062923 - Las Vegas Edition

Ehrlich Ocampo makes waves in Las Vegas earning recognition from Clark County Nevada

INterNAtIoNAL filipino performer and leviwand pioneer ehrlich “firechill” ocampo accepted recognition from Clark County, Nevada last June 23 in an awarding ceremony at fil-Am Central. Clark County Commissioner tick segerblom presented ehrlich with a Proclamation from Clark County Nevada together with Gerri schroder (Assistant to Nevada Congresswoman susie Lee), Justin Guzman (representing Congresswoman Dina titus), ruben rodriguez (representing Congressman s teven h orsford), De’Liza Galimidi (representing senator Catherine Cortez-masto), Julia Coleman (representing senator Jacky rosen) and revered Pastor Dr. rozita Lee.

the recognition, presented to esteemed visitors, residents, or others whom the city wishes to honor, signifies that his leviwand presentation is highly regarded and respected in this entertainment Capital of the World.

Undrafted Fil-Am Kihei Clark joins Utah Jazz Summer League roster

IN recent basketball news, the spotlight was often directed to filipino Kai sotto. still, there’s one filipino-American basketball player who is also determined to establish his name in the NBA, Kihei Clark.

Despite being undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft, Clark’s journey took an exciting turn when he received an invitation from the Utah Jazz to show his basketball skills in the next summer League.

this considerable opportunity gave the talented fil-Am player to prove his skills and secure a spot in the league. the salt Lake City summer League, happening on July 3-6, will be his opportunity to impress NBA coaches and scouts.

After the summer league, he will continue playing in the Las Vegas off-season on July 7 until July 17. As mentioned earlier, he will join the Utah Jazz, a team that has promising first-round drafts.

Jazz’s picks include Keynote George (no.16), taylor hendricks (No.9), And Brice sensabaugh (no. 28). After the summer

mANILA — the Philippines continues to study the request made by Washington to temporarily host Afghan refugees, mostly former employees of the United s tates government before the taliban takeover, President ferdinand “Bongbong” marcos Jr. said thursday.

marcos said there is no deal yet between the Philippines and the Us on the request as the two countries need to hammer out the legal, logistical and security issues of the plan.

“We continue to study it. Let’s see if there’s a way we can do it without endangering the security of the Philippines,” marcos said. the chief executive said that while the Philippines had hosted refugees before, the

request of the Us was unprecedented. these are not refugees. they are an entirely different class of person. they are Afghan nationals who are being settled by the United states in the United states and/ or other places. We are only going to be a transition area,” marcos said.

the Philippines hosts around 264,000 persons of concern—or those identified by the UN refugee Agency as refugees, returnees, stateless people, internally displaced and asylum-seekers.

o f the figure, 131,000 are internally displaced persons, 129,000 are stateless persons or those at risk of statelessness, and 1,400 are refugees and asylum-seekers. (Gaea Katreena cabico/Philstar.com)

DOH chief wants COVID-19 health emergency lifted

by Rhodina VillanueVa Philstar.com

mANILA — With CoVID no longer a serious national health issue, health secretary ted herbosa is planning to recommend to President marcos the lifting of the state of public health emergency, but with the alert level system retained.

In an interview, herbosa said Proclamation No. 922 issued by former president rodrigo Duterte may now have to be lifted, with “CoVID-19 being no longer different from the other diseases the Department of health (Doh) is monitoring.”

“With the World health organization (Who), there is no longer an emergency. so I would actually ask (for) the lifting of the public health emergency,” herbosa said.

“Actually, it really seems that it is no longer a public health emergency. there is no more public health emergency... so we want it lifted,” he said. “It is now just one of the diseases that we monitor, like influenza, cough, colds, etc.” however, he said he is in favor of retaining the alert level system for CoVID-19. the alert level system will stay. that’s a system like the

“It’s more fun in the Philippines” was launched in 2012, during the tenure of tourism secretary ramon Jimenez Jr. by the Dot and BBDo, one of the country’s award-winning advertising agencies. In August last year, tourism secretary Christina

Poll: Most Filipinos satisfied with Marcos administration

by Red MendozA ManilaTimes.net

more than seven out of 10 filipinos are satisfied with the performance of the administration of ferdinand marcos Jr., a survey commissioned by oCtA research showed.

In its Tugon ng Masa first quarter survey conducted from march 24 to 28, 72 percent of filipinos said they were satisfied, while 8 percent said they were not satisfied with the performance of marcos. the 72 percent is a “nominal decrease” from the previous oCtA survey last october, where the administration got a 76 percent satisfaction rating. marcos’ satisfaction rating was highest in the Visayas at 83 percent, followed by Balanced Luzon at 77 percent and mindanao at 67 percent. the National Capital region (NCr or metro manila) reported the lowest satisfaction rating at 51 percent. It was also the region where the highest percentage of adult filipinos were dissatisfied with the current administration at 13 percent. the NCr too was the region with the highest percentage of those who said they were ambivalent about the performance of the administration at 35 percent.

Mayon Volcano ManilaTimes.net photo by Mike Alquinto

Mayon continues ‘quiet’ eruption

by Arlie O. CAlAlO ManilaTimes.net

mAYoN Volcano in Albay province continues to discharge lava and spew rocks “in a gentle and quiet manner,” but experts have not ruled out an explosive eruption in the coming weeks or days.

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and seismology (Phivolcs) Director teresito

“toto” Bacolcol told The Manila Times that the parameters recorded by the mayon Volcano Network (mVN) have been changing every day. sometimes, the parameters like the sulfur dioxide (so2) gas emission, volcanic tremors and rockfall events would increase, then the next day they would

decrease, so we can say that they are still low-rate parameters,” Bacolcol said monday, June 26. the recorded low-level parameters reflect what is happening on the vent, which is an effusive eruption,” the Phivolcs chief added.

Phivolcs explained that an effusive eruption is dominated by the outpouring, fountaining or ejection of fluid lava, and the magma has a low viscosity or is runny, wherein gas can escape easily.

“effusive eruption involves the gentle release of lava on the edifice of the volcano,” it said.

In the past 24 hours, Phivolcs

No longer just for ‘fun...

frasco, however, said it’s about time to “evolve” and “move on” from the campaign. she thanked those who developed the tagline which she said earned merits and successes. the tourism chief said the new tagline now takes into consideration “everything that we’ve been through,” referring to the CoVID-19 pandemic. “We must evolve and we must move on taking into consideration everything that we have been through,” frasco said.

so, the Philippines will continue to be fun. But now also it will have a very substantial approach to its branding campaign,” she added.

‘Change in traveler preference’

In a presentation, marie Adriano, marketing firm DDB Group Philippines’ brand and strategic planner, cited that there was a change in the preference of travelers who are now going beyond leisure.

Adriano said that given this shift, “brand enhancement is imperative to stay competitive and relevant.” she said the group conducted social listening that showed the change in travelers’ associations with the Philippines.

“Love is the positive theme they associate with our country, frequently mentioned in high

volumes globally,” Adriano cited.

“And while fun remains a positive thing and certainly part of the Pinoy DNA, there’s less volume of mentions,” she added, explaining the new enhanced tourism campaign.

Not the first attempt this was not the first try to replace the eleven-yearold slogan. In 2017, former Undersecretary Kat De Castro, said there were also plans to revamp the slogan as a study found that it was not enough to attract tourists from europe and the United states.

the new campaign under secretary Wanda teo will be more specific in terms of destination and what activities tourists can do,” De Castro was quoted by spot.Ph as saying in 2017.

that plan did not push through and teo’s admin instead launched an international video campaign dubbed “experience Philippines.”

the video campaign, featuring a blind Japanese tourist enjoying the Philippines, however, drew flak after allegations that the concept of the video was copied from a tourism campaign in south Africa. marketing firm mcCann World addressed the plagiarism allegations and took full responsibility for it, saying it was inspired by a real story of a visually-impaired foreigner who found home in the Philippines.

“We take full responsibility as ALL ideas and storyboards presented were conceptualized by mcCann Worldgroup Philippines. however, we underscore that there has never been any intention to copy others’ creative work,” it said. fast forward to 2023, the Dot once again made headlines after a campaign featuring filipina nurse may Parsons, with the tagline “We give the world our best,” was spotted in the United Kingdom and went viral. frasco, however, said the bus ad was not an official slogan of the Dot that would replace the “It’s more fun in the Philippines” campaign. the ad is a project by the office of the Presidential Adviser on Creative Communications (oPACC) as part of its branding campaign led by Presidential Adviser on Creative Communications Paul soriano. meanwhile, the move to launch a new tourism campaign is in line with President ferdinand “Bongbong” marcos Jr.’s pronouncement during his first state of the Nation Address when he mentioned his vision to enhance the filipino brand of tourism.

It is also part of the government’s push to make Philippines a “tourism powerhouse” in southeast Asia, in accordance with the National tourism Development Plan for 2023 to 2028. n

DOH chief wants COVID-19 health...

typhoon signal,” he said.

the Who declared CoVID-19 as a “public health emergency of international concern” on Jan. 30, 2020. It lifted the global emergency status for CoVID-19 on may 5 this year.

In the Philippines, Proclamation No. 922 issued on march 8, 2020 shall remain in effect until the President lifts it. Proclamation 929, issued on march 16, 2020, declared a CoVID-related state of calamity nationwide. It remained in effect until Dec. 31, 2022.

the country recorded close to 3,500 CoVID-19 infections in the past week, the Doh reported. the latest CoVID-19 Bulletin issued by the Doh showed 3,442 new cases logged from June 19 to 25.

the Doh also recorded 37 patients in severe and critical condition, and no CoVID-19 death from June 5 to 18.

the daily average number of new CoVID-19 cases is 492, which is 20 percent lower than the figure recorded from June 12 to 18.

Last sunday, June 25, the health department recorded 325 patients who sought admission

to hospitals due to severe and critical CoVID-19. the number was 10.7 percent of the total CoVID-19 admissions in the country. out of the 1,564 ICU beds intended for CoVID-19 patients, 204 (13 percent) were occupied while 17.7 percent or 2,274 of 12,855 non-ICU CoVID-19 beds were being used.

the Doh also reported that as of march 19, more than 78 million individuals or 100.44 percent of the target population have been vaccinated against CoVID-19. the figure included 5,371 individuals vaccinated from march 13 to 19.

furthermore, more than 23 million individuals have received their booster shots, including 10,177 individuals boosted in the same week.

the Doh likewise said that 7.1 million senior citizens or 82.16 percent of the target A2 population were able to receive their primary vaccine series.

the health department has advised the public to continuously observe minimum public health standards.

the Doh said the elderly, as well as those with comorbidities and the immune compromised are highly encouraged to still

wear face masks.

meanwhile, the food and Drug Administration (fDA) on monday, June 26 announced it had granted the Pfizer bivalent CoVID-19 vaccine a certificate of product registration (CPr).

the fDA is pleased to announce the approval of the application and grant of CPr for tozinameran + famtozinameran (15 mcg/15 mcg)/0.3 mL Dispersion for Injection with a brand name, Comirnaty original/omicron B.A.4-5,” the agency said in a statement.

the fDA has granted the CPr with five years validity after a comprehensive evaluation process, extensive clinical trials and thorough assessment of all available scientific data and information provided by the vaccine manufacturer and comprehensive evaluation process,” it added.

