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JULY 4 -10, 2025

T h e F i l i p i n o –A m e r i c a n C o m m u n i t y N e w s pa p e r

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FBI uncovers ‘largest health care fraud scheme’ in US DATELINE USA history — over $14.6 billion in false claims, 324 charged Trump is not revoking FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

dual citizenship — viral claim debunked

by AJPress

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A viral social media rumor claiming that President Donald Trump is revoking dual citizenship rights has been thoroughly debunked by legal experts, government agencies, and independent fact-checkers.

Despite widespread sharing online, there is no law, executive order, or federal directive requiring Americans with dual citizenship to give up one nationality or risk losing their U.S. citizenship.

In a fact-check published by Reuters, the outlet confirmed: “No such post about dual citizenship appears on Trump’s official Truth Social account,” and added: “There is no known effort to end dual citizenship in this country.”

The U.S. Department of State also affirms that dual nationality is legally recognized: “U.S. law does not require a U.S. citizen to choose between U.S. citizenship and another nationality… A U.S. citizen may naturalize in

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On June 30, 2025, federal officials announced what they called the largest health care fraud crackdown in U.S. history, charging 324 individuals—including 96 licensed medical professionals—in schemes that attempted to defraud Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance programs out of a staggering $14.6 billion.

The announcement was made by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of In-

vestigation (FBI) in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The operation covered 50 federal districts and involved 12 state attorneys general, making it one of the most geographically extensive enforcement efforts ever undertaken in U.S. health care history.

Authorities seized more than $245 million in cash, luxury goods, and cryptocurrency, and suspended or revoked the billing privileges of

by AJPress

Attorney General Rob Bonta hails court order to release EV charger funds EXECUTIVES and team members of Hotel101 Global and JVSPAC Acquisition Corp. ring the opening bell at the Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square, New York on June 27, 2025—marking the historic listing of Hotel101 Global (NASDAQ: HBNB), the first-ever Filipino-owned company to go public on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange. The $2.3 billion SPAC merger milestone was celebrated with confetti and cheers, symbolizing a proud moment for Philippine enterprise on the international financial stage.

Photo from Hotel101 social media account

Philippines still ASEAN’s fastest-growing economy

NEW YORK – Hotel101 Global Holdings Corp., the international hospitality subsidiary of the Philippines’ DoubleDragon Corporation (PSE: DD), made history this week by becoming the first Filipino-owned and led company to list on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange. The milestone follows the completion of a US $2.3 billion business combination with U.S.-based JVSPAC Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: JVSA).

The merged entity will trade under the ticker symbol HBNB, with shares set to begin public trading on July 1, 2025.

The transaction was carried out through a SPAC, or Special Purpose Acquisition Company—a faster and less traditional path to going public. A SPAC is a publicly listed “shell” company created specifically u PAGE 4

Australia declines to host Rodrigo Duterte during ICC case

by Cristina Chi

by Keisha Ta-Asan

Philstar.com

Philstar.com

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Hotel101 becomes first Filipino company to list on Nasdaq after $2.3 billion SPAC merger

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SACRAMENTO - California Attorney General Rob Bonta, the first Filipino American to hold the state’s top law enforcement position, praised a federal judge’s ruling this week, June 27, 2025, that ordered the Biden-era electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure funds to be released after months of being frozen under the Trump administration.

On Tuesday, June 24, U.S. District Judge Tana Lin in Washington state issued a preliminary injunction requiring the U.S. Department of Transportation to reinstate federal EV charger funding to 14 states. The decision follows lawsuits filed by a coalition of states after the Trump administration paused disbursement of funds earlier this year for further policy review.

Judge Lin ruled that the administration exceeded its authority in suspending the funds, which had already been approved by Congress through the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.

205 health care providers. Over $4 billion in payments were proactively blocked through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

At the center: Operation Gold Rush The most elaborate of the schemes was dubbed Operation Gold Rush—a transnational plot involving fraudsters with ties to Eastern Europe and Russia, who allegedly used stolen American identities to fraudulently acquire more than 30 U.S.-based durable medical equipment (DME)

MANILA — The Philippines is expected to remain the fastest-growing economy in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region this year, bolstered by low inflation and room for monetary easing.

However, global uncertainties, weak private sector sentiment and persistent trade imbalances could temper the pace of expansion, according to two research groups.

Aris Dacanay, ASEAN economist at HSBC, said the former President Rodrigo Duterte Philstar.com file photo u PAGE 4

MANILA — The Australian government has ruled out hosting former President Rodrigo Duterte for interim release after he petitioned the International Criminal Court to be temporarily freed in an unnamed third country.

It is understood that the Australian government is aware of

Duterte’s petition for interim release from the ICC detention center in The Hague, Netherlands. Australia has not agreed to host the former Philippine president, nor are they considering this, Philstar.com learned.

Australia sees Duterte’s application for provisional release as a matter for the ICC to consider under the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the court, u PAGE 5

Dylan Harper, the no. 2 NBA draft pick, DOJ chief Remulla to apply PH real estate emerges as for Ombudsman post gold standard for investment brings Filipino pride to San Antonio Spurs

by Ian Laqui Philstar.com

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla

Senate file photo

MANILA — Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed on Monday, June 30, that he intends to apply for the position of Ombudsman.

“I think I will have a lot to offer there,” Remulla told reporters in an ambush interview. He said he plans to submit his application to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) on or before Friday, July 4.

Remulla is seeking to succeed Ombudsman Samuel Martires, who will retire on July 27, 2025.

Martires was appointed in 2018 u PAGE 5

THE Philippine real estate sector continues to demonstrate steady growth in the first half of 2025, defying global volatility.

According to global real estate services company Santos Knight Frank, the office sector is taking the lead with occupancy levels rising as more business process outsourcing (BPO) firms choose to expand within Metro Manila, reaffirming its position as a top outsourcing destination.

“The current geopolitical climate is marked by rapid and unpredictable changes, creating uncertainty for investors, businesses, and consumers alike. Despite this, the Philippine

by AJPress

real estate sector continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience, anchored by strong market fundamentals, proactive government policies and growing domestic demand,” said Rick Santos, chair and CEO of Santos Knight Frank.

“We continue to see steady demand in the office market from BPO and traditional occupiers.

The industrial sector is expanding steadily, driven by growth in manufacturing, logistics, and storage. In residential, Manila continues to position itself as an affordable luxury market, while the hospitality sector

SAN ANTONIO, TX — The moment the commissioner said his name, Dylan Harper stood up—not just for himself, but for generations. In a sharp suit and quiet smile, the 19-yearold Rutgers standout embraced his family, pulled his mother close, and walked toward the NBA stage not just as a top draft pick—but as a symbol.

Harper, selected No. 2 overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2025 NBA Draft, now shares a rare distinction with Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green:

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Dylan Harper

Photo from Instagram/@dylharpp

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JULY 4-10, 2025 • ASIAN JOURNAL

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From the Front Page

FBI uncovers ’largest health...

PAGE 1 suppliers.

The group submitted over $10.6 billion in false claims to Medicare for urinary catheters and glucose monitors—devices that were neither ordered nor needed by the patients. More than 1 million Americans’ identities were stolen and used in the billing process.

Although Medicare denied most of the claims, an estimated $1 billion was paid out through supplemental insurance providers before the operation was exposed. After the fraudulent equipment began arriving unrequested at beneficiaries' homes, officials reported a surge in complaints from confused patients, prompting deeper investigation.

“These fraudsters thought they could operate in the shadows,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “But we used every tool at our disposal to shine a light on their crimes. This takedown is historic—not just in scale, but in the signal it sends to bad actors across the country.”

The funds were laundered through a web of shell companies, cryptocurrency wallets, and luxury real estate. Investigators say the fraud scheme was highly coordinated and financially sophisticated.

Widespread fraud beyond

DME In addition to Operation Gold Rush, the DOJ uncovered multiple other schemes: Telemedicine and genetic testing fraud: 49 defendants were charged for submitting $1.17 billion in false claims, often involving unnecessary DNA testing.

Opioid diversion rings: 74 defendants were accused of participating in illegal prescription networks that distributed more than 15 million pills.

Amniotic allograft billing scheme: 7 medical providers fraudulently billed over $1.1 billion for unnecessary and often unproven wound treatments.

Kickback and referral schemes: Dozens of providers were linked to illegal arrangements that rewarded referrals for testing and medical services.

“This takedown protects patients and punishes those who exploit our health care systems for personal gain,” said Juliet Hodgkins, Deputy Inspector General for HHS-OIG Investigations. “These schemes undermine trust and steal resources from those who truly need care.”

Fraud fighting goes hightech The takedown was made possible in part by the newly launched Health Care Fraud Data Fusion Center, a DOJ-led

initiative that uses AI-powered analytics and real-time surveillance of billing trends to identify suspicious activity.

“We’re shifting from a ‘payand-chase’ model to one that stops fraud before the money ever goes out the door,” said Matthew Galeotti, Director of the National Rapid Response Strike Force.

Awareness in the Filipino-American community Though the DOJ has not released a full list of defendants, early reviews of the case filings show no indication that any Filipino-American professionals were charged in the operation. Still, legal observers note that Filipino-American health care providers—who represent a significant part of the U.S. health workforce—must remain vigilant. Many fraud schemes begin with stolen patient data or fake corporate contracts, rather than any direct misconduct by the providers themselves.

Public advised to be alert The DOJ and HHS urge Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers to regularly check their Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statements and report any unfamiliar charges or devices.

To report Medicare fraud, call 1-800-HHS-TIPS or visit https://oig.hhs.gov. n

Attorney General Rob Bonta hails court order...

PAGE 1 In a public statement, Bonta said: “This ruling affirms what we’ve argued all along—the administration cannot dismiss programs illegally just to let Big Oil continue basking in record profits.” Bonta added that the court’s decision is “a win for the rule of law and the climate.”

The injunction is set to take effect on July 2, unless the administration appeals the ruling.

It covers 14 of the 17 states and jurisdictions that filed suit. The court excluded Washington, D.C., Minnesota, and Vermont from relief, stating those entities had not demonstrated irreparable harm.

The funds in question are part of the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI)

program, which aims to expand charging stations along U.S. highways. According to court documents and reporting by the Associated Press, states like New York had approximately $120 million in pending EV infrastructure projects delayed due to the freeze.

The suspension of funds in February 2025 affected contracts, permitting processes, and deployment schedules in several states, including California, Arizona, Illinois, and New York.

State officials argued in court filings that the delays disrupted public-private partnerships and interfered with existing procurement timelines.

As of June 27, the Trump administration has not filed an ap-

peal. If no legal stay is granted, the Department of Transportation will be required to resume funding disbursement starting next week.

Bonta joined the multi-state legal challenge earlier this year, aligning with attorneys general from other states who argued that halting the funding violated congressional intent.

Rob Bonta, a son of Filipino immigrants, has consistently advocated for environmental protection and legal accountability in his role as California’s attorney general. The injunction marks a legal victory for his office and other states seeking to continue EV infrastructure development without further federal delays.

(AJPress)

POPE’S DAY. Foreign and local tourists visit the opening of the “With Leo, Our Pope” exhibit in commemoration of Pope Leo XIV’s first Pope’s Day at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila on Monday, June 30. The exhibit features Conclave memorabilia from Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula and artifacts from the Order of St. Augustine, to which Pope Leo XIV belongs.

PNA photo by Yancy Lim

Why the DOJ is investigating the University of California’s hiring practices At the heart of the issue: How far can colleges go to build a diverse faculty without breaking the law?

by AJPress THE U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is taking a closer look at how the University of California (UC) hires its professors—and whether those efforts to build a more diverse faculty cross legal lines.

The investigation, announced on June 26, focuses on the UC 2030 Capacity Plan—a longterm strategy to add about 1,100 new tenure-track faculty members by the end of the decade. The goal? To meet student needs and better reflect California’s diversity in the classroom.

But federal officials say they’re concerned the plan may have gone too far in prioritizing race and gender when it comes to hiring decisions. That, they warn, could violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination in the workplace based on race, sex, and other protected categories.

“Institutional directives that use race‑ and sex‑based hiring practices expose employers to legal risk under federal law,”said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, who leads the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division.

The DOJ has not accused UC of any wrongdoing—yet. The department says it’s still gathering infor-

mation and hasn’t made any final decisions. But the inquiry, known as a “pattern or practice” investigation, suggests the government is looking into whether UC’s hiring approach has been systematically unfair or illegal.

UC says it’s playing by the rules In response, UC leaders have defended the plan, saying their hiring practices are completely legal—and rooted in the idea that qualified candidates from all backgrounds should have an equal shot.

“We are committed to complying with all applicable federal and state laws,” said UC spokesperson Rachel Zaentz in a statement to The Washington Post. “We stand by our efforts to recruit diverse and highly qualified faculty members. The university does not use quotas or make hiring decisions based on protected characteristics.”

In California, race-based affirmative action in public schools and hiring has been banned since 1996 under Proposition 209. And in 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against race-conscious admissions nationwide. But experts say there’s still legal room for universities to widen their applicant pools—so long as they don’t base

hiring decisions directly on race or gender.

“Aiming to have a diverse workforce is not illegal under antidiscrimination laws,” said Risa Lieberwitz, labor law professor at Cornell University. “The Justice Department has offered no evidence that it has cause to believe the UC system broke such laws.” (The Washington Post, June 26, 2025) A bigger debate about diversity This investigation is part of a wider federal crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs under the Trump administration. Government officials have also launched reviews of antisemitism on college campuses, transgender policies in sports, and how universities handle foreign research funding.

At UC, the 2030 plan was designed to address real needs— more faculty to teach more students. But how those hires are made is now under a legal spotlight.

For now, the outcome of the DOJ’s investigation remains uncertain. But the case could set a national example for how far public universities can go in building diverse teams—while staying within the law. n

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JULY 4-10, 2025 • ASIAN JOURNAL

DATELINE USA

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Hotel101 becomes first Filipino company to... Philippines still ASEAN’s fastest-growing...

