040122 - New York & New Jersey Edition

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APRIL 1-7, 2022 Volume 15 - No.21 • 16 Pages

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Two Filipinos attacked in NYC; community DATELINE USA leaders stage #FilipinosRiseUp rally USS Abraham Lincoln FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

arrives in Manila with proud Fil-Am sailors

MANILA — The United States Navy continues to foster its ties with the Philippines and its other allies by conducting military exercises, showing off joint-capabilities with the arrival of USS Abraham Lincoln that’s manned by several Filipino-American sailors.

“Our commitment to allies and partners and friends has never been more important to this region than right now,” Rear Adm Jeffrey T. Anderson said on Thursday.

Select representatives of the media were brought to the aircraft carrier that was in the middle of the West Philippine Sea via a CMV-22 Osprey last week.

Among USS Abraham Lincoln’s 5,000 crew members are Filipinos, some of whom have not been home in years.

“Ang total mission ng barko is makapaglaunch ng mga eroplano kung kailangan.

Kada isa sa amin may role kami dun sa sa big, overall picture ng condition na

by MOMAR

G. VISAYA

AJPress

TWO Filipinos in New York City were added to the growing list of community members who have been victims of brutal, unprovoked attacks.

Both incidents happened in midtown Manhattan a few blocks from each other.

On Sunday, March 27, a 73-year-

old Filipino was reported to have been assaulted by a homeless individual while on his way to church between 8th Avenue and 40th Street in Manhattan. The following morning, a 53-year-old Filipino was beaten unconscious and robbed by another homeless individual at a McDonald’s store on 7th Avenue near 34th Street.

According to a Daily News report, the man assaulted inside McDonald’s identified

MANILA — The Philippines and the United States launched the largest-ever joint military drills in the archipelago nation on Monday, signalling deepening defence ties as fresh tensions surface in the disputed South China Sea. The war games are the last under outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, who previously threatened to cancel exercises and axe a key military deal with longtime ally the United States as he pivoted towards China.

Nearly 9,000 Filipino and American soldiers will take part in the 12-day training event across the main island of Luzon, which is usually an annual affair but was

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FDA allows second COVID boosters for 50 and older

by AJPRESS

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Philippines, US kick off their largest-ever Balikatan exercises

as Melvin Dizon pleaded for help from the staff and customers but no one came to help him.

“I said, ‘Help, help, please call the cops,’” Dizon told the Daily News from his Bellevue Hospital bed on Tuesday. “I was hoping people were going to help me, but they didn’t ... they were just watching and they didn’t get involved. I guess they’re scared.”

PACQUIAO MOTORCADE IN QC. Presidential candidate Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao waves to the crowd during his motorcade campaign with his wife Jinkee in Barangay Tatalon, Quezon City on Tuesday, March 29. Pacquiao asked city residents to vote for him in May elections.

PNA photo by

ELIGIBLE adults can start getting a second booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine following the United States Food and Drug Administration’s authorization this week.

The FDA on Tuesday, March 29 announced that it is expanding emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to allow adults 50 and older to get another booster shot at least four months after they received their first booster dose.

“Current evidence suggests some waning of protection over time against serious outcomes from COVID-19 in older and immunocompromised individuals. Based on an analysis of emerging data, a second booster dose

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‘Ready for the Comeback’: FilAm Nani Coloretti makes Tourist arrivals picking up as PH history in Biden’s administration welcomes more foreign visitors M G. V by

by MOMAR

G. VISAYA

AJPress

THE past two years have been extremely challenging for the global tourism industry, but Department of Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat believes that “by all indications, the worst of it is over and our recovery

is proceeding on the right track.”

“We’ve painstakingly laid the foundation for our big comeback, and we’re ready and fully prepared to have you back,” Puyat said as she addressed the participants of ‘Kabayan Ano, Latest?’, organized by the

 PAGE 2

OMAR AJPress

ISAYA

NANI Coloretti is now the highest ranking Filipino American in the Biden Administration as the U.S. Senate voted Tuesday, March 29 to confirm her nomination as deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget.

“Nani will bring strong leadership experience and the ability to inspire the next generation of Filipino

American leaders in Hawaii and across the country,” said Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii. “I am proud to call Nani a friend, and I look forward to continuing to work with her in her new role at OMB.” Sen. Schatz was one of the 57 senators who voted to confirm Coloretti.

The Office of Management and Budget works with federal agencies

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Two Filipinos attacked in NYC; community...

PAGE 1 Based on a security video released by the NYPD, Dizon was making a purchase from a kiosk when his attacker came up from behind and pummeled him to the ground before stealing his phone and cash.

An ABC7 news report on Wednesday, March 30, said that police have arrested the man who assaulted Dizon.

He was identified as Rasheed Osundairo, 30, and was arrested after he was recognized by an off-duty police officer while on the subway. He was additionally charged with an assault on the subway on March 23 and for criminal possession of stolen property said to be found in his possession at the time of his arrest.

The Philippine Consulate General in New York has issued a statement condemning the latest attacks against members of the Filipino Community and the senseless violence that has left many Filipinos in fear.

“The Philippine Consulate General in New York condemns in the strongest terms the latest attacks against members of the Filipino Community,” Consul General Elmer Cato said in a statement.

“The Philippine Consulate General in New York reminds kababayan to be vigilant at all times and to take the necessary precautions, especially when in public,” the statement added. “The Consulate again calls on authorities to do more to make sure that the streets of New York City

are safe again for everyone.”

The assaults, which follow the brutal attack against a 67-year-old Filipino woman in Yonkers, New York, two weeks ago, bring to 34 the number of anti-Asian hate incidents and criminal violence involving Filipinos since last year.

Community leaders led by the National Federation of Filipino American Associations - NY State Chapter and the newly-formed Filipino American Network Against Asian Hate (FANAAH) organized the #FilipinoRiseUp campaign as a response to the attack on the 67-year-old woman in Yonkers. They worked with a number of Filipino American organizations and coalitions to show a united front as a community.

“We demand action and funding from our elected officials to address these attacks and let New Yorkers know we belong here,” the group said in a statement.

According to Consul General Cato, the incidents in Manhattan bring to seven the number of cases involving members the Filipino Community reported to or monitored by the Philippine Consulate General in New York this year.

The Consulate issued a call for authorities to “do more to make sure that New York City is safe again for everyone by removing dangerous individuals, especially those with criminal records, from the streets and addressing concerns related to homelessness and mental health.”g

‘Ready for the Comeback’: Tourist arrivals...

PAGE 1 Philippine Consulate General in New York.

“Probably the best news to emerge ever since the pandemic began more than two years ago happened just this February, when the Philippines became one of the first countries in Asia to accept fully vaccinated foreign leisure travelers, and having the most relaxed entry protocols to boot, including quarantine-free entry,” Sec. Puyat recalled in her speech.

Starting April 1, all foreign travelers can now visit the Philippines as long as they have proof of vaccination, a negative RT-PCR or antigen result before their departure, and the necessary travel insurance coverage.

Because international tourism was restricted for much of the last two years, the gradual recovery of the Philippines’ tourism industry was fueled primarily by domestic travelers.

With foreign visitors now allowed to travel to all reopened destinations around the country, Puyat said they are optimistic that the industry is on its way to recovery.

“Now that our international borders have reopened, we expect the pace of our recovery to pick up, especially during the busy summer season and the Holy Week break this April. This will bring back business opportunities, jobs, and livelihood to millions of Filipinos,” Sec. Puyat said.

As of March 20, the DOT recorded over 118,000 international arrivals, with tourists coming mostly from South Korea, the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, Vietnam, and Japan. Both the United States and Canada lead foreign tourist arrivals, while balikbayans account for 42% of total inbound tourists.

According to Puyat, this validates their position that North America remains one of the country’s most important

visitor markets.

Before the pandemic, the USA was the Philippines’ 3rd biggest source market. In 2019, the Philippines welcomed 1,034,471 tourists from the US, which accounted for about 12.89% of that year’s total international arrivals of around 8.26 million tourists.

On the other hand, Canada was the 7th biggest market, with more than 238,000 arrivals for a 2.9% market share.

Boosting tourism Puyat also talked about the factors that led to the road to recovery, including the ramping up of the government’s vaccination drive not just among tourism workers but the general population where about 64 million Filipinos in the target age group have been fully vaccinated, with close to 11 million already getting their booster shot.

Because of the continued lowering of the country’s Covid-19 alert levels, many of the top destinations are now at Level 1, and this is expected to go down to Level 0 soon.

Visitor numbers took a nosedive when the pandemic hit in 2020.

The United States managed to become the second biggest generator of tourists to the Philippines, bringing in 211,816 tourists, equivalent to a 14.3% market share. Arrivals from Canada reached 55,273 and accounted for 3.7% of total arrivals.

Puyat also extolled the importance of the balikbayan and Filipino-American markets, especially in 2021, when only Filipino nationals and former Filipinos were allowed to enter the country.