Last feb. 21, Pfizer submitted a CPr application under monitored release for their CoVID-19 vaccine to fDA, whose director general Dr. samuel Zacate has urged pharmaceutical companies to apply and complete requirements for other sArsCoV-2 vaccines. n

The Department of Tourism announces its new campaign slogan on June 27, 2023. Philstar.com photo by Rosette Adel

RELIGIOUS ART. “Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition” will be open for public viewing at Estancia Mall in Pasig City starting Saturday, July 1 until Sept. 30. The scenes at the famous Vatican City chapel are replicated into 34 life-sized photographic works with

and audio guides.

photo by Joan Bondoc

June 8, 2023

Ehrlich Ocampo makes waves in Las Vegas...

the pioneer leviwand artist, who introduced the art to the world circus stage, brings together different art forms that are staples in the Vegas entertainment scene: circus, magic, and dance. the recognition connects him to the city’s storied history of iconic performers who have graced its many stages, contributed to its entertainment legacy, and become a part of the city's cultural heritage.

m ore than perfecting his leviwand onstage, this world-class talent is intent on sharing his talent with individuals interested in his performance style. “I’ve always been passionate about sharing my art with others. my mantra is to ‘make waves’ which means I believe the work I do in this life must benefit not only me but also others. If other people hadn't made waves that affected me, I wouldn’t be where I am today. And who am I not to share what I was given?” shares ehrlich. for this reason, he has started teaching leviwand to kids at Positively Arts. the Vegas-based non-profit arts organization aims to empower children by teaching confidence from within and giving them the tools to succeed in every aspect of their lives. Positively Arts founder and Ceo Pilita simpson is very excited about his participation in their program. “I cannot believe how much value and care he’s brought into our little nonprofit. the kids have been asking about him all week! We are thankful for his time, heart, and care!”

“I am overwhelmed with an indescribable sense of thankfulness for the privilege I have been granted to grace the stage here in Las Vegas. the recognitions I received are profound motivation to continously pour my heart and soul into my craft. It is a personal pledge to share my art with unwavering dedication” says e rhlich. t he awarding

ceremony was punctuated by a special performance from ehrlich, demonstrating why he is deserving of his recognition from Clark County.

In 2021, ehrlich ocampo made his American debut in an audition for America's Got talent that went viral on Youtube, garnering 2.3 million views on the video-sharing platform. In 2022, ocampo was cast in the Wynn’s mythical, magicfilled stage show Awakening as a featured performer in the show's climax called the Confrontation. Behind the scenes, he also plays vital roles in the production like training and teaching fellow performers his techniques and sharing his technical knowledge of programming LeD props that helps bring the show to life. ehrlich ocampo is a welcome addition to the Las Vegas

entertainment landscape. h is unique skills and generosity about sharing his knowledge make him a valuable asset to an industry always looking for growth. We are looking forward to seeing more of his contributions in Awakening, his magical work at the Wynn Las Vegas, and his impact on the lives of Nevadans. this event was made possible by the e Cube solutions LLC team led by ms. margie Llorente Gonzales, manette roxas and Kevin Wong. m any thanks to +63 f I ftY for allowing the use of their venue. this is another Pr initiative of A-List & Partners Consulting. for the latest on his work, visit his official website https://firechill. ph/. follow and interact with him on his official social media channels on Youtube, facebook, Instagram, and tiktok. n

Clar k County Fire Department

FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU

4701 W. Russell Road • Las Vegas, NV 89118

John Steinbeck, Fire Chief Kelly Blackmon, Sr. Deputy Fire Chief/Fire Marshal Danny Horvat, Assistant Fire Chief • Wayne Dailey, Assistant Fire Chief

PATALASTAS SA PUBLIKO

Mga Mungkahi’ng Pagbabago sa Kodigo ng Lalawigan ng Clark

Tungkol sa: Titulo 13, Kabanata 13.04

Mangyaring bigya’ng pansin na ang isang panuntunan ay iminumungkahi ng Lupon ng mga Komisyonero ng Lalawigan sa Lalawigan ng Clark upang susugan ang Titulo 13, Kabanata 13.04 ng Kodigo ng Lalawigan ng Clark at ang mga kailangan ng pamahaya’ng pang-wisik sa sunog sa pamamagitan ng pag-alis sa 5,000 kwadrado’ng talampakan sa bungad; pag-alis ng kinakailangan upang mapataas ang NFPA 13R sistema ng pang-wisik sa sunog; susugan ang molde upang ipakita ang mga kinakailangan para sa hindi pangkaraniwa’ng sistema ng pang-wisik sa sunog sa pamahayan; idagdag ang kinakailangang ikabit sa kisame’ng mahigit 24 talampakan; susugan ang plano ng daho’ng dagdag ng sibil na pagpapaunlad upang madagdagan ang pinaka-mahaba’ng haba ng kalye sa 600 talampakan; at pagbibigay sa iba pang mga bagay na maayos na nauugnay dito tulad ng sumusunod:

13.04.090 - Susugan ang kinakailangan para sa pagtataas ng pang-wisik sa sunog

13.04.115 - Tanggalin ang kinakailangan na ang lawak ng tirahan ay lagpas sa 5,000 kwadrado talampakan

13.04.330 - Tanggalin ang Seksyon 22.38 ng NFPA 13

13.04.340 - Tanggalin at palitan ang Seksyon 8.4 ng NFPA 13D

13.04.340 - Idagdag ang Kung Saan Kinakailangan at Pagbubukod

13.04.340 - Idagdag ang mga kinakailangan ng pang-wisik sa sunog ayon sa taas ng kisame

13.04.340 - Idagdag ang Kinakailangan ng Sistema ng Presyon at pagbubukod

13.04.350 - Tanggalin ang Seksyon 7.5 ng NFPA 13R

13.04.520 - Susugan ang haba nang wala nang papasuka’ng kalye

Ang kopya ng iminungkahi’ng panuntunan ay kalakip dito at maaari ding marepaso sa: https://www.clarkcountynv.gov/government/departments/fire_department/fire_prevention_inspections/index.php Bago ang pagpapatibay sa iminungkahi’ng panuntunan, ang Lupon ng mga Komisyonero ng Lalawigan sa Lalawigan ng Clark ay inatasan ng NRS 237.080 na gumawa ng isang pinagsama-sama’ng pagsisikap upang matukoy kung ang panukala’ng panuntunan ay magpapataw ng isang direkto at malaki’ng pasanin sa ekonomiya nang isang negosyo o direkto’ng paghihigpitan ang pagbuo, pagpapatakbo o pagpapalawak ng isang negosyo. Dahil dito, ang mga samahan sa pangangalakal, may-ari at mga opisyal ng mga negosyo na malamang na maapektuhan ng iminungkahi’ng panuntunan na ito, at ang iba pang interesado’ng mga tao ay kinakailanga’ng patalastasan at bigyan ng pagkakataon na magsumite ng mga komento, datos, o argumento sa Lalawigan tungkol sa kung ang iminungkahi’ng panuntunan ay:

a) Magpapataw ng isang direkto at malaki’ng pasanin sa ekonomiya nang isang negosyo; o

b) Direkto’ng paghihigpitan ang pagbuo, pagpapatakbo o pagpapalawak ng isang negosyo. Ang mga komento ay kailanga’ng isumite nang hindi lalampas sa 5:30 n.h.sa July 6, 2023 (ilagay ang petsa dito) tulad ng sumusunod:

Sa pamamagitan ng Pagdadala sa:

Kagawaran ng Sunog sa Lalawigan ng Clark - Kawanihan ng Pag-iwas sa Sunog

Attn: Sarah Stevens, Sekretarya Administrado

4701 W. Russell Road, Las Vegas, NV 89118

Lunes hanggang Huwebes mula 7:30 n.u hanggang 5:30 n.h.

Sa Pamamagitan ng Koreo sa:

Kagawaran ng Sunog sa Lalawigan ng Clark - Kawanihan ng Pag-iwas sa Sunog

Attn: Sarah Stevens, Sekretarya Administrado

4701 W. Russell Road, Las Vegas, NV 89118

Sa pamamagitan ng email sa: SHS@ClarkCountynv.gov

Sa paksimile sa: (702) 678-5220

Ang isang kopya ng iminungkahi’ng panuntunan ay makikita din para suriin sa: https://www.clarkcountynv.gov/government/departments/fire_department/fire_prevention_inspections/index.php at

Kagawaran ng Sunog sa Lalawigan ng Clark

Lobi sa Una’ng Palapag 575 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89119

Lunes hanggang Huwebes mula 7:30 n.u. hanggang 5:30 n.h.

Lalawigan ng Clark Kagawaran ng Sunog - Kawanihan ng Pag-iwas sa Sunog

Lobi ng Kustomer 4701 W. Russell Road, Las Vegas, NV 89118

Lunes hanggang Huwebes mula 7:30 n.u. hanggang 5:30 n.h.

Taos puso, JOHN STEINBECK

Hepe sa Sunog

Mayon continues ‘quiet’...

said the lava slowly oozing out of the volcano’s crater reached 1.3 kilometers and 1.2 kilometers along the mi-isi gully in Daraga town and the Bonga gully in Legazpi City, respectively.

the mVN also recorded 263 rock fall events, 102 volcanic earthquakes and eight pyroclastic density currents, which are avalanches of volcanic ash, rock and gases. the s02 gas emissions

Undrafted Fil-Am Kihei Clark joins Utah Jazz...

averaged 925 tons per day on June 25, Phivolcs said. Continuous moderate degassing from the summit crater produced steam-laden plumes that rose 100 meters before drifting to the west, mVN said. n league, they will head to Las Vegas for a match with Denver, minnesota, and Phoenix.

Kihei Clark’s notable collegiate performance and impressive achievements

Clark started his basketball career at the University of Virginia in 2018. he played a significant role in leading the Virginia Cavaliers to the NCAA National Championship in 2019.

he showcased his remarkable ball-handling skills, ability to control the game’s tempo, and court goals. Despite not having a towering height, Clark makes up for his defensive tactics.

the move often frustrates opponents due to his unwavering on-ball pressure. In addition, his court skills also extend beyond the U.s. basketball courts.

Born from a filipino mother and a Chinese African-American father, Clark had already graced the Philippine courts in 2018. he played with another filAm player Jalen Green in the prominent NBtC All-star Game.

Kihei Clark’s exceptional performance in the game led him to win the title of All-star Game mVP. Philippine basketball legend robert Jaworski himself awarded him the recognition.

overall, this filipino-American basketball achiever’s journey is proof of his determination and perseverance. from his exceptional college career to his remarkable performance in the Philippines, Kihei Clark has proven himself as a vital force

New research reveals isolation, loneliness can shorten life span

by MAry VillegAs Inquirer.net

can result in earlier death from specific causes, including cancer.

inside basketball courts.

As he joins the NBA summer league, he can establish his name in the professional league and continue inspiring other new basketball players, particularly in the filipino-Am community. (Mary Villegas/inquirer.net)

WIth digital connections and social networks at our fingertips, it’s surprising to know that we are facing a crisis of isolation and loneliness. recent research has confirmed the dire consequences of social isolation and feeling lonely. It also shows that these situations

A team of researchers delved into the intricate link between health and loneliness. they also highlighted the urgent need to know the underlying processes and implement efficient strategies to fight this prevalent problem.

