Fil-Am doctor convicted of $24 million Medicare fraud
LOS ANGELES – Alexander Baldonado, a Filipino American physician from Queens, New York, has been found guilty of submitting over $24 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare for unnecessary laboratory tests and orthotic braces.
Court documents show Baldonado, 69, received tens of thousands of dollars in kickbacks and bribes in exchange for ordering laboratory tests, including expensive cancer genetic tests that were billed to Medicare.
Baldonado authorized hundreds of cancer genetic tests for Medicare beneficiaries who attended COVID-19 testing events at assisted living facilities, adult day care centers and a retirement community in 2020.
“Baldonado was not treating any of the patients who attended the testing events and, in many cases, did not speak to or examine the patients prior to ordering cancer genetic tests and other laboratory tests for them,” stated a press release from the US Department of Justice, dated Feb. 11.
Baldonado also billed Medicare for office visits but many of the patients
First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer resigns amid City Hall shakeup
resignation on Monday, Feb. 17, stepping down alongside Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom, and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Chauncey
Comelec, DFA to overseas Filipinos: Register for online voting Philippines insulated from US tariff risks, says S&P
MANILA — The Philippines is expected to remain insulated from the impact of potential United States tariffs on Asian economies due to its trade surplus with the world’s largest economy, an advantage among its regional peers, according to S&P Global Ratings.
YeeFarn Phua, director at S&P, said that while countries such as
China, Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan face risks from U.S. tariff policies, the Philippines has so far stayed out of the equation.
“The Philippines is one of the major economies, perhaps the only major economy in the region, that actually has a trade surplus with the U.S.,” Phua said in a webinar on Tuesday, February 18.
“For now, when it comes to talking about tariffs on certain
MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday, February 19, encouraged registered Overseas Filipino voters to register for the prevoting enrollment for the 2025 polls.
in the pre-voting enrollment before they can cast their votes.
Parker. The abrupt departures mark a significant shift within Mayor Eric Adams’ administration amid a turbulent political climate.
MANILA — A group of lawyers from Mindanao, officials of Davao City and other supporters of Vice President Sara Duterte petitioned the Supreme Court on Tuesday, Feb. 18, to stop the Senate from proceeding with her impeachment trial, arguing that it was based on a “defective” complaint.
In a 114-page petition for certiorari and prohibition, 28 individuals, led by lawyers Israelito Torreon, Martin Delgra III and Luna Acosta, asked the high tribunal to issue a temporary restraining order directing the Senate to “cease and desist” from conducting the impeachment trial. A conviction in the Senate trial would bar her from holding public office.
They cited, among other issues, the “malicious” inaction of the House of Representatives on the first three impeachment complaints filed in December. These were later archived after a fourth impeachment complaint was eventually endorsed by 215 House lawmakers and transmitted to the Senate late afternoon on Feb. 5.
This deliberate delay, the petitioners argued, was intended to circumvent the one-year ban rule, which prohibits initiating impeachment proceedings against the same official more than once within a year.
Torreon serves as one of the legal counsels for detained televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ sect and a close ally of the Duterte family, while Delgra previously chaired the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board during the administration of former u PAGE 2 u PAGE 4
Garcia said that an overseas Filipino voter must register first
“I think our problem won’t be the voting itself, but the enrollment. Will they have a high interest in enrolling? Because you may be a registered voter, but if you can’t enroll, you won’t be able to vote,” Garcia said in Filipino at a press conference at the signing of a memorandum of agreement with DFA,
NEW YORK City’s First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer announced her
by Jane Bautista Inquirer.net
by Dianne sampang Inquirer.net
by AJPress
by Keisha ta-asan Philstar.com
First Deputy Mayor Maria...
The resignations follow the Department of Justice's recent motion to dismiss federal bribery charges against Mayor Adams, a move that has sparked allegations of a political quid pro quo. Governor Kathy Hochul has convened key leaders to discuss the city's leadership crisis and potential actions regarding Mayor Adams' tenure.
In a letter addressed to her colleagues, Torres-Springer expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to serve New Yorkers, emphasizing that public service has always been an "act of love." She cited the "extraordinary events of the last few weeks" as a key factor in her decision, though she did not specify further. However, the timing of her departure coincides with ongoing controversies surrounding Mayor Adams’ leadership and recent legal challenges.
“Serving as Deputy Mayors has been the greatest honor and privilege of our lives,” she wrote in a joint statement with Joshi and Williams-Isom. “We have worked each day with the singular mission of improving the lives of New Yorkers and strengthening the physical foundation of the city we love.”
Torres-Springer, who played a pivotal role in economic development and housing policy, expressed pride in the initiatives she helped spearhead during her tenure.
Acknowledging the difficulty of her decision to step down, Torres-Springer expressed hope that others would see it as one also made out of love. She and her fellow departing deputy mayors have assured Mayor Adams that they will do everything possible to ensure a smooth transition, with further details on their departures to be shared in the coming days.
She also conveyed her immense pride and gratitude for the work accomplished alongside her colleagues. While noting that the list of achievements is extensive, she emphasized that their collective success was only possible because of the brilliance, integrity, and dedication of those who serve the city each day.
“Due to the extraordinary events of the last few weeks and to stay faithful to the oaths we swore to New Yorkers and our families, we have come to the difficult decision to step down from our roles,” the joint statement further read. “While our time in this administration will come to a close, our support for the incredible public servants across the administration with whom we
have stood shoulder to shoulder and our championing of this great city and all it stands for will never cease.”
“I am disappointed to see them go, but given the current challenges, I understand their decision and wish them nothing but success in the future,” Mayor Adams said in a statement. “But let me be crystal clear: New York City will keep moving forward, just as it does every day. All deputy mayors will remain in their roles for the time being to ensure a seamless transition. The people of New York City remain, without question, our top priority.
“I am solely beholden to the 8.3 million New Yorkers I represent, and I will always put this city first — as I always have.”
“Maria Torres-Springer, Anne WilliamsIsom, Meera Joshi, and Chauncey Parker are extraordinary public servants who have been vital to our work reshaping New York City," the mayor's office also said in the statement. "Together, we’ve broken housing records, created the most jobs in the city’s history, provided for hundreds of thousands of longtime New Yorkers and migrants, built unprecedented public spaces, and made our city safer at every level. New Yorkers owe them an enormous debt of gratitude for their service to our city." n
Comelec, DFA to overseas Filipinos...
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Parole and Probation Administration, and National Council of Senior Citizens.
Garcia also said overseas Filipinos must not fear for their status abroad if they are planning to register for online voting.
DFA Undersecretary and DFA Overseas Voting Secretariat Chairperson Jesus Domingo said the agency conducts
Duterte allies ask SC...
PAGE 1
President Rodrigo Duterte. Acosta is an incumbent councilor of Davao City, the Dutertes’ hometown.
Other Davao City officials joining as petitioners were Vice Mayor J. Melchor Quitain Jr. and Councilors Bai Hundra Advincula, Al Ryan Alejandre, Dante Apostol Sr., Conrado Baluran, Jessica Bonguyan, Louie John Bonguyan, Pilar Braga, Jonard Dayap, Edgar Ibuyan Jr., Richlyn JustolBaguilod, Myrna L’DalodoOrtiz, Diosdado Angelo Mahipus, Bonz Andre Militar, Alberto Ungab, Trisha Ann Villafuerte, Lorenzo Benjamin Villafuerte, Jesus Joseph Zozobrado III, Rodolfo Mande and Kristine May John Mercado.
Also among the petitioners are lawyers James Reserva and Hillary Olga Reserva, who represented Jey Rence Quilario, also known as “Senior Agila,” the leader of Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc.
No VP involvement
Speaking to reporters after the filing, Torreon clarified that Vice President Duterte had no involvement in the petition.
“I would describe [the 28 petitioners] as individuals who all love the vice president, but that does not necessarily mean that we are being sponsored by Vice President Sara Duterte,” he said, adding that all of them voted for her in the 2022 elections.
The impeachment complaint against Duterte accuses her of culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes.
“Here, there are NO AFFIDAVITS or separate pages containing the verification of the 215 members of the House of Representatives,” the petition read in part.
It argued that a complaint with improper verification is considered an unsigned pleading, which has no legal effect under Rule 7, Section 4 of the 2019 Amended Rules of Civil Procedure.