Fast facts: Hotel101 Global (NASDAQ: HBNB)

PAGE 1

to raise funds and merge with a private company, allowing the private firm to become publicly traded without going through a standard initial public offering (IPO).

In this case, Hotel101 Global became a public company in the U.S. through its merger with JVSPAC, without the need for a traditional IPO roadshow or pricing process. SPAC mergers have become popular in recent years as a way for growing companies to access capital and enter the stock market quickly.

The deal cleared its final regulatory hurdle on June 24, when JVSPAC shareholders approved the merger. Earlier, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission declared effective Hotel101 Global’s Form F-4 registration statement on June 2.

A ceremonial bell-ringing took place on June 27 at the Nasdaq MarketSite in New York’s Times Square, where executives celebrated the listing.

“This is a proud moment not just for our company, but for the Philippines,” said Hannah Yulo-Luccini, CEO of Hotel101 Global, in a statement reported

by GMA News. “The Nasdaq listing gives us the global platform and credibility to execute our long-term growth plans.”  Hotel101 operates under a unique “condotel” model —selling standardized hotel units to investors, who in turn earn a portion of pooled rental revenues.

The company manages the dayto-day hotel operations, allow-

• Valuation: US $2.3 billion (post-merger with JVSPAC) • Start of Public trading : July 1, 2025 • SPAC sponsor: JVSPAC Acquisition Corp.

• Business model: Condotel (real estate + hospitality) • Current and upcoming locations: Philippines, Japan, Spain, U.S., Saudi Arabia • Parent company: DoubleDragon Corporation (PSE: DD) • Founders: Edgar “Injap” Sia II and Tony Tan Caktiong • Long-term target: 1 million rooms in 100+ countries by 2040

PAGE 1 Philippines is expected to post the fastest economic growth in Southeast Asia in 2025 at 5.4 percent, outpacing its regional peers despite a downgrade from an earlier 5.9 percent projection.

Vietnam, which is often seen as a regional growth leader, is forecast to expand by a slower 5.2 percent next year, followed

by Indonesia (4.5 percent), Malaysia (4.2 percent), Singapore (1.7 percent) and Thailand (1.7 percent).

But at 5.4 percent, Philippine growth is projected to slow down from the 5.7 percent expansion recorded in 2024, as elevated tariffs and external headwinds weigh on economic activity, Dacanay said.

“Uncertainty alone can prevent foreign direct investments.

For the Philippines, foreign direct investment is important, around 10 percent of capital formation is FDI-funded,” Dacanay said in a briefing.

“When investors hold back, that weighs on overall investment activity,” he said.

Dacanay noted that many Philippine firms are also holding off on capacity expansion, while demand from major trading partners like the United States remains weak.

Fortunately, he said the country’s direct exposure to the U.S. economy is limited, with only

members of DoubleDragon and its subsidiaries.

In a statement to GMA News, Sia said, “This is a first-of-its-kind Filipino-led brand entering the global capital markets. We hope it opens doors for more Philippine companies to follow.”

Hotel101 aims to standardize mid-range accommodations worldwide, offering uniform design, automated check-in/out systems, and a tech-driven user experience. The brand has set a long-term target of reaching 1 million rooms in over 100 countries by 2040.

The company’s prospectus describes this as a move toward becoming “the most-booked hotel brand globally in terms of room volume.”

In a Reuters article published April 8, Hotel101 stated, “The brand will soon be able to cater to business and leisure travelers in the most key cities of the world.” n PAGE 1 is regaining strength with an expanding hotel pipeline across key destinations. As economic tides shift, real estate reaffirms its place as the gold standard of investment—offering long-term value, enduring stability, and tangible growth opportunities,” Santos explained.

Sustained office demand Net absorption this first half of 2025 stood at 192,000 sqm, driven by move-ins and expansions from the BPO industry. Metro Manila office market’s supply reached to 8.8 million sqm with the introduction of 158,000 sqm of new office stock.

More than 403,000 sqm of office stock is expected to be completed in the latter part of the year, with an additional of more than half a million square meters Wearing green Hotel101 Global jackets and proudly waving Philippine flags, executives and team members pose beneath the Nasdaq tower in Times Square, over the next five years.

New York on June 27, 2025. The digital marquee welcomed Hotel101 Global as it became the first Filipino-owned company to be listed on the Nasdaq Stock More BPO companies continue Exchange (NASDAQ: HBNB), following its $2.3 billion merger with JVSPAC Acquisition Corp.

Photo from Hotel101 social media account to choose Metro Manila as their preferred office destination with the launch of more Grade A and Prime buildings especially in BGC, Taguig and Makati. Taguig now has the lowest vacancy rate of 15 percent and the highest average asking rate at P1,248 ing for brand consistency while avoiding the capital intensity of traditional hotel chains.

Hotel101 currently has properties in the Philippines, with additional developments in Japan (Niseko), Spain (Madrid), and the United States (Los Angeles).

In 2024, the company signed a major 10,000-room joint venture in Saudi Arabia with Horizon Global Investments.

According to a Reuters interview published June 6, Yulo-Luccini said, “The Nasdaq listing gives us the global credibility and platform to scale the brand and execute our long-term growth plans across continents.”

Hotel101 Global is the international venture of DoubleDragon Corporation, which was co-founded in 2012 by Edgar “Injap” Sia II, the entrepreneur behind Mang Inasal, and Tony Tan Caktiong, founder of Jollibee Foods Corp. Both men remain strategic investors and board

about three percent of gross domestic product (GDP) tied to U.S. demand.

“We still expect growth risks to be on the upside, especially with inflation running at 1.3 percent.

This gives the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) ample room to cut rates further, possibly down to five percent this year,” he said.

HSBC expects inflation to average 1.8 percent this year before picking up to 2.7 percent next year.

The next rate cut could also happen in October depending on the U.S. Federal Reserve’s policy moves.

HSBC expects the peso to stabilize around the 55 level in the second half of 2025, which could boost capital inflows and support foreign investments.

Despite the external challenges, Dacanay said the Philippines remains resilient and projected 2026 growth at 5.8 percent, down slightly from a previous forecast of 5.9 percent.

Meanwhile, ANZ Research painted a more cautious picture, highlighting structural weaknesses in the private sector that could limit the recovery’s momentum.

“Private investment and exports have been hindered by a lack of productivity growth, while real wage growth has been insufficient to drive a strong rebound in household spending,” ANZ said in

its latest economic outlook.

The research firm expects GDP to grow by 5.1 percent this year, down from 5.7 percent in 2024.

It cited declining electronics exports and subdued manufacturing output as key drags on growth.

ANZ also flagged that consumption remains under pressure despite low inflation, as real incomes remain tight and households continue to rely on credit card debt for basic goods.

On monetary policy, ANZ expects the BSP to cut rates by another 50 basis points this year, bringing the policy rate to 4.75 percent. However, it warned that mildly restrictive fiscal policy could dilute the impact of monetary easing.

“While inflation is no longer a concern, we don’t expect a material rebound in domestic demand,” ANZ said. “The absolute price level remains high, and wage growth has not kept pace.”

Both analysts agreed that the BSP will likely take a data-dependent approach in the coming months, especially as geopolitical risks and oil price volatility could complicate the policy outlook.

“The peso’s reaction to recent oil shocks shows how vulnerable we remain to global supply disruptions,” Dacanay said. “But the BSP still has space to deepen its easing cycle, as long as inflation remains benign.” n

PH real estate emerges as gold standard for... per sqm per month—21 percent higher than the overall average of P1,024 per sqm per month.

Makati follows at 17 percent vacancy rate and P1,220 per sqm per month asking rate.

‘Affordable’ luxury residential market Manila continues to retain its position in the super prime market, placing 9th in Knight Frank’s Prime Global Cities Index in Q1 2025, with a 5.5 percent year-on-year increase in prices.

Globally, this makes Manila an “affordable luxury market” that provides more value for its consumers compared to other markets in the Asia Pacific.

Meanwhile, prime villages in Metro Manila continue to demonstrate steady growth in the first half. Forbes Parks leads with a 15 percent increase to P825,000 per sqm, followed closely by Dasmarinas, Magallanes and Ayala Alabang at 14 percent.

Limited availability and exclusivity continue to drive the demand in these exclusive subdivisions.

Industrial hotspots Calabarzon and Central Luzon solidified their status as key industrial hotspots, attracting strong interest from foreign

enterprises seeking operational efficiency and access to critical infrastructure.

Average rents in these areas range from P230 to P290 per sqm per month—offering competitive rates for companies in manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and cold storage. These sectors are driving sustained demand for industrial space.

Resurgence of iconic hotels Iconic hotels Sofitel and InterContinental are making a comeback in new strategic locations namely Cebu and New Clark City in Tarlac, respectively, reflecting a renewed confidence in the tourism sector and a shift in hospitality strategy.

Major hotel operators are partnering with local developers to establish more high-end hotels attracting higherspending tourists, increasing average length of stay and tourist spending to help boost tourism revenue. From Accor’s partnership with Megaworld for Mercure; Marriott International and CG Hospitality for the rebranding of The Farm at San Benito, Autograph Collection; to Banyan Tree and Hann Resort in New Clark City. (Inquirer.net)

Dylan Harper, the no. 2 NBA draft pick, brings...

PAGE 1 the highest-drafted Filipino American in league history. But that title, for Harper, is not a statistic. It’s a legacy.

“I just want to represent where I come from,” Harper said during his post-draft press conference. “My mom’s side of the family—they’ve put so much into me.”

That side is led by Maria Pizarro Harper, the woman whose name trended just minutes after her son’s. She didn’t make a speech or flash a sign. She just stood there—elegant, grounded, and unmistakably proud. In her son’s success, many saw her handprints: the discipline, the fire, the foundation.

From Bataan to baseline drives Maria was born in Bataan, Philippines, and moved to New Jersey when she was seven.

A former Division I guard at the University of New Orleans in the 1990s, she played with tenacity and coached with precision. Long before national scouts discovered Dylan, she was putting him through drills on concrete courts at dawn. She coached both of her sons—Dylan and Ron Jr.—at Don Bosco Prep in New Jersey. She was the first coach Dylan ever listened to.

Arguably, the toughest one.

“She knows the game,” Harper said in an earlier interview. “And she doesn’t sugarcoat anything.”

That approach worked.

Dylan’s path to the pros was not hyped with mixtape culture or viral dunks. It was carved with patience, power, and pedigree.

His father, Ron Harper Sr., owns five NBA championship rings—three with the Chicago Bulls (1996–1998) under coach Phil Jackson alongside Michael Jordan, and two with the Los Angeles Lakers (2000–2001), also under Jackson, during the team’s dominant run led by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. His brother, Ron Jr., now with the Detroit Pistons, recently broke the Motor City Cruise record for most threes in a game. The game runs in the family—but Dylan, quietly, is becoming its most compelling chapter.

The viral moment Maria Harper didn’t intend to go viral—but she did. As Dylan was interviewed live on ESPN moments after being drafted, the cameras caught Maria standing behind him, composed and radiant in a black dress. Her poise, confidence, and visible pride instantly captured viewers’ attention.

Social media lit up. One user wrote, “Respectfully, Dylan Harper’s mom is the star of the NBA Draft.” Others called her “a smoke show,” and “the real MVP of the night.” Maria, for her part, stayed quiet, letting the moment belong to her son. But in the hours that followed, clips of her appearance were shared across platforms, and her role as Dylan’s first coach was widely celebrated.

Later in an ESPNW interview, Maria described the moment as “surreal,” adding, “The NBA is a very exclusive club. I’m just so proud of him.”

Basketball’s cultural heartbeat In the Philippines, basketball isn’t just played—it’s lived. In gymnasiums, schoolyards, and on rain-soaked driveways, it’s the cultural heartbeat of the nation. From makeshift hoops in far-flung rural towns to soldout arenas in Metro Manila, the game pulses through Filipino life like second nature.

Harper’s rise felt personal for many. After all, it’s not often that someone with Filipino bloodline walks across the NBA draft stage as one of the first two names called. It wasn’t just a career milestone—it was a mirror held up to millions of fans who finally saw someone they could point to and say, that’s ours.

He now joins a tight fraternity of Fil-Am NBA standouts: Jordan Clarkson, the Utah Jazz guard and former Sixth Man of the Year who suited up for Gilas Pilipinas; Jalen Green, the explosive Phoenix Suns guard who went No. 2 in 2021; Jared McCain, the sharpshooting rookie for the Philadelphia 76ers who proudly acknowledged his Filipino roots after being drafted in 2024; and Raymond Townsend, the original trailblazer who made history

Dylan Harper, the 19-year-old Fil-Am guard from Rutgers, made history as one of the highest-drafted players of Filipino descent.

Selected No. 2 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, he poses with his jersey after being picked by the San Antonio Spurs.

Photo from Instagram/@dylharpp

in 1978 as the first Filipino American to play in the NBA. Spurs reloaded In San Antonio, Harper steps into a team in transformation.

With 7’4” French phenom Victor Wembanyama already on the roster—and Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle joining him—the Spurs are quietly assembling one of the most exciting young cores in the league. The addition of All-Star guard De’Aaron Fox only raises the stakes.“Man, I feel great. I feel good. I almost cried,” Harper admitted. “I felt every emotion in that moment. I’m just excited to get started with the organization.”

There’s still a summer league to grind through, veterans to impress, a system to learn. But none of that dulls the brilliance of this milestone. Harper has already become something more than a draft pick.

The quiet flame Dylan Harper didn’t need theatrics on draft night. No over-the-top celebration. Just a quiet nod, a deep breath, and a walk to the stage with purpose.

He understood the weight of the moment—not just for himself, but for his family and the millions watching who saw part of their story in his. A product of both NBA bloodlines and Filipino grit, Harper symbolizes a generational shift in visibility and impact. n

Dateline Philippines

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Pope Leo XIV appoints Br. Armin Luistro to Vatican dicastery Alice Guo ousted as mayor: Manila

by Dianne Sampang Inquirer.net

MANILA — Former Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro has been appointed by Pope Leo XIV as a member of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life.

