PNEWS 1.25-1.31,2024

SENATE-HOUSE ROW DEEPENS OVER CHARTER CHANGE PLANS

Marcos now backs more amendments; 900 cities, towns join people’s initiative

By ALFRED GABOT ,

MANILA — As President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. now appears to have a change of heart by supporting more amendments to the Constitution, the two chambers of Congress – the Senate and the House of

UPSIDE

by Cherie M. Querol Moreno

Jo Koy has the last laugh

hood dream of hosting a major awards show when he took centerstage at the 81st Golden Globes Awards 10 days after he got the job. By now the world knows how that went: Koy got a beating in post-event reviews.

Hayley Alvarado still missing; father appeals to deceitful social media users

By Jun Nucum

FILIPINO AMERICANS’ beloved comic Jo Koy fulfilled his child-

But four-time Oscars host Whoopi Goldberg, one of the few A-Listers to have an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony in their collection of trophies, defended Koy on The View the following day.

Page 10

Representatives – are engaged in a deepening conflict over Charter Change (Cha-cha) plans after the Senate shot down the “people’s initiative” which is reported to be backed by the Lower House.

Many have taken to social media to help locating the missing teenage Filipina girl in Jersey City New Jersey and are in good faith are doing so to help especially her grieving family who have not been able to locate her for more than a month now.

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Possible presence of ICC probers rattles overseer of Duterte drug war

By Be�ng Laygo Dolor, Editor

MANILA – The possible arrival of International Criminal Court (ICC) investigators to the Philippines has so rattled the mastermind of the deadly drug war of former president Rodrigo Duterte that he even questioned the manhood of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa said the president should be man enough and admit if the report that

ICC probers arrived in Manila last month. He also asked Mr. Marcos in the vernacular, “Do you want me to go to jail?”

Addressing the president during a press briefing, Dela Rosa said: “Be man enough (and) just tell us the real score.”

He said it seemed that “now, the air has changed.”

But while many are bent in helping the Alvardo family in locating teenage Montclair University college student Hayley, some have taken advantage of the

disappearance of Hayley for selfish reasons and motives especially since the Alvardo family have not heard much from the police

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Fear remains a year after mass killings in cities with large AAPI communities

By Gilda P. Balan, Correspondent

SAN FRANCISCO -

One year ago this week, two deadly hate crimes took place in California. One happened in Monterey Park and the other in Half Moon Bay.

tion at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park. Two days later, another mass shooting happened at Half Moon Bay.

Page 18

A peeved Mr. Marcos said “for the hundredth time” that his ad-

The first mass killing took place on January 21, 2023 during a Lunar New Year celebra-

The first incident resulted in the death of 11 people and injury to nine others, while the second incident saw seven lives lost, with an

Page 18

Pastor Quiboloy in trouble, summoned by Senate P6

Editor in Chief

United Twenty-four senators hold signed manifestos against people’s ini�a�ve to amend the Cons�tu�on on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024

Jo Koy’s Globes gig introduced him to the world. Jo Koy/Instagram

Pia Cayetano named Senate’s first female Blue Ribbon chair

PASAY CITY – Senators unanimously agreed to designate Senator Juliana Pilar Pia Cayetano as the first female chairperson of the Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations, more popularly known as the Blue Ribbon Committee.

Cayetano replaced Senator Francis Tolentino who resigned from the post to “honor a prior agreement” that he would only serve as chair of the panel for one-and-a-half years.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri congratulated Cayetano whom he said is the first female Blue Ribbon chair in the Senate’s 107 years of existence.

“So, we’re very honored that Senator Pia Cayetano is the new chairperson,” Zubiri said.

Citing it as a “historic appointment,” Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda is confident that Cayetano will efficiently oversee the panel’s mandate with her “leadership and commitment to upholding the principles of transparency, accountability, and good governance.

“I look forward to witnessing her skilled leadership as she guides the Committee in fulfilling its responsibility to scrutinize matters of public interest, over-

see government actions, and ensure that government institutions efficiently and effectively implement laws,” Legarda said in a statement.

Even the Senate minority bloc also commended the appointment of Cayetano.

“The Minority applauds the decision of the Majority, Mr. President and we congratulate our first-ever female chairperson of our Senate Blue-Ribbon Committee,” Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said.

Cayetano, who is a lawyer, economist and also currently leads the Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, Innovation, and Futures Thinking, has been pushing for various measures in healthcare and education, and as a triathlete, for sports development.

Senate rejects people’s initiative

This surfaced after Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri read a manifesto signed by all 24 senators, expressing their disapproval of the people’s initiative (PI), which allegedly involves bribery and other illegal activities, as a way to pursue Charter change.

Zubiri said the PI only seeks for both houses of Congress to act as a Constituent assembly and vote jointly.

“While it seems simple, the goal is apparent -- to make it easier to revise the Constitution by eliminating the Senate from the equation. It is an obvious prelude to further amendments, revisions, or even an overhaul of our entire Constitution,” he said.

Zubiri said the joint voting will “destroy the delicate balance on which our hard-won democracy rests” and “will destabilize the principle of bicameralism and our system of checks and balances.”

“If this PI prospers, further changes to the Constitution can be done with or without the Senate’s approval, or worse, even absent all the senators.

PASAY CITY – The Philippine Senate is unanimous in rejecting the people’s initiative to amend the Constitution.

Jeepneys consolidation extended to April 30

MANILA – Good news to traditional drivers and operators.

This as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. extended the consolidation deadline for public utility vehicles for three months or until April 30 upon the recommendation of Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista.

The extension is to give an opportunity to those who expressed intention

to consolidate but did not make the previous cut-off . Many jeepney operators and drivers continue to oppose the consolidation as part of the modernization of jeepneys.

Last month, Marcos rejected calls to extend the Dec. 31 deadline for the consolidation of PUV operators and drivers.

The Land Transportation Franchis-

ing and Regulatory Board reported that 145,721 units 0r 76 percent of PUVs and utility vehicle (UV) express have consolidated.

PUVs that failed to consolidate under cooperatives on Dec. 31, 2023 and those plying routes with no cooperatives can operate until Jan. 31 only.

Unconsolidated jeepneys in routes with at least 60 percent of units that

consolidated would no longer be able to renew their provisional authorities to operate.

Under the government’s PUV Modernization Program, operators and drivers will be organized into cooperatives or corporations to ensure the effi ciency of its operations with an upgraded fl eet of low-carbon emission, safe and efficient PUV units.

PNP chief Acorda to cops: Hate crime, protect peace

CAMP CRAME, Quezon City – Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. called on police officers to abhor crimes and uphold their duty to protect the country’s peace and progress.

During the PNP’s pre-launch of the Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines) campaign at Camp Crame, Quezon City, Acorda also urged members of the force to ditch any divisiveness among the ranks.

“Let us work together towards a common goal. A vibrant, progressive and just Bagong Pilipinas for every Filipino people,” he said in his speech.

Acorda said the PNP’s launch of the Bagong Pilipinas kick-off rally symbolizes their commitment to accountable and dependable governance towards a transformed nation.

He said President Ferdinand R. Marcos

Jr. has set the stage for a profound transformation in all sectors of society and government, noting that the role of the PNP is paramount in safeguarding peace and order that form the foundation of this transformative journey.

“Together let us strive for a Bagong Pilipinas, one characterized by resilience, prosperity, a government that remains firm in its duty to the well-being of our Filipino people. As we approach the kick-off rally on Jan. 28 at the Quirino Grandstand, let us embrace the spirit of change and progress,” he added.

National Intelligence Coordinating Agency director general Ricardo de Leon, the event’s guest of honor, also pledged support for the PNP’s transformation for it to be aligned with the Marcos’ administration.

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P51-B alloted for Paolo Duterte’s district? COA probe sought

DAVAO CITY/MANILA— Did the first district of Davao City, which is represented by Paolo Duterte in the House of Representatives, receive ₱51 billion when the lawmaker’s father, Rodrigo Duterte, was president?

This is the allegation of Duterte critic former senator

Antonio Trillanes IV as he asked the Commission on Audit to look into the matter.

Earlier, House of Representatives appropriations committee chairman and Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co said he was verifying reports that the first district of Davao City received ₱13 billion in 2020, ₱35 billion in 2021, and another ₱13 billion during the final year of the Duterte administration.

“Kailangan itong i-special audit ng COA dahil anong klaseng proyekto ‘yan? 51 billion? Dapat nakapagpabahay na siya sa bawat mahihirap sa distrito niya sa ganoong halaga. Pero nasaan ‘yun? Wala naman tayong nabalitaan,” Trillanes told a press briefing.

The Dutertes have not made any comment on Trillanes allegation as of press time.

Trillanes said the COA should scrutinize the projects funded by the younger Duterte’s congressional allocation.

“That’s a scandalous amount and you can smell the corruption in those kinds of transactions,” Trillanes was quoted by media as saying.

Increased seismic activity observed in Bulusan anew

SORSOGON CITY – Bulusan Volcano is showing an increase in seismic activity anew, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

In an advisory issued at 1:30 a.m. Phivolcs said 91 volcano-tectonic earthquakes, associated with rock fracturing at 2 to 4 kilometers (kms) depth beneath the southwestern flanks, were recorded since 1:38 a.m. on Jan. 22.

The increased seismic activity and pressurization of the volcano edifice may indicate that hydrothermal processes may be occurring beneath the volcano and may lead to

steam-driven eruptions at any of the summit vents, Phivolcs said.

This is the second time this month that Phivolcs has observed increased seismicity in Bulusan. The first was on Jan. 11.

Bulusan had an average of 0 to 5 earthquakes a day before Jan. 11.

Meanwhile, degassing activity from the summit crater and active vents has been very weak to moderate when the volcano summit has been visible.

Three Kings Parish in Nueva Ecija declared as minor basilica

GAPAN CITY – The centuries-old National Shrine of La Virgen Divina Pastora, more popularly known as the Three Kings Parish in Gapan City, Nueva Ecija has been declared as a minor basilica.

Cabanatuan Bishop Sofronio Bancud reported that Pope Francis has bestowed the title of minor basilica to the parish, the first in the province.

“It is with great joy to announce to you that the National Shrine of La Virgen Divina Pastora in Gapan City, Nueva Ecija, has been honored by our Holy Father, Pope Francis, with the title of Minor Basilica, making this centuries-old church the first minor basilica in the province of Nueva Ecija,” a pastoral statement reveals.

The Catholic prelate announced that the solemn celebration of the granting of the title of Minor Basilica will be held on April 26.

The Mass during the event will be celebrated by the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Charles John Brown, with bishops, clergy, consecrated persons, pilgrims, with devotees of La Virgen Divina Pastora and the faithful of the Diocese of Cabanatuan expected to attend.

The title minor basilica is bestowed on churches that have been given a special designation by the Pope for reasons like architectural beauty, historical significance, liturgical renown, or for any combination of the said attributes.

Founded in 1589, the Three Kings Parish is acknowledged as the oldest and biggest Spanish colonial church in Nueva Ecija.

The earthquake baroque church has brick-and-adobe features, and a mural of the Holy Trinity on the ceiling above the altar, while its belfry houses four huge bells.

Paolo Duterte

No destabilization plot vs. PBBM admin – retired military generals

QUEZON CITY – Four major groups of retired military generals said there is no truth to allegations of a destabilization plot against the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.

Twenty-two retired generals also reaffirmed their support to the Marcos administration and the leadership of both Houses of Congress during their meeting with Speaker Martin Romualdez.

The meeting was facilitated by the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association, Inc. (PMAAAI); Association

of Generals and Flag Officers (AGFO); Philippine Military Academy Retirees Association, Inc. (PMARAI); and National ROTC Alumni Association, Inc. (NARAAI).

“We are all here today, united, to air our support to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his administration, and the leadership of the House of Representatives and the Senate,” said retired Admiral Danilo Abinoja, chairman and CEO of PMAAAI. “We continue to abide by and vow to defend the Constitution, and the

duly-constituted authorities. That is our oath, then and until now.”

Aside from the PMA, Abinoja noted that the Association of Service Academies of the Philippines will be issuing a manifesto of support to President Marcos and his administration.

For his part, Retired Maj. Gen. Marlou Salazar, vice president of NARRAI, said stability in government is the key to peace and progress.

“Ayaw naming magkagulo (We don’t want any trouble). A kingdom should not be divided if we want it to succeed,” Salazar said.

Retired Gen. Raul Gonzales, chairman of PMARAI, showed a resolution issued by PMA Class ‘75, of which he is the president, condemning “abhorring acts that undermine the economic, social, and political gains that the current administration has put up over the years.”

“In the light of the numerous misinformation and propaganda prevalent in social

media that tend to polarize certain groups in our communities, our class would like to manifest in compelling terms, that we stand in unanimity and conformity with the duly constituted authorities, and to obey the laws, legal orders, and decrees promulgated by them,” the resolution read.

Senate panel summons Pastor Quiboloy to its hearing

PASAY CITY – The Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality has issued a subpoena for Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy to appear before it in connection with its investigation into the leader’s organization.

