A CALIFORNIA judge ruled that the alleged attacker of a Filipino family in a Los Angeles fast-food drive thru lane a year ago will be tried for two counts of felony battery, but he will not be charged with a hate crime.
A video from the May 2022 incident showed suspect Nicholas Weber hurling anti-Asian remarks against the Roques and
Biden next week, including the Philippines’ military agreements with the United States that need to “evolve” amid the changing geopolitical situations.
“We will clarify again, really, these treaty agreements between the Philippines and America and we will look into them because of the many
THE Southern California Filipino couple who was assaulted while strolling and taking pictures near the California State Capitol last February vowed not to settle with their assailants to help discourage similar attacks from being perpetrated on other people.
Photographer Nicanor Nikki Arriola and his wife, Julienne Ochengco, made the decision after meeting with prosecutors. The couple believes they are victims of a hate crime, as the attackers specifically targeted them, the only Asians among other tourists in the vicinity.
Ironically, Arriola had been covering the rise of anti-Asian attacks in California as a photojournalist particularly the case of the Roque family who were verbally and physically assaulted at a McDonald’s
MANILA — Almost nine in every 10 adult Filipinos said they were satisfied with how democracy works in the country, according to a survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS) more than six months after the 2022 elections.
Results of the Dec. 10-14 survey released last Friday night, April 21 showed that 89 percent of the respondents were satisfied
with the country’s democracy, 11 points above the 78 percent recorded in a similar survey conducted in April 2021.
The latest survey results surpassed the previous record of 86 percent, which was obtained in September 2016, a few months after that year’s presidential elections.
SWS explained that satisfaction with the way democracy works in the country often increases after national elections.
Previous records were set in September
A TOTAL of 1,715,757 foreign tourists have arrived in the Philippines from January to April 22 this year, the Department of Tourism (DOT) announced as it continues to welcome travelers amid the government’s efforts to ease some travel restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Of this number, an estimated 320,294 visitors came from the United States, it added.
The agency has yet to provide complete figures of tourist arrivals.
or BBM-G program, a referral and incentive program, at the Philippine Travel Fair in Los Angeles, California.
The program aims to bring in more foreigners by tapping Filipinos, especially those based abroad, who have foreign spouses or friends. Those who will be able to bring foreign visitors can win condominium units, airplane tickets and holiday packages in select destinations.
changes [that have occurred],” the president said in a video interview over state-owned Radyo Pilipinas. Marcos particularly mentioned the 1951 Philippine-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty and the 1999 Visiting Forces Agreement. u PAGE 2
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday, April 26 expressed hope that the Philippines will benefit from the "enhanced cooperation" with the United States as the two countries' armed forces demonstrated the joint littoral live firing and sinking of a mock enemy vessel in the coastal town of San Antonio in Zambales, facing the disputed South China Sea.
The exercise, watched live by the President, was part of the annual Balikatan drills, which are scheduled to run until April 28 and involve more than 17,600 military personnel.
The President "witnessed the live-fire sea drills involving the sinking of an old Philippines Navy ship, hoping the country could benefit from enhanced cooperation with the United States," Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said in a
MANILA — The XBB.1.16 subvariant, a fast-growing version of Omicron, has been detected in the Philippines, the Department of Health reported on Tuesday, April 25.
The country’s first confirmed case of XBB.1.16 was detected in Western Visayas. The DOH provided no additional details about the individual.
Here’s what we know and don’t know about the new COVID-19 subvariant.
What is XBB.1.16?
Also known as “Arcturus,” XBB.1.16 has now been spotted in 33 countries. It was first detected in India, where it is believed to have fueled
a recent surge in COVID-19 infections. The World Health Organization elevated XBB.1.16 as a variant of interest last week. Variants of interest show an increasing prevalence and a number of cases over time in more than one WHO region, or other epidemiological impacts that suggest an emerging risk to global public health. The WHO is also tracking another variant of interest: XBB.1.5. What are the characteristics of Arcturus?
According to the WHO, XBB.1.16 “may spread globally and contribute to an increase in case incidence” due to its estimated growth advantage and its ability to evade the
Passengers crowd the counters as they troop early to the NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City on April 2, 2023 to avoid the influx of passengers heading to their respective provinces for the Holy Week break. Philstar file photo by Miguel de Guzman
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco revealed the data during the recent launch of the agency’s “Bisita Be My Guest”
Frasco said the agency, along with the Department of Migrant Workers and the Tourism Promotions Board, brought the BBM-G program to the U.S. “to give opportunities to fellow Filipinos to become ambassadors for the Philippines.” n
“We have to evolve it. It has to evolve because there is a need to adjust them because there is really an evolution, there are also changes in the situations we are facing here — in the South China Sea, amid the events in Taiwan, North Korea, all of these [where] the situation is a bit simmering,” he said.
Marcos said he would also speak with Biden on “what should we do to lessen the rhetoric because nowadays the exchange of words is a bit serious, [and] offensive words are already being uttered somewhat, so, of course, we worry about that.”
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) last week announced that Marcos would leave the country on April 30 and his itinerary would begin on May 1 with a meeting with Biden.
This will be Marcos’ second trip to the United States as president. He first met with Biden on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September last year.
After the U.S. trip, President Marcos will attend the coronation of King Charles III in London on May 6 and will travel to Indonesia for the 42nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit from May 9 to May 11.
Assistance
During the video interview, Mr. Marcos said he would also discuss climate change with his
American counterpart and seek help on what strategies should be adopted.
“They’re giving something that’s called green bond, meaning they will give funds to help us fix [the ill-effects of climate change].
For example, the no-build zones [wherein homes] will be moved away from the seas so that they won’t be hit by strong typhoons,” he said.
“We will ask for plenty of help because [we] are recovering from the pandemic. And like in the other trips that I made, [we will pursue] what partnerships can we forge, what new technologies can we bring back to the Philippines that we can use,” he added.
Marcos said the country’s “special relationship” with the United States did not always involve military matters, but also economic affairs and cultural exchange.
“We should look at what good partnerships we can have with the U.S.. We will talk with President Biden on how we can be continuously assisted. And it covers so many subjects, not just the military that is being discussed nowadays because of the EDCA (Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement), but also the economy, tourism, health care, all of them,” he pointed out.
The PCO earlier said Marcos’ visit would help advance his priorities in such areas as
agriculture, energy, climate change, digital transformation and technology, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, supply chains, and infrastructure.
At the same time, the president said the Philippines became “well-known” during the pandemic because of its healthcare workers, and recalled that during his overseas trips, foreign leaders would always ask him if their countries could get Filipino nurses, doctors, and medical technologists.
“Because we really became well-known during the pandemic, and we remain their number one preferred source of health-care workers—that’s one of the things we’ll talk about because there is a problem on immigration, training, all of those things. We want to give a chance to those who want to go abroad to find a good job,” he added.
Marcos said he was looking into his schedule with Biden to see if they could talk about all the matters that he wanted.
For items that would not be tackled, he said these would be done through “contacts” in the American government and private sector.
“It’s not only President Biden and me. We have businessmen, we have [officials] from different departments with us so that can really clarify what is really the partnership of the Philippines and the United States,” he said. n
statement.
During the drills some 2.8 kilometers from the Naval Education Training Doctrine Command, Garafil said U.S. and Philippine combat units participated in a combined joint littoral live-fire exercise, culminating the field training event for Balikatan 2023.
Approximately 1,400 Marines, soldiers, sailors, airmen and Coast Guardsmen from both countries took part in the Combined Joint Littoral Live Fire Exercise, which involved detecting, identifying, targeting and engaging a target ship using a variety of ground and air-based weapons systems, Garafil said.
The exercise featured U.S. and Philippine weapons platforms delivering coordinated fires on a target ship, a decommissioned Philippine Navy corvette towed into Philippine territorial waters, she added.
Among key Philippine officials who attended were Armed Forces Chief Andres Centino, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, Zambales 2nd District Rep. Doris Maniquiz and Zambales Gov. Hermogenes
Ebdane Jr.