This appointment was announced by the Vatican Press Office on Tuesday, June 24.

According to the website of the Vatican, the dicastery is a department under the Roman Curia responsible for promoting, encouraging, and regulating the practice of evangelical counsels.

Luistro is the superior general of the De La Salle Brothers, also known as Brothers of the Christian Schools, a congrega- Br. Armin Luistro and Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican on Thursday, May 15. tion committed to the mission of Photo by Vatican Media handout via CBCP News/Facebook education in 80 countries. He is Luistro served as the Departthe first Filipino to assume this will be a valuable contribution to the entire consecrated life of the ment of Education secretary title. under the administration of late The La Salle Global on Church,” it added.

According to the Catholic former President Benigno AquiWednesday, June 25 welcomed Luistro’s appointment to the di- Bishops’ Conference of the Phil- no III. La Salle Global said that Luippines or CBCP News, the De castery.

“This appointment is a clear La Salle Brothers, led by Luist- istro started his teaching career sign of the synodal path that we, ro, met the new pope during an at De La Salle Lipa in Batangas as Lasallians, are called to walk audience in the Vatican last May where he served as a religion in communion with the Church,” 15. The brothers marked the teacher, class counselor, and 75th anniversary of the proc- campus minister from 1983 to it said in a statement.

“We extend our best wishes lamation of St. John Baptist de 1986. He was also the president to Brother Armin in this new La Salle as the patron saint of of De La Salle University from April 2004 to June 2010. n mission, trusting that his service Christian teachers.

Baste Duterte to serve as acting Davao City mayor – Comelec chief

by Dianne Sampang Inquirer.net

MANILA — Sebastian “Baste” Duterte will serve as the acting mayor of Davao City, as his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, is unable to take oath and assume office due to his current detention by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands.

This is the reply of Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia when asked if the vice mayor-elect will act as mayor in case the winner of the mayoral race can’t assume office.

“Yes, po, by the operation of the law, by operation of the Local Government Code,” Garcia told reporters in an interview.

Garcia cited the Local Government Code, which outlines the rules of succession and the temporary and permanent incapacity of a public official who is unable to assume office.

According to Section 46 of the Local Government Code, when a mayor is temporarily incapacitated to perform his duties due to physical or legal reasons, the vice mayor will assume office as acting mayor.

“That’s what the Supreme Court says in the case of Mangudadatu vs. Comelec, regardless of whether it is disqualification or cancellation after the assumption to office by June 30, 12:01, those who will assume office will be by succession,” Garcia added.

Garcia also said that the Comelec will lose jurisdiction over elected officials if they have no pending cases before the poll body on June 30.

“As long as they don’t have pending cases before us, we have not arrived at a decision, and there was a proclamation, the jurisdiction will be transferred to the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) on June 30,” he said.

“Now, on who will assume of-

fice, and what will happen to the candidate, that will be the call of DILG,” the Comelec chief said.

DILG Undersecretary for External, Legal, and Legislative Affairs Romeo Benitez previously said that there are no laws disqualifying the former president from taking his oath of office despite being detained.

However, Benitez said that if the older Duterte can take an oath of office, “his detention renders him both physically and legally temporarily incapable of performing his duties and functions as mayor.”

Benitez said that the highest-ranking Sangguniang Bayan member will serve as the acting vice mayor, citing Administrative Order No. 15 series of 2018.

The former president, despite being currently detained at the ICC for crimes against humanity allegedly committed during his war on drugs campaign, won the mayoral race in Davao City with a landslide win of 662,630 votes. n

Trump is not revoking dual citizenship...

PAGE 1 a foreign state without any risk to their U.S. citizenship.”

Filipino Americans unaffected For many Filipino Americans who maintain both U.S. and Philippine citizenship, the clarification offers reassurance: • Dual citizenship remains fully legal and protected.

• No current policy demands re-

nunciation of another nationality.

• Children born in the U.S. retain their full U.S. citizenship rights, regardless of their parents’ foreign nationality.

Community organizations and immigration attorneys have urged the public to rely on verified government sources, especially amid a surge in online misinformation.

Bottom line There is no truth to claims that dual citizenship is being revoked by the Trump administration.

Dual nationals —Filipino Americans included— continue to be recognized under U.S. law without needing to choose between nationalities.

For accurate updates, visit travel.state.gov or uscis.gov. (AJPress)

Australia declines to host Rodrigo Duterte...

PAGE 1 which Australia is also a party to.

Vice President Sara Duterte earlier said in a media interview in Melbourne that Australia is on “the list of countries” that her father’s lawyers were considering to be the host nation for his temporary release.

VP Sara denies formal request On Friday, June 27, however, Sara said Australia was never formally approached about hosting her father.

“First off, I’d like to clarify that the defense team of President Duterte never reached out to the Australian government to discuss his interim release. There is no application of former President Duterte for interim release in Australia,” she said in an interview in Davao City.

The vice president confirmed that while two countries are indicated in the formal ICC submission of her father’s lawyers, “I have to confirm that the two countries, none of which is Australia.”

“And there is no intent as well to apply for interim release with the Australian government,” Sara said, adding that she specifically said that Australia was on the “list” of her father’s lawyers and not the filed ICC petition.

“I never talked to any government official when I was in Australia. And I know for a fact Australia is not one of the two countries redacted in the petition for interim release,” the vice president said in mixed English and Filipino.

In his petition for interim release filed on June 12, Rodrigo Duterte’s lawyers said a country has expressed its willingness to accept Duterte onto its territory for the duration of his interim release and enforce conditions of his release. The name of the country is redacted in the document.

One of “two countries” that were “named” in the petition, Sara said in a media interview in Melbourne on June 22, had “committed to helping or to receiving and accepting” the former president. She did not dis-

close more details.

In opposing Duterte’s request, the ICC prosecution said his proposed host country lacks an “extensive history of cooperation” with the court and would be unable to properly implement the conditions of interim release.

VP Sara tries to meet Australian FM Penny Wong The vice president had also shared in the June 22 media interview that she had informed Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong of her visit on “very short notice.”

“I informed her informally through a message that I am here in Australia, and I am here to do a rally today and that if she is available for a very brief quick chat just to say hello because I met her in the Philippines when she visited and just, I wanted to say a friendly hello nothing official,” she said.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong was unavailable to meet with the vice president due to prior commitments, Philstar. com learned. n

DOJ chief Remulla to apply for Ombudsman...

PAGE 1 by then-President Rodrigo Duterte.

The Ombudsman serves a non-renewable seven-year term and is appointed by the president from a shortlist prepared by the JBC. Possible conflict As Justice secretary, Remulla is an ex officio member of the JBC, the body tasked with screening applicants for judicial and quasi-judicial posts. His position allows him to help select candi-

dates for the shortlist unless he chooses to inhibit himself.

According to the Constitution, the secretary of Justice automatically sits on the council and participates in deliberations and voting.

Powers, limits The Office of the Ombudsman is responsible for investigating and prosecuting public officials accused of wrongdoing, particularly graft and corruption.

Depending on the case, the Ombudsman may file charges

before the Sandiganbayan or a Regional Trial Court.

The Ombudsman may only be removed through impeachment. The last impeachment process against an Ombudsman occurred in 2011, when the House of Representatives filed articles of impeachment against Merceditas Gutierrez for alleged betrayal of public trust. However, the trial did not proceed after Gutierrez resigned 10 days before Senate proceedings were set to begin. n

court says she ‘usurped’ public office as undocumented Chinese national Declared a Chinese citizen by the court, Guo now faces criminal charges and permanent disqualification from public office amid allegations of identity fraud, POGO-linked corruption, and possible foreign infiltration of local government

by AJPress MANILA – A regional trial court in Manila has formally declared the mayoralty of embattled Bamban, Tarlac official Alice Leal Guo void from the beginning, ruling that she is “undoubtedly a Chinese citizen” who “usurped a public office” by falsely claiming Filipino citizenship.

The 67-page decision issued on June 27, 2025, by Judge Liwliwa Hidalgo-Bucu of Manila RTC Branch 34 granted a quo warranto petition filed by the Office of the Solicitor General. The ruling voids Guo’s 2022 election victory and permanently bars her from holding public office.

“Respondent has not shown that she is a natural-born or even a naturalized Filipino citizen. The only conclusion is that she is a Chinese citizen,” the court ruled, citing fingerprint evidence linking Guo to a Chinese national named Guo Hua Ping, who was born in Fujian, China.

Questionable identity, illegal assumption of office Guo assumed office on June 30, 2022, after running as an independent candidate. She claimed to be a Filipino citizen and a lifelong resident of Bamban. However, investigators uncovered inconsistencies in her documents, including conflicting birth dates, questionable parentage, and a voter registration record beginning only in 2018.

The court stressed that Guo’s Philippine-issued documents— such as her passport and birth certificate—were not sufficient proof of citizenship in light of contradicting biometric and immigration evidence. Her fingerprints matched records tied to Guo Hua Ping, a Chinese citizen who entered the Philippines on an investor visa in 2003.

POGO raids, luxury compounds, and Senate scrutiny Controversy erupted follow-

ing raids in February 2023 and March 2024 at offshore gaming compounds in Bamban. One facility, Zun Yuan Technology, located adjacent to the municipal hall, was linked by authorities to alleged human trafficking, online fraud, and cryptocurrency scams.

Authorities discovered underground tunnels, luxury vehicles, hundreds of foreign workers, and multiple items tied to Guo’s name.

Senate hearings followed, where Guo gave vague responses about her upbringing and citizenship, prompting further suspicion.

Senator Risa Hontiveros described Guo as a possible “Chinese asset” and warned that foreign criminal syndicates may be exploiting local government positions through POGO operations.

Flight and dramatic return Guo fled the country in July 2024, shortly after her suspension by the Ombudsman and prior to her official dismissal in August.

Using a Philippine passport, she traveled through Malaysia and Singapore before being arrested in Indonesia on September 3, 2024. She was deported to the Philippines two days later.

Her arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport—escorted by government officials—sparked criticism from lawmakers and the public, with some calling it “celebrity treatment.”

Facing 124 counts of alleged money laundering and other charges Guo currently faces multiple legal proceedings. The Department of Justice filed 62 counts of alleged money laundering in January 2025 and another 62 in May, for a total of 124. She also faces charges for alleged falsification of public documents, perjury, human trafficking, and graft.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council and DOJ have frozen several of her bank accounts and properties tied to the alleged ille-

Declared a Chinese citizen by the court, Alice Guo now faces criminal charges and permanent disqualification from public office.

Philstar.com file photo

gal activity. As of press time, all charges remain pending, and Guo is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

Court ruling: never a legitimate mayor In granting the quo warranto petition, the Manila RTC declared that Guo’s election was void ab initio—from the beginning—making her entire term as mayor legally invalid.

“The court finds that respondent failed to discharge her burden of proving her Filipino citizenship, and thereby holds that she unlawfully assumed the office of Mayor of Bamban,” the decision read.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government has affirmed that the vice mayor continues to serve as Bamban’s acting mayor.

National implications The case has reignited calls for stricter background checks on political candidates, stronger enforcement of immigration and identification systems, and tighter regulation of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

Lawmakers and advocacy groups have warned that Guo’s case may be part of a larger pattern of foreign interference and identity fraud exploiting vulnerabilities in the country’s electoral and civil registration processes. n

6

Opinion

Features

JULY 4-10, 2025 • ASIAN JOURNAL

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Between two flags: A Filipino American reflection on the Fourth of July ON the Fourth of July, the United States comes together in celebration — barbecues and fireworks, parades and patriotic songs.

It is a day that honors the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, when a group of revolutionaries envisioned a nation built on liberty, equality, and selfrule.

For millions of Americans, including the vibrant and growing Filipino American community, this date holds meaning. But it also carries historical complexity.

For Filipino Americans—many of whom straddle two cultural identities and two national stories— July 4 is not only about the birth of the United States. It also echoes the Philippines’ own journey to sovereignty, a path deeply entwined with the very country now celebrating its freedom.

A shared calendar, a divergent past Few remember that the Philippines once celebrated its independence on July 4 as well.

On that day in 1946, the United States granted formal sovereignty to the Philippines after nearly 50 years of colonial rule.

For many older Filipinos, especially those who immigrated in the mid-20th century, this date carried emotional and political weight.

But that independence was hard-won and longdelayed.

In 1898, Filipino revolutionaries had already declared their independence from Spain. Yet, in the aftermath of the Spanish-American War, the Treaty of Paris transferred control of the archipelago to the United States. One empire had simply been replaced by another.

What followed was the Philippine-American War—a brutal, often overlooked conflict that

claimed hundreds of thousands of Filipino lives and marked the rise of the United States as a colonial power.

The U.S. justified its rule through language like “benevolent assimilation” and civilizing missions—words that ring hollow when measured against the realities of occupation and resistance.

The immigrant experience: between opportunity and history Despite this colonial past, the relationship between the Philippines and the United States evolved into something more complex— intertwined by migration, military alliance, shared language, and education.

Today, Filipino Americans make up the thirdlargest Asian American group in the United States.

They are teachers, nurses, engineers, caregivers, elected officials, artists, and soldiers.

Filipino migration to the U.S. stretches back centuries—beginning with the arrival of “Manilamen” in California in 1587, and expanding with waves of laborers in the 20th century.

Thousands served under the U.S. flag in World War II, defending both Philippine and American soil, with the expectation of recognition and reward.

Many of those veterans spent their remaining years fighting once again, this time in legislative halls, seeking benefits and promises long denied.

The power of dual consciousness To live as a Filipino American is to carry two histories. One is rooted in the American dream—of opportunity, democracy, and justice. The other is

Editorial

Commentary Allen Espinosa, Arlyne Marasigan, Nikolee Marie Serafico-Reyes, and Heidi Macahilig ON May 27, 2025, the Teacher Education Council approved a “reframed” set of Professional Education Courses for pre-service teachers.