Quiboloy, who was absent during the panel’s inquiry on his alleged abuses of women and children, immediately said he will never attend the Senate hearing.

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros called on Quiboloy to appear at the next hearing saying he is not “a son of God” who is exempted from the laws of the State.

“Kahit ang Korte Suprema ay walang kapangyarihang pigilan ang ganitong in-

quiries ng Senado, at ang pag-require sa mga taong humarap dito (Even the Supreme Court has no power to stop Senate inquiries, and require individuals to appear),” Hontiveros said before ending the first hearing.

She noted that Quiboloy can invoke the right against self-incrimination “only when and as the [possibly] incriminating question is propounded” like any ordinary witness.

Hontiveros also said that being absent from the hearing is a lack of respect for the Senate as an institution.

“Hindi po ito religious persecution. Ito ay pagsisiyasat sa paggamit sa paniniwala, pananalig o pananampalataya ng iba, para gumawa ng mga kasuklam-suklam na abuso at pinsala sa mga taong binaluktot ang paniniwala, tinanggalan ng lakas, at pinagsamantalahan (This is not a religious persecution. This is an inquiry in using belief or faith of others to commit abuses and damages to people who were fooled, weakened, and abused),” she said.

“Pero sa ngayon, para kay alias Amanda, para kay alias Jerome, para kay Ms. Arlene, maraming salamat. Daghang salamat. To Mr. Wood, thank you very much, sir. And to our Ukrainian friends, our fellow women, ‘Dyakuyu’ (Thank you),” she added.

The lawmaker said the committee sent two invitations to Quiboloy but received no answer.

Instead, Hontiveros revealed that the pastor sent a letter to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri which details were not provided.

REAFFIRMATION OF SUPPORT. Re�red Gen. Raul Gonzales (2nd from le�), chairman of the Philippine Military Academy Re�rees Associa�on Inc. (PMARAI), reads their group statement reaffirming support for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and his administra�on

The Jewish experience in the Philippines

MANILA – On November 29, 1947, Jews worldwide were listening to their radios as the United Nations member states voted on whether or not to accept a proposed Hebrew state as full-pledged member.

A two-thirds majority was needed, which would result in the splitting of Palestine into two separate states. Jews waited with bated breath as the vote took place that fateful Saturday.

It was, as one non-Jewish student of history said, “the greatest event in 2,000 years,” and something of “great significance for the whole of mankind.”

A state which last existed in biblical times was at the cusp of rejoining the modern world. But only if their representatives in the still-young UN could win the minimum number of votes.

Some member nations voted to accept the Jewish state, others did not. Jews were waiting for the minimum number of votes to be cast that would pave the way to their return to their homeland, very literally after two thousand years.

That “magic” number when it became official that Israel would indeed become a UN member state was cast by the Philippines. Other nations would also welcome Israel to the UN, but Jews everywhere erupted with joy at the announcement of the Philippine vote.

The final tally was 33 in favor, 13 against, with 10 abstentions. That same day, their eventual first leader – David Ben Gurion – announced that the “Hebrew state” was now a reality. Oddly enough, the name of “Israel” for that Jewish state had not yet been finalized. But this historical footnote did little to lessen the celebrations of that fateful day.

It would not be the first time that the Jews of the world felt a kinship with the Philippines.

Escaping Nazi Germany

Some years before, around 1,300 Jews who were escaping persecution by Nazi Germany but with no place to go found themselves welcomed with open arms by Philippine President Manuel Quezon.

Small numbers of Jews had been making their way to Manila in the months leading to that exodus.

It was not too difficult an option for them as Nazi Germany had cancelled the passports of all German and Polish Jews, effectively turning them into stateless refugees.

Back then, the Philippines was not even an independent country, but was rather a Commonwealth nation with the US. As such, it was one of the few places where entry visas could be granted.

Essentially, three leaders would serve as their heroes and saviors. Besides Quezon, there was Paul McNutt who served as US High Commissioner in the Philippines. Then there was future US president US Army Colonel Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The three men had formed a tight-knit friendship going beyond their official duties. They frequently socialized and even played poker together. In those evening sessions, they would be joined by the Frieder brothers.

The Jewish siblings had put up a successful cigar import business based in New York City. They had chosen Philippine-made cigars as their product of choice, so had set up a manufacturing company based in Manila.

One of the conditions that the Commonwealth government had set was that the Jews who would enter the Philippines would have to fend for themselves and/or would have skills that would be useful for the economy.

Thus, while a good number of them would be doctors, dentists, engineers, and other professionals, there would also be some who were listed as agriculture “experts” who would then find employment in the tobacco company of the Frieders.

The Filipino Schindler

In many ways, Quezon is viewed by the Jews as a Filipino version of Oscar Schindler, the German businessman who managed to save hundreds of Jews from the Nazi death camps on the pretext that their services were necessary to the German war

effort. Most actually worked in Schindler’s manufacturing plant creating kitchenware.

In the case of Quezon, the initial 1,300 Jews he agreed to grant visas to with the approval of McNutt should have been just the beginning. The Philippine president had envisioned bringing in as many as 30,000 Jews to settle in Mindanao.

He even considered an improbable dream of accepting as many as 100,000 Jews, based on some reports.

But the US State Department frowned on the idea, only agreeing to a maximum of 2,000 Jews in that first wave.

World War ll, however, interrupted with Quezon’s plan. The Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec 7, 1941, and then bombed the US bases in the Philippines shortly thereafter.

Not only was the plan to bring in more Jews to the Philippines put on hold, Quezon was also forced to flee the country. He would eventually die in exile in Washington DC on Aug. 1, 1944.

But the Jewish people would always remember the fiery Philippine president, who had fought against the Spaniards in the Philippine War for Independence of the late 1890s.

There is a memorial for Quezon known as the Open Doors Monument in Rishon Lezion, a city south of Tel Aviv. The monument honors the 2nd Philippine president’s compassionate act of saving some 1,300 Jews fleeing the Holocaust.

Quezon not only welcomed the 1,300 Jews under his authority as president, but as private Filipino citizen he also donated 7.3 hectares of land from his own country estate in Marikina that provided shelter for some of the refugees.

When he donated the property, Quezon said: “It is my hope and indeed my expectation, that the people of the Philippines will have in the future every reason to be glad that when the time of need came, their country was willing to extend a hand of welcome.”

The first Jews in the Philippine islands

Going back further in the past, the first Jews had managed to find their way to the Philippines, albeit in small numbers, sometime in 1870 with the Levy brothers becoming permanent residents of the Spanish territory.

Even before that, however, an unknown number of Jews are said to have made their way to the Philippine islands, but were described as “marranos” or New Christians. The term is also used to describe Muslims who were converts to Christianity, either by force or by circumstance.

During the Spanish occupation of the Philippines, Christianity – specifically Roman Catholicism – was the de facto official religion. Thus, Jews and Muslims either converted or pretended to convert to Christianity in order to live and do business with the Spanish authorities, especially in the area in and around the Walled City of Intramuros, that served as the seat of political and military power of the Spanish occupiers.

However, Jews from the Iberian peninsula in Spain are said to have settled in the Northern Samar area in the first and second century of the Spanish occupation. Known as Crypto Jews, they observed their Jewish rites in secret.

Today, only a handful of the Jews whom Quezon saved are still around. They did, however, leave behind descendants, some of whom still live in the Philippines. There is also a small, but vibrant, community of Jews as well as converts to Judaism that live and the work in the country.

As for the Philippines and Israel, diplomatic relations between the two states are as strong as ever, and tens of thousands of Filipinos have found their way to Israel to work, many in the caregiving industry.

Filipinos have also intermarried with Israelis, creating a new generation of Filipino Jews.

NEXT: Tales of the ‘Manilaners’ and the generation that came after

Senate, House....

(From page 1)

The Senate wants only to amend the economic provisions of the fundamental law to encourage foreign investments while the House wants to take up also political amendments.

This as Marcos critic, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, alleged the “ aggressive push to amend the 1987 Constitution likely has the backing of President Marcos Jr.

Marcos, meanwhile, expressed openness to possible amendments to the political provisions of the 1987 Constitution, particularly on term limits, hinting a change of hear on the issue.

“Let’s be practical. In terms of the term limits, look at what happened. When I was mayor for nine years, hindi na ko makatakbo, so patakbuhin ko ‘yung asawa ko, patakbuhin ko ‘yung anak ko, ako ‘yung magiging vice mayor (I can no longer run, so I will ask my wife or my son to run and I will run for vice mayor),” he said in a taped interview aired over GMA News’ 24 Oras.

“So, wala ring nagbago (nothing has changed). They are still running the show. We have a term in Ilocos. We call them mayor vice. Because they are the vice mayor but they are running the administration of the town. We have to think about that,” Marcos added.

This developed as a group composed of supporters of President Marcos. and former President Rodrigo Duterte declared openly their opposition to the people’s initiative campaign to amend the 1987 Constitution, noting that the country needs a total revision of the Charter.

In another development, some 900 municipalities and cities have submitted signature pages for a people’s initiative, Commission on Elections Chairman George Garcia said, adding Comelec officers have been receiving the signature pages as part of its ministerial duty, saying the poll body has yet to receive a formal petition for people’s initiative.

“Para ka lang tumanggap ng sulat, “ he said, noting Comelec has not even started verification of the signatures. “Wala pa pong bisa, technically hindi pa magagamit sa amin para sa isang pormal na petisyon,” he added.

Another group seeking to amend the 1987 Constitution via people’s initiative, meanwhile said it wants to see senators and congressmen “voting jointly” on charter change proposals, instead of separately as two houses of Congress, a move deepening further the divide between the two chambers of Congress.

Even as the 24 Senators unanimously adopted a resolution declaring opposition to the people’s initiative, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said that the House of Representatives is ready to work in unity with the Senate on amending the economic provisions of the Constitution, as proposed under Resolution of Both Houses (RHB) No. 6.

“I’m ready to work with them (senators) hand in hand. We are ready to embrace the RHB, and I’m already telling everyone here that this is a welcome development if the House and the Senate can work together in unity,” Romualdez said in a press briefing.

“Because that has always been the

message of the President (Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.), to work together for the betterment of the country and the people,” he added.

Romualdez made the statements in response to questions on the manifesto issued by the Senate rejecting the People’s Initiative as a “brazen attempt” to violate the Constitution.

He said he respects the Senators’ right to express their opinions, the same way he respects the “right of and prerogative” of the people to propose constitutional amendments through a people’s initiative.

“That is also the right of the Senate, I respect always the opinion of others. I may not necessarily agree, but I respect the right,” Romualdez said, referring to the wordings of the manifesto.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said all 24 senators have signed a manifesto expressing their disapproval of the people’s initiative (PI), which allegedly involves bribery and other illegal activities, as a way to pursue Charter change.

Zubiri said the PI only seeks for both houses of Congress to act as a Constituent assembly and vote jointly.

“While it seems simple, the goal is apparent -- to make it easier to revise the Constitution by eliminating the Senate from the equation. It is an obvious prelude to further amendments, revisions, or even an overhaul of our entire Constitution,” he said.

“But in present day, we can have these discussions later on. But for the present day, my concern are the economic provisions, and I don’t want to confuse the issue any longer,” he said. “I do not want to jeopardize the success of the amendments to the economic provisions by putting any other issues. Let’s keep the issue clear.”

In December last year, Marcos said the government is looking into the possibility of introducing economic reforms to attract more foreign investments.

Marcos reiterated the need for economic reforms to entice more foreign investors to explore or expand their business in the Philippines.

“The 1987 Constitution was not written for a globalized world. And that’s the way that is where we are now. We have to adjust so that we can increase the economic activities in the Philippines. We can attract more foreign investors,” he said.

However, Marcos said he is not in favor of foreign ownership of lands.

Zubiri said the joint voting will “destroy the delicate balance on which our hard-won democracy rests” and “will destabilize the principle of bicameralism and our system of checks and balances.”

“If this PI prospers, further changes to the Constitution can be done with or without the Senate’s approval, or worse, even absent all the senators. Should Congress vote jointly in a Constituent assembly, the Senate and its 24 members cannot cast any meaningful vote against the 316 members of the House of Representatives. This singular and seemingly innocuous change in the Constitution will open the floodgates to a wave of amendments and revisions that will erode the nation as we know it,” Zubiri said.

The Senate President also cited “most radical proposals like foreign ownership and the removal of term limits, or even a “no election scenario” in 2025 or in 2028

FIRST

which cannot be prevented by senators if the PI will succeed.

Zubiri also cited the proposal to be “ridiculous” considering that the Senate, a co-equal chamber of the House of Representatives, which have been both working together to pass local bills, “will have a dispensable and diluted role in Charter Change -- the most monumental act of policymaking concerning the highest law in the land.”

In case the people’s initiative campaign gains headway, the Comelec said its petition needs to signed by at least 12 percent of the total number of registered voters. Each legislative district must also be represented by at least 3 percent of registered voters.

Changes to the 1987 Constitution will need to be ratified in a national plebiscite.