“It is because of this segment that the USA became the country’s top source market that year, with 11,905 arrivals, which accounts for 20.46% of the total. With more than 4 million Filipinos in the USA, the Fil-Am market is expected to continue being a major contributor to the arrivals to the country in the short to medium term,”

she added.

Now that the Philippines is fully reopening, Puyat assured that destinations are safe and ready for the arrival of a travel-hungry audience.

She announced the launch of the Balikan ang Pilipinas Campaign, not only to reunite the balikbayans with their loved ones but also with our beloved tourist spots.

Part of the campaign consists of working with our stakeholders to create exciting promos, such as tour packages, hotel and resort promos, and flight deals for the balikbayans through the BALIKAN.PH website.

“I promise you that if you visit, you won’t be disappointed as we have spent a great deal of the last two years improving and upgrading our destinations,” Puyat said. “At the moment, we have 111 new tourism circuits across the country developed in coordination with local government units and tourism stakeholders, with dozens more in the pipeline.”

These circuits reintroduce the best travel products and experiences that each of the regions can offer, including but not limited to culinary, history, nature, wellness, farm, and faith-based tourism.

Puyat also announced that the Philippines is hosting the World Travel and Tourism Council Global Summit in Manila from April 20 to 21. The WTTC Global Summit is widely considered the most influential event for travel and tourism professionals and stakeholders, with at least 650 executives expected to attend.

Under the theme of “Rediscovering Travel,” she said the department hopes to gather the biggest names in the Travel & Tourism industry as well as representatives from the public and private sectors to discuss the most critical issues affecting the industry today.g

PASSENGERS QUEUE. Southbound passengers’ long queue from the footbridge on Edsa Congressional Avenue up to the Roosevelt Station, Edsa-Carousel bus station in Quezon City on Monday, March 28. Public utility vehicle drivers, operators, and commuters will soon be able to enjoy the benefits of the government’s Service Contracting Program once the Commission on Elections exempts the program’s disbursement during the 2022 election season.

PNA

DFA: Nearly 400 Filipinos from Ukraine now in PH

by Christia

Marie Inquirer.net

raMos

MANILA — Close to 400 Filipinos have been repatriated from Ukraine to the Philippines since conflict broke out following Russia’s invasion in late February.

So far, 394 Filipinos have been flown back to the Philippines, according to a repatriation update shared on Tuesday by Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola online.

Among the latest batch of repatriates included 30 seafarers from Ukraine who arrived in the country in the last three days. Some of them arrived at the Clark

International Airport on Tuesday, Arriola said.

These seafarers manned the MV Ithaca Prospect, MV Filia Joy, and MV Nord Virgo.

They arrived in the country via Bucharest, Romania. In total, 350 seafarers have already been repatriated, according to the DFA. Meanwhile, 40 other Filipinos have so far been evacuated from Ukraine to neighboring countries, it added.

It was on March 7 that the Philippine government ordered the mandatory evacuation of Filipinos from Ukraine, which Russia started to invade on February 24. At the time, only more than 30 Filipinos had returned to the Philippines. g

FDA allows second...

PAGE 1 of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine could help increase protection levels for these higher-risk individuals,” said Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, in a news release.

“Additionally, the data show that an initial booster dose is critical in helping to protect all adults from the potentially severe outcomes of COVID-19. So, those who have not received their initial booster dose are strongly encouraged to do so.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) likewise updated its recommendation to allow certain immunocompromised individuals and people over the age of 50 to receive their second booster shot.

Further, based on newly published data, adults who received a primary vaccine

and booster dose of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine at least four months ago may now receive a second booster dose using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, either Pfizer or Moderna.

“Boosters are safe, and people over the age of 50 can now get an additional booster 4 months after their prior dose to increase their protection further. This is especially important for those 65 and older and those 50 and older with underlying medical conditions that increase their risk for severe disease from COVID-19 as they are the most likely to benefit from receiving an additional booster dose at this time. CDC, in collaboration with FDA and our public health partners, will continue to evaluate the need for additional booster doses for all Americans,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in the statement. g

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From the Front Page

USS Abraham Lincoln... FilAm Nani Coloretti makes history...

PAGE 1 makapag-launch siya ng eroplano,” Logistics Specialist Senior Chief Petty Officer Rommel Pasive said.

(The ship’s total mission is to launch aircraft when needed.

We each have a role in the big, overall picture of having it conditioned to be able to launch an aircraft.)

Filipino crew members will be given a chance to take a quick break while in the Philippines, with some of the sailors expressing excitement to spend time with their friends and family.

They said sailors on board are often busy with the tasks assigned to them, but Filipino-American sailors said they find time to bond with one another when sharing meals or by having small get-togethers.

The Fil-Am crew said they were able to create a community that feels like home. Petty Officer 2nd Class Danmichael Canta said: “Kulang lang talaga is ‘yung lutong bahay.” (The only thing missing is homemade food.)

Around 80 aircraft onboard The ship is the United States’ fifth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. It can accommodate around 80 aircraft, which can be deployed both day and night and in all types of conditions.

This is not her first time in the Philippines. USS Abraham Lincoln’s first deployment was in the region, executing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief when Mt. Pinatubo exploded in 1991.

Last week, USS Abraham Lincoln Commanding Officer Capt Amy Bauernschmidt said it can do “pretty much anything that [it is] tasked to do by [its] government.”

The crew went through a “rigorous nine-month training cycle” before the ship departed its home port in San Diego earlier this year, January 3. USS Abraham Lincoln has traveled over 24,000 miles and performed 15 replenishments at sea since.

“Since leaving San Diego, we’ve executed about 5,192 hours of flight operations, watching and recovering aircraft both day and night everywhere from San Diego over to the South China Sea,” Bauernschmidt said.

The crew also went through carrier interoperability exercises as well as double fusion and jungle warfare while at the West Philippine Sea. “We are here to help build interoperability, capacity, and capability throughout the region with both our allies as well as our partners in order to provide reassurance as well as to deter our adversaries and should deterrence fail, we’re here to fight and win,” Anderson said.

Filipinos on board said they are trying to do their best to fulfill their mission, hoping to best represent the country even while they are away from home.

“Ang mindset ko ay kung ano po ang misyon ang pinapagawa po nila sa amin, nandito po kami para gawin iyon. So as a parang representative ng mga Pilipino, gagawin po namin ang aming makakaya para ma-fulfill ang aming mission,” Romero said.

(I put on the mindset that whatever the mission they are asking us to do, we are here to do it. So as a somewhat representative of the Filipino people, we will do our best to fulfill our mission.)

Meanwhile, the Philippines and the United States are set to begin the largest joint military drills in the country this week. War games are expected to last 12 days near the Luzon islands.

Exercises include maritime security, live-fire training, counterterrorism, as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

“This year’s way more robust, it’s somewhere on the order of over 5,000 US service members and somewhere on the order of over 3,500 Philippine service members, so a lot more robust exercises than it has been in the past,” Anderson said.

“I think it underscores those strong military-to-military ties that we possess between the United States joint force and the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he added.

Anderson said they did not need to shift the ship’s operations or exercises due to the pandemic. Its strike group is 100% vaccinated, while a vast majority of their service members have received their booster shots. (By Philstar.com)

PAGE 1 to oversee the execution of spending programs approved by Congress.

According to Schatz, OMB is the largest office within the office of the president, “overseeing the implementation of the president’s vision across the Executive Branch. OMB also manages department and agency organization, the regulatory process, and ensures that funds appropriated by Congress are properly spent.”

Coloretti has led public, private and non-profit organizations to achieve outstanding results, with a focus on increasing opportunity for all. She was a Senior Vice President at the Urban Institute, an independent policy research organization and think tank dedicated to using evidence, insight, and analysis to advance upward mobility, equity, and shared prosperity all Americans.

Coloretti’s federal government service includes deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Assistant Secretary for Management and Acting CFO of U.S. Department of the Treasury, and Acting

Nani Coloretti

COO of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Before joining the Obama Administration in 2009, she served as Policy and Budget Director for San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. Her

prior experience includes work in San Francisco to improve the lives of children, youth, and families; program examiner and Presidential Management Fellow in the Office of Management and Budget and work on the State of Hawaii budget.

Ms. Coloretti currently serves as an independent director on the board of the Bank of the West. She is a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, Strategic Advisor to Government Executives with the Partnership for Public Services, and has been independently recognized for innovation and leadership, receiving the UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy Special Award for Policy Innovation, the Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Alumni Achievement Award and the National Public Service award.

She holds a BA in economics and communications from the University of Pennsylvania and an MPP from the University of California, Berkeley. She was raised in Hawaii and currently lives in Bethesda, Maryland with her husband and together they have a son in college. g

Philippines, US kick off their largest-ever...

PAGE 1 cancelled or curtailed during the pandemic.

Philippine military chief General Andres Centino said at the opening ceremony in Manila that the largest round of the Balikatan war games reflected the “deepening alliance” between the two countries.

US Major General Jay Bargeron said the “friendship and trust” between their respective armed forces would allow them to “succeed together across the entire spectrum of military operations”.

