Philippine News Today by Philippine News Today

1 January 13-19, 2022

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA EDITION

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THE PREMIER FILIPINO-AMERICAN NEWSPAPER IN THE U.S. SINCE 1961

Vol. 61 No. 23 January 13-19, 2022

NEWS AND VIEWS YOU TRUST

PHL AT ‘CRITICAL RISK’ FOR COVID-19 AGAIN Marcos Jr. fate decided by Jan 17

Cases soar past 3 million; Senators, Cabinet men, other leaders catch virus By ALFRED GABOT, Editor in Chief

MANILA — With infections rising to record high again, hitting several Cabinet members, the chiefs of the Armed Forces and Philippine National Police, several senators and leaders and celebrities, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III declared that the country is now deemed at “critical risk” for COVID-19. Page 9

By Be�ng Laygo Dolor, Editor

MANILA – Whether he can proceed with his quest to become President of the Philippines like his father before him, or be forced to abandon his dream will be known by next week. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is expected to decide if the three disqualiﬁcation proceedings against former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. are valid or not no later than Monday, Jan. Page 8

PHL CONSUL GENERAL Elmer G. Cato sympathizes in a New York rally against Asian American hate incidents in this ﬁle photo.

No truth to martial law, PHL envoy in NY airs hope for total lockdown downtrend in Asian-American CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City – Defense Secretary Delﬁn Lorenzana has denied claims made by a voice recording being spread on social media that the government would impose martial law by January 10 to stop the surge in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in the country. “Not true. Fake news. Deﬁnitely, out of the picture,” Lorenzana said. In the voice recording, a woman is urging the Page 8

‘hate’ incidents in 2022

NEW YORK – The Philippine Consulate General in New York expressed hope for a downtrend in hate crimes and other incidents targeting Asian-Americans under the new leadership of New York City Mayor Eric Adams. In a statement, Consul General Elmer Cato expressed his “full support” for Adams’ plans to ensure that “every District Attorney’s Oﬃce would have a robust hate crime unit but to

also increase the resources of the Asian Hate Crimes Task Force of the New York City Police Department (NYPD).” “We are one with the AsianAmerican Community in expressing hope that under the leadership of Mayor Adams, the streets of New York City will once again be safe for everyone,” Cato said, noting that at least 20 members of the Filipino community Page 8

Comelec data breach, hacking worry leaders By Claire Morales True MANILA – The Commission on Elections maybe facing data breach and hacking of election data which could aﬀect the results of the May 9 2022 elections raising concerns from Malacañang and Congress leaders. While the Comelec initially denied the report to be a “fake news,” government authorities and Congress have started looking into the alleged hacking and data breach by an unknown group as reported by the Manila Bulletin tech expert. The National Privacy Commission (NPC) has summoned representatives from the Com-

mission on Elections (Comelec) and news outlet Manila Bulletin (MB) following a report of alleged hacking and data breach involving the poll body’s servers. In a statement, Privacy Commissioner John Henry Naga said separate orders were sent to the Comelec and MB technology editor and IT head Art Samaniego Jr., to appear for a clariﬁcatory meeting via teleconference on January 25. The Senate and the House of Representatives, on the other hand, plan to hold a public hearing on the matter. “We will await any update to be pronounced by Comelec regarding this. Siyempre, Page 8

Newsom taps Natl Guard in war vs COVID-19

Child marriage now banned in PHL VIEWS & COMMENTS

SHOWBIZ

SPORTS

What is considered a Marriage Fraud

Aga and Arlene Muhlach get COVID in U.S.

Billiards player Dennis Orcollo denied entry in US

By A�y. Lozano

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 NATIONAL NEWS

January 13-19, 2022

Philippines bans child marriage MANILA - Child marriage is now illegal in the country as a bill seeking to ban the practice was signed into law on December 10 and has taken eﬀect. Child marriage refers to any marriage entered into where one or both parties are children and solemnized in civil or church proceedings, or in any recognized traditional, cultural, or customary manner. It shall include an informal union or cohabitation outside of wedlock between an adult and a child, or between children. Lawmakers said the law does not only prohibit the marriage of a girl below 18 years old, but also bans cohabiting with a minor. Members of Congress enacted the law in view of observation that one in six girls in the country enters wedlock before the

age of 18, making it the 12th nation with the highest number of child marriages in the world. The new law, Republic Act No. 11596, imposes prison terms of up to 12 years for marrying or cohabiting with anyone under 18. People arranging or solemnizing underage unions also face the same penalty under the law. Republic Act No. 11596, also known as An Act Prohibiting the Practice of Child Marriage and Imposing Penalties, was signed by Duterte saying he recognizes the need to abolish all traditional and cultural practices and structures that perpetuate discrimination, abuse, and exploitation of children such as the practice of child marriage.

The law provides that any person who causes, fixes, facilitates, or arranges a child marriage shall suffer the penalty of prision mayor in its medium period and a fine of not less than P40,000. House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Bernadette Herrera, one of the authors of the law, said Republic Act No. 11596 prohibits and declares child marriage as illegal and imposes penalties against violators. Herrera also highlighted that under the law, the solemnization of child marriage and cohabitation of an adult with a child outside wedlock are considered unlawful acts. “This is a major victory in our campaign to end child marriage in the Philippines. This law will help protect children,

especially young girls, and hopefully change the trajectory of their lives,” Herrera said. Herrera said the time has come for the Philippines to end the “longstanding disturbing practice” of child marriage. Child marriage, she said, is a form of violence against children. Any person who causes, fixes, facilitates or arranges a child marriage shall suffer the penalty of prision mayor in its medium period and a fine of not less than P40,000. However, should the perpetrator be an ascendant, parent, adoptive parent, step parent, or guardian of the child, the penalty shall be prision mayor in its maximum period, a fine of not less than P50,000, and perpetual loss of parental authority.

Duterte ally Malasakit shut out but MOCHA okd in party-list race MANILA - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has excluded the Malasakit Movement party-list with President Duterte appointee former Assistant Secretary and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority spokesperson Celine Pialago as ﬁrst nominee from the oﬃcial ballot in the May 9, 2022 elections. Another group, the Mothers For Change (MOCHA) party-list headed by

another Duterte appointee former Overseas Workers Welfare Administration deputy administrator Mocha Uson, was granted accreditation by the poll body as it met all requirements sought by the Comelec. Uson, known for allegedly peddling fake news in favor of the administration, is joined by beauty queen and NTF-ELCAC ambassador Michelle Gumabao as

SAI RAM ASTROLOGER & PSYCHIC MISS DEVI SHAMALA

nominees of Mothers For Change. In a notice issued by the Oﬃce of the Clerk of the Commission (OCOC), Malasakit partylist whose name is derived from the Malasakit program of Sen. Christopher Lawrence Go, was excluded in the ﬁnal listing of party-list candidates due to the resolution of its “pending incident.” Pialago and Malasakit’s other nominees led by its party chairman Eusebio Avancena, who is a cousin of President Rodrigo Duterte’s partner Honeylet Avancena; Mark Ryan Ponce, Natasha Supan Rodriguez, and Monroe Laurenze Dimaano said they will appeal the decision. The Comelec decision came as the Malasakit Movement Party-list forged an alliance with President Rodrigo Duterte’s Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS). The party chairman, Avanceña signed a partnership agreement with PDDS national president Greco Belgica. “Sa alyansang ito ng Malasakit Movement at PDDS ni Pangulong Duterte, mas marami ang mapagmamalasakitan. Pareho ang adhikain namin ni Pangulong Duterte, iyan ay mapagmalasakitan ang

Mocha Uson mas maraming Pilipino (With the alliance of Malasakit Movement and PDDS of President Duterte, we can be of help to more Filipinos. We have the same objectives and that is to be of service to a great number of our countrymen),” he said in a news release on Sunday. He said they are thankful to Duterte for the alliance as he promised that their group will always be behind the endeavors of Duterte in uplifting the lives of Filipinos. Under the agreement, Malasakit Movement Party-list and PDDS formed the alliance based on their shared principles, objectives, and vision for the country and for the purpose of pursuing continuity of good governance and principled leadership personiﬁed by Duterte.

Metro Manila on ‘severe’ Covid-19 outbreak: OCTA MANILA – The OCTA Research Group described the Covid-19 situation in the National Capital Region (NCR) a “severe outbreak”, with the average daily attack rate (ADAR) rising to 89.42 percent from January 4 to 10. In its latest report, the OCTA Research Group said NCR’s current ADAR is above the threshold for a severe outbreak which is greater than 75 per 100,000 individuals per day. The region’s ADAR for the week of Dec. 28, 2021 to Jan. 3, 2022 was only 12.71. Its recent seven-day positivity rate in-

creased to 48 percent from 20 percent for the previous week. Positivity rate is the percentage of Covid-19 tests performed which turned out positive in a certain area or region. “The reproduction number or the number of individuals a Covid-19 case could infect with the virus has decreased from 5.65 to 5.22 which indicates the trend slowed down slightly,” the OCTA said. It added the hospital bed occupancy in the NCR has increased to 57 percent from 27 percent in the previous week and is likely to exceed 70 percent next week.

 METRO NEWS

January 13-19, 2022

Manila resumes mass vaccination, revives drive-thru tests at Luneta By Claire Morales True MANILA – The rising number of infected medical front-liners and health care workers (HCWs) in the city of Manila is causing delays in the vaccination program and the release of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) test results. This was disclosed by Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso during his live broadcast on Facebook, as he conﬁrmed that several doctors, nurses, and laboratory personnel have been infected or reinfected with the virus. Domagaso said the city is resuming its mass vaccination, adding walk-ins are allowed to be vaccinated. The mayor also said the city government was set to return its booster shot drive-thru vaccination caravan for 4-wheel vehicle owners on January 13. Domagoso made the announcement during his inspection of the drive-thru area infront of the Quirino Grandstand.

The new drive-thru vaccination site is designed for four-wheel drive vehicles with a maximum of four to five persons, the mayor said. Domagoso said the site will be operational every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will accommodate people on a first comefirst served basis, thus there is no need to get a booking or schedule. It will have four lanes and will serve about 300 vehicles per day or equivalent to around 1,500 individuals, and will accommodate Manila and non-Manila residents. All brands of the Covid-19 vaccines will be available at the drive-through. Domagoso was joined by Manila City Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna and other government officials during the site visit as part of the city’s preparation for the booster shot roll-out for 4-wheel vehicle owners. “Due to the request of our constituents and the people, i-innovate natin itong vac-

cination drive-thru dito sa Luneta. Imbis na first and second dose lang, gagamitin natin siya ngayon na booster vaccination drive thru site,” Domagoso said. “So ibig sabihin pwede jeep, taxi, private, o mga korporasyon, pwede po silang magtungo dito sa Luneta drive-thru vaccination site ng City of Manila,” he added. According to Domagoso, the booster shot drive-thru vaccination will implement a first come, first served policy to the first 300 vehicles with maximum five recipients per car. He said doctors and nurses deployed in vaccination sites were asked to return to their mother units and facilities to assure continuity of services in the six district hospitals. Domagoso appealed for the public’s patience for the slowdown in the vaccination program but assured inoculation and free swab tests will continue despite the reduced number of HCWs. Among the infected are 14 personnel

DRIVE-THRU VACCINATION. Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso and Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna inspects the city’s drive-thru vaccina�on lanes at the Luneta before its actual run.

of the Sta. Ana Hospital molecular laboratory. As of January 11, the city has 2,290 active Covid-19 cases after recording 688 new infections. A total of 163 new recoveries were reported that raised the total to 92,162 while deaths remained at 1,785 with no new fatalities.

‘No vax, no ride’ in public transport in NCR; medical workers, MRT employes catch virus MANNDALUYONG CITY – “No vaccination, no ride/no entry.” This is the new policy being enforced in Metro Manila as ordered by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade in line with President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s order to restrict the movement of people who are unvaccinated

against Covid-19 in Metro Manila in the wake of soaring cases of infections. This developed as the National Capital Region currently has 6,595 health care workers, all under quarantine because of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infection. Department of Health (DOH) Undersec-

retary and treatment czar Leopoldo Vega said 7.2 percent of the 91,838 health care workers in NCR are in isolation. Meanwhile, six passengers who have gone through the random and voluntary antigen testing at select stations of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) have tested positive

for Covid-19, said MRT-3 Director for Operations Michael Capati. Those who tested positive, it said, were advised of their options and told to self-isolate, report to their local government unit (LGU), and consider a conﬁrmatory reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test.

Cut lawmakers pay by half, ex-solon urges $495

408.286.9360 408.286.9311

QUEZON CITY - A former congresswoman and now civic leader of Quezon City wants the salaries of lawmakers reduced to half of the present rates and the savings to fund development projects for the poor. “They are all rich men, after all, hacenderos (big landowners) in their constituencies. They can well afford doing away with a large chunk of their current pay,” said former Quezon City 2nd Dist. Rep. Annie Rosa Susano. “If congressmen and senators are paid only half of their present salaries, there will be enough funds for schoolbuildings, hospitals and health centers, and even newer boots for firemen who wear old worn-out boots as they go around fighting fires,” Susano added. Susano, a two-term congresswoman in the 90s, is running for election in May under the Malayang Quezon City party as representative of the fifth district of Quezon City. This is part of the old second district that she used to represent, which has been cut up to create the fifth and sixth congressional districts. In an interview on public service program Sulong Na Bayan over radio station DWIZ, Susano told program host Lolly R. Acosta that she is going back to politics because there are still a lot of things that have to be done for the benefit of the people. Owner of several successful busi-

nesses, mostly in real estate and property development, Susano said while she felt fulfilled with her business ventures, she felt like joining government service again because “that is where you can be of greater service to the people.” As an officer of several foundations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), she helped put up schools catering to youth in poorer areas like Payatas in Quezon City and livelihood training for disadvantaged families. She disclosed that during her first stint in Congress, she had sounded out her views about the excessively high salaries enjoyed by congressmen and senators. “Colleagues at the House would tell me, were friends, arent we? So lets stop talking about that,” she recalled. This time around, she said, she will seek to start a movement toward reducing the salaries enjoyed by lawmakers. They are provided enough funds in the national budget for projects for their constituents. “And there are a lot of perks and privileges that they enjoy. So why the astronomical salaries still?” If lawmakers, particularly congressmen, did not enjoy such high salaries, nobody would be so eager to run for Congress anymore. And there would be no more corruption, which happens because politicians have to pay back those who funded their election campaigns, Susano said.

5 January 13-19, 2022

 PROVINCIAL NEWS

Radio commentator shot dead in Tacurong

CRIME SCENE. Police scene of the crime opera�ves conduct a post-crime probe in Barangay New Carmen, Tacurong City where radio journalist Jaynard Angeles (right) was shot dead. TACURONG CITY, Sultan Kudarat – A hard-hitting radio commentator who is seeking an elective post in a nearby town was shot dead here by riding in tan-

dem gunmen on January 12. in conducting intensive police operations to pursue his Jaynard Angeles, 36, of Barangay Matiompong, assailants and bring the perpetrators before the bar of Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat, former station manager justice,” he added. of Radyo ni Juan FM station and radio commentator, died from a gunshot wound in the head, police investigators said. Allan Freno, Tacurong information oﬃcer, said Angeles had resigned from Radyo ni Juan FM to run for councilor in his hometown of Lambayong. Angeles is running under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas. The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) decried the killing of Angeles. “The government condemns in the strongest possible terms the killing of Jaynard Angeles, a candidate in the local election and former station manager of Radyo ni Juan. We will never tolerate any act of violence against any person,” said Undersecretary Jose Joel Sy Egco, executive director of PTFoMS. “We condole with the family, loved ones, and colleagues of Mr. Angeles. The PTFoMS is now in close coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP)

Lingayen mayor gets Covid-19 LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil of this capital town has tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) and has gone into isolation. In a message over the weekend, Bataoil, a former congressman and a retired police general, said he underwent a reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction

(RT-PCR) test when he started coughing. “Minarapat kong alamin na sana ito’y dahil lang sa pagod o sa panahon, para na rin sa kapakanan ng bawat isa, lalo na ng aking mga kababayan (I decided to conﬁrm if this is just due to fatigue or the weather for the welfare of everyone, especially my townmates),” he said.

 NATIONAL NATIONAL NEWS NEWS

January 13-19, 2022

Covid-19 infects nearly 7K NCR health care workers

HEALTH OFFICIALS speed up vaccina�on vs COVID-19 MANILA – The National Capital Region (NCR) currently has 6,595 health care workers, all under quarantine because of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infection.

Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary and treatment czar Leopoldo Vega said 7.2 percent of the 91,838 health care workers in NCR are in isolation.

“So, ang ginagawa ngayon ng mga hospital lalung-lalo na sa mga bigger center ay nag-close sila ng ibang services para ma-redeploy sa mga areas na nangangailangan for Covid ng kanilang mga (What hospitals do now, especially the bigger centers, is they close other services to redeploy the [healthcare workers] to areas needing assistance for Covid),” Vega said during a televised Palace briefing. Vega said the government has prepared for such a scenario since last year. “So, roughly, naka-position na kami ng mga 7,000 plus health care workers na (we have positioned 7,000 plus health care workers for) augmentation for the different hospitals, isolation centers, and testing centers,” he added. Earlier, the DOH shortened to five days the isolation period for fully vaccinated health care workers with zero, mild or moderate symptoms of Covid-19 in consideration of the hospitals’ needs. In a separate online media forum, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire assured the government will not implement a policy that would put patients and health care workers at risk.

Covid-19 infections spike among cops continues; deaths up at 125

POLICE OFFICERS and men in forma�on CAMP CRAME, Quezon City - The Philippine National Police (PNP) continues to see a spike in coronavirus infections among its ranks. In its Covid-19 bulletin on January 10, the PNP Health Service said 436 new cases raised the active case tally to 1,884 out of a total of 43,603 con-

firmed cases since the start of the pandemic. “Thankfully, many of the Covid cases among our police personnel developed mild symptoms, which will only need home or facility isolation,” PNP Chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos said in a statement.

Another five new recoveries, meanwhile, brought the active cases to 41,954 while the death toll stands at 125. Carlos assured that the surge in infections will not affect the operations of the police force. “We have our deployment strategy that in case a member of the police unit will be isolated, those who are not in contact with him/her will take over. Of course, swab testing is a regular thing for us,” said Carlos, who also tested positive for Covid-19. He said work continues also for those who are asymptomatic and can still manage to discharge their functions even at home or inside a facility. Carlos also reminded personnel to always maintain a healthy body and a sound mind to effectively function as front-liners in this fight against this lethal virus. PNP records also show that 215,779 personnel (95.76 percent) are already fully vaccinated, while 8,130 (3.61 percent) are waiting for their second dose. There are still 1,424 PNP personnel (0.63 percent) that have yet to receive any dose of the vaccine.