A review involving 90 studies of more than 2.2 million individuals globally has revealed alarming data. People who confirmed feeling lonely or isolated are at higher risk of early death.

the findings are published in Nature human Behavior. however, according to a medical Xpress report, the study was only limited to individuals from highincome countries. so it might not be applicable to less prosperous countries.

Director of the social Connection and health Lab at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah Julianne holtLunstad, shared her insights but was not part of the research. But most of her studies are focused on the health effects of loneliness.

holt-Lunstad said, “[this study] is consistent with my [2015] meta-analysis that found that both isolation and loneliness are significant predictors of [dying].”

she added, “this is also consistent with the U.s surgeon General Advisory on isolation and loneliness.”

the research shows that people who experience loneliness and self-isolation are more likely to have unhealthy lifestyles. these include lack of exercise, unhealthy food choices, excessive alcohol drinking, and smoking.

The health effects of loneliness

social isolation was linked to weak immune systems and inflammation, leaving individuals more vulnerable to specific health conditions.

Limited social interactions of isolated people can also affect their access to proper medical care.

Social isolation vs. loneliness: Their difference

social isolation is the lack of connection or contact with others, while loneliness is the feeling of being alone, even if there are social connections.

Both can harm health, but research shows that social isolation has more significant

risks. By understanding their differences, health experts can create effective methods to address them properly. Effective strategies to overcome loneliness Vice President of health services research at the American Cancer society robin Yabroff said that there are several things one can do to fight loneliness and social isolation. the U.s surgeon General recently made a number of recommendations for increasing awareness of, recognizing, and addressing loneliness.” here are some of the effective methods based on experts’ advice:

Join social communities and groups

Participating actively in social and community groups can form a sense of belonging that can aid individuals in building meaningful relationships.

Look for support During times of self-isolation and loneliness, seeking support is vital. It is important to confide in trusted family members, friends, or health professionals who can offer empathy, guidance, and companionship. Limit too much use of social media

While this digital age can provide digital connections and communication, excessive use of social media can result in feelings of comparison and disconnection. opt for a healthy balance by setting limits and allocating quality time for faceto-face connections.

Prioritize self-care healthy self-care practices like regular exercise, healthy eating, and enough sleep can positively affect overall physical and mental well-being. A healthy individual is more likely to build significant connections with others. Participate and volunteer in acts of kindness helping improve the wellbeing of others through acts of kindness and volunteer work not only helps fight loneliness. But it also forms a sense of fulfillment and purpose.

overall, as loneliness is prevalent in our modern age, understanding its effects and enforcing effective methods to fight social isolation is crucial. By building social connections, seeking help when needed, and engaging in community activities, individuals can be free from the adverse effects of loneliness. n

Poll: Most Filipinos satisfied...

Class D respondents comprised the highest percentage of adults who were satisfied with the performance of the marcos administration at 74 percent, followed by classes ABC and e at 68 percent.

Class ABC’s percentage is a 6-percent increase from the previous survey, while it is a 5-percent decrease for Class e the highest percentage of the dissatisfied came from Class ABC at 11 percent, and the ambivalent from Class e By regions, the administration had satisfaction ratings ranging from 51 percent to 96 percent, with the highest in the Cordillera Administrative region at 96 percent and the lowest in the NCr at 51 percent. Both Zamboanga Peninsula and Northern mindanao reported the highest levels of dissatisfaction at 18 percent. from the 55 to 64 age group came the highest satisfaction rating for the marcos administration at 81 percent, and the 75 and above group the lowest satisfaction rating at 81 percent. seventy-seven percent of adult filipinos with no formal or elementary education were

More than seven out of 10 Filipinos are satisfied with the performance of the administration of Ferdinand Marcos Jr., a survey

satisfied with the current administration.

oCtA said the 4-point decrease was caused by a drop in all major areas except for Balanced Luzon, which reported an increase of 4 percentage points.

the survey had 1,200 respondents with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent across the country and plus or minus 6 percent in the NCr, Balanced Luzon, the Visayas and mindanao. n

Kihei Clark

Photo from Instagram/@kihei.clark

commissioned by OCTA Research showed. Malacañang file photo

Filipinos in Russia unfazed by mutiny, opted to stay – DFA

by BeatRice Pinlac Inquirer.net

mANILA — No filipino in russia has asked to be repatriated after the recent power struggle between the military and a mutinous paramilitary group, the Department of foreign Affairs (DfA) reported on monday, June 26.

DfA Undersecretary eduardo de Vega said there are 10,000 filipinos in russia.

At least 8,000 of them are in the capital moscow, he added.

“In rostov-on-Don, taken over by the Wagner group momentarily, there are 10

filipinos. All indicated they were safe,” de Vega reported through a message to INQUIrer.net. the crisis has been resolved due to Belarus’ intervention. But even during the crisis, no filipino asked for repatriation,” he said.

De Vega added that should anyone seek repatriation, assistance funds would be available.

In the meantime, he is urging filipinos in russia to stay indoors.

“filipinos are advised not to undertake unnecessary travels outside their region,” he said.

Last saturday, June 24, the

embassy urged filipinos to adhere to russia’s rules.

It had also asked them to refrain from posting “political comments on social media.”

the advisory came after Wagner, a para-military group led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, took control of two cities south of moscow and began an advance toward the capital. the situation was defused by evening after Belarus brokered a truce between russia and Prigozhin.

this included his safe exile.

Prigozhin has a long-standing rivalry with two top officials in the russian military. n

PH remains top investments hub

by JeniCA FAye gArCiA ManilaTimes.net

the Philippines remains the top investment hub in the region in spite of tough competition from neighboring countries and the growing tension with China, tereso Panga, the director general of the Philippine economic Zone Authority (PeZA), said.

he said the country remained competitive through the regional Comprehensive economic Partnership (rCeP).

"Currently, we have companies in the economic zones that are already coming from the rCeP member countries, but we [also] have non-traditional sources of investments that are part of the rCeP, the likes of Australia, New Zealand," he said.

these are the exciting economies that we'd like to tap for investments as well as exports. so, right now, we are doing well with our investment promotions," he said.

Panga said the country has been luring more investments because of its high labor productivity and the incentives it offers, such as value-added tax (VAt) exemption on importation and VAt-zero rating on local purchases of goods and services.

"I can say that there is a very stiff competition when it comes to [attracting] foreign direct investment because we are up against other Asean economies. they try to give all concessions, from incentives [to] infrastructure development, just so they are able

to bring in more investments into their economy," he said.

Panga said the country's biggest selling point "is our labor, the high productivity of our labor."

the setting up of green lanes for strategic investments will also fast-track the processing of documents for investors, he said. this has been the selling point of PeZA whenever we invite investors to locate in the economic zones," he said.

he said he believes the dispute in the West Philippine sea between China and the Philippines will not affect investment growth, since China is among the Philippines' top investors.

"our thinking is that if we are able to bridge Chinese investments coming to the Philippines to invest, somehow it [will] mitigate the tension ... going on [at] the geopolitical side," he said.

"With our entry into rCeP, we are anticipating more investments, especially coming from China. some of the big tickets of investments are coming from China," Panga said.

In 2022, China's investment pledges reached approximately $25 million, or P1.43 billion, making it the country's ninthbiggest source of investments.

Panga said he is inviting investors in the energy sector to locate in the country's economic zones and help bring down the cost of electricity, which is among the highest in southeast Asia.

"the number one concern of

our locators is the cost of power. We are trying to address that by subscribing to the principle of a distributed energy system where we are able to invite investors to actually set up facilities in the economic zones," he said.

"If we have embedded power [in the ecozones], it [will] be able to provide energy for our locator companies," Panga said. there are 20 ecozone projects throughout the country waiting for presidential approval.

he said he met recently with the Antique provincial officials who want to go into ecozones. they want to replicate the Bali, Indonesia, type of ecotourism," he said. An American taiwanese investor with solar dish technology wants to put up a renewable energy facility in suyu, Ilocos sur. Another investor is interested in building a second barge terminal in tanza, Cavite, to decongest the harbor there, Panga said.

PeZA is an agency attached to the Department of trade and Industry. It is the biggest ecozone authority and one of the top investment promotion agencies in the Philippines. there are 420 ecozones hosting 4,372 locator companies, mostly exportoriented. the ecozones have generated 1,809,217 direct jobs. the National economic and Development Authority said for every direct job created in the ecozones, five more jobs are created outside, resulting in 9,046,085 indirect jobs. n

Changing the words in MIF bill ‘behind closed doors’ is ‘tampering’ — Pimentel

by BeatRice Pinlac Inquirer.net

mANILA — Changing the words in the maharlika Investment fund (mIf) bill “behind closed doors” is tantamount to “tampering” with the proposed measure, senate minority Leader Koko Pimentel said on thursday, June 29.

this is the description given by senate minority Leader Koko Pimentel to the act performed by senate secretary renato Bantug Jr. Pimentel on thursday rebutted the assertion of senate President Juan miguel Zubiri. Zubiri had said there was “no sinister move to tamper with the measure.”

Pimentel, however, does not agree with him.

“What they did with maharlika is not usual. It is tampering. they changed the wording, amounting to changing the substance. Behind closed doors,” Pimentel said in a message to INQUIrer.net. “they changed the wording, amounting to changing the substance. Behind closed doors,” he stressed.

s enate s ecretary r enato Bantug Jr. earlier said the double provisions on the prescriptive period of crimes and offenses were addressed by merging sections 50 and 51.

In doing so, Bantug had noted, the 20-year prescriptive period of section 51 was dropped and 10

years of section 50 was retained.

No bicam was held

Pimentel, a former s enate president, pointed out that in the legislative journey of maharlika bill, Congress skipped an important step when it failed to conduct a bicameral conference committee. he specified this was “the last opportunity to amend the differing versions of the house and the senate.”

Pimentel questioned Zubiri’s argument when the latter cited examples of bills that had previously been corrected after they were ratified by Congress.

“In senate President Zubiri’s examples, there were bicams held. hence, there were amendments, because that’s the purpose of the bicam – to ‘harmonize’ differing versions,” the minority leader explained.

the senator said reconciling the senate and house versions of a bill is done “with participation and agreement” of representatives from both chambers.

t he bicameral conference committee, then, submits its signed report to have it separately ratified in s enate and h ouse during plenary, Pimentel stated.

“With maharlika, there was no bicam. there was, therefore, no opportunity, no chance, no avenue to make any change in the senate version approved on third and final reading,” he said.

t here was, therefore, no

opportunity, no chance, no avenue to make any change in the senate version approved on third and final reading,” he observed.

the minority lawmaker urged his colleagues: “We should give importance to the word ‘final.’ Compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges.”

After the maharlika bill was approved by senate in the wee hours of may 31, members of both chambers of Congress, including Zubiri and Pimentel, met at the manila Golf and Country Club for what was deemed as a “prebicameral meeting.”

