The Filipino Press: February 4-10, 2022

DOT says PH ready to welcome fully vaxxed foreign tourists

MANILA -- The country's tourism industry is ready to welcome fully vaccinated international travelers on February 10, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Wednesday.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said the sector had been preparing for this development ever since the borders were closed in 2020.

Two years into the pandemic, she added that most tourism workers have received vaccination against the coronavirus.

"While this will be the first time the Philippines is opening its doors for foreign leisure travelers since the start of the pandemic, the tourism industry has prepared for this development for close to two years," she said in a text message. "We look forward to welcoming our foreign visitors once again especially with Metro Manila, the country's main international gateway, placed under Alert Level 2."

The official added that health and safety protocols would remain in place to prevent the transmission of the virus.

"Tourism workers have been vaccinated and the observance of health and safety protocols at every destination remains to be a priority. The DOT will be focusing its efforts on the visa-free countries under EO 408 that are identified as our key, strategic, and opportunity markets,"

she said. The Philippines will allow fully vaccinated international tourists from visa-free countries, beginning

February 10, provided that they present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to departure from the country of origin.

To date, a total of 157 countries enjoy visa-free entry privileges to the Philippines, including some of its top tourist markets such as South Korea,

Australia, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, United Kingdom, United States and Germany.

On the matter of preparing the

destinations, Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) chief-operating-officer Ma. Anthonette Velasco-Allones last Monday said the country has established 79 tourism circuits, consisting of travel-ready places in different regions.

"It is safe to say that they are ready. They are more than ready," she said, adding that the TPB is also working with the DOT-National Capital Region to "refresh" visitor arrival areas in Metro Manila.

The government is also eyeing to further streamline travel rules in destinations to make travel more convenient, especially for foreign tourists.

Tourism Assistant Secretary Howard Lance Uyking said the DOT, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and local government units will be meeting to discuss the subject.

Optimistic

With the Philippines finally reopening its gates to leisure travelers, Velasco-Allones expressed optimism about the Philippines' tourism industry in 2022.

"Our outlook for the tourism industry in 2022 is actually quite optimistic. Imagine the first major global summit will happen in the Philippines in April," she said, referring to the World Travel and

BY ADAM BEHAR

NATIONAL CITY, CA -- In the case of Dr. Emma McDonnell, an ophthalmologist and eye surgeon with American Eye Associates, it’s in the genes. “My parents are both physicians,” she tells me over a Zoom call. “They met in medical school, where they were gross anatomy partners.”

Her father went on to become an ophthalmologist and she followed suit. “I always had that on my radar,” she says.

Dr. McDonnell specializes in adult and pediatric reconstructive and cosmetic eyelid surgery, brow and forehead lifts, facial, and orbital surgery. “It’s a combination of ophthalmology and facial plastic surgery,” she explains – essentially, plastic surgery for the eyes.

Services A group of top-tier eye specialists and surgeons, American Eye Associates recently opened a new center in National City, on Plaza Boulevard, to go with existing locations in Chula Vista, El Cajon, and El Centro.

In addition to performing eyerelated plastic surgery, the specialists and surgeons at American Eye Associates provide:

• Vision correction services (LASIK & PRK)

• Cataracts treatments

• Astigmatism Correction

• Cornea treatments

• Dry Eye

• Glaucoma

• Retinal Care

Treatment

“I mostly do everything around the eyelids and orbit,” says Dr.

McDonnell. This includes surgically repairing orbital fractures and tear drainage systems, post-skin cancer reconstruction, as well as fixing bulging eyes (often a symptom of thyroid disease) and droopy eyelids. In some cases, Dr. McDonnell may treat droopy eyelids with new, non-surgical methods, such as eye drops, or an infusion session, which she compares to “going in for an IV.”

As people age, extra skin tends to form above their eyelids, which can block their vision. Removing this extra skin from the upper eyelid is one of the most common procedures Dr. McDonnell performs. It is considered a medically necessary procedure and is usually covered by insurance.

While the typical patient for this surgery tends to be older in age (her oldest patient was 101), Dr. McDonnell has treated people of all ages, including one-day-old newborns with blocked tear ducts and children with droopy eyelids.

Benefits & Expectations

Treatments can be cosmetic or functional, or both. “When you see someone with bulging eyes going in different directions, or someone with

a lazy eye, it’s just human nature to look twice,” notes the doctor, “and I think that definitely impacts people’s confidence.”

Plastic surgery of the eyes can help restore confidence and give you a fresher and more awake appearance, but a fountain of youth it is not, says Dr. McDonnell. It’s important to have realistic expectations. “Someone who’s 80 is not going to come out looking 40,” she says. Plastic surgery can alter your appearance but not transform it. “Some of my patients are initially worried they’re going to look like a different person or a different race or ethnicity. No, it just brings out the best version of you.”

Motivation

What motivates Dr. McDonnell, at the end of the day, is the opportunity she has as a surgeon to improve her patients’ quality of life and bring a smile to their face. While Dr. McDonnell has also worked on the academic or theoretical side of medicine – conducting research, writing papers, and publishing them in medical journals read by her peers –it’s the human, face-to-face part of her job that really appeals to her.

This point was underscored during the height of the pandemic, when she was seeing significantly fewer patients. “It was a lot less fulfilling,” she concedes.

Training & Education

All of the specialists affiliated with American Eye Associates graduated from elite medical schools and received training at the best institutions—and Dr. McDonnell is no exception. She attended the University of Southern California,

NATIONAL CITY, CA -- Experts in the fields of landlord and tenant rights will share their best practices and tips regarding residential housing issues, including eviction. The free event is scheduled for Saturday, March 12, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at COPAO, 832 E Ave, National City, CA 91950. The event is hosted by Pag-asa Law Clinic, a 501(c)(3) non-profit group founded in 2019.

With over 200,000 Filipinos in San Diego County, Pag-asa Law Clinic is the first Filipino-based Law Clinic serving Filipinos regardless of legal status and the greater community in Southern California. The clinic provides pro bono (free) or low-cost legal services in the areas of immigration, naturalization, temporary restraining orders, and unlawful detainers.

“We want the Filipino community in San Diego to know that Pag-asa Law Clinic is here as a resource for them. We are here to help you navigate complicated legal problems and get you the access to justice that you deserve.” said Diana Laranang, President of Pag-asa Law Clinic. Pag-asa Law Clinic recognized the challenges for the Filipino community to access lawyers. “It’s not easy asking for help with personal legal issues. Pag-asa Law Clinic wants to make the legal process as easy as possible while providing the help our community needs,” said Bessie Samson, Attorney and Director of Pag-asa Law Clinic.

During the panel event, experts in the fields of landlord and tenant

rights will share their insight on local city and county ordinances that may affect eviction. They will also discuss best practices for landlords and tenants, and available resources. The experts include Heather Carmody, Attorney at San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program, Inc.; Femie Cupit, President of Filipino American Chamber of Commerce – North San Diego, landlord and property manager; Ramesses Surban, Attorney at Legal Aid Society; and Aaron Giron, Attorney at Pag-asa Law Clinic. The panel will be moderated by Valerie Garcia Hong, Attorney at Garcia Hong Law.

The State of California’s temporary ban on evictions for nonpayment of rent related to the COVID-19 pandemic expired on September 30, 2021. The state’s emergency law generally protected tenants from eviction for nonpayment of rent due between March 1, 2020 and September 30, 2021, if that nonpayment is the result of a hardship related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the tenant has paid any required portion of the rent.

According to a survey conducted by the National Equity Atlas, 5,883,000 households are behind in rent across the country as of January 2022. That same survey found that communities of color, including Asians, were disproportionately rent burdened and economically insecure in 2019 due to the pandemic.

Pag-asa Law Clinic is run by volunteer attorneys and law student interns. The volunteer attorneys have also helped Filipinos with complicated naturalization and immigration services. “Pag-asa Law Clinic is ‘of the people, for the people.’ Our volunteers are actual members of the community who understand and relate to the legal issues Filipinos can face. We believe it is our responsibility to give back to our community,” said Samson.

The event is free and open to the public. A Zoom link for those who would like to attend remotely will be available upon registration. Light refreshments and continental breakfast will be provided.