At first glance, it appears neatly organized under four domains: The Learner, The Teacher, The Learning Process, and The Teaching Process. It is packaged with modern priorities—learner-centeredness, inclusivity, literacy, and extended practicum.

But beneath this structure lies a dangerous void. The orientation is glaringly individualistic, apolitical, and ahistorical—detached from the socio-political, socio-economic, and historical realities of the Philippine education system it claims to reform.

Where in this reframing is the teacher’s role in analyzing and challenging the system they are entering? How will future educators examine the structures of inequality, exclusion and colonial legacies haunting Philippine ed-

Public Lives

Randy David IF we fail to view recent events in their historical and global context, we risk falling into the trap of dividing nations into good or evil. A complex geopolitical situation is thus reduced to the simplistic binary of “bad guys” and “good guys.” These moral labels, nothing more than self-descriptions, prevent a deeper understanding of the enduring ironies in international relations. Here are four such ironies in the long and twisted relationship between Iran and Israel. : Today, Iran—a theocratic regime ruled by Shiite clerics— is seen by Israel as its greatest existential threat. The United States, for its part, regards Iran as the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. Yet, not long ago, Iran was Israel’s closest ally in the region. Until 1979, the Israeli government maintained a large embassy in Teh-

ManilaTimes.net photo

shaped by the history of exclusion, colonization, and sacrifice.

This dual consciousness doesn’t weaken patriotism. It enriches it.

Filipino Americans celebrate the Fourth of July with pride—but also with remembrance.

They understand that freedom is often imperfect, and that progress requires both celebration and reflection.

From the fields of Delano, where Filipino farmworkers helped spark the American labor movement, to the battlefields of Bataan and Corregidor, where Filipino soldiers fought and fell under the American flag, their presence is woven into the fabric of American history.

They came not just to labor, but to lead. Not just

The blind spot of the reframed Demand and Supply teacher education curriculum ucation? Where are they trained not only to survive the system, but to change it?

The curriculum’s silence on these questions is deafening.

In a country where education is deeply enmeshed in political dysfunction and socio-economic disparity, omitting courses on critical analysis, historical consciousness, and advocacy is not neutral—it is a political act.

It contradicts the principles of critical pedagogy, which call for education that interrogates power structures. This is not mere oversight; it is erasure.

The curriculum emphasizes courses like “Human Growth and Development,” “Foundations of Special and Inclusive Education,” and “The Teacher as a Person and as a Professional”—focused on personal development, psychology and ethics.

These are important, but insufficient. Education is not merely about managing learners’ growth; it is also about shaping citizens who can engage with a nation’s past and fight for its future.

The curriculum seems content with producing technically competent, emotionally intelligent teachers—never mind if they are historically blind, politically disengaged, or environmentally unaware.

Even the courses on learning—“Learner-Centered Teaching,” “Literacy Theories,” “Assessment”—center on methods, tools and techniques.

But methods are not ideologically neutral. What philosophies undergird these approaches? What social agendas do they serve? Are teachers being equipped to recognize when assessments reproduce inequality, or when literacy practices are alienating rather than liberating?

Technique alone cannot answer these questions; they require cultural, moral, and political clarity.

Most glaring is the absence of any course engaging with the historical and systemic roots of the education crisis. There is no deep engagement with the history of Philippine education—preu PAGE A7

Ironies in the Iran-Israel conflict ran and enjoyed strong ties with the regime of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

During their period of cooperation, both countries saw themselves as modernizing outposts of the West in a region they regarded as hopelessly backward.

This alignment flourished under the Shah’s authoritarian rule, a regime installed by a 1953 USbacked coup that deposed the democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh. Despite being politically repressive and extravagantly corrupt, the Shah remained a steadfast ally of the West—and of Israel.

Today, Iran is often caricatured as a hermit state—antimodern, deeply repressive, and isolated from global culture. But this image belies its history. Before the 1953 coup, Iran had a functioning parliamentary democracy. Mossadegh, a secular nationalist, sought to wrest control of Iran’s oil wealth from the British-owned Anglo-Iranian Oil

Boo Chanco FOR quite a while now, Facebook has been showing deepfake ads featuring Ramon Ang and Lance Gokongwei, trying to entice the greedy but gullible to invest in a get-rich scam. What’s unnerving is that they are using the voices of the tycoons.

RSA told me he has been protesting the ad, and SMC even produced memes warning the public that it is fake. Same with Lance. But apparently, the money from the sponsorship was too good for Meta, Facebook’s owner, to resist.

When he was still Finance secretary, Sonny Dominguez was also victimized by Facebook advertising in a similar manner.

Again, Facebook ignored Sonny’s protests.

Lately, there’s this one featuring BBM and a supposed new platform between Elon Musk and the government offering P79,200 a day. Facebook acknowledged receiving a complaint but

No Free Lunch

Company. When he nationalized the oil industry in 1951, his actions sparked massive popular support.

Though Mossadegh was not a communist, his alliance with the outlawed Tudeh Party led Washington and London—already worried about growing Soviet influence during the Cold War—to brand his government a threat.

On August 19, 1953, a joint CIAMI6 (or the US Central Intelligence Agency and the British Military Intelligence, Section 6) operation, using millions of dollars and weapons, engineered his removal and restored the young Shah to full control. The coup marked the beginning of Iran’s long descent into authoritarianism—ironically, under the auspices of “modernization.”

Determined to make Iran a model of Middle Eastern economic development, U.S. President Eisenhower selected it for its “Atoms for Peace” program in the 1950s. Iran thus became u PAGE 7

Cielito F. Habito IT’S painful to say it, but it’s a fact that young Filipinos today are among the dumbest in the world.

It’s already widely known how we’ve ranked at the bottom of the Program for International Student Assessment (Pisa) on reading, science, and mathematics. The World Bank reported a 91 percent learning poverty rate in the Philippines in 2022, which means less than one in every 10 third graders could read and understand what they read. The 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) placed Philippine Grade 4 students last in math and science among their peers in 58 participating countries, well below the global average and even worse than our 2003 performance. The 2019 Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) study put our Grade 5 students below their peers in most of our neighbors, except for Laos and Cambodia.

to serve, but to shape.

Most of those World War II veterans are gone now. Their voices have faded, but their stories endure—passed down through families, honored in quiet rituals, and etched into the citizenship of their descendants. Some received belated medals and apologies. Many did not. But all of them belong to the story of this country.

And though their time has passed, their legacy lives on in every Filipino American who celebrates the Fourth not just with fireworks, but with purpose. Between two flags, they do not choose one over the other. They carry both— bearing witness to history, honoring sacrifice, and helping shape a future where freedom truly belongs to all. (AJPress)

‘Positive’ deepfake?

claimed the obvious scam ad did not violate Facebook advertising standards.

The mystery is why our DICT has not forced Meta or Facebook to take down those deepfake and scam ads. While the greedy and gullible among us deserve being duped, there may be innocent victims too.

Deepfake postings on social media have made the task of truth discernment among common people more difficult and dangerous. Yet, the problem is not with the technology but how the technology is being unethically used by the crooks among us. Protecting the vulnerable is the government’s task, especially if Big Tech like Meta is apparently ignoring complaints.

To the non-techy readers who may be wondering, a deepfake is synthetic media – typically images, video, or audio – generated or manipulated using deep learning (AI) to convincingly portray someone doing or saying something they never actually did.

The term comes from combining “deep learning” and “fake.”

Deepfakes are made using AI techniques to learn a person’s

distinct features, voice, and mannerisms, then generate realistic new content.

A deepfake is not inherently good or bad. While deepfakes are often associated with nefarious uses, it is a technology that can have positive uses.

For example, teachers can bring historical figures “to life,” like enabling students to interact with a deepfake Jose Rizal or Cleopatra in a classroom setting.

Another example is in marketing. Imagine Taylor Swift speaking multiple languages to support malaria awareness or encourage donations to UNICEF – of course, with her approval.

This reminds me of a friend who was helping a senatorial candidate earlier this year. He produced deepfake material showing the candidate appealing to voters in different regional languages. It was the candidate’s voice and was lip-sync perfect.

AI, which is the basis for deepfakes, is also now being used by BPOs in India to overcome the Indian accent among their call center agents, according to a recent article in the Washington u PAGE A7

Creating a ‘Pinoy wave’ All told, various international education rankings consistently show our elementary and high school students to be among the weakest performers in the world.

In the face of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the rapidly advancing age of artificial intelligence, it’s worrying to imagine how utterly uncompetitive our workforce, hence our economy, would be in the emerging future. Analysts gush over the “demographic sweet spot” we will uniquely enjoy in the next few decades, referring to how working age-people will dominate our population, while most other countries now worry about rapidly aging populations. But how sure are we that this would really be an advantage for us, when, given today’s circumstances, much of our workforce would be ill-equipped for the emerging jobs of the future?

Still, all is not lost, if we do things right. Yes, Pisa, TIMSS, and SEA-PLM tell us that our young students are among the weakest in reading and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). But there

is something Filipinos are widely seen to be well-endowed in: we are known to be among the most artistically talented people on the planet.

What we lack in STEM, we could well make up for in creative talent. Proof of this is easy to see.

Filipino music performers are all over the world, in hotels, clubs, and music bars even in remote places we’d least expect to find them (I’ve experienced this a few times), usually as “cover bands” catering to customers looking for Western music.

Filipino choral groups and dance troupes frequently win international competitions in Europe, North America, and elsewhere. The “(name of country) Got Talent” franchise often attracts internet-worthy performances by Filipino competitors, whichever country one puts in the blank. Singapore hires Filipino actors, directors, and even theater crew to stage Broadway plays there (my good friend, stage director and actor Bart Guingona, has been one of them)—and yet we could very well be the “Broadu PAGE 7

The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.

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KOJC witness flipped after asking Hontiveros for help, says senator Filipino.

Hontiveros explained that during the Senate hearings, MANILA — Sen. Risa Hon- Maurilio was under the care of tiveros said the whistleblower the Office of the Sergeant-atwho recanted his testimony Arms (OSAA), which secured against doomsday pastor Apollo him within the Senate premisQuiboloy had sought help from es. But once the probe ended, her office just days before the OSAA’s responsibility did as release of a viral video in which well.

After that, Maurilio stayed he accused her of bribery.

Michael Maurilio, also known with partner church and civil as “Rene,” was a witness in the society groups. He eventually Senate probe into Quiboloy. In left the care of these groups, the the video that circulated wide- senator said.

She added that Maurilio had ly on social media, he accused Hontiveros of paying him to also requested financial assistestify against the pastor—an tance from her office at one allegation the senator firmly point, but the request was declined. denied.

Witness pressure, recantation Kidnapping fears According to Hontiveros, Hontiveros told reporters that Maurilio had contacted her of- Maurilio had earlier informed fice on June 22 and 23, saying her team that members of the he feared being kidnapped. She Kingdom of Jesus Christ, Quipresented screenshots of their boloy’s religious group, were exchanges to the media and pressuring him to retract his stressed that it was Maurilio Senate testimony.

“This is the real pattern here: who first reached out.

“We took his messages seri- After testifying in the Senate, witously. We forwarded them to the nesses are harassed and threatPNP in Davao for immediate ac- ened, and then, suddenly, flipped. tion, and when the PNP moved, So, let’s call this what it is: Witthe video came out,” she said, ness tampering. Fake news. Psyspeaking in a mix of English and chological warfare,” she said.

by Jean Mangaluz Philstar.com

While the senator said she still hopes for Maurilio’s safety, she said that he must answer for his actions. His retraction, the senator pointed out, has also put other witnesses at risk.

Hontiveros said she plans to file cases with the National Bureau of Investigation to determine who was responsible for the production and dissemination of the video.

Video spread by pro-Duterte pages, senator Maurilio’s video has been widely circulated on pro-Duterte social media pages, including a post shared by Hontiveros’ Senate colleague, Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.

“Para sa akin, kaming mga senador, dapat nag-share kami ng katotohanan. Dapat hindi kami nag-share ng fake news.

O tulad ng mga AI generated video. Dapat hindi kami nagpapadala o lalong hindi kami mismo ang nag-share ng anumang fake news,” Hontiveros said.

(For me, we senators should share the truth, not fake news, or AI-generated videos. We should not be carried away, much less be the ones sharing fake news.) n

More OFWs back out of repatriation

by Mayen Jaymalin Philstar.com

MANILA — Following the ceasefire between Israel and Iran, more overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are backing out of their plan to return home, opting to continue working in Israel instead, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) reported on Thursday, June 26.

Migrant Workers Undersecretary Felicitas Bay said that after the announcement of the ceasefire and Israel’s return to full activity status, around 200 OFWs had second thoughts about availing themselves of the government’s voluntary repatriation program.

“The number of those having second thoughts varies. As of two days ago, those having second thoughts is just 150, but

today it grew to 202,” Bay said during the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon public briefing.

“Others opted to stay and work (in Israel). Over 30 have decided to stay and discontinue with their intent to have themselves repatriated,” she added.

Since Alert Level 3 is in effect in Israel, Bay said the repatriation of OFWs is just voluntary and the DMW cannot force them if they opt to stay and continue working.

As of June 24, 346 OFWs have signified their intention to be repatriated.

Of the number, 26 have already returned while the second batch of 20 OFWs is set to return this weekend.

Bay said the number of those staying in two Migrant Workers Office accommodations in Israel has dropped from 50 to 29.

Remittances Meanwhile, the Trump administration’s proposal to impose tax on money sent home by foreign workers is expected to have a “minimal” effect on the Philippine economy, but may have a “substantial” impact on families reliant on remittances, Malacañang said on Thursday.

The “One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act,” aims to slap a 3.5-percent excise tax on money sent to other countries by foreign workers in the U.S. Citing information from finance department chief economist Domini Velasquez, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said out of the 4.4 million overseas Filipinos in the U.S., only 20 percent would be affected by the tax proposal, which is seen to take effect on Jan. 1 if passed. n

The blind spot of the reframed teacher...