The first impeachment complaint was filed on Dec. 2, 2024, by Fr. Flavie Villanueva and Gary Alejano, and endorsed by Akbayan Rep. Percival Cendaña.
Subsequent complaints were filed on Dec. 4, Dec. 19 and Feb. 5—the same day the case was transmitted to the Senate.
The petitioners noted that for the last impeachment complaint, the 215 House members collectively spent only four to five hours verifying the document.
“When broken down mathematically, this means that each member had only about 1.4 minutes to read and verify the complaint— an amount of time grossly insufficient for any meaningful review,” they said.
The petitioners cited the Supreme Court ruling in Francisco v. House of Representatives (G.R. No. 160261), which clarified that an impeachment complaint is considered initiated upon referral to the House committee on justice.
‘Panic mode’
At the House of Representatives, lawmakers on Tuesday, February 18, decried the filing of the petition as a “desperate” move.
Ako Bicol Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon, one of the 11 House prosecutors in the impeachment trial, dismissed this legal move as either a “mere publicity stunt or an act of desperation” while the Makabayan bloc called it out as a “last-ditch effort” to avoid scrutiny.
Bongalon maintained, “Even without reading the petition filed… we can assure the public that it can only mean two things: it’s purely a publicity stunt or unmistakable proof that the camp of the vice president is on panic mode.”
He stressed that the impeachment complaint against Duterte met all constitutional requirements for trial in the Senate, where it was filed by at least a third of the House of Representatives and verified, with each member’s vote recorded.
“As ordained in the Constitution, impeachment is an act of political justice and an exception to the judiciary’s monopoly on deciding cases. Impeachment is purely a political exercise,” he said.
information dissemination for overseas voting.
“We also encourage our OFW communities on the advocacy of informing our kababayan (fellow citizens) of the details, the deadlines, and the enrollment for internet voting. We asked them to go to our kababayan,” Domingo said at the press conference.
Garcia also said the voters would be given a password for verification and a two-
page instruction manual on how to do the internet voting.
“If you are given a password, don’t share it,” he added.
The pre-voting enrollment period for overseas internet voting is from March 10 to May 7.
Meanwhile, the 30-day overseas online voting period is from April 13 to May 12 at 7 p.m. (Philippine Standard Time). n
Seeking relief from the high tribunal, the petitioners asked the justices to declare the articles of impeachment null and void, claiming they failed to meet constitutional requirements on verification and proper initiation of proceedings. Specifically, they cited Section 3, Rule II of the House Rules on Impeachment, which requires a complaint to be verified by an affidavit affirming that the complainant has read the complaint and that its allegations are true and correct based on personal knowledge or authentic records.
Once initiated, any subsequent impeachment complaint within the same year is barred by the Constitution to prevent the harassment of public officials through multiple impeachment attempts in a short time frame.
The House of Representatives was also accused of “railroading” Duterte’s impeachment, with the petitioners alleging that the fourth complaint “came like a thief in the night.”
“The entire process was rushed on the adjournment day of the Congress’ 3rd Regular Session in an election year, to railroad the complaint through Congress without affording proper deliberation or substantial safeguards and cause its immediate transmission to the Senate at around 5:49 p.m.,” they said.
Bongalon accused the Duterte camp of resorting to delaying tactics to prevent the Senate from convening as an impeachment court which would publicly scrutinize evidence against the impeached vice president.
“In their utter desperation, the vice president’s camp is throwing the proverbial kitchen sink to stop the inevitable—for the Senate to commence trial and for the public to finally see the overwhelming and damning evidence against her,” he said, challenging Duterte’s camp to “stop these stunts and face us in trial.”
Meanwhile, in a statement, Makabayan lawmakers France Castro (ACT Teachers), Arlene Brosas (Gabriela Women’s Party) and Raoul Manuel (Kabataan) said the filing of the petition was a “desperate” legal move meant to obstruct justice and evade accountability.
Maria Torres Springer AJPress Photo by Momar G. Visaya
Urgent CDC data and analyses on influenza and bird flu go missing as outbreaks escalate
by Amy mAxmen KFF Health News
SONYA Stokes, an emergency room physician in the San Francisco Bay Area, braces herself for a daily deluge of patients sick with coughs, soreness, fevers, vomiting, and other flu-like symptoms.
She’s desperate for information, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a critical source of urgent analyses of the flu and other public health threats, has gone quiet in the weeks since President Donald Trump took office.
“Without more information, we are blind,” she said.
Flu has been brutal this season. The CDC estimates at least 24 million illnesses, 310,000 hospitalizations, and 13,000 deaths from the flu since the start of October. At the same time, the bird flu outbreak continues to infect cattle and farmworkers. But CDC analyses that would inform people about these situations are delayed, and the CDC has cut off communication with doctors, researchers, and the World Health Organization, say doctors
doctor
testified that they had never met the Fil-Am physician. In some cases, the patients never received the results of the tests billed to Medicare.
An undercover video presented as evidence showed Baldonado receiving a large sum of cash in exchange for signed prescriptions for orthotic braces.
“The medically unnecessary laboratory tests and orthotic braces that Baldonado ordered in exchange for illegal kickbacks and bribes caused Medicare to be billed more than $24 million,” the press release said.
“Medicare paid more than $2.1 million to the laboratories and the durable medical equipment supply company involved in the schemes.”
Baldonado was found
and public health experts.
“CDC right now is not reporting influenza data through the WHO global platforms, FluNet [and] FluID, that they’ve been providing information [on] for many, many years,”
Maria Van Kerkhove, interim director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness at the WHO, said at a Feb. 12 press briefing.
“We are communicating with them,” she added, “but we haven’t heard anything back.”
On his first day in office, President Donald Trump announced the U.S. would withdraw from the WHO.
A critical analysis of the seasonal flu selected for distribution through the CDC’s Health Alert Network has stalled, according to people close to the CDC. They asked not to be identified because of fears of retaliation. The network, abbreviated as HAN, is the CDC’s main method of sharing urgent public health information with health officials, doctors, and, sometimes, the public.
A chart from that analysis, reviewed by KFF Health News, suggests that flu may be at a record high.
About 7.7% of patients who visited clinics and hospitals without being admitted had flu-like symptoms in early February, a ratio higher than in four other flu seasons depicted in the graph. That includes 200304, when an atypical strain of flu fueled a particularly treacherous season that killed at least 153 children.
Without a complete analysis, however, it’s unclear whether this tidal wave of sickness foreshadows a spike in hospitalizations and deaths that hospitals, pharmacies, and schools must prepare for. Specifically, other data could relay how many of the flu-like illnesses are caused by flu viruses — or which flu strain is infecting people. A deeper report might also reveal whether the flu is more severe or contagious than usual.
“I need to know if we are dealing with a more virulent strain or a coinfection with another virus that is making my patients sicker, and what to look for so that I know if my patients are in danger,” Stokes said. “Delays in data create dangerous situations on the front line.”
convicted of $24 million...
Dr. Alexander Baldonado, 69, allegedly received kickbacks and bribes in exchange for ordering unnecessary laboratory tests according to a press release from the US Department of Justice, dated Feb. 11.
guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud; six counts of health care fraud; one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay, offer, receive and solicit health care kickbacks; one count
Philippines insulated from US...
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countries, the Philippines has not come up in the equation for the meantime,” he said.
However, Phua said that the Philippines could see second-order effects if U.S. tariffs shift production away from affected economies.
This could benefit industries involved in lowervalue supply chain activities, such as electronics assembly and packaging.
“If you’re talking about high-tech, cutting-edge technology, perhaps the Philippines will not be in a position at this moment to benefit from it,” Phua said.
“But if you’re looking at production down the value chain, like assembly and
packaging of electronic goods, there could be some advantages for the Philippines in that sense,” he added.
He said these benefits, in turn, could help boost economic growth and support foreign direct investments as well.
Despite these potential benefits, Phua said that trade shifts are not the primary factors influencing S&P’s credit rating assessment for the Philippines. The ratings agency is focusing on two key areas; rebuilding external buffers and maintaining fiscal consolidation.
S&P currently assigned the Philippines a ‘BBB+’ rating, with an outlook tied to the
Duterte allies ask SC...
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of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to receive and solicit health care kickbacks; and one count of solicitation of health care kickbacks.
