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JANUARY 18-24, 2024

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Volume 35 - No. 3 • 12 Pages

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DATELINE USA FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

As voters head to polls worldwide, what role for diaspora communities?

WITH 2024 being the biggest election year in history — as over 70 countries with over four billion people send citizens to the polls — the role of diaspora communities is more crucial than ever.

At a Friday, January 12 Ethnic Media Services briefing, speakers discussed how AI and social media spread disinformation among diaspora groups, and shared how diaspora communities will engage with elections in their home lands of Mexico, India and Taiwan.

Diaspora communities and voting “The right to vote is one of the main demands of diaspora populations” and their home countries have responded, said Kathleen Newland, Senior Fellow and Co-Founder of the Migration Policy Institute.

In 1980, only 21 countries enfranchised citizens abroad, whereas by 2020, 141 countries did — nearly three quarters of

US top choice of Pinoys as PH partner amid rising WPS tensions

by NESTOR CORRALES Inquirer.net

MANILA — Eight out of 10 Filipinos want the Marcos administration to work with the United States in the face of growing tensions in the West Philippine

Sea (WPS), according to a recent Pulse Asia survey commissioned by international think tank Stratbase Institute, which it released on Tuesday, January 16.

Conducted from Dec. 3 to Dec. 7, 2023, the survey asked 1,200 people nationwide about their views on the countries or organizations the government

Biden to send first trade mission to PH

by CATHERINE VALENTE ManilaTimes.net

 PAGE 3

Does masking prevent the spread of COVID-19? Here’s what a new study reveals SAN DIEGO – Infection preventative measures, including high ventilation standards and universal masking, prevented many SARS-CoV-2 transmissions during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a UC San Diego-led study published on Tuesday, January 16 revealed.

The study, published in Tuesday’s online edition of Clinical Infectious Diseases, is touted as the first-of-its-kind to use information from electronic health and contact tracing records to closely analyze the genetic makeup of the virus combined with the comparison of how the diverse strains were physically being spread among patients and health care workers in the hospital.

What the data revealed, the authors at UCSD School of Medicine wrote, was that amongst patients who tested positive for the virus, the use of personal protective equipment shielded and virtually eliminated health care associated transmission.

“When the pandemic started, it was scary because initially we did not have rapid diagnostic nor treatments available, and we did not fully understand how the virus was transmitted or if our infection prevention  PAGE 2

should collaborate with given the implications of rising tensions in the WPS on the country’s security and economy.

Seventy-nine percent of the respondents picked the United States, the Philippines’ oldest military ally,  PAGE 2

PASIG BIGYANG BUHAY MULI. The showcase area of Pasig Bigyang Buhay Muli: Pasig River Urban Development project at Jones Bridge in Binondo, City of Manila on Wednesday, Jan. 17. The project, under the guidance of First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, envisions the Pasig River to become “a living river” of multiple benefits with safe walkways and bikeways along its banks, greener corridor and a string of parks for nearby communities.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

UNITED States President Joe Biden is set to send his first trade and investment mission to the Philippines, the White House announced on Friday, January 12, as part of the two countries’ commitment to advance economic ties.

In a statement, White House National Security Council spokesman Adrienne Watson said the delegation would be led by Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and will be in Manila until March 11 and 12, 2024, to engage with Filipino stakeholders.

“President Joseph R. Biden Jr. today announced he will send a Presidential Trade and Investment Mission to Manila, Philippines, March 11-12, 2024, to enhance U.S. companies’ contributions to the Philippines’ innovation economy, connective infrastructure, clean energy transition, critical minerals sector, and the food security of its people,” she said.

The visit, she added, would reinforce the Philippines as a “key hub for regional supply chains and highquality investment.”

Watson said this trade mission follows on Biden’s commitment to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to advance U.S.-Philippines economic ties and internationally recognized labor rights.  PAGE 4

PH bans poultry imports from California, Ohio

by ZEUS LEGASPI Inquirer.net

MANILA —The Philippines’ Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Wednesday, January 17 it has banned imports of domesticated and wild birds, including poultry meat and eggs, from California and Ohio in the United States because of several outbreaks there of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

According to Memorandum Order No. 03 signed on Jan. 15, the temporary importation ban covers domestic and wild birds and their products, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen.

The DA immediately suspended the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance for poultry imports originating from

California and Ohio.

However, the order excludes shipments that are in transit, loaded or accepted unto port as long as these were slaughtered or produced 14 days before California’s first avian flu outbreak on Nov. 20, 2023 and Ohio’s first outbreak on Nov. 21, 2023.

“Poultry and poultry products imported to the country from the states of California and Ohio after Nov 14, 2023 and Nov 21, 2023, respectively, shall be seized and destroyed by the DA, or returned to the country of origin,” DA said.

The agency made the issuance as American authorities informed the World Organization for Animal Health of several outbreaks of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) subtype H5N1 affecting domestic birds.  PAGE 4

Marcos greeting to new ICC yet to confirm presence in PH Taiwan leader irks China

by FRANCO JOSE BAROÑA ManilaTimes.net

If ICC investigators are indeed in the country, as earlier reported, and they are not coordinating with the government, “how can we be sure that their investigation will be fair,” DOJ spokesman Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic Clavano said at a public briefing. ManilaTimes.net file photo

Malacañang file photo

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Monday, January 15 that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has yet to confirm if indeed its investigators are already in the country to probe the previous administration’s “drug war.”

DOJ spokesman Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic Clavano said they expect the ICC would “reach out and not avoid detection.”

“Here in the Philippines, we conduct a very transparent preliminary investigation. The

prosecution asks for evidence from both the complainant and the respondent. It will not rely solely on what one side is saying,” Clavano said.

If ICC investigators are indeed in the country, as earlier reported, and they are not coordinating with the government, “how can we be sure that their investigation will be fair,” the DOJ spokesman said at a public briefing on Monday.

“How can we be sure that they will only rely on the statements of activists or civil society groups that are left-leaning?

We have to make sure that the  PAGE 4

by DONA Z. PAZZIBUGAN, JULIE M. AURELIO Inquirer.net

MANILA — A congratulatory message by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to Taiwan’s President-elect Lai Ching-te has sparked a fierce backlash from China, as Beijing summoned the ambassador from Manila on Tuesday, January 16 and warned the country “not to play with fire.”

“The relevant remarks of President Marcos constitute a serious violation of the One China principle and … a serious breach of the political commitments made by the Philippines to the Chinese side, and a gross interference in China’s internal affairs,” a Chinese

foreign ministry spokesperson said at a regular press conference.

China was “strongly dissatisfied with and resolutely opposes these remarks,” spokesperson Mao Ning said, referring to Mr. Marcos congratulating Lai on Monday for winning Taiwan’s election and referring to him as its next president.“ “China has lodged a strong protest with the Philippines at the earliest opportunity,” and summoned Philippine Ambassador Jaime FlorCruz “to give China a responsible explanation,” Mao  PAGE 2

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http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

JANUARY 18-24, 2024 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

From The FronT Page

US top choice of Pinoys as PH...

PAGE 1 while 43 percent said Australia.

The other answers were Japan (42 percent), Canada (34 percent) and the United Kingdom (22 percent).

The European Union was favored by 17 percent of Filipinos, followed by Russia with 16 percent, and South Korea with 15 percent. Only 10 percent answered China while 4 percent chose India.

The respondents were allowed up to three answers.

The Philippines has a visiting forces agreement with the United States and Australia. It has also agreed to start negotiations on a Reciprocal Access Agreement with Japan to come up with a similar visiting forces deal.

Manila is locked in a long-standing dispute with Beijing over the South China Sea. Stronger alliances pushedA 2016 Hague ruling invalidated the Chinese government’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea

but it has repeatedly refused to recognize the ruling.

According to Stratbase president professor Dindo Manhit, the results showed the need for the Marcos administration to strengthen its alliance with like-minded nations like the United States, Australia, and Japan.

Statements of support “These countries have continued to voice their support for the Philippine position and have condemned Chinese actions against Filipino vessels,” Manhit said.

“Their resounding statements of support boost the confidence of the Philippines in the international community. In the face of asymmetric security challenges, the Philippines must leverage its relations with states with shared values and with the same commitment to defend the rules-based international order,” he added.

Citing the survey result, Manhit said only one out of 10 Filipinos or 10 percent favored working

with China.

“As evidenced by the survey results, 90 percent of Filipinos are not in favor of working with China. This is only natural, as the Philippines continues to encounter aggressive and coercive acts in the West Philippine Sea,” he said. Some 55 percent of Filipinos also believe that the Marcos administration could “fulfill its promise of protecting the West Philippine Sea against the illegal and aggressive actions of other states.”

Manhit said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was aware that there were gaps that needed to be addressed in the country’s approach in dealing with maritime tensions in the South China Sea. “As the Philippines moves on its third year under his administration, the Filipino public will hold him accountable for turning MEGA JOB FAIR. Hundreds of job seekers queue up at the Mega Job Fair held by the City of Manila at SM Manila on Thursday, Jan. 18. About 12,000 employment opportunities are being offered by private companies and industries in the job fair.

PNA photo by Yancy Lim these statements and planned approaches into actual, effective actions,” he added. g

Does masking prevent the spread of COVID-19...

PAGE 1 protocols were adequate,” said Dr. Francesca Torriani, senior author of the study and program director of infection prevention and infectious disease specialist at UCSD Health.

“Therefore, the potential implications of the virus and the welfare of our workforce and patients was an utmost concern,” she said. “I witnessed health care workers fearful of contracting the virus at work and potentially infecting their loved ones at home.”

According to the university, the researchers took an approach to evaluate the different variants of virus samples to identify if they were temporarily or physically near one another, suggesting health care transmission. Electronic health record data of patients, whose identities were protected throughout the study, and metadata about staff access and movement to these records, accompanied by a contact tracing program, were used to classify, isolate and assess individuals exposed to specific strains of the virus.

“While the virus strains were very distinguishable in the second and third wave of the pandemic, during the explosive and homogenous Omicron wave, we found that we could not rely on genetic

data alone,” said Dr. Christopher Longhurst, co-author of the study, executive director of Jacobs Center for Health Innovation, and chief medical officer and chief digital officer at UCSD Health.

“We had to dive deeper into the electronic documentation and social network analysis, such as individuals with similar virus strains, and considering their physical interaction in the hospital, to determine what really happened and how the virus was being spread.”

The study involved the collection of 12,933 virus samples from 35,666 patients and health care professionals from Nov. 1, 2020 to Feb. 27, 2022.

“Even when hundreds of health care workers were becoming infected every week during the peak of the Omicron wave, we found that they were no more likely to acquire the virus in the hospital system,” said Joel Wertheim, co-senior author of the study and associate professor at UCSD School of Medicine.

“The outcomes reveal the hidden patterns of viral transmission.”

According to the authors, the results from both the genetic and social networking analysis showed that while universal masking was key to prevent transmissions, air-

borne negative pressure rooms, universal N95 respirator masks or even closing the door of a patient’s room were not essential elements to protect against transmission in the health care setting.

Most transmissions occurred outside of the health care setting, physical contact in the community, between households or when universal masking was not followed in the setting of unrecognized SARS-CoV-2 infection. Viral transmission was more likely to occur in shared spaces, such as breakrooms or lobbies.

“Our analysis really highlights that our health care system, with its safety measures including ventilation standards, robust viral testing and early implementation of universal masking, was able to protect health care workers and patients during the pandemic,” said Dr. Shira Abeles, co-author of the study, associate professor in the Department of Medicine at UCSD School of Medicine and infectious disease specialist at UCSD Health.

Longhurst said the type of technological approach used in the study published Tuesday could be a model for future studies and a tool deployed for epidemics of highly contagious infectious diseases. (Inquirer.net)

Marcos greeting to new Taiwan leader...

PAGE 1

said, adding: “We suggest that President Marcos read more books to properly understand the ins and outs of the Taiwan issue, so as to draw the right conclusions.”

