PNEWS 2.8-2.14,2024

MINDANAO SECESSION BID GRIPS PHL, BACKED, NIXED

Imee goes against Bongbong’s call to amend charter

By Be�ng Laygo Dolor, Editor

MANILA – Now it’s Imee vs Bongbong, it seems.

Showing the same independent streak that she had as far back as the time that their father was presi-

contradicted her brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who recently said that he was in favor of amending portions of the 1987 Constitution, specifically some of its economic provisions.

During a Senate subcommittee on Constitutional Amendments and Revisions at the start of this week, Senator Marcos said that foreign investors “never mentioned” any need to amend the charter in her frequent meetings with them.

PNP warns of chaos; DND, DoJ vow to protect sovereignty

By ALFRED GABOT , Editor in Chief

MANILA/DAVAO CITY – A threat by former President Rodrigo Duterte to lead a secession of Mindanao from the rest of the Philippines has gripped the country as leaders and citizens were starkly divided on the proposed independence of the nation’s second biggest island.

California hit by strongest winter storm

SAN FRANCISCO -

At least nine people were killed as California was hit by a mega atmospheric river storm that left record rainfall and caused floods and hundreds of mudslides.

Los Angeles recorded several landslides as San Diego braced for floods, according to reports.

Balloon incident triggers more Asian hate

By Gilda P. Balan, Correspondent

SAN FRANCISCO -

An Incident of a balloon flying over US airspace last year was another tool used by hatemongers to resort to Asian hate assaults.

Whether it was a spy balloon as initially claimed by the military, or a weather balloon as the source tried to explain was

no longer the issue, as too many were quick to reach conclusions without first checking the facts.

Writing for the AsAm News website, Julia Tong stated that the so-called Chinese Spy Balloon caper “became one of the most prominent stories of 2023.”

Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency for eight counties in Southern California as a series of winter storms began impacting much of the state with high Page 9 Page 10 Page 18

UPSIDE

by Cherie M. Querol Moreno

Council Member Buenaventura resigns, hailed for raising FilAm visibility, pride

As Daly City Council Member, Buenaventura led the effort toward the first-ever state FilAm memorializa�on of his mentor Alice Bulos.

DALY CITY, Calif. - Seniormost Daly City Council member Ray Buenaventura has resigned from the City Council, abruptly ending a 13-year service highlighted by four terms as Mayor, the one best known for empowering Filipino Americans.

The lone Philippine-born among the four FilAms of five sitting Council Members turned in his resignation with the City Clerk, making his decision official, City Manager Tom Piccolotti told author of what had been the subject of speculation since September,

Badajos, Manotoc to address new media club

FilAms weigh in on Super Bowl in Las Vegas

dent, Senator Imee Marcos

Senator Imee Marcos

Marcos, Sara approval, trust ratings improve in December: OCTA

MANILA – The public trust and approval ratings of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte improved in the fourth quarter of 2023 based on a OCTA Research Group survey.

Results of the Dec. 10-14, 2023 “Tugon ng Masa” survey showed that Marcos scored a 76 percent trust rating and a 71 percent approval rating.

Marcos’ trust score is 3 points higher compared to the 73 percent recorded in October 2023, while his performance rating is 6 points higher than the third quarter’s 65 percent.

Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte obtained a trust rating of 77 percent, which is 2 points higher than the 75 percent recorded in October 2023.

Duterte got an approval score of 75 percent, up by 5 points from October 2023’s 70 percent rating.

The Vice President’s performance was disapproved by 7 percent, while only 5 percent distrust her.

For congressional leaders, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri got a satisfaction rating of 60 percent and House Speaker Martin Romualdez obtained a 65

percent approval rating.

For trustworthiness, Zubiri posted a 59 percent rating, and Romualdez got a 64 percent score.

Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo received a satisfaction of 18 percent for his quarterly performance, and only 23 percent trust him.

“While President Marcos Jr.’s trust ratings improved during the survey, this is within the margin of error. On the other hand, his performance ratings increased significantly compared to the 3rd quarter survey conducted in October 2023,” OCTA said.

Only 9 percent disapproved of the work done by President Marcos, while only 8 percent distrust him.

Across major areas, the President’s highest trust rating is in the Visayas at 79 percent, while his highest satisfaction rating is in Balance Luzon at 77 percent.

His lowest trust and approval ratings are recorded in Mindanao at 69 percent and 57 percent, respectively.

The Vice President’s performance was disapproved by 7 percent, while only 5 percent distrust her.

Filipinos cautioned vs. AI-generated child exploitation materials

PASIG CITY – The Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) on Tuesday warned parents and guardians against an emerging trend in child abuse and exploitation – the use of artificial intelligence (AI), which comes with child suicide as one of its “dreadful” consequences.

“Based on the information I received from the PNP (Philippine National Po-

lice) Women’s and Children’s Protection Center as of Jan. 31, 2024, there has not been any reported case of AI CSAEM (child sexual abuse or exploitation materials) or CSAM (child sexual abuse material) in the Philippines. We are sounding the alarm now because soon, it might come to our shores and by that time it might be too late,” CWC executive director Undersecretary Angelo Tapales said during the Safer Internet Day Conference in Pasig City.

Tapales noted that such AI-generated materials have already proliferated in other countries, citing a study by a non-government organization in the United Kingdom, which examined a dark website with more than 20,000 CSAEM generated by AI.

He noted that while violators of online sexual abuse or exploitation of children are driven by poverty and underdevelopment, proliferators of such materials are “new species of violators who are very intelligent and techy.”

“They have the finances to buy softwares and hardwares to create AIgenerated CSAEM. These might be people who don’t have the stomach to touch children, to take nude pictures of children, but out of greed, they have the technical knowledge to create these materials,” he said.

NASA aircraft to fly low-altitude over Manila to study air quality

MANILA – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said Tuesday a DC-8 aircraft of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) would fly at low altitude over the Manila urban area to study the air quality in the Philippines as part of an international collaboration.

NASA’s Airborne and Satellite

Investigation of Asian Air Quality (ASIA-AQ) science mission started deploying on Feb. 5 the DC-8 aircraft targeting on four flights until 14.

“The aircraft will fly over the Manila urban area at a safe, low altitude, without harm, to study the air quality in the Philippines as part of the international collaboration of NASA and the DENR,” the DENR said.

The ASIA-AQ brings together international experts from NASA in the United States, South Korea’s National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), and Thailand’s GeoInformatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA).

For the Philippines, engineers and air quality specialists of the DENR’s

Environmental Management Bureau will join the flights and learn from the NASA scientists on board.

The Philippine Space Agency, Manila Observatory, Ateneo de Manila University, and University of the Philippines will also collaborate to understand and tackle air pollution challenges in the region.

QC girds for 3-day Chinese New Year revelry

QUEZON CITY – The Quezon City government has prepared a three-day celebration for the Chinese New Year from February 9 to 11 to promote Banawe as the city’s Chinatown tourism hub.

QC Tourism Department Officer-InCharge Maria Teresa Tirona said the city government is expecting about 10,000 local and foreign tourists for the event as the city holds various activities that will include a Chinatown Heritage Tour, among others.

Mayor Joy Belmonte said the fes-

tivities signify the city’s commitment to promoting Banawe through its various cultural attractions that feature the unique Filipino-Chinese heritage in the city.

“Magkakaroon din ng pagkakataon ang ating mga kababayan na mapalago ang kanilang kaalaman ukol sa mayamang kultura ng mga kapatid nating Chinese (The public will have the chance to deepen their knowledge of the rich culture of our Chinese brothers and sisters),” she said in a statement.

Tirona said members of the press, as

well as social media influencers, were invited to attend the heritage tour to be led by Chinese tour guide Stanley Chi.

The tour will explore landmarks in the area such as Sheng Lian Temple, the Buddhist Humanitarian Organization headquarters of the Tzu Chi Foundation, the Filipino-Chinese Friendship arcs called “Paifangs”, and the Wow Toy Museum, among others.

It will also include a food crawl to some of the hidden culinary gems of the city’s Chinatown District.

A food, arts, and crafts fair will also be held featuring Chinese delicacies, lucky charms, and unique artisanal products.

A Chinatown float parade, Chinese calligraphy, and painting demonstration will also be held, while a Lion and Dragon dancers will perform around the area.

Meanwhile, Police District Chief Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan said they will deploy uniformed personnel during the three-day celebration to secure the areas, despite the absence of any threats.

2 American sex offenders barred from entering PHL

MANILA – Two convicted sex offenders from the United States have been barred from entering the country after their names prompted positive derogatory

hits in the border control information system of the Bureau of Immigration (BI). BI border control and intelligence unit (BCIU) overall deputy chief Joseph

Cueto identified the excluded passengers as Nathan Lee Woodward and Bennison Noveda Flores at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminals 1 and 3, respectively.

Woodward arrived last Jan. 27 via a Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight from Los Angeles.

“He was immediately issued an exclusion order and boarded on the next available PAL flight to Los Angeles that very same day,” Cueto said in a statement.

Woodward was convicted by a court in Nevada in 1990 on the charge of engaging in lewd and lascivious acts against a 14-year-old child. As a result of his conviction, he was required to register as a sex offender after serving his sentence.

Meanwhile, Flores arrived via a United Airlines flight from San Francisco on Feb. 5.

He is listed in the California State Registry after being previously convicted of continuous sexual abuse of a child.

San Miguel building P300-B new tollways

MANDALUYONG CITY - San Miguel Corp will build two new tollways this year with a combined cost of over P300 billion.

SMC said the two tollways are the Southern Access Link Expressway (SALEX) worth P152 billion, and the Northern Access Link Expressway (NALEX) worth P148 billion by the fourth quarter of this year.

According to the Toll Regulatory Board, SALEX is a 40.65-kilometer elevated expressway network that includes the Shoreline Expressway and three (3) Metro Manila Skyway Stage (MMSS3) Extensions, namely: C3-R10 Extension, Quirino Extension, and Buendia Extension.

Fishers’ group slams military intervention in a boat making project

NAUJAN, Oriental Mindoro – The activist fishers’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) sought direct intervention from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on its ongoing Boat Making Project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, amid the interference of the 203rd Infantry Brigade (IB) of the Philippine Army.

A joint project by the BFAR Central Office and the humanitarian group Southern Tagalog People Corps (STPC), the Boat Making Project aims to extend fishing boats and gears to members of PAMALAKAYA-Mindoro Oriental, who were affected by the oil spill that hit the province last year.

Since the weekend, PAMALAKAYA has been receiving reports that the boat construction is being interrupted, as elements of the police and military have been imposing various requirements for the construction such as ‘sanitary permit and other safety requirements’.

Pampanga nets P1-B in quarry revenues

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The provincial government here collected a record-breaking P1.056 billion in revenues from quarrying at Mt. Pinatubo in 2023.

A statement from the Office of the Governor said the amount would be of great help in boosting the delivery of health and other services to Kapampangans.

Based on records of the Office of the Provincial Treasurer (OPT), the administration of Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda collected P459.6 million in 2019; P609.6 million in 2020; P782.5 million in 2021; and P738.6 million in 2022.

The revenues were generated through the P250 administrative fee and P150 sand tax and various fees, including penalties.

The barangays, cities or towns, and province share the sand tax at 40-30-30 percent, respectively. The capitol retains the administrative fee to regulate the multi-millionpeso quarry industry, bringing the net provincial share or revenues to over P2 billion in five years.

“Malaki po ang aking pagpapasalamat sa mga quarry associations at hauling companies dahil sa kanilang pagba-

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The senator should know of what she speaks, being the former chairman of the Senate committee on Economic Affairs.

What the foreign investors are looking for, according to her, was lower power rates, better infrastructure, less government red tape, and a reliable regulatory framework.

“At no point did they say that the Constitution needed to be changed,” she told the Senate subcommittee hearing. The body is under the Committee on Amendments and Revisions chaired by Senator Sonny Angara.

Among the amendments sought by the president are to end the ban on foreign ownership of real estate as well as such business as advertising.

Under the latter, Ms. Marcos pointed out that the top ad agencies in the country are multinationals and are therefore already foreign controlled.

Under present laws, the only real property foreigners can own are condominium units, and only within certain sizes. But foreigners have long skirted such ownership laws by marrying Filipino citizens.

