Former PH President Rodrigo Duterte to face ICC in The Hague
Duterte was arrested for crimes against humanity over extrajudicial drug killings
filipino caregivers rally against home care agency for unpaid wages
the California Labor Commission-
er’s office has ordered a torrance-based caregiving agency to pay $2.2 million in unpaid wages to dozens of filipino home care workers in the south Bay Area of Los Angeles County, according to a feb. 20 citation.
to celebrate this long-awaited victory for the dozens of affected workers, the filipino migrant Center and other allied workers’ advocacy groups organized a rally on feb. 24 outside the headquarters of Amity Inhome Care services.
“We’re here to uplift the efforts of the caregivers [who worked for Amity In-home Care services], whose brave fight against wage theft and labor exploitation has
filipino boxing prospect Martin takes act to Vegas, eyes world title eliminator
mANILA — rising filipino star Carl Jammes martin will strut his stuff in the world’s boxing mecca — Las Vegas — against Colombia’s Jose sanmartin at the mandalay Bay on march 22.
After beating his first two opponents in mexico last year, martin will be fighting in a 10-round, non-title super bantamweight bout, and a win should boost his chances to land a world title eliminator.
“I am so thrilled to be fighting in Las Vegas, Nevada. When I was a little boy, I grew up watching some of the greatest fighters in boxing history all showcasing their talents in Las Vegas. I watched many manny Pacquiao fights out there, and now I’m fighting in Las Vegas,” said the 25-yearold fighter from Lagawe, Ifugao.
“this is a dream come true,” he added. martin (25-0, with 20 knockouts)
by Klarize Medenilla AJPress
former Philippine President rodrigo Duterte — the ironfisted populist whose deadly anti-drug crackdowns prompted international outrage — on tuesday, march 11 was arrested and extradited to the Netherlands, where he will face the International Criminal Court in the hague. through Interpol, the ICC ordered the arrest of Duterte, 79, on accusations of “crimes against humanity” for the extrajudicial
Marcos on Duterte’s arrest: ‘We have commitments to the Interpol’
by Gabriel Pabico lalu Inquirer.net
mANILA — President ferdinand marcos Jr. has clarified that the Philippines has to comply with its commitments to the International Criminal Police organization (Interpol) regarding the arrest of former President rodrigo Duterte. otherwise, the government risks not getting any help in the future from the
us immigration raids keep Pinoys on edge
by JanE Bautista Inquirer.net
mANILA — Against the backdrop of an administration enforcing tighter immigration policies, her uncertain residency status in the United states feels like facing death for maria, a 54-year-old filipino caregiver. she has attended multiple seminars conducted by a migrants’ group on what to do if confronted by law enforcement and always keeps her legal documents on hand.
“they have given all the help they could to prepare you for the situation. [But] you know, it’s kind of like death—you don’t really know when it will happen, and you can’t fully prepare for it. even if you’re aware, fear can still get the better of you,” maria, not her real
name, told the Inquirer in a phone interview.
“I’m ready,” she told herself as she went to a grocery store recently, reassuring herself with her identification card, license and marriage contract that she carried with her.
But as she entered the shop, she saw what appeared to be an immigration raid.
Panicked, she immediately left the place. she locked herself in her room during the following two days that she was off from work.
that had never happened to her before, she said. she called her children in the Philippines.
“I told them, just in case something happens, they should be ready. I don’t know. No one knows … that’s when people start getting arrested,” she recalled.
DFA clarifies: 24 Filipinos deported not because of Trump’s actions
by John Eric MEndoza Inquirer.net
mANILA — U.s. President Donald trump did not cause the deportation of 24 filipinos from the United states, the Department of foreign Affairs (DfA) said on monday, march 10.
In fact, DfA Undersecretary eduardo de Vega said they were charged under trump’s predecessor Joseph Biden. hindi po si President trump ang nagpa-deport sa kanila. hinuli sila, kinasuhan sila, panahon pa ni Biden,” De Vega said in a radio dwPm interview of
the 24 deportees. (President Donald Trump did not deport them. They were caught and charged under Biden’s time.)
“Nagkataon lang na presidente na si trump nang sila ay ma-deport,” he added. (it just so happened that they were deported under the Trump presidency.)
Philippine Ambassador to the United states Jose manuel romualdez said these filipinos were deported due to their involvement in criminal activities.
De Vega also downplayed this, noting that this number is very small compared
organization, he said. marcos in an address on tuesday night, march 12 — held right after the plane carrying Duterte en route to the International Criminal Court (ICC) headquarters in the hague, the Netherlands left manila — said that it was Interpol that asked for help, prompting the Philippine government to oblige. earlier, Duterte was not allowed to leave the Ninoy Aquino
International Airport (Naia) terminal 3 after coming home from hong Kong. the Philippine National Police assisted Interpol in serving the arrest order from ICC. this arrest order is related to the crimes against humanity raps faced by Duterte, for his role in the drug war during his administration. mr. Duterte was arrested in compliance with our u PAGE 3
mANILA — rodrigo Duterte, the 16th president of the Philippines, rose to power in 2016 on a promise to eradicate crimes, particularly illegal drugs.
A former Davao City mayor known as “the Punisher,” Duterte won with over 16 million votes. his campaign promise was to kill criminals. his presidency was defined by a bloody drug war that led to thousands of deaths and drew international scrutiny. Government data recorded at least 6,200 drug-related
deaths, but human rights groups estimate the toll could be as high as 20,000. Lawyer and Akbayan partylist nominee Chel Diokno cited an official report listing 20,322 drug-related deaths as “accomplishments,” with 3,967 in police operations and 16,355 in vigilante-style killings. With this, the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2018 launched an investigation into alleged crimes against humanity under Duterte’s leadership, covering his tenure as Davao mayor from 2011 to 2016 and Philippine president from 2016 to 2019.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte, accompanied by former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea, waits in a chartered jet for the flight to The Hague on Tuesday, March 11. Contributed photo
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has clarified that the Philippines has to comply with its commitments to the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) regarding the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Malacañang file photo
The fall of ‘The Punisher’
Former President Rodrigo Duterte Malacañang file photo
by Jown Manalo Inquirer.net
Dfa clarifies: 24 filipinos deported not...
to around 2 million filipinos in the United states.
“sabihin natin 24 deported. Ilang milyong Pilipino ang nasa U.s.? two million. Ilan ang illegal? maaaring 300,000.
Ano yun? Napakakaunti,” he said.
(Let’s say 24 were deported. How many Filipinos are in the U.S.? Two million. How many illegals? Maybe 300,000. What about that? it’s very few.)
During trump’s first term, De Vega previously said that the United states deported “only a few hundred or less” undocumented filipinos each month, which was fewer than during the obama administration.
“Naiintindihan namin kung nababahala ang mga Pilipino diyan, pero sa magandang paraan. Wag sila masyadong magpapansin sa dyaryo.
Alam ko ang Philippine Daily Inquirer, it’s in english, eh di pwedeng basahin ‘yan ng U.s hinihingi mo eh, hindi na nga ikaw hinuhuli eh,” De Vega continued.
(We understand if Filipinos are alarmed, but express it
in a good way. They should not use newspapers to gain attention. From what i know, the Philippine Daily inquirer, it’s in English, so the U.S. could read that. it’s as if you ask for it, you were not getting targeted anyway.) n
Former PH President Rodrigo...
drug killings that took place throughout his presidency.
Duterte was stopped at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on tuesday morning; he had just arrived from hong Kong with his family.
In videos posted by Veronica Duterte, the former president’s other daughter, the ex-president challenged Prosecutor General Anthony fadullon about his detention.
“What is the law and what is the crime that I committed?” Duterte said. “show it to me now, the legal basis for my being here. As I, apparently, was brought here not of my own volition; it is
somebody else’s.”
As reported in the Asian Journal throughout Duterte’s presidency—from 2016 to 2022—the former president oversaw a massive crackdown on illegal drugs, which led to vigilante killings of suspected drug peddlers and dealers. the actual number of extrajudicial killings is uncertain, but the Philippine police confirmed the deaths of 6,248 individuals throughout Duterte’s presidency.
In oct. 2024, Duterte said in a senate inquiry that, when he was mayor of Davao, he had a “death squad of gangsters” on retainer to kill other criminals. these
victims were largely alleged drug dealers, petty criminals and street children, according to a 2016 report from reuters.
“I can make the confession now if you want,” Duterte told the senate in october. “I had a death squad of seven, but they were not policemen. they were also gangsters. [I would] ask a gangster to kill somebody: ‘If you will not kill [them] I will kill you now.’”
But he denied that he authorized extrajudicial killings of suspected drug dealers by police as president.
As of press time, the plane carrying Duterte has left the Philippines and is en route to the hague. n
rodrigo Duterte’s path to the...
Duterte responded by withdrawing the Philippines from the ICC in 2019, a move widely seen as an attempt to evade accountability. however, on march 11, 2025, Duterte was arrested at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) upon returning from hong Kong. his arrest followed an ICC warrant related to his administration’s drug war and alleged crimes against humanity. the following timeline outlines Duterte’s rise to power and eventual ICC arrest, based on INQUIrer.net’s archives and previous reports.
2016 may 9 – Duterte won the 2016 presidential election with more than 16 million votes.
June 30 – Duterte was inaugurated as the first Philippine president from mindanao, vowing to eliminate crime and corruption within six months.
July 1 – Duterte launched a nationwide anti-drug campaign, later known as the Philippine war on drugs. Government data recorded over 6,200 suspects killed in drug war operations, but human rights groups estimate a much higher toll, alleging police executions and cover-ups.
october 13 – then-ICC Prosecutor fatou Bensouda announced her office was “closely following” the Philippines as drug war deaths continued to rise.
November – Duterte suggested withdrawing from the ICC, calling it “useless,” following russia’s exit from the tribunal.
2017
April 24 – Lawyer Jude sabio filed a complaint against Duterte before the ICC, accusing the latter of “mass murder” in the Philippines. sabio represented edgar matobato, a confessed member of the Davao Death squad, who alleged Duterte was behind the killings in Davao City as mayor.
June 6 – former senator Antonio trillanes IV and then-magdalo party-list representative Gary Alejano filed a “supplemental complaint” with the ICC, supporting sabio’s allegations and linking Duterte to drug war-related killings.
