Supreme Court to hear arguments over Trump’s birthright citizenship ban
the U.s supreme Court announced on thursday, April 17, that it will hear oral arguments regarding President Donald trump’s plan to end automatic birthright citizenship—one of the current administration’s latest efforts to crack down on immigration. the announcement followed the trump administration’s attempt to challenge three injunctions, wherein federal judges in Washington state, massachusetts and maryland attempted to override the president’s order for federal agencies to overlook the citizenship status of those with birthright citizenship.
In response to sCotUs’s plan to hear arguments, trump told reporters that he is “so happy” and, “I think the case has been so misunderstood.”
Birthright citizenship allows anyone born in the U.s. to automatically become a U.s. citizen, a mandate that applies to children of undocumented immigrants,
Fil-Am hooper Dylan
Harper among projected top picks for 2025 NBA draft
LeBron James publicly praises the rising basketball star
WIth the 2024 nBA Draft in the rearview, the spotlight now shifts toward next year’s class. And leading the early buzz is another filipino American standout, Dylan harper.
A 6-foot-7 point guard from new Jersey, harper is already drawing comparisons to nBA greats. most notably, LeBron James publicly praised the rising star in a video posted to X (formerly twitter).
“I’ve been watching him for quite a while. he calls me ‘unc,’ I call him ‘nephew.’ special kid, special talent. he’s going to be really good in this league,” said James in a message to Brandon “scoop B” robinson.
In a recent episode of sLAm, fans got a closer look at harper, not just as a player, but as a person.
by AJPress
roots are deeply filipino, yet unmistakably universal. of Chinese descent on his mother’s side and formed by theological rigor in rome’s Pontifical
the Philippine Consulate General in san francisco wishes to inform all registered overseas filipino voters in its jurisdiction to complete their pre-voting enrollment as soon as possible to ensure a smooth participation in the upcoming 2025 Philippine national elections. Please visit https://ov.comelec.gov.ph/enroll to get started to get started.
All overseas voters are required to complete their pre-voting enrollment on or before may 7, 2025 to verify their identity and ensure access to the online Voting
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VP Sara Duterte says lawyers ‘more
than confident’ in winning
impeachment trial
by Cristina Chi Philstar.com
mAnILA — Vice President sara Duterte said on tuesday, April 22, that her lawyers are “more than confident” that they will prevail against the impeachment case filed against her.
Duterte also told reporters at a chance interview in Cebu that she had met with her legal team upon returning from her stay in the hague, netherlands, where her father, former President rodrigo Duterte, is detained on International Criminal Court charges. hindi ko naman masabi kung ano ‘yung preparations ng mga abogado sa impeachment. Pero nung pag-uwi ko galing the hague ay nag-meeting kami dahil isa din ‘yun sa mga inaasikaso ko,” Duterte said. (i can’t really say what the lawyers’ preparations are for the impeachment. But when i got back from The Hague, we had a meeting because that’s also one of the things i’m handling.) Vice
file photo
University and the
in
of
reads
he became known for u PAGE 2
Marcos: Philippines mourns with Catholic community over Pope Francis’ death
by Jean Mangaluz Philstar.com
mAnILA — President ferdinand marcos Jr. on easter monday, April 21 said that the Philippines joins the international Catholic community in grieving the loss of Pope francis.
Weeks after a prolonged hospital stay due to double pneumonia, francis passed away the day after easter sunday. the Philippines joins the Catholic community worldwide in grieving the loss of his holiness Pope francis. A man of profound faith and humility, Pope francis led not only with wisdom but with a heart open to all, especially the poor and the forgotten,” marcos said in a facebook post.
“By example, Pope francis taught us that to be a good Christian is to extend kindness and care to one another. his humility brought many back to the fold of the Church. As we mourn his passing, we honor a life that brought hope and compassion to so many, and inspired us to love one another as Christ loved us,” he
Pope Francis dies at 88: A humble reformer who redefined the papacy
by AJPress
VAtICAn CItY – Pope francis, the 266th leader of the roman Catholic Church and a transformative figure in modern religious life, passed away on easter monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. the first Latin American pope and the first Jesuit to hold the papacy, he died peacefully at his Vatican residence, Casa santa marta, after a prolonged battle with pneumonia.
his passing marks the end of an era defined by humility, inclusivity, and a deep concern for the marginalized. from Buenos Aires to the Papacy Born Jorge mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope francis was the son of Italian immigrants. Before his priestly vocation, he trained as a chemist. he joined the society of Jesus
The People’s Pope, Pope Francis, visited Typhoon Yolanda survivors in Palo, Leyte on January 17, 2015. Malacañang file photo by Benhur Arcayan
Marcos: Philippines mourns with...
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added. the president called monday a “profoundly sad day.”
In a separate statement from malacañang, marcos described Pope francis as unique, stating that he was “the best Pope” of his lifetime. the Philippines is predominantly Catholic, with the Philippine statistics Authority reporting that, as of 2020,
78.8% of filipinos identified as roman Catholic. It is one of the few countries in Asia where Catholicism is the dominant religion.
francis visited the Philippines in 2015 in the aftermath of super typhoon Yolanda (international name: haiyan), one of the most powerful cyclones in recorded history.
Yolanda caused widespread devastation, leaving a death
toll of more than 6,300 people, with over 1,000 still missing to this day. the pontiff visited the country to offer his support to those hardest hit by the tragedy. the central message of this trip will be the poor, the poor who want to carry on, the poor who suffered from typhoon Yolanda and who are still suffering the consequences, the poor who have faith and hope,” the pope told reporters in 2015. n
Pre-voting enrollment for online...
PAGE 1
not have a valid ID accepted by the online Voting and Counting system (oVCs), the Philippine Consulate General in san francisco is here to assist you.
• Visit the Consulate for assistance: manual Voter registration Verification is available at the Consulate from
April 13, 2025 to may 7, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Virtual appearance with the Consulate: Can’t visit in person? You may request a virtual appearance for manual verification. Please schedule your appointment at https:// pcgsanfrancisco.as.me/ovs2025. the deadline for online Voting
Pre-enrollment is may 7, 2025. Please check the certified list of overseas voters at https://tinyurl. com/pcgsfclov2025. for overseas voting-related queries and concerns, please send an email directly to the Consulate’s overseas Voting team at ovs@pcgsanfrancisco. org. (collated PcGSF releases)
Cardinal Tagle is a leading...
his deep empathy and stirring homilies, delivered without notes, but always with soul.
The Vatican’s heart in Asia
When Pope francis appointed tagle as Prefect of the Congregation for the evangelization of Peoples in 2019, it was more than a bureaucratic shift. It was symbolic.
in
to walk in the shoes of
faithful.
Inside the conclave When the next conclave convenes — behind locked doors and beneath michelangelo’s frescoes — Cardinal tagle will be one of the most watched figures.
Asia — home to more than half of the world’s population, but a fraction of its Catholics — was now front and center. In tagle, rome was signaling that the Church’s future might lie not in its grand basilicas, but in the swelling faith communities of the peripheries. In 2020, tagle’s stature rose further when Pope francis elevated him to the rank of cardinal bishop, the highest title within the College of Cardinals. It was a rare distinction—and a powerful affirmation of the Church’s trust in his leadership. now, as Pro-Prefect of the restructured Dicastery for evangelization, tagle oversees the Church’s most vital frontier mission: reaching hearts that have never heard the Gospel — and reawakening those who have forgotten it. The “Asian Francis”? tagle’s pastoral ethos mirrors that of the pope who elevated him. Like francis, he speaks of a Church that listens before it teaches, that heals before it judges. he has spoken candidly about LGBtQ+ persons, urging the Church to avoid “harsh words.” he has advocated discernment for divorced and remarried Catholics, stressing that “every situation is unique.”
Yet, he’s no doctrinal radical. his theology is orthodox, his
At 67, he stands at that perfect crossroad: young enough to bring longevity, old enough to command reverence. But what truly sets him apart is his ability to speak not just in Vatican Latin or theological code, but in the shared language of suffering, joy, and hope.
the Church today is wounded—by scandal, division, and the modern world’s skepticism. tagle, a man shaped by colonial memory, poverty, and multi-faith realities, understands this pain viscerally. fluent in tagalog, english, Italian, and conversant in french, Chinese, and Latin, tagle is as comfortable delivering a homily in tondo as he is addressing
however, remains the same: “Be near the people. smell like the sheep. Love with the heart of Christ.”
A consistent contender since the last conclave in 2013, and particularly following his elevation to the roman Curia, Cardinal tagle has been a fixture in conversations about papal succession.
Analysts and Vatican watchers have consistently placed him on lists of papabili—those considered most likely to be elected pope. his visibility is not born of political maneuvering or geographical novelty, but of what he represents: a deeply pastoral, intellectually grounded, and globally resonant figure.
his leadership in the evangelization Dicastery, alignment with Pope francis’ vision, and deep roots in the Global south all reinforce his viability as the Church’s next shepherd.
the Global south refers to regions in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and oceania, often characterized by lower levels of industrialization, development, and income. these areas also carry a history of colonization and economic exploitation, and face challenges such as poverty, political instability, and limited resources. however, the Global south is also a source of emerging influence in global politics, culture, and faith. from La Croix to the tablet, Crux to America magazine— and even secular outlets like the new York times—tagle is often described as “the face of a compassionate Church” and “a credible voice for Catholicism in the global south.”
While the holy spirit ultimately guides each conclave—and surprises are always possible—tagle’s regular appearance on these shortlists is no coincidence. It reflects the deep respect he commands, both inside and outside the Vatican. n
His Eminence Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle Photo from Facebook/@ArchbishopTagle
COMPANION. Accompanied by then Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pope Francis boards the papal mobile upon his arrival in the Philippines in 2015. Before Francis, John Paul II was the last Pontiff to visit the country in 1995. Malacañang file photo
methods tender. In essence, tagle doesn’t push the Church forward with force—he gently invites it
the
bishops
rome. his message,
PAPAL TRIBUTE. The Immaculate Conception Cathedral of Cubao in Quezon City sets up a tribute corner for Pope Francis at its altar on Monday, April 21. Pope Francis died at age 88 after suffering from prolonged asthma-like respiratory crisis,
statement.
Richard Nuttall named new president of Philippine airlines
PhILIPPIne Airlines (PAL) has appointed British national and airline industry executive richard nuttall as its new president effective may 29, 2025, signaling the Philippine flag carrier’s commitment to strengthening its leadership team and a bolder push in the international market. nuttall will report directly to Dr. Lucio C. tan, chairman and chief executive officer, and Lucio C. tan III, president and chief operating officer of PAL holdings Inc., the parent company of Philippine Airlines.
nuttall joins PAL after leadership stints in airlines across Asia, Africa, europe, and the middle east. most recently he served as chief executive officer of sriLankan Airlines, where he led a successful turnaround that saw the carrier return to operational profitability and significantly contribute to the growth of sri Lanka’s tourism sector.
In addition, nuttall served as an executive board member of the skyteam Alliance, where he helped reform the Alliance’s governance structure to accelerate decision-making and deepen airline collaboration.
“Philippine Airlines has always been committed to working with the best people across all levels, and I welcome richard nuttall as a worthy addition to an already formidable team. I am confident that he will create and develop sustainable growth for PAL,” said Dr. Lucio C. tan.
