2 december 15-17, 2021 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL
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SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • deCembeR 15-17, 2021
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From the Front Page
PH has attained ‘substantial population...
PAGE 1
urban areas of the Philippines because the pandemic has raged and spread primarily in our cities and in our first class municipalities,” he added. “And so the fact that the virus is struggling to find new Filipinos to infect, suggests that we have attained substantial population immunity.” Austriaco said the Philippines’ condition is better than those of its neighbors Thailand and Malaysia, which are still recording about 5,000 new infections per day and Vietnam, which is still reporting about 15,000 new cases daily. “Now the reason why these four different countries have experienced different pandemic curves is probably because as you can see the Philippines experienced - unlike these three other countries - substantial waves of previous variants. So... especially the Alpha, Beta variant, which struck our beloved country in March and April of this year,” Austriaco said. “And so combining the vaccinations and the natural immunity, what you are seeing here is that many of our cities where the pandemic tends to focus are now - are now stable enough to prevent transmission,” he added. Austriaco said Metro Manila, which has a significantly high vaccination rate, is “probably going to be robustly protected against the future surge.” Malacañang said the public should continue to comply with health and safety protocols despite the improving pandemic situation. “Indeed, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel but the only way we can get to the end is if we continue to carefully watch our steps; let us continue our maskwearing, hand washing, social distancing and vaccination. Let us do this not just for ourselves but especially for our loved ones,” acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles said. Duterte: Better days ahead President Rodrigo Duterte expressed optimism that Filipinos would see “better days” ahead because of the decreasing number of infections. “We continue to see downward trend of the positivity rate, now
only less than two percent. This means that for every 100 persons tested for COVID-19, only a maximum of two people turned out to be positive,” the President said during a prerecorded public address. “Better days ahead because since December 1, we have been on average of 500 to 600 and the number of active cases continues to go down. I’m talking about the COVID,” he added. Duterte also cited a Goldman Sachs report stating that the Philippines is expected to be a strong economy in Southeast Asia by 2022. “Well, that remains to be seen. We still have to worry about the coming Omicron and how it would impact on the population of the Philippines. But the confidence, at least, is there and the analyst believed that the gross domestic product, GDP, could hit more than seven percent. I hope...This will be a good Christmas for everybody,” he added. Duterte expressed hope that the Omicron variant won’t enter the Philippines even as he assured the public that the government is capable of handling the health risk. “I hope that everything will be for the good of everybody and I am very happy that it (number of infections) is decreasing... That’s a miracle because other countries are still reeling from the effect, it seems that they have a problem with Omicron,” the President said. “We are not hoping for the best but we pray to God that it will not come to our shores. But if ever it comes, we can cope with it just as we did with COVID-19,” he added. ‘No need to panic’ Austriaco said preliminary data from South Africa suggest that the Omicron wave is three times higher than the Delta wave, which means that it is more transmissible among vaccinated individuals. “What you can see is that the preliminary data suggests that ten times more unvaccinated individuals are being hospitalized as compared to vaccinated individuals. This is incredibly hopeful especially since as I highlighted before, because of the NCR (National Capital Region)
plus eight strategy, our cities and first class municipalities, which is the target for Omicron when it arrives in the Philippines, are highly vaccinated,” the expert said. Austriaco said despite the number of COVID-19 positives, the Omicron hospitalizations are quite low. “So there are three important questions that the scientists of the world are waiting for: Is the Omicron variant more transmissible? It is likely that it is more transmissible. Is the Omicron variant more immune evasive? Probably. The initial data seems to look like that,” he said. “Is the Omicron variant more deadly? And this is the good news po, it’s probably less deadly than Delta. “ Austiraco said Filipinos can still celebrate Christmas but should prepare for be careful to avoid catching the virus. “First, there is no need to panic. Let us celebrate Christmas. This is the best time in 20 months for the entire country,” Austriaco said. “And so this is not the time to panic. It is the time to be careful. We have to prepare. But we also have to celebrate especially since this is Christmas. We must prepare the hospital infrastructure and increase healthcare workers staffing capacity. Because in the Alpha and Delta surges it was clear that we had nursing shortages, especially in the NCR,” he added. Austriaco cited the need to continue the vaccination drive to build and maintain population “We must increase the population immunity around our international gateways. Omicron will enter through an airport most likely. And so what we have to do is we have to build a wall of vaccinated Filipinos around these airports. Because once Omicron arrives, it will try to spread into the Filipino population,” he said. “And if the Filipinos around the airports...are heavily vaccinated, then it doesn’t matter if there is an OFW (overseas Filipino worker) who returns home. Because even if this person is able to enter the community, the virus will struggle.” n
California reinforces indoor mask...
PAGE 1 cases in California has jumped 47% in the past two weeks. Hospitalizations are also up by 14%, according to the last available state data. While the mandate impacts those who want to attend public gatherings — like in restaurants, malls, and other social gathering hubs — it does not apply to private gatherings. “Wearing a mask is going to be one of the most important things to get through this period of uncertainty,” Ghaly said on Monday. “We know people are tired and hungry for normalcy. Frankly, I am, too. That said, this is a critical time when we have a tool that we know has worked and can work. The mandate, which will last until at least January 15, will apply to everyone regardless of vaccination status. As previously reported in the Asian Journal, the state lifted its last mask mandate for
vaccinated individuals on June 15, when most coronavirusrelated safety protocols eased restrictions for businesses and public places. But about half of the state’s counties have since imposed their own indoor mask mandates as case, death, and hospitalization numbers fluctuated in the latter half of 2021. “This increase in case rates is not experienced equally across the state,” Ghaly said. “We have some counties that remain very low — many of the Bay Area counties, L.A. But others are quite high, and we see this in greater percentage in communities and counties where vaccine rates are low.” Along with the mask mandate, state health officials also announced that it will strengthen testing requirements, ordering unvaccinated people who are attending indoor events of 1,000 people or more to provide a negative test within one or
two days. (Vaccination proof will also be required at these venues.) The state is also recommending travelers departing from and arriving to California to get tested for Covid-19 within five days of travel. California’s mask mandate for indoor settings mirrors the CDC’s long-standing recommendation of wearing masks indoors for those in “areas with high numbers of Covid-19 cases.” The CDC however stands by its guidance that fully vaccinated individuals do not need to mask up in outdoor settings. “We know that there’s going to be people who don’t necessarily agree with this, who are tired, who aren’t going to mask,” Ghaly said. “We hope that those are few and far between, that most people see the purpose of doing this over the next month as something to protect them and their communities during a very tough time.” n
Comelec junks all bids to join plea... PAGE 1 Petitioners asserted that Marcos made a misrepresentation in his COC because he is ineligible to run since his conviction allegedly carries the penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding any public office, to vote and to participate in any election. 2nd plea vs Marcos’ COC The petition from tax professionals, led by Rommel Bautista, also cited the same trial court conviction and prayed for the revocation of Marcos’ COC. But the Commission held that allowing the Bautista intervention “shall unduly delay or prejudice the adjudication of the rights of the original parties in this case. If the instant Motion for Intervention is granted, this will necessarily result to unduly delaying the resolution of the main Petition.” Allowing the intervention would also encourage other would-be litigants, which would result in further delay in the resolution of the case. “This should not be permitted to happen,” it said. The Comelec is looking to
finalize the list of candidates for national posts in December.“ On another note, the Commission is of the opinion that the Bautista Motion is a crafty attempt to circumvent the reglementary period for filing a petition under Sec. 78 of the Omnibus Election Code,” it added. Under this provision, a petition to deny due course to or cancel a COC may be filed 25 days from the filing of the certificate, while the Bautista petition was submitted 33 days after Marcos filed his COC. Marcos’ belated answer? For the petitions filed by PFP and its three officers, the Comelec division said it viewed these as an “attempt to file a belated Answer in behalf of respondent [Marcos].” It pointed out that the PFP petitions raised “matters or defenses which were not advanced by respondent [Marcos]” in his Answer filed November 19. The pleading filed through martial law era-Solicitor General Estelito Mendoza was reportedly composed of merely five pages.