Ms. Marcos did not mention it, but foreign companies have also pointed to the slow internet speeds in the country compared to its neighbors like Singapore, Taiwan, and Vietnam, among others.

What she did point out was what she called the puzzling list for public services cited by the Senate body. Ms. Marcos cited the constant investigations of the Senate, as well as the many problems with the National Grid

bayad ng buwis, pagsunod sa ating mga patakaran at pagtalima sa batas kontra-overloading (I am extremely grateful to quarry associations and hauling companies for their payment of taxes, for adhering to our policies and obeying the anti-overloading law),” Pineda said.

He also thanked former Bacolor Mayor Romeo Dungca for supervising well the regulatory unit Kalam (Kapampangan a Lulugud at Matapat).

Business leaders had said that Kapampangans showed their resiliency after the June 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo when they transformed the disaster into a “kalam” (blessing) by selling the sand and other volcanic debris from the lahar flows.

“Ang kita po sa quarry ay ginagamit lagi sa mga serbisyo para sa ating mga kabalen (Our revenues from quarrying are always used in the services for our townmates),” Pineda assured.

The governor said his administration continues to be committed to protecting the environment as well as government and private infrastructure while regulating the industry.

Corporation of the Philippines – which is partly foreign owned – that show that further opening the economy to foreigners was not necessarily a must at this point.

Another area that could be opened to foreigners is the education sector, which Ms. Marcos likewise rejected. While acknowledging that private education is presently troubled due to shrinking enrollment, the lawmaker said she was afraid foreign educators who come in would result in the country’s students being “converted into aliens.”

Her brother the president had specifically asked the entire Senate to review the current charter and come up with suggestions on which changes would be beneficial to further the country’s economic development.

Previously, Senator Marcos had engaged in a word war with their cousin, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez over the latter’s support for the People’s Initiative as a means to amend the charter.

The Speaker had openly sought to amend the Constitution, a move that Ms. Marcos is not supporting.

The lady senator also remains a strong ally of the Duterte family, which are all against charger change.

During the time of the Marcos dictatorship, a young Imee Marcos often went against her family’s wishes, even going so far as dating a then married man – Tommy Manotoc – who later became her husband, and by whom she had two children.

Much later, she even said her mother, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, was “a little crazy” sometimes for saying things she did not agree with or even understand.

AROUND THE NATION

Magnitude 5.4 earthquake jolts Ilocos Norte

LAOAG CITY – A magnitude 5.4 earthquake was felt by residents in this northern part of Luzon at around 12:05 p.m. on Feb. 7, state seismologists reported. The epicenter of the quake was located some 16 kilometers northwest of Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said, noting that it was tectonic in origin with a depth of 10 kilometers. Some residents also felt Intensity 6 in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte and Intensity 4 in Sinait, Ilocos Sur, Phivolcs said.

AFP questions Canada’s travel advisory

DAVAO CITY – The Army’s 10th Infantry Division (10ID) is not aware of the basis of the recent travel advisory issued by the Canadian government, warning tourists on visiting Mindanao, including the Davao region. “We can assure and attest that our region is peaceful,” said Maj. Mark Anthony Tito, the 10ID spokesperson, as he noted that in 2023, they have not recorded any violent incidents in terms of terrorism, and insurgency. “All we can say is, the [travel advisory] does not fit with what is happening here in our region,” Tito said.

Samal-Davao

bridge project in full swing

SAMAL CITY – The P23 billion bridge project connecting this city and the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) is still a go contrary to reports that it has been suspended. In a statement, Presidential Assistant for Eastern Mindanao Leo Tereso Magno clarified the issue, saying he called up Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Emil Sadain to verify if the project was indeed suspended, as claimed by National Economic Development Authority-11 director Ma. Lourdes Lim in a report. Lim revealed that the implementation of the Samal Island- Davao City Connector (SIDC) project has been suspended since November last year until Jan. 3 this year.

900 homeless in Puerto Princesa fire

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY – Hundreds of homes in two densely populated coastal barangays in this city were engulfed in a massive structural fire that broke out early Feb. 7. The Puerto Princesa City Fire Station said about 920 families living in some 450 houses were forced to relocate due to the incident. The structures that were gutted were constructed from light materials in Bagong Silang and Pagkakaisa villages, situated near the cruise port project currently being developed by the government.

Dinagyang Festival 2024 a success

ILOILO CITY – Iloilo’s Dinagyang Festival was a big success, with the Tribu Pan-ay and the Tultugan Festival bringing home championship crowns for the Tribes Competition and the “Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan,” respectively. Tribu Pan-ay of the Fort San Pedro National High School bagged the P1 million cash prize, P10 million worth of projects from the Uswag Ilonggo Party list pledged by Rep. James Ang, P15 million projects from the city government, P10,000 cash prize for the best music and best musical director special award. “Dinagyang has gone really to the next level. Ilonggos are very proud, not only Ilonggos who are here in Iloilo or even in the country, (but) Ilonggos even abroad. They

Imee...

Death toll in Mindanao floods, landslides rises to 18; aid ordered

DAVAO CITY - The death toll from the effects of bad weather due to through of a low-pressure area and the northeast monsoon in parts of Mindanao has climbed to 18.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported several died in the Davao Region alone due to floods and landslides, along with 11 injured and three missing persons.

Around 324,040 families or over 1.2 million persons in 723 villages in Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Caraga

and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao have so far been affected by the bad weather.

This prompted President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to visit the Davao region where he ordered the release of around P265 million to augment the relief assistance for the families affected by the recent flooding and landslides in Mindanao.

Marcos presided over a situation briefing at the Presidential Guest House in Davao City on Feb. 7 in the wake of flooding and landslides triggered by the

shear line and trough of a low-pressure area in the region.

Marcos also ordered fast delivery of government services by opening alternative routes to affected areas in Davao region.

In a situation briefing, President Marcos stressed that these would also allow responders and other government entities to enter and conduct the necessary assessment of damages to identified areas.

Davao de Oro Governor Dorothy Montejo Gonzaga said that while majority of national roads are passable in their jurisdiction, there are several municipal and barangay roads that need clearing efforts and further assessment to ensure its safety for commuters and responders conducting relief efforts.

Marcos said the additional funds will be used to help the displaced families buy other household items.

“From the reports that we have had, I think that we are doing all right in the food— the provision of food packs, etcetera. But as the Secretary was explaining, it gets to the point na hindi lang pagkain ang kailangan ng tao (that the people need

not just food). They need to buy other things para sa kanilang (for their) household,” he said.

“That’s why I released P265 million to make sure that the pace of the response is immediate at maramdaman kaagad ng tao, meron kaagad silang tulong, maramdaman nila kaagad na meron silang gagamitin sa pangangailangan nila (and the people feel immediately, that there is immediate assistance, they feel immediately that they have something to use for their needs),” Marcos added.

Mindanao Railway Project to start in Davao City

DAVAO CITY – The first phase of the Mindanao Railway Project (MRP) is set to begin with pre-construction activities in Davao City, Tagum and Digos while the search for the project’s funding continues.

During a town hall meeting on the railway sector in Davao City, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista said alternative funding sources are being sought such as official development assistance (ODA) from foreign

governments and international banks.

“We decided to pursue Phase 1 of the MRP despite withdrawal of prior funding commitment from the government of China,” Bautista said.

To date, he said land acquisitions for the project are ongoing from Tagum to Digos via Davao City.

Resettlement sites have also been identified for those that will be affected by its construction.

“The Tagum train village is scheduled for turnover to its future residents in the coming months. Livelihood programs are also being prepared for affected families,” he said.

Once underway, Bautista said the TagumDavao-Digos line will “concretize” the master rail plan of connecting Mindanao via railway.

The MRP Phase 1 covers eight stations, spans a length of 100.2 kilometers, and has a total projected cost of P81.6 billion.

Once completed, it will serve 122,000 passengers daily and will reduce travel time from Tagum City to Digos City to one hour from three hours.

The entire MRP itself will span 1,544 kilometers and connect several areas in Mindanao including Davao, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Cotabato, Zamboanga, Butuan, Surigao and Malaybalay.

SITUATION BRIEFING. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leads the situa�on briefing on the effects of the shearline and low-pressure area in Davao Region at the Department of Public Works and Highways in Davao City on Feb. 7.

CAMP CRAME, Quezon City – The Philippine National Police (PNP) would not enforce any arrest warrant that would be issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against former president Rodrigo Duterte amid its investigation into the drug war of the past administration.

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo made the remark after Duterte’s legal counsel and former Palace spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte received information that he may be arrested “any time”.

Fajardo said the PNP will comply with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive that the Philippine government “will not lift a finger to help any investigation that the ICC conducts.”

“The President and the Department of Justice have already spoken and we support that stand. We also question the jurisdiction of the ICC because we have already with-

QUEZON CITY – The country’s unemployment rate in December last year fell to its lowest level since 2005, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.

drawn from it. For all intents and purposes, the ICC has no jurisdiction over us, they could issue a WOA (warrant of arrest) to anyone but its enforcement is another thing,” she said in a press briefing at Camp Crame.

Stressing that Marcos’ order on the matter is “very clear”, Fajardo said such an act of the ICC is an “interference in our country’s sovereignty”.

She added that this is applicable not only to Duterte but also to ordinary citizens who may face a case outside the jurisdiction of PNP, noting that the country’s existing laws require certain coordination procedures on these matters.

Earlier, Marcos said the government is keeping an eye on the ICC to make sure that it would “not come into contact with any agency of government.”

The Philippines formally cut ties with the ICC on March 17, 2019.

National Statistician Dennis Mapa said preliminary results of the latest Labor Force Survey (LFS) showed that the unemployment rate in December 2023 further went down to 3.1 percent from 4.3 percent in December 2022.

It was also lower than the 3.8 percent seen in November 2023 and the lowest recorded unemployment rate since the PSA introduced a new methodology for measuring the LFS in 2005.

Mapa said the number of unemployed Filipinos was estimated at 1.6 million, lower than the reported 2.22 million in December 2022.

The Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR), meanwhile, was at 66.6 percent or about 52.13 million Filipinos aged 15 and above who were either employed or unemployed.

The country’s employment rate went up to 96.9 percent in December 2023, higher than the 95.7 percent a year earlier.

The number of employed Filipinos was recorded at 50.52 million in December 2023, higher than the number of employed persons in December 2022 at 49 million.

Mapa said industries with the biggest increase in employment include construction (+777,000), agriculture and forestry (+715,000), accommodation and food service activities (+498,000), transportation and storage (+174,000), and human health and social work activities (+140,000).

Underemployed persons or those who expressed the desire to have additional hours of work in their current job or to have an additional job or to have a new job with longer hours of work was at 6.01 million.

For the full year of 2023, the country’s unemployment went down to 4.3 percent from 5.4 percent in 2022.

Former president Rodrigo Duterte

Mindanao....

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While many have come out in the open for the Mindanao independence, a dream of many Filipinos for decades due to alleged neglect by the central government in Manila, the government immediately branded the plan as “treason” even as the Philippine National Police warned of possible chaos if the plan is pursued.

The Department of Defense and the Department of Justice, at the same time, have issued warnings against moves that threaten the “territorial integrity” of the Philippines.

Duterte revived the campaign for Mindanao independence following his tirade against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. who he had claimed as a “drug addict” and the plot was immediately supported by leaders like Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez who started gathering signatures for the plan.

“The mandate of the Department of National Defense is to secure the sovereignty of the State and the integrity of our national territory as enshrined in the Constitution,” Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said, adding “we will strictly enforce this mandate whether externally or internally.”

In a separate statement, the Department of Justice headed by Secretary Crispin Remulla said it is “vehemently opposed” to calls for secession “of Mindanao or other parts of the country,” pointing out that secession is contrary to the principles of a democratic society as stated in the Constitution and called on Filipinos “to reject secessionist ideologies.”

PNP Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said the PNP is monitoring the movement, adding that he is confident that the national police will oppose moves to separate Mindanao from the Republic of the Philippines.

“These are all defined through our Constitution, yung territory natin, sovereignty natin. It’s not good na after all the sacrifices of our heroes and other kababayans and now that we

are enjoying peace that this comes up,” Acorda said.

Duterte threatened to separate Mindanao from the rest of the Philippines as he and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. disagreed on efforts to amend the 1987 Constitution.

