060524 - Southern California Midweek Edition

COMPTON, Calif. — To tackle the widespread food crisis in the Southland, Los Angeles County has unveiled a new $9.6 million grant program that will help fund food-based community organizations dedicated to providing affordable, healthy food to struggling families.

The program is funded through the federally mandated American Rescue Plan Act, which has allocated nearly $2 billion for post-pandemic economic struggles across the county.

At a press conference held by the county on Thursday, May 30, dozens of organizations across LA County came together at Alma Backyard Farms in Compton to celebrate the launch of the program.

“There are many inequities across the

suspend Guo after a task force looking into the allegations concerning her links to illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) in her town found "serious illegal acts."

Ombudsman Samuel Martires said there were "sufficient grounds to preventively suspend" Guo.

Aside from Guo, two other Bamban local officials were ordered suspended — Municipal Business Permits and Licensing Office head Edwin Ocampo and Municipal Legal Officer Adenn Sigua. Guo, Ocampo and Sigua were all placed under preventive suspension not exceeding six months without pay pending the result of the investigation being undertaken against them.

The order was immediately executory. Charges of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty,

THE new KP.2 subvariant shows an amazing ability to evade immunity, and will likely spur on a summer surge of COVID-19 infections.

“This is one of the more aggressive versions of the virus that we have ever seen,” said virologist Dr. Benjamin Neuman, professor of biology at Texas A&M University. “This is at the top of the scale in terms of immune resistance, which means that it will almost certainly be able to infect people, even if they have been recently vaccinated,” he said.

A recent vaccination still remains the best way to not die from COVID-19, said Neuman.

FLiRT subvariant

As of May 1, hospitals are no longer mandated to report COVID-19 hospitalizations.

KP.2 comes from the FLiRT family of the Omicron variant, and currently accounts for about one-third of COVID infections, according to data from the

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has vowed to use to the fullest its power and constitutional duty to enforce and administer election laws to ensure that the upcoming 2025 midterm polls will be clean, honest and peaceful.

Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Monday, June 3 that it is the duty of the Comelec to enforce and administer election laws, and it would be a dereliction of duty if it could not enforce the law in 2025.

"This is a warning. Do not test the patience of the Commission on Elections. We will never hesitate to use the full powers of the Constitution to ensure that no lives are sacrificed at lahat makaboto" (and everyone

would be able to vote)," said Garcia at the start of the Multi-Party Democracy Summit.

Garcia made the remark as the Comelec prepared for the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), which will be simultaneously held with the local and national elections on May 12, 2025.

He called on candidates and regional parties that would participate in the BARMM polls, as well as local and national candidates and other election stakeholders, to help the Comelec get rid of traditional irregularities, including vote buying, violence and terrorism, arson, and harassment, among others.

Garcia stressed that the Bangsamoro people deserve no less than a clean, honest,

MANILA — Former President Rodrigo Duterte authorized the transfer of P47.6 billion to the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) for the purchase of COVID-19 protective equipment, former Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said during Monday’s (June 3) hearing of the House committee on appropriations. Duque also told the committee, which is looking into the budgetary performance of the Department of Health (DOH), that the fund transfer was necessary and aboveboard.

“In his (Duterte) public pronouncements, the transfer was done because of a public health emergency,” Duque noted, upon the questioning of ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro.

The former DOH chief cited Executive Orders 385 and 285, a Letter of Instruction, Administrative Order 17 of 2011 and Section 53 of the procurement law as among the basis for the transfer.

Duque said they deemed it best to rely on the expertise of the PSDBM and its network of suppliers in sourcing the supplies to combat the pandemic.

“Our overriding consideration was to prevent, if not mitigate, the

MANILA — Ukrainian

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he took a short and sudden trip to the Philippines — despite the war being waged in his homeland — because it was important to inform President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. about the situation in Ukraine.

Zelensky explained in an interview with Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM) on

Monday, June 3, shortly after he met with Marcos, that he asked the president to participate in the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland this June 15, where Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will be discussed.

According to Zelensky, the voices of Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines, are very important.

“[I went here] directly, to invite him to participate [in] this summit, that there will be

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky during a courtesy call at the Malacañan Palace on Monday, June 3. The two leaders attended the IISS Shangrila Dialogue Defense Summit in Singapore, but their schedules did not align to meet on the sidelines of the forum held over the weekend. Malacañang photo

Former President Rodrigo Duterte Malacañang file photo

United States congratulates...

Philippines’ position on the SCS.

Teodoro responded by expressing his “appreciation to the U.S. for supporting Marcos’ thesis which underscores the rights of small states.”

Austin reiterated the point he made during his talk on The New Convergence in the Indo-Pacific on the previous day.

“The harassment that the Philippines has faced is dangerous – pure and simple. And we all share an interest in ensuring that the South China Sea remains open and free,” Austin said.

“We are beyond friends and allies, we are family. What affects you affects us,” he added. g

Ombudsman suspends...

gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service were filed by the DILG against the three Bamban officials last month for allegedly allowing illegal POGOs to operate in their town.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said the DILG recommended preventive suspension against Guo to prevent her from influencing the continuing investigations by his department and other agencies.

Law enforcers had discovered that a POGO operation in the Baufo Land Development Corp. compound in her town was really a front for a scam center.

Authorities raided the facility in March and rescued close to 700 workers, including 202 Chinese and 73 other foreigners who were forced to pose as online lovers as part of the scam.

A year earlier, in February 2023, the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Central Luzon raided Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc. in the same compound.

The ombudsman said the DILG-created task force had found in its investigation that Guo had bought eight parcels of land in Anupul village in Bamban and that transfer certificates of title were issued in the name of Baufo.

The DILG alleged that Guo's divestment of shares in Baufo through a deed of assignment was simulated because the consideration of [P2.5 million] was "grossly incongruent to her investment in Baufo," which is about 8 hectares of land.

The DILG also alleged that despite the raid of Zun Yuan [Technology] and its predecessor Hongsheng, the cancellation of Hongsheng's license to operate, and a cease and desist order issued by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Guo did not cancel or revoke their business permits because of her business interest in Baufo.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who has been leading a Senate investigation into Bamban POGO operation, lauded the ombudsman's preventive suspension order against the town mayor.

"It's as it should be," she said in Filipino when asked to comment on the order.

The senator on Monday, June 3 said she had already sought Guo's preventive suspension after she visited the raided POGO compound in Bamban.

"We also received information that she tried to obstruct the ongoing investigation immediately after the POGO was raided. This should have already warranted a suspension. We only hope this is not too late,"

she said. She added that Guo's connections to the POGO were documented.

She added, "Let us not forget, this is a POGO with alleged hacking and surveillance activities. [A] POGO, which brought scams, crimes and human trafficking in the country."

A statement from Guo's lawyer, Alex Avisado Jr., welcomed the opportunity to answer allegations against his client in court rather than the Senate.

"We recently learned from news reports that a complaint was filed against our client Mayor Alice Guo with the Ombudsman. We welcome this development as the issues surrounding the mayor can now be addressed in a proper forum, where the focus is on facts and evidence rather than public attacks and ridicule. We hope that the filing of the case with the Ombudsman will put an end to this political persecution and finally uncover the truth that Mayor Guo has no involvement in the POGO operations in Bamban," he said in a statement.

"We do not agree with the issuance of preventive suspension order, but we will promptly answer the allegations raised against the mayor once we receive a copy of the complaint," he added. g

Zelensky on Philippine trip: I need to...

three very important issues on 15th of June in Switzerland. The first one will be food security. I think it’s also very important in our bilateral relation between us and the Philippines — nuclear security that’s important for all the world, I think too,” Zelensky said.

“It was very important directly to invite the president, directly to speak with him about the details [of] what’s going on on the battlefield, what Russia brought with this war to our land, of this crisis, what they think about, and of course, for us it’s very important not to give Russia possibility to influence in Asia, very important region, very important voice of Philippines,” he added.

Earlier, Zelensky said in a tweet that Marcos will participate in the Global Peace Summit. This came after the two leaders held a bilateral meeting at Malacañang. Initially, there was no confirmation from the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) regarding Marcos’ participation, but PCO Secretary Cheloy Garafil said the

Philippines’ participation is still being finalized.

Zelensky, during the interview with RTVM, reiterated that Marcos vowed to attend the summit.

“Yes. He said that the Philippines will support the summit. I said for us it is important for us [for] him to come. He said he will come and he will participate in the summit. This (is a) great strong signal,” Zelensky said.

Zelensky also said that he informed Marcos about their efforts to bring back Ukrainian children allegedly abducted by Russia when it started its invasion.

“But the important reason is because we are preparing, in such a tough period, in the period of war in Ukraine, we are preparing our steps to peace, to just peace, just peace for Ukraine, Ukrainians, for our family, for our children, and of course, for us, it’s very important [to] have participation on the level of your leader, participation in this summit, in Switzerland,” he said.

“And the third one, the humanitarian one, where we

count on your support at how to get back our Ukrainian stolen children, you know that Russia has stolen 20,000 of our children from occupied territories and we need to get them back, and we need to find the mechanism of getting back the children, different age, it’s a pity but we have to bring them home,” he added.