Admitting the PFP petitions would give Marcos an undue advantage, the Comelec said. The PFP officials, in their intervention, told the Comelec that Marcos paid the fine plus interest and surcharge amounting to P67,137,27 on Dec. 27, 2001. Petitioners against Marcos, through their lawyers led by Te, however, secured a certification from the Quezon City court stating that it has no record on file of Marcos’ compliance of payment or satisfaction of the RTC or Court of Appeals. The Comelec, meanwhile, also stressed the petition attacks the eligibility of the candidate and no one else other than Marcos may possibly respond to allegations against him. Aside from the petition to cancel his COC — which is expected to be elevated to the Supreme Court upon resolution by the Comelec — Marcos is also facing several suits seeking his disqualification. Marcos and his campaign team played down the petitions and branded these as “nuisance cases” and “pathetic stunts.” n
4 december 15-17, 2021 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL
Dateline PhiliPPines
Filipino NGO wins UNESCO prize for Media and Information Literacy advocacy MANILA — UNESCO’s Media and Information Literacy Alliance has awarded Manila-based Out of the Box Literacy Initiative first prize in the 2021 Global Media and Information Literacy Awards for its projects for media literacy and against disinformation. According to a press release, the Global MIL Awards recognize educators, librarians, artists, activists, policymakers, NGOs and other individuals and groups that are “integrating MIL in an innovative way in their work and related activities.” OOTB, which has been operating since 2014, is the first Filipino organization to win the prize since the Global MIL Awards were launched in 2015. Among its recent projects are the #IWASFAKE Remote Learning Resources that were released to address the infodemic and the shift to online learning because of the COVID-19 pandemic. These modules can be accessed for free on their website. “’Iwas’ in #IWASFAKE stands for the four key habits against disinformation: Ikalma ang sarili (Pause and calm down); Wag basta maniniwala (Be skeptical); Alamin ang source at konteksto
Among Out of the Box’s projects is a set of resources to help students cope with the infodemic during the COVID-19 pandemic. Philstar.com photo
ng impormasyon (Check the source and context of the information); and, Salain bago i-share at sitahin ang nagkakalat ng mali (Filter what you share and call out disinformation),” OOTB says in the release. OOTB has also produced the #MIL4Democracy Handbook that contains 18 lesson plans meant to teach young Filipinos about their rights and duties as digital citizens, the organization said. The organization currently co-runs — with Mano Amiga
Philippines and Meta (formerly Facebook) — the Youth Leaders Incubator, a mentorship program for Filipino youth advocacy organizations. The spread of misinformation and disinformation — seen as a factor in the coming 2022 elections — has prompted initiatives on fact-checking as well as on media and information literacy to promote critical thinking and a better appreciation of democratic institutions. (Philstar.com)
Duterte orders DILG: Prepare drug war report by Alexis
RomeRo Philstar.com
MANILA — President Duterte has ordered the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to prepare a report on the war on drugs even as he maintained that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has no jurisdiction over the case. During a meeting of the government’s pandemic task force on Monday, December 13, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said antinarcotics operations against suspected drug traffickers continued despite the pandemic. Año said a total of 940 stings were conducted from Dec. 5 to 11, which resulted in the arrest of 1,253 suspects and confiscation of about P72.87 million worth of drugs. Duterte asked Año if the government could make an inven-
tory of drugs seized during his presidency. “It’s intended to apprise the human rights advocates. Maybe when the time comes, we can show to the ICC the reasons why we are not, why I am not going to bow down to their jurisdiction, because they would see the enormity of the problem of shabu in the country,” the President said. Año vowed to produce the drug war report. Police have confiscated an estimated P79 billion to P80 billion worth of shabu, according to Año. “I will come up with a detailed report in our next meeting, Mr. President,” the DILG chief said. More than 6,000 people have died since Duterte launched the war on drugs, which according to human rights advocates has
encouraged extrajudicial killings and other abuses. An ICC pre-trial chamber has allowed an investigation into the deaths linked to the drug war, but the Duterte administration maintained that the tribunal has no jurisdiction over the issue. Officials argued that the Rome Statute, which formed the ICC, did not satisfy publication requirements and therefore did not take effect in the Philippines. The government has asked ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan to suspend the probe, saying actions are being undertaken to look into the drug war deaths. The ICC has suspended the probe, but requested the Philippine government to provide information about its investigation. In his previous speeches, Duterte insisted that he would not face trial before the ICC. n
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How LA, calling the shots on school vaccine... PAGE 1 been vaccinated. The epidemic, which had killed two children, caused brain damage in five and left scores hospitalized with pneumonia, fizzled out. By demonstrating that the public would acquiesce with rigorous enforcement of school vaccine mandates, the L.A. school system had a powerful influence on the country. President Jimmy Carter launched a national initiative to get measles and other recommended vaccines to all American children. Federal health officials twisted arms, shaming reluctant states, one by one, into tightening their vaccination rules. By 1981, 95% of U.S. schoolchildren had received the recommended vaccines. Over the next two decades, the U.S. nearly eliminated diseases like polio, rubella, measles and tetanus. The Los Angeles Unified School District announced in September that it would exclude schoolkids 12 and older from campus on Jan. 10 unless they were vaccinated against covid-19. On Friday, however, the district decided to suspend the enforcement until next fall, according to school board member Jackie Goldberg. About 28,000 kids — roughly 14% — had yet to show proof of vaccination, she said. To provide those children with teachers for online learning would have deprived vaccinated kids at some schools of proper instruction, and “that wouldn’t have been fair.” Goldberg, who grew up in the Inglewood section of Los Angeles, is troubled by vaccine hesitancy. She remembers the 1977 measles outbreak: “We were terrified. Kids were dying,”
she said. At the time, many Angelenos had no health care, and the county’s free vaccination clinics were seen more as a gift than as what some consider them today — an imposition. Before then, vaccination rates were low in Los Angeles for two reasons: Lower-income people couldn’t afford or get access to vaccines, and many people were indifferent to the risks of measles, considering the disease a normal part of childhood since most children suffered no permanent effects. Some people were opposed to vaccines in general, but “they were thought to be kooks, and there were so few of them,” said Dr. Peter Krause, a Yale University epidemiologist who worked on an outbreak of measles at the UCLA campus in 1977. Well into the 1990s, only about 0.5% of children in California were exempted from the vaccine requirements because their parents opposed or mistrusted vaccination. What was different then? No social media, of course. And partisan politics played no role in vaccination rates. Dr. James Cherry, 91, who has taught in UCLA’s pediatric infectious diseases department since 1973, can’t recall meeting any antivaccine Republicans during the 1977 pandemic. He finds it remarkable to hear Govs. Greg Abbott of Texas and Ron DeSantis of Florida fighting mandates aimed at stopping a virus that has killed more than 790,000 Americans. “The thing just blows the mind,” he told me. “Measles was bad, bad for a lot of reasons, but covid is a hell of a lot worse. And we could prevent virtually all
deaths by vaccination.” Today, the clever use of social media by anti-vaccine activists has revealed the vulnerability of the vaccination effort. Public health departments are understaffed and overwhelmed by work and attacks of vitriol and violence. And fighting endemic infectious diseases has never been easy. But now, the politics seem even messier than the disease, let alone the vaccines. Battles over covid vaccination mandates could ripple outward to threaten vaccine mandates long in place for diseases that are still deadly at worst, and costly nuisances at best. Refusing mask and vaccine mandates has become integral to many Americans’ identity, creating a base to which GOP politicians have responded. Sen. Richard Pan (DSacramento), who fought for state laws to close loopholes that people opposed to vaccines used to avoid vaccinations against childhood diseases, is still hopeful reality will win out. But the process may look less like public consensus than an angry majority turning on anti-science rebels. “People are going to get frustrated, tired of the persistence of these diseases, and there will be more general public pressure for mandates,” he said. “The question is, ‘How many people will die in the process?’” (Arthur Allen/Kaiser Health News) This story was produced by KHN, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. n
PH, US set more high-level meets to... PAGE 1 proud to see how you stood for international law.” During the meeting with Locsin, Nuland said they discussed ways to further support the rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region. The meeting is part of the two countries’ enhanced and sustained bilateral engagement in pursuit of their common national security objectives and post-pandemic recovery agenda. Building on the series of visits by Philippine and US officials this year, including the most recent Bilateral Strategic Dialogue, the DFA said the two officials discussed the next steps to strengthen relations and cooperation within the context of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations to address current and emerging challenges. Locsin and Nuland also tackled preparations for the Special US-ASEAN Summit the US is proposing to host in January. “They also discussed arrangements for the Two-PlusTwo Ministerial Dialogue that was previously agreed upon by the respective defense and foreign secretaries,” the DFA said in a statement. Locsin congratulated the US for its successful virtual hosting of the Summit for Democracy last week with the participation of President Duterte. Recounting the messages of both Presidents Duterte and Biden at the summit, the
two officials underscored the countries’ shared commitment to the protection and promotion of democratic ideals and principles and to continuing work on imperfect democracies to ensure that they benefit people, especially the poor and marginalized. Locsin invited the US to support the UN Joint Program on Human Rights, noting that its contribution would be “an expression of your support to a long-standing ally and to our shared commitment to democracy and the rule of law.” He also expressed gratitude for the close to 20 million donated doses of Pfizer, Moderna and Janssen vaccines that the Philippines received from the US through the COVAX Facility. Philippines, France deepen ties Meanwhile, the Philippines and France have discussed opportunities to deepen bilateral cooperation in the fields of defense, maritime safety and security. Locsin and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian talked on regional and bilateral issues as they met for the first time on Saturday in Liverpool. Both officials underscored the importance of the ASEANEuropean Union cooperation in addressing new and existing global concerns, including climate change and maritime security. Le Drian had previously
stressed that the Indo-Pacific region would be a priority for France when it assumes the presidency of the European Union in 2022. Japan reaffirmscommitment In a related development, Japan reaffirmed its commitment to strengthen the strategic partnership with the Philippines. During a phone call on Wednesday, Locsin and new Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa discussed key areas of Philippine-Japan bilateral cooperation, addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, Mindanao peace process and maritime security and safety. Locsin conveyed appreciation for Japan’s vaccine donation, emergency grant assistance, crisis response support program and loan packages that contributed greatly to the Philippines’ COVID-19 response and recovery efforts. On the maritime issue, Hayashi expressed his strong opposition to unilateral attempts to change by force the status quo in the East and South China Seas. Locsin said the Philippines values Japan’s statements of support for the arbitral award and for an international lawbased order in the South China Sea, adding that such formal demonstrations of support send a message of respect for outcomes of diplomatic and legal processes as well as strengthen the legal order over the seas. (Pia Lee-Brago/Philstar.com)
Los Angeles County vaccine providers...