2018
february – the ICC launched a “preliminary examination” into alleged crimes against humanity in Duterte’s drug war.
march 17 – In response to the ICC probe, Duterte announced the Philippines’ withdrawal from the rome statute, which is the treaty that established the ICC. however, the treaty states that the withdrawal shall only take effect “one year after the date of receipt of the notification.”
2019
march 17 – the Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC took effect, seen as Duterte’s move to avoid accountability for the drug war killings. however, the ICC retained jurisdiction
over crimes committed from November 1, 2011, to march 16, 2019, when the Philippines was still a member-state.
2020
January 15 – sabio withdrew his ICC complaint against Duterte, saying it was “not in the interest of justice” and was just “propaganda.” he claimed former senators trillanes and Leila de Lima had influenced him to file the case.
January 18 – De Lima, still detained during this time, denied sabio’s claim, saying she did not direct him to file the complaint. she also disclosed that she had filed her case against Duterte before the ICC in october 2017.
2021
August – families of Duterte’s drug war victims under the rise Up for Life and for rights, with their counsel from the NUPL lawyers, urged the ICC to prosecute Duterte for leading the violent anti-drug campaign in the country.
september 15 – the ICC’s pre-trial chamber authorized a formal investigation into crimes against humanity in Duterte’s drug war, covering events from July 1, 2016 to march 16, 2019.
November 10 – the Philippine government, through thenAmbassador to the Netherlands eduardo malaya, formally requested the ICC to defer its investigation, claiming that the Duterte administration was already addressing drug warrelated killings and that “the country’s justice system was working.”
November 18 – ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan “temporarily suspended” the ICC probe to assess the deferral request.
2022 June 24 – Citing dissatisfaction with the Philippine government’s probe into the numerous killings during the war on drugs, Khan requested the pre-trial chamber to resume its investigation into drug warrelated deaths, including those linked to Duterte’s tenure as Davao City mayor. June 30 – Duterte’s sixyear presidency ended, and
ferdinand marcos Jr. took office.
Despite stepping down, Duterte remained a polarizing figure in Philippine politics.
2023
January 26 – the ICC pretrial chamber reopened its investigation into drug war killings, stating it was not convinced that the Philippines was conducting sufficient investigations to justify halting the probe.
November 24 – marcos said his administration was studying the possible return of the Philippines as a member-state of the ICC.
2024
January 31 – retired police officer Arturo Lascañas, a self-confessed member of the Davao Death squad, revealed that he had testified before ICC investigators. Lascañas accused former President rodrigo Duterte of masterminding the DDs and named several individuals involved in the previous administration’s bloody anti-drug campaign.
November 14 – marcos insisted that the Philippines would not cooperate with the ICC’s investigation into the Duterte administration’s drug war.
2025 march 7 – Duterte traveled to hong Kong and led the PDPLaban senatorial campaign sortie among overseas filipino workers. During the sortie, he asserted that everything he did during his term as president was for the filipino people, amid a looming ICC arrest warrant.
march 9 – the marcos administration said it was “prepared for any eventuality” if the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Duterte, according to PCo secretary Jay ruiz.
march 11 – Upon returning from hong Kong, Duterte was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on an ICC warrant for crimes against humanity linked to his drug war. his detention sparked controversy, with his aides alleging constitutional rights violations, while drug war victims’ families welcomed the arrest. Duterte is now under police custody. n
Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez Inquirer.net file photo
TIGHT SECURITY. Members of the Philippine National Police were on standby outside the Villamor Air Base Gate 5 where former President Rodrigo Duterte was brought after his arrest at the airport upon arrival from Hong Kong. PNA photo by Yancy Lim
CRY FOR JUSTICE. Orphaned families and supporters of victims of so-called extrajudicial killings gather along Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City on Tuesday, March 11. They want ex-President Rodrigo Duterte jailed for what the International Criminal Court calls crimes against humanity. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc
Trump health care proposal billed as consumer protection but adds enrollment hoops
by Julie aPPleby KFF Health Newa
the trump administration issued its first major set of proposed changes to the Affordable Care Act on monday that federal officials said are intended to crack down on fraud in the program. Policy experts said they will make it harder for consumers to sign up for coverage, potentially reducing enrollment.
Details were released monday after a draft press release was inadvertently posted earlier.
About 24 million Americans signed up for insurance plans sold under the ACA, known popularly as obamacare, for 2025. the Biden administration achieved record enrollment levels after increasing premium subsidies for many lowerincome people, which resulted in reducing the monthly cost of some plans to $0. It also made it easier for some very low-income people to sign up at any time of year, instead of waiting for an enrollment period each fall. But the program became plagued by fraudulent enrollment last year, generating about 274,000 consumer complaints through August, most focused on rogue insurance agents and other bad actors, to the Centers for medicare & medicaid services.
the trump administration said in a statement monday that the new regulations include “critical and necessary steps to protect people from being enrolled in marketplace coverage without their knowledge or consent, promote stable and affordable health insurance markets, and ensure taxpayer dollars fund financial assistance only for the people the ACA set out to support.”
Policy experts said the changes, though, will impose new paperwork burdens likely to hamper enrollment.
“Under this banner of trying to crack down on the bad actions of some insurance brokers, they are penalizing consumers, particularly lowincome consumers, with more burdensome requirements and more limits on their access to coverage,” said sabrina Corlette, a research professor and the co-director of the Center
on health Insurance reforms at Georgetown University.
Among other new requirements, consumers would have to provide more information proving their eligibility for special enrollment periods and for premium subsidies when they enroll. the regulation would also shorten the annual enrollment period by a month. And it touches on social issues, limiting eligibility for “Dreamers” — a nickname for immigrants in the country illegally who were brought here as children, based on neverpassed proposals in Congress called the DreAm Act. the proposal would eliminate the year-round opportunity for a special enrollment period for people with very low incomes. But it would also set new requirements for the remaining special enrollment periods, which allow people to sign up after major life events, such as when their income changes, they lose their job-based coverage, or they get divorced, marry, or move. they would now have to provide evidence of their eligibility when applying under those special situations.
People auto-reenrolled into zero-premium plans during the regular enrollment period would be charged a small monthly payment until they confirm or update their information.
the ACA marketplaces, according to the proposal, would have to seek additional data from consumers, including the self-employed or gig workers, who estimate their income for the coming year but don’t have tax return data filed with the Irs for previous years.
the Biden administration made changes to reduce fraudulent enrollment last year including requiring threeway calls among insurance brokers, their clients, and the federal insurance marketplace, healthcare.gov, when certain sign-ups or coverage changes were made.
some of the trump administration’s proposed changes could help warn certain consumers that they’ve been unknowingly enrolled in an ACA plan, such as a requirement that some customers on even the least expensive plans receive a
small, monthly premium bill. however, the additional paperwork and other eligibility requirements “will probably have a downward effect on enrollment,” said Cynthia Cox, a vice president and the director of the Program on the ACA at Kff, a health information nonprofit that includes Kff health News. “some of that could be protecting enrollees who were fraudulently signed up or don’t realize they’re still signed up.”
still, it could prove difficult for some people if they’re not able to document an expected change in income. “they might have a legitimate claim but have a hard time demonstrating it,” Cox said.
the annual open enrollment period would end Dec. 15, a month earlier than this year. the designated period is when most people sign up and is intended to prevent people from waiting until they get sick to enroll, a move that helps slow premium growth.
the trump proposal also touches on social issues. It would reverse the Biden administration policy that allows Dreamers to qualify for subsidized ACA coverage. that decision is already the subject of a court challenge brought by 19 states seeking to overturn it.
Also under the trump proposal, gender-affirming care would not be considered part of the “essential health benefits” that all plans must cover.
According to an fAQ that accompanied the initial press release of the proposed regulations, the provision could “lead to increased out-of-pocket costs for individuals requiring sex-trait modification services, as they may need to seek plans that offer this coverage as a nonehB or pay for services out-ofpocket.”
As a proposed rule, the measures now face a public comment period and potential revision before being finalized.
“None of it will go into effect right away,” said Katie Keith, director of the Center for health Policy and the Law at Georgetown University. “the question is how much will apply in 2025 versus 2026.”
Marcos
on
Duterte’s
commitments to Interpol, hours before his arrival Interpol manila received an official copy of the ICC warrant. this prompted the prosecutor-general of the Department of Justice to serve the warrant,” marcos said in a late night briefing in malacañang.
“Interpol asked for help and we obliged because we have commitments to the Interpol which we have to fulfill. If we don’t do that, they will no longer help us with other cases involving filipino fugitives abroad,” he added.
marcos also noted that they did not speak to ICC as he committed in the past, noting that the government assisted in the arrest because it was at the request of the Interpol.
“It’s very simple, it’s a request to the Philippine government from Interpol to enforce the arrest warrant. And of course, we
arrest: ‘We have...
comply with our commitments to Interpol. We did not do this because it was derived from or it came from ICC, we did this because Interpol asked us to do it, and we have commitments to them, and we live up to those commitments,” marcos said. this is what the international community expects of us, as the leader of a democratic country that is part of the community of nations,” he added.
At around 11:00 p.m., the plane carrying Duterte left Naia. Prior to boarding, he was at the Villamor Air Base where he was held after arriving from hong Kong early morning.
Duterte’s daughter, Vice President sara Duterte, claimed that the ex-leader is being forcibly brought to a plane that will carry him to the hague, the Netherlands, where the ICC is based. there have been rumors over
the weekend that the ICC will soon issue an arrest order for Duterte. During this time, the former president, his relatives and key allies, flew to hong Kong to meet with overseas filipino workers.
In hong Kong, the older Duterte addressed talks of his arrest order, saying that his actions during the war on illegal drugs were for the Philippines’ benefit. however, several official and independent investigations of the drug war have shown that there were many instances where innocent individuals were dragged into the anti-drug operations. In August 2017, 17-year-old Kian delos santos was summarily executed in Caloocan City even if he was not the original target of the operation. the three police officers involved in the killing of delos santos were later convicted of murder. n
filipino boxing prospect Martin takes act to...
stopped Anthony Jimenez salas via second round technical knockout in september 2024, then did the same to ruben tostado Garcia in the fifth round in December the same year — both in mexico. International matchmaker sean Gibbons, also the president of manny Pacquiao’s
mP Promotions, expressed his all-out support to martin’s campaign, hoping to arrange a world title shot for the filipino by the end of the year. this is a very exciting time in Carl’s career. to have his first fight here in the United states to be in Las Vegas, where Carl’s idol manny Pacquiao has fought so many times, is a dream come true. Carl is looking to impress everyone next week on his way to his ultimate goal winning the world title in 2025,” Gibbons said. But martin faces a tough test in sanmartin, a former world title challenger from Barranquilla, Colombia, who totes a record of 35-9-1, including 21 Kos. (Philstar.com)
PROGRESS. Fishing boats make a stop near an ongoing bridge construction in Barangay Pulanglupa Dos, Las Piñas on Monday, March 10. The bridge will serve as a faster route to Bacoor, Cavite.