17 more overseas Filipinos get COVID-19 PASAY CITY - Seventeen new COVID-19 cases were recorded among Filipinos abroad, driving up the total of confirmed cases to 24,291. This was reported by the Department of Foreign Affairs, adding that 5,610 of the cases have been verified by the Department of Health. Active cases among overseas Filipinos or those undergoing treatment reached 8,400. At the same time, the DFA reported 14 new recoveries were recorded, pushing the total recoveries to 14,437. The death toll on the other hand went up by one to 1,454.

Pope picks 3 Filipino priests as ‘papal chaplains’

ATICAN/MANILA - Pope Francis has chosen three Filipino priests as “Chaplains to His Holiness,” earning them the title “monsignor.” The three priests all came from the Diocese of Borongan in Eastern Samar: Rev. Msgr. Lope Robredillo, the incumbent vicar general; Rev. Msgr. Eutiquio “Euly” Belizar, head of the diocese’s Commission on Doctrine of the Faith; and Rev. Msgr. Romeo Solidon, who is serving at the Cathedral Parish of the Nativity of Our Lady. The Diocese of Borongan announced the appointment on Friday, January 7. The honorific form of address “monsignor” is a pontifical honor used for those who are chosen as “Chaplain of His Holiness.” Under Pope Paul VI, there were three classes of monsignor: Protonary Apostolic, Honorary Prelate, and Chaplain of His Holiness. Those who are honored with the title are considered part of the papal household. But in 2014, Pope Francis, as part of his efforts to curb clericalism in the Catholic Church, scaled back the rules governing this particular papal award and abolished the other classes except for Chaplain of His Holiness. In fact, during his time as the cardinalarchbishop of Buenos Aires in Argentina, Francis refused to petition the Vatican to bestow the monsignor title to his priests. Except for those working in the Vatican City, the current rules state that those who are eligible to receive the title are priests who are over 65 years of age and have rendered valuable service to the church or have provided a specific and specialized function in the Church governance.

7 January 13-19, 2022

 NATIONAL NATIONAL NEWS NEWS

DILG orders barangays to conduct inventory of unvaccinated persons

VACCINATION CARD checking at a mall. QUEZON CITY – All barangays have been ordered to submit an inventory of unvaccinated persons in their localities by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). “To ensure that we have correct data on unvaccinated persons, Secretary (Eduardo) Año issued a memorandum circular to conduct an inventory to all barangays throughout the country to identify those who have not yet vac-

cinated in their barangays in line with the pronouncement of the President (Rodrigo Duterte) to restrain or restrict the movement of our unvaccinated individuals. It all starts with an inventory and then when we have an inventory, the LGU (local government units) will implement through an ordinance the restrictions on the movement of unvaccinated persons,” Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said.

Malaya also said barangay officials have to prepare the inventory “on a monthly basis” and submit this to the DILG field office in their area. “The second step is to closely monitor the mobility of the persons who are not yet vaccinated and to advise them to stay at home,” he said. As village officials, Malaya said they have “the authority to implement our laws”, including the President’s directives for them to courteously request unvaccinated persons to remain home. In a Laging Handa briefing, Malaya said they also expect all 17 LGUs of Metro Manila to pass their ordinances on the restricted mobility of the unvaccinated individuals in the coming days. Currently, only three cities -- Makati, Navotas and Pasig -- have yet to submit copies of these ordinances. “Based on the report from the DILG NCR, there are already ordinances in the council of Navotas, Makati, and Pasig but these have not been approved yet. In other words, it is under deliberation by the city councils and we expect that in the next few days, it will be passed. This is because the decision of all the mayors of Metro Manila was unanimous that they will push for mobility restrictions against unvaccinated,” he added. Malaya, however, said the government is exerting all efforts to encourage

vaccination through localized information dissemination by influencers such as local officials and medical experts. “We also have town hall meetings where we have an expert invited such as a doctor from Philippine Medical Association, the allied medical professions and we also do outreach activities here in the communities to convey our message to them that they need to get vaccinated,” Malaya explained. Malaya, meanwhile, said many areas outside the NCR have also started passing their respective ordinances on keeping the unvaccinated people indoors. “I will not be surprised if the provinces will also pass similar ordinances because the League of Provinces of the Philippines has already passed under the leadership of (Marinduque) Governor Presbitero Velasco of the resolution where they are also encouraging their members, the member provinces to pass such an ordinance so when there are ordinances this will now serve as the guidelines of the barangays and the PNP in the implementation of the directive of our president to restrict the mobility of the unvaccinated,” he explained. Malaya noted that the ordinances passed by the Metro Manila LGUs “have very specific provisions on what things can be done and cannot be done with respect to unvaccinated individuals in every LGU.’’

5 election gun ban violators arrested in NCR, Zamboanga CAMP CRAME, Quezon City - Five people were arrested for violation of the election gun ban during the first day of its implementation on Sunday, January 9, 2022, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported. In a statement, PNP Chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos said two were arrested in Commission on Elections (Comelec) checkpoints in the National Capital Region (NCR) and three in Zamboanga Peninsula. The Zamboanga Peninsula Police Regional Office identified those arrested as Wendell Deocariza Datoy, who was found carrying a caliber .45 pistol during an inspection at a checkpoint in Barangay Poblacion, Imelda, Zamboanga Sibugay, around 12:50 a.m. of Sunday, and Earon Jay Mascara and his 17-year-old companion who were in possession of a replica model 1911 pistol when they were intercepted by police in Barangay Sanito, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay shortly before dawn. In Metro Manila, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Vicente Danao Jr. identified the arrested individuals as Jerwin Gubaton, 39, and John Paul Dunlao, 23. He said Gubaton was initially intercepted in a checkpoint along C4 road, Barangay Bagumbayan North, Navotas City

for not wearing a face mask but when he alighted from his tricycle, police found a caliber .38 revolver tucked under his waistband. Dunlao was stopped in a separate checkpoint along Rotonda, Amparo Subdivision, Barangay 179, Caloocan City for not wearing a helmet but police later on found a caliber .38 revolver with four live ammunition in his motorcycle trunk. “These early results of our strict implementation of Comelec Resolution No. 10728 more or less describe the overall aggressiveness of police operations against violators of election law,” Carlos said. The election gun ban took effect on January 9, the beginning of the election period in the country for the May 9 national elections. The election period will end on June 8 The permit to carry firearms outside of residence for civilians is suspended, while law enforcers, including the police, are exempted as long as they bring their issued firearms while in uniform and in the performance of official duty. Carlos urged the public, however, to immediately report to them any PNP personnel abusing their exemption of the gun ban. He also reminded that Comelec check-

points are only limited to visual search only. “Any person with firearms will be courteously asked to show a copy of a valid Certificate of Authority that exempts him/her from the gun ban. If none, then the individual can be a candidate for violating the Comelec rules,” said Carlos. Any person with a firearm must show a Certificate of Authority that proves ex-

emption from the gun ban. Without such document, the individual can be charged with violation of the Comelec Rules. Violators face imprisonment from one to six years, permanent disqualiﬁcation from public oﬃce and loss of right to vote, and deportation for foreigners after prison term is served, according to the Comelec.

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 NATIONAL NEWS Marcos Jr...

hound dogs are out.” “Don’t dare me,” she warned, then switching to the vernacular said the critics’ boss would end up in tears if they pushed her too far. Earlier, Guanzon crossed swords with Marcos Jr’s spokesman, lawyer Vic Rodriguez, who had questioned the independence of the Comelec commissioners. She replied: “Who is that lawyer who said we Comelec commissioners must assert our independence? Why, are we lame? Atty. Rodriguez, don’t you diminish us.” If the Comelec’s first division votes to disqualify Marcos Jr., the seven commissioners will then vote en back to affirm or reject the decision. Should they affirm the decision, however, Marcos Jr’s last hope will lie with the

Supreme Court, which could reverse the Comelec decision. The poll body had earlier submitted for resolution the disqualification case against Marcos Jr. that had been filed by Abubakar Mangelen, who said he was the duly elected chairman of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinos, which recruited the son and namesake of the late dictator as its presidential standard bearer. Mangelen said the PFP’s issuance of a certificate of nomination of acceptance to Marcos Jr. was “unauthorized, defective, invalid and void.” Two other disqualification cases against Marcos Jr. filed by martial law survivors have been consolidated, and a decision is also forthcoming.

(From page 1) to go out, hence the need to stock up on

“The highest we had was 26,000 plus last year. Today we have 17,220. This variant, while more transmissible, is less virulent than Delta. Less people get seriously sick,” he added. When asked whether there would be a lockdown similar to the enhanced community quarantine implemented in 2020,

Lorenzana said there would be no total lockdown. He said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) is still evaluating the situation “but not total lockdown.”

public to stock up on food good for until January 30 on the possibility that President Rodrigo Duterte will declare martial law or total lockdown by next week. In the scenario, no one will be allowed

PHL...

and/or cancellation of his certiﬁcate of candidacy cases, the ongoing case has moved forward. The strongest case against Marcos Jr. questions his COC which opponents claim was submitted under false pretense, since the presidential candidate made no mention of the tax evasion case ﬁled against him, which he lost. As such, he is deemed to be a convicted criminal, and his reported payment of his back taxes along with penalties for late payment does not erase his culpability. How the feisty Commissioner Guanzon will vote is unknown, but she has reacted strongly to insinuations that she and her colleagues have been less than fair. Taking to social media, she posted: “Our decision isn’t out yet an (sic) already some

(From page 1)

17 (Manila time). Posting over Twitter, Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said they will “promulgate its resolution on the disqualification cases against presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on or before Jan. 17.” “If not too risky,” she added, “we will read it in the Session Hall, on live stream.” It is not clear what effect his failing to attend last week’s hearing will have on his case, or if the insult aimed at the poll body by Marcos Jr’s lawyers will be held against him. What is clear is that after the Comelec rejected two of the earlier disqualification

No Truth...

January 13-19, 2022

supplies, the woman claimed. “There is no compelling reason to declare martial law,” Lorenzana said. He said the 17,220 Covid-19 infections logged on January 6, while quite high, are still lower than the more than 26,000 recorded in 2021.

(From page 1)

were among the victims of hate incidents in 2021. The number of anti-Asian hate incidents in New York City went up by 394 percent, from 130 cases in the third quarter of 2021 compared to 33 incidents for the same period in 2020 based on the latest ﬁgures of the NYPD. At the same time, Cato said his oﬃce has been receiving reports of Filipinos in New York who tested positive for COVID-19 as the United States reported one million coronavirus cases — the highest reported by any country in a single day since the outbreak of the pandemic. “I know of around 40 kababayan who

tested positive in the past several days alone. Surely there are more. At the rate the virus is spreading, we expect more of us to get infected in the coming days. We just have to brace ourselves and try our best in getting vaccinated or boosted and following the usual protocols,” ConGen Cato wrote on Facebook. Cato said Adams, a former police ofﬁcer, announced plans to increase police visibility in the New York subway system and provide support services for homeless individuals, especially those with mental health issues. “We are hopeful that the measures announced by Mayor Adams would succeed in arresting the record surge in anti-Asian hate crimes and other incidents,” Cato said. He said 36 percent of hate incidents reported on the New York subway system were also anti-Asian which includes the faceslashing of church worker Noel Quintana in February

Comelec...

NO TO ASIAN HATE. A rally calling for a stop to an�-Asian hate crimes in New York City in this undated photo. Consul General Elmer Cato expressed hope for a downtrend in hate crimes and other incidents targe�ng Asian-Americans under the new leadership of New York City Mayor

and the assault on nurse Potri Ranka Manis with many avoiding the subway completein August. ly and opting for other forms of transportaAs a result of these “high-proﬁle at- tion. tacks,” he said many Filipinos have become apprehensive of taking the subway, (From page 1) nababahala ﬁles—which

rin kami, (Of course we are also concerned), obviously we’re also worried about this kung totoo man ito (if this is true),” Acting presidential spokesperson, Cabinet secretary Karlo Nograles, said in a Palace press briefing. Nograles said the Palace will wait for the Comelec to release an official statement regarding the alleged breach of the servers. On Monday, the Manila Bulletin reported that hackers were allegedly able to download “more than 60 gigabytes of data that could possibly affect the May 2022 elections” on January 8. The hackers managed to download files that included, among others, usernames and PINS of vote-counting machines (VCM). Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said it is impossible for hackers to download usernames and PINs of VCM because “such information still does not exist in Comelec systems simply because the configuration

includes usernames and PINs—have not yet been completed.” He questioned the accuracy of the report, noting that that it “oﬀers scant substantiation for its assertions.” Jimenez, likewise, noted that the Manila Bulletin report did not even list proof of such veriﬁcation and Manila Bulletin’s Samaniego admitted the same. However, he said the Comelec is validating the alleged data breach. He also assured the public of its “full and scrupulous compliance with the Data Privacy Act, as well as its continuing cooperation with the National Privacy Commission.”

9 January 13-19, 2022 PHL...

 NATIONAL NEWS

raising many parts of the country under the restrictive Alert Level 3, restricting movements of the unvaccinated and stepping up vaccination in all areas, This as the total COVID-19 cases including administering boosters and in the country hit a milestone when vaccines to children. it surpassed the three-million mark at Health officials warned that they are 3,058,634 this week after the country ready for the more strict Alert Level 4 if broke its record for the biggest singlethe cases continue to rise. day increase for the third straight day Metro Manila, also called the Naon Monday, January 10, with 33,169 new infections. A day before, the cases tional Capital Region (NCR), Region IV-A or Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, logged were 28,707. On Wednesday, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon provinces) January 12, 32,246 new cases were and Central Luzon were the top three in recorded. most number of cases. On January 10 Meanwhile, the death toll rose to alone, Metro Manila had 18,535 cases; 52,654 after 144, 145 and 219 more Calabarzon with 7,443; and Central patients succumbed to COVID-19 as recorded on January 12, January 10 and Luzon with 3,403, making the three regions at “critical risk” for the virus. January 9. This prompted the Metro Manila As the Omicron variant appeared mayors to propose that the metropolis to be dominant now, several Cabinet members, some senators and congress- stay under Alert Level 3, instead of shifting to the stricter Alert Level 4, men like Rep. Alfred Vargas and local even with the rapid increase in COexecutives and many celebrities like VID-19 infections, MMDA chairman Olympics gold medallst Hidilyn Diaz, Benhur Abalos, Jr. said. beauty queen Pia Wurtzbach, couple Like the mayors, Presidential AdAga and Arlene Muhlach, and the chiefs viser for Entrepreneurship Joey Conof the Armed Forces of the Philippines cepcion also opposed upgrading Metro (AFP) and the Philippine National PoManila to the stricter Alert Level 4. lice (PNP) were among the latest to be “There’s really no need to even reported found positive for the virus. move to Alert Level 4 because by itself, The Cabinet members who tested mobility has slowed down tremendouspositive for the virus were Health ly,” Concepcion said. Secretary Francisco Duque, Defense Metro Manila or NCR is currently Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Interior and under Alert Level 3 until Jan. 15. Local Government Secretary Eduardo In the same Malacanang briefing, Ano, and Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. Duque declared that the highly infecWith the soaring cases, authorities tious Omicron variant has replaced have adopted several measures such as (From page 1)

Delta as the dominant coronavirus variant in the latest genome sequencing. During President Rodrigo Duterte’s latest taped brieﬁng, Duque said the latest genome sequencing run showed at least 60% of the samples turned out positive for Omicron. “So siya (Omicron) na po ‘yung nagdo-dominate na variant [It is now the dominant variant] whereas before, it was the Delta,” Duque said. The genome sequencing which was conducted on January 3 showed 60.42% or 29 of 48 samples were Omicron cases, while 18 or 37.50% were found positive for Delta. In its latest bulletin, the Department of Health stated the new cases brought the country’s active caseload to 208,164, of which 5,521 are asymptomatic; 170,873 are mild; 1,464 are severe; and 295 are in critical condition. Total recoveries rose to 2,797,816,

or 91.5 percent of 3,058,634 infections since the pandemic started in March 2020. This is the highest active case count since the 184,088 infections on September 18, 2021, the DOH said. Of the 28,007 cases reported, 27,604 occurred within the recent 14 days from December 29 to January 11. The number of areas under granular lockdown in the country has climbed to 170 from 116, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP), adding 94 areas are in the National Capital Region (NCR); 57 from Cagayan; 13 from Ilocos; ﬁve from Mimaropa; and one from Cordillera

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January 13-19, 2022

PhilHealth vows to settle P25.4-B claims of private hospitals PASIG CITY – Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) president Dante Gierran assured private hospitals that it will pay some P25.45 billion it owed them within six months. Gierran made the assurance during a virtual meeting of the House of Representatives Committee on Health on the latest developments regarding the agency’s reimbursements and payments to hospitals based on its various circulars related to coronavirus disease (Covid-19) benefits package claims. He said the payment shall be made

through the Debit-Credit Payment Method (DCPM), which was adopted by PhilHealth to facilitate the settlement of accounts payable to healthcare facilities during the state of public health emergency due to the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure the continuous delivery of healthcare services. According to PhilHealth, the DCPM will allow the speedy release of funds to qualified hospitals nationwide that have signified intention to avail of the new payment mechanism while PhilHealth processed their claims.

Gierran said as of Jan. 7, 2022, the agency has released P12.05 billion to 444 hospitals via the DCPM. Marikina City Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo questioned PhilHealth officials about the average turnaround time it takes to process Covid-19-related claims. Quimbo said it is “unacceptable” that PhilHealth can only process 21 percent within two years and that the agency lacks the complete data on the average number of days it takes to process unpaid claims.

Meanwhile, PHAPI president Dr. Jaime Almora said the planned “disengagement” of hospitals from PhilHealth over billions of pesos worth of unpaid claims means that private health care providers will no longer lend money to PhilHealth for the payment of medical expenses by the Filipinos. Almora, however, said PHAPI was willing to assist PhilHealth members who will directly shoulder the expenses for the reimbursement of claims from the agency.

PASAY CITY – The Philippines received another shipment of United States-donated Covid-19 vaccines with the arrival of 168,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) jabs on January 11. Overall, 12,905,660 doses of the single-dose jab manufactured by Janssen Pharmaceuticals have been donated to the country -- 3,420,860 by the US government through the COVAX Facility and 9,484,800 from COVAX itself.