Meanwhile, during the first public hearing of the Subcommittee on Constitutional Amendments’ hearing on RBH 6, framers of the 1987 Constitution as well as proponents of charter change gave their pieces about the latest attempt to amend the Constitution.

For Retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., one of the framers of the Constitution, amending the charter would not solve the country’s problem with foreign direct investments.

“Our problems are not due to the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution. They cannot be solved by removing its restrictive economic provisions and completely leaving to Congress the future under the clause ‘unless otherwise provided by law,’” Davide told the subcommittee.

He noted that on the contrary, amending the economic provision of the charter “would create more serious and disturbing problems and consequences.”

Former Commission on Elections chairman Christian Monsod, also one of the framers of the 1987 Constitution, echoed the same sentiments, stressing that the passage of RBH 6 would pave the way for the abuse by corrupt officials.

Meanwhile, retired Supreme Court Justice Adolfo Azcuna said he is in favor of removing all restrictive economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution, stressing that restrictions and economic policies should not be in the Constitution.

Azcuna, also one of the framers, suggested that the two chambers reconcile to discuss how to proceed with the RHB 6.

California....

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winds, damaging rain and heavy snowfall.

The proclamation covers Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

The emergency proclamation includes provisions authorizing a California National Guard response if tasked, facilitating unemployment benefits for impacted residents, and making it easier for out-ofstate contractors and utilities to repair storm damage.

Earlier, 36 million Californians from the southern border through Sonoma County braced for potentially life-threatening floods from a weekend atmospheric river. Ethnic Media Services’ Selen Ozturk reported.

The season’s strongest storm brought heavy rain, snow and wind from the evening of Saturday, February 3 through at least Tuesday, said National Weather Service meteorologist Eric Schoening at an emergency response briefing held by the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) on Saturday.

While these two early-February storms differ from last year’s season, which brought months of atmospheric rivers, “this individual storm has the potential for very significant impacts,” he added. “This storm could have just as big — if not bigger — impacts than any individual storm from last year.”

else in the country that’s invested the way the Newsom administration has invested in protecting vulnerable populations,” said Brian Ferguson, CalOES Deputy Director of Crisis Communications. “That’s something that’s come directly out of the Camp Fire and something that we think about every single day, keeping the most at-risk members of our community safe.”

Major General Matt Beevers from the California Force of the National Guard said the guard was at the ready to respond to any crises that may occur, with resources including high water vehicles; engineering; aviation; and general-purpose aid like filling sandbags.

Karla Namath, director of the Department of Water Resources, said those living near rivers were particularly vulnerable.

Five rivers statewide are expected to flood during the atmospheric river: the Russian River in Mendocino County; the Carmel River in Monterey County; the Guadalupe River in Santa Clara County; the Ventura River in Ventura County; and the San Diego River in San Diego County.

The state’s flood operation center will be active 24 hours a day throughout the storm as workers have already distributed nearly five million sandbags statewide.

“What’s different this year from last year is that we have full reservoirs, which have already started releasing flood water to make space for inflows,” Namath added.

While the Bay Area and Central Valley will feel early impacts through Sunday, the heaviest flooding is expected across the central and southern coast — including Los Angeles and San Diego — from Sunday through Tuesday.

In Southern California, which is most at risk of life-threatening flooding, an average of three to seven inches of rain are expected along the coast and in the valleys, and six to 12 inches are expected in the mountains, but some regions may get as much as 15 inches.

Storm floods “are the most dangerous natural disasters that we have,” said CalOES Director Nancy Ward, killing more Californians annually than even wildfires and earthquakes do.

In response, she continued, Gov. Newsom’s office “has mobilized the full weight of the state government” by extending the CalOES emergency operation center to 24 hours a day; putting over “8,500 boots on the ground through CalOES, CHP, CalFire, Caltrans, the Conservation Corps and the National Guard”; having over 7 million sandbags ready alongside sheltering and basic needs supplies for nearly 40,000 people; and readying high water rescue teams and equipment.

As of Saturday, Ward said CalOES has also launched a phone bank to contact nearly two million people in California’s most disaster-prone areas with emergency warning and evacuation guidance in English, Spanish, Korean, Tagalog, Vietnamese and Mandarin.

Those most disproportionately vulnerable to disasters — and thus prioritized by the phone initiative — also include “individuals who may be older, may have disabilities or may speak English as a second language,” said California Department of Social Services Director Kim Johnson.

“There is no administration anywhere

CalFIRE Chief Deputy Director Anale Burlew said emergency preparation for this week’s storm coincides with emergency recovery from last week’s. Many swift water teams were deployed to rescue people from vehicles trapped in water, including two individuals in San Diego — “and I bring this up as a reminder to not drive vehicles through roadways with moving or still water.”

“Remember — six inches of water can down an adult, 12 inches can sweep away your vehicle and two feet of water can move an SUV or a truck,” added Ward.

“Please postpone any non-essential travel until after the storm passes,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares. “However, if you must travel, please slow down, allow additional time to get to your destination and check our real-time road condition updates.”

“Caltrans has activated all of our emergency operations centers from Eureka down to San Diego, and we have over 4,000 people working around the clock with over 1,200 pieces of equipment to address situations like flooding, muddy rock debris, slides, and snow removal,” he continued.

What can Californians do?

As the storm comes, how can Californians keep themselves safe?

Stay informed by signing up for emergency alerts at calalerts.org; check emergency updates through the CalOES website and social media; avoid non-essential travel and prepare for power outages during very high winds; don’t drive through flooded roadways; and follow any local evacuation notices.

The good news is that after Tuesday, rain will significantly lessen and no flood risks are currently expected mid-week onward, said Schoening. “Better news: It looks like we’ll have a break in storm activity through much of the middle of February,” with drier-than-usual conditions statewide. (with Ethnic Media Services)

FRANCIS ESPIRITU

Publisher/President

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 MARILYN

LYDIA

A case of sedition

What should a government do when one of its citizens engages in what amounts to sedition? More importantly, what if that citizen just happens to be the immediate past president?

Sedition, defined as engaging in conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the established order, is a serious crime. Many states declare that those who engage in sedition face the death penalty.

Last week, former president Rodrigo Duterte threatened to have Mindanao secede from the Republic of the Philippines. This came just after he said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was a drug addict, a regular user of cocaine.

Exactly why Duterte aired the threat to create a separate republic is not very clear. He does seem disgruntled with the Marcos administration for a number of reasons, beginning last year when his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, was denied the millions of pesos in intelligence funds that she had her heart set on getting.

Then followed the somewhat non-committal stance of the government where the International Criminal Court (ICC) is concerned. The Marcos administration previously had a policy of not allowing ICC investigators to so much as enter Philippine territory under pain of arrest.

More recently, however, the government has a newer policy of not cooperating with the ICC, but also not banning its investigators from entering the Philippines to continue its probe on the previous Duterte regime’s bloody war on drugs.

It was a war that saw thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of mostly poor young men suspected of pushing or using drugs being summarily executed.

There was no presumption of innocence until proven guilty. There were no warrants of arrest. There was just policemen and in some cases vigilantes raiding private residence and executing the suspected drug users or pushers.

The Duterte administration and later the Marcos government insisted that the Philippines had a fully functioning justice system, thus the families of the victims could always go to court.

But human rights activists asked a valid question: How can the families of the victims turn to the government when it was the very same government that they suspected of being behind the executions of their loved ones?

The ICC has pointed to former president Duterte as being the prime suspect under the principle of command responsibility. There are also numerous public statements he uttered saying all drug addicts should be killed, for all he cared.

Just to be on the safe side, it is believed that he allowed his daughter to run and win as VP as the administration that succeeded his would offer the elder Duterte sufficient protection to avoid and evade the ICC.

Despite his past brave words stating he was not afraid of the UN-sanctioned court, there is little doubt that the former president was afraid of possible arrest and being made to face trial by the court.

Maybe, just maybe, being the head of a new country would provide him the protection that the Philippine government may not fully offer.

There’s just one catch. Two actually.

One, seceding from the republic is plain and simply an act of sedition. Secondly, Duterte has not gotten the public support he was counting on.

The Duterte family may be lords and masters of Davao City, but they do not hold much influence over the rest of Mindanao.

Rodrigo Duterte should face the music. At least with the ICC, he will be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

when the Lake County Board of Supervisors appointed Buenaventura Chief Public Defender. City Clerk Annette Hipona confirmed that she received the resignation by email on Friday, Feb. 2.

“I enjoyed every minute of my service on the Council but always understood that my term was not indefinite. That time has now come,” Buenaventura told Inquirer.netUSA about his exit to focus on a new mandate. “I will be creating a new Office of the Public Defender and am excited to build an office from the ground up. It is a challenge I am eager to meet.”

He aims to “establish a premier indigent defense,” he had written in a post-installation letter published October on the Lake County website, where he invited “anyone and everyone willing to meet” with him to bring forth a “communityfocused holistic public defense.”

“IN GOOD HANDS”

M. QUEROL MORENO

The county seat of Lakeport is over a hundred miles or three hours away from his home in the Westlake District of Daly City, a logistical hurdle if he were to hold both appointed and elected offices. But something else swayed his decision.

“I believe I am leaving the office in a better position than when I first arrived in 2011. I gave the city all that I have to give, and I have no regrets,” he pointed to the scenario that had brought him to the City Council in the first place.

“As I told some of my mentees, ‘I have nothing more to teach you. You have grown into becoming a great leader in your own right,” he named Piccolotti, Mayor Juslyn Manalo and Vice Mayor Rod Daus Magbual whose political careers he helped nurture. “I’m leaving knowing the city will be in good hands under your leadership. I wouldn’t leave otherwise.”

He dismissed the notion that the City Council was a mere stepping stone to a career in higher office, an early critique of Buenaventura in 2014 when he ran and lost a campaign for San Mateo County Superior Court.

For some, maybe, but not for him, he demurred. He considers himself an “accidental” politician, having been appointed to fill the seat vacated by a Council member later convicted of insurance fraud.

Buenaventura retained the seat the following election, joining now San Mateo County Community College Board Trustee Mike Guingona, in 1993 the first FilAm elected in Daly City.

He raised the visibility of the area’s largest population of color by initiating successful efforts to identify and guide prospective residents to follow in his political footsteps. Reflecting political savvy, he collaborated with state and private entities to gain approval to raise funds to name part of a state highway after the beloved late leader Alice Pena Bulos, a first in the nation. He also led the renaming of a Daly City park after the late Erlinda Tiongco Galeon, among earliest Daly City residents and a dedicated volunteer until her passing in 2016.

His decision to retire from the City Council came midway into the second year of his fourth term, prompting colleagues and allies to ponder his legacy with Inquirer.netUSA.

TRUE MENTOR

“Ray is one of a kind, a really great mentor to me in my public service career in Daly City and also in life,” offered Manalo. “He is one of the kindest people I’ve met and respect him for lifting others towards empowerment for the community.”

She noted how he “defines” humility as “one who does not want accolades because he works from his heart and passion to serve.”

“I wish him nothing but the utmost best as he serves” the people of Lake County,” she said, adding that he will be “missed dearly on the City Council” and has advised former colleagues they could “reach out,” proving he is “a servant leader to the core.”

Daus Magbual admitted he is sad Buenaventura is leaving, “but I understand that when opportunities open up, you take it.”

“His impact on our City Council is his mentorship,” emphasized the Skyline College Ethnic Studies professor.

SLet’s talk about sports CHERIE

ports in America, the Philippines and elsewhere, is definitely big business, and it is the fans who make it so.

There are, of course, many advantages of playing sports, besides the big bucks that doing so generates.

For one, it is good for one’s health, For another, it distracts the youths from drugs and other addictions.

If one is not a player, one can enjoy sports by watching the athletes play.

I, for one, enjoy watching basketball, baseball, golf, tennis, bowling players competing. Occasionally, I enjoy watching boxing bouts. Football, however, which I still cannot understand, is not my cup of tea.

Athletes earn millions every year, thanks to the millions of fans who buy tickets to their games and advertising contracts which draw fans to buy the products they advertise.

Have you noticed the huge numbers of fans at baseball, football, basketball games?

(Continued on page 20)

I am reminded of the Colloseum in Rome and the ampitheaters in Greece, where sporting events used to be held in olden times. There were probably no entrance fees, but the people came to enjoy watching sports.

Times have certainly changed!

I have often wondered why there are so many sports fanatics, whose loyalty to their chosen teams and sports idols is remarkable.

