022924 - Las Vegas Edition

How community votes make political change

AS the U.S. electorate grows more diverse, mobilizing historically marginalized voters is more politically decisive than ever this election year.

At a Friday, February 23 Ethnic Media Services briefing, voter engagement experts discussed how organizing community voters can make political change.

What community votes can win

“If we’re going to affect social change, it has to be through the people that are most affected by it to begin with,” said Ernie Serrano, Integrated Voter Engagement Organizer with Strategic Concepts in Organizing and Policy Education (SCOPE).

SCOPE first formed to mobilize South Los Angeles communities after the Rodney King riots in 1992, Serrano explained, “because the powers in our communities weren’t investing in us. There was heavy redlining, policing,” failed responses to the crack epidemic and corporate and environmental ex-

WASHINGTON – The iRehistro application form is now accessible for the online completion of the overseas voting registration form 1 (OVF1), the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., has announced.

The embassy reminds the public that iRehistro is not an online registration system. It is used to fill out and generate the OVF1 with a QR code.

Prospective applicants will need to appear personally at the embassy to sign and submit their completed printed forms.

After entering all the needed information, the applicant must:

1. Save a copy of the system-generated PDF file containing the accomplished OVF1 on their device.

2. Prepare a printed copy, which will serve as the form that needs to be personally submitted to the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., along with the other requirements, for the processing of the application as per Sec. 6 of Republic Act No. 10590.

No personal data will be saved or retained on any server after using iRehistro. In case the system-generated PDF file is deleted or lost, the applicant has to repeat the process

Amid sea threat, Marcos rallies allies

MANILA — With peace and stability in the region “under threat,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has called on allies to “join forces” in stopping actions that “denigrate” the rule of law, as he vowed to resist any effort by foreign aggressors to seize even an inch of the country’s territory.

Addressing the Australian Parliament in Canberra on Thursday, February 29. Marcos said the Philippines and Australia have always understood that the region would not have emerged as a driver of the

global economy were it not for the predictability and stability of a rules-based order.

He noted that prosperity and development are anchored on peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, which is now facing challenges requiring cooperation among nations.

Also on Thursday, the Philippines and Australia signed three memoranda of understanding – including one on sharing of information and best practices in cyber and critical technology.

“Today, that peace, that stability, and our continued success, have come under threat. Once again, we must come together as partners to face the

Top American CEOs to join PH trade mission in March

by MIGUEL CAMUS Inquirer.net

THE Fortune 500 cavalry is coming.

At least 30 top American CEOs from major corporations are joining U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo in a landmark presidential trade and investment mission to the Philippines from March 11 to March 12 this year.

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said on Monday, February 26 the country was witnessing an uptick in investment interest

under the Marcos administration, which has embraced closer economic and defense ties with the United States.

This was a marked shift from former President Rodrigo Duterte’s pivot toward U.S. global competitor China.

US-PH relations

“I cannot overemphasize the fact that our relationship with the United States is at its best right now. This is the time we have to take advantage of this relationship because the interest is so high,” Romualdez said during a media briefing on Monday that

Comelec dares critics: Sue us

by WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL ManilaTimes.net

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is standing by its decision to award the P18-billion automated counting machine (ACM) lease contract to the lone bidder and challenged its critics to file a case in court.

“Anybody can question our decision before the Supreme Court,” said Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia. “In the meantime, we will focus now on the drafting of the contract with the joint venture company and ensure that the best interest of the nation is upheld on each and every provision thereof.”

The contract was awarded to the joint venture of Miru Systems. Garcia said the Comelec is on a tight schedule and needs at least six months to prepare the 110 ACMs it will use in the 2025

elections.

“Our timelines are so tight, hence, focus and determination are important. We cannot be disrupted in our preparations for the 2025 electoral exercises no matter how wellmeaning the intentions of certain groups or individuals are,” he said.

The election watchdog Democracy Watch Philippines questioned the awarding of the contract to Miru Systems, citing unaddressed concerns about the firm’s technology and questionable record.

Democracy Watch warned the Comelec that the South Korean vendor’s proposed system is illegal and could threaten the future of Philippine elections.

“The legitimacy of Miru’s proposed technology is a critical cause for concern, as everything indicates that their automated

common challenges confronting the region. Not one single country can do this by itself. No single force alone can counter them by themselves,” the president told Australian lawmakers.

“This is why our strategic partnership has grown more important than ever. We must reinforce each other’s strengths. We must protect the peace that we fought for during the war and have jealously guarded in the decades since. We must oppose actions that clearly denigrate the rule of law,” he added. While he did not mention China’s hostile ac PAGE 2

Marcos tells Quiboloy to face hearings over abuse allegations

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday, February 28 advised preacher Apollo Quiboloy to face congressional hearings into accusations of abuse against him and his church members.

Marcos said that the founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) should use inquiries at the House of Representatives and the Senate to “say his side of the story”, as both chambers issued subpoenas after he failed to attend hearings.

The Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality is holding a probe into allegations of human trafficking, sexual abuse and violence against the self-proclaimed “appointed son of God” and his group.

The House committee on legislative franchises is also investigating the Quiboloy-led Sonshine Media Network International’s (SMNI) alleged violations of the terms of its franchise.

Marcos also laughed at Quiboloy’s claim that he and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos are colluding with the United States to assassinate him.

“Walang gustong umassassinate sa kanya (No one

Duterte backs Marcos on economic Cha-cha

by KRISTINA MARALIT AND MA. REINA LEANNE TOLENTINO

ManilaTimes.net

FORMER President Rodrigo Duterte said he was “comfortable supporting” his successor, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in easing economic restrictions in the Constitution.

Addressing a rally in Cebu City on Sunday, February 25, Duterte said he was open to introducing amendments to the Constitution as long as they do not propose term extensions for incumbent officials.

He also said Marcos had not committed any “big mistake” as president so far.

“Maybe those below him, but him, I haven’t heard anything.

So, I continue to support him,” Duterte said.

He said he would continue to back Marcos so long as he steps down at the end of his six-year term.

He advised Marcos not to “follow the path” of his late father and namesake, who stayed in power for over two decades until he was overthrown during the EDSA Revolution in 1986.

“Just end your trip and then let go and let the Constitution work,” Duterte said.

The president has repeatedly said that he is only pushing  PAGE 4

Former President Rodrigo Dutrerte Malacañang file photo

Comelec Chairman George Garcia ManilaTimes.net file photo

Amid sea threats, Marcos rallies...

tions in the South China Sea in his speech, Marcos said the protection of the sealane as a “vital, critical global artery” is crucial in preserving regional and global peace.

“The challenges that we face may be formidable, but equally formidable is our resolve. We will not yield,” Marcos said.

“Then as now, the security and continued prosperity of the region – of countries like Australia – relies upon that effort. Just as we fought to build our rulesbased international order, so are we now fighting to protect it.”

The president cited the need to “uphold, preserve, and defend” the unified and universal character of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the constitution of the oceans, saying nations have an abiding interest in keeping seas free and open and in ensuring unimpeded passage and freedom of navigation.

China has been aggressively asserting its illegal claims in the West Philippine Sea, even building artificial island-fortresses on land features and harassing Filipino fishing boats and coast guard vessels. China’s actions have spawned concerns over their impact on freedom of navigation.

In 2016, an arbitral tribunal based in The Hague voided China’s maritime claim, which

covers almost the entire South China Sea, and affirmed the Philippines’ sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone. China has refused to recognize the landmark ruling, even accusing Philippine vessels of “trespassing.”

Philippines on the frontline Marcos, the first Filipino leader to address the Australian parliament, said the Philippines now finds itself on the frontline against “actions that undermine regional peace, erode regional stability and threaten regional success,” as it did in 1942, when Allied forces fell to the Japanese invaders.

“Then as now, we remain firm in defending our sovereignty, our sovereign rights, our jurisdiction,” the Chief Executive said.

“I shall never tire of repeating the declaration that I made from the first day that I took office: I will not allow any attempt by any foreign power to take even one square inch of our sovereign territory,” he added.

Marcos said the Philippines draws strength from what he described as the “consistent” and “unequivocal” support of Australia and the international community for the lawful exercise of its rights, as enshrined in international law. He also thanked Australia for standing by the Philippines.

“In Australia we see a natural

partner in our efforts to defend, to preserve, to uphold our open, inclusive, and rules-based international order, to ensure that it remains governed by international law and informed by the principles of equity and justice,” the Chief Executive said.

In remarks delivered before Marcos’ address, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the UNCLOS is “not an abstract notion or a theoretical question.”

“Freedom of navigation is fundamental to our sovereignty, our prosperity, our security and our territorial integrity,” Albanese said.

“Our cooperation is an assertion of our national interests and a recognition of our regional responsibility. It reflects our shared standing that peace depends on more than the presence of the great powers. All of us in the international community, middle powers like our nations as well as smaller nations have a part to play in a more stable, peaceful and prosperous future,” he added.

Peter Dutton, leader of the Australian opposition, lauded the Philippines’ “steadfast” commitment to international law, as articulated by Marcos.

“Mr. President, we find ourselves in times of emboldened autocrats and belligerent regimes who show utter contempt for sovereignty, law and liberty. Your country shows and knows our resolve because your country knows that the threats are real,” Dutton said.

“Together then with our many friends and partners in the region, we must all continue to speak up with courage in calling out acts of intimidation and interference. We must all maintain our strenuous efforts in diplomacy and we must all especially lift our individual efforts to support the collective goal of integrated deterrence.”

MOUs signed

The Australian leader, meanwhile, said the MOUs signed included one that would allow the two nations to share information and best practices on cyber and critical technology, capacity building, promoting a secured digital economy and achieving better understanding of the

Comelec dares critics: Sue...

PAGE 1

counting machines have never been used in any election before,” Democracy Watch convenor Lloyd Zaragoza said. Zaragoza said his group has repeatedly asked the same questions before the postqualification evaluations began, but Comelec did not answer them satisfactorily.