Pag-asa Legal was formed in 2019. With over 200,000 Filipinos in San Diego County, Pag-asa Law Clinic is the first Filipino-based Law Clinic serving Filipinos regardless of legal status and the greater community in Southern California. The clinic provides pro bono (free) or low-cost legal services in the areas of immigration, naturalization, temporary restraining orders, and unlawful detainers. The clinic is funded from private donations and grants. Learn more at www.pagasalawclinic.org

HAPPY

VALENTINE’S DAY, DEAR FRIENDS!

We’ve all had a quite a year. I wish you all lots of love and care and hope that you are giving yourself lots of grace, as we continue through these “still interesting” times. Please stay safe, stay vigilant, and remember that, no matter what, you’re not alone in all of this.

#KayaNatinto

Like everything else, our Valentine’s Day celebration will look and feel different this year. Whether in a pandemic or not, I feel strongly that Valentine’s Day gifts and celebrations don’t need to be expensive to be fun, special and pampering in nature. This week, I’m sharing a super affordable, super simple, super fun treat you can make and enjoy with your Valentine no matter their age or skill level, your relationship, etc.…You can even do this over Zoom, FaceTime, Viber, etc., to stay safely distanced but connect over a yummy treat.

Peanut Butter & Chocolate

Covered Bananas

*If you or a loved one has an allergy, feel free to omit or substitute ingredients as necessary.

What you’ll need:

• Peanut Butter

• Bananas

• Chocolate Chips (I prefer the minis.)

• Milk or heavy cream

• Blueberries

• Toothpicks

Instructions:

• Peel and slice bananas (I refrigerate mine overnight, so they hold their shape well.)

• Microwave peanut butter for 30 seconds.

• Using two forks, dip and coat your banana slices in the peanut butter, gently shaking off the excess.

• Place platter of peanut buttercoated bananas in the freezer for 10 minutes.

• Add a splash of milk or heavy cream to your chocolate chips and melt in the microwave for 30 seconds and mix.

• Using two forks, dip your hardened peanut butter-coated bananas in the melted chocolate, gently shaking off the excess.

• Place platter of chocolate & peanut butter-coated bananas in the freezer for one hour.

• Skewer bananas and blueberries on toothpicks.

• If you’d like, further decorate

Local Fil-Am Rapper HEADBAND ANDY Gears Up For His Sold-Out Show

by drizzling melted peanut butter and sprinkling with mini chocolate chips or your choice of sprinkles.

ENJOY!! XOXO, Francine

Exclusively here in The Filipino Press--Follow Francine Maigue’s adventures as she represents our region with grace and honor as one of the "100 Most Influential Filipinas in the World" and the "Global Face of Pinay Power," as named by the Filipina Women's Network. Francine is the FilipinoAmerican History Achievement Award Winner in Humanitarianism, Arts, and Community Service and an Outstanding Filipino American Young Leaders Awardee as selected by His Excellency Ambassador Cuisia and the Philippine Consuls.

Originally from Cavite City, Philippines and raised in Chula Vista, Francine Maigue received her master’s degree from Harvard University and bachelor’s degree from UCLA. Francine is the District Director for California State Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez. She is the Immediate Past President of the FilipinoAmerican Chamber of Commerce of San Diego County, Board Member for the Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center Foundation and Los Chabacanos of Cavite City, and is a former Miss Philippines of San Diego. Got an organization, business, or event Francine should know about? Email: thepamperedpinay@yahoo.com.

SAN DIEGO, CA -- Popular rapper Headband Andy was invited to perform and is on the bill for an awesome night of music and entertainment at Music Box on February 8, 2022.

The Fil-Am artist dove into the industry less than a year ago and hasn’t looked back. He has gained a loyal following nationally and internationally and his popularity is skyrocketing. The numbers prove it - 70K followers on socials, 138K monthly listeners on Spotify, close to 5 million streams across all platforms and now, a sold-out show in his hometown of San Diego.

“I’ve been playing the guitar since I was seven and I started rapping for fun,” said HBA. “I’ve only had two other performances but they’ve set me up for my show at Music Box. I can’t wait to meet some of my friends!” By friends, he means his loyal fans, some of whom are flying in from other states to attend the show. The two previous performances he mentioned were private parties for comedy superstar Cedric The Entertainer and baseball legend and World Series champion

David Justice. An exciting collaboration he just completed is with Billboard Charting Music Producer and Sound Designer Polo Boy Shawty, the rap genius who has produced tracks for rap stars Famous Dex and Playboi Carti, to name a few.

Headband Andy has also caught the attention of music producers from across the pond and even more impressively, has been offered contracts by two indie labels. “I’m talking to a producer in the UK who wants to collab. And we’re looking at these contracts and getting advice on them,” he shared. Meanwhile, he has his sights on his upcoming set at Music Box on February 8th. He is sharing the stage with other San Diego acts - Tunewave, We The Commas and Ken Can Fly. Doors open at 7PM. Headband Andy is a graduate of the University of San Diego and is repped by RFM Int’l. Located in Little Italy, Music Box requires all patrons, staff, and performers to provide full vaccination verification OR a negative COVID-19 PCR test performed within 48 hours prior to entry.

graduating summa cum laude, earning her bachelor of arts. After that, she attended medical school at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, one of the best in the nation. Dr. McDonnell completed her residency in ophthalmology at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and fellowship in ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery and neuro-ophthalmology at the Wilmer Eye Institute at John Hopkins Hospital.

Originally from Southern California, Dr. McDonnell enjoys being outdoors – running, paddle boarding, or reading – when she’s not doing surgery.

For a limited time, Dr. Emma McDonnell is accepting new patients. Contact American Eye Associates today at (619) 425-7755 to schedule an appointment.

American Eye Associates

1520 East Plaza Blvd., National City, CA 91950 619.425.7755

www.americaneyeassociates.com

8

Chocolate covered banana with peanut butter for you and loved one.

butter

WE ARE MSC: Navy Opportunities Take Philippines Native around the World

By Lt. Myer Krah

GUAM -- Maritime Prepositioning

Ships Squadron 3 selected Petty Officer Johncarlo Legaspi as Junior Sailor of the Year.

“I love my job, and I understand the importance of it. I am grateful to also be rewarded for something I already love to do,” the first class engineman said.

The San Diego native currently serves as his command’s assistant material officer. In this role, Legaspi tracks the readiness of 14 Military Sealift Command ships which support warfighters from all of the U.S. Armed Services. These ships are prepositioned throughout the Indo-Pacific Region, ensuring Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps vehicles, heavy equipment, personnel and supplies are strategically positioned to support myriad missions.

“My job is important because it gives a snapshot of the readiness of our ships. At any point in time, we know who is up and ready to operate,” Legaspi said. His area of responsibility is large, the operational tempo high and the mission absolutely essential, but Legaspi says he is no stranger to hard work and doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty. He inspects anything from the massive diesel engines on the Lewis-and-Clark dry cargo ships like USNS Sacagawea (T-AKE 2) to examining damage control equipment onboard USNS Montford Point (T-ESD-1). He ensures the rapid and able movement of each vessel so they are ready when they are tasked.

In addition to inspections and tracking the readiness of critical engineering equipment, Legaspi also trains civil service and contracted mariners on how best to prepare their ships for their Ship Material Assessment and Readiness Testing (SMART) Inspections, which take place every three years. He examines calibrations on meters and gauges and identifies discrepancies that can be corrected on propulsion and auxiliary equipment, like air conditioning units or fuel systems.

“From the smallest detail to the largest piece of equipment, Petty Officer Legaspi’s oversight directly impacts our ships’ mission accomplishment,” said Capt. John Bub, commodore, MPSRON 3.

“Most importantly, at all times, he drives home the importance of safety throughout the ship, especially in the engineering spaces.”

In addition to his readiness role, Legaspi serves as a command duty officer, which requires him to interact with all MPSRON 3 ships’ masters and the staff of Commander, Task Force 73. As a duty officer, Legaspi tracks and reports maintenance schedules and progress, the health readiness of the squadron and tasking preparedness.

“His reports are always accurate and timely,” said Lt. David Jimenez, MPSRON 3’s senior watch officer.

Legaspi believes what he is doing is making a difference -- and perpetuates a family legacy of service.

“My father was a senior chief in the Navy, and three of my uncles served as well,” he said. "They had no problem with me joining, but they cautioned me against engineering. I guess they weren’t sure if I could handle it. Guess it’s just in my blood now.