It may be because of the State or City which a team represents, but what about the individual athletes whom the fans have never even met?

(Continue on page 20)

Requiring personal appearance in notarization

As an accredited and commissioned Notary Public in California since 1981, I strictly required all my clients to be personally present during notarization of documents needed in California and in the Philippines and the other member nations of the Hague Apostille Convention.

There are legal consequences of notarizing documents without personal appearance. Most lawsuits against Notaries happen because they notarized the signature of someone who isn’t present. Here are actual examples:

1. A candidate was disqualified in a local election because the signature gatherers were not present before when their signatures were notarized on the nominating papers.

2. Thousands of borrowers lost their homes when employees of mortgage servicers notarized affidavits supporting scores of foreclosures without the signers present.

3. An elderly individual lost his life savings when a “caregiver” asked the individual to sign a Power of Attorney naming the caregiver as his agent and then had it notarized without the individual knowing it and not being present before the Notary.

4. An employee of a small business asked the owner who is a Notary to notarize a signature in a Grant Deed. The owner didn’t realize the employee had forged the parent’s signature This enabled the employee to take out a larger refinance loan on the property without the parent knowing it. (Source: The Importance of Requiring Personal Appearance, Bill Anderson, VP of Government Affairs, National Notary Association)

In these and other instances, the Notaries faced their own legal consequences of failing to require the signer to be personally present.

The best way for a Notary to protect himself from lawsuits and adverse legal consequences and minimize risk of Notary liability is to strictly enforce the personal appearance requirement for every notarization. This also protects the public

In addition to personal appearance, I also require all my clients (old and new) to show a valid ID, sign my Journal of Notarial Acts and put their right thumb marks.

As founder of Mobile Signing Services (MSS),we want to protect and serve the public ethically and professionally by enforcing and practicing the strict requirement of personal appearance in the notarization of documents.

We, at MSS, are committed and dedicated to assist and help old and new clients, particularly the elderly, veterans and those physically handicapped, in the signing, notarization and apostille followup on Affidavits, Special Power of Attorney (SPA) DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE, Proof of Life, Parental Travel Permit (PTP), 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. Here are some advantages and benefits with MSS:

1. DISCOUNTS FOR THE ELDERLY AND VETERANS –We offer special discount for the elderly and veterans.

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

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

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

5. 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.

6. SAVINGWS ON GAS AND MILEAGE FEES – For those who can drive or take the BART, we encourage all our 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 multiple documents and multiple signatures.

8. DISCOUNTS ON DOCUMENTS PREPARATIONWith the help of our paralegal and lawyer-friends, we offer special discounts in the drafting, preparation and copies of documents.

9. CONVENIENCE AND PEACE OF MIND--- With the efficient, complete, prompt and unique services at MSS, new and old clients can have total convenience and peace of mind Most of the time, it is more convenient and economical for you to avail yourself with the ethical, professional and complete services at MSS.

How to Raise Your Credit Scores to get a better mortgage loan

As we all know your credit scores can clearly affect you when you are applying for a home, so why dont we all have good credit scores? There are many factors that will easily lower a persons’ credit points and many way to help them reverse and increase their points as well. Most importantly you have to understand how the process works so you can help yourself in working on getting the highest scores possible to better improve your ways to borrow money.

All it takes is an error to drag down your score, you can get them fixed, just in time for your much-anticipated loan closing.

One way is called rapid rescoring, a practice to help lift clients’ scores to qualify for better loans, allows borrowers to get accurate information updated into credit files within a few days, rather than waiting weeks or months for the credit bureaus to do it on their own.

That faster timetable could save you thousands of dollars on your loan. Raising someone’s middleFICO score from 699 to 720, for example, will save them 1.25% in fees. In our residential mortgage practice, we frequently do rescores for borrowers. The cost is minimal, and the improvement in mortgage pricing is very significant. ITs good to always be prepared and know what your scores are.

When you’re in a tight lending environment, every single point counts. That’s especially true, if you have a low to soso credit score and are hoping to take advantage of today’s record-low interest rates. It’s hard to qualify for a loan, but if you qualify, the rates are still all time lows and doing your homework to get better fico scores will be worth your while.

How rapid rescoring works

A rapid rescore is essentially an unofficial updating of the credit file.

For example, if you pull your credit reports and see that there are legitimate errors on them that are pulling down your credit score, a rapid rescore can help you get those errors corrected much faster than if you tried to dispute them yourself.

If you try to do it yourself by doing a dispute directly with the bureaus, then they have 30 -45 days, technically, to investigate the dispute and get back to you with an answer.

However, if you have a rapid rescoring service get the errors corrected for you, they’ll provide proof to the credit reporting agencies that the errors are bogus and have your credit score recalculated to reflect the changes, usually within a few days.

Your mortgage broker may also recommend a rapid rescore if you have high balances on your credit cards and just need to add a handful of points to your score to get the loan you want. “Loan officers have access to something called a ‘what-if’ simulator. “A what-if simulation is basically a mathematical model that the mortgage companies work with to say, ‘What if they paid off their credit card?’” or “What if they can remove the account past due reporting?”

If a loan officer sees that you can boost your score by enough points to qualify for a lower-interest loan, he or she may ask you to pay down your credit cards to below 30% of your credit limit and have you print out proof of your new balance. Usually its good to keep your usage of your revolving credit cards to a maximum of 40% of allowable limit.

That information will then be expedited to the credit reporting agencies so they can update your file without waiting for the credit card issuer to report your updated information. There are some credit cards that report to the bureaus at the beginning of the month, some at the end of the month, some only every other month. By doing a rapid rescore, we can get that information corrected within three business days.

Rapid rescoring is not credit repair

Rapid rescoring is not a form of credit repair -- an industry whose bad apples promise, illegally, to erase accurate negative information from consumers’ credit reports. Rapid rescoring should only be done through a mortgage broker or lender. I’d be a little surprise actually of anything that offered a rapid rescore directly to the borrower. Typically, a rescore costs between $25 and $30 per bureau on each account..

It’s also important to remember that the only information you can dispute is inaccurate information, there is no magic in this. Its purely mathematical information given to bureaus and creditors. What I find is when somebody’s got a low credit score, they have lots of excuses for why this [negative information] is on their report,. However, you can’t explain away accurate blemishes, such as missed credit card payments.

The role of the family in the 21st century

Despite the discreetness of the American society, the family is still recognized as the institution where everything that we do and need in life such as education, relationships, values, responsibility, work, as the center of the universe.

I have been watching the TV series Blue Bloods, about a family of cops in the city of New York, and they always end up in a long table for dinner at the end of the day and discuss various issues relating to their work, themselves, school, and current issues. Every member of the family puts in his/her one-cent-worth of knowledge for every topic they are faced with in the dining table.

I remember in the past, when we were still young, we also do the same practice (with a family of 16: father, mother, grandmother and 13 children) gathered in a long table for dinner and discuss things while eating. This was the old practice and the Blue Bloods experience must be the contemporary practice. So, the family is still the center of the universe, old and new!

In fact, even Pope John Paul 11 and Pope Benedict XL1 stressed the importance of the family “in the life of the church and of society.”

Pope John Paul said before a packed congregation in St. Peter’s Basilica: “The family has always been the center of attention of my venerable predecessors, especially Pope John 11. He was convinced, and I reiterated it many times, that the crisis within the family comes at the grave detriment of our civilization.”

Also, parenting has always been the center stage, not only for full time parents, but also for working moms and dads. Because of the role they play, Mother’s Day is celebrated every 2nd Sunday of May and Father’s Day is celebrated every 3rd Sunday of July, to commemorate their parenting efforts.

Family reunions also have been treasured by families all over the world. “To us, it is the time of the year that we renew our common memories and get better acquainted with more relatives. The family is so huge that we wanted to be with them so often. They all have something to add to enhance our lives. We are like never-endingbook, so to speak, that gets closer to completion every reunion but generates greater interest every time we meet,” my children chorused.

Even when our family members are dispersed in different places because they already have their own families, we can always connect with them via zoom, emails, letters, video conferences, etc. That’s the wonder of the internet – it makes things possible by breaking the physical boundaries that separate us.

That’s what we do! My eldest Gigi, with her husband Eric are in Sydney, Australia, but they always keep in touch with us, not only during special occasions, but every now and then. So, with my son Jojo (with his wife Alvi and children Kayla and Bibay) from Jacksonville, Florida… they are always in touch with us.

My daughter Tweety (with husband Jonathan and the soon-tobe-4-year old daughter Ellie by March) also are always in touch. They lived in South Carolina for 4 years and will be relocating back to Oahu, Hawaii where my youngest son Paul is likewise residing in Kapolei, HI.

My other daughter May (with Steve) are also living in Manteca, CA where they bought their house last year. They make sure that they visit us once a week and always present on special occasions.

Of course, my son Jayson, who graduated from San Francisco State University, is with us at our Milpitas ancestral home.

My son in Hawaii keeps on mentioning Ohana, which I found out is a Hawaiian word referring to a person’s extended family, which can include friends and other important social groups.

Everyone related by blood is part of an ohana, not just the strict nuclear family, and so are close family friends. However, the concept of ohana can go beyond blood relatives to describe family that’s not formally related, but who are nevertheless bound by circumstances or inclination. Churches, schools, places of work, and recreational activities can all be the basis for developing ohana, referred to as one’s work ohana, school ohana, and so forth. (Dictionary.com)

In addition to describing relationship networks, ohana carries a certain responsibility. When your part of an ohana, you have an obligation to take care of those in your circles, and they have an obligation to take care of you. In the context of a family, this can mean respecting your elders or caring for children within the family. In a work ohana, colleagues share obligations. More generally, a member of any type of ohana is expected to behave honorably and avoid bringing shame to the group. (Dictionary.com)

(Continue on page 20)

For immediate help and assistance in the signing, notarization and apostille follow-up of documents needed in California, Philippines and the other member nations of the Hague Apostille Convention, just write or contact: MOBILE SIGNING SERVICES, 730 Madrid Street, San Francisco, CA 94112

Nor can you make them magically disappear. A lot of people don’t realize that. They will pay off a delinquent account and expect it to fall off their report. However, it doesn’t work that way. When it comes to negative but accurate information, all you can do is wait up to seven years for the negative information to disappear. Time will heal and establishing better paying habits too.

The good news is if your complaint is legitimate, you have a good chance of getting it rescored when you need.

(Continue on page 20)

Dictionary.com further explained that the word was popularized in English by the 2002 Disney film, Lilo & Stitch, which explained: “Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind.” Thanks to the popularity of the film, ohana has been adopted as a foreign loanword by many people who don’t speak Hawaiian or live in Hawaii or other Pacific Island communities.

In every encounter among ohana members, whether it be long drives, physical sports, walking, trekking, mountain climbing, etc., the bonding is always so intimate and (Continue on page 20)

ELPIDIO R. ESTIOKO

PHL inflation slows to 2.8% in January

QUEZON CITY – The country’s headline inflation in January this year further eased to 2.8 percent, its lowest level since October 2020, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported.

In a briefing, PSA Undersecretary and National Statistician Dennis Mapa said last month’s headline inflation was also down from the 3.9 percent in December last year.

FSteps to speed up immigration to the US

or most of the immigrants, family unity is the most important part of staying in the United States. However, many failed to use a strategy or process that will make them united faster than what is happening. There are lots of strategies that family unity may be achieved. Some of them are:

1. For a newly married couple with one having a green card, filing a petition for spouse and all qualified children once an immigrant received his green card. Remember that even if you are a green card holder, you can petition your spouse and children as soon as you receive your green card. You do not have to wait for you to become a U.S. citizen to petition a wife or husband and children. There are many cases when a minor child could have been included in the petition but for some reason they were left behind and age out.

2. When a person is petitioned by a U.S. citizen spouse, the U.S. citizen spouse may also filed a petition for the step children below 18 at the time of their marriage. This was always set aside or forgotten for some reason. The same is true when an employment-based petition is filed. Once the priority date has been established for the worker, the spouse and children become derivative of the petition. They can immigrate with the petitioned worker.

3. Conditional permanent residents may also start petitioning their children without waiting for the permanent green card which is taking a long period of time in the processing of the case This will save precious time for the children so that they will not age out.