PAGE 6 colonial, colonial, postcolonial to present.

Nowhere is there structured inquiry into how policies and laws have shaped what and how we teach. Where is the critical unpacking of MATATAG, of K to 12, or the contentious implementation of mother tongue-based education? Where is the interrogation of why education is collapsing despite decades of reform?

Equally alarming is the lack of courses that prepare teachers for education as a tool for social transformation. The curriculum fails to cultivate a deeper understanding of how learning shapes—and is shaped by—inequality, ecological degradation, historical distortion and political oppression.

Education is never neutral.

It must empower, liberate and foster social justice. Pre-service teachers should be equipped to lead that work. As Paulo Freire asserted in Teachers as Cultural Workers: Those Who Dare Teach, this preparation is essential. Yet this curriculum prepares them only to implement—not interrogate—the system.

There is a critical difference between “learner-centered” and “contextualized” education. The former focuses on individual needs; the latter roots learning in cultural, historical and political realities.

Contextualized education demands engagement with learners’ lived experiences—from urban slums to conflict-ridden zones— and recognizes classrooms as ideological spaces.

Without this grounding, “learner-centered” becomes a Western import stripped of substance. A truly Philippine teacher education must develop awareness of how motivation, values, and learning are shaped by society—local and global.

And herein lies the fatal blind spot of the reframed curriculum: its uncritical embrace of apolitical technicalism. It is obsessed with how to teach, but silent on what and why. It reduces teaching to competencies, evacuating philosophical, historical and political dimensions.

It trains teachers to implement, not to resist or reimagine. In doing so, it sustains a modernized “banking model” of education— structured, technocratic, and devoid of praxis.

This omission mirrors the logic of technocratic governance. For years, the state has treated education as a management issue solvable through retraining and data systems.

It refuses to confront education as a political problem—rooted in underinvestment, policy incoherence, and leadership crises.

By framing teacher preparation around competencies, the TEC reinforces the illusion that we can fix education without reckoning with its political foundations.

The result is a curriculum that is orderly but hollow, modern-looking but regressive. It offers no space for critical pedagogy that names oppression and cultivates agency. It treats social reality as static and teaching as ideologically neutral.

It sidelines teacher preparation as public intellectuals, limits training in community engagement, and excludes preparation for resisting authoritarianism or asserting academic freedom. In short, it leaves no space for hope.

Reform must not mean retreat. If we are to reframe teacher education, we must do so with courage—not by sanitizing it of politics, but by embracing its transformative potential.

Education is not merely about schooling—it is about shaping a moral and political identity for the nation. And if teacher preparation fails to produce educators who can read the world as well as the word, we remain trapped in the very system we claim to reform.

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

••• Allen A. Espinosa and Arlyne C. Marasigan are professors at the College of Advanced Studies (CAS) and fellows at the Educational Policy Research and Development Office (EPRDO) of the Philippine Normal University.

Nikolee Marie A. Serafico-Reyes is an associate professor at the Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences and also a fellow at EPRDO. Heidi B. Macahilig is a professor of CAS and the current director of EPRDO. They may be reached at espinosa.aa@pnu. edu.ph, marasigan.ac@pnu.edu.ph, serafico. nma@pnu.edu.ph, and macahilig@pnu.edu.ph, respectively.

The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the University.

Creating a ‘Pinoy...

PAGE 6 way of Asia,” a dream the late president Fidel Ramos believed in the 1990s to be within our reach. Designers like Kenneth Cobonpue, Michael Cinco, Monique Lhuillier, Rajo Laurel, and more have achieved prominence in the international scene. Filipino restaurants, food, and cuisine are finding stronger and wider following overseas, even achieving a Michelin star rating like Kasama in Chicago. Popular Filipina girl group Bini is on a world tour and performed recently at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Filipino animators, graphic artists, digital designers, and content creators have long been sought by companies in the United States, Europe, and elsewhere in creative outsourcing industries.

All told, the ingredients are all there for us to cash in on what

South Korea successfully jockeyed into a multibillion-dollar industry and source of “soft power” now felt globally, known as “Hallyu” (Chinese for “Korean wave”). We just need to copy what Korea did. I wrote about this over two years ago (see “Creative lessons from Korea,” 2/21/23), drawing on Danish brand strategist Martin Roll’s analysis of the Korean wave phenomenon. Key elements he noted include well-orchestrated interagency and multisectoral efforts, and ample public and private investments. Korea’s Cultural Content Office in its Ministry of Culture had a staggering $5.5 billion budget, plus billions more via investment and venture capital funds to nurture and export popular culture.

We have a Philippine Creative Industries Development Act (Re-

public Act No. 11904) that created a council to oversee the thrust, but our track record is spotty in getting interagency bodies to work. It had a budget of P360 million ($ 6.3 million) in 2023, but is now down to only P100 million ($1.8 million) in 2025—a bad joke when seen against how much Korea poured into its creative sector. And yet, it could well be our ticket to salvage our economic future until we finally get our act together and overcome our current child nutrition and education crisis. (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.

••• cielito.habito@gmail.com

DATELINE PHILIppINEs

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Ironies in the Iran-Israel...

PAGE 6 one of the first countries to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), committing to international inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in exchange for civilian nuclear technology.

But after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini halted the nuclear program, denouncing it as a corrupt project of the previous regime. That attitude changed dramatically during the IranIraq War (1980–1988), when Iran came to suspect Saddam Hussein of using or developing weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Ironically, the same WMD suspicion would later be used by the U.S. to justify its 2003 invasion of Iraq.

By the 2000s, Iran’s uranium enrichment activities drew closer scrutiny. In 2006, the UN Security Council imposed sanc-

tions after it was found that Iran had restarted operations at its Natanz facility. The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, brokered under the Obama administration, provisionally eased tensions—until the first Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from the deal in 2018.

While Iran’s nuclear activities have been under intense international surveillance, Israel’s own nuclear capability has remained opaque and untouched.

Israel is one of only five countries that have never signed the NPT—the others being India, Pakistan, North Korea and South Sudan. This refusal exempts Israel from IAEA inspections.

Yet, it is widely believed that Israel possesses nuclear weapons. As reported by Sam Mednick in a June 23 article for the Associated Press, “Israel has been believed to be the Middle East’s only nation with nuclear

weapons, even though its leaders have refused to confirm or deny their existence.” Independent estimates suggest Israel has at least 80 warheads and delivery systems capable of hitting targets up to 6,500 kilometers away.

Ironies like these abound because the global system lacks an effective central political authority to enforce norms. In such a world, the familiar realist maxim holds sway: there are no permanent enemies and no permanent friends—perhaps not even permanent interests, only shifting calculations of power and survival. (Inquirer.net) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

••• public.lives@gmail.com

‘Positive’ deepfake?

PAGE 6 Post. India was overtaken by the Philippines as the world’s largest hub for call centers more than a decade ago, due in part to accent concerns.

Sharath Narayana, co-founder of Sanas, the Palo Alto, California-based startup that built the tool that neutralized accents, told the Washington Post that AI has helped create thousands of new jobs in India.

The Sanas tool masks regional accents — including Filipino ones — into a more “neutral” North American tone. However, it diminishes what is currently a key selling point for Philippine-based BPOs. Now, job applicants in India as well as in rural Philippines can compete more evenly since accent is no longer an important consideration in hiring.

BPO companies can now recruit even more staff from the provinces (e.g., Davao, Leyte), tapping into a broader and more affordable workforce. This technology is now officially supported by IBPAP, which sees it as improving call clarity and productivity.

Still, as AI gets better and better, jobs will be lost without a good retraining program.

Said the WaPo article: “Areas like BPO and coding are in trouble and will get replaced by generative AI,” said Ajai Chowdhry,

co-founder of one of the country’s largest IT consulting firms, Hindustan Computers Limited.

“Already, chatbots, or ‘virtual agents,’ are handling basic tasks like password resets or balance updates. AI systems are writing code, translating emails, onboarding patients, and analyzing applications for credit cards, mortgages and insurance… At some companies, bots have started handling the calls.”

Within a year, there will only be a “minimal” need for call centers, K. Krithivasan, CEO of Indian IT company Tata Consultancy Services, recently told the Financial Times.

The Washington Post reports: The tremors are also being felt at Indian universities, which produce more than a million engineering graduates each year.

Placement rates are falling at leading IT firms; salaries have stagnated.

“The entire hope for four years of college is that ‘I will get a job in the IT industry’ – that’s dashed, at least for the short term,” said Kris Gopalakrishnan, a co-founder of Infosys. “That story, in India, is life-changing.”

But AI is also creating different kinds of opportunities. WaPo reports that Teleperformance, along with hundreds of other companies, has hired thousands of data annotators in India – many of them women in small

towns and rural areas – to label training images and videos for AI systems. Prompt engineers, data scientists, AI trainers, and speech scientists are all newly in demand.

So, what happens next?

Even the most hopeful admit that workers who can’t adapt will be lost. Prithvijit Roy, Accenture’s former lead for its Global AI Hub, told WaPo that “It’s like the industrial revolution. Some will suffer.”

“Re-skilling” must emphasize not just AI training but also human connection – helping workers get better at building trust, communicating clearly, and showing empathy. AI might stunt the growth rates of jobs that are manual and predictable, but it will not eliminate human-to-human interaction overall,” Narayana said.

Deepfake, which AI makes possible, is just a tool – one that can be positive. It still takes humans to use these new tools ethically – and governments to stop those using them for harm. (Philstar.com) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

••• Boo Chanco’s email address is bchanco@ gmail.com. Follow him on X @boochanco

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Her own universe: Gloria Diaz at 74

by AJPress IN 1969, she became the first Filipina crowned Miss Universe.

Over five decades later, Gloria Diaz is still standing tall—not just as a former queen, but as a woman who redefined what it means to age with relevance, dignity, and purpose.

At 74, Diaz continues to work on screen, champion her family, and live a grounded, private life with longtime partner Michael Osmeña de Jesus, a respected figure in Philippine banking.

Her enduring influence spans generations—resonating with those who grew up watching her, and captivating a new audience discovering her for the first time.

A cinematic legacy More than a beauty queen, Gloria Diaz is one of the country’s most respected actresses, with a filmography that spans nearly five decades. She defied expectations early in her career with bold, character-driven roles and has since earned acclaim for both mainstream and independent films.

Her breakout film, Ang Pinakamagandang Hayop sa Balat ng Lupa (1974), was a cultural touchstone, launching her screen career in a role that blended seduction with mystery. Later, in Jose Rizal (1998), she portrayed the national hero’s mother, Teodora Alonso, with restrained intensity. Roles in Fuchsia (2009) and Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2 (2016) further showcased her dramatic and comedic range.

In 2023, Diaz reached a new generation of moviegoers with her appearance in what became the highest-grossing Filipino film to date: Rewind (2023 Metro Manila Film Festival) — This emotional fantasy-drama starring Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera tackled themes of love, loss, and redemption. Diaz played a supporting role that helped anchor the story’s emotional depth. The film crossed the P1 billion mark

Gloria Diaz and Mike de Jesus

by Hannah Mallorca Inquirer.net

Gloria Diaz

worldwide during and after its theatrical run.

She also appeared in Senior High (ABS-CBN, 2023–2024) as Lola Lorna, portraying a modern matriarch with compassion and edge.

Beyond these, Gloria remains active in television dramas (teleseryes), taking on roles that reflect both her gravitas and her ability to connect with new audiences.

“I choose projects I believe in or enjoy doing. I don’t need to prove anything anymore,” Diaz said in a recent media interview.

“But when something feels right, I say yes.”

The man beside the queen Michael Ramon Gerard Osmeña de Jesus, 65, currently leads the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) as President and CEO. With more than 37 years in banking, his career spans Citibank Manila and New York, executive roles at UCPB, PNB, RCBC, among others.

Educated at Ateneo de Manila University, Union College (New York), and The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, de Jesus is known for his sharp financial acumen and

Photos from Instagram/@gloria.diaz69

steady leadership. At DBP, he has steered the institution toward inclusive growth, infrastructure investment, and sustainable finance. He is the kind of man who builds quietly and leads with long-range vision.

The family she built Gloria is the mother of Isabelle Daza, an actress and entrepreneur; Ava Daza, a lifestyle and wellness personality; and Raphael Daza, her youngest, who lives largely outside the spotlight.

All three children are from her marriage to the late Gabriel “Bong” Daza III, a former congressman for Palawan’s 1st District and a pioneering restaurateur. Bong was the son of culinary icon Nora Daza, often credited with elevating Filipino cuisine internationally. He continued his mother’s legacy while also making his mark in politics and the business world.

A love without conditions Gloria Diaz has never been one to conform to expectations—onstage or off. Known for her candid opinions and fearless stance on societal norms, she has long made it clear that she values authenticity over appearances. Whether speaking out about age gaps in relationships or embracing the idea of long-term love without marriage, Gloria remains unapologetically herself.

Gloria and Michael began their relationship in the mid1990s, following her separation from Bong Daza. For nearly three decades, they have shared a domestic partnership that has remained firm and intentionally out of the public eye.

She’s addressed their age gap with her signature wit, once remarking that he was “definitely younger” and “a serious man,” a contrast she found both amusing and grounding. In a 2025 media interview, she described their long-term bond in simple terms: no need for a wedding, no need for fanfare— just commitment. And with her trademark humor, she even joked about managing both “my ex-husband and my boyfriend” with a wink.

Public remarks from Gloria about their relationship show a woman comfortable with defying conventions and embracing love on her own terms.

Philstar.com

SINGER-actress Vina Morales put to rest the gossip that she and actor Jake Ejercito have strung up a romantic relationship.

Such rumors began last May when Vina and Jake were invited

by Sulu (1st District) Congressman Samier Tan, a friend of the two actors, to Jolo.

At the time, Vina posted on Instagram her and Jake’s arrival in Sulu where they took part in Samier’s motocade.

