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DECEMBER 3-9, 2021 Serving San Diego Since 1987 • 12 Pages

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PH suspends testing, quarantine protocols DATELINE USA for travelers from certain countries Fil-Am student dies FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

during amateur boxing match in Las Vegas

A FILIPINO American college student died from injuries shortly after an amateur charity boxing match in Las Vegas last week. Nathan Valencia, a 20-year-old student of University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), passed away on Tuesday, November 23, after participating in Kappa Sigma fraternity’s off-campus ‘Kappa Sigma Fight Night’ on Nov. 19. According to 8 News Now, Valencia collapsed after the fight and was rushed to the hospital. Four days later, he died of brain injuries. Valencia’s mother told local media that she wanted him to back out of the fight, but he insisted on participating since it was for charity. Meanwhile, the family’s attorney, Nick Lasso, pointed out that neither medical help nor a professional referee was there in the sponsored charity boxing match. “The family is deeply saddened over the

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

THE Philippines has temporarily suspended its lenient testing and quarantine protocols for countries or territories classified as “green” starting on November 29, according to Malacañang. Acting Presidential Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles on Sunday, Nov. 28, announced that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases

(IATF) approved the temporary suspension until December 15. “The IATF likewise approved the temporary suspension of testing and quarantine protocols for countries/jurisdictions/territories classified as ‘Green’ effective immediately until December 15, 2021,” he said in a statement. This means that fully vaccinated travelers in all ports of entry will be required to undergo a threeday quarantine even with a negative COVID-19 test result.

WHEN Greta Christina fell into a deep depression five years ago, she called up her therapist in San Francisco. She’d had a great connection with the provider when she needed therapy in the past. She was delighted to learn that he was now “in network” with her insurance company, meaning she wouldn’t have to pay out-of-pocket anymore to see him. But her excitement was short-lived. Over time, Christina’s appointments with the therapist went from every two weeks, to every four weeks, to every five or six. “To tell somebody with serious, chronic, disabling depression that they can only see their therapist every five or six weeks is like telling somebody with a broken leg that they can only see their physical therapist every five or six weeks,” she said. “It’s not enough. It’s not even close to enough.”

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US tightens travel restrictions over Omicron variant by MoMaR

G. Visaya

AJPress

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California joins states trying to shorten wait times for mental health care

Meanwhile, travelers who are unvaccinated, as well as those with incomplete doses or without a negative COVID-19 test result will be required to undergo quarantine for five days. However, travelers from “green” countries who arrived prior to Nov. 28 may still follow quarantine protocols assigned to their country of origin upon the date of their arrival. Nograles also announced that the IATF suspended Resolution No. 150-A (Series of 2021),

LIGHTING CEREMONY. President Rodrigo Duterte is accompanied by his partner Honeylet Avanceña, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea as he presses the button to light up the Christmas Tree during a ceremony of the Office of the President (OP) at the Kalayaan Grounds in Malacañang Palace on Wednesday, December 1. While observing COVID-19 restrictions, he also approached a small crowd of OP personnel to greet them on his last Christmas as leader of the country. Duterte’s six-year term as president will end in June 2022. Malacañang photo by Robinson Niñal

THE United States is going to require all air travellers entering the country to show a negative COVID-19 test performed within one day of departure in an attempt to slow the spread of the new Omicron coronavirus variant. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the new one-day testing requirement would apply to U.S. citizens as well as foreign nationals. Prior to this new rule, vaccinated international air travelers could present a negative test result obtained within three days from their point of departure. According to Reuters, the administration is also considering whether to require air travelers to get another COVID-19 test within three to five days after arrival in the United States. The first reported case of the omicron variant has been identified in the U.S. and according to the

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Suspect in San Diego stabbing of elderly Filipino man arrested by AJPress A MAN wanted in the brutal stabbing of an elderly Filipino man outside a trolley station in El Cajon, California has been arrested in Texas following a high speed chase. Israel Ezekiel Valdivia, 24, allegedly stole a car from a 7-Eleven store in Abilene around 6 a.m. on Tuesday, November 23. After driving to Winters and attempting

DOJ: Possible Apollo Quiboloy extradition may have to wait while PH reviews pending case by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

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Isko Moreno ‘hopeful’ of getting Duterte’s ‘I’m done’: Manny Pacquiao backing as Bong Go says he misses boxing, withdraws Sen. Manny Pacquiao

MANILA — Sen. Bong Go announced on Tuesday, November 30 he was pulling out of the presidential race, and another contender, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, said he was “hopeful” of receiving President Rodrigo Duterte’s endorsement. Go, Duterte’s longtime aide, said he did not want “to make things more difficult” for the president, whose daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, is seeking the vice presidency with Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as running mate. “My love for him is more than the love for a father. He is old and he has given a lot to the country. So I don’t want to add to his

THE possible extradition of Filipino televangelist Apollo Quiboloy back to the United States may be deferred as local court reviews a pending case against him, according to the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ). “Maaring mangyari diyan ay hindi muna itutuloy ang extradition hanggang hindi natatapos ang criminal prosecution dito sa Pilipinas kasi meron kasing offense apparently committed dito sa atin eh (What might happen is the extradition may not proceed until the criminal prosecution against him here in the Philippines is not

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to hit a pedestrian, a high-speed pursuit started, according to the Runnels County Sheriff Carl Squyres. “He was definitely running pretty hard from the California authorities. I have no idea how he got here,” Squyres said. After a long chase, Valdivia lost control, drove across a ditch, and was taken into custody. He is currently being held in the Runnels County Jail, where he faces charges of unauthorized use of a motor

Philstar.com photo

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Inquirer.net photo

but won’t return to fight by BonG lozada Inquirer.net

MANILA — Some things are best left behind, even if it’s the one thing you love the most. Just ask Manny Pacquiao. The legendary boxer-turned-politician admitted that stepping away from the sport was the hardest decision of his life but it’s the resolution he’s made with himself as he takes a crack at the Philippines’ top executive position.

“Hanging my gloves is the hardest part of all my life, cause I grew up in boxing, so I understand that this is sports,” said Pacquiao in an AFP interview. “I miss boxing, but I don’t think boxing still likes me. Well, I’m already turning 43 years old so it’s enough for me. I mean, I’m done,” said Pacquiao. Pacquiao, often regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, is the only fighter to win World titles across seven and

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DECEMBER 3-9, 2021 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (619) 474-0588

From The FronT Page

PH suspends testing, quarantine protocols for travelers...

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III

Inquirer.net

PAGE 1 which allowed the entry of fully vaccinated nationals who don’t need a visa in the Philippines, amid the increasing threat of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. “With Omicron designated as a Variant of Concern, the IATF likewise approved the recommendations to strengthen local COVID-19 response,” the statement read. “These include strongly enjoining the local government units to heighten their alert for increasing and clustering of cases and emphasizing the need for active case finding; to immediately conduct contact tracing and isolation of cases detected from case surveillance among the community, including domestic and international travelers; and to use RT-PCR testing in order to allow for whole-genome sequencing of collected samples,” it added.

Further, the Philippines added more countries to its “red” list. Effective until Dec. 15, the countries classified as “red” are South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium and Italy. This means international travel of all persons, regardless of vaccination status, coming from or who have been to “red” countries/jurisdictions/territories within the last 14 days prior to arrival to any port of the Philippines will not be allowed. “Only Filipinos returning to the country via government-initiated or non-government-initiated repatriation and Bayanihan Flights may be allowed entry subject to the prevailing entry, testing, and quarantine protocols for Red List countries/jurisdic-

tions/territories,” said Nograles. Meanwhile, there are currently 41 countries, territories, or foreign jurisdictions classified as “green.” Among them are American Samoa, Bhutan, Chad, China (Mainland), Comoros, Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Federated States of Micronesia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China), India, Indonesia, and Japan. Also included in the “green” list are Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Mali, Marshall Islands, Montserrat, Morocco, Niger, Northern Mariana Islands, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Paraguay, Rwanda, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sint Eustatius, Sudan, Taiwan, Togo, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, and Zambia. n

DOF: PH borrowed P1.15-T to fight Isko Moreno ‘hopeful’ of getting Duterte’s backing... COVID-19 pandemic THE Philippines’ borrowings to finance the prolonged fight against COVID-19 already hit P1.15 trillion, adding to the pandemic-induced fiscal scarring which could be aggravated by foregone revenues from stimulus measures and the bigger budgets to be enjoyed by local governments, the Department of Finance (DOF) said on Tuesday, November 30. While the COVID-19-related loans totaled $22.58 billion, the DOF said in a statement that the total financial cost — including interest payments — amounted to a bigger $28.91 billion or P1.47 trillion. “The projected amount of interest payments until maturity is $6.32 billion or P320.85 billion. These loans will mature between 2024 and 2060,” the DOF said. These higher financing costs borne by the government were among the challenges the DOF wanted to be addressed by the fiscal consolidation plan it was crafting, to be pitched to the next administration to narrow the budget deficit and repay ballooning debt. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III also flagged the possible “long-term economic scarring” if the national government’s revenues cannot keep

up with expenditures on public goods and services, which will be reduced starting next year by implementing the Supreme Court’s Mandanas-Garcia ruling. “Tax revenue losses from the pandemic-induced economic slump, the rise in debt to fund our COVID-19 response, the looming revenue impact of our economic recovery measures, and lower spending efficiency as a result of the Supreme Court decision to expand the share of LGUs [local government units] from the NTA [national tax allotment] must be adequately addressed by the next administration’s economic team,” Dominguez said. Next year, LGUs will receive over P959 billion in NTA, formerly called internal revenue allotment (IRA). To recall, the Supreme Court granted in 2018 and reaffirmed a year later the petitions of Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas and former Bataan Gov. Enrique Garcia Jr., which stated that the LGUs’ IRA should come from 40 percent of the collection of all national taxes — the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) tax take, as well as the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) collections of import duties and other taxes.