PNA photo by Avito Dalan
us immigration raids keep Pinoys...
Potential major disruption
filipinos working in the United states, especially those who are undocumented, are gripped by fear and anxiety amid the trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
the stricter policies, an immigration lawyer warned, could even disrupt health-care delivery, which has a large immigrant labor force.
According to an october 2024 report by the U.s. Department of health and human services, immigrants comprise 16 percent of the total U.s. workforce. they make up 31 percent of home care workers, 22 percent of residential care aides, and 22 percent of nursing assistants in nursing homes, according to the document prepared by the office of the Assistant secretary for Planning and evaluation.
Based on data from the Department of migrant Workers, nearly half—47.55 percent, or 921—of overseas filipino workers deployed to the United states last year were health-care professionals.
Staffing shortages
mark del rosario, a filipino in-house immigration lawyer for a U.s. health-care staffing agency, said employers recognize the shortage of health-care professionals with a significant number of workers retiring or leaving the workforce daily due to aging.
hospitals are already struggling with staffing shortages, he said, noting that these employers will feel the impact even more with tighter immigration policies, as they will have a harder time bringing in foreign nurses. for example, nurses in particular are not eligible for an h-1B (visa), so they must apply for a green card. And since the process takes longer for both petitioners and applicants, many lose their legal status or have to leave the country,” Del rosario explained to the Inquirer. this leads to “a disruption in health-care delivery,” he said.
the h-1B visa is a nonimmigrant visa that allows U.s. employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations requiring at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent expertise.
this means that the nursing position must be considered a specialty occupation—a qualification most registered nurse positions do not meet.
As a result, bringing foreign nurses to the United states has already been “significantly delayed,” Del rosario said.
Students in training
Another challenge, he pointed out, is the situation of those already in the United states on valid visas, such as f-1 student visa holders working under optional Practical training (oPt). many had hoped to apply for a green card while working under oPt, but their visas had expired before they could apply for a change of status.
“so it’s a challenge on how to stay in the U.s. and how to maintain work authorization because, on the other hand, the employers are expecting you to work continuously to provide the needed health-care services,” he said.
According to the U.s. Bureau of Labor statistics, employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 6 percent from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations.
“About 194,500 openings for registered nurses are projected each year, on average, over the decade,” the agency said, noting that demand for health-care services will increase due to the growing number of older people, who typically have more medical needs than younger populations. registered nurses will also be needed to educate and care for patients with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity.
Safety concerns maria, part of the broader health-care workforce as a caregiver, is now considering leaving her current employer due to safety concerns. she first visited the United
states in 2016 with plans to settle permanently with her children from her first marriage. But she had to frequently fly between the United states and the Philippines because her children’s births were not registered.
her last entry in the United states was in December 2019. she tried to return home multiple times in 2020 but was unable to due to the pandemic travel restrictions.
stranded in the United states, she met her second husband and has been working as a caregiver since then.
her second husband is a filipino U.s. citizen who later abandoned her. she has since filed for divorce, which is still pending, and plans to pursue a Violence Against Women Act (Vawa) case. however, she remains uncertain about her status, especially with stricter immigration policies affecting others like her in similar situations.
Stressful to watch him
Currently employed by a trump supporter, she laments the daily stress of watching news about the president and being asked for her opinion on political issues.
“I have told my agency that I want to stop taking care of my patient because I get scared every time they ask me something. I feel like I’m lying to them, even though we haven’t really talked about (my status). But I have no choice because I fear for my safety,” she said. the anxiety maria faces, however, is not unique to undocumented immigrants or those with uncertain status because even filipinos with legal status are experiencing similar fears. n
filipino caregivers rally against home care...
culminated in a monumental investigation and outcome in this case,” said romeo hebron, executive director of the filipino migrant Center. According to the feb. 20 citation, Amity misclassified its agency’s caregivers “as independent contractors.”
California Labor Commissioner Lilia Garcia-Brower said, misclassifying workers is not a simple paperwork error. It is a deliberate violation of the law that denies employees earned wages, protections and benefits they are legally owed and entitled to.”
Additionally, Amity had also violated several labor laws, including refusing to: pay for overtime, provide workers’ compensation insurance and give the proper wage statements to the workers.
the total citation, including interest and other penalties, amount ran up to $2,327,2577, with about $2.2 million that will be paid to the misclassified caregivers.
the citation followed a years-long investigation into dozens of complaints from at least 50 workers who began filing formal complaints against Amity in 2019.
According to its website, Amity In-home Care services serves as “a non-medical service home care agency” that provides “assistance and custodial care” to patients. (Amity has not responded to requests for comment on this story.)
Amity Ceo Linda reyes, who is also filipino, was at the center of many of their workers’ complaints.
Precy tanuyan, a former Amity employee who worked with the agency for three years, shared that she was supposed to be paid twice a month, but either she would not receive her check or the check would bounce.
tanuyan said, “I would have to call Nancy and tell her I have to pay for my house and other bills, but she would make up excuses and make me run around to get my check. While workers like me were suffering, Nancy had multiple other businesses and appeared to be living a life of luxury.”
In 2023, Bet tzedek Legal services got involved in the case which led to a state inspection
of Amity’s headquarters. the state then issued a stop order, because of the company’s refusal to provide workers’ compensation insurance, the Labor Commissioner’s office said in a statement.
Among those affected include Alma Bernal, a filipina caregiver who worked for Amity between 2019 and 2022. Bernal shared her story at the feb. 24 rally, stating that Amity would not pay her on time, which caused her “anxiety from worrying” to the point where she needed “medication due to [her] high blood pressure.” once she got in touch with the filipino migrant Center, she learned about workers’ rights and much of Amity’s treatment of its workers was not only abnormal but illegal. the state’s investigation into Amity found that employees frequently worked more than 12-hour work shifts— sometimes 24-hour shifts— without a break or overtime pay. Bernal also shared that her paychecks would regularly bounce “due to insufficient funds,” a common occurrence among Amity’s employees.
this citation, seen as a win for workers’ rights, is somewhat of a rarity in California, a state that had a 47,000-case pileup in 2024 (according to an audit of the Labor Commissioner’s office). Labor disputes such as this often take even longer, if they are ever investigated.
filipino migrant Center stated that in-home caregiving positions—which are often filled by undocumented immigrants and non-english speakers—are especially at risk for exploitation. As previously reported in the Asian Journal, many of these workers are often isolated and dependent on their employers who deprive them of their rights and wages.
“the citation against Amity and Nancy is a victory for the workers and community to hold Nancy and Amity accountable and for justice to be brought to the workers,” Bernal said at the rally. “We want the suffering and exploitation of the workers to end. to all the workers like me who were victimized by Nancy reyes of Amity and other agencies, don’t be afraid to stand up and fight back!” (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)
To celebrate this long-awaited victory for the dozens of affected workers, the Filipino Migrant Center and other allied workers’ advocacy groups organized a rally
RISING ANXIETY. A protest held in Chicago on Jan. 20 conveys the sentiments of the Filipino community about the second Trump administration’s drastic immigration policy shift that threatens to upend countless lives. Photo courtesy of Migrante USA
sWs survey boosts support for Marcos admin’s senate bets – lawmaker
by Jown Manalo Inquirer.net
mANILA — the latest social Weather stations (sWs) survey on filipinos’ senatorial candidate preference regarding the West Philippine sea (WPs) dispute strengthens public support for the marcos administration’s senate slate, senior Deputy speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. said sunday, march 9.
the sWs survey, conducted from february 15 to 19, found that 78 percent of filipinos prefer candidates who assert the country’s rights in the WPs amid China’s aggressive actions.
the survey also found that preference for candidates who support the Philippines’ claims in the WPs was highest in metro manila at 87 percent and lowest in mindanao at 67 percent.
Gonzales said the survey results indicate a strong backing for President ferdinand marcos Jr.’s senatorial ticket, increasing their chances of victory over “team China” and
“those associated with former President rodrigo Duterte.”
“the survey proves that the people strongly support the candidates of President ferdinand “Bongbong” r marcos Jr.’s Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas. they are the ones who make up team Pilipinas,” he said in filipino. he added that the poll results also reinforced the advantage of administration candidates over those linked to Duterte, whom he associated with pro-China policies.
Gonzales also recalled that marcos clearly distinguished his candidates from those of the opposition during the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas campaign launch in Ilocos Norte on february 11.
During the event, marcos emphasized that none of his endorsed senatorial candidates are pro-China or support Philippine offshore gaming operators (PoGos), which he has outlawed.
“None of them applaud China or feel pleased when
we are being water cannoned, our Coast Guard rammed, our fishermen blocked, their catch stolen, and our islands seized as part of their territory,” he said in filipino. “None of them act like the acolyte of a false prophet who is now suffering the consequences of his abuse of our youth and women. None of them defend crime hubs and centers of exploitation of women—like the PoGos,” he added.
Gonzales also cited previous surveys showing that nine in 10 filipinos do not trust China, reinforcing public rejection of candidates perceived to be aligned with Beijing.
“If our people do not trust the Chinese, they will not trust China’s defenders,” he added.
the sWs survey, commissioned by the stratbase Group, polled 1,800 registered voters nationwide, including 300 from metro manila, 900 from Balance Luzon (Luzon outside metro manila), 300 from the Visayas, and 300 from mindanao. n
slaMs China’s VieW of MariTiMe aCTions as ‘TheaTer’ Manila to Beijing: PH a ‘sovereign state’
by Jane bautista Inquirer.net
mANILA— the Philippines pushed back against China on monday, march 10 after its top diplomat dismissed last week the tension between the two countries as a “shadow play,” with a “screenplay” for manila written by external forces.