Earlier, Zelensky thanked Marcos for the Philippines’ support of Ukraine’s sovereign claims. In 2022, the Philippines voted in favor of a 2022 United Nations resolution expressing “explicit condemnation” of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Zelensky went to Manila for a short bilateral meeting with Marcos after failing to meet in Singapore over the weekend. Both Marcos and Zelensky came from Singapore, where the International Institute for Strategic Studies ShangriLa Dialogue, Asia’s premier defense summit, was held. Marcos was the keynote speaker there; Zelensky, on the other hand, was urging countries in the Asean region to support the Swiss-organized summit. g

LA County launches new grant program to...

food system,” said Ali Frazzini of the LA County Sustainability Office. “Neighborhoods—where even if you have money to get food—may not have a grocery store or a farmers market nearby where you can access fresh, healthy food.”

Frazzini also mentioned that the county is preparing to establish an office dedicated to food equity to create a stronger food accessibility system.

The soon-to-be-launched Roundtable promises a broad range of solutions including supporting urban agriculture, expanding food access groups, nutrition education programs (like in-home wellness programs designed to help families practice nutritional habits), and increasing enrollment to benefits programs like CalFresh.

According to the county, nearly

400,000 residents are currently eligible to receive CalFresh benefits, but have not enrolled.

“The county has a responsibility to act as a safety net for our most vulnerable communities, who disproportionately suffer from food insecurity. This new round of funding marks and important first step in bringing the Roundtable’s action plan to life and helping those most in need,” said LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn.

The county said that the $9.6 million will be allocated to 46 non-profit organizations that provide affordable food to LA’s most vulnerable communities, most of which are predominantly communities of color and immigrants.

The grant program comes at a time when LA County is seeing widespread food insecurity. A study from USC Dornsife Public Exchange found that more than one million households across the county are experiencing food scarcity, which is equal to about 1 in 3 residents.

Food insecurity can drastically affect overall healthcare among communities that disproportionately affect communities of color, like diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure. The USC study also linked food insecurity to a host of other social issues such as job security, academic performance, and crime.

According to Kayla de la Haye, scientist and director at USC’s Institute for Food System Equity, food insecurity in LA County rose significantly in 2022, when social welfare benefits dropped as the COVID-19 pandemic was waning across the country.

Pandemic-era social programs helped struggling families with healthcare and food necessities, but the increased allotments to benefits—such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)— expired in March 2023. Consequently, on average, household benefits dropped from $470 a month in Dec. 2022 to $299 in July 2023.

“So folks are getting less money for food stamps than they did before. That’s happening at the same time when food prices are really high and cost of living is really high, and people just aren’t able to make their budget stretch to get the food that they need,” de la Haye told LAist 89.3 in late 2023, when the USC study was released. (Klarize Medenilla/ AJPress)

risk of our health care workers waiting for local suppliers whom we knew had no capacity, initially, to supply large volumes of PPEs (personal protective equipment) and other COVID-19 supplies needed,” Duque explained.

He stressed that the DOH could not neglect the lives of health care workers who were at the forefront in the battle against SARS-CoV-2.

Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin, a former DOH secretary herself, expressed dissatisfaction over Duque’s replies.

“Don’t take us for a ride. The question is so simple. Just say yes, or (give) the name of the person or the committee (who decided to make the transfer of funds), or if it was you who authorized (the transfer). Did you unilaterally give an instruction to do this (transfer)?” Garin said.

Duque answered that his decision was based on the recommendation of the InterAgency Task Force and the National Task Force against COVID-19.

Garin also raised concerns over the government’s handling of COVID-19 loans, pointing to the burden it created on the taxpayers and the lack of accountability for the borrowed funds.

It was found during the hearing that the government secured a total of $2.21 billion for the Philippine COVID-19 Emergency Response Project and the Health

System Enhancement to address and limit COVID-19 in 2021 and 2022.

“So, if you translate that to pesos, considering the P51 conversion rate (in 2021), that’s tantamount to P112,719,180,000.

But because the conversion rate has increased… it has increased to P129 billion. That’s how big our loan is,” Garin said.

Earlier, the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the filing of graft charges against Duque and former budget undersecretary Christopher Lao, who was reportedly a fraternity brother and campaign leader of Duterte.

More than one-fourth of the contract with PS-DBM was bagged by Pharmally Pharmaceuticals Corp., which was linked to Michael Yang, Duterte’s former economic adviser. g

metro.net.

6/5/24 CNS-3816263#

BREAK. Davao

Former Health Secretary Francisco Duque III Philstar.com file photo

According to a USC study, about 1 in 3 residents of LA County grapples with food insecurity, which was exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and economic fallout.

The county said that the $9.6 million will be allocated to 46 non-profit organizations that provide affordable food to LA’s most vulnerable communities, most of which are predominantly communities of color and immigrants. Photos courtesy of Mayra Vasquez, LA County

Alma Backyard Farms co-founders Erika Cuellar and Richard D. Garcia. Garcia, a Filipino American, comes from a long-line of Filipino farm workers.

Vaccinations may not prevent infections from...

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms are similar to infections from other subvariants: runny nose, sore throat, headache, fevers, cough and body aches. The CDC has dropped its recommendation of isolating for five days, advising instead to stay home until the fever has passed Vaccines have not kept pace with the rapid evolution of COVID-19 variants and subvariants, said Neuman, speaking at an Ethnic Media Services news briefing May 24. The Food and Drug Administration was scheduled to last week to discuss KP.2, but has postponed its meeting until July to determine which subvariants on which to base a new vaccine, which will be rolled out in September.

Out of date test kits

The virologist said his preference is for a twice a year vaccine boost. “This would do a lot to prevent infections. However, that does not appear to be the path that they are taking right now. It appears to be a once annual vaccination, in the back to school and winter season.”

“When we know that this is a virus that occurs sporadically,

and peaks at different times throughout the year, every year. It’s essentially unpredictable. We’re treating COVID as if it were flu, even though it’s very much not,” stated Neuman. Home test kits may not be as effective at diagnosing an infection, because they are developed for older subvariants. However, said Neuman, they will still work. “They are likely out of date. And so that means that they may miss some of the time. But the tests work based on detecting parts of the virus that have not been changing very much in the recent evolution. So in theory, they would still work effectively.”

Summer surge

Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, professor of Medicine and director of the immuno-compromised host infectious diseases program at the University of California, San Francisco, said he expects to see a surge of COVID infections this summer.

“As more people get infected with the new variants, it will just be easier to get in a more vulnerable state. And because of the low vaccination rate and low uptake of Paxlovid, I’m worried that we’ll get a swell

Comelec vows clean 2025...

peaceful and credible BARMM elections, as well as in other parts of the country.

"We will not leave any voter behind, meaning the Comelec will ensure that every qualified voter would be able to vote in the upcoming [2025] elections," he said.

"Nobody should be disenfranchised. Not under the present leadership, not under the present administration, not under the present process or system," Garcia said.

Garcia gave his assurance that Comelec would act accordingly based on developments that would happen in a certain area during the election.

"We will assess the level of potential violence, the level of manipulation or irregularity of the locality before it will be placed under Comelec control. It will be a difficult process because doing so would impute stigma on the people in the area," he said in Filipino.

Garcia said the purpose of the summit was to gather all

regional parties in the BARMM that wanted to be accredited and participate in the first BARMM parliamentary elections in 2025.

"We wanted to orient them on our implementing rules and regulations, how to apply for a petition for accreditation," he said, adding that "most importantly, we wanted them to be friends even as they would be adversaries in the upcoming polls for the sake of the motherland."

BARMM is composed of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi Tawi. The regional center is the City of Cotabato. It also includes the cities of Lamitan and Jolo, 116 municipalities, and 2,590 barangay.

Many of the perennial election hotspots in Mindanao are within the BARMM and surrounding areas. In 2022, placed under Comelec control were the towns of Buluan, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Datu Piang, Mangudadatu, Pandag, and Sultan Kudarat in the province of Maguindanao, Marawi City, and the towns of Maguing Tubaran

in hospitalizations,” said ChinHong, who joined Neuman at the May 24 EMS news briefing. The US has experienced four consecutive summers of COVID surges: as temperatures get warmer, people tend to gather indoors, largely without masks.

Get vaccinated Chin-Hong predicted that the surge would not cripple hospitals, as it has in previous years. He noted that the surge would come in earlier this year, based on wastewater analysis.

“We need to encourage particularly those who are vulnerable and especially if they didn’t get a vaccine last year to please go ahead and get it. And if you don’t want to get a vaccine, make sure you know how to get access to early therapy if you get COVID,” said Chin-Hong.

He encouraged people to continue wearing masks, noting that masks are useful for any illness that’s respiratory spread.

“Emerging threats will continue our lifetimes. And we have to keep our efforts laser focused on protecting all parts of our society, especially the vulnerable,” said Chin-Hong.

Meet the first Filipino American judge in the US

(Sunita Sohrabji/Ethnic

Media Services)

and Malabang in Lanao del Sur.