From the U.S. side, the attendees were U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia Lindsey
Ford, and U.S. Exercise Director Lt. Gen. William Jurney.
"The Philippines is a key U.S. ally and the largest recipient of U.S. military assistance, equipment, and training in the region," Garafil said. n
1
restaurant drive-thru in North Hollywood last year. “What we are sure at the moment is that we will push through with the case,” Arriola stressed. “Even those who will handle case for us claim that is a big strong case.”
The Arriolas met with Deputy District Attorney Emilee Divinagracia and Assistant Deputy D.A. Rochelle Beardsley who, incidentally are both Filipinas, and will handle our case, happily shared Arriola.
Detained suspect One of the suspects, Keylen Xavier Lee Farley, who is now detained at the Sacramento County Main Jail, was arraigned last March 15 before the Department 62 of the Sacramento Superior Court. The other suspect, still unidentified, is at large.
An investigation led to Farley’s arrest and the subsequent filing of three felony counts by the Sacramento District Attorney: two counts for robbery of the second degree and aggravated assault and a third count for elder abuse.
Farley allegedly attempted to steal a professional camera in broad daylight from Arriola who then had two large cameras on his shoulders. In the struggle captured on video, Arriola is seen being knocked to the ground. In the same video, Farley is seen dragging Arriola on the pavement and kicking him in the chest multiple times. Ochengco was also reportedly pushed to the ground as she tried to restrain the man from attacking her husband. Farley then rushed to a getaway car driven by the other suspect while the victims were taken to the University of California Davis Medical Center.
Traumatic injuries
The elderly Arriola says he and his wife are still suffering from physical injuries, psychological trauma and are unable to work as caregivers as before.
“I suffered six broken ribs apart from bruises and abrasions. My wife’s knees suffered even more after the incident as she was already using a cane due to weakened knees for a month before the attack. She also had a lot of bruises even in her chest,” Arriola says. His wife, he says, suddenly burst into tears at the memory of the attack.
“We really need all the help and support we can get as bills kept piling up through the days that we cannot got to work and even had to attend to the case hearings,” Arriola appealed.
NaFFAA is raising funds for the couple at https://www.gofundme. com/f/vf6zak-fight-for-justiceelderly-filams-attacked, as well as NAFCON at tinyurl.com/ helpthearriolas.” (Inquirer.net)
1992 and July 1998, both election years, when satisfaction with the country’s democracy peaked at 70 percent. It again peaked in September 2010, a few months after the election of the late Benigno Aquino III, at 69 percent. Satisfaction, however, fell to a disappointing 44 percent in June 2004, a month after the controversial polls that re-elected Gloria Macapagal-
Arroyo.
As reported earlier, some 60 percent of the survey respondents said that “democracy is always preferable to any other kind of government,” up from 54 percent recorded in April 2021.
SWS data showed that it is five points below the recordhigh 65 percent recorded in June 2013 and 13 points above the record-low 47 percent in June 2014.
Preference for democracy has been above 50 percent since June 2015.
Meanwhile, those who said that an authoritarian government can be preferable to a democratic one “under some circumstances” rose from 20 percent in April 2021 to 26 percent in December 2022, a point shy of the record 27 percent obtained in a September 2010 survey.
The remaining 15 percent of
the respondents said it did not matter for them whether the Philippines has a democratic or non-democratic regime, down from 26 percent in the April 2021 survey. The survey had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percent.
In January, London-based think tank The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) classified the Philippines as a “flawed democracy” in its Democracy Index 2022.
From 54th in 2021, the country improved to 52nd out of the 167 countries and territories included in the annual index. “Flawed democracies” are those that have free and fair elections and where basic civil liberties are respected, but there are significant weaknesses in some aspects, including governance, political culture and participation. n
PAGE 1
immune system. Does Arcturus cause more severe illness?
There is no early signal of an increase in severity, the WHO said.
Should we be worried?
In a message to reporters on Wednesday, April 26, the DOH said that while there have been slight increases in bed occupancy in India and Indonesia, levels are still “much lower compared to the effects of the previous variants.
“Overall, risk assessment is said to be low,” it said.
The Philippines is seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases as more people go out and as the economy continues to reopen. Despite the rise in infections, the country’s healthcare utilization rates remain low
What should Filipinos do?
The DOH reminded the public to continue practicing minimum public health standards such as:
• Wear masks
• Isolate when sick
• Ensure good airflow, especially when mobile in public places
• Get vaccinated and boosted. n
threatening to kill Nerissa Roque and her daughter Patricia, after Weber’s jeep rear-ended their vehicle.
Despite the footage, Judge Neetu S. Badhan-Smith ruled that while Weber made “offensive and vulgar statements” against the family, the incident remained a “general intent crime,” according to a San Fernando Valley Sun report.
Badhan-Smith cited the 10- to 15-minute span between the use of racial slurs and the physical assault, and noted that Weber no longer used such slurs during the attack itself. She noted, however, that the attack cause significant injuries to the victims.
The victims expressed disappointment at how they’ve “been so far by the justice system.” Patrick Roque, a family member, said. “It’s really obvious from the video that it was a hate crime.”
The assault has triggered
outrage in the Asian community, and the Roque family’s supporters vowed to keep protesting until they get a full measure of justice.
The videoed incident occurred on May 13, 2022 at a McDonald’s drive-thru lane on Victory Boulevard. After Weber rear-ended the Roques’ vehicle, he allegedly hurled racial slurs and threats, using a mock Asian accent.
Weber then allegedly tried to physically attack Patricia. Her father, Gabriel Roque, 60, tried to stop him but was allegedly pushed or punched to the ground, leaving him with a broken rib. Weber also allegedly choked Nerissa. He was arrested on June 16, 2022 but thrice refused to attend his arraignment.
Weber pleaded not guilty to two counts of battery, but as of the judge’s April 18, he is facing two counts of felony battery without the hate crime charges. (Inquirer.net)
MANILA — He is just about to enter his second year in office, but President Marcos said he is already counting the remaining days of his administration, describing everything he does as “urgent.”
Marcos said being a president is a “real privilege” that allows him to help a lot of people, so he is trying to maximize his time.
“It’s like a countdown in six years. I do not count the years. I do not count the months. I count the days, how many days left before it ends so I want to ensure that I will finish everything I need
to accomplish within those days,” the President said in an interview with state-run Radyo Pilipinas last Monday, April 24. According to Marcos, he needs to set priorities and address concerns that require immediate action.
“Before you know it, your schedule is already full because you need to do all these things and you really need prioritization, you need to choose what to prioritize,” he said.
“That’s the way it is. You cannot do anything. You need to do it. As I said, you cannot just postpone. One thing I learned since I assumed office is that everything is important, everything is urgent.”
Marcos said he needs to be aware of new developments both here and abroad in the morning so he would know the issues to ponder on as well as matters to discuss at meetings.
“That’s what we are doing now. So far, we have been efficient somehow,” the Chief Executive said, adding that some work cannot be rushed.
The presidency requires a lot of planning and things can get complicated, Marcos stressed, adding that such scenarios are expected.
“I am lucky because I have been watching the events and activities of the president because of my father,” Marcos said. n
A FILIPINA American figure skater and her partner made history as the first pair from the Philippines and Southeast Asia to qualify for the world championships this year.
Although they finished 18th among the 20 pairs who competed in the 2023 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama, Japan, it was no small feat for the team of Isabella Gamez and Alexander Korovin who had to work hard and win in smaller competitions to secure a spot in the prestigious competition.
For a tropical country like the Philippines, qualifying in skating or any other winter sports will always be one for the books.
The last time the Philippines sent a competitor to the World Championships was back in 2017 with Michael Martinez.
Filipinos in Canada might have a chance to wave the Philippine flag for the first time and support the duo next year when Montreal hosts the world figure skating championships again.