“Appointing richard nuttall to Philippine Airlines is an important part of our medium-
term and long-term strategy of building a robust management team and growing our business internationally. As president, he will play an active role in bringing a global dimension to the heart of the filipino, and I look forward to working closely with him in the days and months ahead,” said Lucio tan III. nuttall will succeed Captain stanley ng, who has served as PAL president and chief operating officer since January 2022. ng will take on new responsibilities within the Philippine Airlines Group as vice president of PAL holdings Inc. and as a member of the airline’s Board of Directors. In these roles, he is expected to provide strategic direction and oversight to bring the flag carrier to a new level of service and profitability.
“I warmly welcome mr. nuttall to the PAL Group. I believe that under his leadership, we will sustain the momentum we've built over the past years. now, I’m ready to take on this new role with renewed focus and commitment,” said ng. nuttall will be supported by Carlos Luis fernandez, who assumes the role of executive vice president and chief operating officer, also effective may 29, 2025.
“I am honored to join Philippine Airlines at such a pivotal time. the airline has accomplished so much in recent years, and I look forward to building on that progress as we explore new avenues for growth,” said nuttall. even as the global aviation
industry faces increased volatility and uncertainty, PAL remains focused on long-term growth and fleet modernization. the airline is expected to receive this year the first of nine Airbus A350-1000s, which will serve as PAL’s flagship long-haul aircraft. PAL is also rolling out newly refurbished A321ceos with upgraded cabins this year, and will take delivery of 13 brandnew A321neos starting 2026. Backed by the leadership of tan and nuttall, PAL is optimistic about sustaining its momentum in 2025. the airline posted a net income of PhP10.01 billion in 2024, following record earnings of PhP21 billion in 2023. this consistent performance solidifies PAL’s position as a resilient and competitive force in the airline industry. (PAL release)
The ranks of Obamacare ‘fixers’ axed in Trump’s reduction of health agency workforce
by julie appleby KFF Health News
theY’re the fixers, the ones who step in when Affordable Care Act enrollees have a problem with their coverage, like a newborn incorrectly left off a policy or discovering that a rogue broker had signed them up or switched their plan without consent.
specially trained caseworkers help resolve such issues, which might otherwise cause consumers to rack up large doctors’ bills or prevent them or their family members from getting care. now, though, the broad federal reduction in force set in motion by the trump administration has cut the ranks of those caseworkers, slashing two out of six divisions of caseworkers, according to one affected worker and a former Centers for medicare & medicaid services official familiar with the situation, Jeffrey Grant.
Currently, the number of ACA enrollees is at an all-time high of 24 million. the ACA — known as obamacare — has long drawn disfavor from republicans and trump himself. the health law faces additional changes next year that, if adopted, could sow confusion and more problems. Consumers would face a new learning curve with extra paperwork and rules. And the caseworker cuts might extend the time needed to resolve any difficulties.
“It impacts not only our jobs, but all these people we serve,” said one new York City-based caseworker, who was let go in a feb. 14 purge affecting federal employees in their probationary periods. “Usually, we would have on average 14 days to take care of a case that was very difficult, although the urgent cases would be solved within two to three business days. It will now be delayed so much more. Whole teams got wiped out completely.” nPr and Kff health news are not naming the two affected workers in this article because they fear professional or personal repercussions for speaking to the media. the two teams of caseworkers were dismantled in a haphazard fashion that left some workers without an official notice but locked out of their computers.
the cuts have demoralized caseworkers, whose jobs demand a grasp of complex and arcane health insurance rules in a little-known government department that most consumers don’t interact with — Cms’ exchange Customer solutions Group — until they need help. the loss in staffing is going to reduce the ability for people to get through” to caseworkers after contacting the marketplace or other organizations for help, said Jackie Kiger, executive director of Pisgah Legal services, a nonprofit that provides legal and ACA help for north Carolina consumers and is facing a budget reduction under a separate effort by the trump administration to cut “navigator” funding by 90%. navigators are governmentfunded nonprofits that help people enroll in the ACA or resolve problems with coverage. the federal force reduction aims to decrease the number of employees at agencies within the Department of health and human services from 82,000 to 62,000, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the food and Drug Administration, the national Institutes of health, and Cms Cms, which oversees the ACA and other government health programs, will lose about 300 workers, including about 30 caseworkers scattered nationwide. the cuts come amid thousands of other federal job losses, including frontline workers across an array of agencies, from social security field offices to the national Park service.
In a press release, hhs estimated its reduction in force will save taxpayers $1.8 billion a year. no one from Cms responded to Kff health news’ questions about the caseworker reductions.
What will be affected? When consumers have a problem with their ACA plan, their first step is usually to call the federal or state marketplace on which they purchased coverage.
those call centers can handle basic questions about plans purchased on the federal exchange, which serves 31 states. (state marketplaces handle their own complex cases and don’t rely on federal
World faces rise of new hiv/aids infections as us slashes funding
by Sunita Sohrabji American Community Media
WorLDWIDe hIV/AIDs deaths are expected to rise by 1.5 million annually as the U.s. terminates funding for research and its global prevention program.
the world will also experience a spike in hIV/ AIDs-related opportunistic infections that take over the body of a person with a greatly-weakened immune system, said Dr. richard sutton, professor of medicine, Infectious Diseases, and of microbial Pathogenesis at the Yale school of medicine.
“Without hIV therapy, people get oIs — opportunistic infections— and they get certain cancers and they die,” said sutton in an interview with American Community media. “they get cryptococcal meningitis. they get pneumocystis pneumonia. they get all sorts of herpes virus infections. they get histoplasmosis. In California, they get coccidioidomycosis (Valley fever), which is nasty.”
”We’re going to be seeing millions more people with very
high, dangerous viral loads and zero CD4 counts,” said sutton. CD4 cells are a type of white blood cell specifically called a t helper cell. they are crucial for the immune system’s ability to fight off infections.
Treatment can prevent death
Dr. richard sutton, Professor of medicine, Infectious Diseases, and of microbial Pathogenesis at the Yale school of medicine.
sutton’s lab is currently working on regulating CCr5 inhibitors, which essentially prevent hIV from entering CD4 cells, and thus slow down infections. his lab also works on novel hIV therapeutics.
sutton also serves as the chief of Infectious Diseases research at the Veteran’s Administration in Connecticut — VACt the West haven VAmC oversees roughly 300 patients infected with hIV. “their viral loads are undetectable, their CD4 count is okay, and they can live for decades,” said sutton, making the point that hIV/AIDs need not be a death sentence when treatment is available and administered. on feb. 27, the trump
caseworkers.)
When someone calls the federal marketplace 800 number with coverage problems, the inquiry probably winds up on a caseworker’s desk, said one affected caseworker. that employee received a reductionin-force notice several days after losing access to their work computer on April 1. Caseworkers usually don’t speak directly with consumers, the worker said. Using information sent over by the federal marketplace — including notes taken when consumers called in with problems, as well as ACA applications — they handle or oversee consumer requests, such as canceling a plan or adding a member.
one of the last problems handled by that caseworker involved a child born in november who was not added correctly to the family’s plan for 2024, meaning any care the child received during the last two months of the year was not covered and the family risked being stuck with the bills.
“this person did everything right, including calling the marketplace within 60 days to report the birth and add the newborn to their coverage,” said the worker, who was quickly able to resolve it because it was a marketplace error.
the worker, who is now soured on federal employment and will look for a new job in the private sector, said caseworkers handled an average of 30 issues a day, but that in recent months the number kept climbing, heading past 45, and grew even more intense after the feb. 14 dismissal of probationary employees.
“It’s not an easy job,” the worker said, noting the challenge of constantly evolving rules and policies governing health plans.
Ferreting out fraud In the past year, caseworkers have dealt with cases involving unauthorized enrollments or switching, a problem that ticked up in late 2023, according to Kff health news investigations, and continued through much of last year, resulting in at least 274,000 complaints to Cms through August. the complaints centered on practices by rogue brokers who enrolled or switched
STATE FUNERAL. The funeral procession of “Superstar” and National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Nora Aunor makes its way to Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City on Tuesday, April 22. Before the interment, Aunor’s remains were brought to the Metropolitan Theater in Manila for a state necrological service.
PNA
photo by Avito Dalan
VP Sara Duterte says lawyers ‘more than...
PAGE 1
“At sinabi nila that they are more than confident in winning the impeachment trial — impeachment case. so ‘yan lang ‘yung masasabi ko,” she added.
(And they said that they are more than confident in winning the impeachment trial — impeachment case. So that’s all i can say.) the house of representatives voted to impeach Duterte on february 5, sending the articles of impeachment to the senate for trial.
senate President Chiz escudero has scheduled the trial to begin after the may 2025 elections. According to the timeline he proposed in february, the actual impeachment trial is set to start on July 30, after pre-trial proceedings and the swearing-in of newly elected senators who will also serve as judges in the case.
Public opinion on the impeachment remains divided, according to a february survey by Wr numero. the poll found that 46.7% of filipinos oppose
the impeachment, while 33.3% support it, with approximately 20% still undecided. According to the survey, mindanao, Duterte’s bulwark, shows the strongest opposition to the impeachment at 65.6%, compared to just 16.6% in favor. the upcoming impeachment trial for the vice president has loomed over senatorial bets of the PDP-Laban slate — of which her father is chairperson — as they have repeatedly called on their supporters to vote for them to prevent Duterte’s conviction. recap: What’s VP sara Duterte accused of? the impeachment charges against Duterte encompass seven allegations, with the most grave being an alleged plot to assassinate President ferdinand marcos Jr., first Lady Liza marcos, and house speaker martin romualdez. this accusation stems from Duterte’s statements during a late-night press conference last year when she claimed to have arranged for someone to kill the president, the first lady,
and the house speaker should she herself be assassinated. the articles also charge the vice president with improperly using confidential funds, totaling at least P254.898 million in alleged “ghost expenses.” Additionally, Duterte is accused of corrupting former high-ranking Department of education officials by allegedly distributing cash envelopes containing tens of thousands of pesos. the impeachment articles also resurrect longstanding claims regarding her connection to extrajudicial killings through the so-called Davao Death squad during her tenure as Davao City mayor. the complaint further alleges that Duterte accumulated “hidden wealth” that was reportedly unexplained in her statement of Assets, Liabilities, and net Worth filed from 2013 to 2016. the sixth and seventh articles accuse Duterte of inciting sedition and rebellion, as well as “gross faithlessness against trust and tyrannical abuse of power.” n
Pope Francis dies at 88: A humble...
PAGE 1
(Jesuits) in 1958, was ordained in 1969, and served as Provincial superior of the Jesuits in Argentina, then Archbishop of Buenos Aires, and later became a cardinal in 2001.
he was elected pope on march 13, 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI—becoming the first pope from the Americas and the first non-european in over a millennium. he chose the name francis in honor of st. francis of Assisi, known for his devotion to peace, poverty, and care for creation.
The Papacy of Pope Francis Pope francis’s tenure was defined by sweeping changes in tone and emphasis within the Catholic Church. he called for a Church of inclusion rather than condemnation, repeatedly urging Catholics to focus on mercy over judgment.
In a widely quoted 2013 interview, francis described his vision of the Church:
“I see the Church as a field hospital after battle. It is useless to ask a seriously injured person if he has high cholesterol… You have to heal his wounds. then we can talk about everything else.”
his 2015 encyclical, Laudato si’, positioned environmental protection as a moral and spiritual imperative, earning praise from both faith leaders and scientists. he also championed the rights of
migrants, the poor, and the socially excluded.