There was no immediate comment from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Beijing’s move.

Under the “One China” policy, the Philippines recognizes the People’s Republic of China as the “sole legal government of China,” with Taiwan as “an integral part of Chinese territory.”

The policy was laid down in a communique signed by then President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the President’s late father and namesake, on behalf of the Philippine government on June 9, 1975.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday night, the President congratulated Lai on his electoral victory.

“On behalf of the Filipino people, I congratulate President-elect Lai Ching-te on his election as Taiwan’s next President,” Mr. Marcos said.

The President added: “We look forward to close collaboration, strengthening mutual interests, fostering peace, and ensuring prosperity for our peoples in the years ahead.”

On Tuesday morning, the DFA

clarified that there was no change in the Philippines’ position on Taiwan.

“The Philippines and Taiwan share mutual interests which include the welfare of nearly 200,000 OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) in Taiwan,” it said.

“The message of President Marcos congratulating the new president was his way of thanking them for hosting our OFWs and holding a successful democratic process,” it added.

“Nevertheless, the Philippines reaffirms its One China Policy,” the DFA stressed.

Asked for comment, Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil said: “Please refer to the DFA statement released early today (Tuesday).”

In a statement released on Sunday, the DFA reaffirmed the principles in the 1975 joint communique between the Philippines and China, which established diplomatic relations between the two nations.

“The Philippines is committed to its One China Policy,” said the DFA, noting that under the communique, “the two governments agree to settle all disputes by peaceful means… without resorting to the use or threat of force.”

Marcos’ tweet came following the election of Lai, 64, who won 40

percent of the votes in a three-way race with rivals from the Kuomintang and Taiwan People’s Party.

Lai’s victory allowed the governing Democratic Progressive Party to remain in control for another term.

His victory came despite China’s efforts to warn voters against the Democratic Progressive Party.

China has consistently claimed Taiwan as part of its territory despite its self-governance.

Unofficial relations Although the Philippines does not recognize Taiwan diplomatically, the two engage in unofficial relations through the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Manila and the Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei.

Taiwan, China, and the Philippines are among the claimants of the vast South China Sea, parts of which Manila refers to as the West Philippine Sea, or the waters within its 370-kilometer exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

In 2016, an arbitral tribunal in The Hague, the Netherlands, voided China’s sweeping claims that cut into the EEZ of other claimant countries in the sea and recognized the Philippines’ sovereign rights to fish and explore resources within its waters.

Beijing does not recognize the ruling. u PAGE 4

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Dateline USa

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 18-24, 2024

Karagdagang kaalaman sa Filipino (Tagalog) ay makikita rin sa website ng Lalawigan ng Clark Kagawaran ng Halalan sa: www.clarkcountynv.gov/vote.

NOTICE TO ELECTORS OF CLOSE OF REGISTRATION FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE PRIMARY ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2024 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, Lorena S. Portillo, the Registrar of Voters of Clark County, Nevada, will conduct a registration of qualified electors for the Presidential Preference Primary Election to be held on Tuesday, February 6, 2024.

Any qualified elector whose name does not appear on the official registry list may apply for registration by mail, in-person, online, or through same day registration in the manner approved by law according to the deadlines listed below. (NRS 293.3568, 293.560, 293.565, 293.5832, 293.5837, 293.5842, 293.5852)

AIMING FOR THE JACKPOT. Mallgoers place their bets at a lotto outlet in Fairview, Quezon City on Tuesday, January 16. The combined estimated jackpot prize for the draw was PHP676.5 million.

PNA photo by Ben Briones

What would a second Trump presidency look like for health care?

by Julie RovneR KFF Health News

ON the presidential campaign trail, former President Donald Trump is, once again, promising to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act — a nebulous goal that became one of his administration’s splashiest policy failures.

“We’re going to fight for much better health care than Obamacare. Obamacare is a catastrophe,” Trump said at a campaign stop in Iowa on Jan. 6.

The perplexing revival of one of Trump’s most politically damaging crusades comes at a time when the Obama-era health law is even more popular and widely used than it was in 2017,

when Trump and congressional Republicans proved unable to pass their own plan to replace it.

That failed effort was a big part of why Republicans lost control of the House of Representatives in the 2018 midterms.

Despite repeated promises, Trump never presented his own Obamacare replacement.

And much of what Trump’s administration actually accomplished in health care has been reversed by the Biden administration.

Still, Trump secured some significant policy changes that remain in place today, including efforts to bring more transparency to prices charged by hospitals and paid by health insurers.

Trying to predict Trump’s

priorities in a second term is even more difficult given that he frequently changes his positions on issues, sometimes multiple times.

The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

Perhaps Trump’s biggest achievement is something he rarely talks about on the campaign trail.

His administration’s “Operation Warp Speed” managed to create, test, and bring to market a COVID-19 vaccine in less than a year, far faster than even the most optimistic predictions.

Many of Trump’s supporters, though, don’t support — and some even vehemently oppose — COVID vaccines. u PAGE 4

The deadlines to register for the first time or update your existing voter registration by mail or online in time for the February 6, 2024, Presidential Preference Primary Election and still receive a mail ballot are below. After those dates pass, voters who wish to register for the first time, or make changes to their existing registration information will have to do so through the same-day registration process, either online or in-person (at an early voting site or on Election Day at a Vote Center). New registrants will be required to vote a provisional ballot in-person at any early voting site or on Election Day at any Vote Center. We strongly encourage all qualified electors to register to vote or update their existing voter registration as soon as possible.

2024 PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE PRIMARY ELECTION VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINES AND HOURS Method of Registering Through the mail, government agencies, or in person voter registration application to: Clark County Election Center 965 Trade Drive, Suite A North Las Vegas, NV 89030 Online, only at www.RegistertoVoteNV.gov, and must have a valid Nevada DMV issued ID, Driver’s License, or Interim Document

Hours

Tuesday, January 9 (Deadline)

7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Closed

Tuesday, January 23, 2024 (Deadline) to receive a mail ballot or vote a regular ballot in-person at any early voting site or Election Day Vote Center.

January 24 – February 6 (Online Same Day Registration), must show ID at Early Voting site or at Election Day Vote Center and may only vote a provisional ballot in-person at any Early Voting site or Election Day Vote Center.

As voters head to polls worldwide, what role...

PAGE 1

the countries in the world.

Diaspora voting varies dramatically. In some countries, like India and Taiwan, voters are required to physically return. In others, like the U.S., overseas voting is “hands-off” without outreach to diaspora, so that “people have to find out for themselves how to register,” explained Newland.

The electoral influence of diaspora communities depends not only upon the percentage of a country’s population living abroad and whether they can vote, but also upon whether these overseas voters actually exercise their right to vote, Newland added.

Misinformation through social media, AI Misinformation from abroad could be as impactful for some elections as votes from abroad, said Dr. Rohit Chopra, Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at Santa Clara University.

In the context of elections, misinformation not only inserts a fake claim into public discourse, but also “muddies the difference between what is fake and what is true … with themes, say, like the ‘deep state’ or COVID conspiracies,” he explained, “or of strong pro-Modi sentiment combined with criticism of dissenters in the case of the Indian diaspora … It’s like the Wikipedia problem, where 80% may be very accurate, but we don’t know what 20% of it is false.”

As AI is increasingly weaponized to spread fake news, the companies and policies behind it are overwhelmingly U.S.based — and so impact diaspora countries “like a trigger effect,” Chopra said, contributing to the rise of fake news globally.

This rise has coincided with a global increase in authoritarianism and a crisis of legitimacy for the media. Thus, even initiatives to criminalize fake news will involve serious concerns about the concentration of power.

“The political power of the diaspora is not limited to their voting power … we have to rethink the relationship between the state, technology, and the public globally,” Chopra added.

India The Indian election is the largest by far this year, with about 900 million individuals registered to elect 543 members of Parliament across over 50 state parties through a million election booths between April and May, said Dr. Arvind Panagariya, Professor of Indian Political Economy at Columbia University.

Nevertheless, this parliamentary election is very much a presidential one, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the Hindu nationalist BJP party with a 76% approval rating in recent polls.

Dates

Same Day Registration (In-Person), must have a valid Nevada DMV issued ID, Driver’s License, Interim Document, or Nevada Tribal ID per NRS 232.006

January 27 – February 6 at all Early Voting sites, during voting hours and on Election Day at all Vote Centers, by close of polls

CITY CLERK’S OFFICE VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINES AND HOURS (Mail or Over the Counter) Location Boulder City City Clerk’s Office 401 California Avenue Boulder City, Nevada

With 2024 being the biggest election year in history, the role of diaspora is more crucial than ever.

Unsplash.com photo by Arnaud Jaegers

This popularity owes much to the fact that India has grown from the 10th to the fifth-largest — and fastest growing — world economy, with low levels of inflation and unemployment, and a drastically more efficient social benefits system since Modi’s rise nine years ago.

Given that during this time, Modi has developed a tech corridor in India and promoted intensive collaboration with tech overseas, an issue at the forefront of U.S. Indian diaspora interests is tech development, Panagariya explained.

Because Modi’s opposition — led by Mallikarjun Kharge of the center-left INC — is more fragmented than 2019, “it’s as though you’re voting for Modi or voting against Modi now,” Panagariya said, and “there’s a consensus” that he’ll win.

Mexico Much is at stake in 2024, when Mexican voters will elect a new six-year president, all 500 Chamber of Deputies members and all 128 Senate members.

“We decide whether we want a continuation of the policies that we have had” under President Obrador, who won as an opposition party by a large margin and “transformed political life in Mexico by aiming to eradicate corruption … or we decide if we want to go back to the past,” said Dr. Diana Alarcón González, former chief advisor and international affairs coordinator for Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico City.

Currently, Claudia Sheinbaum — frontrunner of Obrador’s progressive populist MORENA party — is leading polls with 60% support.

Although the Mexican diaspora, unlike the Indian one, can vote abroad, only 70,000 are registered to vote in June — a very small number, given that 30 to 40 million first, second and third-generation Mexicans (all of whom can register) live abroad, said González.

For comparison, 98 million are registered to vote in Mexico, and 11 million first-generation Mexicans live in the U.S.

Thus, said González, although the Mexican diaspora is large enough to influence electoral results, “our greatest challenge is to increase their participation.”

Taiwan With a historic third consecutive party win of Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive (DPP) candidate Lai Ching-te on Saturday, January 13, voters rebuffed mainland China by aligning themselves with the DPP-associated view of Taiwan as de facto independent.

This win will not only affect Taiwan’s relations with China but also with the U.S., especially given that “an official declaration of independence means Beijing’s military intervention and America’s involvement,” said Rong Xiaoqing, veteran reporter at Sing Tao Daily.

Nevertheless, throughout his campaign, Lai stressed “that he is not pushing for independence, only allowing the people the option to choose it or not,” Rong continued Despite the decisiveness of this victory, voting was hard for the diasporic people of Taiwan; only 4,000 of its 700,000 U.S.-resident citizens were registered in 2024. As remote voting isn’t allowed, and the DPP has opposed attempts to legalize it, “you not only have to go back to Taiwan to vote, but you have to go to the city or village where you were registered,” he explained.

This difficulty favors the DPP given that many Taiwanese families went overseas before the party was formed in 1986, and many now are businessmen and international students — and thus have ties with the older, Chinese nationalist KMT party.

“I hear many complaints from Taiwanese immigrants who can’t take a flight because they’re poor or elderly that their voting rights are impeded,” said Rong. Now that the DPP has won, “it’s difficult to predict how Beijing will react” — and how this diaspora will be affected. (Selen Ozturk/Ethnic Media Services)

City of Henderson City Clerk’s Office 240 Water Street Henderson, Nevada City of Las Vegas City Clerk’s Office 495 S. Main Street 2nd Floor Las Vegas, Nevada City of Mesquite City Clerk’s Office 10 E. Mesquite Blvd.