Dr. Paz Corrales, National Task Force Against Covid-19 medical consultant, said the latest donation is another boost to help end the pandemic. “We thank the US government for donating the J&J vaccines through the COVAX Facility. It’s a big help especially now that we have increasing cases of Covid 19 case maybe because of the Omicron variant,” she said after the arrival of the vaccines at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal

3 in Pasay City via Emirates Flight EK 332. Corrales said with the continuous arrival of vaccines, there is no reason not to avail of protection against severe infections and even death. “Everyone should go to vaccination sites,” she added. Corrales likewise added to the continuous reminders for the public to strictly follow health US DONATION. Department of Health and Bureau of Customs protocols. staﬀ check 168,000 doses of Janssen Covid-19 vaccines upon “Let’s go back to com- arrival at the airport. Its the ﬁrst shipment this year of the vacplying with minimum cine donated by the United States through the COVAX Facility. health standards, frequent hand washing, wearing of mask, maybe then social distancing, and of course, voluntarily wearing of face shields and to get vaccinated,” she said.

168K doses of J&J vaccines arrive, increasing U.S. donations to 3.4 M

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New law giving ‘small’ farmers cash assistance until 2024 inked

MANILA – Small farmers tilling two hectares and below of rice land will get an annual direct cash assistance under a new law signed by President Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte signed Republic Act (R.A.) No. 11598 also known as Cash Assistance for Filipino Farmers Act on Dec. 10, 2021. In signing the law, Duterte recognized the policy of the State to address the plight of small farmers in the country. “The State recognizes the urgency of intervening for our farmers in light of the current state of declining palay prices and the crippling eﬀects of the Coronavirus Disease-19 or Covid-19 pandemic. Towards this end, the State shall provide monetary assistance to the hardest hit segments of the country’s small farmers in the form of actual giving of cash to farmers,” RA 11598 states. RA 11598 authorizes the Department of Agriculture (DA) to use the monies from the annual tariﬀ revenues in excess of P10 billion on the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) to directly provide cash assistance to the small

farmers until 2024. The law mandates Bureau of Customs (BOC) to directly remit to the DA the said excess funds. The BOC and the DA shall, at the end of each year, submit separate reports to Congress, through the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform and the House Committee on Agriculture and Food, on the remittance of funds and the actual fund disbursement for the year. The source of funds for the annual direct cash assistance to farmers shall be the excess of P10 billion of the annual tariﬀ revenues from rice importation pursuant to RA No. 11203 or the Rice Tariﬃcation Law (RTL). RA 11203 removes government limits, called quantitative restrictions (QRs) on rice importation. The Cash Assistance for Filipino Farmers Act was passed by the House of Representatives as House Bill No. 9950 on Sept. 15, 2021 and adopted by the Senate of the Philippines as an amendment to Senate Bill No. 1927 on Sept. 21, 2021.

11 January 13-19, 2022

 OPINION New Year message to Filipino Americans Upside

By David J. Canepa Following is the conclusion of excerpt from speech delivered recently by guest columnist.

EDITORIAL

Biden’s new strategy should work

or far too long, President Joe Biden has allowed his predecessor, Donald Trump, to continuously spew his lies about losing the 2020 elections. The president may have kept his silence in the hopes that Trump would eventually get tired of his nonsense and quietly spend the remainder of his days playing golf at his Mar-A-Lago resort in Florida. Mr. Biden was obviously mistaken. He did not realize how Trump’s massive ego would never allow him to accept defeat. We are pleased to note that the president finally changed his strategy towards Trump and the Republicans who helped the twice impeached loser fan the flames of unrest, which continued after last year’s failed insurrection at the Capitol. Mr. Biden finally pushed back with his speech last week remembering the first anniversary of the Jan. 8 event that spawned a crisis that came close to shaking our democratic foundation to its core. It had become abundantly clear to the president that unless he took drastic action, the possibility was strong that Trump could mount a political comeback and potentially retake the White House. This he would accomplish by repeating his 2016 run where he lost the popular vote by some three million, but took the Electoral College vote, possibly with a little help from Russia. Taking the fight to Trump is necessary at this time because the midterm elections are coming up, and there remains the possibility that the Democrats may lose control of the House, the Senate, or both. In giving back legislative power to the GOP, there is even a possibility that Mr. Biden could be impeached on some trumped up charge. This will most certainly set the stage for a Donald Trump return to the White House two years from now. Joe Biden should stop playing Mr. Nice Guy and return to his roots as a boxer during his youth. He should fight Trump every chance he gets. We are not suggesting that he follow his predecessor’s example of weaponizing the Justice department to make sure that the legal cases against the Trump family move forward quickly. But neither should he give any quarter to the former president who faces a string of legal cases of a criminal nature. In truth, we do not relish a Biden vs Trump rematch in 2024. Such a battle would be extremely divisive, which is something we do not need at this stage. The Republicans constantly hammer the undeniable fact that Joe Biden is the oldest president the US has ever had. By implication, they say he is too old for the post of the most powerful man in the world. They do ignore the fact that their Donald Trump is a mere four years younger than old Joe. If Mr. Biden feels he is still strong enough and sharp enough for a second term, then we say let him run. We cannot say the same thing for the GOP, which has a number of younger and more competent leaders than Trump who could conceivably retake the Oval Office. Former vice president Mike Pence and Florida Gov. Ron deSantis immediately come to mind. Just forget about that crazy Texas senator Ted Cruz, who’s an even worse person than Donald Trump. Cruz would make an absolutely horrible POTUS.

ince day one: I have always looked to serve this community. I haven’t worked in Sacramento or Washington, DC. For the past 13 years, my passion has been improving the quality of life for San Mateo County residents right here on the ground. As a Daly City Councilmember, Daly City Mayor, and now, President of the San Mateo County Board CHERIE M. QUEROL MORENO of Supervisors, during some of our darkest times, our most challenging times: what did we do here in San Mateo County? We provided over $220 million in local, state and federal funding to protect our small businesses from closure, to provide rental assistance to keep our neighbors housed and fed our poor and hungry seniors more than 2.5 million freshly prepared meals. During these dark times the county also pledged $2 million to the San Mateo County Community College District’s Promise Scholars program this year, which has now been leveraged with $6 million additional dollars from the state. This program provides free tuition, free transportation, free food and intensive wraparound services to pave a path to seek higher education and to give our young people whose families have struggled financially during the pandemic an opportunity to attain good-paying jobs - whether it’s in trades, biotech, nursing or entrepreneurship. Because of this investment, we are sending 2,500 young people to college, many of whom are the first in their family to do so tuition-free, d00ebt- free. We want the next generation to have the chance to start their own families in San Mateo County. Before the pandemic hit San Mateo County was already facing a severe jobs to housing imbalance. We were in the midst of a housing crisis and still are. But because we value all of our residents, San Mateo County has invested more than $120 million to construct and preserve thousands of affordable housing units including the largest affordable housing project in the history of the county, Midway Village in daly city. We are adding 500 units of affordable housing for families, veterans, seniors and foster youth, ensuring we all have shelter! Thinking about what we’ve done for the people of this community and what more we can do is why I get up every day. It’s time to bring the success and leadership we’ve demonstrated in San Mateo County to DC. I’m running for Congress because San Mateo County is an example for folks in DC of how we can make healthcare more accessible and affordable, increase college affordability, expand affordable housing, embrace our diversity, recognize imminent threat of climate change and most importantly at this time end COVID. If Washington DC begins focusing on the needs of local communities, Democrats, Republicans and independents alike are going to believe in what(Continued on page 27)

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 OPINION

January 13-19, 2022

PerryScope

s active Evangelist, columnist and author of the bestselling book “LIFESTYLE FOR LONGEVITY,” I was blessed to hear the first message of the New Year last Sunday, January 2, 2022 entitled “KEEP ON WALKING WITH JESUS” by James Quitoriano, Minis- ART GABOT MADLAING ter of the GOLDEN GATE CHURCH OF CHRIST in San Francisco and anchor of My Angel Radio San Francisco watched via Facebook every Saturday 11 am by viewers and listeners all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, Philippines, Hong Kong, Thailand, Spain, Jordan, England, Italy, Singapore, Uganda, South Africa, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia and other countries all over the world. James Quitoriano shared some benefits of physical walking (lowers blood sugar, good for physical life, energy booster and increase life span or longevity) and spiritual walking (sinning less, good for spiritual life, assurance of salvation and eternal life) While hearing the inspiring, uplifting, challenging and timeless message of James Quitoriano, I was reflecting on the life of my elderly mother Elena Sampayan Gabot Madlaing who will be celebrating her 103rd birthday on January 21, 2022 at the Club House in Bethel Island, California. My mother is the second to the youngest child of my late grandfather Candido Gabot and my late grandmother Cecilia Mabini Sampayan Gabot who died at the age of about 115. My elderly mother outlived all her siblings namely: Segunda Gabot Asuncion, Sebastian Gabot, Claudia Gabot Dimoloy and Silvino Gabot (all deceased). Actually, my mother is the niece of Apolinario Mabini the “Sublime Paralytic” and “Brain of the Philippine Revolution.” According to my cousin Ruben Mabini (old client with Mobile Signing Services from Hayward, California), adventurous relatives of Apolinario Mabini migrated from Batangas to Pangasinan and married ladies of the Gabot and Sampayan clan. My father Emilio Baguilat Madlaing (who died at the Laguna Honda Hospital due to lingering illness aggravated by the vehicular accident caused by an elderly driver) and my mother were blessed with eight children namely: Norberto Gabot Madlaing (deceased), Magdalena Madlaing Sison, yours truly, Josefina Madlaing Lewis, Dionisio Gabot Madlaing, Cipriano Gabot Madlaing (deceased) and Salvador Gabot Madlaing. One of the happy memories of my mother and my late father was when they both obeyed the gospel in baptism for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:27-38). They attended regularly the Bible Classes and Worship Services at the GOLDEN GATE CHURCH OF CHRIST when they were staying with us in our home in San Francisco, California. My mother accompanied and walked our young daughters Joy and Darlene to the nearby schools at the Excelsior District in San Francisco. Another memorable event in the life of my mother was when she took her oath as naturalized U.S. citizen in San Francisco, California. She is one of the oldest naturalized U.S. citizen. One exciting event in the life of my mother was when she took her oath as dual citizen at the Social Hall of the Philippine Consulate Office in San Francisco. At age 96, she was the oldest person who took her oath as dual citizen. Former Consul General Henry Bensurto, Jr. even requested picture taking with my mother during the dual citizenship oath-taking ceremony. The event and the oath-taking pictures were published in the weekly PHILIPPINE NEWS and PHILIPPINES TODAY. January, 2019 was very memorable month for my elderly mother. All her children living in San Francisco, Santa Clara and San Jose, California decided to celebrate her 100th Birthday at our “bangkag” in our hometown in Binalonan, Pangasinan, Philippines. Her 100th birthday celebration was attended by hundreds of relatives from Kiangan, Ifugao; Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya; children and family members from California, Arizona and Louisiana; friends and neighbors in Santo Nino and Santa Maria, Binalonan, Pangasinan; relatives and friends from Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan City, Metro Manila, Philippines. I (Continue on page 27)

Cusi petition a cause for concern

“

aughable” was how Kontra Daya convenor Danny Arao described the petition filed by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi as president of his faction of the ruling PDP-Laban asking the Commission on Elections to reopen the filing of the certificates of candidacy for the May 9, 2022 national elections. “ Indeed, the Cusi petition was just as “laughable” as all VAL ABELGAS the PDP-Laban Cusi wing’s actions from the time his group ousted Sen. Manny Pacquiao as president of the ruling party, made announcements of their presidential slate, and up to the time some of its more prominent members filed, substituted, and withdrew their candidacies. In the first place, the deadline for the filing of candidacy was last October 8, 2021 yet, why is he seeking the extension only now after the deadline has lapsed by three months, and the elections are just four months away? The PDP-Laban Cusi wing, through lawyer Melvin Matibag, its secretary general, said the Comelec should reopen the COC filing and postpone the printing of official ballots because of disqualification cases still pending with the poll body. Matibag also said the one-week period for the filing of COC was “unreasonable, unnecessary and legally impossible,” ignoring the fact that no complaint or any problem has ever occurred since the Comelec imposed the filing period deadline after the national elections were set in May based on the 1987 Constitution. Neither Matibag nor Cusi explained why the party finds the deadline “unreasonable, unnecessary and legally impossible.” In fact, as the Inquirer pointed out, the PDP-Laban itself has not had any problem fielding presidential, vice presidential and other national candidates within the mandated deadline since the party’s founding in 1982. Why is Cusi’s faction of the erstwhile revered PDP-Laban party, founded by the late democratic icons Senators Nene Pimentel and Ninoy Aquino, asking for the reopening of the filing of COCs three months after the lawfully imposed deadline? The Cusi wing was, in fact, able to meet the deadline for the filing of candidacy. On Oct. 8 last year, Senators Bato de la Rosa and Bong Go, two of the most trusted aides of President Rodrigo Duterte, filed their COCs for president and vice president, respectively, under the PDP-Laban. This surprise moves came after it was floated that Go would run for president and Duterte for vice president. It was clear to everybody, however, that De la Rosa was only a placeholder for Davao City Vice Mayor Sara Duterte and Go possibly for former Sen. Bongbong Marcos as the presidential daughter’s running mate. But Sara flatly rejected the father’s offer and filed her certificate of candidacy for reelection as Davao City mayor. And we know what happened next: Bongbong decides to run for president and Sara agreed to be her running mate. This apparently irked Duterte, who couldn’t accept that his chosen heir apparent had slid down to vice president without consulting him. The deadline for substitution came and went on Nov. 8 with the ruling party left without a candidate for either president or vice president because both De la Rosa and Go withdrew their candidacies. The PDP-Laban Cusi wing, after much drama and confusion, was left holding the proverbial empty bag, perhaps the first time a ruling party has no candidate for the top two national positions. What happened between the filing deadline and the day the Cusi wing filed the petition to reopen the filing of COCs? Obviously, any talks, if ever, between the Duterte camp and the Bongbong-Sara team failed to convince the latter to make any changes to their line-up before the deadline for substitutions. The negotiations could have shifted to a possible endorsement by the PDP-Laban Cusi wing of the BongbongSara tandem in exchange for certain concessions. Or Duterte couldn’t swallow his pride and accept Bongbong into the PDP-Laban fold after badmouthing the late dictator’s son, or vice versa. And now, caught in an im(Continue on page 27)

On Distant Shore

N 1284, AS THE LEGEND GOES, the people of Hamelin, Germany, hired the town’s rat-catcher, a piper, to lure the rats away with his magic pipe. The piper was dressed in multi-colored (“pied”) clothing; hence he was called the “Pied Piper.” He led the rats out of the town and into the sea where they drowned. When the town’s PERRY DIAZ people refused to pay him for his services, he retaliated by using his magic pipe and led their children away as he had with the rats. Today, the term “Pied Piper” describes a person who talks often convincingly but who leads people into disaster. It is also used to identify a leader whom people willingly follow as he leads them into danger or trouble by means of lies and false promises. During the 2016 presidential elections in the U.S., Democratic Party officials labeled the Republican Party’s candidate Donald Trump a “Pied Piper candidate.” Using his strong appeal to white nationalists and right-wing conservatives, Trump got the nomination of the Republican Party by eliminating his 16 rivals, one by one, in the primaries. During the general election, Trump used demagoguery to deliver a populist message such as “America First” and “Make America great again!” He also manifested anti-women, anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim behavior. But to his die-hard supporters, his coded messages stirred their own prejudices. Well, the “Pied Piper candidate” won the 2016 presidential elections. But it was downhill from that time onward. He was twice impeached by the House of Representatives but was acquitted by the Senate, which requires a two-thirds majority of the senators present at the trial to convict the president. In the 2020 presidential elections, Trump lost to Joe Biden by more than eight million votes. But Trump never conceded defeat. He propagated the “Big Lie” that the election was stolen from him. But it was never proven. Lawsuits filed by Trump’s supporters lost in more than 60 cases including two cases thrown out by the Supreme Court. And then on January 6, 2021, Trump incited his supporters to attack the U.S. Capitol. All hell broke loose! The insurrection caused damage to the Capitol Building and the deaths of at least five persons including one Capitol police officer. A year later, on January 6, 2022, the January 6th Subcommittee that is investigating the insurrection, revealed that testimonies from witnesses indicate the extent of the conspiracy to topple the U.S. government by forcing the Senate to overturn the Electoral Count, which gave Biden 306 electoral votes to Trump’s 232 electoral votes. Had Vice President Mike Pence ruled to overturn the results in favor of Trump, he would still be sitting in the Oval Office today. Pence should be congratulated for resisting pressures from Trump and other Republicans to overturn the results of the election. Clearly, it was an attempt to execute a coup to install Trump as the election winner. Ultimately, Trump left the White House, defeated but not out of the game. He vowed to make a comeback in 2024. He opened an office in Palm Spring, Florida and put a big sign that says “Office of Former President Donald J. Trump.” He went to work right away, calling his allies and die-hard supporters, encouraging them to continue the fight to save America. He opened a fund-raising account called “Save America PAC” and started sending out letters to millions of his supporters asking them for donations to his campaign to retake the White House. And his base responded enthusiastically. He raised $75 million in the first six months of the campaign. But Trump’s re-election requires maximizing – and expanding – the support of his “base,” which is the white voters without college degrees, in the key battleground states where he won in 2016. However, Trump is losing support among other voters – suburban white women, college-educated whites, blacks, Latinos, Asians, and other minority groups. As a result, Trump’s narrow path to victory would require high voter turnout by the so-called “working-class whites” in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, Wisconsin, and Michigan. And based on recent polls, his base is shrinking. The question is: What would his base look like in 2024? If the trend of his shrinking base continues, he’d be left with an unsubstantial number of die-hard (Continue on page 27)

Reﬂections on my mother’s 103rd birthday Health & Wealth

The Pied Piper of Mar-a-Lago

13 January 13-19, 2022

 OPINION

Offline

here is a bill up in the State of California Legislature. Medical Justice Warriors will probably love it. I just made up that term, but it seems appropriate: people who believe that healthcare is a fundamental human right and that perhaps the life CARINA CASTAÑEDA support machines, and the medical staff and the medical professionals and that really good hospital food come from some infinite place and just need to be transferred to our dimension of life and molecules and the rules of economics. Not sure who is obligated to do that. The government? Someone else’s government? Someone else other than the MJW’s, undoubtedly. It’s an interesting idea that has graduated to religion in some circles. I have recently been spending some time in a hospital in California (I wasn’t the patient). They are amazing places. Unlike the Philippines, where you have to keep thinking twice about your bill (and still worry about the quality of care), California hospitals give you what you need first–the most sophisticated solutions to life-critical problems. When you ask for the bill, you get that answer that sounds like it’s made in heaven: “This is not the time to worry about things like that.” Medical care, in some circumstances, has become an infinite resource, as needed, of course. Thus, the subculture of Medical Justice Warriors. Bring in the intellectual heavy hitters that make up the California state lawmaking body and, boom, you get a proposed plan that makes no sense. The solution is lofty enough: medical coverage for everyone who lives in California–everyone, including those who have just arrived from the Philippines on tourist visas, and those who have crossed in over other borders. This includes everything Obamacare offers plus vision and dental, etc. It’s all going to be free if you need it, paid for out of a Trust Fund set up by the State of California, funded by grants from the state and federal governments and, in case that’s not enough (because I know where I will tell my relatives and friends in the Philippines to go when they need new contact lenses or a root canal), they’re going to tax the assets of the wealthy. Yes, a wealth tax. It’s not spelled out in the CalCare descriptions in detail and, I understand, it’s hard to figure out how to execute on a wealth tax. First, it will have to amend Proposition 13. Second, how does one value the wealth of individuals if their assets are not publicly traded? Nevertheless, the California legislature believes that they can squeeze more money out of the wealthy, because they just didn’t complain that much the last time they raised taxes on the rich (2012) or the time before that (2008). Here is the problem: people don’t need to leave California to protect their money. Nevertheless, they eventually will leave. But the first thing that will leave are the assets. Companies will be owned elsewhere in accounts that the State of California will not be able to find. People who are excellent at dodging taxes in the first place will be the ones who will be able to stay. The honest ones will eventually leave. The gap between rich and poor is not the only problem with the wealth structure of California. The state is losing its middle class. Just look around the Bay Area. Look at San Francisco. See who is left. The problem is that the state population is morphing into a two-class place: rich and poor. It is what kind of rich people that stay behind that is cause for concern.

