2 december 22-24, 2021 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL
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From the Front Page
Fallen electric pylons block a road while a sign asking for food (L) is displayed along a road in Surigao City, Surigao del norte province, on Sunday, Dec. 19, days after Super Typhoon Odette devastated the city. Photo courtesy of AFP
PNP reports 305 typhoon... PAGE 1 our deepest sympathies go out to those who lost so much, including loved ones,” Gonzalez said. He commended the frontline responders “led by government authorities, armed forces, the Red Cross, and others involved
in evacuation, search, and rescue efforts in very difficult circumstances and logistics.” “We are coordinating with the government authorities to ensure we provide timely support and are fully mobilized in addressing critical gaps and the needs of the most vulnerable,”
Gonzalez continued. He added that “a coordinated response by the UN agencies, NGOs and private sector partners in country was already underway to meet immediate needs in shelter, health, food, protection and other life-saving responses.” n
Pope Francis prays for victims of Typhoon...
PAGE 1 Siargao Island on Thursday, December 16, before ravaging other provinces including Cebu, Bohol, and Palawan.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that over 1.8 million people were affected by Typhoon Odette. n
PAL: Returning Filipinos might cancel... PAGE 1 daily cap to 10,000 passengers to allow them to serve strong demand during the busy Christmas holidays. After the Omicron coronavirus variant was detected overseas, the plan was put on hold. In its statement, PAL continued to urge the government to raise the limit on international arrivals. PAL’s share amounted to a fourth of the daily cap—or 1,200 passengers per day— to cover flights from at least 22 cities in the Middle East, North America, Asia and Australia.
“We maintain our appeal to allow more arrivals to address the crying need to bring our compatriots home at this special time of the year,” Lee said.” We will do all we can to work with the government authorities, including assistance with quarantine hotel bookings, to achieve this.” “Indeed, we are very grateful for the support that our government has extended in recent weeks, and we have made full use of alternate gateways in Subic, Davao, Cebu and Bohol to cater to the peak season arrivals,” Lee added.
The flag carrier earlier appealed for a higher cap to accommodate the thousands of returning Filipinos. It also provided assurances that all OFWs would have pre-arranged hotel bookings above those set by the Overseas Welfare Workers’ Administration. “The flag carrier is left with no choice but to cancel certain flights to comply with the stricter limits on certain days. An unplanned shortage in quarantine hotel rooms allotted for OFWs has limited the ability of OWWA to absorb arrivals from OFW-heavy countries,” PAL said. n
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SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • deCembeR 22-24, 2021
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3 Fil-Ams among commissioners to Biden’s... Philippine Airlines wins US court approval...
PAGE 1 social determinants of health. ICHS has received awards for its high quality of care and Batayola has been recognized in the Puget Sound Business Journal’s Award for Outstanding Business & Philanthropic Contributions, Woman of Courage Undaunted from the University of Washington Women’s Center, and the Filipino Women’s Network’s Most Influential Filipino Woman in the World. Blue retired from the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) in August 2020 after serving as an Executive Vice President for four years, one of the highest ranking AAPI officials in the labor movement. During her term was responsible for the SEIU Asian Pacific Islanders Civic Engagement and Leadership program, a member of the Racial Justice Task Force, chair of the Environmental and Climate Justice Committee, and chair of the Ethical Culture Committee. She served on the SEIU Executive Board prior to her election as Executive Vice President. Luisa continues to be active in the community and serves on the Asian Health Services Community Board, a Trustee on Alameda County Health Systems Board of Trustees, and Vice President of the AAPI Victory Alliance Board. Luisa is the proud grandmother of seven grandchildren. The Commission will advise the president on ways the public,
(L-R) Amy Agbayani, Teresita Batayola and Luisa Blue will be commissioners of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
private, and non-profit sectors can work together to advance equity and opportunity for every Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community. The Commission is also charged with advising the president on policies to address anti-Asian xenophobia and violence, ways to build capacity in AANHPI communities through federal grantmaking and policies to address the intersectional barriers that AANHPI women, LGBTQ+ people, and people with disabilities face. The Commission will include civic leaders from across the country and will reflect the rich diversity of AANHPI communities across the United States. Other commissioners include Ajay Bhutoria, Kimberly Chang, Emily Chen, Daniel Dae Kim, Kerry Doi, Grace Huang, Victoria
Huynh, Mia Ives-Rublee, Kamal Kalsi, Michelle Kauhane, Kevin Kim, Sarah Min, Simon Pang, Ai-jen Poo, Naheed Qureshi, Raynald Samoa, Sonal Shah, Smita Shah, Robert Underwood, and KaYing Yang. Biden on May 28 signed Executive Order 14031, “Advancing Equity, Justice, and Opportunity for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders” to establish the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) and deliver on his commitment to reinstate and reinvigorate this historic Initiative. The Commission is co-chaired by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and the U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai. n
ALERT LEVEL. Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr. (right), National Task Force against Covid-19 Chief Implementer, reminds the public not to put their guard down though COVID-19 cases are going down during the press conference of the Bayanihan Bakunahan 2 at the SM City in Tatay, Rizal on Monday, December 20. Galvez said Metro Manila will remain under Alert Level 2 for the rest of the year despite the detection of a third Omicron variant case in the country. PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.
PAGE 1 public, navigating the continuing challenges of the pandemic and economic recovery, and sustaining the links that connect our archipelago.” The consensual Plan was accepted by 100% of the votes cast, which were from PAL’s primary aircraft lessors and lenders, original equipment manufacturers and maintenance, repair, and overhaul service providers, and certain funded debt lenders. The Plan provides for over US$2.0 billion in permanent balance sheet reductions from existing creditors, allows PAL to consensually contract fleet capacity by 25%, improves PAL’s critical operational agreements and includes US$505 million investment in long-term equity and debt financing from PAL’s majority shareholder. The effective date of the Plan is expected to occur before the end of 2021. PAL continues to operate flights to 32 international and 29 domestic destinations from its hubs in Manila, Cebu and Davao. The Philippine flag carrier expects to restore more routes and increase flight frequencies as travel restrictions ease and borders reopen. Following implementation of the Plan, PAL will be better positioned to capture travel demand and serve the needs of global citizens, actively contributing to the Philippine economy. Filing entities Philippine Airlines Inc. is the only party included in the Chapter 11 filing; while PAL Holdings Inc., which is listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE: PHI), and Air Philippines Corporation, known as PAL Express, are not included in the Chapter 11 filing. Court filings and other documents related to the Chapter 11 process in the U.S. are available on a separate website administered by PAL’s claims agent, KCC, at www. kccllc.net/PAL. Information is also available by calling (866) 967-0671 (U.S./Canada) or (310) 751-2671 (International). Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP and Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz (ACCRA) are acting as legal advisors and Seabury Securities LLC as financial advisor and investment banker to the Company. (AJPress)
Inquirer.net file photo
4 december 22-24, 2021 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL
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RESBAKUNA. Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. (left), National Task Force Against Covid-19 chief implementer, and U.S. Embassy ad interim Chargé d’Affaires Heather Variava (right) do the Resbakuna sign during the arrival of 1,776,060 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine donated by the United States government through the COVAX Facility at NAIA Terminal 3 on Monday, December 20. The Philippines has received more than 64.7 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines through the COVAX Facility and bilateral donations from other countries. PNA photo by Avito Dalan
Mayor Garcetti signs directive to improve... PAGE 1 English speaking communities. During the signing on December 16, the mayor was joined by representatives of various city departments, including LA Board of Public Works Commissioner Jessica Caloza, the first Filipina American in the role. The Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles is providing critical support to launch and build out this effort. “The Mayor’s Fund partners with government, philanthropy, community-based non-profits, and individual Angelenos to support initiatives that deliver
true impact,” said Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles President & CEO Deidre Lind. “We are proud to support this initiative, which is a huge step toward ensuring City Hall equitably serves all Angelenos.” Through this directive, all departments must designate a liaison who will participate in a Citywide Language Access Working Group led by a Language Access Coordinator. The Working Group will focus on improving access to City information, programs, and services for Angelenos who do not speak English or have
a limited understanding of the language. Los Angeles is home to 538,800 immigrant residents designated as English Language learners, who represent over 37% of the immigrant Angeleno population. This directive seeks to ensure that those Angelenos have equal access to information and services. Most recently, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Garcetti launched multilingual rapid response efforts to ensure that all Angelenos had access to life-saving information and resources. n
Fil-Am named deputy chief of Los Angeles... PAGE 1 department and met retired LAPD officers who encouraged him to explore a law enforcement career. He applied and was accepted into the LAPD Academy, where he graduated from in the fall of 1995. He completed his probation in the Pacific Division, before being assigned to the Devonshire station, which covers Canoga Park, Chatsworth, Granada Hills, Northridge, North Hills, Porter Ranch, West Hills and Winnetka. “I thought I was going to do this for about 10 years…take my