Baldonado is scheduled to be sentenced on June 26. (Inquirer.net)
“This is nothing but a last-ditch effort to escape scrutiny over the millions of [pesos in] confidential funds that were questionably spent under her watch,” Castro said. The impeachment complaint forwarded to the Senate cited Duterte’s alleged misuse of some P612.5 million in confidential funds on the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education when she was secretary.
Another petition Earlier, on Feb. 14, lawyer Catalino Generillo Jr. petitioned the Supreme Court to order the Senate to “immediately” form an impeachment court and
begin Duterte’s trial.
Generillo, a former special counsel for the Presidential Commission on Good Government, specifically asked the high court to issue a writ of mandamus “directing the members of the Senate to immediately constitute themselves into an impeachment court and forthwith conduct the public trial of Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte without further delay.”
“In the final analysis, the Constitution does not allow the Senate to procrastinate during the period it is in recess, whether it shall constitute itself into an impeachment court and try the vice president,” he said.
country’s ability to stabilize its current account deficit and strengthen its external position.
The Philippines’ external buffers have been eroded in recent years due to global economic headwinds, making it crucial for the country to maintain a moderate current account deficit.
“The Philippines needs to rebuild those external buffers before its ratings could be upgraded,” Phua said.
On the fiscal front, Phua said that the government’s revised economic projections under the medium-term fiscal framework last year were more realistic than previous targets. n
Acting on Generillo’s petition, the Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Senate to file its comment within 10 days.
Asked whether the high court can intervene in impeachment cases, Supreme Court spokesperson Camille Ting told reporters on Tuesday that “in general, the Supreme Court is tasked to determine if the impeachment proceedings or rules are in accordance with the Constitution and if there’s any grave abuse of discretion on the part of the Senate.” — With a report from Jeannette I. Andrade, Ryan D. Rosauro, Germelina Larcote, And Associated Press
CAMPAIGN COMPLIANCE. People pass by election campaign posters in a designated area along Guzman Street in Davao City on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. The Commission on Elections prohibits the posting of campaign materials outside designated areas, such as plazas, markets, barangay centers, and other locations with high pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.
Photo from Facebook/AlexBaldonado
FeAtures OPiniOn
Not so lovable cities
Canadian investment and tourism advisory Resonance Consultancy, which releases an annual list of the world’s best cities, has released its first-ever list of the 100 best cities in the Asia-Pacific. The cities included in the study are those with a population of at least one million.
Editorial
was listed as the best in the Asia-Pacific. In the annual World’s Best Cities for 2025, released by Resonance in November last year, Singapore ranked fifth overall, behind only London, New York, Paris and Tokyo.
The rankings are based on livability, “lovability” and prosperity. Livability refers to factors such as property rent, parks, landmarks and highly rated sights. Prosperity is based on gross domestic product per capita and the number of companies in the Fortune 500. “Lovability” is based on nightlife, shopping and reviews on Tripadvisor.
For the Asia-Pacific rankings, only three cities in the Philippines made it to the list. All, however, were ranked below the median, with Manila at 53rd place, Davao City at 91st and Cebu at 92nd.
In contrast, five other Southeast Asian countries had cities in the top 10 and top 50. Not surprisingly, the city-state of Singapore
SHORTLY after arriving from Washington, D.C., we started off our public diplomacy engagements by taking part in a forum hosted by the U.S.-Philippines Society (USPS) during the annual directors’ meeting of the bi-national board of
This time, in the inaugural Asia-Pacific best cities, Thai capital Bangkok ranked second to Singapore at sixth place, while Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur ranked 10th.
Indonesian capital Jakarta placed 23rd while Vietnamese capital Hanoi was at 28th and its southern city Ho Chi Minh was at 35th. Cambodian capital Phnom Penh was also ahead of Manila at 41st place. Two other Malaysian cities were in the top 50: Johor Bahru at 29th and Penang at 31st. Another Indonesian city, Denpasar, made it to 48th place, while Bandung was at 52nd, a notch ahead of Manila.
Vietnam’s Da Nang placed 60th. Other Southeast Asian cities in the top 100 were Surabaya in Indonesia at 68th, Thailand’s
directors co-chaired by former U.S. Director of National Intelligence Ambassador John Negroponte and Ayala Corporation head Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala. I was requested to give remarks about the Philippine perspective on the political transition currently underway in the United States. Since it is my second time serving under a Trump administration – having first presented my credentials
Pattaya (85th), Indonesia’s Medan (87th) and Malang (90th) and Malaysia’s Ipoh (98th).
It’s ironic that the Philippines’ current tourism campaign slogan is “love the Philippines.” The rankings, which reflect tourism arrivals in the region, show that not enough travelers are loving the Philippines.
The rankings are not static, and the Philippines can still regain its status as one of the best performers in the region. This will depend on the willingness and capability of the country to implement the necessary reforms, to develop urban centers that are prosperous, livable and lovable. (Philstar.com)
A week of public diplomacy
as Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. in November 2017 during President Donald Trump’s first term in office – I suppose I am uniquely qualified to speak on this political transition. During the presentation, I also shared the view of an analyst from the Brookings Institution who said that this transition was actually four years in the making.
From the Philippine perspective, the appointment
of Cabinet officials such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio as well as National Security Advisor Mike Waltz reflects a more deliberate attempt on the part of President Trump to maintain a strong U.S. presence in the Indo-Pacific. It was extremely essential that we immediately connected our respective Foreign Affairs Secretary and Defense Secretary with their U.S. counterparts, who both affirmed the “ironclad”
commitment of the U.S. to the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, but we are all aware of the work that lies ahead to ensure that the alliance will continue to be enduring and that support for our military modernization and our economic transformation goals will continue. While we are well aware that President Trump favors good deals that align with his America First agenda, I see this as an opportunity
for us to project branding and messaging. It is also important that our ASEAN friends and allies within the region must reframe our collective interests in the Indo-Pacific as not only a good deal for the United States, but an essential deal as well. As an independent and non-partisan organization, the USPS has been instrumental in fostering
or contract right) of any person or entity, or violate any other applicable law; and is not the subject of any litigation or claim that might give rise to any litigation.
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Client agrees and covenants to indemnify AJPI and its officers against any and all loss, liability, damage, expenses, cost, charges, claims, actions, causes of action, recoveries, judgments, penalties, including outside attorneys’ fees (individually and collectively “Claims”) which AJPI may suffer by reason of (1) Client’s breach of any of the representations, warranties and agreements herein or (2) any Claims by any third party relating in any way to Client’s Material. AJPI will not be liable for failure to publish any Client’s Material as requested or for more than one
Urgent CDC data and analyses...
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Although the CDC’s flu dashboard shows a surge of influenza, it doesn’t include all data needed to interpret the situation. Nor does it offer the tailored advice found in HAN alerts that tells health care workers how to protect patients and the public. In 2023, for example, a report urged clinics to test patients with respiratory symptoms rather than assume cases are the flu, since other viruses were causing similar issues that year.
“This is incredibly disturbing,” said Rachel Hardeman, a member of the Advisory Committee to the Director of the CDC.
On Feb. 10, Hardeman and other committee members wrote to acting CDC Director Susan Monarez asking the agency to explain missing data, delayed studies, and potentially severe staff cuts. “The CDC is vital to our nation’s security,” the letter said.
Several studies have also been delayed or remain missing from the CDC’s preeminent scientific publication, the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Anne Schuchat, a former principal deputy director at the CDC, said she would be concerned if there was political oversight of scientific material: “Suppressing information is potentially confusing, possibly dangerous, and it can backfire.”
CDC spokesperson Melissa Dibble declined to comment on delayed or missing analyses. “It is not unexpected to see flu activity elevated and increasing at this time of the year,” she said.
A draft of one unpublished study, reviewed by KFF Health News, that has been withheld from the MMWR for three weeks describes how a milk hauler and a dairy worker in Michigan may have spread bird flu to their pet cats. The indoor cats became severely sick and died. Although the workers weren’t tested, the study says that one of them had irritated eyes before the cat fell ill — a common bird flu symptom. That person told researchers that the pet “would roll in their work clothes.”
After one cat became sick, the investigation reports, an adolescent in the household developed a cough. But the report says this young person tested negative for the flu, and positive for a cold-causing virus.
Corresponding CDC documents summarizing the cat study and another as-yet unpublished bird flu analysis said the reports were scheduled to be published Jan. 23. These were reviewed by KFF Health News. The briefing on cats advises dairy farmworkers to “remove clothing and footwear, and rinse off any animal biproduct residue before entering the household to protect others in the household, including potentially indoor-only cats.”