4. You can file for naturalization even if you have a pending petition for a child who is over 21 years of age. Beforehand, you may not naturalize because the priority date will change for a children of green card holder to that of a U.S. citizen. Now you can request the USCIS to keep the priority date of your children under the category of children of permanent resident. This is called Request for cancellation of automatic conversion.

Note: This is not a legal advice and presented for information purposes only. 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.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

1. PETITION FOR CAREGIVERS

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

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

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.

Pokwang says Lee O’Brian has filed a motion for voluntary deportation

Pokwang has posted an update on the status of the deportation case she filed against her American ex-partner Lee O’Brian.

On Instagram, Pokwang shared a photo of themselves together with their daughter and thanked those who helped

her with the case, GMA News reported.

“Una po sa lahat, nais ko po sanang magpasalamat sa Bureau of Immigration para sa kanilang mabilis at patas na resolusyon sa aking petisyon na maipadeport si William Lee O’Brian. Masaya ako at ang aking mga anak sa naging desisyon ng BI,” she wrote in the caption.

“Sa mga dokumento na dumating sa akin, nalaman ko na naghain ng Motion for Reconsideration si Lee noong December 28, 2023,” she added. “Buo ang tiwala ko na sa amin pa rin papanig ang hustisya dahil nasa aming panig ang katotohanan.”

Moreover Lee filed a motion for voluntary deportation on January 10, GMA News added in its report.

“Naging mabigat ang aking saloobin mula ng nagkaproblema kami ni Lee, at nagpatuloy pa ito kahit nanalo na kami

sa deportation case laban sa kanya,” Pokwang said. “Dahil na din siguro ito sa mga limitasyon ko bilang tao, bilang solo parent na nagtataguyod sa aking pamilya. Valid man itong aking mga nararamdaman, hindi ito sapat na dahilan para makapagsabi ako ng mga masakit at walang basehan na bagay sa aking kapwa, partikular sa ating mga kasamahan sa BI.”

Pokwang then apologized to some government officials, saying, “Pasensya na po kung sa bugso ng aking damdamin, ay may mga nasasabi akong di kaaya-aya.”

She ended her post by writing, “Pang huli, humihingi ako ng paumanhin sa taumbayan kung ako ay naging malupit sa aking mga nabibitawang salita. Patawad po, at sana ay patuloy po ninyo akong suportahan sa pamamagitan ng inyong

pagunawa at panalangin.”

Pokwang and Lee broke up in 2021, with the comedian defending Lee against third-party rumors.

However, Pokwang said in an interview on “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” that she had to lie to maybe still save their relationship.

The actress also previously said that she was the one who kicked Lee out of their home, adding that he has moved on to someone new.

In June last year, Pokwang filed the deportation case against Lee. According to her lawyer, he has been working in the Philippines without a permit.

Among the actress’ complaints against him are financial abuse, intimidation, and abandonment of Malia.

Lee then filed a counter-affidavit against the deportation case.

Jericho Rosales, Kim Jones are separated

Actor Jericho Rosales and wife, model, and social media personality

Kim Jones, have separated after almost 10 years of marriage, according to the announcement, confi rmed by a close friend of the couple.

The news came from the couple’s godfather, Ricco Ocampo, putting to rest months of speculation surrounding their relationship status, according to Manila media in various reports.

n a statement to ABS-CBN, Ocampo revealed that Rosales and Jones had been separated since 2019. However, despite the split, they remained close

friends and continued to support each other’s endeavors.

“While the friendship between the two remains, they have decided it is time to lead separate lives. They are encouraging each other to grow, albeit in diff erent directions. It was a mutual decision, an amicable separation, dealt with grace and maturity by both parties,” said Ocampo. Ocampo also shared that the couple had navigated their separation with great respect and consideration for each other.

“The two are fi lled with gratitude

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

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for the memories they’ve made together and the lessons they’ve learned. They have journeyed through the separation with the utmost respect and care toward one another precisely because Echo and Kim are the best of friends and love each other like family,” he continued.

“This split is not borne out of ill feelings. On the contrary, one might say that it is a demonstration of their aff ection and respect, as Echo and Kim only wish the best for each other,” added Ocampo.

Rumors about the couple’s possible separation emerged last year when

people noticed that they were no longer sharing photos of each other on social media. While rumors of a possible separation swirled around, the two remained tight-lipped about the details.

Tumatanggap ng mga Aplikasyon: Malayang Komisyon ng Sibilyang Pagpapayo

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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.

Pagsasara sa Aplikasyon: Pebrero 23, 2024

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

Bea Alonzo and Dominic Roque split; no more wedding in Spain or Tagaytay City

Only days after reports of their planned wedding in Spain or Tagaytay City hugged the showbiz headlines, Bea Alonzo and Dominic Roque have split and their separation was confirmed by “King of Talk” Boy Abunda in his GMA Network program.

The news comes after Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla and Jericho Rosales and wife Kim Jones confirmed they have broken up while Luis Manzano and Jessy Mendiola confirmed that they will have their church wedding soon..

Bea, 36, who is Phylbert Angelli Ranollo Fagestrom in real life, has not confirmed the breakup reports while Dominic was reportedly trying still to salvage their relationship.

Published reports in Manila from ABSCBN, GMA News and other media indicated there were no reason or reasons cited for the separation, but speculations are that Dominic was allegedly staying in a condominium unit owned by a politician and that he reportedly refused to sign a pre-nuptial agreement.

There were also reports that Dominic could not show any business he reportedly owns and flauted about.

On the February 6 episode of his GMA Network talk show “Fast Talk With Boy Abunda,” Abunda said the couple has broken up but added that there is a possibility that the pair is still trying to talk and patching up their relationship.

“Isa pang balita na talagang nakalungkot, sumindak sa akin habang ako’y nasa Hong Kong ay ang balitang hiwalay na sina Bea

(Alonzo) at saka si Dominic Roque,” Abunda said.

“Bea is a good friend; I have known Dom when he was still a very young boy playing badminton. So ako’y nalungkot po talaga kasi madalas kapag nagkikita kami ni Bea ay nakakapagkwentuhan po kami tungkol sa buhay, tungkol sa kanila, their marriage plans etc. So, I was shocked,” he added.

“Tama si Ogie Diaz, si kaibigang Ogie nung kanyang binalita ...As we talk today, yes, hiwalay po si Dominic at saka si Bea,” he said.

“Sinusuyo ba si Bea? Are they’re still trying to talk? Siguro. Maaari. Dahil sino ba naman ang ayaw maayos ang ganitong klase ng problema,” Boy added.

“As a matter of fact, from good sources, kagabi o nung isang gabi lamang, ay nagusap muli si Bea at saka si Dominic. They’re trying to understand each other. But they’re going through a rough patch,” he continued.

“Last night or two nights ago, nag-usap ‘yung dalawa. Ano ang status? Wala. I think, kung tama ang aking source, [si] Bea, isinoli na ang kanilang engagement ring,” the talk show host said.

Abunda also clarified rumors that the couple broke up over their disagreement with regards to their prenuptial agreement. “Many months ago, napag-usapan po ito,” he said. “Sa aking pagkakaalam, and I’d like to confirm it with my friends and my sources, because when this was being talked about, ‘yung prenup po, ang nag-volunteer sa nanay

ni Bea na okay ang prenup ay si Dominic.”

“I don’t think it is, it was an issue unless nabago ho ang kwento. Inuulit ko, it was not a problem, it was not an issue. To be fair to Dominic, it was not an issue for Dom.”

The talk show host also dispelled rumors that the wedding will be held in April at Tagaytay.

“There was no April, there was no Tagaytay. There was no wedding in Tagaytay that was cancelled. Bea and I would often talk about the wedding towards the end of the year, the last quarter of the year but as of now, walang wedding po na magaganap ngayong darating na Abril because in the first place, inuulit ko, there was no wedding in April and it was not going to be in Tagaytay,” Abunda said.

“As originally talked about, nag-ocular po ang dalawa, tama ho ‘yun sa Europa. May mga lumalabas na kwento rin that they went to Japan, tama rin po ‘yung and I think they were trying to talk things out,” he added.

Amid speculations about the reason for their breakup, Abunda said he is just hoping people will be more kind.

“Ito ang ayaw ko. Dito sa kwentong ito, pinalalabas na ang may problema si Bea Alonzo kasi naghiwalay sila ni Gerald Anderson, naghiwalay sila ni Zanjoe Marudo, hindi nagtatagal ang kanyang mga relasyon. Napaka-judgmental po nun,” Abunda said.

“Yes, you and I have the right to comment, yes you and I have the freedom of speech pero ako I appeal for kindness. What do we really know about this relationship? We know the nuances, alam ba talaga natin ang detalye? The narrative is not about Bea, ang problema kaya sila naghiwalay, sa pagkakaalam ko deretsahan, si Bea gustong ma-save ang relasyon, si Bea wants this to work,” he added.

“Walang pera, hindi sikat, hindi karapatdapat kay Bea... cruel. You have the right to comment, you have the right to share your opinion pero sana’y let’s exercise prudence, caution, and most important of all kindness.”

Asked if the wedding will still push through this year if they will get back together, Abunda said: “Kung halimbawa, maayos ang dalawang ito, ito ako from my sources, sigurado ako, kung magkaayos si Bea at si Dominic, no wedding is gonna happen this year.”

Boy’s confirmation comes after a cryptic post by Bea’s road manager, Nina Ferrer,

about the definition of a “manipulative sad boi.”

It was reposted by Ting Duque, Bea’s make-up artist, who added: “They should be stopped.”

Dominic also shared a Bible verse on Instagram Stories on Monday, specifically from Romans 5: 3-4, which reads: “We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

Last February 1, Bea said that she still had “no idea” when asked what an ideal wedding looked like for her.

She was also asked about their possible wedding godparents, to which she answered: “Wala pa talaga. Wala pa talaga akong masabi sa inyo.”

Meanwhile, the couple’s names immediately gained buzz on social media following Boy’s confirmation of the split.

Others recalled other celebrities who have also separated recently.

“Wow!! We have a candidate for ‘Breakup of the Year’ in 2024. Last year, we have KathNiel [and] KimXi in a tie,” a user wrote, referring to Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla and Kim Chiu and Xian Lim.

“Kala ko 2023 was the great break up year, [bakit] may 2024 pa?” another Pinoy exclaimed with crying emojis.

Some were saddened over the development.

“Sayang… I was rooting for them… but ok lang, ‘di ba nga sabi, God always has other plans for us…” another user wrote.

“Pinakilig [niyo] kami sa proposal tapos bigla ganito. Wala talagang forever. My #BeaDom heart is crying,” a different Pinoy said with emojis.

Others questioned why the update had to come from someone outside the relationship.

“Pero ba’t si Tito ang nagpa-statement,” a Pinoy commented, referring to Boy.

“They’re still trying to fix it pa pala eh, bakit kayo na nag-confirm?” another user asked.

Last January 20, Dominic confirmed that Kathryn was part of their wedding guest list but not her ex-boyfriend, Daniel.

Days later, Bea uploaded a vlog where she revealed that she and the actor had sealed a love padlock in Mount Moiwa at Sapporo, Japan.

Las Vegas Filipino American residents weigh in on Super Bowl LVIII

Less than a week to the one of the most talked about and awaited sporting event not now just in the U.S. but also in many countries around the world, Filipino Americans also have been bitten the Super Bowl LVIII bug.

Thanks to the San Francisco 49ers, the perennial favorite National Football League team of the state overwhelmingly with most Filipinos, the penchant for merry-making and fiesta atmosphere with close family and friends is again highlighted.

And four years after losing to the same team for the Super Bowl Championship, the 49ers are again the top favorites of many Filipinos to triumph over Kansas City Chiefs that is playing their sixth Super Bowl appearance (their fourth in the last five years winning two) on Sunday in Las Vegas Allegiant Stadium.

The 49ers, on the other hand, has the all-time number of Super Bowl victories with five wins (compared to the Chief’s three) bringing home the Lombardi Trophies between 198194. If they win on Sunday, the 49ers would tie the New England Patriots and the Pittsburg Steelers with six Super Bowl titles.

So popular is Sper Bow LVIII, here are some eye-popping figures:

Tickets average price is $9,200 and the lowest resale price at $5,900;

3000 tickets priced at $5,500 are still available as of the morning of Feb 5;

68 million Americans are expected to bet on this muchawaited spectacle; and

The National Chicken Council, or NCC, estimates that Americans will feast on 1.45 billion chicken wings.