The exercises will cover maritime security, amphibious operation, live-fire training, counterterrorism, and humanitarian assistance and

disaster relief.

Recent manoeuvres between the two countries focused on potential conflict in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost in its entirety.

Since taking power in 2016 Duterte has moved closer to China, but has faced pushback from the Philippine public and concern in the military wary of its territorial ambitions in the waters.

Trillions of dollars in trade pass through the strategic sea and it is thought to contain rich petroleum deposits, making it a frequent source of regional friction.

China has ignored a 2016 ruling by The Haguebased Permanent Court of Arbitration that its historical claim is without basis.

It has reinforced its stance by building artificial islands over some contested reefs and installing weapons on them.

Tensions spike The future of the war games was thrown into doubt after Duterte said in February 2020 he planned to axe the Visiting Forces Agreement, which provides the legal framework for the US to hold joint military exercises and operations in the Philippines.

But he walked back on the decision last July, as tensions between Manila and Beijing over the South China Sea spiked following the detection of hundreds of Chinese boats parked at a reef off the Philippines.

On the eve of the joint

BANTAYOG NG BAYANI. American troops take photos of the “Bantayog ng Bayani” (Heroes Memorial) after the opening ceremony of the Balikatan 2022 at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Monday, March 28. The Bantayog ng Bayani is dedicated to all soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defending the country.

PNA

drills, the Philippine Coast Guard accused its Chinese counterpart of steering one of its ships within metres of a Filipino patrol boat near the disputed Scarborough Shoal -- a flashpoint between the two countries.

That came weeks after Manila confronted Beijing’s ambassador over a Chinese navy ship “lingering” in the Philippines’ archipelagic waters.

The Chinese embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to media requests for comment on the war games or the Scarborough Shoal incident.

The exercises are being held in the shadow of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The US and its allies are providing defensive weapons to Kyiv and imposing crippling economic sanctions on Moscow.

Duterte, whose six-year term ends in June, has expressed concern that the Philippines was “involved” in the conflict because of its security alliance with the United States.

That includes a mutual defence treaty and permission for the US military to store defence equipment and supplies on several Philippine bases. (By Ron Lopez, Mikhail Flores Agence France-Presse/ Philstar.com)

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OPINION

FEATURES

Going to waste

5

Philstar.com

AS BA.2, the more infectious “stealth” subvariant of the Omicron strain spreads in the United States, reports on Monday, March 28 said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration would approve a second booster or fourth dose of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID vaccines Israel, which began administering a second booster of the Pfizer vaccine early this year to ages 60 and above, reported over the weekend that the additional dose lowered the mortality rate in that vulnerable group by 78 percent. The report was based on a 40-day study among more than half a million people aged 60 to 100, conducted by Israel’s largest healthcare provider.

Last month, the United Kingdom also offered a second booster to ages 75 and above as well as anyone from age 12 up who is immunocompromised.

In the Philippines, the government wants people aged 60 and older as well as the immune suppressed and those with other serious health problems to get their booster shots against COVID. As of mid-March, however, only 13 percent of the targeted segment had received boosters. Even in

Metro Manila, which has the highest COVID vaccination rate, the booster uptake is only 30 percent.

Scientists have said immunity to COVID provided by vaccines wanes after a few months, and recommend a booster four months after the second primary dose. The additional protection is important as the stealth Omicron spreads in parts of Europe, the U.S., Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland. On Monday, Shanghai began its most extensive lockdown since the start of the pandemic to contain a COVID outbreak.

The World Health Organization has repeatedly warned that the COVID threat is far from over, and might yet be entering a deadlier phase as restrictions are eased too quickly and vaccinations fall. The WHO warning is not being heeded in the Philippines, where the sight of large political gatherings

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS THE Philippine election is less than six weeks away. The momentum has been shifting to the Leni-Kiko campaign as evidenced by the jam-packed political rallies in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, the growing number of endorsements that Vice

for the election campaign is giving people the impression that the pandemic is over.

While the stealth Omicron threatens to push up cases again in the Philippines, pandemic response officials are lamenting that COVID vaccines available for boosters are set to expire by June. The country is buried up to its neck in debt to finance the pandemic response, particularly for the procurement of

vaccines. Every dose is precious and cannot be wasted, especially since there are still millions of Filipinos who have not received even their primary dose. The national and local governments must not be distracted by the upcoming elections in carrying out the vaccination program. Otherwise, the country could face a renewed COVID surge. (Philstar. com)

If we want Leni Robredo’s ‘Gobyernong Tapat’ to succeed, we need to vote for Kiko Pangilinan as her vice president President Leni Robredo gets from former government officials, military leaders, universities and colleges, businesses and business analysts, nongovernment organizations, and even more from sitting local officials in the towns, cities and provinces.

However, there has been online

buzz about pushing for an all-women power tandem with Leni Robredo-Sara Duterte Carpio. Sara is the incumbent mayor of Davao City, the daughter of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, sister of Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, preceded by the father, and succeeded by her other

brother, Sebastian Duterte.

Fellow Filipinos: if we are truly sick and tired of chronic corruption in the Philippines, if we are truly done with family dynasties that perpetuate the cycles of corruption from generation to generation, if we are truly serious and committed to finally fighting for and getting the honest,

clean, good government that we deserve, then we need to vote not only for Leni Robredo for president, but also for her chosen and trusted public servant to be her vice president, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan.

This is one of the biggest and most consequential differences between the

United States and the Philippines’ way of electing the top two positions of the Executive Office.

Here in the United States, we are voting for a ticket — a team. A vote for the president is also a vote for the running mate for vice president.

According to the PAGE 10

The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.

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Dateline PhiliPPines

Marcos Jr. still hopeful of Philippine airport projects face lingering pandemic risks Duterte’s endorsement MANILA — Airport projects in the Philippines could face potential delays and even cancellations in the near-term as recovery of travel demand may take a while due to the lingering pandemic.

This could also be the case for other airport projects in Asia, which hosts over $220 billion worth of airport infrastructure projects based on data from Fitch Solutions released Tuesday, March 29. This is because many of these projects are still at preconstruction phase, Fitch Solutions explained, making them vulnerable to sudden changes that could be triggered by the pandemic.

Based on Fitch Solutions’ monitoring, the Philippines accounts for a large share of airport projects in Asia at $33.9 billion. Of those

by Daphne

Galvez Inquirer.net

Ninoy Aquino International Airport

airports in the pipeline, projects valued at $18.2 billion are still at “planning stage”, representing 69% of the total line-up.

Such risks have already materialized for some projects. At the onset of the pandemic, the much-

Philstar.com file photo

awaited rehabilitation of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the country’s premier gateway, was stalled after a group of tycoons that offered to take on the project backed out when the government rejected their PAGE 7

MANILA — Presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, March 29 said he is still counting on the endorsement of President Rodrigo Duterte despite the support he has obtained from the PDP-Laban faction led by the Chief Executive.

“Alam mo naman si President, he keeps us on our toes. I hope so, I hope so,” he said in a chance interview when asked if he expects Duterte’s support for his candidacy.

The PDP-Laban wing formed by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and backed by Duterte has earlier announced their endorsement of Marcos Jr. and the president’s daughter, Sara Duterte-Carpio, who is running for vice president in tandem with the late strongman’s son.

But Duterte has yet to reveal his personal choice for the next president.

According to him, an ideal president should be a decisive, compassionate lawyer. Marcos Jr. is not a lawyer and Duterte has previously said that Marcos Jr.

Ferdinand “BongBong” Marcos.

Inquirer.net file photo

is a “weak leader.”

According to Duterte’s long-time assistant Senator Bong Go, the President met with Marcos Jr. a few days before the PDP-Laban faction openly endorsed his candidacy.

Go said the two had a “productive” meeting, where Duterte shared his experiences and even gave advice on being president. g

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COVID-19 is third leading cause Duterte’s birthday wish: Clean, fair, honest 2022 elections of death in 2021, says PSA

by Zacarian

MANILA — All President Rodrigo Duterte wants for his birthday is a “clean, fair, and honest” election in the May 9 polls, said the Malacañang on Sunday, March 27.

“We join all our countrymen in wishing our beloved President Rodrigo Roa Duterte a happy 77th birthday on March 28,” Acting Presidential Spokesperson Martin Andanar said in a statement.

Andanar said Duterte will hold only a simple and quiet birthday celebration in Davao City.

Salao

Inquirer.net

MANILA — The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Tuesday, March 29 said that COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death in the Philippines in 2021.

The severe respiratory illness caused by the SARSCoV-2 virus, the PSA added, followed ischemic heart diseases and cerebrovascular diseases, which are ranked first and second, respectively, in the list.

PSA said 74,008 or 9.7 percent of all the recorded deaths from January to December 2021 were due to COVID-19.

“Deaths due to COVID-19 virus identified were the third leading cause which accounted for 74,008 deaths (9.7% share), rising from rank 14 with 9,316 deaths (1.5% share) in the same period of 2020,” it noted in its report.