What was presented during the post-qualification evaluation and demonstration to the Comelec en banc and stakeholders was a prototype of the machine that has never been used in an official election, he said.

Zaragoza said the Comelec’s own admission that the machine evaluated was a prototype runs against the Automated Elections Law of 2007, which requires that “the system procured must have demonstrated capability and been successfully used in a prior electoral exercise here or abroad.”

“Alarming reports about the company’s involvement in the 2023 elections in Iraq and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have painted a picture of voting delays, chaos, and a severe erosion of public trust. Observers had anticipated a statement from Miru, clarifying and justifying the supposed ‘success’ of their technology, but convincing explanations have yet to materialize,” Zaragoza said.

Democracy Watch cited a preliminary report by the National Episcopal Conference of Congo and the Church of Christ in Congo (ECC) that in the DRC, a staggering 45.1 percent of polling stations experienced difficulties with electronic voting machines.

The findings, it added, were corroborated by Carter Center’s international election observers, who allegedly witnessed technical issues in 22 percent of the polling stations they visited.

But Garcia said the issues raised by Democracy Watch had been taken up by the Comelec before it adopted the recommendation of the Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) and its Technical Working Group (TWG).

Certifications were also issued in support of Miru’s counting machines, he said.

Democracy Watch said it does not know why Miru Systems misrepresented the position of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (Unami) in the elections in Iraq.

“While Miru conveyed that Unami had endorsed the elections as fair and successful, Unami had previously made it clear through a press release that it would not take part in observing or monitoring the elections, thus not being equipped to evaluate the election process,” Zaragoza

said. The group called on the Comelec to maintain transparency to ensure that next year’s elections will be fair.

The Comelec en banc unanimously approved the recommendation of the SBAC and TWG last week recognizing Miru Systems as the winning bidder.

Garcia said the notice of award has already been received by the winning bidder, and that by next week Comelec and Miru Systems will start preparing the specifics of the contract, including customizing the ACMs, the construction of provincial repair hubs in all 82 provinces, including international certification, and the review of the source code.

“Hopefully, we would be able to finish the contract within two weeks if the contract negotiations would go smoothly,” Garcia said.

The Comelec, he said, welcomes criticisms and questions about the ACMs.

He said the machines were just a part of the system. Other components must also be scrutinized to make sure that the entire process works without a hitch.

Garcia said the Comelec will ask Miru Systems to demonstrate the ACMs before members of the House of Representatives so that the comments and suggestions from the lawmakers could be included in the contract. 

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos addresses the Australian Parliament at the Chamber of House of Representatives in Canberra Thursday, February 29. DOLE photo

COPING. Humid weather forces a student of Pinyahan Elementary School in Quezon City to take off her outer garment on Monday, Feb. 26.

Farenheit) at 2 p.m. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc

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Top American CEOs to join PH...

was organized by the nonprofit U.S.-Philippines Society. Romualdez, who said the final list of CEOs and corporations had yet to be finalized, claimed interest was so high from American businessmen that they had to pare down the list of delegates.

“Secretary Raimondo told us she wanted this to be very focused, she wanted to make sure something will come out of this delegation,” he recounted.

“This is a big deal for the United States. The White House has never organized something like this,” he added.

The U.S.-Philippines Society meeting was also called to welcome the organization’s new co-chair, tycoon Jamie Augusto Zobel de Ayala. Romualdez was also joined in the discussion by Ambassadors John Negroponte, a co-chair at the U.S.-Philippines Society and Thomas Hubbard. g

Marcos tells Quiboloy to face hearings...

wants to assassinate him)… Why would anyone want to do that?” the president said.

“Maybe he’s just afraid… The best way to diffuse that situation for him is to testify before the committees in the House and the Senate,” he added.

In November 2021, Quiboloy, an ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte, was indicted by a federal grand jury in California on charges including sex trafficking, child sex trafficking and bulk cash smuggling. He is also one of the most wanted individuals by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. (Gaea Katreena Cabico/ Philstar.com)

Duterte backs Marcos on economic...

for changes in the economic provisions of the Constitution to attract more investors to the country.

Just several weeks ago, Duterte and Marcos were firing broadsides at each other.

Duterte had labeled the president as a “drug addict” who is often “high” while performing his duties.

The president fired back by saying, “It’s the fentanyl,” referring to a strong anti-pain medication that was triggering Duterte’s tirades.

During a press briefing Monday, February 26, some members of the House of Representatives

welcomed Duterte’s support for economic Charter change (Chacha).

Isabela Rep. Faustino “Inno” Dy 5th described the former president’s backing as “a welcome development.”

House Deputy Speaker David “Jayjay” Suarez said he was “very happy with Duterte’s statements, but he would be a lot happier “if the same can be echoed by” Duterte’s supporters. Suarez said the House has “been consistent” in pushing for an “economic Cha-cha.”

Also on Monday, the House, acting as a committee of the whole, started deliberations on Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) 7, which

lists the specific provisions that need to be amended.

RBH 7 seeks the same amendments as RBH 6, filed in the Senate earlier.

The two resolutions both cover Article XII (Section 11), Article XIV (paragraph 2 of Section 4), and Article XVI (paragraph 2 of Section 11) of the Constitution.

They both seek to add the words “unless otherwise provided by law” to the provisions and the word “basic” before the words “educational institutions” in the first sentence of paragraph 2, Section 4 of Article XIV.

RBH 7, however, does not have the words “each House voting separately.” g

iRehistro for overseas voting registration...

to generate another OVF1.

Under Republic Act No. 9189, as amended by Republic Act No. 10590, all citizens of the Philippines abroad, who are not otherwise disqualified by law, at least 18

years of age on May 12, 2025, and who are registered overseas voters, may vote for senators and party-list representatives during the overseas voting period for the 2025 Philippine National Elections from April 13, 2025 to May 12,

2025. The deadline for overseas voting registration is Sept. 30, 2024.

More information on overseas voting registration is available at https://philippineembassy-dc.org/ overseas-absentee-voting/. g

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Amid sea threats, Marcos rallies...

PAGE 2

application of international law norms in cyberspace.

“We also discussed strengthening cooperation on cyber and critical technology and we’ll work together to promote the open and secure use of cyberspace through a new MOU which we have signed today (Feb. 29),” Albanese said.

He also said another MOU aims to enhance maritime cooperation by allowing Manila and Canberra to closely promote their shared vision for the region, including in civil maritime security, marine environment protection, maritime domain awareness and promoting respect for international law.

“We’ll also continue our maritime cooperative activities as regional partners committed to doing our part to sustain peace and stability in our region,” Albanese said.

Marcos noted that defense and security remains a key area of cooperation between the Philippines and Australia.

“We look forward to amplifying our joint activities and the capacity-building efforts in this regard,” the Chief Executive said. Another MOU seeks enhanced cooperation in competition law and policy, areas described by Albanese as “highly relevant” to both Filipinos and Australians.

Also on Thursday, Albanese announced a new $20 million investment to assist the Philip-

pines in reforming and improving access to its justice system.

The Australian prime minister said he and Marcos had “very productive” discussions that focused on enhancing their countries’ collaboration as strategic partners.

“We are ambitious for what we can achieve together and I am pleased that we are working actively to build a peaceful region where international law is respected and waterways are open for trade,” Albanese said. Marcos said the Philippines and Australia are “natural partners” in the region because of their common set of values. According to him, the Philippines recognizes Australia’s “indisputable” role as a “regional stabilizer.”

“As a flourishing democracy and a staunch advocate of the rules-based order and rule of law, Australia responsibly discharges its economic and strategic capacity, thereby sustaining the regional framework that has allowed us to experience unprecedented growth and peace,” he said. “As we are situated in such a dynamic regional security environment, I would like to assure our Australian friends that the Philippines will continue to partner with Australia in promoting predictability of actions in the international arena,” the President said. Albanese said he was looking forward to continued dis -

cussions with Marcos at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Australia Summit in Melbourne next week.

Senator jeers Marcos Jr.

Not all members of the Australian parliament, however, were welcoming of Marcos.

During his address, The Greens Sen. Janet Rice held up a sign that read “Stop the human rights abuses.”

An attendant promptly ushered her out of the chamber, according to a report by The Guardian. In an X post, Rice criticized the Australian government for inviting Marcos to speak before the parliament, citing the supposed worsening corruption and extrajudicial killings in the Philippines.

“Under President Marcos, Jr., corruption in the Philippines is getting worse. There are hundreds of political prisoners and ‘anti-terrorism’ laws are used as legal cover for extrajudicial killings. Yet the Australian government invited him to address the parliament today. Shame,” Rice said.

Greens Sen. Jordon SteeleJohn said he was proud to protest in solidarity with the Australian-Filipino community outside the parliament while Marcos was delivering his speech. A photo he posted on his X account showed the protesters carrying banners criticizing Charter change and calling for an end to the giving of military aid to the Philippines. g

How community votes make political...

ploitation. “We wanted to have a say in how our elected leaders were governing us.”

Because communities of color are often disenfranchised, he continued, many members are not as politically informed, and so “the grassroot effort to have a voice at the table requires telling our community why it’s important to vote, showing what it can win.”

One major recent victory by SCOPE involved the 2022 election of LA Mayor Karen Bass, who gave up her congressional seat to run a grassroots campaign against billionaire Rick Caruso.

“So, you have a grassroots leader, with only $10 million in budget, against someone who spent $109 million dollars with big business support … recreating her through ads to the point that people thought she was an entirely different person than who she was,” Serrano said. “These are odds that, historically, people don’t beat, and we won.”

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“Because he didn’t have a concept of what it meant to reach the demographic that he needed to reach in order to gain the seat,” explained Serrano. “If he was really interested in bettering conditions in LA like homelessness and environmental issues, he would have invested in LA residents …who are often disengaged from the voting process because they don’t believe the system was designed for us, that it’s already rigged for the powers that be. But that’s not necessarily true.”

Empowering voters by counting voters

The power of community voting “starts with the Census,” said Debbie Chen, Houston-based community activist and Executive VP with the National OCA, Asian Pacific American Advocates.