pension and then walk away,” Graham told the Asian Journal in a 2019 interview. “But like any corny story, you fall in love and I fell in love with doing this job.” Graham spent nine years as an officer in the Devonshire territory before being promoted to sergeant in the Southeast Division in 2006, sergeant II as a commander’s aide in the office of operations two years later, and then lieutenant in 2012 in the West Valley Patrol Division. The Fil-Am officer rose the ranks from captain to area commanding officer in North
Hollywood before rising to commander in 2019. “As a Filipino American, as a New Jersey American, I can’t imagine having done anything else with…my life. This is the most incredible job, not just because it’s different every day, not just because there’s this visceral idea that people who prey on other people are the people who are afraid of us. Trust me, it’s a visceral feeling. But really what is the key to this job is how many people who have come back and have said ‘thank you,’” Graham said in a previous interview. n
SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • deCembeR 22-24, 2021
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6 DECEMBER 22-24, 2021 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL
OPINION
An industry in the ICU
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FEATURES
BUSINESSES are coming back to life as pandemic restrictions are eased. One industry, however, has been in the intensive care unit even before COVID struck: the fireworks manufacturers and dealers, based mostly in Bulacan. The government must decide whether it wants to get the industry out of the ICU or just have it incinerated for good. As part of efforts to make the New Year revelry safe, the government has discouraged the use of firecrackers, imposing a ban on potentially deadly products and tightening regulation of the manufacture, distribution and sale. From Dec. 21, 2020 to Jan. 1, 2021, the fireworks-related injuries were down 85 percent from the previous year, from 340 cases to just 49, with no cases of fireworks ingestion or death. The industry, however, blames injuries and deaths on substandard or unsafe products churned out by unlicensed operators. At stake, according to industry players, are the livelihoods of an estimated 200,000 people not only in Bulacan but also in other areas where fireworks are made or distributed. Industry players have lamented that law enforcers and consumers alike have been confused by the passage of Republic Act 7183 in 1992 and the release of Executive Order 28 in 2017 by
President Duterte. RA 7183 and the EO regulate the manufacture, sale and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices, but some people erroneously think the law and EO have banned the products altogether. Industry players also lament the proliferation of mom-and-pop backyard enterprises that produce firecrackers in dangerous environments, with some employing even minors. The result is the proliferation of substandard or unsafe products. RA 7183 seeks to impose quality controls on the industry, but unlicensed operators continue to undermine the law. Even before the sale and use of fireworks were tightened, poor quality control had made the industry suffer from imported competition. The flood of imports prompted calls for the industry to develop export-quality products. Around the world, firecrackers and other pyrotechnics continue to be widely used during celebrations. As another New Year in the time of COVID
Editorial
Philstar.com photo
approaches, the beleaguered fireworks industry will be meeting with authorities to discuss the proper implementation of the law and EO. At the same time, the government must decide whether
it should provide assistance to an industry in the development of products that are not only safe to use in the country but also of such quality that they can compete with the world’s best. (Philstar.com)
Christmas – a new journey of optimism and hope
As A Matter of Fact SARA SOLIVEN DE GUZMAN JUST as we were about to begin our nine-day Advent novena prayer (or Simbang Gabi) last week, Super Typhoon Odette hit the Visayas and Mindanao islands with strong winds, heavy rainfall and storm surges that destroyed homes, uprooted trees and toppled power lines. Super Typhoon Odette, equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane, is the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year. It made landfall nine times, causing massive floods in: (1) Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte; (2) Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands; (3) Liloan, Southern Leyte; (4) Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte; (5) President Carlos P. Garcia, Bohol; (6) Bien Unido, Bohol; (7) Carcar, Cebu; (8) La Libertad, Negros Occidental; (9) Roxas, Palawan. The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) initially reported that millions of households were affected, over 330,000 people were evacuated. The typhoon left over 63 cities and municipalities without electricity, affected 73 seaports and had over 160 domestic and international flights cancelled. Typhoon Odette exited the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) at 12:40 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 18. According to initial reports from the local government units, the typhoon left over a dozen people dead
Commentary
GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM SINCE the early days of the pandemic, California has led the nation’s fight against COVID-19 through robust vaccination efforts rooted in science and data. This has helped slow the spread of the virus and save countless lives, especially in our most vulnerable communities – someone’s parent and friend, and each of them a Californian. We’ve been meeting people where they are, from partnering with local grocery stores, schools, and barbershops, to developing media content in more than 19 languages to reach California’s richly diverse communities. California’s public
and caused huge destruction in parts of Mindanao and the Visayas. “Our landscape in the aftermath is reminiscent of, if not worse than, when Yolanda hit our province,” Dinagat Governor Arlene Bag-ao said. According to DPWH Undersecretary Emerson Benitez, damage to infrastructure, particularly roads and bridges alone, has been estimated at P178.4 million. This does not include buildings and private structures. The provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental , Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Biliran, Leyte and Eastern Samar experienced power interruption. By the way, in the midst of this typhoon, I was changing channels both on the radio and on my television set, hoping to find up to date news about how the typhoon has hit the different areas but to my dismay no station covered this disaster as extensively as how ABS-CBN did in the past. In hindsight, President Duterte and his allies in the House of Representatives shouldn’t have closed ABSCBN. They should have just sanctioned the station to pay up to their mistakes, if any. They should actually acknowledge how this station has helped our country bring the news from North to South and from East to West and how it has grown significant in helping the country. Our poorly equipped PTV channel doesn’t have the ability to do the job of such public service. This is one endeavor our future leader must actually prioritize. Well, this double-whammy
situation with the threat of COVID-19 virus (and numbers rising again) still lingering around is quite devastating. Those in evacuation centers must continue to protect themselves with face masks and get vitamins to boost their immune systems. But how can they even think of any safety precautions when survival is the priority. This is where government must exert more effort in creating good and effective systems in providing temporary shelter, food, clothing, medicine and other basic needs to the people. * * * Isn’t this very timely? Is God trying to send us a message? While everyone is politicking amidst the pandemic, He sends us a typhoon. Not just a storm but a super typhoon, the strongest ever. Truly, we can always see the worst and best in our leaders during a disaster. By their deeds you will know them (Matthew 7:16). You know who are sincere in reaching out. Those who care versus those who are callous and cold. Those who are pretending to care. In Filipino, the term “pakitang tao” describes how our public servants are like today. They only come out to show off. They want people to believe that they are sincere and truthful in their words, actions and deeds but in reality there is a very dark side to them. In fact, they can easily sway and influence the masa, making the poor and illiterate adore them, hail them as their savior, their answered prayer. Little do they know how much they abuse power and steal from the
country’s coffers. These dirty politicians have made an industry out of governance. They are the very reason we continue to suffer and why we never progress. The sad fact is that Filipinos allow bad leaders to easily influence them. Even with lessons from history already written and told, many choose to ignore the stories, allowing corruption, greed and abusive power to prevail without making them accountable. Many of the poor and illiterate are easily swayed by money. They are not principled enough to fight for what is right, to help protect our country from the force of evil and to sustain their future. On the day of the elections, they are easily lured by what they will receive from the corrupt politician, forgetting the suffering and sacrifices of the life they live. So, this vicious cycle will continue to repeat itself unless our people start to think right. By this tragic event, a week before Christmas, isn’t God giving us a chance to cleanse our hearts and our spirits? One more chance to clearly see right from wrong, good from bad? I am pretty sure that this nation is tired of the politicians from the Old Order. Aren’t we weary of the contending political parties of the Old Republic or the apparently “new” parties, party-lists and groups that have sprung up, cloaking old ambitions in the trappings of a new crusade? My late father would always get annoyed by the word “new” in every political slogan. He would quip – the word “new” is a bit frayed and has gotten
AJPress photo by Kendrick Tan
discredited over the years, with such flashy titles as “New Society,” “New Filipino” and “New Republic” being tarnished and misused. But what is called for is a New Opposition and a fresh array of leaders who have not been scarred or tarred by the old politics. Just as Christmas was born in Bethlehem to signal the conclusion and fulfillment of the Old Testament, a New Political Testament must be laid out to give
the Filipino people an opportunity to begin anew, to start out on a journey of optimism and hope. Here’s wishing everyone God’s love and protection in the coming days, in the coming year. Merry Christmas! *** 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.