Known as “the People’s Pope,” francis favored simple living, refused the papal palace, and rode in modest cars. he touched millions with his direct, down-to-earth approach and willingness to address difficult global issues.
Illness and final days In early 2025, Pope francis was hospitalized for double pneumonia, leading to a 38day hospital stay, the longest of his papacy. Despite his frailty, he made one final public appearance during easter sunday mass on April 20, blessing thousands gathered in st. Peter’s square. he died quietly the following morning, surrounded by members of his household and medical staff.
A world in mourning Pope francis’s death prompted a global outpouring of grief and tributes:
U.s. Vice President J.D. Vance, who met him just a day before his death, called him “a shepherd to the world and a conscience for our time.” european Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said he “inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate.”
Indian Prime minister narendra modi praised him as “a beacon of compassion, humility, and spiritual courage.”
Philippine President ferdinand marcos Jr. honored the pontiff as “a man of profound faith and humility” who led the Church “with wisdom and a heart open to all, especially the poor and the forgotten.” marcos added, “As we mourn his passing, we honor a life that brought hope and compassion to so many, and inspired us to love one another as Christ loved us.”
In the Philippines, the largest Catholic nation in Asia, cathedrals filled with faithful for memorial masses, recalling the pope’s beloved 2015 visit and his support for filipino overseas workers.
In Argentina, the government declared three days of national mourning, and churches held vigils.
Funeral and succession
the Vatican announced that Pope francis will be buried at Basilica of santa maria maggiore, where he often prayed before apostolic journeys. his funeral will take place in st. Peter’s square later this week, expected to draw global dignitaries and millions of faithful.
the College of Cardinals will convene in early may for the conclave to elect a new pope. observers expect growing influence from cardinals from Africa, Asia, and Latin America—regions where francis’s message of justice and inclusion resonated deeply.
A legacy of compassion and courage Pope francis leaves behind a Church more open to dialogue, less defined by hierarchy, and deeply engaged with the world’s wounds. he reminded Catholics that leadership begins with listening and that the Gospel calls for solidarity with the most vulnerable. the thing the Church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful,” he once said. “It needs nearness, proximity.” his life—marked by simplicity, sincerity, and service—touched people of all faiths. And while his voice is now silent, his message of mercy endures. n
World faces rise of new HIV/AIDS...
UnAIDs focuses primarily on treatment and prevention. In a statement, UnAIDs executive Director Winnie Byanyima said that countries in the developing world are scrambling to keep their programs going once funds are terminated in June. many countries have already scaled back some or all of their AIDs prevention and treatment programs, noted an April 8 report.
PEPFAR separately, the trump Administration shuttered the majority of programs under the Us Agency for International Development. the President’s emergency Plan for AIDs relief — PePfAr — founded in 2003 by President George W. Bush, is administered through UsAID. the continuation of PePfAr is uncertain.
no vaccine yet exists to prevent hIV/AIDs. PePfAr which works in 50 countries, primarily focuses on preexposure prophylaxis, providing treatment to people who are hIV seropositive — those with hIV antibodies in their bloodstream, indicating they have been exposed to hIV. PePfAr also provides antiretroviral therapy to millions of people living with hIV/AIDs. It also provides supportive care for people living with hIV/AIDs, including palliative care, nutritional
support, and treatment for opportunistic infections.
”Does all this just disappear?” sutton questioned. In 2004, there were 2.1 million global deaths from hIV/AIDs. By 2023, that number had dropped to 630,000. sutton credited the huge drop in hIV/AIDs deaths to the success of PePfAr and UnAIDs programs.
U.S. consequences
“And so stopping all that funding, the number of deaths from hIV will just go up again,” he stated. numbers of infections and deaths from hIV and related opportunistic infections will also rise in the U.s., as residents travel to countries with fewer resources for treatment and prevention.
Critics of the PePfAr program say countries must “own their epidemics.” In south Africa, for example, 83% of funding for hIV/AIDs programs and services comes from the government’s own coffers. But sutton said the economics of most countries in the developing world would prevent them from creating and maintaining hIV/AIDs prevention and treatment programs. he gave the example of Uganda, in which almost 6% of the population — 1.4 million people — live with AIDs
“I was just Zooming with folks in Uganda this week, and they said the cuts in funding are going to hit them really hard,
Supreme Court to hear arguments over...
tourists or those with temporary visas. the practice has been in place for decades.
on sunday, April 13, trump told the hosts of “meet the Press” that he “absolutely” wants to end birthright citizenship altogether “because it’s ridiculous.” opponents of birthright citizenship argue that birthright citizenship encourages “birth tourism,” which involves pregnant women entering the U.s. illegally to give birth to U.s. citizens.
trump signed the order on his first day in office, and it was to take effect starting feb. 19, but multiple federal judges have blocked the order.
Back in January, 22 state attorneys general—as well as dozens of immigrant rights
groups—argued that the order to end birthright citizenship violates the fourteenth Amendment in the U.s Constitution, which states that all “persons born or naturalized in the United states, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United states and of the state wherein they reside.”
It also stated, “no state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United states.” the trump administration argues that the amendment—ratified in 1868 after the Civil War and assured citizenship to all regardless of race—didn’t apply to everyone. however, the 22 state attorneys general filed lawsuits against the administration,
including California Attorney General rob Bonta,
in a statement in January referenced the 1898 case of Wong Kim Ark, a Chinese American born in California who was denied re-entry into the country after a trip abroad. the president’s executive order attempting to rescind birthright citizenship is blatantly unconstitutional and quite frankly, un-American,” said Bonta, who is of filipino American descent. “As home of Wong Kim Ark, a san francisco native who fought–successfully–to have his U.s. citizenship recognized, California condemns the President’s attempts to erase history and ignore 125 years of supreme Court precedent.”
(Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)
The ranks of Obamacare ‘fixers’ axed in...
coverage for consumers without their express knowledge. that could leave them without access to their health provider networks or drug coverage, or even facing a tax bill.
though it is unclear how many such complaints fell to a federal caseworker, some improperly switched consumers want to be restored into plans they had originally chosen, while others want them canceled.
“I have seen people who were enrolled and every two or three months a broker would switch them to a different plan,” said the caseworker who was locked out in early April. “the more health plans they were enrolled in, the more difficult it was to handle on the back end.”
new hires spend months learning the ropes.
the new York-based worker let go in february during her probationary period said she had joined Cms in october and spent three months in training. Just about a month after completing that training, she was let go —
a bitter irony, she said, because she had sought stability in a job with the federal government, having experienced a layoff during her private-sector career.
“I took a huge pay cut — over $40,000 — when I went from the private sector into the government,” said the mother of three whose husband serves in the military. her federal salary was about $76,000, which is not high for an expensive market like the new York metropolitan area. “But I took it as an opportunity to get in the door and move up. then, boom, I get hit with another layoff.”
“I can only imagine how hard it is for people with 10 to 15 years with the government who are banking on it for retirement,” she said.
starting next year, the trump administration has proposed several changes to the ACA, including ending year-round eligibility for very low-income applicants, requiring additional financial and eligibility documentation, and charging some people a monthly $5 fee when auto-reenrolled in coverage until they confirm their eligibility. such changes will “make things harder, so there you will have more things that go wrong,” said Grant, the former Cms official, who founded schedule f healthcare strategies after leaving Cms. “You will then also have fewer caseworkers to handle the work.” We’d like to speak with current and former personnel from the Department of Health and Human Services or its component agencies who believe the public should understand the impact of what’s happening within the federal health bureaucracy. Please message KFF Health News on Signal at (415) 519-8778 or get in touch here. 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.
Fil-Am hooper Dylan Harper among projected...
According to his mother, maria harper, harper’s dedication to the game runs deep.
because a lot of their patients get their anti-retroviral drugs from the PePfAr program.
And boom, it’s gone,” he said. sutton noted he has hosted several postdoctoral researchers from Uganda in his lab, who understand the science. “everything we do is relatively straightforward. And our protocols are written down. so could they do this in Uganda or elsewhere in sub-saharan Africa? Yes, they could, if they had the money. But they don’t. And so it is up to the U.s. and the Western world to fill in here.”
NIH funding the researcher also noted that the national Institutes of health has cut funding for 230 grants related to hIV/ AIDs research, particularly in the area of vaccines. his lab has received a 2-year grant to study hIV-rev, a protein that is essential to regulating hIV expression. he will soon be required to submit a progress report. In ordinary times, 99.9% of progress reports are approved and funding continues. however, sutton said he has heard through the grapevine that roughly half of progress reports are being rejected this year.
”this will crush the research enterprise, for several years on. It’s not just about the research that’s being done now,” he said. n
“he works really hard. he’ll grind early morning and late night. When he cares about something, he’ll figure out every single way he can be good at it,” she said, describing how he studies and mimics moves until he masters them.
“he’s determined and he doesn’t think like there’s anything he can’t accomplish,” she added.
harper’s grandmother shared how meaningful the draft will be to their family: “the draft is gonna happen for him and he had expressed that he wants us to be there. It
Dylan Harper Photos from Instagram/@dylharpp
IN MEMORIAM. Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula leads the Requiem Mass for Pope Francis at Manila Cathedral in Intramuros on Tuesday, April 22. Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Charles John Brown, joined the Mass for the pontiff who died the day before at the age of 88. PNA photo by Avito Dalan
who
ALCOHOL-INDUCED. The video of Quezon City Police District Staff Sergeant Jordan Marzan entering a private residence and allegedly assaulting a minor while intoxicated in Barangay Damayan, viewed by the media during a press conference at Camp Karingal on Tuesday, April 22. Charges will be filed against Marzan for the April 21 incident while
Bondoc
Joint
Ph-us
by FranceS MangoSing Inquirer.net
mAnILA — the Philippines
and the United states kicked off their biggest military exercises on monday, April 21 to conduct for the first time a “full battle test,” where the capabilities of both forces will be measured in multiple scenarios. the exercises come as regional tensions simmer in Asia over China’s activities in the south China sea and around taiwan, which neighbors the Philippines. the annual “Balikatan,” or “shoulder-to-shoulder,” drills, which will run until may 9, will involve more than 17,000 filipino and American troops simulating mock invasions on enemyoccupied islands in areas facing taiwan and the south China sea as part of a “rehearsal” of a defense plan that has been previously drawn up by the two longtime treaty allies. nineteen nations, including Australia and Japan, are taking part as observers.
Beijing in recent years has stepped up its aggressiveness in the south China sea, which it claims almost entirely, and around taiwan, which it has not ruled out taking by force. the drills have evolved a lot
DAteline PhiliPPines
drills a ‘full battle test’
since their inception in 1991. foreign secretary enrique manalo, the guest of honor at the opening ceremony, said that when he attended the opening event in 2009, the focus of the exercises was counterterrorism. times have indeed changed. the geostrategic environment is more complex and increasingly vulnerable to miscalculation,” he noted.
officials did not identify China by name in its exercises, but Defense secretary Gilberto teodoro Jr. earlier called Beijing as “the biggest disruptor” of peace in the region, with its increasing aggression in the south China sea. Balikatan is not against any nation, but it is joint training with the forces to increase our capability in securing our territory. And of course, it will increase our capabilities and our preparedness and responsiveness to any eventuality,” the Philippines’ Balikatan exercise director maj. Gen. francisco Lorenzo said in a briefing after the event. his American counterpart, Lt. Gen. James Glynn, said the design of this year’s exercise was more for the south China sea rather than taiwan.