The second summary refers to “the most comprehensive” analysis of bird flu virus detected in wastewater in the United States.
Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University, said delays of bird flu reports are upsetting because they’re needed to inform the public about a worsening situation with many unknown elements.
Citing “insufficient data” and “high uncertainty,” the United Kingdom raised its assessment of the risk posed by the U.S. outbreak on dairies.
“Missing and delayed data causes uncertainty,” Nuzzo said. “It also potentially makes us react in ways that are counterproductive.”
Another bird flu study slated for January publication showed up in the MMWR on Feb. 13, three weeks after it was expected. It revealed that three cattle veterinarians had been unknowingly infected last year, based on the discovery of antibodies against the bird flu virus in their blood.
One of the veterinarians worked in Georgia and South Carolina, states that haven’t reported outbreaks on dairy farms.
The study provides further evidence that the United States is not adequately detecting cases in cows and people. Nuzzo said it also highlights how data
can supply reassuring news. Only three of 150 cattle veterinarians had signs of prior infections, suggesting that the virus doesn’t easily spread from the animals into people. More than 40 dairy workers have been infected, but they generally have had more sustained contact with sick cattle and their virus-laden milk than veterinarians.
Instead, recently released reports have been about wildfires in California and Hawaii.
“Interesting but not urgent,” Nuzzo said, considering the acute fire emergencies have ended. The bird flu outbreak, she said, is an ongoing “urgent health threat for which we need up-to-the-minute information to know how to protect people.”
“The American public is at greater risk when we don’t have information on a timely basis,” Schuchat said.
This week, a federal judge ordered the CDC and other health agencies to “restore” datasets and websites that the organization Doctors for America had identified in a lawsuit as having been altered. Further, the judge ordered the agencies to “identify any other resources that DFA members rely on to provide medical care” and restore them by Feb. 14.
In their letter, CDC advisory committee members requested an investigation into missing data and delayed reports. Hardeman, an adviser who is a health policy expert at the University of Minnesota, said the group didn’t know why data and scientific findings were being withheld or removed. Still, she added, “I hold accountable the acting director of the CDC, the head of HHS, and the White House.”
Hardeman said the Trump administration has the power to disband the advisory committee. She said the group expects that to happen but proceeded with its demands regardless.
“We want to safeguard the rigor of the work at the CDC because we care deeply about public health,” she said. “We aren’t here to be silent.” n
A week of public diplomacy...
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mutual understanding of the dynamics that underpin the longstanding relationship between the U.S. and the Philippines. The Society also plays a very important role in providing continuity in the relationship, serving as a bridge that connects both nations amid political changes and transitions.
The forum was very successful in providing members with deep insights into prospects for bilateral trade relations and identifying potential investment prospects, opportunities as well as challenges in light of the Trump administration’s agenda. As I have reiterated on several occasions, economic diplomacy is key in building up the Philippines’ economic prosperity that in turn would bring about economic security. There is absolutely no doubt that an economically strong Philippines could potentially become a reliable and strong partner of the United States.
We hosted a welcome reception for the USPS board of directors and members at the historic Goldenberg Mansion that served as a perfect venue in celebrating the longstanding friendship between the Philippines and the United States. Originally built by the Eugster family in the 1870s, it later became the residence of Arthur MacArthur – the American military governor-general of the Philippines in 1900 –following the defeat of the Spanish Navy in the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898. The
mansion very likely became a hub of activity as the U.S. established its presence in the Philippines.
Last Wednesday, February 12, I was honored to receive the Journalist of the Year – Diplomacy award during the Manila Overseas Press Club Grand Journalism Awards night that recognized the country’s outstanding journalists in print and broadcast media. This is only the second time in 80 years that the MOPC, which is the first and oldest press club in Asia, is giving these awards. More than anything, what is more important for me is the recognition given to fellow honorees for the passion, dedication and integrity that they put into their work, especially today with the advent of other platforms that peddle fake news and spread misinformation.
Having a column at The Philippine STAR – recognized as the Newspaper of the Year – is a responsibility I take very seriously because it has been an extremely effective public diplomacy platform to share our advocacies and our activities in strengthening the relationship between the United States and the Philippines.
We at the Philippine embassy in Washington, D.C. are also utilizing public diplomacy to reach out to our kababayans to inform them about their rights and provide legal advice regardless of their immigration status. It’s really very unfortunate that there are groups out there that are creating panic and
confusion, coming out with biased and unverified claims which, sadly, some media outlets are accommodating without verifying the whole issue or asking concerned government agencies first before putting out news reports.
During my recent engagement with students at the American University School of International Service on the topic of “Public Diplomacy and the Future of U.S.-Philippine Relations,” I told them that my weekly column at The Philippine STAR allows me to share insights about my work as ambassador. The rise of mass media and now social media has expanded our reach, enabling us to engage not only with our counterparts but various public audiences – making it increasingly important for diplomats to be skilled communicators and convey messages clearly, accurately and in a timely manner.
On my part, I make it a point to be available for as many engagements as my schedule allows in Washington, D.C. and across the U.S., knowing that the effective use of public diplomacy can contribute greatly in further enhancing US-Philippine relations. (Philstar.com)
* * *
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
* * * Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com
FOUNDATION LAID. The Department of Transportation leads the foundation-laying ceremony for the New Mati City Airport in Davao Oriental on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025. Partial operations for small aircraft are expected by 2026. PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.
DAteline PhiliPPines
Manila, Cebu get ready for Michelin Guide's Philippine debut
by moises Cruz ManilaTimes.net
MANILA — The Philippines is set to shine on the global culinary stage as the Michelin Guide announces its arrival, covering Manila, Cebu, and surrounding areas including Pampanga, Tagaytay, and Cavite in 2026.
With expert inspectors evaluating the country's vibrant gastronomic scene, Filipino food is set to take the lead in the international culinary map.
This highly anticipated selection will highlight the Philippines' most brilliant chefs and teams, recognizing their enthusiasm, creativity, and profound knowledge of native flavors and traditions.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) supports the Michelin Guide's arrival.
"We are proud to share our vibrant culture and distinct cuisines with the world, which can be enjoyed through exceptional dining experiences across our dynamic cities and beautiful islands," Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco said on Tuesday, February 18.
"The arrival of the Michelin Guide is not only a testament to our country's culinary excellence but also a significant leap forward for Filipino tourism, with gastronomy now forming a key part of our national tourism priorities," she said.
Since 1900, the Michelin Guides have been published by the renowned French tire manufacturer, providing esteemed ratings of up to three Michelin stars to exceptional restaurants in specific regions.
The Michelin Guide has
maintained its dedication to its original vision, settling in prominent culinary destinations to guide international travelers and local food lovers while showcasing the world's most exceptional culinary scenes and encouraging cultural exploration through travel.
The selection process for the Michelin Guide adheres to a rigorous methodology, assessing restaurants against five universal benchmarks: ingredient quality, cooking technique, flavor harmony, culinary personality, and consistency across the board.
The complete list of restaurants featured in the Michelin Guide Manila and Environs & Cebu 2026 will be revealed at an exclusive event scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2025. n
SMIC, Philippines firms attract foreign funds
by mAriAnne Go Philstar.com
THE ability of private Filipino corporations such as SM Investments Corp., Ayala Corp. and Jollibee to successfully tap the international credit market is a welcome development in raising the profile of the Philippines in the international capital markets.
In an interview with Erwin Pato, executive vice president for treasury, finance and planning at SM Investments, (who was formerly head of Singapore’s Temasek’s global treasury) he pointed out that the recent recognition by International Financing Review Asia (IFR Asia) of SM Investments’ successful issuance last year of a $500 million five-year bond reflects confidence in Philippine corporate issuers and underscores SM’s reputation as a stable and well-managed investment
option.
Furthermore, he added, “the good thing that is happening right now in the Philippine market is that you have more companies that are essentially bigger, which are also good, well-managed like us, that can access that market.”
Just 10 years ago, Pato recalls, SM investments access to the capital markets was limited primarily to the domestic market.
However, he pointed out, “we have grown so much, our company has grown so much, that one of the things that opens up for us is essentially because of our size, the foreign market is interested in success stories like that.”
