051823 - Las Vegas Edition

CA resolution introduced to establish sister state relationship with PH province of Bulacan

A CALIFORNIA state senator has introduced a resolution to establish a sister state relationship with the Philippine province of Bulacan.

Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D –Burbank), authored Senate Concurrent Resolution 57 (SCR 57), which outlines the sister state relationship and introduced it on the state Senate floor on Monday, May 15. Bulacan is located north of Metro Manila and is considered the most populous province in Central Luzon and the third most populous in the Philippines after Cebu and Cavite.

The measure “will promote mutually beneficial educational, economic, and cultural exchanges between the State of

The invisibility of Asians in America

STANFORD — The Asian American community is one of the oldest in the U.S., yet still are viewed as “foreigners” by many Americans.

“Discrimination has always shaped us. We have always been the yellow peril, or the dusky peril who threatens the very existence of America. There’s a myth out there that we will always be foreign,” said Dr. Russell Jeung, co-founder of the web portal Stop AAPI Hate and a professor of Asian American studies at San Francisco State University.

Jeung spoke at a May 16 panel discussion here on Asian American identity. KPIX news anchor Ryan Yamamoto moderated the discussion, which included speakers Neil Ruiz, Pew Research Center’s Head of New Research Initiatives; Dr. Malathi Srinivasan, Clinical Professor of Medicine at Stanford University; and Dr. Richard Pan, a pediatrician who served in the California state Senate for seven years.

The discussion — organized by the Stanford Center for Asian Health Research and Education in partnership with the Stanford Asian Staff Forum and Asian American Journalists Association, San Francisco — was presented on the heels of a multi-year survey of Asian Americans, released by the Pew Research Center May 8.

Comelec approves online voting for overseas Filipinos

by ZACARIAN SARAO Inquirer.net

MANILA — The Commission on Elections

(Comelec) on Wednesday, May 17 approved internet voting for registered overseas voters in the 2025 national and local elections.

Comelec chairman George Garcia said the online voting for overseas voters was approved in an effort to increase voter turnout.

“Higher overseas voter turnout. Spending P411 million resulting [in] a dismal 39 percent turnout (although highest in history) is not value for money

so to speak,” Garcia said.

“Why are not so many overseas [F]ilipinos voting personally or by mail (presently the mode of voting for them)? Maybe they need another mode,” he added.

Garcia bared that the poll body is now in the process of creating a roadmap for electronic voting for overseas Filipinos.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Comelec said that the the conduct of electronic overseas voting was approved based on the following laws:

- Section 16.11, Republic Act (RA) No. 9189 which allows Comelec to “study the use of electronic mail,

internet, or other secured networks in the casting of votes of qualified overseas Filipino voters”

- Section 28, RA No. 10590: “explore other more efficient, reliable and secure modes or systems, ensuring the secrecy and sanctity of the entire process, whether paper-based, electronic-based or internet-based technology or such other latest technology available, for onsite and remote registration and elections”; and

- Section 23, RA No. 10590: “determine other alternative modes of voting, thereby allowing the Commission to promulgate, without further legisla-

Ex-President Duterte on De Lima’s acquittal: Verdict ‘should be accepted’

by FAITH ARGOSINO Inquirer.net

MANILA — Former President Rodrigo Duterte said Saturday, May 13 that the court’s decision on the drug case of his nemesis Leila de Lima “should be accepted.”

In a statement released through Atty.

Salvador Panelo, the ex-chief executive maintained he has “nothing to do with the case” and “never interfered with the

judicial process.”

“The judgment of the court should be accepted. Frankly, I’m not interested in the outcome of the case as I have nothing to do with it. I have never interfered with the judicial process. I always say let the law take its course,” Duterte said.

Panelo, who was Duterte’s chief legal counsel and spokesperson at one point, also shared his take on the court’s decision, saying “the acquittal is flawed” and that  PAGE 4

‘Marcos right on drug war abuses’

But ex-president Duterte says these were ‘never intended’

by CATHERINE S. VALENTE ManilaTimes.net

FORMER President Rodrigo Duterte agreed with the recent remarks of his successor, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., that abuses were committed during his administration’s war on illegal drugs but insisted that “those were never intended.”

During his program “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa” aired on SMNI News, Duterte was asked to comment on Marcos’ reply to a question on the alleged abuses during a forum in Washington last week.

it is to be president, especially with the serious problem right now,” Duterte said.

“You know what I am supposed to do. I cannot be libertarian; I can only be a stoic human being dedicated to enforce the law because you are the implementers, you are the enforcers,” he said.

The former chief executive said that Marcos was correct when he made the statement.

At a forum organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, President Marcos last week said there had been abuses committed during the “previous administration” in the war on illegal drugs, which focused too much on law enforcement. Malacañang photo

“Yes, that was allegedly attributed to the president. I am not sure if he was quoted in the complete context of the statement.

I am sure that it was not intended to criticize me because he knows how hard

“Tama siya na (He is correct that) along the way, in the enforcement of the law, [there is] a rigid attitude toward the enforcement of the law, abuses will be committed. Now, I’ll go further; not only abuses, sometimes killing, unnecessarily, or even an innocent person,” Duterte said.

“Along the way, [there is] collateral

 PAGE 2

MANILA — United States Ambassador MaryKay Carlson clarified on Wednesday, May 17 that the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in the Philippines, which grant American troops greater access, are not U.S. military bases.

“These are not U.S. bases,” Carlson said in an interview on ANC as she explained that the EDCA sites are Philippine military bases where the U.S. provides financial support and contributes capital for necessary improvements.

She emphasized that all activities conducted by the U.S. in the country are done at the invitation of the Philippine government, including the use of EDCA sites.

“It’s important to note that these are not our sites. We have no rights to these sites. It’s not as simple as snapping a finger and suddenly having access to everything,” she said.

Earlier, President Marcos gave assurance that the new EDCA sites will not be utilized for offensive operations. However, China has criticized the establishment of these sites, claiming that they pose a threat to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, particularly targeting Beijing.

The Pentagon addressed these concerns by affirming that the U.S. is not seeking permanent bases in the Philippines through the new EDCA sites. It emphasized that activities carried out would be responsive to the needs and priorities of local communities.

“We provide funding and insert capital to make improvements that are to the benefit of both the Philippine

DOT launching ‘enhanced tourism slogan’ soon

by DAPHNE GALVEZ Inquirer.net

MANILA — “It’s more fun in the Philippines” no more?

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is set to launch an “enhanced tourism slogan” in the next few weeks, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said on Tuesday, May 16.

“The DOT has not yet come out with an enhanced tourism slogan as a country brand, but I assure you you’ll love it,” she said in a Palace briefing.

“There will be [a preview] in the next few weeks. But we will make sure to engage in consultation with our tourism

stakeholders first as their opinions matter very much to us,” Frasco added.

Asked if the Philippines’ marketing strategy will also change, Frasco said the “main change” would be the shift in focus of the DOT to “highlight the heart and soul of the Filipino.”

She said the transformation is evident in the country’s culture, festivals, food and products.

“Everything that makes us diverse and unique and a proud Filipino people that gives us pride of place. We are putting forth the best of the best of the Philippines to the world because it cannot be denied that we do give the world our best,” she said. 

Diving with a green sea turtle is one of the main attractions on Apo Island off Dauin, Negros Oriental. These turtles breed along the beaches of the island and feed in its waters. DOT photo

Comelec approves online voting...

tion from Congress, its own rules and regulations for appropriate implementation of such voting

system duly determined by the Commission.”

In 2022, Garcia called on Congress to consider allowing “inter-

EDCA sites not US bases...

military and also be helpful to the U.S. military in the event that any threat against either one of the two members of this mutual defense treaty alliance,” Carlson said.

During the recent U.S.Philippines 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Washington, top diplomatic and defense officials from both countries issued a joint statement affirming their support for the swift operationalization of the new sites as military bases under the EDCA.

The U.S. also pledged financial assistance to facilitate this process.

With this, Carlson stressed that Washington’s commitment to the Philippines “stands on its own” and is not about China.

“The Mutual Defense Treaty dates back to 1951. Our commitment to the Philippines stands on its own,” she said. “(It) extends to Philippine armed forces, aircraft and public vessels, including those of its Coast Guard, anywhere in the South China Sea.” Carlson added: “There’s so much that we’re working together. It’s not about China. It’s certainly not about China alone. It’s about what we do together and it dates back decades.”

She said that the Indo-Pacific region is a critical regional trade hub, noting that a large percentage of that passes through the West Philippine and South China Seas.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Navy (PN) will continue to make its presence felt in the disputed West Philippine Sea, but will not initiate any escalation of tensions.

Speaking at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay media forum on Wednesday, Rear Admiral Jose Ma. Ambrosia Ezpeleta stressed that the PN will continue to take direction from the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea.

“We will continue to protect our territory. The Philippine Navy will continue to upgrade. We maintain to be the vanguards of our territory,” Ezpeleta said.

The government has allocated P10 billion for the modernization of

the Navy, with two high-tech ships scheduled to be delivered annually from next year until 2028.

“We are entering the capability stage. Compared to two years back, we are operating with dilapidated vessels. We are very capable now compared to ten years ago in terms of number of ships, trainings and all,” said Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, Philippine Fleet deputy commander.

The Navy is also working to strengthen its recruitment program to attract more technical personnel with backgrounds in engineering, IT and computers.

Ezpeleta took pride in a Filipino scientist who had invented a remote-controlled gun named “Buhawi” which they now use in smaller ships. “We have many engineers and scientists developing our arms. We are also training the capacity of our personnel,” he said.

Moreover, the Navy has procured nine advanced ships from Israel, and personnel have undergone comprehensive training on ship operations and maintenance.