Under Comelec Resolution 10757, an area can be placed under Comelec control if there is a history of/or current intense rivalry among contending parties. Such rivalries could motivate people to engage in violent acts, incidents of politically-motivated violence involving aspirants/ candidates and other supporters. Violence may be facilitated by the employment of Private Armed Groups and serious armed threats posed by the Communist Terrorist Groups and other threat groups, including the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, the Abu Sayyaf Group, the Maute Group, and other analogous threat groups as may be declared by the competent authority, or other paramilitary forces, private armies or identifiable armed bands widely perceived to have committed terrorism, fraud or other election irregularities, and threaten or disrupt the holding of free, peaceful, honest, orderly and credible elections in any political divisions, subdivisions, unit or area. g

Judge Mel ‘Red’ Recana and his son, Judge Julian Recana, have made history as the first Fil-Am father and son to serve in the California judiciary

by Mary Villegas Inquirer.net

LOS ANGELES Superior Court Judge Mel “Red” Recana, the first-ever Filipino American judge in the United States, has been serving in the California judiciary for 40 years.

It all still seems surreal for Recana, given his humble beginnings in the Philippines.

In an interview with ABC7, he said his family was poor and his father, a town police officer, only had a third-grade education.

Recana said his father discouraged him from pursuing his dream to become either an Army general or an actor.

“My dad said, you know what son, to be an actor, you’ve got to be good looking or extremely ugly. You’re just an average guy. So, what am I going to do now? My dad said, you love to talk, maybe you should be a lawyer,” the Fil-Am judge recalled.

Inspired by American Defense Counsel Clarence Darrow, Recana pursued law.

Juggling stints as a court reporter to sustain his studies, the Fil-Am judge graduated from the University of the East in Manila in 1964. A few years later, he migrated to California and started a blue-collar job at the Southern Pacific Railroad Company.

An encounter with a Filipino lawyer following a car accident turned the tide for Recana.

“He said, Mel, I heard you’re a lawyer from the Philippines.

I said yes. Well, you can take the bar without going back to law school. I said, why is that? Well, because the Philippines is a common law jurisdiction country,” Recana recalled.

In the mid-’70s, Recana passed the bar exam. He later went back to school, earning a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. He became the first FilAm deputy district attorney in Los Angeles County. His career took a monumental leap when Governor Jerry Brown appointed him as a judge on May 27, 1981 — making history as the first ever Fil-Am judge in the U.S.

A golden legacy Fast forward to 2015, Governor Brown also appointed

his son, Julian, as a Superior Court judge. Recana proudly swore in his son. They made history as the first Fil-Am father and son to serve in the California judiciary.

“I really do owe everything to (my father) for this one. He was the big dreamer,” Judge Julian Recana told ABC7. “He put in the idea that I could also become a judge or become an attorney. I never thought I couldn’t be that because I had him as a father.” Judge Mel Recana has recently been honored by the Philippine American Bar Association with its Lifetime Achievement Award. Recana expressed gratitude for his journey saying, “God was with me all this time. I’ve never wavered in my faith. It was quite an adventure, really.” g

The next human pandemic could be bird flu

by Sunita Sohrabji Ethnic Media Services

THE next major pandemic of COVID-like proportions will likely be avian flu, a respiratory disease already killing millions of poultry and waterfowl, and infecting thousands of cattle.

Currently, there is a version of H5N1 — the avian flu virus — on six continents, an unprecedented event, said Dr. Maurice Pitesky, associate professor at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, who focuses on highly pathogenic avian influenza disease modeling.

The virus spreads via an infected waterfowl’s fecal material, said Pitesky, noting that many dairy and poultry farms have lagoons and other large bodies of water nearby. Feral cats that roam around dairies are also conduits for spreading the virus, as are infected farm and factory equipment.

Immigrant workers at high risk

Workers in poultry and dairy industries are at a unique risk for catching an infection: humans who have close contact with sick birds can catch the virus when it gets into a person’s eyes, nose or mouth, or is inhaled. Wearing Tyvek suits, gloves, masks and other personal protective equipment can be extremely challenging in the immense heat, said Pitesky.

Vaccinating chickens is a Herculean task: the U.S. currently breeds about 8 billion chickens per year. Containing spread to particular regions is also difficult: animals are only tested when they cross state lines.

Extremely deadly

Bird flu is extremely deadly in humans, said Dr. Peter ChinHong, professor of Medicine and director of the immunocompromised host infectious

diseases program at the University of California, San Francisco.

It appears like a very bad flu, but the fatality rate is much higher, he said.

Both researchers were speaking at a May 24 Ethnic Media Services news briefing.

“The reason why it’s so deadly initially in humans is because we’re not used to seeing this kind of infection.

It’s almost like the early days of COVID. So we don’t have the necessary immune system to target it,” said Chin-Hong.

“It is possible that we can have a pandemic at some point in the medium term,” he stated.

Spanish flu

The 1918 “Spanish flu,” which killed more than 50 million people worldwide, was caused by an H1N1 virus with genes of avian origin, noted Hong. He added however, that better detection and therapeutics today could decrease the number of human fatalities.

Only three cases of humans infected in the U.S. have been reported thus far. In each of those cases, the infection presented with conjunctivitis — pink eye — and symptoms were relatively mild.

“Avian flu is a risk to all of us at some level; there’s so much virus floating around. There’s a lot of new research that’s focusing on virus in wastewater from human wastewater treatment facilities,” he said.

But Chin-Hong and Pitesky believe there is a vast underreporting of avian flu infections in humans. Immigrants make up 56% of workers in the meatpacking industry and 28% of workers in the poultry industry, according to data from the Economic Policy Institute. Federal interventions Employees work in tight quarters, with little or no

protective equipment to ward off exposure to the virus. Immigration status, as well as losing out on pay during a sick day, might discourage workers from reporting, said Chin-Hong.

“Those three cases we know about are just the tip of the iceberg. We don’t even know how many people have asymptomatic infections,” he said.

“There’s a fear of deportation. So if there was some regulation around immigration amnesty, I think it will help all of us.”

Income assurance for those who get sick and for farms who must shut down during an outbreak could also potentially lead to better reporting, he said. The federal government does provide $50,000 per day to temporarily-shuttered farms. Raw milk

Humans could potentially get the virus from drinking unpasteurized milk or eating unpasteurized cheese, said Chin-Hong. He referred to a recent study in which mice were given milk from infected cows with H5N1. “It left the gut and actually went to the lungs and caused them to be very sick.”

Pitesky said he was also concerned about avian flu from a food security perspective.

“Poultry is the number one consumed animal protein on the planet. It’s relatively inexpensive and healthy. What we’re dealing with right now is an existential crisis to the poultry industry globally.”

“If we’re going to feed 2 billion more people in the next few decades, poultry is probably part of that solution. And if we can’t get a good handle on this, I’m afraid that that’s gonna be a real challenge for us. Food security is really important for global stability,” he said. g

Expect rough sailing on Sogie bill – Escudero Dateline PhiliPPines

Three more Filipino athletes earn spots in 2024 Paris Olympics

by Hans Carbonilla Inquirer.net

AFTER Samantha Catantan recently made history as the first Filipino fencer to compete in the Olympics since 1992, three more world-class Filipino athletes have joined the 2024 Paris Olympics contingent.

Filipino American gymnast and UCLA varsity member Emma Malabuyo added to the excitement as she became the fourth gymnast to represent the Philippines at the Olympics, following Carlos Yulo, Aleah Finnegan and Levi Jung-Ruivivar. She clinched her Olympic berth on May 24 at the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Asian Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where she bagged bronze in the individual all-around category.

Taking to Instagram, Malabuyo expressed that she was terrified to go for her Olympic dream one last time, but thought she was “even

more terrified of not trying at all.”

“From four world cups: Cairo to Cottbus to Los Angeles to Baku to Doha, and finally in Tashkent at Asian Championships, I did it,” she continued. “What a dream come true! I have never fought for something so hard in my life. Went out there with passion, fight, resilience and grit. I am so thankful to my family, who never stopped believing in me. To my Bruin family, to all my coaches, to the Filipino community, this is for you, and I am so honored to represent the Philippines.”

Meanwhile, from the heartpounding ring battles, Olympic silver medalist Carlo Paalam emerged victorious once again.

With unwavering determination, the Cagayan de Oro boxer clinched victory at the Men’s 57 kg semifinals of the 2nd World Boxing Qualification in Bangkok, Thailand, solidifying his place in the Paris Olympics on June 1. His qualification increases the

Philippine boxing contingent to four.

Following his decisive victory against India’s Sachin Siwach, Paalam expressed his gratitude on social media, writing, “Thank you so much, Lord.”

Lastly, Hergie Bacyadan etched her name in Philippine sports history as she punched her way to the Paris Olympics. The former world champion in vovinam displayed her dominance in the women’s 75 kg category at the World Qualification Tournament in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 2.

In a series of Instagram posts, the boxer wrote “PROUD PINOY” and “BOUND TO PARIS.”