“It’s not simply ‘Come election time, go vote,’ because redistricting is actually the best way to conduct mass voter suppression,” she explained. “The Census determines who gets counted for redistricting, which

determines who gets to govern, vote and spend in certain areas.”

Redistricting is the process through which congressional districts are drawn every ten years, following the decennial Census count.

For the average first-generation immigrant, ‘The importance of being counted,’ that message alone doesn’t necessarily resonate,” Chen continued. “But when you approach it from the perspective that being counted lets you decide who gets to spend your tax dollars, how much of your money comes back to your area to get roads built, schools, nice sidewalks as opposed to ditches — everybody understands money.”

“Many people in the new immigrant AAPI community don’t realize how your vote gives you power to influence your community this way,” she added. Although AAPI are the fastest-growing U.S. ethnic group, “neither party has traditionally invested in outreach to the AAPI community, despite the fact that in many areas our vote can make that margin of difference in closer races.”

In Texas, for instance, eligible AAPI voters grew by 74% between 2010 and 2020, compared to a 21% increase in overall eligible voters statewide.

The power of voting lies in “making sure that we get counted, that our influence over our community doesn’t get diluted through racial gerrymandering,” Chen said. “It should come down to who can best invest in where we live.”

The value of community votes

“Politics is local,” said Anneshia Hardy, executive director of Alabama Values. “The message of ‘If your vote wasn’t important, they would stop it’ doesn’t ring true because of these coordinated efforts to dilute our vote, the value of it.” White men, for example, are 30% of the population but hold 62% of U.S. elected offices, she said — often as a result of incumbency and racial redistricting such as in the Milligan fair mapping case, which Alabama Values helped win last year in favor of

two newly redrawn majority-minority districts reflecting the state’s growing Black electorate.

Although white voters are historically more likely to turn out than other ethnic groups, ethnic voters make up increasingly decisive electorates in battleground states, while the share of non-Hispanic White eligible voters has been declining since 2000, according to Pew.

That electoral gap also extends across generations, with Alabamians under 45 comprising 1.7 million of the voting population, but only half of those voters cast ballots, compared to 70% of 2.1 million voters over 45.

In total, 2.3 million Alabamians voted — a record number in terms of volume, but one which represented only 62% of voters statewide, with 1.4 million eligible Alabamians not having voted. How do we show the value of community votes to those who do not engage?

“By helping voters see themselves in the solution to issues that matter to them — social justice, health care, education,” said Hardy. “Who controls the narrative has power over tangible community outcomes.”

“The notion that voters of color abstain because they feel their vote doesn’t matter fails to acknowledge the deeper issue at play,” she continued. “Many of these voters are disappointed not because they undervalue their vote, but because they see unkept political promises that persist despite their vote.”

Currently, Alabama Values is battling Senate Bill 1, a piece of state legislation that makes absentee ballot voting a felony — worsening the ability of many Alabamians, particularly those of color living in remote areas, to vote at all.

“Even in the midst of trying to get people to vote, we’re fighting to ensure that everyone has access to the ballot at all,” added Hardy. “To engage these voters, particularly voters of color, we must address their legitimate concerns about the democratic process by working to make it more responsive to what they want.” (Selen Ozturk/Ethnic Media Services)

Kingdom of Jesus Christ church founder Apollo Quiboloy Pastor Apollo Quiboloy Facebook Page

HEROES’ HALL. The flags of the revolutionary group Katipunan are displayed in one of the rooms of the Bahay Nakpil-Bautista (Tahanan ng mga Katipunero or Home of Heroes of the Philippine Revolution) in A. Bautista Street, Quiapo, Manila, as photographed during a tour on Saturday, Feb. 24. The house-turned museum has rooms dedicated to Gregoria “Oriang” De Jesus, founder of the women’s chapter of the Katipunan and once married to Katipunan “supremo” Andres Bonifacio; a small library of Filipiniana books for researchers; a community center for Quiapo; and venues for exhibits of young and upcoming artists and photographers and meetings of advocacy groups. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc

PhiliPPines

Metro Manila Subway project now ‘40% complete,’ says DOTr

by James relativo Philstar.com

MANILA — The Philippines' first-ever underground mass transport system is almost halfway through completion after it recorded an overall project implementation progress rate at 40% as of January 2024.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) shared the news during the site inspection of the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP), together with Finance Secretary Ralph Recto and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Chief Representative to the Philippines Takema Sakamoto on Monday, February 26.

"We have shown to Secretary Ralph Recto the ongoing development and briefing on what the project is all about, and with the support of JICA we are implementing this project on time for completion in 2029,"

said Bautista. The MMSP is currently being financed by two active loan agreements and is expected to enter into a third tranche of loan worth ¥150 billion by March 2024.

The project includes the construction of a deport and a 33-kilometer railway line made up of 17 stations that will connect Valenzuela City to Pasay City with a spur line to Terminal 3 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Parañaque City. Through the project, state officials aim to reduce travel time from Valenzuela to NAIA from 1 hour and 30 minutes to just 35 minutes while servicing 519,000 passengers on a daily basis.

Completion by 2029

Bautista said that the DOTr is currently in discussion with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)

and the Department of Finance (DOF) for review of draft documents pertaining to the loan deal provided by JICA and the government of Japan.

"With the support of JICA, we are implementing this project on time for completion in 2029," Bautista continued.

Recto has also expressed support to ensure the project is completed on time, while the DOTr addresses the right-ofway issues.

It could be remembered that the MMSP only resumed its actual construction in January 2023 following the right-ofway issues after some property owners refused to surrender their land to the state.

"The Department of Finance is fully committed to securing the funding for this project," said Recto. "We aim to finalize the loan agreement for the 3rd tranche of financing by March 2024." g

Senate OKs bill defining Philippines maritime zones

by Cristina CHi Philstar.com

MANILA — The Senate has passed on final reading a bill that defines the

zones

Philippine jurisdiction in a bid to eventually fend off entities that seek to challenge the 2016 arbitral ruling on the West Philippine Sea. Senate Bill No. 2492, which was approved on

Monday, February 26 draws the exact meters and bounds of the Philippines’ maritime entitlements under UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and other international laws. This includes the internal waters and exclusive economic zones (EEZ) over which the Philippines exercises sovereignty and jurisdiction.

In a press conference on

Monday, Sen. Francis Tolentino, sponsor of the measure, said that the bill also considers the artificial islands and installations within the country's EEZ as part of its jurisdiction.

Even if the Philippines did

not build the artificial island, it is considered “owned” by the country under the measure, Tolentino said. The Permanent Court of Arbitration under the United Nations ruled in 2016 that China's nine-dash line claim and other activities in Philippine were unlawful. Since then, the arbitral ruling has been repeatedly invoked by the Philippines and other nations with overlapping claims in response to Chinese maritime aggression. Beijing has largely dismissed the international ruling, claiming it has no legal basis.

Maritime expert Jay Batongbacal said that the passage of the measure marks a “significant milestone in the country’s long and difficult quest toward effectively managing our seas.”

“Foreign States will be obliged to ensure that their flag vessels comply with the laws and regulations of the country enacted in accordance with international law,” Batongbacal said.

The proposed Maritime Zones Act is also legislation that is “40 years in the making,” said Julio Amador III, senior adviser at Waypoints, a group of maritime security specialists, practitioners and experts.

“Since UNCLOS was adopted, the Philippines needed to align its national laws with international norms and laws. This historic act underscores the Philippines’ commitment to defend its rights in its waters,” Amador said.

The House version of the bill was passed on final reading in May 2023. If the measure is passed into law, it may help the Philippines implement the 2016 tribunal ruling that invalidated China’s sweeping claims in the West Philippine Sea, Tolentino said in a radio interview in December.

Tolentino said that once the proposed Philippine Maritime Zones Act becomes law, the Philippine government will submit this to the United Nations to be recognized by other countries, which will solidify the country’s maritime claims. g

Pres. Marcos signs Expanded Centenarian, Tatak Pinoy laws

by Helen Flores Philstar.com

MANILA — Responding to clamor to extend benefits to Filipino octogenarians and nonagenarians, President Ferdiannd Marcos Jr. signed on Monday, February 26 a law providing P10,000 cash gift to citizens who reach 80, 85, 90 and 95 years old.

Marcos said Republic Act 11982 or “An Act Granting benefits to Filipino Octogenarians and Nonagenarians” is a homage and an expression of gratitude to the Filipino elderly.

“To our active 80-somethings and lively 90-somethings, the expanded Centenarians Act confers upon you the thanks of a grateful nation that you have made strong and stable through your labors,” Marcos said in his speech during the ceremonial signing of the law at Malacañang. RA 11982 amended RA 10868 or the “Centenarians Act of 2016,” which grants P100,000 cash gift to those who reach 100.

“The expansion of the coverage of the Centenarians Act is a homage to the Filipino trait of compassion and in our culture, none are showered with more kind and loving care than our elderly,” the president said. Under the new law, Filipinos, upon reaching the age of 80, will receive a cash gift of P10,000 and every five years thereafter

upon reaching the ages of 85, 90 and 95.

“We do, after all, stand on the shoulders of these giants,” Marcos said.

Apart from the financial incentive, the chief executive also pushed for senior citizenfriendly infrastructure in the country.

“They deserve more than cash in an envelope. What they should get is a support infrastructure that every society owes to its greying population,” he said.

Based on 2020 data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, there are 9,242,121 senior citizens or those aged 60 and above nationwide.

“But as this demographic enlarges, the societal facilities that attend to them should be expanded as well,” the 66-yearold Marcos said.

“When we think of the future, it is not just about, as Hubert Humphrey once said, ‘those who are in the dawn of life, our children,’ but also ‘those in the twilight of life, our elderly.’”

As a senior citizen himself, Marcos joked that he and the proponents of the law might be suspected of having passed the bill for themselves.

Among those present during the signing of the expanded Centenarian Law were Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Speaker Martin Romualdez, senators, including the

president’s sister, Sen. Imee Marcos, members of the House of Representatives and Cabinet secretaries.