Collaboration with nongovernmental organizations is also underway to support the Navy’s modernization goals. Ezpeleta revealed ongoing negotiations for the allocation of 10 hectares of reclaimed land along Roxas Boulevard for Philippine Navy use.

On Wednesday, Gen. Andres

net voting,” after some overseas Filipino voters struggled to vote in person during the 2022 national elections. g

Centino, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, was in Balabac, Palawan to urge the fasttracking of military infrastructure projects on the island.

Centino was particularly interested in the completion of the Balabac military runway, one of four additional EDCA sites that can receive assistance from the U.S. for base development.

Balabac’s strategic location as a municipality on an island chain in the West Philippine Sea, through which vessels from international waters pass, is crucial for detecting and identifying foreign intrusions.

The Balabac military runway, which will be a joint-use air facility for the Philippine Air Force and the local government unit, is part of a larger project for further development of the facility under the EDCA partnership with the U.S..

The AFP also aims to develop the Narciso del Rosario Naval Station in Onok Island into a full naval base that can receive EDCA base development assistance.

Visiting Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong underscored on Wednesday the arbitral ruling that Australia supports for a stable and prosperous region where norms apply.

In an interview with CNN Philippines, Wong said Australia’s national interests are aligned with the Philippines’. g

‘Marcos right on drug war...

PAGE 1

damage, marami ‘yan (there are many). But those were never intended, I am sure, by the law enforcement agency,” he added.

At a forum organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Marcos last week said there had been abuses committed during the “previous administration” in the war on illegal drugs, which focused too much on law enforcement.

“In my view what had happened in the previous administration is that we focused very much on enforcement. And because of that, it could be said that there are abuses by certain elements in the government and that has caused some concern with many, in many quarters about the human rights situation in the Philippines,” Marcos said.

“Well, I cannot speak to what my predecessor had in mind and what his idea was. But what I can speak to is the policy that we have undertaken and that I said the drug war

continues to be at the source of many — much criminality in the Philippines,” he added.

The president also said that even after the anti-drug campaign waged during Duterte’s time, “the syndicates have grown stronger, wealthier and more influential, worryingly so.”

“But instead of going after everyone,” Marcos said, his administration tried “to identify the key areas that we have to tackle ... so that we can see a diminution of the activity of the drug syndicates.”

Since Duterte took office in 2016, more than 6,000 were killed in sting operations, based on government figures. But rights groups estimated that the number of drug-war killings could be as high as 30,000.

During the SMNI interview, Duterte again justified the use of lethal force in police operations, saying the officers had to “overcome the resistance” of the suspects being arrested.

“So what’s the point in empowering somebody if

you do not give him enough leeway?” the former president said.

“[There is] collateral damage in a shootout inside the house of a suspect; sometimes the innocent members of the family get it. But abuses, there are many, because of the high-handed manner of enforcement,” he added. The bloody drug war of Duterte caught the attention not just of the foreign media and criticism from different organizations, but also the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In January, the ICC authorized the resumption of its investigation into the drug war and the Davao Death Squad killings in the Philippines. Duterte, who initiated the drug war, pulled the Philippines out of the ICC in 2019, a year after The Hague-based tribunal began a preliminary investigation into the crackdown. Marcos has, so far, ruled out reversing Duterte’s decision to pull the Philippines out of the ICC. g

BILATERAL MEET. Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo (left) shakes hands with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong during their bilateral meeting held at Fairmont Hotel in Makati City on Thursday, May 18. The Australian government is allocating 89.9 million Australian dollars (approximately P3.32 billion) worth of official development assistance to the Philippines for 2023 and 2024. PNA photo by Avito Dalan

MaryKay Carlson, the United States’ new envoy to the Philippines Photo courtesy of the U.S. Embassy in Manila

sister...

California and the Province of Bulacan,” according to a release from Portantino’s office.

The measure passed with an unanimous vote and standing ovation from senators present.

“I am proud to introduce this resolution that launches the start of a special friendship between our state and the Province of Bulacan,” Portantino said in a statement. “The sister state relationship will encourage our regions to develop partnerships and provide opportunities for mutual prosperity.”

SCR 57 extends an invitation to the people of the Philippine Province of Bulacan to join with California in a sister state relationship. The resolution aims to promote the prosperity of both regions and to improve international understanding and goodwill between both regions.

“The Filipino-American Business Association of Glendale (FABAG-GLAC) and the FilAm community of Glendale and Los Angeles County are very humbled and honored to receive Senate Resolution SCR 57, authored by Senator Portantino,” commented Edith M. Fuentes, past president and executive board member of FABAG-GLAC. “We are thankful to him for choosing the historical and rich in heritage, arts and culture Province of Bulacan as the Sister Province of California. This is a perfect recognition especially during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. This recognition affirms the many contributions of FilipinoAmericans to the history, culture and achievements of California and the United States. We appreciate the chance to further our friendship and relationship with the State of California. I look forward to many years of a great sister-province relationship.”

Comprised of more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines is California’s 27th largest export partner. According to the most recent United States Census, there are approximately 4,000,000 Filipino Americans living in the United States, with nearly half living in California, many of whom are American citizens or dual citizens.

Preparations and research for the Resolution was collaborated by Senator Portantino’s staff and spearheaded by Fuentes from FABAG-GLAC. (AJPress)

AI may be on its way to your doctor’s office, but it’s not ready to see patients

WHAT use could health care have for someone who makes things up, can’t keep a secret, doesn’t really know anything, and, when speaking, simply fills in the next word based on what’s come before? Lots, if that individual is the newest form of artificial intelligence, according to some of the biggest companies out there.

Companies pushing the latest AI technology — known as “generative AI” — are piling on: Google and Microsoft want to bring types of so-called large language models to health care. Big firms that are familiar to folks in white coats — but maybe less so to your average Joe and Jane — are equally enthusiastic: Electronic medical records giants Epic and Oracle Cerner aren’t far behind. The space is crowded with startups, too.

The companies want their AI to take notes for physicians and give them second opinions — assuming they can keep the intelligence from “hallucinating” or, for that matter, divulging patients’ private information.

“There’s something afoot that’s pretty exciting,” said Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in San Diego. “Its capabilities will ultimately have a big impact.” Topol, like many other observers, wonders how many problems it might cause — like leaking patient data — and how often. “We’re going to find out.”

The specter of such problems

inspired more than 1,000 technology leaders to sign an open letter in March urging that companies pause development on advanced AI systems until “we are confident that their effects will be positive and their risks will be manageable.” Even so, some of them are sinking more money into AI ventures.

The underlying technology relies on synthesizing huge chunks of text or other data — for example, some medical models rely on 2 million intensive care unit notes from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston — to predict text that would follow a given query. The idea has been around for years, but the gold rush, and the marketing and media mania surrounding it, are more recent.

The frenzy was kicked off in December 2022 by Microsoft-backed OpenAI and its flagship product, ChatGPT, which answers questions with authority and style. It can explain genetics in a sonnet, for example.

OpenAI, started as a research venture seeded by Silicon Valley elites like Sam Altman, Elon Musk, and Reid Hoffman, has ridden the enthusiasm to investors’ pockets. The venture has a complex, hybrid for- and nonprofit structure. But a new $10 billion round of funding from Microsoft has pushed the value of OpenAI to $29 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported. Right now, the company is licensing its technology to companies like Mi-

crosoft and selling subscriptions to consumers. Other startups are considering selling AI transcription or other products to hospital systems or directly to patients.

Hyperbolic quotes are everywhere. Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers tweeted recently: “It’s going to replace what doctors do — hearing symptoms and making diagnoses — before it changes what nurses do — helping patients get up and handle themselves in the hospital.”

But just weeks after OpenAI took another huge cash infusion, even Altman, its CEO, is wary of the fanfare. “The hype over these systems — even if everything we hope for is right long term — is totally out of control for the short term,” he said for a March article in The New York Times.

Few in health care believe this latest form of AI is about to take their jobs (though some companies are experimenting — controversially — with chatbots that act as therapists or guides to care). Still, those who are bullish on the tech think it’ll make some parts of their work much easier.

Eric Arzubi, a psychiatrist in Billings, Montana, used to manage fellow psychiatrists for a hospital system. Time and again, he’d get a list of providers who hadn’t yet finished their notes — their summaries of a patient’s condition and a plan for treatment.

Writing these notes is one of the PAGE 4

INSPIRATIONS. Senior Fire Officer Marjorie Apacible, a 15-year veteran in the service, plays with her pet dogs at the Paligsahan Fire SubStation in Quezon City on Tuesday, May 16. She said she is a proud single mother to a 19-year-old son and to six dogs, all of whom spur her to give her best each day. PNA photo by Robert Oswald

California state Senator Anthony Portantino introducing a resolution on the Senate floor establishing a sister state relationship with the Philippine province of Bulacan.

California state Senator Portantino with Edith M. Fuentes of Filipino-American Business Association of Glendale. Photos courtesy of Edith Fuentes

Ex-President Duterte on De Lima’s...

“the evidence extant supports a judgment of conviction.”

“As a lawyer, it is my position that final judgment of a competent court must be accepted no matter how one disagrees with it,” he noted.

“In this particular De Lima case, the acquittal is flawed. The evidence extant supports a judgement of conviction,” he also said.

According to Panelo, the court was mistaken when it took former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officer-in-charge (OIC) Rafael Ragos’ recantation of his testimony as justification to doubt the guilt of de Lima.

Ragos recanted his testimony against de Lima in November 2022, telling the court that he was coerced into signing prepared affidavits on three occasions in 2016 and 2017 to say that de Lima has been receiving bribe money from drug lords at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP). g

The invisibility of Asians in...

Who belongs here?

Another report released May 4 by The Asian American Foundation found that 4 out of 5 Asian Americans feel as though they don’t belong. More than half say they feel unsafe, especially on the streets. “It is startling to see that more than one in four of Americans still think Asian Americans are more loyal to their country of origin. These unfortunate and enduring misperceptions erode our sense of belonging and safety as AAPIs,” said Norman Chen, CEO of TAAF, in an introduction to the report.