The ISU World Figure Skating Championships is an annual event that moves around the globe, attracting more than 300 million television viewers worldwide and showcasing the 200 best athletes from 50 countries in four disciplines: men, women, pair and ice dance, its website reads.
The 2024 World Championships will mark Canada’s 11th time hosting, and a second for Montreal.
Montreal last hosted the Championships in 1932, the very first time Canada hosted the event. Canada last hosted the event in London, Ontario, in 2013, it added.
But this is not the first that the Florida-born Gamez will be in Canada.
In 2017, she moved to Montreal for her training and her new coaches hooked her up with Spanish skater Tón Cònsul, according to Myles A. Garcia in PositivelyFilipino. com.
“Because of her family’s Fil-Hispanic connections, it was easy enough to switch and skate with Cònsul for Spain. At the 2018 Junior World Championships, the young Spanish-Filipino pair finished in 13th place. Cònsul, however, quickly decided to retire from competitive skating thereafter. Having spent time and vacations with family in the Philippines, Isabella always knew that she wanted to skate for her parents’ country— but how and when could it happen?” Garcia writes.
According to Rappler, Gamez eventually partnered with Canadian David-Alexandre Paradis, where they competed in the 2020 Four Continents Championships.
However, the two went their separate ways at the conclusion of the season due to the pandemic and subsequent retirement of Paradis.
It was only in 2021 with Korovin paired up with Gamez but could not compete since he still represented Russia and had to wait for the ISU’s go signal. He is also currently applying for a Filipino citizenship.
“Together, we both had different techniques coming from that he has a very strong European-Russian technique, and I had a very bold North American technique which we had to find a common ground,” Gamez told Rappler.
MANILA — The number of people testing positive for COVID-19 in the National Capital Region (NCR) further increased over the past week, according to monitoring conducted by the OCTA Research group.
Citing data from the Department of Health, OCTA fellow Guido David said the region’s seven-day positivity rate increased from 7.3 percent on April 16 to 10.6 percent on April 23.
The positivity rate measures the percentage of positive results out of the total number of RT-PCR tests conducted.
The World Health Organization recommends a positivity rate of five percent or below to effectively manage the pandemic.
As of Monday, April 24, David said the nationwide positivity rate is at 10 percent. In a post on his Twitter
account, he noted that the NCR has an average of only 3,120 RT-PCR tests per day, down from around 11,000 in April 2022.
Official government data only take into account RT-PCR tests and not the antigen tests that have become a common way of testing for COVID-19 infection.
While this means that cases could be higher than the official count, David earlier said that looking at positivity rates and other indicators could still show trends in the number of cases.
Over the past weeks, positivity rates in various areas have seen a steady rise.
On Monday, the DOH reported 429 new cases, with 180 in NCR. He said the positivity rate in the region is on track to hit 15 percent before possibly plateauing by mid-May.
Hospital occupancy remained low at 21 percent.
QC still ‘low risk’
While the number of new cases has slightly increased, the
Quezon City government said the city remains at low risk for COVID-19.
Citing an assessment from OCTA Research, the city government said the number of average daily new cases increased from 17 last week to 22 this week.
The positivity rate, meanwhile, increased from 5.9 percent to 8.3 percent.
“The city remains at low risk level,” it said in an advisory in Filipino. “But the local government continues to remind everyone to stay safe and follow minimum health protocols to protect yourself from the virus and other contagious diseases.”
The city government said it has administered over 6.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines. A total of 2.6 million adults and minors are considered fully vaccinated, while almost 1.6 million first and second booster doses have been administered. n
“We really took the time for those two years to meet in the middle for our skating and we really wanted, we really had to be patient for our techniques so that is where we are standing,” she continued. We still have a lot to learn from each other especially that this was our first competition competing together and we had to understand each other’s nerves and emotions and what we’re like, she added.
In October 2022, the skating pair gave the Philippines its first medal in international figure skating — a second place finish at the 2022 Trophée Métropole Nice Côte d’Azur in France.
Born to Gerardo Gamez and Marivic Ramirez, who were both born and raised in the Philippines, Gamez was not shortchanged of Filipino culture and heritage. Her mother is also related to Filipino sports icon Freddie Webb.
Philippine mall developer, SM Supermalls, is one of the pair’s sponsors. The pair aims to qualify for the Winter Olympics happening in 2026 in Milano, Cortina.
“We would like to congratulate our homegrown talents who have all glided their way to the world championships. These two major wins are definitely one for the books as once again, we will be able to show the world how talented Filipino skaters are. And we at SM Supermalls will always be proud that you have brought pride to the country,” said Joseph V. Silva, AVP for Operations for SM Lifestyle Inc. Sports & Leisure Centers, when the pair won inthe Challenge Cup held in Tilburg, Netherlands on February 26, 2023. n
THE Philippine National Police changed leadership on Monday, April 24 amid an ongoing purge targeting officers linked to drug trafficking. Gen. Rodolfo Azurin bowed out of the PNP just days after finding himself entangled in controversy over a raid that yielded 990 kilos of shabu, of which 42 kilos were allegedly pilfered by the police raiders.
The PNP also continues to face unresolved accusations of serious abuses in the so-called war on drugs waged by the previous administration. Maj. Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr., the new PNP chief, will have to carry out the preferred approach of the Marcos administration to the drug scourge, which is less bloody and does not openly encourage police to shoot first and ask questions later.
with reports of simmering unrest over a proposal to cut and overhaul the retirement pensions and benefits of military, police and other uniformed personnel. President Marcos, for his part, reportedly instructed Acorda to exercise maximum tolerance in dealing with government critics.
Acorda, a native of Ilocos Norte who reaches the retirement age of 56 this December, will also have to allay public concerns about a seeming deterioration of peace and order amid a string of brazen assassinations targeting mostly politicians and, in one daring attack in Metro Manila, a broadcaster. An encouraging aspect is that perpetrators have been arrested or identified in several of the cases including the murders of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and radio commentator Percy Lapid. But much more is needed to end the impunity in committing murder in this country.
Within the PNP, Acorda will also have to deal
BaBE romualdEz
THE announcement that U.S.
President Joe Biden will be hosting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House during their bilateral meeting on May 1 definitely underscores the special friendship and the ever-strengthening ties between the United States and the Philippines.
President Marcos will be bringing key Cabinet members who will engage with their counterparts to cover many aspects of the bilateral relations between our two countries.
As Malacañang put it, this allimportant visit to the U.S. will “substantively progress efforts to further deepen relations and political ties, to bring about lasting socio-economic partnerships, as well as to enhance defense and security cooperation.”
The bilateral meeting between President Marcos and President Biden will also reaffirm the ironclad commitment of the United States to the defense of the Philippines, with the discussion expected to touch on how the two nations can further deepen economic cooperation,
Acorda, whose last posting was as PNP intelligence chief, is aware of the long festering problems in the police organization. Since its creation, the PNP has become tainted by scandals linking its members including former PNP chiefs to large-scale corruption. Lower ranking cops, meanwhile, have been implicated in a wide range of criminal activities including protection rackets and murders related to e-sabong, jueteng and other forms of illegal gambling.
Housecleaning is a constant challenge within the PNP, even as it carries out its principal mandate of keeping the public safe. These are best carried out with public trust and confidence in the PNP, from its chief down to the new recruits. (Philstar.com)
promote inclusive prosperity and expand the special peopleto-people ties that have been in existence for so many decades – underpinning the close friendship between the Philippines and the U.S..
I received so many messages expressing elation over this latest development, and I responded by telling them the stars seem to be fully aligned because the timing seems to be very opportune, with recent events and activities leading up to this auspicious state of affairs.
As we had mentioned in our column last Sunday, April 23, the economy of the Philippines is on an upward trajectory, with growth expected to be sustained this year.
