualified for the documents. Fake IDs open the doors to a wide range of scams and other criminal activities. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Celebrating the entrepreneurship potential of overseas Pinoys

Go Negosyo Pilipinas Angat Lahat! JOEY CONCEPCION IT’S been a couple of weeks since I arrived in sunny San Francisco and I am cherishing this bonding time with my family. The Filipino community here is welcoming, as always, but in the past few days, there has been a bit of excited buzz. President Bongbong Marcos will be arriving to attend the APEC CEO Summit. This is an important event where the 21 member-states of APEC convene for extensive discussions concerning global opportunities and challenges that are currently shaping economic, environmental and societal trends within the region. Along with the APEC CEO Summit comes the opportunity for the president to connect with the thriving Filipino communities in the United States. The president’s visit is not only important for diplomatic reasons but also because it provides a platform for overseas Pinoys to have their voices heard and share their unique perspectives on the situation back home. Overseas Pinoys, OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) in

The Broader View HARRY ROQUE WHEN America turned a blind eye to China’s illegal occupation of our Panganiban (Mischief) Reef in 1995, I had just written an assessment of the claims of each country contesting the territorial sovereignty over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. Or the West Philippine Sea (WPS) as we call it now. My academic paper hinged on a public international law principle governing conflicting claims to land territories: which state has the superior claim and not which one has a title (Hersch Lauterpacht). It was part of my requirements for my Master of Laws degree at the London School of Economics and Political Science. It happened 27 years ago. Regrettably, I have observed that much of the scholastic discourse from the claimant states of the Philippines, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei has stagnated on the same issues. There has been a dearth of literature advocating dispute resolution to this geopolitical conflict.

ManilaTimes.net photo

particular, are the lifeblood of the Philippine economy. Pinoys can be found in every corner of the world; in fact, it never ceases to amaze me when I hear stories of Filipinos residing in far-flung regions, proudly representing their heritage and making a positive impact wherever they go. During my visits to San Francisco, I have had the privilege of meeting numerous Pinoys who thrived in their chosen fields. They are admired for their strong work ethic, determination and resilience. The success of overseas Pinoys is a testament to the potential of the Filipino people. It is a reminder that the Philippines is blessed with talented individuals who, given the right opportunities and support, can make a significant impact on our economy and society. While they may have left their homeland in search of better opportunities, I am certain that they carry within them a deep-rooted love for their country and a desire to contribute to its progress. The diaspora of Filipinos has enriched not just Filipino culture but also the common Filipino’s awareness and understanding of

the world. Many Filipino families, I am sure, got acquainted with the Middle East because a relative was once, or still is, working there. Beyond this infusion into the Filipino culture, many OFWs, especially the entrepreneurialminded, brought back best practices and business concepts that have worked well overseas and tried them out in our own country. We have witnessed this phenomenon in various sectors, particularly in agriculture, where returning OFWs used their knowledge and experience to establish successful businesses inspired by their time abroad. It is these individuals that Go Negsoyo seeks to honor at the upcoming Balik-Bayan Summit, where we will present the Inspiring Balik-Bayan Awards. The Balik-Bayan Summit is a platform to provide business opportunities and foster investment matches for OFWs, encouraging them toward entrepreneurship and ensuring that their hard work and resources are put to productive and profitable use. Too many times, we hear stories of OFWs being robbed of

their hard-earned money through dubious investment schemes. When we set out to organize this special entrepreneurship event specifically for OFWs, we envisioned insightful discussions led by industry leaders, inspirational and learning sessions featuring successful entrepreneurs and free onsite mentorship sessions, where participants are presented with abundant opportunities to embark on their entrepreneurial journey. I think the lineup of the Balik-Bayan Summit this December will deliver on this vision. One of the highlights of the Balik-Bayan Summit is the Inspiring Balik-Bayan Awards, which will celebrate and give recognition to the outstanding achievements and inspirational stories of the Filipino OFWturned-entrepreneur. I would like to think that “BalikBayan” extends beyond the usual Tagalog term that is used to refer to overseas Filipinos returning to their homeland. It is also a call for our expatriates to give back to the country – mag-balik sa bayan – by sharing their knowledge and resources with their countrymen

and contributing to the progress of our nation. OFWs are so much more than their remittances. Firstly, their experiences abroad have exposed them to different cultures, ideas and practices that can be valuable in addressing the challenges faced by the Philippines. They can help bridge the gap between local practices and global standards, fostering innovation and growth in various sectors. Secondly, OFWs who become entrepreneurs can provide employment opportunities to communities. They can nurture talent and facilitate knowledge transfer, ultimately contributing to the development of a competitive and dynamic workforce. Furthermore, giving back to the country helps create a sense of unity and solidarity among overseas Pinoys and those living back home in the Philippines. It strengthens the bond between the diaspora and their homeland, fostering a shared vision for the nation’s progress. By actively engaging with their fellow Filipinos, overseas Pinoys can inspire and motivate others, demonstrating that success is

attainable through hard work, perseverance and a commitment to making a difference. Giving back to the country allows overseas Pinoys to reconnect with their roots and preserve their connection with their heritage. Already, many overseas Pinoys are giving back through philanthropy, providing support and guidance to aspiring individuals who may not have had the same opportunities they had. By putting up businesses back here in the Philippines, they can empower others to chart their own path to social and economic upliftment, creating a ripple effect of positive change among many individuals and throughout entire communities, and perhaps across several generations. Entrepreneurship is an opportunity to multiply the blessings and leave a lasting legacy – one that extends far beyond remittances or personal accomplishments. (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.