In a forum in Caloocan City, lawyer Orly De Guzman of Partido Pederal ng Maharlika (PPM) said they are pushing for Charter change (Cha-cha) through

Constitutional convention (Con-con) as a “more feasible approach.”

“We will agree that a Charter change, Constitutional change is imperative at this moment so that we can effect the changes that we want in our country and the mode would be a Constitutional convention where delegates shall be elected in an election that will coincide or will be scheduled at the same time with local and national elections in 2025,” De Guzman said.

PPM consists of founders of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas and Mayor Rodrigo Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Committee (MRRD-NECC).

“We are here to help the Marcos and Duterte administration succeed,” De Guzman said.

The group said they want a total overhaul of the Constitution, contrary to the current push of only amending the economic provisions that allegedly would only benefit the politicians and businessmen.

Sandigan clears ex-Makati mayor Elenita Binay of graft

MAKATI

CITY

– The Sandiganbayan has cleared former Makati City Mayor Elenita Binay of graft and malversation charges arising from the procurement of P9.9 million worth of hospital equipment for the Ospital ng Makati (Osmak) in 2001.

In its decision, the anti-graft court also cleared former city treasurer Luz R. Yamane-Garcia, General Service Department head Ernesto A. Aspillaga, Osmak department head Mabel B. Asunio and property inspector Lilia A. Nonate of the charges.

The court said the prosecution failed “to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.”

The court said the prosecution’s allegation that documents were falsified in view of the supposed insertion of the words or

phrase “cryosurgical unit and” was “based entirely on conjecture and speculation which cannot serve as a basis for conviction.”

“(T)here is simply no evidence to show that the insertion was made by any of the accused and at exactly what point in the procurement or disbursement process was such alleged insertion made,” the tribunal said.

“(T)hey were not expected to countercheck the report of inspection and personally inspect each and every item procured by and delivered to the City of Makati, including the subject medical equipment, if only to ensure that they were not approving a fraudulent transaction,” it added.

PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the country’s commemora�on of the 125th anniversary of the First Philippine Republic, commi�ng to con�nue honor the legacy of forefathers of the Malolos Republic. Speaking at the historic Barasoain Church in Malolos City, Bulacan, President Marcos recalled how the structure has been part of the Philippines’ push for democracy.

MARILYN B. KING Senior Account Executive

FRANCIS ESPIRITU Publisher/President

NEIL GONZALES

VAL G. ABELGAS, HOMOBONO A. ADAZA, PERRY DIAZ, JOJO LIANGCO, JO ERLINDA G. NEBRES, ROY C. MABASA, ART G. MADLAING, FR. JOEPEL PADIT, RODEL E. RODIS, LOURDES TANCINCO ESQ, MELANDREW T. VELASCO, DANTES & CYNTHIA VELUZ, CRISTINA OSMENA, LUDY ONGKEKO. COLUMNISTS

Is there a real need to amend the Philippine Constitution?

The growing movement to revise the Constitution of our motherland, the Republic of the Philippines, is getting curiouser and curiouser.

The so-called People’s Initiative as a means for charter change appears to be gaining traction with reports that hundreds of electoral districts have been aggressively collecting signatures in support of the movement.

There are, however, many things wrong with the initiative.

For one, there has been much talk that money is changing hands, with qualified voters being handed incentives – bribes would be a better word, to be sure – to sign up.

By now, the amount involved should already be in the millions of pesos. Where the money is coming from, no one knows for sure. What has been proven by local media is that an unknown number of Filipinos have been made to sign under various pretexts.

Some have publicly stated that they were either paid or were promised “ayuda” (financial assistance) for simply affixing their signature on a piece of paper. Still others have said that they signed without being told what they were signing up for. For the poorest of the poor, getting a little extra cash was worth the insignificant effort of joining the supposed initiative.

Senator Imee Marcos has publicly stated that she is against the move, and speaking in behalf of her brother, the president, she added that Bongbong Marcos too did not care for the move.

President Marcos has even said that he finds the initiative as divisive, and he is absolutely correct.

Initially, it was believed that their cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez, was the moving spirit behind the odd move. But he, too, has denied having anything to do with it.

Who then is really behind the PI? We find it hard to believe that the Initiative was launched by a small group of municipal mayors from the Bicol region, far from the political capital that it Metro Manila.

They supposedly formed an organization called PIRMA, which is Tagalog for sign or signature. As for the funding, unknown “businessmen” were supposed to have provided the funds for the endeavor.

Where this initiative is concerned, something smells awful fishy from where we sit.

What’s true is that Speaker Romualdez has stated that he favors charter change, while President Marcos has asked the Senate to review the suggested changes, primary of which is to amend foreign ownership of property and businesses in the Philippines.

The jury is still out on this one, although for many years there have been calls for such amendments as necessary to bring in more foreign investors. Thus, a serious review and even public debates does make sense.

Meanwhile, it is also clear that a People’s Initiative is possibly the worst way of amending the charter. The more acceptable ways are either through a constitutional convention with delegates elected at large, or to have the two houses of the bicameral Congress act as a constituent assembly.

Before a con-con or a con-ass takes place, however, the question has to be asked: Is there really a need at this time to amend any portion of what is admittedly a less-thanperfect Constitution?

For now, all we can say is, let the debates begin.

(From page 1)

“These hosting gigs are brutal, just brutal,” she enunciated her sympathy for her colleague.

“If you don’t know the room, if you’ve not been in these rooms before and you’re sort of thrust out there, it’s hit or miss,” she said in the Hot Topics segment of the popular ABC daytime talk show.

“Now I love Jo Koy. He – to me – makes me just crazy because he’s funny. I don’t know whether it was the room. I don’t know whether it was the jokes, I didn’t get to see it,” she admitted. “But I do know that he is as good as it gets when it comes to standups. That is not an easy game.”

Goldberg concluded her point by paying Koy an emphatic compliment, calling him “one of the best standups on the planet.”

The View co-host Sunny Hostin, a former federal prosecutor, said she didn’t understand the backlash to Koy’s quip about the NFL getting more cutaways to Taylor Swift than a Globes. “Was it really that bad,” she asked with a smile.

Hostin was not alone in bewilderment by the uproar over what was perceived as disrespectful of the superstar singer-songwriter, who was nominated for her “Eras Tour” concern film but lost to Billie Eilish for cinematic and box office achievement.

Megyn Kelly chided Swift for making the “wrong move” with what seemed like her displeasure with the jab.

“Can’t she just like show that she’s a good sport?” Kelly referred to Koy’s “gentle swipe” on her SiriusXM show.

“It is annoying, and if she were smart, she would laugh like she was in on the joke.”

MISSED OPPORTUNITY

The comic who brandishes his Filipino heritage in every blockbuster gig captured on Netflix finally arrived on his brightest stage yet at the first industry awards night since the monthslong writers and actors strike ended. Hosts are known to take several months to sharpen their monologues, but Koy had only10 days after getting the offer. A number of colleagues apparently avoided the gig for the organization formerly known as Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s controversy-scarred past, such as the dearth of diversity among its officers and awards nominees.

Koy could have begged off but took the chance to put his culture in the spotlight. He indulged that Filipino sense of adventure, displaying enough confidence to stand within spitting distance of his “idol” Robert De Niro, his mother’s favorite Meryl Streep and past Globes co-host Kristen Wiig.

Perhaps he was counting on the novelty of being the first Filipino (half, actually, but who’s computing?) - one who proudly flies his biracial-but-more-culturally Filipino flag wherever he goes - to warm up the crowd with his brand of jokery honed from three decades of standup before predominantly fans of color therefore privy to his selfdeprecatory observational punchlines.

He started off with the usual shoutout to the stars present, obviously playing to Hollywood royalty. Why he didn’t step out of the box and instead enumerate newly minted celebrities like Michelle Yeoh, Ali Wong, Steven Yeun and Simu Liu besides Oprah puzzled because that could have underscored that America is more than Black and white. Didn’t he get the gig to represent the invisible and thus correct the absence of diversity on the show?

He could have noted that Filipinos have been part of the landscape long before the Mayflower docked, if he himself knew about the Manila Men in what is now Louisiana. Or pointed out that Hailee Steinfeld, a presenter, is, like (Continued on page 20)

Thinking of Boots

Last month, the Aliw Awards Foundation honored Boots Anson Rodrigo with its Legacy Award at its 36th Awards Night held at the Centennial Hall of the prestigious Manila Hotel.

I never wondered until now why she was called Boots. If I recall correctly, she was Elisa Anson when she was my student at the Assumption on Herran.

Boots was tall for her age, which was why she was given the role of St. Joseph in a Christmas presentation in my class.

It was not surprising that years later, she joined the movie industry. She was, after all, the daughter of matinee idol Oscar Moreno.

I learned that after high school, Boots went to the University of the Philippines for her college studies.

Boots went on to have a successful movie career, and it was during that period in her life that we reconnected.

I used to invite Boots to host the Friday Celebrity Nights at the National Press Club, where she never failed to mention that I was once her teacher.

She was also a judge of the Aliw Awards several times. Boots never declined any invitation of mine.

Last month, she greeted me with the words: “ Hello, Teacher!” and I am sure if the Legacy awardees had been given a chance to talk, she would have mentioned the fact again.

Boots was cited for her body of work in the movie and live entertainment fields and for her support of the members of the movie industry through the Mowelfund which she heads.

Now, as I think of the tall and lovely, intelligent girl that Boots Anson was when she was my student, I am truly proud of what she has made of her life.

CHERIE M. QUEROL MORENO

Advantages and benefits of Mobile Signing Services

When we still have our office at the Philippine Center near the Philippine Consulate Office in San Francisco, California, Renato Marcos visited me at home on Sunday evening last July 8, 2018 and asked for help for the preparation and notarization of Parental Travel Permit (PTP) for his minor daughter who was to travel with her mother for vacation to the Philippines.

I assisted and helped Renato Marcos fill out the blank PTP and notarized it. After notarization, he requested me to follow up with the Philippine Consulate Office the authentication of the notarized PTP because he can’t take off from work.

The following day, I went to the Philippine Consulate Office in San Francisco, California for the PTP authentication. I registered at the lobby of the Philippine Consulate and passed through the security screening. After getting ticket at the automatic dispenser in the lobby, I went to the Front Desk (2nd floor) for review of the notarized PTP. After the PTP review, I took the elevator to pay the $25 (cash) authentication fee at the cashier (6th floor). While inside the elevator, a middle-aged Filipina saw me and started asking.

“Lawyer po ba kayo? Gusto ko sana magpagawa ng SPA (Special Power of Attorney).” (Are you a lawyer? I want an SPA be prepared for me.)

“Puntahan ninyo si Tessie Sapinoso sa 4th floor at magpatulong.” (Go and see Tessie Sapinoso in the 4th floor for help) I answered. A gentleman staff with the Philippine Consulate overheard our conversation and said: “Nasa bakasyon si Tessie at sarado rin yong Office ng Notary Pubic sa 7th floor.” ( Tessie is on vacation and the office of the Notary Public in the 7th floor is closed).

“Ipagawa ko pa ang SPA bukas at babalik ako dito sa Philippine Consulate sa Huwebes.” (I’ll have the SPA be prepared tomorrow and I’ll come back to the Philippine Consulate on Thursday), the Filipina said. This was the situation before May 14, 2019 when the Philippine Consulate Office still authenticate notarized documents by accredited Notary Public. After May 14, 2019, all notarized documents by accredited and commissioned Notary Public which are needed in the Philippines and the other member nations of the Hague Apostille Convention must now be apostilled by the Secretary of State, Notary Public Section in Sacramento or Los Angeles.

Then, in December of last year, while submitting notarized documents for apostille at the Front Desk of the Secretary of State, Notary Public Section in Sacramento, I observed that a Filipino couple ahead of me were also submitting documents for apostille with another staff at the Front Desk. Unfortunately, the notarized documents submitted by the Filipino couple from San Jose, California were not processed for apostille.

“There are missing signatures and enclosures overlooked by your Notary Public. You have to go back to your Notary Public and then come back so that we can complete the apostille processing of your documents,” the staff from the Front Desk advised the Filipino couple. The Notary Public selected by the Filipino couple could possibly be new, inexperienced and incompetent.

As founder of Mobile Signing Services (MSS) and accredited and commissioned Notary Public in California since 1981, I pity the middle-aged Filipina and the Filipino couple from San Jose, California for the bad experience and inconvenience they encountered. They paid additional expenses and have to take off from work for another day. Here are some advantages and benefits with MSS:

1. AVOID TAKE OFF FROM WORK -- You don’t need to take off from work and drive to Sacramento, California just to submit notarized documents for apostille to the Secretary of State, Notary Public Section. MSS will take care everything for you.

2. DISCOUNTS FOR THE ELDERLY AND VETERANS --- We offer special discounts for the elderly and veterans.

3. VERY FLEXIBLE APPOINTMENTS --- We offer very flexible appointments for old and new clients during regular office hours, after office hours and during weekends except on Sundays.

4. FREE PARKING --- When we had our office at the Philippine Center near the Philippine Consulate Office, our old clients were complaining for the expensive parking fees. With our home office in San Francisco, old and new clients can have FREE parking in our driveway and the available street parking nearby.