Legal Matters

erdinand Marcos Jr. certainly has a lot of gall. The Jews would call it chutzpah. If he cannot lie through his teeth, he lets his lawyers do the lying for him. This is what happened when the Commission on Elections held a hearing on the disqualification case against the son of the dictator last week. BETING DOLOR Through his squeaky voiced lady lawyer, he claimed that he was sick. Too sick, in fact, to even open his phone and make his presence felt at the hearing via Zoom. Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon rightfully got pissed. She didn’t know it yet, but Marcos Jr. would miraculously recover from his (fake) ailment to give two radio interviews a few short hours after he was too sick to say hello to the Comelec chief. This led netizens to say that he had contacted Zoomicron, which local media then picked up. Junior’s lawyer had made a laughing stock of her client by saying he could not use his phone to avoid spreading whatever ailment he had, quite possibly the Omicron variant of COVID-19. A medical certificate that was belatedly presented to the poll body indicated that Junior had a low grade fever. That’s ‘sinat’ in Pilipino, or a slightly high temperature that most people would brush aside if they had something important to attend to. It is clear that Junior was avoiding the hearing because he did not want to get caught with his foot in his mouth. See, unless he is interviewed by friendly media with prepared questions, he has a difficult time answering hard questions extemporaneously. All of his public statements are canned or scripted. All of the crimes attributed to Junior’s family have been studied by his communications staff, and safe replies have been memorized by him. When asked why he cannot seem to be able to head for the US for whatever reason, he usually mouths gobbledygook about complex legal issues. Yeah, right. Not that Guanzon would have asked him anything related to his legal problems in the US. She would have asked him to clarify the status of his conviction for failing to pay income taxes by a local court, as affirmed by the Court of Appeals. Again, his lawyers have engaged in blatant falsehoods by saying all of his obligations and penalties have been settled with the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Two things wrong with this claim, if true. Junior should have settled his case with the court that convicted him, not the BIR which had nothing to do with his case. More importantly, a whistleblower pointed out that the certification Junior’s camp presented to the Comelec had some indications of being fake. Sooner or later, Junior will have to face Guanzon, either in person or via Zoom. He will most likely opt for the latter, where his staffers out of camera range can feed him answers that will be neither here nor there. It is not clear if Junior will pass the Comelec gauntlet. There is a possibility that he will be disqualified or have his certificate of candidacy cancelled. If this happens, his followers – paid or otherwise – would raise a mighty ruckus and elevate the matter to the Supreme Court. They will demand that Junior be allowed to run and to let the people decide his ultimate fate. The voice of the people is the voice of God, and all that. This is BS, of course. Such an argument cannot stand because a person who was not qualified to run cannot use his hidden wealth to change the rules of the game. Allow me to use this justification on the opposite extreme. Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto has been impressing everybody with his honesty and managerial ability. He is seen as a potential president somewhere down the road. Question: Can Vico Sotto run for president now because there is a clamor for him to do so? Answer: Of course not. He is not qualified according the Election Code. At least, not yet. A person is either qualified to run or not. If Junior is not qualified, then he cannot run by (Continue on page 27)

s a son still a “son” of his mother after his mother dies? Is a mother still a “mother” of his son after she dies? Who is asking these questions? They sound silly but they are not. Unless you are willing to say that the immigration authorities are asking silly questions just to get rid of aliens. Rolando and his mother EMMANUEL SAMONTE TIPON were both Filipino nationals. His mother immigrated to the U.S. and became a U.S. citizen. She petitioned Rolando as an unmarried son of a U.S. citizen under 8 U.S.C. § 1153(a)(1). Rolando applied to the U.S. Embassy in Manila for a visa for entry to the United States indicating that he was unmarried which was false. He was issued a visa and immigrated to the U.S.. Fifteen years later, the Government initiated removal proceedings against him, alleging that he violated 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(6)(C)(i), which forbids procuring a visa by willfully misrepresenting a material fact. Rolando requested relief under INA Section 237(a)(1)(H) [8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(1)(H)], known as the “fraud waiver” provision which gives the Attorney General or his designee, an immigration judge (“IJ”), the discretion to waive the removal of an immigrant who procured a visa through willful misrepresentation. 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(1)(H) provides: “The provisions of this paragraph relating to the removal of aliens within the United States on the ground that they were inadmissible at the time of admission as aliens described in section 1182(a)(6)(C)(i) of this title, whether willful or innocent, may, in the discretion of the Attorney General, be waived for any alien . . . who— (i) (I) is the spouse, parent, son, or daughter of a citizen of the United States or of an alien lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence; and (II) was in possession of an immigrant visa or equivalent document and was otherwise admissible to the United States at the time of such admission…” The removal proceedings against Rolando dragged on for years. Rolando’s mother died. The IJ held that Rolando was eligible for the waiver, since he “continues to be the son of a United States citizen” mother even after the death of his mother. The BIA sustained the government’s appeal and reversed the IJ holding that “to be eligible for a waiver of removal” under § 1227(a)(1)(H)(i), “an alien must establish a qualifying relationship to a living relative.” Matter of Federiso, 24 I. & N. Dec. 661, 661 (BIA 2008). Since Rolando’s mother was no longer living, the BIA held that Rolando was no longer eligible to apply for a § 1227(a)(1)(H)(i) waiver. In other words, once a mother dies, she is no longer a mother of his son. Thus the BIA vacated the IJ’s decision and ordered Rolando removed to the Philippines. ONCE A SON, ALWAYS A SON The Court of Appeals reversed the BIA, holding that Rolando is still the son of his U.S. citizen mother even after his mother died. Therefore Rolando was eligible to apply for a waiver. The Court said that the BIA interpreted the phrase “spouse, parent, son, or daughter of a citizen of the United States,” 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(1)(H)(i)(I) to mean spouse, parent, son, or daughter of a living citizen of the United States. 24 I. & N. Dec. 661 at 662-64. This is not what the statute says. It is not the role of those who enforce and interpret immigration law to impose unilaterally novel substantive requirements beyond those set forth in the immigration law itself. See Kazarian v. U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Servs., 596 F.3d 1115, 1121 (9th Cir.2010) (holding that neither USCIS nor its Administrative Appeals Oﬃce may unilaterally impose substantive requirements for visa eligibility beyond those set forth in the relevant governing regulations). The court pointed out that a child never ceases to be his mother’s son. He always is her son, even after her death. The statutory language at issue here is plain: the son of a U.S. citizen may be eligible for a waiver. The court rejected the government’s reliance on Kalezic v. INS, 647 F.2d 920 (9th Cir.1981), involving an alien who was in the process of divorcing his U.S. citizen spouse whom the Court held was not eligible to (Continue on page 27)

What’s Up Attorney

Lying is second nature to Junior

“Son of your mother” sounds like a cuss word but it is a qualiﬁcation for fraud waiver

CalCare promises to be a disaster

 BUSINESS | IMMIGRATIONS What is considered a Marriage Fraud

t is important to know how USCIS determines a marriage to be fraudulent and what is the required evidence to reach that determination. If the USCIS determines a marriage to be fraudulent under INA Sec. 204(c) no future petition will be approved for the alien involved. A good point of reference is the case decided by BIA on August 23, 2019. In the BIA case Matter of P. SINGH, the board issued a ruling about the evidence required to deny a petition for an alien who was previously charged an INA 204 (c) violation for marriage fraud. The BIA enumerated the following are the legal standards to follow: (1) The standard of proof necessary to bar the approval of a visa petition based on marriage fraud under section 204(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1154(c) (2012), is “substantial and probative evidence.” (2) The degree of proof necessary to constitute “substantial and probative evidence” is more than a preponderance of evidence, but less than clear and convincing evidence; that is, the evidence has to be more than probably true that the marriage is fraudulent. (3) The nature, quality, quantity, and credibility of the evidence of marriage fraud contained in the record should be considered in its totality in determining if it is “substantial and probative.” (4) The application of the “substantial and probative evidence” standard requires the examination of all of the relevant evidence and a determination as to whether such evidence, when viewed in its totality, establishes, with sufficient probability, that the marriage is fraudulent. (5) Both direct and circumstantial evidence may be considered in determining whether there is “substantial and probative evidence” of marriage fraud under section 204(c) of the Act, and circumstantial evidence alone may be sufficient to constitute “substantial and probative evidence.” In this case the beneficiary married the maternal grandmother of the petitioner. After an investigation by the USCIS Fraud unit they determined that the marriage was made to evade the immigration law. Section 204(c) of the Act states, in pertinent part: No petition shall be approved if (1) the alien has previously been accorded, or has sought to be accorded, an immediate relative or preference status as the spouse of a citizen of the United States or the spouse of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence, by reason of a marriage determined by the Attorney General to have been entered into for the purpose of evading the immigration laws, or (2) the Attorney General has determined that the alien has attempted or conspired to enter into a marriage for the purpose of evading the immigration laws. The BIA upheld the decision of USCIS determination of marriage fraud. Note: This is not a legal advice. What will happen if the Philippines is taken over by China? If the Philippines become part of China, it will have a far reaching effect on immigration and on overseas workers. We can no longer petition our relatives because the U.S. will not consider the Philippines as independent country. Many countries importing Filipino workers will no longer do it because they will think that we are Chinese spies. Most countries we deal with like Canada, Japan, Australia, and European countries will not hire Filipino workers because we are considered Chinese spies. We will be slaves in our own country. We cannot expect other countries to fight for us. We have to do it because our Military did nothing and our politicians sold us. Our Malampaya property was sold to Denis Uy of China for a loan from DBP? Looks like no money was paid by Denis Uy. This is the same concept that we are buying our own “galunggung” from China. We lost our dignity and standing among people of the earth. Let us make a stand. 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 practices immigration law, b a n k r u p t c y, personal injury and income tax problems since June 1999. His contact phone is 1-877-4569266, email: info@CCLlaw. net Website: www.crispinlozanolaw.com/

January 13-19, 2022

Law easing entry of foreign retail enterprises in PHL signed MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a measure that would further open up the Philippine retail sector to more foreign retail businesses by lowering their required paid-up capital. Republic Act (RA) 11595, which amends RA 8762, also known as the Retail Liberalization Act of 2000, was signed by Duterte on Dec. 10, 2021. Duterte earlier certiﬁed the bill as urgent as part of eﬀorts to encourage the entry of more investors and further boost economic recovery amid the prevailing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. Under the law, “a foreign retailer shall have a minimum paid-up capital of P25 million.” The current law sets the required capital at US$2.5 million or P119.67 million. The law also mandates the entry of foreign retailers coming from countries that do not prohibit the entry of Filipino retailers. In the case of foreign retailers engaged in retail trade through more than one physical store, the minimum investment per store must be at least P10 million “provided that this requirement shall not apply to foreign investors and foreign retailers who are legitimately engaged in retail trade and were not required to comply with the minimum in-

vestment per store at the time of the effectivity of this Act.” The Department of Trade and Industry, Securities and Exchange Commission, and the National Economic and Development Authority shall review the required minimum paid-up capital every three years and their recommendations should be submitted to Congress. Foreign retailers are encouraged to have a stock inventory of products that are made in the Philippines. As for penalties, violators may face imprisonment of not less than four to six years and a fine of not less than P1 million but not more than PHP5 million. In the case of partnerships, associations, or corporations, the penalty shall be imposed upon its partners, president, directors, general manager, and other officers responsible for the violation. If the offender is not a citizen of the Philippines, he or she shall be deported immediately after the service of sentence. If the Filipino offender is a public officer or employee, he or she shall, in addition to the penalty prescribed, suffer dismissal and permanent disqualification from public office. RA 11595 is a consolidation of House of Representatives Bill 59 and Senate Bill 1840 passed by the House and the Senate on September 21 and 20 last year, respectively.

PHL Veterans Bank capital hiked to P10 B, post-WW II soldiers tied in MANILA – President Rodrigo R. Duterte has signed a law instituting a revised charter for the Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB) to include post-World War II veterans and soldiers. Republic Act (RA) 11597, also known as the Philippine Veterans Bank Act, increases the bank’s authorized capital stock from P100 million to P10 billion to align its capitalization with the minimum level prescribed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for private commercial banks. “The capital stock of the Veterans Bank shall be P10 billion divided into P75,000 common shares and P25,000 preferred shares with a par value of P100 each,” the law read. “This is from the previous capital of P100 million, with 510,000 common shares, and 490,000 preferred shares.” In signing the law on Dec. 10, 2021, Duterte recognizes the policy of the State to execute a viable plan that will promote the welfare of all Filipino war veterans and retired military personnel. “In line with this policy, the State shall foster their socioeconomic security and general well-being by extending to them substantial support for their livelihood and income-generating projects through the eﬃcient and eﬀective revitalization of the Philippine Veterans Bank, hereinafter known as Veterans

Bank, which is deeply imbued with public interest,” RA 11597 read. Under RA 11597, shares will also be made open to post-World War II (WW II) veterans and soldiers, so long as veterans still make up the majority of shareholders. “The term ‘veteran or veterans’ shall include primarily any person or persons who served in the regularly constituted air, land, or naval services or arms, or in such non-regularly organized military units in the Philippines during World War II, and whose services such units duly recognized by the Republic of the Philippines or by the government of the United States of America,” it read. “Veteran or veterans” also includes the widow, orphan, or a compulsory heir of a deceased veteran, as determined by existing laws. “Post-World War II veterans and AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) retirees shall enjoy the beneﬁts and privileges provided under this Act after they have invested in the Philippine Veterans Bank,” the law read. RA 11597 also reorganizes the Board of Trustees of the Veterans of World War II (BTVWW II) as Board of Trustees of Veterans once the shareholdings of postWW II veterans and AFP retirees surpass that of the WWII veterans and their compulsory heirs.

15 January 13-19, 2022

‘Eat Bulaga’ renews contract with GMA-7 “Eat Bulaga,” the country’s longest running noontime television show, has oﬃcially renewed its contract with GMA-7 after 27 years in the network. The renewal was made at the virtual contract signing attended by GMA Network CEO Atty. Felipe Gozon, President and COO Gilberto Duavit Jr., GMA EVP and CFO Felipe S. Yalong, GMA Chairman Annette Gozon-Valdez, Vice President for Program Management Joey Abacan, and TAPE Inc. President and CEO Mr. Antonio “Tony” Tuviera. “Eat Bulaga” hosts also attended the virtual contract signing. They include Senate President Vicente Tito Sotto, Bossing Vic Sotto, Joey De Leon, Wally Bayola, Jose Manalo, Ryan Agoncillo, Pauleen Luna Sotto, Ryzza Mae Dizon, Jimmy Santos, Allan K., and Alden Richards. “We, in GMA, are honored to be chosen once again by TAPE to be the

home TV station of Eat Bulaga, a very popular TV program,” Atty. Gozon said. “Many have tried to beat Eat Bulaga, the longest running number one tv program in the Philippines,” he added. Atty. Gozon said “being the number one noontime TV program, it is

only logical that Eat Bulaga is shown on GMA-7, a number one TV station in the Philippines.” “And so we are looking forward to many more years of mutually beneﬁcial and rewarding partnership with TAPE in airing Eat Bulaga in GMA7,” he added. Mr. Duavit said “It is a great privi-

lege and a great honor and a source of great happiness for all of us na tayo’y magkakasama at patuloy pa rin na magsasama sama.” “Kaming lahat ay taga-hanga ninyo and it is always a distinct pleasure to have a partnership that has lasted for so long and that continues to even strengthen, deepen, and prove to be even stronger,” he added. Ms. Annette Gozon said, “Kung may forever mukhang ito na ito. Thank you Eat Bulaga for the trust.” Mr. Tuveria said he is thankful to have GMA-7 as their answered prayer everyday. “You gave us a reason to continue our vision on television,” he said. The show’s main hosts, Tito, Vic, and Joey, said they are grateful for the 27 fruitful years they had with GMA7, noting that the three of them have been loyal with the Kapuso Network even before “Eat Bulaga.” (JAB, GMA News)

Moira dela Torre celebrates 1 billion Spotify streams Bustamante Cruzado Dela Torre-Hernandez in real life. Her top five most streamed tracks on Spotify are “Torete” with over 52 million streams, “Paubaya” with over 55 million streams, “Ikaw at Ako” with over 82 million streams, “Malaya” with over 85 million streams, and “Tagpuan” getting the top spot with over 94 million streams. The singer-songwriter recently released two new singles “Pabilin” and “Pagitan.” “This is a duology, it’s called ‘Pagitan’ and ‘Pabilin.’ Basically po kung dati ay nag-trilogy ako, ngayon po ay duology naman. One song from a child to a parent, then next song from the parent to Singer-songwriter Moira dela the child,” dela Torre said on Torre has reached a new milestone in ABS-CBN show “Magandang Buher music career for earning one bilhay” and reported by her network. lion Spotify streams. Dela Torre said in the ABS-CBN This was disclosed by Star Music, report she wrote the songs with her the ABS-CBN label which congratu- husband Jason Marvin Hernandez. lated her for the accomplishment. Aside from the new tracks, dela “Congratulations, Moira! Thank Torre also released “The Halfway you for the music and we’re excited Point,” a documentary-concert film to see and hear what’s ahead. Thank which she co-directed with Niq you also to everyone who listened and Ablao. shared her music,” Star Music said on The film tells “the stories behind Facebook and reported by ABS-CBN. my songs and the lessons we learned Dela Torre, 28, is Moira Rachelle along the way,” she said.