Here are four Filipino couples in Las Vegas on having the Super Bowl LVIII held in their turf.

Rey and Annie Abarca business owners of All About Details LLS, specializing in handcrafted paper products.

The Abarca family has been living in Las Vegas since 2011. The young family moved to the city after Rey’s 20 years of service in the US Navy. In the transition to civilian life, the family decided to open a business birthed from Annie’s paper crafting hobby. Their small business, All About Details LLC, specializes in paper products and was able to partner with leading online retailers.

Reactions on Las Vegas holding Super Bowl LVIII:

We can’t deny that we are all facing a vulnerable economy, leading many of us to have serious concerns about our livelihood. So, in the past years that we can cater to the great excitement alone for the incoming Super Bowl game, it’s pretty evident that many are looking forward to how this event will give some kind of “excitement” to the economy of Las Vegas.

It’s nice that the organizers have set the players to stay in the hotel outside the famous Las Vegas Strip. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase other places in Las Vegas.

Are Filipinos as much involved in this knowing they are inclined to be basketball diehards back home?

The natural love of basketball will surely always be there, but the excitement of football Super Bowl somehow brings the same excitement. Excitement is not just centered on the nature of the game, but it’s also a way for family and friends to take a break from our usual routine and gather together- enjoying each other’s company and food.

Are you joining, or hosting a watch party? What party foods are you going to prepare?

Our small family and network of friends are of mixed cultures, so the food that we’re having is indeed mixed culture dishes although Filipino dishes will always be present like pansit, pinoy’s style fruit salad, or any other Filipino dish that will be good with rice.

Who are you rooting for?

Brock Purdy and Patrick Mahomes are boldly honoring

By Jun Nucum

God in their gifts. It is a humble act for them to give glory to God where they all have the opportunity and platform to take all the credit on themselves. It’s refreshing and a chance for us to be somehow reminded that, in the end, we’re all just stewards of God’s blessings of skills and talents.

We both like quarterbacks Purdy and Mahomes so we look forward on how this game will end,” the Abarcas revealed. “What excites us are the responses of the people towards her. It’s funny to hear some senior folks discovering Taylor.

Ollie Arimado, Real Estate Specialist/Investor at Coldwell Banker Premier Realty, and wife Harley Arimado, a registered ER/Cardiology nurse

Gone are the days when Las Vegas was known as a Sin City. Today, Las Vegas is the “Entertainment Capital of the World!” Music, Sports, we have it here! We had successful huge events like the NBA all-star game, NHL Stanley Cup, boxing matches, and the city hosted Formula One just last year. And on the 11th of February, Las Vegas is in the spotlight again because of the Superbowl! Good reason enough for people to move to Las Vegas, good entertainment and an inexpensive city to live in overall.”

“We are looking forward to rooting for the 49ers, Brock Purdy is one of our favorite players,” says Harley Arimado, a registered ER/Cardiology nurse.

“Yes, Purdy is a good player, and he speaks highly of God,

which is important,” adds Ollie.

Ferdie and Lilet Cancino

“Of course, we are rooting for the 49ers,” says Ferdie Cancino, a retired USPS Plant Support Supervisor. He moved to Las Vegas in 2003 from Los Angeles, California. “Superbowl is a Sunday, church day, but we’re usually done with our church service by 3 pm.”

Ferdie and Lilet are both active in church and watching this event will also give them time to bond with fellow church members.

“I have been in the US since 2015 and I have learned to appreciate football, but what I am looking forward to is the Superbowl halftime, the musical production, it’s like watching a concert altogether, although Usher is the only celebrity I am familiar with among the halftime performers,” expressed Lilet.

Carl an engineer and Kyera Acampado, a business analyst moved to Las Vegas from New York in 2022.

Carl: We are excited to watch the Super Bowl since my workmates would talk about it a lot at work. We were thrilled when our relatives invited us to a watch party on Sunday.

Kyera: Our Uncle & Aunt had their game room ready for the Super Bowl. They have a pool table setup, with indoor heaters and everything. We plan to bring homemade nachos. I’m looking forward to Usher’s performance!

CEO and Chief Digital Strategist of LaMont Digital Alf LaMontOllie and Harley Arimado Ferdie and Lilet CancinoCarl and Kyera Acampado

Year of the Dragon Promotions and Events are Taking Place at Graton Resort & Casino this February!

Visit Graton Resort & Casino for Lunar New Year Lion Dance Performances, Gaming Promotions and Giveaways, Brand New Restaurant Bistro 101, and San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival & Parade

ROHNERT PARK, Calif. – Graton Resort & Casino

In February, come celebrate the Year of the Dragon at Graton Resort & Casino with your family and friends! On Lunar New Year Day, Saturday, February 10, there will be traditional lion dance performances at 2PM and 7PM. Also, from 3PM to 8PM, there is God of Fortune Giveaway, join us to get your door guard and fortune cookies! Plus, visit the rewards center to get your FREE collectible Year of the Dragon rewards card.

On Saturday, February 24, 6pm-10pm, enter the

$100,000 Fendi Giveaway! Drawings every hour. Two $20,000 Fendi set winners at 9pm - guaranteed! Plus, $60,000 in free slot play. Also, Now - March 28, Thursdays, 1pm - 6pm, there is Up To $500,000 Good Fortune Slot Tournaments. Top prize up to $15,000 cash. 40 winners guaranteed at each tournament! Fortune winners, win double the prize amount! Royalty & Chairman winners, win triple the prize amount! All rewards members get one free entry into each tournament.

Join Graton Resort & Casino on February 24th and 25th at the San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival & Parade. Enjoy an array of Chinese traditions as the streets fill with dazzling parades and lively performances. Visit Graton Resort & Casino’s festival booth and receive a special gift to celebrate the Year of the Dragon.

Graton Resort & Casino recently debuted Bistro 101, a new restaurant with an American Brasserie meets Wine Country Casual inspired menu. Chef John Trunk best describes the concept and theme of Bistro 101 as “locally sourced, well prepared comfort foods served in a welcoming space and popular destination for social interaction, music and live entertainment.” Bistro 101 is open every day from 7:00 AM - 12:00AM featuring both breakfast and lunch/dinner menus.

Sample menu items available at Bistro 101

• Sonoma County Coast Creamy Clam Chowder

• Griddled Bao Buns with San Giacomo Prosciutto

• A “dirty fries” assortment

• Wagyu Short Rib Melt sandwich

• Bistro Burger Bar including double smash and vegan black bean burgers

• Craft cocktails/craft beers/local wines

About Graton Resort & Casino

Located in Sonoma County, Graton Resort & Casino has a commanding presence among the rolling hills of Northern California’s wine country. Owned and operated by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, Graton Resort & Casino features table games, the latest slot machines, upscale and casual dining, plus entertainment options for visitors and locals alike. For more information, please visit www.gratonresortcasino.com or call 707-5887100.

‘Firefly,’ ‘GomBurZa’ take Manila Int’l Film Festival top prizes

Dingdong Dantes, Piolo Pascual, Vilma Santos win top acting awards

By Louinn Lota Contributor

HOLLYWOOD, California – A boy’s quest to find an island full of fireflies, and three priests’ pursuit of their nation’s freedom, won six of ten prizes at the inaugural Manila International Film Festival held Feb. 2, 2024, in the Directors Guild of America on Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, Calif.

“Firefly,” produced by GMA Pictures, won Best Screenplay (Angeli Atienza), Best Film, Best Director (Zig Dulay) and Best Supporting Actress (Alessandra De Rossi).

“GomBurZa,” produced by Jesuit Communications Foundation, Inc. and MQuest Ventures, Inc., took Second-best Film, Best Cinematography (Carlo Canlas Mendoza) and was even voted Audience Favorite by the hundreds of moviegoers who attended screenings at the TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood Jan. 29-Feb. 1.

“Firefly” also won up to $200,000 worth of filmmaking equipment from American production house Birns & Sawyer.

“I share this award with everyone who worked with me on this film, which is an ode to the power of storytelling,” Angeli Atienza said, accepting Best Screenplay for “Firefly” during the awards ceremony.

“We had one simple goal,” said Diretor Pepe Diokno of “GomBurZa’s Audience Favorite prize, “We want young Filipinos all over the globe to get to know their history and get to love the country a little bit more.”

Firefly revolves around a son finding an island of fireflies with the hopes of wishing that his mother comes back to life. The heartwarming film has an ensemble cast including top GMA stars such as Alessandra de Rossi, Dingdong Dantes, Cherry Pie Picache, and Miguel Tanfelix.

Meanwhile, GomBurZa tells the story of Mariano Gomez, José Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora – collectively known as GomBurZa – the three Filipino Catholic priests who were executed via garrote by the Spanish colonial masters.

Manila International Film Fest jurors chose two Best Actors from two wildly different films and roles.

Dingdong Dantes won for his portrayal of a loving father and husband in “Rewind” (produced by ABS-CBN Fil Productions and APT Entertainment), and the highest-ever grossing film in the Philippines. “Rewind’s” Pepe Herrera, won Best Supporting Actor. Herrera was not here to accept the prize.

“Rewind” failed to receive an award at the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival’s Gabi ng Parangal. Despite ending up empty-handed during the MMFF awards night, Rewind managed to become the Philippines’ highest-grossing film of all time.

Headlined by reel-to-real couple of Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes, Rewind follows the rocky marriage of husband and wife John and Mary Nuñez, who eventually work to mend their relationship after a tragic death.

Meanwhile, Piolo Pascual played three roles to earn Best Actor in the horror story “Mallari” (pronounced Mahl-yah’reeh) being distributed outside the Philippines by American entertainment company, Warner Bros., blending the 19th century discovery of the Philippines’ first serial killer of 57 people, and the folktale of the manananggal, a horrific demon creature that untangles its upper torso from its legs so it can fly and murder and eat humans and drink their blood.

“Thanks be to God in the hope that this is the start of something bigger for all of us, and as I dedicate this win to my son, here in L.A.,” Pascual said in accepting the award, adding, “and to the true drama king of Philippine cinema, my dad, Christopher de Leon.”

De Leon then accepted the Best Actress award on behalf

of his perennial screen partner, Vilma Santos, who did not attend. “Bru, this is for you!” de Leon exclaimed, affectionately calling Santos a nickname for bruja (witch) used in the movie they both starred in, “When I Met You in Tokyo” by JG Productions.

A jury of six including, Marie Jamora, filmmaker and head juror); Mari Acevedo, CEO Birns & Sawyer, film equipment rentals and sales for half a century; cinematographer Leah Anova; actor Reggie Lee; filmmaker David Maquiling; and actress/producer Sumalee Montano used the MIFF’s best picture criteria: “Meets high standards in originality, creativity, screenplay, pacing and structure, characters, acting, cinematography, sound, music score and overall impact.”

The Jury Prize for LGBTQIA cultural sensitivity and awareness went to “Becky and Badette” produced by The IdeaFirst (sic) Company and October Train Films.

The first Monty Manibog Lifetime Achievement Award for recognition of outstanding work in films directed by Philippine filmmakers went to actress Hilda Koronel, who dedicated the award to her late, second husband, Ralph Moore Jr., whom she married in 2000, and who died in 2023.

Trailblazer Awards went to: FilAm actor Mark Dacascos

(who played martial arts villain Zero in “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum” in 2019); Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr., Philippine Secretary of the Interior and Local Government; and Romando “Don” Artes, Metro Manila Film Festival chair. A Recognition Award went to Rochelle Ona, Metro Manila Film Fest executive director.

The full list of winners:

Best Picture: Firefly

2nd Best Picture: GomBurZa

Best Director: Zig Dulay, Firefly

Best Actor: Dingdong Dantes, Rewind

Best Actor: Piolo Pascual, Mallari

Best Actress: Vilma Santos, When I Met You in Tokyo

Best Supporting Actress: Alessandra de Rossi, Firefly

Best Supporting Actor: Pepe Herrera, Rewind

Best Screenplay: Angeli Atienza, Firefly

Best Cinematography: Carlo Mendoza, GomBurZa

Lifetime Achievement Award: Hilda Koronel

Special Jury Prize: Becky & Badette

Audience Choice Award: GomBurZa

Trailblazer Awards: Romando Artes, Rochelle Ona, and Mark Dacascos

Valuable gains seen in the Center at Sierra Health Foundation efforts in fighting substance abuse

Admittedly, substance abuse is still particularly opioid epidemic remains California’s most challenging issues like in other states in the U.S. as statistics on recordbreaking rates of drug-related overdose fatalities, including from fentanyl, shows.

