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DECEMBER 8-14, 2023 Volume 17 - No.9 • 16 Pages
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President Marcos vows to go after DATELINE USA terrorists behind Marawi bombing FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Desperate families search for affordable home care
IT’S a good day when Frank Lee, a retired chef, can slip out to the hardware store, fairly confident that his wife, Robin, is in the hands of reliable help. He spends nearly every hour of every day anxiously overseeing her care at their home on the Isle of Palms, a barrier island near Charleston, South Carolina. Robin Lee, 67, has had dementia for about a decade, but the couple was able to take overseas trips and enjoy their marriage of some 40 years until three years ago, when she grew more agitated, prone to sudden outbursts, and could no longer explain what she needed or wanted. He struggled to care for her largely on his own. “As Mom’s condition got more difficult to navigate, he was just handling it,” said Jesse
by CATHERINE S. VALENTE ManilaTimes.net
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed to go after foreign terrorists involved in the bombing attack at the Mindanao State
University (MSU) in Marawi City that killed at least four people last Sunday, December 3. The extremist group Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for the bombing, saying in a statement its fighters “detonated an explosive device on a large gathering of
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Pope sets prayers for blast victims by EVELYN MACAIRAN Philstar.com
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CHRISTMAS IN THE AIR. Holiday decors like miniature Christmas trees and lanterns attract shoppers in Pasay City on Monday, Dec. 4. The public is urged to report traders and vendors who do not follow the government’s suggested retail price and safety regulations. PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr. ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro and former President Rodrigo Duterte Inquirer.net photos
Christian disbelievers in Marawi City.” In a statement, the president said that the government is now working closely with the regional government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
MANILA — Pope Francis expressed his intention to pray for the victims of the bombing attack that occurred during a mass inside a university campus in Marawi City on Sunday, December 3. In @Pontifex, which serves as the pope’s official page on X, formerly Twitter, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church said that he is close to the people of Mindanao. “I wish to assure my prayer for the victims of the attack that occurred this (Sunday) morning in the Philippines, where a bomb exploded during mass. I am close to the families and the people of Mindanao, who have already suffered so much,” said the pontiff from his residences
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PH wins 4 major awards in Ex-President Duterte Reef in West Philippine Sea World Travel Awards 2023 skips preliminary probe Felipe the “illegal presence” of at F M L C least 111 Chinese ships on the of grave threats case reef located 324 kilometers Chinese militia ships swarm Julian by RANCES
ANGOSING Inquirer.net
MANILA — The preliminary investigation of the complaint of grave threats filed by ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro against former President Rodrigo Duterte was reset to Dec. 15 after he failed to appear before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office on Monday, December 4. Only his lawyers, Penrose Ann Valles and Kristia Lorraine Caringal, showed up and said they had yet to receive any complaint or subpoena against their client. They
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MANILA — At least 135 Chinese militia ships were seen “swarming” Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef in the West Philippine Sea during a patrol by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Saturday, December 2. Separate patrols carried out by the PCG and the Armed Forces of the Philippines in mid-November had observed
by UISA
ABATO Inquirer.net
(175 nautical miles) west of Bataraza, Palawan province, well within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). This prompted National Security Adviser Gen. Eduardo Año, who also chairs the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), to order another
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MANILA — The Philippines bagged four major tourism recognitions from the prestigious World Travel Awards (WTA) 2023, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said on Tuesday, December 5. According to the DOT, the country was once again named the World’s Leading Dive Destination and the World’s Leading Beach
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(From left) Department of Tourism (DOT) Undersecretary Shahlimar Hofer Tamano, World Travel Awards (WTA) President and Founder Graham Cooke, and DOT Assistant Secretary Rica Bueno hold the Philippines’ awards from the preeminent WTA in a ceremony held in Dubai on December 1. DOT photo
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From the Front Page
PH wins 4 major awards... PAGE 1 Destination, defending its 2022 titles. For the first time, the country was also conferred with the World’s Leading City Destination for its capital, Manila. The DOT added that the Philippines was also given the Global Tourism Resilience Award for demonstrating “global leadership, pioneering vision, and innovation to overcome critical challenges and adversity.” The country was one of the only five countries that received the award, the agency noted in a press release. The awarding ceremony was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on December 1. Other titles received by the Philippines in the WTA 2023 included the World’s Leading Dive Resort (Amanpulo), the World’s Leading Fully Integrated Resort (City of Dreams
Manila), and the World’s Leading Casino Resort (City of Dreams Manila), according to the WTA website. DOT Undersecretary Shahlimar Hofer Tamano and Assistant Secretary Maria Rica Bueno represented Tourism chief Christina Garcia Frasco during the event. In her message, Frasco said that receiving the Global Tourism Resilience Award was an affirmation of all the agency’s hard work in developing the nation’s tourism industry. “With these remarkable triumphs, the Philippines reinforces its position as an unparalleled destination, inviting travelers to explore our captivating shores, vibrant underwater realms, and dynamic urban landscapes as they immerse in our culture and heritage and create unforgettable memories with the distinct grace and hospitality of the Filipino people,” she said.
Meanwhile, in his speech, WTA president and founder Graham Cooke commended the Filipinos as the “main asset” of the country’s tourism industry. “The diversity, the opportunities with sustainability, the beautiful beach resorts, and now the diving [sic], amazing, the beaches, amazing. As I said, the main asset is the people, which a lot of countries in the world don’t have,” he said. “And it’s the people of the Philippines that make your tourism assets the most amazing. The work ethic, the happiness, the smile, and the hospitality that the Philippines have are global icons,” Cooke added. Dubbed the Oscars of the travel industry, WTA is a London-based award-giving body established in 1993. It recognizes excellence in travel and tourism on three levels: national, regional, and global awards in several categories. g
WELCOME HOME. Fifteen Dabawenyo students of the Mindanao State University in Marawi City return home to Davao City on Tuesday, Dec. 5. Task Force Davao chief Col. Darren Comia said the city government of Davao immediately acted to ensure the safety of the students after the Dec. 3 bomb explosion in the university that killed four and injured 43 people. PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.