In a statement on monday, march 10, the Department of foreign Affairs (DfA) said, “China should recognize that the Philippines is an independent and sovereign state whose actions and decisions are driven entirely by national interest and the interests and well-being of the filipino people.”
the DfA also disputed “the recent remarks of Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi characterizing the developments and incidents in the south China sea as mere theater staged under the direction of other countries.”
“No creative analogy or play of words will mask the real issue, which is China’s refusal to abide by international law, particularly the 1982 Unclos and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” the department
said, referring to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the sea and the hague arbitral court’s ruling in 2016 affirming the Philippines’ sovereign claim over its adjacent waters.
“We call on countries to be circumspect and to avoid actions and words that only contribute to tensions in the region,” the DfA said, as it also noted the “adverse effects” of Beijing’s actions on filipino fishermen and other communities confronted by Chinese harassment at sea.
‘Shadow play, chess pieces’
In a press conference on march 7, Wang resorted to various metaphors in articulating China’s view on its maritime tensions with the Philippines.
for every move on the sea by the Philippines, there is a screenplay written by external forces, the show is livestreamed by Western media, and the plot is invariably to smear China. People are not interested in watching the same performance again and again,” Wang said. he also quoted “an official from a regional country” as saying that tensions between
Beijing and manila were “like a shadow play”—which Wang said was a “vivid analogy.”
“Infringement and provocation will backfire and those acting as others’ chess pieces are bound to be discarded,” he said.
“the Philippine side should stop misleading the international community, using the south China sea issue to instigate disputes, and counting on external forces to undermine peace and stability in the south China sea region,” he added. the Philippines has embarked on what it calls a transparency initiative to shed light on Beijing’s actions in the south China sea, particularly the waters close to manila which it calls the West Philippine sea. this initiative includes embedding journalists on maritime patrols and resupply missions. manila’s approach has resonated with its allies, especially Washington.
Defense secretary Gilberto teodoro Jr. said earlier that the greatest external threat actually is Chinese aggression, Chinese expansionism and the u PAGE 8
OPiniOn Features
Duterte faces justice
Former President Rodrigo Duterte may finally be made to face the International Criminal Court for the thousands of people who were killed in his brutal crackdown on illegal drugs.
his arrest at the NAIA was based on a warrant or diffusion request issued by the ICC to the International Criminal Police organization. the Interpol relayed this to the Philippine government, which implemented the arrest, citing the country’s commitments as a member of the Interpol.
Editorial
the arrest was quickly challenged on tuesday, march 11 before the supreme Court. Whether the challenge can bring Duterte back to the country, however, is uncertain.
the message in his unprecedented arrest by virtue of a warrant issued by a foreign tribunal is that there’s a price to pay for disregarding due process and the rule of law in fighting criminality. Duterte’s camp is criticizing the government for allowing a foreign court to try a filipino, despite the existence of a local law governing crimes against humanity, and especially after the country’s withdrawal from ICC membership. his daughter, Vice President sara Duterte, slammed his arrest as a “blatant affront to our sovereignty.” the arrest must be complemented by genuine and sustained efforts to eliminate the factors that allowed Duterte and his aides to carry out one of the world’s bloodiest government campaigns against the drug menace.
UNDoUBteDLY, the trump administration 2.0 is giving pause to many diplomatic posts in Washington, D.C. as they anticipate the changes that may come as President trump ushers in “the dawn of the Golden Age of America.”
In his speech before a joint session of Congress on tuesday, march 4, President trump was unequivocal: “America is back,” he declared, recollecting that from the moment he stood beneath the dome of the Capitol, “it has been nothing but swift and unrelenting action to usher in the greatest and most successful era” in the history of the United states.
Predictably, the first few weeks of the new trump administration has shown so many changes almost immediately as the president signed “nearly 100 executive orders and taken more than 400 executive Actions…”
there are no secrets (not for very long, anyway) in the Philippines. so much so that speculation was rife that former President rodrigo Duterte’s trip to hong Kong was a prelude to seeking asylum in China to avoid being apprehended by Philippine authorities upon the request of International Criminal Police organization (Interpol). A curious plan, if that was the case, considering China has made numerous use of Interpol’s red notices to enable the arrest of Chinese citizens in other jurisdictions. Not to mention that in November 2024, during the 92nd General Assembly of Interpol held in Glasgow, among those elected to a three-year term was the Delegate for Asia, Yong Wang of China. As part of its projection as a country devoted to the international rules-based order in contrast to America, it wouldn’t have done for China to foil an Interpol warrant. In the end, Duterte decided
Duterte has been unapologetic about his brutal crackdown, vowing to do it again if given the chance. he had previously cited laws that allowed even notorious drug dealers to be cleared or to flee after being granted bail. he cited the glacial pace of justice – also a reason why his anti-crime campaign enjoyed a measure of public support. he pointed to corruption in the Philippine National Police, with rotten members among the biggest coddlers of drug dealers, or who are engaged themselves in trafficking. A police officer, Col. Jovie espenido, described the PNP as the “largest organized crime group in the country,” although he later apologized for it. the PNP, even under marcos 2.0, has not moved a muscle to find one of its own, dismissed superintendent rafael Dumlao of the Drug enforcement Group. Dumlao remains free even after his conviction as the mastermind of the ransom kidnapping – in the guise of a drug bust – and gruesome execution of south Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo in his own car inside Camp Crame. Dumlao’s wife is herself a law enforcement officer in the active service. such systemic weaknesses must be addressed decisively if the nation does not want a repeat of Duterte’s war on drugs. (Philstar.com)
to “restore common sense, safety, optimism and wealth” all across the United states which, the president said, is what he was elected to do. the American Dream is unstoppable, and our country is on the verge of a comeback the likes of which the world has never witnessed, and perhaps will never witness again,” he told the members of Congress, urging Democrats to work with him to truly make America great again.
“every day my administration is fighting to deliver the change America needs to bring a future America deserves and we’re doing it. this is a time for big dreams and bold action.” even before his over 90-minute speech – said to be the longest joint address to Congress in recent history – a lot of changes were already underway, especially in the field of foreign policy. there is no question the biggest one is in the european theater, in particular the conflict in Ukraine.
During the recent foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (foCAP)
New diplomacy in Washington
“Prospects of the Philippines” conference, one of the most asked questions was the meeting at the oval office between President trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky that resulted in a heated exchange. In the interviews made by secretary of state marco rubio, he made it very clear that President trump is “trying to bring an end to this conflict” and the plan is to “get the russians to a negotiating table” and explore whether peace is possible. If signed, the minerals deal, secretary rubio explained, was supposed to be “an agreement that binds America economically to Ukraine,” which was going to be a “security guarantee in its own way” because America would be involved, and it would be in its own interest to protect Ukraine.
As I told the foCAP members as well as local media who were present, one has to read between the lines and understand President trump’s mantra of “America first” to
see what he believes in. the bottom line, I think, is that he does not want the United states to be a country that will continue to finance conflicts that are happening all over the world – a style he has practiced as “the art of deal-making” in forcing Ukraine and russia to come to the negotiating table. the obvious lesson to be learned is that each country has to be ready to beef up its own defense and boost its economic security in the long run. that’s exactly what we have been trying to do even during the time of president Duterte – telling our friends in Washington that we want to be economically prosperous to achieve economic security so that we will have our own wherewithal and resources to modernize our armed forces – and be a real partner not only of the United states with our mutual defense treaty, but other like-minded countries as well.
there is no question that every country has its own role to play in the global arena – a give-and-take, quid pro quo kind of diplomacy where
The last hurrah
not to flee or publicly seek asylum. It would have dissolved his political persona. returning home and defiance behind bars allows what remains of his political infrastructure to be deployed, and more to the point, a chance to try to sway the public. In the battle for public opinion, two contending characterizations of public opinion are at play. the first believes that filipinos are always for the underdog. the second believes that filipinos worship power, and, by extension, despise the defeated. Corollary to this is that we consider rooting for the underdog as actually a sly cheering on of those who show that the powerful are really powerless. more to the point: can someone contemptuous of the weak become a suitable martyr once he faces his comeuppance? that’s what is at play in the coming days. Now it’s a question of extradition ahead of mobilization. the handicap of the Duterte network is that its core identity is antipeople power, and so, antimobilization. the job of the faithful, after all, is to cheer
as the strongman strong-arms the weak, while those who can summon mass turnout, whether Apollo Quiboloy or the Iglesia ni Cristo, have themselves been neutralized. even the Great eagle father’s lieutenants are now forced to contemplate that they themselves are liable for future arrest. one observer tweeted: “the next chess move is for the daughter (the older one) to speak out and test her might.” But to this one might respond, you can only test your clout once and if you fail, what will that mean for your own trial? so it was the vice president who basked in the adulation of the crowds in hong Kong but neither accompanied her father home nor made any statement once he was arrested.
And so, the Great eagle father came home, possibly for the last time. he was arrested with a degree of dignity, not to mention surgical precision and efficiency, I’d previously thought impossible to achieve in our shambolic republic. Anticipating his arrival, there was an undercurrent of expectation (or was it fear?) that Duterte’s return would transform him into
the underdog and unleash protests. I was puzzled by this since his power and influence have always been based on the charisma of intimidation; of challenging his foes to go after him, knowing they won’t dare. Which only works so long as your opponents are held at bay. to be sure, his apprehension might provoke public opinion, but would it galvanize protest?
After all, his rise to national power was accompanied by his being framed as an anti-protest, anti-people power leader. You cannot summon what you took pride in abolishing, or at least, repudiating.
But the original fracture in the Great eagle father’s coalition involved two women: his partner, referred to as his “common-law wife,” and his anointed political heir sen. Bong Go on one side, and his daughter and sons on the other. It was noteworthy that his last moments of freedom were spent in the company of his second family. Victory, as Count Galeazzo Ciano once wrote, has a hundred fathers. But defeat is an orphan. readers by now will be familiar with the tale I’ve chronicled of how
everybody does their part and are not reliant or dependent on one country.
As I have always emphasized to legislators and officials in Washington, we are not there to ask for money – what we are asking for are opportunities to partner with investments so we can carry our own weight in defense partnerships – instead of us just asking and receiving.
In other words, diplomacy can also be approached as a business partnership where the conditions are mutually beneficial and satisfactory to both partners – which is perhaps the best way to navigate the foreign policy direction in Washington today with the business orientation of the trump administration. A lot of people I know are starting to think that perhaps this could also be applied to other countries as well. In the Philippines, we have never really had a businessman as president but recently, people have been talking about it and wondering whether a businessman or a Ceo would be better as the next president, who could have the technical
and administrative skills to run the country. realistically speaking, the Philippines plays a role in global security because of our geographic location – which is why we have to be strong enough both economically and militarily for us to be able to play a major role in the region.