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‘I’m done’: Manny Pacquiao... PAGE 1 eight weight classes. Starting as scrawny light flyweight, Pacquiao would win his first World title at flyweight before winning his heaviest one at super welterweight. He has since retired after he lost to Yordenis Ugas in a bout for the WBA Welterweight Super title in August 2021. Pacquiao, who was already a senator when he fought Ugas, then turned his focus to the presidential race as the standard bearer of the Probinsya Muna Development Initiative (PROMDI) party. n

PAGE 1 problems. I remain loyal to him and I promised to be with him for life,” Go told reporters in Filipino on the sidelines of the Bonifacio Day ceremony at Pinaglabanan Shrine in San Juan City, which Duterte also attended. He said that with “dirty” Philippine politics, he did not want Duterte suffering the strain of campaigning for him. Go had earlier telegraphed his decision to pull out. He has to make a personal appearance at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to make the withdrawal of his candidacy official. Internal conflict “The law department currently has no authority to accept any filings considering that today (Nov. 30) is a holiday,” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez told reporters when asked if the poll body’s office would open for the senator. Go can no longer be substituted because the period for substitution of an aspirant who voluntarily withdraws his certificate of candidacy (COC) ended on Nov. 15. According to Jimenez, the Comelec is targeting Dec. 15 for the release of the final list of candidates, and the printing of ballots will begin on Jan. 15.Go said he spoke the other night with the President, who, he said, understood his situation. He said another reason for his pullout was internal conflict: “In the past few days I realized that my heart and my mind are contradicting my actions. My body, heart and mind are really resisting. I’m just a human being who can get hurt and get tired also.” Go also said his family had objected to his candidacy. ‘Supreme sacrifice’ Malacañang had little comment on the matter, with Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential

Sen. Bong Go

Francisco “Isko” Domagoso

spokesperson Karlo Nograles saying in a TV interview that it was a “new development.” Nograles said the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), the party of President Duterte and Go, would hold “a series of meetings” to discuss Go’s move. Go was originally nominated by a party faction for president, but he declined it and instead ran for the No. 2 post. At the last minute, he declared his candidacy for president under the little-known Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan. The senator told reporters he had “no ambition” and described his pullout as a “supreme sacrifice” for the country and Duterte, and for the sake of the unity of their supporters. He sought “forgiveness” from his own supporters, saying: “I was not ready for this … Perhaps it’s not yet my time to be president.” Asked if Duterte would eventually endorse his daughter’s candidacy, Go was noncom-

Photo by Niño Jesus Orbeta / Philippine Daily Inquirer

Inquirer.net photo

mittal. He said he and Duterte would support candidates who could continue the administration’s “good programs.” ‘Thank you’ Domagoso said he would await Malacañang’s endorsement. “If they endorse me, thank you. Thank you in advance, but I will not preempt them until they say so. For the meantime, I am always hopeful,” the Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer told reporters in Manila. In a chance interview, Domagoso said he would not refuse help from the president or anybody else at this stage of the election season, adding that he needed it badly. Addressing reporters, he said: “With all honesty, I am expecting that you, too, will help me… I mean literally, like you, you, you. “I expect all the help, because from the beginning, I needed all the help I could get, because as you know, I’m only one person in public service. I need help from allies, loyalists, believers, followers and volunteers.” Domagoso said, however, that he would not plead for Malacañang’s anointment. “I will wait for them to choose me. For the meantime, while I am expecting help, I will keep reaching out. While reaching out, I am learning a lot,” he said. In October, the mayor described as “fake news” speculations in a Politiko report that he was the administration’s real candidate and Go a mere decoy. “I thought drugs were illegal — what were they smoking?” he was quoted as saying in an ABS-CBN report, in response to Politiko. Leverage Makabayan senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares, who is the chair of Bayan Muna, said Go’s withdrawal of his presidential candidacy was “a desperate Machiavellian attempt to salvage the crumbling Duterte-Marcos

alliance.” Colmenares said it was obvious from the start that Go, Mr. Duterte’s “chief political operator,” had a slim chance of winning, and that the President was “just using him as leverage to get as many concessions as possible” from Marcos Jr. He said it was the fate of politicians who “join the Dutertes for their own agenda.” “May this serve as a warning to all politicians who will seek anointment from the president and his family in 2022,” he said. House Deputy Minority Leader Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate of Bayan Muna commented along the same line. Zarate said Go’s move was “not totally unexpected” in the president’s “political playbook,” and that he was “just a pawn used as leverage to gain concessions” from Marcos Jr.’s camp. The concessions include “protection when Mr Duterte’s term ends … especially now that he is already considered a lame-duck president,” Zarate said. He added: “The withdrawal will possibly benefit and consolidate further the Marcos and Duterte alliance. Asked to comment on Go’s pullout from the presidential race, the “UniTeam” of Marcos Jr. and Mayor Duterte said it would reserve its reaction until after “the actual withdrawal of presidential aspirant Bong Go’s COC and his further announcement.” Diwa Rep. Michael Aglipay, the chair of the House committee on good government and public accountability, expressed respect for Go’s decision. “We will always be thankful for the access he has given us congressmen these last five years, and we wish him well in helping our country,” Aglipay added. — with reports from Dona Z. Pazzibugan and Julie M. Aurelio (By DJ Yap, Jerome Aning/Inquirer.net) n

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From The FronT Page

SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 3-9, 2021

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US tightens travel restrictions...

1ST WEDNESDAY MASS. Catholics observe physical distancing while attending the Novena Mass inside the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help commonly known as the Baclaran Church in Parañaque City on Wednesday, December 1. Metro Manila is under Alert Level 2 until Dec. 15, which means religious activities are allowed at 70 percent seating capacity. PNA photo by Ben Briones

DOJ: Possible Apollo Quiboloy... PAGE 1 finished he apparently has an offense committed here),” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra told ABS-CBN’s TeleRadyo. “May karapatan din ‘yung kung sino man ‘yung biktima na i-prosecute ‘yung kaso dito sa ating mga korte. Kaya made-defer ‘yung extradition process (Whoever filed a case against him here has a right to see to his prosecution in our courts. So, the extradition process may be deferred),” he added. In December 2019, a woman filed rape, child abuse, and human trafficking charges against Quiboloy and five other church members, claiming she was raped by the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name (KOJC) founder in 2014 when she was a minor. The Davao City Prosecutor’s Office dismissed her case in 2020 for lack of sufficient evidence, but the woman appealed to the DOJ, which is now reviewing her case’s dismissal. Guevara said that the agency has yet to receive a request from the U.S. to extradite Quiboloy. In a previous statement, the Justice chief assured that Quiboloy will not be accorded any special treatment should the U.S. send an extradition request. “The DOJ, through the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, will perform its mandate under the law, regardless of the persons involved,” he said. He also pointed out that the Philippines has

“an existing agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters with that country.” “Our treaty obligations are as legally binding on us as our own laws,” stressed Guevarra. However, in the event that the U.S. seeks for Quiboloy’s extradition, the Philippine DOJ and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will have to determine first if the case is covered by the existing extradition treaty. If the charges are covered by the treaty, Guevarra said that the DOJ will file a petition for extradition before a Philippine court. “If granted, and the judgment (of the Philippine court) became final, the respondent (Quiboloy) may then be physically turned over to the requesting state for further legal proceedings,” he added. On Nov. 19, U.S. prosecutors charged Quiboloy and two other top church officials for participating in a conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion. In a 74-page indictment, the three church leaders were alleged to have recruited females ranging from approximately 12 to 25 years of age to work as personal assistants or “pastorals” for Quiboloy. “The victims prepared Quiboloy’s meals, cleaned his residences, gave him massages, and were required to have sex with Quiboloy in what the pastorals called ‘night duty,’” it added. Five females allegedly fell victim to this, three of whom were minors when the supposed sex trafficking began. n

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PAGE 1 CDC, the case was detected in a person in California, an individual who returned from South Africa on November 22. There are currently no confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in New York City. The CDC lists about 80 foreign destinations as having “Level Four,” its highest level of COVID-19 transmission. Americans are discouraged Americans from travelling to those destinations. Close monitoring As part of his efforts to beat back the COVID-19 pandemic and encourage San Diegans to get vaccinated, Mayor Todd Gloria on Monday, Nov. 29 discussed the City’s Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy. Gloria explained that requiring city employees to get vaccinated is “an important and necessary step” to make sure they can provide essential city services while keeping city employees and the public safe as well. “Simply put, the proposed vaccine mandate for City employees is an issue of public safety for both the community and employees,” Mayor Gloria said in a tweet. “It is also a necessary step in order for the City to be able to efficiently provide the municipal services our residents expect.” Aside from vaccination, Mayor Gloria said local health officials are closely monitoring the region for the omicron variant

of the coronavirus, echoing what President Joe Biden said that the variant is a cause for concern, not panic. “We’re monitoring it very closely, obviously we have made tremendous progress in pushing back on the delta variant, any new variant is going to capture a lot of our attention and so we’re watching this closely,” Mayor Gloria told NBC News. NYC officials tells residents to mask up In New York, city officials on Tuesday, Nov. 30 strongly recommended that all New Yorkers, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks in indoor settings in an effort to try and get ahead of a new Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dave Chokshi is anticipating the detection of Omicron in New York “in the coming days, based on what we know about its global spread.” “We still have a lot to learn about the Omicron variant, but its emergence lends urgency to the importance of the precautions we’ve all become familiar with, particularly vaccination, masking, and testing,” he said. Mayor Bill de Blasio and Dr. Chokshi issued the health advisory and said that while the new variant had not been detected yet in the five boroughs, it has ignited fears of worsening an ongoing surge in cases. Mayor-elect Eric Adams stressed the importance of working together and thanked

Suspect in San Diego...