President Marcos vows to go after... PAGE 1 and the concerned local government units for their swift response in what he called was the “latest assault on peace.” Marcos said he also instructed the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines “to ensure the protection and safety of civilians and the security of affected and vulnerable communities.” “I condemn in the strongest possible terms the senseless and most heinous acts perpetrated by foreign terrorists upon the Mindanao
State University (MSU) and Marawi communities. Extremists who wield violence against the innocent will always be regarded as enemies to our society,” he said in a statement. “Rest assured we will bring the perpetrators of this ruthless act to justice,” the president added. The president also extended his condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims, blaming foreign terrorists behind the bombing attack. “I extend my most heartfelt condolences to the victims,
their loved ones, and the communities that have been the target of this latest assault on peace. Government assistance to those impacted is ready and forthcoming,” he said. The president also called on the public to remain calm, circumspect and conscientious to ensure that the “horrific events” are not further compounded by inaccurate, unvetted, and unofficial information. “Let us all keep the victims, their families, and our communities in our prayers,” Marcos said. g
Pope sets prayers for blast... PAGE 1 in remarks broadcast in Saint Peter’s Square. Four people died and 45 people were hurt during the explosion at a morning Catholic mass at the Dimaporo Gymnasium of the Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City. According to Vatican News, the pope had sent a telegram to Marawi Bishop Edwin dela Peña, saying he is “deeply saddened to be informed of the injuries and loss of life caused by the bombing.” The message was reportedly signed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who said that the pontiff had asked Dela Peña to convey his “spiritual closeness” to all those who were affected by the tragedy.?“He joins you in commending the souls of those who died to Almighty God’s loving mercy and he implores the divine gifts of healing and consolation upon the injured and bereaved,” the telegram added. Pope Francis concluded his message with “prayers that Christ the Prince of Peace will grant to all the strength to turn from violence and overcome every evil with good,” and imparted his blessing “as a pledge of strength and consolation in the Lord.” Meanwhile, the Marawi prelature said in a statement posted on its Facebook page that the bombing incident was both “merciless and heartbreaking.” “The Prelature of St. Mary in Marawi strongly condemns any form of violence and terrorism. The incident that happened this morning was merciless and heartbreaking,”
it said. The prelature also requested the public to pray for the souls of those who died from the blast, as well as their families who were devastated because of the tragedy. Meanwhile, the United States and Israel condemned the “horrific” bombing during a Catholic service at the MSU gymnasium in Marawi. “The United States condemns in the strongest terms the horrific terrorist attack that occurred during a Catholic service,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement. “We mourn those killed in the attack and our thoughts are with the injured,” he said. The Israeli embassy in Manila condemned the “heinous act of terrorism” perpetrated at MSU. “Our hearts go out to the victims and their bereaved families, and we extend our deepest condolences and sympathy during this difficult time. We also pray for the swift recovery of those injured,” the embassy said in a statement, expressing solidarity with the Philippine government and Filipino people in face of this “despicable” terrorist attack. Australian Ambassador HK Yu said her country is deeply saddened by the violent attack at MSU. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims,” she said. German Ambassador Andreas Pfafferrnoschke said “Germany supports all efforts to bring those responsible for the attack to justice.” g
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Ex-President Duterte... Chinese militia ships swarm Julian... PAGE 1 were later given a copy of Castro’s complaint affidavit and supplemental complaint affidavit against Duterte. The lawmaker’s counsel, Rico Domingo, said they did not expect further delays, adding: “We’re not saying this is a delaying tactic, since what the lawyers said, we assume good faith there.” “Now, under Rule 112 of the Revised Penal Code… they have 10 days to respond to the criminal complaint and the supplemental complaint. There will be no delays there, there won’t be another extension,” Domingo said. Duterte had been asked to appear before the Quezon City prosecutor to submit his counter-affidavit in response to Castro’s complaint of grave threats based on the statements he made in his Oct. 11 “Gikan Sa Masa, Para sa Masa” program aired by Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI). He said that his daughter, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte, should be frank about the purpose of the confidential funds she was seeking for 2024 for her office and the Department of Education (DepEd). “But, the first target of your intelligence fund would be you, France, I want to kill all you communists,” the older Duterte added. Castro was among the opposition lawmakers who had opposed the younger Duterte’s request for confidential funds because her office and DepEd did not have specific mandates directly related to defense and national security. The lawmaker also filed a supplemental complaintaffidavit over the former president’s statements in the Nov. 16 episode of his program. “The grave threat of the accused toward Congresswoman Castro was continuous. You may recall
last Oct. 11, [Duterte] issued grave threats, and that was the subject matter of the [earlier] complaint-affidavit of congresswoman France Castro… The president continued his threats on Nov. 16, and that is what we captured here in the supplemental complaintaffidavit,” Domingo said. In her supplemental complaint-affidavit, Castro said Duterte had “called out my name and in between the Red-taggings, made the following utterances which… grimly and unrelentingly threatened my life, liberty and security and that of my family.” Domingo said the case against Duterte would be a “test of the prosecutorial system as well as the justice system.” “We will see what will be the result of this case. This is what Congresswoman France Castro is fighting for and we are joining her in this cause,” he added. Support The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and advocates from different sectors expressed their support for Castro on Monday with ACT Chair Vladimer Quetua saying that Duterte must be held accountable for his threatening statements. “The culture of killing and violation of human rights that have pervaded under his administration must stop … This is not the type of society that should be used and normalized in the minds of the youth and citizens,” he said. Quetua also urged the Department of Justice and the International Criminal Court to pursue “comprehensive investigations” into Duterte’s alleged crimes against the Filipino people, as he also demanded that the Marcos administration abolish SMNI and the government’s anticommunist task force. (by Gillian N. Villanueva/Inquirer. net)
MANILA QUAKE. Students rush out of Emilio Aguinaldo College in Manila on Tuesday, Dec. 5 after an earthquake. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said Lubang, Occidental Mindoro was the epicenter of the 5.9 earthquake at around 4:23 p.m., with Intensity IV (Moderately Strong) felt in Makati City, Quezon City, and Taguig City in Metro Manila. PNA photo by Yancy Lim
PAGE 1 maritime patrol in response to the “alarming development,” PCG spokesperson for West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said in a statement. The PCG’s BRP Sindangan and BRP Cabra challenged the Chinese ships on radio during a patrol on Saturday but they received no response. The ships were “dispersed and scattered” around the reef. Diplomatic protests Julian Felipe Reef is considered a low tide elevation within the territorial sea of relevant high tide features in the Kalayaan Island Group, including Chigua Reef, over which the Philippines has sovereignty, Tarriela said. Chinese militia vessels have been aiding China Coast Guard (CCG) ships in harassing Philippine boats on a resupply mission to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal. The Philippines first called attention to the “swarming”
‘ILLEGAL PRESENCE’ Chinese militia ships are “dispersed and scattered” in the area of Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef in the West Philippine Sea on Saturday, as shown in this photo by the Philippine Coast Guard.
on Julian Felipe Reef in 2021. At the time, China said the vessels were only taking shelter due to rough sea conditions. Several diplomatic protests have since been filed over the presence of Chinese ships in these waters. Use of water cannon Early last month, a Chinese vessel again used a water cannon to drive away a Philippine boat on a resupply mission to Philippine troops stationed in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal. However, the NTF-WPS
said the Chinese Coast Guard’s attempt to change the route of the militarycommissioned resupply vessel failed. “CCG vessel 5203 deployed water cannon against Philippine supply vessel ML Kalayaan in an illegal though unsuccessful attempt to force the latter to alter course,” the NTF-WPS said. It also said CCG vessels and suspected Chinese maritime militia ships “recklessly harassed, blocked, executed dangerous maneuvers in another attempt to illegally
impede or obstruct a routine resupply and rotation mission to BRP Sierra Madre.” Systematic harassment Last August, the CCG also used water cannon against PCG vessels escorting boats delivering supplies to BRP Sierra Madre, which was grounded on Ayungin Shoal in 1999 to assert Manila’s claim on the sandbank that is located about 194 km (105 nautical miles) from Palawan. The CCG had claimed that the Philippine vessels “trespassed” Ayungin Shoal even if the sandbank is well within the Philippines’ EEZ. The NTF-WPS has frequently condemned China’s “unprovoked acts” and described such behavior as “consistent” and “systematic.” “The systematic and consistent manner in which the People’s Republic of China carries out these illegal and irresponsible actions puts into question and significant doubt the sincerity of its calls for peaceful dialogue,” the task force said. g
Desperate families search for affordable...