In the early 1900s, Asians were associated with bringing smallpox, malaria, and leprosy to the U.S., which led to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, and the Asian Exclusion Act of 1924. Asians were barred from entering the U.S., and the population already here was barred from buying land, similar to three bills currently pending in the Texas state Legislature.

De-coupling China and Chinese Americans

“History is repeating itself. We knew as Covid was coming that Asian Americans would be blamed,” said Jeung, who founded Stop AAPI Hate in April 2020, with co-founders Manjusha Kulkarni and Cynthia Choi. Since its inception, the portal has logged more than 11,000 acts of hate violence against AAPIs.

Responding to a question from EMS, Jeung said that people who believe that China is the greatest threat to the U.S. also believe that Chinese Americans are a threat. “It is okay to criticize China policy, but

we have to de-couple China from Chinese Americans,” said Jeung.

Pew study findings

Ruiz laid out the findings of the Pew study, the largest-ever survey of AAPIs. Questionnaires were sent out to more than 268,000 people, and 7,006 interviews were completed.

Some key findings with regards to self-identity:

About half (52%) of Asian adults say they describe themselves most often by their ethnic origin, either alone (26%) such as Japanese or Korean or in combination with American (25%) such as Vietnamese American.

28% describe themselves as Asians, either alone (12%) or as Asian American (16%).

Just 10% describe themselves as Americans.

41% of Indians use only their ethnic identity, without adding American. Japanese Americans are the least likely to identify by ethnicity alone.

Almost 1/3 of 3rd generation Asian Americans identify simply as Americans.

More than half of Asian Americans say the majority of their friends are from their same ethnic group. But that changes over time. About 38% of second generation AAPIs have only friends of their ethnicity.

86% of Asian Americans say they are comfortable with interracial marriages and marrying outside their race.

One in 5 Asian American adults have hidden some portion of their identity from non-Asians.

Disaggregated health data

Srinivasan discussed the need for disaggregated health data for Asian Americans, noting that genetic differences, income and lifestyle disparities play a huge role in determining health outcomes.

South Asians, for example, are more prone to diabetes and heart issues than the Asian American population at large, while Chinese Americans have a greater rate of cancer than the overall population. Vietnamese Americans have the highest prevalence of Hepatitis B.

But such information is largely anecdotal, without data to support it, said Srinivasan, noting that the process by which to disaggregate AAPI health data is complex and must balance with privacy laws.

Less than 0.15% of National Institutes of Health funding is allocated to researchers working on studies specific to the AAPI

community, noted Srinivasan.

Relatedly, many immigrants face huge barriers to getting appropriate medical care — from even understanding how the American healthcare system works and describing their medical issues. “We need to train our doctors better, and also empower our patients on how to ask for or demand better healthcare,” said Srinivasan.

‘Where are the Asian Americans?’

Pan echoed Srinivasan’s remarks, noting that only about 3% of papers published in scientific journals have outcomes for AAPIs. “Where are the Asian Americans? And why aren’t you reporting it?” he often asks his colleagues, who say the numbers are too small to be significant.

“We have to stand up to the NIH and to researchers to report outcomes for AAPIs. If we are not mentioned, we cannot make change,” said Pan.

The pediatrician noted that Asian Americans are over-represented at the lower levels of healthcare, but rarely are the decision makers or in leadership roles. “As you go up, we disappear,” he said. “We are not in the board room. And that has to change.”

‘Change that accent’

Both Pan and Yamamoto spoke about language discrimination they personally faced. When Pan was growing up, his parents spoke primarily Mandarin at home; he was put in special education because of his poor English skills. “So from then on, I refused to speak Mandarin,” he said.

Yamamoto — whose family spent time in internment camps — said that his career as a newsman has taken him across the U.S. “At times, I was the only person who looked like me in the newsroom, but viewers accepted it.”

“But one editor pulled me aside one day and said: ‘Ryan, you’re going to have a great career in journalism, but you need to work on that accent.’”

The American-born Yamamoto said he was greatly upset by the incident. “I don’t speak Japanese. My parents don’t speak Japanese. The Japanese language was lost for many Americans after World War II.”

“My grandmother used to tell my father never to speak Japanese because of what could happen if we were heard uttering a single word. So we don’t speak Japanese,” he said. (Sunita Sohrabji/ Ethnic Media Services)

AI may be on its way to your...

big stressors in the health system: In the aggregate, it’s an administrative burden. But it’s necessary to develop a record for future providers and, of course, insurers.

“When people are way behind in documentation, that creates problems,” Arzubi said. “What happens if the patient comes into the hospital and there’s a note that hasn’t been completed and we don’t know what’s been going on?”

The new technology might help lighten those burdens. Arzubi is testing a service, called Nabla Copilot, that sits in on his part of virtual patient visits and then automatically summarizes them, organizing into a standard note format the complaint, the history of illness, and a treatment plan.

Results are solid after about 50 patients, he said: “It’s 90% of the way there.” Copilot produces serviceable summaries that Arzubi typically edits. The summaries don’t necessarily pick up on nonverbal cues or thoughts Arzubi might not want to vocalize. Still, he said, the gains are significant: He doesn’t have to worry about taking notes and can instead focus on speaking with patients. And he saves time.

“If I have a full patient day, where I might see 15 patients, I would say this saves me a good hour at the end of the day,” he said. (If the technology is adopted widely, he hopes hospitals won’t take advantage of the saved time by simply scheduling more patients. “That’s not fair,” he said.)

Nabla Copilot isn’t the only such service; Microsoft is trying out the same concept. At April’s conference of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society — an industry confab where health techies swap ideas, make announcements, and sell their wares — investment analysts from Evercore highlighted reducing administrative burden as a top possibility for the new technologies.

But overall? They heard mixed reviews. And that view is common: Many technologists and doctors are ambivalent.

For example, if you’re stumped about a diagnosis, feeding patient data into one of these programs “can provide a second opinion, no question,” Topol said. “I’m sure clinicians are doing it.” However, that runs into the current limitations of the technology.

Joshua Tamayo-Sarver, a clinician and executive with the startup Inflect Health, fed fictionalized patient scenarios based on his own practice in an emergency de-

partment into one system to see how it would perform. It missed life-threatening conditions, he said. “That seems problematic.”

The technology also tends to “hallucinate” — that is, make up information that sounds convincing. Formal studies have found a wide range of performance. One preliminary research paper examining ChatGPT and Google products using open-ended board examination questions from neurosurgery found a hallucination rate of 2%. A study by Stanford researchers, examining the quality of AI responses to 64 clinical scenarios, found fabricated or hallucinated citations 6% of the time, co-author Nigam Shah told KFF Health News. Another preliminary paper found, in complex cardiology cases, ChatGPT agreed with expert opinion half the time.

Privacy is another concern. It’s unclear whether the information fed into this type of AI-based system will stay inside. Enterprising users of ChatGPT, for example, have managed to get the technology to tell them the recipe for napalm, which can be used to make chemical bombs.

In theory, the system has guardrails preventing private information from escaping. For example, when KFF Health News asked ChatGPT its email address, the system refused to divulge that private information. But when told to role-play as a character, and asked about the email address of the author of this article, it happily gave up the information. (It was indeed the author’s correct email address in 2021, when ChatGPT’s archive ends.)

“I would not put patient data in,” said Shah, chief data scientist at Stanford Health Care. “We don’t understand what happens with these data once they hit OpenAI servers.”

Tina Sui, a spokesperson for OpenAI, told KFF Health News that one “should never use our models to provide diagnostic or treatment services for serious medical conditions.” They are “not fine-tuned to provide medical information,” she said.

With the explosion of new research, Topol said, “I don’t think the medical community has a really good clue about what’s about to happen.”

(Darius Tahir/ KFF Health

MINDANAO FORUM. Ambassador of the European Union to the Philippines Luc Serge Gustave Eugene Veron (right) chats with Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte during the 2nd Mindanao Development Forum 2023, held at the Acacia Hotel in Davao City on Thursday, May 18. Veron said agriculture should be given priority, especially because of the challenges posed by climate change. PNA photo by Robinson

Dateline PhiliPPines

COVID-19 hospital admissions going up

by Mayen JayMalin Delon Porcalla Philstar.com

MANILA — Hospital admissions for COVID are starting to go up nationwide, according to the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc.

PHAPi president Dr. Jose Rene de Grano reported that COVID-19 admissions in private hospitals in the National Capital Region (NCR) and other parts of the country have exceeded 20 percent in the past days.

“We noticed that for the past two or three days, the number of cases really slightly increased. The rate of admissions in private hospitals also increased slightly,” De Grano said in mixed English and Filipino during the Laging Handa public briefing.

“Before, we only had less than

20 percent hospital admissions. Now, a few although not all, increased by more than 20 percent, and the others up to 50 percent. But it depends on the number of allocated beds,” he added.

Aside from NCR, De Grano said private hospitals in Calabarzon, particularly Cavite and Laguna as well as Aklan and Davao region, also posted a slight uptick. However, he explained that there are few medical facilities in those regions, thus most of the patients are crowding. He further noted that most COVID-19 admissions are considered “coincidental,” which means they sought consultation for other medical reasons, but turned out positive for the virus during screening. At this time, De Grano said the majority of the COVID-19 cases are mild thus patients are

advised to just isolate at home.

“We are closely monitoring the moderate and severe cases with comorbidities and are immune-compromised. Those should be monitored and should they worsen, at least they are already in the hospital,” he pointed out.

Even with the rising admissions, De Grano gave assurance that there is no reason for patients to fear going to hospitals to seek medical consultation.