Among the country’s 17 regions, Calabarzon registered the highest number of COVID-19 deaths with 21,165 (20 percent) trailed by the National Capital Region (NCR) or Metro Manila with 20,924 (19.8 percent) and Central Luzon with 18,828 (17.8 percent).

ARMM, on the other hand, recorded the least number of COVID-19 deaths with 162.

“His birthday wish for this year is to have a clean, fair, and honest election in May 2022, as he has time and again underscored the importance of a peaceful transfer of power as part of his enduring legacy,” said Andanar.

He then expressed gratitude to the President for “inspiring” other government officials and wished him good health so that he may continue “serving the interest of and bringing betterment to the lives of Filipinos.”

(By Zacarian Sarao/Inquirer.net)

Human rights coalition wants sanctions for Duterte, other Philippine officials An airport worker disinfects boxes containing the 1.2 million doses of Pfizer vaccine PNA photo by Rico H. that arrived at the NAIA Terminal 3 on Saturday, March 26.

“In NCR, Quezon City reported the highest number of deaths due to COVID-19, with 4,660 deaths or 22.3 percent of the total COVID-19 deaths in the region from January to December 2021,” PSA said.

“This was followed by the City of Manila and City of Pasig with 2,976 (14.2%) and 2,075 (9.9%) COVID-19 deaths, respectively,” it added.

The PSA data showed that ischemic heart diseases were the leading cause of death in the country last year with 136,575 (17.8 percent), higher by 29.7 percent from the 105,821 (17.1 percent) deaths it caused in the same period in 2020.

Ischemic heart diseases are more commonly known

as coronary heart disease (CHD).

Cerebrovascular diseases came in second place as they caused the passing of 74,262 people (9.7 percent) in 2021.

This was 15.3 percent higher than the 64,381 deaths it caused in the same period the year before when it was ranked third.

The fourth leading cause of death last year was neoplasms or “cancer” with 54,853 while diabetes mellitus was ranked fifth with 44,491 deaths.

Other diseases in the Top 10 causes of death in 2021 were hypertensive diseases, pneumonia, COVID-19 virus not identified, other heart diseases, and chronic lower respiratory diseases, according to the PSA.g

Philippine airport projects...

PAGE 6 proposed tweaks to the deal.

The so-called “NAIA Consortium”, which groups six conglomerates, said the proposed changes to their plan would make NAIA “bankable” and “viable” considering the pandemic’s impact on tourism. Listed builder Megawide and its Indian partner offered to take over the project from the NAIA consortium, but their proposal was also turned down by regulators who were unimpressed with the duo’s financial capability.

The Duterte administration had said it would no longer entertain proposals from the private sector and that the government would rehabilitate NAIA on its own.

“That said, we caution downside risks towards the potential for delays in project time frames, or even suspensions and cancellations over the near-term, due to the uncertainty amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the possibility of re-assessing business cases for some airport infrastructure developments,” Fitch Solutions said.

“Investment into airports may be shifted back or postponed as operators look to align investments with recovering passenger

demand, which is likely only going to return to pre-pandemic levels post-2025,” it added.

‘Bearish’ The Fitch unit said it was particularly “more bearish” on small-sized airport projects located in provinces, which have niche demand that is usually dependent on tourism or limited domestic travel.

“As recovery of the aviation sector is expected to take a while, plans for these smaller projects, be it the construction of a new airport or the expansion of existing facilities, could be delayed in the shortterm,” it said.

Elsewhere in Asia, Fitch Solutions said airport projects in markets such as Papua New Guinea and Myanmar are at risk due to their political environment, opaque business environment and a lack of strong legal and financial institutions.

In contrast, Hong Kong has the most favourable airport pipeline profile. The completion of the construction of a third runway at Hong Kong International Airport in September 2021 is “a positive milestone in the expansion of Hong Kong’s transport infrastructure,” the Fitch unit said. (Ian Nicolas Cigaral/Philstar.com)

MANILA — A coalition of rights groups launched Tuesday, March 29 a campaign to urge foreign governments to impose sanctions on President Rodrigo Duterte and other Philippine officials for allegedly violating human rights.

The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines said in a statement that it will be working with the national governments of Australia, Canada, the U.S., the UK and the European Union for the imposition of Magnitsky

sanctions on Philippine officials.

“In the absence so far of genuine accountability for these crimes through international mechanisms, such as the International Criminal Court and the UN Human Rights Council, ICHRP is launching a global campaign under national Magnitsky Acts to hold those responsible accountable for these widely documented crimes,” it said.

Countries that have Magnitsky laws may impose punishment, ranging from travel bans to financial

sanctions, on foreign nationals responsible for human rights violations or corruption in a foreign country.

The U.S. was the first to enact a Magnitsky law in 2012, three years after Sergei Magnitsky, a tax advisor who exposed corruption among Russian government officials, died while in prison.

Aside from Duterte, the coalition is calling for sanctions on Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, both of whom ICHRP described as PAGE 8

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Human rights...

Starfleet Innotech partners with startup Luyten to enter $19-M global 3D printing construction market

STARFLEET Innotech, Inc. announced a new strategic partnership with Australia-based 3D concrete printing startup Luyten. The exclusive agreement will see Luyten’s revolutionary construction technologies utilized across SFIO’s real estate projects in the Philippines, towards the conglomerate’s goal of building a more sustainable, equitable future for community living.

As SFIO continues growing its portfolio of development projects through its real estate division, led by premiere wellness tourism brand Moraya, Luyten will play a pivotal role in championing Moraya’s mission of wellness through purposeful innovations.

According to Grand View Research, the global 3D printing construction market is estimated at roughly $19 million and is expected to reach almost $5 billion by 2030. Using their own 3D printing devices and proprietary mixtures, Luyten is able to complete construction projects with 60% less waste, 70% less production time, and at only 20% of the labor costs of traditional means. According to the startup, walls for a twobedroom home can be printed in as little as two days. Optimized for quick deployment, Luyten’s devices can be mobilized and operational in hours, as opposed to the multiple days it takes to set up traditional machinery. Through their robotic systems, Luyten can remotely control their machinery from anywhere in the world. These innovations translate to more productive, and therefore more cost-effective, construction periods.

Over the next few years, Luyten will be providing the machinery and materials needed to augment SFIO’s real estate developments—an exclusive arrangement in the Philippines, where a majority of the Moraya developments will be placed. Under this agreement, SFIO will have exclusive distribution rights to Luyten’s devices in the Philippines and projects to sell at least fifty units of 3D concrete printing machinery to other developers and organizations over the next 12 months, following regulatory approvals.

“Our partnership with Luyten stems from our commitment to invest in the futures of the industries we operate in,” said Starfleet Innotech CEO Jeths Lacson. “Joining Moraya’s divisional ecosystem, Luyten will play a key role as an enabler for our various real estate initiatives. Their affordable, sustainable offerings will allow us to build exciting projects that champion both the new communities we hope to build, as well as the existing communities we hope to serve.”

In addition to augmenting Moraya’s current township developments, this partnership will see up to 500 low cost housing units constructed across the Philippines over the next two years. Through this exclusive agreement in the Philippines, SFIO will also be able to distribute Luyten’s machinery to local government units and nonprofit organizations seeking more affordable means to build quality, resilient homes.

(Advertising Supplement)

PAGE 7 “architects of the war on drugs and campaign of state terror.”

When he was Philippine National Police chief, Dela Rosa spearheaded the anti-illegal drugs campaign called “Oplan Tokhang,” which led to the deaths of thousands of drug suspects.

ICHRP also wants foreign governments to impose sanctions on leaders of the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, including Gen. Debold Sinas, Gen. Jose Faustino Jr., Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana and Interior Sec. Eduardo Año.

Likewise, the ICHRP wants Sen. Bong Go, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Judge Cecilyn Burgos-Villavert and Lorraine Badoy sanctioned for being “part of the infrastructure of terror in the Duterte administration and participated in the public orchestration of alleged state repression.”

“In the absence of justice, in the absence of domestic and international accountability, the proposed Magnitsky measures would afford some level of justice for those guilty of these heinous crimes,” former Australian Sen. Lee Rhiannon said.

In 2019, the U.S. enacted an entry ban on foreign government officials involved in the “wrongful imprisonment” of opposition Sen. Leila de Lima, who has been behind bars for five years over drug charges she said are trumped up.

But for these sanctions to be implemented, the U.S. State Secretary, who was Mike Pompeo at the time, had to come out with a list of people who would be targeted by the ban. It is not known if Pompeo or his successor, Antony Blinken, has done this. (Xave Gregorio/Philstar.com)

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Pahrump, areas outside Las Vegas eyed by home developers as land prices increase By rEalTor FElY QUiTEViS-BaTEMan

Jorge and Reggie Bondoc of Houston (extreme right and extreme left), the No. 1 top seller of Ritello USA in 2021, bought 3 lots last year on their first visit to Pahrump. They are in photo with Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (center).

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman with Tim Lai (left), who is looking at parcels to build apartment units to meet the rental shortage in Pahrump.

REAL estate in the gaming capital of the world, Las Vegas, continues on its upward trend as the area’s population continues to grow.