PAGE 1 While great progress has been made, Public Health will continue vaccination efforts in the months to come. As of December 9, there are an additional 3.4 million people 16 and over who are eligible for but have not yet received an additional/booster dose, and 2.2 million people 5 and over who have not yet received their first dose. Our network of providers is also preparing to vaccinate the 534,506 L.A. County children under 5 who are likely to be eligible for vaccines early next year. “The delivery of 15 million vaccines required a network of hundreds of providers willing to extend their services to serve residents across every community in the county,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “While we are proud of the work collectively done to administer 15 million vaccines in L.A. County, it is clear that we will need to continue to support vaccination efforts for months to come as we try to reach those still unvaccinated, those who need boosters, and those that are newly eligible. We have also learned that this network is not just focused on ensuring access; rather, this network needs to engage in outreach, provide culturally respectful information, and connect residents to additional needed supports.” Public Health on Tuesday, December 14 confirmed 15 additional deaths and 1,138 new cases of COVID-19. Public Health has identified a total 1,540,200
positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of LA County. There are 698 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized. Testing results are available for more than 9,596,550 individuals, with 15% of people testing positive. Public Health would like to remind residents that getting vaccinated or boosted remains critical as holiday traveling and gatherings begin. Additionally, all residents across LA County should continue: • Getting tested to help reduce the spread, especially if you traveled for the holidays, have had a possible exposure or have symptoms • Adhering to masking requirements when indoors or at large outdoor mega events, regardless of vaccination status Residents are also reminded that they are legally required to be isolated if they have a positive COVID test result and that vaccinated close contacts with symptoms and unvaccinated close contacts need to be quarantined. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective and are recommended for everyone 5 years old and older to help protect against COVID-19. Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status. Appointments are not needed at all Public Health vaccination sites and many community sites where first, second, and third doses are available. To find a vaccination site near you, or to make
an appointment, please visit: www.VaccinateLACounty. com (English). If you need assistance, you can also call 1833-540-0473 for help: Finding an appointment, Connect to free transportation to and from a vaccination site, or Schedule a home visit if you are homebound. Public Health would like to remind residents that getting vaccinated or boosted remains critical as holiday traveling and gatherings begin. Additionally, all residents across LA County should continue: • Getting tested to help reduce the spread, especially if you traveled for the holidays, have had a possible exposure, or have symptoms • Adhering to masking requirements when indoors or at large outdoor mega events, regardless of vaccination status Residents are also reminded that they are legally required to be isolated if they have a positive COVID test result and that vaccinated close contacts with symptoms and unvaccinated close contacts need to be quarantined. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective and are recommended for everyone 5 years old and older to help protect against COVID-19. Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status. Appointments are not needed at all Public Health vaccination sites and many community sites where first, second, and third doses are available. n
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Date lin e Ph iliP P ine s
Office of the Vice President gets more accolades for best practices, programs by Gabriel
pabiCo Inquirer.net
lalu
MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Vice President (OVP) has earned more accolades recently — this time from the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), Vice President Leni Robredo said in a statement issued on Monday, December 13. From the CSC, the OVP got the PRIME-HRM Level II Accreditation for Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management — a distinction given to offices that are able to develop their human resources to a more competitive level. From the DAP, it got a citation called Government Best Practices for COVID-19 Response for two of its programs — the Community Learning Hubs and the Free Shuttle Service. Vice President Leni Robredo’s office got more accolades as it was hailed by two institutions — the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) — for its best practices. “Last week, we were also awarded our ISO Certification which we have been achieving every year since we first got our ISO Certification in 2017,” Robredo said. The OVP launched the
Suerte Philstar.com
Community Learning Hubs in partnership with several local government units with the aim of allowing students to get tutorial help and access to key gadgets and internet connectivity as the pandemic required a shift to distance learning modes, like online classes or a modular system. The free shuttle program, also done in collaboration with private sector partners, started in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic when lockdowns shut down public transportation. It was set up for health workers and other frontliners reporting for work. In one gathering where she presented her platform as a presidential aspirant in the 2022 elections, Robredo said that,
as part of her labor agenda, she would want the regain the people’s trust in government. On several occasions, Robredo referred to the achievements of her office, including getting the highest ratings from the Commission on Audit, as examples of what she could achieve if elected president. Robredo and her running mate, Sen. Francis Pangilinan, are facing an uphill battle, as recent surveys have placed them in the middle of the pack. But recently, Robredo’s camp expressed delight after a survey released last November showed that her numbers were improving, showing her in second place behind former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. n
Joblessness slightly falls to 24.8% – SWS by JanviC
Mateo Philstar.com
MANILA — The number of jobless Filipinos slightly decreased in the third quarter of the year, but remains above pre-pandemic levels, according to a survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS). The survey, conducted from Sept. 12 to 16 with the results released on Monday, December 13, showed that the adult joblessness rate in the country is at 24.8% of the labor force or an estimated 11.9 million Filipinos. The figure went down by 2.8 points from the 27.6% (estimated 13.5 million) in June, but is still five points higher than the average of 19.8% joblessness rate in 2019 before the pandemic. The SWS defines labor force as adults aged 18 years and above,
Department of Migrant Workers bill passed, hailed
by CeCille
Vice President Leni Robredo visits the OVP Community Learning Hub in Taytay, Rizal. Photo from OVP
who are presently with a job plus those looking for a job. The jobless consist of those who voluntarily left their old jobs, are seeking jobs for the first time or lost their jobs due to economic circumstances beyond their control. According to SWS, adult joblessness in the country reached a record-high 45.5% in July 2020 amid quarantine restrictions imposed to stop the pandemic. It eased in the succeeding months, resulting in an average of 37.4% joblessness rate in 2020. The decline in the latest joblessness rate was due to decreases in all areas except in the Visayas. Joblessness is still highest in Metro Manila at 33.6% (down from 40.9% in June), followed by the rest of Luzon at 27.5% (down from 30.9%), the Visayas at 22.6% (up from 21.3%) and
Mindanao at 16.4% (down from 19.2%). It is also higher in urban areas at 30% (down from 30.7%) than in rural areas at 20% (down from 25.3%). By gender, joblessness hardly changed among men at 19.3% (from 19.8%), while it fell among women at 32.3% (from 38.3%). It is highest among the 18-24 age group at 55.5% (from 57.2%), followed by those aged 35 to 44 at 25.6% (from 23.9%), 24 to 34 at 24.6% (from 33.6%) and above 45 at 18.2% (from 18%). In terms of educational attainment, joblessness is highest among high school graduates at 31.1% (from 28.7%), followed by college graduates at 24.8% (from 23.8%), elementary graduates at 18.7% (from 31.5%) and nonelementary graduates at 10.1% (from 15.9%). n
SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • deCembeR 15-17, 2021 5
Felipe
MANILA — The Senate on Monday, December 13 unanimously approved on the third and final reading a bill that calls for the creation of a department tasked with addressing the needs and concerns of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), who remit P3 million every minute. Voting 20-0-0, senators passed Senate Bill 2234, or the proposed Department of Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act. Sen. Joel Villanueva, one of the bill’s proponents, said the department would serve as the “go-to agency” for all OFWs’ concerns, including recruitment, red tape, regulation, emergency response, repatriation and reintegration. Sen. Bong Go, also a main proponent of the measure, congratulated and thanked Villanueva for pushing for the passage of the measure. “Our sponsor is really determined to provide our OFWs with their own department. I know what our sponsor went through from talking to various agencies and OFW groups to reconciling different versions of the bills,” Go said in his manifestation. “On my part, I can just pass it on and give it as a gift to them – to our OFWs, to migrant workers – this Christmas,” Go added. Go also thanked all of his senator-colleagues for their support of the measure, especially Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon for his assistance and scrutiny to improve the measure with the goal of providing better services to OFWs. He noted that the Department of Migrant Workers is his and President Duterte’s priority. “Our OFWs are close to the President’s heart. In fact, just recently, President Duterte issued Executive Order 154 to ensure the establishment and operations of an OFW hospital in San Fernando City, Pampanga.” “Mr. President, we know the situation our OFWs are going through. Sadness cannot be paid for, especially when you are away from your loved ones just to provide for the family’s expenses