5. FLEXIBLE LOCATION OF APPOINTMENTS --- For those who can’t come to our home office in San Francisco, we can do signing and notarization of documents in the privacy of homes, offices, hospitals, schools, restaurants, BART lobby, Post Office Station lobby and other locations.

6. SAVINGS ON GAS AND MILEAGE FEES --- We encourage old and new clients to come to our home office in San Francisco for savings on gas and mileage fees ($60 to $130).

7. DISCOUNTS ON MULTIPLE DOCUMENTS AND MULTIPLE SIGNATURES --- We offer 5% to 10% discounts for old and new clients on multiple documents and multiple signatures.

8. DISCOUNTS ON DOCUMENTS DRAFTING AND PREPARATION --- With the help of our paralegal and lawyerfriends, we offer special discounts for old and new clients in the drafting, preparation and copying of documents.

9. CONVENIENCE

RSA’s art of service to nation-building

When Million Trees Foundation, Inc (MTFI) was incorporated in 2021, we envisioned it to be more than an entity that will ensure the sustainability of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Annual Million Trees Challenge started by then MWSS Chairman/Administrator Gen. Reynaldo V. Velasco. Together with the incorporators, we intended the foundation to be a partner of government in pursuing sustainable economic development.

Now going into its third year, MTFI is on track to meet the objectives its founders have set for the organization.

It has strengthened partnerships with other organizations that share its advocacy of protecting the environment and with organizations who are stakeholders in better-managed watersheds. These partnerships were forged with institutional partners Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), San Miguel Corporation (SMC), Maynilad, Manila Water, Manila Water Foundation, Sta. Clara International, Nestle and Grundfos Foundation. Over the years, stakeholder partners have also increased. One of MTFI’s stakeholder partners is Luzon Clean Water Development Corporation (LCWDC), more popular as Bulacan Bulk Water is a subsidiary of SMC.MTFI is grateful for these partnerships and for their unwavering support.

As we begin another year, MTFI extends to SMC President and CEO Ramon S. Ang (RSA) good wishes as he celebrated another milestone in his life last January 14. As one of the institutional partners of MTFI, SMC has contributed to the development and construction several facilities like the MTFI Executive Lounge and the Million Trees SMC Multi-Purpose and Eco-Learning Hub called Eddie’s Barn as tribute to the late President Fidel V. Ramos.

Under the leadership of RSA, SMC has endowed MTFI with an annual P5-million financial support to carry out its activities since 2021. This is a big boost to the Million Trees Foundation with its projects in full-swing, both infrastructure and activity-based especially with the additional grant of 20 more hectares by DENR and MWSS to MFTI’s use. These projects include construction of a nature walk trail, educational walk trail and amenities, restrooms, seed re bagging and tree-planting activities.

The Million Trees Foundation is grateful for this endowment as it is a testament of closer collaboration among entities for the benefit of the country.

MTFI also recognizes the steps SMC has undertaken to help protect the environment—from tree planting activities, reforestation, coastal clean-up and river rehabilitation conducted by SMC and its subsidiaries nationwide to the reduction of emissions, water use and waste in its business operations.

“I will do more to help our people,” RSA vowed as he celebrated his birthday. Known as a nation-builder, the projects of SMC are aimed at revitalizing the economy and address the myriad problems that plaque the country—hunger, poverty, lack of access to education, unemployment, and lack of infrastructure that hinder faster economic growth.

Moreover, these are intended to give back to the Filipinos who have contributed to the growth and success of SMC from a purely food and beverage company to become one of the leading diversified conglomerates in the country.

SMC Foundation, the socio-civic arm of SMC, is responsible for corporate social responsibility projects. Apart from this, RSA has his RSA Foundation that has provided scholarship grants and medical assistance to many.

I was National Chairman of the TOFIL (Ten Outstanding Filipinos) 2019 Awards Committee when the Board of Judges chaired by then Supreme Court Administrator, now Supreme Court Justice Jose Midas Marquez chose RSA as one of the awardees. His contributions to nation-building in the field of business and entrepreneurship were recognized.

Last year, his generosity to the marginalized and love for humanity were recognized when he was named in Forbes Asia’s 2023 list of “Heroes of Philanthropy.” He was the only Filipino in the list comprised of 15 philanthropists from the Asia-Pacific region.

Filipinos named in Forbes Asia’s Annual Heroes of Philanthropy previously were SMIC ViceChair Teresita Sy-Coson, Vista Mall and Vista Land Chair Manuel Villar, Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc founder Rina Lopez Bautista, Fila Isport Life chair Jose Mari “Butch” Albert, Santa Elena Construction & Development Corp. president Alice Galang Eduardo and Susana Abad Santos Madrigal, president of Consuelo Chito Madrigal Group of Companies, among others.

The philanthropy of RSA was very much visible during the height of the pandemic. SMC’s response to the challenge involved the mobilization of Php13 billion, donation of food packs, disinfectant alcohol, medical equipment and supplies, and waived tool fees for health frontliners.

GOP Presidential Nomination: Youth vs Age

With the unexpected move of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis dropping from the GOP presidential race, the nomination is now down to two – former president Donald Trump vs former South Carolina Governor and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley.

The issues of immigration, economy, peace and order, Roe vs Wade, etc. were temporarily overtaken by the issues of mental health, performance, “generational change” and age which were seldom raised when there were 14 of them running for the presidency.

Now, Nikki Haley is hammering her attacks on Donald Trump on these issues as she tries to court the state’s independent voters and that of DeSantis’ supporters as she kept on mentioning “generational change” in her campaign. Unlike before, she is now open and more aggressive in her attacks. Well, that should be the case because it’s now a one-on-one confrontation with her former boss. Maybe, that’s the only way for her to outsmart Trump.

Haley is solidifying her candidacy as a “better choice” for a nation gearing towards a possible rematch between Trump, 77 and Joe Biden, 81 suggesting that this time, this generation, is the time for young people to run the government.

Haley, who turns 52 on Saturday, asked during a CNN town hall in Henniker, New Hampshire: “Do we really want to have two 80-year-olds running for president, when we’ve got a country in disarray and a world on fire?” (Guardian)

While indirectly doing it, she is now openly seeking confrontation with her former boss (she was Trump’s Ambassador to the UN), after months of indirect calls for “generational change” and competency tests for older politicians.

Rallying support in her home state, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley labeled herself as a new Republican leader who can bring strong foreign policy experience on the table and more stability in the system than former President Donald Trump, who remains the frontrunner of the 2024 GOP presidential field. (Abraham Kenmore, Arkansas Advocate)

As a former Ambassador to the UN, she is boosting on her experience and programs in foreign relations that will propel her to the White House.

Haley, who worked for the 77-year-old former president as his first United Nations ambassador. said: “I believe President Trump was the right president at the right time… I was proud to serve America in his administration, and I agree with a lot of his policies,” she said to a crowd that packed a gym at the University of South Carolina Beaufort. “But the truth is that, rightly or wrongly, chaos follows him.” (Abraham Kenmore, Arkansas Advocate)

Nikki Haley, former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador, represents the Republican Party’s best hope to vanquish Donald Trump. While many foes and pundits have piled on Haley for her recent Civil War Slavery “gaffe”, the reality is in the Republican primary, voters are unlikely to punish her considering the overall party’s recent crusades against subjects like “critical race theory.” (Kurt Barddella, Los Angeles Times)

In my previous column, I wrote that there is a chance to dislodge Trump as the GOP nominee if all the other presidential candidates can coalesce and support one candidate, either Haley or DeSantis (at that time). Now that DeSantis is out, maybe, if they can support her, then Trump won’t be the GOP nominee.

However, the situation has changed. When DeSantis withdrew, he endorsed Trump. Prior to this, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, a former presidential candidate too, endorsed Trump and South Carolina senator Tim Scott, who dropped out from the race ahead of DeSantis, endorsed Trump. Will these endorsements change the political landscape and spoil the chance of Haley to be the nominee?

Well, the way it’s going on in New Hampshire, Haley is leading Trump by 20 to 30 percent and in South Carolina too. So, there seem to be no effect as far as the endorsements are concerned.

Political analysts say the reason the three former presidential candidates endorsed Trump was that they want to be Trump’s vice president as they believe Trump will be the GOP standard bearer.

What if Haley losses to Trump, will she accept a vice presidency offer from him? As a politician, maybe yes… just like what Rubio, DeSantis and Scott did! But, as a principled professional, maybe not!

The fight is still a long way to go! Come November, many things will still happen… like Trump being convicted of the so many legal cases brought against him, both criminal and civil. Even just one conviction will mean a huge disaster in the chances of Trump to win the presidency. The voters, for sure, don’t want a convicted person as their president.

Trump kept on saying he is innocent and he did nothing wrong, but if he is convicted, this will defeat his arguments and will serve as a big blow to his campaign. If that happens, what will be his next campaign strategy?

(Continue on page 20)

It was also during the pandemic when SMC initiated the Backyard Bukid urban farming project where employees grow their own vegetables to put on their table or

Of course, he can and will always appeal the decision to the highest court, but the damage has been done! People/voters will look at him as a convict and nothing more.

(Continue on page 20)

Will age matter during the 2024

(Continue on page 20)

“ ELPIDIO R. ESTIOKO

MELANDREW T. VELASCO

SKY RIVER CASINO ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH SFMTA IN STATION DOMINATION AT CHINATOWN-ROSE PAK STATION

Roaring into The New Year of The Majestic Dragon

Sky River Casino is proud to partner with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) for an exclusive station domination for The Central Subway Chinatown-Rose Pak Station starting this month.

The domination features a larger-than-life video wall that towers over commuters, a large wallscape banner, floor graphics, and digital platforms across all three metro stations. The various creatives will continue to immerse commuters traveling to and from these stations with Sky River Casino’s offerings and messaging in the coming months. As the Lunar New Year approaches, the visual features a roaring golden dragon - a symbol of power, wisdom, success and prosperity, against earth tone backgrounds that convey Sky River Casino’s wish for peace and harmony in 2024. The Chinatown-Rose Pak Station features a giant floor graphic of the Golden Dragon, which is divided into five parts located on the entrance and train levels. In addition to English, there are also delivered in Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean. Finding all five floor graphics to complete the golden dragon means good fortune is coming your way.

Opened in January of 2023,

The Central Subway ChinatownRose Pak Station is located at the historic hub of the city’s largest and most dynamic Asian community. With a monthly ridership average of 2,121,135, the Chinatown station is the busiest and most used station of all three, which includes Union Square/Market Street, and Yerba Beuna/Moscone Center. As a station that provides an efficient and rapid-transit connection, the Chinatown-Rose Pak Station serves as the perfect platform to reach locals and visitors welcomed by Sky River Casino.

Sky River Casino has been active in bringing excitement to the Chinese community. This can be seen with its sponsorship and participation in the annual San Francisco Chinatown Lunar New Year Street Fair and Parade hosted by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. In celebration of the Year of the Dragon, Sky River will have a booth at the street fair and a dragon float at the parade. The casino will also be sponsoring an auspicious Dragon statue as part of Chamber’s “Dragon on Parade” public art project. The new partnership with SFMTA at the ChinatownRose Pak Station will further enhance Sky River Casino’s brand awareness and position in the Chinese community.

Located in Elk Grove just off Highway 99 and easily accessible in less than two-hour drive from the heart of San Francisco, Sky River Casino is home to a total of 17 bars, restaurants and lounge destinations offered inside the casino in addition to the hottest slot machines, exciting table games, and a thrilling High Limit Room.

For more information about Sky River Casino and its offerings, restaurant open hours and more, please call 916-866-0200 or visit www.SkyRiver.com.

Join Sky River Rewards

Sky River Rewards, is one of the most hi-tech rewards programs among casinos in Northern California, allowing guests cardless play, cashless wallet, and more. The Sky River Rewards card is your key to receiving points for all your activities and those points can be redeemed for Free Play or dining credits. Become a Sky River Rewards member now to receive $20 Free Play. To activate your Free Play, visit any slot machine and place a bet. Sky River Rewards enrollment can be done online using a computer, tablet, or phone with a camera.

About Sky River Casino

Sky River Casino was built by the Wilton Rancheria in partnership with Boyd Gaming Corporation, which is building and managing the property for the tribe. The casino opened in August 2022 and includes 100,000 sq ft of gaming, 2,100 slot machines, 80 table games, and 17 bars and restaurants. To learn more, visit www. SkyRiver.com.

Self-petition under VAWA

Doing a self-petition under Violence against Women Act is one of the few options an abused spouse can get a green card. Our law office frequently use this path for immigrants who were abused by their spouse. We summarize below who qualifies and what is the process.

Who may qualify under VAWA self-petition?

Under the federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), you may be eligible to become a lawful permanent resident (get a Green Card) if you are the victim of battery or extreme cruelty committed by:

1. A U.S. citizen spouse or former spouse;

2. A U.S. citizen parent;

3. A U.S. citizen son or daughter;

4. A lawful permanent resident (LPR) spouse or former spouse; or

5. An LPR parent.

You may self-petition under VAWA by filing a Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant (Form I-360) without your abusive family member’s knowledge or consent. A person who files a VAWA self-petition is generally known as a VAWA self-petitioner. If your self-petition is approved and you meet other eligibility requirements, you may be eligible to apply to become a lawful permanent resident.