PAGE 1 Lee, the youngest of the couple’s three adult children. “It was getting harder and harder. Something had to change, or they would both perish.” Frank Lee’s search for trustworthy home health aides — an experience that millions of American families face — has often been exhausting and infuriating, but he has persisted. He didn’t entirely trust the care his wife would get in an assisted living facility. Last August, when a respite program paid for her brief stay in one so Frank, 69, could take a trip to the mountains, she fell and fractured her sacrum, the bone that connects the spine to the pelvis. There is precious little assistance from the government for families who need a home health aide, unless they are poor. The people working in these jobs are often woefully underpaid and unprepared to help a frail, older person with dementia bathe and use the bathroom, or to defuse an angry outburst. Usually, it is family that steps into the breach — grown children who cobble together a fragile chain of visitors to help an ailing father; a middle-aged daughter who returns to her childhood bedroom; a son-in-law working from home who keeps a watchful eye on a confused parent; a wife who can barely manage herself looking after a faltering husband. Frank Lee finally found two aides on his own, with no help from an agency. Using the proceeds from the sale of his stake in a group of restaurants, including the popular Charleston bistro Slightly North of Broad, he pays them
the going rate of about $30 an hour. Between his wife’s care and medical expenses, he estimates he’s spending between $80,000 and $100,000 a year. “Who the hell can afford this?” he asked. “There’s no relief for families unless they have great wealth or see their wealth sucked away.” He worries that he will run out of money and be forced to sell their home of more than three decades. “Funds aren’t unlimited,” he said. Credited with emphasizing local ingredients and mentoring young chefs in Charleston, Lee retired in 2016, a few years after his wife’s diagnosis. In an interview at the time, he said, “My wife has given up her life to help me in my career, and now I need to pay attention to her.” In 2020, he contacted a half-dozen home care agencies. Some couldn’t fill the position. Others sent aides who were quickly overwhelmed by his wife’s behavior. Doctors told the family they believed she has frontotemporal dementia, which appeared to affect her language and how she behaved. One woman seemed promising, only to quit after a week or two. “We never saw her again,” Lee said. He tried a friend of the family for a time, but she left when her grandmother developed liver cancer. “It was the whole year of going through different caregivers,” said son Jesse. Finally, Frank found two women to help. One of them, Ronnie Smalls, has more than a dozen years of experience and is trained in dementia care. She has developed a rapport with Robin, who
seems reassured by a quick touch. “We have a really good bond,” Smalls said. “I know her language, her expression.” One day at the Lees’ cozy one-story house, decorated with furniture made by Robin, and with a yard overflowing with greenery, Smalls fed her lunch at the kitchen table with her husband and daughter. Robin seemed to enjoy the company, murmuring in response to the conversation. At other times, she seemed oblivious to the people around her. She can no longer walk on her own. Two people are often needed to help her get up from a chair or go to the bathroom, transitions she often finds upsetting. A day without an aide — out because of illness or a family emergency — frays the tenuous links that hold the couple’s life together. Lee said his wife barely resembles the woman he married, the one who loved hiking, skiing, and gardening, and who started a neighborhood preschool while raising their three children. A voracious reader, she is now largely silent, staring into space. The prognosis is bleak, with doctors offering little to hang onto. “What’s the end game look like?” Lee asks, wondering if it would be better if his wife had the right to die rather than slowly disappear before his eyes. “As she disintegrates, I disintegrate,” he said. She recently qualified for hospice care, which will involve weekly visits from a nurse and a certified nursing assistant paid under Medicare. Charleston is flush with retirees attracted by its low taxes and a warm climate, and it boasts of ways to care
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OPINION
FEATURES
No end to armed violence
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WHILE security forces confront renewed terrorist activities in Mindanao, armed violence continues to undermine other aspects of life in the country. Over a month since the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, killings related to BSKE political rivalries continue. In the first two days of December, two barangay captains have been shot dead, one in President Marcos’ home province Ilocos Norte and the other in Zamboanga del Sur. Helen Abrigado, who was reelected as captain of Barangay Ferdinand in Marcos town, had just attended a lantern parade on Dec. 1 and was on her way home with companions in a government van when they were waylaid by two men on a motorcycle. She died from multiple gunshot wounds. The next morning in Zamboanga del Sur, Jerry Olaier was walking in Guipos town, where he is the newly elected captain of Barangay Poblacion, when two men shot him. Relatives told probers that Olaier was planning to vie for the presidency of Poblacion’s association of barangay captains. After several postponements, the BSKE finally pushed through last October, thanks
Editorial
to two. People thought the shortened term would discourage BSK candidates from eliminating their rivals through murder. They thought wrong: deadly armed violence marred the BSKE long before the start of the official campaign period until past election day. Abrigado and Olaier were just the latest victims of violence believed related to village political rivalries. This can be established only with the arrest of the perpetrators – both the brains and the triggermen, who could be
SINCE Rodrigo Duterte pulled the Philippines out of the International Criminal Court without Senate concurrence, President Marcos can reverse it also without the Senate’s nod, according to proponents of the country’s return to the ICC.
ManilaTimes.net photo
hired guns. The killings also highlight once again the need for tighter gun control. Even nonpoliticians are being murdered – in their homes, on the streets and in public buses. Authorities must also draw up measures that can minimize the use of motorcycles in criminal activities. On Dec. 1, an employee
of an electric cooperative was shot dead and his companion wounded by two men on a motorcycle in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi. Probers said the two men were attacked as they were about to disconnect the power line of a household whose unpaid bills had accumulated. Obviously, keeping the public safe needs greater effort. (Philstar.com)
Cooperation with ICC
Sketches
ANA MARIE PAMINTUAN
to the Supreme Court. While allowing the polls to push through on that date instead of much earlier, the SC cut short the term of the current BSK officials from three years
If Marcos is worried about sovereignty issues, will he at least allow some form of cooperation with the ICC? This is the suggestion in the resolution filed in the House of Representatives. For the Marcos administration, cooperation can take various forms, without looking like it is compromising national sovereignty. For example, it can facilitate contacts between ICC probers and witnesses including relatives
of those killed. The witnesses can include law enforcers who directly participated in the police operations that left over 6,200 people dead. Justice officials said they have heard of such cops, and have encouraged them to come out. But so far, no one has done so, despite the promise of state protection. Perhaps such cops may be willing to talk with ICC prosecutors overseas. The same is true for civilian witnesses.
Cooperation can also involve allowing ICC probers to conduct interviews, obtain documents and gather other evidence in the Philippines, although not in an official legal setting; the ICC cannot operate like a separate court in this country. Last week, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said ICC probers could enter the Philippines to gather documents or interview persons, although a formal probe and “legal activities”
cannot be conducted. Guevarra said that under the law, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and its mother agency the Department of Justice (DOJ) have the discretion to “admit or not admit a certain person who they may consider as undesirable.” * * * As of last Friday, December 1 the BI spokesperson said ICC probers were free to enter the Philippines, in the absence of an order from the
courts or higher authorities to bar their entry. Vice President Sara Duterte has formally asked the DOJ not to cooperate in the ICC investigation of drug war killings that occurred during her father’s watch as president from July 2016 to March 16, 2019, and from 2011 to 2016 when he was mayor or vice mayor of Davao City. As mayor when her father was vice mayor, the VP PAGE 10
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Dateline PhiliPPines
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Marcos tests positive for COVID-19 by Catherine S. Valente ManilaTimes.net
MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has tested positive for COVID-19, Malacañang confirmed on Tuesday, December 5. Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said Marcos will be in isolation for five days, but he will continue to conduct online meetings. “The president remains fit to carry out his duties and will be continuing his scheduled meetings via teleconference,” she added. The Palace official said that updates on his health will be provided as available. “During this holiday season, President Marcos encourages the public to take precautions to safeguard their health, such
as vaccinating and voluntary mask-wearing when entering crowded places,” Garafil said. This is the third time the president has contracted COVID-19. He last tested positive for the disease in July 2020. His first bout with COVID-19 was in March 2020 during the height of the pandemic. Meanwhile, Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri on Tuesday said senators who were diagnosed with COVID-19 can virtually attend Senate sessions and committee hearings. Zubiri made the statement amid reports of soaring respiratory cases in the country, and after Sen. Cynthia Villar admitted that she contracted COVID last week. “Under our rules, we have suspended the online session to go back to face-to-face [sessions], however, we agreed to exempt members with COVID,” the Senate chief said. g
ENOUGH SUPPLY. Supplies of poultry, livestock, and eggs are sufficient for the holidays, the Department of Agriculture 11 (Davao Region) assured on Tuesday, Dec. 5. The department, however, is expecting a slight increase in the prices of basic commodities as the holidays approach. PNA photos by Robinson Niñal Jr.
Bello asks SC Marcos study of Philippines rejoining ICC backed to declare libel, cyberlibel laws void by CeCille Suerte Felipe Philstar.com
MANILA — Five years after the country’s withdrawal during the previous administration, Sen. Francis Escudero supported the decision of President Marcos to thoroughly study calls for the Philippines to rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC). Escudero agreed with the president that the government should look into the matter to ensure the country will not be at a disadvantage just like in some treaties.
“For me, what the president said is correct, that it should be carefully studied, because we have entered into treaties where we are the ones who always pay and we are the ones who suffer,” he said in Filipino in a radio interview over the weekend. Escudero cited as an example the Philippines’ accession to Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an intergovernmental organization that was established in 1989 on the initiative of the G7 to develop policies to combat money laundering.