With each qualification, Filipino athletes continue to prove their mettle on the global stage, embodying the spirit of excellence and resilience. As the nation rallies behind these athletes, anticipation builds for the moments of triumph they will bring to Paris in July. g

by Bernadette e tamayo ManilaTimes.net

SENATE President Francis Escudero expects the proposed Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression (Sogie) equality bill to "face rough sailing" in the Senate.

Escudero was asked to comment on the call of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for Congress to pass the Sogie bill.

The measure calls for the protection of all persons, regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.

"Unless the proponents of the Sogie bill accede to some amendments, it will continue to face rough sailing in the Senate," Escudero said in a text message Monday, June 3.

On the other hand, he sees the anti-discrimination bill as having a better chance of getting approved.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros disagrees with Escudero, saying 19 senators support the proposed Sogie equality law.

Senate Bill 139, or the proposed Sogie Equality Act, filed by Hontiveros in July 2022, passed the committee level in December of that year, but had been pending for second reading.

lation Fund, Pride Month is a call to action. It's a time to amplify our commitment to ensuring that every individual, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, is entitled to their human rights, including access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights information and services without discrimination," UNFPA Philippines Country Representative Leila Joudane said in a statement.

In 2023, the Philippines broke the record for the biggest Pride March in Southeast Asia, with more than 110,000 people in

MANILA —

The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed on

Tuesday the detection of flagged Omicron subvariants, including KP.2, in the Philippines, but stressed the increase in cases remains slow and the country faces low COVID-19 risk.

Recent sequencing by the University of the PhilippinesPhilippine Genome Center detected two cases of KP.2, 2 cases of JN.1.18, and 30 cases of JN.1.

“Their detection, along with the slow increase in the number of new cases and the plateau in number of occupied COVID-19 beds, aligns with the international observation that the new variants under monitoring continue to be clinically mild and manageable,” the DOH said.

Currently, there are four COVID-19 variants under monitoring: JN.1.7, JN.1.18, KP.2, and KP.3.

So-called “FLiRT” variants of COVID-19, which include

KP.2 and KP.3, appeared to be contributing to a rising wave of COVID-19 cases across the globe. However, there is still no evidence suggesting that KP.2 and KP.3 cause severe or critical COVID-19, either in the Philippines or internationally.

Health spokesperson Albert Domingo said the earliest collection date for KP.2 was May 2024.

“It may be likely that there are earlier KP.2 cases, but because of limited sequencing we have not detected and reported this earlier,” Domingo told reporters.

Low hospital occupancy

The Philippines reported an average of only 319 COVID-19 cases daily for the week of May 21 to 27.

The DOH said the figure was higher than the previous week’s 202 cases, but still less than half of the around 500 per day reported at the start of this year and around 1,750 per day in mid-May 2023.

Data from the department

showed that hospital occupancy for COVID-19 patients remained low. Only 14% of 1,235 intensive care unit (ICU) beds and 15% of 10,910 non-ICU beds dedicated to COVID-19 patients were occupied.

Only 185 severe and critical cases were admitted, accounting for 10% of the country’s total COVID-19 hospital admissions.

The DOH also recorded 20 deaths due to COVID-19, with five occurring in the recent two weeks.

The department urged the public to continue practicing these preventive measures: proper mask-wearing, frequent handwashing, avoiding crowded spaces and ensuring good ventilation.

“Similar to the ministries of health of other countries, the DOH still does not see any need for travel restrictions, especially as these may impair the flow of other essential health goods and services,” it said. (Gaea Katreena Cabico/Philstar.com)

SB 139 will protect foremost LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) persons from discrimination and harassment in schools, workplaces, and public spaces.

"Nineteen of my colleagues signed the committee report on the Sogie Equality Bill. That should speak to its acceptability across the aisle," Hontiveros said in a statement.

She said she has asked Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino to look into the committee report, which has remained pending in the Committee on Rules, "and he has promised to do so."

Hontiveros expressed hope that the new Senate leadership "would stand up for our LGBTQ+ community this Pride Month and to their daily lives as individuals."

Pride Month is traditionally celebrated in June by the LGBTQ+ community due to its historic link to Stonewall in 1969 in New York City, which signaled LGBTQ+ activism.

"For the United Nations Popu-

CNS-3818061# ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)

attendance, the Philippine Anti-Discrimination Alliance of Youth Leaders (Pantay) said.

"This Pride Month, our legislators should commit to hear the Sogie Equality Bill in the Senate," Pantay convener Vince Liban said in a statement. g

OPINION FEATURES

More rice importation

WITH rice prices refusing to go down and even likely to further increase in the coming months, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will soon issue an executive order reducing the tariff on rice imports from 35 percent to just 15 percent until the end of his term in 2028. This comes on the heels of the final approval by the House of Representatives of a bill that seeks to restore the power of the National Food Authority to import rice during emergency situations.

The further liberalization of rice importation, according to Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, is meant to bring down rice prices to P29, to be offered to the country’s poor. Rice farmers, however, are among those poor, and they are worried that further rice import liberalization would bury their livelihood. The government cannot brush aside the farmers’ concerns. Rice prices are a particularly sensitive issue for the Marcos administration, which rose to power on a campaign “aspiration” of bringing rice prices down to P20 a kilo. As the administration enters its third year, not even the heavily subsidized Kadiwa outlets can offer rice at that retail price. Several agriculture experts have noted that rice at P20 a kilo in regular retail outlets is not possible even by 2028. This year, rice prices have remained high due to the lingering impact of an El Niño event that has caused prolonged drought in many areas. Rice prices have fueled food inflation. Despite a slight dip in rice prices that tracked trends in the world market, food and transport costs pushed up the

Editorial

headline inflation rate last April for the third straight month. Boosting domestic rice production is the ideal approach to stabilizing rice supply and prices. Being a net exporter of rice need not remain a dream or an aspiration for the country. President Marcos, since the early days of his administration when he was the concurrent agriculture secretary, had enumerated the problems that plague domestic rice production, along with the solutions.

Those solutions and interventions have been promised by previous administrations: sufficient irrigation, fertilizer and pesticide subsidies, post-harvest facilities, mechanization support, assistance in marketing, and for beneficiaries of agrarian reform, support in forming cooperatives to promote economies of scale.

These support services were supposed to be boosted with the allocation of billions annually from rice import tariffs that went to the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund. Farmers say the full promise of RCEF, which will be

affected by the looming tariff cut, has yet to be realized. In further liberalizing rice importation, the government must see to it that the support

What would President Marcos do?

EVERYONE’S waiting with bated breath, as if waiting for the next episode of an edge-ofyour-seat Netflix drama – how would President Marcos handle the ghost employee scandal that has rocked the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas?

A source close to the halls of power said Marcos will come up with a decision in the next ten days. Anything can happen but clearly, the fate of the two Monetary Board members (MBM) at the center of the jaw-dropping ghost employee issue is in the hands of Marcos because MBMs are presidential appointees.

BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. has already submitted to Malacañang the results of the central bank’s internal investigation.

The BSP charter is clear and all the president needs to do is to look at it.

According to Republic Act 7653, otherwise known as The New Central Bank Act, Section 10 of Article II states that the president may remove any member of the Monetary Board for several reasons, one of which is:

“If the member is guilty of acts or operations which are of

fraudulent or illegal character or which are manifestly opposed to the aims and interest of the Bangko Sentral.”

There’s the rub, though. Some sources speculate that Marcos, the Mr. Nice Guy that he is, does not want to widen or worsen the rift between his family and the Dutertes. The two MBMs involved in the issue are Duterte appointees.

BSP insiders and former MBMs, however, said that in this case, Marcos may not have a choice given that the law is clear when it comes to dealing with members who are guilty of illegal actions, unless of course the concerned MBMs are able to explain that hiring ghost employees was not illegal or that they weren’t ghost employees to begin with.

In a statement, the BSP already called such acts as irregular.

“The irregularities appear unprecedented in an organization that upholds integrity and professionalism at all levels.”

The BSP also said that in January, an investigating team of the BSP’s Office of the General Counsel submitted its final investigation report. “The Office of the General Counsel signed it.”

From late February to early March, four of the employees and one direct supervisor implicated in the report tendered their resignation. Administrative disciplinary cases were filed in

March. Indeed, the BSP has acknowledged the irregularities following its internal investigation. It is now up to President Marcos to act on the matter.

Former BSP executives and exMBMs I’ve talked to believe that the law must prevail. They said that it took decades to rebuild and protect the integrity of the country’s monetary institution after its past life, the old central bank, was mired in its own controversies.

They lament that the scandal has tainted the BSP’s integrity and must therefore be rectified.

As for me, I’m also curious how it happened. What could be the justification? Could it be possible that the MBMs involved did not know that there were ghost employees in their offices?

No, this is not possible, former and current MBMs told me. They said the MBM approves every employee in his or her payroll and likewise signs every staff member’s vacation leave and sick leaves.

This issue, according to BSP insiders and ex BSP executives, is now being closely watched by the international community including central bank organizations in Southeast Asia and beyond, as well as international credit ratings agencies.