During the last senate session before Congress adjourned sine die, Zubiri said the meeting turned out to merely be a “lunch break.” the senate President said this because the house had already decided to adopt the reconstructed m aharlika bill of the upper chamber.

the maharlika bill seeks the creation of a wealth fund that government can supposedly use for investments.

t he measure was certified urgent by President ferdinand “Bongbong” marcos Jr. m arcos said he would immediately sign the bill into law once it reaches the Palace. marcos, who had claimed the investment fund was his idea, said he would immediately sign the bill into law once it reaches the Palace. n

ESSENTIAL WORKERS. Nurses go about their tasks inside the Philippine General Hospital compound in Manila on Tuesday, June 27. They will benefit from the planned creation of a National Nursing Advisory Council, which Department of Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said will focus on the concerns of Filipino nurses, especially those considering leaving the country for better pay. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc

Gun culture

In Cebu last week, police armed with a court warrant raided the home of the barangay captain of Baclayan in Boljoon town, and arrested Elderson Han Baldezamo Mabalatan on gun charges. The police reported confiscating from the village chief two .45-caliber pistols and a hand grenade.

earlier on march 20, another village chairman who is president of the local association of barangay captains, Angelito de mesa of Barangay masaya in Bay, Laguna, was arrested following a police search of his home. the raiders reported seizing an m16 rifle equipped with a silencer and telescope, a 9mm machine pistol, ammunition and magazines for the guns.

the country has tough laws against illegal gun possession, with stiff penalties as provided under republic Act 10591, the Comprehensive firearms and Ammunition regulation Act passed in 2013. Yet loose firearms continue to proliferate, promoting deadly violence that has marred politics and elections.

In this part of Asia, the Philippines has the second highest intentional homicide rate, ranking only behind myanmar. Apart from thousands of drug suspects killed in the previous administration, the country has a long string of murders targeting activists, journalists and legal professionals. every electoral exercise in this country is marked by lethal violence, with candidates seeing murder

Babe’s Eye View

BaBe roMualDez

“BY preserving the Philippines’ diplomatic relationship with China, while strengthening ties with the United states and regional allies, marcos Jr. is performing a delicate balancing act.”

this was how tokyo University of foreign studies lecturer Jenny Balboa described the foreign policy of President ferdinand marcos Jr. in her article titled, marcos Jr.’s delicate balancing act between China and the United states” published last April at the east Asia forum, an Australia-based international policy forum centered on the Asia Pacific region.

Being virtually at the center of the intensive competition between the United states and China, we obviously have to deal with both nations even as we also need to thresh out individual issues with them. however, there have been developments that indicate the willingness of both nations to continue to restart the conversation with each other, as seen in the recent visit of U.s state secretary Antony Blinken to Beijing, where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who described the meeting as “very good,” saying that both sides “made progress and reached agreements on some specific issues.”

As President Xi himself acknowledged, the world needs the relationship between the two

Human Face

As we face the issue of whether or not the Philippines should accept some 50,000 refugees from Afghanistan that the United states government would be processing before they can become U.s. residents, one cannot help recalling the times our country became a halfway house, a foster home, so to speak, for those fleeing their homelands to seek friendly shores, if not the land oozing with milk and honey of their dreams. the Philippines was never their country of choice as a final destination, and that sort of hurts the Pinoy ego. Well, but had they stayed, they would have contributed to this country’s population explosion. (No offense meant.) Nonetheless, refugees fleeing their respective countries

as the ultimate tool for eliminating political rivals. the massacre of Negros oriental governor roel Degamo and nine others at his home has been linked to his family’s feud with the rival teves clan. Deadly violence is employed even in races for the smallest unit of government, the barangay.

With the elections for the barangay and sangguniang Kabataan set this october, the Philippine National Police says it is monitoring at least 49 active and potential private armed groups across the country. Whether the PNP can actually crack down on those groups is another story. many private armies are maintained by influential politicians who are themselves keepers of large arsenals.

If a barangay captain can have an unlicensed grenade in his possession, think of what higher ranking officials are keeping. the alleged mastermind in Degamo’s murder, Negros oriental 3rd District rep. Arnolfo teves Jr., his two sons and his brother, Bayawan town mayor Pryde henry teves face charges over a cache of guns and explosives found in his property. Arnolfo teves

said the weapons were planted by the raiders. the easy availability of all sorts of guns and even grenades plus the weakness of the criminal justice system have created a culture of violence

PBBM: Balancing US-PH-China relations

giant nations to be “generally stable.”

I personally saw how China has developed into the economic giant it is today, and marveled at the progress it has achieved over the decades, having first visited Beijing in 1974 just before we opened formal diplomatic relations with China in 1975.

I was then a news reporter for Channel 9 when I joined our basketball team, led by Basketball Association of the Philippines president Lito Puyat and the country’s top basketball players that included ramon fernandez, sonny Jaworski and francis Arnaiz, embarking on our “basketball diplomacy.”

my uncle, then-Philippine Ambassador to the United states eduardo Z. romualdez, was appointed by President marcos sr. to head the delegation.

At that time, China was nowhere near what it is today. We stayed at the only major hotel in Beijing – the friendship hotel with big rooms and only one restaurant – which was more like a guesthouse for official visitors.

We had the opportunity to meet Deng Xiaoping, the architect of China’s modernization and economic transformation. subsequently, we were formally received by Premier Chou en-lai at the Great hall of the People.

In 1983, I was back in Beijing with then-Ilocos Norte Governor Bongbong marcos and several local leaders then, like olongapo mayor richard Gordon, tawitawi governor Nur Jaafar and Laoag City mayor rudy fariñas. my next trip to China was in

found a temporary haven in our shores, never mind that their stay was not always problem-free or their accommodation first class.

As I had written in the past, we filipinos are so accommodating. We always have an extra room and we say there will be enough, we can add water to the soup.

But these welcomed aliens eventually leave because they think there are places better than our 7,641 islands. so much for our hospitality. As to those who’ve stayed behind and for good, we could only hope they have found treasures they were not looking for.

Why the Philippines and not our more affluent neighbors as their foster home? In the case of the Vietnamese who fled by boat after the so-called fall of saigon in 1975 that ended the decadesold U.s. involvement in the Vietnam War, the Philippines was just across the south China sea (West Philippine sea) and an ally

2005 when we visited shanghai with the late Philippine stAr publisher max soliven. We were hosted by businessman Carlos Chan. the changes were remarkable, with five-star hotels and bustling shopping centers indicative of the economic transformation that was happening in China.

In september 2011, I was part of the business delegation of the late President Noynoy Aquino during his official visit to China, and it was apparent that our neighbor had become very prosperous, with the Chinese becoming the second biggest consumers of luxury items.

Contrary to misconceptions that we are pivoting towards one country at the expense of another, President marcos Jr. has definitely made it clear that he is balancing the relationship with the two superpowers, and I think he is doing an excellent job – improving our country’s relationship with the United states while continually reaching out to China.

In the Q &A session at the AseAN Leadership forum organized by the Center for strategic and International studies during his official visit to the U.s., PBBm was asked: how can he maintain a stable relationship with Beijing while still defending Philippine sovereignty? the president’s reply was on point: the same way that we maintain our relationship with the U.s We constantly consult with our allies. We constantly keep our lines of communication

open.”

Indeed, China is talking with us and as the president noted, he is seeing some progress in the situation regarding fishing rights in the West Philippine sea. he knows, however, that desired results don’t happen overnight. “these things do not come very quickly… but we are slowly making progress because the key to that was really the improved communication between the Philippine government and the Chinese government.”

We do have a lot of serious issues with China regarding our territorial waters, but we continue to squarely face them head on. our nation has faced so many challenges, especially during the height of the CoVID-19 pandemic, but we have also received help from our partners. for my part, President rodrigo Duterte gave clear instructions that we needed to get life-saving vaccines for filipinos. It was a great honor when President Duterte awarded me with the order of sikatuna for our efforts to procure moderna vaccines and subsequently received substantial vaccine donations from the United states.

Upon instructions of President marcos, we continue to make strengthening economic ties our number one priority in the U.s our defense strategy is already obviously being handled by our Department of National Defense, especially now with the appointment of Gilbert teodoro as the new defense secretary.

this week, senate President migz Zubiri came to Washington,

and impunity. As the barangay and youth council elections approach, the PNP will have to do more than merely monitor private armed groups. (Philstar.com)

D.C. for a working visit. he had extensive interaction with U.s lawmakers such as senators mike Lee of Utah, ted Cruz of texas and tim scott of south Carolina. I am pleased that sP migz is very much into energy development, knowing fully well that our country’s energy requirements are growing. together with senator tolentino, sP migz discussed a number of issues that include the

PH as refugees’ halfway house

of the U.s theirs were perilous boat rides on choppy waters but when they landed, they were not shooed away but were brought to several refugee camps set up by the United Nations high Commissioner for refugees. I had written stories about their plight, among them about the ones who had nowhere to go after almost two decades (“Citizens without a country,” 4/16/95) because of factors too lengthy to mention here. And then a happier one about a permanent village in Palawan built by the Catholic Church for those who stayed (“former Viet refugees say, thank you, rP” 4/20/98, 4/21/98). I asked about the place the last time I was in Palawan and I was told it was no longer what it used to be. that says a lot.

the Afghan refugees, if we host them, might be different from other refugees the Philippines had hosted in the past. the

refugees of yore were mostly ordinary fearful citizens fleeing an oppressive situation, the Jews from europe, for example, who found a temporary home here during World War II upon the invitation of former president manuel L. Quezon. then there were the Vietnamese and some from their neighboring countries, many of whom stayed for almost two decades before they could be settled in another country.

the Afghan refugees would be fleeing extremist taliban rule and unlike the many Vietnamese who braved dangerous waters, these Afghan refugees would be bodily brought here by the U.s. government. straight from where? Afghanistan? or are they already in another country waiting to be transported first by land, then sea or air? What is the process like? Will the 50,000 or so come all at once or by batches? how long will they stay and where? We are in the

dark regarding this. And what is the Philippine government’s involvement?

Philippine ambassador to the U.s. Jose manuel romualdez told CNN that the U.s. “will pay for everything, including the food, lodging. the reason why the Philippines is a logical place is because, number one, we are obviously an ally of the United states. Number two, the U.s. has a fairly big embassy in the Philippines. It will be a quick processing.” this may sound impertinent, but why not Guantanamo? It is closer to the U.s. mainland. Now comes the head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ episcopal commission for the pastoral care of migrants and itinerant people, saying that the Philippines should come to the aid of the refugees. the Philippines, commission vice chair Bishop ruperto santos said, is a signatory to the

file photos

reauthorization of the General system of Preferences and the defense procurement for our AfP modernization program. (Phiilstar.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

United Nations 1951 refugee Convention and, as filipinos, it is our duty to extend acts of charity and compassion. he quoted Jesus: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” the Afghan refugees are surely mostly muslims coming from a very, very restricted society, so unlike muslim societies in southeast Asia. some may be assets of the U.s. forces who have no choice but to run for their lives. We, hospitable Christians and muslims of this woebegone country, had not experienced dealing with the likes of them. It would be interesting to see how hosting these Afghans will unfold. (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.

* * * Send feedback to cerespd@gmail.com

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with U.S. President Joe Biden

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with Chinese President Xi Jinping Malacañang

Marcos grades himself ‘incomplete’ after over a year in office

by Jean mangaluz Inquirer.net

mANILA — Almost one year into office, President ferdinand “Bongbong” m arcos Jr. has admitted that his administration still has a lot of work to do.

During an ambush interview in Paranaque city, the President said he agreed with an economist who graded his performance “incomplete.”

“I saw a report earlier this morning where one of the economists said, ‘the grade that I will give for the President is incomplete,'” the chief executive narrated.

“I agree with him. We are not done,” he expressed his approval.

“Ang dami pa nating gagawin.

there are many, many things that we still need to do,” he pointed out.

(We still have many things to do.)

marcos has made the switch to the struggling state of agriculture.