As the new law is not covered by the 2024 national budget, House committee on appropriations chair and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co proposed the use of savings or unprogrammed funds for the cash gifts.

“But the national budget is not inflexible. Savings can be tapped, but with proper authorization from DBM. The unprogrammed funds can also be a funding source, provided the rules on these funds are followed, so that DBM can properly authorize access to the unprogrammed funds,” Co said, referring to the Department of Budget and Management.

Senior Citizens party-list Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes said the funds could also be sourced from the savings of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

“Now that the amendments to the Centenarian’s Act are approved, the Senior Citizens party-list shifts its focus to its funding and implementation, including the implementing rules and regulations to make sure the new law is faithfully and effectively executed,” Ordanes said, noting a need to clarify if the new law also applies to those who turned 80, 85, 90 and 95 before the law took effect. g

Remembering, 38 years later

THE nation marked on Sunday, February 25 the 38th anniversary of the people power revolt with new personalities organizing or participating in mass gatherings against the administration. At the EDSA Shrine, groups identified with the opposition during the 1986 peaceful revolt gathered to amplify calls to protect the Constitution from self-serving amendments.

Ratified in 1987, the so-called Freedom Constitution was designed to prevent a return of the authoritarian rule, state abuses and large-scale corruption under the elder Ferdinand Marcos.

Editorial

Opposition to Charter change, which is currently being pushed by the House of Representatives, was also the cause taken up by groups that were expected to gather in Cebu on Sunday, led by former President Rodrigo Duterte together with his family and supporters.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has admitted that the ouster of his father and namesake and their exile were “dark days” and “a very trying time” for their family. He entered politics, he said at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland last year, “to defend ourselves politically,” to protect his father’s “legacy” and for his family’s “own survival.”

Following his election to the nation’s highest office, marking his family’s dramatic political comeback, Marcos has often called for unity.

AS I have repeatedly said on several occasions, the unprecedented interest in the Philippines has grown exponentially, particularly from the Western world, ever since Ferdinand Marcos Jr. became president. The president’s interactions with leaders through state and official visits have put the Philippines on the radar screen, consequently giving revitalized interest in the country as a smart investment destination. We also cannot deny the fact that the president’s courageous pushback on Chinese aggression in our territorial waters has given him high international leadership status. I cannot overemphasize that all the trips that have been undertaken by the president are starting to bear fruit. We are seeing tangible results in data coming from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showing that net foreign direct investment inflows in November 2023 rebounded by 27.8 percent amounting to $1

Unlike the Lunar New Year or other special events, however, he did not declare a holiday for the EDSA anniversary commemoration. But Marcos Junior is showing so far that he is no autocrat like his father.

In the human rights department, he is also seen as a major improvement from his predecessor.

Former senator Leila de Lima, who is finally out on bail, sees the current Marcos administration as a “breathing room” from the “authoritarian regime” of Rodrigo Duterte. Filipinos may have lost their appetite for people power, but this should not diminish the significance of the event 38 years ago that inspired other democracy movements around the world. The event showed what Filipinos united behind a worthy cause can achieve. This spirit can be harnessed for the many reforms that are still urgently needed to strengthen democracy, promote inclusive growth and realize the promise of an unfinished revolution. (Philstar.com)

billion, bringing the 11-month FDI inflows to $7.6 billion. A report from the Philippine Statistics Authority also disclosed that foreign investment pledges surged 127.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023 to P394.45 billion, while 117 projects worth P2.5 trillion between the government and the private sector are now in the pipeline. The unemployment rate also went down to 3.1 percent in December – the lowest level since 2005 – better than the 3.6 percent recorded in November. Analysts are also optimistic for 2024, among them Fitch Solutions’ unit BMI saying it expects the Philippine economy to grow at a faster rate of 6.2 percent this year, higher than the 5.6 percent in 2023. The Bank of the Philippine Islands meanwhile projects the economy to expand by 6.3 percent.

As noted by our economic team, “the presidential visits have been impactful for the economy, signaling to both local entrepreneurs and foreign investors alike the government’s commitment to fostering a conducive environment for economic prosperity. The Philippines has become a

premier investment destination for foreign businesses in Asia.”

Sadly, there are still people looking at things from the old Filipino mentality of “instant gratification” – expecting instant results, refusing to acknowledge that these things don’t just come or happen at the click of a finger.

But I can honestly say from where I am sitting, there is absolutely no doubt there is a renewed interest in the Philippines from many American business groups. In fact, the newly reinvigorated U.S.Philippines Society is arriving with a big delegation to Manila this week, with new members composed of executives from U.S. companies, especially after reorganizing their board of directors.

Founded in 2012, the U.S.Philippines Society is a private sector initiative that seeks to elevate the profile of the Philippines in the United States. Its members are composed of former diplomats and U.S. government officials, and top businessmen from the U.S. and the Philippines. The group has been reinvigorated with a lot of new members, with Ambassador John Negroponte as co-chairman for the U.S. side.

Formerly the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Negroponte also served as Deputy Secretary of State and was appointed by president George W. Bush as the first ever Director of National Intelligence. Businessman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala has taken over as co-chairman for the Philippine side, vice Manny Pangilinan who has opted to be a board member instead since he is busy with many other businesses.

During the most recent SGV Knowledge Institute Briefing, Jaime Augusto shared his confidence that the Philippines will be able to “maintain its position as one of the region’s fastest growing economies this year,” sharing his optimism that “inflation will continue to slow down and catalyze the return of much more robust consumer spending, which has long been the driver of the economy, as well as higher investments from both the public and private sectors.”

Earlier this week, a delegation from the Honolulu City Council, the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii and the Hawaii Philippines Business

Economic Council paid a courtesy call on President Marcos and expressed interest in exploring opportunities in trade, tourism and agriculture. But the highlight of all these investments is the big business delegation organized by President Joe Biden himself. They will be arriving mid-March led by Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, whom I met with in Washington recently to get a brief on the plans for that extremely important undertaking. Secretary Raimondo will be bringing top CEOs who will be looking at the Philippines for potential investments in many sectors that include innovation economy, connective infrastructure, clean energy transition, critical minerals sector and food security, among others. A big impediment in attracting foreign investors are the restrictive economic provisions in the Constitution which President Marcos correctly described were “not written for a globalized world.” According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s foreign direct investment regulatory restrictiveness index (FDI Index), the Philippines in

2020 ranked as the third most restrictive out of 84 countries, with most of the restrictive laws directly enshrined in the 1987 Constitution. I know there has been a lot of controversy surrounding the issue of economic Charter change, but this is something that cannot be done overnight either. As I repeatedly said, it must be properly debated on, with the pros and cons thoroughly discussed in a transparent manner because we will be changing laws that are enshrined in the Constitution –so we have to be careful about this. This is something that should not be simply shoved down people’s throats. There’s an old saying –“patience is a virtue” – and clearly, we should have enough sense and patience to know where we all want our country to go: economic prosperity means economic security. (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

THE election of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to the presidency in 2022 has been jarring enough to Filipinos who thought the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution was the final deliverance from authoritarian rule. It had come at a great sacrifice, not only for the whole nation but for those thousands who chose to stand up against the dictator, notably Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. who was brutally murdered in 1983. From the mammoth 12-hour funeral display of the people’s anger to the people power revolt, it took the Filipino people just three years to gather the storm that would sweep the Marcoses from Malacañang.

It is clear we are now waging an EDSA 2. This is a battle for the memory of EDSA and against historical revisionism, of upholding the meaning of all the sacrifices the nation suffered and the risks the people took. The return of the Marcoses during the term of President Fidel V. Ramos was the Trojan horse moment. From then on, the Marcoses squeezed all that the 1987 Constitution offered by way of civil, political, economic, and

social rights to rehabilitate their name and restore their political power. It was not a difficult task—they had all the plundered wealth to invest in the grand scheme.

For the financial support the Marcoses provided, Rodrigo Duterte allowed the burial of Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani in 2016, a mental dissonance of epic proportions. Chased out of the country, the dictator is now ensconced in the pantheon of Filipino heroes. EDSA 2 is about protecting our memory of EDSA, of our people voicing their abhorrence of authoritarian rule. It is about pushing back against the Marcos administration’s gambit to consign EDSA to the dustbin of insignificance and oblivion.

Beyond the symbolism and significance of EDSA, however, there are patterns of collective will and action that have taken root because of EDSA. No matter that some glib-tongues talk about “EDSA-pwera,” it remains true that EDSA has brought back formal democratic institutions, with functioning institutions such as a free press, an independent judiciary, a multiparty system, and three co-equal branches of government kept by a checks and balances system. The Philippines has witnessed significant economic growth

since 1986 even though poverty and inequality have festered.

Civil society has been vibrant and the media free despite herculean efforts during the Duterte administration to muzzle it. Sure, Philippine democracy has visible dents and signs of corrosion, but it has worked.

There was even enough political elbow room to experiment with dangerous outliers like Joseph “Erap” Estrada and Duterte. Perhaps the best legacy of EDSA is Marcos Jr., who, defying preconceived notions he will be as dictatorial and kleptocratic as his father, has surprisingly abided by the available political, legal, and other controls of the Constitution. Even his “New Philippines” does not spell the imagined malevolence of his father’s New Society. The Charter change attempt initiated by his minions was checkmated, even if it meanders looking for an extra-legal pathway to fruition. Malacañang’s official bypass of the commemoration of EDSA did not prevent the resounding ridicule of the EDSA-pwera salvo that initiated the media campaign to change the Constitution.

Most of all, the Marcos Jr. victory in May 2022, no matter how grotesque to many, can still be seen as the normal functioning of a democratic system where voters are free to choose their

leaders, notwithstanding the imperfections of the Philippine electoral system. But the best legacy of EDSA is how it has eventually returned the military to the barracks.

Those uncertain days of six successive coups under Cory Aquino’s presidency tapered off after the Oakwood Mutiny against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2003. The military today singlemindedly finds pride and meaning in its role of protecting Philippine

sovereignty from both external and internal threats.