“We’re looking at elevated tensions in regional security in
the larger region, in this case focused on the south China sea,” he said.
Advanced weapons this year’s exercises will see many firsts on top of the inaugural deployment of the navy-marine expeditionary ship Interdiction system antiship missile launchers in the Luzon strait close to taiwan as part of “maritime key terrain security operations” (mKtso) or island retaking from an enemy force.
A similar mKtso exercise will be held in Balabac, Palawan, facing Philippine and Chinese outposts in the West Philippine sea, or manila’s exclusive economic zone in the south China sea.
the United states will also send overseas for the first time the marine Air Defense Integrated system (madis), a sophisticated air defense system designed to counter drones and other unmanned aerial systems.
the madis will be used in the integrated air and missile defense system live-fire in Zambales, another exercise taking place for the first time, where combined forces will shoot down an outlaw drone while at sea.
President marcos will witness the event from an undisclosed location. n
Senate detains for 2 days special envoy in Duterte arrest
by cecille Suerte Felipe Philstar.com
mAnILA — the senate has taken into custody the special envoy on transnational crime, who has been cited in contempt for allegedly lying about details in the arrest of former President rodrigo Duterte and turnover to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the hague.
senate secretary renato Bantug Jr. confirmed that markus Lacanilao will be under senate custody for two days, following the April 21 order by senate President francis escudero.
“he’s oK, and based on the last medical check this morning, he remains fine. And as per our medical director, the ambassador was not complaining about anything,” Bantug said.
sen. Imee marcos, chairperson of the senate committee on foreign affairs, was not happy with the two-day detention of Lacanilao.
“Ambassador Lacanilao was
cited by the committee for direct contempt. Lacanilao should have been detained immediately since the rules do not even mention a need for a showcause order. however, instead of immediate detention, Lacanilao was given 11 days before he was eventually ordered to be detained. In contrast, it took the administration only several hours to arrest and whisk Duterte out of the country,” marcos said.
“furthermore, to add insult to injury, Lacanilao is to be detained for only two days. While ordinary people are locked up until they purge themselves of the contempt, as sanctioned by section 18, resolution no. 5, series of 2010, as amended, Lacanilao is given an ever-sogentle slap on the wrist,” she added.
senate spokesman Arnel Jose Bañas said the senate President decided to place Lacanilao under the senate’s custody after “having failed to satisfactorily explain, through a
clear statement of facts, why his answers during the hearing were not evasive.”
Bantug noted he has yet to receive a report or request to visit Lacanilao, who drew the ire of marcos and other pro-Duterte senators, including sen. ronald dela rosa, for allegedly lying about details of Duterte’s arrest and turnover to the ICC. Bañas said the order of the senate President mentioned a period not exceeding two days. he noted that a copy of the order was sent to the office of the special envoy for transnational Crime at 3 p.m. yesterday, after which Lacanilao’s legal counsel immediately proceeded to the office of the senate secretary to confirm the order.
“Ambassador Lacanilao voluntarily presented himself before the senate to personally receive and comply with the order. he went through the standard procedure and was checked by the medical and dental bureau,” Bañas noted. n
Sales Rain is the
COOPERATIVE ACTIVITY. The view from the BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) as the Philippine Navy vessel sailed with the USS Shoup (DDG-86) and JS Noshiro (FFM-3) during the conduct of a multilateral maritime cooperative activity (MMCA) in the West Philippine Sea on March 28, 2025. The MMCA aimed to enhance interoperability and strengthen the combined capabilities of the Philippines, Japan, and the United States. Photo courtesy of LTC Salgado/Armed Forces of the Philippines
OPiniOn FeAtures
Requiem for Pope Francis
From his first day as leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Roman Catholics, Pope Francis signaled his desire to break from tradition. He walked around in his old orthopedic shoes rather than switching to the iconic red loafers of the pope. He moved into the Vatican hotel rather than the Apostolic Palace, and made his own phone calls. He was driven around in compact cars.
Conservative critics scoffed at the moves, but many others saw the gestures to be in keeping with the man who rose from humble beginnings in his native Argentina and became the first pontiff to pick francis for his papal name, after st. francis of Assisi, who renounced wealth and dedicated his life to the poor.
Editorial
It soon became clear that the changes francis wanted went beyond his personal arrangements. the man who was born Jorge mario Bergoglio 88 years ago to Italian immigrants in Buenos Aires reinvigorated the Catholic Church with his compassion for the downtrodden and his inclusive policies, which resonated among those who were dismayed by the remoteness and rigid conservatism of his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI. francis’ policies, however, including his efforts to address the financial and other scandals rocking the Vatican bureaucracy, also drew increasing criticism from traditionalists in the Church. And despite his sincere efforts to address clergy sexual abuse scandals that have driven away the
Commentary
enRique de la cRuz
DIsCLAImers first. I am not a practicing Catholic, although I was baptized as one. faith is a deeply personal matter, and I am suspicious and skeptical of organized religion, for I see it as primarily self-serving: i.e., its leaders see themselves as primarily charged with promoting the organization and insuring its long term survival. these are not unlike the mandate of a typical Ceo except that religious organizations have a constituency, its faithful, who depend on it for spiritual and moral guidance, and thus, enlightened leadership. Perhaps I am biased by the knowledge of friar abuses during the spanish colonial period.
I understand that Pope francis emerged as a viable candidate for the papacy, from his remarks during the conclave
“the test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function,” f scott fitzgerald famously argued, emphasizing the inherently dialectical nature of genuine intellect. more importantly, however, genius is ultimately about “the ability to put into effect what is on your mind.”
By all indications, fitzgerald’s fellow Princetonian, Walden Bello, exhibits “genius” in ways unparalleled by any fellow filipino intellectual since Isabelo de los reyes. Author of a dozen global bestsellers, including one that coined the very term ”deglobalization,”
Bello’s impressive range of indepth political analysis over the past half-century covers much of the world. But what makes him even more compelling as a public intellectual is his praxis, namely the unparalleled courage to repeatedly risk his life for a greater cause, both in his home country and beyond.
the newly published
“Global Battlefields: my Close encounters with Dictatorship, Capital, empire, and Love” (Ateneo de manila University
faithful from the Church, francis fumbled in his handling of a case in Chile. Although he later moved to make amends, other cases remain unresolved and the sex scandals have festered. still, Pope francis’ efforts, combined with his natural warmth, gained him global admiration as he addressed problems troubling not only Catholics but all of humanity, from armed conflict to climate change and the many forms of social injustice.
In the Philippines, which he visited in January 2015, Pope francis prayed for the victims of super typhoon Yolanda, which killed thousands and devastated much of the Visayas in 2013. he also memorably highlighted the social costs, especially to the family, of filipinos who found it necessary to work overseas.
While he fell short of allowing the ordination of women, francis gave women a greater role in the Vatican and Church life. he allowed divorced and remarried Catholics to receive holy Communion, and approved “blessings” for same-sex couples as well as baptism for transgender believers.
about the most pressing issues that should be addressed by the Catholic church and the papacy. the conclave apparently agreed, and elected him pope. the news of Pope francis’s passing, while not unexpected given his recent struggles with pneumonia – an opportunistic illness that pounces when one is tired and fatigued – is still sad and mournful. We have lost an exemplary human being, known for his humility and compassion, and a shining role model for everyone, regardless of creed, class, cultural or ethnic identity. even as I distance myself from the church, I have friends within it, priests and parish Ceos whom I admire. I keep these relations personal and separate from their religious ministry. I respect them as individuals, and recognize their talents and achievements, even as I see them as advocates for a religion. But this is because I have met them personally, even breaking bread with them, so to
Pope francis stressed that homosexuality is not a crime. Asked to comment on gay Catholics, he famously said, “Who am I to judge?”
Whether the Church will sustain the direction
Pope Francis: in memoriam
speak. Pope francis is somehow different. I only know of him through press coverage as the Ceo of the largest faith-based organization on earth. It is thru these that I recognize his efforts to transform the Catholic church (e.g., his efforts to enlarge the role of women in the organizational hierarchy, and his recognition of LGBtQ individuals as rightful members of his congregation). While he did not extend the sacrament of marriage to them, he recognized civil unions among them. Also notable are Pope francis’ efforts to root out pedophilia covered up for decades by the church’s all-male hierarchy. I actually find it disgusting that the hierarchy has sought to hide these crimes from the faithful. for an organization to engage in cover-up, when its claim to legitimacy is its moral leadership, demonstrates that it has lost its sense of direction and mission. Pope
francis, as the church’s Ceo sought reform, even rooting out corruption and entitlement in the Vatican. But these are acts normally expected of a Ceo of any organization, including the Catholic church. What I find surprising is the level of resistance that Pope francis encountered in these efforts.
As the leader of the Catholic church, Pope francis has consistently championed the less fortunate and disadvantaged in society. Lately, he has added immigrants seeking to escape political oppression and grinding poverty to this list. During his travels he has made it a point to highlight their condition while asking for compassion and mercy from those in power.
We are all familiar with the pope’s soft spoken and measured speaking style. Perhaps because he is most aware that as pope, his words are regarded as oracle, measured, and precisely weighted.
duterte, demagogues,
Press) provides a precious insight into the works, life, and loves of one of the most prolific thinkers in the post-colonial world. It’s a surreal combination of literary elegance, personal reflections, and political analyses. on one hand, it’s an excellent overview of his oeuvre—a “Walden Bello for Dummies.” moreover, it reads like a “forrest Gump” drama, except one told from the perspective of an activistsociologist, who happened to repeatedly find himself in the middle of some world-historical event, either by chance or design. from his accidental entry into the world of activism at the height of the Indo-China Wars to his decade-long engagement with the anti-marcos resistance movement, and, ultimately, pivotal role in various anti-globalization movements across much of the post-colonial world, Bello’s soulful memoir is a peerless panoramic view of our contemporary world and its discontents.
Arguably, the most trenchant element of the book, and Bello’s overall oeuvre, is his pioneering analysis of the reactionary side of the middle class, beginning with his doctoral work on the tragic demise of the Allende administration in Chile. Contrary to standard political science literature, Bello found that, “when the poorer classes were being mobilized with a
revolutionary agenda, the middle classes could become a mass base for counterrevolution” as in early 20th-century Germany and Italy, and, a century later, in places as varied as thailand, türkiye, Brazil, India, and Indonesia.
Comparative empirical evidence shows how “middle classes were not necessarily forces for democratization” but instead a “Janus-faced class,” which could be a force for good when “fighting elites defending their power and privileges” but also a reactionary force “when confronted with lower classes seeking a revolutionary transformation of society.” throughout the book, Bello repeatedly returns to this theme, since it explains both the failures of the Philippine Left and, crucially, the rise of what my fellow columnist randy David has described as “Dutertismo.” the facts speak for themselves. During both the 2016 and 2022 elections, preelection surveys and exit polls clearly show that a far larger share of the “ABC” voters fell for the “strongman” rhetoric of the victorious candidates than the most marginalized sections of the society. It’s quite telling that per a privately commissioned authoritative survey last month, liberal-progressive candidates, such as former senator francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, enjoy the
social media postings about encounters with the pope have actually been more revealing about this pope’s humility and humanity. these are his “unofficial” acts: the delight he takes in interacting with children, exhibiting genuine compassion for their fears and uncertainties, and yet able to offer reassuring wisdom. his humanity and total lack of affectation and ego are remarkably illustrated by an incident shortly after his release from the hospital, when he sought to mingle with the crowds at the Vatican square, incognito, seated on a wheelchair with his oxygen tank, and dressed only in a white shirt and a blanket on his lap, bereft of any identifying official vestments or accessories. even though he exercises tremendous moral authority, he is non-judgmental, as shown by his openness to meet with anyone who seeks audience with him, even though he
is well aware that many of these individuals are seeking to legitimize themselves via a photo-op with him. this is obvious in the recent visit of a high political official, known to be petty and vindictive. Pope francis’ efforts to be among the faithful in Vatican square during the holiest period of the Catholic year, and his efforts to continue to perform duties expected of him during this period despite failing health and great physical difficulty are selfless and heroic. It is a special privilege to be living in a period when a human being like Pope francis also existed.