On the record with Governor Gavin Newsom: California continues to lead the fight against COVID-19 health measures are working, and much of our success can be attributed to our greatest tool to ending the pandemic: vaccines. December 14 marks the oneyear anniversary of the first COVID-19 vaccine administered in California. We began by prioritizing vaccinations for our frontline health care workers and vulnerable older adults. Today, after a year of working in partnership with the federal government, local public health and community partners, millions of Californians aged 5 and older are now protected and helping to protect others from this deadly virus. We’ve administered 62 million doses – more than any
other state. Eighty six percent of all eligible Californians have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and more than 6 million adults have received a booster. I am so proud that Californians are quite literally rolling up their sleeves to help end the pandemic and keep each other safer. The state has also made tremendous strides in closing vaccination equity gaps among our most vulnerable communities. Thanks to our dynamic partnerships with more than 130 faith-based and 700 community-based organizations, 77 percent of Californians living in our least healthy neighborhoods ages 12 and up have received at
least one dose. Our work is far from over. We must continue to practice basic safety tips to protect ourselves, our families, and our communities against COVID-19. This starts with getting fully vaccinated if you haven’t already, and getting your booster. Simply put, vaccination can help you avoid serious illness, hospitalization and death. It is also important that we wear a mask indoors – especially when we are uncertain of everyone’s vaccination status – keep gatherings short, small and outside if possible, get tested if you’re exposed to the virus, experiencing symptoms, or planning to travel, and stay home if you’re
feeling sick. It is especially important for those who are fully vaccinated to get their booster. This includes those 16 and up who received the Pfizer vaccine at least six months prior, those 18 and up who received the Moderna vaccine at least six months before, and those 18 and over who got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago. It’s critical that we keep our immunity strong, not just for ourselves, but for our communities. Even with the emergence of the Omicron variant, Californians have many reasons to remain hopeful because our state continues to move forward in the right
direction. I want to end this column with a personal note to each and every Californian. Californians have met every challenge with vigor and courage, and together, we will continue to lead the nation in the fight against COVID-19. I wish you all a very happy holiday season with heartfelt wishes for a happy, safer, and brighter new year to come. For the latest information on the Omicron variant go to CDPH.ca.gov and to find a COVID-19 vaccine or booster dose, visit MyTurn.ca.gov. To find a COVID-19 testing site, call (833) 422-4255 or visit your local county public health website. (Ethnic Media Services)
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SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • deCembeR 22-24, 2021
D ateline PhiliPPines Coronary heart diseases still top cause of
7
death in PH; COVID-19 climbs up to 4th spot by Gabriel
PabiCo Inquirer.net
lalu
MANILA — Despite two surges of the COVID-19 pandemic battering the Philippines, coronary heart disease remains the top leading cause of death among Filipinos from January 2021 to September 2021, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). However, the same PSA data dated Saturday, December 18, also showed that deaths ascertained to be caused by COVID-19 went up from just 16th in 2020 to fourth, while unidentified but COVID-19 related deaths are at the eighth spot. Deaths confirmed to be due to COVID-19 accounted for 34,361 or 7.0 percent — a 468.7 percent jump compared to 2020’s 6,042 deaths or 1.3 percent. Meanwhile, COVID-19 related deaths with the virus unconfirmed were the seventh-highest causes of deaths at 16,397 or 3.3 percent — also a slight 1.1 percent jump from 2020 numbers which was at 16,219 or 3.6 percent. According to PSA, after coronary heart diseases which accounted for 91,152 or 18.5 percent of the deaths recorded, cerebrovascular diseases (49,063 or 9.9 percent) came next, followed by neoplasms or cancers (42,633 or 8.6 percent).
Deaths due to coronary heart diseases also increased by 18.7 percent compared to figures in 2020, during the same time frame. Also, cerebrovascular diseases are now at second, increasing from the previous third ranking. “The top three causes of death in the country from January to September of 2021 were ischaemic heart diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, and neoplasms. Incidentally, these were also the leading causes of death in the same period in 2020 with some deviations in the ranking,” PSA said in the report. “During the first nine months of 2021, ischaemic heart diseases were the leading cause of death with 91,152 cases or 18.5 percent of the total deaths in the country. This indicated an increase of about 18.7 percent from the 76,783 deaths or 16.9 percent of the total deaths in the same period of 2020,” it added. The following ailments round up the top 10 leading causes of death in the country: • diabetes (5th, 32,057 or 6.5 percent) • hypertensive diseases (6th, 26,600 or 5.4 percent) • pneumonia (7th, 22,158 or 4.5 percent) • COVID-19 but virus not identified (8th, 16,397 or 3.3 percent)
• other heart diseases (9th, 16,186 or 3.3 percent) • chronic lower respiratory diseases (10th, 15,018 or 3.0 percent) PSA clarified though that the data gathered may differ from the final count, and with the Department of Health’s records, especially as Filipinos abroad who died, were not yet included. “The information presented includes deaths that occurred from January to September 2021 based on data files received by the PSA – Civil Registration Service (CRS) from the PSOs (Philippine Statistics Offices) as of 29 October 2021. Thus, the figures presented herein are still preliminary and may differ at the final count,” PSA said. “Figures in this release, specifically for deaths due to COVID-19, may differ from the one released by the [DOH] because the figures in this release were obtained from the certificates of death particularly the descriptions written on the medical certificate portion therein as reviewed by the health officer of the local government unit concerned,” it added. Currently, the country is seeing a downward trend in COVID-19 infections. As of Sunday, DOH only recorded 203 new cases, while 395 new recoveries pushed the active infection count to 9,729. n
Calabarzon, NCR, Central Luzon most vote-rich regions by evelyn
MaCairan Philstar.com
MANILA — Calabarzon, the National Capital Region (NCR) and Central Luzon remain the top three vote-rich regions in the 2022 general elections. In the Commission on Elections (Comelec) data tweeted by its spokesman James Jimenez, Region 4-A or Calabarzon, comprising Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon, is still the region with the most number of registered voters with 9,193,096. This is followed by the NCR with 7,322,361 registered voters and Region 3 or Central Luzon with 7,289,791 registered voters. Combined, the three regions
have over 23.8 million out of the country’s 65,745,529 total registered voters. During the 2019 elections, they were also the most vote-rich regions. Their numbers are followed by Region 7 (Central Visayas) with 5,249,066 registered voters; Region 6 (Western Visayas) with 5,026,482 registered voters; Region 5 (Bicol) with 3,910,261 registered voters; Region 1 (Ilocos) with 3,546,764 registered voters; Region 11 (Davao) with 3,236,251 registered voters; Region 8 (Eastern Visayas) with 3,166,262 registered voters, and Region 10 (Northern Mindanao) with 3,060,485 registered voters. Following them are Region 12
(Soccsksargen) with 2,606,492 registered voters; Bangsamaro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) with 2,385,359 registered voters; Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) with 2,312,798 registered voters; Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) with 2,298,930 registered voters; Region 4-B (Mimaropa) with 1,991,599 registered voters; Caraga region with 1,868,798 registered voters, and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) with 1,077,900 registered voters. Comelec data showed there would be 37,141 voting centers with 412,876 precincts and 106,174 clustered or group precincts in the 2022 elections. n
VEGGIES, ANYONE? An elderly woman arranges her freshly-harvested vegetables at her stall in Rizal, Laguna on Sunday, December. 19. The country’s inflation or the rate of increase in consumer prices dropped for three consecutive months in November at 4.2 percent, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). PNA photo by Joey O. Razon
Philippines logs 3rd case of Omicron variant by Gaea
Katreena Philstar.com
CabiCo
MANILA — The Philippines has recorded its third case of the Omicron variant—a Filipino who returned from Qatar last month. The 36-year-old male overseas Filipino worker arrived at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport via Qatar Airways 924 on November 28, Department of Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Monday. The patient had travel history to Egypt.
According to Vergeire, the patient underwent isolation in Cebu until December 16 after testing positive for COVID-19 on December 5. The patient, who is asymptomatic, is now undergoing home quarantine in Cavite. The results of the latest batch of genome sequencing were released on Saturday. The patient was tested again on Sunday and his test yielded a negative result. “The case is currently finishing his home quarantine in Cavite and has remained to be asymptomatic since arrival,” Vergeire
said. Authorities identified three close contacts of the individual. Vergeire said all underwent home quarantine and tested negative for COVID-19. Last week, health authorities detected the country’s first two cases of the heavily-mutated Omicron variant, which has been classified as being “of concern” by the World Health Organization. Early studies suggest that Omicron is more transmissible than the Delta variant. n
‘Boracay rehab completion seen by mid-2022’ MANILA — The Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force is on track to complete the rehabilitation of Boracay Island by the first half of 2022, Environment Secretary and BIATF chair Roy Cimatu said over the weekend. “With the leadership of all the task force member-agencies and the provincial government of Aklan as well as the cooperation of the locals and all stakeholders, we are close to finishing our major tasks so we can turn over a better Boracay to the next management team,” Cimatu said in a statement.