“It’s just like the FATF, we joined that and that’s why we’re the ones being blacklisted. Malaysia did not join, so no matter what they do, they will not be blacklisted,” he said. As of 2022, the FATF has retained the Philippines in its “gray list,” citing its alleged failure to resolve “strategic inadequacies in countering money laundering, terrorist and proliferation financing.” “So this ICC should also be studied by the president. What will our country benefit from if we rejoin?” Escudero said. He expressed hope that
should the chief executive finally let the country rejoin the ICC, the basis will be a product of a well-studied decision that will benefit the country, and not certain political interests. “I hope it’s not political, I hope the reason for our re-entering the ICC is not personal. That should be explained thoroughly by the executive branch,” Escudero said. In the event of the country’s return to the ICC, Escudero said the Senate may either issue a concurrence or a resolution supporting the move of President Marcos. g
Desperate families search for affordable... PAGE 4 for them with large for-profit home health chains and a scattering of small agencies. But many families in Charleston and across the nation can’t find the help they need. And when they do, it’s often spotty and far more expensive than they can afford. Most Americans want to remain in their own homes, living independently, for as long as possible. They want to avoid nursing homes, which they see as providing poor care, polls have found. And the ranks of older people who need such help will grow. By 2030, 1 in 5 Americans will be at least 65 as millions in the baby boomer generation retire. In dozens of interviews, families described a desperate and sometimes fruitless search for aides to help loved ones with simple tasks on a predictable schedule at an hourly rate they can afford. Roughly 8 million people 65 and older had dementia or needed help with two or more activities of basic daily life, like getting out of bed, according to an analysis of a federally funded survey of older Americans by KFF Health News
and The New York Times. Only a million received paid help outside of a nursing home, and nearly 3 million had no help at all. Most families can’t afford what agencies charge — about $27 an hour, according to Genworth, a long-term care insurance company. So, many take their chances on untrained caregivers found through word-of-mouth, Craigslist, or other resources. A scarcity of workers One of the main obstacles to finding paid help is the chronic shortage of workers. Some 3.7 million people had jobs as aides in home health or personal care in 2022, with half of them earning less than $30,000 year, or $14.51 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The number of people needed is expected to increase by more than 20% over the next decade. But the working conditions are hard, the pay is usually bad, and the hours are inconsistent. About 3 million people are working in private homes, according to a 2023 analysis by PHI, a nonprofit that studies and acts as an advocate for the
workforce, although official estimates may not count many workers paid off the books or hired outside of an agency by a family. Eighty-five percent of home care workers are women, two-thirds are people of color, and roughly a third are immigrants. The pay is often so low that more than half qualify for public assistance like food stamps or Medicaid. Dawn Geisler, 53, has made only $10 an hour working as a home health aide in the Charleston area for the past four years, without ever getting a raise. She declined to name the agency that employs her because she doesn’t want to lose her job. Geisler discovered she liked the work after caring for her mother. Unlike an office job, “every day is just a little bit different,” she said. She now juggles two clients. She might accompany one to the doctor and keep the other one company. “I’m taking care of them like they were my own family,” she said. The agency provides no guarantee of work and doesn’t always tell her what to expect when she walks through the door, except to say someone has Alzheimer’s PAGE 10
MANILA — Erstwhile vice-presidential candidate Walden Bello on Tuesday, December 5 filed a petition before the Supreme Court (SC) asking the tribunal to void the country’s laws on criminal cyberlibel. In his petition, the 76-year-old sociologist who was arrested in August last year following libel charges filed against him by a former senior aide of Vice President Sara Duterte, asked the high court to declare Art. 353 to 355 on libel under the Revised Penal Code unconstitutional as well as Sec. 4(c)(4) of RA 10175 on cyberlibel. Bello claims that these laws are unconstitutional and in violation of the Bill of Rights . “(T)he growing number of libel and cyberlibel cases aimed at persecuting perceived enemies of the state and suppressing dissent against the government or the powers-that-be necessitate a reexamination of the validity of these libel statues,” Bello said in his petition. The libel charges against Bello before the Davao regional trial court (RTC Br. 10) are linked to statements he allegedly made during the election campaign about a reported drug raid on a beach party in Davao province that was attended by Duterte’s former aide, Jefry Tupas. Tupas later filed libel and cyberlibel charges against Bello . Elements of cyberlibel, based on Section 4(c)(4) of
R.A. 10175, in relation to Articles 353 and 355 of the Revised Penal Code: a. There must be an imputation of a crime, or of a vice or defect, real or imaginary, or any act, omission, condition, status, or circumstance. b. The imputation must be made publicly, which requires that at least one other person must have seen the libelous post, in addition to the author and the person defamed or alluded to in the post. c. The imputation must be malicious, which means that the author of the libelous post made such a post with knowledge that it was false, or with reckless disregard as to the truth or falsity thereof. (Yuchengco vs. The Manila Chronicle Publishing Corporation, G.R. No. 184315, 25 November 2009.) d. The imputation must be directed at a natural or juridical person, or one who is dead, which requires that the post must identify the person defamed, or at the very least, the person defamed is identifiable by a third person. e. The imputation must tend to cause the dishonor, discredit or contempt of the person defamed. (Reyes, Luis B., Revised Penal Code, Fifteenth Edition, 2001, page 932.) f. The imputation was done through the use of a computer system or any other similar means which may be devised in the future. (Sec. 4(c)(4) of R.A. 10175). (PNA)
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Desperate families search for... PAGE 7 or is in a wheelchair. Her supervisors often fail to let her know if her client goes to the hospital, so families know to call her cellphone. She has waited weeks for a new assignment without getting paid a penny. She herself has no health insurance and sometimes relies on food banks to put meals on the table. “I’m not making enough to pay all the bills I have,” said Geisler, who joined an advocacy group called the Fight for $15, which is pushing to raise the minimum wage in South Carolina and across the country. When her car broke down, she couldn’t afford to get it fixed. Instead, she walked to work or borrowed her fiancé’s bicycle. Most home health agencies nationwide are for-profit and are often criticized for ignoring the needs of workers in favor of the bottom line. “The business models are based on cheap labor,” said Robyn Stone, senior vice president of research for LeadingAge, which represents nonprofit agencies. The industry has historically tolerated high turnover but now can’t attract enough workers in a strong, competitive job market. “I think there has been a rude awakening for a lot of these companies,” she said. Many agencies have also refused to pay overtime or travel costs between jobs, and many have been accused of wage theft in lawsuits filed by home care workers or have been sanctioned by state and federal agencies. Medicaid, the federal-state program that provides health care for the poor, is supposed to provide home aides but faces shortages of workers at the rates it pays workers. At least 20 states pay less than $20 an hour for a personal care aide, according to a recent state survey by KFF. Aides are often paid less under Medicaid than if they care for someone paying privately. With low pay and few benefits, many people would rather work the checkout line in a supermarket or at a fastfood chain than take on the emotionally demanding job of caring for an older person, said Ashlee Pittmann, the chief executive of Interim HealthCare of Charleston, a home health agency. She said that she recently raised wages by $2 an hour and had
had more success keeping employees, but that she still worried that “we may not be able to compete with some larger companies.” The Biden administration failed to obtain an additional $400 billion from Congress for home- and community-based services to shift emphasis away from institutional care. President Joe Biden signed an executive order this year to encourage some reforms, and federal officials have proposed requiring home health agencies to spend 80 cents of every government dollar on paying workers under Medicaid. But so far, little has changed. Falling through the ‘doughnut hole‘ Long-term care coverage for most Americans is a yawning gap in government programs. And the chasm is widening as more Americans age into their 70s, 80s, and 90s. The government’s main program for people 65 and older is Medicare, but it pays for a home aide only when a medical condition, like recovery from a stroke, has made a person eligible for a nurse or therapist to come to the home. And the aide is usually short-term. Medicare doesn’t cover long-term care. Medicaid, which does pay for long-term care at home, is limited to serving the poor or those who can demonstrate they have hardly any assets. But, again, the worker shortage is so pervasive that waiting lists for aides are years long, leaving many people without any option except a nursing home. So millions of Americans keep trying to hang in and stay home as long as they can. They’re not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid, but they can’t afford to hire someone privately. Many fall through what April Abel, a former home health nurse from Roper St. Francis Healthcare in Charleston, described as “the doughnut hole.” “I feel so bad for them because they don’t have the support system they need,” she said. She tried fruitlessly for months to find help for Joanne Ganaway, 79 and in poor health, from charities or state programs while she visited her at home. Ganaway had trouble seeing because of a tear in her retina and was often confused about her medications, but the small pension she had earned after
working nearly 20 years as a state employee made her ineligible for Medicaidsponsored home care. So Ganaway, who rarely leaves her house, relies on friends or family to get to the doctor or the store. She spends most of her day in a chair in the living room. “It has been difficult for me, to be honest,” she said. Turning to respite services With no hope of steady help, there is little left to offer overstretched wives, husbands, sons, and daughters other than a brief respite. The Biden administration has embraced the idea of respite services under Medicare, including a pilot program for the families of dementia patients that will begin in 2024. One nonprofit, Respite Care Charleston, provides weekday drop-off sessions for people with dementia for almost four hours a day. Lee’s wife went for a couple of years, and he still makes use of the center’s support groups, where caregivers talk about the strain of watching over a loved one’s decline. On any given morning, nearly a dozen people with dementia gather around a table. Two staff members and a few volunteers work with the group as they play word games, banter, bat balls around, or send a small plastic jumping frog across the table. Their visits cost $50 a session, including lunch, and the organization’s brief hours keep it under the minimum state requirements for licensing. “We’re not going to turn someone away,” Sara Perry, the group’s executive director, said. “We have some folks who pay nothing.” The service is a godsend, families say. Parkinson’s disease and a stroke have left Dottie Fulmer’s boyfriend, Martyn Howse, mentally and physically incapacitated, but he enjoys the sessions. “Respite Care Charleston has been a real key to his keeping going,” she said, “to both of us, quite frankly, continuing to survive.” (Reed Abelson/KFF Health News) KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.