In the most recent World Economic Outlook Report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the projection for the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth was upgraded to 6 percent from the previous 5 percent forecast issued last January. The Philippines is also expected to register the fastest growth in Asia, outpacing India, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand whose economies are also projected to expand this year.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) also gave a similarly positive outlook for the economy, with growth also projected at 6 percent. While the Philippines will also be facing challenges like the rest of the world, ADB Philippines country director Kelly Bird sees the country growing “at its potential this year and next, and is on track toward its goal to become an upper middleincome country.”
During the Philippine Economic Briefing we hosted in Washington, DC last April 12, the country’s economic managers led by Finance Secretary Ben Diokno, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Felipe Medalla, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan were able to deliver a clear message to all the attendees composed of American business executives, U.S. government officials, think tanks and those from the business, financial and investment community that the Philippines is open for business and is ready to engage the United States to further strengthen trade and investment ties as well as
deepen public-private sector collaboration.
The participants were impressed with the presentations and the succeeding Q and A that highlighted how “the Philippine economy managed to weather the storms and stay the course towards sustainable economic growth” amid a challenging global environment, as Secretary Diokno put it. Among the sectors that generated a lot of interest include energy, information technologybusiness process management (IT-BPM), semiconductor and agribusiness. There are also tremendous opportunities in logistics, transportation, manufacturing, tourism, health, education and digital connectivity.
Aside from the IMF-World Bank Annual Spring Meetings and the Philippine Economic Briefing, there was also the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue of Foreign Affairs Secretary Ricky Manalo and Defense OIC Charlie Galvez with U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
The 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue recognized the important role of the alliance in maintaining peace and stability in the IndoPacific region and put forth
a shared vision that supports an international rules-based order and deeper economic ties, along with an “enduring commitment to stand shoulderto-shoulder as allies to bring greater security, prosperity and stability to the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.”
Speaker Martin Romualdez – who was at the Philippine Economic Briefing – also led a delegation of congressmen to Washington and engaged with members of the U.S. House of Representatives that included Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana. The visit was capped by a meeting between Speaker Romualdez and his American counterpart, the new Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy of California. As described by Speaker Martin, the meetings were very fruitful and engaging, with legislators from both countries recognizing the important role they play in ensuring that the benefits of the “dynamic relationship” between the two nations would become even more tangible.
“Our message to the U.S. legislators was clear. The U.S.Philippine relation is strong, and is reaching new heights and levels of understanding under the administrations of President Ferdinand
‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. and U.S. President Joe Biden,” Speaker Romualdez said, explaining that the delegation of Filipino congressmen managed to impress upon Speaker McCarthy the need to ramp up discussion between legislators from both countries in order to boost bilateral relations.
In other words, the whole Philippine government’s relationship with the United States is on an upswing. But what is most significant is that all these interactions do not solely address concerns regarding defense and security but, more importantly, also focus on the economic aspect of the relationship as our nations seek mutual prosperity and economic security. I hope those naysayers who continue to carp about our defense agreements with the United States would look more closely on the positive side of having more opportunities for trade mainly due to peace and security. (Philstar.com)
* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
* * * babeseyeview@gmail.com
IT is not farfetched to say that the next world war could start not in Ukraine but in East Asia. Conflict between the West and Russia is ultimately lopsided because in terms of military and economic strength, the United States and Western Europe have overwhelming advantage over Russia. If we look elsewhere, specifically to Asia, the balance of power is more evenly distributed as China is on its way to becoming a bigger economy than the United States in the next one or two decades.
The Philippines will be embroiled in this conflict whether you like it or not because of its geographic location. Our nation’s western shorelines border the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) which is the center of the conflict between different nations. For any person that wants to be a serious student in understanding the nature
of these potential conflicts, I would suggest some readings. The first is The South China Sea: The Struggle for Power in Asia by Bill Hayton, Yale University Press, 2014. The author is a journalist with extensive experience in the region. His book tries to make the reader understand the complex history and contemporary reality of the West Philippine Sea (WPS)/South China Sea (SCS). He examines the high stakes involved for China, Taiwan, United States, Vietnam, the Philippines and the rest of Southeast Asia as well as India, Russia and the wider world. In his Introduction, he writes: “Will China’s rise lead to conflict between the superpowers? Does the Chinese leadership intend to play by the rules of the international game or challenge them? Does the United States have the will to stand its ground? Will the countries of Southeast Asia win or lose from superpower competition? How has the hunt for hydrocarbons affected the conflict? Above all, what will prevent war from ever breaking
out? How could the resources of the Sea be equitably shared among hundreds of millions of mostly poor people living around its shores?”
The book begins with the history of the SCS and the countries around it from prehistory to 1995. There is also a chapter devoted to maps and lines. One critical observation that in all the maps, the Philippines occupies a strategic location.
One very interesting chapter for Filipino readers is the story of Tomas Cloma, who actually is responsible for making the Philippines the de facto owner of the islands in the SCS. Even today, Cloma is often described in the Philippines as the man who “discovered the islands.” Cloma was from Bohol who worked in the shipping department of the Manila Bulletin newspaper. He wrote about shipping movements by day and studied law by night.
He passed the Bar in 1941.
After the Second World War in 1947, Cloma with some friends formed the Visayan Fish Corporation. He also set up the
Philippine Maritime Institute offering three-month courses.
Eventually, Cloma issued the so-called Freedom Land Charter declaring the Spratly Islands and the surrounding area as independent nation.
Eventually, Cloma was required to sign over Freedom Land to the Philippine government, which renamed the territory the Kalayaan Islands since this was the Tagalog word for “freedom.”
In 1978, Kalayaan was decreed as a municipality of Palawan province. The more complete version of the Cloma story is in the book.
The rest of the book focuses on attempts to settle the disputes peacefully. However, after all these years, the possibility of peaceful settlement has become a distant dream. China has forcefully taken over territories, claiming that the SCS is their territory in defiance of international law, which awarded parts of these to the Philippines.
The next book I recommend is Asia’s Cauldron: The South China Sea and the End of a
Stable Pacific by Robert D. Kaplan, Random House, 2014. The Foreign Policy magazine a decade ago named Kaplan as one of the world’s top 100 Global Thinkers. In this book, the author offers a vivid snapshot of the nations surrounding the WPS/SCS: the conflicts both existing and potential in the region from the dawn of the 21st century to the present; and the implications for global peace and stability. Since this book was published ten years ago, much of the data regarding the different nations and their leaders have changed. However, the geopolitical situation has not changed and has even become more politically tense. One of the interesting chapters is the one entitled “China’s Caribbean.” It should be noted that the United States tried to impose its will on the Caribbean Sea and the nations in that geographic region. This is primarily dictated by the fact that the Caribbean borders American territory. But it should be further noted that the United States, after various attempts, failed in its efforts to
subjugate the nations around the Caribbean. In fact, Cuba has remained as the strongest opponent of the United States in the western hemisphere.
To this day, China claims indisputable sovereignty over the SCS against international rulings that have recognized the claim of Vietnam over the Paracels and that of the Philippines in the Spratlys. The imperialist ambitions of China in the SCS is similar to the imperialist ambitions of the United States in the Caribbean Sea. If one can learn from history, then both ambitions are doomed to fail.
Asia’s Cauldron is a very readable book that could serve as an indispensable guide to this part of the world that will affect the lives of people in all corners of the world for decades to come. (Philstar.com)
* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
* * *
Email: elfrencruz@gmail.com
MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has picked Police Maj. Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. as the new chief of the 228,000-strong Philippine National Police, a move hailed by lawmakers and colleagues.
In his acceptance speech during the change-of-command ceremony led by the President on Monday, April 24 at Camp Crame, Acorda, the former chief of the PNP Directorate for Intelligence, promised to continue his predecessor’s campaign to cleanse the police organization of scalawags.
“My stand on [illegal] drugs is clear—no police should be involved in pushing, using or whatever means of illegal drug trade,” he pointed out.
“You will be charged and removed from the service. This is my warning to each and everyone of you, our fight will be holistic in prevention and aggressive in operations,” he told policemen. “Under my leadership, rewards and punishment will be quick and decisive, it shall be fair and impartial and due process shall be observed.”