“Not only did I want to prove to my family that I could do it, I also want to be a good example to my children. I work hard every day to show them that they can achieve anything they work hard at and put their minds to.

“One thing that is great about the Navy, you can join with nothing on your back, and they will clothe, train and educate you. I have gained a lot since joining, and I am not finished yet. I want to see the world.”

Legaspi joined the Navy in 2012 and first became interested in the engineering department during his initial assignment onboard USS Green Bay (LPD 20), originally homeported in San Diego but later forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan. Legaspi reported to Green Bay as a seamen recruit and left as a petty officer third class. During the Green Bay tour, he gained the requisite knowledge needed to elevate himself from workspace watch rover to work center supervisor in his division.

Next, he returned to San Diego for a tour at the Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, where he served as the diesel engine technician lead.

At MPSRON 3 on Naval Base Guam, Legaspi works alongside active duty and reserve personnel and civil service and contracted mariners, all of whom support the MSC mission.

“Working with MSC has definitely shown me its importance to our Navy and other armed forces around the world,” Legaspi says.

“I wanted to see a different side of the Navy. This [MPSRON 3] job is unlike anything I’ve ever done. It has afforded me the opportunity to take on responsibilities I may not have got the chance to do until many years down the road.”

In addition to his primary responsibilities, Legaspi volunteered to serve as the command’s collateral duty diversity officer. Born in Manila, Republic of the Philippines, he says Guam reminds him of his initial home. He enjoys observing the rich and diverse culture on Guam and the surrounding Northern Mariana Islands. In addition, Legaspi says he was “fortunate” to be in Japan, where the food and culture in Sasebo opened his mind to duty assignments outside the continental United States.

“I am proud of my heritage, and I take pride in teaching the command about different cultures around the world and their significant contributions to our Navy,” he said.

Other collateral duties include command relations coordinator, Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society representative, assistant training officer and assistant afloat environmental protection coordinator. When not on duty or fulfilling one of his official roles, Legaspi enjoys playing basketball and volleyball and watching football in his free time. He also volunteers for community service projects in the local area.

“Petty Officer Legaspi is surely a model Sailor who always goes above and beyond,” Bub said. I know he will continue to pursue more responsibility throughout his career in the Navy.”

Almost 76% of PH’s target population now fully vaxxed

MANILA -- A total of 59,120,367 individuals nationwide or 75.7 percent of the target population are now fully vaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), according to the National Task Force Against Covid-19.

In an interview Wednesday night, National Task Force Against Covid-19 consultant Dr. Maria Paz Corrales said the number is 53 percent of the total Philippine population.

More are expected to receive the life-saving shots as the national government further ramps up its vaccination campaign, expanding it to children aged 5 to 11 years old starting February 4, and in provinces badly hit by Typhoon Odette last year.

Corrales said a total of 780,000 doses of reformulated Pfizer vaccine for this age group would arrive February 3.

She added that the government is planning to hold another round of the national vaccination days for the young age group that would also cover booster doses.

“Meron tayong pinaplanong (We are planning a) national vaccination day that will cover the pediatric population, that’s 5 to 17, and then for the senior citizens, and the booster. We have to ramp up the three so the government is planning to have a national vaccination days para tumaas ang (to increase the number of) vaccination. We hope to achieve 90 million by June,” Corrales said. In areas stricken by "Odette", Corrales said the use of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson and the Sputnik Light vaccines are recommended since they get protected against the disease immediately, without having to return for a second dose.

“The problem is 'yung mga Odette stricken areas, may ibang may problema pa sa storage kasi 'yung iba wala pang kuryente, may iba naman, 'yung mga vaccinators apektado dahil sa (There are areas with storage problems since some are still without power. There are also some vaccinators affected by the) Omicron surge but they have fully recuperated and they are going back to work. The government is doing all its efforts to help build again those Odette stricken areas,” Corrales said.

The country was at the height of its national vaccination days in December when "Odette" struck provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao, causing massive flooding and power outages that went on for days, disrupting the vaccination program in many areas.

Corrales was among the officials who welcomed the arrival of 455,130 doses of government procured Pfizer vaccine Wednesday night at the NAIA Terminal 3.

Corrales said the latest vaccine shipment was intended for the adult population and does not include the reformulated Pfizer jabs for children 5 to 11 years old.

780K Pfizer doses for ages 5 to 11

arriving on February 3 —DOH

Around 780,000 doses of the Pfizer anti-COVID vaccine minors aged 5 to 11 are scheduled to arrive in the Philippines on Thursday, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday.

“Itong pagdating ng mga bakuna bukas, 780,000 doses as an initial supply or delivery para sa ating bansa nitong reformulated Pfizer vaccines para sa ating kabataan 5 to 11,” Health Usec. Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a briefing.

Earlier, Malacañang announced that the vaccination of the 5 to 11 age group

will be rolled out in the following vaccination sites in Metro Manila on Friday:

The Philippine Heart Center Philippine Children’s Medical Center National Children’s Hospital Manila Zoo SM North Edsa (Skydome)

Fil Oil Gym in San Juan City

Meanwhile, Vergeire said it will be rolled out at the SM Mega Mall on Saturday.

Vergeire said a total of 38 pilot vaccination sites for the vaccination of the age group will be deployed in Metro Manila on Saturday, five in Region III, and two sites in Calabarzon.

“Habang ang schedule sa iba pang mga lugar ay pinaguusapan and they will be confirming in the coming days,” she said.

She advised parents to register for vaccination through local government units or vaccination centers to avoid overcrowding.

Meanwhile, Vergeire said the Health Department has observed a slight increase in the number of cases for children 5 years and above while the number of cases among 12 to 17age group has decreased.

“Mula sa average na 35%, tumaas ito ng bahagya sa 37% nitong Enero" (from an average of 35%, this increased slightly to 37%), she said.

Despite this, she assured the public there is no need to worry.

“Patuloy po ang Kagawaran ng Kalusugan sa paggawa at pagpapatupad ng mga measures at protocols upang mapigilan pa natin ang paglaganap pa ng virus,” she said.

Gov’t expands COVID-19 vax drive in pharmacies to Cebu City –NTF

The Cebu City government on Wednesday launched its first “Resbakuna sa mga Botika” COVID-19 vaccination drive in pharmacies to get more individuals inoculated against the viral disease, the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 said.

The program was expanded to the city’s Rose Pharmacy, on top of the initial seven pharmacies and private clinics in Metro Manila that have participated in the initiative since January 20.

The NTF said they also included drugstores in Baguio City as part of the national government’s efforts to further expand the national vaccination program in the country.

NTF chief implementer and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the establishment of this program is the “way forward' in devolving the vaccination program to the local government units (LGUs) and, in the future, commercialization of the COVID-19 jabs.

“Darating ang araw na ‘pag commercialized na ang vaccine, [sila’y] pupunta na sa mga pharmacies katulad ng Rose Pharmacy at ‘yung ibang pharmacies [katulad ng] Watsons [at] Mercury Drug,” he said.

“From a national-centered policy, kailangan ay ‘yung correlation at ‘yung community response ang palakasin natin. We are very happy and confident na Cebu can do it kasi kayo ang mga nauna,” the vaccine czar added.

(From a national-centered policy, we need to strengthen the correlation and the community response. We are very happy and confident that Cebu can do it because they are among the firsts in this program.)

Meanwhile, Cebu City Mayor

Michael Rama thanked the national government for helping the city strengthen its pandemic response and mitigation measures, as well as scale up its vaccine rollout.

“I am very thankful on behalf of the city government as we’ve been wanting that we all liberate the city of Cebu from the pandemic. And the way to liberation is vaccination,” he said.

The Department of Health (DOH) said on Saturday it is targeting to expand the “Resbakuna sa mga Botika” vaccination drive across the country come mid-February.

Galvez noted the government is targeting to administer booster doses to at least 72 million Filipinos this year, giving assurance that there is enough vaccine supplies in the country’s inventory.

About 90 million people are also eyed to be fully vaccinated by the second quarter of this year.

Based on DOH's national COVID-19 vaccination dashboard, 60,466,380 individuals have already received their first dose against COVID-19 as of Tuesday.

Of this number, 59,120,367 have completed their doses, while 7,576,859 have received their booster shots after reaching the three to six month requirement.