The BIATF – co-chaired by the departments of tourism and interior and local government – was created on May 8, 2018 through Executive Order 83. “To reverse the degradation of the island, we have to work on all issues that caused its deterioration. These include recovering the beach areas and cleaning its waters, regaining the wetlands, restoring the ecosystem, and clearing and paving roads that are designated for public transport,” Cimatu said. He said the enforcement of
the 25+5- meter beach easement rule is expected to be completed by April 2022. The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB)-Western Visayas regularly monitors the water quality of the island as part of the rehabilitation’s pollution control and prevention aspect. The EMB will inspect the Lugutan and Tulubhan Bay areas due to reports of illegal water discharges coming from households that have yet to be connected to the sewer system. (Philstar.com)
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Odette hammers Pag-asa Island, destroys PCG station Presidential bets call for urgent national by
Frances Mangosing Inquirer.net
MANILA — Pag-asa (Thitu) Island, the only Philippine-controlled outpost in the municipality of Kalayaan in the West Philippine Sea with civilian inhabitants, was not spared from the wrath of Super Typhoon Odette (Rai). The Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) was placed under Signal No. 3 early Saturday, December 18, hours before Odette left the Philippine area of responsibility. The Philippines occupies nine military detachments around the KIG, including Pag-asa, as well as BRP Sierra Madre, a rusty World War-2 landing ship tank intentionally run aground in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal. “All our stations in the WPS/ KIG are in good condition. Only Pag-asa suffered slight damage,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenza-
na told Inquirer.net. Photos taken by a Pag-asa resident showed destruction on Pag-asa Elementary School and surrounding areas. Around 20 students are enrolled in the school. Some residents were evacuated from their homes, said the resident. There are around 200 people living on the island. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) station on the island was also “washed out.” Commodore Armand Balilo, PCG spokesperson, said the Coast Guard station on Pag-Asa Island reported being totally washed out. “That station had just been built in Kalayaan. Nothing was left,” Balilo told ANC in Filipino. “If the coast guard station in Kalayaan in Pag-asa was destroyed, how much more the other stations there?” Balilo said. “There are houses there, too, and
schools,” he said. Balilo said there was a need to rebuild structures that had been destroyed on Pag-asa because it was a symbol of the country’s exercise of sovereignty. The PCG recently inaugurated its new station on Pag-asa, a fourunit structure made of pre-fabricated shipping containers. Pag-asa, the biggest and most strategically important Philippine outpost in the Kalayaan Island Group, is 400 kilometers from mainland Palawan province. Odette also pummeled Palawan province on Friday (Dec. 17) and made its ninth landfall in Roxas town after leaving widespread devastation in Visayas and Mindanao. The extent of damage from Odette in Palawan is still unclear but photos and videos from residents have emerged on social media. n
Galvez admits achieving population protection vs COVID-19 now a challenge by Daniza
FernanDez Inquirer.net
MANILA — National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. on Monday, December 20 admitted that achieving population protection against the coronavirus is now a challenge amid the havoc caused by Typhoon Odette. The government is targeting to attain population protection by fully vaccinating 54 million Filipinos by year end. “Napakalaki talaga ng devastation kay Odette (Odette’s devastation is really huge). Basically, talagang (really) it’s a challenge for us to push for 54 million. But we are still pushing for it because the Omicron is our greater challenge,” Galvez said during a visit to a vaccination site in Taytay, Rizal. Also this day, the Philippines logged its third case of the Omicron variant from a returning overseas Filipino. Philippines detects third case of Omicron coronavirus variant The country’s second national vaccination program was affected by Odette, which is now outside the Philippine area of responsibility, as it led to postponement of immunization activities in some areas where the
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Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. Inquirer.netr file photo
typhoon traversed. Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje earlier reported that the government administered 2.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from December 15 to 18. She added that some typhoonaffected areas will commence with their vaccinations Monday while other local government units have yet to begin to pave the way to relief and rehabilitation efforts. According to presidential adviser for COVID-19 Response Secretary Vince Dizon, the government will mobilize teams to enable vaccinations in evacuation centers.
“Hindi muna natin sila pinepressure na magpabakuna dahil nga napakabigat nitong sinapit nila nitong mga nakaraang araw kaya bibigyan natin sila ng panahong maka-recover,” said Dizon. (We are not pressuring them to get vaccinated because of the heavy impact that they faced these past few days, so we are giving them time to recover.) “Pero nagmo-mobilize din tayo ng teams para sa areas na kayang [magbakuna], para pwede silang magbakuna sa mga evacuation centers. Pero iprioritize muna natin ang relief, response at rehabilitation,” he continued. (But, we are mobilizing teams for areas that can vaccinate, so they can be inoculated in evacuation centers. But, we will prioritize relief, response, and rehabilitation efforts.) Dizon assured the public that despite the challenges, the government will exert all efforts to achieve population protection. “We will try our best to hit the goal of 54 million. It’s not easy but we will keep on pushing. Give us a few days, we’ll give you what our estimated target should be by the end of the year,” he said. As of December 19, the government has fully immunized 43,534,136 individuals. n
EMPLOYMENT
government support for ‘Odette’ survivors
MANILA — Presidential aspirants on Monday, December 20, called on the national government to ramp up support for families displaced in the aftermath of the most destructive typhoon to hit the country after Yolanda in 2013. Vice President Leni Robredo, who personally visited typhoonhit areas over the weekend, called for support for Filipinos living in the Dinagat Islands where food and water supplies starting to dwindle. The province remains without electricity and other means of communication. “Dinagat Islands badly need our help,” she said in Filipino. “The entire region still has no access to basic necessities [and residents are] running out of food.” In a Facebook Live stream on updates from her visits to Bohol, Cebu, Dinagat Islands, and Siargao in Suigao del Norte, Robredo thanked the Coast Guard for helping her team and Sen. Manny Pacquiao’s in transporting relief goods to affected areas. “What we saw in Surigao City was heartbreaking,” the vice president said. “People were weeping...and saying they thought they were forgotten.” Government must act quickly’ Partido Federal ng Pilipinas standard-bearer Bongbong Marcos, the son and namesake of the ousted dictator, also turned over P2 million in financial aid, along with some 2,000 food packs and 3,000 bags of rice to Surigao del Norte officials Monday. Presidential aspirant and Sen. Manny Pacquiao said he would first wait for things to settle down before visiting in person. “I’m not needed there...Our soldiers and police who assist in relief and rescue operations will only be disturbed,” he said in Filipino according to a tweet report by CNN Philippines. “We will go to them but not now because these things may be more chaotic to bring life back to normal in the devastated areas. What is important for me now is that we can extend our help to them,” he also said. For his part, Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer and Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno called on the Insurance Commission to speed up the processing of insurance claims of Typhoon Odette victims.
No walls, no roof A family makes do with what was left of their home in Carcar City, south of Cebu province, four days after Typhoon ‘Odette’ hit Central Visayas. ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez
“Their houses and businesses were destroyed, so the insurance companies must act quickly,” he said at a campaign event in Calasiao, Pangasinan. “The government that we expect must act quickly and the insurance companies must immediately give the claim of the victims because life is very difficult in the area that Odette destroyed,” he also said in Filipino. Also on Monday, 37 councilors from the Manila City government pooled funds for a total of P370,000 to go to victims of Odette as part of the city’s relief efforts under Moreno. “We made an appeal to all chairmen and councilors what they can spare and learn from their hearts like what happened in Cagayan...we were also able to receive other donations such as clothing, sacks of rice, food packs, anything that they are willing to give,” Manila Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna said. “The government needs to be there to have peace of mind that [the people have] something to lean on, that what he has planted, no matter what happens, he has a government to lean on in the time of the flood, the time of trouble...the government must have a program to give peace to our countrymen because our country is sure to always have disasters,” Moreno said. Without naming anyone, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade in a statement issued later Monday called for a stop to what he said was the “politicization” of efforts to aid those who were affected by the onslaught of Typhoon Odette. He went on to say that “the
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FOR RENT
DOTr has been working quietly while many were making noise.” Earlier Sunday, Partido Lakas ng Masa standard-bearer and labor leader Ka Leody de Guzman today called on President Rodrigo Duterte to “stop the charade and swiftly act” on measures to help typhoon victims. Government out of money? “Let’s stop this drama that isn’t even believable. Many have been devastated. It is the duty of the government to immediately respond to the basic needs of our countrymen affected by typhoon Odette. We expect the government’s readiness in such situations,” he said in a statement in Filipino. De Guzman called attention to what he said was the billions in unused calamity funds from the 2021 budget, that the budget department justified in May 2021, as a ‘stand-by fund” for emergencies such as calamities. “Remember that Duterte was one of the politicians who became famous for his immediate action when we were hit byTyphoon Yolanda. He also strongly criticized the then administration for its unpreparedness at the time. The situation seems to have been reversed. His statement is clear proof of their unpreparedness. He cannot say that the funds set aside for the disaster were affected by the fund squandered by Pharmally.” This comes after Duterte over the weekend said that his government was still looking for funds to support typhoon victims because public coffers were “immensely depleted” due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Philstar. com)
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Mon David’s homecoming concert: The floodgates of his creative intelligence, unleashed Rhizomes
Prosy AbArquezDelAcruz, J.D. “MON’s performance at Catalina was the alarm clock [that] my jazz spirit needed to wake from its catatonic dormancy throughout the pandemic! It was a great jolt of jazz as Mon covered standards, new materials, and Tagalog songs (with his children Carlo and Nicole along for the ride!) The great Hoagy Carmichael (who wrote my dad’s favorite “stardust”) penned another great composition called “Skylark” which Mon sang with such finesse and elegance. One of my personal highlights was Mon’s performance of the Gregory Porter tune “Take Me to the Alley” (I actually heard Gregory Porter sing that when he opened for Diana Krall at the Hollywood Bowl a few years ago). All in all, [it was] such a wonderful night of music by a consummate performer.” – Ted Benito, a jazz impresario/ producer. The tree and me Accomplished. Consummate. Generous. Kind. Mon David generated results that were more than exquisite, more than a matter of techniques, more than the expressions of his feelings; he entered the realm of spirit. It felt like a person kneeling in prayer, hitting every note, every emotion, every cadence, on pitch. Songs about homecoming, family, being in love, planting trees that provide comfort, shade, “rather plant a sapling tree, lay my ashes, throw my body…our seeds will scatter far and wide across God’s fertile countryside, the tree and me,” he sang. Ted Benito described Mon’s rendition, “which he dedicated to the frontliners [the nurses, the doctors, the first responders] became a call to action. Not for anything physical or political… for just being human…feeling compassion…respecting humanity.“ It makes us recall that in every man’s life, there comes a time, sooner or later when his soul draws the line. One starts to think, as one listens, “Who am I? But, truly who am I? Am I an isolated spark of dust, briefly lit, and destined to fade forever? Or am I a fragment of a greater humanity, waiting to return to my own Home? It is a passionate inquiry, having an urgency born of our encounter with life and proximity to death,” as Zalman Schacter-Shalomi, a Rabbi wrote in “From Ageing to Sageing.” Why not, when close to two years into the Coronavirus pandemic, we are mourning 770,891 deaths in the US, in a population of 331,000,000. But not just in the United States, the virus has claimed 5,145,045 lives worldwide in over 190 countries. In recent months, Facebook
AJPress Illustration by Jillian Peñalosa
Dissecting the classic Noche Buena spread Mon David, shown with his grandchildren and children, taken by Rick Gavino, as shared with the artist.