PAGE 1 vehicle from Abilene and evading arrest. Texas police said Valdivia will face local charges in the state before being extradited back to California where he will face his attempted murder charge for attacking and stabbing 71-year-old Jose Serra. Serra, 71, was walking to a nearby manufacturing facility at the Arnele Avenue trolley stop around 5 a.m. on Nov. 3 when he was attacked by Valdivia using a 12” knife, as previously reported by the Asian Journal. Valdivia followed Serra after getting off the trolley and stabbed him repeatedly, slashing his head, hand, and stomach. In a Nov. 11 news release, the El Cajon Police Department noted Serra “had numerous life-threatening stab wounds and had been severely slashed across his face.” “The victim’s ear was nearly severed off and he had lost a significant amount of blood,” it added. Serra, who was recently released from the hospital, expressed hope that the arrest will bring him justice. “I felt relieved. Hopefully, he gets what’s coming to him,” he said. A GoFundMe has -been up copy.pdf to help Serra with the MS - Printpage Ads_11.29 Asian set Journal 1 11/23/21 4:10 medical expenses as he recovers from his injuries. n

the South African scientists for detecting this new variant and immediately alerting the international community. “I believe that we’re sending a clear message, being sent to New Yorkers that the vaccine is our most potent weapon, but our coordination is a close second to that. And we’re going to have that coordination,” Adams said. “And how we choose to respond as a city, we show our resolve against this virus, to each other and to the rest of the globe.” n NOTICE TO BIDDERS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of San Diego (City) is seeking to receive Electronic Bids for the below named Public Works project. The solicitation, including plans and specifications, may be obtained from the City’s website at: https://www.sandiego.gov/cip/ bidopps Contractors intending to submit a Bid must be prequalified. Please refer to the solicitation for instructions. Project Name: MLK Recreation Center Moisture Intrusion Project Number: K-22-1945DBB-3 Estimated Value: $916,000.00 Mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting: 12/14/21 at 10:00 A.M. (GoToMeetings) Bid Open Date: 01/25/2022, at 2:00 P.M. License Requirement: A It is the policy of the City of San Diego to encourage equal opportunity in its Construction and Consultant contracts. Bids or proposals from local firms, small, minority-owned, disabled, veteran-owned, and womenowned businesses are strongly encouraged. Contractors are encouraged to subcontract with and/or participate in joint ventures with these firms. The City is committed to equal opportunity and will not discriminate with regard to race, religion, color, ancestry, age, gender, disability, medical condition or place of birth; and will not do business with any firm that discriminates on any basis. Bids shall be received no later than the date and time noted above at: City of San Diego’s Electronic Biding Site PlanetBids at: h t t p s : / / w w w. p l a n e t b i d s . c o m / p o r t a l / p o r t a l . cfm?CompanyID=17950 Claudia C Abarca, Director Purchasing & Contracting Department December 02, 2021 12/3/21 PM CNS-3532060# ASIAN JOURNAL

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DECEMBER 3-9, 2021 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (619) 474-0588

California joins states trying to shorten... Fil-Am student dies during amateur... PAGE 1 Then, this summer, Christina was diagnosed with breast cancer. Everything related to her cancer care — her mammogram, biopsy, surgery appointments — happened promptly (like a “well-oiled machine,” she said), while her depression care stumbled along. “It is a hot mess,” she said. “I need to be in therapy — I have cancer! And still nothing has changed.” A new law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in October aims to fix this problem for Californians. Senate Bill 221, which passed the state legislature with a nearly unanimous vote, requires health insurers across the state to reduce wait times for mental health care to no more than 10 business days. Six other states — including Colorado, Maryland and Texas — have similar laws limiting wait times. Long waits for mental health treatment are a nationwide problem, with reports of patients waiting an average of five or six weeks for care in community clinics, at Department of Veterans Affairs facilities and in private offices from Maryland to Los Angeles County. Across California, half of residents surveyed by the California Health Care Foundation in late 2019 said they had to wait too long to see a mental health care provider when they needed one. At Kaiser Permanente, the state’s largest insurance company, 87% of therapists said weekly appointments were not available to patients who needed them, according to a 2020 survey by the National Union of Healthcare Workers, which represents KP therapists — and was the main sponsor of the California wait times legislation. “It just feels so unethical,” said triage therapist Brandi Plumley, referring to the typical two-month wait time she sees at Kaiser Permanente’s mental health clinic in Vallejo, east of San Francisco. Every day, she takes multiple crisis calls from patients who have therapists assigned to them but can’t get in to see them, she said, describing the providers’ caseloads as “enormous.” “It’s heartbreaking. And it eats on me day after day after day,” Plumley said. “What Kai-

ser simply needs to do is hire more clinicians.” Kaiser Permanente says there just aren’t enough therapists out there to hire. KP is an integrated system — it is a health provider and insurance company under one umbrella — and has struggled to fill 300 job vacancies in clinical behavioral health, according to a statement from Yener Balan, the insurer’s Northern California vice president of behavioral health. Hiring more clinicians won’t solve the problem, said Balan, who suggested that sustaining one-on-one therapy for all who want it in the future wouldn’t be possible in the current system: “We all must reimagine our approach to the existing national model of care.” Kaiser Permanente lodged concerns about the wait times bill when it was introduced. And the trade group representing insurers in the state, the California Association of Health Plans, opposed it, saying the shortage of therapists would make meeting the two-week mandate too difficult. “The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated this workforce shortage, and demand for these services significantly increased,” said Jedd Hampton, a lobbyist for the California Association of Health Plans, in testimony during a state Senate hearing for the bill in the spring. Hampton referred to a University of California-San Francisco study that predicted California would have nearly 30% fewer therapists than needed to meet demand by 2028. “Simply put, mandating increased frequency of appointments without addressing the underlying workforce shortage will not lead to increased quality of care,” Hampton said. Lawmakers pushed back. State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), who authored the bill, accused insurers of overstating the shortage. State Sen. Connie Leyva (D-Chino) said that the therapeutic providers are out there but that insurers are responsible for recruiting them into their networks by paying higher rates and reducing administrative burdens. If insurers want more young people to enter the mental health care profession, they must improve salaries and working conditions now, said

state Sen. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento). (A 2016 KQED investigation uncovered multiple ways that insurers save money by keeping provider networks artificially small.) As bipartisan support for the bill grew in Sacramento, insurers withdrew their formal opposition. But whether other states have the political will, or the resources, to legislate a similar solution is unclear, said Hemi Tewarson, executive director of the nonpartisan National Academy for State Health Policy in Washington, D.C. Although California may be able to force insurers to hire more therapists, she said, places like New Mexico, Montana, Wyoming, and parts of the South don’t have enough therapists at any price. “They don’t have the providers, so you could fine the insurers as much as you want, you’re not going to be able to, in the short term, make up those wait times if they already exist,” she said. The new California law is a solid step toward improving access to mental health care, with communities of color standing to benefit the most, said Lonnie Snowden, a professor of health policy and management at the University of California-Berkeley. African Americans, Asian Americans and Latinos face the most barriers getting into care, Snowden said, and when people of color do come in for treatment, they are more likely to drop out. Oversight and enforcement are needed for the new rules to work, said Keith Humphreys, a psychiatry professor at Stanford University. Kaiser Permanente has data systems that can track the time between appointments, but other insurers set up contracts with therapists in private practice, who manage their own caseloads and schedules. “Who would keep track of whether people who’ve been seen once were seen again in 10 days, when it’s hard enough just to keep track of how many providers we have and who they are seeing?” he asked. Questions like that one will fall to state regulators, primarily the California Department of Managed Health Care. The department has fined insurers $6.9 million since 2013 for violating state standards, including a $4 million penalty

PAGE 1 loss of their loved one. They have asked for privacy during this painful time to grieve. This was an entirely avoidable and unnecessary death that will be fully investigated,” Lasso said in a statement. “While it is early to know all details, it appears there were multiple safety measure failures by both UNLV and Kappa Sigma Fraternity,” he added. On Friday, Nov. 26, the Valencia’s family attorney released another statement, vowing to leave “no stone unturned” to find out how a 20-year-old college student ended up in a boxing match. “The Valencia family is heartbroken over the loss of Nathan. Our preliminary investigation reveals mistakes

Nathan Valencia

against Kaiser Permanente for excessive wait times for mental health care. Previous state law required insurers to provide initial mental health care appointments within 10 days, and the new law clarifies that they must do the same for follow-up appointments.

were made and safety precautions overlooked. We will be completing a full investigation to determine how UNLV and the Kappa Sigma Fraternity could allow and promote an event like this to take place. College students should not be placed in a situation where they are pitted against each other for combat. “Kappa Sigma Fight Night” is an event that has been held annually and was well known to both UNLV and the national Kappa Sigma Fraternity,” the statement read. “We will leave no stone unturned to determine how a 20-year-old ended up in a school-sanctioned amateur fight that cost him his life. The family has asked for privacy during this time to grieve,” it added. For his part, UNLV President

Photo courtesy of GoFundMe

Keith Whitfield assured that the university is “committing all available resources” to review the incident. “We are shocked and heartbroken as we mourn the loss of one of our own. Coping with the loss of life is always difficult, especially under these circumstances. UNLV is committing all available resources to review the incident and determine how off-campus events like these can be as safe as possible,” he said in a statement. “Our deepest sympathies go out to his family, friends, and loved ones. I am sure words cannot describe their feeling of grief and emptiness. They are in our thoughts during this very difficult time. The Rebel community shares their loss,” he added. Likewise, Kappa Sigma Fraternity offered their condolences to Valencia’s family. “Kappa Sigma Fraternity is greatly saddened by the loss of Nathan Valencia at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Our deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers are with the Valencia family and the entire UNLV community,” it said in a statement. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family with medical and funeral expenses. As of this writing, it has raised over $50,000 of its $100,000 goal. “Nathan was actively a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon at UNLV. He had so much love for his chapter and valued the genuine connections he was able to make,” the page’s description read. “Nathan passed away on November 23rd at the young age of 20. Although Nathan is not here with us physically, his spirit will forever live on through everyone that knows him. Nathan was taken from us too soon, but I know we have gained the best guardian angel,” it added. (Ritchel Mendiola/AJPress) n

Greta Christina, who gets her care at a Kaiser Permanente facility, said she is desperate for the new law to start working. It takes effect on July 1, 2022. Christina thought about paying out-of-pocket in the meantime, to find a therapist she could see more often. But in a cancer cri-

sis, she said, starting over with someone new would be too hard. So she’s waiting. “Knowing that this bill is on the horizon has been helping me hang on,” she said. This story is part of a partnership that includes KQED, NPR and KHN. n

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SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 3-9, 2021

Bongbong, Sara supporters fill San Juanico Bridge by Javier Joe ismael ManilaTimes.net

THE supporters of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his running mate, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, made history when they met at the country’s longest bridge to show their strength on Tuesday, November 30. The “salubong,” or meeting of north and south, was held on the San Juanico Bridge, which connects the province of Leyte and Samar. The event was symbolic of the unity of Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao and the support given to the BBMSara UniTeam. Marcos Jr. said the historic joining of forces of supporters of BBM-Sara UniTeam signals the continuity and enhancement of legacy programs initiated by President Rodrigo Duterte. “Napakaganda ng pangyayari na ito dahil ang pagsasama ng isang Marcos at Duterte ay isang magandang simbolo ng pagkakaisa ng bansa. Ako from north at si Inday Sara from the south at nagkita dito sa Eastern Samar (This is a beautiful event because a Marcos and a Duterte joined forces symbolizing

VACCINATE

Former Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. and running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio lead UniTeam’s rally at the San Juanico Bridge on Tuesday, Nov. 30 during the symbolic meeting of thousands of their supporters from Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. ManilaTimes.net photo

national unity. I am from the north, and Inday Sara is from the south and we met here in Eastern Samar),” he said. The 2,200 meters San Juanico

Bridge is part of the PanPhilippine Highway project of former president Ferdinand Marcos and was dedicated to his wife Imelda Marcos. n