Resolving the WPS dispute Therefore, I was glad to have presented a 10-point proposed solution to the WPS dispute in the recently concluded Symposium on Global Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance in Sanya, China. I am the first to admit that the proposal is far from perfect. Nevertheless, I hope it will somehow lead to serious engagement and action among the claimants that favor peaceful and long-lasting solutions to the problem. The claimants must go beyond finalizing a code of conduct (COC) in the WPS among the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member-states and China. In 2012, the countries signed a declaration on the conduct of parties, which called for self-restraint in inhabiting the uninhabited geographical features in the WPS. We lost control of the Panatag or Scarborough Shoal that same year. Thereafter, China has repeatedly blocked or attacked government and private shipping vessels with water cannons and military-grade lasers. The superpower has also constructed islands and installations on seven features, two of which fall within the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ). For instance, the 2016 Arbitration

Tribunal said China’s artificially built island at Mischief Chief had violated our country’s sovereign rights. At this point, the parties to the dispute should already be holding bilateral and multilateral discussions toward a permanent territorial and jurisdictional settlement. They should start with a working draft for an agreement that diplomatically resolves all disputes and differences. In my speech, I cited two landmark cases under the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) that provide a general framework by which all claimant countries and other stakeholders can arrive at a peaceful solution. First is the Eritrea vs. Yemen case. It was a United Nations Security Council-mandated compulsory arbitration where International Court of Justice (ICJ) judges sat as arbitrators. The Tribunal was not convinced by the historic titles submitted by both claimants to a group of islands in the Red Sea. Instead, it partitioned the islands between Yemen and Eritrea based on evidence of exercise of authority, as well as proximity to the mainland. The Arbitration Court also delimited the maritime boundary between the two nations.

Second is the Philippines vs. China case. While the Arbitral Tribunal failed to resolve the conflicting claims to the disputed islands, it ruled that China’s claim to expansive maritime territory is bereft of legal basis under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The superpower refused to participate in the arbitration proceedings and rejected the court decision. Since the WPS dispute involves land territories, all resolutions must apply the existing principles of public international law. Here are the salient points of my speech: • As evidenced by the Eritrea vs. Yemen case, there is no ‘allor-nothing’ rule. No party is outrightly entitled to all the islands or geographical features it claims. China cannot declare ownership of the entire features and waters of the WPS, or the Philippines cannot claim sovereignty over eight islands under its previous and present control. The Tribunal ruled that a claimant must prove a superior claim to every individual disputed island. • In the Philippines vs. China case, the Court said none of the disputed geographic features can generate an EEZ. Meanwhile, only six features are categorized

as islands (or permanently high tide elevations) that can generate 12 nautical miles of territorial sea. As an archipelago, our country is entitled to 200 nautical miles of EEZ reckoned from Palawan, according to UNCLOS. But due to overlaps with Malaysia and Vietnam, the Philippines has to resolve it through a negotiation based on equitable principles. What do the figures signify? Only 72 square miles (plus another 200 nautical miles of Philippine EEZ) out of the approximately 1.35 million square miles covering the WPS are subject to sovereignty and jurisdiction. In effect, it significantly narrows the scope of conflict among the claimants. It also gives plenty of room for the parties for economic cooperation and partnership. • All features outside the Philippine EEZ and the 72 square miles of territorial seas generated by the six islands can form part of the high seas. The UNCLOS defines high seas as outside the territorial sea, internal or archipelagic waters and EEZ of a state. The maritime zone can be declared a common heritage site for all Asian states where fishers of all nationalities can freely exercise fishing rights. They can also explore the natural resources in conformity with

the environmental protection provisions under UNCLOS. The Philippines, China, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan can act as joint stewards of the heritage area, which the Filipino lawyer and environmentalist Tony Oposa suggests should be renamed the “Sea of Asia.” • Again, the Philippines cannot be deprived of an EEZ because it is an archipelagic state. The two artificial islands built by China within our EEZ may be subject to a bilateral agreement. After all, our country has allowed a foreign power to have nine military bases within our territory. I do not see any compelling reason why the Philippines and China cannot agree on this matter. • According to the principle of effective occupation, the five islands controlled by the Philippines and another island occupied by Taiwan should be awarded to both countries. As long as the islands were not acquired through conquest, the occupation of the said features is almost equivalent to a title. (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.