Filipino conglomerates that manage to successfully grow like SM Investments, Pato noted, can likewise tap the international capital markets.
The ability to access the offshore market, Pato explains, allows Filipino firms to diversify their funding source and spur economic growth.
SM Investments, the parent company of the SM Group, was awarded the “Philippine Capital Market Deal of the Year” by IFR Asia for its successful issuance of a $500 million five-year bond in 2024, underscoring the Sy-family corporation’s leadership in the capital markets and the strong confidence of global investors in the company’s financial strength.
“The offshore market, if you access it... first of all, it’s very deep, meaning if you’re a good credit, the size of what you can access there may be much bigger than what you can access in the Philippines because there is just a much bigger and a fund manager base there.”
IFR Asia cited SM
Philippines, United States discuss foreign aid freeze impact
by pia Lee-Brago Philstar.com
MANILA — The Philippines and the United States discussed the value of the two countries’ development work, in the wake of the Trump administration’s order freezing U.S. foreign aid.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Tuesday, February 18, the foreign aid freeze, which is under a 90-day review, was discussed during a meeting between Foreign Affairs
Secretary Enrique Manalo and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Germany on Feb. 14.
“Both Secretaries discussed the value of our development cooperation work. We also recognize, however, that the new U.S. administration is still in the process of completing the review of the work of various development agencies,” DFA
spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said in a statement.
Manalo said on Wednesday, February 19 the Philippines would seek clarification on U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) programs in the country that would be affected by the suspension of U.S. foreign aid.
The DFA is optimistic that the development cooperation between the Philippines and the U.S. will continue.
Manalo earlier said the Philippines values its development cooperation with the U.S., especially in critical areas like education, global health and disaster risk reduction .
The projects, he said, have positively impacted the lives of many Filipinos and their communities.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order paused new obligations and disbursements of foreign aid pending reviews “for programmatic efficiency and consistency” with U.S.
foreign policy, within 90 days of the order.
Based on Trump’s EO, U.S. departments, agencies and entities “shall not provide foreign assistance funded by or through the Department and USAID without the Secretary of State’s authorization or the authorization of his designee.”
A federal judge earlier ordered the administration to temporarily lift a funding freeze that had shut down U.S. humanitarian aid and development work around the world.
Judge Amir Ali issued the order Thursday, February 13 in a lawsuit brought by companies that received U.S. funding for their programs.
The judge, in issuing the order, said the Trump administration did not take into account the extraordinary harm that a sudden freezing of foreign aid could cause – including a catastrophic effect on humanitarian missions. n Remittances
SMIC, Philippines firms attract...
Investments’ return to the U.S. dollar bond market after a decade-long absence as a significant development for the Philippine corporate sector. The transaction, which was the largest fiveyear deal by a Philippine corporate in 2024, reopened the market amid volatile conditions and achieved competitive pricing at 35 basis points.
IFR Asia noted that SM Investments’ bond issuance attracted significant investor interest, given the relative scarcity of corporate issuances from the Philippines in recent years. The transaction was SM Investments’ first bond issuance since its $350 million 10-year note in June 2014.
The deal was arranged by leading global financial institutions, with HSBC, JP Morgan, Standard Chartered, and UBS acting as joint lead managers and joint bookrunners. BDO Capital and Chinabank Capital also participated as joint lead managers.
The success of SM Investments’ bond issuance, when global economic uncertainties kept many investors on
the sidelines, attests to its solid fundamentals and the broader credibility of Philippine businesses.
According to SM Investments, a thriving capital market translates to sustained investments, job creation, infrastructure development and financial inclusivity – critical components for long-term economic resilience.
In its 2025 outlook for the Asia credit market (excluding Japan), Puja Shah, JP Morgan’s head of Southeast Asia DCM and Sustainable Finance Asia, had noted that 2024 was a busy year for Philippine bank issuers tapping the offshore market. Thus, she projected that Philippine banks would be more opportunistic this year.
Likewise, she said, “We do expect the sovereigns to continue to be active in the market as they were this year (2024), and we expect more corporate supply. We’ve had some very successful transactions this year with some companies, such as the SM Group. So I do expect some of the corporate issuers to come back to market next year (2025).”
Shah observed that “a lot of the corporate issuers will
look at the U.S. dollar market more as a diversified source of funding. The dollar-local currency differential is becoming lower for some of the Southeast Asian countries and therefore, (it is) more justifiable for them to look at the dollar market.”
She acknowledged, “In general, deals have done very well in the Philippines, and investors have been welcoming of Philippines corporate borrowers.”
Likewise, she said, “Onshore support for Philippine borrowers tends to be very strong. We expect that for next year (2025), this will remain a key attraction for offshore investors who buy into these papers. From an investor’s perspective, Philippines issuers should do relatively well.”
However, the recent policy direction of U.S. President Donald Trump with regards to trade and tariffs has caused some turmoil that is causing volatility anew in financial markets. There are fears that the imposition of higher tariffs by the U.S. against some of its trading partners such as Canada, Mexico and China, and possibly even its traditional European allies could disrupt global trade and stoke inflation. n
by DiAnne sAmpAnG Inquirer.net
MANILA — The strong finish during the holiday season in December boosted dollars sent home by Filipinos abroad to reach an all-time high of $38.34 billion in 2024, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said.
Data from the BSP showed that personal remittances – the sum of net compensation of employees, personal transfers and capital transfers between households – reached $38.34 billion in 2024, three percent higher than the previous year’s $37.21 billion.
The record-high figure was driven by the $3.73 billion remittances sent in December alone, up by three percent from $3.62 billion a year ago.
John Paolo Rivera, senior research fellow at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, said the growth in remittances in 2024 was due to the continued resilience of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in supporting the Philippine economy.
“Sustained economic recovery in the U.S., Middle East and Asia
Pacific led to higher wages and employment opportunities for OFWs, boosting remittances.
Sectors such as healthcare, construction and IT services saw high demand for Filipino workers,” he said.
The weaker peso against the dollar in previous months also increased the monetary value for remittances, prompting migrant Filipinos to send more money home.
“December saw a seasonal uptick in remittances as OFWs sent additional funds for holiday-related expenses and family support. The adoption of digital remittance platforms made transfers faster and cheaper, encouraging higher remittance flows,” Rivera said.
As such, the 2024 remittances accounted for 8.3 percent of the country’s economy and 7.4 percent of gross national income.
The record-high figure was driven by the $3.73 billion remittances sent in December alone, up by three percent from $3.62 billion a year ago.
John Paolo Rivera, senior research fellow at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, said
the growth in remittances in 2024 was due to the continued resilience of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in supporting the Philippine economy.
“Sustained economic recovery in the U.S., Middle East and Asia Pacific led to higher wages and employment opportunities for OFWs, boosting remittances.
Sectors such as healthcare, construction and IT services saw high demand for Filipino workers,” he said.
The weaker peso against the dollar in previous months also increased the monetary value for remittances, prompting migrant Filipinos to send more money home.
“December saw a seasonal uptick in remittances as OFWs sent additional funds for holiday-related expenses and family support. The adoption of digital remittance platforms made transfers faster and cheaper, encouraging higher remittance flows,” Rivera said.
As such, the 2024 remittances accounted for 8.3 percent of the country’s economy and 7.4 percent of gross national income. n
DENGUE WATCH. Students of Pinyahan Elementary School in Quezon City wear long socks on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025 to protect against mosquito bites. The local government has confirmed a dengue outbreak after recording 1,769 cases between Jan. 1 and Feb. 14, or a nearly 200-percent increase compared to the same period last year. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc
COMMUNITY JOURNAL
Stuck in the Philippines: Mommy Connie's journey back to the US with the guidance of US Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel on Citizen Pinoy this Sunday
IN 2017, Mommy Connie returned to the Philippines for a vacation and medical checkup. However, it was not until 2018 that she discovered her green card was missing. By the time it was found in 2019, it had already expired, leaving her stranded in the Philippines for an extended period, exacerbated by the global pandemic.