CHR hopes inequalities exposed by COVID-19 pandemic are addressed by

Gabriel Pabico lalu Inquirer.net

MANILA — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) hopes that the celebration of this year’s National Human Rights Consciousness Week will highlight the need to address several long-standing inequalities that were exposed even more by the COVID-19 pandemic. During a program on Wednesday, December 1, various CHR officials noted the importance of looking at the health crisis from a human rights lens, especially with the pandemic creating inequalities such as in the delivery

of healthcare services and vaccines. “Our survival as human beings is dependent on the preservation of human rights,” CHR Commissioner Karen Gomez-Dumpit said in her message. “In the midst of the current pandemic, issues of equality have come to the fore and underlying inequalities in the world and in our different societies have surfaced and have become more pronounced.” “Inequalities in vaccines, inequalities in healthcare services, inequalities in recovering from the pandemic, inequalities in opportunities in life amidst the pandemic, inequalities in ac-

cessing life-saving medicines, and other inequalities and incidents of discrimination have exacerbated our vulnerabilities and have bred further divisions among us,” Dumpit added. The existence of these inequalities, CHR Commissioner Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana said, is a reason why the commission continuously works towards raising awareness about human rights and their advocacies, in a push for better lives. “Our continued engagement with duty-bearers have at times resulted in the re-calibration of their procedures so that it could

u PAGE 7

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DECEMBER 3-9, 2021 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

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OpiniOn

Moderate corruption risk

Features

COUP attempts were staged in the past partly due to accusations of graft in the Armed Forces of the Philippines. A former AFP and defense chief fatally shot himself by his mother’s grave amid allegations of corruption. Since then, measures have been instituted to put an end to corrupt practices in the AFP and Department of National Defense, starting with the simplification of rules and procedures in supply procurement to plug opportunities for red tape and graft. It is unclear if the tradition of pabaon – millions given away to top military officers prior to their retirement – remains in place. Two former military comptrollers were indicted in connection with procurement anomalies in the AFP. Earlier this month the Sandiganbayan affirmed its order on the forfeiture of P102 million worth of property illegally amassed by retired comptroller Lt. Gen. Jacinto Ligot. But victories in the anti-graft campaign in the military and defense establishments have been spotty. Last June, the Supreme Court affirmed a plea bargain approved by the Sandiganbayan, under which former AFP comptroller Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of direct bribery instead of plunder, which reduced his sentence. After spending six years behind bars, Garcia

walked free in December last year. Such developments have surely contributed to the country’s middling score in the latest Integrity Index in government defense and security, as drawn up by London-based Transparency International. TI gave the country a score of 55 out of 100 – “moderate risk” in the index, which rates the quality of institutional controls to manage corruption risks in defense and security institutions in 84 countries. TI reported that the Philippines was “particularly weak” in oversight of policymaking and procurement, with the risk “critical” in whistle-blowing and corruption monitoring. Transparency also “remains limited” throughout the sector including financial management, according to TI. Defense and AFP officials have said reforms continue to be implemented to plug opportunities for corruption. TI did note that corruption risk mitigation “is relatively robust” in Philippine military operations. Such effort must be sustained, alongside continuing housecleaning in the military and defense establishments. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Economic challenges for next president

Demand and Supply Boo ChanCo FINANCE Secretary Sonny Dominguez summed up the economic challenges for the next president and they are daunting. Almost makes me wonder why anyone wants to be president, assuming they have a clean heart and the best intentions. Sec. Sonny identified the four big challenges as ballooning domestic debt, high global inflation, worsening inequality, as well as climate change. I want to add two more, food security and the continuing COVID pandemic. This is why voters must be very careful in selecting the next president. Popularity alone or even the goodness of heart alone are not enough. We need a new president who is not part of the political oligarchy that has ruined our economy and has the training to nurse the economy back into the pink of health. Some are quick to blame Sec. Sonny, as Duterte’s economic manager, for the economic problems he mentioned. But let us not forget that Sec. Sonny has had to deal with the challenge of financing our pandemic response.

We have seen how prudent Sec. Sonny has been even in borrowing from abroad. There were those who were urging him to borrow more and take advantage of our good credit rating. But Sec. Sonny knows our bureaucracy has a serious execution problem and a bad record in quickly and efficiently utilizing allocations for direct assistance to those who need it most. Having more money than the bureaucracy can properly and honestly absorb only leads to temptations like Pharmally. Now that we have gone into election mode, I guess Sec. Sonny wants to remind everyone, candidates and voters, to think about the serious problems we are facing. Our lives depend on it. That’s why I earlier suggested that candidates for president be required to name their shadow Cabinet members for the most critical positions. We need to know if their Finance Secretary nominees, for instance, are competent and trustworthy. We also need to hear the candidates themselves speak of how they view the problems brought up by Sec. Sonny. So far, I have heard nothing but platitudes and populist solutions like suspending oil product taxes. So, can we hear the pres-

idential hopefuls tell us how they plan to manage the debt we have accumulated and grow our GDP? Our borrowings ballooned because of weaker revenue collections due to the pandemic-induced economic slump. Government also had to spend more to assist distressed families during lockdowns and to finance the increased requirements of our shaky health system. The increased borrowings brought up the Philippines’ debt-to-GDP ratio, which is used to measure an economy’s ability to repay its obligations, to 54.6 percent in 2020 from a record-low 39.6 percent in 2019. By end-September, our debtto-GDP further climbed to a 16year high of 63.1 percent, above the 60-percent level deemed by credit rating agencies as manageable among emerging markets. No wonder some ratings agencies have warned us of a potential credit rating downgrade. Our government’s outstanding debt will further climb to a record P13.42 trillion by end2022 from the P11.73 trillion programmed by this year’s end. According to NEDA chief Karl Kendrick Chua, “consumption and investment will be lower in the next 10 years due to

lower demand in sectors that require social distancing (e.g., amusement, tourism, restaurants, public transportation). Consequently, tax revenues will be lower.” So, do the candidates have strategies for fiscal consolidation? Will they be honest about their taxation plans? The next administration may have no choice, despite the election promises, to implement new or higher taxes. Cutting public spending will slow down GDP growth. Then there is inflation. Our headline inflation rose beyond the government’s two to four percent target range of a manageable rate of increase in prices of basic commodities this year. Basically to blame is the high cost of food, especially pork due to supply shortage. Managing the inequalities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic is the next big challenge. The most vulnerable sectors like the poor, women, and school children will take longer to recover from the pandemic-induced slump. Sec. Chua pointed out that for example, no face-to-face classes means less learning and lower future income, productivity, and competitiveness. ADB estimates that each year of lost schooling translates to around 10 percent permanent lower

wages in the future. Then there is climate change. Our farmers and fishermen need support to help them cope with the negative effects of climate change on their livelihoods. Our food security depends on this. Not to forget… the pandemic is still around. Just when we thought we could relax our restrictions to help our travel industry, this new variant, Omicron, comes around. By now, we must have a better playbook than lockdowns. We need to invest on our health infrastructure, not just hospitals and health centers, but also on properly compensating our health workers to make it worth their while to serve at home rather than go abroad. PhilHealth must be reformed. Growing our economy requires investments. Since the government will need all the cash they can muster just to run its operations, the Public Private Partnership concept is the only option. The big problem is attracting PPP investors after the Duterte administration broke a lot of covenants with past PPP investors like Manila and Maynilad Water. Then there is this nuisance suit against Megawide for supposedly violating the anti-dummy law.

That Mactan Cebu airport contract won by Megawide went through several legal reviews, including a suit filed in the Supreme Court. After delivering on the commitment and winning awards as a model PPP project, Megawide officials are facing this criminal case. That’s how to kill the PPP concept for the future. A retired investment banker noted that potential foreign investors will stay away after the government refused to accept international arbitral rulings, parametric formula for tariffs, long pending toll adjustments, refusal to accept liability for MAGA (Material Adverse Government Action), which are standard international provisions for PPP. These are probably not issues raised in presidential campaigns, but are vitally important. The new president will have to address these issues to attract investors, foreign and local, on Day One. (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.

*** Boo Chanco’s email address is bchanco@ gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @ boochanco

Bloody, bizarre twists in election ‘teleserye’

Commentary

Segundo eClar romero PHILIPPINE elections have been known to be quite colorful, with red as their most dominant color, as seen in the amount of bloodshed they generate — before, during, and even after every election. Many candidates, their families and supporters have become casualties in this political exercise considered as the ultimate indicator of a thriving democracy. But more often than not, this democratic indicator happens almost always “at gunpoint,” to partially quote the title of a book published by Vera Files in collaboration with The Asia Foundation in 2011. Edited by Yvonne T. Chua and Luz D. Rimban, “Democracy

at Gunpoint: Election-related violence in the Philippines” includes nine reports describing and providing backstories of bloody incidents associated with elections in different provinces in the country, five of which are in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, now the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. These provinces are Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi. I am reminded of this book again as families of the victims of the tragic Maguindanao massacre commemorated last Nov. 23 the 12th anniversary of that gory and most horrendous of all election-related bloodbaths in Philippine history. That single incident in 2009 killed 58 people, including 32 Central Mindanao-based journalists. Also among the victims

were Genalin, the wife of Toto Mangudadatu, then pregnant; some relatives and friends, and their lawyers. Twelve years after this tragedy, families of the victims are still demanding for justice as well as monetary reparations from the Ampatuan family. “Understanding Election Violence in the Philippines: Beware the Unknown Assassins of May,” a recent peer-reviewed article based on academic research, echoes the findings and analysis in the 2011 Vera Files book. The article was published in Pacific Affairs (Vol. 94, No. 3, September 2021) and written by Tom Smith of the University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom, and Joseph Anthony L. Reyes of the Lund University of Lund, Sweden. It notes that the Duterte administration has exacerbated this violence

through the promotion of vigilante type of killings that mainly characterizes President Duterte’s war on drugs. The authors believe that this deadly war can fuel another violent election period. The research on which the article was based covers 13 years, from 2004 to 2017. The authors tallied all electoral violent incidents during those years, and noted the following: (1) Unidentified assassins are largely responsible for the killings of candidates, their campaigners and supporters, and “fruitful investigations” to these killings are rare; (2) Media reporting on election and related violence has become increasingly dangerous, and cited the killings of some journalists and radio broadcasters; (3) Election violence is difficult to monitor and currently falls between the

cracks of various international election monitoring initiatives. The authors’ findings are quite worrisome. We will continue to face this sad reality, given the bizarre twists and turns of the electoral “teleserye” we watch everyday on our small screens. We watched, highly perturbed, how the President, his daughter, and his unofficial valet/ caregiver changed or withdrew their original certificates of candidacy to “adjust” to new political alignments. Sara Duterte resigned from a party she herself founded, Hugpong ng Pagbabago, to become a vice presidential candidate under Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Lakas-CMD party. Sen. Bong Go flip-flopped from being a vice presidential hopeful to a presidential wannabe in a matter of weeks. This added a rather dark, insidious plot to the teleserye. Mr. Duterte

downgraded his original plan from being president to being senator. Was this an anticipated losing of face just in case his daughter garners higher votes than him? The plot thickened when Sara Duterte recently announced her “return” to the Hugpong party, with her partymates welcoming her with open arms. But the most bizarre twist was how she was able to wangle not only the leadership of the party she resigned from and returned to, but also that of the new party she joined, Lakas-CMD. Whew! Where will all these lead us to next? Abangan. (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.