He encouraged the public to wear face masks and to get vaccinated to protect themselves from the virus. He, however, admitted that re-imposing the mandatory face mask policy would be difficult since it has already been lifted.

De Grano also assured the public of the private hospitals’ readiness to handle a possible rise in El Niño-related diseases. g

On Pag-asa visit, Jinggoy Estrada pledges push for AFP budget hike

by Xave GreGorio Philstar.com

PAG-ASA ISLAND, Kalayaan —

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada committed Thursday to push for an increase in the budget of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as it requested additional equipment to detect and monitor foreign incursions into the country.

“I’ve always been supportive of their needs,” Estrada told reporters here in Pag-asa Island.

“Whatever they need … I’ll try to talk with my fellow senators to increase the budget for the AFP.” The military has more than P110 billion in the 2023 national budget, and around P65 billion in the AFP modernization program this year.

Estrada, the chairperson of the Senate defense panel, visited Pagasa, which is part of the Kalayaan municipality of Palawan to check on troops deployed there and on residents of the island town.

In the AFP’s wishlist is a new radar that can detect foreign vessels in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, which spans 200 nautical miles from the coastline.

“Right now, we have limited capability,” AFP chief-of-staff Andres Centino said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Air Force is proposing P657.54 million worth of projects, including a wastewater treatment facility and a 300-meter extension of the runway on Pag-asa Island.

The PAF is currently improving its facilities on Balabac Island in Palawan, which Centino described to be a “very strategic location” as it is near to an international sea lane.

“It is important that we are able to detect or identify who is coming in within our territorial waters,” he said.

‘They might invade us’

Foreign vessels and aircrafts still come close to Pag-asa Island, which is located in the tense South China Sea.

Lt. Erwin Fermo of Joint Task

Unit Pag-asa said in a briefing that in a week an average of one Chinese Coast Guard vessel, four or five Chinese fishing vessels, one to two Vietnamese ships and one foreign aircraft come close to the island.

The AFP’s protocol is to issue a radio challenge to these foreign

vessels and aircrafts when they come within 12 nautical miles of the coastline.

But even then, troops admitted that sometimes their radio challenges go unanswered or do not make these vessels and aircraft to go away.

Philippine Navy Commodore Alan Javier said that in those cases, they document the incidents and report them to the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea.

Still, the presence of foreign vessels — in particular those from China — so close to Pag-asa keeps some schoolchildren here anxious.

“We’re afraid they might invade us,” 10-year-old Irish Mendoza told reporters in Filipino.

Some of the much older residents, however, do not share these concerns.

“We’re not afraid of them,” construction worker Roland Palay told Philstar.com. “They don’t come near us since they know the boundary of Pag-asa.”

“Unless, of course, you go near Mischief Reef. They would really come after you,” he said referring to the atoll that Manila calls Panganiban Reef. g

Kuwait entry ban stays as PH seeks ‘long-term solution’

MANILA – Kuwait’s suspension of visa issuance and entry ban on Filipinos will stay as the Philippine government tries to hash out a “long-term solution” to issues between the two nations involving overseas Filipinos working there.

“They insist we are violating their law. So status quo pa rin (it's still status quo). We will need more talks in (the) future,” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said on Thursday, May 18. The statement came after the bilateral talks between Filipino and Kuwaiti officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in Kuwait from May 16 to 17.

De Vega underscored the need to implement the existing Philippine-Kuwait labor agreement.

“This kind of long-term solution will not be achieved in one round of discussions. The alternative would be for us to immediately agree to everything

they insist on, or for them to agree to everything we insist on,” he said.

“That is not realistic in diplomatic negotiations, even with a friend and partner like Kuwait."

Kuwait imposed an entry ban and suspended the visa issuance to all Filipinos coming to the Gulf state in May, 10 months after the Philippine government halted the deployment of first-time household service workers there.

Kuwait did not formally disclose the reason behind its decision but the local media reported that it stemmed from the country’s alleged non-compliance with the 2018 labor agreement concerning the operation of a temporary shelter for distressed Filipinos inside the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait.

In a separate statement, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said the delegation had explained before Kuwaiti officials “that all actions taken

by the Philippine embassy and the Philippine government are solely to ensure the safety and welfare of our own nationals.”

“Providing protection to a country’s citizens abroad is a well-established duty of consular offices under international law and conventions,” she said.

“We thank the Kuwait government for its hospitality throughout the delegation’s two-day visit. The Philippines remains open to constructive dialogue on how to address current concerns.”

Daza reiterated that Manila fully respects Kuwaiti laws and that the delegation personally expressed its “profound appreciation” for Kuwait’s hospitality to more than 200,000 Filipino workers.

Representing the Philippines during the talks were senior officials of the DFA and the Department of Migrant Workers, as well as its attached agency, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. (PNA)

BEATING THE HEAT WITH COCO WATER. Fresh buko juice is sold at PHP10 per cup along Barangay Lubogan Toril, Davao City, on

Wednesday, May 17. Coconut water helps promote heart health and is a popular refreshment during summer.

PNA photos by Robinson Niñal Jr.

Back to masking

SOME quarters worried about the impact on tourism and certain businesses may not like it, but the city governments of Manila and Baguio have gone ahead and restored limited mask mandates.

In densely populated Manila, masking is again mandatory at city hall, which also houses the prosecutors’ offices and several judicial courtrooms. Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan, a physician, may yet push through with her plan to include crowded public areas such as Divisoria among the places where masking will again be mandatory.

In Baguio City, masking is again required in commercial establishments and crowded outdoor areas. Mayor Benjamin Magalong said this is a precautionary measure amid the expected surge in visitors this month. While he did not mention it, the upcoming graduation ceremonies and related activities at the Philippine Military Academy traditionally make the month of May a peak period for tourism in Baguio.

Certain quarters have expressed concern that restoring mask mandates could scare away travelers, harming the tourism industry, which is just starting to recover from the COVID restrictions. Amid the continuing increase in COVID infections and the positivity rate for testing, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases said recently that it saw no need to reimpose mandatory masking.

Babe’s Eye View

WE received a large number of emails and messages expressing their overwhelming satisfaction at the outcome of the official visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to Washington, D.C. – described as “remarkable” and “a standout” by Center for Strategic and International Studies president John Hamre, pointing out the president brought a “new dynamism” to the relationship between the Philippines and the United States.

Aside from engagements with key U.S. Cabinet officials on the various aspects of our bilateral relations, we also had several discussions centering on economic trade and investment.

Together with our economic team, all of us at the Philippine embassy in Washington, D.C. and our friends from the American Chamber of Commerce as well as the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council are all gearing up for the “follow through,” as instructed by President Marcos, on the many areas of cooperation that have been identified which, in

Public

TO do justice is what the legal system believes to be its function. But that is a selfserving description. From an outsider’s perspective, the law’s function appears to be, strictly speaking, no more than to follow due process, no matter how long this may take. Courts of law rule on the validity of facts and the applicability of laws as these are presented to them. Very rarely, if at all, do they permit themselves to comment beyond what is submitted for resolution, especially if doing so risks incurring the enmity of politically influential individuals.

Nowhere do we see this more starkly than in the continuing legal saga of former justice secretary and former senator Leila de Lima. She has spent the last six years in detention on criminal charges filed by a regime she had been investigating for human rights violations. Critics of the regime have variously described

Weeks before this meeting, the government had restored mask mandates in the light railway services in Metro Manila, the region where the highest cases and positivity rates have been recorded.

Opponents of mandatory masking have said it is better for people to decide if they want to keep themselves safe from infection through masking and other basic COVID health safety protocols such as hand hygiene. Those protocols, however, are not just for self-protection, but also to prevent the infected from spreading their virus to others.

Health experts have warned that both vaccine and natural immunity to COVID are waning, allowing Omicron, its subvariant Arcturus and other highly transmissible strains of the original Wuhan virus to penetrate the defenses.

The health experts are warning that vulnerable sectors such as the weak elderly and persons with comorbidities can still suffer repeat bouts with COVID and land in the hospital intensive care unit. Apart from the fact that COVID can still kill, the experts warn of the possibility of developing long COVID, whose complications are unpredictable and whose treatment is uncertain. With these warnings, the city governments of Manila and Baguio have decided to act to protect

public health. Those worried about the impact of mandatory masking on tourism should instead press the government to obtain ASAP the bivalent

vaccines for Omicron and its mutations. Those shots will allow people to feel confident enough to ditch their masks. (Philstar.com)

Renewed US-PH economic ties: Our real work begins

the words of the president, “will help advance our key priorities with respect to agriculture and food security, promoting energy security as we transition to clean energy and boost trade and build resilience of our supply chains, enhancing connectivity and digitalization, also climate change mitigation and adaptation.” His meetings with key business organizations as well as top American companies have been very promising and productive, judging from commitments that have been made such as the $1.3 billion worth of investments that potentially will create approximately 6,700 new jobs for Filipinos. The positive reception from American business executives is undoubtedly an offshoot of his meetings with U.S. business groups during his trip to New York in September last year for the 77th United Nations General Assembly, with his schedule arranged in such a way that dinners became business meetings with American executives from various industries and sectors. In fact, his meeting with officials of the New York Stock Exchange and the forum

where he was joined by the country’s economic managers became an opportunity to highlight the Philippines as ready for business and a smart investment choice.

There is no doubt the Philippines is poised for an impressive economic growth, with the administration focused on seeing the country achieve upper middle-income status in the next two years. Financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank have projected the country’s economic growth at 6 percent this year.

While there may be “various risks and challenges, the economic outlook for the Philippines in the near and medium term remains solid,” assured NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan. Another positive news is the increase in the country’s employment rate to 95.3 percent in March, up from the 94.2 percent recorded in the same period in 2022, according to the latest report from the Philippine Statistics Authority.