Vina laughed off the rumors, telling Pep.ph she and Jake are merely friends and that she did not address the rumors beforehand at the risk of them just blowing up.

“He is a good friend and we worked together when we were in Sulu and just one post ng vlogger na magkasama kami

WITHOUT delving too deeply into the details, Daniel Padilla confessed that he was initially hesitant in accepting the offer to portray Andres Malvar in the action drama “Incognito.”

Padilla revealed during “Incognito’s” finale media con that he was going through a tough period in his life before joining the cast. His remarks came after his co-star Maris Racal shared that being part of the action drama “saved” her life.

“We all know how doubtful I was before starting and accepting this. At the time, I was at a point in my life where my thoughts were very messy, and I was very confused,” he said.

The actor-singer didn’t disclose the reason why he felt lost back then. However, the drama aired two years after his breakup with longtime girlfriend and onscreen partner, Kathryn Bernardo, following a 12-year romance.

“I think Maris (Racal) is right that this is the best decision I’ve made in my life. Wow. I learned and experienced so much. There was so much growth. Thank you so much, Lord. He is so great,” he said.

As “Incognito” is set to air its final episode, Padilla added that seeing the support from fans — especially those who were willing to see them in action while filming — meant a lot to him.

“Thank you for the love that you showed us. We feel your support wherever we go, and even to those who find us while we’re shooting, not only to a single person but also to the entire show. It is the fruit of

Daniel Padilla

our labor. It eases our exhaustion and it gives us strength,” he said.

The “Mabagal” singer said it will be hard to let go of his character once the action drama airs its final episode.

“It’s hard to let go of this character because portraying him made me happy, especially in the company of our director, castmates, and the whole production. It was not easy, which made the payoff sweeter,” he said.

Before “Incognito” went on air, Padilla said in December 2024 that there was no pressure

Photos from Instagram/@starmagicphils

for him to take on the action genre, as he came from a family of action stars, such as the actorturned-senator Robin Padilla, and the then-Rustom Padilla before coming out as BB Gandanghari.

“They didn’t give me any reason to feel pressure. I don’t feel nervous or anything. I don’t know.

I’m just doing my best. Whatever the outcome is, that’s it. I’m doing my best,” he said.

Also part of the action drama are Maris Racal, Baron Geisler, Ian Veneracion, Kaila Estrada, Anthony Jennings, and Richard Gutierrez.

Pops Fernandez on love: Ready, but not in a hurry

by Nathalie Tomada Philstar.com

LOVE is still welcome, but Pops Fernandez is in no rush.

She’s not actively dating, but she’s not shutting any doors either. For her, if it’s meant to happen, it will. Unlike her younger self — who once believed that love was everything — the Concert Queen now embraces a very different outlook on relationships.

In an exclusive interview with The STAR, the “Masked Singer Pilipinas” judge-detective opened up about love, life and current pursuits. While she’s juggling shows, TV work and her own beauty brand, Pops remains open to the idea of finding “the one” — as long as it happens naturally.

“Siempre naman. Who isn’t open to love, right?” she said with a laugh. “I’m still very much open to it. But hindi na ako kagaya nung dati, nung kabataan ko na love is everything. You realize that love can inspire you, but it can also… madidiskaril ka rin, ‘di ba, pag hindi ka happy sa love.”

She admitted it’s been quite a while since she dated anyone.

And while work and family life had something to do with it, she PAGE 9 also confessed to feeling a bit nervous about diving back into the dating scene.

“Ang tagal na (the last time I dated). Wag na nating pagusapan,” she said with a laugh.

“Maybe I’m just busy, but other than that, may konting nerbyos lang at takot. Can you believe it?”

These days, Pops views love differently. It’s still something beautiful, she said, but not something that should define or even more so derail a person.

“We have to take love in stride.

Romantic love, although it’s beautiful — and I have to agree, it’s very beautiful — when we get hurt, it is not everything. It’s not something that should break us.

It’s not something that should ruin us. It should inspire us.

“And if it’s not working out, sometimes we just have to accept it and let go. Remember, it’s you who are most important.”

Vina Morales and Jake Ejercito with Patrice Ting (center), wife of Sulu Congressman Samier Tan. “But yeah, I’m still open to

Photo from Instagram/@vina_morales it,” she reiterated. “And basta, I campaigning, they assumed we GMA show “Cruz vs. Cruz,” her feel like if it happens — if I meet are dating,” Vina said. “There’s first series since “Marry Me, ‘the one’ — it will just happen. If no truth to that post.”

Marry You” concluded in 2022, it’s something super serious, of course, yes.”

Vina will next be seen in the alongside Gladys Reyes.

Vina Morales denies Jake Ejercito romance rumors

by Jan Milo Severo

Daniel Padilla admits feeling lost before accepting lead role in ‘Incognito’

Pops Fernandez

For now, she has her hands full — and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Still shows,” Pops, who’s also a producer, said when asked what’s been up to, including her reunion concert tour “Always and Forever” with ex-husband, the “Concert King” Martin Nievera, happening on July 19 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino. “We’re touring this show and I’m excited to perform again in Cebu. The other shows, I’ll be announcing soon, but for now, that’s the immediate one.”

Pops is also a regular judgedetective, alongside Janno Gibbs, Nadine Lustre and Arthur Nery, on TV5’s “Masked Singer Pilipinas,” where her role brings not just critique but comic chemistry with fellow panelists.

“Actually, ang saya-saya sa ‘Masked Singer Pilipinas.’ The whole time we’re doing the show, super kaming nag-e-enjoy. Kami mismong mga detectives, we have a great time together. And we also enjoy watching the masked singers because nakakaaliw talaga yung performances. It’s one-of-a-kind entertainment.”

The show, which airs Saturdays at 8:30 p.m. and Sundays at 8:45 p.m. on TV5, features celebrities performing in elaborate costumes while hiding their identities. Judges and viewers try to guess who they are based on clues and performances.

“As a judge, I wanna say

Photos from Instagram/@popsfernandezofficial

I’m serious, but I’m not,” Pops mused. “I take their performance seriously — I really do — but being with the likes of Janno and even Arthur... believe it or not, Arthur is a natural comedian. Nadine, too.

At first I thought she was super quiet and serious. But once we got comfortable (with each other), naglolokohan na kami.”

The judging panel also gets a little competitive. “Me and Arthur are teammates — we’re PopsThur. Then you have JaDine (Janno and Nadine). Just watch and be the judge of which team is better. We were really competitive.”

Outside of music and TV, Pops has ventured into the beauty industry with her own brand, Pick Cosmetics, which features six lipstick shades and is available on TikTok, Shopee and Lazada.

As for where she gets all her energy, she said it comes down to self-care.

“I think we all owe it to ourselves to take care of ourselves — our lifestyle, how we eat, how we take care of our bodies and skin.”

Asked about her beauty secret? “It’s sleep. I really try to sleep before 10 o’clock. I think sleeping helps a lot.”

She also works out, especially when preparing for a show.

“Lalong-lalo na ‘pag alam kong may concert ako, I really work out a lot. I wanna make sure na hindi ako hinihingal while singing.”

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BINI reunites with Filipino fans after 15-city world tour

by Jap Tobias Philstar.com

AFTER wrapping up 15 shows across the globe, P-pop girl group BINI reunited with Filipino fans during their "Here With You" homecoming fan meet, held at the MOA Arena on June 29.

BINI made a grand entrance at the jampacked arena aboard a bus prop, waving to fans as they officially returned home. This marked their first major Manila appearance following the "BINIverse" world tour, which kicked off in February in Bulacan and brought them to fans in Canada, United Kingdom, United States, and the Middle East.

The show served as both a celebration of the group’s journey and a heartfelt thank-you to their fandom, known as Blooms.

It also featured the group’s first live Philippine performance of their latest tracks — “Shagidi,” “Zero Pressure,” and “Out of My Head” — this time with the energy of a hometown crowd.

BINIverse world tour highlights The girl group shared stories and highlights from their 15-city world tour, recounting the places they visited and the warmth of both Filipino and international fans.

Many of the shows drew soldout crowds, and for BINI, one of the most surreal moments was meeting non-Filipino fans who knew and sang their songs

— proof that their music had crossed borders.

BINI member Colet Vergara noted San Francisco as one of their top shows during the tour: “Grabe 'yung crowd doon, as in nagwawala sila. And of course, grateful po kami kasi andoon po lahat ng bosses. Kumpleto po sila doon. Sobrang saya nung San Fracisco talaga,” (“The crowd there was insane—they really went wild,” she said. “And of course, we were super grateful because all our bosses were there. Everyone was complete. San Francisco was just so much fun.”)

In a moment during the show, Maloi Ricalde reflected on their last stop abroad, “For our last stop, we gave it our all. We really wanted to end the world tour with a bang,” she said.

“Super naging emotional kami kasi parang andaming nangyari bago kami umalis ng Pilipinas — andaming uncertainities, hindi namin alam kung may manonood ba talaga sa tour namin kasi US Tour, its a big deal. Parang suntok sa buwan ang pag-tour namin,” Maloi recalled. (“We became so emotional, because so much had happened before we even left the Philippines.

There were so many uncertainties.

We didn’t know if anyone would even come to our shows — especially since it was a U.S. tour.

That’s a big deal. Honestly, it felt like a shot in the dark.)

"And also, siyempre andam-

ing issues and everything, parang patong-patong talaga, sobrang grateful kami na andaming Blooms na nag-stay for us. Thank you so much Blooms,” she said.

(Also, there were issues and everything. It felt like everything was piling up. But despite all that, so many Blooms stayed with us and we are very grateful. Thank you so much, Blooms,” To mark the occasion, BINI also gave out to lucky attendees some pasalubong (souvenir gifts) they brought home from each of the 15 cities they visited. Additionally, they also handed over P362,000 donation to the ABSCBN Foundation raised from their BINI merch sales.

The show concluded with a performance of “Here With You,” where the members walked through the crowd while fans held up “Welcome Home, BINI” banners.

BINI’s next era?

During the event, Jhoanna Robles, the group’s leader, announced that BINI will be on rest for the month of July. However, she assured fans that the group has prepared plenty of content and surprises to keep Blooms engaged while they take a break.

The event also featured surprise announcements, including the launch of BINI Cosmetics — their first-ever beauty line, featuring a range of products developed and curated by the members themselves.

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“CITIZEN PINOY” DOES NOT GIVE UP FIGHT FOR “40-YEAR-OLD CHILD” TO ATTAIN IMMIGRANT VISA. When Raymond and Gail left their children in the Philippines in 1995, they hoped and prayed that their kids would soon follow and that the whole family would be reunited in America. A negligent lawyer’s oversight, however, triggered their son Myk’s many years of separation from his loved ones, declaring him ineligible under the Child Status Protection Act. Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel believed Myk was indeed eligible under extraordinary circumstances and fought to attain Myk’s visa. Despite the many frustrating denials from the U.S. Embassy and the State Department, he remained committed and passionate about bringing Myk to America. After 13 years of pounding on their doors, the U.S. Embassy and State Department finally had a change of heart and granted the “40-Year-Old Child” his visa. Not only was Myk reunited with his parents, but now, his own family has the chance to pursue the American Dream. Don’t miss this inspiring success story on a new episode of CITIZEN PINOY – this Sunday at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) on select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo.

(Advertising Supplement)

Success story: After 13-year battle, visa finally issued to ‘40-year-old child’ in brand-new Citizen Pinoy episode THIS week’s episode of “Citizen Pinoy” features U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel, who demonstrates that persistence and determination can overcome obstacles and help achieve one's goals.

The story centers on Myk Latayan, a derivative beneficiary under his father’s employment-based petition. Unfortunately, due to his company's lawyer failing to seek to acquire within the required one-year window, the US Embassy denied his visa, citing ineligibility under the

Child Status Protection Act. Atty. Gurfinkel tirelessly appealed to the U.S. Embassy and the State Department over several years, emphasizing that Myk's case involved extraordinary circumstances resulting from his previous attorney’s negligence in filing on time.

After many years of constant denials, most people would’ve lost hope and given up. But Atty.

Gurfinkel remained committed and kept fighting. “Myk wasn’t just a name on a file,” he says. “I know that he and his family here

in America desperately want to be together.”

Thanks to Atty. Gurfinkel's perseverance, Myk was finally granted his green card this year, fulfilling his parents’ dream of not only reuniting in the U.S. but also providing Myk’s own family their chance at the American Dream.

Don’t miss this inspiring success story on a new episode of CITIZEN PINOY – this Sunday at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) on select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo.

(Advertising Supplement)

Her own universe: Gloria Diaz...

The Here With You fan meet, held June 29 at the MOA Arena, is BINI’s first major Manila appearance following the BINIverse world tour.

Philstar.com photo by Jap Tobias

PAGE 8 “He became older na rin,” she quipped. “He became mature.

He’s a serious banker.”

“It’s not about the ring,” she once said. “It’s about who stays with you through the years.”

The crown she never took off Not all love stories are written in gold bands or told through

fairy-tale weddings. Some are built quietly.

She once wore a crown for the world to admire. Today, she wears a life that fits even better—one shaped by grace, earned wisdom, and a love that stayed.

“I work, I have friends, I spend time with my children, my apos, my boyfriend. I have

massages. I drink champagne.”

— Gloria Diaz, in an interview with Philippine-based The Chronicle Some women leave the stage.

Others redefine it.

At 74, Gloria Diaz isn’t stepping back—she’s standing taller. In elegance. In love. In full command of a story that was always hers to tell.

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Reese Tan Clendenen: ‘Beyond the fireworks Lisa Lew’s Fond Memories of the and traditions, it’s also a reminder of the Fourth of July and Her Dad freedom we often take for granted’ For former Binibining Pilipinas International titleholder and four-time Emmy Award-winning television producer Lisa Lew, the Fourth of July holds a special place in her heart.