*** Comments to rcguiam@gmail.com

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DOF: PH borrowed P1.15-T... PAGE 2 “Based on our estimates, the implementation of the Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling will yield lower economic growth because local governments spend less efficiently,” Dominguez said. “The DOF’s estimates found that implementing the High Tribunal’s 2018 decision will yield 3-percent lower economic growth, because the higher LGU allocation will be subject to a lower spending efficiency,” Dominguez said, referring to the share to total disbursements of productive expenditures which goes back to the economy, generates multiplier effects, creates jobs, stimulates demand and improves the quality of life. Dominguez said the national government spends more than twice as efficiently as LGUs. The World Bank had estimated that LGUs might fail to spend as much as P155 billion from their NTA next year. Up to this year, LGUs’ IRA represented two-fifths of national internal revenue taxes collected by the BIR. The NTA, meanwhile, was based on LGUs’ 40-percent share from all tax revenues collected three years prior, hence next year’s allotment had 2019 as the base year. LGUs’ 2022 NTA jumped from an estimated IRA of only P846.31 billion for next year without the so-called Mandanas ruling. This year, LGUs’ IRA amounted to P695.49 billion. Next year’s implementation of the Supreme Court’s 2018 decision on the Mandanas-Garcia petitions reduced the government’s fiscal space, such

that President Duterte issued Executive Order (EO) No. 138 in June to transfer to LGUs the responsibility to spend on local infrastructure, agriculture, social welfare, health care, and livelihood, among other sectors included in the Local Government Code. While the Supreme Court’s Mandanas ruling will provide LGUs with more money, they were expected to struggle spending their larger budgets to implement big-ticket programs and projects devolved by the national government through EO 138. Dominguez also pointed to foregone revenues to be inflicted by the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) as well as Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer (FIST) Laws. While both were “crucial to a quick economic recovery,” Dominguez said that for 2021 to 2024, these two laws would result in revenue losses reaching P1 trillion on average each year. For instance, the CREATE Law cut the income tax rate slapped on large corporations to 25 percent while slashing the levy on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to 20 percent, retroactive to the middle of last year, from 30 percent previously, which had been the highest in Asean. The government was hopeful that firms’ tax savings from CREATE would be reinvested amid economic recovery from the pandemic-induced slump. The Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) had estimated the CREATE Law will shed P118.8 billion from tax collections next year; P115 billion in 2023; and P106.5 billion in 2024. This year’s revenue loss from CREATE was estimated to reach P138.2 billion. (Inquirer.net) n

CHR hopes inequalities exposed by... PAGE 5 become more aligned with a human rights-based approach,” Pimentel-Gana said. “While we have not always been successful in all areas, I am heartened to know that our indefatigable efforts have started to shape the consciousness of our people that many of them now are also advocating our own advocacies within their respective networks. In light of these positive developments, we should continue to press on with our important work,” she added. For this year’s National Human Rights Consciousness Week, the CHR is adopting the theme “Pagkakapantay-Pantay: Isulong mga Karapatang Pantao sa Panahon ng Pandemya” (Equality: Advocating for Human Rights in the Time of a Pandemic). CHR said it was adapted from the theme of the United Nations’ Human Rights Day 2021 theme. “Today is a most opportune time for us to come together to affirm this year’s theme which is a cornerstone principle of human rights: Equality, or in Fil-

ipino, Pagkakapantay-pantay,” Dumpit added. “We are encouraged to combat discrimination; fight for the protection of rights; obtain equal access to opportunities—that is true equality,” said CHR Commissioner Roberto Eugenio Cadiz added. During the span of the pandemic, CHR has called on the government repeatedly to use a human rights-based approach to law enforcement, after reports of authorities abusing their mandate in the enforcement of quarantine restrictions. Aside from these violations, there were also incidents of apprehensions made for alleged curfew and quarantine violations that ended in the deaths of violators. But aside from health-related concerns brought about by the pandemic, Commissioner Cadiz also noted that prior concerns about inequalities — from women and children’s rights, discrimination of persons with disabilities — should also be addressed. During the earlier part of the

COVID-19 crisis, CHR also expressed concerns that the pandemic would bode badly for women and children who are subjected to domestic abuse, as they are forced to spend more time at home due to the lockdown protocols. For persons with disabilities, the main problem was how to provide services to them as most of the country’s healthcare programs were geared towards ending COVID-19. “Women’s rights, together with children’s rights, must be advanced. And discrimination of whatever form and kind must be condemned. The rights of People with Disabilities and the wide variety of economic, social, and cultural rights should be obtained without any discrimination whatsoever,” Cadiz said. “Violators have to be taken to task and be held responsible because they violate rights and laws safeguarding rights. They violate dignity—the inherent worth of the human person upon which the principle of equality rests and finds it utmost meaning,” he added. n

LEGAL SERVICES / EMPLOYMENT FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2021-9025850

The Golden Rose located at 895 Palomar St., Suite A1, Chula Vista, CA 91911. Registrant: Rosa A. Diaz, 895 Palomar St., Suite A1, Chula Vista, CA 91911. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT HAS BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME AS OF 11/19/2021. Signature Rosa A. Diaz. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/19/2021. AJ 837 12/03, 12/10, 12/17, and 12/24/2021.

AJSD 837

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2021-9026330

JTND - Jasmine Thien Nga Dinh located at 9341 Ruffin Court, San Diego, CA 92123. Registrant: Tu Dinh, 2338 Blackton Drive, San Diego, CA 92105. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME. Signature Tu Dinh. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/29/2021. AJ 838 12/03, 12/10, 12/17, 12/24/2021. AJSD 838

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2021-9025614

HugNugs located at 525 Hibiscus Court, Chula Vista, CA 91911. Registrant: Allana Reyes, 731 K Avenue, National City, CA 91911. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT HAS BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME AS OF 11/17/2021. Signature Allana Reyes. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on11/17/2021. AJ 839 12/03, 12/10, 12/17, and 12/24/2021. AJSD 839

EMPLOYMENT

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DECEMBER 3-9, 2021 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (619) 474-0588

LEGAL SERVICES FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2021-9024040

DMG Packings located at 12665 Camino Mira del Mar #212, San Diego, CA 92130. Registrant: Marcos Lencioni, 12665 Camino Mira del Mar #212, San Diego, CA 92130. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME. Signature Marcos Lencioni. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 10/25/2021. AJ 817 11/12, 11/19, 11/26, and 12/03/2021

AJSD 817

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2021-9024483

VIET PHARMACY AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES located at 4616 EL CAJON BLVD., SUITE 6, SAN DIEGO. CA 92115. Registrant: DT PHARMACY CORPORATION, 4616 EL CAJON BLVD., SUITE 6, SAN DIEGO. CA 92115. This business is conducted by CORPORATION. REGISTRANT HAS BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME AS OF 04/15/2011. Signature PHUONGDUNG T. NGUYEN. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/01/2021. AJ 818 11/12, 11/19, 11/26, AND 12/03/2021 AJSD 818

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2021-9024484

PHILLIP PHARMACY located at 5507 EL CAJON BLVD., SUITE E, SAN DIEGO, CA 92115. Registrant: DT PHARMACY CORPORATION, 4616 EL CAJON BLVD., SUITE 6, SAN DIEGO. CA 92115. This business is conducted by CORPORATION. REGISTRANT HAS BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME AS OF 04/15/2011. Signature PHUONGDUNG T. NGUYEN. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/01/2021. AJ 819 11/12, 11/19, 11/26, AND 12/03/2021 AJSD 819

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2021-9024149

LEGAL SERVICES

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2021-9022941

Sunny Day Spa located at 401 H St. #9, Chula Vista, CA 91910. Registrant: Rong Cui, 805 S 4th St., Apt 6, Alhambra, CA 91801. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT HAS BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME AS OF 10/09/2020. Signature Rong Cui. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 10/12/2021. AJ 822 11/12, 11/19, 11/26, and 12/03/2021 AJSD 822

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2021-9024286

EMERGENCY LEGAL SERVICES located at 9450 Mira Mesa Blvd., Ste C-509, San Diego, CA 92126. Registrant: Jack CruzSilvestre, 9450 Mira Mesa Blvd., Ste C-509, San Diego, CA 92126. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT HAS BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME AS OF 06/01/2019. Signature Jack CruzSilvestre. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 10/28/2021. AJ 825 11/12, 11/19, 11/26, and 12/03/2021

AJSD 825

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2021-9025199

JOYLUX COLLECTIONS located at 1662 Casa Mila Drive, Unit 3, Chula Vista, CA 91913. Registrant: Jocelyn Tence, 1662 Casa Mila Drive, Unit 3, Chula Vista, CA 91913. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT HAS BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME AS OF 10/15/2020. Signature Jocelyn Tence. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/11/2021. AJ 826 11/26, 12/03, 12/10, 12/17/2021.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2021-9024795

Kingdom Apparel located at 2140 Hoover Ave., Suite 212, National City, CA 91950. Registrant: Miguel Angel Covarrubias, 2140 Hoover Ave., Suite 212, National City, CA 91950. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME. Signature Miguel Angel Covarrubias. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/05/2021. AJ 827 11/19, 11/26, 12/03, and 12/10/2021.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2021-9024703

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2021-9023854

Yami’s Bakery located at 74 Lion Circle, Chula Vista, CA 91910. Registrant: Brenda Yamilette Avila, 74 Lion Circle, Chula Vista, CA 91910. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT HAS BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME AS OF 09/15/2020. Signature Brenda Avial. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/03/2021. AJ 821 11/12, 11/19, 11/26, and 12/03/2021

AJSD 821

CASE NUMBER: 37-2021-00046659-CU-PT-CTL

CASE NUMBER: 37-2021-00047304-CU-PT-CTL

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Stephen Andrew Youmans and Griselda Morales de Youmans on behalf of minor children filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Gabriel Andrew Youmans Morales to Gabriel Andrew Youmans b. Anthony David Youmans Morales to Anthony David Youmans c. Adrian Nicholas Youmans Morales to Adrian Nicholas Youmans d. Ariana Guadalupe Youmans Morales to Ariana Guadalupe Youmans THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 12/20/2021 Tine: 8:30 AM Dept. 61 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. 61 San Diego, CA 92101 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county. Asian Journal: NOV. 03, 2021 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT Lorna A. Alksne Judge of the Superior Court AJ 823 11/12, 11/19, 11/26, and 12/03/2021. ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME (JC Form #NC-120) NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120). If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner. If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions. If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions. A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date. Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court.