What happens next is anybody’s guess but for sure,

everyone’s waiting. I hope that Marcos, who has been busy trying to court international investors to do business in the country, knows the urgency of addressing the issue properly.

Taxing mega corporations I recently had a chat with former BIR Commissioner Kim Henares who was in Brazil last month as a speaker at the G20 International Tax Symposium.

Comm. Kim discussed the problem of base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS), taking off from the OECD’s move to form the Global Forum For Taxation on addressing BEPS. This tax base erosion and profit shifting happens because multinational enterprises exploit gaps between different countries’ tax systems.

The OECD, she said, has estimated that between four percent to 10 percent of global corporate income tax revenues, or around $100 to $240 billion, were lost as of 2013, because of BEPS.

“It’s a scandalous situation where large companies like Apple, Starbucks and Amazon, though reporting large revenues, are paying little or no corporate taxes,” Comm. Kim said in her presentation. Against this backdrop, she said it’s good that the OECD recognized the problems of base erosion and profit shifting. However, she also said the OECD missed specific problems

affecting developing countries like the Philippines due to a lack of consultation.

For example, she said that OECD attempts a reallocation of residual profits of megacorporations but applies this to only a few firms and allocates only a small portion of profits. She said the OECD must consider revisiting and potentially overhauling double taxation treaties to better fit developing countries like the Philippines as well as the global and digital world.

Moving forward, Comm. Kim said that countries like the

Philippines must also support the UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation so that their difficulties in taxing cross border transactions can be heard and they can come up with a solution that will fit their economies. (Philstar.com)

*

* * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

* * * Follow her on X, formerly Twitter @ eyesgonzales. Column archives at EyesWideOpen (Iris Gonzales) on Facebook.

THIS is a plea, especially to our nation’s leaders, especially the politicians who wield power in both the political and economic realms. I know I’m far from being the only one who believes that if only most of you loved our country enough to put it ahead of furthering and perpetuating your personal power and wealth, our country and the bulk of our fellow Filipinos would be much better off today. You would well know how the Philippines had progressively slid from the top to bottom position among its regional peers since the 1960s. We were the most dynamic economy in Southeast Asia and second richest in East Asia (next to Japan) in the 1960s but now rank the worst in most social

and economic indicators that matter. A Korean friend once told me how on his first visit to Manila in the 1960s, he was awestruck with envy at our infrastructure and level of development that was well ahead of his own country then. Neighbors from whom we now import rice and other farm products once sent their students to learn agricultural sciences in our country in my hometown of Los Baños, once the region’s knowledge center on the field. South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, and India sent people to train at the Agricultural Credit and Cooperatives Institute in Los Baños, and have since demonstrated the power of farm cooperatives in uplifting their farms and farmers. Yet our own farm coops more often than not fail and collapse, leading many to believe that cooperativism simply will not work in the Philippines. We may have lost our cherished tradition of bayanihan,” and have become

too individualistic or “kanyakanya” for sustained collective endeavors to prosper. Our concern for the common good now seems a casualty in the pursuit of selfish interest.

We need you, our leaders, to be always guided by the principle of the greatest good for the greatest number in the decisions you make and the actions you take. We need you to prove by your example that the common good and your personal welfare can actually come together. Many temptations come your way every day that pull you into decisions and actions that would increase your own wealth and power. Vested interests always surround you and strive to push you into actions that will lead to their gain, even if it means harm or loss to many, especially the powerless among us. But please think constantly of our country and how far behind it has fallen because people in power like you had chosen to set the

common good aside, in favor of personal gain.

If you are a local chief executive, please do not be one whose first question to a potential investor is “What’s in it for me?”—then throw hurdles in their way if the answer is not to your liking. And please make it as easy as possible to start, register, and renew a business in your area, and recognize that these create jobs and incomes among your constituents, help uplift their lives, and ultimately strengthen your local economy.

If you are a member of either house of Congress, please take to heart your avowed mission of being a true representative of your constituents, whether they voted for you or not. Please also be mindful that the loudest voices and the strongest lobbies do not necessarily push in the right direction that will lead to the greatest good of the greatest number, which ought to be your yardstick. We implore you to be guided by evidence and

sound analysis in the policy directions you take, which may not necessarily be what seems popular. And please focus on your role as lawmakers, as that is your only proper mandate from the Filipino public.

If you are a policymaker in the executive branch, please immerse yourself among the people you serve to be able to feel their problems firsthand and understand their true needs. If you are a member of the judiciary, please remember that you ultimately decide the fate of our people who count on the protection of the rule of law, which applies equally to everyone regardless of their social and economic stature.

And if you are a public servant in whatever government department or office, please take on an enabling mindset rather than a restricting and regulating one to the point of inhibiting worthwhile private initiatives and enterprises.

Lastly, please be mindful that

our country is in crisis on many fronts, the most fundamental of which is the very real threat to our future posed by our failure to care enough for our youngest children who are the very future of our nation. Too many of them are hungry and malnourished due to lack of income and unduly high food prices, and unable to obtain the right education due to numerous failures in our educational system. If we do not reverse these problems now, our very future as a nation is in great peril.

In the end, we pray that you show and practice genuine love for our country that would serve as a worthy example for all Filipinos to emulate.

(Inquirer.net)

*

* * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

* * * cielito.habito@gmail.com

Malacanãng photo

ManilaTimes.net photo

measures to increase domestic rice production do not remain in the realm of aspiration. (Philstar. com)

The Asian Journal MDWK

Wednesday JUNE 5, 2024

Joaquin’s ‘wicked’ double feat, from ‘Songs’ to Schwartz

By rito P. asilo Inquirer.net

IF his current projects don’t convince you just how prolific theater star Joaquin Pedro Valdes is, we don’t know what will.

The latest adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s “Pacific Overtures,” which was headlined by the homegrown Filipino actor, had yet to officially open late last year when we asked what was up next for him. Answering with unconcerned nonchalance, Joaquin said, “Oh, nothing yet.”

Fast-forward six months later, Joaquin isn’t just about to tick off yet another coveted item on his bucket list, he’s also staking his claim as one of the London theater scene’s most sought-after heartthrobs.

In fact, Joaquin plays the Lover in both “A Song of Songs”—running until June 15 at Park Theatre in north London—and “The Baker’s Wife,” the eagerly anticipated Stephen Schwartz musical that is scheduled to run from July 6 to Sept. 14 at Menier Chocolate Factory.

For the uninitiated, Schwartz is the 76-year-old composer-lyricist behind such musical behemoths as “Pippin,” “Godspell,” “Pocahontas,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” “Enchanted” and that precious little musical called “Wicked.”

Joaquin doesn’t even get to do much in “A Song of Songs,” but theater website

WhatsOnStage still singles him out and describes his performance and presence as “commanding,” calling his solo song “Dance for Me” as “the evening’s take-home number.”

The production follows the story of a young wife in a loveless marriage as she mulls over meeting her unseen admirer, simply referred to as the Lover (Joaquin).

Diverse music

“It’s very exciting because the music aspect of it is really gorgeous,” Joaquin told Inquirer Entertainment over Zoom. “It attempts to bring in the different kinds of music from the Middle East to Jewish klezmer music to the gypsy, flamenco and Andalusian sounds. It’s a play with a lot of music which helps create that atmosphere.

“I absolutely love it. I function more like a flamenco singer. The band, with our clarinetist, violinist and guitarist, is incredible. Our clarinetist specializes in Azerbaijani, Middle Eastern,

Oriental sounds. Our percussionist is Spanish, so you’ll hear all these different flavors … flamenco, rhumba, tango, etc.

“The music is atmospheric and really embraces you. I found it challenging because I function more as a musician than an actor in this show. And there are lots of moments where the band improvises, so I improvise with them vocally, as well. When I started learning it and immersing myself in the Azerbaijani and Middle Eastern vocals, I found that I loved singing it so much!

“There’s a lot of dancing from the women in the cast, because there are loads of flamenco elements to it. But my character, the Lover, sings tunes that don’t necessarily push the plot forward, so they’re more ‘state of mind’ songs that set up the scenes and emotions. And so far, people have been responding well to them. The songs are ethereal, mystical …” Continued on Page 9

Arci on how to save up while mixing work and play

By Marinel Cruz Inquirer.net

THE best financial advice that singer-actress Arci Muñoz has received came from her mom, whom she said worked hard to secure her future and enabled her to live a comfortable life.

“She told me to save up,” said Arci. “I’ve always been the happy-go-lucky type. Right now, I’m at a point in my life when I should be making wiser decisions financially. I’m 35 and I really have to set my priorities. My mom would tell me, ‘Enjoy your money. You worked hard for it.’ But she also instructed me that when I get my talent fee every month, I should put half of it in a separate bank account. This is the money that I cannot touch. I keep half and the other half I spend to travel.”

Arci admitted that travel is really her biggest expense. “I’m not materialistic. Instead of buying a new bag, I spend it on travel. I also don’t shop often. I just love to try out food that is new to me. Traveling excites me because I get to learn different cultures,” she pointed out.