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Romualdez insists: UniTeam remains intact by reina leanne TolenTino ManilaTimes.net

HOUSE Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez insisted on Monday, November 13 that the UniTeam Alliance may have differences, but its members always work together. Pressed on the perceived rift within the political alliance during a media interview, Speaker Romualdez (president of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats) said: "It's still a UniTeam; we always work together." "The president always wants us to work together not just in Congress, with the executive but as a country, so we will always strive for that," he added. "There will always be differences, but we will always work toward resolving those differences for the service of the Filipino people. That's our primordial concern that we will band together and unite as one for the service of the Filipino," he added. Aside from Lakas-CMD, the members of the alliance include the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas,

Hugpong ng Pagbabago and Partido ng Masang Pilipino. Last November 7, the House of Representatives replaced Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as one of the chamber's deputy speakers. House Majority Leader Manuel Jose "Mannix" Dalipe said the House relieved Arroyo, chairman emeritus of Lakas-CMD, and Davao City 3rd District Rep. Isidro Ungab of the deputy speaker post after the two did not sign a House resolution "sponsored by the entire leadership." Dalipe said the leadership believed it was "in the best interest of the House to have leaders who fully support and uphold the collective decisions and directions set forth by the leadership." Before the two were removed as deputy speakers, the House had adopted a resolution to "uphold the integrity and honor" of the chamber. The resolution came after former president Rodrigo Duterte reportedly said "the House was rotten." Speaker praises VP Sara In the same interview on

Monday, Romualdez hailed Vice President Sara Duterte's decision to no longer pursue the confidential funds for 2024. "I believe that's the right decision, and we hail VP Sara's decision," he said. Vice President Duterte had said she would not pursue the confidential funds anymore because "this issue was divisive." Earlier, the House realigned P1.23 billion meant for 2024 confidential funds of several government agencies to "protect and secure the West Philippine Sea," Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo said. Of this amount, P1.05 billion was from the Office of the Vice President, Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Foreign Affairs, and Department of Agriculture. The remaining P187 million was from six government agencies whose confidential funds were cut down, said Quimbo, vice chairman of the House appropriations panel. g

Ombudsman probes issuance of PH passports to foreigners by Javier Joe ismael ManilaTimes.net

MANILA - The Office of the Ombudsman will investigate the reported issuance of Philippine passports, tax identification numbers (TIN), and other government identification cards (IDs) to foreigners. In an interview with reporters after attending the Senate deliberations on the proposed 2024 national budget of his office, Ombudsman Samuel Martires said that they will investigate even without a formal complaint filed. If proven true, this would be a clear violation of the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Martires said. He said that this is not the first that the Office of the Ombudsman has investigated motu propio, saying that they have

done this before as in the case of the alleged anomalous procurement of onions for Kadiwa centers by the Department of Agriculture (DA). During the preliminary deliberations of the Senate on the 2024 national budget, the arrest of 10 foreigners bearing Philippine passports was tackled by the senators. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said one of the required documents for applying for a passport was a birth certificate and that some foreigners used fake birth certificates to obtain Philippine passports. PSA Assistant National Statistician Marizza Grande said that in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), they have validated that six foreigners with Philippine passports submitted birth certificates indicating that they are

Filipinos – but the documents were found to have been altered. "Right now, the seven alleged foreigners are the only information that the PSA has, so out of the birth certificates they submitted for passports, the PSA has validated six of them as fake or tampered documents and one of them is authentic," Grande said. Senate President Pro Tempore Lorna Regina "Loren" Legarda said that the DFA is "actively engaging with law enforcement agencies pursuing the proper criminal charges against foreigners who were able to obtain Philippine passports." Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, meanwhile, disclosed an ongoing investigation in a town in the Caraga region where Philippine birth certificates are allegedly being issued by the Chinese. g