The COVID-19 vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 years old will be rolled out starting Friday, February 4 in six vaccination sites.

The Philippines reported on Wednesday 7,661 additional COVID-19 infections, increasing the total caseload to 3,577,298.

Get rid of medical wastes properly, DOH tells labs, hospitals

The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday told laboratories and hospitals to dispose of their medical wastes properly amid reports that seven children caught coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) after playing with garbage dumped by a diagnostic center in Catanduanes.

"Unang una gusto nating paalalahanan ang lahat ng mga laboratoryo at facilities na may mga batas na sumasaklaw sa ganitong violations at polisiya (First of all, we want to remind laboratories and facilities that there are laws that cover this kind of violation as well as policies) to guide you on what you're supposed to do regarding these medical wastes," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a media briefing.

An Inquirer report on Monday revealed that a village in the province's capital town Virac had found on January 24 garbage containing over 1,900 syringes and 2,000 blood sample tubes for Covid-19 tests and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) test kits, some of which were scattered on the shoreline.

"We are not going to tolerate this kind of irresponsible behavior," she added.

Globally, the World Health Organization said tons of medical waste from the Covid-19 response expose the urgent need to improve health care waste management practices in countries.

In the Philippines, Vergeire said DOH continues to closely coordinate with other agencies, including health care facilities and local governments in providing guidelines on the disposal of Covid-19 wastes.

She said facilities are required to have a proper waste management system or else they cannot operate.

(MNS)

Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit.

She added that the government would continue to promote and develop the Philippines as a top international MICE destination.

"The DOT and TPB teams are actually preparing for the MICE global campaign to be formally launched this year, wala tayong (we don't have this) global MICE campaign in the past so this is something that is new," she said.

Aside from the WTTC Global Summit, one of the events slated in the coming months is the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

"Our MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions) team is also in talks with several professional associations like medical groups, wellness groups because there are professional and corporate events already in our calendar," VelascoAllones said.

Philippines begins exploring pandemic exit plan, says official

The Philippine government will begin to explore its "pandemic exit plan" as soon as COVID-19 cases start to decline, Presidential Adviser on COVID-19 Response Vince Dizon said Wednesday.

Once the nationwide cases dip to below 1,000 per day, the country can start transitioning to the "endemic phase" or a time when the public learn to live with the virus, Dizon said in a virtual forum.

"I think we will begin with the transition this February. We just need to really bring down the cases to the levels hopefully that we have them late last year, below 1,000 cases per day," he said.

"And then, we can already begin really the process of transitioning from a pandemic framework to a more endemic framework," he added.

Part of the pandemic exit plan is to look into the possibility of removing the Alert Level System, as proposed by the business community led by Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion.

Concepcion has been pushing for the shift to the endemic mindset.

He said the pandemic exit plan must include the removal of the alert level system in the country, especially in areas that already have high vaccination rate.

"Kasama po 'yan sa mga pagaaralan at idi-discuss (that's part of the discussion) as we transition from the pandemic framework together with the entire world to a more endemic way of handling and mitigating the

risks of COVID-19," Dizon said.

Details of the pandemic exit plan, which is currently being put together, will be released within the month, Dizon said.

The government, meanwhile, remains focused on pushing for vaccination, he said.

Currently, the country has an oversupply of vaccines which is seen as key in transitioning to the endemic phase, the official said, adding that almost all cities have 70 percent and higher vaccination rate.

Very few cities in the Visayas and Mindanao have below 70 percent full vaccination rate, he said.

Concepcion urged the coronavirus task force to take cue from other economies that have already transitioned to the endemic phase.

Other Western countries have already started to learn to live with the virus by practicing health protocols without the need for a lockdown, he said. "In a typhoon situation, you don't have the typhoon signal # 1 hoisted all the time. When there is no typhoon, there should be no typhoon signal," Concepcion said.

"So what we are proposing is, and we will be discussing this with the private sector and Sec. Vince, is that what is bare minimum health protocol. Katulad dito sa Amerika, walang alert level dito (just like here in the US, there are no alert levels here)."

Part of the proposed pandemic exit plan is to just strictly implement health protocols. Concepcion said requiring to show the vaccine booster card in shops in the future may be mandated.

Dizon and Concepcion are confident COVID-19 cases will continue to decline this month and urged the public to get vaccinated, including getting the booster shot as, according to them, it is among the important conditions to exit the pandemic.

The Department of Health on Tuesday reported 9,493 confirmed COVID-19 cases, the first time the nationwide daily tally went below 10,000 for nearly a month.

The country saw a spike in new infections since late December through last month due to the omicron variant.

Pandemic exit, resiliency plan also being looked into -- Palace

The government also deliberates the country's exit plan from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles and acting presidential spokesperson said Wednesday.

"We’ve always been talking about that," Nograles said in a television interview when asked if

the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) is considering the crafting of a pandemic exit plan.

Nograles said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATFEID) has its own sub-technical working group (TWG) on recovery, working on resolutions for the gradual reopening of the economy, reviving tourism industries, and resumption of face-to-face classes.

"So may task group kami diyan (we have a task group for that) and they are the ones that are building up and putting the details to this resiliency plan that we have," he said.

"And now, we also have Alert Level 1 that we’re also hoping to be able to implement, and that really puts a premium now in, you know, empowering now the people to do the proper protocols, iyong (the) minimum public health standards because they are already fully vaccinated and many are already boosted,” he added.

Nograles also said the government has yet to hear from the health experts whether the country will treat the Covid-19 like "seasonal flu."

"We have to wait for what the health experts will tell us. Right now, wala pa talagang consensus diyan eh (there is no consensus yet on that)," he said.

The health authorities earlier reported a decline in the country's active cases and even hospitalization rate due to the increasing number of vaccinated individuals in the country.

"So, that shows that the vaccines work. So, many are hopeful but cautious pa rin ‘yung optimism ng lahat (the optimism of everyone). So it’s still a little bit of wait and see, but there’s a hope in seeing this as being more of like a seasonal flu," Nograles said.

In a Laging Handa public briefing on Wednesday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said though the government does not yet engage itself with the “endemic” term, the direction is to see “that all of us can live with the virus.”

“But let us try to see first kasi itong endemicity marami pong components ‘yan – kailangan makita natin sustained talaga, iyong nakucontrol na iyong numero ng mga kaso, nakikita natin na marami nang bakunado, nakikita natin iyon pong mga nagkakasakit na mga severe infections hindi na rin po ganoon kadami (because this endemicity has many components – we need to see sustained, controlled number of cases, more people are vaccinated, and fewer severe infections),” she said. (MNS)

REPURPOSED. Instead of using bricks, a road divider along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon Avenue is stuffed with plastic bottles on Monday (Jan. 31, 2022). Residents collect bottles and other plastic materials that can be recycled. (MNS photo)

VENDORS. Fruit vendors wait for customers to buy their products like grapes, oranges, and mangosteens at their stall on Hidalgo St., Quiapo, Manila on Thursday (Feb. 3, 2022). The vendors said sales have slowed down after the holidays. (MNS photo)

PRESIDENT BIDEN, PLEASE NOMINATE THE FIRST ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN (APA) SUPREME COURT JUSTICE NOW

SAN DIEGO, CA -- Greetings!

Last week, Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement from the United States Supreme Court after 28 years of service. Breyer’s departure follows a long and enviable career that included highlevel positions at the Department of Justice, Harvard Law School and the First Circuit Court of Appeals. His judiciary philosophy tended to be wonky than those of his peers, focusing on technocratic concepts and greater democratic principles, rather than broad-based rights or historical interpretations. But the irony of Breyer’s retirement is that it showcases the normalcy of the status quo in an age of deep partisan rancor over the Supreme Court.

The current ideological composition of the Supreme Court is six conservatives and three liberals. This directly correlates with the ideologies of the presidents who nominated the respective justices. Liberals remain livid by the Senate Republicans’ refusal to ever hold a confirmation for then – Chief Judge Merrick Garland upon the death of Justice Antonia Scalia in 2016, which resulted in the first of three transformative judicial appointments from President Trump during his four years in office. However, even assessing that the evenly divided Senate were to confirm President Biden’s nominee, the ideological composition of the Court would stay 6-3 and is likely to remain conservative-dominated for years to come.