Concerns loomed over the potential classification of Mommy Connie's green card as “abandoned.” The expiration of her green card posed a threat to the petition for her other daughters, PAGE 12
STUCK IN THE PHILIPPINES: MOMMY CONNIE RETURNS TO THE U.S. DESPITE PANDEMIC CHALLENGES AND AN EXPIRED GREEN CARD, ON AN ENCORE SUCCESS STORY ON CITIZEN PINOY THIS SUNDAY! Mommy Connie (center) is a green card holder (LPR) but returned to the Philippines in 2017 for a vacation. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, she was unable to return to the U.S. in time. The COVID-19 pandemic and an expired green card made it even more difficult to return at once. She had also petitioned her daughters, and those petitions could be in jeopardy if she “abandoned” her green card by overstaying outside the U.S. Her daughter, Dianne (left), consulted with leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (right) after she watched an episode on Atty. Gurfinkel’s YouTube channel, U.S. Immigration TV Channel, where he discussed that there was hope for cases where green card holders were stuck in the Philippines due to COVID, and could not return. With the help of Atty. Gurfinkel, she was able to board her flight to New York and return to the U.S., where she was able to renew her green card and managed to keep the petitions for her other daughters alive. Watch this success story on an encore episode of Citizen Pinoy on Sunday, February 23 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. (Advertising Supplement)
Dianne (left) researched all resources available to help her Mommy Connie (right) be able to return to the U.S. despite her expired green card.
Health@Heart God is my GPS
PhiliP
S.
Chua, md, FaCS, FPCS
OUR mental health is arguably more vital to our being than our physical health, although both are essential to our general wellbeing. A solid stabilizing anchor for all this is faith, a belief in a supreme spiritual almighty far greater than us or any force on earth. Whether we call it God, Allah, or Jehovah, Elohim, El Shaddai, Adonai, Budha, Abba, Brahma, Hashem, or others, each and all represent goodness, compassion, understanding, forgiveness, love of fellowmen, and peace.
Loneliness, sadness, depression, pain, and other neuro/psychological ailments are ameliorated by having a strong faith in the existence of a most powerful omnipotence in the universe. This loyalty greatly impacts our emotional balance, our general health, and inner peace.
I am not a religious extremist. I believe in God and He is my compass and GPS. I thank the Lord for every morning He grants me to wake up to and for all His graces and blessings for my entire family and friends. And that includes my longing for world peace, an elusive friend I have been praying for as long as I can remember. No saint and imperfect, I disdain bigotry and treat people, even strangers, with respect. I find all this to be beneficial to my own health and sanity.
One God
While it is not realistic in our world today, it would be wonderful if all peoples around the globe believed in one single supreme almighty and lived in harmony and peace, instead of worshipping different gods and fighting each other. Each faith proclaims God represents love and peace, so why the hatred and conflict?
One religion for the world where love and compassion for all our fellowmen rules humankind would certainly be ideal, but realistically impossible. The best compromise would be various peoples with different religions living together in peaceful coexistence, with understanding and tolerance for each other. After all, we, Homo sapiens, modern man, are all relatives, having originated from ONE single family in Southern Africa
around 300,000 years ago. Global peace would be a nirvana, a paragon vastly conducive to the physical and mental health of humanity.
Fanatics
In spite of the religious and political divergence in the world today, there are the fanatics, extremists, zealots, religious, political, or simply power-hungry and greedy people, with blind beliefs and irrational thinking, who are the stumbling block to world peace and prosperity. The majority of all peoples, no matter their faith, Islam, Christian, Buddhist, Hindus, Sikhi, and partisan beliefs, are good and just people, who love harmony and peace. Unfortunately, even in a democracy, a selfish and unjust minority could adversely impact, if not overpower, the majority. The rioting, flag-burning, criminals destroying businesses and public properties, killing people, in the name of free speech (in abuse), are too frequent events that devastate the mental and physical health of people and contribute to our ailments. We may not be aware of it, but all these, especially the potential for a nuclear Armageddon, are registered in our subconscious, constantly nagging our brain and bothering our immune system each and every day in our life. Our domestic problems with finances, taxes, price of eggs, gasoline, and other commodities, are nothing compared to the insults from these fanatics upon our life and the extreme fear of the prospect of a global catastrophe initiated by unthinking evil zealots. Every religion should seek world peace in earnest to make domestic tranquility around the world a reality.
RFK, Jr.’s MAHA
On the home front, the appointment of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, as the 26th Secretary of Health and Human Services, is predicted to usher in a more vigilant and strict policies to root out unhealthy aspects in human health and environment in the United States. This includes healthier diet for children in schools and for the general public. Products on the market that have been vetted as healthy foods will carry an FDA healthy icon label, making it easier for people to find and choose the healthier food items at the supermarkets.
Hopefully this more
aggressive approach of RFK, Jr., will include stringent quality control of all vitamins and food supplements on the market today. There are thousands of products out there, which have not been scientifically tested and proven to be safe, effective, and as good as they claim to be. They pose potential dangers to people’s health.
While the wonder drug aspirin, vitamin D3, and the prescription drugs being advertised are proven good, effective, beneficial products, the majority have not been scientifically evaluated.
Does Prevagen and other neuro-drugs popularly advertised to improve brain function, which some people are interpreting to be a good to prevent Alzheimer’s, have any double-blind, randomized, evidence-based clinical studies to prove their claim?
How many DOZEN capsules does one need to take a day of the advertised “Fruits-and-Vegetable” (not 3 as the Ads recommend) to equal the required daily minimum of fresh fruits and vegetables?
How about the claim that the nose clip, or dental gear, etc., being marketed as a therapy for sleep apnea? As a cardiac surgeon, I know that the patho-physiology of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the caused by a sagging soft palate and the tongue falling back, blocking the airway. Those gadgets sold out there are a scam! The golden standard of care for OSA is CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) to “push” the blockage wide open (like inflating balloons), to enable normal breathing and good oxygen supply.
The surgically-implanted Inspire should be more honest in its ads to clearly state it is only an alternative to CPAP for those who could not tolerate CPAP. People could misinterpret Inspire’s ads that it is better than CPAP, which is not true. It requires surgery, for one; it needs an implanted electrode to stimulate your tongue while asleep, and it does not work for all patients. There are countless products that need scientific scrutiny and vetting to safeguard the people. After more than a century, it’s about time the public was protected from the vicious greedy entrepreneurs.
PAGE 15
Sam Milby confirms split with Catriona Gray,
by HannaH Mallorca Inquirer.net
SAM Milby and Catriona Gray have already broken up, finally ending the longstanding speculations that they ended their relationship for good. There was no third party involved in their split.
Milby confirmed his split with Gray to ABSCBN News on Wednesday, February 19, when asked about their status.
After clarifying that they are “okay” and they have no
but they’re
‘okay’
Stuck in the Philippines: Mommy Connie's...
PAGE 11 a process they had been patiently awaiting for a decade.
Dianne, Mommy Connie's daughter, undertook extensive research to find a solution. Discovering the possibility of an SB-1 visa for residents who overstayed outside the U.S., the family attempted to secure an interview at the U.S. Embassy, only to be thwarted by pandemicrelated closures.
In a stroke of fate, Dianne stumbled upon Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel's episode on his U.S. Immigration TV YouTube channel, offering hope to green card holders stuck abroad due to COVID-19.
After her initial consultation with Atty. Gurfinkel, Dianne felt that
he was too expensive and decided to consult with three other lawyers, who told her that her mother’s case was hopeless.
Despite initial budget constraints, Dianne eventually retained the services of Attorney Gurfinkel in February 2023.
The family decided to have Mommy Connie fly to the U.S. with a stopover in Doha, Qatar, where she was not allowed to board in Doha.
On her second attempt via a direct flight with Philippine Airlines, she was not allowed to board due to her expired green card.
Attorney Gurfinkel tirelessly investigated the reasons behind the repeated denials. Convinced that there was no justifiable reason for the refusals, the family made another attempt in May
2023. This time, Mommy Connie successfully boarded a flight to New York, where she was allowed entry by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection at JFK. Mommy Connie's perseverance paid off as she not only renewed her green card but also safeguarded the petition for her other daughters, providing an inspiring example of overcoming adversity in the pursuit of the American dream.
Watch this success story on an encore episode of Citizen Pinoy on Sunday, February 23 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app. (Advertising Supplement)
PAGE 15
Mommy Connie (extreme left) was able to return to the U.S. on her third try, with the help of leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel.