Mesquite, Nevada City of North Las Vegas City Clerk’s Office 2250 Las Vegas Blvd. North North Las Vegas, Nevada

Dates Monday - Thursday

Tuesday, January 9th (Deadline) Monday - Thursday

Tuesday, January 9th (Deadline) Monday - Thursday

Tuesday, January 9th (Deadline)

Hours 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Closed 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Closed 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

7:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Closed 7:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Monday – Thursday Friday

7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Saturday and Sunday Closed

Tuesday, January 9th (Deadline)

7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Monday – Thursday

Tuesday, January 9th (Deadline)

8:00 a.m. - 5:45 p.m.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Closed 8:00 a.m. - 5:45 p.m.

A qualified elector who possesses a Nevada driver’s license, DMV-issued identification Card, or DMV-issued Interim Document and wishes to receive a mail ballot, may register or update his/her voter registration information online until 11:59 p.m., on 01/23/2024, exclusively at www.RegistertoVoteNV.gov, (Nevada Secretary of State website). Those qualified electors who register online from 01/24/2024 – 02/06/2024, will not receive a mail ballot, must vote in person at an early voting site or on Election Day and may only vote a provisional ballot, and must be prepared to show their Nevada Driver’s License, DMV-issued Identification Card, Nevada DMV Interim Document, or Nevada Tribal ID (per NRS 232.006) prior to voting.

Nevada and federal law require first-time registrants to provide an identifying number (Nevada driver’s license number or the last four digits of their social security number).

If these do not match the records maintained by the Department of Motor Vehicles or Social Security Administration, the registrant will be required to present identification before being allowed to vote. Forms of current and valid identification include a photo identification with the registrant’s name and current physical address (Nevada Driver’s License, Nevada I.D. Card, etc.) OR a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or document issued by a government entity, listing the registrant’s name and current physical address. These individuals have been notified.

For more information, call the Clark County Election Department at (702) 455-8683.

DATED: LORENA S. PORTILLO Registrar of Voters PUB: January 11, 18, 25 & February 1, 2024 Las Vegas Asian Journal

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JANUARY 18-24, 2024 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

Biden to send first trade mission...

PAGE 1 Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez told the Philippine News Agency that a representative of the U.S. International Development Financial Corp. (DFC) would also be part of the mission.

The envoy had previously disclosed that the U.S. had offered assistance for the stalled Mindanao Railway Project, with financing expected to come from the DFC. ‘First-of-its-kind’ This Biden-curated trade mission also comes on the heels of the 123 Agreement signing, which will pave the way for nuclear power projects between the Philippines and American providers.

The 123 Agreement, signed in November 2023, allows the transfer of information, nuclear material, equipment, and components directly between the two states.

Biden had described the endeavor as a “first-of-its-kind” mission when he met Marcos in Washington, D.C., in May 2023.

“And this is, in fact, a new feature as there has never been a presidential high-level delegation to any country before, and that is again because of our continuing strong partnership with the United States,” Marcos said, following his six-day visit to the U.S. in November last year.

The president said the group’s visit to the Philippines was upon the request of his administration for U.S. businesses to explore opportunities for investments, particularly in key sectors identified during their meetings in the U.S. The visit of the U.S. Presidential Trade and Investment Mission in Manila coincides with the

Philippines’ hosting of the Indo-Pacific Business Forum (IPBF), described as the U.S.’s “marquee commercial event in the region.”

The IPBF is the U.S. government’s annual commercial event in the region, gathering top leaders from the public and private sectors to review policy developments, disclose new investments, and explore partnerships.

The U.S. co-hosted with Japan the 5th Indo-Pacific Business Forum last Jan. 12, 2023, welcoming senior government officials, industry executives and other stakeholders.

Malacañang said Marcos’ business engagements in the U.S. and Japan, among others, have obtained P4.019 trillion ($72.178 billion) worth of investments as of December 21.

The total investment value consists of 148 projects based on the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) latest monitoring of consolidated and processed investments.

The DTI had described the investments as business investment promotion agency (IPA) registered with operations worth P11.4 billion, business/ IPA registered (P54.75 billion), and IPA registration in progress operations (P282.8 billion).

Meanwhile, investments that already have a signed agreement were valued at P544.152 billion, while those with a signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) or Letter of Intent (LoI) were valued at P1.588 trillion.

Finally, those confirmed but not covered by MoUs/LoIs and still in the planning stage are pegged at P1.522 trillion.

“These investments — realized and in the pipeline — are mostly in the sectors

of manufacturing, IT-BPM, renewable energy, data centers, and telecommunications,” the DTI has said.

In its December 14 update, the DTI said Marcos’ visit to the U.S. for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting in November was added to its monitoring, adding P37.2 billion to the total value and six to the total project.

These include a P2.2billion investment in telecommunications, P110 million in artificial intelligence, P13 billion in manufacturing, P1.1 billion in health sciences/ pharma manufacturing/ health services, P16 million in energy, and an undisclosed amount for another investment in health sciences/pharma manufacturing/health services.

These projects comprise signed agreements with clear financial values and MoUs/LoIs. There had been criticisms of the president’s frequent foreign travels since the start of his administration, but Marcos defended his trips, saying that his participation and attendance in these events abroad would help other countries to “think” about the Philippines.

The president also said the public should look at the return on investments (ROIs) of his previous trips.

“In terms of the cost, the way I see it, you have to look at it as ROI: do we bring something back or do we not? If you say, as I say, I don’t, the exact figures of the cost and everything... But for example, we came from China with pledges of $22 billion, let’s say we get actual out of that $1 billion, we’ve more than made up for the eight trips,” the president said in English and Filipino.

(With reports from PNA)

ICC yet to confirm presence...

PAGE 1

Dateline USa

NO LUNCHBREAK. Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) personnel observe the “no noon break” policy and continue to entertain members at their regional office in Bolton, Davao City on Wednesday, January 17. Most of the transacting public at PhilHealth offices are individually-paying members who are self-employed and those who belong to the informal economy, in general.

PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.

PH bans poultry imports from California...

PAGE 1

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. explained that imposing import restrictions on poultry products from the two states is necessary to prevent the virus from entering the Philippines.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention,

said.

In September 2021, the ICC approved the conduct of a formal investigation into possible crimes against humanity allegedly committed under the leadership of former President Rodrigo Duterte during the campaign against illegal drugs. It suspended its probe in November 2021 upon the capital Manila’s request, saying that it was carrying out its own investigations.

But in January 2023, the ICC

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HPAI may cause severe disease and high mortality in infected poultry.

Domesticated and wild birds in California and Ohio have been diagnosed with the H5N1 strain of the HPAI, which is highly contagious and dangerous for poultry.

The DA clarified that the

Philippines can still import poultry and poultry products from other states in the U.S. The U.S. is the second biggest supplier of imported poultry and poultry products to the Philippines, accounting for about 40 percent of total poultry meat arrivals (426,620 metric tons). g

Marcos greeting to new Taiwan leader...

PAGE 1

Also on Tuesday, the Liberal Party (LP), considered the country’s top opposition party, also congratulated Lai and Vice President-elect Bi-khim Hsiao on their landslide victory in the Jan. 15 presidential election.

‘Vibrant, independent future’ In a statement, the party’s chair, former Sen. Francis Pangilinan, praised the Taiwanese people for their “unwavering commitment to democracy, freedom, and the pursuit of a vibrant, independent future.”

“President-elect Lai’s triumph is a testament to his steadfast

said it was “not satisfied that the Philippines is undertaking relevant investigations,” and its prosecutors resumed their inquiry.

However, the Philippine government has maintained its position that the state has no legal duty to cooperate with ICC investigators.

PAGE 3 Earlier reports said ICC investigators have already entered Here is a recap of Trump’s the Philippines to conduct its health care record: investigation on Rodrigo Duterte’s Public health “drug war.” g Trump’s pandemic response dominates his overall record on health care.

More than 400,000 Americans died from COVID over Trump’s last year in office. His travel bans and other efforts to prevent the global spread of the virus were ineffective, his administration was slower than other countries’ governments to develop a diagnostic test, and he publicly clashed with his own LEGAL IMMIGRATION is a BIG ISSUE these days. MANY in our community NEED government’s health officials your services. There are thousands who may want to expedite their residency or over the response.

Ahead of the 2020 election, pursue full citizenship but don’t know how to begin and where to go.

Trump resumed large rallies and other public campaign events that many public health experts regarded as reckless in the face of a highly contagious, ASIAN JOURNAL’S PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DIRECTORY, will now be deadly virus. He personally flouted public health guidance running weekly, every Thursday of Las Vegas Edition. after contracting COVID himself and ending up hospitalized.

At the same time, despite what many saw as a politicization AJ’s PSD can help YOU reach out to them affordably and effectively. of public health by the White House, Trump signed a massive COVID relief bill (after first threatening to veto it). He also presided over some of the largest boosts for the National Institutes of Health’s budget Ask about our PROMOTIONAL INTRODUCTORY PACKAGE PRICING which runs since the turn of the century.

And the mRNA-based vaccines your ad weekly for maximum exposure at truly affordable rates.

Operation Warp Speed helped develop were an astounding scientific breakthrough credited Our print editions run in tandem with AJ’s Print Edition Online. with helping save millions Online: http://issuu.com/asianjournaldigitaledition of lives while laying the groundwork for future shots to fight other diseases including cancer.

Abortion Trump’s biggest contribution to abortion policy was indirect: He appointed three Supreme Court justices, who were instrumental in overturning the constitutional right to an abortion.

During his 2024 campaign, Trump has been all over the place on the red-hot issue. Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, Trump has bemoaned the issue as politically bad for Republicans; criticized one of his rivals, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, for signing a six-week abortion ban; and vowed to broker a compromise with “both sides” on abortion, promising that “for the first time in 52 years, you’ll have an issue that we can put behind us.”

He has so far avoided spelling out how he’d do that, or whether he’d support a national abortion ban after any number of weeks.

More recently, however, Trump appears to have mended fences over his criticism of Florida’s six-week ban and more with key abortion opponents, whose support helped him get

process is fair and transparent as it would have been if done by the Philippine government itself. So we do hope that if ever they are here that they can reach out to us so we can have a constructive dialogue,” Clavano added.

“We still do not want our justice system to be taken over.

We have a working justice system, we have courts, we have prosecutors, we have our law enforcement agencies,” he

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dedication to public service, his strong leadership, and his unyielding commitment to the values we hold dear — values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law,” Pangilinan said.

“Vice President-elect Bi-khim’s distinguished background as a successful diplomat and legislator, known for her championing of liberal democracy, further enhances the dynamic leadership that Taiwan will experience in the coming years,” he added.

Pangilinan also expressed his admiration for Taiwan’s “democratic journey” and his solidarity

with the self-governing island.

“In the Philippines, we have long admired the democratic journey of our Taiwanese friends.

We share a common history of the struggle for freedom and a deep appreciation for the precious gift of democracy. As fellow Asian nations, we are bound by shared values and a collective desire for a peaceful and prosperous region,” he said.

He expressed his confidence that Taiwan will continue to be a “beacon of democracy and a thriving economic powerhouse” under the new administration. g

What would a second Trump presidency... elected in 2016 — and whom he repaid with a long list of policy changes during his presidency.

Among the anti-abortion actions taken by the Trump administration were a reinstatement of the “Mexico City Policy” that bars giving federal funds to international organizations that support abortion rights; a regulation to bar Planned Parenthood and other organizations that provide abortions from the federal family planning program, Title X; regulatory changes designed to make it easier for health care providers and employers to decline to participate in activities that violate their religious and moral beliefs; and other changes that made it harder for NIH scientists to conduct research using fetal tissue from elective abortions.

All of those policies have since been overturned by the Biden administration.

Health insurance Unlike Trump’s policies on reproductive health, many of his administration’s moves related to health insurance still stand.

For example, in 2020, Trump signed into law the No Surprises Act, a bipartisan measure aimed at protecting patients from unexpected medical bills stemming from payment disputes between health care providers and insurers. The bill was included in the $900 billion COVID relief package he opposed before signing, though Trump had expressed support for ending surprise medical bills.