Acorda vowed that the PNP would be transparent under his watch: “To the media, our long-time partners, we welcome critics as our independent source of check and balance. We are allies in bringing out the truth… We will be transparent.”
He is expected to lead the PNP for almost eight months, with his retirement set on Dec. 3 when he turns 56 years old, the mandatory retirement age.
Acorda replaced now retired Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., whom the President thanked for his leadership and service to the country.
‘Dependable’
Explaining his choice of Acorda, Mr. Marcos said in an interview over state-owned Radyo Pilipinas: “There are many things happening in our police, we’re looking at them. We’re having problems so there is a need for us to place a dependable commander [and Acorda] is somebody who is well-known to me.”
The president said he knew
the abilities and reputation of Acorda inside the PNP and that Acorda’s name was “always part of the shortlist” for PNP chief.
“He is well-recognized within the police force and even in our civilian leadership, especially in the places he’d been in— he became a PD (provincial director) and RD (regional director). We heard his name and the report about him is good so I said, maybe, he is the one most fit [to be PNP chief] now,” he said.
Ilocano roots
Just like his predecessor, Acorda traces his roots back to Mr. Marcos’ home province of Ilocos Norte where he grew up and finished his elementary and secondary education at Gabaldon Elementary School’s Special Education Center in the capital city of Laoag and Bacarra National Comprehensive High School in Bacarra town, respectively, before moving to the Philippine Military Academy where he graduated in 1991. He also has a Master’s Degree in Management from the Philippine Christian University.
Acorda’s father and namesake served as a lawyer for the Citizen’s Legal Assistance Office, now known as the Public Attorney’s Office, in La Union province. His mother, Purificacion Casuga Acorda, was a government nurse in La Union.
Prior to becoming PNP chief, he widely served in his home province of Ilocos Norte as chief of operations and plans, intelligence officer and assistant provincial director for operations in 2008, and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group deputy chief of operations in 2010.
He headed the Palawan provincial police and the regional police office in Northern Mindanao before he headed the Directorate for Intelligence in August 2022.
The low-profile Acorda has no known baggage and will be stepping into the PNP leadership without major controversies linked to his name in a career spanning more than three decades.
The new PNP chief also earned numerous accolades, including the Bronze Cross Medal, a prestigious single-
grade military decoration of the AFP awarded for heroism involving risk of life, and several presidential citations, awards and decorations.
Acorda served as the chief of staff of the PNP Civil Security Group and was one of the officials who pioneered the creation of the PNP AntiCybercrime Group.
Right choice
Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. welcomed Acorda’s appointment and assured him of his agency’s support.
Senators on Monday also lauded the appointment of Acorda, with Sen. Ronald dela Rosa saying that he was the “best choice” to lead the PNP.
Dela Rosa, himself a former PNP chief, described Acorda as a “silent operator” and a “very professional officer” who knows how to stand his ground despite “pressures from selfish politicians.”
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri was also elated over Acorda’s designation as he noted the police general’s accomplishments when he led the Northern Mindanao regional police.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros said she received information that Acorda was “well-meaning and idealistic,” qualities that would help him implement reforms in the police organization.
In the House of Representatives, dangerous drugs committee chair Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said Acorda should continue cleansing the PNP’s ranks amid controversies surrounding its antinarcotics drive.
In Pangasinan province, Arturo Lomibao, also a former PNP chief, said he believed Acorda was prepared to assume the post with his “experience, knowledge and skills” despite “jumping over” three senior officers occupying three-star positions.
Retired Police Col. Paterno
Orduña, a former intelligence officer of the Pangasinan police, described Acorda as a “hardworking” and “low-profile” junior officer in Pangasinan when Lomibao served the Ilocos regional police. (With reports from Marlon Ramos, Julie M. Aurelio, Yolanda Sotelo and John Michael Mugas)
MANILA — Prominent business magazine Forbes has included 10 financial institutions from the Philippines in its recently published list of The World’s Best Banks for 2023.
The 415 banks that earned a spot on Forbes ranking were evaluated in categories, such as digital services, customer services, financial advice and trust.
“If you cannot trust your financial institution, all other perks and services dwindle,” Parijat Banerjee, global head of business services at LatentView Analytics, said.
Forbes’ World’s Best Banks 2023 reflects trust and other industry trends especially after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank in the U.S.
Compiled in partnership with market research firm Statista, the list is based on a worldwide survey of 48,000 banking customers in 32 countries.
The Top 10 banks in the
Philippines include CIMB Bank, Lucio Tan’s Philippine National Bank (PNB), Ayala-led Bank of the Philippine Islands, Aboitiz-led Union Bank of the Philippines, and Sy-led BDO Unibank.
Completing the list were staterun Land Bank of the Philippines, Metrobank Group’s Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank), Yuchengco-led Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC), Maya Bank of PLDT’s Voyager Innovations, and Gokongweiowned Robinsons Bank Corp.
According to Forbes, the biggest banks were not necessarily the best as online banks are at the top in many countries, reflecting the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on customers’ digital comfort.
Over the past two years, Banerjee said that banks rapidly adopted new digital technology that made customers’ experiences more robust, swift and personal – all necessary to appeal to Millennial and Gen Z customers.
CIMB Bank is the 31st largest lender in the Philippines in terms of assets at P30.26 billion as
of end-2022, while PNB is the seventh largest bank with total resources amounting to P1.17 trillion.
BDO, owned by the family of the late retail and banking magnate Henry Sy, continued to dominate the industry with assets of P3.92 trillion and capital of P459.82 billion.
BPI is the country’s third largest bank with assets of P2.6 trillion and capitalization of P316.07 billion. The 171-yearold bank aims to complete its merger with Robinsons Bank , the country’s 16th largest bank with resources of P183.25 billion.
UnionBank is the country’s 9th largest bank with resources amounting to P961.58 billion, while RCBC is ranked sixth with P1.18 trillion.
On the other hand, PSBank – the thrift banking arm of the Metrobank Group – is the country’s largest mid-sized bank with assets of P263.37 billion and capitalization of P35.74 billion.
Maya Bank is one of the six entities granted digital banking licenses by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. n
MANILA — Oscar Lopez, businessman and patriarch of the Lopez clan, has passed away at age 93.
“He was our North Star, the inspiration, and guide for succeeding generations of Lopez Group executives and employees who learned to treasure and practice with him the Group’s distinct core values: a pioneering entrepreneurial spirit, business excellence, unity, nationalism, and social justice,” First Philippine Holdings, where Lopez sat as chairman emeritus, said in a statement on Sunday, April 23.
Lopez was the chairman emeritus of local conglomerate, Lopez Holdings Corp. The Lopez family incorporated the conglomerate in 1993 as the holding company for its major investments.
Lopez Holdings Corp. has stakes in various business sectors: power and energy through First Gen Corp. and Energy Development Corp., media via ABS-CBN and Sky Cable, the property sector through Rockwell Land Corp. and First Philippine Industrial Park, as well as in manufacturing via First Philec Corp. It was ABS-CBN that first reported on his death.
ABS-CBN News was first to report his passing on late Saturday night, April 22.
Apart from First Philippine Holdings and Lopez Holdings Corp., Lopez was also the chairman emeritus of First Gen, EDC, First Balfour, Rockwell Land, among others.
Forbes listed Lopez as 45th in its 2022 edition of Philippines 50 Richest, with a net worth of $245 million.
While he is known for his contributions across the business sector, First Philippine Holdings said
Oscar Lopez ABS-CBN photo his legacy will be being among the pioneers in putting into consideration the environmental and community impact of business dealings. He founded a climate think-tank, which is now named after him. The Oscar M. Lopez Center for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management Foundation, Inc. was created to look for solutions and technologies that develop climate risk information for use of communities.