“We have to undo 30, 35, almost 40 years of neglect when it comes to the agricultural sector. And the agricultural sectors still occupy the most fundamental part of our economy,” he emphasized.

“And so yes, we have done a lot of growth, and we are beginning to see the systemic changes that are going to be part of the new bureaucracy. But there is still a long way to go,” he noted.

marcos also evaluated what the government has been doing in trying to control inflation.

“It’s never enough. Whatever

it is that we have managed to do, there is still a great deal more to do,” the president said.

“We have to work smart, and we have to work well, and we have to be very conscious,” he stressed.

marcos further said the world sees the Philippines differently now.

“You go anywhere now, and the Philippines is always recognized,” he reported.

“

t hey say that if you are planning to invest in Asean (Association of southeast Asian Nations), then you must have a plan to invest in the Philippines. otherwise, it is not going to be a good plan,” he said.

s o, that is now the place that we occupy,” the president concluded. n

Marcos asks businessmen to help strengthen MSMEs

by alexis RomeRo Philstar.com

mANILA — President marcos

on thursday, June 29 called on businesses to support efforts to strengthen micro, small, medium and nano enterprises in the country, citing their role in economic development and job creation.

With the fundamental changes in the global economy brought by the CoVID pandemic, so the government is trying to create an ecosystem for startups marcos said in his speech during the launch of the Cebuana Lhuillier Group of Companies’ Kanegosyo Center in Parañaque City.

he added that 99 percent of businesses in the Philippines are micro, small and medium enterprises and about 63 percent of the workforce are employed by the sector.

so there is no way that, if we are trying to help the economy, if we are trying to transform the economy, that we do not attend to that enormous slice of our economy,” marcos said.

“We are trying to help small businesses who have a good idea,” he added.

marcos said the definition of small businesses now includes the nano enterprises or those that do not fall into any category of economic activity “because they’re way below the radar”

“And this is what ‘Kanegosyo’ and all the other programs that are hoping to assist our small businesses – that is what we are

trying to achieve,” the president said. that is why, it is not something that is done just purely out of business instinct. It’s not something that is done just to earn profit. It is something that is done to help.”

marcos reiterated that filipinos prefer to work than rely on dole outs.

“the good basis that we have here in the Philippines is that only a few filipinos are lazy. most filipinos want to work,” he said.

“And that’s what we build on.

And this is what Kanegosyo and all the other programs that are hoping to assist our small businesses, that is what we are trying to achieve,” he added.

Kanegosyo Center is an initiative of Cebuana Lhuillier, the country’s largest micro finance provider. It is a long-term partnership with the government that seeks to promote

Zubiri denies tampering with Maharlika

by maRc Jayson cayaByaB Philstar.com

mANILA — senate President Juan miguel Zubiri on thursday, June 29 denied the bill creating the maharlika investment fund was tampered with in the senate, and that conflicting provisions in the proposed measure were a result of an “honest mistake.”

reflect the period discussed in the plenary, which is a 10-year prescription period, Zubiri said.

“It is not tantamount to falsification. t his is the usual legislative process that we go through, where we are only reflecting the true essence of what was discussed in plenary,” Zubiri said.

amendment.

“What they did with maharlika is not usual. It is sneaky tampering. t hey changed the wording, amounting to changing the substance, behind closed doors,” said Pimentel, who expressed interest in helping critics question the maharlika fund before the supreme Court once it is signed into law.

the development of msme s through comprehensive, curated offerings in resources and assistive interventions.

the center is an online, onestop-system that provides access to micro loans, micro insurance bundles, savings account, micro investment and sales systems, expertise support through a mentorship program and assistance and guidance on government processing requirements.

In a statement, Jean h enri Lhuillier, president and chief executive officer of Cebuana Lhuililer, said Kanegosyo Center was conceived and finely tuned to address issues that continue to challenge the country’s msme’s; from access to financing, market reach, ease of doing business, and coaching to provide the education and capacity building needed in growing their business. n

During the Kapihan sa s enado forum, Zubiri denied the accusations of his colleague, senate minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III, that the s enate leadership tampered with the measure long after it was approved on final reading and adopted by the house of representatives. he denied that the senate’s way of making corrections to the bill was unconstitutional, citing precedents of making “polishing amendments” to proposed measures after approval in the plenary and during the process a bill becomes an “enrolled” copy for transmittal to malacañang.

“ t here is no such thing as tampering, and there was no malice or ill intent to tamper,” Zubiri said. he was reacting to Pimentel’s allegations that the move to merge sections 50 and 51 – which had conflicting provisions on prescription of crimes and offenses – may be tantamount to falsification of legislative documents that is punishable under the r evised Penal Code. the senate leadership opted to correct the “honest oversight” committed by the secretariat and

It was merely a “human error” by the senate secretariat, Zubiri said, having included two prescription periods because of the lateness of the hour when the bill, certified urgent by President marcos, underwent amendments and then passed on final reading in the wee hours of may 31. there will always be human error, an honest oversight. What is important is there should be no intent or willful malice to change the provisions or change the true intent of what was discussed on the floor,” Zubiri said.

the bill, seeking to create the country’s first ever wealth fund – managed by an investment corporation with seed fund from the Land Bank of the Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines Bangko sentral ng Pilipinas and Philippine Gaming Corp. – may be forwarded for the speaker’s signature at the house of representatives as early as monday next week, and then the President’s signature after that, Zubiri said.

reached for comment, Pimentel maintained that the leadership tampered with the bill by changing the wording of the merged provisions beyond the period of

h e also scored the way the proposed measure was merely adopted by the h ouse of representatives without going through a bicameral conference committee, which is the venue for both chambers of Congress to thresh out and “harmonize” differing provisions. t he s enate squandered its chance of correcting the approved bill by not convening a bicameral conference committee, and instead opting to have a “pre-bicameral conference committee” with the house panel at manila Golf Club in makati on may 31, Pimentel added. how do you harmonize? You change some parts of the measure with participation and agreement of the two panels. the bicameral conference submits a signed report and gets this ratified by the plenary of each house. With maharlika, there was no bicam,” Pimentel said.

t here was therefore no opportunity, no chance, no avenue to make any change in the senate version approved on third and final reading. that’s why we need to focus on the senate version and respect it ... there should be no tampering,” he added. n

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Malacañang photo

NECESSITY. A sidewalk shop sells heavy-duty plastic drums, pails and other containers, usually for storing water, in Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City on Thursday, June 29. They will be needed when the National Water Resources Board decreases the 50 cubic meters per second allocation for Maynilad and Manila Water once the

water level of Angat Dam drops below the critical level of

meters, resulting in more supply interruption.

photo by Joan Bondoc

VEGAS&STYLE Journal

Geena Rocero’s transcendent book ‘Horse Barbie’ inspires authenticity and empowerment

by MoMar G. Visaya / AJPress

GEENA rocero, the multi-talented and award-winning producer, director, model, public speaker, and trans rights advocate has added the title of book author to her impressive list of accomplishments.

In this extraordinary exploration of self-discovery, authenticity, and ancestral spirit, rocero unleashed her literary masterpiece called “Horse Barbie,” and she fearlessly ignites a revolution of acceptance and empowerment, inspiring not only the trans community but also society at large to challenge the status quo and embrace the beauty of diversity.

Horse Barbie” represents a culmination of rocero’s personal experiences and artistic vision.

In discussing her new book, she revealed, “this project is a deeply intimate journey of

self-discovery and acceptance. It embodies the struggle, the resilience, and the beauty of being true to oneself.”

In an interview with the Asian Journal, rocero opened up about the significance of the book’s title and how it became a symbol of empowerment. reflecting on her experiences in transmedia pageants during her teenage years, rocero shares the hurtful comments she received about her appearance. “I was 15 years old and still in high school when I started joining trans beauty pageants. I reached the top so quick, I became the most famous and

most prominent and I won every single trans pageant that we have in the Philippines,” she recalled.

“so you could imagine the other trans pageant contestants and their clans and fans saying that I look like a horse because of my protruding profile, my long neck, and my dark skin and my weight.” the negative remarks deeply affected her, with people whispering and gossiping about her backstage. however, a turning point occurred when her trans mom tiger Lily noticed rocero’s elegance on stage and off, particularly when she was wearing her iconic red evening

gown and exclaimed that rocero resembled a “Horse Barbie.” from that point forward, the label became a source of strength, a moniker she embraced as part of her identity, transforming from an insult into a spirit and a symbol of resilience.

As rocero embarked on her journey to New York City, she carried the spirit of “Horse Barbie” with her, turning it into a powerful force that empowered her to embrace her uniqueness.

the memoir “Horse Barbie” is not just a title; it represents rocero’s journey of reclaiming her identity and finding empowerment in the face of adversity. It is a testament to her resilience and serves as an inspiration for others facing similar challenges. over the course of two years, rocero dedicated herself to writing every day, especially during the challenging times of the pandemic, the rise of anti-Asian hate, and the global reckoning on racial issues. through her book, she was able to delve into deeper desires and explore the world from a unique perspective.

As a now-published author, she expressed her desire to continue directing and further expand her creative endeavors. she envisions writing more while collaborating with inspiring individuals on her list, such as Clair Denis, Pedro Almodovar, and ryan murphy. she believes readers will be able to find something in her story that would resonate with them.

this is a story of a filipino American, a young trans woman her experiences may not resonate directly but it’s a human story, a unique journey of finding your truth, sticking to your truth,” she shared. “You know, challenging these notions of assimilation, while at the same time not losing yourself.”

rocero’s book has already sparked conversations and garnered widespread attention.

“Packed with grit, ferocity, and grace, Geena rocero’s story proves that embracing who you are—in all your complexity, and in a world that often seems to think you’re simply not allowed—is a truly revolutionary act,” said actor Gabrielle UnionWade.

filipino-American Jia tolentino, the author of trick mirror, described the book as “Vivid, hilarious, exhilarating... thrillingly perceptive and

‘Intense’: Oscars invites Dolly de Leon to be member of the Academy

by HannaH Mallorca Inquirer.net

filipino Golden Globe nominee Dolly de Leon has been invited to join the Academy of motion Picture Arts and sciences, an honorary organization in the United states responsible for selecting the winners at the oscars.

the award-winning actress is one of the 398 “distinguished artists and executives” who received an invitation from the organization, in hopes of promoting “representation, inclusion and equity.”

Casting directors, cinematographers, costume designers, filmmakers, documentary producers, film executives, film editors, makeup artists and hairstylists, marketing and public relations officers, musicians, and production designers also received an invitation from the awards-giving body.

“the Academy is proud to welcome these artists and professionals into our membership. they represent extraordinary global talent across cinematic disciplines, and have made a vital impact on the arts and sciences of motion pictures and on movie fans worldwide,” Academy President Janet Yang and Academy Ceo Bill Kramer said in a statement.

Aside from de Leon, also included in the actors’ branch are everything everywhere All At once” star stephanie hsu, “elvis” star Austin Butler, Bond Girl and Woman King actress Lashana Lynch. singer-songwriter taylor swift, on the other hand, also received an invitation to join the music branch. following the announcement, de Leon expressed her shock over

receiving the accolade on her official twitter page, in response to hollywood journalist Janet Nepales.

“Intense,” she said.

the actress is set to star as molly in the upcoming film “A Very Good Girl” with Kathryn Bernardo.