DIGNIFIED LIFE. Richard Arceño, administrator of the Livelihood Education and Rehabilitation Center, talks about the significance of providing training and support to persons with disabilities to help them lead an independent life during the observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities at Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium in Caloocan City on Monday, Dec. 4. The annual observance was proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly to promote an understanding of disability issues and gather support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler
Cooperation with ICC... PAGE 5 is reportedly included in the ICC probe of killings attributed to so-called death squads in the city, along with Duterte’s chief tokhang enforcer Ronald dela Rosa, now a senator. Dela Rosa said he raised the ICC issue with President Marcos during a dinner at Malacañang last week hosted by the First Couple for senators. It’s unclear if the ICC was the main course in the dinner agenda. Both the DOJ and BI are waiting for word from the top, as Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has indicated. President Marcos, who had previously said the country “is done talking” with the ICC, recently said the government is studying its options and the possibility of the country rejoining the court is “under study.” Remulla himself, who had initially taken a hardline stance against the ICC probe, said on Nov. 21 that the House resolution needed “serious study” since the Philippines has withdrawn from the Rome Statute. * * * House resolution 1477 was filed by the chair of the committee on human rights, Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante, and 1-Rider party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez. It urges the government to extend “full cooperation” to the ICC in its probe of Rome Statute crimes. These include genocide and murder as a crime against humanity – the offense that the ICC believes was committed in Duterte’s bloody crackdown on drug suspects. The ICC maintains that it has jurisdiction over all offenses committed while a state was a party to the Rome Statute. Even after withdrawing as a member, a state must still cooperate with the ICC, according to Article 127 of the Rome Statute: “A State shall not be discharged, by reason of its withdrawal, from the obligations arising from this Statute while it was a Party to the Statute, including any financial obligations which may have accrued. Its withdrawal shall not affect any cooperation with the Court in connection with criminal investigations and proceedings in relation to which the withdrawing State had a duty to cooperate and which were commenced prior to the date on which the withdrawal became effective, nor shall it prejudice in any way the continued consideration of any matter which was already under consideration by the Court prior to the date on which the withdrawal became effective.” VP Sara has cited her father’s argument that the ICC lost jurisdiction over the
Philippines upon the effectivity of the country’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute on March 17, 2019, which preceded the start of the ICC’s investigation in 2021. It’s BBM’s call. It’s not lost on anyone that the administration had a change of heart on the issue amid the run-ins between VP Sara and Marcos’ cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez. Rodrigo Duterte came to his daughter’s defense, with his harangues ostensibly directed at the Speaker. But manure upon hitting the fan tends to fly in all directions, with some of it landing on President Marcos. * * * Now look at what’s in the crosshairs of the House: Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), home of Duterte’s TV talk show and current bully pulpit against the House and its speaker. Apart from the threat of the TV station suffering the fate of ABS-CBN, SMNI founder Apollo Quiboloy could finally find himself handed over by the Philippine government to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, which lists him among its most wanted persons for sex trafficking including of children, fraud, coercion and bulk smuggling. SMNI has long been the subject of complaints from persons and groups tagged on its shows as communists or sympathizers. Yet the station drew the House attention only after an anchor made a comment indicating that the speaker had incurred P1.8 billion in travel expenses. The anchor has since apologized and admitted that the information – denied by the House – was unverified. Unlike the print medium, broadcast franchises are covered by stringent rules, and journalists are held by ethical standards to avoid licentious exercise of press freedom. Still, the issue has raised concern over threats to freedom of expression through the abuse of the House power to issue broadcasting franchises. SMNI critics, on the other hand, see the controversy as an opportunity, in our dysfunctional democracy, to promote the responsible exercise of freedom of expression, and perhaps to give justice to victims of sex trafficking. A similar opportunity for justice is being seen in the move to cooperate with the ICC. (Philstar.com) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
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COMMUNITY JOURNAL
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Atty. Gurfinkel answers more immigration questions from Kapamilya in Woodside, New York, on Citizen Pinoy LEADING U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel returns to Kabayan Bistro at Little Manila along Roosevelt Avenue in Woodside, New York, to answer more questions from our Kapamilya. • When Aurora became a U.S. citizen, she petitioned her two sons, who were already over 21 years old. She wants to know how long they must wait for their
visas. • Ed has been a green card holder for more than 40 years. He wants to know what he needs to do to bring his grandchild to the U.S. • Rose petitioned her son in 2009. According to the National Visa Center (NVC), her son is in line for his medical and PAGE 12
The cellphone-cancer debate Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS
THE controversy about the increased risk of brain cancer and other health concerns among avid users of cellular phone is upon us once again. The internet is flooded with claims and counterclaims, and some
misinformation. In this column in May 2000, we wrote about the reported “possible” adverse health effects of the frequent and prolonged use of cellular phone. PAGE 12
KAPAMILYA IN WOODSIDE, QUEENS, NEW YORK, GET ANSWERS TO THEIR IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS FROM LEADING U.S. IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL ON PART 2 OF ‘YOUR TANONG, MY SAGOT.’ Atty. Gurfinkel (right) answers the following questions – From Rose (left): I petitioned my son in 2009. The National Visa Center (NVC) says he is in line for his medical and visa interview. Can I now include my grandchildren in my petition?; From Ed (2nd from left): I have been a green card holder for over 40 years now. How can I bring my grandchild to the U.S.?; From Aurora (3rd from left): When I became a U.S. citizen, I petitioned my two sons, who were already over 21 years old. How long do we have to wait for their visas? Stay tuned for the answers to these questions and more from Kapamilya in Woodside, Queens, New York, on Part 2 of “Your Tanong, My Sagot” on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, December 10 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. (Advertising Supplement)
12 DECEMBER 8-14, 2023 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
The cellphone-cancer...