“Growing up, the Fourth of July was always more than just a holiday—it was a full-blown summer family celebration,”she begins. “My parents, siblings, aunties, uncles, and more than 25 cousins would gather for a giant swim party and barbecue.

Like every great Filipino family feast, everyone brought their specialty dish to share, turning our backyard into an all-night buffet that welcomed the entire neighborhood.”

She further reminisces, “As night fell, we’d all wait excitedly for the dazzling fireworks to light up the sky. And no celebration ever ended without our traditional midnight karaoke and dance session—because in our homes, there’s always room for one more song, one more dance, one more memory.”

Those gatherings weren’t just about food and fun; they were a reflection of something deeper: “the freedom we have to celebrate who we are, to honor our roots, and to build community in our own unique, everembracing way.”

Her late father, Atty. Monty Manibog, loved a good family party. He also deeply loved his community. “Here in the U.S., where all six of my siblings and I were born and raised, my dad made history as the first Filipino ever elected to public office in the continental United States. He served three terms—12 years—as mayor of our hometown, Monterey Park, in California.”

Atty. Manibog earned the trust and admiration of a city with a predominantly Anglo constituency—not just through his leadership, but through his generosity and genuine connection.

“Almost everyone in Monterey Park had enjoyed his legendary Filipino breakfasts. My dad’s garlic fried rice was famous. But more than that, he brought with him a deep, unwavering pride in his identity and our culture. As an attorney, a leader, and a father, he carried our heritage with dignity and purpose.

He believed that sharing our Filipino culture—our values, our humor, our history, and our resilience—was not only a joy, but a responsibility.”

Through him, Lisa learned that true patriotism means celebrating not just where you live, but who you are.

“As a second-generation Filipina in America, I’ve always held this blend of cultures close,” she says. “The Fourth of July, to me, is the freedom to celebrate not just America’s independence, but the parts of ourselves that make us whole—our language, our food, our stories, our

1.

As we celebrate American Independence Day on July 4, 2025, allow me to feature Americans and Filipino immigrants from all walks of life. I randomly asked them:

1. Reese Tan Clendenen holding Dream William (left) and Reverie Grace (right) in their home in Rancho Cucamonga, California.

2. Daniel Guzman with his mother Valerie Knack Guzman.

3. Dentist Fernando de la Pena.

4. Lori Brooks with his brother.

5. Alabama-based Ricky Isip.

6. Artistic director-actress-scholartist Sunita 2.

Mukhi.

7. Chela Dircks with her husband Jason Dircks Sr. and her son Jason Dircks Jr. 8.Florida-based Sandy Sternberg, wife of the late actor Red Sternberg of the GMA 7’s T.G.I.S. fame.

9. Spluk.ph founder and singer Eduard Banez with his mom Zarina Banez.

(1) How do you celebrate the 4th of July? greatest nation on Earth — and we (2) What is the impact of the 4th of should all drink to that!”

July on you?

Lori Brooks, based in Las Vegas: (1) “Sometimes I go to BBQs.” The nine respondents’ replies are (2) “No impact.” as follows: Ricky Isip, based in Alabama: Reese Tan Clendenen, a De La (1) “Remembering our American Salle University alumnus who is heroes with thanksgiving in my heart married to intelligence analyst Kevin for the freedom we enjoy today.”

Clendenen: (2) “Proud to be an American!”

(1) “We usually hang out with Sunita Mukhi, artistic director, family and friends the whole day and actress, and scholartist: then watch the fireworks at night.”

(1 & 2) “Enchanted by the (2) “The 4th of July is a time to fireworks celebrating independence slow down and appreciate the people — the release from the stranglehold I care about. I celebrate it with family of authoritarian colonial rule! and friends, and it’s one of those days Fireworks are full of color and when we come together to relax, enjoy brightness... speaking to the pluralism good food, and create memories. and innovation that these Great Beyond the fireworks and traditions, United States must continually aspire it’s also a reminder of the freedom toward! YES!” we often take for granted — and a Chela Dircks, based in Indiana: chance to reflect on the values that (1) “We have pictures of our shape our country.” deceased loved ones who served, and Daniel Guzman, a graduate of we light a candle in their honor. We Southern Oregon Success Academy usually have a BBQ with friends (SOSA) in Merlin, Oregon, who and family who are able to join the works for SENGA, a solar energy celebration. In our county, we’re company in California: allowed to set off fireworks, so we look (1) “I usually celebrate July 4th by forward to that display every year.” spending time with friends and family, (2) “Celebrating the 4th of July enjoying good food, and watching as a Filipino American, especially fireworks together. It’s a great time to with a family legacy of U.S. military relax and connect with loved ones.” service, can be both deeply personal (2) “July 4th reminds me of the and uniquely meaningful. It’s not sacrifices that veterans and service just about fireworks or barbecues — members have made for our freedom. it’s also a time to reflect on service, It’s a day of appreciation for the rights sacrifice, and the blending of cultures.” we have and the people who fought to Sandy Sternberg, based in protect them. I try to remember that Florida: while we enjoy the celebration, it’s (1 & 2) “As an immigrant and now also about honoring the history and a citizen of the United States, I always the cost of our independence.” see the Fourth of July as a holiday well Dr. Fernando de la Peña, an LA- celebrated — not just with traditional based dentist: hotdogs, burgers, and fireworks — (1) “I just stay at home if there but also with the diversity within the are no weekend plans — relax, enjoy community. It’s an opportunity to a good ol’ barbecue, and if there are foster greater inclusivity, especially fireworks nearby, I watch the show during times when we’re all supposed with my family.” to be united, not divided.”

(2) “As an immigrant who grew Eduard Banez, singer and up in another country, July 4th may founder of Spluk.ph: not leave the same impression on me (1) “It will be celebrated with as it does on someone who was born pomp and parade, bonfires and and raised in the U.S. That said, I illuminations from one end of this believe July 4th brings the country continent to the other.” together. No matter how divided, how (2) “A powerful country made extremely opinionated, or how far a strong history with courage and apart people stand on issues, everyone determination. Happy Independence agrees that July 4th gave birth to the Day.”

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Monterey Park Mayor Monty Manibog.

Young Gonzalo Monty Manibog representing the Philippines at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland.

Lisa’s parents, Jean and G. Monty Manibog.

Beauty titleholder and award-winning television producer Lisa Lew is known for Judge Judy (1996), Cristina’s Court (2006) and Last Shot with Judge Gunn (2011).

Mr. Monty and Mrs. Jean Manibog with their children during the election.

Lisa’s Dad running for Monterey Park Mayor with former Miss Universe titleholder Margie Moran on his left and her mom on his right.

Lisa’s Dad and Mom with her cousins at her father’s 75th birthday party at Lisa’s home.

songs. It’s about how we welcome others without losing ourselves.”

Her father arrived in the U.S. with dreams—and left behind a legacy. “He inspired so many Filipinos to raise their voices, to serve, and to lead in our beautifully diverse state of California.”

But it wasn’t the titles that defined her father—it was the way he brought Philippine culture to life in everything he did. “He showed us that service to the community is sacred, and that we honor our ancestors when we continue the traditions they gave us.”

Lisa shares that on every Fourth of July—and every other chance they get—her family carries forward her father’s commitment

to culture, to community, and to his belief that “we must not only celebrate our heritage, but share it generously.”

This significant holiday, she says, reminds us that freedom is not just a right—it is a gift.

“And we honor it best by celebrating with open arms and open tables—by sharing who we are with joy, with love, and with pride. It’s in the stories we tell, and the ones we continue to live,” Lisa concludes with a sweet, wide smile. *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** rogeliocmedina@yahoo.com

‘Nabaliw ako no’n’: Anjo Yllana reveals Josh Dela Cruz joins ‘Into The Woods’ past relationship with Kris Aquino PH staging as Prince Charming, Wolf

by Jan Milo Severo

by Hannah Mallorca

ACTOR Anjo Yllana revealed that he briefly dated Kris Aquino.

In his interview with Snooky Serna for the actress' YouTube vlog, Anjo said that their relationship only lasted for three weeks.

"Nag-break kami ni Kris kasi minsan dumalaw ako sa kanya, nag-dala ako ng flowers. 'Yung flowers ko parang galing Baguio, may matataas na stem na roses na alam mong galing sa ibang bansa.

"Sabi ko, 'Kanino galing 'yang roses na 'yan?' [Sabi niya,] 'Oh, it came from Robin.' Sabi ko, 'Nanliligaw ba sa 'yo si Robin?' [Sabi niya,] 'Oh, he's my boyfriend.' Sabi ko, 'Huh, boyfriend mo si Robin [Padilla]? Boyfriend mo rin ako?'

[Sabi niya,] 'Yeah, including Aga [Muhlach]," Anjo revealed.

"So, nabaliw ako no'n. Sabi ko sa kanya, 'Ikaw baliw ka.' Ano, maging mag-kaibigan na lang tayo kasi walang mangyayari sa 'tin nito," he added.

Despite the breakup, Anjo said that they remained friends and was supportive of Kris while she was pregnant with Josh, her son with Philip Salvador. Anjo said he even became one of Josh's godfathers.

FILIPINO American actor Josh Dela Cruz — best known for portraying a fictionalized version of himself in the hit kids’ show “Blue’s Clues” — is joining the Philippine staging of “Into the Woods” as Prince Charming and The Wolf.

Dela Cruz’s casting was announced by Theatre Group Asia in a press statement. According to the actor, “Into The Woods” will be his first theatrical production in the country.

“I’m so honored to join the cast of ‘Into The Woods.’ It has always been a dream of mine to perform a musical in the Philippines. Getting the opportunity to perform with Filipino legends is icing on the cake.

I can’t wait to share this story with my Kababayans,” he said.

Dela Cruz has long been active in the entertainment industry as an actor in theater, TV, and film.

Aside from “Blue’s Clues,” he also appeared in “Blue’s Big City Adventure, “Law and Order,” “Toronto: Criminal Intent,” “Bull,” “Time After Time,” and “Fubar.”

But the actor is notable for his work in theater, where he took

Inquirer.net

Philstar.com

Anjo Yllana and Kris Aquino

"Naging best friend ko 'yang si Kris. No'ng panahon ni Kuya Ipe [Philip's nickname], ando'n ako para sa kanya. 'Yung pagbubuntis n'ya kay Josh, nando'n ako para sa kanya. I was there. I was telling her, 'Alam mo si Kuya Ipe, 'di na 'yan tatanggapin ng pamilya mo kasi nagkaroon ng asawa at pamila 'yan, hiwalay,'" Anjo said.

"But sabi ko, 'Your child, imposibleng 'di tanggapin ni mommy mo si Cory, imposibleng 'di tanggapin ng mga kapatid mo kasi dugo nila 'yan, e. Si Kuya Ipe, 'di naman nila kadugo 'yan kaya 'wag mo na isipin 'yan kasi nakakaapekto lang 'yan sa pagdadalang-tao mo. Basta

Philstar.com file photos

I promise you, your family will accept your child," he added.

Anjo also had a message for Kris, who is battling multiple autoimmune diseases. "'Yung mga pinagdadaanan niya ngayon, kahit 'yung mga ilang tao na tinitira s'ya sa pinagdadaanan n'ya, I think more than 90% ng showbiz, mahal ka sa industriya kaya 'wag mo isipin na lahat ng taga-showbiz 'di ka gusto," he said.

"Mahal ka ng mga taga-showbiz at naiintindihan nila 'yung kalagayan mo. Kasi minsan may bira diyan kay Kris na umaarte lang.

Kaya keep strong, keep fighting," he added.

part in “Here Lies Love,” “The King and I,” “Aladdin,” “Merrily We Roll,” and “Maybe Happy Ending,” to name a few.

Aside from being a theater actor, he also helped in holding workshops under the direction of industry greats such as Christopher Ashley, Sarna Lapine, and Bill Berry.

Born to Bicolano and Ilocano parents, Dela Cruz shared that he occasionally visited the Philippines and has particularly expressed his support for the preservation of the Masungi Georeserve.

“I was often one of the only Filipinos in my class growing up in the suburbs of New Jersey. I can’t wait to be immersed in Filipino culture and be surrounded by the people. I look forward to learning more about myself through the audience, the cast, and the city,” he added.

Touching on the local staging of “Into the Woods,” he also shared that he is excited to explore the “loss of innocence” and coping with the “consequences of change.”

“I love the way ‘Into the Woods’ explores the loss of innocence and presents the consequences of how we deal with that change. We can either dwell on it or choose to be

Josh Dela Cruz

Photo courtesy of Theatre Group Asia

present, move forward, and live our lives to the fullest. It’s a simple idea, but something I try to remind myself of every day,” he said.

Also part of “Into The Woods” Manila are Lea Salonga, Eugene Domingo, Nic Chien, Mark Bautista, Nyoy Volante, Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante, Arielle Jacobs, and Carla Guevera Laforteza, among many others.

The musical will be staged at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Makati City from August 7 to 24.

Six additional shows were added from August 28 to 31 due to demand.

Archie Comics to debut PH-exclusive cover with halo-halo Vice Ganda says privilege should be ‘everyone’s right’ in Pride speech

by Kristofer Purnell Philstar.com

ARCHIE Comics will debut a Philippine-exclusive cover of a limited-edition comic done in collaboration with local pop culture convention SuperManila Comic Con. Longtime Archie Comics artist and writer Dan Parent, who will be attending the convention this September, took inspiration from the classic "three on a straw" image of where Archie, Betty and Veronica sharing a milkshake.

Instead of a milkshake, the three characters are sharing a halo-halo, with Archie nibbling on one of the barquillo sticks.

There will be two variants of the limited-edition comic, trade dress and virgin, the latter featuring a clean, text-free layout showcasing Parent's artwork in full.

The comic will also mark the debut of a new character Medusa Doom, a mysterious and mischievous green-skinned villain, arriving to cause mischief

The Philippine exclusive cover of Archie Comics illustrated by Dan Parent.

Photo courtesy of Archie Comics

in Riverdale.