Mon David with Nicole David Yalong, courtesy of Ruben Nepales
posts from the Philippines were on untimely deaths: musician, filmmaker, civil rights lawyer. Sampaloc in Manila had 80% of its residents, afflicted with Coronavirus. Mind you, it was not Halloween and we were past Dia de los Muertos or All Souls Day. Yet, it felt somber, still, but also joyful, a bit apprehensive to be indoors. I had an unusual reaction to the “homecoming” title — was this a prelude to retire perhaps? Yet, he told us his hometown is in Santo Tomas, Pampanga and now, Canoga Park, while singing “No more blues, I am going home, Home is where the heart is, no more tears…no more fears.” Could he be yearning for another home? Or simply saying: “LA, find a place for me. City of Angels that’s where I wanna be. Been living here 15 years…living in this beautiful City of Angel’s parks, beaches,” a Bill Withers song adapted to Mon’s sentiments for the night. The band and the origins of the lullaby When Mon sang “Lullaby for Nanay,” many were moved, some choked, and even a few more wiped away their tears, men included. It must have been perhaps that we were all collectively suffering while mourning hundreds of thousands of deaths, including Mon’s own mother, Ima who passed away in 2020. “From the moment I heard NY – based harpist, Ms. Riza Printup played it at one of the Fil-Am Jazz festivals at Catalina Jazz Bar and Grill, the ‘Lullaby
Mon David with his children, Carlo and Nicole, taken by this writer.
for Nanay’ melody has been etched in my heart and inspired me to write the words. Lalo pong naging matingkad noong nagpahinga na si Ima during the covid period. (It even became more intense when Ima died during the covid period). It was quite a challenge in front of a live audience, dahil iniiwasan ko ang bumigay habang inaawit ko. (as I tried not to give into my grief, while I sang it). I’m always reminded of her habilin at patnubay (of her last will and guidance) -“Monching, pursue what’s in your heart and surrender everything to God.” “Kalinga mo, baon ko, pakakaingatan ko – Your nurturing care is my provision, I will take good care of it,” Mon sang with the intensity of his love for his Mom. We felt his pain. We saw his struggle to maintain composure. “Bawat sandali at bawat galaw laan ko at alay ko sa iyo Nanay. patnubay mo ay baon ko… pagibig mong dalisay.” (Every moment and every move, I dedicate and offer to you, Nanay, your guiding lesson is my provision as your unconditional pure love). It was as if his soul was imprinted not just by his Ima, but many jazz artists he paid homage to, that night: Beatles, Gregory Porter, Billie Holliday, Oscar Brown, Jr., John Hendricks and Leonard Bernstein, the composer, conductor, pianist and humanitarian. As generous as Mon was in his sharing his feelings and his experiences, so were his bandmates in the way they accompanied him. In synch. Respectful. On cue. Not competing in volume with the vocal space. Larry Koonse, Mon’s selfdeclared birthday gift, was simply prolific on the guitar, yet nuanced and quite playful. Tateng Katindig played with very few music sheets and improvised with flair, as he made the piano keys feel like butter, playing the entire range of sounds on the piano. Abe Lagrimas, Jr. was as prolific with drums as his ukulele that at times, he is referred to as a one-man band, and Mon asked him in jest, not to consider entering the ‘world of voice’ onstage or else, he will be muted by Abe’s talents, and Edwin Livingston who played the bass quite well. ‘In My Life’ Continued on Page 10
I
by Ritchel
Mendiola / AJPress
F the long list of Christmas trends and traditions was any indication, Filipinos love celebrating the yuletide season. Be it decorating the house with lanterns and ornaments as early as the Ber months begin, going Christmas caroling, or completing Simbang Gabi, Filipinos are known to never run out of ways to signify the festivities. However, nothing marks the season more than preparing the Noche Buena spread. Noche Buena, which is Spanish for “night of goodness,” is an important Filipino custom that brings together two of Filipinos’ most beloved things: food and family. After attending the last Mass of Simbang Gabi on Christmas Eve, Filipinos go back home to a large feast adorning the dining table. The
spread of various dishes is then shared with their extended families and invited friends as they welcome Christmas Day. And while every Noche Buena spread is different, there are still a couple of staple dishes that you’re likely to find in every Filipino household. Here are some of them: • Christmas ham or hamon – this mainstay dish is not only found on dinner tables, but in Christmas care packages gifted to friends and/
or employees, as well. The hamon is usually marinated in pineapple juice, sugar, salt and spices, for that sweet and savory flavor all Filipinos crave. • Keso de bola – this ball of Edam cheese, which usually has a red paraffin wax covering, is the perfect companion for the beloved hamon. • Lechon – no Filipino festivity is ever complete without lechong baboy (roasted pig). This popular delicacy Continued on Page 10
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entertainment
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 22, 2021
Pancho wants to flex acting muscle in action-packed series By Jerry
Donato Philstar.com
TALL and handsome Pancho Magno reprises his Presidential Security Group (PSG) officer role in the book two (or sequel) of the hit First Yaya, which starred Sanya Lopez as Yaya Melody Reyes, and Gabby Concepcion as Vice-President-turned-President Glenn Acosta. Since the nanny is now the president’s wife, the romantic-comedy will carry the updated title, First Lady. As for Pancho’s Capt. Conrad Enriquez, who at the onset had special feelings for Melody and later on got engaged with fellow PSG member Val Cañete (played by Thia Thomalla), the In “The End of Us,” Jeffrey (Zoren Legaspi) and Maggie’s (Carmina Villaroel) relationship will be tested due to a mistake involving another character will remain true to woman. GMA photo his calling. That is to protect the president. “(Conrad) will choose his dedication to his work over love,” said Pancho, who father’s health condition. He’s nagbibiruan na sila. Laking recently renewed his contract By iza iglesias been in and out of the hospital ambag na real-life couple sila. with GMA 7, in a virtual group ManilaTimes lately. History ito para sa kanila,” conference. But Conrad’s love FOR the first time in their “Buti nabigyan kami ng the show’s director Zig Dulay for Val is still strong. This side careers, celebrity husband pagkakataon makapag-isip-isip. shared. of Conrad perhaps will be and wife Carmina Villaroel and So we did a lot of thinking and The Legaspis portray the explored more as First Lady Zoren Legaspi will play the lead Zoren and I said, ‘Sige, Hon, roles of Maggie Corpuz, a also focuses on the different in “The End Of Us” – the fourth tanggapin natin. Bahala na. middle class career woman who characters, said the actor, who offering of the afternoon drama Let’s just pray and live it all marries Jeffrey Guevarra. Theirr teased everyone by saying that anthology series “Stories from up to God and then let’s just relationship is soon tested “they (the creatives) are still the Heart.” give it our all.’ because of infedelity. experimenting the chemistry of “Actually emotional ako, And then we are very “When I get to the set, I all the characters.” kasi as an actor, you wait for thankful God really guided us. am the role. Ako si Maggie What fans of First Yaya can this kind of story, this kind of This is very close to our hearts,” kaya nalalabas it’s real, it’s look forward to is, who will be director, this kind of writers, this Villaroel shared. authentic. I was Maggie there, the “counterparts” of charackind of creatives, this kind of “First time kong makita not Carmina,” the 46-year-old ters like Melody, Glenn and producers, this kind of EP and si Zoren na very emotional actress stated. Conrad, added he. These new bihira ‘yun mangyari sa isang pagdating sa show... actually Legaspi, on the other hand, personalities will bring changes show na hinihintay mong lahat pati rin ako,” she continued. said he had to be very creative and challenges to the narrative ng magagaling ay magsamaWhile viewers see them and when it comes to his scenes. plot. sama sa isang production,” their twins Mavy and Cassy as a “Kaya ako nagkukulong Although the vision of Legaspi said in a virtual media picture of a happy and perfect sa kotse. Doon ko diniconference. family — especially across their digest. Gusto ko magpakita “So it’s really a blessing many brand endorsement and ng something new as an and great opportunity for us na commercials — the long-time actor. Gusto ko umiyak nang mag-asawa to be chosen dito sa married couple, interestingly, kakaiba,” the 49-year-old actormagandang programa na ito,” plays a husband and wife on the director noted. From Page 9 he added. verge of separation. With them in this compelling As we said our goodbyes Villaroel admitted that “Pag nag-aaway sila sa afternoon series are Ariella to Nicole David that night, an they don’t want to accept the eksena, minsan alam nila Arida, Karel Marquez, Johnny excited Rex Sampaga, a music project at first because of her nakuha na nila. After ng take, Revilla and Andrew Gan. industry professional, shared his feedback: “’In My Life’: a very nice waltz-like arrangement in ¾ time, while keeping the integrity of the melody and song written by Lennon/McCartney. I think that both Beatles would have approved of this thoughtful and jazzy arrangement.” background, what you believe Though initially having a By Kristofer Purnell Nicole sang the opening in... you can win the game. I’m quiet start, Casupanan’s gamePhilstar.com bars with her velvety smooth proof.” play blossomed when she was voice, hooking us up to hear FILIPINA Canadian Erika Casupanan also said she sent into exile and overturned more of the new arrangement. Casupanan was crowned the would love to see more beauti- the results of a challenge to Even Michelle Sy was equally winner of the 41st season of ful diverse winners of the show allot immunity to other players, moved: “But one song that the American reality compefollowing her win. including herself. truly touched me deeply (and tition show “Survivor,” beGame progress Post-merge she reunited coming the first Filipino and Casupanan was born in with her old teammates to take it always does) is ‘In My Life’ a duet by Mon and his daughter, Canadian to become the “sole Hermosa, Bataan and migratout former members of the Nicole. A duet between father survivor.” ed with her family to Toronto, rival Yase tribe as well as the Collecting seven votes from Canada where she currently players holding immunity idols, and daughter in itself touched me even more because of what eight jury members at the Final