De Leon was also cast in an untitled Antonette Jadaone-helmed project and American series “Nine Perfect strangers” with Nicole Kidman. she will also appear in several holloywood films and a series set in Germany, although she remained tight-lipped about the details.

the filipino actress was nominated to the best supporting actress category in the Golden Globe Awards, held last January 11, for her role as Abigail in “triangle of sadness,” but she lost to Angela Bassett who played the role of Queen ramonda in “Black Panther: Wakanda forever.”

Days following this, the oscars announced the list of nominees for best supporting actress 95th Academy Awards, but did not include de Leon in the roster. But while she said that she initially “felt bad” for the snub, she immediately got over it as all the other nominees were just as deserving of the nomination. the award eventually went to Jamie Lee Curtis of “everything everywhere All at once,” who de Leon was apparently rooting for. Aside from these, De Leon’s acclaimed performance in the film also received several recognitions including the best supporting performer award at the Los Angeles film Critics Association, best supporting actress nomination at the 2022 satellite Awards, while being longlisted at the British Academy film and television Arts (BAftA) Awards, also for the supporting actress category.

honest” while ronan farrow, journalist and author of the Pulitzer Prize–winning Catch and Kill said, the book is “A propulsive read, animated by the author’s honesty, wit, and indomitable spirit of selfacceptance.”

the book stands as a testament to rocero’s artistic brilliance and her unwavering commitment to authenticity and empowerment. through the pages of her book, she invites readers on a transformative journey, encouraging them to embrace their true selves and challenge societal norms.

Horse Barbie” delves into the intersectionality of identity, exploring themes of race, gender, and culture. Drawing from her own experiences as a filipina trans woman, rocero skillfully weaves together narratives that shed light on the complexities of navigating multiple facets of identity. By centering her own story and those of other marginalized communities, rocero aims to create a more inclusive dialogue that challenges the traditional understanding of gender and beauty.

one of the key messages conveyed throughout “Horse Barbie” is the importance of self-acceptance and self-love. rocero opens up about her journey towards embracing her identity and the struggles she faced along the way.

“I had to learn to love myself unconditionally and dismantle the internalized transphobia that society had ingrained in me,” she shared. By sharing her vulnerabilities and triumphs, rocero hopes to inspire readers to embark on their journeys of self-discovery and embrace their unique identities.

rocero’s book also delves into the notion of ancestral spirit of the babaylan and how cultural heritage can inform one’s understanding of self. As a filipina, she draws upon her rich cultural background to explore the interconnectedness between

her transgender identity and her heritage.

my cultural roots have played a significant role in shaping my identity and giving me the strength to embrace who I am,” she explained, through Horse Barbie,” she aims to ignite conversations about the diversity of transgender experiences and how culture can provide a source of empowerment.

the release of “Horse Barbie” marks a significant milestone in rocero’s journey as an artist and activist. By sharing her personal story and the stories of others, she continues to break down barriers and challenge societal norms. through her unwavering commitment to authenticity and representation, rocero is leaving an indelible mark on the art world and beyond.

rocero has embarked on a nationwide tour to engage with readers and spark meaningful conversations. through book signings, panel discussions, and public appearances, she aims to foster a sense of community and provide a platform for dialogue and reflection.

“I want to create spaces where individuals can share their stories and feel seen and heard,” she emphasized. By connecting with audiences directly, rocero hopes to create a ripple effect of acceptance and empowerment that extends far beyond the pages of her book.

In the end, “Horse Barbie” is more than just a book; it is a transformative journey that challenges societal norms, celebrates diversity, and empowers individuals to embrace their authentic selves. through her artistry, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to the transgender community, rocero continues to push boundaries and create spaces for meaningful conversations. As “Horse Barbie” finds its way into the hands of readers, it has the potential to ignite a movement of acceptance, empathy, and social change.

Geena Rocero

AJPress Photos by Momar G. Visaya

Geena Rocero reads from her book ‘Horse Barbie’ at her recent book launch in New York. Rocero also had a conversation with chef and author Angela Dimayuga where she discussed the inspirations behind the book.

New ‘Eat Bulaga’ hosts excited to have ‘It’s Showtime’ under

by Jan Milo seVero Philstar.com

mANILA — New "eat Bulaga" hosts Paolo Contis, Betong sumaya and Buboy Villar reacted on "It's showtime" transferring to GmA-7's GtV. In a report by "24 oras," Paolo said that the move will be a good collaboration between GmA and ABs-CBN.

exciting 'yon," Paolo said.

‘TV war is finally over’: ABS-CBN’s ‘It’s Showtime’ signs contract with GMA’s GTV

“WhAt’s up, madlang Kapuso?”

ABs-CBN’s noontime show “It’s showtime” formally signed a contract with GmA Network’s GtV on Wednesday, June 28, with mainstay host Vice Ganda describing the contract signing as a historic event that made him hopeful about the show’s future. the executives of the Kapamilya and Kapuso networks and the show’s hosts came together to formalize “It’s showtime’s” transfer to GtV.

Among the “It’s showtime” hosts present at the event were Vice Ganda, Anne Curtis, Kim Chiu, Jhong hilario, ogie Alcasid, Amy Perez, Jugs Jugueta, teddy Corpuz, ryan Bang, Jackie Gonzaga and Ion Perez, as shown on GtV’s twitter page. they were also joined by hosts robi Domingo and Iya Villania.

During the event, ABs-CBN’s Ceo Carlo Katigbak expressed his gratitude to the Kapuso network for welcoming the noontime show, saying he and GmA films Inc. president Annette Gozon Valdes came to a decision about the show’s move “in less than two weeks.”

“marami nang napagdaanan ang ating Kapamilya sa ‘It’s showtime.’ Nagpapasalamat din kami sa ‘It’s showtime’ hosts and ‘It’s showtime’ family dahil hindi kayo bumitaw sa pagbibigay ng saya at serbisyo,” Katigbak added.

(“it’s Showtime” has been through a lot. i’m thankful to the

it’s Showtime” hosts and family because you didn’t give up in bringing joy and service.)

meanwhile, GmA Network chairman and Ceo felipe Gozon declared that the contract signing has put an end to the supposed network wars.

“Pwede na natin sabihin

ngayon, without any fear of contradiction, na yung competition, yung tinatawag ng media practitioners na tV war, is finally over. Gusto kong sabihin sa pagkakataong ito na malugod na naming tinatanggap ang popular program na ‘It’s showtime’ at ang maraming talents na bumubuo nito,” he said.

(We can finally say, without any fear of contradiction, that the competition or what media practitioners refer to as TV war is finally over. i just want to take the opportunity to say that we wholeheartedly accept the popular program “it’s Showtime” and its talents.) on the other hand, Vice Ganda said in a heartfelt speech that despite “It’s showtime” being bumped off its noontime slot from tV5, he remained “optimistic” about the possibilities that await the show.

“hindi ako masyadong naaligaga. hindi ako masyadong natakot kasi punong-puno ako ng pag-asa. At ‘yung pag-asa naming lahat ang nagbitbit sa’min dito para magkita kayong lahat,” he said. “Itong pangyayaring ito ay sadyang Pinoy na Pinoy, Pilipinong Pilipino. Ang pamilya ng ‘It’s showtime’ ay kumakatawan sa pamilyang Pilipino na lahat ng kaganapan sa

buhay ay dinanas, lahat ng bagyo ay hinarap, pero patuloy pa ring tumatayo dahil sa pagmamahal.”

(i didn’t quite panic. i didn’t get too scared because i was full of hope. And hope is what brought us here to be with you all. This event feels very Filipino because it’s Showtime” is a symbol of what Filipino families go through, especially the toughest storms, but it continues to remain strong because of love.)

the “Praybeyt Benjamin” star then pointed out that the contract event is akin to a family’s victory, while Curtis, hilario, Alcasid, and Chiu were noticeably emotional at the event. masaya ako, sobra kong saya. hindi ko makita kung saan ito mapupunta, or saan ito dadalhin ang programa, kung anong kinahihinatnan ng araw na ‘to. hindi ko alam, pero alam ko na ang pangyayaring ito ay magiging simula ng maraming napakagandang pangyayari. I’m just very hopeful, grateful and excited,” Vice Ganda added.

(i’m happy, i’m very happy. i don’t know where this will take the program, or what will happen after this day. But i know that this is a start of beautiful things. i’m just very hopeful, grateful and excited.)

the contract signing comes a week after ABs-CBN announced that its flagship noontime show would shift to GtV, also known as Good television, following the expiry of its contract from tV5.

“It’s showtime” will air on GtV, Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya online Live, iWanttfC and tfC beginning July 1.

this is a very big collaboration [ng Kapuso at AB s -CBN] kasi noontime show na 'to. It opens up a lot of opportunities for other actors para makapag-guest doon [sa It's showtime] at the same time para makapag guest dito [sa eat Bulaga]," he added.

Paolo said that it will be a healthy competition between their eat Bulaga" and "It's showtime."

"It will be a very healthy competition because your basically under one roof," he said. for Buboy, it's important that the team behind "It's showtime" have jobs to feed their family. may mga trabaho sila lalo na

ang mga nasa likod ng camera.

'Yon 'yung pinaka-importante sa akin. hindi naman 'yung mga artista dahil sila kaya na po nilang kumita, kaya pa nilang dumiskarte sa buhay," he said.

"Pero ang pinaka-importante diyan 'yung mga nasa likod, 'yung

mga sumusuporta sa artista, sila po 'yung dapat tingnan hindi po kami," he added. Betong expressed his happiness on the move, hoping he can meet the "It's showtime" hosts soon. sana eh mag-krus ang landas natin sa mga susunod," he said.

Bruno Mars to PH crowd: ‘Miss na kita, mahal!’

by cHarMie Joy PaGulonG Philstar.com

If Bruno m ars were “your man,” he would not only “(buy) you flowers” or “(hold) your hand,” but he would also serenade you with his heartfelt

songs, impress you with his sexy dance moves and give you his warmest smile.

t he f ilipino-American hitmaker did all these during his two-night concert at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan last weekend with his band members

the hooligans. The STAr attended Day 1 of the Live Nation Philippinesproduced show that was replete with pyrotechnics, props and bright lighting effects on stage. Bruno and company left the PAGE 10

PHILCONGEN-LA HOLDS HISTORIC CELEBRATION OF PHL INDEPENDENCE DAY IN LA’S HISTORIC FILIPINOTOWN

Los Angeles — With horns blazing and nationalistic music playing in the background, Filipinos and FilipinoAmericans from Southern California, Southern Nevada, and Arizona, garbed in colorful national attire, flocked to LA’s Historic Filipinotown (HiFi) in the morning of Sunday, 25 June, to participate in what is possibly the biggest and most festive celebration of Philippine Independence Day seen in Southern California to date.

The celebration was historic because it is the first time that the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, since its establishment in 1947, celebrated the annual commemoration of Philippine Independence Day in Los Angeles’s Historic Filipinotown.

The neighborhood is fondly regarded as the birthplace of the Filipino diaspora in Los Angeles. The celebration itself was historic because it consisted of not just the traditional diplomatic reception (this was held in the evening inside the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles [FACLA] compound), but also a motorcade in the morning which saw over 400 cars participating (according to police estimates) and a festival later in the day.

The motorcade moved through Historic Filipinotown, including a pass through the newly installed Filipinotown Archway also known as the “Talang Gabay” at the eastern entrance into the neighborhood.