The legacy of EDSA is how the military, even with blandishments from Duterte, refused to join his war on drugs without a legal written order, in stark contrast to the Philippine National Police which went along for the ride with nothing more than verbal urgings.

When one looks at nations, including in Asean, experiencing excruciating turmoil as the military takes over democratic

governments, one realizes that the legacy of EDSA is the Filipino people doggedly stumbling, fumbling, and jostling peacefully toward the possible dream of a Philippine democracy of all, for all, because by all. (Inquirer.net) * * * 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. * * * doyromero@gmail.com

‘We’re working on it’: DOJ says on expelled solon Teves’ extradition

by Ian LaquI Philstar.com

MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) said it is working on extraditing expelled lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr. after a Manila court ordered the cancellation of his passport. In a press briefing on Monday, February 26 Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the Philippine government are in discussions with the government of East Timor, where the solon was reportedly last seen.

“We just had to wait for the [Manila] court to cancel the passport, to show it's not just a political matter, it's not even a political matter but a criminal justice matter. That's why his right to travel has been impaired because the courts have already canceled the passport based on the cases already pending before our courts on Teves,” Remulla said.

On February 8, the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 51 ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to revoke Teves' passport due to his designation as a terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council and charges related to financing terrorism.

Teves’ passport cancellation is also “deemed final and executory,” according to Remulla, as the lawmaker has not appeared before the court to appeal the verdict.

"He has no personality to even appear in court to ask for

reconsideration. That's why we consider it final and executory.

Hindi pa siya nagsa-submit sa jurisdiction ng court, that's become a more or less unilateral effort on our part," he said.

(He has not even appeared in court to request reconsideration. That's why we consider it final and executory. Since he has not submitted to the jurisdiction of the court, it has become more or less a unilateral effort on our part.)

Upon the revocation of Teves' passport, he will be barred from traveling to any country and will be obligated to return to the Philippines to address the charges against him.

Teves’ lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, previously said that they would exhaust all legal remedies to reverse the decision of the Manila court.

Remulla added that they are collaborating with the DFA and consulting with the Executive Secretary regarding the extradition of Teves.

“We're working on it because the court's decision is there already so there is no way he can travel unless he's granted asylum in another country, or given travel documents recognized by other countries in spite of the blue notice on his person," Remulla said.

The DOJ previously announced that the Bureau of Immigration (BI) has issued two alert list orders against Teves. These orders aim to limit his movements and assist in his arrest through international cooperation.

The orders require all BI officers to inform the Philippine National Police or the National Bureau of Investigation of any information regarding Teves' movements or attempts to enter or exit the country.

The alert list was based on a court warrant dated in September 2023, which was issued in connection with the alleged murder of former Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and nine others, along with the Interpol blue notice published on February 19.

The blue notice, according to Remulla, is expected to be elevated to a “red notice,” considering that Teves is already considered “undocumented.” Philstar.com has reached out to Topacio for comment but he has yet to reply. g

Chinese warships, chopper seen in Scarborough Shoal – PCG

by Franco Jose c. Baroña ManilaTimes.net

MANILA - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confirmed on Tuesday, February 27 the presence of Chinese warships in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal).

Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, said during the last mission of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) they were able to monitor the presence of three People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy warships in the vicinity of Bajo

de Masinloc. However, Tarriela said the warships have maintained a distance of more than 20 nautical miles away from Bajo de Masinloc

"It is important for us to note that within Bajo de Masinloc, the 12 nautical miles, we have territorial sovereignty over these waters," Tarriela said during a public press briefing. "So these Chinese warships have always maintained that they are outside the 12 nautical miles."

Despite the PLA Navy ships not getting near the Philippine territorial sea, he said the BFAR

vessel still was able to monitor the presence of a Chinese Navy helicopter "that flew over the waters" of Bajo de Masinloc.

"What the BFAR ship and other Filipino fishing vessels do is they try to determine where the helicopter took off. At first, we were thinking that it came from the CCG ship," said Tarriela.

He said it was a gray colored helicopter that was sighted and there were "Chinese markings" on its side that when translated means Chinese Navy.

"This is the first time that we have sighted this kind of aircraft in the area," said Tarriela. g

Framer of 1987 Constitution favors economic amendments

MANILA – Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Adolf Azcuna, one of the framers of the 1987 Constitution, is in favor of amending the economic provisions of the constitution.

Azcuna, who was the vice chair of the legislative committee of the Constitutional Commission that drafted the Constitution in 1986, said he hopes the charter would be finally amended “to be responsive to the fast-changing economic condition of the day.”

“Economic provisions should be flexible and they should not be cast in stone, and 37 years is casting in stone. The economic provisions must be responsive to changing economic conditions,” he said at the hearing of the Committee of the Whole on RHB 7 at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on Tuesday, February 27.

“Therefore, I believe that we should change the provisions to make them flexible by legislation by simply adding an amendment unless otherwise provided by law,” he said.

Azcuna further said adding the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” to Articles 12, 14, and 16 makes the amendment “changeable by legislation,” which he believes is “the best solution” to the economic provisions’ restriction. He also noted that there is an existing safeguard against the Senate or the House adding other proposed amendments, particularly those that are political

in nature.

“[The Constitutional amendment] is limited by the very form of their proposed resolution, which is in the form of a joint resolution of both Houses, and it is subjected to the cardinal rule of one subject matter only that must be expressed in that title.

So political matters are not covered because they are not in the subject matter stated in the title.

So that is the safeguard,” he said.

Constitutional challenges

In a press conference also on Tuesday, 1-RIDER Party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez expressed optimism about the readiness of the House to confront constitutional challenges in amending the economic provisions.

"I would say there is no other way but to risk it because any method that we take for constitutional change is actually subject to a constitutional challenge," Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez was responding to a statement earlier made by retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno, who cautioned that the inclusion of the phrase "unless otherwise provided by law" in the economic provisions could potentially face scrutiny and be susceptible to a constitutional challenge.

Puno was among the invited resource persons at the hearing of the Committee of the Whole convened to address RBH 7. This measure mirrors a similar proposal being deliberated in the Senate, aiming to amend certain economic provisions in the char-

ter concerning public services, education, and advertising.

Gutierrez pointed out that even if certain phrases were amended based on advice from the retired chief magistrate, the absence of specific provisions could still lead to inadvertent challenges.

He further noted that by virtue of “mere inadvertence,” anything that Congress will do, whether it’s in the House or in the Senate, there will always be the possibility of a constitutional challenge.

“The question before us now as lawmakers, itutuloy pa po ba natin ito kung alam natin na matsa-challenge ito (will we continue with this even if we knew that it will be challenged)? Of course, because precisely, we are advocating for this change. We have no choice but to move forward,” he said.

But despite the anticipated legal challenges, Gutierrez expressed confidence in the judiciary's ability to fairly adjudicate these matters.

“We will leave it to the Supreme Court, which has proper jurisdiction on this, and we trust in their good judgment to make the right decisions," he said, while underscoring the ultimate authority of the people in the decision-making process.

“At the end of the day, plebiscite ang (is the) determining factor. It is the sovereign will of the people that will be followed," Gutierrez said. (With a report from Filane Mikee Cervantes/PNA)

Arnolfo Teves Jr. Philstar.com photo

VEGAS&STYLE JOURNAL

Troy Laureta on working with Ariana, Katy, Bocelli, other A-list international singers

by Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

He has worked with such A-list international singers as Ariana Grande, David Foster, Katy Perry, and Andrea Bocelli.

Filipino music enthusiasts have known Troy since he began to co-produce songs with ABS-CBN Music and work with local singers like Ogie Alcasid, Jed Madela, Regine Velasquez, to name a few.While his career was booming, Troy was hurting inside for not being able to show to the whole world who he really is. It was two years ago when he made a revelation about his sexual orientation and gender identity through his Instagram.

“Dalamhati (full title is Dalamhati: A Troy Laureta OPM Collective, Vol. 3) is my most special album because it’s the first album that I produced as an openly gay man. Being open about myself is something that I wanted for so long, so, to be able to put all those emotions, all those feelings finally, openly and freely, into a body of work, it’s something I dreamt about,” he offered.

It’s a follow-up to Kaibigan: A Troy Laureta Collective Vol.1 and Giliw: A Troy Laureta OPM Collective Vol. 2, released in 2020 and 2021, respectively. I recently met with Troy for a one-on-one for Batalk Channel’s The Interviewer. Below are excerpts.

What have been changed so far in your life now?

“A lot of things have changed. I released my third and final album and I’m just starting to step into a different era of my artistry and my life. I’m just happy to be here.”

This third collective is a celebration of your being gay.

How did it impact the choice of songs and the singers?

“Those songs have kind of become a beacon of hope for me during my process of coming out and with the singers, they are the people who have been with me through it all.”

Let’s talk about the songs in Dalamhati . I know Martin Nievera released one – Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika . Morissette did Huling El Bimbo , and aside from that, you also have Jonathan Manalo’s Gusto Ko ng Bumitaw performed by Pia Toscano and Loren Allred.

“They are good friends of mine. Ogie (Alcasid) was also part of Dalamhati. He did an acoustic version of Pangarap Ko ay Ibigin Ka.”

Your Collectives – Kaibigan, Giliw and Dalamhati – are your tribute to OPM. You’ve made a mark abroad. You just made this country proud. Having achieved what you have achieved, why are you doing all this?

“For so long, I wasn’t able to formally give Filipino music and the Filipinos the recognition for molding me into the musician that I am today. It’s something very heavy on my heart and it’s for my family, too. I see how hard they work and what they had to do for me to get here and it was my way of saying thank you. And for the youth especially, it’s something to be proud of, something to be seen and heard because when I was growing up, there wasn’t Filipino music other than what I saw on TFC. But if someone in the States or someone in the province can listen to our music being sung by the world,

I’m hoping that it would give them the courage to step into their light because I would have loved that back when I was a little younger.”

Did you come with David Foster when he did his concerts in Manila?