President Biden last week also reaffirmed his campaign promise to nominate a Black woman to the high court and said he intends to announce his selection by the end of February.

Biden has revealed no name, but said at the White House last Thursday: “The person I will nominate will be a person of extraordinary qualifications, character, experience and integrity.”

Incidentally, critics have already seized on Biden’s commitment to nominate a Black woman to the court, with some arguing that the pool of qualified candidates should not be limited by race and gender.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, for instance, told ABC News last Sunday: “I believe that diversity benefits the Supreme Court. But the way that the president has handled this nomination has been clumsy at best.”

Moving forward, and as President Biden considers the Supreme Court candidates for the justice vacancy; I say the president has an opportunity to truly cement this legacy.

Records indicate that in January 2009, there were only eight Asian Pacific Americans in lifetime,

Jesse T. Reyes

Filipino Potpourri

federal judgeships throughout the country – out of 870 potential positions. What’s more there had not been an APA judge on a U.S. Court of Appeals – the level just below the Supreme Court – in almost five years.

Today (as of 2016 statistics), there are 25 Asian Pacific Americans federal judge, including four at the Court of Appeals. In accounts, President Barack Obama has appointed more APA federal judges than all American presidents in history combined, and the nine APA women he has appointed is even more remarkable considering there were only two prior to 2009.

And how did former President Obama do it?

“We deserve – and demand – a government that is reflective of our nation’s changing demographics,” says Christopher Kang who is the National Director of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) and former Deputy Assistant and Deputy Counsel to President Obama in the Office of the White House Counsel, where he was in charge of the selection, vetting and confirmation of the president’s judicial nominees.

As the lawyer in charge of the day-to-day selection, vetting, and confirmation of President Obama’s judicial nominees for more than four years, Christopher Kang can attest and tell anyone that it actually was quite simple: President Obama made a commitment to a judiciary that resembles the nation it serves!

Of course, each of the president’s appointed judges has the necessary experience, intellect and integrity. But through President Obama’s efforts, federal judges are now beginning to reflect the diversity of our nation – racial, gender, and sexual orientation – and today, at the Court of Appeals level, a majority of judges are women and minorities.

President Obama has also sought a judiciary that encompasses the range of experience in the legal profession, including more judges who had represented the poor in their criminal defense and legal services.

While judges will not necessarily consider a case differently because of their background – they are sworn to uphold the law and precedent –so when the men and women who deliver justice look more like the communities they serve, there is greater confidence in our justice system overall.

Also, as judges break barriers throughout the country, they serve as role models for generations to come.

Christopher Kang has seen this all first hand. In 2009, he had the honor of working on Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s confirmation, as she

became the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice. A year later, Kang assisted on Justice Elena Kagan’s confirmation. For the first time, three women (along with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg) sat on the Supreme Court at the same time. Throughout those processes and beyond, these remarkable women had an indelible impact on our nation – not just in their rulings and their commitment to equal justice under the law but also in inspiring countless Americans that the doors to opportunity are opening to all.

For my two cents, I say, too that while Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, Ginsburg and retired Justice Sandra Day O’Connor certainly are role models for my one-and-only granddaughter Taylor – I also want her to have a role model who is of Asian Pacific American heritage. Incidentally, and while growing up, Kang himself was bullied for his

“slanted eyes,” his parent’s accent and the food they ate. He was constantly asked if he knows karate and complimented for “speaking English good.” Even now, Kang has resigned him to a lifetime of being asked, “Where are you really from?”

I know that an Asian Pacific American Supreme Court Justice won’t prevent my granddaughter from experiencing all of these, but it would go measurably far in chipping away at the stereotype that she is a “perpetual foreigner” – that we are something other than simply an American. And it would give her another example of success at the highest level to emulate in whatever she decides to do.

In 2010, it was past time for the Supreme Court to have more than two female justices. Today, especially as nearly half our nation’s children are from communities of color, it is genuinely time for the

Supreme Court to have more than two Justices of color. And, more specifically, it is time for the first Asian Pacific American justice.

This day and age, Asian Pacific Americans are the fastest growing racial group in the nation. There were almost twice as many Asian Pacific American voters in 2012 as there were in 2000, and by 2040, it is projected that the number of Asian American registered voters will double yet again.

“We deserve – and demand

at the age of 42, the Honorable Sean Reyes was appointed by Governor Gary Herbert as Utah’s 21st Attorney General. Reyes took over an office racked with scandals and inefficiency in the midst of some of the most significant constitutional issues in state history. Within a year, he reorganized and re-energized the office internally and recaptured the trust of the State with striking leadership, innovative programs and historic wins against drug dealers, human traffickers, child predators, and white-collar criminals. After winning the election in 2014 by one of the largest margins nationwide, Reyes was selected in 2015 by the Republican National Committees as one of its four national rising stars. After graduating summa cum laude from Brigham Young University in 1994, Reyes earned his law degree with honors from U.C. Berkeley in 1997. He practiced for nearly fourteen years at Parsons Behle & Latimer, the largest law firm in the State of Utah, where he became one of the first minority lawyers to make partner at a major Utah firm. While there, Reyes represented clients on some of the largest and most high profile litigation cases in the history of the State. He urged or briefed cases before state and federal courts throughout the country, including the Utah Supreme Court and Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. He has been honored nationally and locally with a long list of awards for his legal skills, leadership and unparalleled commitment to public service and has founded and served in multiple non-profit organizations.

– a government that is reflective of our nation’s ever changing demographics!”

Amen to that!!

The good news during Kang’s time is that President Obama understood the importance of a judiciary that resembles the nation it serves, and his commitment had tripled the number of APA federal judges in just seven years then.

However, 25 APA federal judges out of 870 is only the beginning of real change, if I must go over it.

To leave a truly historic legacy on behalf of Asian Pacific Americans, we – my fellow “kababayans” - must urge the present chief executive –President Joe Biden – to take the next step by nominating an Asian Pacific American to the Supreme Court.

It is our time, Mr. President… please, Sir!

For starters, how about nominating Utah’s Attorney General? In 2013,

The son of a Spanish-Filipino immigrant father, who fled the Marcos regime and a Japanese Hawaiian mother, Attorney General Reyes is Utah’s first minority elected official statewide. Reyes and his wife, Saysha are the proud parents of 6 children. He is a former collegiate volleyball player and mixed martial arts fighter who enjoys speaking at Comic Cons, playing basketball while coaching his kids, dancing with Saysha, watching Sports Center, cooking, shooting guns and rapping on Bloomberg News.

I know that Utah’s Attorney General Reyes is a die-hard Republican, so if you prefer Mr. President – how about a man from your own party – California’s very own first Filipino-American Attorney General – Rob Banta?

See JESSE REYES on 9

Illiberal democracy needs a strong and experienced leader, Part 11

where the older Marcos left off. Despite their parents’ notoriety, the majority of Filipinos who are sick and tired of being poor and being looked down by the elites and the wealthy, are willing to look the other way.

“I thought in this country, the best social program was a job. Yet, minimum-wage jobs aren’t paying enough to keep people out of poverty.” – Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD, 2017)

If recent popularity surveys are good indications, former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. will win the 2022 presidential election. His closest competitor by a wide margin is VP Maria Leonora “Leni” Robredo. Marcos breaching the 50% threshold – a voting share that if converted to votes in the May election would set a record given that post EDSA presidents have been elected with a mere plurality of the votes.

The Robredo camp would often point to her election to the vice presidency as a good measure where she started a tail-ender in surveys but ended up capturing the position. In this instance, however, Robredo’s campaign is in trouble despite promises of free housing, more funding for education, and more jobs. These are promises that had been made before but were

constantly broken by politicians once they were elected.

There are many reasons why Marcos and his running mate, Sara Duterte-Carpio are dominating the surveys. One major aspect is geography. Marcos’ Solid North stronghold and Duterte’s power base in Mindanao practically gives them a huge edge. Marcos mother Imelda is from the Visayas and the current Speaker of the House is also from the Visayas.

Another factor is the fact that all living Philippine presidents (Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Joseph Estrada, and Fidel Ramos) have endorsed the Marcos-Duterte tandem including former senator Juan Ponce Enrile who teamed up with Ramos during the 1986 EDSA revolt to depose the late dictator. Ramos and Enrile’s coming home to the Marcoses is a powerful message of the failures of EDSA.