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Raul Maximiliano Toriz Beauchamps filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Raul Maximiliano Toriz Beauchamps to Max Elias Benveniste Cohen THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 12/22/2021 Tine: 8:30 AM Dept. C-61 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. 61 San Diego, CA 92101 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county. Asian Journal: NOV. 08, 2021 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT Lorna A. Alksne Judge of the Superior Court AJ 824 11/12, 11/19, 11/26, and 12/03/2021. ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME (JC Form #NC-120) NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120). If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner. If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions. If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions. A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date. Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court.

AJSD 823

AJSD 824

CASE NUMBER: 37-2021-00049709-CU-PT-CTL

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Zamary Noorzay and Rubina Noorzay on behalf of minor children filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Fnu Farhad to Farhad Noorzay b. Fnu Gulsanga AKA San Ga to Gul Sanga Noorzay c. Fnu Zarsanga to Zar Sanga Noorzay d. Fnu Fawad to Fawad Noorzay THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 01/06/2022 Time: 8:30 AM Dept. 61 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. 61 San Diego, CA 92101 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county. Asian Journal: NOV. 24, 2021 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT Lorna A. Alksne Judge of the Superior Court AJ 832 12/03, 12/10, 12/17, and 12/24/2021 ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME (JC Form #NC-120) NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120). If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner. If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions. If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions. A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date. Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court.

AJSD 832

AJSD 826

MYND CO. located at 2860 Lincoln Ave., #10, San Diego, CA 92104. Registrant: Jaelyn Rosales, 2860 Lincoln Ave., #10, San Diego, CA 92104. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME. Signature Jaelyn Rosales. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 10/26/2021. AJ 820 11/12, 11/19, 11/26, and 12/03/2021

AJSD 820

LEGAL SERVICES

AJSD 827

a. Segue Body Wraps located at 3594 Fifth Ave., San Diego, CA 92103. b. RCL & Co. located at 3594 Fifth Ave., San Diego, CA 92103. Registrant: Rachel Lam Wong, 5378 Bothe Ave., San Diego, CA 92122. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT HAS BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME AS OF 10/22/2012. Signature Rachel Lam Wong. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 10/22/2021. AJ 828 11/19, 11/26, 12/03, and 12/10/2021. AJSD 828

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2021-9025545

Polar Salts located at 7933 Silverton Ave., Suite 716, San Diego, CA 92126. Registrant: Dean Meltz, 7933 Silverton Ave., Suite 716, San Diego, CA 92126. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME. Signature Dean Meltz. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/16/2021. AJ 829 11/26, 12/03, 12/10, and 12/17/2021.

AJSD 829

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2021-9025610

North County Home Loans located at 3690 Highland Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008. Registrant: Gary Kawano, 3690 Highland Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME. Signature Gary Kawano. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/17/2021. AJ 830 11/26, 12/03, 12/10, and 12/17/2021. AJSD 830

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2021-9025950

Happy Love Desserts, ATBP. located at 1544 Cricket Drive, Chula Vista, CA 91915. Registrant: Trevilla, LLC, 1065 Surrey Drive, 1544 Cricket Drive, Chula Vista, CA 91915. This business is conducted by Limited Liability Company. REGISTRANT HAS BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME AS OF 11/15/2021. Signature Grace Trevilla. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/20/2021. AJ 831 11/26, 12/03, 12/10, and 12/17/2021.

AJSD 831

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2021-9025720

a. CUBS Express located at 1740 Robinson Avenue #13, San Diego, CA 92103. b. Mochii Bear located at 1740 Robinson Avenue #13, San Diego, CA 92103. Registrant: CUBS Express LLC, located at 1740 Robinson Avenue #13, San Diego, CA 92103. This business is conducted by Limited Liability Company. REGISTRANT HAS BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME AS OF 11/05/2015. Signature Well Lopez Aquino JR. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/18/2021. AJ 833 12/03, 12/10, 12/17, and 12/24/2021. AJSD 833

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2021-9026120

SCS Transportation Services located at 4716 Market St., San Diego, CA 92102. Registrant: a. Gina L Phraphon, 218 Henson St., San Diego, CA 92114. b. Satsady Sovidaray, 218 Henson St., San Diego, CA 92114. This business is conducted by Married Couple. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME. Signature Satsady Sovidaray. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/23/2021. AJ 834 12/03, 12/10, 12/17, and 12/24/2021. AJSD 834

FOR RENT

CASE NUMBER: 37-2021-00049912-CU-PT-CTL

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Herlinda Guadalupe Ybanez AKA Natalie Soto filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Herlinda Guadalupe Ybanez AKA Natalie Soto to Natalie Lynda Soto THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 01/11/2022 Tine: 8:30 AM Dept. C-61 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. 61 San Diego, CA 92101 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county. Asian Journal: NOV. 29, 2021 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT Lorna A. Alksne Judge of the Superior Court AJ 836 12/03, 12/10, 12/17, and 12/24/2021. ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME (JC Form #NC-120) NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120). If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner. If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions. If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions. A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date. Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court. AJSD 836

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2021-9019446

Laus’ Deo Hair and Nail Salon located at 1251 Third Ave., Suite 204, Chula Vista, CA 91911. Registrant: Nora Liliana Burgoin, 1804 Canal St., San Diego, CA 92154. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME. Signature Nora Liliana Burgoin. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/29/2021. AJ 835 12/03, 12/10, 12/17, and 12/24/2021.

AJSD 835

SAN DIEGO

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SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 3-9, 2021

JOURNAL

Filipino American actor/director Angelo Reyes: A rising star of the indie film scene by

nicole MuJ

THE industry is taking notice of Filipino-Italian American actor/director Angelo Reyes, who is currently taking his short 21st & Colonial out on the festival circuit. The film, which he wrote, directed and stars in, was screened recently at the San Diego Filipino International Film Festival and names an official selection of the Asian World Film Festival in Los Angeles. He also recently took part in the fourth annual Production Without Borders Showcase during the American Film Market, alongside some of the top names in the entertainment industry. Following is an exclusive interview with this rising star of the indie film scene. NM: You are quite an accomplished actor. Why made you decide to pursue directing as well? AR: Directing was a role that I knew eventually I was going to get to do. I wanted to train as an actor first and fulfill my goals. When I felt comfortable and had the opportunity to direct, I decided to take the challenge. I thought that having experience directing and running a production would make me a better actor as well, and vice versa. Then I wrote 21st & Colonial. I had a vision for the story and it had to be a certain way. Since we were going to make a short film concept prior to the feature film, I thought that this was a perfect time for me. NM: What inspired you to make 21st & Colonial? AR: I began a journey and mission when I started writing screenplays. I wanted to produce true human impact stories that ignite the heart. Give a voice to stories of people that sometimes we don’t hear of or maybe we forget about. My last production Groomed was based on a true story about domestic human trafficking in Virginia. It went behind the scenes of what human traffickers do and what it looked like and followed the character throughout the process. 21st & Colonial was no different. I was inspired to write this story back when I was watching the news, where an African American male named Omar was shot 14 times by police while sitting in his car, unarmed at a bank drivethrough. He cashed a fraudulent check, which would have been a misdemeanor if convicted. I was introduced to the family by a close friend. I spent the day with the family, and I was deeply moved. As I researched Omar’s death further and the details surrounding this fatal encounter, it grew to be more complex.

21st Colonial poster

The story plays out a 24-hour period in the characters of Omar and Carlos, both the victim and the police officer. I wanted to write an unbiased story. You will see this in a parallel narrative as it builds up to where they have a fatal encounter. No money will ever bring back their son or heal the wound of this tragedy. Telling Omar’s story is one way we can honor him. NM: What has been the response to the film so far? AR: It has been interesting. After screenings, the audience were quiet, which was worrisome at the time. But when the theatre lights came on and it was time for the Q&A sessions, I had a tremendous number of compliments. I had touched on subjects in the short concept that I didn’t even mean to, such as trauma, PTSD, etc. I then realized this film became much bigger and tells a much larger story. This was good to know as I get ready to turn this concept into a feature film. NM: You star in 21st & Colonial as well as directed (and wrote) the film. What were the challenges you faced having to wear so many hats? AR: This was a big task but with the right team it made my job a lot easier. I was more prepared with 21st & Colonial because my last film, Groomed, as I had the same roles to fill. I believe that was my trial run. I learned a lot from that production. Even though 21st & Colonial was a short film concept, my team and I spent six months prepping every scene. I worked closely with my Director of Photography, Leah Anova. I learned that the DP is my best friend. If I was going to pull this off being in front and behind the camera, we both needed to have the same vision and chemistry. In the end it worked out. It prepared me for the feature film.

NM: How have your international roots helped you in your career in the entertainment industry? AR: Absolutely! Being able to speak other languages fluently gave me an upper hand. I can immerse myself in many characters and backgrounds. It’s very challenging but that’s what acting is all about. I love learning about different cultures, languages, and people’s stories. This has helped me a lot throughout my career. NM: Specifically, what are you doing to promote diversity within the Asian-American entertainment community? AR: The best way for me to help my Filipino and Asian community is to include them in every aspect of my productions. This includes cast and crew. I do my best to search for writers, producers, actors, etc. in the Asian community to create a good balance and give opportunities or a start to their careers. It’s a small step but a step that is necessary. What is also important is to create human impact stories that ignite the heart. I do this by creating a broad story that every audience can relate to and write around Filipino characters. And last but not least, provide guidance and mentorship. NM: Who was been the greatest mentor to you (in the industry)? AR: The one person that really helped me and especially getting 21st & Colonial off the ground is Mr. Michael Goi. He gave me advice with my acting career choices and introduced me to people. He introduced me to who is now my ‘Ate’ (means older sister in Tagalog), Leah Anova, a talented and amazing cinematographer. He told me to just do the work and get this film under my belt, and everything else will fall in place. He has been a great mentor to me and I’m grateful for him. The little things he has done for me has made me a better artist and human being. Passing down his knowledge and expertise has made me realize I have a bigger purpose now. I want to be able to return the favor and help other artists, especially in the Asian and Filipino communities. So, thank you Michael! NM: What’s next on the horizon for you? AR: Next up is the 21st & Colonial feature film. I am hoping to have everything ready to film in 2022. I’m still working as an actor and training constantly. I have written four scripts, so once 21st & Colonial is done, I have others ready right behind it. I can’t wait to show you what I have in store.