As a silver lining on the horizon, though, the Center at Sierra Health Foundation on its 10th anniversary highlights the work of three nonprofit organizations working on innovative ways to prevent and recover from substance abuse and advance health equity across the state throughout Northern California.

To share more of the Center’s gains, the Ethnic Media Services co-hosted with Sierra Health a briefing Fighting Substance Abuse The Center at Sierra Health Foundation Highlights Breakthroughs in Prevention and Recovery in order to learn how they were innovating substance abuse prevention and advancing health equity from remote rural Inyo County, through the Central Valley, to Alameda County.

On hand to share their expertise and elu-

(From page 1) Balloon...

On Jan. 23, last year, a balloon from Hunan, China found its way to US airspace, worsening the already strained tensions between the US and China.

One year later, Asian American groups said the incident only heightened xenophobia, prejudices, and fear around the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.

According to Cynthia Choi, co-director for Chinese for Affirmative Action, “The alleged spy balloon was contributing towards…perceptions that Chinese and Chinese Americans and Asian Americans and immigrants at large should be considered a suspicious class.”

As the US military and intelligence organizations would later state, “There was no intelligence collection by that balloon.”

cidate on the Center’s achievements were President of The Center at Sierra Health Foundation Kaying Hang, Executive Director of Central Valley Empowerment Alliance Mari Perez-Ruiz, CEO of Crossroads Recovery Center and Skoden Native Harm Reduction Services Arlene Brown, and Executive Director of the HIV Education Prevention Project of Alameda County Braunz E. Courtney.

At the heart of the Center’s continuing campaign against substance abuse is its aim to reduce harm though care over criminalization as a worsening opioid epidemic ranks among California’s most challenging crises.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, over 109,000 Californians lost their lives due to drug overdose in 2022 underscoring the fact that overdose is the leading cause of death for non-elderly Californians.

“And these numbers are expected to increase,” sadly stated Hang. “This epidemic is the result of 50 years of federal and state

The facts of the incident are simple enough.

A Chinese balloon crossed into US airspace, and officials immediately claimed it was conducting espionage activities. Hostility towards China and Chinese people, including Chinese Americans, was the result.

China denied the accusations, saying the balloon was carrying research equipment that had veered off course.

The US Air Force shot down the balloon.

Months later, US officials retracted their claim that the balloon was “clearly for intelligence surveillance.”

The Pentagon said the balloon did not collect information while passing through US airspace.

The damage, however, had been done. Asian American advocacy groups say that controversy had enflamed existing

governments responding to drug use with incarceration and extreme policing under the banner of a ‘war on drugs.’ Those from communities of color have been disproportionately harmed and stigmatized.”

Kang is upbeat, though, as the tide is turning after “people who use drugs are not strangers but our neighbors, family members, friends… and we can give them a second chance by prioritizing care over criminalization.”

Kang explains that this care takes the form of partnership with community-based organizations to end California’s opioid epidemic through culturally specific services which address each communities needs — including drug education, testing, harm reduction for drug users, recovery support and basic needs like food and hygiene.

“We believe that those who are closest to the harm are in the best position to determine what the solution is,” added Hang, “and our intention is to help people align with the best vision that they have of themselves

For her part, Perez-Ruiz reported that “small, heavily Latino and Filipino rural communities throughout the Central Valley like Poplar with over 5,000 people living in 700 dwellings that haven’t been developed for 50 years are the most vulnerable, but least reached due to their size.”

“For us, health access depends on fighting the narrative that our communities don’t have a future. Pervasive drug abuse, especially fentanyl, is dire here,” rued Perez-Ruiz. “Our communities are targeted by the cartels, and sometimes the parents here are using or selling drugs — so we opened LUPE (Leadership, Unity, Power, Empowerment Center) — a safe, gang-free, drugfree center for youth to come together, and have conversations with parents about trauma and harm reduction so they all see new possibilities for their lives.”

Perez-Ruiz continued that in Poplar alone, only 3% of youth are expected to pursue higher education, yet all children in the district receive a free lunch due to living in poverty,

“When so little is expected of them, we

prejudices against Asian Americans, setting the stage for future discrimination.

By and large, mainstream media did not sufficiently cover the Pentagon statement that the balloon was basically harmless, after earlier devoting space and time in print and broadcast to the initial spying claim.

Said Choi: “It’s irresponsible for the media, it’s irresponsible for elected officials to jump to conclusions.”

It’s worst effect was that some parts of the US passed laws making it illegal for Chinese Americans to buy real property.

Jeremy Wu, co-organizer of APA Justice, has tracked discriminatory legislation now targeting Asian Americans across the US. The most notable are the 33 alien land laws which prevent Chinese Americans from owning property in a state, recently introduced across the

build community support by meeting people where they’re at … I see promise where others see no future,” lights up Perez-Ruiz whose organization is working to transcend municipal disinvestment and create community.

Brown chimed that native Americans have some of the highest fatal overdose rates — not just in California, but nationwide (as) our program is for everyone. As Natives, our core value is sharing that healing with others, and half of those we help are non-Native.”

“Since the dawn of colonization we’ve been the first victims of the war on drugs, so we seek to decolonize these services that were never built for us in the first place,” Brown explained. “These indigenized services include prayer tags on overdose reversal kits; in-language syringe exchange and HIV/Hepatitis C tests; distributing Narcan communitywide, including for elders who forget to take and children who accidentally take medications; and regular counseling for “spiritual, mental, physical and emotional wellness, treating the whole person and community as opposed to the Western model of care which treats isolated symptoms or parts of life.”

On the other hand, Courtney clarified “when we talk about harm reduction, we need to be more ambivalent: Not everybody who is in recovery is going to get to sobriety or want to” as she talks about the importance of understanding a person’s readiness and goals for sobriety and providing medication-assisted treatment.

“Our goal is to meet each individual where they are geographically and, within their addiction, “where their goals are. It’s a spectrum from using drugs more safely, to abstaining completely.”

HEEPAC does this by hiring substance use navigators “with lived or living experience of recovery,” and by meeting our peers’ needs in the streets” he continued. “Recovery is not a bubble. Someone wanting to treat substance abuse is dealing with other health needs beyond the clinic like housing, food, hygiene and social interaction.”

country.

It can be said that if there’s one thing worse than Asian hate, it is legislated Asian hate. Yet this is precisely what is happening in various parts of the US.

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/.

Kaying Hang, President, The Center at Sierra Health Founda�on

Arlene Brown, CEO, Crossroads Recovery Center and Skoden Na�ve Harm Reduc�on Services

Mari Perez-Ruiz, Execu�ve Director, Central Valley Empowerment Alliance

Braunz E. Courtney, Execu�ve Director of the HIV Educa�on Preven�on Project of Alameda County

Aberdeen School of Nursing opens

Aberdeen Institute School of Nursing officially opened its doors at its Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting last Saturday, January 12 in Van Nuys.

Led by its Anthony Riccomini and Dr. Bernard Sanchez-Ricomini, Aberdeen Institute is the newest school of nursing to open in the San Fernando Valley. Centrally located in Van Nuys, the school is committed to offering the best in healthcare education, offering CNA and LVN programs.

Its owners Anthony and Bernard, and partners Dr. Emelie Cervantes, Glenda Galura, Alodia Laygo, Leila Villon, Carlota Espino among other partners were joined by several representatives from healthcare organizations in the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles areas such as Encino Hospital Medical Center, Sherman Oaks Hospital and various care facilities.

Representatives from various local public offices such as City of Los Angeles Councilmember Imelda Padilla, Gabriela Agarie of State of California Assemblymember Cardenas’s office, Jack Trent-Dorfman of Assemblymember Gabriel’s office, Jasmin Hernandez of California State Senator Mejivar’s office presented Certificates of Recognition to Aberdeen Institute.

Keynote speaker Ms. Lena Resurreccion, former Chief of the State of California Department of Public Health congratulated Aberdeen Institute for upholding the quality education and training that future healthcare students deserve.

The Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce (GSFVCC) led by its Chief Executive Officer Nancy Hoffman Vanyek and its Communications and Special Events Director Fuyumi Hashimoto and members of the Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce Greater Los Angeles (FACCGLA) led by its President Lois Klavir and United Chambers of Commerce President Annie Nepomuceno welcomed the school to the business community, thanking the school for providing opportunities for prospective nursing students and for reenergizing and revitalizing the local communities of San Fernando Valley.

Henry Chen of FACCGLA expressed that he is so happy and proud that there is another nursing school owned by Filipinos and that as a member of FACCGLA he is here to support Aberdeen.

Bernard Ricommini said that he believes that with all of the members of the institution with a total of over 50-60 years of experience

in nursing and health education, Aberdeen will be able to provide nurses that are reliable, professional and nurturing with excellent nursing skills.

Andrew Ferreyra, a new student at Aberdeen said that some of the reasons he enrolled at Aberdeen is the room to expand, job placement, training and experiences that he will get at Aberdeen.

JayR Vienes Datu who is a graduate of Preferred College of Nursing in Long Beach stated that the curriculum enabled him to become a successful NCLEX passer and it enabled him to become a healthcare provider as a LVN.

Edward Ramos, a Registered Nurse for 30 years and a faculty member at Aberdeen, said that he looks forward to graduates of Aberdeen as contributing members of our society being

an LVN or CNA and later on as nurses or doctors.

Several members of media and press such as media practitioner and host Thelma Sugay of the Asian American Press Club of California, photographer Joey Yumul and Ronnie Cruz of the Filipino-American Press Club of California, Yugel Losorata of Philippine News Today, and photographers Joe Cobilla and Robert Ryan were present to document the event.

Capping the event is a mingling and reunion of longtime colleagues and allies in the healthcare field as well as performances from international R&B singer Honore, balladeer and Registered Nurse Michael Jurolan, Pop Rockstar Diva and CNA Caren Mempin, and phenomenal guitar player Ronnie Cruz joined Aberdeen partner and event host Glenda Galura in celebrating the momentous occasion with their favorite pop, OPM and disco tunes.

Aberdeen owners Anthony and Bernard invite everyone to visit www.aberdeeninstitute. net to learn about their school and programs.

Photos by Mic Diaz, Ronnie Cruz and Robert Ryan

Congratula�ons to my grandson’s Linus Lorica and their basketball team. The St. Dominic’s Catholic School in Benicia, CA is the 2024 5th graders boys basketball team champion. They defeated all their compe�tors in the Solano\Pi�sburg Athle�c League (SPAL) Catholic schools, which included St. Basil (2), St. Vincent (2), St. Catherine (2), Holy Spirit (2), and Notre Dame (2). The boys went undefeated 10-0 for the season. Congratula�ons Knicks!!!

As I See It

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affectionate that no amount of physical strain and sleepless nights could have dampened the fun and warmth the family had after long years of not being together due to physical boundaries.

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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 CHRIST) and ACAPINOY. Art is active Evangelist with the GOLDEN GATE CHURCH OF CHRIST in San Francisco, California USA.)

Ken go

(From Page 11) Health & Wealth...

Thanks for your inquiries. Call Ken Go, you can see us on Facebook, type in “1st Innovative Finance” , call us at 562-508-7048 or email: kennethgo@verizon.net

Through A Looking

Sports certainly is part of one’s life, but it shouldn’t be one’s everything. Enjoy it while you can! That goes for players and fans alike!

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SOCIAL SECURITY IMPROVES CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE RANKING

By G. Samson

We’re committed to improving customer service by providing more access to our programs and services, and our efforts have paid off. We’re proud to announce that Social Security’s ranking on Forrester’s 2023 Customer Experience Index increased by 3.3 points – the only agency on the list to make a significant gain.

We achieved this higher ranking by focusing on key initiatives in 2023, like:

• Implementing online scheduling for in-office enumeration appointments. Customers can now schedule appointments online for both original and replacement Social Security cards. This service is currently available in all 50 states, as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

• Conducting a targeted mail campaign to reach people who may be eligible for Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug costs and Medicare Savings Programs with enrollment information. Please see our publication, Understanding the Extra Help with Your Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, at www.ssa.gov/pubs/ EN-05-10508.pdf.