and give your children a better future. In fact, many of our OFWs have lost their jobs due to the pandemic. They came home to our country, they lost their jobs and they had a hard time,” Go said in his manifestation. “They have a problem with how to feed their family. In recent months and years, many OFWs have come to our office
for help. Some are imprisoned for murder, some are abused by their employers. Hopefully, with the establishment of this department, they can return to normal life,” Go added. Go said OFWs have long considered OFWs to be modern-day heroes because of their great contribution to the economy and community. n
6 DECEMBER 15-17, 2021 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL
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O PiniOn Overcoming Omicron
FeatURes
IN less than a week, the new Covid-19 variant Omicron has grown into a global menace, with country after country sealing its borders to block its advance. The speed with which Omicron has spread is astonishing. First detected in South Africa, it sneaked into neighboring countries Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi. Since then, Omicron cases have been reported in Canada, Australia, Hong Kong and several other places that are far from the African continent. The new variant takes center stage at a time when many countries felt it was safe enough to relax the coronavirus restrictions that had choked economies and disrupted millions of lives. Falling COVID-19 figures and stepped-up vaccination efforts helped build up their confidence. Leading virus scientists, however, have been reminding us that COVID-19 is far from conquered, and that like any organism, it has built-in mechanisms for survival. One of them is mutation. In the right environment, the coronavirus could reconfigure itself to make it more difficult for antibodies to detect. By creating new masks, the virus could even make itself invisible to present-day vaccines.. The World Health Organization (WHO) agreed that travel bans were a knee-jerk reaction that was not science-based. The agency said it needs time to know more about the variant and recommend ways to handle it. Many countries, the Philippines included, have taken the view that it is better to enforce a travel
ban while waiting for the WHO to release its findings on Omicron. We believe that is the right course to take. Prompt action is needed in dealing with a threat like Omicron. Quick response Delays in the past in setting up point-of-arrival controls allowed coronavirus variants to infiltrate the Philippines. Early this year, the government hedged before restricting travel from India, where Delta was on a rampage. We paid a high price for that delay. The government must be commended for its quick response this time. It has banned foreign travelers from countries where the variant has been detected or where infections have sharply risen. The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has, as of Monday, not announced tighter quarantine restrictions for arrivals from Hong Kong. The issue must be cleared up soon. Government officials assure that the country is prepared to counter an Omicron-driven surge. Local government units have been directed to keep a sharp eye out for any clustering of cases, and to get ready to do more aggressive contact tracing. One of the most effective ways to deny Omicron a foothold here is to rev up mass inoculation efforts. The three-day vaccination blitz that began
Editorial
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last Monday could not have come at a better time. We have stockpiled enough doses to last until the end of the year. We only need to see to it that the doses are delivered and administered. There is also a proposal to make the wearing of face shields mandatory again, as added protection against Omicron which is said to be much more contagious than Delta.
Quarantine alert levels may have to be readjusted. Omicron could derail efforts to turn around the economy and lift the people from the ennui brought about by a series of lockdowns. We cannot let that happen. We must be primed to confront the threat it presents. (ManilaTimes. net)
Democracy: A work in progress
Babe’s Eye View BABE ROMUALDEZ ONE must admit, President Biden’s call for a summit of democracy was a courageous and challenging move that one can only admire. The US President was very emphatic about strengthening democracy not only in the United States but the world over, believing that committing to democratic principles and practices is critical in meeting the challenges and the threats to democracy at this time. In his speech during the opening of the first ever virtual “Summit for Democracy” with over 100 world leaders as well as members of civil society and the private sector participating, President Biden talked about the decline of global freedom in the last 15 years, with democratic countries including the United States experiencing some form of decline in at least one aspect of their democracy in the last 10 years, according to the International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance. “In the face of sustained and
alarming challenges to democracy, universal human rights and – all around the world, democracy needs champions,” he said, admitting that even for a country like the United States, renewing democracy and strengthening democratic institutions “requires constant effort,” and that democracy does not happen by accident but has to be renewed with each generation. “Democracies are not all the same,” the US president acknowledged. “We don’t agree on everything, all of us in this meeting today. But the choices we make together are going to define, in my view, the course of our shared future for generations to come,” he continued, vowing that the US will “lead by example…” investing in democracy and supporting its partners around the world at the same time. As Secretary of State Antony Blinken pointed out in an oped published in USA Today last Wednesday, “Strengthening democracy can’t be a solo endeavor that countries do in isolation. It must be approached as a global mission – governments,
civil societies, private sectors and citizens working together across borders, languages and cultures – everyone committed to inaugurating a new era of rising freedom and stronger human rights protections around the world.” Acknowledging that “democracy can at times be fragile,” President Biden also pointed out that democracy is inherently resilient and capable of self-correction and self-improvement. After all, there is no such thing as a perfect democracy, or even a perfect constitution for that matter – not even the Constitution of the United States which has been amended 27 times to make it more attuned to the need of the times. In her book “Democracy: Stories from the Long Road to Freedom” published in May 2017, former State Secretary Condoleezza Rice highlighted the need for the US to continue being active in promoting, strengthening and spreading democracy all over the world. Her focus on promoting democracy is not really surprising, considering that she served as National Security Adviser and
then State Secretary during the term of George Bush Jr., who had pledged to strengthen democracy and help emerging democracies build institutions that would sustain freedom and liberty. In his second inaugural address in January 2005, Bush Jr. said, “The survival of liberty in our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other lands. The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in the world.” Admittedly, defining democracy is not as simple as describing it as the control of the majority in an organization, or that it is a system of government where people have the authority to decide through elected representatives. But there are certain parameters, such as the conduct of periodic and free elections, an independent judiciary, freedom of the press, exercise of free speech, freedom of religion. In her book, Rice wrote, “The paradox of democracy is that its stability is born of its openness to upheaval through elections, legislation and social action. Disruption is built into the fabric of
democracy.” As a young democracy, the Philippines has gone through many challenges, upheavals even. We must admit our own Constitution also needs substantial changes to make it more responsive to the changing times. Critics say it was crafted hastily and essentially not thought out well. That is why those who claim that democracy is nonexistent in the Philippines and that dissent as well as freedom of the press is suppressed – even so far as claiming that the country is under a reign of terror and mass murder – are definitely exaggerating. The fact that these groups can speak their minds and continue to criticize the government prove that democracy is very much alive in the Philippines. This reminds me of the time in 2014 when Condoleezza Rice was giving a speech at Norwich University when several protesters heckled and interrupted her. As the protesters were peacefully escorted out of the building, Rice remarked, “Democracy is noisy.” In fact, in 2005 when she was State Secretary and speaking at
a place in San Francisco, California that was described as “hostile territory” with protesters outside the venue, three members of the audience put on black hooded robes and stretched their arms, chanting, “Stop the torture, stop the killing, US out of Iraq.” Maintaining her composure, Rice gestured to the protesters, saying, “It’s a wonderful thing that people are able to speak their minds in our democracy. In Baghdad, Kabul and soon in Beirut, they, too, will be able to speak their minds.” As President Biden stated on the International Day of Democracy, “No democracy is perfect, and no democracy is ever final. Every gain made, every barrier broken, is the result of determined, unceasing work.” Democracy is never static – it’s a continuing work in progress. (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.
*** Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com
Getting vaxxed: A choice of life or death
Sentinel
RAMON TULFO EVEN with 200 million people in the United States inoculated against COVID-19, the virus continues to wreak havoc on the population of 325.9 million. The number of people infected with the deadly virus is filling up hospitals during this Christmas season. Cases have spiked in New England, one of the most vaccinated areas. New cases in the U.S. have gone upward from an average of 95,000 a day on Nov. 22 to almost 119,000 a day in just the past week. The number of patients hospitalized has increased to 25 percent over a month ago, according to a report from the Associated Press. Why is there a spike in cases in the highly-vaccinated population of New England? The answer is there are people who are still unvaccinated, or refuse to be inoculated. These people are the ones in hospitals in New England.
“The virus will find you. It is searching for hosts that are not immune. The fact that you live in New England or New York doesn’t insulate you,” said Lawrence Gostin, director of the WHO Collaborating Center on Public Health Law and Human Rights at Georgetown University. New York, one of the states that is heavily vaccinated, used to have the biggest number of COVID fatalities. What does the above-cited AP report mean to the Philippines? It means that Filipinos who are unvaccinated or refuse to be vaccinated are more likely to be afflicted with the deadly ailment. The mother of one of our household staff died in Dumaguete City recently, despite the fact Tocilizumab vials were sent to the hospital where she was confined. Tocilizumab, which is in short supply, is one of the most effective medicines for critical COVID patients. It saved the life of my wife, Josephine, who was badly hit with the deadly virus. Tocilizumab also saved the lives of some prominent people. I won’t identify them, to respect
their privacy. But while Josephine was fully vaccinated, the mother of our house help refused to be inoculated. Getting the vaccine early spelled the difference between Josephine, who has prior medical conditions, and the mother of my household help, who was relatively strong and healthy because she always worked in their small farm. So, I offer again this friendly but unsolicited advice: Please have yourself vaccinated ASAP. * * * No less than President Digong Duterte is urging all Filipinos to be vaccinated. Digong said the “Bayanihan, Bakunahan” campaign’s first phase brought the country to its goal of population protection against COVID. The President agrees restaurant and mall management teams have the right not to accept unvaccinated individuals within their premises. More than eight million people were inoculated in the first round of the mass vaccination campaign from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1. Organizers of the second phase
of the mass vaccination campaign expect to inoculate seven million people. * * * If Health Secretary Francisco Duque is to be believed, 99 million Filipinos will be vaccinated against COVID-19 by June 2022. “The President’s marching order is to inoculate no less than 90 percent of the Philippine population, which is equivalent to about 99 million Filipinos,” said Duque. That’s big talk from our health secretary, who clings to his position like barnacles to a ship. Vaccine supplies for COVID-19 come in trickles from abroad. How can the government vaccinate “90 percent” of the entire population when vaccines are in short supply? The U.S., for example, has so far been able to vaccinate 200 million Americans out of a population of 329.5 million. That’s 60 percent of the US population. The U.S., needless to say, is one of the countries manufacturing anti-COVID vaccines; and yet, it has not reached herd immunity, or 70 percent, of its population. Duque probably is trying to
flatter the President who has offered his position to a Catholic priest; but the man of the cloth refused. * * * Deputy Speaker Wes Gatchalian and Representatives Victor Yap of Tarlac and Manny Lopez of Manila should be commended by the public for sponsoring a bill requiring all SIM card holders to be registered. The bill proposing the SIM Card Registration Act has passed the House of Representatives. All SIM card holders who scam or threaten other cellphone owners or use the SIM card to detonate remote-controlled bombs would be identified under the proposed law. The identities of SIM card buyers will be registered by stores which sell SIM cards, and that info will be given to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). Question: How do we know the SIM card buyers will give their true identities or names to the sellers? Methinks the best way to solve the problem is to compel the buyer to present his government ID card.
* * * The Philippine Navy recently retired two of its World War IIera warships, BRP Magat Salamat and BRP Miguel Malvar, during rites held in Sangley Point, Cavite. Both ships were used by our Navy for 44 years and 10 months. The United States Navy commissioned the two ships 77 years ago, transferred them to the defunct Republic of South Vietnam, and from there they were handed down to the Philippine Navy. The Philippines was given hand-me-down ships that were earlier given to another country; so pathetic! Beggars, that’s how the US treats us, their long-time allies who stood with them in the Second World War. In hindsight, can you blame President Digong for pivoting to China, which he thought (apparently wrongly) would treat us as their equal? (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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SFIO closes $5M series of global distribution partnerships for premium beverages and New Zealand Manuka honey GLOBAL asset management company Starfleet Innotech, Inc. (OTC: SFIO-Smokefree Innotec, Inc.) entered into a partnership last month with food ingredients supplier Annapolis Co., Ltd., granting SFIO distribution rights over a suite of products under their premium beverage solutions brand LongBeach. This is the latest in a series of agreements the asset company has signed, following a similar arrangement with SFIO’s New Zealand-based subsidiary Gorgeous Coffee Co. Altogether, these partnerships are projected to launch SFIO towards their $100 million revenue target by the end of 2022. With this latest partnership, Thailand’s leading premium ingredients supplier for beverages and bakeries, Annapolis Co., Ltd., will see its LongBeach brand premium purees, syrups, sauces, powders, and teas sold across SFIO’s sprawling food service network in Australia and New Zealand. According to the latest data from Statista, despite the ongoing pandemic, Australia and New Zealand’s cafes, restaurants, and takeaway food services together present a roughly $36 billion market, which is expected to grow steadily over the next few years. Beginning January 2022, SFIO will be the sole distributor of LongBeach products across these two markets’ thriving food service industries. The company expects this deal alone to bring in up to $5 million in additional revenue for SFIO’s food and beverage division. Earlier this year, SFIO established a global expansion roadmap for their fully-owned sub-
sidiary Gorgeous Coffee Co. that would see New Zealand Manuka honey and a premium health brand of 5-in-1 Instant Coffee reaching U.S. shelves as early as next year. New Zealand’s Manuka honey, considered the best in the world, is a highly valued, energy-boosting superfood boasting a distinct earthy flavor and health benefits such as antioxidants, probiotics, and antibacterial support. The honey is graded according to a global potency scale called the Unique Manuka Factor, or UMF. Come January 2022, SFIO will be distributing Manuka honey variants, including UMF 5+, UMF 10+, UMF 15+, and UMF 20+. Revenues from this arrangement are expected to reach $1 million by the end of 2022. Samples of the Manuka honey products have already been shipped to the United States and parts of the United Arab Emirates, with SFIO currently working on sending more to other countries across Asia. Similarly, Gorgeous Coffee Co.’s 5-in-1 Instant Coffee will be exported across the United States, Australia, and Asia, including the United Arab Emir-
ates. The product is a healthful mix of premium Arabica coffee, Manuka honey, barley grass, non-dairy MCT creamer, and Stevia. In addition to the benefits of Manuka honey, the instant coffee mix claims to aid in digestion, reduce inflammation, and boost immunity thanks to its barley components. Followers of the popular keto diet will also appreciate the instant coffee’s MCT creamer, an easy-to-digest alternative to traditional dairy. The instant coffee product is expected to bring in at least $2 million in additional revenue for SFIO. Samples have already been sent to potential partners in the United States. These partnerships play into the asset management company’s long-term ecosystem strategy, which prioritizes high-value synergies across its growing portfolio of companies. Leveraging the expanding footprint of its food and beverage businesses, including flagship franchise business Epiphany Cafe, these products will be rapidly stocking shelves across the globe as early as the first quarter of next year.