Luis confirms Edu, Cherry Pie relationship by Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

KAPAMILYA TV host Luis Manzano confirmed the relationship of his father Edu Manzano to actress Cherry Pie Picache. In his recent interview with G3 San Diego, Luis said that they were caught off guard on the relationship of the “Marry Me, Marry You” co-stars. “Kung maibabalik ang prangkisa ng ABS-CBN next year, baka si Daddy at Tita Pie, itapat sa KathNiel,” Luis joked. “Sobrang we were caught off guard. No one saw it coming. I don’t even think Dad and Tita Pie saw it coming,” he added. Luis said that a friend of him sent a photo with his dad Edu and Cherry Pie. “I think a friend of mine took

Edu Manzano and Cherry Pie Picache

a picture with them and he sent me a picture. He was with Daddy and Tita Pie. Date night yata sila. So I sent the picture back to Daddy. I said, ‘Uy daddy, happy boy ka.’ Sabi niya, ‘Yes anak, happy’,” Luis said. “It would boil down to the

Photo from Instagram/@yescppicache

same thing, kung paano niya nirerespeto ang kanyang kasama. That’s one thing na nakikita ko kay Daddy. How he takes care of his partner talaga. Nakikita ko rin naman how happy he is with Tita Pie,” he added. n

Julie Anne’s advice to fans who want a career in showbiz

Julie Anne San Jose

GMA photo

JULIE Anne San Jose worked long and hard to get to where she is now. When we asked the 27-year-old singer-actress what advice she would give to followers who want to follow in her footsteps as a performer, she said she would encourage them to pursue their dreams. “I went through so many difficulties as a performer,” she recalled. “But you’ll never get whatever it is that you deeply want in life if you don’t work hard for it. Success doesn’t just come to you—you have to seek it out and make it happen! There are no shortcuts to success.

“Dapat tanggapin mo na hindi s’ya madaling (You have to accept that it’s not an easy) journey. But my experience has also made me realize na walang (nothing is) impossible if you really want to make your dreams come true. Just be patient and smart … and stay grounded. “Don’t forget where your roots are, kasi sila ang foundation mo … sila ang bumuo sa ‘yo (because these are your foundation … these forged you). And don’t take the people who support and love you for granted. Always create new things, and be open to possibilities.”(By Rito P. Asilo/Inquirer.net) n

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John Lloyd, Bea admit to being ‘soulmates’ by Deni

roSe M. afiniDaD-BernarDo Philstar.com

MANY people have come and go in actors John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo’s lives, but for them, only one thing is constant: each other. At the Tuesday, November 30 media roundtable for the premiere of their Jollibee Studios movie “One True Pair,” John Lloyd confessed that his reallife relationship with Bea is almost like what’s in their movies together. “Tingin ko, hindi pa ba?” he said when asked by Philstar.com if Bea is his soulmate. “Tingin ko, kung kailangan pa ba ng another 20 years to define it? I think two decades is more than enough para i-seal ‘yung souls natin,” he told Bea. “Alam mo ‘yun, especially in the context of collaboration and moviemaking, I think hindi naman imposible na nag-eexist side-by-side ‘yung souls namin,” he explained. Bea, meanwhile, quipped: “May mga souls ba kami?” “Pero kasi hindi ko alam kung talagang i-ano mo na soulmates kami kasi parang... pwede siguro kung pagbabasehan mo d’un sa lagi kaming pinupull back together, parang lagi kaming pinupullback ng pagkakataon and every time na may pagsasamahan kami, it feels like magic. At least, para sa’kin. And nakita ko na s’ya sa iba’t ibang pagkakataon ng buhay n’ya. Nakita ko na rin s’ya sa iba’t ibang pagkakataon ng buhay ko. Nakita n’ya ko nagbago. Nakita ko rin s’ya nagbago and somehow, it still feels to be together,” she narrated. “We can still stomach each other!” John Lloyd seconded. “Kaya pa namin sikmurain! Siguro ‘yun ‘yung soulmates. I don’t know,” said Bea with a laugh. In an interview with Mark Christian Perlade at the media roundtable, Bea bared that she and John Lloyd did not start well. She said she used to hate doing some scenes with him. But through the years, they have somehow discovered how to play good music together, and now, it’s hard for them to label what they have. “You’re right, it wasn’t instant. We weren’t friends in the beginning,” she declared. “But after being strangers, we’ve become friends. Actually, marami na kaming pinagdaanan. We were strangers then became friends and then enemies and then more than friends and somehow, parang hindi ko na nga malagyan ng label what we are. Parang at least sa pakiramdam ko, hindi na lang s’ya, it’s not a love team anymore or friendship… Like I said, we’re always here for each other and

John Lloyd Cruz, Bea Alonzo

Photo courtesy of Jollibee

siguro mayroon ding rason kung bakit lagi kaming bumabalik sa isa’t isa.” Prior to the media roundtable, the pair admitted in an interview with Joyce Pring that they believe in soulmates. “Ako, I believe in soulmates and destiny, na may taong nakalaan para sa’kin. But I also believe na hindi lang limited ‘yung soulmates sa romantic partner. It could be your best friend, mga pinsan mo, nanay mo, kapatid mo, tatay mo. And ang definition siguro ng soulmates, para sa’kin, are two people who have intense feelings for each other or who have this unbreakable bond. Hindi lang s’ya necessarily just romance,” Bea explained. “Sana meron pa ‘kong pwedeng idagdag du’n. I believe the same thing,” said John Lloyd, adding: “‘Di s’ya limited to romance. ‘Di s’ya limited to that context na nakasanayan natin… parang between two people ‘yun na ‘yung pinnacle na pwede n’yong maabot in terms of having a relationship. Parang ‘yun na ‘yung pinakahigpit na tingin kong idea ng pinakabond between two people.” “It’s almost marriage na rin, ‘no?” Bea asserted. “Nand’un s’ya sa level na ‘yun. In your life, kung mahanap mo ‘yung soulmate or soulmates mo, I guess that you’re lucky. ‘Di lahat nahahanap ‘yun. Pwedeng sobrang dami mong naging partners, sobrang dami mong naging romantic partners pero ‘yung soulmates parang rare.” n

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How to protect yourself from COVID-19 Omicron variant WHILE the state’s first COVID-19 case caused by the Omicron variant has been detected in Northern California in a traveler from South Africa, San Diego County health officials are urging people to continue following existing guidance. The recommended preventive measures against COVID-19 and its previous variants, they say, are the best bet to protect against the new strain. “There’s a lot about Omicron we don’t know yet, such as how it spreads, how sick it can make people and how well existing vaccines work against it,” said Cameron Kaiser, M.D., M.P.H., County deputy public health officer. “In the meantime, the same precautions we’ve been advising for other strains of COVID-19 should help prevent or lessen the likelihood of people getting and spreading the Omicron variant, as well as the Delta, which is still the dominant strain.” Although no cases of the Omicron variant have been detected in the San Diego region, the County and the local medical community are regularly monitoring for the Omicron variant using genome sequencing. The County is also working with the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention and the California Department of Public Health to review recommendations when the variant arrives in the region. Health officials recommend the following measures to protect against all varieties of COVID-19, including the Omicron variant: • Get vaccinated and get a booster if you qualify. The vaccine is available at health care providers, retail pharmacies and community clinics. You can also make an appointment or find a site near you by calling (833) 422-4255 or visiting the My Turn website. • Wear a mask, especially in public indoor settings, regardless of vaccination status. • Get tested if you have any symptoms, whether you’ve been vaccinated or not. You can make a free test appointment or find a walk-in test clinic at coronavirus-sd.com. • Wash your hands frequently and stay home if you’re sick and distance yourself from others. More information about COVID-19, testing and vaccinations can be found at coronavirus-sd.com. (Jose Alvarez/County of San Diego Communications Office) n

Mayor Gloria: City makes additional shelter available for inclement weather Daily shelter capacity increased again recently for second time in recent months

SAN DIEGO – Working with service providers and organizations across the city, Mayor Todd Gloria on Wednesday, November 24 announced a coordinated approach to offer more San Diegans experiencing homelessness the opportunity to get off the streets during inclement weather, while also continually looking at ways to expand daily shelter options as staffing levels permit. During the past several weeks, the City’s new Homelessness Strategies and Solutions Department (HSSD), the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) and the Regional Task Force on Homelessness (RTFH) have engaged providers, including the Alpha Project, Father Joe’s Villages, People Assisting the Homeless (PATH), San Diego Rescue Mission and other faith-based organizations to identify sites that could potentially serve those in need. “Expanding shelter options to more San Diegans experiencing homelessness, particularly as we enter the coldest and wettest season of the year, is critical,” Mayor Todd Gloria said. “By working

with groups across our city, we will be able to offer more people the chance to get into a warm and clean environment on those cold, rainy days when they need it most. We continue to work to expand our overall shelter network to serve individuals every day of the year so that everyone who wants a bed can have one.” The collaborative approach has resulted in the addition of 65 beds to be activated during inclement weather — 55 beds at Father Joe’s Villages’ Paul Mirable Center and 10 beds operated by the San Diego Rescue Mission. Additional sites are still under evaluation by the City, RTFH and SDHC for even greater capacity. “This is the kind of inter-agency collaboration we need to help people off the streets and into shelter,” said Council President Pro Tem Stephen Whitburn who represents District 3 and chairs the Land Use & Housing Committee. “I applaud Mayor Gloria and the new Homelessness Strategies and Solutions Department for their leadership in coordinating these efforts.” “No San Diegan should have

to sleep on the streets where they are subjected to enduring the elements, including cold and wet weather. We as a community must come together to ensure our neighbors are not left behind during the winter months,” said Deacon Jim Vargas, president and CEO of Father Joe’s Villages. “The necessary shelter beds offered by Father Joe’s Villages and our fellow service providers will not only keep neighbors off the streets during the worst of nights; it will also give hope to those who need it most during the holiday season.” Criteria for the activation of the additional shelter beds during inclement weather is as follows: • Temperature is 50 degrees or below and there is a 40-percent chance of rain; • Temperature is 45 degrees or below regardless of a chance of rain; or • In exceptional weather conditions, such as one or more inches of rain within 24 hours and sustained high winds. “Increasing the availability of shelter options in multiple loca-