The festival attracted hundreds of members of around 35 Filipino-American community organizations from all over southern California, southern Nevada and Arizona. Several Fil-Am elected and appointed officials attended the festival. Among them were Mr. Kenneth Mejia, the first Fil-Am to be elected City Comptroller, and Ms. Susana Reyes who was appointed by

Commissioners in April 2022.

Councilmember Hugo Soto Martinez of LA’s District 6 where Historic Filipinotown is located also attended. Various Filipino talents, including Filipino movie icon Mr. Gabby Concepcion as special guest, provided the entertainment.

The diplomatic reception in the evening welcomed over 200 guests, including representatives from the Office of Foreign Missions-Los Angeles, members of the LA Consular Corps, Fil-Am local officials, and FilCom organization leaders and members. One of the highlights of the reception was a fashion show featuring Filipiniana wear created by Fil-Am designer Mr. Amiel Noble.

The well-attended celebration was a heart-stopping and record breaking display of unity and strength by the FilipinoAmerican community in Los Angeles and beyond.

The Consulate organized the celebration in collaboration with the Filipino-American Community in Los Angeles

(FACLA), the Philippine Independence Day Foundation (PIDF), Kalayaan, Inc., the Filipino American Service Group, Inc. (FASGI), the National Federation of Filipino American Associations in Greater Los Angeles Region (NaFFAA-GLA), Usapan, the National Diversity Coalition (NDC) and the Historic Filipinotown Council. The occasion was also supported by one of the stalwart members of the Filipino-American community, Dame Grace Mercado-Ouano, D.S.G., who was also the motorcade Grand Marshal.

Throughout the various events commemorating the 125th Anniversary of the Philippine Independence in Southern California, Southern Nevada, and Arizona, LA Consul General Edgar Badajos reminded the FIlipino diaspora that “The task of nation-building is a neverending process.” He encouraged them to continue doing their fair share in nation-building “to ensure that our hard-fought rights and freedoms will endure.”

the LA City Council to the Public Works Board of

(Top-left photo) Consul General Edgar B. Badajos delivers his keynote speech during the 125th Philippine Day Gala; (Bottom-left photo)

The Philippine Consulate General’s officers, staff and representatives of various PHL government agencies; (Top-right) ConGen Badajos, together with members of the Consular Corps and FilCom leaders, cuts the occasion’s cake; (Lower right) ConGen Badajos proposes a toast for the celebration.

(Top left) Gabby Concepcion at the festival; (Top right and bottom left) members of the Fil-Am community show their singing and dancing prowess; (Bottom right) the Consulate held a pabitin game for the children in attendance.

(Clockwise, from top left) Different sets of guests at the festival share their experiences during the event.

(Top left photo) Commissioner Susana Reyes presents the LA City Council Resolution to Consul General Edgar B. Badajos; (Bottom-left) Carson City Councilmember Arleen Rojas; (Top right) Kenneth Mejia, the first Filipino-American elected as LA City Comptroller; (Bottom right) Jessica Caloza, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Attorney-General of the State of California, Atty. Rob Bonta (himself a Filipino American); (Photo on the left) Various elected Filipino-American officials presenting the Consul General (3rd from left) with Certificates of Resolutions commemorating Philippine Independence.

(Clockwise, from top right) ConGen Badajos rides on a tricycle during the motorcade; PID25 Grand Marshall Dame Grace Mercado-Ouano, D.S.G. gears up for the parade; Ruby Rodriguez and Vice Consul Levi Anthony Malaylay acknowledge the vehicles passing by the HiFi Eastern Gateway.

DO cellphone radiation shields work?

No, the so-called “radiation shields” for cell phones do not work, and therefore are not effective in protecting the user from radiation, reports the ftC in the United states. If anything at all, this shield “lulls” the user to complacency and thus the user is subjected to a more prolonged radiation exposure because of the false sense of security the unsuspecting consumers will have. While the association between cell phone use and some type of brain tumors is still unclear, it is best to avoid and minimize any type of radiation exposure from whatsoever source. to reduce radiation exposure from cell phones, we recommend the use one of the hands-free devices now commercially available.

Can skin ointment be used for the eyes?

No, most definitely, no. skin lotions, creams, gel, ointments, and solutions, are for topical (external or skin) application only and are not safe for the eyes. there are specific drops and ointments for the eyes. Never use any other preparation, except those prescribed by healthcare professionals specifically for the eyes, which are always labeled “ophthalmic” or “for ophthalmic use.”

How does tobacco hurt the smoker?

Besides the tissue irritation on the breathing pipes and lungs caused by the fumes and the various toxic chemicals in the cigarette, tobacco also thickens the blood, which makes the smoker (active or passive) more prone to thrombosis (blood clot formation) in the arteries and veins, and aggravates arteriosclerosis (hardening of the artery). on top of this, smoking also speeds up the process of arteriosclerosis (especially the arteries of the heart and brain, abdomen and legs). smoking can also cause cancer of the breathing pipes and/or the lungs and cancers in other organs in the body in either gender. stained teeth and fingers, smoker’s bad breath and a household that smells like tobacco fumes are the more minor effects of smoking.

What causes palpitation?

Palpitation (pounding heartbeat, harder and faster than normal) could be due to extrinsic causes like ingestion of a stimulant (coffee, tea, cola drinks, chocolates, some medications, etc.) and/or cigarette smoking, or due to intrinsic causes like coronary or heart valve diseases. the

person feels the heart thumping in his/her chest which could lead to some degree of discomfort and anxiety. When this happens regularly, in spite of abstinence from the extrinsic causes listed above, prompt medical consultation is recommended.

Are body moisturizing lotions safe?

Yes, in general, hand and body lotions in the market are safe. the frequent (two or more times a day) use of hand and body lotion is recommended because our skin needs moisture to keep it comfortable, healthy and as young looking as possible. Caution: some people may be allergic to some of these commercially available skin moisturizers.

Does diabetes cause blindness?

most definitely, especially among persons whose diabetes is untreated, poorly treated or simply brittle and hard to treat. the blindness is due to what is termed diabetic retinopathy. A significant number of blindness in the world today is caused by diabetes. once the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus is confirmed, prompt and appropriate therapy should be instituted. the diabetic should be disciplined enough to religiously follow the prescribed medical regimen if the complications of the disease, like blindness, leg gangrene, etc. are to be prevented.

Can hydrogen peroxide be used for gargling?

Yes, hydrogen peroxide could be used for gargling, but ask your dentist first since he/she knows your dental condition better and can advise you accordingly. hydrogen peroxide, together with sodium fluoride and other common ingredients (like triclosan) in toothpastes, help prevent tooth decay, gingivitis (inflammation of the gums), tartar and plaque formation, and halitosis (bad breath). hydrogen peroxide is a substance that is incorporated in many toothpaste preparations in the market today. Baking soda is another. for children, the anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis effectiveness of toothpaste are still not proven.

What is cardioversion?

Cardioversion, as the term suggests, means converting the heart rhythm from an abnormal one to a so-called normal and regular sinus rhythm, either by medications or by electrical (shock) “zapping.” the term is most often used to imply electrical cardioversion. this is done when the type of abnormality of the rhythm of the heart is one of the dangerous forms that adversely affects the vital signs of the person or one that could potentially cause cerebral emboli (blood clots from

within the heart) traveling to the brain resulting in stroke. the two paddles (“zappers”), held one in each hand of the cardioverting personnel (a physician, a nurse or a medical technician) are applied on the mid-chest of the patient and the heart is “electrically shocked” to a normal rhythm or to a safer, more benign form of irregularity. In some persons with a heart disease, it may not be possible to convert the rhythm to a perfect sinus rhythm. In these cases, the goal is to convert the rhythm to an acceptable more benign rhythm. Does surgery make cancer spread?

No, this is a myth. Doing surgery or “opening the patient up” does not cause metastasis (spread) of the cancer. In general, cancer proliferates rapidly to invade surrounding tissues and distant organs. the misconception resulted from the refusal of patients suspected or confirmed to have cancer to be operated on early when first advised and had delayed the surgery so much that the malignant tumor had already spread beyond help before acceding to have the operation. so, when the surgeons operated on them that late, invariably the cancer had already spread all over. When the patients soon expired, people blamed the surgery as the cause of the spread. today, almost everybody knows that prompt detection and early operation in the treatment of cancer gives the best chance for a cure for a greater number of patients with malignancy.

* * *

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

* * *

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

* * * Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He was a recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995. 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.

Fil-Am magician Anna De Guzman impresses ‘America’s Got Talent’ judges, gets 4 yeses

mANILA — filipino-American magician Anna De Guzman wowed the judges and the crowd in “America’s Got talent.”

In one of the episodes recently, judges simon Cowell, sofia Vergara, heidi Klum, and howie mandel voted “yes” to Anna as she did “cardistry” or “manipulation of playing cards.”

“Growing up as an only child with a single mother, I spent a lot of time learning how to entertain myself,” she said on stage.

“When I found my first deck of cards, I was instantly captivated by the magic they seem to possess,” she added.

the judges were impressed with Anna’s magic tricks.

“It was the most adorable, fun, magical thing I’ve seen so far this season,” howie said.

“I agree with howie. You’re totally a breath of fresh air. You showed us some magic we haven’t seen before and you have a million-dollar smile on your face,” heidi added.

Before joining the show, Anna already showcased her talent in different tV shows such as “mtV’s Amazingness,” “the steve harvey show,” and “CW’s Penn & teller: fool Us.”

PH Embassy celebrates Philippines Migrant Workers Day

WAshINGtoN, D.C. – the Philippine embassy recently celebrated migrant Workers Day in a day-long event with members of the filipino community from maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

Consistent with the theme ofW: Saan Mang Panig ng Mundo, Galing at Katatagan Mo’y Hinahangaan,” video messages of the Administrator Arnel Ignacio of the overseas Workers Welfare Administration, secretary susan ople of the Department of migrant Workers, and Philippine President ferdinand marcos Jr. were conveyed, emphasizing the huge contributions made by the overseas filipino Workers in nation-building and reiterating the continued support of the Philippine government for their welfare. moreover, Consul General Iric Cruz Arribas called on the leaders and members of the filipino community to work together in harmony to achieve higher goals for the community.

A financial literacy seminar

was conducted by tax and investment expert raymond Abrea to present to ofWs several investment opportunities in the Philippines, which could grow their hard-earned money.

on-site services and virtual consultation were set-up with representatives of the social security system, Pag-Ibig, overseas filipino Bank, migrant Workers office-Washington DC, and the Philippine embassy, including the overseas Voters registration Unit.

the ofW Got talent singing competition and performances of local talents raina Chan and D’ Neis siblings provided entertainment throughout the day. Consul General Arribas, Assistant Labor Attache marie Josephine Borromeo and ms. Grace Valera of the Global migrant heritage foundation served as judges and declared Bernadette Gray, tony Boy Velasco, and rosie Conde as the major winners of the singing competition. the fun-filled event was orga-

nized by the Philippine embassy’s migrant Workers office-oWWA Washington DC under the stewardship of Labor Attache saul de Vries and Welfare officer mae Codilla, ably assisted by volunteers from the Association of International Dynamic educators, Inc (AIDe), an organization of U.s.-based filipino teachers. (PH Embassy release)

Bruno Mars to PH crowd: ‘Miss na kita...

f ilipino audience in awe with their stellar and unforgettable performances amid the massive traffic and heavy downpour in the area.

t he loud cheering and chanting from the crowd were expected as he opened and ended the show with a bang.