Perhaps the more nuanced message of their popularity is the promise of continuity – continuity of the progress made by President Rodrigo Duterte and in a more subtle way, continuity of policies

Robredo’s campaign is also a factor in her poor performance in surveys. She fashions herself as an “accidental candidate’ to give the impression that she’s not a traditional politician but her accidental candidacy is also reinforcing her lack of political acumen and tone deaf messaging. Her campaign’s elitist approach is not helping either. Why she would agree to brand herself as a different person is reflecting on her being a political novice. It is flattering to be marketed as a saintly figure like Cory Aquino but she should know if it is true. “Leni miracles,” really? She’s also being pictured as a well-educated person and belittles Bongbong Marcos as an Oxford dropout and nobody other than the beneficiary of his father’s political fortunes or corruption.

But is Robredo’s educational resume really that great? Sure her daughters went to exclusive or elite schools in the United States but their educational attainments are not hers and worst, it just reinforces the perception of her being one of the

elitists who can afford such luxury. She also got honorary doctoral degrees but they’re not really educational accomplishments. Her law degree is not even from one of the recognized best in the country. She’s not a board placer and took the bar exam twice after having failed the first time.

Worse, her campaign supporters are calling those who would vote for Marcos as “idiots or unpatriotic!” Again, this view reinforces the fact that the core of her supporters are really moneyed oligarchs, elitists, or those who claim to be part of the moralistic majority. This is truly a fatal flaw because such belief reinforces the dumbing down of the poor.

In the Philippines, the poor are really politically voiceless. They would curse on corrupt and elitist politicians because they are the ones who drown their voices but they themselves, do not expect a seat around the table of power. The lugaw (porridge), bag of sardines and ramen, and a few kilos of rice are emblematic of such disrespect. The poor are looking for a strong leader like Duterte who is not afraid to take on the elites, the rich, and the men of the cloth. Sure they missed “Ang Probinsyano” but they cheered Duterte’s firm stance against ABS-CBN and the oligarchs

who continue to enrich themselves at the expense of the poor.

They also cheered when the impolite Duterte spoke at the United Nations and lambasted the rich countries for covid vaccine hoarding. Duterte even dared to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States. While the elites complain about Duterte’s chumminess with the Chinese and lack of resolve in implementing the UNCLOS ruling, the majority in the country seems to trust what Duterte is doing given his high approval ratings.

So the surveys are truly good barometers of where the country is headed. The poor would love to express themselves about the ills of society, the impact of the haves and those who do not have, or why it is only them carrying such a heavy burden of the disparity in the distribution of wealth. But they also know their rightful place. Other than engaging in lively banters in street corners, at the market, or other spaces they have access to, talking back to radio commentators to defend or attack particular candidates; surveys are other ways they could express themselves and eventually, during elections.

These venues allow them to get their ill-feelings, bad vibes, complaints, and their idea of a

better life expressed and off their chest. Yes, some of their families or themselves were victims of illegal drugs or the government drug war but a salvaged drug dealer or drug user will not get much sympathy from most Filipinos who are sick of the criminality, of being victimized by crimes against their property or their person, or by a justice system favorable to the rich people.

One of the things that Duterte promised but was not able to deliver, is changing the form of government from the current form to that of a federal republic. Marcos is in favor and is even running under the Partido Federal which is akin to his father’s Kilusan Bagong Lipunan (KBL) as a way of changing the trajectory of Philippine democracy and society, to benefit the poor.

Robredo is not for or against federalism but her ambivalence is really a tacit support for the Cory Constitution. She wants to keep the current form but in favor of making amendments to certain provisions much like what was done in the United States. The problem with this approach is that none of previous attempts to amend the Constitution ever succeeded because the oligarchs and the elites did not want to lose their financial advantage or even tinker with the Aquino legacy. (To be continued.)

SEAN REYES: Utah's Attorney General General ROB BONTA: California's Attorney General

The architecture of the U.S. Supreme Court building

Children’s vaccination to proceed despite court petition: gov’t

MANILA -- The pilot vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 years old will push through despite a petition filed by two parents to stop the drive, the Department of Health (DOH) and the pandemic task force said Thursday.

In a joint statement, the DOH and the National Task Force against coronavirus disease 2019 (NTFCovid-19) said they recognize the parents' right to file a case and they will wait for the legal process to take its course.

"However, as far as the national government is concerned, we remain steadfast in our commitment to protect all sectors of society, which include children and other vulnerable groups," the statement read.

"As such, we will proceed with the vaccination rollout for the said age group as planned," it added.

Dominic Almelor and Girlie Samonte, who have children within the 5 to 11 age group, filed a petition before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Quezon City seeking a temporary restraining order and/or writ of preliminary injunction against the drive.

In their petition, the complainants are concerned about the provision of DOH memorandum No. 20220041 that says "the State may act as parents patriae and give the necessary consent" in case the parent or guardian refuses to give consent despite the desire and willingness of the child to get vaccinated.

underscored that rollout for 5 to 11 years old is the result of careful study by health experts and has been approved in many countries, including the United States.

"[A]s we always emphasize, all Food and Drug Administrationapproved Covid-19 vaccines have been proven to be safe and effective. Over 8.1 million children have already been vaccinated worldwide, with no reports of deaths and serious adverse events among those vaccinated," they said.

The agencies noted that no adverse events were recorded among the over nine million minors aged 12 to 17 years old who have been vaccinated with at least one dose, since their vaccination rollout began in October 2021.

"In the Philippines, we have already recorded over 100,000 preregistrations for the vaccination rollout for children aged five to 11. This number signifies the willingness and confidence of parents to have their children vaccinated against the deadly virus," they said.

They also pointed out that "parental consent forms are required for all minors" who will be vaccinated, and that extra measures have been taken to ensure their safety.

They said the vaccines that will be used for the 5 to 11 years old are reformulated, meaning the dosage is lower compared to those given to the older age groups.

"Vaccinating them is crucial to achieve our goal of protecting all

members of the Filipino familychildren, adults, and senior citizens. This will enable us to continue the safe reopening of schools and other public spaces, as well as ensure the full economic recovery of our nation," they said.

The pilot vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 years old was reset from the original February 4 schedule to February 7 due to logistical challenges.

The NTF said there is a slight delay in the delivery of the FDA-approved Covid-19 vaccines allocated for this age group.

The initial shipment of the reformulated low-dosing PfizerBioNTech Covid-19 vaccines is expected to arrive on Friday evening, causing the postponement of the pilot run.

The government eyes the vaccination of 12.74 million minors aged 12 to 17 years old and of 15.56 million aged 5 to 11 years old.

Pilot vaccination of 5-11 years old vs. Covid-19 reset on Feb. 7

The pilot vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 years old against Covid-19 will be reset from the original February 4 schedule to February 7 due to logistical challenges.

The announcement was made through a joint statement of the Department of Health (DOH), the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 and the National Vaccination Operation Center (NVOC) released on Thursday.

"Vaccinating children is critical to the country's national vaccination

program to ensure they have the added protection they need against Covid-19. National Vaccination Operation Center (NVOC) of the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 remains committed to ensure that all Filipinos, including children, get vaccinated," the joint statement read.

The NTF said there is a slight delay in the delivery of the FDA-approved Covid-19 vaccines allocated for this age group.

The initial shipment of the reformulated low-dosing PfizerBioNTech Covid-19 vaccines is expected to arrive on Friday evening, causing the postponement of the pilot run. In a Facebook post, the city government of Quezon City advised parents and guardians, especially those who already have their schedules, to wait for further announcements.

The Manila City government has also instructed its residents to “kindly wait for further advice.”

The government earlier identified six vaccination sites in Metro Manila to initially hold the administration of Covid-19 reformulated jabs for a much younger population.

Among these sites are Philippine Heart Center, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, National Children's Hospital, Manila Zoo, SM North Edsa (Skydome), and San Juan City's Fil Oil Gymnasium.

The government targets to vaccinate 15.56 million minors under the 5 to 11 years old bracket. (MNS)

Help Wanted / For Rent / For Sale

Spiritual Life

Meeting God in Community

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Peter and I are fetched by a van driven by Brendon, (with other seniors) to attend the adult day health care program at the Open Arms AHDC Center. We consider ourselves fortunate that at this stage of our life, we can still expand our circle of friends and participate in activities that will keep us active, alert and enthusiastic. Talking with some of the participants and interacting with them, makes us feel rejuvenated.