Who qualifies for VAWA adjustment of status?

To be eligible for a Green Card as a VAWA self-petitioner, you must meet the following requirements:

You properly file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status;

You are physically present in the United States at the time you file your Form I-485;

You are eligible to receive an immigrant visa;

An immigrant visa is immediately available to you at the time you file your Form I-485 and when USCIS makes a final decision on your application;

None of the bars to adjustment of status apply to you;

You are admissible to the United States for lawful permanent residence or eligible for a waiver of inadmissibility or other form of relief; and

You merit the favorable exercise of USCIS’ discretion.

Who are eligible to apply for an immigrant visa?

You are eligible to receive an immigrant visa based on:

An approved VAWA self-petition (Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant);

A previously filed VAWA self-petition that remains pending (if ultimately approved); or

A VAWA self-petition (if ultimately approved) filed together with your Form I-485.

What is the processing time for VAWA?

The processing time for a VAWA I-360 petition can vary depending on the case and the backlog of applications.

It can take between 16 to 26 months to process a VAWA petition. However, it can take at least 2.5 years to get approved. The USCIS may have questions for the victim or require additional documentation.

Once the applicant is prima facie eligible, they may apply for work authorization.

Once the I-360 is granted, the petitioner does not obtain legal status in the United States. The petitioner should apply for adjustment when they are eligible to do so.

VAWA allows the spouse or child of an abusive U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident to apply for a green card without the help of their abusive spouse. The VAWA application process is usually a two-step process:

1. File a VAWA self-petition.

2. File the application for adjustment of status after the VAWA application is approved.

If you are a VAWA self-petitioner seeking to adjust status as an immediate relative, you can file the I-485 at any time because visas are always immediately available for immediate relatives. If you are seeking to adjust under a family-based preference category, you may need to wait for a visa to become available.

Note: This is not legal advice. You should consult with an immigration attorney about the specifics of your case.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

1. PETITION FOR CAREGIVERS

Our Law Firm entered into agreement with Care Home Facilities in the U.S. to process

P800-M gross profit of ‘Rewind’ signals return of PHL movie industry

cation that the Philippine movie industry is recovering from the pandemic.

“This achievement is a testament to the return of a vibrant and fl ourishing Philippine fi lm industry - attributed to the hard work and commitment of artists, writers, directors, and all members of the production teams,” Padilla said in Senate Resolution 909 he fi led on Monday.

Padilla lauded the victory of “Rewind,” directed by Mae Cruz-Alviar.

He also congratulated the artists, producers, directors, writers, and all be-

hind the movie starring real-life couple Dingdong Dantes and Marian RiveraDantes.

Padilla said Dingdong and Marian remain an inspiration not just in reel but in real life, promoting “family values, entrepreneurship and philanthropic deeds

He noted how the pandemic forced the fi lm industry to grind to a haltprompting “indefi nite delays in fi lm production, closure of movie theaters, and imposition of social distancing restrictions to the general public.”

Padilla also said he is happy that the MMFF 2023 was the “highest-grossing edition of all time” due in large part to the hard work of the artists, writers, directors and production teams

Bea Alonzo, Dominic Roque in frentic wedding preparations

Yes, Maria Clara. Finally, popular actress Bea Alonzo and actor Dominique Roque are in frenzy as they prepare for their dream wedding.

Bea, 36, who is Phylbert Angelli Ranollo Fagestrom in real life and is now a big talent of GMA Network, was reported to be agog over the preparations as her husband-to-be Dominic

shared details about their preparations.

Dominic disclosed that their wedding will be held at the second half of 2024 and the venue is a destination wedding and it will be out-of-the-country.

“I think naman sa lahat, mas hands on ang mga babae kasi nagtanong na rin ako sa mga kaibigan ko na mga lalaki. Kasi minsan ‘diba para naaasar ‘yung

mga babae kapag walang pakialam yung mga lalaki, pero actually hindi naman sa ganun,” Dominic told ABSCBN News in an interview.

“’Yung mga kaibigan kong kinasal, mas ganun din sila eh. Mas hands-on ‘yung mga babae. (Kami), basta may alak, okay na,” he added.

Dominic revealed the principal

sponsors or ‘ninongs and ninangs’: “Hindi pa (kumpleto).”

“’Etong January talaga, dapat ilatag lahat, kailangang asikasuhin, ‘di ba, with everyone from our families and friends and ‘yung list ng mga bisita also, ninong, ninang, hindi pa naman kumpleto lahat,” Dominic told the Philippine Star in another interview.

Accepting Applications: Independent Civilian Advisory Commission

Do you want to be a part of a NEW advisory commission to the County Board of Supervisors on practices and activities of the Sheriff’s Office?

APPLY NOW! The new advisory commission will provide a public forum for community engagement related to the Sheriff’s Office. San Mateo County residents are encouraged to apply, regardless of citizenship status.

Application Closes: February 23, 2024

To learn more and apply: smcgov.org/cac

Tumatanggap ng mga Aplikasyon: Malayang Komisyon ng Sibilyang Pagpapayo

Nais mo bang maging bahagi ng BAGONG komisyon ng pagpapayo sa Lupon ng mga Tagapamahala ng County sa mga kaugalian at gawain ng Tanggapan ng Sheriff?

MAG-APPLY NGAYON! Ang bagong komisyon ng pagpapayo ay magbibigay-daan sa mga pampublikong pagtitipon para sa pampamayanang pakikipag-ugnayang may kinalaman sa Tanggapan ng Sheriff. Ang mga nakatira sa San Mateo County, anuman ang katayuan ng pangkamamayan, ay hinihikayat na mag-apply.

Scan Here

Pagsasara sa Aplikasyon: Pebrero 23, 2024

Para sa dagdag na kaalaman at pag-aapply, tumungo sa: smcgov.org/cac

MANILA – Senator Robin Padilla has said the P800-million gross profi t of the local fi lm “Rewind” in the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival is an indi-

Coldplay wows in PHL concert; Marcos watches show, is under fire

Award-winning band Coldplay wowed Filipino fans led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself as the ban rocked the Philippine Arena in Bulacan with a string of their classic and new hits for the Philippine leg of their ‘Music of the Spheres’ concert.

Published reports in Manila indicated that the fi rst day concert lasted for almost two hours, with fans singing along to their songs like ‘Paradise’, ‘Yellow’, ‘Viva La Vida’, ‘Fix You’, ‘My Universe’, ‘Clocks’, ‘Something Like This’, ‘Sky Full of Stars’ and others. Due to big demands, the show was e extended for a second day.

ABS-CBN described the concert in its report as a total visual spectacle with confetti bombs exploding through out the jampacked arena, laser lights, disco balls, giant beach balls bouncing around diff erent sections of the crowd and even a hologram of K-pop group BTS during the ‘My Universe’ spot.

Filipino celebrities were also among the thousands of fans who enjoyed the concert of British rock band Coldplay in the Philippines.

The celebrities included Maine Mendoza and husband Rep. Arjo

Atayde, Shaina Magdayao, Alexa Ilacad, Heaven Peralejo, Marco Gallo, Sarah Lahbati, Sofi na Andres

Fans also got the surprises of their lives when lead vocalist Chris Martin requested one fan to join him onstage, according to the ABS-CBN report and President Marcos himself watching the show, claiming later that he loves music and the show should not be missed. The lucky fan was holding a sign ‘In 2017, I was at the far back. Now I’m this close!’

Chris also called four lucky fans from the farthest seat in the arena (all the way to the general admission sections) who had four yellow tickets underneath their seats. The four fans were requested to join Chris and the previous lucky fan onstage, while he sang ‘Everglow’.

During the encore part of the concert, ABS-CBN also reported that Chris shared that on his way to the arena last night, it was raining and the only song on his mind was the OPM viral hit ‘Raining in Manila’.

He then sang a few lines, in Filipino of course, that instantly charmed the crowd. But he surprised everyone when he called the band Lola Amour onstage to

sing ‘Raining in Manila’ with him.

The crowd went wild when Lola Amour entered.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) later, Lola Amour said the experience was “surreal.”

Apart from the music, Coldplay reminded everyone that the concert was run by sustainable and renewable energies.

In fact, power bikes and kinetic dance fl oors where placed in certain areas inside the arena for fans to use and produce energy, to power the concert.

Also, a portion of the sales of the tickets will go to climate-advocate groups that focuses on reforestation, ocean clean-ups, conservation, re-wilding and soil restoration, carbon capture, green and clean technology, environmental laws and advocacies.

Coldplay’s ‘Music of the Spheres’ concert was extended for a second day on Saturday, January 20.

President Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Marcos joined thousands of fans attended day one of Coldplay’s concert but they were under fi re later when it was reported that they rode an offi cial presidential helicopter to get to the Bulacan venue of the concert.

The Presidential Security Group justifi ed President Marcos Jr.’s use of a helicopter on his way to a concert at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan by saying it was for security reasons.

“Yesterday, the Philippine Arena experienced an unprecedented infl ux of 40,000 individuals eagerly attending a concert, resulting in unforeseen traffi c complications along the route,” said Maj. Gen. Nelson Morales, PSG Commander.

“Recognizing that this traffi c situation posed a potential threat to the security of our President, the PSG took decisive action by opting for the presidential chopper,” he added.

Morales said they decided to use the chopper for the President’s protection.

He appealed for the public’s understanding over the issue.

“Your continued understanding and support for these measures are crucial in maintaining the safety and well-being of our nation’s leadership,” he said.

Coldplay held its fi rst concert in the Philippines in 2017 at the Mall of Asia Concert Grounds in Pasay City. It featured a mix of the band’s old and new hits—from “Yellow” to “A Head Full of

DIMPLES ROMANA UPDATES ABOUT ANGEL LOCSIN & NEW PROGRAM

Actress Angel Locsin is living a happy life away from show biz but isn’t pregnant yet, according to her best friend, actress and my friend Dimples Romana.

“We all miss her. She doesn’t have a baby yet. With what’s happening in Angel’s life right now, she has taught me that not everything in my life should be posted online. I saw value in the lesson that Gel is teaching us,”

“She is happy. She doesn’t go out. We had lunch recently and she saw the kids. I see her from time to time. She just doesn’t hold her phone or reply to anybody—I’m guessing including Neal (Arce, Angel’s husband). She’s detoxified from social media,” Dimple told reporters, adding she actually admires Angel for doing what she does.

“I’m very happy with how she is living her life. She is showing a lot of people that, ‘I’ve made my choice. This makes me happy and you don’t have to know everything about it.’ For a long time, she has been under that magnifying glass,” Dimples said, adding that this has encouraged her to do the same.

“Boyet (Ahmee, Dimples’ husband) isn’t a show biz celebrity. He noticed that whenever I post something about Cap (their daughter Callie), she would be all over the news. This is the same with our son Alonzo, who now does commercials. Boyet would always remind me to honor our privacy. He would say, ‘Ito lang ang pwede.’ I honor that. I also don’t post a lot about Cap because she’s an introvert. I have to ask her first if it’s okay,” Dimples said.

Callie recently flew back to Australia, where she is studying to become a pilot, said the proud mom. “People kept asking me why I’m working so hard. Cap’s tuition is not cheap,” said one of the main hosts of the TV5 news and lifestyle program “Good Morning, Kapatid” (GMK).

Dimples was part of the defunct action-drama series “The Iron Heart” and is currently “on standby” for new TV and film projects.

“It’s good that I still get to usher in the new year with a program that’s fun and informative, and something that’s finished before lunch time. GMK is actually a dream fulfilled. It’s a different arena because it’s a news program. It adds more premium, I guess, because it’s by TV5. I was hired by news chief Luchi Cruz-Valdes—I’m proud of that,” she said.

Dimples then clarified that she is still a talent of ABSCBN, “but I also have a bit of Kapatid blood in me now because of the news department. Our ratings are doing well. In the beginning, it was a difficult adjustment because I live in Parañaque, but it’s nice because I still get to do personal stuff in the afternoon,” she observed.

Dimples admitted that, with the popularity of her character Daniela Mondragon on the defunct drama series “Kadenang Ginto,” she has now become more picky with the roles she takes on.

“The role has to be very good for us. This is to honor the kind of trail that my ABS-CBN bosses have created for me. If it’s just me, I’d say ‘yes’ to every role because acting is my passion. No matter how much you pay me, you get the same energy, the same me.

But I need to be very particular with the roles I take on now because it’s my bosses who have set the standards that I need to uphold. They’re taking good care of me, making sure that path I take on my way to where I want to be actually matters,” Dimples pointed out.

Club Manila Los Angeles opens new year with epic party

In the Mix by Mic Diaz

Club Manila Los Angeles (CMLA) started the year with an epic birthday celebration of one of its founders DJ Jake Martin at The View in Torrance last Saturday, January 13.