PAGE 11 Following are excerpts from that article, which are still current technical/medical information: Is the use of cellular phone safe? So far, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention says that “no scientific evidence definitively answers whether cell phone use causes cancer.” While there are some concerns that the use of cellular phones might be harmful to the users, the final word has not been said yet. There are medical investigations currently going on to find out if there are any health risks (besides psychological) associated with the use of cellular phones. What is the current theory? It is postulated, but not scientifically confirmed, that the frequent and extended use of a cellular phone (where the phone is right at the user’s cheek, the earpiece smack against the ear) might be associated with increased incidence of brain cancer. As I have stated, this has not been proven yet. Clinical studies are underway around the world. How could these phones cause harm? The cellular phone antenna is the “probable culprit” in this unconfirmed medical suspicion. It is theorized that the antenna, which receives electromagnetic waves (EMW) or signals, transmits the same EMW to the brain of the person using the cellular phone (since the unit is in close proximity to the brain), and that these EMW might explain the suspected increase in the incidence of brain cancer among chronic users. Whether this observation is valid or not, we still do not know for sure, but it is only prudent for cellular phone users to take some precautions. Is one phone worse than the other? The ones which are with dual band (1800 MHz) are said to be worse than the regular ones with only 900 MHz. Obviously, there are other factors, like length of exposure and proximity of the cellular phone to the brain, etc. What other illness can cellular phone use cause? The other condition often mentioned is leukemia. Again, we would like to emphasize that we do not have scientific data to support this suspicion at this time. Are microwave ovens safe? The normal use of microwave ovens is safe, provided the protective shield is not broken. However, we caution users not to bring their face near the oven door while the oven is on, because the microwaves can harm the eyes by causing premature cataracts. A leaking microwave oven can also affect (inhibit) cardiac pacemakers. When the microwave oven is on, it is best stay at least 5 feet away from it. How about television sets? Since television sets or computer monitors also emit some electromagnetic radiation, it is advisable not to go too close to the TV or monitor. The fact that medical science does not have any evidence that these EMW are harmful does not mean they are totally safe. It is best to be cautious and view the television at least 5 feet away from you. Does cellular phone use cause infertility? There is no factual basis for this concern. We do not have any reason to believe that infertility or impotence or cancer of the
testes (balls) can be caused by the use of cellular phones, or having one in a holster by the hip or in a purse. What is the public to do? Since there are serious medical concerns raised about the safety of the frequent use of the cellular phone in spite of numerous initial studies that showed, in particular, that there “is no increased risk of brain cancer among cell phone users,” the public finds itself in the middle of this medical debate, while waiting for the final confirmatory studies. There is no question that the cell phone is one of the most wonderful devices ever invented and one that is most vital in today’s world, in business as well as for family and personal use. It is here to stay, like all the other electronic gadgets and apps that make life easier, more comfortable, more secure, more efficient, and more productive for the majority of the people around the globe. While the medical controversy rages on, it is prudent for everyone using a cell phone to use the commonsense approach to the situation at hand. If our tap water were suspected to be contaminated, what would we do? We would surely boil it properly or use bottled water instead. In other words, we would take the necessary precautions, on the basis of the suspicion, even before a pending bacterial culture analysis is obtained or even without a definite proof as yet. It’s better to be safe than sorry later. Some precautionary measures we can take are: (1) Limit our use of the cell phone to necessary calls only, and as briefly as possible; (2) Use text messaging, instead, especially for children; and (3) For all calls, use hands-free bluetooth devices. All these precautions we are taking is to ensure our safety, health, and longevity. In one of my lectures about healthy lifestyle and life span, this was the message in my last slide: But, if you want to meet God sooner, text and drive! Let us enjoy our cell phone safely and wisely. It is a fabulous friend. *** 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. *** 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. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He was a recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995, conferred by then Indiana Governor, later Senator, and then presidential candidate, Evan Bayh. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry Truman, President George HW Bush, Muhammad Ali, and Astronaut Gus Grissom (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua. com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.
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Dante Basco, Paolo Montalban on Hollywood representation, working with KC Concepcion By Marinel Cruz Inquirer.net
“KC is a real-life Disney princess,” said Filipino American actor Paolo Montalban as a way to describe KC Concepcion, his leading lady in the Hollywood indie movie “Asian Persuasion.” “On camera, have you seen her skin? She’s flawless. But I think that’s because of her inner beauty. Also, everyone in this country knows this—she’s an incredibly hard worker,” the US-based actor told reporters during the special screening of the romantic comedy film at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City. “KC is super hard on herself. She always came to the set prepared. She was always asking what we needed from her, too. KC is really top-tier.” In “Asian Persuasion,” KC worked alongside another Filipino-American actor, Dante Basco, under the direction of Tony and Grammy winner Jhett Tolentino. It is the story of a down-on-hisluck chef, Mickey (Dante), who cooks up a crazy scheme to marry off his ex-wife, Avery (KC), by setting up a fake internet dating profile in an attempt to find her a suitor to remarry in order to avoid his substantial alimony obligations. With the help of Lee (Paolo Montalban), Mickey gets off to a hot start, until he realizes that he wants
Paolo Montalban (left) and KC Concepcion
Dante Basco
a second chance with Avery. The romantic comedy premiered at the 2023 Soho International Film Festival in New York in September. It has been screening in local theaters nationwide since Nov. 29. ‘Very loving’ When it was Dante’s turn to recall how he bonded
with KC, he said: “I knew her through the social scene here in Manila. I told her how I remember meeting her mother for the first time at a restaurant some 20 years ago. An entourage came into the restaurant. There’s a woman in the middle and I asked, ‘Who’s that?’ ‘That’s Sharon PAGE 13
Atty. Gurfinkel answers more... PAGE 11 visa interview. Rose wants to know if she can include her many new grandchildren in her petition for her son. Atty. Gurfinkel answers these questions in the second
Aurora (left) with Atty. Gurfinkel
installment of “Your Tanong, My Sagot” in Woodside in Queens, New York. Watch this encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, December 10 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET through select
Ed (left) with Atty. Gurfinkel
Cable/Satellite providers), right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app. (Advertising Supplement)
Rose (left) with Atty. Gurfinkel
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Anne next Filipino to become Madame Tussauds wax figure
Anne Curtis for Madame Tussauds Photo from Instagram/@annecurtissmith
KAPAMILYA host-actress Anne Curtis is going to have a wax figure at Madame Tussauds! Anne confirmed the news by sharing on her social media platforms that the Hong Kong branch of Madame Tussauds will feature a wax figure of her. “Just in case hindi kayo makauwi sa birthday ko. Ito na. Kidding. Hahaha!