Lopez studied at Harvard College and graduated cum laude in 1951 and finished his graduate degree – a Masters of Public Administration – in 1995. He received a Doctor of Humanities honoris causa from De La Salle University and Ateneo de Manila University as well as a Doctor of Laws honoris cause from the Philippine Women’s University and the University of the Philippines. (Philstar.com)
FILIPINA American actor
Arielle Jacobs will lead the Broadway cast of “Here Lies Love” in the role of former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos.
The musical, written by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, will begin preview performances at the Broadway Theatre in New York on June 17 ahead of opening on Thursday, July 20.
“I’m so honored to be able to tell this story and to step into
the shoes of Imelda Marcos, literally and figuratively,” said Jacobs said in a statement.
“Here Lies Love is a very transformative and powerful opportunity for everyone involved, and I think will also be the same for everyone who comes to experience the production.”
“Here Lies Love” tells the story of Imelda Marcos’ rise to power and subsequent fall at the hands of the Philippine
People Power Revolution.
Director Alex Timbers said, “Arielle blew us away in the casting process. She combines such charisma, wit, strength, and fierce intelligence that it was immediately clear to all of us she should lead our Broadway company.”
Jacobs has starred on Broadway as Princess Jasmine in Disney’s “Aladdin,” in the hit musical “Wicked,” and played Nina Rosario in the final cast of the four-time Tony Award and Grammy Award winning musical “In The Heights.”
She joins Jose Llana (“The King and I”), who will play his original role of Ferdinand Marcos, and Conrad Ricamora (“How to Get Away with Murder”), who will reprise his role as Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino.”
Tony Award winner Lea Salonga also joins the cast in a special five-week-only guest engagement from July 11-August 13. Additional casting will be announced soon.
Tickets are on sale now at Telecharge.com or by phone at 212-239-6200. The Broadway Theatre box office will open on Saturday, May 20. “Here Lies Love” transforms the Broadway Theatre’s floor space into a dance club environment, where some audience members will stand and move with the actors, and others will enjoy from seats located around the theatre.
From its world premiere at The Public Theater in 2013, “Here Lies Love” has enjoyed popular and critical acclaim. The show returned to The Public in 2014-2015, debuted at London’s Royal National Theatre in 2014, and most recently opened at Seattle Repertory Theatre in 2017.
The creative team for “Here Lies Love” on Broadway includes three-time Tony Award® nominee David Korins (scenic design), Tony Award® winner Clint Ramos (costume design),
WHO owns “Eat Bulaga” – its producer Television and Production Exponents Incorporated (TAPE Inc.) or its pillars Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon and Tony Tuviera?
When GMA host Nelson Canlas specifically asked Sotto in an exclusive interview premiered on YouTube on Tuesday, April 25, “Who owns ‘Eat Bulaga’,” Tito explained: “If it’s a copyright issue, definitely, it’s owned by Joey de Leon and the three of us (Tito, Vic and Tony). Kami, s’ya ang nagimbento ng pangalan.”
When Canlas clarified if the four of them had “Eat Bulaga” copyrighted, Sotto said: “Uncontestable! Copyrighted or not, may copyright din sila ng merchandising, ‘yung TAPE eh. Meron din kaming mga nakafile eh. Immaterial ‘yun. Ask the lawyers. There’s no such thing na ikaw ang may pagmamayari nito pero itong mga nagimbento, hindi sila? Hindi pwede ‘yun.
As the show’s brains, Tito said they have also committed themselves to keeping the show’s integrity, which is why he also distances himself from the show whenever he’s elected in office.
“You know ‘Eat Bulaga,’ the three of us and Tony, we’ve always tried our best to keep the image of ‘Eat Bulaga’ as ‘Eat Bulaga.’ Gan’un ‘yun eh. Kaya nga iniiwasan namin ‘yung mga controversial na tao, political,
ganyan. As a matter of fact every time I’m elected into a major position in government, I leave. Hindi ako nakikialam. At umaattend lang ako kapag inimbita nila ako kung merong anniversary, kapag merong birthday,” enthused Sotto, adding that he never campaigned in the show and even paid for political ads.
“We’ve tried our best to avoid getting ‘Eat Bulaga’ contaminated with political issues or controversial issues. We were very successful eh… With all the controversies that surrounded ‘Eat Bulaga,’ we were able to preserve ‘Eat Bulaga’.”
Sotto clarified that the Jalosjos family and their corporation owns TAPE Inc. As senate president for four and a half years, Sotto said he has gained access to official records that show who’s behind TAPE Inc.’s ownership.
“If you’re talking about ‘Eat Bulaga,’ it’s owned by Tito, Vic and Joey. And now, if you’re asking about TAPE, TAPE is owned by them (Jalosjos family),” he said.
“Seventy-five percent Jalosjos family, 25% si Tony,” Sotto bared. “I don’t know what they plan to do with that 25%. In fact, mali pa nga ‘yung sinabi ng (TAPE) Board member, 20% percent lang daw. Hindi, 25% si Tony. Tig-8% ‘yung iba. We have the records eh, we can check the records.”
According to him, that 8% belongs to “someone not born
in 1981” or when TAPE was founded and started producing the show. He does not think that it is accurate that TAPE gave Tony’s alleged 20% of the shares as the show’s producer.
“Kasi itong registration nila ngayon, nasa 25% si Tony at ‘yung family nila ay 75%, bago lang ‘yan eh. Iba noong araw ‘yan eh.”
In fact, according to Sotto, TAPE Inc.’s forerunner, Production Specialists, still owes them money and as payment, they were promised with shares in TAPE.
“
Nu’ng nagdeklara na ‘yung
Production Specialists na wala na at tinayo ‘yung TAPE, malaki pa ang utang sa’min nu’ng Production Specialists, katulad n’ung utang nila sa labas, pero may utang sa aming tatlo,” he claimed.
“
Ang ipinangako sa’min nu’ng itinayo ‘yung TAPE, meron kaming share du’n tatlo. For 43 years, all of a sudden we found out, wala pala… Kaya hindi accurate na pina-produce kay Tony, binigyan ng 20%. Hindi ko alam kung saan galing ‘yung kwento na ‘yun.”
Tito said that the show’s credits, including its portions, are owned by the show’s production team, but TAPE is allegedly “credit-grabbing.”
Yun ang sinasabi ng production sa’kin, they (TAPE) are credit-grabbing all of a sudden after 44 years,” he said.
“Sila (production team) ang may-ari ng portions, sila ang u PAGE 10
by HAnnAH MAllorcALIZQUEN fanatics may now heave a sigh of relief.
After years of speculations, Enrique Gil finally opened up about his relationship with longtime girlfriend Liza Soberano as he declared that it is still going strong even if they’re busy with their respective careers.
Gil made the clarification about the status of his sevenyear romance with Soberano on ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol on Tuesday, April 25, after he signed a two-year exclusive contract with the network on Wednesday. The actor said that by now, they are already “used” to break-up rumors hounding their relationship.
“We’re good, we’re good,” he said, when he was asked about his relationship with the actress. “She’s just really busy with her stuff there. I am going to be visiting her maybe when my schedule clears up. I think she’s coming back here. But yeah, we’re good.”
“There” meant Soberano’s fledgling Hollywood career under her new management, Careless, and she had been
Tony Award® winner Justin Townsend (lighting design), M.L. Dogg & Cody Spencer (sound design), and threetime Tony Award® nominee
Peter Nigrini (projection design), with casting by Tara
Rubin CSA, Xavier Rubiano
CSA, Gail Quintos and general management by Foresight
Theatrical. Additional creative team members include ATW Jonathan Larson
Grant recipient J. Oconer
Navarro (music director), Billy Bustamante (assistant director), Renée Albulario
(assistant choreographer), Bobby Garcia (casting consultant/Philippines), Gregory T. Livoti (production stage manager), and Ryan Gohsman and Sheryl Polancos (assistant stage managers). Giselle “G” Töngi is the show’s Cultural and Community Liaison.