Never losing their passion for music and DJing, CMLA has never been distracted by the monetary aspects of organizing dance parties since it started 26 years ago. Marking its 29th year of bringing the dance club scene of Manila

to Los Angeles, CMLA and its DJs— Jake Martin, The Spindoctor (Gilbert Villaroman), Ricky Fabre and Darryl Silva—with special guest DJ Dean Andrew once again takes its arsenal of disco, new wave and house tracks to the dance fl oor, this time to this Torrance nightspot.

Dedicated dance music enthusiasts such as members of Party Party People led by its founder Michelle Sto. Do-

mingo Advincula and its President Zigmond, Pinky Villegas’ Superfriends, CMLA Family and Spindoctor’s SIP Fam fi lled the dance fl oor and danced like there’s no tomorrow.

Steadfast supporters of the local dance scene such as former WEA dancer Katrina Llanes, Movessential Studio owner Abigail Castillo, Viabox owner Vince Roxas, DJ Jerome Sto. Domingo, DJ Dee Buen, Jesse Pacleb, Carlo and Liza Lopez, Melany Del Rosario, Javier

Suarez of FastFix Jewelers, longtime event producers Arnold Manaog, Alger Brion and Mutch Carino, and photographer Jason Bascon were present.

Club Manila Los Angeles will be taking its infectious collection of dance tracks to Las Vegas on February 3 in Retro Pop Up Dance Party at C3 Bar & Grill.

Jennifer Toldera was approved for permanent resident by USCIS. A�y. Chris Lozano represented her case with USCIS.

Photos by Michelle Sto. Domingo Advincula and Jason Bascon

Hidilyn Diaz skips Asian Championships

It will be recalled that the 32-year-old lifter from Zamboanga had leg cramps while competing in the 59kg category at the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Grand Prix held in Doha, Qatar from Dec. 4 to 14 last year, PNA’s Jean Malanum reported.

Diaz-Naranjo delivered the country’s first-ever Olympic gold medal when she ruled the women’s 55kg category in 2021. She also topped the same category at the 2022

World Championships in Bogota, Colombia.

With the 55kg category excluded in the Paris Summer Games, DiazNaranjo moved up to 59kg where she hopes to qualify again for a fifth Olympics appearance. She won the silver medal in Rio (2016).

Meanwhile, those who will see action in the Asian Championships scheduled from Feb. 3 to 10 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan are siblings Rose Jean (W45kg) and Rosegie Ramos (W49kg), and 2019 SEAG champion Kristel Macrohon (W71kg) of Zamboanga City; Lovely Inan of Angono, Rizal (W49kg); 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games bronze medalist Elreen Ann Ando (W59kg) of Cebu City; and two-time SEAG gold medalist Vanessa Sarno of Bohol (W71kg).

Also joining the trip are Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) president Monico Puentevella as head of delegation and coaches Ramon Solis, Patrick Lee, Richard Pep Agosto and Kelle Kay Rojas.

The five athletes also competed at the Grand Prix in Qatar, but only the 18-year-old Rose Jean Ramos made the podium, bagging the silver medals in snatch (70kgs), clean and jerk (85kgs) and total (155kgs).

After the Asian Championships is the World Cup slated March 31 to April 11 in Phuket, Thailand where the Filipinos are expected to join since it is the last Olympic qualifier.

The Top 10 lifters will earn a quota place for their respective country and bodyweight category through the IWF Olympic Qualification Ranking tournaments from Aug. 1, 2022 to April 28, 2024.

The Paris Olympic Games will be held from July 26 to Aug. 11, 2024.

Winter Youth Olympics: Fil-Am Groseclose misses short track semis

MANILA – Filipino-American short track speed skater Peter Groseclose failed to reach the semifinals of the Men’s 1,000-meter event in the 4th Winter Youth Olympics at Gangneung Ice Arena in Gangwon Province, South Korea on Sunday, January 21.

The 16-year-old Groseclose, who is based in Oakton, Virginia, ranked fourth in quarterfinal 1 with a time of one minute and 28.889, PNA’s Jean Malanum reported.

Xinzhe Zhang of China eventually won in 1:26.257.

Turkey’s Muhammed Bozdag (1:26.349) took the silver medal and Japan’s Raito Kida (1:26.478) settled for the bronze.

“Peter was just on the outside of the pack for a little too long. In short track, you want to minimize your stay outside the pack because you’re skipping the longer distance and putting more effort just to stay with the group. That led to the result,” explained John-Henry Krueger, the two-time Winter Olympics medalist who is coaching Groseclose.

“Today was a move going to the right direction. However, I think it could have been a much larger gap between what happened yesterday, so we just have to prepare and talk about the tomorrow’s event,” he added, referring to Groseclose’s 500-m race on Monday.

Krueger said the 500m race is less strategic and more of a physical race “because you are using your raw power. That’s his best distance.”

Groseclose also reached the quarterfinal stage in Saturday’s 1,500m, finishing sixth in his group (2:20.575).

Freestyle skier Laetaz Amihan Rabe, 14, and Canada-based cross-country skier Avery Uriel Balbanida, 16, are the other Filipinos competing in Korea.

Rabe, who resides in Switzerland, carried the Philippine flag during the opening ceremony on Friday.

Ada Milby serves as chef de mission of Team Philippines. She is accompanied by Philippine Skating Union president Nikki Cheng and Philippine Ski and Snowboard Federation secretary general Jezreel Apelar.

MANILA – Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo will skip the forthcoming Asian Weightlifting Championships, a qualifier for the Paris Olympics.

A simultaneous rise in Covid-19, flu, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus - RSV - cases – led some medical experts to predict a prevalence of a “tripledemic” with the surge of respiratory illnesses in many vulnerable areas in the across the United States.

This medical dilemma only serves to stretch further the already burdened healthcare systems, with possible lapses in care for vulnerable communities in the heels of report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that there were at least 29,000 Covid hospitalizations in the week ending December 23 with the new JN.1 subvariant accounts for nearly half of new Covid infections.

The US is also facing a surge in RSV cases, a respiratory illness without a cure, largely seen in infants and older adults and, in just the last quarter of 2023, there have been 14 million cases of flu with an estimate of 13,000 deaths.

Estimates for this year’s flu season, on the other hand, are as high as 19 million cases with 19,000 deaths, also according to the CDC.

To discuss the predicted tripledemic, the origin of JN.1, symptoms of all three infections; causes; prevention and treatment; and why vaccines and masks remain necessary, the Ethnic Media services together with Blue Shield of California Foundation co-hosted a national briefing Are We Facing a Second Tripledemic?

On hand to lend their expertise were Chief Medical Officer, South Central Family Health Center Dr. Jose Perez, Chief Virologist of the Global Health Research Complex at Texas A&M University Dr. Benjamin Neuman and, Pediatric Pulmonologist, Stanford Children’s Health Dr. Manisha Newaskar.

Perez mentioned that there are over 100 different viruses that cause upper respiratory infections that include COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) adding that common to all three are not only these upper respiratory symptoms evident in the nose, the throat and eyes — alongside overall “constitutional symptoms such as fever and muscle aches” — but also lower respiratory symptoms, including “infections of the bronchial tree and lungs, which can lead to bronchitis and pneumonia and transmission too, is similar.”

Fear...

(From page 1)

eight victim critically hurt.

Tripledemic plaguing the US?

By Jun Nucum

“All three viruses invade the human body by coming in contact with body fluids from an infected, coughing or sneezing individual who leaves mucus particles in the air and on surfaces. All occur more frequently during winter, when people are more indoors due to inclement weather and holiday celebrations,” Perez explained.

Perez revealed that it is very difficult to tell which virus is affecting the patient based on symptoms alone as many overlap: “cough, sore throat, runny nose, fever, tiredness, muscle aches, shortness of breath … more often with COVID there’s the loss of sense of taste or smell, while more often with RSV there’s wheezing and an increase in respiratory rate, especially in children.”

Because of these, Perez urged everyone to “take care to wash your hands, cover your nose and mouth with a mask in high-density spaces, keep a six-foot distance from anyone coughing or sneezing, stay home if you feel sick, and get vaccinated.”

Although COVID vaccines are no longer free under the federal government, many private and federal healthcare plans — including Medi-Cal — cover them alongside flu and RSV shots.

For his part, Neuman informed that “we’ve vaccinated against three different strains of COVID, and we have driven all of those to extinction through a combination of vaccination and herd immunity.”

“JN. 1 subvariant, however, presents the first time that one of those older strains” — B.A.2.86., an Omicron variant — “has mutated, grown and returned to

While mass murders have tragically become practically commonplace in the US, it is worth noting that Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay are places with large Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) populations.

Directly or indirectly, fear has become so widespread in the AAPI community that a growing number have resorted to purchasing firearms.

Today, some 20 percent of the AAPI population live in homes where at least one resident owns a gun.

“There is a growing recognition that we all have to be prepared for the next time because there will be a next time,” said Varun Nikore, executive director of AAPI Victory Alliance, “It’s just the unfortunate reality that we all have to live through.”

An online story in The Reckon Report written by Saleah Blancaflor focused on the still present reality of Asian hate coupled with mass killings, which the AAPI community has cited to justify their fear as well as the need to protect themselves in the event of a worse-case scenario.

Weeks after the back-to-back shootings, AAPI organizations and activists spoke out. They also mobilized.

Said Andy Wong, managing director of advocacy for Stop AAPI Hate, “The shootings made it clear that all Americans -- including Asian Americans – are impacted by gun violence.”

“The back to back timing of these horrific shootings at the beginning of Lunar New Year, which is an important holiday for many of our

cause additional problems,” Neuman rued. “Now that the most prevalent COVID strain has forked into different variants, with JN.1 comprising half of all cases, one vaccine does not protect against both at the moment very well, so JN.1 is able to get in despite pre-existing immunity, especially given that the neutralizing antibodies that actually shield you stop the virus from getting in are low to gone after a year.”

Neuman assured though that JN.1 is not particularly faster-growing than other viruses and that “COVID has slipped to number seven overall on the CDC’s most-updated list of causes of death nationwide.”

“Long COVID may worsen some of the higher categories in the form of heart disease and cardiovascular problems, long-term breathing complications, and brain fog or brain shrinkage,” conveyed Neuman. “This is not something that is completely settled, and may not be something that we can ever know for certain but we do know that JN.1 comes from very much the same virus as all the ones that came before; it’s just better at evading immune defenses … It’s been a long four years, and we can still do our best to help ourselves through vaccination and prevention.”

Newaskar stressed that prevention is also the best course for RSV, a common illness without a cure.

“Although nearly all children are infected with RSV before their second birthday, it typically presents like a regular cold in older children and young adults … but the younger or older you are, the greater the risk to your immune status.”

At the moment, RSV is a leading cause of bron-

Asian American communities, really compounded the pain, trauma, and fear our communities were feeling,” Wong added.

While more Asian Americans support tighter gun safety laws than ever before, according to The Reckon Report story, “research also shows gun ownership has grown among Asian Americans in the last few years.”

Among the data cited were a 2021 National Firearms Survey which found that many new gun owners in the pandemic were people of color; a National Shooting Sports Foundation survey that found that over 27 percent of firearm retailers saw an increase in Asian American customers in 2021; and previous NSSF research which found that there was a 43 percent rise in Asian Americans purchasing firearms in 2020 compared with 2019.

This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to https:// www.cavshate.org/.

chitis among children under age five, annually resulting in 2.1 million outpatient visits; 58,000 to 80,000 hospital admissions; and 100 to 300 deaths.

“Among these children, we see the highest morbidity in those below six months and premature infants, where it presents as severe trouble breathing, low oxygen levels, wheezing, pneumonia,”Newskar added.

Also more at-risk of these respiratory tract infections are older adults with underlying conditions like diabetes, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The good news for adults aged 60 and over is that two kinds of single-dose RSV vaccines have been FDA-approved as of May 2023.

There are no vaccines for children although antiviral medications and in-hospital IV, oxygen and ventilation treatment can be used for severe cases of RSV.

However, injectable antibody Synagis has been given to high-risk infants for over 45 years, while in July 2023 the FDA approved Nersevimab, the first drug to prevent RSV lower respiratory infections in babies and toddlers.

“As treatments develop, the best tripledemic treatment is prevention, which includes getting vaccines where they’re available,” Newaskar stated. “With RSV as with COVID, it won’t really matter which variant of the virus you have when you’re already lying in a hospital bed. As RSV, flu and COVID are on the rise, what matters is prevention … The lessons we learned during the pandemic are still critical to keeping ourselves safe in this tripledemic.”

(From page 1) Possible...

ministration would not cooperate with any ICC investigation.

Speaking to local media on Tuesday, Jan. 23 (Manila time), the president said his administration would “not lift a finger” to assist the ICC. He added that the global court was a “threat” to the country’s sovereignty.

The president, however, said the ICC could come to Manila as visitors, investigate as much as they want, but expect no cooperation from any government entity.

Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla also said that the ICC could come to the Philippines and no harm would come to any of their representatives as long as they followed the country’s “legal procedures.”