resides. namely Naseer Muttalif and the song imparts – the love Tribal Council, Casupanan beShe was cast for “Survivor Shan Smith. comes the show’s third winner 41,” which features a diverse Casupanan formed a strong we all remember as the most significant, the deepest of them of Asian descent, following cast after a new commitment relationship with Luvu tribe“Cook Islands’” Yul Kwon and by the show to feature 50% of mate Heather Aldret; together all. And as I reminisced (as I “San Juan del Sur’s” Natalie contestants who are people they ensured to be on the right always do when I hear this song) I am always reminded of how Anderson. of color. In 2020 however, the side of the votes, and were a important it is to love one’s self She is also the first female COVID-19 pandemic pushed formidable threat at challengin the most unconditional way “Survivor” winner since Season the show to be filmed in es, winning immunity twice. because it is through this love 34 “Game Changers’” Sarah April-May in Fiji this year—the Despite being his closest Lacina in 2017. traditional 39-day game was competitor for the title of sole that I know I can give love and kindness and compassion to “If you want any proof that also cut to 26 days, incorporat- survivor, fellow finalist Xander others – to family, to friends, to we’re in a new era of ‘Surviing more twists to make up for Hastings selected Casupanan extended family, to strangers. vor’ is that I am the winner, a the lost days. to join him in the Final 3—his It is a melancholy song if seen Filipino immigrant woman who Casupanan was part of explanation was to avoid Cawith earthbound eyes. But it is a lives in Canada, and I won the the successful Luvu tribe that supanan boosting her resume spirit-filled song when taken as game,” Casupanan said in an won every challenge up to the should she become victorious a spiritual homage to what we Instagram post after her victo- traditional merge, meaning she in a fire-making challenge. spiritual beings do as we walk ry aired on television. “I don’t and her tribemates never had Casupanan made her case through this life here on earth. It care what you look like, sound to go to tribal council and vote at the Final Tribal Council, is truly a very powerful spiritual like, where you’re from, your someone out. explaining her subtle moves song in my book.” to navigate her way through Do you recall earlier what I the second half of the game wrote about Mon reaching the and her social skills as reasons realm of his spirit? Much like that she deserved to win. She MJ Harden, a singer in Hawaii, received all but one vote from the jury, which went to co-final- featured in Hawaiian Elders Speak, who said: ”Every person ist Deshawn Radden. ‘Looking like a lamb, play- is an individual. I think what counts is your expression, your ing like a lion’ personal feeling, When you hear During her two days in a song, you learn it, you know it, exile, which became pivotal and you take it down and strain to her future performance, Casupunan admitted she broke it through your heart. Open the ears of your heart and you can down in tears because she hear something good all the came from a strong tribe but was not selected for the merge time.” As Nicole called his brother, feast. Carlo onstage to do a Tagalog In her private interview song with Mon, she asked him with the production crew, Ca“what do you recall about Dad supanan shared the challengthat had the most impact for es of being a young Filipino you?” in Canada and her parents’ Carlo responded that at 14 struggle to give her family a Erika Casupunan was crowned the winner of the 41st season of the American reality competition years old, he was helping out as show “Survivor”. Photo from Instagram/@survivorcbs Continued on Page 12 a production assistant onstage during his dad’s concert. One waiter admired Mon’s Barong Tagalog (an intricately handembroidered formal shirt made of pineapple fibers or jusi). After From Page 9 the concert, Mon took it off and drained canned fruit cocktail these also never leave the gave it as a souvenir gift to this with cream and sweetened dining table during Noche is usually stuffed with spices stranger. condensed milk in a large Buena. such as lemongrass, garlic, The true benefit of Mon’s container, refrigerate it for a • Lumpiang shanghai – onions, laurel, ground black generosity is beyond the few hours, and you’re good to this finger food is the Filipino peppercorn, and salt, and then material gift to this waiter. go. version of spring rolls. Deeproasted on a large bamboo It is an inner revolution, a The Noche Buena is the fried and stuffed with ground spit over an open fire. Filipino lesson learned by a 14-year-old pork, green onions, carrots, and most-anticipated dinner lechons are also popular for Carlo, but also, it gave “fire to gathering of the year, and with water chestnuts, this crunchy their perfectly crispy skin, and the soul” of Mon to become all these dishes served on the bite-sized dish is everyone’s flavorful tender meat. more fluid, to be more willing to table, it’s easy to see why. But favorite appetizer to eat before • Kakanin – sweet, more than that, the highlight of take a risk and the boundaries the main dish. sticky, and rice-based cakes disappeared between him Noche Buena is being able to • Fruit salad – this one is like bibingka and puto share the feast with your family, and the stranger/waiter, and the Filipinos’ choice dessert bumbong are the crowd together they merged into bonding over good food, for the holiday season. It’s favorites especially after whole, a humanity that Michelle stories, and love. very easy to make: just mix a attending Simbang Gabi, but
A first for Carmina and Zoren
Pancho Magno
First Lady story is clear and complete, Pancho said it is still developing and subject to “tweaking.” With the upcoming national elections, people behind the show want it to be relevant. As a peek into what lies ahead, the GMA Artist Center talent hinted at the ideas of laws and problems in the other regions of the country being incorporated into the story. Aside from tackling Glenn’s political life, the president’s personal life (which encompasses his ways of dealing with struggles and raising kids, among many things) is being touched, too, in the series,
Philstar.com photo
said the actor. Pancho can relate to the parenting theme since he and Max Collins are young dad and mom to Skye. As a father at this time of the pandemic, Pancho said he’s doing fine, and as an actor in a bubble, he shared that he definitely misses his son. The presence of fellow actors, who are fathers themselves, helps him to get by. “I’m OK,” said he. “We empathize with (everyone’s) situation and it helps. (In a sense,) I also have a family here. Every time I have no work, I make it a point to spend time with Skye. (Being Continued on Page 12
Mon David’s homecoming concert...
Fil-Canadian is the latest winner of ‘Survivor’
Dissecting the classic...
Carlo David, Mon David and Nicole David onstage, sharing a laugh roasting Mon. Photo courtesy of Nicole David’s Facebook post
Sy became part of, feeling one with father, daughter, and Carlo that evening. It was a moment touching the deepest strata of our beings, as Piero Ferrucci wrote in the “The Power of Kindness,” “for the generous person, borders are permeable. What is yours – your suffering, your problems is also mine. This is compassion. What is mine – my possessions, my body, my knowledge and abilities, my time and resources, my energy is also yours. This is generosity.” When Nicole sang “Two is Better than One,” a song by Taylor Swift and Martin Johnson, we were seeing the synergy created by a loving dad who calls his daughter Gel, short for an angel, a mom who pushes to connect to her creativity, to her craft, that moments earlier before soundcheck, she was giving her twins their bath so they can come with their dad, who was just getting off work, so all can join Mon for his birthday concert. “Two is Better than One” truly is a gift from Nicole’s beautiful velvety voice that gives meaning to “Maybe it is true I can’t live without you, maybe it is true two is better than one. And while Carlo sings, as he plays the guitar, he glances at where his family sat: Tala with her mom, Hanika. An endearing walk back through the past, with APO singers that Mon was part of, the family of Mon, Carlo and Nicole sang a homage, a Song of friendship, Awit ng Barkada, a song for the ‘tribe’, ‘the clan’, the ‘close friends group’ and instead of friends, this family of singers: “Hirap at ginhawa, kasama mo kami, kasama mo, kasama ninyo,” (In struggles and in comfort, I am with you, with you, with all.) Mon leaves nothing but love towards the end of his show, and even as he sang Kalakbuhay, a journey mate, he reminds us with Gregory Porter’s song “Take Me to the Alley,” a favorite
of Ted Benito’s, as ours, the expressions on Mon’s lyrics as he sang these: “Take me to the afflicted one, take me to the lonely ones that somehow lost their ways, let them hear me say, that I am your friend, come to my table, rest in my garden, you will have a part. the hungry ones, the tired ones, I am your friend.” And with the untiring generosity of Ann’s, his wife’s unconditional support, Mon’s children: Paolo, Nicole, Carlo and Mika who all attended with their spouses and partner with Mon’s grandchildren: Noah, 7 years old; Nico and Leo 4 ½-year-old twins; Bella – 3 years old and Tala – 2 ½ years old who all joined Mon to greet him a happy birthday, the audience saw first hand a joyful sight of family love onstage. That evening, our hearts were warmed up, uplifted by the songs of Mon David and family, nurtured by a very loving Ima, that continues to lit Monching’s hearts, as Ann’s heart to us all, we were all moved to give the Barkada David an enduring standing ovation. A mother’s heart, now deceased Ima, still welcomed us all through her son and his family! Mabuhay kayong lahat David family! Long live the David family! There is no singing family like yours, kept alive by your circle of love and love for the community! *** Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D. writes a weekly column for Asian Journal, called “Rhizomes.” She has been writing for AJ Press for 13 years. She also contributes to Balikbayan magazine. Her training and experiences are in science, food technology, law and community volunteerism for 4 decades. She holds a B.S. Degree from the University of the Philippines, a law degree from Whittier College School of Law in California and a certificate on 21st Century Leadership from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. She has been a participant in NVM writing workshops taught by Prof. Peter Bacho for 4 years and Prof. Russell Leong. She has travelled to France, Holland, Belgium, Japan, Costa Rica, Mexico and over 22 national parks in the US, in her pursuit of love for nature and the arts.