With construction projects on the horizon and with it more jobs and employment opportunities, Las Vegas home buyers are feeling the crunch when it comes to searching for affordable homes.

The frenzy for home buying in the area has taken its toll on prospective homeowners as many compete for available, affordable homes. A recent article even stated that some builders have put buyers on waiting lists, and that buyers have had to contend with raising of prices, overbidding and lottery draws.

That is probably the reason why home builders will be looking at areas outside of Las Vegas to develop new homes, especially since per square foot costs in these areas are cheaper when compared to Las Vegas.

Take a look at Pahrump, which is about 62 miles west of Las Vegas.

Easily a drive of about an hour or less, it is an area where a person employed in the world’s gaming capital can drive to and from work, and still enjoy the comforts of a quieter, peaceful neighborhood,

Former Philippine President Fidel Ramos (extreme right, holding golf club) was impressed playing golf at Mountain Falls Golf Resort during his visit to Las Vegas many years ago.

With former President Ramos in photo are Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman and her family.

and far from bustling traffic, crime and other problems associated with big cities.

Today’s Pahrump is no longer a backwards place. Still an unincorporated town, Pahrump has currently an estimated population of nearly 48,000 from the latest Census data (by comparison, in 2000, the town had an estimated population of just under 25,000), and has many major stores that can be seen in big towns like Walmart Supercenter, Albertson’s, Safeway, Home Depot and Dollar General, as well as a

variety of businesses that serve its burgeoning population.

Aside from these, Pahrump is also site to the Front Sight Firearms Training Institute and Spring Mountain Motor Sports Ranch. It also has wineries, casinos, drugstores, many restaurants, and legal brothels.

Public education is administered by the Nye County School District.

Although land prices in Pahrump may not be as low as was decades ago, it is still an affordable alternative PAGE 10

From left: Atty. Jack Ross of Las Vegas, Gloria Estillore from Silicon Valley (who is eyeing to build assisted living facilities), Weenah Cadiz (considering Pahrump as her retirement destination) and Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman.

Victor Covarrubias (left), owner of Ford dealership in CA, looking for his 2nd dealership in Pahrump with (from left) Realtor Fely QuitevisBateman and Jennifer Benedict, another

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Pahrump, areas outside Las Vegas eyed by home...

PAGE 9 to the rising real estate prices in Las Vegas. Plus, real estate in Pahrump has appreciated about 155% over the last ten years alone, according to latest data available, which puts the unincorporated town in the top 10% nationally for areas whose real estate values have appreciated exponentially. Due to this, many observers see Pahrump as being one of the best longterm investments that people can make in the United States over the past decade and into the future. Despite a downturn in the housing market, Pahrump’s real estate portfolio has continued to appreciate.

Millions of dollars are being pumped into construction projects in Pahrump which will greatly benefit the town. A glove factory on 10-acre parcel of land being developed by one of my investors Andrew Hoang, will create hundreds of jobs.

While the market is still affordable, now is the time to look for opportunities to invest in real estate in Pahrump and neighboring communities in Las Vegas.

Even the Las Vegas Review Journal, in a recent article, said that a broader acceleration in areas like Pahrump, Mesquite, Indian Springs, Moapa Valley and Laughlin may take place to

address the needs of home buyers in the lower price ranges as residential developers eye other regions for potential projects.

Besides, for those looking to invest in real estate in Pahrump like some of my clients who are now reaping the benefits of their investments, settling in places like Pahrump in Nevada has distinct tax advantages, including a competitive business state tax, a county sales tax of 6.75% (not on food items), and no taxes associated with estate/inheritance, franchise, gift, inventory/interstate commerce, corporate income and personal income.

‘Whether you are looking to be gainfully employed, retire or just own a second home or land as an investment, Pahrump is a great place to start your search, and I can help you. Having seen the growth of this community since 1992, I can assist you, my kababayans, in your search for the best opportunities.

My company, Precious Properties, is a full-service company serving its clientele since 1992 and you can reach me at 775-513-8447, 805-559-2476 and 702-538-4948 for more information. We have investors who buy houses in California and Nevada for cash and quick escrow in as short as 7 days.

POLL VIOLATORS. Several campaign posters and tarpaulins are displayed on a part of a bridge on Almaciga Street in Project 2, Quezon City on Tuesday, March 29. Placing campaign materials on electrical posts and wires is prohibited as the Commission on Elections has designated areas for such purposes. PNA

PH joins UN’s arms trade, reduction on If we want Leni Robredo’s ‘Gobyernong Tapat’... statelessness treaties

PAGE 5 White House website: “The primary responsibility of the Vice President of the United States is to be ready at a moment’s notice to assume the Presidency if the President is unable to perform his or her duties. This can be because of the President’s death, resignation, or temporary incapacitation, or if the Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet judge that the President is no longer able to discharge the duties of the presidency.”

“The Vice President also serves as the President of the United States Senate, where he or she casts the deciding vote in the case of a tie. Except in the case of tie-breaking votes, the Vice President rarely actually presides over the Senate,” WhiteHouse.gov added.

The U.S. president also has the prerogative to assign a special role or mission to the VP to help fulfill their campaign promises to the people.

WHY does the U.S. vote for the President-VP as a team? Let us focus on the most important function/role of the VP that is true for both the U.S. and Philippine government: The VP is the second highest and second most powerful position in government, especially, God forbid, something happens to the president, the VP will take over as president.

Because the president and the VP are a team, then they share the same values and philosophy in governing, the same vision, platform and programs so that whatever happens to the president, the American people who have given them the mandate to govern will continue to fulfill the campaign promises the American people voted them for in the election.

Unfortunately, we do not vote the same way for our president and VP in the Philippines. Sadly, too, we vote based on personality, instead of vision and ideology and programs.

This is exactly why it is so easy for parties to merge, collapse, be renamed, and for candidates to jump from one party to another. It is a bata-bata type of Padrino politics. It is driven by political expediency and survival based on

who is more popular with name recall, including those who capitalize on the surname or family brand.

Think about this: Public officials earn meager salaries and yet most of them live questionable lavish lifestyle. Why? There is money in politics, suggested by no less than the ousted dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos, shared on video “The Kingmaker” by Sandro Marcos, son of Presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos.

This is also why traditional politics and family dynasties are perpetuated, and those in power do not want to touch it because almost all of them benefit from this corrupt system. They already have their “people” in the corrupt system, they have protectors in the complicated labyrinth of those who serve not the people they vow to serve but their own personal interests — and they all benefit from it and would fight hard and break rules just to perpetuate the status quo.

You know how family dynasties work.

They have been there for the longest time — generations after generations, doing the dizzying merry-go-round and musical chairs of positions they hold, keeping power within the family in both the national and local levels.

Why? Because they are fully invested and reaping much return in this game of politics.

Perhaps most of them started with good intentions, but many of them end up being eaten up by the cancer of corruption in government because of the power vested upon them by the positions in government they hold.

That is the daunting part of Philippine political reality. However, let us remember that there have been times in our political history when the people decisively chose to elect a new kind of politician — those who live up to their role as true public servants. On the local level, we have the likes of Vico Sotto of Pasig who has unseated the Eusebios.

The same is now true in our national election.

This is what this PINK wave is all about. It is Leni bringing forth to public attention that we still have people like her and her chosen VP Francis

(Advertising Supplement)

Pangilinan who have proven to be true and genuine public servants with proven integrity and excellence through their years in public service.

Leni and Kiko never compromised the honor and dignity of the position entrusted to them by the voters in exchange for money, power and political survival. This is why they are able to give hope to people that this time things can really change for the better. This is why they are able to inspire volunteerism and service because of their own leadership by example. Because they bring out the best in people as they work toward a common goal.

Think about the importance of the choice of VP and how that may impact our collective aspiration to finally have a good and honest government that will truly serve the Filipino people, work in the best interest of our people, be transparent and accountable to us, protect and defend the Constitution and abide by the rule of law, and end corruption that has been plaguing our government bureaucracy from top to bottom to the detriment of the quality of life of the Filipino people.

Do not let any Trapo or member of a family dynasty like Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte Carpio corrupt this one chance we have in this generation because they will always be who they are.

Kiko Pangilinan is the only worthy VP to work with Leni Robredo to make #GobyernongTapat a reality, come what may. *** 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. ***

Gel Santos Relos has been in news, talk, public service and educational broadcasting since 1989. She was a news anchor, TV host and radio commentator and public service host for ABS- CBN and DZMM. She is now working on her advocacies independently, serving the Filipino audience using different media platforms.

You may contact her through email at gelrelos@icloud. com, or send her a message via Facebook at Facebook. com/Gel.Santos.Relos. Also on Twitter, Instagram: Gel

by Kaycee

Valmonte Philstar.com

MANILA — The Philippines became a party to two international treaties last week, one of which aims to eradicate illegal arms trade, while the other looks to reduce stateless persons around the world.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. submitted the country’s instrument of ratification for the Arms Trade Treaty and the country’s instrument of accession to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness to the United Nations.

Both treaties will enter into force for the country on June 22.