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 17-23, 2023 PAMPUBLIKONG PAGDINIG NG LUNGSOD NG ALAMEDA TUNGKOL SA MGA PANGANGAILANGAN SA PABAHAY AT PAGPAPAUNLAD NG KOMUNIDAD Magsasagawa ng Pampublikong Pagdinig ang Konseho ng Lungsod ng Alameda sa Disyembre 19, 2023. Iniimbitahan at hinihikayat ang publiko na magbigay ng mga komento sa mga pangangailangan sa pabahay at pagpapaunlad ng komunidad ng Lungsod para sa Bultuhang Pagbibigay para sa Pagpapaunlad ng Komunidad sa Taong Pananalapi 2024-25 (CDBG) Taunang Plano sa Pagkilos sa Taong Pananalapi 2024-25. Batay sa nakaraang pagpopondo, inaasahang makakatanggap ang Lungsod ng nasa tinatayang $1,123,711 sa CDBG Mga pondo para sa entitlement at $60,000 sa Kita ng Programa para sa TP 2024-25. Hindi bababa sa 70% ng mga pondo ng CDBG ang dapat makuhang benepisyo ng mga residente o kapitbahayan na may mababa at hindi gaanong malaking kita; may limitadong halaga ng mga pondo ang maaaring maipamahagi upang maiwasan ang kahirapan sa mga piling lugar. Iniatas ng Departmento ng Pabahay at Pagpapaunlad ng Lungsod ang pagbuo ng taunang Plano sa Pagkilos (HUD), at isusumite ito sa Alameda County HOME Consortium. Tutukuyin ng taunang Plano sa Pagkilos ang mga pangunahing pangangailangan ng komunidad sa pabahay at pagpapaunlad ng komunidad. Kabilang sa mga pangangailangang tinukoy ng nagdaang Mga Binuong Plano ang: pagpapanatili at pagpaparami ng aboy-kayang pabahay at suporta; pagiwas sa pagpili ng bibigyan ng pabahay; pagpigil sa kawalan ng tirahan at pagtugon sa mga pangangailangan sa pagpapaunlad ng komunidad na walang kaugnayan sa pabahay gaya ng pagpapahusay ng kapitbahayan, mga serbisyo sa publiko, mga pagpapahusay sa accessibility at pagpapaunlad ng ekonomiya. Ang Kabuuang Plano sa Limang Taon na sumasaklaw sa TP 2020-2025 ay makikita bilang sanggunian sa website ng Lungsod ng Alameda sa https://www. alamedaca.gov/Departments/Housing-and-Human-Services. Nagsagawa ng pampublikong pagpupulong ang Social Service Human Relations Board (SSHRB) ng Lungsod noong Oktubre 26, 2023 upang talakayin at irekomenda ang mga pangangailangan ng komunidad. HINIHIKAYAT AT INIIMBITAHAN ANG PAGBIBIGAY NG KOMENTO NG PUBLIKO Ang Konseho ng Lunsod ay diringgin ang mga komento at isasaalang-alang ang pag-aampon ng Pahayag ng Pampublikong Pangangailangan sa regular na pagpupulong nito sa 7:00 p.m. noong Disyembre 19, 2023, sa City Hall, 2263 Santa Clara Avenue. Mangyaring idirekta ang anumang mga katanungan kay Andre Fairley sa (510) 747-6883. Hinihikayat at inaanyayahan ang publiko na magkomento sa mga pangangailangan sa pabahay at pagpapaunlad ng komunidad. Mangyaring magpadala ng mga komento kay Andre Fairley sa (510) 747-6883 o mag-email sa clerk@alamedaca.gov. Ang mga nakasulat na komento ay maaaring isumite sa address sa itaas hanggang 7:00 p.m. noong Disyembre 19, 2023. MGA TULONG PARA SA MGA TAONG MAY KAPANSANAN Kung ang sinumang taong interesado sa paglahok sa nabanggit na pederal na programa ay isang taong may kapansanan tulad ng tinutukoy sa Seksyon 504 ng Rehabilitation Act of 1974, at nangangailangan siya ng tulong para makalahok o makialam, puwedeng humiling para sa tulong kay Andre Fairley sa (510) 747-6883 o sa pamamagitan ng email sa afairley@alamedaca. gov. Kasama dapat sa nasabing kahilingan ang paglalarawan ng hinihinging tulong, kasama ang paghahayag ng kapansanang dahilan ng pangangailangan ng tulong. Susuriin ang anumang kahilingan para sa tulong at may sagot na ibibigay sa loob ng limang araw ng negosyo mula sa pagtanggap ng nasabing kahilingan. Agad na ibibigay sa humiling ang abiso ng anumang ibibigay na tulong. MGA TULONG PARA SA MGA RESIDENTENG HINDI NAGSASALITA NG ENGLISH Ang Lungsod ng Alameda ay may network ng mga empleyadong nagsasalita ng 45 wika na puwedeng magsilbing tagapagsalin para sa mga residenteng nanghihingi ng impormasyon tungkol sa mga programa ng CDBG/HOME. Kung maaabisuhan nang maaga nang dalawang araw ng negosyo, maghahanda ang Lungsod ng tagapagsalin. Makipag-ugnayan kay Andre Fairley sa (510) 747-6883 o sa pamamagitan ng email sa afairley@alamedaca.gov. PATAKARAN SA HINDI PANGDIDISKRIMINA Hindi nandidiskrimina ang Lungsod ng Alameda ng sinumang tao batay sa lahi, kulay, relihiyon, pinagmulang bansa, ancestry, biyolohikal na kasarian, kinikilalang kasarian, katauhang pangkasarian (gender identity), ikinikilos na kasarian (gender expression), sekswal na oryentasyon (sexual orientation), marital status, familial status, pinagmumulan ng kita, genetic na impormasyon, medikal na kundisyon, kapansanan sa pangangatawan o pag-iisip, o anupamang kategoryang pinoprotektahan ng batas.

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AGT contestant Roland Abante to feature in 2023 series of shows, 2024 US tour

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Olivia Rodrigo bags 6 nominations for Grammy 2024 Her sophomore album ‘Guts’ is nominated for Album of the Year by HANS CARBONILLA Inquirer.net

IT seems that Filipino-American sensation Olivia Rodrigo is currently driving in the international music scene at high speed, securing not just one, but six nominations for the 2024 Grammy Awards. The 20-year-old artist, who burst onto the scene with her debut album “Sour,” now leads the Grammy race with her sophomore masterpiece, “Guts.” The Fil-Am artist’s nominations span across multiple categories. The big three categories have acknowledged her prowess, with “Guts” clinching a nomination for Album of the