A good indication of where President trump has set his sights on is when he said, “We are going to conquer the vast frontiers of science, and we are going to lead humanity into space and plant the American flag on the planet mars, and even far beyond.”
Who knows what it would be like 50 years from now –diplomacy could be conducted in space. Planets will have their own diplomats and armed forces – and that would, indeed, be literally out of this world. (Philstar.com)
* * *
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
* * * Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com
circumstances have combined against the Great eagle father. one shouldn’t underestimate the resentment of the political and business classes over past, present, (and the threat of future) disruptions and past slights at the hands of Duterte, and the shambolic frittering away of the political advantage by his eldest daughter; not to mention the chronic inability of a fan base to palpably organize whenever there’s been a
* Email: mlquezon3@gmail.com; Twitter: @mlq3
Babe’s Eye View
BaBe Romualdez
ManilaTimes.net photo
manuel l. Quezon III
The Long View
showdown, and of course the arrest, on his home (and Duterte’s) turf of Quiboloy and the shrugging off of the Iglesia ni Cristo rallies. (inquirer.net)
Former President Rodrigo Duterte
Malacañang file photo
Rodrigo Duterte arrives in The Hague
by Dianne saMPanG Inquirer.net
mANILA — A day after his arrest, former President rodrigo Duterte arrived on a chartered plane in the hague in the Netherlands on Wednesday evening, march 12.
the chartered plane, a Gulfstream 6550 jet with tail no. rPC2519, landed at the rotterdam the hague Airport at around 11:55 p.m. after making a refueling stop in Dubai. It left Villamor Air Base in Pasay City around 11 p.m. on tuesday, march 11.
Based on online flight tracker flightradar24, Duterte’s flight was monitored by over 30,000 trackers as of 11:56 p.m., making it the number one most tracked flight worldwide.
the former president is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for allegedly committing crimes against humanity during the drug war orchestrated during his administration.
the ICC, based in the hague, investigates individuals charged with the most concerning crimes in the international community: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.
Upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from hong Kong, Prosecutor General richard Anthony fadullon served him with a notification of an arrest warrant from the ICC.
Government data shows that the drug war claimed more than 6,000 lives, but human rights watchdogs estimate the death toll to be over 20,000.
the Philippines withdrew from the rome statute in 2019, shortly after the ICC launched an investigation into alleged human rights violations during the drug war. however, the government recently said that it is obliged to cooperate with the International Criminal Police organization once the ICC issues an arrest warrant on Duterte.
the ICC, based in the hague, said there were “reasonable grounds” to believe Duterte committed the crime against humanity of murder as an “indirect co-perpetrator” during the anti-drug campaign that rights groups estimate killed tens of thousands.
First Asian ex-head of state to face ICC charges the 79-year-old is the first Asian former head of state to
mANILA – Presidential Communications office (PCo)
Undersecretary and Palace Press officer Claire Castro on Wednesday, march 12 said the travel authority of Vice President sara Duterte to the hague in the Netherlands was issued by the office of the President (oP).
face charges at the ICC, which rules on the world’s worst crimes, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
once in ICC custody, Duterte will be taken to a detention center before an initial appearance likely to be scheduled in the coming days.
the center, located close to the North sea coast, offers each prisoner an individual cell equipped with a computer to work on their case, and an outdoor exercise area.
speaking to Agence francePresse outside the ICC, Gilbert Andres, a lawyer representing drug war victims, said: “my clients are very thankful to God because their prayers have been answered.”
the arrest of rodrigo Duterte is a great signal for international criminal justice. It means that no one is above the law… there will be a day of justice for everyone… even powerful men such as rodrigo Duterte,” Andres added.
Duterte supporters at detention center But others came out to support the former leader.
Dozens of pro-Duterte protesters gathered in front of the detention center, unfurling a banner reading: “We are with Duterte” and waving flags. there has been no due process,” said caregiver Duds Quibin, 50. “this is kidnapping. they just put him on a plane and brought him here.”
‘Oppression and persecution’ earlier Wednesday, lawyers filed a petition to the supreme Court in the Philippines accusing the government of “kidnapping” Duterte and demanding it “bring him back.”
“the ICC can only exercise its jurisdiction if a country’s national legal system is not functioning,” lawyer salvador Paolo Panelo Jr., son of Duterte’s former chief legal counsel, told reporters outside the court, insisting the Philippines’ judicial system was “working properly.”
Before her father’s departure, Vice President sara Duterte said he was being “forcibly taken to the hague,” labeling the transfer “oppression and persecution.”
Failed alliance
A one-time alliance between President ferdinand marcos and the Duterte family has exploded spectacularly since the 2022 presidential election, when sara Duterte ran as vice president on his ticket. she is currently facing a
“the office of the President issued a travel authority to VP sara as of last night (tuesday, march 11) 8 p.m.,” Castro told reporters. however, she said the PCo was not “immediately updated” about the supposed travel “as the information was initially disclosed only to limited people due to the unusual urgency and the confidentiality of the document.” the office of the Vice President earlier said Duterte departed manila at around 7:40 a.m. of Wednesday, via emirates flight eK 337, bound for Amsterdam, following the
senate trial on several charges, including corruption and an alleged assassination plot against marcos.
Duterte himself had earlier taken to social media, claiming the supreme Court would step in and prevent his transfer.
“What is the crime that I committed? show to me now the legal basis of my being here,” he said on Instagram live.
‘Rotting at the cemetery’
At a church in the capital manila, people whose family members were killed in the drug war welcomed the arrest.
“Duterte is fortunate, there’s due process for him,” emily soriano, mother of drug war victim Angelito, at a press briefing organised by a local rights group.
there was no due process for my son. he will be lying down on a good bed. my son is already rotting at the cemetery.”
for Bryony Lau, deputy Asia director at human rights Watch, Duterte’s arrest marked “a critical step for accountability in the Philippines.”
China, however, warned the ICC against “politicization” and “double standards” in the Duterte case, saying it was “closely monitoring” it. the high-profile case came with the ICC currently under sanctions from Donald trump.
the U.s. president is unhappy at the court issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged crimes committed during the Gaza war.
‘Davao Death Squad’ the Philippines quit the ICC in 2019 on Duterte’s instructions.
But the tribunal claims jurisdiction over killings up to then, including ones in the southern city of Davao when Duterte was mayor.
the ICC said in its arrest warrant there were “reasonable grounds to believe” at least 19 people had been murdered in Davao by members of the “Davao Death squad,” headed by Duterte. Additionally, at least 24 were killed by Philippines police in various locations, judges believe. on sunday, march 9, Duterte lashed out at the ICC probe, labeling ICC investigators “sons of whores” while saying he would “accept” an arrest.
Duterte is still hugely popular among many who supported his quick-fix solutions to crime and remains a potent political force.
(With reports from Agence France Presse)
arrest of her father, former President rodrigo Duterte by the International Criminal Police organization (Interpol) and the local police. the former president’s arrest stemmed from the International Criminal Court’s ongoing investigation into allegations that his anti-drug campaign led to thousands of extrajudicial killings when he was Davao City mayor and president of the country. (PNA)
Manila to Beijing: Ph a ‘sovereign...
5
attempt by China to change the international law through the use of force or acquiescence [and] reshape the world order to one that it controls.” manila and its allies will take the necessary measures if Beijing attempts to restrict freedom of flights in the south China sea or impose an air defense zone, teodoro also said.
‘squid tactics’
After Duterte’s arrest, next step for PH is to rejoin ICC – Roman
by Gabriel Pabico lalu Inquirer.net
mANILA — the next logical step that the Philippines should take after former President rodrigo Duterte’s arrest is to rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC), Bataan 1st District rep. Geraldine roman said on tuesday, march 11. In a press briefing at the Batasang Pambansa complex, roman said it is her view that the Philippines rejoins the ICC to show that the country respects human rights and obeys international laws.
roman said this hours after Duterte was not allowed to leave the Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminal 3 as local authorities assisted the International Criminal Police organization (Interpol) in implementing the arrest order from ICC.
“We left the ICC unilaterally, I think it’s about time that we return to the ICC and show the whole world that this country respects our law and international law,” she said in filipino.
“there is nothing wrong with that my fellow filipinos. the law is the only protection that people have against abuses, even us in positions of power need it. this is the only assurance that our courts have bases to give us justice if we are aggrieved by anyone,” she added.
According to roman, rejoining ICC will be consistent with President ferdinand marcos Jr.’s goal to uphold the rule of law.
“so, my call is for us to return to the ICC. If this is a position that recognizes a rule-based order around the world, then let’s walk the talk. Let’s go back to the folds of the ICC because I believe that we have nothing to be afraid of. I also believe that our president is intent on upholding the rule of law, and he has nothing to hide,” she added.
In march 2018, Duterte declared that the Philippines
withdrew from the ICC, claiming that there seemed to be a “concerted effort” between the United Nations special rapporteurs and the ICC special prosecutor to paint him as a “ruthless and heartless violator of human rights who allegedly caused thousands of extrajudicial killings.”
the ICC was already in the middle of investigating Duterte, who was charged with the crime against humanity of mass murder for his role in the war against illegal drugs, which rights defenders deemed as bloody.
however, several legal minds and even former ICC prosecutors fatou Bensouda and Karim Khan maintained that the international body still had jurisdiction over the cases filed against Duterte, as the cases were filed during and covered a period that the rome statute was still in effect. the rome statute is the agreement that created the ICC. roman said she was saddened by Duterte’s arrest as it may potentially divide the country
again, but she understands too that the developments are just “natural consequences.” over the weekend, rumors were already spreading that the ICC would soon issue an arrest order for Duterte. During this time, the former president, his relatives, and key allies flew to hong Kong to meet overseas filipino workers. In hong Kong, the older Duterte addressed talks on the arrest order, saying that his actions during the war on illegal drugs were for the Philippines’ benefit.
however, several official and independent investigations of the drug war have shown that there were many instances where innocent individuals were dragged into the anti-drug operations.