The “let-them-in-but-don’t-cooperate-with-them” policy is a reversal of the previous stand of the government that ICC could not only be blocked from entering the country, but also arrested and declared persona non grata if they somehow found their way to Philippine territory

Just last week, Dela Rosa – who headed the Philippine National Police at the onset of the Duterte regime – said the president himself had reiterated the stand that the ICC would be unwelcome in the Philippines.

It was former senator Antonio Trillanes lll who claimed that the ICC investigators had made their way to Manila and that the arrest of Duterte and Dela Rosa would likely take place in the second quarter this year

The ICC, Trillanes said, had gathered sufficient evidence against former president Duterte and a warrant of arrest against him would be issued “very soon.”

Trillanes also said that Vice President Sara Duterte would also be a respondent in ICC’s case, as she allegedly approved the continuation of Dela Rosa’s “tokhang” operations during her time as Davao City mayor.

The VP said she was willing to be tried for her supposed complicity in the drug war, but vehemently refuses to face an international court.

It must be noted that Dela Rosa’s telling Mr. Marcos to be a man is considered a big insult in Filipino culture. In effect, the senator practically said that the president was not a man of his word, also a huge insult among Filipinos.

Congratula�ons to the newly installed officers of Willow Glen Lodge#399 for their 22nd Annual Installa�on Ceremony in San Jose, CA. Headed by the master of the lodge, WM Joey Coloma with his Corps of Officers for the ensuing Masonic year 2024. In the picture from le� to right. Tyler - WB Josefino Cruz, PM, SS- Doug Picard, SD- Richard Paray, Chaplain- RJ Gonzales, Treasurer- WB Joe Campbell, PM, SW- Chris Vallejo, WM- Joey Coloma, JW- Oscar Ilusorio , Secretary- Robert Klute, JD- Nico Layosa, JS- Hendrix Alcid and Marshall- David Montoya.

As I See It

(From Page 11)

The verdict? It will be up to the people, the voters… to make it happen!

(Elpidio R. Estioko was a veteran journalist in the Philippines and an award-winning journalist here in the US. He just published his book Unlocking the chain of Poverty: In Pursuit of the American Dream which is now available with Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Xlibris Publishing. For feedbacks, comments… please email author at estiokoelpidio@gmail.com).

Health & Wealth...

(From Page 11)

AND PEACE OF MIND --- With the efficient, competent, prompt and unique services at MSS, old and new clients can have total convenience and peace of mind. If the middle-aged lady and the Filipino couple called MSS first, they could have avoided the bad experience, pressures, anxieties and unexpected problem they encountered. Most of the time, it is more convenient and economical for you to avail yourself with the professional and complete services at MSS. For immediate assistance and help in the signing, notarization and apostille follow-up of Affidavits, Special Power of Attorney (SPA), Parental Travel Permit (PTP), DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE, Proof of Life, DEED OF DONATION, Deed of Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate and other documents needed in the Philippines and the other member nations of the Hague Apostille Convention, just write or call: MOBILE SIGNING SERVICES, 730 Madrid Street, San Francisco, CA 94112 Tel. (650) 438-3531 or (415) 584-7095 or email:artmadlaing@hotmail.com

(ART GABOT MADLAING is accredited and commissioned Notary Public and licensed Real Estate Broker (DRE #00635976) in California since 1981. He is founder of MOBILE SIGNING SERVICES, FITNESS FOR HUMANITY (aka FITNESS FOR HUMANITY) and ACAPINOY. Art is an active Evangelist with the GOLDEN GATE CHURCH OF CHRIST in San Francisco, California USA.) presidential elections?

The Outsider

(From Page 11)

earn extra by selling them to other employees. The vegetables are gown at the idle land behind the SMC headquarters in Ortigas. Cultivated in the backyard vegetable garden are bokchoi, camote, eggplant, kangkong, green lettuce, romaine lettuce, mustard, okra, siling labuyo, pechay, cilantro, winged bean, and kale. Participants to the urban farming project are given lessons on organic vegetable production, soil management, and pest and disease management. They also learn how to grow vegetables on limited space available.

On the Backyard Bukid project RSA said: “Our goal is to create an environment where our employees and support staff can learn new skills and gain new experiences to help them become more resilient and self-sufficient especially in these uncertain times.”

For RSA, empowering Filipinos with education and skills is key to unlocking the country’s potential. Thus, SMC also established the Better World community centers, the most recent of which is the Better World Smokey Mountain with its 39 modern classrooms.

Furthermore, the infrastructure projects of SMC have provided employment opportunities enabling people to support their families and achieve financial security allowing them to build a hopeful future for themselves and their families. “This is at the heart of our nation-building,” he said.

Immigrants Help

applicants for Caregivers in the US

(From Page 10)

You may qualify if you six months experience as Caregivers Applicants Inside the United States or in the Philippines or other countries may qualify.

Bankruptcy Basics

We also process Bankruptcy cases.

1. Bankruptcy will improve your credit within one year because your unsecured debts are discharged. Although the bankruptcy will be in your records for 10 years, not filing bankruptcy will make your credit even worse until most of your debts are paid.

If you have immigration problems the Law Offices of Crispin C. Lozano can help you find a solution before your problem gets worse, which could lead to deportation and family separation.

Chris Caday Lozano, Esq. is an active member of the State Bar of California, the American Immigration Lawyers Association and San Francisco Trial Lawyers. He has practiced immigration law and bankruptcy since June 1999. His contact phone is 1-877-456-9266, email: info@ CCLlaw.net Website: www. crispinlozanolaw.com/ with offices in Hayward and Cerritos, CA.

SouthCal Filipino journalists form new media group; induction on Feb. 10

LOS ANGELES – A group of seasoned Filipino journalists and news photographers have formed a new media group to help professionalize the Filipino-American media industry in their efforts to serve the information needs of the Filipino community.

The Philippine Global Media Group, Inc. (PGMG) brings together journalists in print, broadcast and social media, initially in Southern California, with hopes of including media professionals from all over the United States and the global Filipino diaspora to better serve Filipinos in their respective communities, according to veteran journalist Val G. Abelgas, publisher-editor of the Philippine Post and president of the new group.

“Filipinos play a very important role in the US and in other countries all over the world, and it is paramount that the Filipino media professionals come together and help inform their countrymen

Upside...

in the global diaspora of news developments in their respective communities and in our homeland, the Philippines,” said Abelgas.

“By sharing a common goal of rallying fellow Filipinos to play an even more pro-active role in their communities, Filipino journalists can help improve the image of Filipinos before the world and, at the same time, support the Philippines’ development goals,” he added.

The PGMG will hold its inaugural induction and gala night on February 10, 2024 at 6 p.m. at the Vineyard Ballroom of Double Tree by Hilton-Norwalk at 1311 Sycamore Drive, Norwalk, CA 90650.

Consul General Edgar B. Badajos will be the inducting officer and keynote speaker, while T. J. Manotoc, North America bureau chief of ABSCBN International, will deliver an inspirational address.

The officers of the PGMG are: Val G. Abelgas, president;

(From Page 10)

him, Filipino on her mother’s side, but has had little opportunity to identify as such and be a role model for younger FilAms aspiring to pursue a show business career. Not funny, no, but a teachable moment he could have grabbed that might have caught more attention and less offense than his jest about what Ozempic does in reference to “The Color Purple,” especially since the film’s most prominent producer Oprah Winfrey has admitted to using medication to maintain her weight.

True, Koy’s nerves were palpable, when he went offscript to disclaim authorship of early bombs, railed at the eleventh hour prep but then later claimed the chuckleworthy bits were his indeed.

It’s one thing “killing it” in standup and another to be hosting a prime time program, the comedian himself said on GMA3 the morning after his premier hosting.

“It’s a tough room. It was a hard job, I’m not going to lie,” he addressed naysayers, “I’d be lying if (I said) it doesn’t hurt. … Hosting is just a tough gig. Yes, I’m a stand-up comic but that hosting position, it’s a different style.”

Typical newbie, he apologized repeatedly to Swift for said joke.

Maybe he didn’t win new fans, but he didn’t lose any either.

Besides The View co-hosts and Kelly, CBS Mornings co-host Nate Burleson, formerly of the NFL, rated Koy’s hosting as “great” and reiterated his “love” for the guy.

While not exactly defending Koy, SNL Weekend Update co-host Michael Che explained the dilemma of a standup comic hosting an award show:

“For one, it’s very difficult to make movie stars laugh – they’re way too self-conscious to have a good time,” he said on Instagram. “Two, they don’t even want to laugh. They’re too busy thinking about their careers, their speeches, and their cause.’ They think they wanna be made fun of. But they actually don’t. They actually just want their trophy. And a nice photo.”

Coincidentally, those empathizing with Koy are mostly hosts of color, who have shared life experiences and perspective thus egging him on: They get it. Otherwise the Globes are just one more parade of millionaires offer-

Lydia V. Solis, associate editor of the Philippine Post and Weekend Balita contributor, and Nimfa U. Rueda, US Bureau chief of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, vice presidents; Dan E. Nino, columnist of the Philippine Post and freelance journalist, secretary; Rick Gavino, photographer of Philippine Post, treasurer; Manny Ilagan, former Philippine Department of Tourism regional director and freelance writer, chairman of the board; and the members of the board: Ruben V. Nepales, Rappler columnist; Meh M. Guevarra, editor of Philippine Tribune; Bobby Crisistomo, chief photographer of the Philippine Post; Marc Pijuan, publisher of San Gabriel Examiner; Julian Oriel, publisher of Philippines & Asian Reports (San Diego); Abner Galino, former news editor of Weekend Balita and now associate editor of the Post; Donnabelle Gatdula Arevalo, correspondent of Asian Journal; Joe Cobilla, photog-

rapher of Philippine Post; and Ella Wagner, former Editor of California Examiner and freelance journalist.

The PGMG plans to hold seminars and workshops to uplift the professional and ethical standards of its members, launch scholarships for deserving Filipino journalism students, hold press forums for community organizations, Filipino-American local officials, and visiting Philippine officials in coordination with the Philippine Consulate General.

Early sponsors of the Induction Night are Philippine Airlines and Rajah Tours.

For ticket and sponsorship inquiries for the Induction and Gala Night, please call or email Val Abelgas (562) 4698030 val.abelgas@aolo.com ; Manny Ilagan (213) 4477087 manilagan@gmail.com ; Rick Gavino (323) 868-9932 rick1434@yahoo.com ; Dan E. Nino (562) 508-8099 denino1951@gmail.com .

ing an escape from reality.

LAST LAUGH

Jo Koy’s monologue may not have been riotous but it certainly was not atrocious or viewers would have tuned out. On the contrary, the Golden Globes reached 9.4 million sets of eyes or a 50 percent spike from last year’s show per Nielsen ratings, Variety reported.

Streamed on Paramount+, the Globes crushed a record for the streaming service record and other CBS platforms since the 65th Grammy Awards last February, Variety added. “The awards show landed the top trending spot on social media with nearly 30 billion potential impressions.”

To be viewed by millions around the world is already a win for Jo Koy, never mind the rough reception from the mainstream media clueless about what it takes for someone like him to grab the chance.

“I had fun,” he said on GMA 3. “You know it was a moment that I’ll always remember…I’m not going to lie…I’d be lying if (I said) it doesn’t hurt…Hosting is a tough gig. Yes I’m a standup comic but that hosting position it’s a different story. I kind of went in and did the writers’ thing. We had 10 days to write this monologue. It was a crash course. I feel bad, but I still sat I love what I did.”

That’s the Filipino in him talking – humble, grateful, undeterred – unscripted and already a superstar to those who look like him. – Adapted from original and published with permission from INQUIRER.NET.

###

Cherie Querol Moreno is Executive Editor of Philippine News Today.

Cri�cs panned Jo Koy, but top comics defended him. Jo Koy/Facebook

Hayley Alvarado...(From page 1)

investigators who are careful not to disclose any information revelation of which may even jeopardize instead of helping locate Hayley.

“While we are not getting information, there was someone who opened a Facebook account using Hayley Alvarado that we suspect, right from start, to be fake account opened intentionally to pretend and make it appear that this was their missing girl asking for help claiming to have been abducted by unknown persons,” rued Stephen Alvarado, Hayley father. “My wife found out that the account was a new one and that when we asked for proof that it was really Hayley we are talking about When I asked for some proof that he/she was telling the truth that they have Hayley, I was told to continue with the discussion at What’sApp application where we can discuss everything about Hayley”

The last message from the people supposed to have Hayley with them wrote, “I want to discuss everything in WhatsApp. For your daughter, I want money”.”

The father Stephen declined from proceeding to discuss at that platform getting suspicious of the account creator adding that What’sApp is supposed favorite of hackers to get more sensitive information about another.

“I told in a chat that if he/she is legit, let’s talk here in Facebook. What do you want, what is your demand? Give me. I will not

go to other applications,” Stephen insisted. “I got doubly suspicious that Hayley was the one asking for help from me when she called me Dad instead of another endearing term she is used to call me.”

Since the account holder was chatting with Stephen on convenient hours in the Philippines, he also suspects that the creator is from the Philippines aside having PhP in the profile marking.