 ENTERTAINMENT

January 13-19, 2022

‘Mamasapano’ movie rushed as production staff overhauled matter what it may cost, so he decided to replace almost all of the production staﬀ—- from the director down to the truck driver, runner and even the disinfecting personnel. “I did this to send a message that we are not to be triﬂed with,” the celebrity lawyer stated. Now taking the helm is Direk Lester Dimaranan, who also directed the MMFF entry “Nelia” starring Winwyn Marquez. Direk Lester was introduced

Borracho Film Production has overhauled almost 100 percent the production staff for the “Mamasapano: Now It Can Be Told” movie as it resumes its shooting days this January. Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, Borracho Films producer. said in an interview in his office at Skyway Twin Towers in Pasig City, that the entire production staff were all replaced leaving only the scriptwriter Eric Ramos and closed-in staff. Sometime in 2020, the amiable lawyer expressed his disgust over the delay in the production of his movie project “Mamasapano: Now It Can Be

Told” because the rainy season came and yet the ﬁlm has not ﬁnished according to schedule. According to Atty. Topacio, they have shot the interiors and the important exterior scenes could have

bers of the MILF, 5 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedon ﬁghters and ﬁve civilians. In the cast of the movie are: Edu Manzano, Aljur Abrenica, JC De Vera, Gerald Santos, Rey PJ Abellana, Allan Paule, Jojo Abellana, Rez Cortez, Juan Rodrigo, LA Santos, Ritz Azul, Myrtle Sarroza, and Claudine Barretto in a very special role. Atty. Topacio said that he hopes “Mamasapano: Now It Can Be Told”

been shot during summer season to replicate the massacre scene where the land was dry and the cornfield was beginning to wither. They could have finished the shooting by the end of May but the director Law Fajardo prioritized other projects over his film, the lawyer lamented. He was actually angered by the production staff who neglected his film project and gave way to other projects when he has fulfilled all the requirements to them. “Wala naman silang hiniling sa Aljur Abrenica, A�y. Ferdinand Topacio and JC de Vera akin na hinindian ko. Kaya, walang rason para hindi nila tuparin and to Atty. Topacio by lawyer friends will finish shooting soonest and will who produced the movie “Nelia.” be shown after elections. He showed The assistant director has been us some clips of the movie, which replaced, and so are the associate we believe carries a strong message producer, director of photography, to the viewers. Should the schedule location manager, script superviand deadline permit, it could be and sor, production designer, art director, entry to the next Metro Manila Film talent coordinator, stylist /costume Festival(MMFF). designer, fight director, production The celebrity lawyer said “Mamacoordinator for technical, production sapano” is not a propaganda film. The coordinator for floor, make up artists, script is based on two sources: the property master, associate propsman, board of inquiry report of the Philipset master, set crew, setman 2, setman pine National Police(PNP) and the 3, set dresser, set artist, art departsenate investigation report, no other ment office staff, property custodian, opinion or hearsay. two 2nd camera assistants, head crew, A movie enthusiast, Atty.Topacio video tape recorder, electrician, dolly believes in the power of the cinema as operator 1 and 2, lighting grips, genet- a medium to elicit emotional response man, sound recordist, boom man, to certain issues. And he believes office production artist, runner and every Filipino deserves to know what disinfecting staff. really happened in the Mamasapano Aljur Abrenica, Atty. Ferdinand massacre, those who survived and Topacio and JC de Vera those who tried to get them out. Nevertheless, former director of One thing we noticed during the inthe movie Law Fajardo has promised terview as he related the technicalities to return the excess of his fee for the of his movie, he could not just be prounfinished shooting days. ducer but also a director of his future kanilang obligasyon na tapusin ang The movie “Mamasapano: Now films. By then, he will have three titles film,” Atty. Topacio explained. It Can Be Told” is about the SAF 44 to his name—lawyer, movie producer The Borracho Films producer soldiers who were massacred in Maand movie director. (Evelyn C. Diao/ vowed to the families of the SAF masapano in Maguindanao in 2015. It MTVN) members who perished in Mamasaalso resulted in the deaths of 18 mempano that he will finish the movie no

17 January 13-19, 2022

Coco Martin stars in new Brillante Mendoza film “First time working with both of them and I must say, truly a memorable experience. Enjoyed talking to Coco and hearing stories from him in between takes. I admire how humble and hardworking he is,” Reyes wrote in the caption. The movie also features Gina Pareno, Jaclyn Jose, Lito Lapid, Julio Diaz and Martin’s younger brother Ronwaldo, ABS-CBN reported. It was gathered that “Apag” is being eyed for international release. “The film depicts Pampanga culture, especially its famous cuisine,” Lapid said in an interview. Lapid revealed that many dialogues in “Apag” are in Kapampangan, thus he said shooting was a breeze for him. Coco Mar�n with Senator Lito Lapid The senator from Porac, Pampanga said “Apag” also fulfilled Lapid’s Coco Martin is reuniting with film- by actress Gladys Reyes and reported dream of working with fellow Kapammaker Brillante Mendoza for a new by Coco’s mother studio ABS-CBN, pangan and award-winning director film. Coco is the lead star of Mendoza’s up- Brillante Mendoza, who won best According to an Instagram post coming Kapampangan movie “Apag.” director at the Cannes Film Festival

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for “Kinatay.” Lapid, who ends his term in the Senate on June 30, 2022, now heads the Pinuno partylist, which aims to provide houses for the masses. If the group gets enough votes, he will go back to Congress, this time as member of the lower house, the House of Representatives. Grateful for the opportunity to work with a great cast, Reyes said in the report that she is looking forward to their next shooting days. “Working with these multi-awarded actors and director in one movie is indeed a big blessing! Having so much fun with them and at this early, we’re already like a big family on the set,” she said. Aside from “Apag,” Coco, who is Rodel Nacianceno is real life, also has his hands full as top star and co-director of the ABS-CBN long-running series “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano,” which is celebrating its sixth anniversary.

 ENTERTAINMENT

January 13-19, 2022

Aga, Charlene Muhlach test positive for COVID-19 in US Celebrity couple Aga Muhlach and Charlene Gonzales-Muhlach have contracted the COVID-19 while in the United States where they spent the Christmas holidays with son Andres. The couple made the announcement on Instagram and this was reported by their mother studio, ABS-CBN and other media. Aga, who is Ariel Aquino Muhlach in real life, and wife Charlene were on spotlight in June last year when the couple and children Atasha and Andres got vaccinated against COVID-19 with AstraZeneca shots at the Festival Mall in Alabang, Muntinlupa. It was alleged then that they got special treatment at the vaccination center, but this was denied by Tes Navarro, Muntinlupa information oﬃcer, who said the family, who resides in Ayala Alabang, registered with MunCoVac three weeks before the vaccination and when they got the notiﬁcation of their schedule, they proceeded to the center where

they lined up and waited for their turn to be inoculated. The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) supported the couple, saying they are qualified beneficiaries of their local government unit’s (LGU) vaccination program against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). DILG Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya clarified speculations that the Muhlach family were given preferential consideration owing to their celebrity status. “They are bona-fide residents of Muntinlupa City. They enrolled at the MUNCOVAC registration portal under A3 category,’’ Malaya said. Most importantly, Malaya noted that the Muhlachs submitted medical certificates/clearances from their attending physician at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center to prove that they have comorbidities. The A3 priority group covers persons with comorbidities. In Instagram post, Aga shared photos with the Filipino medical professionals who took care of him and Charlene. He captioned it: “Nothing but gratitude for these group of Filipino Medical professionals for taking care of me and my wife fight Covid! Maraming salamat doc @homer_t Mark Yu of @trinity_pharmacy and all your staff!” Aga added, “It’s on and off this Covid battle. Ingat tayong lahat ” On Instagram, as reported by ABS-CBN, Charlene said she started to feel several symptoms just before 2021 ended and just took over-thecounter medicines, which worked in the next couple of days. “My symptoms started on Dec 30 & 31. After taking initial over the counter medicine, I felt OK for the next couple days but had continuous nausea & fatigue. I was testing negative during this time but isolated right away the moment I felt symptoms,” she explained on her social media account. The beauty queen-turned actress said she felt sick anew on January 4, adding it was the same time when Aga also showed some symptoms of coronavirus. “We tested again & this time our tests came out positive. From then on, It was an up and down feeling of being sick & monitoring. One day you’re OK... one day your not... but

we are so happy that we are making our path towards recovery,” Charlene wrote. Charlene said she was grateful that both of them are fully vaccinated against the virus. She added their son, Andres, tested negative in his swab test despite spending the holidays with them. “Andres tested negative in his PCR test, has no symptoms, was cleared by the doctor and was able to make it back to school safely in Spain. Andres is COVID-free,” she said as ABS-CBN reported. Charlene said they will return to the Philippines once they are declared COVID-free. “We will be back home as soon as we are cleared, recovered and COVID-free. Sa lahat ng mga kababayans natin. I pray for everyone’s safety & speedy recovery for all that may be going through the same experience,” she wrote on Instagram. Aga took to Instagram to thank the Filipino healthcare workers in the US for taking good care of them as they battle the coronavirus, which has been plaguing the world for two years already. “Nothing but gratitude for these group of Filipino medical professionals for taking care of me and my wife ﬁght COVID,” he said in the ABS-CBN report.

19 January 13-19, 2022

 ENTERTAINMENT

ABS-CBN TFC News Entertainment Correspondent Yong Chavez up for International Media Award at the 59th Annual ICG Publicists Awards in Hollywood sents ABS-CBN News (Philippines). The organization nominates five international entertainment journalists every year. She was nominated for the International Media Award with Vera Anderson of Cine Premiere (Mexico), Helen Hoehne of ProSieben/RTL/TV Movie (Germany), Dean McCarthy of Hit. com.au (Australia) and Raquel Laguna Pardo of Europa Press (Spain). The announcement has already been picked up by top entertainment media outlets Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and Deadline. “I started my entertainment journalism career in Hollywood to have the opportunity to tell the stories of underrepresented talents, especially Filipinos. To now be recognized for doing that is such an honor,” said Chavez. “I believe this is a first-ever nomination for a Philippine outlet, and I’m most delighted to represent ABS-CBN and TFC News. I’m very thankful to ICG for the nomination and to all publicists who fight side by side with us for international and minority media representation and inclusion in Hollywood.” The final winners are determined via online

LOS ANGELES - ABS-CBN TFC News Hollywood correspondent Yong Chavez was nominated for an International Media Award at the 59th Annual ICG Publicists Awards honoring individual publicists, unit still photographers, and entertainment journalists that bring motion picture and television publicity campaigns to life. Organized by the International Cinematographers Guild (ICG, IATSE Local 600), winners will be announced at a luncheon ceremony on Friday, March 25, 2022, at The Beverly Hilton Hotel. ICG Publicist Awards Chairs Tim Menke and Sheryl Main recently revealed the nominees in the following categories: Les Mason Award for Career Achievement in Publicity Publicist of the Year Award Excellence in Unit Still Photography Award Motion Pictures Excellence in Unit Still Photography Award Television Press Award International Media Award Chavez, a member of the Hollywood Critics Association, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, and the Critics Choice Association, repre-

ballot of the general membership, which will be held February 14-24, 2022, and will be announced at the ICG Publicists Awards Luncheon ceremony on Friday, March 25, 2022. The re-

cipients of the Motion Picture Showman of the Year Award and the Television Showman of the Year Award will be announced soon, and the Bob Yeager Award for Community Service will be announced at the ceremony.

 REAL ESTATE

January 13-19, 2022

Dep’t of Housing OKs ‘temporary license to sell’ to secure affordable houses QUEZON CITY – The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has approved an order authorizing the issuance of temporary license tos housing developers to secure aﬀordable housing rates for Filipinos. DHSUD Secretary Eduardo del Rosario said he recently approved Department Order 2021-008 to allow housing developers to get a temporary license to sell lots and units, even with pending issuance of permits and clearances from local and national government agencies. Del Rosario said the housing developers have to go through long queues and processes, such as getting permits from the local government units and the national agencies, which sometimes would delay the housing projects for up to two years. He said the department order would help lessen the construction period of the housing developers. It will also streamline the costs from getting building permits to actual

unit building, in a particular housing project. “So with the issuance of the temporary license to sell, ma-oﬀset na natin ngayon iyong one year delay (we can oﬀset the one year delay),” del Rosario added. With the issuance of the temporary license to sell, del Rosario said the housing developers can start preselling of lots and houses to home buyers while the constructions units are ongoing. “Para sa ganoon iyong mga ibinabayad naman ng mga home buyers ay magamit din ng developer to plow back at makapag-continue iyong kaniyang production (So that developers can use the payments of the home buyers to plow back and continue their production),” he added. “Iyan ang isang reklamo ng ating mga developers kasi kapag hindi sila nakapagbibenta kaagad, ang nangyayari, uutang sila sa bangko (That’s the major complaints of our developers because they have to loan from

the bank if they won’t sell immediately).” Del Rosario said once the developers are allowed to do pre-selling, through the temporary license to sell, they can secure further funds to ensure the immediate completion of their housing projects at lesser costs. The temporary license would also limit them to have bank loans, he added. “Kapag ganoon ang situation, ang presyo rin ng bahay na ibibenta ng ating mga housing developers ay bababa (If that’s the situation, the housing developers would sell the houses at lower prices),” del Rosario said. Del Rosario described the housing development as a “pump primer” of the economy, noting that there are “80 aligned industries in the construction of a single house.” The housing czar said direct consultation has been done with four major developers’ associations in the Philippines before he signed the department order.

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Mortgage Rates going higher have a direct effect from Oil prices rising U.S. equities traded lower as the rapidlyspreading omicron variant threatens to hit the economy this coming new year. The variant kept up pressure on investor sentiment, as the World Health Organization said that cases are doubling in 1.5 to 3 days in areas with local spread, and U.K. officials said more Covid-19 restrictions were possible. With omicron set to become the dominant Covid variant in the U.S., health officials over the weekend urged citizens to get their booster shot and wear masks. Pfizer on Friday said the pandemic could extend through 2023. New York Federal Reserve President John Williams told on CNBC Friday: “I think investors and the markets are very much focused on Fed policy, but Covid is still the biggest story in the global economy.” Yields, which rise when bond prices fall, often move in tandem with oil prices since higher crude prices can push up inflation, which is a main threat to government bonds because it erodes the purchasing power of their fixed payments. U.S. sanctions targeting oil exports from Iran and Venezuela have already tightened global supply and driven prices higher this year. The U.S. had previously granted eight countries a 180-day waiver to continue to buy Iranian crude despite U.S. sanctions. But the White House on Monday said it is ending those waivers, pushing oil prices to their highest level since October. The link between West Texas Intermediate crude and 10-year yields is at the highest in more than a year, as measured in the 120-day correlation. As a major input into the global economy, higher prices of the materials that keep the world’s engine spinning mean inflation is unlikely to abate, and that suggests higher nominal rates. The global energy crunch saw Brent crude touch above $80 a barrel, and on course for its best month since February. European natural gas, carbon permits and power rose to fresh records Tuesday, with little sign of the rally slowing. Of course, taper-talk is a major driver of bond prices. But the Federal Reserve would like to stay its hand as long as inflation allows it to do so. Higher fuel costs are among the reasons they can’t stand pat for too long. The yield is above 1.5%, its highest level since June and WTI is trading at its highest level since October 2018, as demand runs ahead of supply. Now getting closer to 2%. With prices near a three-year high and U.S. stockpiles shrinking toward a three-year low, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies now has more room to maneuver. Oil prices was never a factor when Covid started hitting the economy in 2020 but with oil prices going up it will affect all sectors of the market. Will this be the reason for a beginning of a recession? Thanks for your inquiries and comments. Please call Ken Go of 1st Innovative Finance Group 562508-7048 or write to kennethgo@verizon.net CABRE 01021223 NMLS 238636

21 January 13-19, 2022

NEWS  NATIONAL SPORTS NEWS

Top billiards player Dennis Orcollo denied entry, deported from US LOS ANGELES - Top Filipino cue artist Dennis Orcollo has been denied entry to the United States and was deported reportedly due to visa infraction. Orcollo, who is considered the Philippine billiards’ “money-game king” having won numerous US tournaments, including the 2016 US Open Straight Pool title, and the US Open 8-Ball Championship, arrived at the Los Angeles International Airport on January 2 but was held for 31 hours and refused entry for overstaying and sent back to the Philippines the following day. It was gathered that with the infraction, Orcollo would not be allowed entry to US in five years, prompting him to hire a lawyer in his bid to fix his visa issues. “For sure I (will) miss a lot of events in the US. At this moment, I have no idea when will I be able to come back,” ABS-CBN quoted him in a report. He said he will seek legal advice to secure an athlete’s visa which might allow him to compete in the US again. Reports from the US indicated that it was the second offense of overstaying by Orcollo. The Games and Amusements Board (GAB) immediately offered help to Orcollo. “The GAB is very sorry to hear that our top professional billiard player and world champion has been detained in US for overstaying beyond his visa expiration,” GAB chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra said in a statement.

“We cannot blame Dennis Orcullo if he stayed much longer in US due to luck of tournaments in the country,” said Mitra. He said the agency is open to lend Orcollo legal help to secure an athlete’s visa which may allow him to compete in the US, despite his trouble with immigration. “GAB is more than willing to assist him in renewing his Professional Billiard Player License and make the endorsement to US Embassy,” said Mitra. “We in the GAB are ready to lend a helping hand. Kung ano ang puwede naming maitulong, susuporta kami. Hopefully, after na makapagpahinga puwede niyang makausap ang aming legal team,” Mitra told ABS-CBN. “I have been blessed with wonderful fans and a successful career, and being able to travel to the United States has been a big part of that. I do not take that for granted. It has been my honor to represent the Philippines in the United States,” Orcollo said later in a statement in a GMA News report. “I have deep respect for the laws of the United States and was very surprised when I was recently refused entry into the United States because I really did not understand the oﬃcer’s decision,” he said. Orcollo is back in the Philippines and is currently working to ﬁx his visa issues in order for him to continue competing in the United States. “Through my wonderful supporters in the United States, I have

now hired legal counsel who has explained to me why the officer may have had the impression that I was doing something wrong,” he said. Orcollo is a decorated professional pool player. The 42-year-old athlete boasts four gold medals and one bronze in singles division of the Southeast Asian Games while he copped one gold and one bronze in doubles. He also has one Asian Games gold plum after ruling the 2010 singles edition. Recently, Orcollo reached the semifinal round of the 2021 US Open Pool Championship but ultimately fell to Aloysius Yapp of Singapore. Yapp was then defeated by another Philippine bet Carlo Biado, who went on to win the title. “I am fortunate to have much support in the United States and in the Philippines, and with that support, we are actively working on a solution to fix this misunderstanding, so that something like this will not happen again in the future,” Orcollo added. “Again, I thank you all for your support and good wishes. I wish everyone a happy and successful New Year and look forward to continuing to compete for the Philippines worldwide once my U.S. visa situation has been resolved,” he said.