(From left) Catriona Gray, Sam Milby Photo from Instagram/@catriona_gray
Fil-Am chef Leah Cohen expands Pig & Khao with new outpost in the Upper West Side
by MoMar G. Visaya / AJPress
LEAH Cohen, the acclaimed chef behind Pig & Khao, has brought her signature Southeast Asian flavors to the Upper West Side. After more than a decade of success in the Lower East Side, Cohen’s latest outpost promises a more refined yet playful take on her original concept, incorporating deeper influences from her Filipino heritage and fresh culinary ideas.
Opening Pig & Khao on the Lower East Side in 2012 was a bold move for Cohen, marking her transition from a Top Chef contestant to a restaurateur with a distinct vision. The restaurant quickly gained a following for its vibrant, unapologetic approach to Southeast Asian cuisine, drawing from Cohen’s Filipino roots. Now, with over a decade of experience, she brings that same energy to a new neighborhood, with an even stronger focus on artistry, culture, and personal growth.
“The first time around, we didn’t have a great plan or clear vision,” Cohen reflects.
“We were just throwing things together. But now, we’ve taken the time to be very intentional—curating art, selecting materials from Vietnam and Thailand, and making sure that everything in the space reflects a more mature version of the Pig & Khao brand.”
While the core philosophy remains unchanged— delivering bold, authentic flavors—the Upper West Side location introduces a new section to the menu: the “roteria” featuring roti tacos filled with traditional Southeast Asian street food flavors. “We’re taking roti,
like a tortilla, and filling it with things you’d find on the streets of Bangkok or Manila,” Cohen explains. Expect offerings like chicken satay roti and mu ping roti, an innovative yet familiar homage to the dishes she loves.
One dish particularly close to Cohen’s heart is her take on Pancit Palabok, a beloved Filipino noodle dish. “It’s one of my favorite Filipino dishes, but you don’t see it much in Manhattan,” she says. “I’ve prepared it slightly differently, but the essence remains the same—the smokiness of bangus (milkfish), the richness of the sauce, the crunch of chicharón. These flavors bring me back to my roots.”
Bringing Pig & Khao to the Upper West Side also presents an opportunity to reconnect with longtime fans. “A lot of
our original customers have moved—started families, relocated to Westchester or Upper West Side,” Cohen notes. “This new space lets us tap into that audience again while also reaching people who may not have known we existed before.”
Location, however, has not always been on Cohen’s side. Piggyback, her previous venture in Jersey City, faced significant challenges due to its tucked-away positioning in an office building. “It was beautiful if you were walking on the boardwalk, but from the street, no one knew we were there,” Cohen admits. “It was tough spreading the word.” That experience reinforced the importance of visibility and accessibility in her future endeavors. PAGE 15
Leah Cohen
Roteria Tocino Wings Photos from Cole Saladino Pancit Palabok
Latik Tart Fried Whole Fish
Atty. Tonette Velasco-Allones, a certified TQ coach
P.E.P. (People, Events,Places)
Rogelio ConStantino medina
HAVE you heard of Transition Quotient?
TQ “is one’s ability to recognize different stages of life transitions, perceive them as opportunities for growth and skillfully navigate them with compassion, clarity and curiosity.”
Atty. Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones, former Department of Migrant Workers undersecretary, said, “I was in an ‘emerging ending’ phase in my career at the end of August last year. As I sought productive coping, I signed up in a three-month program to be a certified coach on TQ. After eight Tuesdays with chief trainer Kari Cardinale, I earned the distinction to be a part of the pioneer class of 650 certified TQ coaches around the world. It was an empowering, enabling course that equipped me with frameworks, tools and confidence to journey with those who are trying to get out of their chrysalis and soar with the gifts of new beginnings.”
This program was also life-changing for her for it guided her transition from her 30 years of government work to her new role as chief human resource officer of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation last December 2024. When Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan told her that “this work is also ‘para sa bayan’ (for the country), it was easy to say yes.
She quoted William Bridges, “some people fight transition all the way and bewail their fate, while others come to recognize that letting go is not defeat — that it may, in fact, be the start of a whole new and rewarding phase of their lives.” * * *
During my mom’s second visit to “It’s Showtime” before the COVID-19 pandemic, we were about to sit in the lower third row in the leftmost side when we were uncourteously told to sit in the far upper side in the mid-portion. I kept my cool but it was alright for my persevering American
mom. I was then a journalist for the Philippine Star’s entertainment section under editor Ricky Lo.
The reason why senior citizens and disabled persons are placed in the lower portion is so that it would be easier for them to get out after the show.
In fairness, during my mom’s first visit to the show, we were attended with due courtesy. She was then with my American sister Victoria M. Isip who lives in Green Valley, Fairfield, Solano County, California. They had a brief vacation to the Philippines.
Another incident I could not forget was during a live audience for Pinoy Big Brother one afternoon in 2017. I was preparing to go to De La Salle University on Taft Avenue, Manila to cover the victory of the allfemale DLSU Lady Spikers volleyball team in the UAAP Season 79 championship when I received a call from Julie Forbes, young sister of beauty queen-actress Ali Forbes, who was a housemate contestant in that PBB house. Ali needed support so I chose to go to the station. As I entered the studio, Julie greeted me and I joined Ali’s parents and younger brother in the audience. We were sitting there for a long time. During the short break, I needed to go to the nearest rest room. Little did I know I entered a secured automatic entrance. As to how I was able to penetrate the locked gate (one could only enter if you had an employee ID), I did not know, perhaps my telekinesis worked in times of emergency.
It surprised me that I was asked to go to the studio’s security management. I refused for I did not do anything wrong. Then came my savior, Col. Dani Enriquez, who was surprised as to what happened. When I got high blood pressure, a medic came to assist me. So I could just hear the PBB happening just outside while my hypertension was being monitored.
I had a brief chat with TV host Robi Domingo (my cousin singer Yeng Constantino’s cousin) as I saw Tawag ng Tanghalan contestant Noven Belleza and Maymay Entrata passed by. We gazed at each other as I predicted these two would be the winners. (It indeed came true for Noven
was the Tawag ng Tanghalan Season One grand champion and Maymay was the Pinoy Big Brother Season 7 grand winner.)
After the incident, Col. Enriquez told me to write what happened since I was with the Philippine Star, but I did not use my position as a PhilStar writer to reveal what happened. * * *
February is the month of love. I will feature different stories of love. I asked two respondents: (1) How do you define love? (2) Are you still in love with your spouse and why?
Their replies (third batch) are as follows:
Oly Sason-de los Santos, widow of former Philippine National Police Spokesman Napoleon de los Santos Jr.: (1) “Love is not a feeling. It is a commitment to do good for the other.”; (2) “Love is replaced by good memories and respect for him, for who he was and what he stood for.”
Guia Cruz-Buenaventura, a doting wife of Dan Villarba Buenaventura: (1) “Love is a very special feeling that makes you face life with joy and happiness. It keeps you going through life which is full of challenges and uncertainties.”; (2) “Yes I still do, he is a part of me and will always be. Life has to go on, focusing on our our son, daughter and furbaby, our present and what lies ahead. His legacy is very much alive as we continue doing what he loved doing then through ‘A Smile From Heaven’ charity efforts.”
* * *
I met on West America road (in Green Valley) and asked an 85-year-old lady on how to go to Costco and Safeway on Business Center Drive in Fairfield. Clarita Biscocho, a UST alumnus and a retired teacher (she went to the U.S. in 1983), was kind enough to inform me of the right direction. A long walk indeed despite the cold climate.
I learned that her daughter, Noralyn Biscocho, a registered nurse, is our neighbor on Overture Lane. Teacher Clarita and her son Almer live on Aria Street not too far from us. *
My friend, Jose Arnulfo “Wick” Veloso informed me that he was no longer with the Philippine National Bank as its president.
He is now the president and general manager of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).
He was the president and CEO of HSBC Philippines, the first Filipino CEO in HSBC’s 144 years of operations.
* * *
After the church service in Northgate, we had lunch at Hibachi Grill & Buffet restaurant on Gateway Blvd. in Fairfield, California. I saw lots of Filipinos.
Here I met Edna Arcebal, a retired nurse, with her son Dale Navarro. They live in Vallejo where we used to live. Then came Eleanor Kincaid, sister of Edna.
* * *
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
* * * rogeliocmedina@yahoo.com
Beauty queen-actress Ali Forbes Guia and Dan Buenaventura in 2020 Valentine’s Day.