Stephen also saddened that other unconfirmed sighting of Hayley surfaced indicating that she was last seen in Olathe, Kansas, on January 8, 2024. This sudden shift in location has injected a new level of complexity into the ongoing investigation.

These things that confused the family further happened while Stephen and wife Portia comfort each other with their two sons Harley and Hanson, who has been missing his sister terribly.

“When I brought our youngest son Hanson to sleep after our evening prayers where we asked that we have Hayley back with us, he asked on January 10 or as he counted as six days to our wish that she be back on the 16th of January, ‘what if Ate (term of endearment to an older sister) will not come back after January 16?... if Ate will not come back I think I will not see her again.’ And that made me so strongly emotional like I was hit by a bullseye right between the eyes. It is very rare that Hanson talked on how he really feels at the moment.”

It is moments like these that made Stephen talk with the school guidance counsellor of their two sons asking for more time for school officials to observe the sons while in school for proper guidance.

The Alvarado family originally wished that Hayley Alvarado be found before the reopening of her college courses on January 16 after they failed to be their beloved daughter during the Christmas holidays and New Year.

Hayley has been missing since very early morning of December 17, 2023 when she left their New Jersey home without telling where she was going, leaving her ID card, laptop, tablet and turning her cell phone off.

Her family was forced to turn to social media days after Hayley remained missing.

Mom Portia wrote in her Facebook message, “You’re always in my heart my sweet ‘Lee” Please know that you are loved unconditionally by us. We will never give up searching for you and always pray for your safe return home.”

In an exclusive interview with Inquirer. net, Portia intimated that Hayley she left home without telling anyone where she is going and turned off her phone after leaving making her unreachable through the easiest way she can be contacted.

Hayley was said to have left through their home’s backdoor as the video from their closed-circuit TV showed and efforts.

Aside from asking the public to be

aware of those who pretend to know something about the kidnapping for their own selfish ends, the family reiterated the following appeal:

“Anyone who has been and/or who has information about Hayley, please call up 911 or the Jersey City Police Department at (551) 227-8511 right away or the nearest police station. We only want that our daughter goes back to us safely especially classes again on January 16. Even if we were not with her in time for Christmas and New Year we hope she will be back with us for start of their classes in new year 2024. We are still hoping she is staying with a friend who we really do not know personally.” Stephen pleaded.

Stephen stressed that what they are after and are hoping for is that Hayley has someone with her, she has a roof above her head, and is well-fed.

“At least we’d know that she is alive and not simply wandering around trying to brave and survive the weather especially at these very cold times of snow,” Stephen wanted to be assured.

Heart of Hope

AStem Cell Rx Deaths

t the last day of our medical mission in Munoz (The Science City), Nueva Ecija, Philippines, January 17, 2024, there were news reports of the death of a 39-year-old female in Quezon City following intravenous stem cell therapy. Health Secretary Ted Herbosa has ordered an investigation of the case. A few years back, two Filipino congressmen died from complication of stem cell treatments. And these are not isolated cases, deaths have been reported in the past in other countries as well.

The tragedy is in the fact that in many cases, stem cell therapy has been used with wrong medical indication (improper use).

Stem therapy is extensively advertised by some “medical” enterprises in various countries around the world for various illnesses and for cosmetic purposes (as a fountain for beauty and youth), but these are actually fraudulent claims, with no scientific basis behind them.

As we have stated in the past, there is only one group of illnesses where stem cell therapy has been proven to be effective for, approved by the FDA, and that is, for blood diseases, like leukemia, lymphoma, neuroblastoma, multiple myeloma. Among these patients, stem cell therapy is a lifesaver. Other than these, its use for other diseases is a scam, ineffective and risky, all for financial gain of greedy entrepreneurs.

Current on-going research around the globe is studying the ability of stem to mature into cells of various organs, like the nerves, bones, heart muscles, and other organs and tissues (dental and periodontal), in order to heal diseases of those organs, almost like organ replacement, transplantation, regenerative medicine. A great new frontier in medicine!

If these studies become successful, stem cell therapy could help those with spinal cord injuries, heart disease, stroke, Parkinson’s, Diabetes T1, Alzheimer’s, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease), burns, osteoarthritis, cancer, and others.

But the use of stem cells for all these other common illnesses are still in their experimental stages. The final medical uses of stem cell therapy, quality, dosages, side-effects, toxicity, limitations, contra-indications, and potential complications

are still “officially uncertain.”

After the animal laboratory studies are satisfactorily completed, clinical evaluation among human subjects will follow. The next stage is a multi-country independent clinical confirmation, with thousands, if not millions, of human volunteers, before final approval is granted for general use by the “FDAs” of all nations. The wrong application today of this treatment is not only expensive but could be deadly.

Children killer

Warning: There is an infectious disease more infectious than any other known entities that would kill 2.6 million young children every year and leave millions with deafness and brain injury! This is real and not from a pandemic scifi horror movie. The disease is well-known to you: measles. After the successful eradication measures in the 1970s, and another massive global vaccination campaign in the 1980s, measles death rate fell from 2.6 million down to 73,000 by 2014.

But measles appears to be surfacing once more. We have to make sure, both children and adults have their vaccination updated. Discuss this with your physician.

Deadly Disease “X”

The World Health Organization, at its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, is warning countries to be ready for pandemic “20 times” deadlier than COVID-19. Hopefully, all nations around the world would reach an agreement by May 2024 on how to fight this “common killer enemy.”

While such a viral nemesis does not exist currently, experts would like to be proactive and preemptive in developing a plan of action and preparing the global health system for a potential deadlier pandemic. We had more than 7.2 million COVID-19 cases worldwide and lost almost 7 million lives from COVID-19.

The United States had more than 110 million cases and almost 1.2 million deaths, and The Philippines, more than 4.1 million cases, and almost 67,000 deaths, from the COVID-19 pandemic.

As I have stated in my new book, “Where is My America?” (Amazon.com), these deaths were greatly preventable had the management been left to physicians and science, instead of to politicians and civil right protestors.

Here, we saw a vast conflict between civil rights and medical science. Those who invoked their freedom to refuse the vaccines and mitigating measures (like masking and distanc-

ing), were prone to get infected, became viral carriers and spreaders of the infections, while they exercised for their civil rights.

According to the CDC, only 81.4 percent of Americans have been vaccinated, leaving 18.6 percent (270+million) unvaccinated. One carrier of the virus is enough to cause a pandemic, as shown by COVID-19, where one woman in Wuhan, China, started the global disaster. So, the 270 million+ carriers of the virus explain why COVID-19 is still with us today. Their bodies are acting like reservoirs of viruses where they replicate and mutate to various new strains. Currently, the predominant strain is JN.1 (61.6 percent), followed by HV.1, 14.8 percent, and JD.1.1, 4.4 percent. The original omicron is gone but its subvariants (EG.5, XBB.1.16.6, and FL 1.5.1, are still circulating.

The scientific way (the only proper method) of managing a viral pandemic is to vaccinate everyone (except those with medical contraindication), via a federal (national) mandate for vaccination and mitigating measures, like masking and isolation (where needed) with compassionate people temporarily waving their civil rights for the sake of their fellowmen, the entire nation, and its economy.

No matter what plan all the nations in the WHO agree to deploy, if the people of each nation do not accept a national mandate for vaccination and refuse on the basis of their First Amendment right, they will continue to be carriers and spreaders of the virus, resulting in more deaths, which are preventable: (COVID-19) history repeating itself. In this scenario, the plan will never achieve its maximal effectiveness and life-saving objective.

Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He was a decorated recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995, conferred by then Indiana Governor, later Senator, and then presidential candidate, Evan Bayh. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry Truman, President George HW Bush, Muhammad Ali, Astronaut Gus Grissom and other personalities (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday. com, and philipSchua.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

Stephen Alvarado, father of Hayley

PHILIP S. CHUA

Recipe of the Week

Batchoy Tagalog

Batchoy Tagalog is not similar to the La Paz batchoy of Iloilo. The Tagalog version is more similar to tinola in cooking method. Batchoy Tagalog is a soup dish made up pork loin and pork innards like kidney, spleen, liver and heart sautéed in ginger, garlic and onion. Pork blood is also added to the dish. Misua noodle is used instead of miki noodle. The pork blood is added in liquefied form which result a murky black soup dish that is un appealing to those who are not familiar with this delicious dish.

Ingredients:

1 kilo lomo, pork loin, sliced

1/2 k. pork innards, kidney, spleen, liver (optional)

1 bowl coagulated pork blood, boiled, cut into cubes

1 small packet misua noodles

2 thumb size ginger, cut into strips

2 large size sayote, sliced

1/2 head garlic, chopped

1 medium size onion, chopped

1/2 tsp. peppercorns crushed

1 bundle dahon ng sili, chili leaves

1/4 cup patis, fish sauce

3 siling haba

salt

cooking oil

Cooking procedure:

In a casserole sauté garlic, onion and ginger. Add pork (including pork innards if using) and patis, cook for 2-3 minutes or until meat change color. Add in 8-12 cups of water and peppercorns, bring to boil, simmer for 5-10 minutes. Then add in pork blood and sayote simmer for another 3-5 minutes until sayote are just cooked but firm. Add more salt if required. Now add in the misua noodles cook for another 1-2 minutes, add in siling haba and chili leaves and cook for another minute. Serve hot.

Sagada opens ‘sacred’, historic cave to lure more tourists

SAGADA, Mountain Province – Tourists who have been to this town have more reasons to return with the opening of new attractions including the Balangagan burial cave that features crystal-white rock formations.

This as Robert Pangod, former tourism officer of this town who is now a volunteer tour guide, urged tourists to visit Balangagan and not just the Sumaguing and Lumiang caves to have a complete experience of Sagada, PNA’s Liza Agoot reported.

Pangod said due to the presence of coffins, the cave is considered “sacred” as well as historic, having served as an evacuation site for the locals during World War II, which kept them out of the eyes of the Japanese invaders in the Cordillera region, the report added.

“Ang Balangagan parang circular itsura niya, bale may tatlong level, pinaka mataas ang burial chamber, dito mo makikita ang mga rock formation na puros mga white na limestone. Dito din ang mga chandelier type (Balangagan cave is circular in appearance with three levels the topmost of which is the burial chamber where you can see white limestone rock formations. Chandelier type of rock formations can also be found here),” he said.

Pangod said the second level of the cave has rock formations in gray and black.

Balangagan cave, which was opened to locals in 2014 and formally opened for tourism purposes in the last quarter of 2022, has a distinct character that also provides a cultural attachment for tourists.

Upon entering, visible are several traditional coffins laid on the side, the big burial jar on top of one of the ledges, and the small burial jar for children on another ledge.

Going in, visitors can find chandelier types of stalactites on the ceiling and walls. A crystal-white stalactite almost meeting a stalagmite is also among the first views. On the flooring are several rock formations also in crystal-white colors.

To see the three levels of the cave, at least 2.5 to three hours have to be spared for exploring and listening to the stories and briefings from the tour guide.

“Several other rock formations are inside which cannot be seen in Sumaguing,” Pangod said. “The best place to visit for a cultural attachment is Balangagan where you can see not just the coffins of the ancestors but the olden practice of burying in jars.”

Preservation efforts

Pangod said there used to be many jars when the cave was discovered and opened to the locals in 2014 but without anybody guarding it, some were destroyed, stolen or simply disintegrated over time.

“Makikita kanina, napaka puti yung

mga rock formation pero may mga talagang hindi rin alam ng mga turista pati ng ilang locals, bata na pumapasok na inaapak-apakan na lang ang rock formation kaya nagkakaroon ng mantsa (You saw awhile ago how white the rock formations are, but there are some tourists and locals who do not know, children enter and step on them, the reason there are stains),” he said.

He said local leaders of Sagada are appealing to tourists, tour guides, and residents to be responsible and not step on the rock formations on the floor or even touch them. Also, the “what you bring in, bring it out with you” rule should be observed, he added.

Pangod said a maximum of 100 persons including the 20 guides are allowed at a time inside Balangagan to prevent much disturbance in the cave.

He noted that Balangagan and the other sites in the southern zone were opened with the conformity of the community, and tour packages have been created with the people’s participation pertaining to social preparations and safety features.

More tourist sites, more accommodations

Mayor Felicito Dula, in a separate interview, said tourism is Sagada’s primary source of income and they are happy that the tourism industry of their town is well on its way to “normal” after the pandemic.

“So far the restaurants, souvenir shops, shuttle service, and accommodations can feel the difference compared to the pandemic and we are thankful. We opened Sagada without the required entry protocols because we know that our stakeholders have prepared for the arrival of the tourists and we want to be in the itinerary of travelers and tourists,” Dula said.

From the previous 3,500-bed capacity, he said the town is now capable of accommodating up to 5,000 guests with the opening of additional facilities which the residents prepared amid the health crisis.

The average accommodation rates are from PHP350 to PHP500 per head per night, he noted.

“Discover Sagada, Discover yourself, come to Sagada, and experience the new attractions prepared by our people for everyone to enjoy,” Dula said.