In August 2017, 17-yearold Kian delos santos was summarily executed in Caloocan City even if he was not the original target of the operation. the three police officers involved in the killing of delos santos were convicted of murder. n
Trump health care proposal billed as...
the fAQ acknowledged that some of the proposed changes, including ending year-round enrollment for very low-income people, “may increase the administrative burden for consumers associated with enrollment and verification processes or could deter some eligible low-income individuals from enrolling.”
But, it continued, “we believe that enhancing program integrity and reducing improper enrollments outweighs these potential impacts on access to coverage.” some lawmakers and
conservative groups have pointed to the concerns about unauthorized enrollment and the role, if any, that ACA subsidies or enrollment periods have in fueling the problem.
the right-leaning Paragon health Institute, for example, released a report in June that, among other things, called for the Biden administration’s expansion of the special enrollment period for lowincome people to be reversed.
“there is substantial amounts of fraud and waste in the ACA exchanges and the Biden administration pursued the enrollment-at-all costs
strategy, and was tolerant of the waste, fraud and abuse,” said Brian Blase, a former health aide during trump’s first presidency who is president of the Paragon health Institute and influential within the current trump administration. “Clearly a different approach to protect legitimate enrollees and taxpayers is needed.”
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces indepth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.
senate President Pro tempore Jinggoy estrada also issued a statement in response to Wang’s remarks, which he called “another blatant attempt to undermine our country’s legitimate concerns and distract the public from their persistent illegal incursions and provocations.”
to be, engaged in a pattern of illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive behavior at sea— and most recently, even in the airspace of the Philippines.”
estrada also called on the international community to denounce what he described as Wang’s “baseless assertions” and support the Philippines in defending regional peace, stability and the rule of law. our sovereignty is not a performance, and our resolve is not an act,” the senator said in a statement. “No amount of squid tactics can conceal the fact that China has been, and continues
estrada was referring to a Chinese military helicopter that came as close as 3 meters to an aircraft of the Bureau of fisheries and Aquatic resources conducting a patrol last month on Panatag (scarborough) shoal.
“We cannot turn a blind eye [to] China’s escalating coercive tactics against our maritime scientists and personnel as well as their illegal presence in our territorial waters,” estrada said. n
Bataan 1st district Representative Geraldine Roman Photo from Official Facebook page of Geraldine Roman
Successful, star-studded awards gala caps second Manila International Film Festival
BeVerLY hILLs – the manila International film festival (mIff) capped its second edition with a successful, starstudded closing night and awards gala last march 7 at the Beverly hilton in Beverly hills, California.
In glamorous, glittering rites, the mIff, which is sponsored by BingoPlus and megaworld, presented Audience favorite Awards, Lifetime Achievement, Visionary, trailblazer and special Awards, and honored filipino American first responders in the southern California wildfires. King Palisoc’s “song of the fireflies,” a dramatization of the true story of the rise of the Loboc Children’s Choir from its small town roots in Loboc, Bohol
to worldwide acclaim, won four of the six Audience Awards, voted on by mIff goers. the drama-musical, written by sarge Lacuesta and produced by Culturtain musical Productions, mQuest, hartman and CmB film services, Inc., bagged Best Picture, Best Actress (morissette), Best supporting Actress (rachel Alejandro) and Best supporting Actor (Noel Comia Jr.).
“song of the fireflies,” as the Audience Best Picture winner, received a $150,000 coproduction package deal from Birns & sawyer, one of the oldest film equipment rental companies in hollywood, run by Ceo, filAm mari Acevedo. song of the fireflies” also won a special Award for promoting Philippine music, arts and culture through the inspiring story of the Loboc Children’s Choir. my future You,” a comedyfantasy-romance about two people who meet on a dating app, but it turns out that they live in two different timelines, bagged Best Director (Crisanto B. Aquino) and Best Actor (seth fedelin).
regina Aquino’s documentary, faith healers,” nabbed a special Award for spotlighting early filipino healthcare professionals in America while touching on
the history of filipino migration and the Philippines.
Cathy Garcia-sampana’s “hello, Love, Again,” starring Kathryn Bernardo and Alden richards, was honored as a Worldwide Box office hit trailblazer for being the first filipino film to gross over P1 billion at the box office and the first filipino movie to break into the Us box office top 10. Louise Araneta-marcos, the Philippines’ first lady who led the special guests in the exciting ceremonies at the International Ballroom, received the Visionary Award for championing Philippine cinema. Aranetamarcos is actively working on a bright future for Philippine cinema, especially on the world stage. through CineGang Inc., a groundbreaking initiative towards boosting the Philippine movie industry, the first lady seeks opportunities to continue uplifting local films.
In her message, the first lady said, “What a truly proud moment to witness our filipino and filipino American film luminaries coming together, side by side. seeing our countrymen – regardless of where they are in the world – unite in creativity and passion is a testament to the boundless potential we can
aquino to aspiring artistas: ‘respect
by KatHleen a lleMit
Angel Aquino Photo from Instagram/@imangelaquino
started out modeling when she was scouted by director Jeffrey Jeturian when she was 19. the 52-year-old eventually donned the dresses of famous designers, becoming their
after
she was part of the longest running tV show “fPJ’s Ang Probinsyano,” and now she reunites with Coco martin in “fPJ’s Batang Quiapo.” her staying power in the fashion and entertainment scene
is evident in her presence on tV, and Angel added that it is respect coupled with determination that has helped her keep in the right track.
“You have to be committed to what you do. You have to have the right reasons for doing it,” she advised.
Angel cautioned against those who believe in easy fame, arguing that it is not the only reason to enter showbiz.
“Kasi kung para ka lang sumikat, then maraming paraan. With the social media now, it's so easy to be famous, but to be remembered and to be respected, takes a lot more effort,” Angel said.
achieve when we work together. may this be the beginning of many more meaningful collaborations that will allow us to showcase the vcry best of our talents to the world.”
honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards for their outstanding contributions to Philippine cinema were Boots Anson roa-rodrigo, actress and film industry worker advocate; ricky Lee, venerable scriptwriter and mentor to generations of filmmakers and the Philippines’ National Artist for film and Broadcast Arts; the late Lily monteverde, the producer popularly known as mother Lily, who gave breaks to many filmmakers, actors and actresses; and Vilma santos, regarded as the star for All seasons, who has won numerous accolades in her career that spans over six decades.
Cited as trailblazer Awardees for helping pave the way for filipinos in hollywood were tia Carrere, an accomplished film and television actress and a twotime Grammy award-winning musical artist; Nico santos, best known for portraying mateo on superstore,” which ran for six seasons on NBC, oliver t’sien in the film “Crazy rich Asians” and recorder theel in marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”; and Gene Cajayon’s “the Debut,” celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025 as the first filipino American film to be released theatrically nationwide in the U.s. and a significant touchstone in fil-Am history.
the evening also paid tribute to the late veteran actress Gloria romero, hailed as the Queen of Philippine cinema.
In one of the night’s stirring moments, mIff saluted some of the filipino American first responders who represent the numerous men and women who battled Los Angeles’ recent wildfires. Actor and presenter reggie Lee said on stage, “tonight, we honor their heroism and say thank
you. Maraming, maraming salamat for your tireless and selfless work and for the many sacrifices you and your families have made for service to others, to us.” Grammy-nominated singer Deborah Cox serenaded the fil-Am responders, including officers edward Acedillo, Dexter Barras, mariko Jackson, eric Payumo, Arleen rojas and marlowe Viray; fire Captains Allan Anolin, Arnold Anolin, russell Arcebido, David Dantic, Jimmy de los santos and eddie Diaz; sergeants Jonathan De Vera and Christian Ventura; and Battalion Chief ramon Valdoria. sofronio Vasquez, the first filipino and Asian winner of NBC’s “the Voice,” rachel Alejandro, morissette, Deborah Cox, Immaculate heart of mary Children’s Choir and st. Genevieve Valiant Voices (both under choir director Pete Avendaño), with musical director troy Laureta, delivered powerhouse musical performances. star presenters included tia Carrere, mark Dacascos, reggie Lee, Liza soberano, Carlin James, Apl.de.Ap, Anna Perez De tagle-Kline, California’s first filipina assembly member Jessica Caloza, Dingdong Dantes, Krista Arrieta Kleiner, KaladKaren (Jervi Wrightson) and mJ Lastimosa. the mIff screened 16 films, including entries to the 50th metro manila film festival, world premieres, and select additional films. Launched in 2024, the mIff is headed by cofounders omen ortiz (Chairman), ebradu Udarbe (President), Lisa Lew (executive Producer), Celia Abaya Dy (Coordinator), ruben V. Nepales (media relations) and Janet r. Nepales (media relations). the key team is composed of Leo Dela Cruz (Chief financial officer), ron ramores (Coordinator), meriden Angeles (Coordinating Producer) and erickson Ilog (Coordinator).
Judy Ann Santos elated by ‘souvenir’ after Fantasporto
by HannaH Mallorca Inquirer.net
Not even an excess baggage charge can dim the happiness of Judy Ann santos who bagged the Best Actress award at the 45th fantasporto film festival in Portugal for her performance in Espantaho.” on her Instagram account on monday, march 10, santos described her Best Actress plum as a “beautiful souvenir” from the film festival, as she shared a picture of herself while holding her trophy.
“Napakaganda ng souvenir na maiuuwi ko mula dito sa Porto, sa fantasporto,” she said. “Ang lamig tapos ang bigat-bigat ng award. Iniisip ko gaano [kalaki] babayaran ko sa excess baggage ko pauwi pero masayang-masaya akong babayaran, maiuwi lang ‘to.”
(This is such a beautiful souvenir to bring home from Porto, at the Fantasporto Film Festival. it’s so cold and the award is so heavy. i’m thinking how much excess baggage i’ll shoulder going home. But i don’t mind paying for it as long as i can take it back with me.)
santos also expressed her gratitude to Chito roño, Chris martinez, and Atty. Joji Alonso, who served as the
director, writer, and producer of “Espantaho,” respectively, as well as her castmates and crew.
“of course, congrats kay Direk Chito, Chris, Atty. Joji, and to all the cast and crew of ‘espantaho.’ siyempre, para sa atin ‘to. hindi naman ako makakarating dito kung hindi kayo ang kasama ko. to God be the glory. mabuhay ang Pilipinas,” she said.
(of course, congratulations to Direk chito, chris, Atty. Joji, and to all the cast and crew of “Espantaho.” of course, this is for us. i wouldn’t be able to reach this stage without you. To God be the glory. Long live the Philippines.)