I was looking for a topic to share with my readers, and I found these words of wisdom from my Spiritual Formation Bible, “Meeting God in Community”.

We were not created to live in isolation. No person “is an islands entire of itself”, wrote the poet John Donne. While no one questions the need for periods of solitude and refreshment in our lives, faith tends to thrive most readily when shared and experienced with others. Without the connections community affords us, we experience what someone once called “spiritual loneliness”. For we meet God not just as we sit alone in quiet corners but in and through the people with whom we live, work and interact as we go through our daily routine.

Relationships present us with both a remarkable privilege and an awesome responsibility. Proverbs 27:17 tells us that “as iron sharpens iron, so one (person) sharpens (and

Aurora S. Cudal-Rivera

My Personal Testimony

shapes) another. As other people’s lives touch ours, they help to form our faith and make us who we are. As we touch others, we reflect God’s love to them.

Relationships with other believers have extraordinary power in our lives because Jesus is present in them. Jesus knew how important people are in conveying God’s grace and presence. “Where two or three come together in my name, “ he said, “there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). Within our churches, small groups, families and friendships, we learn from one another. We find encouragement. We challenge to follow God more faithfully. Other Christians enable us to walk as we should when we might otherwise have strayed or wandered. God uses relationships to form us, and relationships form us so that God can use us.

As I read these words of wisdom, I am encouraged to view my participation in the Open

Arms Adult Health Day Care as an opportunity to help. “It is a privileged to nurture another person, to be trusted to hear another’s dreams and concerns, to pray for someone. In so doing we may discover myriad ways to use the gifts that God has given us to benefit our family in Christ as well as for our own growth and enjoyment. As we help others, we too will be helped. As we comfort and teach and encourage, we will be comforted, taught and encouraged in turn. As we experience community, we find our own lives enriched, in turn providing us with more to give to others.”

My prayer: Lord, open my eyes so I may see the opportunities to help others. Open my mind so I may understand and learn to accept others as they are. Open my heart so I may be able to reach out in love and deepen my faith as I interact with others. Amen.

Greetings in the Lord!

This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God... You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:2, 4)

There was an oppressive heaviness in the air. I had an overwhelming feeling of being alone. I felt like no one cared - like I was a failure. These thoughts and feelings were incredibly real. They consumed me and to some extent, even paralyzed me. Relationships became stressed, problems became overwhelming and a general veil of darkness came over me. As I prayed and sought God, I began to feel as if He wasn't even hearing me. It became obvious that I was facing some intense spiritual warfare. I knew that the only way to combat it was through focused and intense prayer. Request a prayer mentor.

The first step is to realize the truth of where the battle comes from. Remember the words of Paul: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the

rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12)

Acknowledge that the enemy is trying to trip you up. Audibly command the enemy to leave you alone. Recruit focused prayer support to join you in the battle against the enemy. Remember, "the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."

As you face the enemy, God will give you the strength and hope you need for each moment. Cling to Him, release your burdens and battles to Him. He will guide your steps. Know that the promises He gave you in the light hold true through the darkness. Then, one day, you will realize that the incredible battle you were in has been won and God is the victor.

Don't give up!

Jesus didn't come as a king, but as a helpless infant (Luke 2). Although he was perfectly God and perfectly human at the same time (John 1:14), he lived his life as a humble laborer. After he began his ministry, he demonstrated humble service to others in the miracles he performed, as well as in his instruction to his disciples. When the time came for him to die, he submitted to his Father's divine will (Mark 14:36). And now, seated in power at the right hand of God, he intercedes on our behalf (Acts 5:2932). As the perfect model for godly leadership, Jesus set the perfect example of humility. Ask God to help you follow Jesus' example as you seek to demonstrate the kind of humility that will cause others to see Jesus in you.

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Today is the fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our gospel today tells us a story of experience of faith the first disciples had with Jesus in their working place as fishermen. This episode where Jesus is seen to have been teaching the people while aboard a boat and commanding Peter to “put out to the deep water and lower their nets to catch fish” presents to us a picture that has lasting and meaningful significance. In the past Sundays we mentioned that Jesus proclaimed about the inauguration of the Kingdom of God through preaching, teaching, healing and miracle working. He has manifested that he taught with authority and affirmed this extraordinary power by expelling demons. Today the gospel of Luke describes how Jesus made use of the boat of Peter which He asked to be brought into the sea in order to teach the crowd who followed him and were standing on the shore while Jesus was seated on the boat teaching. This descriptive portrayal of Luke has made a lasting historical development of how Jesus commissioned his disciples to continue his mission of teaching about the nature of the kingdom and the demands of entrance into it. The lasting impact of this portrayal is the imprint that his disciples have been given the necessary power to teach with authority on matters that fundamentally affect the lives of the people in relation to their entrance into the Kingdom of God. The areas are those which concern the proper

understanding of doctrine of the faith and the appropriate behavior that the disciples must conduct their lives in the world and in conformity with the demands of the gospel. These areas are what we call in Church discipline as faith and morals.

This command to teach people has become more real when Jesus told Peter “do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”

An assurance that came from Jesus himself when the disciples were astonished at how great the number of fish they were able to catch after having obeyed Jesus to go to the deep. Peter at first expressed his frustration that they have exerted too much efforts for the whole night to no avail, but in obedience, they experienced the extraordinary grace coming from Jesus himself and overcame the human disappointment of catching nothing and experience the presence of divine intervention because of obedience.

The ability to obey, my dear brothers and sisters, is one that is founded on the virtues of simplicity and humility. In a world that has

become complex the willingness to obey has become so difficult to cultivate anymore. Today there are many human issues that are both complicated and confounding for the ordinary followers of Jesus. There are some who believe and would ask others to make their decision according to the dictates of their personal conscience and no longer give serious attention to the direction of authority, even the teaching authority of the Church. Obedience to the teaching authority of the Church is one act that is considered to be unacceptable if not simply too conservative for one who would like to be considered mature in the faith.

Today’s gospel tells us once more that Jesus has left his own apostles the mission to teach with authority and the responsibility to lead the people of God into the right direction in order to attain the Kingdom of God. Let us pray, my dear brothers and sisters, that we would have the same simple faith and humble attitude that the apostles had manifested when Jesus commanded them to “to go into the deep and put down their nets” even when they would go against our own personal understanding of the issues that confront us. Let us pray that we may be able to listen to our present-day apostles and obey them so that we also may in the end be in communion with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in the eternal Kingdom that we all aspire to belong.

Announcing National City’s Senior Saturday Event Series

The City of National City’s Library and Community Services Department has partnered with Circulate San Diego to host a fun and exciting new program this spring called Senior Saturdays. Circulate San Diego is one of the San Diego County's leading organizations dedicated to advancing mobility and making the region a better place to live, work, learn, and play. Our desire is for Senior Saturdays to serve as a catalyst to educate, encourage, promote, and recognize improvements to make National City a more supportive community for residents of all ages.

The Senior Saturday event series is part of an ongoing National City project through AARP’s Livable Communities which is designed to meet the needs of the growing population of older adults, while also serving residents of all ages to

comfortably live and age in place. All Senior Saturday events will take place outdoors in beautiful Kimball Park located in the heart of downtown National City between 10:00am and 1:00pm on the second and fourth Saturdays of February, March, April, and May in 2022.

This program was made possible thanks to grant support from The San Diego Foundation. The San Diego Foundation maximizes the impact of charitable giving by mobilizing philanthropic resources to advance quality of life, increase social impact and champion civic engagement.

The Senior Saturday event series provides National City seniors a free opportunity to come together for a wide variety of activities, educational opportunities, and entertainment— all geared towards their interests and abilities. No two Senior Saturdays will be the same, as the mission is

to engage a diverse array of partner organizations throughout the series. Confirmed participants include Wheelchair Dancers Organization, Feeding San Diego, Braille Institute, San Diego Senior Women’s Basketball League, Olivewood Gardens, and many more!

Kimball Park is accessible by trolley (Blue Line 8th Street station) and bus (Route 932 and Route 967).