Combatting illegal arms trade The Arms Trade Treaty regulates the international trade in conventional arms, which according to the international body includes small firearms up to battle tanks as well as combat aircraft and warships.

Humanitarian and development work has been affected due to attacks against its staff and other humanitarian groups, which may be a result of “poorly regulated arms trade,” the United Nations had noted.

The treaty aims to prevent and wipe out the practice of illegal arms trade by imposing international standards for transfers.

The Philippines was the first Southeast Asian country to sign the ATT in 2013 and it is also the first Southeast Asian country to become a party to the treaty after depositing its certificate of ratification last week.

There are 110 state parties to the treaty, according to the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. Some 54 member states are not yet part of the ATT, while 31 signatories have yet to become state parties to it.

“Joining this treaty is in line with our commitment to ensure international and regional peace, security, and stability through the regulation of the illicit transfer, flow or diversion of conventional arms using internationally agreed standards,” Locsin said.

Backing an individuals’ right to nationality The Philippines also submitted its instrument of accession to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. The UN describes an “accession” by a state to a treaty as an act where the state “accepts the offer or the opportunity to become a party to a treaty already negotiated and signed by other states.”

“It would enable the Philippines to address gaps due to differences in the citizenship and nationality frameworks without impinging on the Philippines’ sovereignty to regulate nationality,” the department said.

The 1961 Convention, through its guidelines, protects and ensures that every individual has the right to acquire or retain a nationality.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said millions are denied a nationality, noting that individuals become stateless due to discrimination and/or gaps in some countries’ nationality laws or as a consequence of displacement. g

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COMMUNITY JOURNAL

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Atty. Gurfinkel answers more immigration questions and concerns in part 2 of episode featuring the SoCal Pinoys ON a previous episode of Citizen Pinoy, leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel met with members of SoCal Pinoys, where they talked about the group’s goals and accomplishments, and answered their immigration questions and concerns.

In this second installment of this community episode, Atty. Gurfinkel answers more immigration questions from the members of SoCal Pinoys. Some questions include: • “My brother had a massive stroke and heart attack and had to undergo brain surgery just before his interview at the Embassy. He is now receiving long term care. Would he still be able to immigrate to the U.S. given his current condition?”

• “A baby was given to me 17 years ago when I was still in the Philippines. Her birth certificate shows me as her mother. Six years later, her biological

mother’s relatives took her back. Now that I’m a U.S. Citizen, can I petition her as my child?”

These questions and more will be answered by Atty. Gurfinkel in Part 2 of “Your Tanong, My Sagot,” with the SoCal Pinoys.

Other Fil-Am community organizations in the U.S. can have the chance to be featured on Citizen Pinoy.

Visit the Facebook page of the Law Offices of Michael J. Gurfinkel and signify your interest by sending a private message via messenger.

Watch Part 2 of this community feature on brandnew episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, April 3 at 7:00 PM PT (10:00 PM ET thru select Cable/Satellite providers), right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app.

(Advertising Supplement)

ATTY. GURFINKEL ANSWERS MORE IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS IN PART 2 OF EPISODE FEATURING THE SOCAL PINOYS. Leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (in photo above) answers more immigration questions from the SoCal Pinoys in Part 2 of “Your Tanong, My Sagot.” Among the questions Atty. Gurfinkel answers are: “My brother-in-law was petitioned 30 years ago as “single” even though he was married. His jealous wife reported his status to the Embassy, so the petition was denied. His mother is now 82 and wants him to still come to the U.S. What are his options?” and “A baby was given to me 17 years ago when I was still in the Philippines. Her birth certificate lists me as her mother. Six years later, her biological mother’s relatives took her back. Now that I am a U.S. citizen, can I petition her as my child?” Watch Part 2 of this Filipino community episode on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, April 3 at 7:00 PM PT (10:00 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo.

(Advertising Supplement)

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APRIL 1-7, 2022 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS WATER is vital to life.

Without water, there won’t be life as we know it on earth.

Our body is 50-75 percent water, averaging around 57 to 65 percent. Infants are 7578 percent water, dropping to 65 percent by age one year. And the value of water is even more evident during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Drinking distilled water, even during this pandemic, as the main source of liquid daily is not as healthy as one might think. Water filtered

by Zero Water filter is basically distilled water, with Zero TDS (total dissolved solids). The process of distillation produces vapor/ moisture (the purest water one can get) that is collected in separate chambers, eliminating important essential minerals, besides chlorine and other harmful chemicals.

The widespread misconception that distilled water, being the “purest,” is the best water for drinking, is scientifically and medically flawed. Drinking distilled water regularly every day is a health risk to everyone, especially for children.

Distilled water may be used temporarily or occasionally as drinking water if filtered water purified through 8-stage reversed osmosis is not available. While distilled water is free of bacteria, parasites, and toxic chemicals, the process of distillation also removes all valuable minerals like fluoride, calcium, magnesium, etc., which are vital to our health.

Information from APEC, one of the top-rated Reverse Osmosis and Whole House Systems in the United States, is worth noting: “According to research articles and news, most tap and well water in the U.S. now are NOT safe for drinking due to heavy industrial and environmental pollution.

We have reached a point where all sources of our drinking water, including municipal water systems, wells, lakes, rivers, and even glaciers, contain some level of contamination.

Contaminants range from naturally-occurring minerals to man-made chemicals and by-products. While many contaminants are

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Unhealthy drinks found at levels not enough not to cause immediate discomforts or sicknesses, it is proven that even lowlevel exposure to many common contaminants will, over time, cause severe illnesses including liver damage, cancer, and other serious ailments. Even the chemicals commonly used to treat municipal water supplies such as chlorine and fluoride are toxic and are known to have significant adverse effects on the human body.”

APEC adds, “Environmental water contamination is the leading worldwide cause of death and disease and it adversely affects over 1 billion people every day in developing countries.

Even here in the United States we often struggle with water pollution caused by natural disasters and human activities. A recent national report on our water quality revealed that 45% of assessed stream miles, 47% of assessed lake acres, and 32% of assessed bays square miles were classified as polluted. Ground and well water sources may also become contaminated due to the problems associated with industrial dumping, hydraulic fracking, and agricultural byproducts.”

Distilled vs filtered water Distilled water, as we have alluded to above, is the purest water one can get. But for drinking, we do not need the purest because our body needs the minerals naturally present in water from mother nature. What we need, which modernday 8-stage reverse osmosis filtration does to water, is the removal of the chlorine and other contaminants, such as harmful heavy metals, parasites, bacteria, and odor, to make drinking water safe and palatable.

Drinking distilled water regularly leads to 15 percent deficiency in calcium (osteoporosis), 30 percent deficiency in magnesium (heart rhythm, abnormality), and almost 100 percent in fluoride, which results in tooth decay. Distilled water is not the best for the human body. Genuine bottled water, which has gone through 8-stage reverse osmosis filtration manufactured by reputable companies, is the safest water to drink today.

Alkaline water: Waste of money The hype about alkaline

water as a healthier choice is nothing but a profitmotivated scam victimizing misinformed, unsuspecting, gullible consumers. Even the Mayo Clinic has warned the public about the health risks of alkalosis for those drinking alkaline water daily, which could lead to hypocalcemia and hypothyroidism.

There is currently no scientific evidence that alkaline water is safe or beneficial to health. All advertised claims are unfounded, baseless, and theoretical, at best.

Caveat emptor, as always!

Our God-gifted body has an excellent electrolyte and acid-base regulator system that continuously monitors our levels of electrolytes to strictly maintain our blood pH between 7.38 and 7.42.

Our bicarbonate buffering system regulates the carbon dioxide concentration to maintain an optimal pH level, shifting any acid-base imbalance. If we ingest acidic or alkaline food or drink, this natural buffering system adjusts to maintain a healthy balance.

So, drinking alkaline water daily will only induce the body to form more acid to equilibrate the system, a risky added work for our acid-base balance equalizer.

If our body becomes too acidic from the food or drinks we consume, it normally automatically adjusts itself, without the need for drinking alkaline liquid, which has a pH of 8 to 9, compared to normal drinking water, which has a pH of around 7, the healthy level.

The only indication for drinking alkaline water is when a person has cancer or other illnesses which make their blood pH level too acidic because the acidbase buffer system is not functioning properly. For all others, drinking alkaline water, instead of regular filtered water, could be hazardous.

A life-threatening complication of regular consumption of alkaline water is metabolic alkalosis, which could lead to gastrointestinal problems (nausea, vomiting, hand tremors, muscle twitching, and skin irritation), or organ failure. A bit of an acidic stomach works best in killing bad bacteria, and alkaline water would deprive the stomach of its normal physiology and

Saab blamed self after learning son with cerebral palsy would suffer disabilities

By Anne

PAsAjol Inquirer.net

SAAB Magalona disclosed how she blamed herself at the time when she was told that her eldest son Pancho, who’s diagnosed with cerebral palsy, would suffer from disabilities.