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
* * *
and the middle class
highest support among e (35.4 percent) and D voters without property (33.5 percent) — but lowest support among ABC voters (25.3 percent).
the reactionary sections of the Philippine middle class not only supported oligarchic “liberals” who supplanted the marcos regime, Bello observes, but also served as the most eloquent apologists of the Duterte dynasty in the past decade. Perhaps better than any other social scientist, Bello has shown that time and again, the filipino middle class either failed to sustainably
coalesce around progressive candidates or, worse, served as the resource-rich backbone of authoritarian demagogues. the “bobotante myth” therefore, masks a far starker reality: the dark legacy of the elitist sections of the filipino middle class, which clearly lacks both political critical thinking and class consciousness. Arguably, the fate of our democracy hinges on politically educating and effectively organizing our middle classes.
Above all, “Global Battlefields” shows what makes Bello most admirable as an intellectual:
genuine humility and constant self-examination against the rough texture of complex social reality. no wonder then, his ultimate hero is Albert Camus, who once lamented: everyone wants the man who is still searching to have already reached his conclusions.” (inquirer.net)
*
* * 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.
* * * rheydarian@inquirer.com.ph
that he took or return to traditionalism will be known in the selection of his successor. In the meantime, the world pauses to mourn the passing of a beloved shepherd of the faith. (Philstar.com)
Enrique de la Cruz, Ph.D., is Professor Emeritus of Asian American Studies at California State University, Northridge.
During both the 2016 and 2022 elections, pre-election surveys and exit polls clearly show that a far larger share of the “ABC” voters fell for the “strongman” rhetoric of the victorious candidates than the most marginalized sections of the society. Inquirer.net file photo
Go tops senatorial race for April, says SWS survey
by Javier Joe ismael ManilaTimes.net
mAnILA — sen. Bong Go emerged as the leading candidate in the most recent senatorial preference survey conducted by social Weather stations (sWs) between April 11 and 15, which stratbase Group commissioned. With a voter preference of 45 percent, Go has firmly established himself in the top position, showcasing robust public backing ahead of the 2025 midterm elections.
this recent figure indicates a steady and consistent upward trend in his rankings over the past few months, increasing from 32 percent in December 2024 to 37 percent in January 2025, then climbing to 38 percent in february, advancing to 42 percent in march, and now reaching 45 percent in April. regarding the survey results, Go thanked filipinos nationwide for their enduring trust and encouragement.
“thank you again to our countrymen for your continued trust and support,” Go said.
“Your continued support in my service in every part of the country — Luzon, Visayas, and
mindanao — is tireless.” he quickly stressed that these numbers were not cause for complacency, but a call to work harder and serve better. this inspires me to do more in my work, service, and compassion, especially for our poor fellow citizens,” he continued. Go then reiterated that his primary concern remains the welfare of ordinary filipinos, especially those who need the most help. “You can count on me to always put the nation’s interests and the welfare of our poor fellow citizens first. Diligence, compassion, and more service are all I can offer to our fellow filipinos,” Go affirmed. “We will try to bring our services closer to our fellow citizens, especially medical services for our poor patients.” n
DepEd to launch summer learning programs to boost student literacy
by Zacarian Sarao Inquirer.net
mAnILA — the Department of education (Deped) on tuesday, April 22 said it will be launching summer learning programs meant to boost literacy and foundational skills of students nationwide.
According to a statement from Deped, four summer learning programs will be launched in may: the Bawat Bata makababasa Program (BBmP), Literacy remediation Program (LrP), summer Academic remedial Program, and Learning Camp (LC).
All four programs, said Deped, are designed to provide “targeted support and instruction” involving reading abilities for students across various grade levels.
education sec. sonny Angara said the four programs are meant to “rebuild the foundations of learning, one reader at a time.”
“We call on our partners and stakeholders to stand with us in
this missin,” Angara said. every filipino child deserves the chance to read, to understand, and to succeed—and it will take all of us working together to make that happen,” he added.
Deped said the pilot test for BBmP will be in Zamboanga Peninsula, targeting around 75,000 Grades 1 to 3 students identified as struggling readers. from may 8 to June 6, 2025, the BBmP will feature daily reading tutorials and engaging activities led by about 7,500 teachers and volunteer tutors.
Pre-service education students can volunteer for relevant experience, receive training, and help implement support like free snacks and vision screening for learners.
meanwhile, the LrP will be conducted nationwide, targeting 59,627 Grade 3 learners identified as “Low emerging readers in english.” the students will undergo twohour daily remediation sessions
from may 13 to June 6 under 14,023 trained teachers.
“A cascade of training activities for educators is scheduled from late April to early may. Participating teachers will receive service credits and a daily meal allowance for their involvement,” Deped said. n
alex Eala advances in Madrid Open, sets up rematch vs iga swiatek
by roMMel FuerteS jr Inquirer.net
mAnILA — Alex eala’s mutua madrid open 2025 campaign is off to a rousing — and somewhat familiar — start. eala ousted World no. 64, Viktoriya tomova of Bulgaria, 6-3, 6-2, in her opening game in madrid on tuesday, April 22 setting up a rematch against defending champion Iga swiatek in the round of 64. their match is set for friday, April 24 with the time yet to be determined.
swiatek, currently the World’s no. 2, was one of eala’s victims in
her stellar run in the miami open 2025. the young filipino tennis star upset swiatek, 6-2, 7-5, in what was arguably the biggest win of her young career. swiatek, who is coming off a quarterfinals loss in the stuttgart open last weekend, earned a bye to the second round. the victory is eala’s second ever victory in madrid, a WtA 1000-level tournament, after her win over then no. 41 Lesia tsurenko of Ukraine in the 2024 main draw.
According to the WtA, eala is the only player from the Philippines to have recorded a victory in the tournament–one of
the top tier events on the WtA tour. eala, the current World no. 72, is looking to put on a better showing on the clay courts following her early exit in the oeiras Ladies open in Portugal. “my goals for this clay season, especially after miami, are just to do better than last year, to improve my game on clay. It’s a shorter stretch compared to hard court, but I want to feel myself getting better and keeping the level,” eala said in an interview after exiting in the round of 16 last week. eala has earlier earned a main draw entry into this year’s french open. n
BI records over 800K passenger arrivals, departures during Holy Week
mAnILA – over 800,000 inbound and outbound passengers were recorded during the holy Week, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported on tuesday, April 22. there were 371,092 arrivals and 432,763 departures in the country’s international airports during the period, according to a news release. At ninoy Aquino International Airport (nAIA) alone, daily arrivals peaked at 51,000 while
daily departures reached 61,000.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the smooth flow of passengers was due to the deployment of more than 40 additional immigration officers at the nAIA, ensuring that all counters remained fully manned throughout the holiday period. he also highlighted the positive impact of the newly operational overseas filipino workers’ wing at nAIA terminal 3 in Pasay City, which helped
decongest immigration queues and provided more convenient processing. "In line with our Bagong (new) Immigration vision, we continue to modernize our systems, enhance our manpower capacity and improve frontline service delivery," Viado said. these improvements are part of our ongoing efforts to contribute to the President’s vision of a Bagong Pilipinas (new Philippines)." (PNA)
Sen. Bong Go
Photo from Facebook/@SenatorBongGo
Education Sec. Sonny Angara Inquirer.net file photo
QUIET TIME. Those who stayed behind in Metro Manila savor the remaining Holy Week break at University of Philippines-Diliman in Quezon City on Saturday (April 19, 2025). Regular work and classes resume Monday, April 21. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc
Friday, April 25, 2025
a hero’s send-off for the ‘one and only’ superstar
by Nathalie tomada Philstar.com
A resoUnDInG standing ovation erupted after artists, colleagues and fans bid farewell to national Artist nora Aunor during a necrological service held in her honor at the metropolitan theater.
the “one and only superstar” was given a hero’s sendoff for her life’s work that gave a voice to the voiceless, championed the marginalized in society and embodied the soul of Philippine cinema.
Among those who delivered moving tributes were national Artist for film and Broadcast Arts ricky Lee, acclaimed filmmaker Joel Lamangan, and former ABs-CBn executive and actress-producer Charo santosConcio. their words painted a portrait of nora not just as a star, but as a cultural force, a rebel, a giver — and ultimately, an artist of the people.
Award-winning screenwriter ricky Lee, who collaborated with Aunor in some of her most unforgettable roles, including “Himala” and “Andrea: Paano Ba ang Maging isang ina?” recalled how nora resonated deeply with ordinary filipinos.
“Noong 1993 ay naglibot sa iba’t ibang bansa ang dulang Dh na sinulat ko at pinagbidahan ni Guy,” ricky began. “Nagpunta kami sa Central Park sa hong Kong. Daan-daang Dh (domestic helpers) ang nandoon. Halos bawat isa ay niyayakap ni Guy, kinakausap, kinukumusta kung ano ang mga problema nila.” As they were leaving, ricky said that he witnessed something unforgettable.
Lumingon ako at nakita kong
tumatakbo sa kalsada ang mahigit sampung Dh lumuluha habang humahabol sa van. Pinagmasdan ko si Guy at naisip ko, bakit ganito ang epekto niya sa tao? Bakit sila umiiyak?” the answer, nevertheless, was clear — they saw themselves in nora. “Dahil nakikita nila si Guy sa kanilang mga sarili. Dahil sila si Guy ” he said. for him, it was this kind of connection — deep, authentic and even wordless — that defined nora’s artistry. he particularly cited how in Himala” (1982), despite many of the 3,000 extras not understanding at that time her monologue in the Ishmael Bernal film, they were moved by her delivery. Nasa puso ni Guy ang masa. May paraan siya ng pagkonekta sa kanila na hindi laging nangangailangan ng mga salita,” he said. for ricky, nora was not just an actress; she was a rebel who defied industry norms and
redefined what beauty, strength and artistry looked like on screen. “Sa loob ng pitong dekada ay nilabanan niya ang status quo,” he said. “Binago niya ang kolonyal na pagtinging nagsasabing mga mapuputi lang at matatangkad ang maganda sa puting tabing.” he pointed out her astounding range of roles — from nun, prisoner, lesbian, nPA, ofW, mistress, servant, villain, muslim, Igorot, to assassin and one suffering from dementia. even in eras when the idea of a lead character dying in a film was taboo, she dared to challenge that norm. “sa isang panahong hindi tanggap ng mga tao na namamatay ang bida sa ending, namatay siya sa Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos,’ ‘Himala,’ ‘Nakaw na Pag-ibig,’ ‘Andrea,’ ‘flor Contemplacion,’” ricky said. According to him, she chose not just to be a superstar, but to be “isang tunay na artista ng bayan.”