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Remember the wonder “Love your life but without conceit. It is simply on loan to you.” Each day of the season, count at least one blessing that you may have taken for granted — like your family, dysfunctional or imperfect the members may be, they are all you’ve got. If you still have relatively Monette good health and do not have AdevA MAglAyA to depend on a cocktail of drugs to get you through the YEAR after year without fail day, rejoice and be glad. Many wealthy yet ailing people will at around this time, December trade places with you in a days and nights seem to slip heartbeat. There are countless from our grasp like fine grains things to be thankful for. of sand. The hours seem to Love your life but without hurtle through the day as we conceit. It is simply on loan complete a year’s cycle and to you. Treasure the hours. move on to the next. Forcibly yank out just an hour Many of us try in earnest each day during this season to mesh the unusually heavy demands of the roles we play in to take the time to smell the coffee, drink tea or quaff the our lives. If we get completely cocoa in a quiet spot free of the sidetracked by the minutiae, interruptions of all those ring the expenses and the endless tones. activities of what constitutes Unless your job entails Christmas, we are more than spelling the difference between likely to morph into the likes life and death, cut off your of Ebenezer Scrooge and be tempted to say “Bah, humbug!” electronic leash, at least for just an hour. Who said you have to But unlike the tightwad be on call all the time? That Scrooge, the cost of doing hour you gift yourself with is Christmas has little to do yours to savor and JUST BE. with it. More than likely, the That hour might very well heaviness and drudgery that help you get back that gift of we seem to associate with this season have a lot to do with the amazement we once had when we were children, before we failure to find that somewhat elusive sense of real joy that this became jaded souls. Lest we forget, Christ is still season can bring in abundance the reason for the season. to those who are open to it. Pay no attention to the Sure, we can go through the motions of Christmas activities, godless fools who would like to delete him from the season. shopping, baking, decorating, The strongest evidence of partying, drinking and binging. Christ living in our hearts during And yet, very often even if this season is an inner glow and we diligently check off all the outward manifestation of joy things in our list, something that wells within, overflows and remains amiss. We just don’t like a heaven-sent viral infection have that Christmas feeling. affects those we work and live The spirit of the season with within the orbit of our is like a butterfly. If we keep lives. mindlessly trashing about in Sorrow, pain and endless activities, it will elude disappointments — we will us but if you sit very still, that always have. Somehow, if we Christmas feeling might simply choose to be above all these, alight on us. such experiences can carve out Be still and soak in the our character and make us even sight, sounds and smells of the season. One trick I have learned stronger, much like steel forged is to simplify and not try to take in fire. They have a place in the general scheme of things. on too much of anything, and But just for this season, that includes refraining to max believe that you are allowed out my credit cards, no matter to get a moratorium from all how infinitely tempting it is to rush out and join the shopping Continued on Page 12 madness in stores or online.
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 22, 2021
SFIO announces strategic plan to uplist to NASDAQ by 2024 SMOKEFREE Innotec, Inc. (OTC: SFIO), a leading asset management company and innovation group, is pleased to share details around its four-year strategic plan, as well as news of its plan to uplist to a major stock exchange by 2024. SFIO began 2021 with the goal of restructuring the company to better serve the long-term strategy of being a truly transformative global asset management company. SFIO would like to share with you the details around that strategy, as well as the goal of uplisting to the NASDAQ, or a similar major stock exchange, by 2024. SFIO focuses as an asset management company that continues to be on top of innovation through disruptive collaborations. SFIO invests in high-growth businesses and supports them through partnerships and opportunities before leveraging the global presence to help them scale exponentially. It’s a methodical approach to hyper-growth, representing a clear strategy of acquisition, collaboration, transformation, and expansion. To illustrate, SFIO took on the flagship franchise business, Epiphany Cafe. Supported by their ongoing acquisitions and partnerships, transformation enablers, and global network, Epiphany Cafe will be leading the group’s charge to capture markets across Australia, Malaysia, UAE, the Philippines, and the United States in 2022. Soon after, they will be utilizing those same pathways to scale their other businesses. In growing Epiphany Cafe, back in 2017, SFIO embarked on a series of partnerships and acquisitions both to improve operational efficiencies and unlock new revenue streams. It’s an ongoing journey that’s formed the bedrock of its hyper-growth strategy: • Acquisition: Identifying the gaps in Epiphany Cafe’s operations, the team brought two new firms into the group, Gorgeous Coffee and Ardent Bakers. More companies would later join the lineup as new gaps emerged across Epiphany’s evolving business model. • Collaboration: Gorgeous Coffee, led by an award-winning master roaster, developed Epiphany Cafe’s signature coffee blend, quickly becoming a customer favorite. Meanwhile, Ardent Bakers supplied the growing cafe franchise’s donuts and pastries. As demand for these pillow-soft donuts skyrocketed, another acquisition, Big Lou’s Donuts, took on wholesale production, supporting Epiphany’s future entry into the Australian market. • Transformation: To support inventory management operations across Epiphany’s franchises, Ardent Bakers developed SMART FREEZE technology, a proprietary method of
preparing donuts while maintaining quality over six months of being frozen. Gorgeous Coffee later developed their own innovation, a line of instant coffees boasting barley, Manuka honey, and other healthful extracts. • Expansion: Now present across New Zealand, Australia, and soon Southeast Asia, Epiphany Cafe’s growth is supported by its global network of companies and partners. AG Architects, another fully-owned subsidiary, handles the design and development of new sites, while SFIO international hubs serve as launchpads for the franchise business to enter new markets worldwide. They intend to establish the Epiphany Cafe franchise system, support centers, and centralized commissaries in new global markets as early as next year. SFIO began the journey with Epiphany Cafe, its own growth driving the growth of the network. Now SFIO’s network will be driving Epiphany’s growth in turn – as it pioneers entry into new markets. It’s a wonderful, full-circle moment for SFIO. To support all this growth, both from a capacity perspective, as well as a financial perspective, SFIO leans on their cross-divisional synergies. With SFIO’s newly-minted Technology division, SFIO will be using tech to streamline the existing operations of the businesses, while also building entirely new systems to disrupt the industries they operate across. For SFIO’s franchise businesses, development is already underway for a unified, streamlined logistics platform. This will not only standardize the operations of SFIO different businesses across the supply chain, but will also bring value to franchisees and ultimately, their customers, who will now benefit from a truly seamless, tech-powered system. Similarly, SFIO laid the foundation for their eventual entry into real estate when they acquired AG Architects and A+ Electrical. Now their slate of joint ventures will see SFIO developing approximately 200-hectares of prime real estate in Montemaria, Batangas alone. The recently-signed joint venture with Philippine-based AbaCore Capital Holdings plays a crucial role in the company’s growth trajectory. One project under this joint venture is the development of a two-hectare, bay-side property in Batangas into a $100 million eco-friendly, tech village. Not only do these joint ventures increase the asset values, but profits from these high-yield projects will also be reinvested into future growth – a necessary step towards SFIO’s ambitions to uplist in 2024. SFIO has spent the past year acquiring companies not only to grow the conglomerate’s revenues and assets, but also to serve
as transformation partners as SFIO scales the businesses globally. SFIO accomplished the necessary filings to reflect the vast array of negotiations and business activities they have entered into these last few months. These include the successful removal of shell status and Caveat Emptor designation, as well as the designation of the status on the OTC Pink market (Current). In the coming months, SFIO will be undergoing further developments, such as filing the audited financials, updating the company name to Starfleet Innotech, Inc. and working towards placing SFIO on the OTCQB Venture Market as a stepping stone towards its larger goal. From an organizational structure perspective, it will be streamlining the core divisions to highlight the cross-divisional synergies, and reflect their focus on three emerging industries: Food and Beverage (F&B), Real Estate, and Technology. SFIO’s F&B division is a merging of the previous franchise, coffee, and food manufacturing and distribution groups. With the establishment of innovation hubs in U.S., UAE, New Zealand, and Australian offices, it will be entering new global markets, forging strategic partnerships in construction & exports, developing innovative new technologies, and driving market value alongside the shareholders – all with the goal of uplisting from the OTC Markets to the NASDAQ, or similar major stock exchange, by 2024. This has been a long time coming – the realization of an ambitious goal SFIO set for itself almost a decade ago now. SFIO is glad to have strong backers and a deep talent bench to make all the things happen. “Thanks to your continued support, things have been moving very quickly these past two years. I’m excited to say they’re only going to accelerate from here,” says Jeths Lacson, CEO and Chairman of SFIO.