Wick Veloso, president and general manager of GSIS
Photo shows (seated, from left) Dale Navarro and Edna Arcebal; (standing, from left) Rogelio Medina and Eleanor Kincaid at Hibachi Grill & Buffet in Fairfield.
Oly de los Santos (in colorful dress), mother of Miss Aura International 1st runner-up Issa de los Santos, attending to her daughter’s birthday with some special friends at Casa Angela in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Journalist Rogelio C. Medina in white t-shirt with his California-based mom Rosita C. Medina (left) during the first visit to ABS-CBN’s It’s Showtime.
Rogelio Medina and retired teacher Clarita Biscocho from Green Valley.
Jericho Rosales to portray Manuel L. Quezon
by HannaH Mallorca Inquirer.net
JERICHO Rosales will officially take the mantle of portraying the late president Manuel L. Quezon in the upcoming biopic “Quezon” scheduled for a 2025 release.
The actor’s casting was announced by the film’s production company TBA Studios in a press statement, which will mark his return to the big screen after seven years. His last film appearance was the 2018 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry “The Girl in the Orange Dress.”
“I feel so honored to be with this team. Coming to a script like this which is so potent and so entertaining, I feel so lucky and happy. Here, you will see Quezon as a person. He is not written as a hero,” Rosales said of his character.
According to the statement, “Quezon” will cover the second president’s life as a lawyer, soldier, and how he rose to become the country’s top leader from 1935 to 1944.
Without giving any key scenes away, Rosales described the late president as someone “cunning, charming, and intelligent” which makes it an exciting character for him to bring to life.
“He is cunning, he is charming, he is intelligent. Quezon is such an interesting
in ‘Quezon’ biopic
character to play; there are so many things I can put into the role to build Quezon as a character. That adds to the pressure, but at the same time, I am very excited,” he said.
Rosales was chosen for his ability to “deliver power onscreen,” according to the film’s director and cowriter Jerrold Tarog, while revealing that he, too, auditioned for the role of Gen. Antonio Luna in the 2015 film “Heneral Luna.” The role eventually went to John Arcilla.
Meanwhile, TBA Studios president and COO Daphne Chiu praised the actor’s prowess, noting he has an “unbelievable screen presence.”
“We are honored to welcome Jericho Rosales as he leads the cast of ‘Quezon.’ Jericho’s unbelievable
screen presence has made him one of our best actors today, and we’re all looking forward to working with him and seeing how his artistry can give life to one of the country’s most charismatic yet divisive political figures,” she said.
Also joining Rosales are Benjamin Alves as the younger Quezon; Karylle as Quezon’s wife Aurora Aragon Quezon; Romnick Sarmenta as Sergio Osmeña; JC Santos as Manuel Roxas; Mon Confiado as Emilio Aguinaldo; and Cris Villanueva as the fictional Joven Hernando.
The upcoming film is part of the production company’s “Bayaniverse,” a series of films based on the lives of Filipino historical figures, including “Heneral Luna” and “Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral.” n
Luis Manzano loses endorsements after filing to run as Batangas vice governor
by Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com
KAPAMILYA actor Luis Manzano revealed that he lost four endorsements after he decided to run as Batangas vice governor.
In an interview with the media during the Barako Fest 2025 in Lipa recently, Luis said that he understands those brands because there are contracts that limit him for joining politics.
“To be honest, lahat naman tayo matatanda na sa industriyang ito, sa katunayan marami sa mga endorsements ko ang hindi na nag-renew. Agad-agad nu’ng naisipan namin na mag-file
(Certificate
problems, he was directly asked if they are still together, which prompted him to confirm that they are no longer together, per report.
The “ Pinoy Big Brother” alum clarified that there was no third party involved in their breakup, including the rumors that Moira Dela Torre was allegedly the cause of their split.
“There was never a third party sa amin ni Cat. That needs to be cleared,” Milby was quoted as saying.
“There is no truth to it at all. It makes me sad. May babala ako sa mga tao. Please mag-ingat kayo sa mga nakikita niyo online. If there’s no evidence, huwag niyong paniwalaan yung nakikita niyo because in this incident, there’s absolutely no truth to it at all,” he further added.
( There is no truth to it at all. It makes me sad. I have a reminder to the public.
Please be careful with the things you see online. If there’s no evidence, don’t believe what you’re seeing because, in this incident, there is absolutely no truth to it at all .)
The actor-singer was also asked if Gray’s viral video during TJ Monterde’s concert, where she was spotted crying to singersongwriter’s “ Hanggang Dito Na Lang ” performance, had something to do with their split. However, he said that he “could not speak for her.”
“If you wanna ask her what she was feeling, I can’t speak for her. I know that we’re okay,” Milby said in the report. “ Kahit after ng concert I said, ‘I’ll go to the backstage. ‘Cause we’re okay.”
Gray has yet to address Milby’s remarks, as of press time.
pumasok ka sa politika), sa maniwala ka o sa hindi, kahit ang endorsements mo mawawala.' Sa katunayan, tatlo o apat na endorsements ko ang nag-pull out na,” he added.
Luis admitted that there's an advantage and a disadvantage in joining politics.
“Sabi ko, naiintindihan ko naman 'yun, pero 'yung income ko, tatamaan talaga Sabi nga ni Gov. Vi, which is ramdam ko sa start pa lang, sabi niya, ‘Anak, mabawasan ka man ng commercial, ng endorsements, e, masarap naman ang tulog mo dahil marami ka namang natutulungan na tao'." n
Milby and Gray, who announced their engagement in February 2023, have been hounded with breakup rumors since February of last year after entertainment insider Ogie Diaz claimed that they have already parted ways. Diaz, however, clarified that he would rather wait for them or their management Cornerstone Entertainment to set the record straight. Weeks after Diaz’s showbiz vlog, Cornerstone confirmed that they were indeed facing “relationship issues,” while seemingly denying their separation. They have since been spotted together on multiple occasions since then.
chef Leah
Jersey City, however, remains a significant part of Cohen’s journey, as she and her family moved there to be closer to Piggyback. “When we opened the restaurant, we wanted to be nearby and understand the neighborhood,” she says.
“Then I got pregnant, and it just made sense to stay.”
That said, she’s not keen on reopening in the area anytime soon. “That last experience left a bad taste in our mouths,” she laughs.
Cohen’s unique culinary perspective stems from her upbringing in a multicultural household. With a Filipino mother and a JewishRomanian father, she grew
up deeply immersed in both traditions. “My dad, an American, was actually more of a cheerleader for Filipino culture than my mom,” she says. “He wanted us to have that connection to the Philippines.” That passion led to frequent childhood visits to the country, which subconsciously shaped her palate and approach to cooking.
Her mother, though not the primary cook in the family, had her specialties—lumpia and munggo (mung bean stew).
“She wasn’t a bad cook, but she wasn’t the cook of the family,” Cohen laughs. “She had her four or five go-to dishes, and I was always her sous chef.” A unique twist? “She added hot
However, they were again hit with split allegations after Gray took down their engagement photos on her Instagram account, although both parties have remained silent on the status of their relationship since then. The ex-partners were supposed to get married sometime in 2024.
dogs to the munggo for me and my brother.” Despite growing recognition, Filipino cuisine still faces misconceptions. “People think Filipino food is unhealthy,” Cohen says. “Sure, we have rich dishes, but every cuisine has its indulgences. The Philippines is an archipelago, and there’s so much seafood and fresh produce. I eat more when I’m there and never gain weight!” Whenever Cohen returns to the Philippines, she dedicates time to both nostalgic favorites and culinary research. “I start in Manila, catching up with my chef friends, exploring new trends. Then I head to Romblon, where my mom’s family is from,” she says. n
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. * * *
The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people to live a healthier lifestyle, to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation, or treatment in our article are general medical
information and not intended to be applicable to or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health.
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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, presented by then Indiana Governor, U.S. senator, and later a presidential candidate, Evan Bayh. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry S. Truman, President George HW Bush, Muhammad Ali, Astronaut Gus Grissom, scientists, and educators. (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888. com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com; Amazon.com (“Where is My America?”); Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.
Jericho Rosales
Photo from Courtesy of TBA Studios
TV host Luis Manzano ABS-CBN / Released
of Candidacy), isa 'yun sa sinabi ni Gov. Vi, one time 'yun, kumakain kami that time," Luis said.
“Sabi ni Gov. Vi, ‘Anak, alam na alam ko ang industriyang ito (kapag