“Here Lies Love” is produced by Hal Luftig, Patrick Catullo, Diana DiMenna and Plate Spinner Productions, Clint Ramos, and Jose Antonio Vargas, with Aaron Lustbader serving as Executive Producer.
spending the most parts of the year in the United States for work.
Nonetheless, the “ Dolce Amore ” star said that he’s fully supportive of his girlfriend’s career move “no matter what,” because he loves her “to death.”
“Because Hope [Soberano] is in the U.S., she is doing her own thing which I am going to support no matter what. I love her to death,” he said.“I just really support her no matter what. I know it’s hard to go on a new path but I support her nonetheless. And who knows? You might be seeing her coming back in the near future.”
Despite their long-distance relationship, Gil shared that they make it a point to check in on each other no matter what.
“It’s hard [being in a longdistance relationship], we don’t talk like we used to due to different time zones. But we still keep in touch and she’s good there. She has a team with her there which is really good,” he said.
After he showed up during his contract signing with ABSCBN executives with his yearold Bichon Frisé in tow, he
said that the pup would be his companion for the moment while Soberano is in the US. “I need dogs, and Hope is in the U.S., so Millie keeps me company. This is my new baby,” he said, while cradling his furbaby during the report.
During the contract signing, Gil said he is going to be focusing on his career as a solo artist for now.
“It is about me coming back to doing my own path as a solo artist. What we’re going for is a multi-level genre, so pwedeng may pagka -romance, action, and a lot of comedy in it as well,” he said.
The “Forevermore” star will reportedly star in an upcoming film and series with the network, although details are yet to be disclosed, as of this writing.
The celebrity couple — also known as LizQuen — have been in a relationship since 2014, although they went public with their romance only in 2019. Aside from “Dolce Amore,” the sweethearts have worked together in several films and teleseryes including “Alone Together,” “Forevermore,” “Bagani,” “My Ex and Whys,” and “Dolce Amore,” among many others.
ConGen Ferrer meets with KYOS founder for launch of ‘Earn-to-Learnto-Earn ‘ Web3 project in PH
SAN FRANCISCO – Consul
General Neil Ferrer, along with the Philippine Consulate team, recently met with Mr. Alan Beebe, co-founder of #KYOS, a pioneering Web3 project focused on "Earn-to-Learnto-Earn" initiatives, and Mr. Ker Gibbs, University of San Francisco Center for Business Studies and Innovation in AsiaPacific Executive in Residence.
Deputy Consul General Raquel R. Solano, Philippine Trade Commissioner Celynne Layug and Consul Vanessa Bago-Llona also joined the meeting at the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco.
The "Earn-to-Learn-to-Earn" concept introduced by #KYOS is an innovative approach that combines the principles of education and earning through Web3 technologies. The KYOS ecosystem connects learners, educators, and employers in a token-enabled economy.
The meeting discussed opportunities for individuals, especially those within the 1835 age range, to gain new skills and earn income.
Consul General Ferrer noted the growing digital economy in the Philippines and the importance of enhancing workforce skills development, creating sustainable economic opportunities and promoting inclusive growth. (PCGSF Release)
DON Tagala, the award-winning reporter on TFC News, desperately wanted his mother, Vinia, to come to the U.S. because his sister, Almira, became critically ill in 2019. His mother could be there for her children for emotional support and to make crucial life-decisions.
The hospital where Almira was on life support even emailed the U.S. Embassy explaining the circumstance and requesting for a visitor’s visa for Vinia. However, the Embassy instructed the hospital to go through the normal process.
Time was running out, so Don went to leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel to seek his assistance and expert advice. Confident that Vinia would abide by the terms of her visa and return to the Philippines, Atty. Gurfinkel immediately sought an emergency visitor visa and expedited interview, so Mommy Vinia could arrive in the U.S. as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, while all preparations were going on, Don’s sister passed away on June 24. The visitor visa application was updated, asking the Embassy to still expedite the visa to now enable Don’s mother to attend the funeral, instead of the original request to visit Almira at the hospital.
Atty. Gurfinkel was able to secure an emergency interview on June 26 (where the earliest available appointment would have normally been August 13) and an expedited visa was also issued the same day.
HOPE HORIZON GALA HOLDS SUCCESSFUL GALA. Hope Horizon East Palo Alto, which has been operating since 1984 and whose main mission is “to equip east-of-Bayshore youth to grow spiritually, gain life skills and develop as leaders so that they have hope and a future,” held a successful 2023 Gala at The Grand Bay Hotel in Redwood City, CA last March 19. Among the featured activities at the Gala included an exhibition of 50 original artwork spotlighting Hope Horizon East Palo Alto students, and a silent auction that featured fabulous items such as autographed pair of shoes from Jeremy Lin, a week’s accommodation in Princeville, a dinner for 25 guests in a luxury home, and a 3-day/2-night stay at the Capitola Beach House. Organizers thanked attendees for participating in the gala and supporting youth through Hope Horizon East Palo Alto. Left photo shows (from left) Balitang America anchor Henni Espinosa, Hope Horizon Gala co-chair Maria Gregorio, Forever Young Club of California’s Tess Gregorio, and San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa.
SAN FRANCISCO – In
commemoration of World
Autism Awareness Day in April, an exhibit featuring the artworks of children and adults on the autism spectrum opened at the main lobby of the Philippine Center in San Francisco on April 11, 2023.
The art exhibit was organized by Autism Hearts Foundation, a non-profit organization that advocates for persons on the autism spectrum and their families in the United States and the Philippines.
Consul General Neil Ferrer led the officials and personnel of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco in the opening of the art exhibit.
In his remarks, Consul General Ferrer cited the efforts of the Philippine government to create a nurturing environment for persons on the autism spectrum — including laws such as Republic Act No. 7277 or the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities, and Republic Act No. 11650 or the “Policy
of Inclusion and Services for Learners with Disabilities in Support of Inclusive Education Act of 2022.”
The Philippine Consul General also mentioned that the Philippines is a state party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
“I wish to thank the Autism Hearts Foundation for mounting this art exhibit, and for
showcasing the unique talent and creativity of children and adults on the autism spectrum,” Consul General Ferrer said.
In her remarks, Autism Hearts Foundation founder and president Erlinda Borromeo thanked the Consulate for its support to autism awareness advocacy over the years.
The art exhibit was featured at the Philippine Center main lobby April 21. (PCGSF Release)
On June 28, 2019, Mommy Vinia arrived in New York, four days after her daughter passed on. She was able to attend the funeral and be there for Don.
While it was a bittersweet reunion for Don and his mother in the U.S., it is important to know what to do and where to seek help if an emergency arises.
Watch this brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, April 30 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app. (Advertising Supplement)
A UNIQUE pop-up will take place at the Kalayaan Center in the Philippine Center Building (447 Sutter Street) in San Francisco on May 5-7 called Merkado Kultura.
From home décor to lifestyle brands to clothing and accessories as well as Philippineinspired food brands, there will be more than 20 vendors in total from the Philippines and the United States who will participate in this popup.
Among the companies who are expected to show their wares and products at the Merkado Kultura are Angkan, Anthill, Bago, Bagong Barkada, Chunky Butt Ice Cream, Filiflavors, Gaenz, Hara, Hulma, Kokak Chocolates, Kubo California, La Kalidad, Lacson Ravello, Lu France Interiors, Mackbox Desserts, Malngkat, Narra, Narra Studio, Oodaalolly, Pampasaya, Pili and Blu, Sarap Now, Sewn Sandals, Studio Zedsie, Stuyle Ana, and Ube Galore Breads & More.