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A powerful performance and triumphant Top 5 Miss Universe finish By ChrIstIna
alpaD ManilaTimes.net
A Filipina goddess indeed. Photo from Instagram/@francislibiran
BeATRiCe luigi Gomez may not have won the Philippines’ fifth Miss Universe crown at the pageant’s 70th coronation night in eilat, israel but she is considered a triumph for this pageant-loving nation just the same. for not only did the Cebuana beauty land a triumphant Top 5 finish amid very tough competition this year but she gave the Philippines its best standing in the contest since Catriona Gray won the crown in 2018. Gomez was a stunner from the onset but shined even brighter when host Steve Harvey called her to the Top 15 circle and asked after her tattoo. “The tattoo that you’re talking about is the one that i’m wearing on my sleeve. it actually means rebirth and new beginnings. So this is a cherry blossom, i got it on my 23rd birthday and i got it to celebrate my womanhood.”
During the swimsuit competition, Gomez was the picture perfect lady in a modest red one-piece. Her confident walk and sweet smile earned her a spot in the Top 10. The 26-year-old then wowed the crowd with her ethereal gold gown by francis libiran, looking every bit a winner. She was a shoo-in to the Top 5. While getting the short end of the stick with a highly political and controversial question, Gomez, who was last to draw a card among her fellow finalists, nonetheless delivered a well-formed and clearly justified answer regarding her opinion on the need for vaccine passports. All in all, Beatrice luigi Gomez delivered a powerful performance in the competition of her young life, and with the grace, eloquence and quiet dignity she showed, this filipina — just liker gown — is sure to have a dazzling future ahead. Salamat at mabuhay ka Bea Gomez!
Kate wants to give comedy a try By Jerry
Donato Philstar.com
ACTORS and performers, who come from across generations and genres, can attest to how cutthroat and competitive the showbiz world is. Aside from having luck and possessing talent, they have
to remain committed to their craft and play their roles with passion. Kate Valdez knows the ABCs of all this and follows every detail of it. That’s why she remains a visible GMA Artist Center talent for the past six years, traversing from the old normal to the new normal. The
Kapuso network always has something for her to sink her teeth into. Kate was recently seen in the Afternoon Prime series, Stories from the Heart: love on Air, with Khalil Ramos and Gabbi Garcia in the lead roles. “My character Joan is very Continued on Page 11
1st ConGen’s Masters Cup a major success By Manny
V. Ilagan
GOlfeRS and sponsors, including guests and supporters of the ConGen’s Masters Cup Golf Tournament held on Monday, December 6 at the los Coyotes Country Club, an exclusive for-membersonly club in Buena Park, CA, are hailing the event as a major success, with many already looking forward for another event next year. Philippine Consul General edgar Badajos kicked off the ConGen’s Masters Cup with his opening speech and ceremonial tee shot at 10:30 a.m. before everyone was sent to their starting hole. The sold-out tournament registered a record 192 golfers coming from various golfers organizations, including eagle High Golf Club, fil-Am Golf Tours, Apo Golf USA,19th Tee Golf Club, United Pinoy Golf Club, fil Am Mason Club, Salami Boys Club, Superior Golf Club, Par 2000 Golf Club, Brilliant lions Golf Club, Moreno Valley Golf Club, and Noypitz Golf Club. Officially launched in October by the filipino American Community of los
Angeles (FACLA) headed by Ms. Trini foliente in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate General-los Angeles, the golf tournament attracted as much as 300 participants who were eagerly anticipating a sports event among the filipino-American community after a long hiatus due to the COViD-19 pandemic. Consul General edgar Badajos has nothing but good words and praises to the organizing committee and all those who made the first ConGen’s Masters Cup 2021 Golf Tournament an overwhelming success. “A lot of effort goes into the planning of this event, the sponsors were extremely generous, and the golfers
were fantastic,” he said. everybody had so much fun that the crowd erupted in wild applause and cheers when ConGen Badajos suggested that a follow up event to the highly successful golf tournament is already in the planning board. The golfers, guests and sponsors were treated to a dinner following the tournament, followed by a fashion show directed by filipino fashion designer Laura Santos. Christine Love and felton Palad provided entertainment and holiday cheers to the event by singing Christmas songs. The highlight of the evening was the awarding of trophies to the winners of Continued on Page 9
Having a famous last name a double-edged sword for newbie Jolo Estrada By AllAn
PolicArPio Inquirer.net
DESPITE the political rivalry of their elders, Jolo Estrada said there was no awkwardness between him and Joaquin Domagoso on the set of a recent TV project. “There were no issues. Sa parents ko, OK naman. That’s part of the industry—you work with different people. And I’m willing to work with anyone,” the aspiring actor said in a recent Zoom group interview to promote “Ethan’s Return,” this afternoon’s episode of GMA 7’s weekly anthology, “Regal Studio Presents.” Jolo’s grandfather is former president Joseph Estrada, who was unseated by Joaquin’s father, Isko Moreno, as Mayor of Manila in the Continued on Page 10
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 15, 2021
By Bot
Glorioso Philstar.com
Jolo Estrada
Photo from Instagram/@jolo
1st ConGen’s Masters Cup... From Page 8 the tournament. Tournament winners based on the Callaway System are: Overall Gross – Dan Cruz (70); Overall Low Net – John Jones (85/64); Class A Gross – Ryan Sarmiento (75); Class A Low Net – Alex Gamboa (76/65); Class B Gross -Cesar Victor (87); Class B Low Net – Sam Sampilo (89/69); Class C Gross – Brent Quines (91); Class C Low Net – Lauro Adriano (94/67) Winners under System36 include: Rolando Vilela, Class A Champion; TJ Baguna, Class A Runner Up; E. Medina, Class B Champion; A. Agoncillo, Class B Runner Up; Joshuade Guzman, Class C Champion; and Edgar Badajos, Class C Runner Up. Closest to the PIN winners include: Pin Valley #2 – Al Portillo; Closest to Pin Valley #5 – Melbourne Lopez; Closest to Pin Vista #3 – John Jones; Closest to Pin Vista #7 – Jim Ona; Closest to Pin Lake #3 – Cesar Victor; Closest to Pin Lake #5 – Gil Aguila; and Closest to Pin Lake #7 – Mack Macaraeg. In the ladies category, Josephine Puckett scored 94/76.
entertainment 9 AJ tired of all the bashing, takes social media detox
The following major prizes were raffled off: 1. One-round trip ticket to the Philippines, courtesy of Philippine Airlines 2. One domestic round-trip ticket to any of the 48 states plus Canada, courtesy of GTT Travel & Tours 3. 2-night hotel stay at Diamond Hotel plus a round of golf at Luisita Golf Course with complimentary hotel-to-golf-course-tohotel transfers, courtesy of Rajah Tours The ConGen’s Master Cup Golf Tournament was a joint project of the Filipino-American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) and the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles to benefit the following: 1) FACLA, for its economic recovery and building upgrade, and 2) Apo Global Foundation’s Livelihood Program for the Dumagats, one of the impoverished indigenous tribes in the Philippines. FACLA is a 501(c-3) non-profit and is the oldest Filipino-American organization in Los Angeles, which serves the diverse Filipino American communities in the city in various capacities.