Magalona recounted how she had a hard time trusting her decisions which is why she didn’t insist on having Pancho go through several tests before. She talked about this in an exclusive interview with broadcaster Karen Davila, as seen on Davila’s YouTube channel on Saturday, March 26.

“When I was being told by the doctors, when I first went there and they were like not really doing all the tests that I feel like they should have, I trusted them. I feel like I should have asserted myself and said, ‘No, there’s

Saab Magalona and her son Pancho Photo from Instagram/@saabmagalona

really something wrong. You have to check it now. You have to do something,’” the actresssinger said. “I think there was a lot of blame, self-blame [on me that went,] ‘Why didn’t you do it?’”

“Of course now I know that it’s not my fault.

Of course I’ve never been pregnant before. This is something that no one wanted to happen,” she stated. “I’m coming to terms with that. I’m still in the process of healing.”

Magalona then opened up on the difficulties she experienced being a mother of a child with special needs.

“It’s difficult to see and to read about typical children and their families. I can’t help but feel a little sting when I see other parents sort of complain about the small stuff. It used to make me resentful but then I learned that everyone had to go through different experiences,” she said. “It’s not their fault, this is their experience.”

Magalona also spoke about how Pancho brought out a better version of herself and contributed to her growth not just as a mother but also as a person.

“I don’t think I was a horrible person to start with but I think he has brought out so much patience in me and it’s just pure love. I’m not watching out for the next milestone or the next expectation and whatever,” she added. “It’s just really like supporting him, being there and giving him opportunities.”

Magalona and her husband, fellow musician Jim Bacarro, recently celebrated Pancho’s 4th birthday, while also remembering his twin sister who passed away, Luna. The couple also has a two-year-old son, Vito. g

Marian on Dingdong giving her complete family she never had

By Anne

PAsAjol

MARIAN Rivera, who came from a broken family, gratefully declared that her prayer of having a complete family was answered through

her husband, actor Dingdong Dantes.

Rivera spoke about how she prayed really hard for a person to build a complete family with, in an exclusive interview with celebrity hairstylist Celeste Tuviera, as

seen on Tuviera’s YouTube channel last Saturday, March 26.

“Sabi ko, ‘Lord gusto ko magkaroon ako ng isang pamilya, isang asawa na magiging responsable PAGE 13

protection…and your wallet with less money.

Even more unhealthy than distilled water and alkaline water are soft drinks of any variety on the market, “toxic liquid candy” as I call them, because, as a beverage, it increases the risk for the development of metabolic syndrome in adults, and more severely among children. Fruits juices with added sugar, especially those with preservatives, are also unhealthy. It is better to eat the fruits or juice them yourself, with no additive, except perhaps healthy seeds (chia, flaxseeds, hemp

seed, etc.). Today, nothing beats clean, 8-stage-filtered, water! *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical

information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, a Health Advocate, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday. com, and philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.

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Pia and BFFs say no to cancel culture but yes to redemption culture

By MJ

Marfori Philstar.com

Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes and their kids Zia and Sixto Photo from Instagram/@marianrivera

Marian on Dingdong...

PAGE 12 at bibigyan ako ng anak.

Kahit simpleng buhay basta masaya at buo.’ Kasi coming from a broken family, isa ‘yan sa mga wish ko talaga at pinapanalangin ko talaga ng taimtim ‘yan,” Rivera said.

(I asked the Lord, “Lord, I want to have a complete family, a responsible husband who would give me children.

I’m fine with having a simple life, all that matters is that we’re happy and complete.”

Coming from a broken family, it’s really one of my wishes which I prayed really hard for.)

The actress stressed that the Lord brought them together despite her initially not noticing the signs that Dantes was the one for her.

“Si Dong talaga ‘yung pinakasagot ko sa mga prayer ko na nandyan lang pala,” she said. “Kakapanalangin ko talaga at maraming mga signs na binibigay si Lord sa akin na si Dong talaga ‘yung nando’n e. Siya talaga.”

(Dingdong is really an answered prayer who has been by my side all long. I really prayed for him and the Lord has given me a lot of signs and Dingdong’s presence has always been there. It’s really him.)

Rivera married Dantes in a “royal wedding” held at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Quezon City in 2014. They have two children together, Zia and Sixto. g

WE continue to up the ante as Women’s Month comes to a close.

This time, we had a thorough conversation with three super women — Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, her best friends and former beauty queens Carla Lizardo and Bianca Guidotti-Santos, whom she shares a podcast with, Between Us Queens.

Within a year of doing the show and starting with pageant related issues, they realized that there is so much more to be discussed as women. Just this month, they expanded and launched their first-ever vlog.

Aptly named The Queens, the vlog is a passion project of the trio for their community to broadcast women empowerment with topics that range from beauty, womanhood, friendship, relationships and current events.

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach (center) has been doing the podcast, Between Us Queens, with (from left) best friends and former beauty queens Bianca GuidottiSantos and Carla Lizardo. They have since expanded to launch their first-ever vlog.

Philstar.

They also hold online workbook sessions, so that they can answer and reflect on the workbook topics along with their listeners.

Carla even took a break from her Sports 5 reporting, to focus on this.

“I had to focus on this full-time because the workbooks we also created on our website took time

and we really want to grow the community. We realized that the content we created was just a conversation starter, but what was really important to us was this community,” she said.

Just a little backtrack on their friendship, which formed during their pageant days, seven years in the making, and it all began

at the Binibining Pilipinas 2014. The three met at the national pageant and became close friends.

As the years went by, they dreamt of doing projects together but could never find the right one. Despite their careers leading them to different paths, The Queens — as what the three of them are collectively called — kept the friendship alive and when the pandemic hit, things simply fell into place.

As Pia put it, “The Queens became a safe space online where you can be yourself.”

Now, they are rebranding the whole ecosystem to “The Queens.” For the queens. By the queens. No issue is left unspoken between them and since it’s pageant season in the Philippines, they talked about the blackfishing that went down at the Miss Universe Philippines.

Miss San Pablo, Laguna Shaira Aliyah Diaz allegedly claimed that she is a black PAGE 15

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N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY A P R I L 1 , 2 0 22

people events arts culture entertainment

The Cleaning Lady’s Elodie Yung on how playing someone who struggles is a privilege

by MOMAR

T

G. VISAYA / AJPress

HE new Fox series The Cleaning Lady wrapped up its successful first season and now fans are waiting for the good news. The series ended its last episode with a major cliffhanger, one that would definitely set the tone if it gets picked up for Season 2.

The show’s diverse cast is ably led by Elodie Yung and Martha Millan who are both of Southeast Asian descent. Yung is FrenchCambodian while Millan is from a Filipino family which migrated to Australia when she was five years old.

We had a chance to interview Yung who was in Europe for a muchdeserved break. Like many of us, she hasn’t seen her family and friends for a long time due to COVID-19.

She was with her dad in Paris and then they were off to Madrid where her little brother just had a baby.

I started the interview to thank her for doing a show that has become a favorite in FilipinoAmerican households. It’s not every day that we get to watch primetime shows with actors delivering some Filipino phrases - from

The Cleaning Lady wrapped up its first season on March 14 with a major cliffhanger. Fans are now wondering what will happen to Thony dela Rosa’s character played

by Elodie Yung and her family, including Marco, her husband, son Luca, and sister-in-law Fiona and her kids.

Photos

“Mahal kita, beshie” to a crisp and loud “tarantado.

Yung was effusive with thanks.

“The whole project has been a really nice surprise to me and it felt that it’s a privilege to be part of something like this where it’s the first time on

primetime TV that you see a character like this, she’s Asian, and she comes to the US to save her son,” she remarked. “I’m glad to hear the response and with Martha, we wanted to make sure that the words and phrases were said properly. So thank you for

“The Cleaning Lady” is based on the Argentinian hit “La Chica Que Limpia” and was adapted for Fox by series creator Miranda Kwok along with several executive producers, including FilAm “Pretty Little Liars” star Shay Mitchell and Melissa Carter.

Photos courtesy of Fox

appreciating it, then job’s done.”

Like many actors in search of that dream project, Yung went into different auditions, including The Cleaning Lady. She got her callback and met with Miranda Kwok, the creator of the show, and Melissa Carter, the showrunner.

She was offered the role of a Cambodian doctor living in the Philippines and married to a Filipino. She goes to the United States to find medical treatment for their son Luca.

Yung said she was not shocked or surprised about the reception because she knows what they’ve done and how much hard work they’ve given to the project.

She shared a story that happened in Los Angeles where she met a man in his 50s.

“He was Hispanic and

he just said, ‘Listen, are you the cleaning lady?

You’re the cleaning lady?

It’s a great show, I’ve been here for 45 years, I just don’t care about any of the celebrities and all of that, but I started watching your show. And I just feel for your character so much.

And it’s so great that we see immigrants portrayed on TV,’ and it was genuine.

I just love having, you know, people reacting like this, because this is how I felt as well,” she shared.

Yung said she did not feel the pressure to represent. What she felt was excitement peppered with gratitude.

“I was just excited by it and I’m happy that finally…, I felt a real responsibility if you will, and I feel honored to be a little voice for people like me, people of color, or people who know about

immigration,” she said.