For those who aspire to be able to afford travel, she has this to say: “I always list down my expenses, the places I want to go to and the things I want to do. I make sure to put a limit on how much I can spend, except for food because I love to eat. I’m willing to pay for that. We discover cultures through their food.

“I don’t mind flying economy especially if I’m using my own money. This is because most of the time, I travel for work. When I go abroad, I try to extend my stay for a couple of days to explore the country. As they say, combine work and play.”

Arci said she has several dream destinations, but would love to see more of China soon.

“There are so many beautiful places in China that are still unexplored. It’s the first country I visited when I got a passport. I find China so

beautiful. I can’t wait to go back,” she added.

She said she’s fortunate that she never struggled financially when she was younger.

“For that, I’m grateful. I’m just really blessed that my parents provided for us and made sure that we live a comfortable life. They worked all their lives to be able to give us a good education. For sure, they also had their struggles as parents, but they didn’t make these known to us.

“I guess every family experiences struggles, but our parents really prepared for our future.

Continued on Page 10

In a Milestone US tour:  Erik Santos live on June 23 only at Pechanga Resort Casino

Show features special guest Stell Ajero

RISING to stardom after winning the reality talent competition ‘Star in a Million’ in 2003, Erik Santos, a trueto-life singing sensation, will perform live at the Pechanga Theater on June 23 at 7:30 p.m. Along with Santos, special guest performer Stell Ajero renders his musical prowess in the same venue.

Pechanga Resort Casino, conveniently located off Highway I-15 in Temecula Valley, identified as Southern California wine county, is wellknown for hosting only the best and the brightest Filipino entertainers and performers aimed to provide the ultimate experience especially to its Filipino-American patrons.

Santos, a gold and multi-platinum record-selling artist, has been commonly tagged as the “King of Pinoy Teleserye Theme Songs.” His debut album, “This is the Moment,” released in 2004 went 3x platinum. Erik’s other platinum albums include “I’ll Never Go,” “Loving You Now,” “Your Love” and “The Jim Brickman Songbook.”

His best-selling albums, sold-out concerts and demand for performances in corporate shows, as well as accolades from Awit Awards, Star Awards, numerous endorsements and even movie appearances, has earned him great popularity with Philippine and international audiences.

Bagging prestigious awards and other recognition has allowed Erik Santos into successfully bagging local and international performances and invitations.

Stell Ajero, Santos’ special guest performer, meanwhile, is a singer, model/ actor — he earned the ‘most liked video’ in TikTok, and for good reason, he even owns a Japanese blog that is famous in YouTube with his videos having millions of followers.

Ajero is known for his wide vocal range, and is known as the vocalist, dancer and choreographer of the boy band SB19. “The Voice” dubbed Ajero as among the most promising Filipino artists of his generation.

He was also a judge in the show “The Voice Generations” in 2023, along with artists Julie San Jose, Billy Crawford and Chito Miranda. Don’t miss this live entertaining concert! Get your tickets at the Pechanga Box Office or make your reservations by calling 888.810.8871, or by visiting online at Pechanga.com. Shows in the Pechanga Theater offer a comfortable and intimate concert experience. With 1,200 seats in its theater, each show features state-of-the-art, acoustically

and an

Arci Muñoz bagged the best international Filipino actress award in Japan for “Maldita in Maldives” Photo from Instagram/@ramonathornes

Joaquin Pedro Valdes

Photo from Instagram/@joaquin.pedro.valdes

Filipino American Seniors Association of Chino Hills hosts 2024 Kalayaan

THE Filipino American Seniors Association of Chino Hills will have its 2024 Kalayaan in celebration of Philippine Independence Day on Monday, June 10. The annual event will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Chino Hills Community Center located at 14250 Peyton Drive, Chino Hills, CA 91709.

The attire is Filipinana with tickets at $15 to cover lunch and a raffle ticket.

Lorceli Tulao will be crowned 2024 Mutya ng Kalayaan (Freedom), also referred to as Mutya ng Kasarinlan (Independence) during the June 10 celebration.

Entertainment will be provided by the Dalisay Filipino American Dance Group.

Keynote Speaker Retired Engr Leo Ortega will talk about U.S. and Philippines’ Interrelationships towards Philippine Independence, The celebration will be attended by Chino Hills City Mayor Cynthia Moran and San

be crowned 2024 Mutya ng Kalayaan during the Filipino American Seniors Association of Chino Hills’ Kalayaan on June 10.

Bernardino County 4th District Supervisor Curt Hagman’s Liaison Officer Suzette Dang. Lorceli Tulao was born into a life of Service and Love of Country. Her father was a Colonel in the Philippine Army and her mother , a dedicated

teacher. Lorceli became a Captain of the Philippine Army while she served as a nurse. Migrating to the United States strengthened the direction of the family goals. Lorceli married Felicito Tulao who served 20 years in the U.S. Navy as a Radioman. Mr. Tulao passed on after serving as a postman for 22 years after retiring from the Navy. They have three daughters: Frances retired as Major in the United Air Force; the younger Adrienne and Jessica also married men in the peacekeeping forces.

Lorceli worked 37 years as a nurse at various hospitals, and was awarded a tribute in 2014 and recognized by the Philippine Heritage of California as an Outstanding Nurse.

On July 1, grandson Nicholas Ryan will be commissioned Sonogram in the U.S. Navy in San Diego. He will be his grandma Lori’s escort during the coronation rites on June 10.

‘Playtime’ stars on how women can protect themselves against predators

By Nathalie tomada Philstar.com

GMA Pictures and Viva Films have collaborated on a suspense-thriller about a predator who lures women into his “twisted game of hunter and prey.” Opening on June 12 in cinemas, the film stars Xian Lim, Sanya Lopez, Coleen Garcia and Faye Lorenzo.

Director Mark Reyes was quoted as stressing that the film is not a walk in the park and not a rom-com drama. The story revolves around three women from three different worlds who find themselves in the scary situation involving a man they all wrongly trust.

The “sexy” element of the film took the director, who’s best known for megging GMA’s big-budget dramas such as “Encantadia” and “Voltes V: Legacy,” out of his comfort zone. “There are scenes here that really put them (the actors) to the test,” he said.

Asked if the seduction scenes are a major plot device, he said, “The women come into the situation because they are sexually attracted to the character of Xian, but what I want to share is that it’s just a come-on of the film, it’s actually a study of personalities, these girls are all in trouble but should they automatically trust each other? What if someone has an ulterior motive?”

The theme is not just interesting but also relevant in this age of MeToo.

The STAR had to ask the cast, especially the women, if they ever experienced close encounters with sexual predators and how they dealt with them. In their line of work and even in their everyday lives, they can be a magnet or

easy target. What advice can they share with fellow women on how to protect themselves from such incidents and encounters?

“You know, hindi ko kasi naabutan yung single ako and there’s Tinder,” said Coleen, expressing there can be fear and risk when dating strangers you’ve met online.

“But I guess it’s a case to case basis. It’s different for everybody what you can do to protect yourself… But it’s important really especially that we’re all aware that it does happen.

“And most of the time, actually it happens din sa hindi strangers. ‘Di ba sometimes, it happens in your workplace, sometimes it happens in the family, so it’s important to get help.

Unang-una, it’s important to get help if you feel you’re in danger, if you feel like somebody has crossed those

boundaries. You really need to tell people who can help you.”

The actress who’s married to Billy Crawford also said, “When it comes to going out, not just dating, even among friends, ako personally, ‘di ko pa na-i-experience pero I know people who have experienced it and it’s really scary not just now but even before. So it’s important to watch yourself.

“For example, if you go out, make sure you’re with people whom you feel safe with. Kasi yung gawain ko before, when I was still dating, hindi ako actually, nakikipagdate agad with one person, yung kaming dalawa lang

“Normally, I’d invite him to meet my friends, things like that. So maganda mag-start ng ganun and you slowly build the trust. It’s hard to be alone with somebody na wala kang tiwala. You don’t put yourself

Continued on Page 10

Joaquin’s ‘wicked’ double...

From Page 9

Cult following

As for “The Baker’s Wife,” theater lovers instantly remember the production for its gorgeous show tune, “Meadowlark.” While the musical has grown a cult following since it premiered in the West End in 1989 (yes, the same year as “Miss Saigon”), it has yet to be produced on Broadway.

“Over the years, there have been attempts to revive ‘The Baker’s Wife,’” Joaquin disclosed. “Gordon Greenberg, our director, who recently directed the Tony-nominated play, ‘The Heart of Rock and Roll’ on Broadway, has been with this title for a decade or so.

“He directed a revival of it at the Papermill Playhouse in the United States, with Alice Ripley and Max von Essen. So, it really means a lot to him and Stephen for the Menier to stage it on Schwartz’s 76th birth anniversary. It’s a big deal.

“It’s based on a 1938 French film [by Marcel Pagnol and Jean Giono] about a scandal that rocks a small community. It wasn’t received well initially, but Gordon has been developing it for years. I met Gordon when he came to watch ‘Pacific Overtures,’ before I was even considered to audition for it. And the Menier, being so intimate [as a 200-seater venue], is perfect for this type of material. So even the performances are informed by the space.