His administration also pushed — over the vehement objections of health industry officials — price transparency regulations that require hospitals to post prices and insurers to provide estimated costs for procedures.

Those requirements also remain in place, although hospitals in particular have been slow to comply.

Medicaid While first-time candidate Trump vowed not to cut popular entitlement programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, his administration did not stick to that promise.

The Affordable Care Act repeal legislation Trump supported in 2017 would have imposed major cuts to Medicaid, and his Department of Health and Human Services later encouraged states to require Medicaid recipients to prove they work in order to receive health insurance.

Drug prices One of the issues the Trump administration was most active on was reducing the price of prescription drugs for consumers — a top priority

for both Democratic and Republican voters. But many of those proposals were blocked by the courts.

One Trump-era plan that never took effect would have pegged the price of some expensive drugs covered by Medicare to prices in other countries. Another would have required drug companies to include prices in their television advertisements.

A regulation allowing states to import cheaper drugs from Canada did take effect, in November 2020. However, it took until January 2024 for the FDA, under Trump’s successor, to approve the first importation plan, from Florida. Canada has said it won’t allow exports that risk causing drug shortages in that country, leaving unclear whether the policy is workable.

Trump also signed into law measures allowing pharmacists to disclose to patients when the cash price of a drug is lower than the cost using their insurance.

Previously pharmacists could be barred from doing so under their contracts with insurers and pharmacy benefit managers.

Veterans’ health Trump is credited by some advocates for overhauling Department of Veterans Affairs health care. However, while he did sign a major bill allowing veterans to obtain care outside VA facilities, White House officials also tried to scuttle passage of the spending needed to pay for the initiative.

Medical freedom Trump scored a big win for the libertarian wing of the Republican Party when he signed into law the “Right to Try Act,” intended to make it easier for patients with terminal diseases to access drugs or treatments not yet approved by the FDA. But it is not clear how many patients have managed to obtain treatment using the law because it is aimed at the FDA, which has traditionally granted requests for “compassionate use” of not-yet-approved drugs anyway. The stumbling block, which the law does not address, is getting drug companies to release doses of medicines that are still being tested and may be in short supply.

Trump said in a Jan. 10 Fox News town hall that the law had “saved thousands and thousands” of lives. There’s no evidence for the claim.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces indepth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.

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Dateline PhiliPPines

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 18-24, 2024

5

Metro Manila has worst traffic in the world

by Aric John Sy cuA ManilaTimes.net

TRAFFIC in Metro Manila is the worst in the world for a Metro area, TomTom Traffic Index showed.

Metro Manila had an average travel time of 25 minutes and 30 seconds per 10 kilometers in 2023,

A heavy volume of vehicle can be seen along EDSA-Kamuning flyover.

ManilaTimes.net file photo

compared to 24 minutes and 50 seconds in 2022. It has a congestion level of 52 percent.

Lima, the capital of Peru, is in second place with an average travel time of 24 minutes and 20 seconds per 10 km, followed by Bengaluru, India (23 minutes, 50 seconds); Sapporo, Japan (23 minutes, 30 seconds) and Bogota, Colombia (23 minutes, 30 seconds).

Also in the top 10 are the Taiwanese cities of Taichung and Kaohsiung, ranked 6th and 8th respectively, Mumbai and Pune in India, 7th and 9th. Nagoya, Japan ranked 10th.

Brussels, Belgium and Geneva, Switzerland, as well as Tokyo, Japan, were in the top 15.

The TomTom Traffic Index selected and ranked 387 cities in 55 countries and 6 continents.

"The Index aims to rank these cities based on their average travel time and provide free access to city-bycity information," it wrote. "In the Traffic Index, we use a representative sample of this data, spanning 551 billion km, to assess and show how traffic has evolved in cities around the globe throughout 2023." It is based on floating car data, which is collected from various sources "to create traffic services for our clients and customers." g

Unprogrammed funds meant for emergency projects – House leader MANILA – The chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations on Thursday, January 18 said the unprogrammed funds in the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) are legal and are meant for emergency projects included in the government's wish list in case of surplus revenues.

Committee chair and Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co said the unprogrammed appropriations are only released after a certification from the Department of Budget and Management and the Treasury that there is extra revenue.

“Hindi yan obligasyon o kontrata. Hindi siya part ng NEP (national expenditure program), hindi siya part ng programmed funds. It is only a wish list na pag nagkaroon ng extra funds, binibigyan natin ang ating pamahalaan para mas makatulong sa ating mga kababayan at tumaas ang economic growth natin (That is neither an obligation or contract. It is also not part of the NEP and also not part of the programmed funds. It is only a wish list; if there are extra funds, we give it to the government so that we could help more Filipinos and boost economic growth),” he said in a radio interview.

Co said unprogrammed funds have been included in previous national budgets, including this year’s, as a prudent practice for

emergency situations.

“Hindi siya bago sa system…

Hindi po yan illegal. Ang gamit po niyan kapag may emergency like Covid, kinulang pa nga tayo.

Gumastos po tayo ng 400 billion.

Nag slash ng pondo sa NEP at may mga proyektong hindi natuloy, para lang matugunan ang bagong pangangailangan (It's not a new thing in the system… It's not illegal. It's typically used for emergencies like Covid. The budget fell short for that. We had to spend PHP400 billion. We had to slash funds in the NEP and some projects were not pursued so that we could address the [Covid-19] situation)," he said.

Co said it is not the job of the government to save, noting it has to spend for its programs and projects to create economic growth.

“Ang gusto natin ay double-digit growth. Direct assistance sa ating mamamayan especially sa panahon ngayon medyo mataas ang inflation na kinokontrol natin. Naglalagay tayo ng pondo na just in case magkaroon ng extra revenue para po sa ating mga mamamayan (What we want to achieve is double-digit growth.

[We also want to provide] direct assistance to citizens, especially in times of rising inflation, which we try to control. We have these [unprogrammed] funds just in

case we have extra revenues for Filipinos),” he added.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman has reiterated that there is nothing unconstitutional with the inclusion of unprogrammed funds in the 2024 budget.

“Our definition, hindi po siya unconstitutional kasi nga po hindi po siya kasama doon sa talagang budget (it is not unconstitutional because it is not included in the actual budget),” Pangandaman said.

Reps. Edcel Lagman (Albay 1st District), Gabriel Bordado (Camarines Sur 3rd District) and Mujiv Hataman (Basilan) on Tuesday filed a petition before the Supreme Court (SC) questioning the legality of the PHP449.5-billion increase in unprogrammed funds under the 2024 national budget.

The opposition lawmakers asked the SC to issue a temporary restraining order or writ of preliminary injunction to prevent the release of the unprogrammed funds.

Congress raised the unprogrammed appropriations under the 2024 GAA by PHP449.5 billion from the proposed to PHP281.9 billion to PHP731.5 billion.

The unprogrammed funds, the DBM said, serve as “an important tool for the government to address unforeseen expenditures and prioritize essential programs and projects.” (PNA)

PASTIME. Tricycle drivers play chess while waiting for passengers along Maria Orosa Street in Malate, Manila on Wednesday, Jan. 17. The board game is a popular pastime as it is known to benefit one’s mental health due to better brain function, as well as improved memory and cognitive abilities.

PNA photo by Yancy Lim

Full jeepney modernization will take years

by FrAnco JoSe c. BAroñA ManilaTimes.net

THE Office of Transport Cooperatives (OTC) said on Wednesday, January 19 that complete implementation of the government's public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP) would likely take years.

OTC Chairman Andy Ortega said that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), together with local government units, have yet to finalize a Local Public Transport Route Plan that will facilitate adjustments in the number of consolidated units per route.

This process alone could take "one to two years" to complete, he said.

Only after finalizing the route plan would the 27-month countdown before people start seeing all PUVs be completely modernized.

"Fully modernized PUVs cannot be started since there are still some LGUs that do not have a route rationalization plan. That plan should come in before the 27-month period starts. This will take years," he said in an

Only after finalizing the route plan would the 27-month countdown before people start seeing all PUVs be completely modernized.

ManilaTimes.net file photo

interview on Wednesday.

Based on the latest available data, out of the 191,000 public utility jeepney (PUJ) and UV Express units nationwide that have franchises, 146,000 have already consolidated.

In Metro Manila, 90 percent of the 22,000 registered units have complied as of 2023.

Those who fail to comply with the required consolidation will be considered "operating illegally."

Meanwhile, the Office of the Solicitor General (SolGen), rep-

resenting the Department of Transportation and the LTFRB, has asked the Supreme Court to junk the petition filed by transport groups, led by the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operaytor Nationwide (Piston), challenging the legality of the PUVMP. The SolGen argued that the petitioners did not adhere to the hierarchy of courts by not initially filing the petition with lower courts, stressing that the SC should be the "last court of resort." g

6

JANUARY 18-24, 2024 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

OPINION

Worst traffic congestion

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FEATURES

HERE’S another dubious distinction for the Philippines: Metro Manila had the worst traffic congestion among all metropolitan areas worldwide in 2023. This was according to Dutch multinational transport data provider TomTom Traffic.

TomTom found that it took an average of 25 minutes and 30 seconds to travel 10 kilometers in Metro Manila in 2023, making the city dislodge Bogota, Colombia, which had the worst ranking in the previous year. The travel time in Metro Manila was worse than its average of 24 minutes and 40 seconds in 2022, when it ranked second worldwide.

Within city centers, TomTom’s 2023 Traffic Index also ranked Manila as the third most congested city in Asia and the ninth worldwide. On average, it took 27 minutes and 20 seconds to travel 10 kilometers within Manila’s city center – slower by 20 seconds in 2022, TomTom posted on its website on Jan. 10.

The worst day and time for travel in Metro Manila, according to the 2023 index, was 5 to 6 p.m. on Fridays, when it took an average of 35 minutes and 30 seconds to negotiate 10 kilometers at a speed of just 19 km per hour. Other Southeast Asian metro areas clocked less than 20 minutes: Jakarta, Indonesia; Bangkok, Thailand; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and city-state Singapore.

TomTom based the rankings on data from 600 million devices in cars and smartphones in 387 metro areas worldwide, which collectively traveled 551 billion km. Based on its data, Filipinos wasted 117 hours, or nearly five days, stuck in traffic in

2023. Behind Metro Manila were Lima, Peru; Bengaluru, India; Sapporo, Japan, and Bogota.

People may think the situation in Metro Manila is worse than presented in the traffic index.

Studies have shown that traffic congestion has cost the economy billions in lost productivity annually.

And people have been waiting for many years now for an improvement in the situation.

While the obvious reason is the inadequacy of mass transport, which has led to an ever-increasing vehicle volume with no corresponding expansion in the road network, other factors aggravate the problem. These include uncoordinated diggings, construction and repair along roads, no cohesion in traffic policies within Metro Manila, and traffic mismanagement in general. An ill-conceived nocontact traffic apprehension scheme focused mainly on unconscionable revenue-raising that fattened one private company at the expense of already harried motorists instead of better traffic management.

As the TomTom index has shown, other countries are dealing with their traffic problems, which pushed Metro Manila to the worst No. 1 spot.

This should push the country to do better in traffic management. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

PBBM – our super top diplomat PROFESSOR Richard Heydarian, a widely read and respected columnist, wrote an opinion piece that in essence articulated some of the many things I had wanted to write about President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and how he has performed in the oneand-a-half year that he has been in office. It’s just as well that Professor Heydarian wrote about the topic because if it had been me, my objectivity would have been questioned by the usual suspects, clearly because I’m related to the president.

In the very straightforward, exclusive online piece for Journal of Democracy titled “The Son Also Rises,” Richard expressed the surprise, and perhaps even consternation, that critics and skeptics must be feeling and experiencing because President Marcos is proving that their preconceived notions as well as their “fears” about him are turning out to be unfounded.

When Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took on the presidency on June 30, 2022, Professor Heydarian admitted that he had warned (like what others must have wanted to do) that “Marcos Jr. could turn out to be not just a debonair career underachiever but [also] an insidious threat.”

But in reality, those who were against Bongbong Marcos sitting as president are now finding him “palatable” – to say the least – because “the new president has emerged as an unlikely ‘reformer’ of Philippine politics as well as a tough defender of Philippine sovereign rights in the South China Sea,” Richard put it, additionally noting that the president has “advanced a radical reorientation of his country’s domestic politics as well as foreign policy. If it seems a stretch to call him a conscious

champion of liberal democracy, it may not be unreasonable to Babe’s note the unexpected set of more democracy-favorable conditions Eye that his administration has View ushered in.”

It’s no secret that among the issues that were thrown against President BBM during BABE ROMUALDEZ the campaign period for the May 2022 elections was that he might undermine democracy and rule in an autocratic manner. Yet the past year saw the president’s tenure coinciding with legal victories of key civil society figures such as Maria Ressa and former senator Leila de Lima in cases filed during the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte, pointed out Professor Heydarian, observing that President Marcos Jr. – whom he described as urbane and soft spoken – eschewed “incendiary and confrontational rhetoric,” often speaking of “reconciliation and national unity, even during the anniversary of the popular revolution that toppled his father.”

One source of admiration for many – with even his staunchest critics grudgingly admitting to it – is that the president is doing extremely well in foreign policy, strengthening alliances with Western countries and like-minded nations – seeking to maintain balance, peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region. In fact, PBBM was his usual “charming” best at the Malacañang vin d’honneur he and the First Lady hosted the other night.

Indeed, the president is defying all pre- or, perhaps more accurately, “ill-conceived notions”

THE plot thickens as far as the reported attempts of administration allies to install highly-favored presidential kin, albeit a presidential survey laggard, as the next head of government of the land. The fastest way to catapult the politician into power is by tinkering with the 1987 Constitution. Only then can the legislator become the country’s next chief executive.

The story has been going around in political circles since last year. Is it fake news? A figment of someone’s malicious mind? Consider the following events.

Nearly a year ago, President Bongbong Marcos Jr. reiterated his stance against Charter Change. Without replacing the 1987 Constitution, PBBM said the country can attract foreign investments. It ran counter to the position of House Speaker Martin Romualdez, who has advocated for constitutional amendments in terms of economic provisions.

Before 2023 ended, the speaker announced the Lower House will pursue Cha-cha this year.

In reaction, Senator Imee Marcos alluded to an ‘unwinnable

how the two countries can deepen bilateral ties even further.

As it turns out, our president is proving to be our super top diplomat. So many invitations from so many countries inviting him to visit are being sent to us. The fact is, his foreign travels are elevating the profile of the Philippines not only as a leading investment hub in Asia but as a major player in the Indo-Pacific region. What better news to come out of these foreign trips than the DTI report: Presidential foreign trips have resulted in P294 billion worth of investments.

Last Friday, January 12, U.S. President Biden announced that he will send a Presidential Trade and Investment Mission to Manila on March 11-12 headed by Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo to “enhance US companies’ contributions” to key sectors and “reinforce the Philippines as a key hub for regional supply chains and high-quality investment.”

Many of those who did not welcome the idea of a Marcos in Malacañang are now seeing PBBM differently. The stars were indeed aligned for him because he has taken on the presidency at the most consequential time – a destiny he has embraced as the Philippines is poised to play a major role in the world today, especially when it comes to peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region. (Philstar.com) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

*** babeseyeview@gmail.com

Questionable initiative

The Broader View HARRY ROQUE

about him, because on a personal basis, I have seen how he has evolved into the kind of leader that has gained the respect of the international community by demonstrating a keen understanding of the evolving geopolitical situation and showing his willingness to collaborate on global issues that include climate change, among other things.

No question – from where I sit in Washington, D.C., the regard for the Philippines is at its best in the Western world because, in spite of the very challenging situation in the South China Sea, President Marcos is unflinching in asserting Philippine sovereignty and territorial integrity while at the same time showing patience in continuing to reach out to China, as well as other claimant nations, to seek a peaceful resolution to maritime disputes.

In his quest to find a peaceful solution, the president is taking the lead to talk with concerned ASEAN member-countries to push for a separate Code of Conduct to resolve conflicting maritime claims that would be mutually beneficial to all claimants without sacrificing our respective interests. During the visit of President Joko Widodo of Indonesia, the discussion specifically touched on developments in the South China Sea and how to find common interests between ASEAN membernations.

The president will also be going to Vietnam for an official visit within this month, with the discussion expected to include the South China Sea issue and

presidentiable’ who wants to become prime minister once the country reverts to a parliamentary system of government. Days after, Romualdez denied aspiring for the prime ministership through Charter change.

The president himself seems to have reconsidered his original position. His administration is reviewing certain constitutional limitations or impediments on foreign investments and private land ownership.

Like many individuals who campaigned hard for PBBM in the last election, I expect him to speak on the issue very soon. Did he change his mind? Or will he sound the death knell to the Chacha initiative once and for all?

Will he finally rein in the alleged political ambition of his cousin?

My unsolicited advice to our dear president: please put an end to the madness in the Lower House. Please save the institution from an image and reputational problem. The trust rating of the Lower House has dropped to 34 percent, according to a recent Publicus Asia survey. Moreover, eight in 10 Filipinos acknowledge that there is corruption in the Lower Chamber.

Amendments and revisions The Constitution can be amended or revised through a constitutional convention, a constituent assembly or a people’s

initiative. The people can directly propose amendments upon a petition of at least 12 percent of the total registered Filipino voters. At least three percent of the electorate must represent each legislative district (Article 17). To date, we have 67 million registered voters. Therefore, the Cha-cha advocates must gather at least 8 million signatures.

The speaker said the House of Representatives also wants to settle the issue of whether the senators and congressmen should vote separately or jointly vis-àvis proposals on constitutional amendments and revisions.

Under Section 2, Congress may propose any amendment or revision upon a vote of threefourths of all its members.

In the landmark Santiago vs. Comelec case (1997), the Supreme Court said the people’s initiative deserves an infusion of flesh, blood, energy and strength. It directed Congress to fulfill its constitutional mandate to expeditiously provide the implementing rules so the people can exercise this right.

The Court also declared Republic Act 6735, authored

by Senator Raul Roco, as inadequate and incomplete to provide sufficient standards for subordinate legislation. The said Initiative and Referendum Act only deals with people’s initiative

for local legislation. In a later case, Lambino vs. Comelec (2006), the Supreme Court ruled that “a people’s initiative to change the Constitution applies only to an amendment of the Constitution and not to its revision. In contrast, Congress or a constitutional convention can propose both amendments and revisions to the Constitution.”

In the 14th Congress, Senator Miriam Santiago sponsored a bill wherein the people can directly introduce constitutional amendments through a legitimate initiative. (I am not aware who filed the counterpart bill in the Lower House.) We have already elected people in the 19th Congress. Still, we lack a law that could legitimately operationalize the people’s initiative system.

Thus, our legislators, particularly in the Lower Chamber, have their work cut out for them: amend RA 6735 and provide the legal infrastructure to the system. Whatever is lacking in the Roco law should be rectified by our lawmakers. They should focus on crafting relevant laws instead of supporting the political agenda of the favored one.

Signature-buying Currently, a group called PIRMA (People’s Initiative for Reform Modernization and Action), which spearheaded a

Charter change campaign during the time of President Fidel Ramos, has launched another initiative to revise the Constitution. The group claims to have started gathering signatures from registered voters nationwide. The lead convener of PIRMA also admitted that they are pushing for both houses of Congress to jointly vote on Charter change proposals, regardless that it dilutes the Senate vote (ABSCBN).

Lawyers for the group have admitted funding the ‘EDSApwera’ advertisement (an illconceived and badly-executed political ad) that aired on three major TV networks. In the last general elections, a 30-second ad placement in a primetime spot costs almost P2 million.

The PIRMA said they used private funds mainly sourced from donations. But I am not convinced.

Speaking of the EDSA-pwera ad, I spoke with an original stalwart of PIRMA, former Cagayan Economic Zone Authority administrator Raul Lambino. He denied that his faction had anything to do with the TV ads. What they did in the 1990s was to organize public meetings around the country to explain their proposed amendments to the Constitution.

They never resorted to buying people’s support. Moreover,

several local government executives have disclosed that the congressmen themselves are leading the signature drive in legislative districts. Some of their constituents complained of being hoodwinked into affixing their signature to the Cha-cha forms.

They thought the signature campaign was related to ‘ayuda’ or government subsidy.

Opposition lawmaker Edcel Lagman has alleged that public funds might be involved in the Cha-cha campaign through the P12-billion insertion in the 2024 Comelec budget. He claimed that the Comelec did not request for the funds intended for elections, referenda, recall votes and plebiscites. The gentleman from Albay also disclosed that some voters received P100 for their signature.

So, is the ongoing Charter change campaign a genuine initiative of the Filipino people? Or is it a P100 signature-buying drive engineered by some beholden and sycophantic politicians? Let us not allow individuals with insatiable greed for power to trivialize the concept of people’s initiative. (Philstar.com) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 18-24, 2024

7

Senate chief sets Cha-cha in motion DOT eyes exceeding P1.5 trillion in domestic visitor receipts for 2024

by Bernadette e. tamayo and

ma. reina Leanne toLentino ManilaTimes.net

SENATE President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri on Monday, January 15 filed Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) 6 seeking to amend economic provisions in the Constitution.

Senate President Pro Tempore Lorna Regina "Loren" Legarda and Sen. Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara co-authored RBH 6, proposing amendments to Articles 12, 14 and 16 of the charter.

The senators said the nation's economic policy "must be reframed under the demands of this increasingly globalized age, while still protecting the general policy of Filipino-first that guides the economic provisions of the Constitution."

The resolution cited "a need to institutionalize the reforms laid down in the Public Service Act to liberalize industries, promote efficient service delivery and foster competition as an enduring policy."

Article 12 deals with "National Economy and Patrimony," Article 14 with "Education, Science and Technology, Arts, Culture and Sports" and Article 16 with "General Provisions."

RBH 6 provides that the amendments will be done by inserting the phrase "unless otherwise provided by law."

For example, Section 11 of the National Patrimony and Economy provision would be amended to read: "No franchise, certificate, or any other form of authorization for the operation of a public utility shall be granted except to citizens of the Philippines or to corporations or associations organized under the laws of the Philippines, at least sixty per centum of whose capital is owned by such citizens unless provided by law.

Unless provided by law, the participation of foreign investors in the governing body of any public utility enterprise shall be limited to their proportionate share in its capital, and all the executive and managing officers of such corporation or association must be citizens of the Philippines."

"Our children deserve to have access to the best educational institutions, both Filipino and foreign, to ensure that they receive the best training to

become globally competitive citizens in the modern world," Zubiri, Legarda and Angara said.

They said the advertising industry "already has foreign players, and liberalizing the same is a logical and sound policy to attract foreign direct investment in that industry."

Zubiri said the filing of RBH 6 aims "to avert a constitutional crisis between the House of Representatives and the Senate.

And to make it clear that there are no other planned provisions or amendments on any other thing but purely economic in nature."

During a press briefing, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. asked the Senate to lead the Charter change or Chacha initiative, but it should not include allowing foreign land ownership.

Zubiri said the president is concerned over the reported attempt by some Cha-cha proponents to offer P100 to anyone who would sign the petition pushing for the people's initiative (PI).

He said he met with the president last January 9, and "we discussed how we can diffuse the situation."

"In fairness to the president, he was not aware that the people's initiative language was to diminish the power of the Senate. After that, he asked me to meet with the speaker," Zubiri said.

He said he met with Speaker Martin Romualdez on Tuesday evening, January 16, and "we had a lively and vigorous debate on the issue."