Year, while her chart-topping single “Vampire” earned nods for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year. In addition, the album has been recognized as a contender for Best Pop Vocal Album, and “Vampire” is in the running for Best Pop Solo Performance. However, the surprises don’t end there, as the “Drivers License” hitmaker received a spot in the Best Rock Song category for the unexpected entry of her song, “Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl.” The songsmith took to Instagram to express her gratitude and credited her producer, Dan Nigro, who is also nominated for Producer of the Year: “6

Grammy noms today … what an incredible honor to be recognized by the recording academy in this way. Grateful is an understatement!!!!! And huge congrats to @dan_nigro for his Producer of the Year nom, there’s no one more deserving!!” This marks Rodrigo’s third Grammy appearance, having previously bagged three wins, including the coveted Best New Artist. In 2022, she triumphed with “Drivers License,” winning Best Pop Solo Performance, and her debut album “Sour” was named Best Pop Vocal Album. Will she add more golden gramophones to her collection?

ROLAND Abante, Bunot to his family and friends, was born in a small, picturesque seaside village, in the Philippines, called Santander, Cebu. Bunot, who was orphaned at age 3, was raised by his grandma. Like many others in his village, they survived through subsistence farming and fishing, only having enough not to starve. What Bunot did have in abundance was a passion, a love for music, and singing. And through the musical variety and talent shows he saw on TV, he learned to sing popular tunes, especially songs by Michael Bolton, whom he greatly admires and emulates. Bunot married his girlfriend, Concepcion or Seth. They met as Seth was performing in a band, as the lead singer. They have a 14-year-old son, Grake, who also shares their love for music. To support his family, Bunot worked as a fisherman by day, and driving a tricycle (motorbike with a cab, a popular form of taxi in the Philippines) at night. Their lives took a turn for the better when a video of Bunot singing “To Love Somebody,” without his shirt on, became viral. The viral video led to singing engagements, and multiple appearances in national amateur talent shows and musical variety shows, like Tawag ng Tanghalan and ASAP. Since his appearance in America’s Got Talent, Bunot has become very popular, a source of pride and inspiration not just to the people in his hometown,

America’s Got Talent contestant Roland Abante

but to Filipinos in the Philippines and elsewhere. Many of his older videos have resurfaced and gained new audiences. His AGT performance has gained more and more attention daily with views of over 50 millions on Facebook and over 10 million on YouTube and Instagram to date. Roland Abante’s semifinals performance had him singing Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.” Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara and Simon Cowell all gave him standing ovations. Roland has received various

Contributed photo

awards and recognitions after his performance, including the Shining Star Award from the Filipino American Association of Portland, Oregon; the Achiever Award 2023 from the Filipino Association of Vancouver, Washington; the Extraordinary Talent Award from the Filipino Association of Hawaii; and The Most Filipino Trending Artist Award given by the Filipino American of Los Angeles. Roland Abante will have series of concerts in November and December of 2023, as well as an upcoming United States tour in 2024.

Shamcey believes Philippines is ‘powerhouse of pageantry’ by MOISES CRUZ ManilaTimes.net

MISS Universe Philippines (MUPh) National Director Shamcey Supsup-Lee emphasized that the selection method of this renowned competition — where they reach out to candidates outside Metro Manila — will provide women in the provinces with an equal opportunity. In an exclusive interview with The Manila Times, Lee said this is one of the changes they made to showcase the best representation of the community. Other reforms include removing the minimum height requirement and being open to all civil statuses. “A typical pageant usually starts with physical beauty, but because we believe in inclusivity and diversity, we now welcome women with children. There is no height limitation and no age limit,” Lee said. “It goes to show that beauty comes in different forms,” she added. Lee mentioned that the accredited partner system and regional pageants are comparable to the Miss USA pageant, in which partners hold state pageants to choose candidates for the national pageant. “In the past, before becoming an official candidate for Miss Universe Philippines, you had to submit an application, attend a screening, and the committee would pick the official delegate,” Lee said. “However, we believe that many ladies with potential do not have the support to travel to Manila, and they need the assistance of locals,” she added. Aspirants will now have the opportunity to join Miss Universe Philippines through regionally accredited partners, resolving the question of who will support and train them. Lee emphasized that the organization is reaching out to them, or they are getting closer to them through their accredited partners. The MUPh National Director praised the outcome of the Miss Universe Philippines Leyte pageant on October 18, as it was the first group to put on a pageant under the regional partnerships. It followed the pattern of an

Miss Universe Philippines National Director Shamcey Supsup-Lee with Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee Photo from Instagram/@supsupshamcey

international competition with tourism videos and preliminaries. Angel Rose Tambal, a 24-yearold civil engineer from the municipality of La Paz, was named Miss Universe PhilippinesLeyte after surpassing 20 other candidates from the province. Tambal also won two major prizes, Best in Swimwear and Best in Evening Gown, and three corporate prizes. Tambal stated in a brief interview with The Manila Times that she would not have gotten this far without the support of her family, friends, her “glam” team, and the La Paz municipal administration. “Finally, after a month of preparations, it was paying off. I was just praying to God that whatever the result is, I will accept it wholeheartedly,” Tambal said. “I’m expecting there will be a lot of training and preparations, especially since this will be the first time for Miss Universe Philippines to have a representative from Leyte. This is a huge responsibility, so I must really work hard to showcase what our province has to offer to the universe,” she added. She will compete in the Miss Universe Philippines competition in 2024 and represent her province.