AJ Raval said she has no idea about the news that she’s one of YouTube’s top breakout creators in the Philippines. She’s also clueless that her name landed the third spot on the country’s list of most-searched female personalities on Google this year. This is because AJ has decided to go on social media detox. “I’m happy and thankful for being included (in the list) but honestly, wala po akong balita sa social media. I only learned all of these from you,” began AJ during the virtual media call for her latest Vivamax starrer titled Crush Kong Curly, opposite Wilbert Ross. And while she appeared “active” on social media, AJ said she’s not the one but her administrator who’s handling her accounts. Although she never made her departure official, the actress’ move stemmed from taking much heat from netizens after recently getting involved in controversies. “Meron mang pong galit sa akin, meron rin pong natutuwa kaya sobrang grateful at thankful ako sa mga boss (Viva execs) for the trust at lalo na sa mga fans na sumuporta sa akin,” she added. Even if there are some quarters who have misconceptions about her, AJ has chosen to remain silent. “Tungkol sa mga nangyayari ngayon siguro po na-mi-misinterpret nila at naiintindihan ko rin po yung mga tao. Na-pi-feed po sila ng mga lumalabas sa social media kahit di po totoo, pinapaniwalaan po nila. Lumaki po ako sa pamilya ng mga lalaki, so one of the boys po talaga ko — barkada ko mga lalaki, mga kapatid ko halos lahat lalaki na kasabay ko pong lumaki, so sa part po na ‘yan, parang tine-take na negative
once a bullied ugly duckling and now the hottest celebrity vlogger in the country. She believes that sex is power and she knows how to use it well – be it in public or private shows. She will do anything for her family. She works hard to be able to build their dream home. But her grandmother doesn’t know what she does for a living. Elle’s friends are supportive of her, no matter how wild she gets. Her first love broke her heart, but she’s not afraid to fall in love again. And while she waits for “the one,” she will just keep opening her legs. And that’s exactly how Peter (Wilbert) finds her – legs wide open, AJ Raval Photo from Instagram/@ajravsss lying on the floor, clad in skimpy dress. Peter is an architect who ng mga tao.” However, the sexy Viva tal- just moved into Elle’s neighborhood. The two get to ent didn’t expect to become know each other until and controversial this early in her eventually fall in love. career and the nasty talks “Gusto ko po sa lalaki first hurled against her caused her is masipag, mabait at maresto suffer from mental breakpeto,” said AJ of the qualities down. that will make her fall in love “I am tired of the bashwith a man. ings. I am even receiving The romantic comedeath threats,” said she. dy movie, directed by GB “There are so many people Sampedro and written by who are mad at me. Yes, I Conn Escobar, might once admit I’m affected by what’s again have people talking, eshappening, but as days went pecially with the sexy scenes by, I realized that no matter of AJ and Wilbert, but before how hard I’d try to explain, tongues start wagging, direk not everyone would underGB said all the scenes were stand my situation.” done in good taste. “Whatever some people Prior to the shoot, the diare thinking about me, I’ll just let them,” added she. “Some rector had several discussions with AJ and Wilbert about will still choose to twist the their acting approach to the facts, so I’d rather not prove scenes. She revealed that myself to them anymore. I they also underwent acting know my worth and that’s workshops. the most important. Ayoko Asked what she can tell na umabot sa point na hindi people who might judge her ako makatulog o makakain after watching the movie, AJ because of the bashings.” replied, “Sa sitwasyon ko po, According to AJ, her siguro deadma na lang to character in Crush Kong Curly those who love to judge. We shares some similarities with have no right to judge anyone her. “We’re both into streaming because before, I also wear since we do not know what’s really going on. Hindi po nacostumes in game streaming, tin alam bakit nangyayari ang pero hindi po ako nagpaganung bagay. So, I’ll try not pa-sexy sa mga streaming.” to get affected.” In the movie, AJ is Elle,
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 15, 2021
Having a famous last name a... From Page 9 2019 elections. This newbie is the son of Jinggoy Estrada. “At first, he wasn’t aware that I’m [Erap’s] grandson. During a break from taping, I told him that I know his father who’s a very nice guy. He was like, ‘How do know my dad?’
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Then, a coactor said Erap’s my grandfather. That was when he realized that our families have a history,” he related. Working together But whatever happened between their elders clearly hasn’t rubbed off on Jolo and Joaquin. “JD (Joaquin’s
nickname) is easy to work with. Sobrang bait,” Jolo said. “Ethan’s Return,” which airs this afternoon, will be Jolo’s TV debut. In the drama-fantasy episode, Jolo plays Clark, a man whose dreams get shattered, after the mysterious return of his fiancee Grace’s (Thea Tolentino) childhood sweetheart Ethan, who had died in an accident 10 years ago. “I’ve always wanted to act, but didn’t have the opportunity. But one day, my manager, Leo Domingo, told me that there was an opening. It may be my last chance, because I’m not getting any younger,” said the 26-yearold newcomer, who took workshops to help him in his foray into acting. “What I’ve learned from the workshops is that you have to find experience and reach into your heart to find something you can draw upon,” he said. “When I get my script, I lock myself up in the bathroom and act out the scene.” No pressure But he’s starting to get the hang of it, slowly but surely. “I’ve had some guest appearances in the past, but this is the first proper series I did where I would actually get to see myself act. I’m nervous,” he said. Does he feel pressure from the fact that he’s part of a famous show biz and political clan? “There’s no pressure from the family. They just tell me to do my best. But I pressure myself to be good,” said Jolo, who also dreams of becoming a host. It helps that his uncle, Jake Ejercito, is also on the same boat. “He’s still new to acting but he has had more experience than me. We get to talk about work and he gives me tips,” he said. Their famous last name can be a double-edged sword. “It’s a blessing because we come from a family who’s known in show biz. The downside is that people watch your every move and the expectations are high,” he said.
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FOR RENT
A Christmas story: The Innkeeper’s untold tale Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA JOSHUA was excited with his new job at the inn. It sure beats having to herd sheep this time of the year when the cold nights chilled his bones on the hillside pasture where he tended his family’s small herd of sheep and cattle. The job fell to his younger brother this time. Jacob, the owner of the inn was his father’s friend who had asked if Joshua could help him mind the inn for a little while as he and his wife will be going on a long journey. Jacob liked and trusted Joshua like the son he never had. The young man was a good worker and a natural who quickly picked up the ropes of the business. Not long after, Jacob and his wife left for their journey to the town north of the country where they were born many miles away to comply with the Roman emperor Augustus’ decree that everyone be counted for the census. Few, if any, in Israel dared disobey the mighty Roman Empire. The inn was busy. People for miles around were on the move going back to their own hometowns. The brisk business brought by overnight travellers in their otherwise sleepy town tired him out. Yet, he felt pretty proud of himself of the work he was doing. Today, just before sundown, he had filled the 12 modestly furnished rooms with tired and hungry travellers. He thought of meeting up with his shepherd friends in the pasture once he had turned over the inn’s affairs to the night attendant. He had heard his shepherd friends on night watch talk about an unusually bright star that has been moving in the heavens for many nights now. They said it was a spectacle to behold and he wanted to see it for himself. The rumor buzzing around
“As he told the story of that wondrous night to Luke, Joshua carefully removed himself from the narrative. It was to be between him and God alone.” town was that the soothsayers in King Herod’s palace studying the unusual heavenly display were cowering in fear, loathe to tell the king the meaning of the unusual star. Eventually, they had to tell the king for nothing escapes him. Herod did not suffer fools gladly. The prophecy will come to pass. The king to rule all kings was to be born very soon within the kingdom. It was no wonder King Herod was in a vicious mood. Joshua thought the ruthless king would remove all threats to his kingship by all means fair or foul. It was bad enough he had to bow to the superior might of the Roman conquerors who had allowed him to be king within his territory. Just as Joshua was about to lock up for the night, a couple came in. The man, visibly tired and leaning on his staff with one hand, was supporting the woman who was heavy with child with his other hand. The woman looked to be in some pain. Still, Joshua noted the stately calm, grace and beauty about her. There was this mysterious glow. The man asked Joshua for a room and told him his wife was about to give birth. Alas, the last room has been let and Joshua told him so. Joshua glanced at the woman and his heart was filled with pity. He thought quickly of his own home for them to stay for the night but it was some distance away. He had to think and act quickly. It looks like the woman was about to give birth at any moment. Joshua had seen to his own mother at childbirth. He had helped his own father deliver some of his brothers himself. “Maybe, I have something
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for you. It’s not much but it would get you through this cold night at least,” he told the couple. “Come with me.” Joshua gathered some blankets and sheets quickly. He gave instructions to his attendant to heat water. He then gathered food and other provisions. He moved in haste leading the couple to an empty stable a few yards at the back of the inn. Earlier in the day before the sun was up, he took to clearing the stable himself. He didn’t know why he did it. But now he was glad he did so. He thought the squalid stable with its walls and roof can shield this poor couple from the cold night as the woman delivers her child. Joshua gave the man the blankets and clean sheets, the warm water and some extra oil for the lamp to burn through the night. He set a makeshift table for the bread, fish and wine and lit the lamp in one corner. He moved quickly as he helped the man make his wife comfortable. He could see the woman’s face etched in pain for the birth pangs seem to be stronger now. Beads of sweat lined the woman’s brow. He knew he wasn’t going to be able to meet up with his friends tonight. Somehow he knew his place was right here where he was needed for the long night ahead. Just before he went back to the inn to fetch a few more things, he said to them, “I’m Joshua. Let me know if you need anything else.” The man replied, “I’m Joseph and this is Mary. Thank you. You have done more than you can possibly know. The Lord’s light burns bright in you.” Mary looked up at Joshua and Continued on Page 11
When is my community prenuptial agreement Kate wants to give comedy a try... not enforceable?