• Employing strategies to help people facing barriers in accessing our programs and services, including people with:

o Limited income and resources.

o Limited English proficiency (LEP).

o A risk of homelessness.

o Mental and behavioral disabilities.

• Partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Services to test new ways to make it easier for SSI applicants to access nutrition assistance programs. For more information, please see

Upside...

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our press release at www.ssa.gov/news/press/releases/2022/#12-2022-2.

Forrester’s’ recognition of our customer service improvements reflects our commitment to making it easier for you to do business with us. We invite you to learn more at www.forrester.com/press-newsroom/forrester2023-us-federal-customer-experience-index/. Please share this news with those who may need it.

“My relationship with Ray is a true mentor-mentee relationship,” admitted Daus Magbual, like his wife Dr. Arlene Daus Magbual dedicated to cultivating a community of critical educators and curriculum through their nonprofit Pin@y Educational Partnerships. They are among FilAms Buenaventura first appointed to serve on commissions, volunteer advisory bodies to the City Council that are a gateway to elected office.

Daus Magbual learned the inner workings of local government, politics and life itself, he said.

“I never thought I would be in the position I am in today,” said the former mayor and now two-time vice mayor. “He served as an example to honor Filipino American leadership of the past and the importance to take on the baton.”

While conceding his mentor’s departure as “a big blow,” he sees it as motivation “for new leadership and for me and my colleagues to step up my game to serve and guide our community into the future.”

Outspoken community advocate for Filipino American empowerment particularly in his home city, Ray Satorre credits Buenaventura for palpable FilAm presence in leadership roles. He counted the “reunification of FilAms in Daly City, appointments of FilAms to the boards and commissions, reactivation of Daly City sisterhood with Quezon City” thereby resuming City educational and exchange programs, and stag-

ing of the Kasayahan Festival to commemorate October Filipino History month among “highlights” of his confidante’s service.

The entrepreneur praised Buenaventura for “delineation of budgetary allocation for the social needs of youth and older adults” and the redevelopment of Serramonte and Westlake Centers, two of the city’s landmarks.

“I call Ray Buenaventura the Honorable Mayor and Debonair Wingman of Daly City,” said Satorre, who is known to have his friend’s ear.

Longtime Daly City resident Perla Ibarrientos felt like she was losing a son given her closeness to Buenaventura.

“I hate to see him leave,” said one of the first outside Buenaventura’s family to hear of his departure. “He personifies the ‘public servant’ because he always listens, finds solutions to problems, particularly vital services and safety issues. He stands for his beliefs even if he gets kind of criticized for it, maybe that’s why some think he has changed. He’s just doing his job based on experience and expertise.” – Adapted from original reprinted with permission from INQUIRER.NETUSA To

Mr A. Cobos was approved for naturaliza�on. A�y. Chris Caday Lozano represented his case with USCIS.

Mayor Juslyn Manalo calls predecessor “one of a kind.” CMQM photo

Vice Mayor Rod Daus Magbual says he owes his mentor a debt of gra�tude.

Outspoken Ray Satorre keeps tab of Buenaventura’s achievements.

Pioneer Daly City resident Perla Ibarrientos was among the first to hear of her confidant’s plans.

City Manager Tom Piccolo� and City Clerk Anne�e Hipona confirmed Buenaventura’s resigna�on.

I admit that that I too have been a devoted fan of Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and lately Steph Curry,whom I have never met. Back in the day, as a teenager,I was a loyal fan of Luis “Moro” Lorenzo of the Ateneo Blue Eagles and to this day, I cannot comprehend why.

ConGen Badajos, TJ Manotoc to address new media group on LA induction night

LOS ANGELES –

General Edgar Badajos and broadcaster TJ Manotoc will be the guest speakers during the Induction Night of the Philippine Global Media Group (PGMG) on Saturday, February 10 ,at 6 p.m. at the Vineyard Ballroom of Double Tree by Hilton-Norwalk at 1311 Sycamore Drive, Norwalk, CA 90650.

The new media group 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.

Consul General Badajos, whose assignment in Los Angeles was just recently extended until the end of April, will induct the inaugural set of officers and Board of Directors of PGMG. He will later address the group of journalists, community and business leaders and guests who are expected to attend the event.

TJ Manotoc, a 25-year broadcast veteran who heads the North America Bureau of ABS-CBN News, the news bureau of ABSCBN International and its Media Production Group, will deliver an inspirational address to the journalists.

Master of ceremonies for the event is Annie Nepomuceno, a Katha and Awit awardee in the Philippines and a known vocalist, composer and music teacher in Los Angeles. She will also sing the Philippine and US national anthems.

“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 in the global diaspora of news developments in their respective communities and in our homeland, the Philippines,” said Val G. Abelgas, a 52-year veteran newsman who heads PGMG as its first presi-

dent.

“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,” Abelgas added.

The officers of the PGMG are: Val G. Abelgas, publisher and editor of Philippine Post, president; Lydia V. Solis, associate editor of the Philippine Post and Weekend Balita contributor, and Nimfa U. Rueda, US Channel director of Inquirer.net, vice presidents; Dan E. Nino, freelance journalist, secretary; Rick Gavino, photographer of Philippine Post, treasurer.

Manny Ilagan, former Philippine Department of Tourism regional director and freelance writer, is chairman of the board; and the members of the board are: 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, photographer 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.

Sponsors of the Induction Night are BayaniPay, Philippine Airlines, Rajah Tours, Azul Balikbayan Cargo, O Skin Care, Cherish Care Staffing and Caregiving Services, Inc., Pen Homes Inc., Vina Lelim Nacionales, Van Dichoso, CSI Professionals Inc., Saladmaster (Pia Legaspi), Print Hub (Erlinda Granada Sabah), Serry and Zeny Sabocor, and Ludy Ongkeko.

For ticket and sponsorship inquiries for the Induction and Gala Night, please call or email Val Abelgas (562) 469-8030 val.abelgas@aolo.com ; Manny Ilagan (213) 447-7087 manilagan@gmail.com ; Rick Gavino (323) 868-9932 rick1434@yahoo.com ; Dan E. Nino (562) 508-8099 denino1951@gmail.com .

PHILIP

S. CHUA

Heart of Hope

My column on “Aspirin, the Wonder Drug,” came out in 2002, when this common household item was on the spotlight for its new role in staving off heart attack, medically termed Acute Myocardial Infarction (the killer, Acute MI), blood clots, and stroke.

In 1962, a year after I graduated from medical school, my 46-year-old father succumbed to a heart attack, and at that time, the medical community did not even know that aspirin was useful in lowering the risk of Acute MI and that taking aspirin immediately when chest pains developed was a prudent measure on the way to the emergency room. Today, these are all “common knowledge,” especially in this wonderful age of the internet and cyberinformation, where Dr. Google is on-call 24/7.

Studies suggest aspirin reduces the recurrence rate for cancers, or even prevent cancer. For decades, this popular cheap pill has been used, not only as antipyretic (against fever), analgesic (for pain), and anti-inflammatory (against arthritis), but also to prevent inflammation in the veins in the pelvis and legs (phlebitis) and resultant blood clots in the legs (thrombophlebitis), which could travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolus) and cause death.

What is aspirin?

Aspirin (medically known as acetylsalicylic acid) is a common household medication for pain (analgesic), fever (antipyretic), and inflammation (anti-inflammatory). This “simple” and inexpensive drug is so much underrated and practically taken for granted. Aspirin is really a versatile drug, with a lot of good uses, much more than the lay public realizes.

How was aspirin discovered?

In 1827, Leroux of France first came upon salicin, an active ingredient in the willow bark, and in 1838, Piria produced salicylic acid from salicin. In 1897 Hoffman, a German chemist, was able to modify salicylic acid into acetyl salicylic acid (aspirin). In 1899, Dreser introduced aspirin (heroin, codeine) into medicine. All three drugs have been in popular use since then, with more than 40 tons (100 million tablets) of aspirin produced annually worldwide, 40 million pounds in the USA

Aspirin: Safe?

alone, about 300 tablets per man, woman and child per year. The enteric-coated form is preferred to minimize gastric irritation. The 81-mg mini-dose coated tablets are the most popular, taken once daily by millions in the United States.

How is aspirin versatile?

Besides being used as an analgesic for pain of various causes (headaches, body aches, arthritis, dysmenorrhea, neuralgia, gout, etc.), and for febrile states, aspirin is also useful in the treatment of rheumatic disease, and as an anti-platelet (to thin the blood and prevent blood clots) in coronary (heart) artery and in the deep veins in the legs and pelvis, as we stated above. Aspirin also appears to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer by 20% and also lowers the risk for colorectal cancer. Many physicians themselves and patients today take low-dose aspirin (baby aspirin or 81 mg.) daily to reduce the chances of getting a heart attack and stroke by its anti-platelet (blood thinning) action by blocking the production of a prostaglandin called thromboxane. It is believed the drug produces analgesic/anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the production of pain-producing chemicals called prostaglandins.

Are there other uses for aspirin?

Aspirin has also been used with success in the treatment of children with Bartter’s Syndrome, and also in enhancing the closure of Patent Ductus Arteriosus, an abnormal connection between the aorta (main artery connected to the heart) and the pulmonary artery (to the lungs) in the newborn. There are also studies that suggest regular aspirin use increases the chances of conception and a successful pregnancy, among those women who have had dilemma in getting pregnant or having miscarriages or stillbirths.

How does aspirin work?

Aspirin, as we stated earlier, thins the blood by preventing platelet aggregation. Platelets are blood components that play a role in blood thickening or clot formation. When they aggregate (clump together) blood thickens and clots form. Clots tend to clog arteries and veins. When arteries to the heart (coronary) get severely blocked by clots, a heart attack occurs, and when this clogging happens to the arteries to the brain, stroke happens. As simple as aspirin, this wonder drug plays a very vital role in these conditions, together with a change in lifestyle (no smoking, low carb/cholesterol diet, regular

exercises, etc.) to maintain a thinner blood condition.

Is aspirin safe for children?

Pediatricians all over the world have, for almost 5 decades, discontinued prescribing aspirin for children for pain and fever, because aspirin has been implicated in the occurrence of Reye’s Syndrome in children following a viral (upper respiratory or gastrointestinal) infection, which syndrome could be fatal. For fever or pain, physicians now prefer to prescribe acetaminophen (like Tylenol), but for some specific illnesses (like Kawasaki Disease, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, etc.) aspirin is still being used effectively by Pediatricians.

What are the side-effects of aspirin?

Besides Reye’s Syndrome in children, allergy (especially those with asthma), life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding, long-term intake of aspirin also increases the risk for the development “age-related” macular degeneration, the major cause of blindness in older adults. Taking aspirin also raises the bleeding risk of those on blood thinners, like warfarin (Coumadin), dabigatran, apixaban, and on food supplements like evening primrose oil and fish oil. Minor side-effects include headache (believe it or not), bruising, nausea, vomiting, tinnitus (ringing in the ear).

In spite of all this, the new guidelines issued by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) “recommend daily low-dose aspirin for heart attack and stroke prevention for individuals aged 50-59 who are at high risk for cardiovascular disease.”

Before embarking on aspirin therapy, or on any other regimen, consult your attending physician.

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

Philippine Consul

ConGen BadajosTJ Manotoc

Recipe of the Week

Mais at Patola, Sweet Corn and Luffa Vegetable Soup

Ingredients:

4 young corn in a cob

2 medium size patola, peeled, cut crosswise

2 medium size eggplant, sliced into strips

1/4 kilo pre-boiled pork, cut into strips

1 cup small shrimp, shelled

2-3 long green chili

1/4 head garlic, chopped

1 small size onion, chopped

1 medium size tomato, chopped

1/4 cup fish sauce

salt to taste

cooking oil

Cooking procedure:

Using a knife cut of the corn kernels of the cob, keep aside, discard cobs. In a sauce pan suttee garlic, onion and tomato until lump. Add in the pork and shrimp, stir cook for a minute. Add in fish sauce and stir cook for another minute. Add 3 to 4 cups of water bring to a boil and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes. Add in the corn and continue to simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, add more water as necessary. Add in the vegetables and simmer for 3 to 5 minutes, correct saltines if required. Now add in the green chili and cook for another half a minute. Serve with steaming hot rice.