Sisterly friendship following santos’ win, sharon Cuneta took to her Instagram page to congratulate her close friend for her recent milestone.
“Just a few days ago, my sister @officialjuday and I were texting while she was in Barcelona. Now she is in Porto, Portugal — and she just won Best Actress in the 45th fantasporto festival there for Espantaho!!!’” she wrote. “CoNGrAts AGAIN sIs Ko (my sister). more pride for the Philippines (and for your Ate who LooooVes YoU!!!)!!! see you soon! I love you very much,” she continued. the “Espantaho” star thanked
best actress plum
Audience Best Picture winner - ‘Song of the Fireflies’ Photo by Steven Lam
Best Actress winner Morissette Amon Photo by Steven Lam Best Actor Seth Fedelin
Photo by Steven Lam
Best Supporting Actress winner Rachel Alejandro
Photo by Steven Lam
Annette Gozon Valdes accepts Worldwide Box Office Hit Trailblazer Award for ‘Hello, Love, Again’. Photo by Steven Lam
‘The Debut’ filmmakers receive Trailblazer Award.
Photo by Steven Lam
Judy Ann Santos holding her Fantasporto Best Actress plum. Photo from Instagram/@officialjudayph
Cuneta in the comments section, saying winning the award gave her a unique sense of fulfillment. santos is the fourth filipino to receive an acting plum from the Portugal-based film festival after
Reggie Lee pays tribute to FilAm first responders. Photo by Steven Lam
Lifetime Achievement Awardee Boots Anson Roa Photo by Steven Lam
California’s community colleges offer 200+ career education programs to help students begin the career of their dreams
by Xong Her
WheN I was in high school, I didn’t think attending college was going to be possible. Not only was the high cost of going away to college intimidating, I knew I wanted to stay close to home to work and help my parents. I also didn’t want to take out massive student loans for a degree that may or may not help me find a job. thanks to my local California community college, I was able to earn a college degree and nursing license and begin a career as a registered nurse while staying close to home. Like many immigrant families, my parents worked hard to earn enough money to support me and my family. to lessen their burden, my siblings and I helped where and when we could. since my parents spoke little english, they earned money by doing what they knew best — farming. that meant that we woke up early to help our parents get ready to farm before heading to school and went back to the farm to help after school or to begin chores in our home. Weekends were spent picking and packaging the produce to sell at the market. While I felt like no one could be working harder than me at the time, I know my story isn’t unique; long days of hard work are a reality for many families. With my grades, I could have gone away to a four-year col-
lege, but I knew that it wasn’t the best option for me. Instead, I chose to attend my local community college because that meant that I could complete my first two years and earn my associates degree for little to no money out of pocket, and continue to live at home, work and help my parents, giving me the best of both worlds.
After my first year at sacramento City College, I knew I made the right choice. I liked the small class sizes and being able to take all the classes I needed without debt because all of my courses and books were covered through financial aid. my experience was so positive that I knew I didn’t want to transfer to a four-year college but instead complete sacramento City College’s nursing program through career education. Career education is a program that provides students with the
education, skills and certification or license needed to begin a career in a trade or vocation. these are specialized jobs like nursing, mechanics, technology and more. California’s community colleges offer more than 200 career education programs taught by experts who are already in the field, so students like me are getting training from people who are actually working in the career we want to be in. Best of all, many of the career education programs can be completed within two years.
No matter where you are or what your age, if you want to make more money and get certified or licensed in a specific trade or vocation, there is probably a California community college that can help. Learn more about the career opportunities available at a community college near you by visiting ICanGotoCollege.com.
Consulate in SF, Parangal pay tribute to indigenous Filipino women in Women’s Month exhibit
sAN frANCIsCo – In celebration of National Women’s month in the Philippines, the Philippine Consulate General in san francisco has partnered with Parangal (formerly the Parangal Dance Company) for a month-long, one-of-a-kind exhibition titled “Paraluman: A tribute to the Indigenous Women of the Philippines.” the cultural exhibit is the first to be held at the Consulate this year and the very first major exhibition by Parangal, a filipino performing arts group, showcasing its extensive wardrobe collection.
During the opening reception at the Philippine Center in san francisco, Consul General Neil ferrer said that apart from National Women’s month, the exhibition also marks a continuation of the 50th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Center, which was acquired by the Philippine government in 1974 “with the objective of, among others, enhancing the image of the Philippines in the United states… and propagating and nurturing filipino culture.” throughout history and across generations, filipino women are at the forefront of societal change, economic development, and cultural preservation. In this spirit, the Consulate is delighted to present this unique exhibit that showcases the cultural heritage of the indigenous women of the Philippines,” Consul General ferrer said.
“each indigenous group has its own unique textile tradition, colors, and designs, symbolizing their identity, history, and their reverence for the natural and supernatural world… for our
indigenous women, their attire is a powerful expression of autonomy, dignity, and pride,” Consul General ferrer further said.
“through this exhibit, we hope to deepen our appreciation of the beauty, diversity, and strength of our indigenous women who, in their own way, continue to shape
the future of the Philippines while preserving the traditions that make them who they are,” said Consul General ferrer. the Philippine Consul General recognized Parangal’s role as “citizen ambassadors” of Philippine culture for the last 17 years, and thanked Parangal Artistic Director eric solano and Attire Director rex Dela Cruz for mounting the exhibition. the opening reception also featured dance performances by Parangal: Salip at Banga of the Kalinga, Asik of the maguindanao, Pangalay ha Baluy and Pangalay Pangantin of the tausug, and Pagapir and Singkil of the meranao. Bay Area-based Kalinga culture bearer Jenny Bawer Young also gave her remarks during the event. Among those that are featured include the attire and accessories of the Ga’dang, Ifugao, Kalinga, Panay Bukidnon, sama, t’boli and Yakan peoples, and the weaves of the Blaan, maguindanao, mandaya and meranao peoples. the cultural exhibit came about after years of research and immersion visits by Parangal to indigenous communities in the Philippines. the Consulate invites the public to visit the cultural exhibit, which will run at the Philippine Center’s Kalayaan hall until march 28, 2025. Parangal aims to “pay tribute” to Philippine heritage by preserving and promoting ethnic dance, music and attire, and connect the diaspora with their roots that will give them a sense
thIs week, “Citizen Pinoy” delivers an exclusive and insightful episode featuring a rare, in-depth interview with seasoned Philippine diplomat, Consul General senen t mangalile of the Philippine Consulate General in New York.
the episode, hosted by leading U.s. Immigration Attorney michael J. Gurfinkel, offers a deep dive into the consular services available to filipinos in the U.s Northeast and addresses some of the most pressing concerns of the filipino community.
ConGen mangalile assumed his post as 19th Consul General of the Philippines in New York in January 2023, and has since successfully fostered collaborations among organizations and individuals to promote Philippine culture, protect the rights of filipino migrants, strengthen economic ties, and celebrate the contributions of
filipino Americans in the U.s Tackling key issues facing Filipinos in the U.S. Northeast With the Philippine Consulate in New York covering ten states, Atty.
Gurfinkel takes the opportunity to ask ConGen mangalile essential questions about consular services and the assistance available to
Contributed photo
to celebrate Women’s month, kindly allow me to give tribute to some remarkable women in their own quiet, simple way this march.
my mom, rosita Constantino medina, st. mary’s and Ust high school alumna, is a Kapampangan. she loves to cook and sing and joins Bible studies. she has many friends in the entertainment world being the niece of the late LVN director felicing Constantino. she is related to former President Diosdado macapagal on the Vitug side.
she remembers that it was her best friend actor Georgie Quizon (known for stariray, Close to You and Captain Barbell films), comedian Dolphy’s brother, who arranged preparation for her debut that was published by the old manila times and manila Bulletin. singer Cenon Lagman, dubbed as the Prince of Kundiman, was her childhood best friend. fernando Poe Jr., or fPJ, the King of the Philippine movies, was also her childhood friend (rosita’s relative was the gardener of the Poe family). singer-actor fred Panopio (his hit songs were Pitong Gatang, tatlong Baraha, and markado) was her neighbor in Quezon City.
I was fortunate to recover a few photos of her younger years since most of them were included in a fire that destroyed our house years ago.
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While doing the usual brisk walking with my mom in Green
Honoring my mom this Women’s Month
Valley, fairfield in California, we happened to pass by the house of fe Cangco, 68, a neighbor along Adagio Drive, who migrated to the U.s. in 1998. she used to work in a post office in san francisco for two years and in max’s restaurant (already closed) Vallejo City for over ten years. she has five children, one of whom is a police officer in suisun City, Alvin Cangco, a friend of my nephew michael Isip.
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* * one of the persons I could not forget during my CItem days is Dr. mina t. Gabor, founder and first executive director of the Center for International trade, expositions and missions. she has made significant contributions to the country’s trade promotion efforts. she is a former tourism secretary.
I learned a lot of managerial skills from her and she even trusted my foreign language skills in dealing with our product specialists.
mtG is a name that echoes with reverence and admiration in the corridors of international travel and tourism. her journey, from her early days to her present position of influence, is an inspiring narrative of unwavering commitment to sustainable tourism and exceptional leadership. thanks for giving me the opportunity to be the editor of CItem trade Update that gained acceptance and recognition locally and abroad.
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U.s first Lady melania trump said in the past that “I’m proud of what this country continues to do for women.
In the United states, women are playing vital roles in society. they are mothers, wives, doctors, Ceos and elected officials, to name just a few.”
she adheres to equality, freedom and the responsibility women have to help each other achieve success. “As an immigrant myself, having grown up in a communist society, I know all too well the value and importance of freedom and equal opportunity – ideals which this great nation was founded and has continued to strive towards throughout its history.”
* * * the Philippines’ first Lady Liza Araneta-marcos cites the exceptional role of women in society. she recognizes women as “the primary caretakers and educators in the family and they are a big contributor to our workforce.”
she has thrown her support behind the worldwide movement to eliminate all forms of violence against women.
* * * Loida Nicolas Lewis, who is in the Philippines for a fireside chat and book presentation on march 16 from 2 p.m to 4 p.m. at the studio space of fully Booked Bonifacio high street, Building 6, fort Bonifacio, taguig City, wrote that: “As I remember all the wonderful women around me, I am reminded of a scripture that speaks to women’s hearts: ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 4:6-7). Let’s not be anxious or stressed — instead, let us keep going in joyful gratitude, knowing that God hears us and will help us at the right time.”