PATAFA formally enters mediation; PSC awaits Obiena MANILA – The Philippine Athletics Track And Field Association (PATAFA) has formally conﬁrmed its participation in a mediation process called by Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Butch Ramirez to resolve the national sports association’s row with pole vault star Ernest John “EJ” Obiena. In a letter sent to Ramirez by PATAFA board of trustees member Datu Yusoph Mama, PATAFA president Philip Popoy Juico, legal counsel Aldrin Cabiles, and Alfonso Sta. Clara will represent the national sports association in the mediation. In his letter, Mama also reiterated PATAFA’s earlier decision to defer the sanctions it is supposed to slap on Obiena, including being taken out from the national team and charged with an estafa complaint, until Jan. 19. Obiena has yet to conﬁrm his participation in the mediation, although he said in a letter sent to Ramirez that he is willing to undergo the process. Obiena underwent knee surgery to repair a small tear in his meniscus, which probably delayed his formal entry to the mediation. However, a person privy of the situation said that he

has been given 15 days to make his final decision on the mediation. Ramirez sees the mediation process as the only way to resolve the feud between Obiena and PATAFA, which stems from a liquidation issue. Earlier, Ramirez said he is looking to finally settle the score between the PATAFA and Obiena before he bids goodbye to his post. Ramirez said that he does not want to keep the mediation process hanging once his term ends on June 30. “Our terms end on June 30, 2022. We don’t want to leave PSC with these disputes hanging,” Ramirez told the Philippine Sportswriters Association as it resumed its weekly online forum. Both Obiena and PATAFA have agreed to put an end to their row that spilled through the Christmas season through the Ramirez-initiated mediation. A positive sign moving forward is PATAFA’s agreement to clear the PSC in giving funds to Obiena’s medical assistance. This, as Ramirez confirmed that Obiena, the world number six pole vaulter in the world, will undergo knee

surgery to repair his meniscus injury. “Obiena needs help for his medical procedure, which we just approved yesterday of an amount to take care of his surgery. Atty. [Guillermo] Iroy communicated to PATAFA, and on good will, in the spirit for posit forthcoming mediation, they certified it because, without certification, we cannot give in to this incentive,” Ramirez said. “We have to thank PATAFA for this action.” He also thanked PATAFA chairman Rufus Rodriguez for assuring him that PATAFA wants to finally bury the hatchet as soon as possible. “I hope PATAFA will take a lead from Chairman Rufus Rodriguez,” Ramirez said. He assured the public that the PSC will keep on supporting Obiena. “He must understand that we are helping him beyond jurisdiction and the provisions of the law of the NSAs (national sports associations) because of helping the athletes. After all, the existence of the PSC is through athletes. Naka-sentro kami dyan (We are centered there). That’s why it was created this way,” Ramirez added.

January 13-19, 2022

Q: Do some Filipinos lose the self-discipline they adapted to here in the States, the moment they step foot back in the Philippines? A: I can’t say about most but I can say some of our kababayans just go back to the old undisciplined ways they were before they left the country. Trust me! When they are here, they follow the strict rules regarding traffic, standing in line and being polite. For some, all that goes out the window the moment they step foot away from the U.S. or any other foreign country. Let me give you an example. Quite recently, my wife and I had to attend a wedding in the Philippines. I took Philippine Airlines as I did not want any stopovers. As we were boarding the plane, immediately there was chaos as people started squeezing in to form the lines. I have no idea what the rush was to get in the plane since everyone had a boarding pass and reserved seats inside. Not to mention, this was going to be a 14 hour flight. Again, I could not see the reason for the eagerness to get inside a tube that was going to have you sit for that length of time. If that were me, I would wait until the before the plane closes its doors before I go in the plane. So we walk in through the aisles and almost immediately my wife and I were halted by a woman who was standing in the isles refusing to move and her hand carry luggage occupying half the passageway. My wife had to squeeze around her and her luggage. When it came to me, I asked the lady, why she was standing in the middle of the isle and she was blocking everyone from coming through easily, to which she replied that I am not even going to answer that. This is severe discipline lost by a kapwa Filipino. We get to our row, and my wife had to tell another woman to move out of our seats. She said she was seating next to her friend to whom my wife said, we don’t care if you want to seat next to your friend, you need to get out of our seat. So she left while mumbling something. Now, the friend that was left behind had an attitude and did not want to move her leg out of the way of my wife. So I said that if she doesn’t behave, I will have the crew take her out of the plane for trying to start trouble. Another example of discipline lost once they get together with kapwa Filipinos. Please remember I am not saying that most Filipinos do this but there are a few bad apples that make the rest of the Filipinos who have done a good job look bad too. So don’t be afraid to say something when you see our kababayan lose their proper ways. After all we don’t want to be generalized as a race that does not have discipline because of a few bad ones. Ating lesson, Kung ang disiplina ay natutunan, huwag namang ito ay kalimutan pag ang kaharap mo ay iyong kababayan. If you need help in getting out of debt, call Debt Aid Consulting International. We do not use call centers which keeps your information safe. We have a new program that reconstruct debts for half of what you would pay our competitors. We also provide legal assistance that keeps collectors away. We take Federal Credit Unions, Payday loans and high interest personal loans in our program too. This is exclusively available for Debt Aid Consulting clients. None of our competitors provide this program. You are well protected. We only provide Federal Trade Commission compliant programs. Go with Debt Aid Consulting! Do not fall for marketing gimmicks saying that they have the right program for you. Most marketing companies only have one program and will enroll you in that program whether it fits you or not. So beware! Ben Lou at your service! I have over 35 years of financial experience. If you would like sound financial advice, call us at Debt Aid Consulting International. We do not use call centers. No one has the right to put your information at risk. Debt Aid Consulting is the first and only Filipino debt mediation company incorporated in the US and Canada, Caribbean Islands, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines! Your Global Debt Solutions Company! Tawag na po sa 1-888-341-5234 at tutulungan po namin kayo. Itama po natin ang mali!

 COMMUNITY NEWS

January 13-19, 2022

PG&E Offering More Than 100 College Scholarships Totaling Nearly $200,000 Applications Available Now; Deadline is Feb. 25, 2022

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.—Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced today that scholarship applications are now being accepted for college-bound high schoolers as well as current college and continuing education students with a primary residence in Northern and Central California. More than 100 awards totaling nearly $200,000 are being made available through scholarships created by PG&E’s employee resource (ERG) and engineering network groups (ENG). These groups support and advance diversity, equity and inclusion within PG&E and the hometowns we serve. These scholarships are awarded annually to help offset the cost of higher education. ERG and ENG scholarship winners will receive awards ranging from $1,000 to $6,000 for exemplary scholastic achievement and community leadership. PG&E ERG and ENG scholarship information, including criteria and applications, is available on PG&E’s website. To be considered for a scholarship, all applications must be submitted by Feb. 25, 2022. “Our ERG and ENG scholarships will help develop our future leaders and breakthrough thinkers. Many of our recipients are the first in their families to attend college. These scholarships are especially valuable to some of our applicants who’ve experienced financial challenges due to COVID-19. These awards are one way

we’re delivering for our hometowns,” said Julius Cox, PG&E executive vice president, people, shared services, supply chain and enterprise change. “As a ﬁrst-generation college student, I never thought college would be a possibility for me due to ﬁnancial hardships. It’s through scholarships like the PG&E Latino ERG scholarship that I’ll be able to continue my journey to higher education and making my dream of attending college a reality,” said Rebecca Hernandez, a 2021 Latino ERG scholarship recipient, who’s majoring in ethnic studies at the University of California at Santa Barbara. Since 1989, PG&E’s ERGs and ENGs have awarded more than $5 million in scholarships to thousands of recipients. The funds are raised totally through employee donations, employee fundraising events and Campaign for the Community, the company’s employee giving program. More than 6,000 PG&E employees belong to the ERGs and ENGs. Each group helps further the company’s commitment to serving its hometowns and growing employee engagement. PG&E’s ERG and ENG scholarships are available through these 13 groups: • Access Network (individuals with disabilities) • Asian • Black

• • •

Latino Legacy (tenured employees) MEENA (Middle East, Europe, and North Africa) • National Society of Black Engineers (STEM career employees) • NuEnergy (newer employees) • PrideNetwork (LGBTQ+ employees) • Samahan (Filipino) • Society for Hispanic Professional Engineers (STEM career employees) • Veterans • Women’s Network In addition to the PG&E scholarships, the Pacific Service Employees Association (PSEA), a non-profit mutual benefit organization serving PG&E employees and retirees, also provides scholarships for dependents of company employees. About PG&E Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.

Governor Newsom activates National Guard, sets new measures to bolster war vs COVID-19

By Jo Erlinda Mauﬁt

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom has activated the California National Guard and adopted more measures to bolster the campaign against COVID-19 as cases in the state surpassed 6 million. The Newsom administration also unveiled a proposed $2.7 billion COVID-19 Emergency Response Package – including a $1.4 billion emergency appropriation request – to bolster testing capacity, accelerate vaccination and booster eﬀorts, support frontline workers, strengthen the health care system and battle misinformation. The Governor’s budget also calls for new legislation to implement supplemental paid sick leave policies given the current situation being driven by the Omicron variant to better protect our frontline workers. “From day one, California has taken swift and direct action to battle COVID-19 with policies that have saved tens of thousands of lives, but there’s more work to be done,” said Governor Newsom in a statement sent to Philippine News Today. “Our proposed COVID-19 Emergency Response Package will support our testing capacity, accelerate vaccination and booster eﬀorts, support frontline workers and health care systems and battle misinformation, with a focus on the hardest-hit communities,” he said. Governor Newsom’s overall package includes: $1.2 BILLION TO BOLSTER TESTING · Expand hours and capacity at test-

ing sites throughout the state to help slow the spread. · Distribute millions of COVID-19 antigen tests to local health departments, community clinics and county offices of education and schools. This is critical to the state’s operational readiness and continued efforts to combat COVID-19, and it includes a $1.4 billion emergency appropriation request to the Legislature for California’s immediate needs. · Supporting the state’s testing facilities, including specimen collection and expanding capacity in order to meet demand. · Supporting state departments in testing their staff and congregate populations $583 MILLION FOR VACCINATION, COMBAT MISINFORMATION · Continue the “Vaccinate all 58” public education campaign to provide reliable information and build vaccine confidence while combating misinformation, all of which is in partnership with 250 ethnic media outlets. · Continue a robust community outreach and direct appointment assistance campaign by conducting door-to-door canvassing, phone banking and texting with over 700 CBOs and community partners in partnership with philanthropy. · In-home vaccination and testing programs to meet Californians where they’re at. · Provide free transportation to vaccination appointments throughout the state to help get more Californians vaccinated and boosted.

$614 MILLION SUPPORT TO FRONTLINE WORKERS, H E A LT H CARE SYSTEMS · Support and distribution of critical personnel resources for health care systems to help AT TESTING SITE. California Na�onal Guard personnel arrive at Anprotect frontline �och Community Center tes�ng site workers, patient care and hospiand slow the spread. tal surge capacity as well as additional staffThe National Guard will support local ing for vaccination sites. communities with additional testing facili$200 MILLION: SUPPORT STATE ties and capacity amid the national surge in RESPONSE OPERATIONS COVID-19 cases driven by the Omicron · Resources to enhance the state’s variant, Newsom said. emergency response and public health ca“California has led the country’s fight pacities, including staffing and information against COVID-19, implementing first-intechnology at California Department of the-nation public health measures that have Public Health, Office of Emergency Ser- helped save tens of thousands of lives,” said vices and Emergency Medical Services Au- Governor Newsom. “We continue to supthority. port communities in their response to CO$110 MILLION TO BOLSTER CON- VID by bolstering testing capacity.” TACT TRACING EFFORTS This new action is on top of the exist· Increased public health and hu- ing 6,000 testing sites that have been set up manitarian efforts at the California-Mexico across the state, the recent demand-based border to keep migrants safe, including vac- expansion of hours at state-operated sites cinations, testing and isolation and quaran- and the 9.6 million tests that the state has tine services. distributed to schools since early Decem· Expanded statewide contact trac- ber. ing activities to help keep Californians safe

25 January 13-19, 2022

 COMMUNITY NEWS

Stars Gather at Graton Resort & Casino A Big Cash Prize is Waiting for You Goodbye 2021, win BIG in 2022 �Graton Resort & Casino will host the “New Year New Winnings Cash Giveaway” on Friday, January 28. Drawings will be at 7PM and 9PM. One lucky winner at each drawing wins $25,000 cash guaranteed. Plus, 20 winners will win $2,022 in cash! Come and try your luck at Graton Resort & Casino. Graton Resort & Casino will also host two concerts “Vietnamese Night New Year Celebration Concert” and “William So Concert” on 2/11 and 2/18 respectively. Lots of famous Vietnamese singers and artists will perform on 2/11, such as: MC KỲ DUYÊN, LÂN NHÃ, HÀ

THANH XUÂN, UYÊN LINH, ĐAN NGUYÊN, MINH TUYẾT, NGUYỄN HỒNG NHUNG, TRỊNH LAM, LAM ANH, VÂN SƠN, BẢO LIÊM … bring you a variety of diﬀerent styles of performance. This concert deﬁnitely is your most anticipated one! “Prince of Love Songs” William So will perform on 2/18 night. He will use his meticulous and tender voice to sing his masterpieces such as “Men Shouldn’t Let Women Cry”, “Na Shui”, “ Ai Yi Ge Ren Hao Nan “, “More Kisses, More Sorrows”. His charming voice will take you back to the past. We hope that the fans who grew up with his music can get together for a fun and unforgettable night.

Tickets are on sale now. Please buy tickets online at GratonResortCasino.com as soon as possible. This is a rare opportunity, don’t miss out! Vietnamese Night New Year Celebration Concert Concert Date & Time: Friday, February 11, 2022 | 8:30PM Venue: The Ballroom at Graton Resort & Casino 288 Golf Course Drive West, Rohnert Park, CA 94928 Ticket Prices�$48, $68, $88 William So Concert Concert Date & Time: Friday, February 18, 2022 | 9PM Venue: The Ballroom at Graton Resort

& Casino 288 Golf Course Drive West, Rohnert Park, CA 94928 Ticket Prices�$68, $88, $108 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.

LA County Board of Supervisors okays motion to tackle illegal cannabis operations LOS ANGELES - As part of an effort to combat illegal cannabis grows and dispensaries in unincorporated Los Angeles County, Supervisor Kathryn Barger introduced a motion, coauthored by Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, to implement a nuisance abatement ordinance and to charge offenders up to $30,000 per day who are out of compliance. “Our County is working aggressively to protect our communities against the harm inflicted upon them by illegal cannabis operations,” Supervisor Barger said. “We lack legally enforceable options to combat dangerous operations that are continually putting neighborhoods at risk. Today’s motion is about addressing that gap.” “California voters legalized recreational cannabis in order to create a system that assured consumers of product safety while prohibiting cannabis access to minors,” said Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, “but illegal cannabis operations continue to undermine the will of the people. This motion puts teeth in enforcement and ensures that

unpermitted dispensaries face stiff penalties in the future.” Despite efforts by County departments, the growth of unpermitted cannabis dispensaries and grows currently outpaces enforcement. In response, this ordinance declares any unpermitted commercial cannabis activity in unincorporated areas to be both illegal and a public nuisance and establishes procedures for abatement. Unpermitted commercial cannabis cultivation is profitable and has thrived in the rural Antelope Valley because of how easy it is to stand up operations. Communities in the desert continue to report illegal large scale cannabis grows that have been accompanied by water theft, trespassing, trash and the use of dangerous pesticides and fertilizers, putting residents’ health and safety at risk. Currently, Los Angeles County is developing a study that will propose recommendations for legal cannabis operations including retail, manufacturing, distribution, growth, testing, regulation and enforcement.

Comelec sets deadline for accreditation of domestic and intl media and observers WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. announced that the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has issued Resolution No. 10739 and 10740 dated 09 December 2021 respectively entitled Guidelines for Mass Media Accreditation for the May 9, 2022 National and Local Elections and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Domestic and International Observers/ Monitors. The deadline for ﬁling applications for accreditation to COMELEC is on 11 March 2022. Applications ﬁled after 11 March 2022 and/or with incomplete requirements will not be entertained. In-

terested parties requesting accreditation air/distribute the work; and need to submit the following: 4. In the case of freelancers, a valid assignment letter from the bona fide meMEDIA PARTIES: dia organization for which the freelancer 1. A fully accomplished COMELEC is on assignment. Media Accreditation Form (CMAF); Applications for Media par2. Two (2) recent 1.5”x 1.5” colored ties are to be submitted online to photographs; and, where applicable, an COMELEC via this link - https://bit. endorsement from the publisher, editor- ly/2022NLEForeignMedia in-chief, assignment editor, station manager, or similar officer of the newspaper, OBSERVERS/MONITORS television station, radio station, or online 1. Duly accomplished application publication employing the applicant; form for accreditation; 3. An endorsement from the appro2. Two (2) recent 1.5” x 1.5” colored priate officer of the broadcast entity or photographs of the applicant; film distributor which has committed to 3. If foreigner or foreign group, or-

ganization, committee or association organization, endorsement issued by the ambassador or consul of the applicant’s home country; and 4. Terms of Reference or similar document, explaining the purposes of the election observation mission. Applications for Observer parties are to be submitted online to COMELEC via this link - https://bit.ly/DomesticMonitorObserver For more information, please check COMELEC Resolution No. 10739 and 10740.