“This version of ‘The Baker’s Wife’ is incredible—like, it features some of the biggest names in London, and I am so humbled to be part of it! They’re stacking it with a lot of not just good musical theater performers, but also fine actors [from straight plays] to breathe life into the text and the space. So, the [staging] is going to be ‘semi-immersive.’ It’s really exciting.”

Catalyst for change

Asked to talk about the story and his character, who is the baker’s wife’s lover, Joaquin said, “I play Dominique. The general plot revolves around a small, idyllic and quite province in the middle of France, whose residents are shaken when an older baker (Clive Rowe) and his beautiful young wife (Lucie Jones)

Arjo Atayde calls for proper implementation of ‘Eddie Garcia’ law

NOW that the Eddie Garcia Law has been signed, actor and Quezon City 1st District Representative Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde said the law should be strictly implemented to ensure the safe working conditions for those in the movie and TV industry.

According to Atayde, if implemented properly, the Republic Act 11996 should result in overall better movies and shows as workers will be more motivated knowing their safety and security will be prioritized.

Atayde, one of the principal authors, emphasized that the law, which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently signed, should ensure that local movie and TV sets are “safe spaces” for everyone involved in the production. Their work will also become more efficient under a safer condition.

The law has been named after veteran actor Eddie Garcia, who died in 2019 when he tripped on loose cables while shooting a TV series, suffering fractures in the process.

The law has been named after veteran actor Eddie Garcia, who died in 2019 when he tripped on loose cables while shooting a TV series, suffering fractures in the process.

“It’s very appropriate that the Eddie Garcia Law was signed into law by the President in the birth month of Eddie Garcia, who would have turned 95 this May if not for an accident that could have been avoided — the kind of accident

that the Eddie Garcia Law now seeks to prevent,” Atayde said in a statement.

“This law is a fitting tribute to an artist who was loved, admired and respected by his peers in the entertainment industry. If properly implemented, the Eddie Garcia Law will protect personnel in the creative industry and will ensure that local movie and TV sets are literally and figuratively ‘safe spaces’ where artists and crew members can work knowing their welfare is a priority.”Atayde, an awardwinning artist who now is currently the Vice Chairperson

of the House Special Committee on Creative Industry and Performing Arts, pointed out that “for the Eddie Garcia Law to achieve its intended purpose, it is critical that the agencies involved in its implementation strictly monitor entertainment productions to ensure compliance with the law’s provisions.”

Aside from the vigilance of government agencies, Atayde urged those in the entertainment industry “to cooperate with efforts to implement this law.”

“This should be a team effort. Those in the creative industry should familiarize themselves with the law’s provisions... compliance should come naturally because this is for the benefit of everyone.”

RA 11996 mandates employers in the movie and television industry to “promote safety and provide safe working conditions.”

Section 19(f) states that employers are required to “ensure that all sets and locations have been properly assessed for any potential safety and health issues and that proper remedies and safeguards are implemented to deal with these issues.”

Meanwhile, under Section 13(g), the law requires employers to designate safety officers and dedicated vehicles for emergency purposes, regardless of whether the productions are done in Metro Manila or out of town.

(ManilaTimes.net)

Nash Aguas, Mika dela Cruz reveal breakup two years before wedding

By Jessica aNN evaNgelista Inquirer.net

NEWLYWEDS Nash Aguas and Mika dela Cruz revealed that they broke up for six months during the pandemic before they got engaged and

move into town.

“This baker makes the best bread that everybody loves. Meanwhile, Dominique, my character, is the town playboy—a virile and good-looking young man who falls in love with Genevieve, the baker’s wife. He sweeps her off her feet, and they have an affair—and the whole town is just changed by it! So, this affair is the catalyst for everything that transpires thereafter.

“The central song, which I think conveys the quintessential sound and tone of the show, is this beautiful song called ‘Meadowlark’—one of Stephen Schwartz’s best songs ever. As Genevieve decides whether she should stay with her husband or run away with Dominique, she sings this fairy tale about a meadowlark who’s torn between the king who adores her and the Sun God. It’s a beautiful parable for what she’s going through.

“This unexpected turn of events causes a stir, and everybody is invested in this scandal. When you hear Dominique’s song, called ‘Proud Lady’—often every musical-theater tenor’s audition piece—it feels like it was initially written for someone like Gaston from ‘Beauty and the Beast’ … very bombastic, proud and almost two-dimensional.

True love

“But I had a conversation with the director during my audition to explore Dominique’s authenticity and truth even more—how, on the surface, he looks attractive and is always in control, but he’s really just a simple guy from the province.

“All of a sudden, he falls in love and now you can explain why he does what he does. It’s the first time he’s feeling true love. He’s probably had a lot of relationships, but this is the first time he’s genuinely feeling it.

“Before this, Dominique was always vilified as the younger, hotter man, but now would be a great opportunity to show why the decision was hard for him to make. It isn’t just for carnal, animalistic pleasure. There’s genuine connection that Genevieve finds in Dominique that she probably couldn’t find with her husband.

tied the knot this year. In an interview with Bernadette Sembrano, the young couple said that in the course of their six-year relationship, they also had their share of challenges that led them to briefly separate.

Dela Cruz admitted she initiated the breakup because she was dealing with so much—her father’s death, her autoimmune disease, and her hiatus from showbiz.

During those times, Aguas Continued on Page 11

Lorceli Tulao will

GMA Pictures and Viva Films’ ‘Playtime’

Actor and Quezon City 1st District Representative Juan Carlos ‘Arjo’ Atayde Photo from Instagram/@arjoatayde

‘Playtime’ stars on how women...

From Page 9

in a compromising situation, whether that’s drinking or even riding in a car alone with somebody. Try your best not to put yourself in a compromising situation,” she stressed.

For Sanya, there are really moments where you meet people with questionable intentions. When she was younger, she admitted that there were times when she felt she was “in danger.”

“Parang ‘di ka paniniwalaan agad kasi bata ka eh, kumbaga wala ka pang boses… may kapitbahay ka lang na lasing na lumapit sa akin, yung parang feeling mo may gagawin silang masama… Hindi naman din talaga, pero may mga ganun lang akong takot,” she shared. Fortunately, she had people who always made her feel safe growing up — her

brother, actor Jak Roberto, and her mom. “Kuya ko isa sa mga sinasabihan ko that time and yung mommy ko (if ever I felt uncomfortable). Bilang wala akong Daddy, wala talagang taga-protect sa akin. (Early on) nag-iingat ako until now. Yun ang tumatak sa akin nung bata ako na importante ‘di ako mag-isa. Dapat meron akong kasama na mas matanda talaga sa akin.”

Nowadays, whenever she goes out, she’s alert and vigilant when it comes to people who either become too touchy or too close for comfort.

Sanya also advises fellow women to tell someone you trust your whereabouts.

“There has to be one person that you can tell, ‘I’m here.’ In case of emergency, ito yung tao malalapitan mo at alam niya kung nasaan ka. There are things that we want

to do on our own but we have to prioritize our safety,” Sanya stressed.

This is one of the main takeaways from “Playtime,” said Xian.

“I think if there’s one lesson to learn from this film — I know it’s bloody, it’s sexy, it’s entertaining — it would be to not put yourself in a compromising situation,” he said.

“I grew up with my grandmother and grandfather, that’s why my sensibilities are very ‘80s pa, lumang tao (old school)... You just have to be extra careful nowadays because ang dami daming nangyayari kung saan man.

“If it’s a place that invites trouble, think twice and have people with you and be extra safe. And don’t easily believe in online things because it’s so easy to make up different things online.”

Five benefits of establishing a revocable living trust

Barrister’s Corner

THERE is never the perfect time to think about who you would like to inherit from your estate in case you pass away or at least who among your closest friends (BFFs) and family members are even deserving of inheriting from your estate. In doing so, you should also think about which vehicle you plan to use in implementing your estate plan. One of the best vehicle in implementing your estate plan is a revocable living trust. Five major benefits of establishing a revocable living trust are:

1. Your estate can avoid the time, cost, and hassle of going through the probate court process.

If you pass away without a will (intestate) in California, one of your close family would have to file a petition in probate court to probate your estate. Your estate will be divided and distributed according to the California probate code rules of intestate succession. Even if you have a will when you pass away, your family would still need to file a petition in probate court if your estate is worth over $184,500 and go through the probate process. This can become a circus if certain beneficiaries contest the validity of the Will or the distribution of the estate. Your estate will pay for attorney’s fees, probate referee fees, appraisers and other experts, CPA fees, etc. If people contest the case, your estate would end up paying legal fees to defend the estate in litigation. The entire process can take anywhere from 9 months to years depending on the contentiousness of the probate case.

With a revocable living trust, your trustee or successor trustee if you were the initial trustee, would administer the trust and distribute the estate according to the trust document without having to

open a probate court case. If the trust is funded with all your assets, it is possible to administer and distribute the trust assets without any Court involvement at all. This process is a lot faster than going through probate.

2. Your estate is not public record

When you file a probate case, the public has access to your probate case file. The public will know the assets of the estate including the values of those assets. If the Will is admitted into probate, the terms of the Will is open to public scrutiny.