Marcos met with Zubiri and Romualdez on January 11 after the traditional vin d'honneur in Malacañang.

"In that meeting, I defended the position of the Senate that as far as we are concerned their plan is unconstitutional because we are a bicameral system of government," Zubiri said.

"I would like to thank the president for his comment that the PI is too divisive. He said, 'Why doesn't the Senate take the lead in the discussions of the economic provisions and then you approve your version, which the House can adopt?'

So, that was the position of the president," he said.

He said the majority of the senators have decided to create a subcommittee under the

Committee on Constitutional Amendments, headed by Sen. Robinhood Padilla, to conduct the hearing on the RBH 6.

Angara was chosen to lead the subpanel.

In a statement Monday, Romualdez said he supports the filing of RBH 6.

"This resolution using the mode of Constituent Assembly is a decisive step towards amending the 1987 Constitution, particularly in terms of relaxing the economic provisions that currently restrict the entry of foreign direct investments into the Philippines," he said.

"The move to amend the Constitution through a Constituent Assembly underscores our commitment to a democratic and participatory process. It reflects our collective resolve to address the longstanding barriers that have, to some extent, hindered our nation's progress," Romualdez said.

He said "the synergy between the Senate and the House in passing" the resolution "will send a strong signal of unity and purpose."

Albay 2nd District Rep. Jose Ma. Clemente "Joey" Salceda welcomed "any effort by the Senate" to open talks on revising the Constitution.

"Opening up the conversation, rather than immediately closing the window for change, is necessary and urgent," Salceda said in a statement.

He said he believes an "existential threat of a constitutional crisis" does not exist.

"Both the People's Initiative underway and previous attempts by the House to establish a Constituent Assembly to amend the Constitution are fully in accord with the process stipulated in the 1987 Constitution.

The regular workings of the legislature and the relationship between the Senate and the House should thus continue without interruption," Salceda said.

"With or without the success of the People's Initiative, the House, for its part, will also exhaust all means made available by the Constitution to bring in more investments, create new and better-paying jobs, and create new business and trade opportunities for our people. These things cannot wait." g

by Kristine Daguno-bersamina Philstar.com

MANILA — Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said that the Department of Tourism (DOT) aims to outperform the previous domestic visitor receipts, citing last year's strong performance.

"We hope to be able to surpass the P1.5 trillion pesos domestic visitors receipt na napunta sa ating ekonomiya noong 2022 (We hope to be able to surpass the P1.5 trillion pesos domestic visitors receipt recorded in 2022),” Franco said in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB. According to Frasco, tourismrelated employment had created 5 million jobs across the country.

Following President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.'s directives, the focus of the DOT is to enhance the overall tourist experience in 2024.

Frasco said that the DOT is planning to construct 18 tourist

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco

rest areas equipped with clean public restrooms to address practical concerns raised by tourists. The DOT official also expressed her confidence in the 2024 outlook for the country's tourism industry, citing positive numbers from both international and domestic tourists. She shared plans to promote and develop emerging destinations under the

DOT photo

Philippine Experience Program, extending beyond the well-known spots such as Cebu, Palawan, Boracay, Siargao, Metro Manila and Batangas.

Last year, the country surpassed its anticipated visitor arrivals, welcoming over five million tourists and generating tourism receipts exceeding P480 billion. g

Risa Hontiveros hits people’s initiative route for Cha-cha

by Charie abarCa Inquirer.net

MANILA — The supposed push for the people’s initiative method for Charter Change (Chacha) only seeks to undermine and weaken the Senate’s voice in amending the 1987 Constitution, said opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday, January 15.

In a statement, Hontiveros said the “well-funded” campaign is all about “greed” and not about the people. “[T]he reported people’s initiative is not about any economic or political reforms in the Constitution. There’s no mention of that in the forms allegedly spreading.

The campaign only wants both houses of Congress to vote jointly during a Constituent Assembly, thus weakening the Senate’s voice and participation in the process of Cha-cha,” said Hontiveros, partly in Filipino.

She stressed that she will keep an eye on this scheme and pointed out that instead of “wasting time” on these “fake people’s initiatives,” it would be better to prioritize what really

Sen. Risa Hontiveros

benefits Filipinos.

Among these include lowering the price of goods, raising the wages of the workers, addressing the worsening corruption and keeping an eye on China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea. “The country has so many problems that cannot be answered by that people’s initiative,” she emphasized.

Hontiveros’ statement was made amid a supposed signature campaign for Cha-cha.

Inquirer.net file photo

Hours after Hontiveros issued her statement, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri announced that with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s go signal, the upper chamber will review certain provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

Zubiri said this will be a Senate priority, repeatedly clarifying that their amendments will only focus on economic provisions of the country’s highest law, particularly public services, education, and advertising. g

8

JANUARY 18-24, 2024 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

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January 18, 2024

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Meet the Filipina ballerina who played the Liza saw ‘instant connection’ lead in Atlanta Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker’ with ‘Lisa Frankenstein’ character Mikaela Santos played Marie in the December 2023 run of Yuri Possokhov’s take on the ballet classic by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

MIKAELA Santos, 25, recently made headlines in the U.S after she played the lead female role, Marie, in Atlanta Ballet’s December run of “The Nutcracker.”

Hailing from Taguig, the ballerina joined the Atlanta Ballet as an apprentice in 2017 before becoming a member the following year at only 17. Before her turn in the spotlight, Santos has been playing small roles in the ballet company’s runs of the Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky classic in previous years. She’s done Chinese and Spanish variations, and played in small scenes as a supporting role prior to her announcement as Marie last year.

“I’ve done this version of ‘The Nutcracker’ for six years, and every year it feels like we are transported to a different place,” she said in an interview with an Atlanta-based publication.

And though she was one of four different casts in the total 19 performances of the ballet, Santos is still reeling from this opportunity.

“Every time I step on the stage, it’s like basically showing [that] this is what I love and I’ve been working on it since I was like 11 or 12, you know?” she told a local reporter in a TFC interview. “And I just want to show people that, you know, it’s possible, you can do it if you put in the work.”

Santos began her ballet training as early as three years old, encouraged by her parents. In her teens, she joined the Effie Nañas School of Classical Ballet and in 2014, won second place in the Junior Division at the first Cultural Center of the Philippines Ballet Competition. This earned her a spot at the Philippine Ballet Theatre as an apprentice in March 2016.

In the same year, she became a finalist at the World Ballet Competition in Orlando, Florida where one of the judges, Atlanta Ballet Artistic Director Gennadi Nedvigin, noticed her.

“She was a young but determined competitor with strong technical skills that demonstrated great potential to become a professional dancer,” Nedvigin spoke of Santos in an interview.

She was soon offered a schol-

Meet Mikaela Santos, the 25-year-old Filipino ballerina who played the lead in Atlanta Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker’ Photos courtesy of Atlanta Ballet

arship to the Atlanta Ballet Professional Summer Intensive and was subsequently offered a position in the Fellowship Ensemble.

“After joining Atlanta Ballet 2 (Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education’s highest level of training) and now six years with the company, Mikaela has gained the confidence and artistry needed to perform a lead role.

She developed her own style and personality while on stage,” Nedvigin continued.

Santos has since performed in Atlanta Ballet’s John McFall’s “The Nutcracker,” Bruce Wells’ “Snow White,” Marius Petipa’s “Paquita,” Yuri Possokhov’s “Firebird,” David Bintley’s “Carmina Burana,” and Robert Barnett’s “Arenskey,” Marius Petipa, Jean Coralli, and Jules Perrot’s “Giselle,” and Sergio Masero’s “Schubertiada.”

In March 2023, she starred in her first full-length ballet performance as Kitri in Yuri Possokhov’s “Don Quixote.”

The 25-year-old ballerina was also included in Dance Magazine’s “25 To Watch” list in 2023.

“It’s her imaginative spark— along with pristine technique and bright musicality—that makes Mikaela Santos one of Atlanta Ballet’s most captivating dancers,” the write-up read.

Santos considers Romanian Alina Cojocaru and Argentinian Marianela Nunes among her ballet idols. “Both dancers are very

different, but I love how effortless and strong they make every step look on stage and off,” she said in another interview.

Looking at how far she’s come, Santos often thinks of why she had to go abroad to pursue her dream of performing arts. She said in one interview, at the time, she didn’t feel like the arts were supported in the country like it is abroad.

Asked if she has any advice for aspiring Filipino dancers who want to pursue a career in dance outside of the Philippines, she said the key is to be patient and open to changes.

“There will be a lot of challenges along the way but take it as a learning experience. Never doubt or look down on yourself because no one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes, as long as you keep a positive mindset you will eventually reach your goals.”

At 25, Santos still has a lot of dreams she wants to fulfill, like dancing in Europe or maybe even going back to the country and performing at home.

“I really do want to go back and dance there because it’s my home. My family is still there. I would love for them to see me perform now that I’m actually a professional.”

Santos will star in the Atlanta Ballet’s March 2024 production of “Cinderella” by Bruce Wells.

(Inquirer.net)

FILIPINO ACTOR MAKES BROADWAY DEBUT IN ‘CHICAGO’

by KriStofer Purnell Philstar.com

ACTRESS-singer Liza Soberano is gearing up for the release of her very first Hollywood movie "Lisa Frankenstein," directed by Zelda Williams and headlined

by Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse.

The film follows the titular misunderstood teenager played Newton and the handsome Victorian corpse (Sprouse) she takes a liking to.

Soberano plays Taffy, a cheerleader and the supportive step sister of Netwon's Lisa who screenwriter Diablo Cody calls her favorite character in the movie.

"I had an instant connection with her," said Soberano about Taffy. "She's such a fun character to play."

Cody explained depicting Taffy as the standard "mean popular girl" would be an uninteresting take, "Most of the queen bees I've known were more complex than that."

Liza Soberano and Kathryn Newton in “Lisa Frankenstein” Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures

"She's a beacon of positivity, and even when she's unwittingly condescending or tone deaf, her intentions are always kind. She's more protective of Lisa than anyone else in the film, other than the Creature," Cody added.

"Lisa resents Taffy because she's effortlessly beautiful and popular, but Lisa eventually comes to realize that her ire is misdirected."

‘Rewind’ now highest-grossing Filipino film in domestic box office sales

by Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

METRO Manila Film Festival entry "Rewind" became the highest-grossing Filipino film in domestic box office sales with P815 million as of on Wednesday, January 17.

The film surpassed the 2019 film "Hello, Love, Goodbye" and the 2018 film "The Hows of Us." Both films earned P691 million and P690 million in domestic sales, respectively.

"Hello, Love, Goodbye," meanwhile, is still the highestgrossing Filipino film of all time with P880 million global ticket sales, while "Rewind" has P845 million total.

During the film's thanksgiving event on Wednesday, ABS-CBN reported that Marian Rivera said that the box office success is just a bonus for her and husband Dingdong Dantes.

"Noong binasa namin ‘to, isa lang gusto namin mangayari, bonus na lang figure, alam namin naraming pinagdaanan tao ng pandemic. Kaya sabi namin sana gawin kami instrumento ng Panginoon na na-touch puso nila na magbago at mas mahalin mga tao sa paligid nila," she said. "'Yung message na ito lang Dingdong, meanwhile, said that makalat sa mga tao... Ang pinaka they are grateful for the success of importante sa amin ay ang the movie. message ng film na ito, na talagang "Iba 'pag nakakausap mo mga tumatak sa puso nila," she added. tao at kwinento paano naging

‘Chicago’ is said to be the longest-running American musical Why Mark declined and then currently gracing the Broadway stage accepted job to direct ‘Mr. Streisand’

by HanS Carbonilla Inquirer.net

THE Filipino community in the United States is celebrating a new addition to the Broadway scene as acclaimed actor Red Concepcion officially takes the stage in the Tony Award-winning “Chicago the Musical,” marking his debut on Broadway.

This milestone unfolds as Concepcion steps into the role of Amos Hart in what is widely regarded as the longest-running American musical currently gracing the Broadway stage.