“It was his manager who called me up on a random Tuesday or something and said, ‘Hey, David needs a musical director,’ and I tell you, Tito Boy, I got scared that I almost didn’t do the audition. I wasn’t sure if I was ready but I did it. He’s been following my career with Ariana and all the other artists that I’ve worked with through the years.”

Let’s talk about Ariana.

“I got to work with Ariana through auditions in L.A. I became her musical director on her first world tour, The Honeymoon Tour (2015).”

How’s it working with Ariana?

“Amazing. I’m a fan of singers so when I was able to work with someone who’s not only famous and beautiful but also fulfills my musical heart.”

How about Katy Perry?

“I worked with Katy on a couple of gigs. It was through David and we did this like corporate events and we did a full set of her songs. It was so much fun. It was short but I was able to play Fireworks and you know, all the hits and it was super fun. She was very nice.”

Let’s talk about your experience working with Bocelli.

“It was special because we all know Bocelli from singing songs like The Prayer and I grew up with that song so when I got to work with him, it was a moment that I’ll always remember because it was a full circle moment. My first gig with Bocelli was actually in Italy. We performed at the Colosseum and it was one of my first David Foster gigs.”

Your third collective is your opus as a gay man. Tell me the story.

“I was closeted for a long time because I didn’t want to disappoint my family. I thought within myself that if I was able to do good in music they wouldn’t care about you —you know, me being gay. “But then it started to take a toll on me where I was kind of hiding who I was and I didn’t see myself anymore and it wasn’t until my grandfather died in 2016 that kind of made me come up with the decision to just start to come out slowly and it wasn’t until last year that I officially came out to the world and it was so hard.”

How did it happen?

“I was sitting with my mom at breakfast and she was just wondering, ‘Why are you so quiet? Why are you being weird?’ She kept badgering me and finally, I just started crying and I fell to the floor and I told her that I’m gay and I’m tired, I’m very tired. She just hugged me and she said that it’s okay. That part was probably the most hurtful part of coming out because I realized I could have come out sooner and there was a lot of regret like we could have made more memories, we could have done this or that for the longest time but I wasted so much time.”

What was your Dad’s reaction?

“My dad didn’t care. That was the one I was worried about my dad, a Filipino from Quezon City like, you know, ‘bro,’ ‘tol.’ But he was cool with it. It just made my heart jump.”

I know I already asked you this but again, now at a different phase in your life, if there’s one song that defines who you are, what is it?

“The one song that always brings back memories and makes me feel happy or sad, depending on the moment, is this beautiful Bisaya song called Usahay. I’m a very proud Cebuano, (I’m a) very proud Bisaya so, to be able to showcase that to the Philippines and the world, is a great accomplishment for me.”

What do you want to tell the Filipino people?

“The past couple of years have been so beautiful for me. To the Filipino people, to be able to connect with you guys on a musical level is something that I’ve been wanting all my life and I just want to say thank you, guys so much for embracing me and my music these past couple of years and I also want to say on just a personal level when it comes to OPM (Original Pilipino Music), God has taken me to such beautiful places but there’s nothing like coming home.

“We can like Ariana. We can like Journey. We can love Whitney Houston but it’s still amazing and beautiful to celebrate Pilita Corrales, Martin Nievera, to celebrate our music because our music is so beautiful.

“A lot of people ask me, ‘Why are you so passionate about it?’ It’s because OPM literally saved my life. Dalamhati is a story about how I was able to get through the mental stuff that I was going through and I used Filipino music to get me through those times.”

Sam Milby and Catriona Gray's Cornerstone Entertainment talent agency set the record straight over the split rumors surrounding the celebrity couple.

In a statement released today, Cornerstone admitted that Sam and Catriona are facing challenges in their relationship.

"We at Cornerstone, as the talent management agency representing artists Sam Milby and Catriona Gray, would like to address the recent rumors surrounding their relationship," the statement read.

"While it is true that Sam and Catriona are currently facing some challenges in their relationship, they are actively working on resolving these issues together," it added.

The talent management asked everyone to give the couple a chance to fix their relationship.

"We kindly request that everyone respect their privacy during this time as they navigate through this situation. We appreciate the concern and well-wishes from all those who have shown support for the couple," it said. Breakup rumors between Sam

and Catriona began when eagleeyed social media users noticed that Catriona was no longer wearing her engagement ring in some events.

The two, however, were still always seen together with their friends on social media.

‘Sam Milby, Catriona Gray facing some challenges’ Iza Calzado shares parenting style, relationship with husband Ben Wintle

by KriStofer Purnell Philstar.com

ACTRESS Iza Calzado is cherishing the time she's been a mother, even though at first she was unsure what kind of mom she would turn out to be.

In an exclusive interview organized by The Farm which the actress endorses, Iza shared with Philstar.com how she balances taking care of her infant daughter Deia Amihan while strengthening her relationship with her husband Ben Wintle.

The actress began by pointing out her relationship with Ben was stronger than ever before, even during moments where they are not on the same page, and it's because of Deia.

"It all goes back to what is best for Deia. So even if we don't see eye to eye on a lot of things, nagkakainisan... well ako, kalmadong-kalmado 'yung asawa ko lagi," Iza added. Iza also said she and Ben still manage to go on dates and spend time together, but admits she is still learning as a first-time mother.

"Wanting to be there all the time and yet you have your life also — you're not just a mother, you are everything all at the same

time," Iza continued. "I guess you have to give yourself permission to not do everything kasi baka magcrumble ka."

The actress emphasized asking for help and support in order to be the best parent to one's child, agreeing that everyone should be kind to themselves.

Iza even admitted she had low standards for being a mother because she never expected

to enjoy and love motherhood, "There are a lot of moments where I'm tough on myself, pero 'di ako nagd-dwell on them." She ended by describing herself as a grateful mom and wants to be the kind of mother that enjoys the mundane things.

Last January 26, Deia celebrated her first birthday with Iza hosting a party for Buklod Kalinga girls in Mano Amiga Academy.

Tom Rodriguez back in showbiz, to headline ‘Ibarra: Isang Dulang Pangkonsierto’

KAPUSO actor Tom Rodriguez is now back to showbiz after two years of hiatus in the US because of his breakup with ex-wife Carla Abellana.

“Two weeks lang dapat ako nandoon. Nawili rin ako. Long story short, I really had to take time to really recover and now, I do feel na buo na ako ulit,” Tom said in his interview with "24 Oras."

“Nawili din ako na when I started taking on responsibilities for myself, maintaining the household, learning to cook, learning to do laundry, ‘yung washing machine tsaka dryer doon, mag-grocery, couponing, all that stuff. Na-enjoy ko,” he added.

Tom is set to do Tanghalang Una Obra's “Ibarra: Isang Dulang Pangkonsierto.”

He is no foreign to stage productions as he did “Aladdin” via

Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group in 2012 and had a guest appearance as Teen Angel in 9 Works Theatrical's ”Grease” in 2013. He also starred with Kayla Rivera in an intimate play with Anton Juan, commissioned by Philippine Prudential Life Insurance Co. Inc., for its 50th anniversary in 2013.

Last February 27, Tom, together with his manager Popoy Caritativo, signed the contract with Tanghalang Una Obra's artistic director Frannie Zamora and company manager Mary Anne Gomez in Quezon City.

"I'm glad they offered me this role. I've been yearning to go back into theater at napagbigyan uli," he said. Zamora, also the director of the show, revealed their decision to have the Kapuso actor-singer as the new Ibarra in this concert edition,

"He's one of the best actors we have in this industy. Si Tom kasi may experience na sa theater."

Previously, the musical production, which starred Kapamilya actor Piolo Pascaul, earned several awards at 36th Aliw Awards: Best Musical, Best Ensemble in a Musical, Myramae Meneses as Best Lead Actress in a Musical, Piolo Pascual as Best Lead ctor a Musical, Jon Joven Uy as Best Featured Actor in a Musical, Joed Balsamo as Best Musical Director and Best Composer, Frannie Zamora as Best Director in a Musical, and JD Tena as Best Child Actor in a Musical.

“Ibarra: Isang Dulang Pangkonsierto” will open in June and will be toured in various parts of the country. (Philstar.com)

The Hawaii-born, full-blooded Pinoy is ecstatic about the goings-on in his life – both personally and professionally. Troy initially made a name for himself in the international music scene as the Fil-Am musical director of famous artists in the U.S. He has worked with such A-list international singers as Ariana Grande, David Foster, Katy Perry, and Andrea Bocelli.

Photo from Instagram/@troylaureta

Celebrity couple Sam Milby and Catriona Gray at the ABS-CBN Ball 2023 Philstar.com photo

Iza Calzado

Photo from Instagram/@missizacalzado

WOULDN’T it be wonderful if there was a way to predict a heart attack before it actually happens to provide physicians an opportunity to exercise pre-emptive measures?

Luckily for the world, blood tests that could help predict the likelihood of a heart attack is available, thanks to advances in medical science and technology.

The authors of a new study identified about 90 molecules that may serve as biomarkers of a cardiac event. One of the strongest indicators of an imminent heart attack is the brain natriuretic peptide — a diuretic — which lowers blood volume through increased urination. Blood tests already exist to detect this peptide.

Every 36 seconds, someone in the United States has a heart attack, the leading cause of death around the world, where over a million die each year, usually without a warning. So, the blood test to detect this peptide, this biomarker predictor, would literally be a life saver blood test.

This new study of 169,053 European individuals at Uppsala University in Sweden identifies the blood biomarkers that could be used to provide an “early warning” system that may allow time for preventive measures before a first heart attack.

Medical myths

February was the American Heart Month. Let us debunk some of the persistent myths, misconception, half-truths, and fake news about heart disease.

No sex after heart bypass

This is a myth. Following coronary bypass surgery, the circulation to the muscles of the heart is greatly improved. If a person was able to have sex before surgery, he should be able to do it more safely, with peace of mind. The aim of coronary bypass surgery is to bring the person back to the normal way of life, as much as possible, in more ways than one, and that includes the ability to have sex. Talk to your physician.