With the United States still one of our top trading partners, we are certainly looking forward to more foreign direct

investments coming from U.S. investors. We are currently preparing for the first-ofits-kind, largest business delegation that President Joe Biden promised to send to the Philippines to be led by U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. We are already working on this with our friends at the White House, targeting the third quarter of this year, with a possible follow-up on developments after the delegation’s visit to Manila following the APEC meetings in San Francisco this November.

One of the top priorities we are working on is the renewal of our participation in the United States GSP – the Generalized System of Preferences –the oldest and largest U.S. trade program that provides nonreciprocal duty-free privileges for more than 3,500 products entering the U.S. market from 119 beneficiary countries that include the Philippines.

The country’s eligibility for the GSP expired in December 2020 but the renewal has been delayed for several reasons, among them the pandemic and the previous speakership issue in the U.S. Congress,

whose approval for the renewal is required. We have already started meeting with several members of the U.S. Congress for the renewal, and are greatly encouraged by the support of U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Idaho Senator Mike Crapo regarding our bid for reauthorization of the GSP. Both have expressed such support with other partners in the U.S. Congress. As President Marcos noted, both countries have benefited from the GSP, which could be expanded to cover other products.

We will also be continuing our initiatives for a bilateral Free Trade Agreement, although I have to admit that this will be quite challenging since the U.S. is pushing for the IndoPacific Economic Framework to have a wider reach on trade agreements, specifically with ASEAN countries. Nonetheless, we are working on sectoral FTAs which could be more plausible.

During the U.S. official visit, PBBM was very specific on key economic challenges that must be addressed, in particular “food, energy, health security, digital connectivity and the cross-cutting issues of climate change and pandemic

preparedness.”

Noting that “economic security is national security” with the latter no longer simply about territorial defense, the president encouraged companies to look to the Philippines as they diversify and reconfigure supply chains. He also urged the U.S. government and the private sector to consider investing in the areas of clean energy, decarbonization agriculture, critical green minerals, telecommunications and health care that offer high potential for growth.

As the president profoundly stated, the real victory was not when he won the elections in May 9 last year by an overwhelming number of votes – the real victory will be towards the end of his term in June 2028 when he would have achieved the ultimate goal of economic wellbeing for every Filipino and uplifted their quality of life. (Philsar.com)

* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

* * * babeseyeview@gmail.com

The continuing saga of Leila de Lima

the evidence on which these cases rested as “fabricated,” “contrived,” or “invented.” But nowhere are such words to be found in the court rulings that have pronounced De Lima innocent. She is acquitted, period. Nothing is said about the criminal culpability of those who wickedly masterminded and knowingly participated in the preparation of fake testimonies and the filing of bogus charges that landed her in jail. Since no charges have been filed against these persons, they are of no interest to the courts.

The objective consequences of the mandate of due process may sometimes be, in themselves, a form of injustice.

A mother, a daughter, an elected public servant was targeted by no less than the country’s president. She was subjected to malicious scorn by some of her own colleagues in the legislature, falsely accused of a crime, and deprived of her liberty. It took four years before the cases against her moved. Two judges have ruled that the evidence against her is insufficient to warrant

a conviction. How are we supposed to take all this?

Last Friday, May 12, Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 204 Judge Abraham Joseph B. Alcantara acquitted De Lima of the crime of conspiring in illegal drug trading inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP). Yet he could not order her release; instead, the just acquitted De Lima was escorted back to her detention cell inside Camp Crame. Why? Because there is another pending case against her for more or less the same charge of abetting and profiting from drug trading inside the NBP. That case, Criminal Case No. 17-167, is the last of the three cases that were filed on Feb. 17, 2017. It is lodged in another branch (Branch 256) of the Muntinlupa RTC. The hearings are set to begin in June. De Lima’s lawyers in this remaining case have filed a petition for her temporary release on the ground that the evidence against her is weak, a claim that has now been validated by the May 12 decision. But, taking their

cue from Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, government prosecutors have responded to the De Lima petition for bail by offering to present evidence in support of her continued detention. (Remulla has said he would not oppose a petition for bail if applied for on humanitarian grounds but would oppose it if sought on the merits of the case.) The judge has yet to rule on the petition for bail. Earlier, in February 2021, a Muntinlupa RTC judge dismissed the charges against the embattled former senator in the first of the three cases filed by the DOJ, then headed by Vitaliano Aguirre II. Four years had passed since the then newly elected senator was arrested and ordered detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center. The cases against her were virtually frozen in 2018, 2019, and 2020—while her chief nemesis, Rodrigo Duterte was president. Six judges either recused themselves or retired—a sign that the courts were not too keen to hear cases

that were clearly entwined with political interests.

Things began to move again only toward the end of Duterte’s presidency. It was as though a dark heavy cloud that had dulled consciences suddenly lifted. One after the other, key witnesses, who said they had been coerced into giving false testimonies against De Lima in exchange for the withdrawal of charges against them, recanted.

The first to do so was selfconfessed drug dealer Kerwin Espinosa, followed by former Bureau of Corrections officer in charge Rafael Ragos, and then by former De Lima aide Ronnie Dayan.

In the face of these recantations, the cases against De Lima stood entirely on the supposed declarations of high-profile drug inmates who were totally under the control of the DOJ. In his ruling last Friday, Judge Abraham Joseph Alcantara stated that Ragos’ testimony was particularly crucial. His retraction substantially weakened the government’s case against the former senator. As a general rule, the

judge noted, recantations are not given much weight. “The rare exception is when there is no evidence sustaining the judgment of conviction other than the testimony of a witness or witnesses who are shown to have made contradictory statements … ”

It is terrifying to think that someone as prominent as De Lima, a former head of the country’s Commission on Human Rights and an elected senator, could find herself caught in a tangled mess such as this, the hapless victim of an elaborate scheme to game an imperfect legal system. One can only wonder how many ordinary people have been sent to prison in this manner and have been forgotten. I’m sure there’s a law against this, but what are the chances of anyone being convicted for malicious prosecution? (Inquirer.net)

* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

* * * public.lives@gmail.com

Las Vegas, San

Go lauds PH athletes’ SEA Games performance

MANILA – Senator Christopher Lawrence Go commended on Wednesday, May 17 the performance of the Filipino athletes who participated in the 32nd South East Asian (SEA) Games in Cambodia.

Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Sports, expressed his gratitude to the athletes citing the Gilas Pilipinas men's basketball team who regained their grip on the top as the powerhouse of basketball in the SEA Games.

"Congratulations sa pagkapanalo ng Gilas Pilipinas na nakasungkit ng gintong medalya sa men’s basketball competition

nitong Martes, May 16. Talagang masarap sa pakiramdam na nakabawi tayo sa Indonesia, nakabawi pa tayo sa (Congratulations to Gilas Pilipinas for winning the gold medal in men's basketball competition this Tuesday, May 16. It is a good feeling that we have regained our excellence over Indonesia and) Cambodia,'

Go said in his statement.

He said the win should also be a morale booster for Gilas Pilipinas which will be joining the upcoming FIBA World Cup this year to be hosted by the Philippines.

Go said he is proud of the Filipino athletes' success which

is also a big win for all Filipinos.

"Maipagmamalaki natin ang kanilang naging dedikasyon, disiplina at angking talento para maipakita sa buong mundo ang kanilang husay at ang pusong Pilipino na lumalaban hanggang dulo (We can be proud of their dedication, discipline, and talent to show the world their skills and heart of a Filipino fighting until the end)," he said.

Over 6,200 athletes from 11 countries in the SEA region participated in the 32nd SEA Games which was held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia this year with a total of 584 events from May 5 to 17, 2023. (PNA)

Most Filipinos trust, satisfied with PNP — survey

by Red Mendoza ManilaTimes.net

MOST Filipinos continue to trust and are satisfied with the performance of the Philippine National Police (PNP), according to a survey by OCTA Research.

In the Tugon ng Masa poll of 1,200 respondents nationwide from March 24 to 28, 2023, eight out of 10 Filipinos or 80 percent nationwide said they trust the PNP as opposed to five percent who did not trust the organization. The results come amid corruption allegations on some police officials.

The PNP enjoyed the highest trust rating in the Visayas and Mindanao at 89 percent but was lowest in the National Capital Region (NCR) at 67 percent. Meanwhile, 8 out of 10 respondents nationwide also said that they were satisfied with the performance of the PNP, 6 percent were dissatisfied and 15 percent were unsure.

In the Visayas and Mindanao, 9 out of 10 or 87 percent of the respondents said they were satisfied with the PNP's performance, the highest in the country. Seven out of 10 in NCR or 65 percent expressed the same.

Meanwhile, 41 percent of respondents said there was an improvement in the PNP's implementation of peace and order, 9 percent said it worsened while 48 percent said there was no change. Also in the survey, 41 percent said that police's response to criminality has improved, 8 percent worsened, 46 percent unchanged.

The survey used face-to-face interviews and has a margin of error of plus minus three percent nationwide and six percent in the NCR, Balanced Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. g

Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority Notice of Public Comment Period and Public Hearing

As required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Notice is hereby given that the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority will hold a Public Hearing to solicit comments on the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority’s Annual Agency Plan for FY2024.

The Public Hearing will be held at: Howard Cannon Center Commission Chambers 340 North 11th Street Las Vegas, Nevada 89101

Monday, June 26, 2023 at 5:00 pm

The Plan will be available on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at all Public Housing Community Offices as well as in the main lobby area of SNRHA Administrative Offices located at:

Howard Cannon Center – 340 North 11th Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101

W.F. Cottrell Administration Building – 5390 E. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89122 Housing Programs Building – 380 North Maryland Parkway Las Vegas, NV 89101

The Plan will also be available on our website at www.snvrha.org, Welcome Page, scroll down to the Agency Plans section, click on “Click here for all Agency Plans” and scroll down to the pdf icon for this plan.