Lee stated that following Leyte, they began the pre-production of provinces such as Camiguin, Bohol, and Cebu, where most of the pageants will take place in December and January. “As I evaluate the Leyte pageant, I see that the municipalities have been supportive of their candidates. It’s truly a community effort in which the girls are not competing with each other, but she is there as the best representative of the community,” Lee enthused. “I tell the ladies that the most important thing is how you compete and how you would represent the Philippines. If you make us proud, you are already a winner,” she added. Lee described it as difficult to anticipate the outcome, despite the fact that the Philippines is regarded as a powerhouse in pageantry. Other nations look to the Philippines as the candidates possess all the standards and qualities of a beauty queen. “Joining a beauty pageant can really change you a lot, whether you win or not. It will help you become a better version of yourself because of the training and experiences,” Lee said. “And sometimes it takes one step to reach your dreams and have the courage to do that,” she concluded.

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 17-23, 2023

Clean California brings 57 SF volunteers together to beautify Dolores Park by Vince Yuen Founder, Refuse Refuse

CLEAN California, in partnership with Refuse Refuse, the San Francisco Department of Public Works, Keep America Beautiful, Keep California Beautiful and local San Francisco volunteers, came together on Sunday, November 12, to clean up Dolores Park, home to the iconic Mexico Liberty Bell. This special cleanup event brought together the entire community to preserve and enhance the beauty of Dolores Park. The twohour event brought together 57 volunteers who collected 300 lbs. of litter. Refuse Refuse was excited to kick off our partnership with Clean California and work with Caltrans, Keep America Beautiful, and Keep California Beautiful to bring awareness and implement solutions that help reduce litter in San Francisco and our state. In line with the primary mission of Refuse Refuse, the Dolores Park cleanup event not only encapsulated our ethos of collective responsibility but also manifested our core principles. It was a practical demonstration of my personal belief in the power of community-driven efforts to preserve and protect the environment, which is how the Refuse Refuse movement was conceived.

Sunday’s cleanup was the perfect testament, as volunteers made a direct impact by removing litter and waste from our neighborhoods, including cigarette butts, which are the most frequently littered items containing toxic chemicals and plastics. This, I thought, is what continues to drive me and Refuse Refuse in our fight to clean and beautify San Francisco. This is the heart of Refuse Refuse, and it beats in every volunteer who joined hands at Dolores Park. “Community groups, local businesses and residents are instrumental in preserving the beauty of their communities and California. As a Clean California partner, Keep America Beautiful is grateful to work alongside local partners on cleanup events like this one in iconic Dolores Park in San Francisco. We were proud to help inspire people to preserve the beauty of this park for future generations to enjoy,” said Gabriela Polo, Regional Director, Keep America Beautiful. Community cleanup events like on the one on November 12 are made possible by Governor Gavin Newsom’s Clean California initiative, a multiyear cleanup effort led by Caltrans to remove trash, create thousands of jobs and join with communities throughout the state to reclaim,

transform and beautify public spaces. Since launching Clean California in July 2021, Caltrans has cleared more than 2 million cubic yards of litter from California roadways – enough litter to span the length of the Golden Gate Bridge 670 times. The program has also employed 8,700 people and funded 320 projects to revitalize and beautify underserved communities, some of which are already complete and now sources of community pride. I encourage you to learn more about these cleanup events and join like-minded people who care about our environment and community. You can learn more about how you can get involved in ongoing and local cleanup efforts at CleanCA.com. *** Vince Yuen is just another San Franciscan who cares about a clean environment. He started out cleaning his block with his two daughters. Then he discovered others already picking up trash and spread the word to neighbors from all over the city who have joined the Refuse Refuse movement to keep the city clean. He discovered that caring for San Francisco is his greatest passion. Refuse Refuse was established in March 2021 and has since organized over 1,500 cleanups. Through a collective community-driven effort of 10,000 volunteers, Refuse Refuse has collected more than 425,000 gallons of litter. To learn more about Vince Yuen and his work with Refuse Refuse, visit www.refuserefusesf.org.

KAPAMILYA IN WOODSIDE, QUEENS, NEW YORK, GET ANSWERS TO THEIR IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS FROM LEADING U.S. IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL ON PART 2 OF “YOUR TANONG, MY SAGOT.” Atty. Gurfinkel (right) answers the following questions – From Rose (left photo): I petitioned my son in 2009. The National Visa Center (NVC) says he is in line for his medical and visa interview. Can I now include my grandchildren in my petition?; From Ed (middle photo): I have been a green card holder for over 40 years now. How can I bring my grandchild to the U.S.?; From Aurora (right photo, with Atty. Gurfinkel): When I became a U.S. citizen, I petitioned my two sons, who were already over 21 years old. How long do we have to wait for their visas? Stay tuned for the answers to these questions and more from Kapamilya in Woodside, Queens, New York, in Part 2 of “Your Tanong, My Sagot” on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, November 19 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. (Advertising Supplement)