His engagement will commence on Jan. 15 until Mar. 24.

In an Instagram post, the musical’s page extends a warm welcome to the Filipino theater actor with a caption, “Welcome to CHICAGO, @red_concepcion!

He joins our cast and makes his Broadway debut as Amos Hart beginning Monday, January 15th!”

Concepcion, renowned for his portrayal of The Engineer in “Miss Saigon” during the U.S. National and UK and Ireland Tours, offered a glimpse behind the scenes with snapshots from rehearsals.

“The only rehearsal pic I’ve taken. What a whirlwind it’s been! Hope to see you all Monday!,” he wrote.

For those unfamiliar with Concepcion’s work, he gained acclaim for his lead role as Alan Strang in the Manila restaging of Peter Shaffer’s psychological drama “Equus.”

In 2014, he clinched the Aliw Award for Best Actor in a Musical and the Gawad Buhay Award for Outstanding Male Actor in a Musical for his performance as Adam/Felicia in the Manila production of “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.”

Concepcion joins Charlotte d’Amboise (Roxie Hart), Max von Essen (Billy Flynn), R. Lowe (Mary Sunshine), Kimberly Marable (Velma Kelly), Lili Thomas as Matron “Mama” Morton.

Filipino actor Red Concepcion joins ‘Chicago the Musical’ as Amos Hart, marks Broadway debut.

Photos from Instagram/@chicagomusical

Liza isn't the only individual with Filipino descent working on the movie. The director is the only daughter of the late comedian Robin Williams with his ex-wife Marsha Garces, a film producer whose father was born in Bohol.

"Lisa Frankenstein" is set to release in Philippine cinemas on February 7, a full week before Valentine's Day.

by Carlo orosa Philstar.com

KNOWN primarily as a pop singer and TV/film/stage actor, Mark Bautista is embracing the challenge of directing a unique concert that features Philippine theater's best male singers performing Barbra Streisand songs.

Recalling how he initially declined the opportunity, Mark said, “Project head Stella Sison asked me to direct a particular concert, na hindi rin natuloy and at that time I was hesitant. I felt I was not ready and didn’t see myself yet as a director, so I told her, ‘Pass muna ako.’”

Then, at the Hamilton gala last September, Stella chanced upon Mark and asked him again if he’d be interested directing a concert of Barbra Streisand songs featuring male singers.

He shared, “Akala ko pa nga ako ba kakanta? Kasama ba ako?”

Stella replied, “Ikaw ang gusto kong mag-direct, (I) will call it ‘Mr. Streisand.’”

At first, Mark thought Stella was joking. “Akala ko pa it was a joke,” he laughed, “or will this be another project na hindi matutuloy? Weeks after the gala, she called again and asked if I were up to the job directing it. I told her, ‘Give me two more days to think about it.’ Then,

I called her and asked questions like who’s performing in it? What’s the venue?”

“I gave suggestions, ideas without confirming that I would do it,” he continued. “Still, it took me a week to decide and eventually I said yes. Then, she served me a contract. After that, I said to myself, ‘Oh, no there’s no turning back on this. This is it.”

He admitted to experiencing apprehension at the outset, saying, “May fear sa akin because first time kong mag-direct at hindi lang ‘to isang artist, but anim na batikang performers.

“Iba pa sa kanila nakatrabaho ko na, dinerek na rin ako sa isang musical, naging coach ko pa sa isang musical, sina Michael Williams and Audie Gemora. So, dun ako lalong nagkaroon ng fear.”

Despite his fear, Mark viewed it as a chance for artistic and career growth.

He said, “but then, I thought this would be good for my artistry, my career. It will be something new to expand myself and since I’m celebrating my 20th year, I thought it will be something different, instead of doing a concert.”

The singer revealed that he has directed portions of his GMA 7 weekend show All-Out Sundays and collaborated with other directors, but nothing like a concert of this scale.

Photo from Instagram/@starcinema

impact sa buhay nila. 'Yun priceless... Itong figure says ganito kadami nanuod. We are so grateful we were able to tell the story," he said. g

Singer-actor Mark Bautista wears the director’s hat for the Stages Sessions’ concert titled Mr. Streisand.

Photo from Instagram/@iammarkbautista

Mark’s directorial concert debut centers around a group of male friends who come together in a lounge or a green room where they exchange stories and experiences relating to Streisand songs.

Mark expressed his enthusiasm by saying, “It still has to be presented in a theatrical way, and at the end of the concert, I want the audience to say na sila pala talaga ang ‘Mr. Streisand!’”

Presented by Stages Sessions, Mr. Streisand will be staged on Feb. 10, 8 p.m. at the Music Museum. It will feature the country’s Filipino musical theater actors Audie Gemora, Michael Williams, Jett Pangan, Franco Laurel, Arman Ferrer and Michael de Mesa. Musical direction is by Rony Fortich.

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Features

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 18-24, 2024

9

General enrollment period for Medicare by annie WaLterS Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Nevada

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Yassi Pressman (rightmost) and South Korean actor-singer Nam Woo Hyun (leftmost) are joined by The Guardian co-stars (from left) Wilbert Ross, Ashtine Olviga, Heart Ryan and Eric Ejercito.

Photo from Instagram/@yassipressman

Yassi leads local cast in Korean-Filipino action thriller

by Leah C. SaLterio Philstar.com

SEVEN Filipino actors who tried their luck auditioning for a forthcoming Korean-Filipino production, eventually got the chance to be in the cast of the action-drama thriller, The Guardian, to be in the shown internationally this year.

Actress Yassi Pressman leads the list of local artists who passed the auditions and were signed up for their respective roles in the KoreanFilipino film.

Yassi will play Sandara, who will be introduced in The Guardian.

“They all told me when I stepped in to audition, ‘Just do your best’,” the 28-year-old actress recalled.

“They didn’t tell me what I was auditioning for.

Yassi will play Sandara, who will be introduced in The Guardian.

“They all told me when I stepped in to audition, ‘Just do your best’,” the 28-year-old actress recalled.

“They didn’t tell me what I was auditioning for.

Action star Jeric Raval will play one of the villains. “I accepted the project for a change,” Jeric said.

Wilbert Ross, who was a former member of the all-male group Hashtags, will also essay a semiantagonist role named Jason. “This will be action and very different from the roles I did in the past,” Wilbert said.

Eric Ejercito, on the other hand, nabbed the role of Coco, Sandara’s friend. They later become the best friends of Do Jun (played by Korean singer-actor Nam Woo Hyun).

Joko Diaz plays the character of Gordon. He accepted the project to be able to get the chance to be in a Korean film. “I want to get a chance to work with Korean actors and experience what it’s like to be part of a project like this.”

Young actress Ashtine Olviga plays one of the artists who auditions for a K-pop group. “I said yes right away because this is a big opportunity for me,” she admitted. “Who will say no to be part of this project.”

Heart Ryan plays a part of the K-pop group. “This is a big opportunity for me to be cast in a Korean-Filipino film like The Guardian. I am also a huge fan of K-dramas and films.”

Viva Artists Agency (VAA) president Vincent del Rosario was initially called on to provide the artists who will audition for The Guardian, but later agreed to co-produce the action-thriller with Parallax Studio (Wesley Villarica) and Ovation Productions (Cel de Guia).

“In fairness to our artists, they all auditioned and were very professional in trying their luck out in the roles available,” shared Vincent. “They were chosen, so I guess they all fit in the roles assigned to them.”

Yassi easily gets film assignments or roles as one of the contract stars of VAA but she auditioned for this one.

“She would just be at Viva and tell us she’s ready for a new film and we will give her a project anytime,” Vincent said.

“But for The Guardian, she went

through the audition process and that was a nice thing to do. Very commendable.”

The story of The Guardian follows Korean nationals Park Do Jun (singer-actor Nam Woo Hyun of idol group Infinite) and his mother Mi Jin (Steel Rain, Alchemy of Souls and Jewel in the Palace actress Park Eun Hye), who relocated to the Philippines.

Back in Korea, Do Jun showed talent in taekwondo and aspired to become a national player. Yet, he gave that all up to be with his mom.

Although Do Jun has a great amount of love for his mother, they’ve always had a strained relationship because of Mi Jin’s gambling addiction.

Over the years, this gambling problem worsens to the point that Do Jun drops out of college to find a job and support himself.

At work, he befriends Sandara (Yassi), who dreams of becoming a K-pop star and Coco (Eric Ejercito) and fast becomes close to them.

Mi Jin disappears and Do Jun receives word that she was kidnapped by the notorious gang leader (Han Jae Seok), who runs the largest Korean criminal organization in the Philippines.

“The Guardian story is the love between the mother and her son,” informed Korean director Joeng Jang Hwan. “I’m trying to synchronize the Korean actors and those from the Philippines showing the love between a family.

“Even though we haven’t started yet, I’m so excited to work with Filipino actors and actresses. The PAGE 10

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Jericho denies breakup with Kim

by Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

ACTOR Jericho Rosales denied rumors that he and wife Kim Jones have separated.

In a report by PEP, Jericho said that he didn't want to talk about his personal life.

"No comment because it's not the place. I never really talk about my relationships but we're happy, we're good," he said.

"Kim and I, we're amazing, we're fantastic," he added.

When asked how is his love life right now, Jericho said: "Good, great, amazing, fantastic."

Jericho and Kim shut down speculations that they broke up after they attended the 2023 ABS-CBN Ball together last September 2023.

Jericho and Kim were more than happy to be attending the long-delayed return of the ball and were excited to rekindle some old friendships.

"It feels so good, we have so many good memories here. See-

Celebrity couple Jericho Rosales and Kim Jones at the 2023 ABS-CBN Ball.

Philstar.com photo

ing everyone together again is so much fun. To kiss and hug everyone we haven't seen since before the pandemic," Kim told Philstar.

com, which Jericho reciprocated by saying, "We're just excited, we just want to see everyone now."

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JANUARY 18-24, 2024 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

Health @Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS MOST of the food products we eat today have healthier alternative items. If we are serious about staying healthy and maximizing our natural longevity, that option is open to us. All we have to do is to educate ourselves, which, today, is not hard to do, thanks to Dr. Google and the world wide web.

Unlike Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon’s quest for that elusive fountain of youth, which, unbeknownst to him was right under his nose, we, in this 21st century, equipped with evidencebased medical data, know that we have in our hands the knowledge and ability to live a healthy lifestyle to boost our immune system, minimize our risk for preventable diseases, and extend our life span to its full potential. Life expectancy in the U.S. in the 1800s was about 35; in the 1900s, around 47; and today, an average of 79.3.

There are some food items in our own pantry at home which make our skin look older and our body age faster. They are a group of food items with compounds called AGEs (Advance Glycation Endproducts) which have aging effect on our skin, our immune system, and body as a whole. Replacing these food items with healthier options could help slow down aging.

AGEs are bad compounds that result from proteins or fats in our system combining with sugars. Low carbohydrate meals, and minimizing or, even better, eliminating rice from our diet is a healthy option. Many vegetables and some protein foods also contain some carbohydrates (sugar), so we do not have to add rice to our diet.

The Mediterranean and the South Beach diets are basically offering a lot of vegetables, fruits, nuts, sea food and low-carbs and less red meats. And then there is the keto diet of high in protein and negligible carbs. All these basically acknowledge the health hazard in sugars and red meat, especially processed meats (bacon, sausages, hot dogs, etc.), toxic items that induce oxidation and inflammation, which also increase our risk for cancer.

What are the healthier alternatives?

Sweet potato instead of rice – Rice, even the brown variety or Basmati, has high glycemic index, causing our blood sugar level to spike fast, unlike vegetables, which take longer to bring the blood sugar up and therefore maintaining a healthier, even keel. As such, eating rice leads to being overweight or obesity in most people, and abstinence from it helps reduce weight. Rice is

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virgin variety, compared to using any vegetable, corn, or canola oil. Olive oil can withstand higher temperature unlike the others, but in either case, the use of very high temperature higher than 300 is not healthy. Contrary to popular belief, coconut oil, which is good as cosmetic oil for the hair and skin, is not as healthy as virgin olive oil as food.