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 15, 2021
Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes MANY people are of the perception that simply downloading a prenuptial agreement from the internet and signing it with their fiance offers them a bullet proof protection from a divorce. What many people do not know is that certain statutory requirements must be met in order for the prenuptial agreement to be valid and to withstand attack in court by your future spouse’s lawyer. Family Code Section 1615 provides that a prenuptial agreement is not enforceable if the party against whom enforcement is sought proves either of the following (1) that party did not execute the agreement voluntarily or (2) The agreement was unconscionable when it was executed and, before execution of the agreement, all of the following applied to that party:(A) That party was not provided a fair, reasonable, and full disclosure of the property or financial obligations of the other party. (B) That party did not voluntarily and expressly waive, in writing, any right to disclosure of the property or financial obligations of the other party beyond the disclosure provided.(C) That party did not have, or reasonably could not have had, an adequate knowledge of the property or financial obligations of the other party. The issue of unconscionability shall be decided by the court as a matter of law. A prenuptial agreement shall be deemed not executed voluntarily unless the court finds in writing or on the record all of the following: (1) The party against whom enforcement is sought was represented by independent legal counsel at the time of signing the agreement or, after being advised to seek independent legal counsel, expressly waived, in a separate writing, representation by independent legal counsel. The advisement to seek independent legal counsel shall be made at least seven calendar days before the final agreement is signed. (2) One of the following:(A) For an agreement executed between January 1, 2002, and January 1, 2020, the party against whom enforcement is sought had not less than seven calendar days between the time that party was first presented with the final agreement and advised to seek independent legal counsel and the time the agreement was signed. (B) For an agreement executed on or after January 1, 2020,
the party against whom enforcement is sought had not less than seven calendar days between the time that party was first presented with the final agreement and the time the agreement was signed, regardless of whether the party is represented by legal counsel. (3) The party against whom enforcement is sought, if unrepresented by legal counsel, was fully informed of the terms and basic effect of the agreement as well as the rights and obligations the party was giving up by signing the agreement, and was proficient in the language in which the explanation of the party’s rights was conducted and in which the agreement was written. The explanation of the rights and obligations relinquished shall be memorialized in writing and delivered to the party prior to signing the agreement. The unrepresented party shall, on or before the signing of the premarital agreement, execute a document declaring that the party received the information required by this paragraph and indicating who provided that information. (4) The prenuptial agreement was not executed under duress, fraud, or undue influence, and the parties did not lack capacity to enter into the agreement. Having both you and your fiance represented by separate counsel during the drafting and execution of your prenuptial agreement can help avoid any of the problems noted above which will can result to your prenuptial agreement being found to be invalid by the court during your divorce proceeding and your assets divided according to California community property law.
*** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APLC is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com. Visit our website at kenreyeslaw.com. (Advertising Supplement)
A Christmas story... From Page 10 smiled through her pain. For as long as he lived, Joshua will never forget that smile. Mary’s child was born that night. Joshua could not remember a night more filled with wonder, mystery and myriad points of light. It was a night like no other. Joshua’s entire being was engulfed with the mystery happening before his very eyes. He remembered Mary wrapping her child gently in swaddling clothes and placing the child in a manger. The child was bathed in light. The whole stable was filled with warmth. Soft, sweet music seem to emanate from a choir of angels above the stable and a sweet heavenly fragrance wafted through the air. Joshua’s shepherd friends came to visit the child. How could they have known? His friends told him that an angel told them about the good news. They were led to the stable where they found the child. Filled with awe, they knelt before the child who was to be king. Later on that night, three men garbed in royal splendor and bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh travelling from afar, came to pay the child homage. They had been following the bright star hovering about the heavens for many nights
leading them to that dusty town called Bethlehem. Many years later in his old age, the memory of that night still stayed with Joshua. He had remained the innkeeper. He had struck a friendship with a man called Luke, a physician who was a regular guest at the inn. He observed that the thoughtful, quiet Luke was always writing in rolls of papyrus in his room. Not wanting to keep the wonders of that night to be forgotten when he passed, Joshua told the story to Luke. As he told the story of that wondrous night, Joshua carefully removed himself from the narrative. It was to be between him and God alone. Joshua’s life was never the same again. The light of that bright night burned in his soul forever. He could not have known at the time he was witness to the unfolding of the greatest mystery on earth. May the true Spirit of Christmas live in our hearts all year round! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL! *** 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.
*** Nota Bene: To send feedback, email monette.maglaya@asianjournalinc.com
From Page 8 jolly,” said the actress, who renewed her contract with GMA more than a week ago, in a recent virtual press conference. “She’s like a (ray of) sunshine to DJ Jojo (Khalil), I was happy (playing) the DJ character since it was new to me, and malapit din siya sa personality ko.” Her Joan is a departure from her kontrabida characters, whom she “played to the hilt.” She responded to every inquiry thrown at her with a smile, which defined more her chinita looks, and revealed her happiness gracing the event. “To be honest, I’m very content with the opportunities that have been given to me,” Kate looked back on. “So far, sa lahat ng mga opportunities na binibigay nila sa akin ay talaga namang tumatatak sa tao, dun ako nakikilala sa mga binibigay nilang roles sa akin. I’m just so blessed and happy to be given such trust.” The Kapuso talent considered acting in Destiny Rose the highlight of her then budding career. “It gave me the experience to (know) what it was like to be an actor,” said she, who, from her first drama show, jumped from one acting project to another. “Hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala and I just feel so blessed that GMA has
After her first acting stint in Destiny Rose, Kate has jumped from one project to another. The GMA Artist Center talent is open to try her hand at other things like hosting, but wants to focus on acting. Photo from Instagram/@valdezkate_
given me the chance to still work as a Kapuso,” Kate reflected on her successful showbiz career run. In fact, her journey did take off without any game plan of sort, but with a courage to try something new. “I didn’t expect that I would be an artista, I just tried my luck to go to VTRs and screenings, in which I got to meet more
talented and physically attractive aspirants,” recalled she. After doing a series of auditions and reaching the final screening, GMA, to her surprise, offered Kate a contract. “Napa-question ako. Ano’ng nakita ninyo sa akin to give me the chance and opportunity to get myself trained as an actor,” said she, who, at first, thought of everything surreal. Well, Lady Luck was on her side and spared her from making more attempts to enter showbiz. It’s safe to say that Kate has valued that chance. To bring her A-game to every assignment, she did immerse herself in workshops available to her. Kate’s firstever workshop gave her the rudiments or foundations of the craft she would later on enjoy. She had to subject herself to different acting exercises to understand “a palette of emotions,” as she put it, that will prepare her for all possible roles. Kate was able to create an imaginary file of emotions and a means to access it. “I learned that all emotions one feels are valid, it’s OK to be mad,” said she in the context of surfacing the emotion of a character and in telling the latter’s story. “It’s OK to be sad, (feeling) any positive and negative emotions is OK. This rainbow of emotions is (what)
we need to experience for us (actors) to be open every time roles are given to us, it’s OK to be vulnerable (in this sense).” Looking to the immediate future, Kate said that she’s open to doing other things like hosting, but wants to focus on acting. “For me, I would like to give comedy a try kasi I find it (making people laugh with you and at you) challenging, although I’ve done guestings in shows like Dear Uge, which are light shows. Gusto ko ma-work yung genre na yun. Since I have sharp features, lagi akong napupunta sa maldita, kontrabida (roles). I want to try it,” added she. As for possible team-ups in the future or the new normal, Kate would leave everything to her network in tapping the right Kapuso actors for her. She added that embracing the new-normal taping was her most memorable experience during the pandemic. “It’s very challenging, there’s a lock-in, you’ll be quarantined in a hotel first before you head to the location, hindi siya madali at yun ang tumatak sa akin… lahat ay nag-adjust at nag-aadjust pa rin hanggang ngayon,” she said. Her greatest achievement for this year, however, was receiving blessings like work in spite of the pandemic. “I’m still blessed that there’s work that comes my way,” she concluded.