Vitamins will prevent heart disease No, there is absent evidence to show vitamins can reduce the risk for heart disease. For those who do not eat properly, vitamins could be helpful by replacing what is not consumed as food. A 2018 meta-analysis of 18 existing studies with 2,019,862 volunteers concluded that “multivitamin and mineral supplementation do not improve cardiovascular outcomes in the general population.”

To prevent heart disease, a healthy diet (like the Mediterranean

Diet), abstinence from smoking, a disciplined alcohol intake or abstinence, and regular exercise and good behavior, are highly essential. Vitamin D3 is a good supplement for the cardiovascular system, which helps in intrinsic natural insulin regulation; bone, dental, and lung health for better calcium absorption; aids in brain health; and also helps in cancer management.

Sleep apnea is not a risk Not true. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is prolonged breathholding, sometimes 100-200 times or more a night among individuals with OSA. Sleep Study is vital, whether one snores or not, for diagnosis. These breathless episodes deprive the body from getting enough oxygen during the night which severely increases the risk for heart attack, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, Alzheimer’s, even for cancer.

CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) therapy is the gold standard of care for OSA.

Heart disease affects only the elderly

False. While heart disease affects people over the age of 65, 4-10 percent of heart attacks happen in persons under the age of 45, mostly among men.

It is what we do from childhood, adolescence, to adulthood that lays the foundation of our future health, as explained in my book, “Let’s Stop ‘Killing’ Our Children” (Amazon.com), a pro-active and pre-emptive strategy in healthy lifestyle and diseases prevention starting from the DNA level. A diet high in trans and saturated fats (a lot of red meat and processed delis), and smoking tobacco increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and even cancer. A study of heart mortality in the United States, showed that “over 50% of counties (experienced) increase in heart disease mortality from 2010 through 205 among adults aged 35-64 years.”

Exercise is bad for heart disease

This is a big myth. To improve blood flow throughout our body, including our heart muscles, we must exercise. According to Prof. Sanjay Sharma, in the August 2020 European Society of Cardiology guideline on exercise for patients with cardiovascular disease, “The chance of exercise triggering a cardiac arrest or heart attack is extremely low.” However, he also adds a note of caution: “People who are completely inactive and those with advanced heart disease should consult their doctor before taking up sports.”

Bypass surgery is not safe

False. Coronary Bypass is one of the safest and most frequently performed surgeries today. The surgical mortality rate is about 1

percent, and in some series, zero post-op mortality. It is certainly less dangerous than not having bypass surgery when important coronary arteries are blocked, which could have mortality as high as 50 percent, like left main coronary (more than 50 percent) blockage. This lesion has caused sudden death and is popularly called “widow-maker.” Not having bypass in these cases is 50 times more dangerous than bypass surgery.

On statins? Eat whatever you like

Wrong. Simply because one is taking cholesterol-lowering drug does not mean a person can eat anything without care, foods with saturated fats, trans-fat, high carbohydrates (which increases the liver’s production of blood triglycerides, which, if higher than 175 mg/dL chronically, increases the risk for serious cardiac events).

An unhealthy diet also exposes people to co-morbidities like, high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity.

Fats are all bad

False. We need good fat for our body. While saturated fats and trans-fats are unhealthy, polyunsaturated fats are the healthier option: the cardioprotective omegas-3 fatty acids from fish, salmon, sardines, and mackerel, lake trout, herring, small light tuna, etc., (consumed at least 2-3 times a week) olive oil, avocados, broccoli, kale, flaxseeds, chia, walnut, as recommended by the American Heart Association.

* * *

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 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 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.

* * *

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 Truman, President George HW Bush, Muhammad Ali, Astronaut Gus Grissom, educators, and leaders (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888. com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.

Reserve your spot to enjoy live performances by Seffarine, “Animaniacs” and Dixie Flats

THE city of Las Vegas is sponsoring three free March concerts, featuring a variety of music and entertainers. All concerts are free, open to the public and appropriate for all ages. Reserve your spot now and receive concert updates. Food trucks will offer refreshments for sale at each park.

Seffarine - Reserve a spot.

Friday, March 8, 7 p.m. Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St., in the indoor theatre.

The band intertwines Moroccan and American influences, creating an extraordinary fusion. Led by the vocals of Lamiae Naki and the masterful oud playing of Nat Hulskamp, Seffarine weaves together intricate rhythms and melodies with evocative storytelling. Drawing

inspiration from their diverse cultural backgrounds, this dynamic ensemble delivers an immersive musical experience that transcends borders and captivates audiences around the world.

"Animaniacs" - Reserve a spot.

Saturday, March 16, 7 p.m.

Centennial Hills Park Amphitheater, 7101 N. Buffalo Drive at Deer Springs Way Starring the show’s original Emmy-winning composer Randy Rogel and the voice talents of Emmy Winner Rob Paulsen, with Maurice LaMarche ("Pinky & The Brain"), the performances are as relevant today as when the animated TV series debuted in the early 1990s. With new episodes currently streaming on HULU, "Animaniacs" is a multigenerational animated favorite with universally recognized

hit songs. As its creators say, “Animaniacs in concert is for the adults – it’s hip, it’s funny…but kids will love it, too!” Bring lowback chairs or blankets to be more comfortable on the amphitheater lawn.

Dixie Flats - Reserve a spot.

Saturday, March 30, 7 p.m.

Bruce Trent Park, 8851 Vegas Drive.

Dixie Flats is a Las Vegas-based band, playing hot jazz, Depressionera blues, Second Line and other music inspired by the culture and traditions of New Orleans. Named for a topographical feature in Elko, Nevada, Dixie Flats aims to respectfully interpret the music that they love, with a nod to the countless artists that inspire them. Bring low-back chairs or blankets to be more comfortable on the park lawn.

Minding Your Finances

If you just found out that you owe the IRS and can’t pay atty. RayMonD Bulaon

THE IRS is the worst creditor you can possibly have. It’s always bad news when you find out that you owe taxes, and it’s even worse when you don’t have the money to pay. Some people erroneously believe that if they can’t pay what they expect to owe when they file their return, that they can just file for an extension and get more time. Wrong. While an extension does provide you some additional time to file your return, it doesn’t extend the deadline to pay what you owe. Let me explain.

First, if you don’t file your tax returns on time, you get hit with failure-to-file penalties. The penalty is 0.5% for each month that the tax is not fully paid.

Second, the longer your taxes remain unpaid, interest on the amount will also continue to pile up. Currently, that interest is about 7% per year. So, the sooner that you pay, the less money that you need to fork out to pay your tax bill. Unfortunately, depending on how much you owe, you may require a long repayment plan that lasts for several years. That means a lot of your payments will go to penalties and interest, making it difficult for you to end your IRS nightmare sooner that you’d like. The IRS offers several payment options. Usually, the IRS will ask

you if you can pay within 120 days. If you cannot pay within that period, you can request an installment agreement. Your monthly payment will depend on your income and expenses, and you may need to submit a collection financial statement unless the amount owed is less than $10,000. Once your request is approved, you can always pay it off sooner. But going forward, you need to remain compliant as long as the agreement is in effect. That means you need to file your tax returns in a timely manner and that you can’t have another tax bill going forward that you can’t pay. Otherwise, the IRS will cancel your original agreement and you will need to re-negotiate a new installment agreement.

If you qualify for tax debt forgiveness, you can reduce your tax debt significantly. This is called an “Offer in Compromise” where the IRS, believing that you will never be able to pay the entire amount based on your income and assets, agrees to take what you can afford and cancels the rest of your tax liability. Before applying, the IRS requires that you have filed all your tax returns and so if you have any years where you did not file a return, you need to file those first before the IRS will even talk to you. Some people will sell assets, borrow money, dip into their retirement plans, etc. just to

get their taxes paid off quickly because they don’t want to deal with tax liens, bank levies, or wage garnishments by the IRS. While it is a good idea to get the IRS out of your life as soon as you can, some of these options are not necessarily the best. For example, if you tap into your retirement plans to pay the IRS, you may incur tax penalties for early withdrawal on top of the taxes that will be due next year on the amount you are withdrawing (i.e., pre-tax money). In other words, you are simply robbing Peter to pay Paul by exchanging one tax bill for another.

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 your 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 J. Bulaon has successfully helped over 6,000 clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call RJB Law Offices at TOLL FREE  1-866-471-8272.(Advertising Supplement)

LAS VEGAS – Purple Reign, the world’s top Prince tribute starring Jason Tenner celebrating the life and legacy of Prince, announced their new residency at the V Theater inside the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Las Vegas Resort & Casino. Set to debut on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, the award-winning Prince Tribute Show will bring its highenergy musical experience to the V Theater as the 8:30 p.m. headlining show.

Purple Reign: The Prince Tribute Show! presented by Reign Entertainment Productions, Inc. in partnership with Red Mercury Entertainment, captures the imagination and seamlessly re-creates the blistering performances and raw energy of Prince in his prime and returns to the era that made "The Artist" an international superstar. The show also features a tribute to Morris Day and The Time and Vanity 6 and is a must-see for “Purple Rain” movie fans and all live music fans alike. From humble beginnings in small UNLV college clubs to late night T.V. appearances, touring across the country, and more, Purple Reign has risen

to international acclaim and recognition as the world’s number one Prince tribute. On November 17, 2008, the group became the first-ever tribute/impersonator act to appear as the musical guest on the Late Show with David Letterman. That show was then chosen by CBS and the Late Show to ring in the New Year and reaired January 1, 2009, at 12:15am (New Year’s Eve) less than 45 days later, making it the first musical performance of 2009 on Letterman. 2009 also saw Purple Reign crowned "Best Tribute Act" by the 28th annual Las Vegas Review Journal Poll, winning

two awards by both the staff and readers, and have since received “Best Impersonator” nods as well. The show was selected as the season 3 opener for AXStv’s The World’s Greatest Tribute Bands and received Las Vegas Weekly’s “All-Time Best Tribute Show” award in 2020. Tickets for Purple Reign are on sale now with ticket prices starting at $77 (excluding tax and fees). Performances are Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 8:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the V Theater box office, online at VTheater.com, Ticketmaster.com, Tix4.com.