If you wish to comment on this Plan, require additional information, and/or need special accommodations, please call 702-477-3110.

Written comments will be accepted from Tuesday, May 9, 2023, through Friday, June 23, 2023, at 5:00 pm at the above addresses.

VEGAS&STYLE

Comedian JR de Guzman on cracking jokes in a time of cancel culture

by Marinel cruz Inquirer.net

“I’M interested in finding out what cancel culture in the Philippines is about, but there is really no topic that I wouldn’t touch if I could make it funny.”

Thus said standup comedian and musician JR de Guzman, who will be bringing his hit U.S. show “Later That Evening” to Manila this June. The Philippine-born comic who moved to California at an early age often injects stories about his experiences as a Filipino immigrant growing up in America.

“I want to be able to talk about things that I feel are worth performing. I do think that if another comic is performing a topic that is risky and is doing a good job at making it funny, then by all means, do it,” JR said in response to a question on what

topics he would not dare touch, especially in this age of cancel culture and “wokeness.”

“That being said, I have done some things that would make people react. Should I stop doing them? I’ve learned that people will always find something to be offended by, so if you cut out every joke that offended your audiences, you wouldn’t have a set. ‘Was I really out of line?’ I ask myself that question every night before I go to sleep.

I do think that if you genuinely believe that it’s funny, then you should keep it in your set,” JR told reporters in a recent virtual media gathering organized by MYX Global.

JR has been making a name on the world stage with his extraordinary gift of entertaining live audiences, while introducing Asian culture and conveying his take on racism in his

narratives. He was previously featured in the Netflix special “The Comedy Lineup” and Comedy Central’s “Kevin Hart

Presents: Hart of the City.”

Comics to watch

Named one of Variety’s 10 Comics to Watch in 2022, JR will serenade audiences with his songs and amuse them with hilarious anecdotes in MYX Global’s “Later that Evening” show at The Theatre at Solaire on June 3, at 7 p.m.

Aside from the United States where he is currently touring this particular show until the end of the year, JR has already performed for Stand-Up Tokyo and ROR Comedy in Japan, the Jokers Ball in Indonesia, the Badaboom Comedy Series in Amsterdam, and many other international shows. He also won in the 2016 “Stand-Up NBC” competition and was named the “New Face” in a festival called “Just for Laughs 2017.”

At the virtual chat, which also featured JR’s opening acts, Red Orello and Ryan Puno, JR was asked how performing in different countries influenced his materials. He also explained how he connects with diverse audiences. “It’s pretty straightforward. I just do things that are more relatable, like family and sex. For me, it’s been helpful to have music as I go internationally because I feel that it’s universal. It’s hard to figure out what’s going to work in a particular country compared to another. I think it’s something I have to find out by doing shows

Catriona says wedding with Sam will happen by next year

by HannaH Mallorca Inquirer.net

MONTHS after confirming her engagement to Sam Milby, Catriona Gray revealed that their wedding will take place sometime by “next year” as they want to enjoy the bliss of being an engaged couple.

Gray spoke about making the most out of her time as an engaged woman during an interview with celebrity doctor Vicki Belo, which was uploaded on the latter’s YouTube channel on Thursday, May 18.

"Oh gosh, mga next year,” she said in response to Belo, who asked her about the exact date of their wedding.

“I just want to enjoy this season.

It’s a once in a lifetime season, so we just want to enjoy it and take our time,” she added.

During the interview, the Miss Universe 2018 titleholder admitted that while she and Milby knew each other “for a long time,” she didn’t fall in love with the singeractor at first sight even if they had a “lot of mutual friends.”

“We had a lot of mutual friends.

And when I did [Binibining Pilipinas], my stylist was also his stylist. So, we had a lot of common friends. But it wasn’t until the end of 2018 where I had gone to Japan with Erickson [Raymundo] who is my mentor, [and] who happens to be Sam’s manager,” she said.

"So, we were like, ‘Oh, have you gone to church?’ ‘Let’s go to church.’ I went with Erickson…

and that’s where I met Sam again there. And we just happened to run in similar circles,” Gray continued. She, however, didn’t indicate the moment where they crossed paths for the first time.

God-centered relationship

Gray also said that she and Milby share a relationship that is God-centered, where she noted that being with a Christian partner made her realize the importance of “guard[ing] her heart.”

"At first, before I was Christian, I didn’t understand what it means to be Christian. I didn’t understand the rules and boundaries that are meant to be put in place for young Christian couples, but when I grew up, I realized that they’re there to protect you and guide you because it really does guard your heart in the most amazing way,” she said.

The former beauty queen admitted that she was “so guarded and apprehensive” when she met Milby for the first time, but it was “gentle” personality that made her fall in love with him.

“I felt like I was so guarded and apprehensive when I first met Sam. But he is just such a gentle and patient person that he really made me feel safe with him,” she said. “I never felt that he wanted to use who I was. [Since] I’m a [type of] public figure [who is] Miss Universe, there’s this kind of hesitancy if this person likes me for me, or do they just want to be associated with me, but he always made me feel safe.”

Gray also shared that the singeractor “really made an effort” to

know her family and friends during the course of their relationship.

“He never made me feel that he was trying to use [who I am] to his advantage, or anything. And we have such similar values, one being our faith. Two, we’re both super family-oriented that he really made an effort with my family and friends,” she said.

The “Raise Your Flag” singer then revealed that while Milby didn’t win the affections of her parents right away, he eventually won over them completely.

“Right away? Um, they’re a bit more, just wanting to know more about him a bit more, but once they got to know him, they really love him. So with our engagement, they’re really so happy. My dad was tearing up because he’s so happy,” she added.

When asked about having kids in the future, Gray admitted that she wanted to have “maybe two children” but she’s leaning towards having “one boy and one girl” or “two girls” when the time comes. EDV

“Because I’m so close to my mom, and I really love our relationship together. So my heart would just burst when I have a little girl,” she explained.

Gray and Milby confirmed their engagement in February 2023, although they remain tight-lipped about the details of their wedding.

The couple went public with their relationship in May 2020, which happened to fall on the exact date of the singer-actor’s 36th birthday.

there. I try to think broader and on a human and cultural level when I travel overseas,” JR explained.

Here is an excerpt of the recent hourlong interview with JR:

We remember you telling a story about how you bombed a set that came after Alex Calleja. How do you deal with jokes that don’t run smoothly?

I blame Alex because he was just too good that night. I really wanted to erase that story, but I end up telling it in every one of these press cons. It was a Valentine’s Day show. Alex went before me and just crushed it so hard. I, on the other hand, was still pretty new, probably only two or three years in. I bombed pretty hard, and the audience was like, ‘Could you bring Alex back on?’ That was the hardest I’ve ever experienced in my life. That being said, if a joke doesn’t work—it’s like boxing—you just have to keep going unless it’s obvious that it was already making the crowd feel awkward.

What do you consider your most memorable show?

I feel that if you remember when you bombed, then you should also remember your best show. Two highlights for me, career-wise, would have to be opening for JoKoy at Madison Square Garden in New York City last year, and the one that took place in my hometown. I performed at a memorial auditorium, again, as an opening act. The tape from that show got me my first Netflix special.

Do you have a favorite joke inspired by your Filipino upbringing? How do foreigners relate to it?

I just talk about how I learned to sing and play music in the church because my grandma took me there twice a day when I was growing up. Talking about that stuff, every-

one usually kind of gets it even if they’re not Christian, Catholic or Muslim. I feel that everyone relates to having strict, conservative and religious grandparents, who tell you to pray about every problem you have. Doing it in front of other cultures, I haven’t really had any problem with it.

by KriStofer Purnell Philstar.com

MISS International 2016 and actress Kylie Verzosa made a surprise appearance at the opening day of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.

Kylie was present for the premiere of this year's opening film "Jeanne du Barry" by Maiwenn, Johnny Depp's comeback movie where he stars as King Louis XV opposite the director who portrays the titular character.

According to a public relations agency Yugen PR, Kylie was personally invited by the Cannes organizing team to attend the premiere. The same agency said Kylie is reportedly the first Filipino to ever walk a red carpet premiere ceremony at the festival's opening day.

The actress-model walked the red carpet steps of Cannes in a black couture gown by Mark Bumgarner. The ball gown had an exaggerated train adorned with black feathers, complemented with silver jewelry from Luna by Drake.

"Dream come true," Kylie said in an Instagram post with photos of her on the Cannes steps. "It was so surreal."

A number of fellow beauty queens expressed their support for Kylie, including Miss World 2013 Megan Young, Miss World Philippines 2018 Katarina

by Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

KAPAMILYA singer Sarah

Geronimo broke her silence on her alleged rift with G-Force choreographer Georcelle DapatSy.

In an interview with the media, including Philstar.com, at this week's grand launch of Furniture Republic in Taytay, Rizal, Sarah said that she missed Georcelle and the G-Force during her 20th anniversary concert recently.

"Malaking bagay sila ng career ko. It would have been more magical if they were there," Sarah said.

"I wanted them to be there to celebrate my 20 years with me… Baka maiyak ako," she added.

Georcelle earlier expressed her admiration to Sarah for directing and performing in her concert.

"It's also like giving her creative freedom. Sixteen years kaming magkatrabaho, parang love team," she told ABS-CBN News.

Rodriguez, Miss Universe

Philippines 2021 1st runnerup Maurren Wroblewitz, and newly-crowned Miss Universe

Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee.

Celebrities that commented words of praise too were actresses Anne Curtis and Iza Calzado, hosts Raymond Gutierrez and KaladKaren, photographer BJ

Pascual, designer Francis Libiran, and model-content creator LA Aguinaldo.

The 2023 Cannes Film Festival runs until May 27 with 21 movies in competition for the Palme d'Or, which was last won by this year's jury president Ruben Ostlund for his film "Triangle of Sadness" starring Dolly de Leon.