Niana Guerrero shows off powerful moves in Coachella debut
by haNNah mallorca Inquirer.net
not long after meeting Bts’ J-hope, niana Guerrero experienced another high point in her career as she made her first Coachella appearance during the set of singer-songwriter d4vd. Guerrero made a surprise appearance at d4vd’s Coachella set while the latter was performing feel It,” as seen in a clip on UmG Philippines’ Instagram page on saturday, April 19. the video also showed the content creator grooving to the American singersongwriter’s music, much to the delight of the audience.
“nIAnACheLLA!! our very own @nianaguerrero debuts at the #Coachella2025 stage with the ‘here With me’ singer @ d4vddd performing ‘feel It,’” the post read. Guerrero also took to her Instagram page to share snippets of her Coachella experience, where she posed for
It”
crazzyy. @d4vddd Ure the Best. also lady GAGGeDD,” she captioned her post. the dancer-content creator’s Coachella debut came less than a week after meeting and filming a dance collaboration with Bts’ J-hope
Lotlot de Leon bares mom Nora Aunor’s last text message, battle with COPD
by Jessica aNN evaNgelista Inquirer.net
LotLot de Leon’s eulogy for her late mother, superstar nora Aunor, drew tears from attendees on the last day of the wake on monday, April 21, at heritage Park in taguig City, as the former revealed the last text message she received from the latter.
De Leon read aloud her mother’s final text message sent just days before her passing, in which Aunor told her daughter not to worry about her, seemingly hiding her true health status. “Pinakamamahal kong Lotlot. Kausap ko ang doktora kong si doktora Lua. magkausap daw kayong dalawa at tinatanong mo raw sa kanya kung anong sakit ko. sabi ko kay doktora na sabihin sa iyo na okay ako. Wala ka o kayong dapat ipag-alala. Dating sakit ko lang ito at na-trigger lang nung nagkaroon ako ng ubo at sipon. nagpapasalamat ako sa iyong pag-aalala. Pero ‘wag, kaya ko,” the celebrity daughter tearfully read.
(My dearest Lotlot. i was talking to my doctor, Dr. Lua. She said you talked to her and asked her what my illness is. i told the doctor to tell you that i am okay. You have nothing to worry about. i used to have this illness and it was only triggered when i had a cough and cold. i appreciate your concern. But don’t worry, i can handle it.) De Leon went on to read the latter part of the message, which seemed to subtly convey her mother’s “habilin” or last wishes. “Wala kayong dapat ikabahala. ‘Pag oras na ng isang tao, wala na tayong magagawa. may sarili na kayong pamumuhay at masaya ako dahil maganda ang inyong naging buhay. Lalo na buhay ng mga anak mo at ikaw. napakabuti niyong mga anak sa mata ng tao at sa mata ng Diyos. Ano man ang mangyari mahal na mahal ko kayong lahat na magkakapatid. mag-iingat kayo lagi. Lalo na mga anak mo, ‘wag mo huwag mong papabayaan. ‘Yan ang kayamanan mo, ang mga anak mo, ang
ricky also spoke of the high cost of stardom and the contradictions that came with nora’s life. “Simple pero komplikado. Laging nakangiti pero sa loob ay maraming takot. Sobrang mahiyain pero sentro ng atensyon.” But despite her stature, she was very accessible. “Napakadaling maabot. isang taong ordinaryo, na ekstraordinaryo.” he recalled a moment of vulnerability when he asked her why her eyes always seemed filled with sadness. “Sinabi niyang ipinaglihi daw kasi siya ng ina niya sa Mater Dolorosa — iyong may pitong punyal sa puso,” he said. “Kaya siguro kahit na nakatawa siya, sa mga mata niya ay may lungkot pa rin.”
from Instagram/@nianaguerrero
member and solo artist Lisa, Katseye, Billie eilish and Gordon ramsay, to name a few. she currently has over 45 million followers on tiktok as of this writing.
And while she gave everything to her audience — her voice, her time, her love — he said that she was often left with very little. According to ricky, even in her final years, she dreamed of building a foundation to help her fans.
Kaya sa gitna ng ating pagdadalamhati ngayon,” ricky continued, “gusto nating sabihin sa kanya, Guy… tanggapin mo ang aming walang hanggang pasasalamat. Nagpapasalamat kami na nabuhay kami sa isang panahong naririto ka.” Director Joel Lamangan also shared anecdotes from working with nora, but turned emotional as he lamented the words he never got to say while nora was alive. “Hindi ko man lang nasabi kay Ate Guy nung buhay siya na isa siya sa pinakaimportanteng tao para sa akin,” he said, “dahil sa kanya nabuo ang paniniwala ko na ang pulitika ay dapat talagang sumasanib… sa ordinaryong tao. he recalled a conversation with her during a difficult time in the country. When he asked where she stood, she responded: “Kung saan lalago, kung saan makikinabang ang ordinaryong tao, doon ako.” he described how nora’s acting was rooted in truth, how her emotional depth exposed
pamilya mo,” she continued. (You have nothing to worry about. When someone’s time comes, there’s nothing we can do. You have your own life and i’m happy because you’ve had a good life. Especially the lives of your children and you. You, my children are very good before the eyes of the people and the eyes of God. No matter what happens, i love you all my children very much. Please take care always. Especially your children, don’t neglect them. That’s your treasure, your children, your family.) Silent battle with COPD De Leon also revealed that the late national Artist for film and Broadcast Arts had been silently battling Chronic obstructive Pulmonary Disease (CoPD). matagal din po nagkaroon ng kondisyon ang mommy (Mommy had the condition for a long time). matagal naming itinago sa lahat (We hid it from everyone for a long time). she’s been suffering with CoPD for a long time. At kinakaya niya (And she was coping). Dahil ayaw niya may nag-aalala sa kaniya (Because she didn’t want anyone worrying about her),” she shared. mayo Clinic in is a lung condition caused by damage to the lungs resulting in swelling and irritation inside the airways that limit airflow into and out of the lungs. symptoms include
trouble breathing, a daily cough that brings up mucus and a tight, whistling sound in the lungs called wheezing. this is also the same illness that befell the King of Comedy, Dolphy in 2012. De Leon underscored that her mother fought to the end, despite flatlining twice following her medical procedure before her death. she also disclosed that the late superstar was in the intensive care unit (ICU) two years ago, where she also flatlined.
“I whispered in her ears, I said, ma, it’s okay. okay lang kami (We’re okay). Ako nang bahala sa mga kapatid ko (i will take care of my siblings) […] I’m sharing this with all of you because I want all of you to know the truth,” she said.
De Leon emphasized that Aunor will always be a superstar to her fans but will forever be a mother to her and her siblings, Ian, matet, Kiko and Kenneth.
“our relationship as a family is not perfect. our mom is a superstar for all of you. But for us, nanay namin siya (she’s our mother). mommy. Iba po ang relasyon niya sa inyong lahat (Your relationship with her is different). Iba ang relasyon niya saming mga anak (Her relationship with us her children is different),” expressed the celebrity daughter.
realities that others sought to ignore. “‘Ang katotohanan ay hindi dapat pagtakpan, ang katotohanan ay dapat sabihin,’ yan ang sinasabi ni nora Aunor, lalo na sa pulitika ng ating bayan.” And even when others in the industry turned their backs on her and didn’t see the boxoffice value of casting her, direk Joel said that she remained steadfast. “Sabi ko, ‘Ate Guy, hayaan mo sila. Gagawa tayo.’ At gumagawa siya. Gumagawa siya ng indie at tinutulungan niya ang mga independent films.” Joel hailed her as a true symbol of Philippine cinema, with her life and legacy serving as a reminder that cinema is not a trivial art — it is a powerful and meaningful medium. Mahal ni nora Aunor ang pelikula. Kailangang mahalin din natin ang pelikula dahil… ito ay artistic expression ng bayan.” Producer and actress Charo santos, who worked with nora in “Himala,” among others, and became one of her close friends, echoed the sentiments of those present. “Walang himala. Pero mayroong nag-iisang nora Aunor,” she said. Charo reflected on how nora’s real-life journey — from selling water and peanuts near
The life of National Artist Nora Aunor is celebrated during the state necrological service led by the Cultural Center of the Philippines and National
Commission for Culture and the Arts and held at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila.
Philstar.com photos
Nora’s grandchildren, including actress Janine Gutierrez, at the Metropolitan Theater before the service.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Ian expresses their gratitude to colleagues, peers, supporters and Noranians.
Lotlot de Leon
Inquirer.net photo
Niana Guerrero dances to d4vd’s “Feel
in Coachella debut. Photos
The National Artist medallion is entrusted to the children of Nora — Lotlot, Ian, Matet, Kenneth and Kiko.
orLAnDo – the federation of Philippine American Chambers of Commerce (fPACC) is inviting filipino entrepreneurs, professionals, and business leaders from around the world to the 2025 fPACC International trade and Business Conference, happening on June 19-22, 2025, at the beautiful rosen shingle Creek hotel in orlando, florida. the four-day event will bring together people who want to grow their businesses, meet new partners, and help their communities. filipino business leaders from the U.s., the Philippines, Latin America, and europe will come together to share ideas and build strong connections.
“this conference brings together the best of east and West,” said marie Cunning, fPACC president. “It’s more than just business — it’s about celebrating filipino identity, culture, and community while creating global opportunities. By joining one of our member chambers, you become part of a powerful network that opens doors to resources, partnerships, and success across borders.”
this year’s conference theme is “one Global filipino: Building Bridges for trade and Growth.”
It shows fPACC’s dream to help filipino businesses grow across the world.
highlights of the conference will include:
• Business talks from wellknown filipino and international experts
• Trade sessions with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)
• Special meetings with spanish-speaking chambers like those from mexico and spain
• Workshops on how to expand your business globally
• Youth and women entrepreneur forums
• A grand cultural night to honor filipino values and success.
the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) will bring a special delegation of business leaders from the Philippines. they will help connect local U.s. businesses with suppliers and investors from the Philippines. spanishspeaking chambers from mexico, spain, and Latin America will also take part in trade and
tourism discussions. this year’s event builds on fPACC’s history of strong international work. since 1996, fPACC has signed many agreements with chambers and government agencies to create more business opportunities for filipinos. they have also led trade missions and humanitarian efforts to different parts of the Philippines. the rosen shingle Creek hotel, the event’s venue, is a luxury resort close to major orlando attractions. Guests will enjoy world-class service, comfortable rooms, and plenty of space to network, relax, and have fun.
early registration is now open until April 30, 2025. Business owners, professionals, students, and community leaders are all welcome. everyone who wants to make a difference through business is encouraged to attend. for tickets and more information, visit www. fpaccunited.com or email info@fpaccunited.com. for information about membership and participation, contact info@ sffilamchamber.org (SFFAcc release)
sAn frAnCIsCo – the san francisco filipino American Chamber of Commerce (sffACC), in partnership with AhmC seton medical Center, invites the community to the health horizons summit on tuesday, may 6, 2025, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at seton medical Center (1900 sullivan Avenue, Daly City).
this groundbreaking event brings together individuals and organizations passionate about health, business, technology, and community development — especially within the filipino small business community and its allies. the summit, rooted in the filipino value of bayanihan (communal unity and cooperation), focuses on the importance of building partnerships to support one another in times of need. health horizons is designed for business owners, healthcare professionals, caregivers, and families, and it offers relevant topics and opportunities for dialogue.
summit highlights include:
• For small business owners (especially minority-owned): Discover opportunities to partner with large healthcare institutions like seton medical Center and learn about government and private programs that support small business growth. Attendees will hear inspiring success stories from filipino American entrepreneurs.