People behind the scenes are as diverse as the cast, which she describes as “a rich, melting pot”.

With the lead role on a network television series comes a certain responsibility, something that is not lost on her.

“It does feel like a privilege. And, you know, growing up, I never watched a show that would portray people like me,” she recalled. “I come from a very, very poor background.

My dad’s an immigrant, my mom worked in a supermarket up until she was retired.”

Yung said the role resonated with her and along with it, memories of their own family’s struggles. They were an immigrant family just trying to get by. With the show, they get to shine a light on the struggles of undocumented immigrants and their families.

“Portraying someone who struggles in any shape or form is a privilege for me as an artist to embody and I feel that this is what I’m doing here,” she said.

Creating Thony dela Rosa Thony de la Rosa is a badass woman, to say the least. She’s put into heartbreaking and sometimes impossible situations that she has to deal with to save her son or come out unscathed or both.

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AJ says she’s enjoying every American singer Keith Martin found lifeless in QC condo controversy against her

By Jan

Milo Severo

Philstar.com

SEXY actress AJ Raval revealed that she’s enjoying every controversy against her.

In the virtual press conference of her upcoming VivaMax series “Iskandalo,” AJ was asked what her biggest scandal is and how she overcame it.

“Ako po, hindi literal na scandal na sex video, pero na iskandalo na ko sa mga issues before. Para sa akin po, f*ck them all. Wala na rin po akong pakialam. Wala na ‘kong feelings,” AJ said.

AJ added that she’s just laughing at the people who throw different controversial issues.

“Honestly, medyo naeenjoy ko nga ‘pag may isyu-isyu at least po may pinupuntahan ‘yung career ko. Parang may part din po sa akin na pinagtatawanan ko sila dahil sa iskandalong binibigay nila. ‘Yun lang masasabi ko, naeenjoy ko din po siya,” she said.

When asked about

AJ Raval Photo from Instagram/@ajravsss

her reaction on her sex scenes in movies making rounds in different social media sites, AJ said she’s just sad for the whole team who created film.

“Hindi ko naman masyadong iniisip ang sarili ko.

Nalulungkot lang po talaga ko kasi

pinagpapaguran po namin ‘yon. Nagpupuyat kami sa shoot tapos nanakawin lang ng iba,” she said.

A 10-part Vivamax Original Series, “Iskandalo” follows the story of Patricia (Cindy Miranda), a detective who wants to climb the ladder to prove her late father’s innocence and Em (AJ) a social media celebrity who is bashed when her sex video with a mysterious man becomes viral.

As Patricia gets deeper into Em’s scandalous case, she is also able to connect several people, some dear to her – Em’s ex (Sean De Guzman), an avid fan (Ayanna Misola), Patricia’s best friend (Jamilla Obispo), a congressman (Jay Manalo), a senator (Joonee Gamboa) and Em’s parents (Carlene Aguilar, Arnold Reyes). Join Patricia as she unravels the loopholes of the case and discovers a deep connection to her late father’s case.

The series will start streaming on Vivamax on April 10 with fresh episodes every Sunday. g

Pia and BFFs say no to...

PAGE 13 woman and she was exposed by American pageant vlogger Davonna Finley.

Turns out Shaira is purely Asian. With this, Pia tried to look for Shaira online but her socials are deactivated already.

“She needs to be guided a lot,” said she. “Honestly, it is difficult to be a candidate and there’s a tendency to overthink on how you might stand out in a sea of beautiful women.”

Pia also said that Shaira’s back story is worth a listen and the bashing right now surely is not good for her mental health. “Actually, medyo naawa ako kasi masakit ma-cancel,” she added.

Circling back to the trio, with issues such as this, they also began the #WeAreAllQueens social campaign, the goal of which is to spread a powerful message. That we are queens in our own right, regardless of titles or appearances.

We have our own crowns and therefore, we are all Queens. To amplify the stories of other women,

those who share using the hashtag also get a chance to be featured on The Queens social media accounts.

In their first YouTube vlog, The Queens shared their thoughts on what this project means for them.

For Carla, it’s about finding purpose and direction.

“It means the world to me because during the pandemic, I was feeling pretty lost. So, it was great that I was able to connect with so many amazing people through this platform,” said Carla. “So, it’s just something super special and I feel like it’s been years since we’ve been wanting to work on a passion project together. And it was also the realization that it is actually something that I want to do.

I thought that it would be a ‘side thing,’ but no, it actually grew to be something that we are mainly focusing on, something that we really, really truly care about, and something that we want to grow in the years ahead.”

To Pia, it’s the fulfillment of doing something you’re passionate about.

“It is a passion project

that I’m really proud of, finally for a while, for a few years,” she shared.

“I’ve been so focused on, you know, work like endorsements, and acting projects but I didn’t really have a personal project like a real passion project. And I’m really happy that I have this now because it feels very fulfilling. I feel like I’m really doing something meaningful with my time. You know, it feels really nice to help and give back.”

Meanwhile, Bianca looks forward to sharing this passion project with all of the queens.

“It kind of feels like my life’s work, honestly. I’m just so excited to be able to do it with two of my best friends and to be able to share it with Filipino women and hopefully, you know, women all over the world.

It’s everything.”

This passion project is aimed at empowering queens all over the country and the world, and despite their busy schedules, the three say that The Queen’s community will be a top priority for them. g

By Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

AMERICAN singersongwriter Keith Martin has died. He was 55.

According to reports, the “Because of You” hit maker was found lifeless in his Quezon City condominium on Friday.

Initial investigation found out that his neighbors alerted the property manager about a foul smell on the sixth floor.

Reports said that Keith had been dead for at least a week before he was discovered.

Kapamilya singer Kyla took to Twitter to pay tribute to the singer.

“In shock and in disbelief.. You will be missed, Keith Martin.. Thank you for the inspiration. You will leave a legacy of great

Photo courtesy of Kris Lawrence

music that is timeless and will always be remebered..” she wrote.

Sexy actress Sheree shared a series of posts for the singer on Facebook.

“Thank you for the friendship kikit. RIP,” she wrote in one of her posts.

“Damn…this news is

shocking. Gone too soon Keith Eric Martin. You will be missed brotha.

Your music will live in our hearts forever,” singer Kris Lawrence wrote on his Facebook account.

The cause of death has not yet been determined as of writing. g

The Cleaning Lady’s Elodie...

PAGE 14 “She’s a mother, I know what it feels like to be a mother, she is struggling in this new country,” Yung explained. “She carries on, she fights for her family, for her son. I know what it’s like, I can imagine what it’s like, I see what it’s like. There are very organic connections to me and I feel that I’ve met parts of my own humanity portraying Thony.”

Complementing Thony’s character is Martha Millan’s Fiona de la Rosa, the sister of Thony’s husband Marco.

The duo’s characters lit up the screen and the chemistry between them was palpable, whether they are fighting or in casual banter. There was a connection.

Yung shared that the first time she met Millan was through a Zoom meeting. The people behind the show asked Yung to read with the women they had in mind for the role of Fiona.

She recalled there were five women and Millan was the first to read.

“And I was just in awe of her. I just knew it was her. It just felt that she was the one,” Yung said. “So you don’t believe that people could just like fall in love through the internet? Well, I felt like this with Martha. And then we just became friends very, very quickly, instantly.”

The friendship grew deeper as both got to know each other more. Now, they consider each other as family.

“She is someone that I can count on, she knows that she can count on me. And it’s beyond the work. It’s great when you meet great friends like this and is just pure luck,” Yung remarked. “The show would not be this show without Martha. She’s such a unique talent, a unique person, she’s got a big heart. The depth of her talent is just immense, there’s no end to it.”

She insists that she and Martha need

to go and visit the Philippines together someday.

“At some point, I was hoping that they would take me there because there was going to be a flashback but they just reproduced the Philippines very nicely, but it was in Albuquerque. So all I’ve seen of the Philippines is Albuquerque and New Mexico.”

An abundance of Filipino talent A scrutiny of the show’s closing credits would reveal a dream list of Filipino talents who were all able to work together in the show.

Shay Mitchell is listed as one of the executive producers. Ruby Ibarra’s songs figure prominently in the soundtrack. One of the episodes was directed by Marie Jamora and there is an episode entitled “Kabayan” with no less than Lou Diamond Phillips as a special guest star.

Yung said working with Phillips was pure joy and a real privilege and described him as a lovely man and a generous team player.

“It didn’t feel that I had to do anything.

You know, when you have a partner that’s so giving? I just remember, it was like the scene where the car breaks and we had this scene together and it was just something very special,” Yung explained.

“He brings something very authentic and heartfelt to his heart. And I think it just radiates to other people.”

She describes director Marie Jamora as a really good director who is gentle in her ways as they create the scenes together.

“She’s building for herself a great body of work. She’s very genuine and pays attention to what you have to offer,” she said. “Marie was someone who would take the time, we met before and we discussed where she was coming from. I’m just so happy to be surrounded by so many diverse and very clever women.”g

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