"But we have to grow and experience others. Bottomline is I want her to feel good about that process," she added.

Georcelle also admitted that their "professional split" with Sarah has been difficult to them.

"Sixteen years 'yan kasi. Am I hurting? Yes, more than hurting. But my concern now is to uplift

and guide them to have a higher vibration because social media is not nice!" she said.

"I know it was a shock to many that I pulled out from Sarah's concert but people will realize soon enough that I did this to protect our craft and the dance industry. Let us respect the artistry of our dancers!" she added.

Kylie

U.S.-based comedian JR de Guzman Photos from Instagram/@jrdguz

Sam Milby and Catriona Gray

Photo from Instagram/@samuelmilby

Singer-actress Sarah Geronimo

Photo from Instagram/@justsarahgph

Kylie Verzosa at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival Photo from Instagram/@kylieverzosa

An interview with Nevada’s Fil-Am assemblywoman Erica Mosca

by Isabella Calderon

IT was a late winter storm that greeted my sister, mother and I as we stepped outside the Reno/ Tahoe airport. Strong gusts of wind shook our rental car as we drove through the icy road to Carson City. We arrived at the Capitol and feared walking through the cold winds and snow piles. Luckily, a nice woman offered to take us to the Legislature in her enclosed golf cart. We braved the weather to meet an amazing person, Assemblywoman Erica Mosca.

Ms. Mosca is truly awe inspiring as the first person in her family to go to college. She made history by being the first Assemblywoman in Nevada of Philippine descent!

Ms. Mosca founded a nonprofit called Leaders in Training (LIT), which helps students like her to not only go to college but also become leaders in their communities. Before she became an Assemblywoman, she was a fifth grade teacher at Teach With America, Las Vegas. She also had access to a nonprofit called 10,000 Degrees. She graduated as Summa Cum Laude from Boston University and got her Masters In Education from Harvard. Ms. Mosca is working tirelessly to support the education of underrepresented students.

I got the chance to visit Assemblywoman Erica Mosca and ask her a few questions about education.

IC: First of all, how does it feel to be part of history as a Filipina Nevadan woman?

Assemblywoman Erica Mosca (AEM): Wow! I feel very honored to be a part of history. I think of two things. I think of all the women that came before and did not have the opportunity to be in this seat, and those who did the work so I can be up here. And then, I think of people like you and your sister who I know will be the people that come next.

IC: What is your main goal this year for Nevada?

AEM: My main goal for Nevada this year is twofold. First, I want to bring as many regular people up from Las Vegas to come and experience Carson City. So far, every week people have been coming and I am really proud of that. My other goal is bills, legislation, or laws and that is all about education and making sure that our students who need the most help can have the resources

and support that they need.

IC: What are your plans for the shortage of teachers in Clark County?

AEM: That is definitely a very difficult thing that’s happening right now. We really need to focus on "Grow your Own." I have students who have been with me for many years who are now teachers in the Clark County school district. So, "Grow Your Own" means that when they are in middle and high school, how do we make sure they have internships, practice opportunities, credits? There’s a bill to make sure that they can go to college for free if they teach for a certain amount of years. So I am very excited to support that. That’s what I did, I did a program where I taught for a couple of years and gave back to the community and I know that will help get us teachers.

IC: Besides raising the budget, how do we create more educational opportunities for K-12?

AEM: Yes, I think other than money there are so many other things that we can do. One of the bills that came out from someone in our party is to really study the outdoors. How we can get more young people to have opportunities to learn about the outdoors and go outside. That's a study, there's no money yet but we're gonna study that. Things like today where we bring young

people up to Carson City or we support them through things like the Nevada Youth Legislature which are High Schoolers that are actual Senators that apply and advocate for bills. There are a lot of ways that we can support young people. I think the biggest thing that we can do is advertise them better so everybody knows about it.

IC: What can you do this year to encourage kids to go to college?

AEM: Oh yes, and you know that is what my whole life’s work is all about. I think of three things to help young people encourage them to go to college.

Take them on a campus tour, let’s go on a field trip, have free food, go and see the dorm and see its school, and see that it’s accessible.

I think young people, college students from the community who look like the students come out and talk about their experience, talk about how they did it.

And third, we know parents are so important. All parents love their kids. And if you did not go to college yourself, like my own parents, they just needed the information and support to help me, and also work directly with families to make sure they also have the opportunities.

IC: Thank you so much for your time and interview.

AEM: Thank you for this interview!

Matteo on bringing Sarah G with him to GMA

by AllAn PolicArPio Inquirer.net

IN GMA 7’s action film-inspired welcome video for Matteo Guidicelli, the new Kapuso artist is shown riding a motorcycle and fending off goons on his way to the network’s headquarters.

Which begs the question: Is there someone he would like to ride with and bring to GMA 7, and is that someone his wife, Sarah Geronimo?

Meron ka bang gustong i-angkas papunta dito sa GMA?”

the Inquirer asked the 33-yearold actor-television host, who started saying, “Next year! Next year! Next year” before hearing the second part of our question. Members of the GMA Public Affairs started cheering and clapping.

But upon realizing that it was Sarah we were referring to, Matteo took back his earlier reply and quickly said, “Ang mama ko… ang mama ko ang ia-angkas ko papunta dito sa GMA!”

“But yeah, I actually taped [an interview with] Jessica Soho and they showed a VTR of Sarah from years back. So it was nice to see her as a child when she was just starting. As it turned out, her old interviews are here with GMA,” he added.

Of course, he wants to bring Sarah with him “anywhere” and “everywhere.” But as for the possibility of Sarah working at GMA 7, that’s up to their Viva Entertainment bosses and Kapuso executives to decide. “We don’t know [what’s next] but Atty. Gozon (GMA 7 chair and chief executive officer) is good at negoti-

ating,” he said at a recent press conference.

“Maybe,” he added. “We never know, we never know.”

New relationships

True enough, never did he expect that he would one day sign a contract with GMA 7. “I’m excited to build new relationships with new people,” said Matteo, who started out with ABS-CBN, worked for GMA 7 for a year in 2009, and went back to the Kapamilya network the following year.

“I was with ABS first. And then

I did ‘SOP’ (GMA 7’s former Sunday variety show) for a while. You don’t know where life will take you. We don’t know who we will end up working with in the future.

So it’s always nice and important to build… nurture relationships,” he pointed out.

Negotiations took almost a year, revealed Matteo, who likened the process to finding love. “[We were supposed to announce it] last year, but the timing wasn’t perfect. It’s like love. Good things happen to those who wait… I’m excited to start this journey,” he said.

Different energy

Matteo started working on Monday, May 15 as a regular host of the early morning news magazine show, “Unang Hirit.” It’s a good fit, he said, because he’s a morning person. GMA Public Affairs first vice president Nessa Valdellon added that they were looking for a “younger host” who can bring his type of “energy” to the show.

“I would just go there and be my honest self. I want to have a good time and just try to be posi-

tive. I want to make sure that the people are happy when they turn on their screens,” Matteo said.

“I hope we can be a source of happiness, motivation and good vibes to our kababayans.”

Matteo is set to do full-length cinematic documentary specials about nature and “tell stories of Filipino people.” His interest in this field was sparked by the 45day Scout Ranger training he underwent last 2020 at Camp Tecson in Bulacan.

“When I joined the Scout Rangers, Boss Vic [del Rosario of Viva] told me that he had one condition: I had to make a docu. I went inside and did one. That documentary is titled, ‘Ranger G.’ That’s how it started,” said Matteo, who’s a Philippine Army reservist.

Answered prayers

And this career move toward projects related to public affairs is something Sarah is happy about.

“She told me, ‘Love, bagay ka sa public affairs. Your prayers were answered—our prayers were answered.’ She’s very encouraging of this new journey,” related Matteo, who will also start shooting an action series, titled “Black Rider,” with Ruru Madrid.

“I want to choose my projects carefully. Life brings you to certain moments where a new purpose is born; where you realize the meaning of what you really want to do in the industry; where you realize that you can use your platform to tell stories… It’s not about us all the time, but the people around us,” he added.

Matteo Guidicelli

Photos from Instagram/@matteog

The author and her sister with Filipina American assemblywoman Erica Mosca. Contributed photo

Matteo Guidicelli with wife Sarah Geronimo

MD, FaCS, FPCS

EXPLORING the world, meeting people in their native countries, learning about their history, heritage, culture, and experiencing their way of living firsthand does wonders to our mind, body, and soul. The journey reveals that we, as a species on this planet, have greater commonality and mutual interests than our selfish individual differences. The wonderful visit to countries eager to please tourists is always refreshing to the spirit. Vacation, a decompressing break from our daily stressful life, is wonderful and healthy for both the visitor and the tourism industry of the target destinations. Our group of 21 medical colleagues, spouses, and a friend from Las Vegas, Chicago, Indiana, Kentucky, and New York just returned from a 14-day (April 22 to May 8) transatlantic cruise to Malaga, Valencia, and Palma de Mallorca (Spain); Marseilles (France); and Florence and Rome (Italy).

On board the Odyssey of the Seas of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, the Windjammer Restaurant on the 14th deck became our meeting place several times a day and “headquarters” during the 14-day cruise. From Day One, I had informed our group that “according to the cruise’s rule,” we were supposed to eat every two hours. And we almost followed that “rule,” but conscious of our health, practically all of us violated this anyway. But the Lobster Night was irresistible. Our group picture with the Captain of the Ship, Per Kristofferson, showed almost everyone gained a few ounces, if not a pound or two.

The cruise package included an added 2 days of land tours in Rome which provided us the opportunity to meet with the Philippine Cardinal Luis Antonio “Chito” Tagle on Saturday, May 5.