• For healthcare practitioners: explore the latest in healthcare innovations and technologies that are transforming patient care. network with peers and discuss solutions for delivering high-quality care across various settings.
• For families and caregivers: Learn about free services available for dependents who may not have access to healthcare. rotaCare northern Peninsula free medical Clinic will present its community
who
on
16,
the episode re-airs a powerful and emotional segment first shown in 2008, where the superstar candidly shared her immigration story and how she achieved her American Dream with the help of leading U.s Immigration Attorney michael J. Gurfinkel. nora Aunor arrived in the U.s. in 2004 to quietly begin a new chapter in her life. far from the glitz and glamour of her showbiz career, she was often spotted doing everyday errands — at laundromats, on trains —
programs and offerings. topics of discussion during the summit will focus on the following:
• Changes in healthcare policy and how they affect communities
• Emerging technologies in home and clinical care
• Success stories from Filipino Americans in the home care industry
• Opportunities for small businesses and minority-owned enterprises.
featured speakers and Panelists include tim schulze, Associate Chief operating officer, seton medical Center; David Canepa, president of the san mateo County Board of supervisors; Dr. rod Dausmagbual, Daly City mayor; rico and meryl foz, founders, Careway management LLC; and Vanessa Valerio, co-founder, health Indeed.
“We are doing everything possible to be the best we can be,” said schulze. “I hope this is the beginning of more public events where we can inform our partners — patients, clients, and vendors — about the ways we
serve our community.” seton medical Center also supports rotaCare.
rico Ligon-foz shared, “I manage four assisted living and adult residential facilities. my wife, meryl, is a registered nurse and executive Director of healthy Living at home, a mission healthcare Company. We are proud to be part of a growing community that lifts each other up.” event sponsors are AhmC seton medical Center (platinum); and successLink outsourcing, redwood Credit Union, openClassrooms and seafood City (gold). for more than 50 years, sffACC has built bridges among filipino American entrepreneurs, empowering communities through collaboration. the health horizons summit continues this mission by spotlighting the interconnectedness of health, business, and technology. to register for the summit, visit https://lu.ma/gc6q2b2t. the summit agenda can be viewed at https://sffilAmChamber.org. (SFFAcc release)
A hero’s send-off for the ‘one and...
the train tracks to becoming a national Artist — mirrored the very characters she portrayed: elsa, Corazon, Delia, flor Contemplacion. But even those roles couldn’t capture the magnitude of who nora Aunor was. she was even bigger than all her roles,” Charo said. Binibigyan niya ng buhay ang pangarap ng milyun-milyong Pilipino.” her legacy, according to Charo as a die-hard fan, isn’t just found in awards and iconic performances, but in the way she made fans feel seen,
heard and represented. “We were called the bakya crowd, and we were proud of it, dahil may superstar kami, na isa sa amin .” Charo also recounted the first time she worked with nora — on “Himala,” where Charo served as producer. It was then that she witnessed firsthand the power and artistry of nora’s performance. there’s something about her that cannot be explained by technique alone,” she continued. “she is raw. she is real. she is authentic. she doesn’t act. she becomes. she transforms.”
even amid fame and adulation, Charo said that nora remained the same simple probinsyana at heart. “Walang attachment sa glamour, fame or wealth,” said Charo. “Ang naging mahalaga sa kanya ay ang kanyang dedikasyon sa kanyang craft dahil yun ang kanyang sukli sa pagmamahal ng kanyang mga tagahanga.” After the necrological service, the remains of nora who passed away on April 16 at the age of 71, were brought to the Libingan ng mga Bayani in taguig City, where she was laid to rest with full military honors.
the late Jaime m fernandez Jr., popularly known as Jim fernandez, was a native of masbate City. he was a Philippine comics writer, novelist, and illustrator. he was considered one of the greatest Philippine comics book writers. he began his comics illustration career in the early 1950s and was mentored by filipino illustrator tony s Velasquez. the first Philippine comics he illustrated was the “Batas ni sumakwel,” published by marte Komiks. Later, Jim also drew comics novels. the first comics novel he illustrated was “Mga Haragan,” published by Liwayway magazine.
Jim illustrated many comics novels from various publishers and drew famous works by known graphic novelists, including mars ravelo’s Darna series, Captain Barbel, flash Bomba, haydee and tiny tony. In 1967, he made cartoon strips for the manila times newspaper titled feathers.” A year later, he wrote and illustrated his comics narrative, “reverend fr. romano Guerrero, the fighting Priest,” published in hiwaga Comics, and it became well-known among comics book enthusiasts. Jim discovered at this point that he could also write engaging novels. In 1970, he began focusing on them. he produced many novels and established himself as a prolific writer. he also collaborated with various Philippine comics book illustrators. he developed another engaging comics novel narrative, the “Zuma” series which became popular with readers and it was eventually made into a film. his novels like Nunal sa Balikat, farida, the Dormitory, Life everlasting, Kingpin, Brutus, and Kambal sa Uma had been adapted into films. ABs-CBn aired an adaptation of his novel “Galema, Anak ni Zuma” in 2013.
Certainly, Jim fernandez made substantial contributions to the Philippine comics industry and left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of comics fans.
* * * Basketball coach-sportscaster
frederick francisco often joins a “senakulo” presentation in Cainta, rizal during holy Week, enacting the role of Pontius Pilate in samahang nazareno, Inc., the only senakulo group in the Philippines bestowed by the Gawad CCP Award for Arts and Culture.
Jim Fernandez, a great Filipino comics writer
frederick francisco is the founder of nXt LeVeL Basketball Academy.
* * * Philippine President Bongbong marcos and first Lady Liza Araneta-marcos attended recently a thanksgiving mass, officiated by Cardinal Jose Advincula, for D. edgard Cabangon’s 61st birthday at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in mandaluyong City.
* * * the White house held an observation of holy Week with U.s President Donald trump participating in a number of events to celebrate and honor the holiday “with the observance it deserves.”
* * * Advanced birthday (April 24) greetings to michael Isip, Lapu films photographer-videographer, who is based in hawaii. for as long as he can remember, it has been his passion and aspiration to capture fleeting experiences and spontaneous moments that he has able to go back and share with friends and family. this also translates into his wedding photography and videography, where he aims at giving each couple an authentic experience and delivering a wedding photo album and wedding film they can truly call their own.
“my main goal is to bring timeless and elegant wedding photos and films which allow couples to relive their special day. I have a great and professional team that’s all dedicated and committed to capturing every important detail and moment in its raw and honest form, and translating those moments into a cinematic masterpiece,” he says. he further says, “We take pride in our passion. We revel in our growth. As a team, we are in a relentless quest to raise the bar higher. We are a group of dedicated artists who thrive in your love stories, and we consider it a great honor to be a part of them.” for further details, you may see https://www.lapufilms.com or email him at michaelisip@ gmail.com.
* * * A pre-mature miracle baby franklin racelis, son of francis and Abigail racelis, recently turned one year old in suisun City, California. this amazing little warrior has given his parents’ strength and so much joy to this child’s grandparents Wally and Josephine racelis.
I am joyful and praise the al-
mighty father for this miraculous God’s handiwork. Indeed, it is stated in hebrews 13:5: “I will be with you.” God said he will never leave us. he is with you always. You are never alone.”
In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, it says, “I will be your strength.” so when I am weak, he is strong.
*
* * there are some 9 accredited civil surgeons by the UsCIs in northern California: Dr. Yolanda Petrofsky at north Bay occupational health in fairfield and Vacaville; Dr. William t o’Connor Jr. at William t o’Connor Jr. m.D. in Vacaville; Dr. Luis Cousin at oLe health in napa; Dr. Jeffrey Brooks at California medical Center in napa; Dr. Daniel Andrews at heart & health Center in napa; Dr. Clifford hoffman at Clifford hoffman Do mPh in Benecia; Dr. Biqi Gao at Dr. Gao
medical Clinic in Concord; Dr. Jose Arias-Vera at J. Arias medical Group in Concord; and Dr. mubasher rana at Pacific health Clinic Inc. in Antioch.
* * * April Joy samantha “sam” Ayson, 24, was surprised when a group of his friends in a Bible fellowship threw her a simple birthday celebration in hiddenbrooke in Vallejo, California. As Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”
* * * thanks to La Visual Corp. (especially to ms. Lalaine), Janice Israel Delima and Alegre De Pilipinas for including me in the new York City time square billboard this April 2025 for three forthcoming awards: 2nd sovereign seal of Business triumph &
remarkable Achievers; 3rd Philippines finest Business Awards and outstanding Achievers; and 3rd southeast Asian Prewmier Business and Achiever Award. others included are as follows: edwin Lisa Brows and Aesthetics, Phisavong World travel and tours, sCPm trading & roofing solutions, Bhylinns modern fashion, JP Catering services, Gown and events management by touting, Jamin Lim, renaissance Credit Collection and recovery solutions Corporation, sheanne roll Up Construction service, Gabriel John rimando, Genuine Diamonds Ph, Pink muhly Beauty and Cosmetics, White Jade Glutathione film strip, Jammybox’s BBC Geoinstruments, Audrey Gorriceta, Alfonso delos santos, salvacion “salvie” Collado Paparon, saleha Pangarungan sacar, Gil-
bert de Los santos, shirley B. Belangel, Jigo Postolero, marc Logan, earlo Bringas, Annabelle surara, Wej Cudiamat, singer Lae manego-franzani (now in netherlands), Ambet r nabus, and nirro marcelo.
* * * erratum: It should be the late tax Commissioner ricardo (not elpidio) o. Isip in the march 2025 (with former VP Leni robredo in the banner heading) issue of my column. there will be a brief feature about ricardo o. Isip on father’s Day in June this year.
* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
* * * rogeliocmedina@yahoo.com
sAn frAnCIsCo – Philippine
Consul General in san francisco
neil frank r ferrer attended a special ceremony to honor the elected filipino American officials across the Bay Area, held on march 28, 2025 at the san francisco Public Library. With the theme, “hope in motion: Building a Better future together,” the event recognizes their remarkable contributions as public leaders. the honorees were Daly City Councilmember Juslyn manalo, Dublin City Councilmember John morada, newark City Councilmember Julie Del Catancio, hayward Unified school trustee Pete Bufete, san Leandro Unified school trustee Zachary Borja, senator Christopher Cabaldon, Alameda County District 5
supervisor nikki fortunato Bas, and Union City school Board trustee Patricio Urbi. expressing pride in representing the filipino diaspora in their communities, the said officials emphasized the importance of having a united and strong community. Consul General ferrer congratulated the elected filipino American leaders and likewise expressed pride in having second and third generation filipino Americans represent their community in positions of leadership. he also conveyed appreciation for the partnership with many of these leaders and reaffirmed the Philippine Consulate’s commitment to assisting all filipino nationals, regardless of immigration
status. Consul General ferrer also emphasized the importance of having established linkages and connections with different organizations that offer services to those in need.
California state senator scott Weiner expressed deep pride in serving the vibrant filipino American community in his District. he is confident that the leaders in the Bay Area will be able to lead in uniting and protecting California’s vulnerable groups and diverse communities. the keynote address during the event was delivered by Attorney-General rob Bonta who stressed that it is the people and the voters who will shape the country’s future, and they are the ones to decide how to uphold the constitution and democracy.