 COMMUNITY NEWS

January 13-19, 2022

In San Diego, Governor Newsom unveils plan to confront homelessness crisis

SAN DIEGO – Following the unveiling of his California Blueprint, Governor Gavin Newsom visited a homeless encampment in San Diego to highlight his proposed additional $2 billion package – for a total of $14 billion – to the state’s multi-year plan to confront the homelessness crisis, which will create 55,000 new housing units and treatment slots when fully implemented. “This past year, California has been able to move 58,000 individuals off our streets and into the housing and treatment they desperately needed,” said Governor Newsom in a statement sent to Philippine News Today. “The California Blueprint will double down on those efforts, focusing on clearing encampments, while also setting the groundwork for long-term systemic change with significant investments in mental health and substance abuse treatment to get vulnerable people off the streets,” Newsom said. Under Governor Newsom’s nationleading Project Roomkey and Homekey programs, California has provided temporary shelter for 50,000 Californians and helped another 8,000 secure more permanent housing through the state’s purchase of motels, hotels and other buildings. In 2021, Governor Newsom invested a historic $12 billion to help get the most vulnerable people off the streets and into the mental and behavioral health services they need. The California Blueprint will bolster last year’s investments with an additional $1.5 billion for Behavioral Health Bridge Housing to get people off the street and into treatment, and $500 million toward Encampment Resolution Grants for lo-

cal jurisdictions to implement short- and long-term rehousing strategies for people experiencing homelessness in encampments around the state. At San Diego encampment cleanup, Governor Newsom highlights multi-year plan to confront the homelessness crisis The California Blueprint also expands Governor Newsom’s Returning Home Well program, a pandemic response to provide transitional housing and mental health services to people exiting incarceration – a population particularly vulnerable to living unhoused upon release. Further, the Blueprint calls for expanding Medi-Cal benefits to include mobile crisis response. For the first time ever, California will support mobile crisis response as a covered benefit under Medi-Cal for everyone eligible – investing $1.4 billion over five years so that people experiencing homelessness will receive better, more timely behavioral health care, especially in times of crisis. “Behavioral health and homelessness are inextricably linked, and we have the chance to invest in the former to help prevent the latter,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly. “Governor Newsom’s proposal will help expand access to housing and medical support for vulnerable populations with complex behavioral health conditions and people living in encampments.” The Governor highlighted the state’s work to confront the homelessness crisis – one of the most vexing issues facing California – while visiting a homeless encampment in San Diego. Caltrans is working with the City of San Diego and its service provider, City Net, on dedicated outreach to people living at encampments on Caltrans right-ofway. Under its contract with the City of San Diego, City Net is deploying three outreach teams that will work with the San Diego Housing Commission and its current network of providers on shelter placements and wraparound supportive services, including transportation, case management and emergency mentalhealth support. “Once again, Governor Newsom has

demonstrated his unwavering commitment to confronting the homelessness crisis head on by proposing a continued budget investment in programs that will help communities like San Diego move unsheltered folks oﬀ the street and on a path to supportive services and permanent housing,” said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, who joined the Governor. “I thank him for coming to San Diego today to highlight our program to reach out to residents living alongside our freeways and connect them to the safety of our shelters and the help they need to end their homelessness.” Taken together, the Governor’s multiyear investments will expand the work accomplished through Project Roomkey and Homekey, which provided shelter to avoid COVID-19 exposure for over 58,000 unhoused Californians and created 6,000 new units for Californians exiting homelessness. Governor Newsom’s multibillion-dollar homeless housing investments will provide more than 55,000 new housing units and treatment slots in the coming years. In addition to the work to get unshel-

tered Californians housed, the state is continuing its work to keep people facing severe economic hardship due to the pandemic in stable housing. In 2021, Governor Newsom rapidly launched a federally-funded emergency rental assistance program, distributing $1.7 billion to over 147,000 low-income California households to date. The program is lauded as one of the most successful in the nation, ensuring vulnerable Californians can pay oﬀ rental debt and avoid eviction. Earlier this month, the state launched its $1 billion California Mortgage Relief Program for homeowners who have fallen behind on home payments or reverse mortgage arrearages during the COVID-19 pandemic.

staﬀed facilities across the country, some on the front lines are experiencing added physical, mental and emotional stress. “There’s more of an anxiety factor now,” relates Obakpolor. “You can’t see the virus. You don’t know where it was or where it could be.” In the face of such anxiety, Obakpolor credits his faith with his ability to carry on in his work. He regularly reads the Bible and Bible-based publications to keep himself grounded. “I ﬁnd that it’s practical for every aspect of my life,” he says. American psychological and psychiatric associations, while not advocating or

endorsing any speciﬁc religion, acknowledge the role spirituality and religious faith can play in coping with distress and trauma. Lawrence Onoda, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in Mission Hills, California, noted some ways spirituality can help, including giving people “a positive hope and meaning toward life, comfort by looking for answers and strength from a higher power, and a collective shared experience of support and community.” When Obakpolor is not on the front lines of the pandemic, he ﬁnds comfort in his volunteer work as one of Jehovah’s

Witnesses. “I talk to others about the hope God provides in the Bible and why we can expect things to get better,” Obakpolor says. “I feel like it really takes the stress away.” One of his favorite resources is the website jw.org, which features a collection of practical articles such as “How to Beat Pandemic Fatigue” and “How Can You Cope with Anxiety.” “Whether it’s helping others at work or volunteering,” shares Obakpolor, “I take myself out of the picture and focus on others. That’s what makes me truly happy.”

Burned Out from Lingering Pandemic, Some on Front Lines Find Faith an Antidote Burned Out from Lingering Pandemic, Some on Front Lines Find Faith an Antidote For most who have lost a loved one to COVID-19, an emergency room ﬁlled with patients infected with the latest variant would likely be the last place they would want to be. Yet this is where registered nurse, Nate Obakpolor of San Francisco, works despite losing his grandfather to the virus this past year. Many medical workers like him are exhausted from working through the pandemic. With variants straining short-

27 January 13-19, 2022

Upside...

(From Page 11)

government can do again. The federal government needs to in our neighborhoods, cities, and counties again. I truly believe that our San Mateo County values can help the entire nation restore its faith in government. The pandemic has divided the nation in ways we’ve never seen before. However, the experience and leadership qualities I’ve gained as president of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors during these dark times gives me the conﬁdence to say I’m the right person at the right time to help the nation end this divide and start to heal. Our fragile democracy depends on it. This is not just a dream. This can be our future. It won’t be easy. But I will work hard for you, every day, and never forget about the people I’m working for. It’s all about you and your voices and your values. Together, we must heal this nation and that’s why I need your support. Because San Mateo County needs US in Congress. Because Washington DC needs US in Congress. Your voices need Canepa in Congress. Let me be that voice. San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa is running for California’s 14th District in the US House of Representatives.

Oﬄine

(From Page 13)

arguing that the people should decide. We are, after all, a nation of law and not of men. No exceptions should be made for anyone, especially on a matter as important as the coming elections. He may recruit the best lawyers that money can buy to argue his case before the high tribunal. Estelito Mendoza immediately comes to mind, but Juan Ponce-Enrile is also a possibility. They will likely raise a legal technicality or two to justify allowing Junior to buy his way back to Malacanang. If elected, Junior will simply have his team of lying spokespeople continue to spread propaganda to clean the name of his family. Being a mommy’s boy, he will certainly erect statues of the world’s greatest shoe collector all over the archipelago. He may even change the name of the Philippines to Maharlika, as his thieving father wanted. As for the Comelec commissioner, she is under extreme pressure from both sides. Junior haters want her to do the right thing and disqualify the SOB, but this would potentially endanger her life along with her family. Junior lovers, on the other hand, want her to clear the son of the dictator, at the expense of her earning the ire and hatred of millions of good and decent Filipinos who realize that the future of the country would be threatened if the college dropout wins. The best thing for her to do is to study the case carefully, reviewing all the arguments for and against Junior, blatant lies included. Then she should do the right thing and decide the case with ﬁnality. Remember that there are other cases Junior has to face, but all will be moot and academic if Commissioner Guanzon does the right thing.

What’s Up Atty

(From Page 13)

receive a waiver despite being the husband of a U.S. citizen. The court said the alien was “soon-to-be the ex-husband” of a U.S. citizen. A husband ceases to be his wife’s spouse upon divorce because following the divorce, he no longer is her spouse. The court said that neither the BIA nor the court may further its preferred interpretation of Congress’s intent by misreading or adding to the statutory eligibility requirements that Congress has laid out quite clearly. Federiso v. Holder, 605 F.3d 695 (9th Cir. 2010). QUERY: A visa application form asks: “Spouse’s Full Name (even if divorced or separated).” Should the visa applicant (a widow) write the name of her spouse (even if deceased)? If the widow visa applicant writes the name of her deceased husband in the visa application can she be charged with committing fraud or misrepresentation? Can she successfully argue that “a wife is always her husband’s wife even after his death? We plan to raise this argument in a pending deportation case. (Atty. Emmanuel Samonte Tipon was a Fulbright and SmithMundt scholar to Yale Law School where he obtained a Master of Laws degree specializing in Constitutional Law. He has a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, New York, and the Philippines. He practices federal law, with emphasis on immigration law and appellate federal criminal defense. He was the Dean and a Professor of Law of the College of Law, Northwestern University, Philippines. He has written law books and legal articles for the world’s most prestigious legal publisher and writes columns for newspapers. He wrote the best-seller “Winning by Knowing Your Election Laws.” Listen to The Tipon Report which he co-hosts with his son Attorney Emmanuel “Noel” Tipon. They talk about immigration law, criminal law, court-martial defense, and current events. It is considered the most witty, interesting, and useful radio show in Hawaii. KNDI 1270 AM band every Thursday at 8:00 a.m. Atty. Tipon was born in Laoag City, Philippines. Cell Phone (808) 225-2645. E-Mail: ﬁlamlaw@ yahoo.com. Website: https://www.tiponlaw.com. The information provided in this article is not legal advice. Publication of this information is not intended to create, and receipt by you does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.)

Health & Wealth

(From Page 12)

was blessed and fortunate to share the gospel to the hundreds of guests with the help of Brent Solis, young Evangelist and Minister of DAGUPAN CITY CHURCH OF CHRIST, Dagupan City, Pangasinan and some brethren from the BINALONAN CHURCH OF CHRIST, Santa Maria Norte, Binalonan, Pangasinan. The special event was covered and featured in “Balitang Amianan” by GMA TV. It was also featured and published in the weekly PHILIPPINES TODAY circulated in Northern California and Reno, Nevada. Through the recommendation and suggestion of Tomas Pulupul, one of my mother’s nephews and former councilor of Kiangan, Ifugao and incumbent Vice Mayor of Asipolo, Ifugao, my mother celebrated her 101st Birthday in Amduntog, Asipolo, Ifugao last January 21, 2020. Her children and grandchildren living in California flew back to Manila and travelled to Kiangan, Ifugao (in two cars and one van) together with relatives and close friends from Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan City and Binalonan, Pangasinan. The special event was attended by provincial officials of Ifugao like former Governor Eugene Balitang, incumbent board member Joselito Guyguyon; and close relatives from Kiangan and Baguio City like school principal Jocelyn P. Dupingay, teacher Patricia Dimoloy Dulnuan and family; Jimmy and Nancy P. Bulong and their daughters Liezle and Yvonne P. Bulong, who is newly licensed and now practicing physician in the Philippines. My elderly mother was blessed to attend the oath-taking of my cousin Bob Sampayan as the first Filipino and Asian elected mayor of Vallejo, California. She was also blessed and fortunate to attend the Proclamation of “Carlos S. Bulosan Day” by Mayor Bob Sampayan held last November 13, 2018 at the John F. Kennedy Library Room 505, Santa Clara Street in Vallejo, California to honor and remember our late grandfather as noted essayist, poet and author of many books like the classic “America is in the Heart.” Many of my close friends and readers of my column in the weekly PHILIPPINE NEWS TODAY asked the “secret” of my mother’s longevity. First “secret” is her regular physical walking and spiritual walking as mentioned by James Quitoriano in his first message of the New Year entitled “KEEP WALKING WITH JESUS.” My mother walked daily and regularly way back in the Philippines until she immigrated to California. For her spiritual walk (24/7), she attended regularly the Bible classes and Worship services at the GOLDEN GATE CHURCH OF CHRIST in San Francisco when she was staying with us. Her second “secret” is the habit of eating fresh vegetables and fruits regularly. She eats more fish and less meat. For spiritual nourishment, she joined our Home Devotionals on weekends and evenings in San Francisco. Now that she is staying with my sister Josie M. Lewis in Bethel Island, California, she kept a copy and read an autographed copy of my best-selling book “LIFESTYLE FOR LONGEVITY” subtitled “How to be Healthy Emotionally, Financially, Physically, Sexually and Spiritually.” We encourage her to watch via Facebook “My Angel Radio Q & A and My Angel Radio San Francisco every Friday and Saturday at 11am. We also encourage and invite her to join the worship services at the GOLDEN GATE CHURCH OF CHRIST in San Francisco via zoom online every Sunday morning at 11am. My mother’s third “secret” is her faith and complete trust in God’s protection and providence. It helped her have good sleep and avoid anxiety and worry. To celebrate the 103rd Birthday of my mother, my brother Salvador “Buddy” Madlaing and his wife Ursula T. Madlaing prepared T-Shirt Souvenir for the children, grandchildren and close relatives and friends. Front of the T-Shirt is the smiling face of my mother wearing hat with the words “Elena G. Madlaing, 01-21-2022 103 Years Old.” On the back of the red T-Shirt souvenir is the Philippine flag in victory sign and John 3:16, a very popular Bible verse. My mother is blessed and fortunate to have the full care of her two daughters Josie M. Lewis, Luzviminda G. Madlaing and her grandson Ferdinand Lewis with whom she is staying with in their home in Bethel Island, California. Her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and friends are visiting her regularly. In fact, last Thanksgiving Day, our daughters Darlene M. Gamble, Wynema M. Gacusan, husband Ben Gacusan and son Brendon M. Gacusan, my beloved wife Virginia Jimenez Madlaing and I visited her in Bethel Island, California. To commemorate the 103rd Birthday of my mother, I am giving free autographed copies of my book “LIFESTYLE FOR LONGEVITY” (book is 404 pages and price is $25-95 per copy at Amazon) subtitled “How to be Healthy Emotionally, Financially, Physically, Sexually and Spiritually,” to all our guests who will visit and worship with us at the GOLDEN GATE CHURCH OF CHRIST in San Francisco, California the entire month of January, 2022. For schedule and direction to the worship services, just write or contact: GOLDEN GATE CHRCH OF CHRIST, 701-8th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94118 Tel. (650)438-3531 or (415)584-7095 or email:agmadlaing@hotmail.com If you live outside San Francisco Bay Area, you can order your autographed copy of “LIFESTYLE FOR LONGEVIITY” at the subsidized price of only $10 per copy plus shipping and handling. For your autographed copy of the best-selling book “LIFESTYLE FOR LONGEVITY” at the subsidized price, just

write or contact: BOOKS MINISTRY, 730 Madrid Street, San Francisco, CA 94112 Tel (650)438-3531, or (415)584-7095 or email:agmadlaing@hotmail.com REMINDER: Support MY ANGEL RADIO by inviting your FRANC (Friends, Relatives, Acquaintances, Neighbors, Co-Workers) to watch with you the global MY ANGEL RADIO (Monday to Friday, morning and evening) especially MY ANGEL RADIO Q & A and MY ANGEL RADIO San Francisco every Friday and Saturday 11 am WATCH via Facebook Live or at www.MyAngelRadio.com LIVE BROADCAST starts at 11am Pacific (2pm Eastern). (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.)

On Distant Shore

(From Page 12)

passe that could only mean Duterte completely losing power and influence after June 30 this year when he steps down, the Duterte camp decided to play their last, improbable card -- seek a reopening of the COC filing and field a strong team that can hope to beat both the Bongbong-Sara team and the opposition candidates in May. Who could those candidates be? Are those candidates strong enough for the Cusi camp to even consider filing a petition that looks at first glance legally untenable? Or is there truth to claims by the opposition and militant groups that this is just another ploy to call for a no-election and extend Duterte’s term? Why the Comelec did not dismiss the petition outright and why it has not scheduled a hearing on the petition when the election is just four months away, considering that it still has to print the official ballots and make preparations for Election Day escapes plausible explanation. “There is no precedent for a petition of this kind, simply because the finalization of the list of candidates has always been imbued with urgency for the Comelec to still entertain any petition of such kind that would effectively delay an already tight election schedule,” said detained Sen. Leila de Lima, a former election lawyer. Even the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, which has supported Duterte in the past, questioned the intentions of the Cusi wing. VACC president Arsenio Evangelista described the petition as “an insidious attempt by unscrupulous politicians to ensure their hold on power at the expense of suffering Filipinos.” “The deadline of October 8, 2021 was well known to every political aspirant and party organization well in advance and everyone had ample time to prepare. It would be terribly unfair for those who exerted great efforts and endured sacrifices to meet these deadlines, and for them to be told now that there are exceptions to these rules and an extension has to be made,” Evangelista correctly added. But the Cusi petition is more than laughable. It is clearly a last-ditch attempt by Duterte and his misguided allies to hold on to power. That this is happening at a time when the Duterte administration should focus on stopping the surge of the Covid-19, which has already passed previous pandemic records and threatens anew the well-being of the people, the country and the economy, is simply unacceptable. That this blatant attempt to hold on to power is happening again 50 years after the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos imposed martial law in 1972 a year before he was scheduled to step down makes it even more a cause for concern.

PerryScope...

(From Page 12)

supporters by the next presidential election, not enough to win the election. But Trump’s magical power to attract millions of MAGA diehards has kept political pundits wondering: What does it take to break his spell over his supporters? A few weeks ago, when Trump was interviewed on Bill O’Reilly’s “History Tour” on television, Trump announced he was vaccinated and received a booster shot. Instantly, his supporters booed him. The outcry was unbelievable. However, it was his undoing. Ever since the beginning of the pandemic, Trump was known to be against vaccination, which has conditioned the minds of his supporters to refuse to get vaccinated, believing that it is harmful to the body. Hence, many of his supporters began campaigning against vaccinations. Known as the “anti-vaxxers,” they resisted vaccination. So when Trump announced that he’s been vaccinated and boosted as well, they rose in protest. And if Trump began losing the support of his anti-vaxxer base, it would create a backlash against him come 2024. So now, Trump would have to change his magic tune in order to keep his followers stay with him. Has the Pied Piper of Mar-aLago lost his touch with his MAGA followers?

 HEALTH NEWS

January 13-19, 2022

WHO recommends 2 new drugs to treat patients with COVID-19 GENEVA - The World Health Organization has recommended two new drugs to treat patients with COVID-19. One of the drugs, the baricitinib (a type of drug known as a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis) is strongly recommended for patients with severe or critical covid-19 in combination with corticosteroids, WHO experts stated in Guideline Development Group of international experts in The BMJ. Their strong recommendation is based on moderate certainty evidence that it improves survival and reduces the need for ventilation, with no observed increase in adverse effects. The WHO experts note that baricitinib has similar effects to other arthritis drugs called interleukin-6 (IL-6) inhibitors so, when both are available, they suggest choosing one based on cost, availability, and clinician experience. It is not recommended to use both drugs at the same time. However, the experts advise against the use of two other JAK inhibitors (ruxolitinib and tofacitinib) for patients with severe or critical covid-19 because low

certainty evidence from small trials failed to show benefit and suggests a possible increase in serious side effects with tofacitinib. In the same guideline update, WHO also makes a conditional recommendation for the use of the monoclonal antibody sotrovimab in patients with non-severe covid-19, but only in those at highest risk of hospitalisation, reflecting trivial benefits in those at lower risk. A similar recommendation has been made by WHO for another monoclonal antibody drug (casirivimab-imdevimab). The experts also note that there were insufficient data to recommend one monoclonal antibody treatment over another - and they acknowledge that their effectiveness against new variants like omicron is still uncertain. As such, they say guidelines for monoclonal antibodies will be updated when additional data become available. The recommendations are based on new evidence from seven trials involving over 4,000 patients with non-severe, severe, and critical covid-19 infection. They are part of a living guideline, developed

by the World Health Organization with the methodological support of MAGIC Evidence Ecosystem Foundation, to provide trustworthy guidance on the management of covid-19 and help doctors make better decisions with their patients. Living guidelines are useful in fast moving research areas like covid-19 because they allow researchers to update previously vetted and peer reviewed evidence summaries as new information becomes available. To make their recommendations, the panel considered a combination of evidence assessing relative benefits and harms, values and preferences, and feasibility issues. Today’s guidance adds to previous recommendations for the use of interleukin-6 receptor blockers and systemic corticosteroids for patients with severe or critical covid-19; conditional recommendations for the use of casirivimab-imdevimab (another monoclonal antibody treatment) in selected patients; and against the use of convalescent plasma, ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine in patients with covid-19 regardless of disease severity.