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COVID-19 predictions Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS THE COVID-19 pandemic has vividly shown that educating people, even in a most educated country, is not easy, especially when some of its spineless leaders spread misinformation in order to be politically correct so as not to lose votes. In the process, they go against science and say what their constituents want to hear: No mandates on mask and vaccines, even when science says otherwise. And of course, as expected, this has contributed immensely to the confusion and chaos and the nearly 50 million COVID-19 cases and almost 800,000 dead Americans. Scientifically, majority of these infections, hospitalizations, and deaths were preventable! More than 90 percent of the casualties involved the unvaccinated. Science, not politics, is what we need to end this pandemic. The government must follow science! All of us should continue educating the public, even repeatedly, until people truly understand that COVID-19 is a vicious stealth killer that must be destroyed soonest. And that we now have the vaccines to do it. A national disaster, in this case a part of a global calamity, deserves no less than a unified federal response, not DIY fragmented and conflicting management approaches by 50 state governments, many times politically clashing against one another. An outburst or a local endemic affecting a city or a state may be handled by the state government, but not a pandemic! In a national cataclysm, like a war or a pandemic, all 50 states must be seamlessly in sync with the federal government, functioning as one unified force against the SARS-CoV2 virus. We cannot afford to lose more lives. One person dying is one too many. Epidemiologists from all around the world have developed a proven scientific protocol, the technology, the wherewithal, a proven containment strategy to minimize, even end, the infections and deaths. Sadly, all of these state-of-the-art armamentaria are all still waiting for the

national government to employ and deploy fully ASAP. The administration and Congress have failed to consolidate their efforts and properly utilize the proven, effective weapons they have at their disposal in a timely fashion to defeat this killer virus soonest. They have allowed 50 million people to get infected and greater than three quarters of a million to die… and counting. This is gross negligence and dereliction of duty on the part of the Executive and Legislative branches of our government, arguably (just to make a point) bordering on involuntary mass manslaughter or negligent genocide, and they must be liable and held accountable. Not mandating a proven and available epidemiologic strategy that would have saved millions from getting infected and nearly 800,000 from dying is clearly negligence and a dereliction of a sworn duty of these public servants to serve and protect the nation and its citizens. If a physician did not employ available state-of-the-art standard of medical care (for COVID-19 or other diseases) in a timely fashion resulting in the death of even one patient (or dozens, or hundreds), would he/ she not be charged with malpractice, negligent homicide, etc.? The federal “mandate” for children to have the required vaccinations before enrolling in school has saved hundreds of millions of children from dying. Countless millions of lives have been saved by laws against driving without a license or auto insurance, using cellphones while driving, not wearing seat belts, reckless driving, driving while intoxicated; no-smoking bans, etc. These are all government actions curtailing the civil rights of the people to do what they want and their freedom to choose not to obey. These good laws follow the principle of societal rights, national safety and welfare, prevailing over the rights of the individual. A national mandate for COVID-19 vaccination would be an excellent medical evidence-based law that will end this pandemic soonest and save millions of lives, certainly much more than the other mandates above. Yet, we have no such federal mandate. No end in sight This COVID-19 pandemic will be with us for years to come because more than 50 million peo-

ple in the United States alone refuse the vaccines. Their bodies will act as long-term hosts, a giant reservoir, and enable the SARS-CoV2 virus to rapidly replicate and mutate non-stop to more easily transmissible and deadlier strains. Without a host, the virus will self-destruct. We may actually end up needing annual COVID-19 shots, like the flu vaccine. The Delta strain caused breakthrough infections among those who were vaccinated, clearly showing how worse it is compared to the previous variants. Now comes the South African strain, which has led to U.S. travel bans from South Africa and other African nations starting last Monday, November 29. Named the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529), it may “have the ability to evade COVID vaccines and increase the risk of reinfection.” The longer the virus is allowed to replicate and mutate, the greater risk it becomes to human lives. The Moderna vaccine is now suspected to be ineffective against the Omicron virus. Future variants may not respond to any vaccine or treatment at all and wipe us out as a civilization, a bit of a stretch, but a plausible scientific reality. God forbid. More people will die until we destroy this virus for good. Medically, the only way to do this is to vaccinate every single person, to deny the virus any host. Or, to isolate those unvaccinated, carriers and infected, reminiscent of the Leper Colony in the 1800s. Obviously, this is not possible, compassionate, nor humane. Scientifically, unvaccinated people, who are the easy targets of the virus, become the carriers and transmitters of COVID-19 infection. When not totally isolated from others, they will continue to spread this deadly virus and kill more people. Unfortunately, at least 50 million people in the United States appear to be more interested in exercising their civil rights, their freedom of choice, their right to refuse vaccinations, rather than protecting themselves and their fellowmen from this killer virus. The greater tragedy is their choice is killing people, taking others with them and damaging our economy, besides our psyche, and prolonging this pandemic. We should have learned our lessons from the global plague,

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Community

SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • DECEMBER 3-9, 2021

City of San Diego to release red dye into Mission Bay to study water circulation for future restoration projects

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Nontoxic dye will be visible for about a week and is safe for environment

SAN DIEGO – The City of San Diego will release fluorescent red dye into Mission Bay on Friday, December 3 to study water circulation as part of a larger environmental project. Data will help the city design future water quality improvements and ecological restoration projects at the bay. The nontoxic dye will be visible for about a week. It is made of rhodamine and is safe for use in drinking water and salt water. The dye will naturally become absorbed into the bay and is not expected to leave any residue on beaches or have any other long-term effects. Public recreation and use

of Mission Bay will not be restricted during or following the dye release. It will be safe to continue water contact recreation activities during this study. “We want to assure the public that even though the red dye may be visible at first, it is completely safe and won’t have any long-term effects on the environment,” said Keli Balo, Assistant Deputy Director of the City’s Public Utilities Department. “The water circulation data we collect will help us improve Mission Bay and give us a tool to protect it for future generations of San Diegans.”

The dye will be released into the Rose Creek inlet to the bay from the Mike Gotch Memorial Pedestrian Bridge between Campland on the Bay and De Anza Cove. The movement of the dye will be recorded using visual and drone surveys and will aid city staff in the understanding of water circulation patterns within Mission Bay. This water circulation study is part of the city’s Northeast Mission Bay Wetland Restoration Supplement Environmental Project and will provide data about the dispersion of contaminants that enter Mission Bay from Rose Creek. (City of San Diego Release) n

SFIO, NeuroSky sign $15-M Mayor Gloria: City makes additional... partnership to bring biotech wearables to global markets

PAGE 10 tions when we have cold, rainy and windy weather is essential for our homeless residents,” said Tamera Kohler, CEO of the Regional Task Force on Homelessness. “Working with new and existing providers, we can provide dry, warm and safe shelter to meet people’s needs during inclement weather, reducing the potential of health issues that could be life-threatening. We are grateful for these critical and expanding partnerships.” During the COVID-19 pandemic, many shelters have been operating under reduced capacities to ensure greater physical distancing and prevent the potential spread of the virus. As staffing levels have permitted, the city and SDHC have worked with service providers to continue to increase capacities for

daily shelter use. Earlier this fall, 60 additional beds were opened at a city shelter operated by Alpha Project at 16th Street and Newton Avenue, and this week, Father Joe’s Village opened 35 additional beds at its Paul Mirable Center. The city continues to work with the county on following safe practices for virus prevention and regular testing at shelters. “The San Diego Housing Commission values and supports this essential collaboration among government agencies, service providers and faithbased organizations to bring these critical additional resources to San Diegans experiencing homelessness,” said SDHC President & CEO Richard C. Gentry. (SD Mayor’s Office Release) n

COVID-19 predictions...

PAGE 10 the Black Death of the 1890s, which killed more than 200 million across Europe and Asia, and the Spanish Flu of 1918 (U.S., UK, France, Germany), which infected more than half a billion people (nearly a third of the world population then) and possibly killed up to 100 million, the deadliest recorded pandemic in human history. How many more deaths are we waiting for before we do the right thing? * * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. * * *

The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health. * * * Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, a Health Advocate, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: philipSchua. com, FUN8888.com, Today, SPSAtoday.com; Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com.

STARFLEET Innotech, Inc. (Smokefree Innotec, Inc.) and biotech company NeuroSky signed an agreement earlier this month, awarding the asset management company distribution rights of NeuroSky’s state-of-the-art health and wellness monitoring devices. As part of SFIO’s broad campaign to build synergies across their core investment areas, the company plans to sell an initial batch of at least 100,000 wearables through partners in health, construction, education, and other related industries. NeuroSky is a Silicon Valley-based, private biotech company that specializes in electronic wearables such as watches, wrist bands, and headsets. Depending on the device, features include vital sign monitoring, symptom tracking for conditions such as viral infections, and brainwave tracking to help enhance one’s learning abilities. The agreement grants SFIO exclusive rights to sell NeuroSky products in New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates. SFIO also has non-exclusive distribution rights in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the United States, and other countries yet to be determined. Tapping their partners across health, construction, education, and similar industries, SFIO intends to position these wearables as a quantitative way to ensure community health in a post-pandemic world, focusing on the communities that have proven to be most vulnerable to communicable diseases.

As an initial project, SFIO will be rolling out these devices to retirement villages, where residents will be able to both monitor their wellbeing and automatically alert medical staff and loved ones with SOS notifications in case of health emergencies picked up by the wearables. Educators and researchers will also benefit from NeuroSky’s brainwave monitoring technologies. While initially designed to facilitate more data-driven meditation practices, these head-mounted wearables have scientifically proven use cases in improving performance in the classroom as well. For the first 18 months, SFIO aims to sell at least 100,000 units of NeuroSky’s wearables, including their flagship BioSense HR watch. SFIO expects this venture to generate $10 to $15 million in revenue. In addition to selling to enterprise partners, SFIO will also be making these devices available to interested buyers through e-commerce platforms like Amazon, and other commercial channels via sub-distributors. Beyond distribution, SFIO has larger plans to launch its own brand of health tracking wearables, with their in-house software development teams working alongside NeuroSky’s product designers and engineers. These new products will be manufactured by NeuroSky and will fall under a new “white label” brand currently being developed by SFIO.

(Advertising Supplement)

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