(PcGSF release)
the Commission on elections (ComeLeC) reminded the public that overseas voting for the 2025 midterm elections is open until 7 p.m. Philippine standard time (Pst) on may 12, 2025.
“the Philippines is a pioneer in overseas voting,” ComeLeC spokesperson Atty. John rex Laudiangco stated during the latest episode of Cfo migration talks, held on April 15, 2025 at the Commission on filipinos overseas (Cfo) office.
“Casting our vote is both a right and an obligation–that is why we continue to find ways to make the process more accessible for filipinos abroad,” Laudiangco added. the online event titled e-Boto Mo, Kabayan! Makialam at Makilahok sa Makabagong Halalan,” put a spotlight on one of the most pressing civic issues for filipinos abroad – accessible, secure, and inclusive overseas voting in the digital era.
Atty. Laudiangco provided an in-depth walkthrough of the overseas voting process, including the enhanced internet voting system designed to make participation more convenient and secure for filipinos living abroad.
Laudiangco also addressed questions about cybersecurity, data privacy, and contingency measures in the event of technical or connectivity issues, assuring participants that robust safeguards have been put in place.
Cfo Chairperson Dante “Klink” Ang II remains committed to championing inclusive civic engagement for the filipino diaspora, particularly in providing accessible platforms for dialogue and education, and the integration of digital technologies to connect overseas filipinos back to the homeland.
“We remain a strong ally of every filipino around the globe in ensuring their rights are protected and their voices are heard,” Ang stated.
Atty. Laudiangco was joined by nAmfreL national Chairperson mr. Lito Averia, Jr., who highlighted the role of civil
Photos courtesy of Commission on Filipinos Overseas
From left: Secretary Dante “Klink” Ang II and NAMFREL president Lito Averia Jr.
Consul General Neil Ferrer giving a statement honoring the elected Filipino American officials during the event. SFPCG photo
State Senator Scott Weiner delivering his remarks.
California State Attorney General Rob Bonta delivering his keynote address. Photo by Michael Gumban Pangilinan
columnist Rogelio Constantino Medina in New York City’s Time Square billboard. Photos compiled by Rogelio C. Medina Jim Fernandez (right) with son Jay in Canada.
The White House Faith Office and faith leaders from across the country joined President Trump to pray in the Oval Office.
UCAL (Universities and Colleges Athletic League) broadcast panel: (from left) veteran sportscaster Benjie Santiago, court side reporter Avia Zunic and basketball coach-sportscaster Frederick Francisco.
(From left) Sharon Tan, celebrant D. Edgard Cabangon, Cardinal Jose Advincula, Pres. Bongbong Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.
(Seated, from left) Victoria Isip, Rosita Medina, Victoria Toribio, and Anna Toribio Isip; (standing, from right) Al Marquez, Henry Roxas Ayson, Claire Beltran, Cheeya Isip, Arvin Tanjuaquio with child Matti, celebrant Sam Ayson, Anita Marquez, David Isip, Rogelio Constantino Medina, Roland Isip, Vincent Isip, and Hermin Bernardo.
Michael Isip, a product of Los Angeles Film School, owns Lapu Films, a photography and videography business in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The Racelis Family: (from left) Francis, Franklin and Abigail.
AJ columnist Rogelio Constantino Medina (extreme left) is blessed to be with the members of the Racelis family (from right) Wally, Josephine, Francis with child Franklin and Abigail in Suisun City.
sAn frAnCIsCo –representing Consul General neil ferrer and the Philippine Consulate General in san francisco, Deputy Consul General maria Paz Cortes and Vice Consul Adrian Baccay joined the Bay Area filipino American community in the 20th filipino heritage night of the Golden state Warriors at Chase Center in san francisco on 7 April 2025 — featuring the home team’s game against filipino American player Jalen Green and the houston rockets.
Cultural groups trP tinikling team of the thomas r. Pollicita middle school in Daly City, Dancel’s Academy of taekwondo in san Bruno, and “America’s Got talent” season 15 semifinalists sypros Bros performed during the event. Complimentary tribal-themed t-shirts were given away to filipino heritage night ticket holders. filipino-themed items such as carabao dolls with the Warriors logo and colors, were sold to the general public. this filipino heritage night marked the launch of Philippine fastfood giant Jollibee as the Warriors’ newest corporate sponsor. Jollibee hosted a pregame mixer at Chase Center’s Bayview terrace. the company also gave away free peach mango pies to filipino heritage night ticket holders.
Jollibee is the Warriors’ first Philippine corporate sponsor since tanduay, marketed as the rum “from the tropical Islands of the Philippines,” became an official sponsor in 2017. the tanduay Bar is a permanent fixture at the food area of Chase Center. the event is also the first filipino heritage night since the san francisco-based filipino American food chain señor sisig opened its permanent location at Chase Center in february 2025, during the 2025 nBA All-star Weekend in san francisco. Known for its sisig taco and ube horchata drink, the señor sisig food truck had been regularly featured in previous filipino heritage nights.
As a pre-game event, the new señor sisig permanent
store served as the venue of the “halo-halo” networking mixer, organized by the filipino American Arts exposition (fAAe) for filipino American employee resource groups (erGs) and other professional organizations in the Bay Area and silicon Valley. meanwhile, organizers of the Pista sa nayon in Vallejo, California, the Bay Area’s largest Philippine Independence Day festival, mounted a booth inside Chase Center to promote their event.
“I commend the Warriors organization and the filipino American Community for yet another successful filipino heritage night at Chase Center. I encourage all filipinos and filipino Americans to continue showing pride in their history and culture by attending the
filipino heritage events of their local professional and collegiate sports teams,” Consul General neil ferrer said in a statement. the Warriors’ filipino heritage night is the second filipino heritage event held by the Bay Area’s professional sports teams this year, after the filipino heritage night of the nhL’s san Jose sharks in march 2025.
Upcoming heritage night events include: the filipino heritage night of the mLs’s san Jose earthquakes on september 20, 2025; and the filipino heritage night of the mLB’s san francisco Giants on september 23, 2025. In Washington state, the mLB’s seattle mariners hosted a filipino heritage night on April 11, 2025 and will host another one on August 23, 2025.
(PcGSF release)
sACrAmento – on tuesday, April 22,
Governor Gavin newsom unveiled a first-of-itskind informational tool to help students better understand their options for education and career planning. the Cradle-to-Career (C2C)
Data system links datasets from K-12 and higher education, social service, and workforce entities to unite information from disconnected data across sectors and provide insights previously unavailable. this system will allow the public, educators, researchers, and policymakers to access detailed information on education and career outcomes, workforce trends, and more –broken down by demographics and region – to illuminate and address areas of strength and needed growth. By linking data from multiple sources, C2C illuminates gaps and identifies opportunities throughout students’ education experiences so they can ultimately reach their goals for life and careers.
“California is thrilled to launch its first-in-thenation Cradle to Career Dashboard, a powerful new tool to support every Californian on their path to success. With the C2C student Pathways Dashboard now live, Californians can visualize their futures by seeing disconnected data from across sectors and previously unavailable insights, all in one place. the Golden state is once again leading the way in innovation, connecting our education system to the workforce to ensure everyone has the freedom to succeed,” Gov. newsom said in a release handed out by his office.
Why this matters
Access to transparent, verified and centralized information about education and workforce outcomes is needed to understand whether efforts to improve student success are working as intended. students and families often make decisions about education and career pathways with limited and disconnected information about outcomes. the student Pathways dashboard addresses this information gap.
“In my quest to find basic information on college-going rates, outcomes or employment prospects, it felt like trying to find a needle in a haystack because of all the different resources. With this tool, I feel that students like me will have the chance to have everything available at their fingers,” said mike nguyen, student, University of California Berkeley and Cradle-to-Career Advisory Board member.
the student Pathways dashboard connects the dots between K-12 education to the state’s public college and earnings information to help users like guidance counselors identify the best education options based on the learners’ needs and goals. the resource combines a series of data visualizations and guiding questions to help users understand how Californians are navigating to and through college.
through student Pathways, Californians can analyze:
• How California students navigate to and through college
• Who enrolls in college
• What types of degrees students earn
• How long it takes students to graduate
• How much working students earn while enrolled in college
• How much individuals earn after they graduate.
“In today’s information-driven world, it’s never been more crucial to provide our students, school district leaders and the community with timely, accurate and reliable information to help make informed decisions to improve futures,” said Government operations Agency secretary nick maduros. “the Cradle-to-Career initiative gives the decision-making power to ALL Californians.”
“the student Pathways dashboard combines data-driven insights and thoughtful story telling. our goal for this tool is to empower individuals to make informed decisions about their lives,” said mary Ann Bates, executive director at the office of Cradle-to-Career Data. “We know that stories have the ability to connect, inspire and help us better understand each other. And that’s what student Pathways does: connect, inspire and understand.”
to
what many did not know was that nora had chosen a humbler life while pursuing legal residency in the U.s., with determination and dignity. In 2006, she first approached Atty. Gurfinkel for assistance. Despite warnings from others that she might be a difficult client; michael took her case. though she briefly
A useful tool built by, and for Californians Cradle-to-Career heard directly from California’s educators, counselors, students, families, and policymakers. from its creation in 2021, Cradle-to-Career has utilized user-centered design to develop the data system. this approach allows Californians to share their feedback at each phase of the system build. Input from Californians shape Cradle-to-Career's design and decision making. for example, the dashboard lets users explore information based on school or legislative district. Users can also filter by characteristics like race/ethnicity, gender, or foster youth status. these key features were a direct result of Californians voicing what was important for them. student Pathways is one of eight planned dashboards from Cradle-to-Career. future iterations of student Pathways will expand on educational journeys and employment outcomes in both directions, including earlier stages of the K-12 experience and better understanding of workforce training programs. In addition to the dashboards, Cradle-to-Career is developing a query builder and a research request process to provide different levels of user-experience to the dataset. Learn more about student Pathways by watching the following videos: https://www.youtube. com/playlist?list=PLzyLnXYoBr9asBftcfPyJBW1G9JXxfiby.
Commitment to security and privacy the California Cradle-to-Career Data system is the state’s official source of actionable data and research on education, economic, and health outcomes. Cradle-to-Career is committed to protecting and securing confidential records of Californians and follows stringent state, federal and industry standards to ensure data system security and privacy. Learn more about Cradle-toCareer’s security and privacy.
Before the Cradle-to-Career Act was signed into law in 2021, California was one of the only states without a longitudinal data system capable of identifying progress over time through multiple stages in individuals’ educational and career journeys. through an 18-month long public planning process with over 200 individuals representing state entities, community leaders, educators, and members of the public, the blueprint for the state’s longitudinal data system was created.
the California Cradle-to-Career initiative is a major milestone for the state, uniting existing and verified information across education, social services, and workforce sectors for the first time to help Californians understand their options to build brighter futures. the student Pathways dashboard is powered by existing but previously disconnected data from the California Department of education, California Community Colleges, California state University, the University of California, and the employment Development Department.
(cA Governor’s office release)
with another lawyer, she later
asked for
and resumed her journey with
Gurfinkel — who never turned his back on her. By 2008, she received her green card and appeared on “Citizen Pinoy” to inspire others with her story of perseverance. As Attorney Gurfinkel shares in the episode, “nora was a fighter. she overcame adversity and never gave up. I
Governor Gavin Newsom File photo
Jollibee is the newest corporate sponsor of the Golden State Warriors.