The Merkado Cultura pop-up is curated by Lu France Interiors in San Diego, and organized together with ShipIt and 1Export in the Philippines, Filiflavors and Pili & Blu in San Francisco, and in partnership with the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco and the Philippine Trade Investment Center-Silicon
Valley. Organizers France, Mel, and Bianca grew up in the Philippines, frequenting local curated bazaars and markets –something that they have aimed to bring to the U.S. Working with artisan communities and small businesses, their aim is to highlight and amplify the amazing skills, artistry, and talents of Filipino makers, connecting them to an audience beyond Filipino communities. Together with Filipino American owned brands in the U.S., Merkado Kultura hopes to be a way for discovering Philippine-based and U.S.-based brands that celebrate all things Philippines – its culture, traditions, food, and products through handcrafted, artisanal, and sustainably made pieces, one city at a time.
The first Merkado Kultura took place in October of 2022.
For more information about Merkado Kultura, visit the website at www.merkadokultura. com. Inquiries can be sent via email to merkadokultura@gmail.com. Follow Merkado Kultura on Instagram: @merkadokultura.
ABOUT 33 percent of men have experienced premature ejaculation at one time or another. If it occurs rarely or occasionally, it is not a permanent issue to be seriously concerned about. If persistent, this condition could be devastating to the couple. What is premature ejaculation? The most satisfying lovemaking is when orgasm of the partners occurs exactly at the same time. Normally, the timing does not have to be perfect for a couple to have an enjoyable sex, but if the male ejaculates before penetration or just one minute or less after penetration, it is called premature ejaculation. In some cases, premature ejaculation could also happen during masturbation. When male climax occurs too soon, the man feels inadequate and the woman, unfulfilled and disappointed. But there is hope.
How long should intercourse last? There is no set rule for this. In a survey of 4,400 heterosexual partners, the act lasts for an average of 19 minutes, 10 minutes of foreplay, and 9 minutes of actual penetrating intercourse. Other studies show the average vaginal sex lasts about 5 minutes. Some women want longer foreplay before orgasm is possible. Certain positions make some men ejaculate later or sooner. Being
candid with each other and exploring various techniques will help the couple find the best strategy.
What causes prejaculation?
The exact cause is not known.
It was previously thought to be psychological, but science now knows the cause is a complex interaction between psychological and biological factors. The psychological role includes sexual abuse, early sexual experiences, depression, poor body image and selfesteem, the guilt of rushing through sexual encounters, and the actual worry about premature ejaculation itself. The other factors are stress, anxiety, problem in the relationship, and erectile dysfunction. The biological factors are inherited traits, abnormal levels of the hormones, infection of the prostate or urethra, abnormal levels of brain chemicals (the neurotransmitters).
When should a physician be consulted?
If premature ejaculation happens most of the time, it is time to see a physician, no matter how embarrassing. In some cases, talking to a physician could be so reassuring it could help. Some men think ejaculation after 5 minutes of sex is premature. Actually, as I have stated above, 5 minutes is, on average, normal for most people; occasional prejaculation is not a problem. Ejaculation outside the vagina, results in no pregnancy.
How is prejaculation diagnosed?
Premature ejaculation is confirmed if the man always or nearly always discharges his semen within 60 seconds of penetration; unable to delay ejaculation during the sex act all the time or most of the time; when he feels frustrated and depressed over it and usually avoids sex because of it. The two types of prejaculation are:
Primary (life-long), when the man experiences premature ejaculation his whole life, from the very first sexual encounter; Secondary (Acquired), when it develops after having no ejaculatory problems in the past.
Besides asking about the details of your sexual life, the physician will also ask about your personal, medical, and family history, and some info about your partner. This is followed by a complete physical examination. If erectile dysfunction is also present, a male hormone (testosterone) level and other tests might be ordered. A referral to a urologist might be needed.
What is the treatment for prejaculation?
The management for this condition includes behavioral modification, medications, topical anesthetics, and counseling. Each man varies in response to the treatment.
Behavioral therapy combined with a drug could be a most effective option. Masturbation an hour or two before sexual intercourse to delay ejaculation sometimes helps. Another is abstinence from intercourse for a period of time and performing other modes of sexual play with the woman to reduce anxiety and pressure before the actual intercourse.
Doing Kegel pelvic floor exercise to strengthen weak pelvic floor muscles that can cause prejaculation helps. When one holds back on passing gas (sort of puckering, tightening the anus), the muscles involved are the pelvic muscles. To
do the Kegel exercise, hold the contraction for 3 seconds and then relax for 3 seconds, repeating this same cycle (3 sets of ten) a day. This can be done while sitting, standing, or even walking.
What is the pause-squeeze technique?
This is another maneuver that can help treat prejaculation. Start the sexual encounter the usual way until the urge to ejaculate starts. Have the woman squeeze the end of the penis at the area between the head of the penis and the shaft, maintaining the vaginal squeeze for several seconds, until the urge to ejaculate wanes or stops. Repeat as often as needed. Make this your routine strategy with your sex partner. After repeated use, the man eventually feels he is in control of his ejaculation better. Another option is to stop sexual stimulation or withdraw the penis out of the vagina, and wait until the arousal has declined, and then start again, a technique called start-stop-start. Available in the drug stores are special condoms that could help delay ejaculation, with benzocaine or lidocaine numbing anesthetic agent in them. Some of them are Lifestyles Everlast Intense, Trojan Extended, and Durex Performax Instense. The anesthetic agent (like EMLA, a prescription drug, or Licdocaine spray) could be applied to the penis 10 minutes before sex to minimize sensitivity and aid in delaying ejaculation. Sometimes these could reduce arousal in either partner.
How about pills?
Although these drugs have not been approved by the FDA specifically for premature ejaculation, the following have been tried by physicians: antidepressants (Paroxitine), analgesics (tramadol), clomipramine, phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (Viagra, Cialis, Levitra); and the following which are still being tested: modafinil, dapoxetine, and silodosin. Counseling combined with medication has also been found effective among many patients.
The most important first step is to openly acknowledge the problem, and then seeking medical consultation. Premature ejaculation is treatable. The more candid, positive, and open-minded the man is, the more effective the therapy is.
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The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
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The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health.
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Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United NetworkUSA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He was a recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry Truman, President George HW Bush, Muhammad Ali and Astronaut Gus Grissom (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888. com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua. com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.
nag-iimbento ng portions. ‘Pag may icle-clear na portions, all the way, from 1979 to the present, ‘pag merong icle-clear na portions, so pinag-uusapan they clear it with Tito, Vic and Joey and Tony Tuviera. No one else. And then all of a sudden… they’re saying it has always been clear with them (TAPE).”
TAPE never actively managed the show’s production, Sotto said, so he was surprised why the company is all of a sudden allegedly “credit-grabbing.”
“It was always Tony and the three of us. And we would always consult production heads, more particularly (Head Writer and Creative Director) Jenny Ferre, Poochie Rivera, the director.”
Sotto revealed that TAPE wanted Ferre and Rivera to also retire.
Bakit? May gusto silang ipasok na iba,” Sotto said.
Bakit? Are they (Ferre and Rivera) doing something wrong?
Are they doing something bad for the program? No! Ang ganda ng takbo ng programa dahil sa kanila saka kapa nila ‘yun. Bakit ka kukuha ng bagito? Why, ‘di ba? All because you want certain portions or two portions to change? Because gusto mo
ikaw ang pumasok sa portion na ‘yun? I don’t know.” Fortunately, according to Sotto, TAPE agreed to retain their production staff.
Hindi naman sila naging active sa production itself kasi sa usapan namin, ‘wag na nila pakiki-alaman ‘yun kasi nga ‘yun ay doing well.”
Sotto, nevertheless, admitted that TAPE has been actively talking to the employees.
“We had two or three meetings before the program… It was never been that way,” Sotto said.
“With Tony Tuviera, wala kaming problema. With the new officers, we’re trying to get along. That’s why ang pinagusapan naming nitong huli sa mga pinag-usapang status quo, let’s give it a try. ‘Yun ang ending namin. Nothing is written in stone.”
According to him, Atty. Felipe Gozon, Chief Executive Officer of GMA Network that carries the show, knows that the show addresses everyone as “Dabarkads” because the show has evolved into “a public service program masquerading as an entertainment show” and therefore, now belongs to the people.