Bruno started off with the song 24K magic and then followed it with some upbeat tracks, slow medley tunes and Uptown funk as his parting song.

“You look beautiful, Philippines,” the singer told the concertgoers before crooning f inesse. “We traveled a long way to come back to this place because we love this place so much. And we hope, we hope we can get this audience front and back, left and right to singin’ and dancin’ all night. Can we try that?”

h e went on performing his hits, one after another, including treasure, Billionaire, m arry You and Locked out of heaven. h e even changed the part of the lyrics of Billionaire, a collaboration with travie mcCoy, to “I see my name in bright filipino lights.” Bruno further mesmerized the fans when he crooned Calling All my Lovelies and put a local spin on it. he pretended to be talking to someone on the phone and seductively said, “hey baby, I’m in the Philippines right now. And it’s been a while. It’s been four, five years since I’ve been here. But I still feel the same about you. And it’s still… miss na kita, mahal. I said miss na kita, mahal. “You don’t believe me yet? Watch this,” he continued and repeatedly sang the phrase miss na kita, mahal” with his bandmates. “Let me tell you, I miss you, girl. r emember we

used to come out here…”

t he f ilipino-American musician afterwards briefly played Wake Up in the sky and that’s What I Like and enamored the spectators with his dance moves in Please me.

m embers of t he h ooligans had also their solo moments in between, displaying their respective skills in playing their musical instruments, such as, guitars, saxophones, drums and piano.

After a short break, Bruno came back with the sensual Versace on the floor and carried on with the classic Be my Baby by the ronettes, the ditty that his “parents would listen to” while he was “growing up back home.”

the 37-year-old’s father Peter hernandez is half-Puerto rican and half-Jewish, while his mother is a f ilipina, Bernadette s an Pedro Bayot. Bruno, whose real name is Peter Gene hernandez, was born and raised in hawaii.

Using a megaphone, Bruno continued with runaway Baby and checked on the audience, “masaya ba kayo?”

“I’d like to take this opportunity to play a little game with you, alright,” he uttered. “this game is called let’s see if you remember this one. I was very fortunate and very blessed to work with some incredible artists (and be) part of the songs that I’m so proud of.”

he explained the mechanics of the “game,” saying, “the way this game works is if you know the words in any of these songs that I’m about to sing I need you all singing it at the top of your lungs.” he asked the audience, “Can we try it?” and received a resounding yes for an answer.

h e subsequently sat down behind the piano and took the audience on “a little trip down

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memory lane,” rendering a few bars of his collaboration with CeeLo Green, f*ck You; snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa’s Young, Wild & f ree, Grenade (with smoke effect on stage), talking to the m oon, as well as the “chords that changed my life,” referring to B.o.B’s Nothin’ on You.

the Grammy award-winning artist kept going with Leave the Door open, his collab song with Anderson .Paak under their duo s uper s onic, and teased the audience with a “fantasy in my head (with) the filipino women.” Verbalizing the lines from the song, he said, “tell me that you’re coming through,” and added, “All the filipino girls that I’m coming… Bruno, I’m coming. Can we try?” he later on quipped, “stop ladies. I’m shy. I’m shy. Nahihiya ako.”

Bruno proceeded with When I Was Your man, a track from his second album Unorthodox Jukebox, which he admitted was “the hardest song for me to write and the hardest song for me to sing until this day.” toward the end of the show, he thanked the filipino crowd for “allowing us to come back to sing” and dedicated Just the Way You Are to the thousands of people who attended the music event.

“I always wanted to play here. t hank you guys so much… I hope we can come back real, real soon. I’d love to see you all again. But it’s tradition every time we come by here (that) we got to have this place singing this song one last time…” he then requested to turn the lights up and chorused with the audience, “When I see your face/ there’s not a thing that I would change/’Cause you’re amazing/ Just the way you are.”

The Embassy team with the volunteers, and contestants of the Embassy’s 2023 Migrant Workers Day celebration. Photos courtesy of PH Embassy

Filipino-American magician Anna De Guzman Screengrab from America’s Got Talent YouTube Channel

Xyriel Manabat shows off new look after nose procedure

by anne PasaJol Inquirer.net

X Y r I e L m anabat stunned fans and fellow celebrities as the young actress flaunted her new look after she underwent a nose procedure.

manabat showed recent photos of herself while thanking the beauty clinic where she had the cosmetic enhancement done, through her Instagram page on Wednesday, June 28.

m anabat then responded to one @kim_sam1993 in the comments section, who assumed that the actress underwent several cosmetic surgeries. e yelids, [rhinoplasty]? Lip fillers. Jaw reduction? Ang ganda ng gawa,” the netizen said, to which the actress replied, “Nose lang po.” meanwhile, manabat received compliments from fans as well as celebrities Darla sauler, Christine Bersola, Ayn Bernos and Celine

Lim. manabat’s cosmetic enhancement was also documented by the beauty clinic, from consultation to moments prior to the nose procedure, as seen in videos shown earlier on its Instagram page.

m anabat, who started her showbiz career as a child star, currently stars as tonet in the ABs-CBN tV series “Dirty Linen.” the actress earlier introduced her non-showbiz boyfriend to the public by giving a glimpse of their recent Baguio trip.

Melai Cantiveros breaks silence over recent ‘miracle’ even her family didn’t know

by Jan Milo seVero Philstar.com

K APA m ILYA host m elai Cantiveros revealed that a bump on her breast miraculously disappeared after visiting churches in Cebu and Bohol.

In a recent episode of

m agandang Buhay," m elai, Jolina m agdangal and r egine Velasquez talked about negative things.

"Graduate na ako sa negative thinking..." melai started.

"Di na ako du'n nag-iisip kasi may isang miracle talaga na ibinigay sakin si Lord na

For Drew Arellano, hosting a travel show is a ‘lucky place to be in’

by Jerry Donato Philstar.com

DreW Arellano’s zest for travel and adventure has never waned.

t he 500-plus episodes of his Biyahe ni Drew and the weekly show’s 10th-year milestone are a testament to that.

Drew remains local t V’s recognizable marco Polo. he and his show adhere to the idea of embarking on shoestring-budget trips with tons of fun to familiar and unfamiliar territories.

the information given to this paper adds that Biyahe ni Drew also “advocates for responsible travel, sustainable tourism, respect for local culture, and an appreciation for the locals and hardworking members of the tourism industry.” Drew continues to take on the role of a travel host and buddy — you know going to places, exploring the nook and cranny, getting to know people and experiencing the local culture.

t he anniversary special commences on July 2 at 8:15 p.m. and culminates on July 9 on GtV.

talagang grabe talaga. Ngayon ko lang sasabihin," she added. melai then went on to narrate her miraculous experience.

"Parang nagkaroon ako ng bukol dito sa may boobs kasi, so hindi talaga 'to alam, ngayon ko lang sasabihin. 'Di rin alam ng family ko. Nu'ng magbakasyon ako ng Cebu, iginoal ko talaga na mapuntahan lahat ng simbahan. mga mirakulong simbahan doon at sa Bohol. Yes, grabe. Alam mo momsh reg, nawala talaga momsh r eg, na hindi pa ako nakapag-checkup. Iba 'yung bukol kasi matigas eh, kaysa du'n 'yung parang may laman," she said.

"so ito talaga sabi ko, my God Lord. Pinag-pray ko talaga kasi dapat magpa-checkup na ako after nu'ng...eto nu'ng cycle na 'to. m agpapacheckup na ako. Alam mo bago ako magpacheck, sabi ko, 'Lord ikaw na ang bahala'."

melai said that she will now stop thinking negative because she knew that God is with her.

" s imula ngayon, hindi na ako mag-iisip ng negative, kasi alam kong si Lord nandiyan," she said.

“It’s been 18 years also and it is such a great experience,” answered Drew when the stAr asked about his stint as a travel show host with the possibility of having one of the longest careers in the said t V genre, during a recent virtual press conference. his gift of the gab in capturing the sights and sounds of a place started with the nowdefunct Balikbayan and Weekend Getaway. “And (it’s) a blessing to know that we’re still here, after 18 years of hosting, doing or producing travel shows. t here’s still so much to feature. I think it’s also a great timing to feature different destinations, especially now that a lot of people are doing revenge traveling,” he added.

As for his pieces of advice for one to have a more enjoyable and meaningful trip, Drew had this to say: “I guess it also depends on the personality of a person. there are people who like peace and quiet. there are also those who are adventurous, may mga taong gusto maingay. It really depends.”

“I guess when you’re traveling to a place where you’ve never been, as cliché as it may sound, you gotta have an open mind to try out new stuff. It could be food, it could be an experience, it could be meeting new people, you know,

that would probably make your trip more memorable,” shared he of a traveler’s mindset. “I think that’s what you really want out of the trip — you know to make memories or memorable ones. these are memories you want to share with your loved ones in life when you’re not with them in that trip. I think yun naman yun. Just be open-minded and always try to have that sense of adventure.”

Drew truly enjoys his work, which has given him the opportunity to “you know, just exploring the outdoors for work. that’s such a lucky place to be in.” the group interview also had Drew expressing his feelings on the show’s upcoming anniversary celebration and giving his two cents on its secrets to longevity.

“sometimes, I feel old because when you get (to) realize that for how many years we’ve been doing it… yes, you feel old but at the same time you also feel blessed,” said he. “even though some shoots are tiring, but it (the work) is always fulfilling. Just having a different experience every week is a big thing. even though sometimes (there are instances that would require me) to work late (or stay on set for hours) or whatever challenges that would come our way during the shoot, I always think that we’re still blessed.”

With this new turn or phase in Biyahe ni Drew, will it consider,

as among possibilities in the future, to become a full travel documentary show like the travel time?

“I guess it is pretty much like a docu but in a very casual manner, ‘di ba parang the feel of Biyahe ni Drew ever since is pretty much like a travelogue,” shared he with this paper, “me experiencing things, going through the process and for me, trying to communicate to the viewers what I feel, what I have tasted and what they could possibly do, kahit papano (in a way) it’s a docu, but a casual (documentary).”

Another thing that one can look forward to, as Drew said, is, “We’re already thinking about making that a possibility like asking people to join me in my travels.”

however, for the anniversary episodes, Drew will be joined by his wife Iya Villania and they will go together to Korea and feature the K-pop culture that Pinoys, particularly the young, are enthusiastic about. the teaser shows the couple acting in a scene, similar to a Korean drama, with a storyline of him and her finally meeting again and fulfilling a promise made a long time ago. Drew and Iya’s trip will also bring them to a location of the series Goblin and a popular B ts bus stop, plus a Korean beauty adventure and a cuisine sampling.

Xyriel Manabat

Photo from Instagram/@xyrielmanabat_

Melai Cantiveros

Photo from Instagram/@mrandmrsfrancisco

Drew Arellano and his Biyahe ni Drew team have produced 500 plus episodes for the past 10 years. Such feat is being celebrated this year via the show’s two-part anniversary special on July 2 and 9 on GTV. Drew, the host has been given the chance to explore the outdoors as well as to meet new people and experience a local culture. He offers ‘have an open mind to try out new stuff. It could be food, it could be an experience, it could be meeting new people’ as advice to travelers. Philstar.com file photo