Stay tuned! Another dream ANNE-locked!” Anne said of the historic moment. Madame Tussauds Hong Kong is also where the other three wax figures of Filipinos are located: boxing legend Manny Pacquiao and Miss Universe winners Pia Wurtzbach and Catriona Gray. Anne’s figure will be located in the branch’s
Glamour Zone surrounded by the likenesses of bigshot celebrities Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, and Chris Hemsworth. “I’m so happy it came at the right time,” said Anne, who is celebrating her silver anniversary in showbiz this 2023. “It truly is an honor. To have this dream come PAGE 15
Dante Basco, Paolo Montalban on... PAGE 12 Cuneta,’ I was told. While I was recalling this to KC, I told her, ‘She summoned me!’ When I was there, she said, ‘So you’re the Fil-Am?’ I said, ‘I guess I am the Fil-Am.’ She was really sweet,” he began. “KC has always just been very loving. When I finally got to work with her, she was great. She came to shoot in New York. She was respectful with how we do things. We would have conversations about how you do it here in the Philippines as opposed to how we do it in the United States. We got great rapport, but her scenes were mostly with Paolo,” said Dante, who we remember for his portrayals in the fantasy-adventure flick “Hook” and the indie drama “The Debut.”KoreanAmerican actor Kevin Kreider, who plays Mickey’s friend Caspian, only had good words for KC, too. “I actually knew KC before I knew that we would be working together. This was when we were in LA (Los Angeles), and we would bump into each other. I later found out that she’s a big star here in the Philippines. She was never a show-off like most people in the States. She didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. I think she just wanted to show her own identity,” said Kevin, who, as Caspian, helped Mickey craft the plan to remarry Avery.“I knew she came from a family of actors, so I thought it would be interesting to work with her. She probably felt that she had big shoes to
EMPLOYMENT
fill—I felt that from her,” Kevin said of KC, who is Sharon’s daughter with actor Gabby Concepcion. “She’s an awesome talent to work with. She made me feel very comfortable on the set.” When asked to share their views on Filipino representation in Hollywood, Dante began by recalling what it was like for him when he started working in the late 1990s. “Representation has been a hot word in Hollywood for a long time now. Of course, for me and Paolo, representation back then was just us being in films, which is important for that particular generation. How it has changed since is the amazing thing,” he began. “As Asians in Hollywood, we’re at the highest profile we have been in the history of Hollywood. This is phenomenal. Back then, every role that we played, and 90 percent of what was written in Hollywood, was written by straight white men. To be part of projects that are of our words and direction, that’s true representation. Conversations in Hollywood now are conversations of us as Filipinos, as African-Americans, as Latinos, with us telling our stories. There’s no way that white men can tell our stories the same way we can. That’s the new representation. The conversation of art through our own views and words.” Multicultural cast Paolo, who agrees with Dante, added: “I feel very fortunate to be a part of a high-profile movie like this one that
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has a multicultural cast in it. What we see today, insofar as representation is that it doesn’t necessarily have to have a multicultural cast. You can have a cast full of Asians come up with an incredibly entertaining experience. So I’m really hopeful about the future and grateful for today, and I’m inspired by people who say they’ve been inspired by the work that Dante and I have done in the past. It’s just a really beautiful cycle,” he declared. The press conference was also attended by FIlipino comedian-singer Fe delos Reyes, American actress Geneva Carr and Filipino-Chinese Mike Ang, who wrote the screenplay. A number of Filipino actors had cameo performances in the film including Apl.de.ap, Rachel Alejandro, Tony Labrusca and Yam Concepcion. Jhett, who also coproduced the film with Mike, explained that this was a “calculated move.” “Mike and I believe that we have to provide opportunities to our actors from here,” Jhett pointed out. “Rachel now has her membership card from the SAGAFTRA (Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) because of ‘Asian Persuasion.’ You can only apply for it if you’ve worked on a film under the SAG-AFTRA. Providing those spots for actors who have never been in a SAG-AFTRA film was calculated. We thought about those actors from the beginning.” g
Jayda
Inquirer.net photo by Armin P. Adina
Jayda’s Christmas wish: A collab with Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran By Armin P. AdinA Inquirer.net
SINGER-ACTRESS Jayda will be spending the holidays in the country with her celebrity parents, Dingdong Avanzado and Jessa Zaragoza, unlike last year when the family celebrated in the United States. And if there’s one wish she would like to make this Christmas, it would be to collaborate with two of her musical influences. “I would have to say Taylor Swift. She’s, like, my biggest influence of all time. I love Ed Sheeran, as well. Like, I think, those are two of my, you know, biggest influences as a singer-songwriter myself,” she told INQUIRER.net at the sidelines of a marketing brand last Nov. 30. And for Jayda, this may not be too far-fetched now that she just signed up with a new label, Republic Records Philippines. “So, it’s been a really great time for me, I guess, like really tapping back into me being a musician and things like that.
So, it’s really been focused on that, and live performances, and embracing my artistry,” she said. The move was prompted by her desire for career growth, she said. “I guess with my vision for my career, it really aligned with Republic Records’ vision for me, and their willingness for this to be a collaborative process within the next couple of years, in terms of reaching my goals of wanting to eventually go global and be able to tap a wider market with my music,” Jayda shared. The “M.U. (Malabong Usapan)” singer said reaching the global audience nowadays has been easy for local musicians because of streaming services, that allows listeners from all over the world to have access to songs from whatever country it may come from. “But you know, so far, I’ve been working on PAGE 15
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TASTE OF HOME Visual feast: Amira Humes’ vibrant Filipino mural unveiled in Brooklyn by MOMAR G. VISAYA / AJPress
FILIPINO-THEMED mural is on display in Williamsburg, Brooklyn until December 12 A as a part of a multi-faceted campaign staged by Knorr called “Taste of Home,” meant to celebrate the rich food culture of diverse communities in North America.
Steven Raga, New York State Assemblymember of New York’s 30th Assembly District) with the mural’s Filipino American artist Amira Humes. Assembly Member Raga is the first Filipino American elected to public office in the state of New York.
Amira Humes sat down with the Asian Journal to discuss her inspiration behind the mural in Brooklyn. She is an illustrator originally from Saginaw, Michigan but now calls Milwaukee, Wisconsin home. Amira holds a BFA in illustration with a minor in communication design from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design. Throughout her creative exploration, she has embraced her identity as a Black Filipino American and used her background to inform her work.
For its Taste of Home campaign, Knorr collaborated with Asian American artists such as Amira Humes and her fellow artists Tanya Mu (Chinese Canadian) and Faith Cao (Vietnamese-American).
Before earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration, FilipinoAmerican illustrator Amira Humes had illustrated her mom’s sinigang recipe for a project, resulting in the artwork being featured in a Filipino grocery store in Nevada and online. The mural, a collaboration with Knorr, prominently features the tamarind soup mix product as Amira wanted to connect it to her family and Filipino culture, showcasing her mom’s sinigang dish. The central figure in the mural represents Amira’s mom, surrounded by the ingredients of the dish and other cultural nods such as sampaguita flowers, malunggay, and a traditional bahay kubo. The vibrant colors and bold lines reflect Amira’s style and the joyful feelings associated with Filipino food, and in this particular case, sinigang – which Amira says “always brings that nice, warm, happy and fuzzy feeling.” A Knorr representative told the Asian Journal that 15 million packets of the Knorr Sinigang Mix were sold in the US and Canada last year, roughly translated to more than 41,000 packets sold per day. Journey to Brooklyn Amira’s artistic journey stems from her multicultural background— her mom is from Cagayan,
From left to right: Filipino-American Artist Amira Humes (second from left) created the mural inspired by her mom who used to cook sinigang for her. Joining her at the launch of the mural in Brooklyn were (from left) Lan Trieu (Head of Marketing, Nutrition & Ice Cream - International Portfolio), Steven Raga (New York State Assemblymember of New York’s 30th Assembly District), Partha Guha (Head of Nutrition and Ice Cream Business, Unilever International North America), Tanya Mu (Chinese Canadian artist) and Faith Cao (Vietnamese-American Artist). AJPress photos by Momar G. Visaya
Philippines, and her dad a black American who worked as a chef. Encouraged by her dad’s culinary influence, Amira saw art in food, eventually incorporating Filipino flavors into her illustrations. “They were both
supportive but in different ways. My mom saw that it could be a hobby and my dad as ‘Maybe you can make this into something.’ So when I decided to go to art college, my mom still had a little bit of reservation about it, I think she was worried if I