All questions regarding this event series can be handled by contacting the National City Library and Community Services Department, by email at communityservices@ nationalcityca.gov or by telephone at (619) 336-4290.

Senior Saturdays 10:00am to 1:00pm Kimball Park (E. 12th St, National City, CA 91950) FREE

February, March, April and May

Fr. Agustin T. Opalalic

As California’s Attorney General and California’s chief law officer, Bonta is the “attorney for the people” and holds those who break the law – especially those in positions of power – accountable and wins justice for California’s families.

On April, 2021, Rob Bonta was sworn in as the 34th Attorney General of the State of California, the first person of Filipino descent and only the second Asian-American to occupy the position.

Attorney General Bonta’s passion for justice was instilled in him by his parents, who served on the frontlines of some of America’s most important social justice movements. Instilling in him the lessons they learned from the United Farm Workers and the civil rights movement, AG Bonta’s parents lit a fire inside him to fight against injustice – to stand up for those who are taken advantage of or harmed. It’s why he decided to become a lawyer – to help battle historic wrongs and scrap for people who have been harmed. He worked his way through college and graduated with honors from Yale University and attended Yale law School.

In the State Assembly, AG Bonta enacted nation-building reforms to inject more justice and fairness into government and institutions. As the People’s Attorney, he sees seeking accountability from those who abuse their power and harm others as one of the most important functions of the job. In elected office, he has taken on powerful interest groups and advanced systemic change –pursuing corporate accountability, standing up for workers, punishing big polluters and fighting racial injustice. He has been a national leader in the struggle to transform the criminal justice system, banning private prisons and detention facilities in California as well as pushing to eliminate cash bail in the state. He has led statewide fights for racial, economic and environmental justice and worked to further the rights of immigrant families, renters and working Californians.

Prior to serving in the Assembly, AG Bonta worked as a Deputy

City Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco, where he represented the City and County and its employees and fought to protect Californians from exploitation and racial profiling.

Born in Quezon City, Philippines, AG Bonta immigrated to California with his family as an infant. He is the son of a magnificent native Filipino mother and a father who taught him the value of public service to his community. He is married to Mia Bonta and they are the proud parents of three children – Reina, Iliana and Andres – as well as their dog Legolas.

Attorney General Bonta is perfectly an up-and-coming Democrat national leader, if I am to give my honest opinion. In fact, Bonta recently secured a victory in a lawsuit challenging California’s ban on large-capacity gun magazines.

“Today’s decision is a victory for public safety in California,” said our “kababayan” Attorney General Bonta. “Gun violence is an epidemic in this country, but laws like our ban on large-capacity magazines are commonsense ways to prevent this violence including devastating mass shootings. I’m thankful to the Court for giving this case a second look, and confirming what we knew to be true: our laws keep Californians safe while allowing law-abiding gun owners to exercise their constitutional rights.”

No doubt about it, Attorney General Bonta is committed to keeping California safe and does so by promoting and defending commonsense gun laws at the state and federal level. In September 2021, Attorney General Bonta led a coalition of state attorney generals in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court defending New York’s law regulating when individuals may obtain a license to carry firearms in public. In August of the same year, AG Bonta supported a “Proposed Rule by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives” that would help regulate “ghost guns” by clarifying the agency’s definition of what qualifies as a firearm. AG Bonta has also urged Californians to use the state’s “Gun Violence Restraining Order” law to help keep firearms out of the

hands of individuals who pose a threat to themselves or others.

Though he has been in office as California’s Attorney General for only about a year now, Bonta has proven himself to be of a Supreme Court Justice nominee-caliber.

I know there are a few more Asian Pacific Americans out there more than qualified for the current Justice position left vacant by the retiring Justice Breyer…but these “kababayans” of ours come to my mind immediately.

I certainly hope that you could take a look into this, Mr. President.

In a speech at the White House following President Biden’s remarks on his retirement, Breyer addressed the younger generations who may have grown cynical about the U.S. legal system.

“It’s us, but it’s you. It’s that next generation, and the one after that – my grandchildren and their children. They’ll determine whether the experiment still works,” he said.

“And, of course, I am an optimist. And I’m pretty sure it will,” he concluded.

If you – my dear folks – are not aware of it yet – in its 232-year history, America’s highest court – the U.S. Supreme Court – has never seen an Asian Pacific American judge.

Period!

Jatia Wrighten, an assistant professor in Virginia’s Commonwealth University’s political science department asked: “Why have we not seen more diversity on the Supreme Court that actually reflects the population that lives in this country?”

I say the questions should be: “Why hasn’t there been an Asian Pacific American Supreme Court Justice before? Is it because they have always been the obliging ‘silent minority’? Will Asian Pacific Americans always be “perpetual foreigners” in our beloved nation?”

I shout-out again – “We deserve – and demand – a government that is reflective of our nation’s changing demographics.”

Rally on behind the banner of an Asian Pacific American for U.S. Supreme Court Justice…it is only right and proper, my “kababayans.” Besides, it is our time. Mabuhay!!

“There is a mistaken notion among some that to own a paper is to have a license to clobber one’s enemies and attack people we don’t like. A newspaper is an information tool to reach a large number of people at a given time. A newspaper should inform, educate, entertain and provide viewpoints that could give us the means to make intelligent decisions for ourselves and others.” — Ernie Flores Jr., founding editor and publisher

Finalists for San Diego College of Continuing Education President Named

The search for the next president of the San Diego College of Continuing Education has been narrowed to three candidates with strong backgrounds in serving diverse and low-income student populations.

The finalists include: Michelle Fischthal, D.B.A., Vice President of Instructional Services, San Diego College of Continuing Education, San Diego Community College District; Marsha Gable, Ed.D., Vice President of Student Services, Grossmont College, Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District; and Tina King, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Student Affairs, Southwestern Community College District.

The finalists will participate in a virtual public forum from noon to 3 p.m. on February 16. Faculty, administrators, staff, students, and the public are invited to participate (a link will be shared closer to the forum).

Dr. Fischthal previously served as Dean of Institutional Effectiveness for the San Diego College of Continuing Education. She earned a Doctor of Business Administration from California Southern University; a Master of Arts in Higher Education Leadership from the University of San Diego; and Bachelor of Music from Queens College at City University of New York.

Dr. Gable previously served as

Interim President of Grossmont College and prior to that at San Diego Miramar College. She was also Dean of Counseling Services at Cuyamaca College. She earned a Doctor of Education at San Diego State University; a Master of Arts in Sociological Practice from California State University San Marcos; and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences from California State University San Marcos.

Dr. King previously served as Interim Dean of Student Services and Instruction and Director of Institutional Research and Planning for North Orange Continuing Education in Anaheim. She earned a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from California State University, Fullerton; a Master of Arts in Education from the University of Southern California; and a Multiple Subject Credential and a Bachelor of Arts, Liberal Studies from California State University, Northridge.

The finalists were selected as part of a national search by the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) for a permanent replacement for Dr. Carlos O. Turner Cortez, who was appointed district chancellor last spring. Kay Faulconer Boger, Ed.D., has served as interim president since July. The district aims to make a final selection and announce the new

president later this spring.

With 40,000 students enrolled annually, the San Diego College of Continuing Education is the largest noncredit institution in California and serves large populations of the state's most vulnerable and underserved adult learners. In some cases, enrolled students have dropped out of high school as teenagers and are coming back to school for the first time, decades later. Others are immigrants, refugees, formerly incarcerated or opportunity youth. Continuing Education is one of four colleges in the SDCCD, along with City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges.

As one of the largest of California’s 73 community college districts, the San Diego Community College District serves approximately 100,000 students annually through three twoyear colleges and the San Diego College of Continuing Education. The three credit colleges, San Diego City College, San Diego Mesa College, and San Diego Miramar College, offer associate degrees and certificates in occupational programs that prepare students for transfer to four-year colleges and entry-level jobs. Mesa College also offers a bachelor’s degree in Health Information Management. The College of Continuing Education offers noncredit adult education at seven campuses throughout San Diego.

The three finalists for president of the San Diego College of Continuing Education: (L to R) Michelle Fischthal, D.B.A., Vice President of Instructional Services, San Diego College of Continuing Education, San Diego Community College District; Marsha Gable, Ed.D., Vice President of Student Services, Grossmont College, Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District; and Tina King, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Student Affairs, Southwestern Community College District.