Atty. Gurfinkel answers more immigration questions from Kapamilya in Woodside, New York on Citizen Pinoy LEADING U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel returns to Kabayan Bistro at Little Manila along Roosevelt Avenue in Woodside, New York,

to answer more questions from years old. She wants to know our Kapamilya. how long they must wait for their • When Aurora became a U.S. visas. citizen, she petitioned her two • Ed has been a green card sons, who were already over 21 PAGE 10

What to do if you’re billed for an SBA EIDL or PPP loan you don’t owe DID you get a bill for a Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan or COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) you never applied for? If the answer is yes, an identity thief probably used your personal information to get the loan. Here's how to report this problem and start the Small Business Administration (SBA) review process to help you clear up any credit problems the identity theft may have caused. Step 1. Report the identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at IdentityTheft.gov. You’ll get an FTC Identity Theft report and a personal recovery plan. Save a copy of your FTC Identity Theft Report. You’ll need to submit it to the SBA. Follow the personal recovery

plan to stop further misuse of your personal information and help repair the damage the identity theft caused. Step 2. Visit the SBA’s website at sba.gov/idtheft. Follow the steps there to report the identity theft to the SBA. This step is required to start the SBA review process. Step 3. If the identity theft involved a PPP loan and you know the private lender that issued the loan, contact the lender, too. Explain that an identity thief used your personal information to get the PPP loan without your knowledge or authorization. Tell them the loan is fraudulent. Ask the lender to release you from the loan and to take all the steps needed to remove information about the loan from your credit files. Ask the lender to send you a

letter explaining the actions it’s taken. Write down who you spoke with and when. You may need to contact the lender again. Know that the lender may require a copy of your FTC Identity Theft Report and other documents. A sample letter can help you get things started which can be found at https://www.identitytheft.gov/#/Sample-Letters/ small-business-administration. For questions about COVID-19 EIDL identity theft, contact SBA COVID-19 EIDL Customer Service at 833-853-5638 or by email at IDTRecords@sba.gov. For questions about PPP loan identity theft, contact the SBA by email at PPPIDTheftInquiries@ sba.gov (Atty. Rosario Mendez/Division of Consumer and Business Education, FTC)

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NOVEMBER 17-23, 2023 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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

PCGSF recognizes ALLICE advocacy SBA Administrator Guzman encourages shopping on its 20th anniversary gala small November 25 for Small Business Saturday®

COLMA – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, led by Consul General Neil Ferrer and Madame Miriam Ferrer, joined the kumares and kumpares of the Alliance for Community Empowerment (ALLICE), a Filipino American anti-domestic violence advocacy group, in its 20th anniversary gala at the Colma Community Center on October 24, 2023. ALLICE’s 20th anniversary gala coincided with the commemoration in October of both the Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the Filipino American History Month across the United States. In his remarks, Consul General Ferrer cited the cases of FilAm single mothers Claire Joyce Tempongko of San Francisco and Frances Kendra Lucero of Daly City, killed 23 years apart by their former partners at home in front of their children. According to the Philippine Consul General, the two cases are a stark reminder that “the problem of domestic abuse and violence will not be solved overnight,” and that “there will be more Claire Joyces and Frances Kendras if we do not act as a united community.” “Violence against women, children and the elderly becomes a public health issue — a concern for each and every one of us — when it affects a person’s attitudes, behaviors and sense of self, when it limits an individual’s potential and personal growth, and when it impacts a person’s family and the wider community,” said Consul General Ferrer. Following the spate of anti-Asian hate in the U.S. over the last three years, which makes seniors more vulnerable to abuse and assault, the Philippine Consul General also highlighted the importance of incorporating elder care and abuse prevention in efforts that will keep Filipino and Filipino American homes free from abuse and violence. “For 20 years now, the ALLICE Kumares and Kumpares has been at the forefront of destigmatizing domestic abuse, of creating a safe environment for those who have found the courage to unshackle themselves from

Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Ferrer and Mrs. Miriam Ferrer (seated, 4th and 5th from left) join the officers of the Alliance for Community Empowerment (ALLICE) and other dignitaries during ALLICE’s 20th anniversary gala at the Colma Community Center in Colma, California on October 24. San Francisco PCG photos

WASHINGTON – SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Joe Biden’s Cabinet for America’s 33 million small businesses, is encouraging the nation to shop, dine, and entertain at local small businesses on November 25 in celebration of Small Business Saturday® and throughout the holiday season. Small Business Saturday is celebrated each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. “Small businesses are the heart and soul of our neighborhoods, powering local economies and strengthening communities,” said Administrator Guzman. “The SBA encourages everyone to be a part of the nationwide movement that spotlights our small business owners, drives holiday shopping locally, and celebrates the spirit of entrepreneurship. Together, we can make a difference for the vital small businesses that make our neighborhoods thrive.” Founded by American Express® in 2010 and officially cosponsored by the SBA since 2011, Small Business Saturday is a day dedicated to supporting the diverse range of local small businesses that create jobs, help boost the economy, and enhance neighborhoods nationwide. According to American Express, the projected total reported spending among U.S. consumers who shopped at independent retailers and restaurants on Small Business Saturday last year hit a record high with an estimated $17.9 billion1, and 72 percent of shoppers strongly agree they will continue to shop small throughout the holiday season because of the impact it has on their local community. President Biden’s Investing in America economic agenda continues to deliver for small businesses

SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman

File photo/ww.sba.gov

and entrepreneurs across the country. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, the United States has experienced a historic small business boom with 14 million new small business applications since the President took office, and the state of the economy is strong. Small Business Saturday 2023 provides another chance for American consumers to come together and support small businesses of all kinds that have been fueling our nation’s economic growth and are the cornerstone of communities nationwide. To learn more about Small Business Saturday, visit sba.gov/saturday. (SBA Release)

Colma Mayor Joanne del Rosario and broadcast journalist Lloyd LaCuesta recall ALLICE’s online training on intimate partner violence, held with the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco and other Philippine foreign service posts in the U.S. in November 2021.

abuse, and of ending the cycle of violence within Filipino American homes… For the next 20 years and beyond, the Consulate commits itself to remain an ally of ALLICE in promoting healthier relationships, homes, and communities through education and civic engagement,” Consul General Ferrer said. Throughout the program, ALLICE recognized the Consulate’s role in the organization in the last two decades, including events held at the Philippine Center in San Francisco, and the conduct of an online training on intimate partner violence with the Consulate and other Philippine foreign service posts in the U.S. Fil-Am California Attorney General Rob Bonta keynoted the event by outlining the programs of the California Department of Justice for domestic abuse and violence

survivors, while San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa led the audience in reciting “Pledge to Help End Domestic Violence.” After the program, organizers distributed copies of the A-List Resource Guide, ALLICE’s directory of relevant government and non-government service providers in the Bay Area for Filipino and Fil-Am domestic abuse survivors. ALLICE, which was formed in 2003 as the Fil-Am volunteer group of San Mateo County’s Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse (CORA), is currently led by co-president and FilAm South San Francisco Mayor Buenaflor Nicolas, co-president Anastacio “Junior” Flores, and executive director Cherie Querol Moreno. Fil-Am Colma Mayor Joanne del Rosario also serves as an Consul General Neil Frank Ferrer (5th from left), with (from left) Beatriz Datangel, BEC executive director Luisa Antonio, Brig. Gen. Steven B. McLaughlin, Kory Powell-McCoy of the Office of Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, San Francisco District 2 Supervisor Catherine Stefani, ALLICE member. (PCGSF Release) San Francisco District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, and San Francisco District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey. San Francisco PCG photos

Consul General Ferrer joins Congressional Gold Medal award ceremony honoring Filipino WWII veterans

Aurora (left) with Atty. Gurfinkel

Ed (left) with Atty. Gurfinkel

Atty. Gurfinkel answers more immigration... PAGE 9

holder for more than 40 years. He wants to know what he needs to do to bring his grandchild to the U.S. • Rose petitioned her son in 2009. According to the National Visa Center (NVC), her son is in line for his medical and visa interview. Rose wants to know if she can include her many new grandchildren in her petition for her son. Atty. Gurfinkel answers these questions in the second installment of “Your Tanong, My Sagot” in Woodside in Queens, New York. Watch this brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, November 20 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. (Advertising Supplement)

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Rose (left) with Atty. Gurfinkel

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SAN FRANCISCO – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco joined the Congressional Gold Medal award ceremony held on October 23, 2023 at the Kalayaan Hall, Philippine Center in San Francisco, organized by the Bayanihan Equity Center (BEC) and the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FiLVetREP) to honor Filipino Veterans of World War II. In his remarks, Consul General to San Francisco Neil Frank Ferrer highlighted the contribution of more than 250,000 Filipino veterans to the cause of freedom. He paid tribute to the families of veterans who have passed on and were being recognized during the ceremony, and underscored that they are role models and heroes whose hardships and sacrifices paved the way for the peace and liberties being enjoyed at present. He also noted that the shared experiences of Filipinos and Americans during World War II serve as a foundation of the strong alliance between the Philippines and the United States. “It is unfortunate that only a small number of our Filipino veterans were able to see how a grateful nation continues to remember their sacrifices and im-

Consul General Neil Frank Ferrer delivers remarks during the Congressional Gold Medal award ceremony.

mortalize their legacy through the award. To the families of veterans who are no longer with us and are being recognized this afternoon, I say: They may be your fathers, grandfathers, great grandfathers, brothers or uncles, but for the rest of us, they are our role models and heroes. Their hardships and sacrifices paved the way for the peace and liberties that all of us enjoy today. Rest assured that the legacy of your ancestors will never be di-

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minished nor forgotten by future generations of Filipinos and Filipino Americans,” Consul General Ferrer said. Since the U.S. Congress presented the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award in the United States, to the Filipino WWII veterans in Washington, D.C. in October 2017, California has had 37 ceremonies with 626 medals presented to living veterans or their next-of-kin. (PCGSF Release)

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • NOVEMBER 17-23, 2023

NOVEMBER 17-23, 2023 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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