According to Inside the Vatican, Pope Francis selected Cardinal Tagle to head the Vatican’s Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. The congregation, which handles evangelization in Africa, Asia, and Oceania, is expected to be combined with the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization, which has focused primarily on Europe, as envisioned by the Pope.

On Sunday, May 8, we travelled for more than four hours in three rented driven vans to San Giovanni Rotondo (Fr. Pio Pilgrimage Church), 237.3 miles south of Rome, to view the body of Fr. Pio in a sealed plastic vault designed for public viewing. Francesco Forgione, OFMCap, popularly known as Padre Pio and as Saint Pio of Pietrelcina,

A cruise: Like life itself

was an Italian Franciscan Capuchin friar, priest, stigmatist, and mystic. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church, celebrated on September 23rd each year. Fr. Pio was born on May 25, 1887 in Pietrelcina, Italy, died on September 23, 1968, and buried in the Sanctuary of Saint Mary of our Lady of Grace. The new Fr. Pio modern-structure pilgrimage church is on the left side of the old church of Saint Mary. The river of devotees from all around the world honoring the mystical saint Fr. Pio seemed unending.

The rigorous walk back to our vans, on an uphill climb, was a great challenge to many of us in our mid-70s and mid-80s, with arthritis and other ailments. A self-imposed penance? Maybe. But it gave us an inspiring, uplifting, and a most spiritual feeling with inner peace.

We got back to the Star Hotel of Metropole in Rome at almost 9 p.m., just in time for our “last supper” with the Rev. Fr. Roderick Ignacio (Padre Ricky) at the Antico Ristorante Bar Imperium, a famous restaurant a couple of blocks from our hotel. Fr. Ricky is Parish Priest of Santa Maria Maggiore, San Paolo Apostolo, and Santa Lucia Trocchio. He is also the Rector of Shrine of our Lady of Piternis, Cervaro Delegato dei Sacerdoti in Diocesi, and del Rappresentante del Consiglio Pastorale. Fr. Ricky is a close friend of Pope Francis.

While on this cruise, we had the privilege of meeting fellow Pinoy cruisers, 31 from Hawaii, and very importantly, countless fellow Filipinos working on the Odyssey, young and vibrant, very courteous, and willing to please. Proudly a Filipino trait. They all left their loved ones in the Philippines to support their families back home and provide education and a better future for their children. While they were always cheerful, like their fellow workers from other countries, you could witness how hard they work each day, devoid of enough sleep, longing for their spouse and children back home, and practically a slave to their job, with meager salary. Indeed, a great personal sacrifice on their part, all in the name of love of family and survival itself. (A tip for future cruisers: Gratuities helps these noble workers. Let generosity prevail among us who are more blessed to share our loving compassion with them.) Even before the cruise ended, some were already asking when the next one would be. Indeed, life must be enjoyed fully!

A cruise is certainly like life on this good earth. During the journey you discover the nature of men and their individual philosophy, behavior, interests, frailties, strength, personality. The very same qualities and attitude in life become obvious among all of us and our fellow cruisers on our voyage in life itself. Qual-

ities unknown before, shining through, good, bad, or in between. Indeed, life and cruising are almost twins, people traveling in time and space, sometimes on treacherous terrains or rough waters, all unable to change the ocean waves and the wind direction, but with a God-given option to adjust the sail to navigate the course and arrive at the target destination. Unfortunately, some try to control the waves and the wind like a god, instead of wisely adjusting, and are destined to be lost at sea. In our life, bringing one’s sunshine and smile to every occasion, with a back-up umbrella just in case but keeping it unopened because of faith, all contribute to a healthy and happy life with soothing inner peace.

The greater the human contacts among various peoples of the world, the greater the chance of understanding, liking, and respecting one another and cementing lasting friendship with each other, one person and one nation at a time, especially among children whose innocence is devoid of poisonous biases and prejudices. They are our hope for the future, and prayerfully, a chance at achieving world peace. Most unlikely in our generation but hope reigns in my heart.

The human species better “cruise” peacefully together now on a global scale with a devotion to world peace before it’s too late, or we are doomed to disintegrate together into cinders and ashes in the galaxy in a colossal nuclear Armageddon turning planet Earth into a ball of fire and particles of black dust, exposing our stupidity.

* * *

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

* * *

The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health.

* * *

Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United 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.

Joaquin introduces baby son Scott to followers

by HannaH Mallorca Inquirer.net

JOAQUIN Domagoso has finally introduced his son, Scott Angelo, to the public as he expressed his love for his child.

Domagoso, the son of actor-politician Isko Moreno, took to his personal Instagram page on Sunday, May 7, to share glimpses of his favorite moments with his baby son, where he included a photo of himself kissing him on the cheek.

“Baby ko si kulot, inaalis n’ya’ng aking lungkot —— Dada loves you,” he said in the caption of his post. (My baby is called Kulot, who makes me feel better. Dada loves you.)

Fellow celebrities including Sofia Pablo, Thou Reyes, Kokoy De Santos, and Pancho Magno gushed over the Domagoso’s baby, as seen in the comments of his post.

This marks the first time Domagoso revealed the face of his son on social media following months of hiding his identity from his followers.

Reports of Scott Angelo’s birth first arose after Moreno revealed in a July 2022 interview with a local parenting magazine that he is already a grandfather.

Miss Filipina International 2023 welcomes iSkin as a sponsor

“WE are honored to sponsor the Miss Filipina International since its ideals of nurturing women who are beautiful inside and out perfectly align with iSkin’s commitment to build confidence with services that refresh and re-energize,” said Richard Maghanoy and Imee Ong-Maghanoy, owners of iSkin Beverly Hills, in a recent joint statement.

Miss Filipina International (MFI), now owned by Geoffrey Jimenez, chairman of the board of directors of Worldwide Media Entertainment Corporation, lauded the sponsorship of iSkin, which has a penthouse spa in Beverly Hills.

In addition to the previously announced top prize of either a BMW 3 Series car or a $10,000 cash prize, the winner will also receive a $10,000 gift certificate

from iSkin Beverly Hills in the prestigious pageant that will be held on August 5 in The Beverly Hilton’s International Ballroom, the venue of the Golden Globe Awards, the Academy nominees luncheon, Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy party and other events.

Other prizes include $5,000 cash and a $10,000 gift certificate from iSkin for the first runner-up, who will be crowned Miss Tourism; and a $2,500 cash prize and a $5,000 gift certificate from iSkin for each of the second, third and fourth runners-up.

“Having iSkin on board is another big step in our commitment to give the best incentives to Filipinas all over the world to join,” said Jimenez, a Filipino American community leader, arts and culture patron.

MFI also offers the exciting incentive that the top three win-

ners will be eligible to compete in Miss Universe Philippines (MUP) next year.

MFI is accepting applications from women who are of at least one-fourth Filipino descent from around the world. Candidates range from ages 17 to 28. For more details on how to apply, call (818) 928-5449. To apply online: www.MissFilipinaIntl.com.

The Philippines is considered a beauty pageant powerhouse, having produced many winners and top finalists in Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss International, among others. The winner of MFI this August will be a welcome addition to the Philippines’ beauty queens. MFI gala coronation night will be on Saturday, August 5, 2023. For sponsorship inquiries, email: missfilipinainternational@gmail. com

Michael V renews vows with wife of 25 years

FUNNY man Michael V's secret to his lasting marriage with nonshowbiz wife, Carol Bunagan, is "no secret at all."

"It's been 25 years of memories, good and bad. Quarter of a century of mostly happy, and sometimes sad. Kung gano'n katagal kinaya nating magtiis, then what's another quarter of pure wedded bliss," the main man of "Bubble Gang" said in their renewal of vows video shot in Penang, Malaysia.

In between the trademark wacky shots featuring the couple, they exchange solemn words of appreciation for each other.

"Kami ni Bitoy kasi, ironically, madalas kaming mag-clash, pero 'pag lagi ko siyang tinitingnan, I'm almost thankful to wake up next to him," said Carol.

Bitoy added: "She's my one and only. Nag-iisa sa buhay ko. Parang siya 'yung nagrepackage sa akin hindi lang sa showbiz, kundi personally. The secret is no secret. Dapat wala kayong tinatago sa isa't isa. Kahit ano 'yun. Kahit ano pa ang nararamdaman mo. It doesn't matter if you're mad, if you're sad, if you're happy. You just have to tell your partner what makes you feel that way. Mas maganda kung mai-detalye mo sa kanya. I'm pretty sure maa-appreciate 'yun ng partners niyo na wala kayong tinatago sa kanya. Maganda rin na sila, walang tinatago sa'yo."

Michael V and Carol flew to Penang, Malaysia and had an intimate destination renewal of vows ceremony to celebrate their 25th anniversary.

In partnership with Malaysia

Airlines, Tourism Malaysia & Penang Tourism, the couple was toured around the island of Penang. They explored Georgetown, the Habitat, and walking along the beach of Mercure Penang Hotel for their shoot and pre-production shoot.

This was held during their

EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT SERVICES

endorsement shoot for The Wedding Library's #MayForever Bridal Fair 2023 on May 19, 20 and 21 in Megatrade Hall, SM Megamall.

The couple earlier held their renewal of vows in a beach ceremony in Amanpulo, Palawan.

The Miss Filipina International 2023 winner and her court will receive gift certificates from iSkin, including a $10,000 gift certificate to the winner. MFI owner Geoffrey Jimenez, iSkin owners Imee Ong-Maghanoy and Richard Maghanoy with (from left) MFI queens Alicia Buendia, Alyanna Joel, Sarah Nunnink and Arianna Padrid at iSkin’s penthouse spa in Beverly Hills.

Photo by Ken Hugh.

Michael V and his wife Carol Bunagan renew their vows again in Penang, Malaysia.

Photo from Instagram/@michaelbitoy

Joaquin Domagoso with his son Scott Photo from Instagram/@jdomagoso