Omicron: a “blessing”?

Heart of Hope

f there is such a thing as “the best time to get COVID-19 infection,” it could be now, with the Omicron variant, which appears (so far) to be milder although super contagious, especially for the unvaccinated. If those who refused the vaccines, hoping to get natural immunity instead, Omicron could be their saving grace, less damaging to the PHILIP S. CHUA lungs, compared to the original strains and the Delta. For those unvaccinated who have health issues, Omicron infection can still be more dangerous, riskier than getting the vaccines. When those with the Booster get infected, they would have 2-tiered immunity: protection provided by the vaccines, and another from natural immunity. The latter is less stable and shorter-lasting and not as reliable as immunity conferred by the vaccines. If at least 80 percent of those (60 million) who refuse vaccination get infected now, they would develop some natural immunity, which might help the country inch toward herd immunity in a few months. It would be much faster if they got vaccinated instead. Omicron (thank God) is now the predominant strain, 95 percent of all COVID-19 cases, with infections one million on Monday alone, although fewer hospitalizations and deaths compared to Delta. The ﬁrst death from Omicron was reported Monday in Harris County, Texas, a 50-year-old male, who was unvaccinated and got the infection. For the unvaccinated, the complications are much worse, especially among those with health issues. Had this man been vaccinated, he could have survived the infection. The risks and complications among those protected by the Booster when infected with Omicron are markedly milder. A trenchant, ironic blessing, perhaps. News Roundup In The Philippines, there were 2,861,119 COVID-19 cases, with 51,604 deaths on January 4, 2022. More than 100 million vaccines have been administered to a total population of 111,763,229. To get the Pﬁzer vaccines, people have to pay $100 per shot, while all the shots, including the booster, are free in the United States. *** According to a study from one South African hospital pub-

lished Tuesday, patient deaths from Omicron averaged 4.5%, compared to 21.3% from previous waves. About 45% of patients with Omicron required supplemental oxygen, while 99% of patients from previous COVID-19 waves needed breathing assistance. The average length of stay for Omicron patients was 4 days -- less than half the average for other strains. *** Researchers from the University of Cape Town reported that saliva samples yielded more accurate results in PCR analyses when Omicron was involved compared with nasal swabs. When patients carried the Delta variant, on the other hand, nasal swabs were more accurate. *** HHS announced that Roche and Siemens have two new rapid antigen tests for COVID-19 on the market. If COVID-19 infection is suspected, the best is to get tested, *** As of Tuesday, January 4th, 10:40 AM CST, there were 293,264,764 cases and 5,468,191 deaths worldwide, and 57,131,187 cases with 848,885 deaths in the USA. Last week, there were almost half a million cases, mostly Omicron, in one day. *** With another day of record-breaking infections in France, Paris is implementing mandatory masking. (AP) - India is bracing for its third coronavirus wave, as many people have stopped wearing masks and are back to large gatherings. (CNN) *** With Omicron the greatest concentration of the viral load is found in the mouth and throat. Gurgling 3 times a day with a mouthwash that contains stabilized chlorine dioxide (like TheraBreath, OraCare, CloSys, and DioxRinse) might help reduce this load and minimize symptoms even. *** The two new (home) pills for COVID-1, one from Pﬁzer (Paxlovid), for age 12 and older, can reduce the risk of hospitalization and death by 90 percent (the other molnupiravir fro Merck), if taken in the early stage of the infection, and for those family members exposed to the patient. Merk’s pills reduce the risk by only 30-50 percent. *** New randomized trial: Fluvoxamine (100 mg, 3 times a day) given to non-hospitalized patients within 7 days after COVID-19 infection was shown to reduce clinical deterioration (shortness of breath and oxygen use) at 15 days. (WSJ) *** Studies are being conducted to ﬁnd out if the pre-

liminary finding that sildenafil citrate (Viagra) is beneficial to Alzheimer’s patients is universally valid. Viagra, besides being very effective for erectile dysfunction in men, has been a therapy for pulmonary hypertension, even among infants. *** FDA expanded the emergency use authorization (EUA) of the monoclonal antibody cocktail bamlanivimab-etesevimab to include even younger pediatric patients, including newborns at high risk of progression to severe COVID. FDA also says booster 5 months after the second shots may now be given to 12 and older. *** Patients on low-salt diet and replacing salt with potassium chloride (salt substitute) show these two regimens to be synergistic in reducing blood pressure more effectively, compared to those only on low-salt diet. The potassium chloride salt substitute appears to be beneficial. The combined regimen reduces the risk for stroke, cardiovascular events, and deaths, as shown by a new landmark (5-year) study on 21,000 people in rural China. *** Studies have shown that the risk of death from people’s reaction to the vaccines is 0.0018 percent (a tiny fraction of 1 percent), compared to the 20-30 percent risk of death from COVID-19. Majority of those deaths, according to an intensive review, were not caused by the vaccines themselves but the predisposition of the people to blood clots and others with health issues. *** In nearly every instance, COVID vaccine mandates are holding up in court. (Wall Street Journal). Indeed, national safety and welfare should take precedence and prevail over individual rights and freedom, the mis-use and abuse of which, like the freedom to refuse the COVID-19 vaccines, has led to massive viral spread by the unvaccinated and more than 3/4 million preventable deaths and economic disaster in the United States. May 2022 be the beginning of a brighter future for all nations and all peoples of the world. 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. Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

29 January 13-19, 2022

NEWS  NATIONAL VIEWS & COMMENTS

AGING GRACEFULLY AND HAPPILY By TIM PEDROSA

As we get older many of us feel unhappy, health-wise and security-wise, due to the diminishing importance given to us and our opinions. But, it should not be so, if only we understand the basic principles of life and follow them conscientiously. The secret to staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly and lie about your age – Lucille Ball. Here are some suggestions to age gracefully and make life after retirement pleasant, inspired by the writings of N. Jambunathan Lyer. Never say “I am old.” There are 3 ages: chronological, biological and psychological. The first is calculated based on our date of birth; the second is determined by the health conditions; the third is how old we feel we are. While we don’t have control over the first, we can take care of our health with good diet, exercise and a cheerful attitude. A positive attitude and optimistic thinking can reverse the third age. Health is Wealth. If we really love our family and friends, taking care of our health should be our priority. Thus, we will not be a burden to them. Have an annual health check-up and take the prescribed medicines regularly. Do take health insurance coverage. Money is Important. Money is essential for meeting the basic necessities of life, keeping good health and earning family respect and security. We should not spend beyond our means even for our children. We have lived for them all through and it is time we enjoy a harmonious life with our spouse. If our children are grateful and they take care of us, we are blessed. But, never take it for granted. Relaxation and recreation are important. The most relaxing and recreational forces are a healthy religious attitude, good sleep, music and laughter. Have faith in God, learn to sleep well, love good music and see the funny side of life. Time is precious. It is almost like holding a horse’s reins. When they are in our hands, we can control them. Imagine that every day we are born again; yesterday is a cancelled check; tomorrow is a promissory note; today is ready cash, use it profitably. Live this moment; live it fully, now, in the present time. Change is the only permanent thing. We should accept change, it is inevitable. The only way to make sense out of change is to join in the dance. Change has brought about many pleasant things. And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years – Abraham Lincoln. Believe in enlightened selfishness. All of us are basically selfish. Whatever we do, we expect something in return. We should definitely be grateful to those who stood by us. But, our focus should be on the internal satisfaction and the happiness we derive by doing well for others, without expecting anything in return and performing a random act of kindness daily. Forgive and forget. Don’t be bothered too much about others’ mistakes. We are not spiritual enough to show our other cheek when we are slapped in one. But for the sake of our own health and happiness, let us forgive and forget the hurt (but not the lesson we learned). Otherwise, we will be only increasing our blood pressure. Everything has a purpose. Let us take life as it comes; and accept ourselves as we are and also accept others for what they are. Everybody is unique and is right in one’s own way. Overcome the fear of death. We all know that one day we have to leave this world. Still we are afraid of death. We think that our spouse and children will not be able to withstand our loss. But the truth is no one is going to die for us; they may be depressed for some time. Time heals everything and they will go on. There is a fountain of youth: it is our mind, our talents, the creativity we bring to our life and the lives of people we love. When we learn to tap this source, we will truly have defeated age. Dreams are renewable. No matter what age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within us and new beauty waiting to be born – Dale E. Turner.

Allow God’s Work in You

he call of Advent Season: “Prepare the way of the Lord (Mk. 1:3).” Then, Christmas came, we were told; “Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord” (Christmas: The Responsorial Psalm, Mass during the Night). We prepared for Christmas with God involved in our Advent Preparations. We cannot do it alone, for alone we are nothing and can do nothing. We cannot be worthy of God unless God Himself will deign us worthy of Him; hence, He must REV. JOSE PELAGIO A. PADIT, SThD always be allowed to get involve into our every endeavor. We should or must let our Lord Jesus not only enter but also to remain in our lives to make saints out of us. Now, we enter into the New Year 2022. We cannot separate our earthly endeavors from our heavenly oriented behavior. We cannot let our faith and love of God not become the foundation to our life’s journey of the New Year. So, we must call on the Lord Jesus to walk and accompany us all through the New Year. Let us call on God the Father to give us the Holy Spirit, as He has also given us His Son, Jesus Christ, to guide and illumine our daily lives as we live through the year 2022. Let us have a God-oriented year 2022; which means, we cooperate with God’s work in our lives. God works in three ways among infinite possibilities: first, by being the divine Potter. In prophet Isaiah 64:8, it says; “… we are the clay, you are the potter, we are the work of your hands.” So, we have to let Him mold us into the design He wants for us. We are to be supple and cooperative to His forming hands. The New Year will lead us to encounter many experiences which can pull us away from God or can push us toward Him. The trouble many times with us is to stick to our comfort zones. When God is molding us; this means there will be sacrifices to be done on our part that translates into self-discipline, self-denial, and self-sacrifice. Whatever the New Year will bring us, we must be cooperative and docile, not rebellious or obstinate. If we are to be faithful disciples of Jesus, we must do what is required of us to let God’s design happen. If we be adamant or rebellious, we can be likened to clay that hardens. When the potter holds and molds us, we can break. Breaking as a hardened clay is the worst to happen than giving ourselves completely and trustingly to God’s ways. Let us pray for trust and commitment into God’s work in our lives this New Year 2022. More over. God works as Guide; He is The Good Shepherd. He gives commandments; because, He wants us to be guided in our life and behavior. Without His commandments we can be lost from the right path. We must obey his guidance and follow His lead. As we live through this year 2022, let us be obedient in imitation of our Lord Jesus; who is born for us in obedience to the Father’s will. During Christmas, we saw the Bright Star that guided the magi in order to eventually meet the Savior and the King of kings. So, dear reader, let us think how can we be docile to God’s leadings always. To practice obedience, think of these following imperatives Jesus said: “…from now on do not sin anymore (Jn. 8:11);” “If your brother sins, rebuke him; and If he repents, forgive him (Lk. 17:3);” “Give to the one who asks of you… (Mt. 5:42).” And, “why do you call me, Lord, Lord, but do not do what I command? (Lk. 6:46).” Let us deeply reflect on these words and on all the teachings of the Lord Jesus seeing to it we translate them into our lives. Lastly, God works by giving us instructions, information. God teaches us His will. He instructs us his ways. He tells us about Himself. Hence, we must listen. We must be attentive. The challenge many times is we have our way of thinking. We must let our year 2022 not be the same as last year. Let us leave behind egoistic mentalities. We may have our way of seeing and understanding of things. But will our understanding better than God’s understanding? Will our way of thinking greater than His? We must humble ourselves and listen to Him. Like Samuel, let us say, “speak (Lord), for Your servant is listening (1 Sam. 3:10).” Or let us be eager to say, “here am I, Lord; I come to do your will (Responsorial Psalm, Second Sunday Ordinary Time, Yr. B.).” Let us offer to God our New Year 2022 and let us cooperate with God’s work in our lives. Amen.

Aﬂame The Heart

INSPIRATIONAL ARTICLE FOR THE WEEK

31 January 13-19, 2022  NATIONAL NEWS

 FOOD & TRAVELS

Recipe of the Week Pork and Mushroom Adobo Ingredients: 1/2 kilo pork belly, cut into large cubes 100 grams fresh whole button mushrooms 1/2 head garlic, peeled, crushed, chopped 3-4 pieces bay leaf 1-2 tsp. crushed peppercorns 1/4 cup dark soy sauce 1/4 cup white vinegar salt

Cooking procedure: Place the pork in a sauce pan, add all the ingredients except the mushroom and salt. Pour enough water to cover at about 2 inches over the pork line. Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 to 45 minutes or until the pork are tender, add more water as necessary. When the liquid is reduce to about half add in the mushrooms and continue to cook for 5 to 10 minutes until the liquid is reduced to an oily sauce, correct saltiness if required. Serve hot with a lot of rice.

 FOOD & TRAVELS

Officials air renewed hope for ‘steady’ tourism recovery in 2022 MAKATI CITY – The annual tourism revenue in 2020 is no doubt higher than the receipts generated this year since tourists were still able to enter the country from January to mid-March last year before the lockdown was imposed. But if you compare the ﬁgures from April to September of both years covering the pandemic period, the tourism industry this 2021 is seeing a renewed hope towards a steady recovery path. Data from the Department of Tourism (DOT) showed that tourism receipts from April to September 2021 reached P3.1 billion, up by 91.6 percent from PHP1.6 billion generated in the same period last year. “The current tourism scenario is looking generally optimistic as we end 2021. As Alert Levels have gone down, local travel requirements were also eased. Many of our destinations now accept local tourists who are fully vaccinated, with no need to present a negative RT-PCR test,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat told the Philippine News Agency. Since the gradual resumption of tourism operations last September, more establishments have reopened and the country saw an uptick in the number of domestic travelers in major tourist destinations. In Boracay alone, tourism arrivals ballooned by 1,151.61 percent to 173,104 from the 13,830 tourists recorded on the island during the same period in 2021. The DOT also continued to promote the Philippines as a country that banks not only on the safety of travelers but also its host communities as it actively vaccinates tourism workers nationwide. As of December 24, at least 88.38 percent or 282,780 tourism workers have been inoculated against coronavirus disease, while the remaining 11.62 percent are waiting for their schedule. Philippine Tour Operators Association, Inc. (PHILTOA) president Fe Abling-Yu, meanwhile, hopes that the eased restrictions would continue throughout 2022. “Ang nangyayari kasi close, open, close, open tayo. Then pumasok na ‘yong August, nagsarado nanaman so wala nanaman din, so ‘yong recovery parang urong-sulong (What happened is we close then we open then close again. Back in August, we close so it seemed like recovery is unsteady),” she said, citing the closures when the Delta variant struck the country. “Since nasa Alert Level 2 na tayo sana lang magtuloy-tuloy na. Nandoon kami sa hope na magtutuloy-tuloy na the challenge is mayroon na naman tayong variant pero sana ‘yong pagbo-booster at vaccination makatulong (Since we’re already on Alert Level 2, I hope this continues. We are hopeful this would but the challenge now is the new variant so hopefully the boosters and vaccination would help),” she added. ‘2022 optimism’ For 2022, Romulo-Puyat sees “revenge travel” manifesting across all markets of the Philippine tourism industry. And in the wake of disconnect and economic hardship brought about by the pandemic, Filipinos are likely to travel “more consciously”. A recent research commissioned by AirBnB showed that over 80 percent of Filipinos it polled seek to travel in a way that positively impacts locals while about 76 percent want to be more conscious when it comes to familBeef Spareribs Adobo with Oyster Sauce

iarizing themselves with the host community and how they can make a contribution. The DOT has vowed to pivot towards sustainable tourism development models, with focus on providing guests with high-quality experiences rather than mass tourism and short-term gains. With no certain date yet as to when the country will open its borders for foreign leisure travelers, the DOT believes domestic tourists will continue to be the main tourism growth driver next year. Apart from them, the DOT said it will tap into the growing workation market, seeing that remote work is likely to stay throughout and even after the pandemic. “The trend was something that came along as a need by employees who worked from home during the pandemic, yet also needed the time to take a break and recover from cabin fever. We are confident that with the increasing prominence of remote work, this trend will linger on even after the pandemic,” Romulo-Puyat said. But if the Philippines reopens, she said foreign tourists can rest assured that health and safety protocols would be in place. “The DOT yields to the wisdom of our health experts and we fully understand the need to protect the health and well being of the rest of the country, especially now that we have started to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” she said. The Philippines was supposed to end its almost 21-month closure to foreign tourists last December 1, but the plan was suspended amid the growing threat of the heavily mutated Omicron coronavirus variant, of which four confirmed cases were already reported in the country. The Tourism chief is also hoping to successfully host the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit in March 2022, a MICE event seen to boost the Philippine travel sector’s recovery. “The DOT has been rigorously preparing for the WTTC Global Summit since the middle of this year, and we are continuously strengthening our preparations to successfully host the event in March of 2022,” she said. “The WTTC Global Summit is widely considered as the most influential event for travel and tourism professionals and stakeholders, and we are making sure that the health and safety of our guests, as well as our staff, are on top of our priority list,” she added. ‘Odette devastation’ Meanwhile, the DOT is working on a “rehabilitation and recovery” plan following the devastation of Super Typhoon Odette, which has affected several tourist destinations, including Bohol, Camiguin, Cebu, Negros Oriental and Occidental, Palawan, Siargao, and Southern Leyte. Romulo-Puyat said the plan will focus on addressing immediate concerns of affected tourism workers, such as cash-for-work or alternative livelihood programs and the reconstruction of affected facilities of various enterprises. The agency, through the Tourism Promotions Board, is also facilitating the delivery of relief goods and basic necessities to Cebu, Siargao, Tacloban, Palawan, and Negros Oriental. Cash donations from tourism stakeholders were also given to affected establishments and DOT Regional Offices.