Establishing a revocable living trust makes your estate affairs private. Strangers do not have access to the terms of your living trust. Only certain beneficiaries and possible heirs can request a copy of the revocable living trust after you pass away.

3. You can dictate who will inherit from your estate.

If you pass away without a Will, your estate will be divided and distributed in Probate Court following the rules of intestate succession in the California probate code. Certain relatives will be entitled to a share of your estate even if you feel they are not deserving. By establishing a revocable living trust, you can designate who you want to inherit from your estate. You can designate what and how much each one will received from your estate after you pass away. The assets distributed to each beneficiaries does not have to be equal. The people you designate as beneficiaries of your living trust does not even have to be close family members. You can designate anyone as a beneficiary, with certain exceptions, of your estate.

4. You can structure your estate to minimize estate taxes

If your estate is valued above the estate tax exemption, establishing a trust can allow you to divide up your estate into smaller sub trusts to minimize the overall estate tax effect on your estate. It allows you to set up a vehicle for certain charitable giving which carries tax advantage and asset protection.

5. You can choose who will administer your estate after your death

When you establish a revocable trust, you can appoint someone else as trustee or you can appoint a successor trustee if you are the initial trustee. The trustee will be administering (managing) the trust after you pass away without a need to open a probate court case. This allows for continuity in operating the trust and the efficient and cost effective distribution of estate assets. If you are concerned about whether you can trust any family members as your trustee, you can appoint an institution as a professional trustee to carry out the terms of the declaration of trust. These type of trustee services are often offered by banks, financial institutions, wealth management firms, and business management firms for a reasonable fee. This minimizes conflicts within the family and prevents negligence and wrong doing by inexperienced family members.

* * Please note that this article is not legal

Arci on how to save up...

From Page 8

Right now, I promise to do the same, especially for friends in need; I will share if I have something to spare,” Arci said during a recent virtual gathering organized by the online cash lending platform, JuanHand, of which she is an endorser.

Investments When it comes to her investments outside show biz, Arci has quite a few. “My friends and I recently opened a yakiniku restaurant in Greenhills called Yoshimeatsu. It’s a franchise. We are relaunching it this month,” she began. “We also launched VIP Life, which is a beauty and lifestyle project. We offer collagen and glutathione supplements, as well as slimming coffee. We’re also expanding and planning to bring it to the United States.”

Arci also runs a film production company called NDM Studios with Palanca-winning writer and director Njel de Mesa. In fact, she will be seen alongside Kiray Celis in the comedy film “Malditas in Maldives,” for which she also serves as producer and creative director. The film premiered at the recently concluded 2024 Jinseo Arigato International Film Festival in Japan, where she won the best international Filipino actress award.

“We have our studio in Nagoya. We’re also producing movies there. I love Japan so much. It’s my dream to actually live there. We have so many plans. I’m excited and I’m really looking forward to achieving them all,” she beamed.

‘Sweet Escape’

Arci has also finished shooting Rommel Ricafort’s romantic drama “Sweet Escape” with Kang Dong-gun as leading man. Recalling her experience working with the Korean actor, Arci said: “We struggled because of the language barrier. It’s still hard for him to speak English. In terms of acting, he is very good. I was able to see the emotions he was trying to express through his facial expressions. That’s what’s important. It’s a great experience to work in Korea. I’m also a big fan of their industry. They’ve mastered storytelling,” she said. The film was also partly shot in Bohol province. “For me, it’s one of the most important places in the Philippines. I’m proud that we have effectively managed to sustain biodiversity in the area. We should really take good care of it—it’s our responsibility. I’m glad we were able to show him one of the most beautiful places in our country. I can’t wait for everyone to see our movie,” the actress said. This then led reporters to ask Arci, who has not publicly admitted to dating, if she has plans to settle down and have a family of her own. “There’s no point in worrying about that now. I refuse to feel pressured about it but, of course, I would sometimes ask myself, ‘Am I capable of doing it? Have I prepared myself for the future in all aspects?’ My answer is ‘yes.’ It’s easier to just leave it all up to God. Our parents prepared for our future. What I only need to do is to take care of whatever resources I have, and try to expand,” Arci declared.

Claudine Barretto on divorce: ‘Gives you second chance to right your wrongs’

By Anne PAsAjol Inquirer.net

CLAUDINE Barretto gave her two cents on the much talked about topic of divorce, saying she believes it gives an individual the chance to “right [their] wrongs.”

The actress, whose annulment process with estranged husband Raymart Santiago is still ongoing, shared photo quotes on the matter through her Instagram page on Sunday, June 2.

At present, the Philippines and the city-state of Vatican are the only governments that have not legalized divorce.

The divorce bill was approved by the House of Representatives on third and final reading last May 22. The legislation, however, will still have to muster enough votes in the Senate for it to become a law, provided that it will not be vetoed by the President.

The Senate then had an informal survey conducted by Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, which showed that six senators were in favor of divorce—namely Robin Padilla, Grace Poe, Risa Hontiveros, Imee Marcos, Pia Cayetano and Raffy Tulfo.

Those who opposed were Estrada himself, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Francis Tolentino, Joel Villanueva and Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. Juan Miguel Zubiri and Cynthia Villar, in separate interviews, also said they disapprove of divorce.

Prior to Barretto, other celebrities who also expressed their support for the proposal to legalize divorce were Anne Curtis and Maxene Magalona.

Nash Aguas, Mika dela Cruz reveal...

From Page 9

felt that her girlfriend wasn’t genuinely happy, and he began to think that their relationship was just adding to her baggage.

The two asserted that their brief separation brought them both closer to God and then to each other.

“Masakit siya. Obviously, ‘yung desires ng heart ko against talaga siya, pero alam kong will ni Lord, may peace,” said Aguas.

“I think with the process po to deal with the pain, kay Lord lang po talaga (ako nagsabi) even sa sister (Angelika dela Cruz) ko, hindi po ako nagpakita na umiiyak sa kanya, and I’ve always said I’m going to be okay,” expressed Dela Cruz.

The “Kara Mia” actress said that she got so inspired by Aguas’ relationship with God that she also decided to develop her relationship with Him, amid her life challenges.

“Naalala ko po sabi niya sa akin (Nash), ‘wag mo akong intindihin. ‘Wag mong intindihan ‘yung nararamdaman mong pain, i-seek mo lang si Lord, please. Ayusin mo muna ‘yung relationship mo with Him,” she recalled. The now-married couple

then shared that they asked God for signs if they were meant to be and if they were “the one” for each other, which they believed they received, as they shared the Bible verses they saw during the times they were asking for signs.

After months of not seeing each other, the two met at one of the gatherings they attended and decided to rekindle their relationship.

When asked why they did not tell anyone about the breakup, Aguas responded, Hindi naman po kasi kami sa kanila (ibang tao) nakipagbreak, kaming dalawa lang kaya, why do we include other people?”

On May 18, the two exchanged their vows as husband and wife. When asked

why they chose to have an intimate wedding, the couple said that it’s not about the guests but about the two of them, with God as the centerpiece.

“Gusto namin ma-feel ‘yung presence ni Lord, ‘yung love. We’re not naman against big weddings, but I guess it’s just our personalities,” explained Nash.

Mika seconded, saying, “We wanted to be present; instead of being preoccupied with the guests, we wanted to be present with God. Kasi kaming tatlo po ‘yun nando’n sa wedding.”

The newlyweds shared that they are planning to live a life in Nueva Ecija, where they are currently building their house and their farm.

David Chua clarifies romance rumors with ‘Showtime’ host Jackie Gonzaga

ACTOR and director David Chua clarified the romantic rumors between him and “It’s Showtime” host Jackie Gonzaga.

Eagle-eyed social media users noticed that David and Jackie were having sweet exchanges on Instagram.

Jackie reposted David’s photo showing both of them sharing a sweet moment, which was taken during a break from their taping for their Net25 sitcom “Good Will.”

Despite being teased by their respective fans, David makes it clear that he and Jackie are not exactly dating at the moment.

“I think most people know that she’s recovering from a breakup – an eight-year relationship at that – and I just want to help her move on,” David said in a statement sent to Philstar.com.

“She’s easy to hang out with, walang arte sa katawan, and being the people person that she is, she’s always willing to meet new people and discover new things. With a mindset like that, I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before she fully recovers from her heartbreak.

“Basta, no matter what happens, I’m always there for Jackie Gurl. I’ll always be by her side.”

David and Jackie first met on the set of “Good Will,” when she joined the cast during the show’s fourth season during the last quarter of 2023.

Bibo siya, e. Kung kaya

makipag-sagutan sa isang

“Of course, she’s very stunning! And because she’s a dancer, she’s also very much into fitness, just like me,” he added.

Actor-director David Chua and ‘It’s Showtime’ host Jackie Gonzaga. Photo from Instagram/@daviduychua

(By Jan Milo Severo/Philstar. com)

Nash Aguas and Mika dela Cruz

Photos from Instagram/@mikadlacruz

Claudine Barretto Photo from Instagram/@claubarretto