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How’s the housing market?
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 22, 2021
Pancho wants to flex acting... From Page 10 away from your loved ones) is part of our job. If things get better soon, I can bring Skye with me in a lock-in taping.” Speaking of work, First Lady is on its last stretch of taping. The work started sometime in
November with the necessary hotel quarantine. It allowed actors to be in touch with the narrative and their characters. “The first time I wore my short-sleeve barong, I felt I was already Conrad,” said he. “(First Lady is) a bigger production
and has more cast members. The problems (in the story) are deeper and there are more twists, magugulat sila, even ako nagugulat. I can’t wait for our Kapuso viewers to see the second book.” Again, First Lady is timely because the elections are just around the corner, said he, who feels grateful to be part of a show that somehow educates Filipinos to exercise their right to vote and vote wisely. Given the impressive ratings and run of First Yaya, Pancho said that the First Lady cast and crew also have to give more to meet people’s expectations. What many don’t know about Pancho is his love for movies. The actor said that he enjoys watching the works of Quentin Tarantino and Martin Scorsese. “I love everything about cinema,” said he. If ever he gets the chance to portray the characters he has watched, Pancho will be grateful to do so, especially the ones he called deeper roles. “I’ve done drama, I’ve done sexy. Now, I want to do intense action,” said he. If this happens, Pancho will bring his learnings from previous shows and roles. “It’s a never-ending learning experience,” he reflected on acting. His journey so far as a Kapuso actor was captured in a VTR shown before his interview with the press members. “I’m super thankful and excited. I just watched the VTR earlier. I saw the roles I played from Amaya, Victor Magtanggol to Dahil sa Pag-Ibig. I’m so grateful for those people I’ve worked with,” said he. “Having worked with (some of) the best actors of GMA, I find the experience humbling. I’m excited about the roles that I’ll be playing and the actors and directors that I’ll be working with (in the future).” That is something that will definitely come true. However, not far from happening is the possibility for Pancho to get his first leading man role. If that comes his way, the actor had this to say, “I will do my best and I (would) always do that in my past roles.”
sales price is $635,098 for Yr 2021, compared to $516,775 in Yr 2020, and $461,373 in Yr 2019. Is the market slowing down or going up? The Southern California market continues to be going strong, JAson AgcAoili as shown by the data in the last 36 months. However, AS we come to the close of always note that real estate 2021, the data shows that the is hyperlocal and the market Southern California housing demand is based on the local market has continued to area, the local zip code, and appreciate for the past three neighborhood. Going into the years since 2019. new year and 2022, there are As of date, here are the assessments that the sales price average sales prices for singleincreases will slow down as the family homes in Southern federal government indicated California in comparison to that they will be raising interest years 2020 and 2019. rates. Los Angeles County’s Will it still be a good time average sales price was in 2022 to buy or sell? Yes, $1,315,372 for Yr 2021, in both. It’s a good time to buy comparison to $1,095,279 in Yr because of the historically low 2020, and $975,016 in Yr 2019. mortgage rates. If the interest Orange County’s average rates do increase in the coming sales price was $1,278,850 year, they won’t increase so for Yr 2021, compared to significantly to match what they $1,022,097 in Yr 2020, and were 20 years ago. I estimate $924,339 in Yr 2019. that interest rates will still be San Bernardino County’s under 4%. Historically, that’s still average sales price was a low rate, however, if you’ve $509,389 for Yr 2021, been on the fence to purchase, compared to $416,950 in Yr I wouldn’t wait for home prices 2020, and $376,944 in Yr 2019. to make a significant drop for Riverside County’s average you to jump in.
Ask the Realtor
If you’re already a homeowner and looking to sell, it’s still a good time to sell. It’s still considered a seller’s market with a low inventory of homes for sale. Take advantage of the equity to purchase a larger home, downsize, or for other investments. As we close out the year 2021 and prepare for 2022, just remember: Time is of the essence whether you’re looking to buy or sell as an investor, or as a homeowner. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year! Life’s Short, Love What You Do, Love Where You Live.
(*Figures are based on CRMLS data, as of date Dec 2021.) Call / Text 213-608-5837 for a complimentary consultation, property value assessment, Selling, Buying, or Investing in real estate. Connect with me @jasonarealtor on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. *** JASON AGCAOILI, REALTOR | Ca DRE #01947185 JASONAREALTOR.com | HomeSmart Realty Group. Your Realtor for the Los Angeles Metropolitan, South Bay, and Beach Cities areas. | Member - California Association of Realtors and the South Bay Association of Realtors (Advertising Supplement)
Why using your married child as a co-borrower to refinance your house is a bad idea Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes MANY parents who may have problems refinancing their house due to low income in retirement or due to low credit score sometimes resort to the idea of having their married child serve as a coborrower to refinance their house As part of the refinancing process, the parents usually adds their adult children to the deed of the house then have them apply as a co-borrower in a mortgage. This is a really bad idea especially if there your child’s marriage is in trouble. This becomes a big problem if your married child ever gets divorced from his or her spouse. Your child’s spouse will have a claim for half the community interest in your house even if your intent was only to use your child’s credit to help you qualify for the refinance. Although you can argue that adding your married child’s name to the deed of your house was only a gift which should be characterized as your child’s separate property, the fact that your married child’s credit was used to obtain the refinance mortgage loan during the marriage which was then used to pay off your prior mortgage creates a community interest on his 50% share of your house. According to In re Marriage of Branco, a community property loan used to pay off a preexisting separate
loan gives the community an interest in the amount of that loan. In re Marriage of Branco, (1996) 47 Cal.App.4th 1621. Thus, the refinance described above allowed for the new loan to pay off the old separate property loan, and for a community interest to arise. Your married child’s spouse can claim that adding your child’s name to the deed was not a gift but instead property your child acquired during marriage as community property because your child paid for that interest by getting
adding your married child to the deed and serving as a co-borrower in your refinance. However if refinancing would really make a big difference in your mortgage interest and you are willing to give one half ownership interest in your house to your married child, then you may be able to plan around this situation by having your married child execute a post nuptial agreement with his spouse before you enter into the refinance transaction. Although not bullet proof, it should offer you some protection in case your child gets divorced. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, nonspecific 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, APLC. 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, APC 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 Kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com.
“This becomes a big problem if your married child ever gets divorced from his or her spouse. Your child’s spouse will have a claim for half the community interest in your house even if your intent was only to use your child’s credit to help you qualify for the refinance.” a mortgage as a co-borrower during their marriage. Family Code Section 760 provides that all property, real or personal, wherever situated, acquired by a married person during the marriage while domiciled in this state is community property. Procedurally, your married child’s spouse will join you as an indispensable party in the divorce case. Once you are joined as a party, you will be served with a summons and complaint for joinder into the action. You then would have to retain your own lawyer to defend you in your married child’s divorce case. If you can avoid this situation and refrain from
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Remember the wonder... From Page 11 that. This season is filled with awesome wonders and all it takes is to open our eyes, sharpen our senses and soak them all in. We have become inured to the possibilities of joy each moment brings. Conditioned by years of mundane repetition, we have lost the magic and wonder we were born with. We went through the motions of getting an education, raising a family, earning a living, running a business, working ceaselessly, it seems till we drop down dead or until Social Security says we can stop, (whichever comes first), sleeping and doing the same things all over again at
daybreak. Routine and predictability though calming, can numb the soul over time. This season is a joyful reminder of what truly counts in life. If there is anything that this season teaches us, it is that we can find joy in almost anything if we have thankful, humble hearts. From my family to yours, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! *** 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
Fil-Canadian is the latest... From Page 10 good life. “Everything [my parents] did set me up with the skills to achieve what I want to do,” the eventual victor said through broken tears. “Me being on Survivor is like a love letter to my parents to let them know that everything they did gave me what I need to survive out here.” “The way that I look really affects the way people treat me,” Casupanan later said after her victory, sharing that she is always mistaken for a minor or an intern when in truth she is “the one pulling the strings.” She added that she had no ego about how she was going to play, “The path to the end
didn’t have to be pretty, I just had to get there.” Her mantra for the game, which inspired the title for the this season’s sixth episode, became a resurgence where she would be “still looking like a lamb, but ready to play like a lion.” “Survivor” is an American reality competition series where contestants must live in the wilderness, win challenges, navigate social politics through alliances and voting people out in order to become the “sole survivor.” The show has taken place in the Philippines four times, from Season 25 to 28, shot in Caramoan, Camarines Sur and Palaui Island, Cagayan.
The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - December 22, 2021
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