THE kilig-worthy loveteam of Beauty Gonzalez and Kelvin Miranda — widely hailed as "KelTy" a few years back — is making its big screen debut today via "After All," a romantic drama from ALV Films. Their chemistry first captivated audiences in "Loving Ms. Bridgette" in 2021 as part of GMA Network's romance anthology series, "Stories from the Heart." Currently, fans can catch them together in the ongoing sitcom starring actor-senator Bong Revilla, "Walang Matigas na Pulis sa Matinik na Misis," albeit in

different dynamics as siblings. Unbeknown to fans of the love team, Gonzalez and Miranda had already completed a full-length feature before becoming "brother and sister" on TV with "After All" wrapping up its shoot as far back as 2021.

In a media conference last week, director Adolf Alix Jr., who helmed the movie, explained he agreed with ALV Films to hold its release until after Covid-19 so that more people can enjoy it in the cinemas.

Gonzalez and Miranda, on the other hand, could not help but reflect on their partnership since their early days on TV and when they shot the movie two years ago.

"Kelvin takes good care of me on

the set, so it's easy for me [to work with him], especially when you're treated with respect," Gonzalez expressed. She couldn't resist teasing Miranda for his good looks, adding, "He's handsome too, so it's not difficult for me, especially with kissing scenes."

Miranda, who confessed he was initially intimidated by Gonzalez's reputation when they were first paired, revealed she eventually turned out to be his "comfort zone" as they went from project to project.

"I became comfortable now. We came from 'Loving Ms. Bridgette' and also had a kissing scene there, but during that time, I was PAGE 11

Gloc-9 reflects on hit song ‘Sirena,’ regards it as gift to his gay son

by Anne PAsAjol Inquirer.net

The rapper said this in an exclusive interview with ABSCBN on Monday, Feb. 26, after he was asked on his reaction to the LGBTQIA+ community “fully embracing” his song.

“Yung song na ‘yan, nung ire-release namin ‘yan, takot na takot ako. Takot na takot dahil ayaw kong makainsulto ng tao,” he admitted.

“Alam ko kasi nung sinulat ko ‘yan, hindi ko tsinelas o sapatos ‘yung suot-suot ko. Ako’y nagsuot ng ibang sapatos o tsinelas,” he continued. “Kaya ako natatakot kasi ayaw kong may naisulat ako dun na baka: ‘E sira ulo pala ito, hindi naman ‘to ganyan e.’”

Despite his initial fears, Gloc-9 seemed to have felt relief after receiving positive responses and even messages of gratitude from individuals who have gay loved ones. “‘Yung mga songs, binibigay lang ‘yan e. I believe pinapahiram lang ‘yan. Pag binitawan namin ‘yan, hindi na amin ‘yan; hindi na kami ‘yan,” he told the news outlet. “May mga songs na binigay sa akin na…,” the rapper said as he took a pause and broke into tears. “My son is gay. Nung sinulat ko ‘yun, hindi niya pa sinasabi sa amin. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko sasabihin sa anak ko na, kung gaano ko siya kamahal.”

Gloc-9 underscored how he felt overjoyed because in retrospect, he was blessed with a song that served as a “gift” not only for him but also for his son.

“Hindi naman ako ma-showbiz pero I think para sabihin ko ito now, ako ay proud na proud sa anak ko. Ako ay excited sa kung

ano man ang kaya niyang maachieve sa buhay niya,” the artist emphasized.

“Minsan iniisip ko, it’s how life gives you hints of magic here and there,” he added. “Nung natapos ko ‘yung ‘Sirena’ hindi ko naman alam e, and I don’t mind. Anak ko ‘yun e.”

Concluding his remark on the matter, Gloc-9 reiterated, “Ako’y proud na may anak ako na tulad ni Daniel. Mahal na mahal ko ang mga anak ko at gagawin ko ang lahat para sa kanila.”

reunited in timeless...

trembling. I couldn't sit still and I was a bit awkward because I didn't know how to do it yet. But direk and Beauty guided me. That was a huge help and I was able to do what I needed to do properly. So now that it happened again in 'After All,' we already know how [to do the kissing scenes]," Miranda related.

Like before, a few critics of the KelTy love team remain, although their negative comments have nothing to do with their acting or chemistry. Their issue is merely the age gap between the two actors, with Gonzalez ahead by seven years than Miranda.

"For me, age is just a number. I want to break that barrier here in the Philippines," Gonzalez rightly declared. "At my age, yes, I get to be partnered with someone young. It's great, and it's a good challenge."

"After All" presents a fresh perspective on eternal love, delving into reincarnation, soulmates, and the enduring nature of relationships. It follows the story of a young man who reminds a widow of her late husband and is led to believe he might be her beloved's reincarnation.

Set against the backdrop of a May-December affair and an unexpected third wheel, the film offers a unique take on love that

Beauty

test of time. With a script from veteran screenwriter Gina Marissa Tagasa, "After All" also features a strong

ensemble cast in Teejay Marquez, Devon Seron and Tart Carlos, among others.

opens today in cinemas nationwide.

THE Philippines may not have Taylor Swift but it has Mac Coronel

— aka Taylor Sheesh — who is making waves overseas as the global star's beloved impersonator.

Proof of Sheesh's global appeal was his appearance in Australia's "Today Show," has been featured in international websitess such as bbc.com and seen jamming with an international audience, particularly in Melbourne, Australia.

The online curiosity started as a fun gig at a local mall. It was captured and posted online to the amazement of Swifties fans.

Soon, Coronel's performances as Taylor Sheesh were trending online and more venues have invited him to take the stage. "I' happn be a Swiftie since 2009 and I'm also a drag queens so I'm trying to impersonate her and it works and it went viral," Coronel said at th

And while the drag star has been impersonating Swift since 2017, it was during the ongoing "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" that Coronel was able to expand his audience.

JULIA Montes is never ashamed she wasn't born with the proverbial silver spoon in her mouth. In fact, the Kapamilya actress knew what the face of squalor was like.

At a very tender age — whether she liked it or not — she along with her grandmother Flory was the breadwinner in the family.

Nothing much is known about her mother except that she's deaf-mute, Julia had to learn to communicate with her through sign language.

To make both ends meet, Julia's family subsisted on borrowing money through "five-six" (a popular lending scheme where the lender charges 20 percent on the loaned principal).

There were times when she and lola would scamper elsewhere to hide from the lender who showed up to collect on due dates.

If unable to pay their daily "hulog" on time, it was the poor Julia who her granny would shield to plead with the lender for "palugit" or extension.

To be able to eat three square meals a day meant a feast for Julia's family. She recalls having bought one packet of instant noodles from a nearby store which she and her siblings partook on a single plate:

For one, The Philippines is not included in the ongoing tour so Filipino Swifties are more than happy to jam with Taylor Sheesh in free music events around the country. Then, Coronel delighted fans when he brought his own "The Errors Tours" — a play on Swift's world tour title — in Fed's Square in Melbourne that had a huge turnout of Aussie Swifties.

Melbourne was a stop of the Eras Tour but with high demand for tickets, many fans were not able to get a seat, and like the Filipino audience who have been doing it since last year, they opted to see the next best thing — Taylor Sheesh.

"We didn't expect that we will have a massive crowd. Aussie Swifties are insane and wild. They gave 100,000 energy from start to finish," Coronel said during his 'Today Show' interview that was aired a day after.

Coronel's next stop — Singapore.

The Errors Tour will take place at Hard Rock Cafe, Singapore on March 16 and 17, a week after Swift's six-night concert in the country.

"To all my fellow Swifties in SG,

"I think that's the reason why I'm kind of generous with food to my co-workers."

On the set, Julia would order food for her co-stars, "I'd feel shy if I'd order just for myself. If I had extra money, I would include the crew. For me, food is life since I grew up deprived of it."

Not only was Julia denied the luxury of eating what she wanted, her sleeping conditions back then weren't also conducive.

At one point, Julia says she and her Lola Flory used to live at the salon where the latter worked.

It was when the shop was closed would they retire to — not bed but to a bamboo couch minus the comfort of a cushioned bed.

It came to a point where Julia's granny had enough of the kind of life they all lived.

"You should audition, we need money," Julia recalls her Lola Flory having told her in the vernacular. Armed with good looks that could pass for a celebrity, Julia did just that. "We even borrowed money for the fare to get to the set and back home, only to find out I was replaced because of my height," Julia shares, however no mention which taping of show she had gone there for.

A single failure didn't dampen

you're unbelievable, because even though I haven't posted about it yet, Day 1 is already sold out!!" Colonel posted on his Faebook page.

With this unexpected success, has Coronel heard from Swift herself?

"I haven't received word from her team yet but we are hoping that she likes what we are doing... I will always love and support her because she changed my life," he finally told the Today Show.

Julia's spirit though. She showed up auditions after auditions. Her first major break came when she starred along with Kathryn Bernardo in ABS-CBN's remake of "Mara Clara."

TV as well as film projects for Julia have since poured like torrents.

No, it wasn't an overnight success. Maybe — just maybe — it's the bamboo couch on where Julia slept and dreamt.

Or it could also be their "five-six" means of survival with Julia this time collecting much higher interest rates for her perseverance, hard work and good heart.

net)

(ManilaTimes.

Julia Montes

Photo from Instagram/@montesjulia08

Mac Coronel — aka Taylor Sheesh — after performing ‘The Errors Tours’ in Melbourne, Australia. Photo from Instagram/@heymacyou

defies the constraints of time. Perfectly timed this love month, "After All" promises to be a heartwarming remedy for both the loveless and lovelorn. With its message of hope and a captivating storyline, the film explores the intricacies of a love that stands the

The movie

GLOC-9 spoke about life’s “hints of magic” as he recalled how he wrote and released the gay anthem “Sirena” in 2012, without knowing at the time about his son Daniel being gay.