Brussel sprouts instead of corn – Corn is starchy and induces inflammatory reaction in the body, causing GI problems and obesity for some people. Occasional indulgence in corn is fine. Fructose induces collagen destruction.

Brussel sprouts contain a lot of Lipoic acid, which counteracts this fructose effect to maintain good collagen level in our skin. Not to mention the beneficial antioxidant, anti-inflammatory effects of this vegetables plus the fiber in them.

They are good sources of Vitamin B1, B6, C and K, and folate, choline, manganese, potassium, phosphorus and omega-3 fatty acids too.

Carrots, celery, broccoli instead of hamburgers and sweets – For snacks, meats, sweets, desserts and cakes are health-snatchers.

The better alternatives are carrots, celery, broccoli, and veggies in general, for their anti-stress, antiinflammatory, and antioxidant properties that boost our immune system, lowering our risk for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, and cancer.

Besides the quality of food items, quantity of our daily caloric intake is most essential to health and longevity. Pushing ourselves away from the table less than full and drinking a lot of water to fill the gap is a healthy and most rewarding discipline.

At any rate, a full and happy life is worth all the effort we put into it.

Juan Ponce never found his miracle water of youth. He died in 1521, barely 61. That ephemeral fountain that eluded JP is what we today call healthy lifestyle.

indeed the archenemy of diabetes and obesity. Sweet potato has a lower glycemic index, even lower than regular potato and unhealthy french fries. Sweet potato also contains a lot of copper, which counteracts AGEs and helps in collagen production for our skin.

Honey or fruits – For sweetener, honey or fruits are better alternative to white sugar, brown sugar, or even raw sugar. Of course, the less sugar (carbs), the better.

Fruits, like berries, grapefruits, mangos, pomegranates, apples, mangosteen, avocados, etc., and quinoa, whole grains (barley, oats, rye, triticale and flaxseed), and nuts are healthy. Diabetics should always comply with their prescribed caloric intake. Drinking coffee black is healthier, sans cream and sugar. Sugars are sweet but a bitter enemy of our health.

Sprouted bread to white bread – Like rice, white bread and pastry made of wheat and white flour, cause inflammatory reaction in the body. They also have high glycemic index, besides containing AGEs. Sprouted bread or those made with whole grains are more antiinflammatory, rich in antioxidants, which help in flushing out AGEs. Fish and chicken instead of red meat – Fish and chicken (especially chicken breast) is healthier than red meat. Processed meats of any kind (deli meats, bacon, hot dog, sausage, salami, etc.) contain additives and are unhealthy. Eating red meat regularly (more than twice a week), as we have written in the past, is associated with increased risk for colon and pancreatic cancers, etc., especially when grilled over high temperature. Red meat and rice are not essential food items. We can live healthier and even longer without them.

Dark chocolate instead of sugarloaded candies – Chocolates, rich in antioxidant flavonoids, especially the dark variety, which aid in counteracting the adverse effects of free radicals and AGEs, reduce the oxidative process that makes us age faster and develop diseases.

Filtered water instead of soft drinks – I have labelled all forms of soft drinks as “liquid candies” in my book on healthy lifestyle and disease prevention, “Let’s Stop ‘Killing’ Our Children” (view at philipSchua.com and amazon.com).

This beverage is toxic to adults and children alike. It increases the risk for metabolic syndrome, the precursor of diabetes, heart attack, stroke, and cancer. The safest beverage we have is water which has undergone 8-stage reversed osmosis filtration, which removes harmful chemicals in water, and UV light treatment to eliminate bacteria and viruses.

Virgin olive oil instead of margarine, butter, or other veggie oils – For cooking, it is healthier to use olive oil, preferably the

*** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He was a recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995, conferred by then Indiana Governor, later Senator, and then presidential candidate, Evan Bayh. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry Truman, President George HW Bush, Muhammad Ali, and Astronaut Gus Grissom (Wikipedia).

Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday. com, and philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com.

The Filipino cast members have filmed their scenes, while their scenes with the Korean actors will be filmed now that the foreign cast members are here in the Philippines.

“They have been very strict with all the Korean actors on the set,” Yassi observed. “They are protecting them while they are here. With us, the Filipino cast, grabe din kaming alagaan ng people around us, as well as the management.”

Even if she’s now part of a Korean-Filipino film, Yassi refuses to readily think this will be the start of her international career.

“Ayoko kong mag-isip ng anything in the future,” Yassi said.

“I’m doing everything slowly.

Starting last year, I always pray for few steps that I will take. Having this opportunity is really a big, big blessing.

“I always thank the Lord for that.

The feeling of working with these

very extraordinary actors coming from Korea, I’m very, very excited.

I am thrilled to be working soon with them.”

Talking to the Korean actors is a challenge for their Filipino co-stars. “Talking to them and understanding them is a challenge,” admitted Yassi. “We use hand signals, but even if they find it hard to explain what they want to say, they make an effort to be understood. They don’t just give up. They really want to connect and talk to us.

“That also encourages me to connect with them. I get to sit down and eat with them. When our director finally shouts ‘Action,’ we will all be thrilled to work together.

I’m looking forward to experience our camaraderie as an ensemble working together.

“From our story conference, they were all very professional. I hope we get to learn more while working with them.”

Yassi leads local cast in Korean-Filipino action...

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Guardian will be a very good movie.”

Filming for The Guardian will be scheduled for 17 days here in the Philippines, while post production, dubbing and musical score will all be done in South Korea.

Yassi is thankful to her local producers for making The Guardian happen.

“I also prayed for this last year, that hopefully this project pushes through because it’s such a big honor to be part of something like this,” Yassi said. “This is one of the firsts for our country. We Filipinos admire the Korean artists, films, their culture.

“It was very nice to meet them here. We simply had a meeting then story-con. It was nice to meet everybody involved in this project. Even if we had a language barrier, we saw that they were all always smiling. They were open to communicate with us.”

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Minding Your Finances atty. RayMonD Bulaon IN this week’s article, I would like to provide an overview of how installment agreements are often used by the IRS in tax collection. When you can’t pay the government what you owe all at once, the IRS will allow you to make monthly payments over a reasonable amount of time, usually 60 to 72 months. But it can also be longer as long as the liability can paid over the life of the collection statute (10 years from the date of assessment).

The IRS wants their money as soon as possible. That’s a given.

But for those individuals and businesses who are not able to resolve their tax debt immediately, the IRS may have no choice but to agree to a payment plan based on your surplus income after allowable living expenses are deducted. I say “allowable” because the IRS does not allow all expenses. The expenses must be in line with the IRS guidelines and that can sometime be tricky or frustrating to taxpayers who are spending more than is acceptable. In some cases, the IRS may allow you one year to adjust your expenses to give you some time to reduce them.

Installment agreements require that you commit future tax refunds towards paying your outstanding balance. If you owe for several years, the

Can’t pay your IRS taxes?

IRS will apply your payments to your oldest liabilities first.

If your refunds are not sufficient to pay what you owe, your agreement will simply continue until all the terms are satisfied.

If you owe $50,000 or less, you may qualify for a streamlined agreement if you can pay your liability over 5 years. What this means is that you may not be required to submit collection information statements which detail your income and expenses. This applies even if you have sufficient assets to satisfy your tax debt.

Once the installment agreement is in place, you must remain current on your monthly payments. If you run into some problems and have to miss some payments, it is best to call the IRS and let them know. If you do nothing, you are considered in default. When that happens, your agreement will be cancelled by the IRS and they will take enforced collection action such as a bank levy, wage garnishment, or a federal tax lien being filed against your home or other real property. In some cases, your U.S. passport can even be revoked, and you will not be able to leave the country until you get current again.

Unfortunately, interest and penalties do not stop with an installment agreement. So, the longer it takes for you to pay what you owe, the larger your tax liability becomes. For this reason, it is important that a qualified tax professional review your case

thoroughly to see if this is in fact your best option. For example, if you have assets that can be sold to resolve your tax liability much more quickly, this could be a good alternative and less costly for you in the long run, even if it means only being able to pay your taxes partially and reducing the principal balance before you enter into an installment agreement.

If you qualify for tax debt forgiveness (called an “Offer in Compromise”), this may also be a good option if you qualify.

With this option, you will be able to significantly reduce what you owe the IRS via a settlement and get the IRS out of your life once and for all.

If you owe the IRS, the State, EDD or State Board of Equalization, my office can help you find the best solution to resolve your tax liability. You will never have to speak with the IRS again. I will review your case and help you make the best decision for yourself and family. *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation.

Atty. Ray Bulaon has been in private practice for 23 years and have helped more than 6,000 clients obtain debt relief. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call RJB Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1-866-471-8273.

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MEDICAL MISSION IN NUEVA ECIJA. Munoz (The Science City) Mayor “Baby” Armi L. Alvarez (seated, 3rd from left, in light blue shirt) poses with the members of the Philippine-American Association of Nevada medical mission team, headed by Daniel C. Fabito, MD, FACS, FPCS, PAAN president (in scrub suit), Luz Micabalo, Philippine-American Charity Foundation President, and Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, (standing, 4th from the left) chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA and Asian Journal columnist. During the 5-day mission in Munoz and Talavera, the missionaries provided consultations and free medications to more than 500 individuals, and performed surgeries, including for various tumors, thyroid and gallbladder surgeries, hernia repair, hysterectomy, and dozens of minor procedures.

Photo courtesy of Dr. Philip Chua

‘Iti Mapukpukaw’ misses cut for Oscars 2024 shortlist

by Kristofer Purnell Philstar.com

CINEMALAYA Philippines Independent Film Festival 2023 Best Picture and the Philippines' entry to the 2024 Academy Awards "Iti Mapukpukaw" has missed the cut for the Best International Feature Film category after shortlisted nominees were revealed.

The film, which stars Carlo Aquino, Dolly de Leon, and Gio Gahol, made history as the first animated feature to be nominated and win Best Film at Cinemalaya.

"Iti Mapukpukaw" also won the NETPAC Award, while de Leon took home the Best Supporting Actress award. The rotoscope animated film follows a mouthless animator named Eric, played by Aquino, who crosses paths with a familiar alien. De Leon plays Eric's mother Rosalinda, who resides in Ilocos, while Gahol plays Eric's co-worker crush Carlo.

Making the cut for the Best International Feature Film shortlist were expected entrants Denmark's "The Promised Land" starring Mads Mikkelsen, Japan's "Perfect Days" directed by Wim Wenders, Spain's "Society of the Snow" directed by J.A. Bayona, and the United Kingdom's "The Zone of Interest."

Carlo Aquino and Dolly de Leon in “Iti Mapukpukaw”.

Bhutan's second-ever submission "The Monk and the Gun" made the cut, after the film's director Pawo Choyning Dorji previously helmed the country's debut entry "Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom."

Armenia and Ukraine make their Oscars debut with their respectives entries "Amerikatsi" and "20 Days in Mariupol," the latter also shortlisted for Best Documentary with Tunisia's "Four Daughters."

"Society of the Snow" also made the shortlists for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Original Score, and Best Visual Effects, which could see it emulate last year's Best International Feature Film winner "All Quiet on the Western Front."

The Spanish entry and Martin

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Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon" both trailed summer blockbuster "Barbie" which had five shortlist mentions including three for Best Original Song — "Dance The Night," "I'm Just Ken," and "What Was I Made For?" No Philippine submission has made the nominees shortlist since the country's first attempt in 1953 with Manuel Conde's "Genghis Khan."

Other popular entries include "Ganito Kami Noon... Paano Kayo Ngayon?," "Karnal," "Dekada '70," "Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros," "Crying Ladies," "Ded na si Lolo," "Noy," "Ang Babae sa Septic Tank," "Ma' Rosa" and "Mindanao."

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