was going to make it,” Amira shared. Despite initial concerns from her mom about pursuing art, Amira’s success and recognition in the field have shifted her mom’s perspective. Through food illustration, Amira authored “The Very Asian Guide to Filipino Food,” a book highlighting Filipino culture’s main foods and flavors. “I wanted to just show how kids can interact with it, how people who are unfamiliar, can get familiar with it, and show that it’s a very strong community of people who just want to share the food and the flavor and enjoy their time together,” she said. Growing up in Saginaw, Michigan, Amira felt a lack of knowledge and representation of the Filipino community. Despite her mom having friends and engaging in potlucks and church activities, the broader media landscape lacked visibility for her culture. As Amira matured, she observed older individuals bringing attention to their heritage through art projects and college initiatives. Inspired by these examples, she aspired to become a source of inspiration herself. “I wanted to be someone that can inspire somebody else and use my artwork as a platform to shine a light on us and let people know who we are,” she said. PAGE 15
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FACE returns for 3rd annual toy drive with holiday festival tour Filipinos Advancing Creative Education expands annual toy drive to first-ever FACE Holiday Festival Tour, spreading holiday cheer in Filipino cultural districts across US
LOS ANGELES — Filipinos Advancing Creative Education (FACE), a nonprofit organization dedicated to uplifting the next generation of Filipino American creatives, honors cultural roots and aims to bring the Filipino holiday spirit to the United States. The Philippines has the longest Christmas celebration in the world, lasting from September to December, also known as the “BER Months,” to celebrate and spread the true spirit of Christmas. FACE Holiday Festival Tour aims to bring that very same essence of joy and giving throughout the country during the month of December. The first toy drive, held two years ago, was the HiFi Holiday Festival in Los Angeles and has since expanded its reach beyond the borders of Historic Filipinotown to two other cultural districts in San Jose and New York during the last holiday season. In its 3rd year, FACE continues to bring visibility to Filipino cultural districts across the country by adding an additional two more markets for a total of 5 cities for the FACE Holiday Festival Tour, sponsored by AmazonMusic, PrimeVideo, Amazon Studios, AEG, and Funko. “The Holiday Festival is one of our favorite annual community engagement programs we offer to serve
those less fortunate during the holiday season. It’s an opportunity for some of the many talented Filipinos in entertainment to donate their time and talent to connect with the community and inspire others. This year we’re so excited to take the event to the next level and really show what the holidays are about during the Tour. This our reason to celebrate the season,” said FACE Executive Director and founder Lyle del Mundo. FACE embodies holiday
cheer, spreading the love from coast to coast, partnering with sister nonprofits such as: Project Barkada, Rideback Rise, Three Treasures, Filipinotown of Seattle, and FACT SJ. Festival activities include live holiday performances, a holiday bazaar powered by local nonprofits for last minute shopping needs, complimentary haircuts for children, meal distribution sponsored by Seafood City, and toy distribution sponsored by Funko and
Toys 4 Tots. Some of the past participants include Simu Liu, Saweetie, Bretman Rock, Bella Poarch, Patrick Starrr, Josh Dela Cruz, Arianny Celeste, Mike Becker, Paris Berelc, Vincent Rodriguez III, Roshon Fegan, Eric Bauza, Ruby Ibarra, The Filharmonic, Kiana V, AJ & Alyssa Rafael, The Basco Family, Mond Guiterrez, Tiana Kocher, Jules Aurora, Travis Atreo, and many others. Tour Dates Little Manila Holiday Festival Sunday, December 10th 11am-7pm 133-38 32nd Ave., Queens, NY 11354 HiFi Holiday Festival Saturday, December 16th 9am-1pm 1660 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026 Manila Mesa Holiday Festival Sunday, December 17th 12pm-4pm 9450 Candida St., San Diego, CA 92126 Pinoytown Holiday Festival Saturday, December 23rd 9am-1pm Filipino Community Center 635 N. 6th St., San Jose, CA 95112 For more information, please contact Lyle del Mundo lyle@facefwd.org or follow the FACE IG @ facefwdorg for updates. g
Jayda’s Christmas wish: A collab with Taylor...
PAGE 13 the possibility of, like, collaborations with other artists and things like that. So, I think this is the start of the beginning of that journey, and me, you know, being really steadfast and
determined with that goal in mind,” Jayda continued. And the switch to a new label has also come with her resolve to accept more live performance opportunities this holiday season, prompting the family’s
decision to celebrate in the Philippines, for a change. But after the curtains have closed and she and her family have already bidden farewell to the audience, Jayda said she and her parents will have a “very low-key” observance
of Christmas at home. “It’s all about spending time with our loved ones, and family traditions, just something simple as that. I mean, as long as we’re together, that’s the most important thing,” she declared. g
Anne next Filipino to become Madame...
PAGE 13 true, I’m grateful and very thankful to Madame Tussauds for choosing me.” The host-actress admitted initially thinking she would be completely plastered during the sitting, in actuality, the museum just took 360-degree photos and measurements.
Madame Tussauds teased that Anne’s figure, set to be completeed and unveiled in 2024, will feature her in a familiar pose and a classic outfit that will truly immortalize her. Anne was one of the Filipino celebrities that Merlin Entertainments, the company that operates Madame
Tussauds, exclusively told Philstar.com last month were eyeing to “wax.” Also on the company’s radar are theater veteran and Disney legend Lea Salonga, who they have attempted to contact, and socialite-artist Heart Evangelista. (Kristofer Purnell/Philstar. com)
Visual feast: Amira...
PAGE 14 Amira envisioned utilizing her artwork as a platform to illuminate the Filipino community, fostering awareness, and understanding of the culture. She had all these in mind as she envisioned what the mural would look like. She described her emotions when she saw the largerthan-life mural for the first as “insane” and “surreal” and that landing a gig with a company like Knorr meant so much. The mural, initially created digitally on a small iPad, holds sentimental value for Amira as it symbolizes the intersection of her artistic vision and Filipino representation in a city setting. For Amira, the mural is more than a personal journey; it is also a means to inspire and bring attention to Filipino culture and representation. Beyond highlighting the tamarind soup mix, Amira also wanted to highlight how it is connected to her and her family. From the bright happy colors, the yellow and the red and a little bit of blue, almost reminiscent of the Filipino flag in a subtle way to little elements of Filipino culture like sampaguita flowers, malunggay leaves, calamansi and the bahay kubo that Amira envisioned her mom would have grown up in. The collaboration with Knorr, a renowned company, left Amira feeling proud and overwhelmed. “It felt unbelievable,” she quipped. “When I got the email, I was like ‘Wow, they know who I am,’ and that little me from a small town in Michigan was able to create a piece of artwork that gained attention from a company as big as Knorr and for them to say that they wanted me to create something for them, it made me feel like all of the hard work and the effort and the support that’s been behind me since the beginning wasn’t for nothing.” The selection of the phrase “Kain Tayo” for the mural was deliberate, serving as a maternal invitation to savor a meal. Additionally, “Kain Tayo” holds a cultural significance as a traditional Filipino expression extended to visitors during meals, symbolizing an open invitation to share in whatever is on the table. Taste of Home As a global food brand since 1838, Knorr has been a pantry staple for many Americans and Canadians in their countries of origin. Here in the United States and Canada markets, Knorr’s portfolio also includes the best-selling products from many parts of the world such as Knorr Mexican Mi Arroz, Knorr Chinese Chicken Broth Mix, Knorr Filipino Sinigang Soup mixes, and many more. A survey conducted by the company among 220 Asian Americans whose countries of origin are China, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Vietnam revealed that 90% of Asian Americans consume food from their countries of origin every week. “Our ‘Taste of Home’ campaign is not just about bringing global flavors into American and Canadian homes,” said Partha Guha, Head of Nutrition Business, Unilever International North America. “It’s about honoring the authenticity and culinary traditions that define and unite us, and celebrating the stories, memories, and connections that our products inspire.” Knorr collaborated with emerging Vietnamese-American artist Faith Cao (@caoculator) and Humes (@creative.amira) to create large-scale murals in Denver and Brooklyn. Through these murals, the artists were able to share their unique stories of how Knorr has played a pivotal role in connecting them with their personal narratives, cultural backgrounds, and deeply ingrained traditions. The installations serve as a visual representation of the profound impact that authentic flavors can have on an individual’s life, inspiring them to share their art and stories with the world. In Amira Humes’ colorful mural in Brooklyn, we see more than just a painting. We see the story of the artist who initially illustrated her mom’s sinigang recipe and now, it is on a wall in Williamsburg. It’s a work of art that shows everyone a slice of Filipino culture, one that says, “This is who we are, and this is our tasty tradition.” As you look at the mural, you realize that it’s an invitation. It says, “Kain Tayo” which means “Let’s eat and come join us.” The mural is like a big table with Filipino stories and flavors for everyone; it’s a warm welcome to taste and see the joy of Filipino culture. g
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http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426