* * * ed sicam, husband of Paulynn sicam, was my editor at the manila Chronicle. he assigned me to cover for the tV stations as I had then a column tV Network Update.
Annual wild mushroom advisory in East Bay Regional Parks
DUrING the rainy winter season, wild mushrooms pop up in great numbers throughout east Bay regional Parks. mushrooms are an ecologically important part of the parklands and can look beautiful—but some of them contain dangerous toxins. the death cap (Amanita phalloides) and western destroying angel (Amanita ocreata) are two of the world’s most toxic mushrooms, and both can be found in regional Parks during the rainy season. the death cap and western destroying angel mushrooms contain amatoxins, molecules that are deadly to many animals. symptoms may not appear until up to 12 hours after consumption, beginning as severe gastrointestinal distress and progressing to liver and kidney failure if treatment is not sought immediately.
Both of these mushrooms can be lethal to humans and pets if consumed. Pet owners should contact a veterinarian immediately if they suspect their pet may have eaten a toxic mushroom. they are mainly associated with oak trees and can be found growing anywhere oak roots are present. Collecting any mushrooms in east Bay regional Parks is not allowed.
the best way to stay safe is to ensure that no mushrooms are consumed by humans or pets. As an added safety measure, learn to recognize
poisonous mushroom species when encountering them in regional Parks. the death cap is a medium to large mushroom that typically has a greenish-gray cap, white gills, a white ring around the stem, and a large white sac at the base of the stem. Although the death cap is mainly associated with oak trees, it has been found growing with other hardwoods. It was accidentally introduced to North America on the roots of european cork oaks and is now slowly colonizing the West Coast. the death cap is not native to California. the western destroying angel is a medium to large mushroom that usually has a creamy white cap, white gills, a white ring around the stem that can disappear with age, and a thin white sac at the base. It fruits from late winter into spring. It is associated exclusively with oaks. Unlike the death cap, it is a native California mushroom.
While the death cap and western destroying angel mushrooms are responsible for most cases of mushroom poisonings in California, deadly toxins can also be found in Galerina and Lepiota mushroom species, which also occur in the Bay Area. for more information about toxic mushrooms, visitebparks.org/safety/trails/toxic-mushrooms.
(EBrPD release)
Consul General senen T. Mangalile...
Lately, I have been getting in touch with my former editor, who was so kind to me as ever.
I remember he assigned me to interview Lea salonga, the little girl who was little no longer. so I went to a restaurant where I saw Lea and her mom. Lea’s mom was so sweet and thoughtful even when I was already working in malacanang as information officer.
* * * one person I could not forget is my lifestyle editor at the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the late Lita t. Logarta. she was a very supportive, thoughtful and understanding boss. she assigned me to interview oftentimes ambassadors assigned to the Philippines and to cover other events and personalities. she even allowed me to write for other sections like sports, entertainment and travel. When I was based in tokyo as a correspondent of the Philippine
(PcGSF release)
Rosita Constantino Medina with her daughter Victoria Isip at the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Photos collated by Rogelio Medina
AJ columnist Rogelio Medina with Fil-Am
Fe Cangco of Green Valley, Fairfield, Solano County, California.
Philippines President Bongbong Marcos with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos Ed Sicam (standing, 3rd from left) with his family
Left photo: Rosita Flores Constantino (3rd from left) with the Darling Twins (Aurora and Esperanza) of Premiere’s Kuskos Balungos’ film; Right photo: Rosita with Fernando Poe Jr. during their teenage years.
U.S. First Lady Melania Trump
The indefatigable Mina T. Gabor
Loida Nicolas Lewis had a fireside chat and book presentation in Manila on March 16, 2025 hosted by Karen Davila. Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Lifestyle Editor Lita Logarta (1987-1994)
Attire and accessories
Photo above shows members of the church (standing, from left) Pastor Jun Serrano and Chaplin Tess Currier; (seated, from left) Tessie Salanga, Tess Gregorio, Linda Conde, Prima, Raju and Norma Baking. Photo at left shows Pastor Jun Serrano with Tess Gregorio. Photos courtesy of Tess Gregorio
Mayor lurie announces b. Patisserie expansion at union square
Another sign of downtown’s recovery, as companies like Databricks, Strava, and JP Morgan expand nearby
sAN frANCIsCo – mayor
Daniel Lurie on monday, march 10 announced that renowned san francisco-born bakery b. Patisserie is expanding to Union square, bringing its celebrated pastries to one of the city’s iconic locations. In collaboration with the san francisco recreation and Parks Department, b. Patisserie will open a kiosk in the plaza, offering a selection of its signature pastries, including the famous kouign-amann, for residents, workers, and visitors. this one-year commitment follows a successful pop-up during NBA All-star Weekend and the Chinese New Year Parade, which was also the safest on record. the expansion represents another step in mayor Lurie’s work to revitalize downtown and foster a vibrant, 24/7 neighborhood. In recent weeks, companies like Databricks, strava, and JP morgan have expanded or committed to expand their office footprints downtown. mayor Lurie is also taking action to facilitate the area’s recovery, launching Permitsf to streamline the city’s permitting process for small businesses, creating a permanent san francisco Police Department hospitality Zone task force to keep the area safe 365 days a year, and passing legislation with the Board of supervisors to facilitate conversations of empty offices into much-needed new homes while proposing new state legislation to support nightlife by creating more liquor licenses for new bars and restaurants to open.
“b. Patisserie’s arrival in Union square is a clear example of the momentum we’re building in downtown san francisco,” said mayor Lurie. “As a fan of their food, I’m excited to see them join a growing and vibrant mix of businesses in this historic area. this is the latest in a series of steps to bring new life to our city center and create a vibrant,
24-hour neighborhood where people want to live, work, and visit.”
“Union square is the beating heart of san francisco, and we are excited to welcome b. Patisserie to this cherished and historic plaza,” said recreation and Park Department General manager Phil Ginsburg. “their recent pop-up was an incredible success, drawing enthusiastic crowds who couldn't get enough of their mouthwatering pastries. With their full-time presence, b. Patisserie will elevate any visit to Union square, making it an even sweeter experience for everyone.”
owned by award-winning pastry chef Belinda Leong and business partner michel suas, b. Patisserie has been a san francisco institution since its opening in 2013. the bakery is known for its european-inspired pastries, earning accolades such as the James Beard Award for outstanding Baker. Leong and suas have signed a one-year lease for the café kiosk at 350 Powell street, with an expected opening in late march. the recreation and Park Department will seek a permanent tenant for the space later this year.
san francisco has always been good to me, and Belinda was born and raised here,” said suas. “It’s part of our
responsibility to give back to the city, to help where we can. We hope people will come to Union square, feel comfortable, and support local businesses.”
“We’re excited to offer something delicious and convenient for everyone who works, lives, or visits Union square,” added Leong. “We hope this kiosk becomes a spot where the community can gather and connect.”
b. Patisserie’s Union square location will feature a curated selection of the bakery’s most popular pastries, including the kouign-amann, as well as a variety of other baked goods and quiches. b. Patisserie will keep the kiosk affordable, reflecting the bakery’s commitment to making quality pastries accessible to everyone. It will be open Wednesday through sunday from 8 a.m to 4 p.m.
In addition to the b. Patisserie activation, the office of economic and Workforce Development (oeWD) has partnered with Biederman redevelopment Ventures Corporation to reimagine Union square with daily programming and amenities. Visitors of all ages will find something to enjoy, with a diverse lineup that includes music and chess classes, story time for toddlers, lively blues and jazz performances, cardio dance and juggling lessons, and amenities such as pingpong, cornhole, and a variety of tabletop games. on march 22, 2025, with oeWD funding, the Union square Alliance will transform Union square with its vibrant tulip Day celebration where visitors can pick their own tulips from a vast display of approximately 80,000 flowers as part of their larger Union square in Bloom campaign, running from march to september to ring in the spring. A full calendar of events is available at visitunionsquaresf. com.
(SF Mayor’s office release)
California awards nearly $300 million to local communities to make roadways safer
sACrAmeNto – Governor Gavin Newsom on friday, march 7 announced nearly $300 million in funding for 288 projects aimed at reducing traffic deaths and serious injuries on city and county roads across California.
“We’re making roads safer up and down the state with significant investments. I’m proud of the lifesaving work Caltrans has done to protect drivers, pedestrians, and bikers as they go about their daily commutes,” Gov. Newsom said in a release sent out by his office.
the funding for these local projects is provided through the federal highway safety Improvement Program (hsIP), a critical federal-aid program with the goal of reducing fatal and serious injuries on public roads across the nation.
the California Department of transportation (Caltrans) is using the safe system Approach – which emphasizes multiple layers of protection, including safer road designs – to achieve its goal of reducing fatalities and serious injuries on state roadways to zero by 2050.
Caltrans’ adoption of the safe system approach builds on its ongoing work to embed safety in the state’s transportation system. When feasible, transportation projects Caltrans funds or oversees will include “complete street” features that provide safe and accessible options for people walking, biking, and taking transit.
“Under Governor Newsom’s leadership, California remains committed to helping ensure that every Californian has access to safe and reliable transportation, no matter who they are or where they live,” said California transportation secretary toks omishakin. “these investments highlight our people-first approach, because we know it will pay the most important dividend of all – their safety.” safety improvement efforts from projects receiving the funding announced today will be distributed throughout the state, making impactful enhancements from Del Norte County in the north to san Diego County in the south and communities everywhere in between.
A sample of the safety projects include:
• In the Bay Area, a $5 million project will install Class IV bike lanes in Contra Costa County, a $4.4 million project will install new high-visibility signage in san francisco, and a $1.75 million project will improve intersection lighting and pedestrian throughways.
• Along the Central Coast, a $4 million project in santa Barbara County will implement new pedestrian improvements and traffic signals, and a $2 million project in santa Cruz County will improve daylight and pedestrian crossings.
• In the Central Valley, a $3.7 million investment will fund a new roundabout in fresno County, a $4.5 million project in tulare County will install rumble strips, left-turn lanes, and flashing beacons, and a $2.6 million project in san Joaquin County will improve 42 separate traffic signals.
• In Northern California, nearly $6 million will go toward installing retro-reflectivity striping
throughout trinity County, and
• In
EMPLOYMENT HOUSING SERVICES
Mayor Daniel Lurie SF.gov photo