"This collaboration is a dream come true for Filipino Archie fans," said Sandy Sansolis, coorganizer of SuperManila Comic Con. "We're incredibly proud to partner with Archie Comics to deliver something fun, unique, and a little mischievous with Medusa Doom's debut."

Parent has been illustrating for Archie Comics for three decades and helped shape the franchise's modern visual identity, including the introduction of the comic's first openly gay character Kevin Keller.

This year's SuperManila Comic Con will take place on September 6 and 7 at Makati's One Ayala.

VICE Ganda underscored the need to use one’s privilege for good, saying that he will continue to fight for the LGBTQIA+ community’s rights even if he is already comfortable with what he has.

At a recent Pride Month event in Diliman, Quezon City on Saturday, June 28, the actor-comedian was one of the guests at the Love Laban event where he spoke about being aware of his privilege. Despite this, he said that he will use his privilege to push for the rights of LGBTQIA+ community.

“Kung tutuusin, may pribilehiyo na ako eh. Pero porket may pribilehiyo ka na, iiwanan mo na ang kasamahan mo na hindi nakakatanggap nito. Hindi porket matanda ka na at may pera ka na ay iiwanan mo ‘yung mga tulad mo na hindi nakakakuha ng pribilehiyong nakukuha mo,” he said, while the audience cheered in response.

“Dahil ang pribilehiyo ngayon ay hindi dapat maging pribilehiyo mo lang — dapat maging karapatan

’yan ng bawat isa,” he continued.

(If I have to be honest, I already have the privilege. But even if you have the privilege, you will leave everyone behind. Just because you’re older and you have money, you will leave people like you, to not get the same privileges you have. Your privilege shouldn’t be yours alone. It should be everyone’s right.)

Despite not being a performer in the event, Vice Ganda said he still wanted to appear in this year’s Pride activity because he believes that there is strength in numbers.

“The presence of each and everyone of us is important. What I pray and hope for every member of the community is to make sure that we’re all seen. Please be seen.”

“We all have to be heard. Let us go out and show our numbers. Our numbers are powerful. This is the power that we need to hold on to,” he further said.

The “It’s Showtime” host’s remarks came on the heels of backlash directed at LGBT icons Renee

Vice Ganda Photo from Instagram/@praybeytbenjamin

Salud and Ricky Reyes for saying that they are not in favor of samesex marriage during a June 22 interview with Toni Gonzaga. Reyes also said that he was one of those who blocked the campaign to pass the SOGIE (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression) bill in congress.

Vice Ganda has long been a participant at Pride events, and has been vocal about speaking up for the LGBTQIA+ community.

(Inquirer.net)

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ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 4-10, 2025

11

City of San Diego awarded $10 Million City of San Diego marks completion of 500 State Grant to improve safety and Miles of road resurfacing in one year mobility on Streamview Drive THE California Transportation Commission (CTC) today awarded $10 million to the City of San Diego from its Local Partnership Competitive Program to help fund the City’s Streamview Drive Revitalization Project, which will address longstanding safety challenges along the corridor located in Redwood Village and Oak Park.

“The Streamview Drive Revitalization Project will make traveling along this heavily used corridor safer for all road users,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. “San Diego has a long list of projects like this one that will improve our communities, and our success in winning state and federal competitive grant awards is helping stretch our limited resources to get more of them done.”

Since taking office, Mayor Gloria made strategic reforms to the City’s grant-writing operation that have resulted in the City securing more than $1 billion in grant funding from Sacramento and Washington, D.C., for projects that are funding critical improvements across San Diego.

The funding for the Streamview Drive Revitalization Project will be used to install five roundabouts, raised medians, buffered bike lanes, upgraded

bus stops, new and widened sidewalks, and updated ADA pedestrian ramps. The project will be completed in 2028.

What others are saying: “I’m thrilled to see the City of San Diego awarded $10 million through the Local Partnership Program for Phase II of the Streamview Drive Revitalization Project. This is a major investment in public safety, walkability, and overall quality of life for residents and commuters alike,” said State Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson, M.D. “These kinds of projects are exactly what we need to create safer, more connected neighborhoods and ensure our infrastructure meets the needs of everyone who uses it. I’m proud to support initiatives that deliver real, lasting improvements to the communities I represent.”

“This $10 million investment in Streamview Drive is more than a grant. It’s a promise that communities in the 79th district deserve safe, connected, and accessible streets,” said Assemblymember Dr. LaShae Sharp-Collins. “I will always fight to bring resources home because when we build safer roads, we build stronger futures for everyone.”

“This $10 million investment showcases the California

Transportation Commission’s steadfast commitment to safety and equitable mobility,” said California Transportation Commissioner Clarissa Falcon.

“By collaborating with the City of San Diego, we’re not only enhancing roadway safety for drivers but also making it safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users. These targeted improvements — enhanced crossings, protected bike lanes, and upgraded lighting — will save lives and build healthier, connected communities in neighborhoods that deserve it most.”

“This $10 million award will provide the critical dollars to ensure the completion of the Streamview Drive Revitalization Project,” said Bethany Bezak, director of the City’s Transportation Department.

“The project will install important safety elements and green infrastructure on a key collector street that supports mobility for all users to in a historically disadvantaged community.”

“Circulate is excited to see more progress to make neighborhood streets safer,” said Circulate San Diego Chief Executive Officer Colin Parent.

“We need to continue investing in safe infrastructure to reduce fatalities and serious injuries.”

(City of San Diego Release)

File photo/www.insidesandiego.org

MARKING another successful effort to repair and resurface streets citywide, Mayor Todd Gloria joined City Councilmember Stephen Whitburn and City staff today at the location of a slurry seal project at Locust Street in Loma Portal, to celebrate the completion of approximately 500 miles of street paving and repair during fiscal year 2025 (FY25), which ended June 30.

These 500 miles of paving performed in fiscal year (FY25) are almost 8% of San Diego’s total road network and include more than 340 miles of slurry seal resurfacing, more than 140 lane miles of asphalt overlay paving and 24 miles of mill and pave treatment from the City’s in-house paving teams.

Combined, this makes FY25 one of the most productive years for road resurfacing this decade, underscoring the City’s commitment to infrastructure investments.

“Fixing San Diego’s streets has been a top priority of mine since day one—and even in the face of serious budget challenges, we’re getting it done,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. “Resurfacing 500 lane miles in a single year shows what’s possible when we focus on delivering results for our residents. We’re building safer, smoother streets in every part of San Diego, and we’re not letting up.”

Notably, the FY25 investment in road repair has contributed to an overall improvement of the City’s pavement condition, with a 2-point increase in the Pavement Condition Index (PCI) score since the 2023 pavement condition assessment.

Funding for road repair in fiscal year 2026 (FY26) is projected to be $83.1 million, which will yield over 350 miles of pavement repair and resurfacing. While the reduced funding for FY26 doesn’t build on the number of miles that will be able to be paved, the Transportation Department predicts that the work done in FY26 will preserve the current PCI of 65 achieved by the last two years of dedicated and effective resurfacing work by the Department’s paving program.

Historically, the City of San Diego reported the number of

miles repaired and resurfaced using “repair miles.” As part of the 2023 pavement condition assessment, data were collected to allow the Transportation Department to report improved and targeted mileage in “lane miles”, a more accurate and industry-standard measure.

While repair miles were calculated as the total length of the street, if a street was less than 50 feet wide, lane miles are calculated as the total length of individual lanes within a street.

Currently and moving forward, the Transportation Department will use lane miles instead of repair miles when reporting mileage improvements and target.

“Completing this many paving miles is a year-long process requiring hard work and careful planning from City staff and our resurfacing partners,” said Transportation Director Bethany Bezak. “We appreciate the support from all of our San Diego communities and look forward to fixing and maintaining our streets in the new fiscal year.”

The City treats roads using three different methods: surface seal, asphalt overlay, and reconstruction. City engineers plan and design surface seal and asphalt overlay projects, applied to streets in good to poor condition, and City-hired contractors complete these projects. Transportation Department crews perform asphalt overlay and reconstruction on streets in poor to failed condition.

Slurry seal is a cost-effective pavement preservation method that extends the life of streets already in good condition by 5 to 8 years. Slurry seal is used to prevent the deterioration of streets, which is vital to

SD#0428

Advertisement for Bids Notice is hereby given that the San Diego Unified School District, acting by and through its governing board, will electronically receive bids for the furnishing of all labor, materials, transportation, equipment, and services for: CC26-0153-52-00-00 GROUP 4B SHADE STRUCTURES A mandatory site visit is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2025, outside the main office of Ericson Elementary School, 11174 Westonhill Drive, San Diego, CA 92126. Upon completion of the first site, contractors shall proceed to the following sites in the order listed: Walker Elementary School, 9225 Hillery Drive, San Diego, CA 92126, Foster Elementary School, 6550 51st Street, San Diego, CA 92120. Prime contractors must be present at all 3 sites. In order to bid this project. All attendees must preregister with the District prior to attending the site walk at sandiegounified.org/sitewalks. The Bid and Contract Documents may be downloaded free of charge at the District’s online Planroom at sandiegousdplans. com. All bids must be received electronically via PlanetBids before 1:00 p.m. on THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2025. Prime contractors interested in submitting a bid must go to tinyurl.com/SDUSD-PlanetBids then search under “Bid Opportunities” for “Invitation number” CC26-0153-52-00-00 Group 4B Shade Structures. For new vendors, please register under “New Vendor Registration.” The project estimate is between $1.2 million and $1.5 million, inclusive of allowances. This is a PSA project and requires prequalification. The District requires that Bidders possess any of the following classification(s) of California State Contractors License(s), valid and in good standing, at the time of bid opening and contract award: B, or other appropriate license, subject to District approval. SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, George A. Harris III, Director, Fiscal Controls and Information Systems, Facilities Planning and Construction CC26-0153-52-00-00

LEGAL SERVICES FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2025-9009862

Theo’s Sweets located at 5367 Bonita Drive, San Diego, CA 92114.

Registrant: a.

Klery Floryvhel Nonog, 5367 Bonita Drive, San Diego, CA 92114. b. Anthony Perez Vargas, 5367 Bonita Drive, San Diego, CA 92114.

This business is conducted

by Joint Venture.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE. Signature: Klery Floryvhel Nonog.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 05/19/2025.

AJ 1716 06/27, 07/04, 07/11, 07/18/2025.

AJSD 1716

EMPLOYMENT

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2025-9012339

DC Jewelry N More located at 3924 Hilltop Drive, San Diego, CA 92102.

Registrant: Dahlia Cruz, 3924 Hilltop Drive, San Diego, CA 92102.

This business is conducted by An Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 02/12/2025.

Signature: Dahlia Cruz.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 06/25/2025.

AJ 1717 06/27, 07/04, 07/11, 07/18/2025.

AJSD 1717

SERVICES

File photo/www.insidesandiego.org

improving the overall condition of San Diego’s 6,600-mile road network. It reduces the need for a more costly asphalt overlay and reconstruction for badly deteriorated streets.

Asphalt overlay, a more intensive type of road repair used on streets in fair to poor condition, requires a larger investment, but can last up to 25 years.

The Transportation Department also operates three inhouse mill and pave teams that rehabilitate roads to protect the structural integrity of damaged streets, but typically in shorter sections than the asphalt overlay process.

Streets are selected for repair and resurfacing through a pavement management system that helps determine both the timing and most appropriate type of repair. Based on the pavement’s roughness and cracks, each street segment is assigned a PCI score.

To prioritize street paving, the PCI is evaluated in conjunction with other factors, such as traffic volume, road type, equity, mobility, maintenance history, other planned construction projects, and available funding.

Repairs are often grouped within a neighborhood to include streets in similar condition or performed after other street-disturbing projects, such as pipeline replacement.

Find out more information on the City of San Diego’s Paving Program by viewing the Transportation Department’s Pavement Management Plan.

View a map of past, current and future street repair in your neighborhood by visiting the City’s interactive StreetsSD map.

(City of San Diego Release)

12

JULY 4-10, 2025 • ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 937-9981 • (818) 937-9982 • (213) 250-9797

LEGAL SERVICES CASE NUMBER: 25CU029360C

CASE NUMBER: 25CU030722C

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Mariz Trujillo on behalf of a minor Cher Loe Pangilinan filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Cher Loe Pangilinan to Chloe Marie Pangilinan.

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 07/24/2025 Time: 8:30 AM Dept. 61 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. 61 San Diego, CA 92101 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county. Asian Journal: JUN 06, 2025 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT Maureen F. Hallahan Judge of the Superior Court AJ 1703 06/13, 06/20, 06/27, and 07/04/2025.

ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME (JC Form #NC-120) NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, drivers license, passport, and other identification, a certificate copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issues the legal document that need to be changed to determine if a certificate copy is required.

A certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC230) may be obtained form the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for information on obtaining certified copies.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date.

Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court.

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Sarah Yvonne Green filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Sarah Yvonne Green to Sera Harriet Dunn.

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 08/04/2025 Time: 8:30 AM Dept. C-61 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. 61 San Diego, CA 92101 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county. Asian Journal: JUN 12,2025 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT Maureen F. Hallahan Judge of the Superior Court AJ 1709 06/20, 06/27, 07/04, and 07/11/2025.

ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME (JC Form #NC-120) NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, drivers license, passport, and other identification, a certificate copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issues the legal document that need to be changed to determine if a certificate copy is required.

A certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC230) may be obtained form the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for information on obtaining certified copies.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date.

Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2025-9009263

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2025-9010735

AJSD 1703

Marston Hills Heritage Association located at 1048 Myrtle Way, San Diego, CA 92103.

Registrant: William Maudsley, 1048 Myrtle Way, San Diego, CA 92103.

This business is conducted by An Unincorporated Association-Other than a Partnership.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE. Signature: Richard Maudsley.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 05/12/2025.

AJ 1701 06/13, 06/20, 06/27, 07/04/2025.

AJSD 1701

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2025-9011358

GSHHC located at 3403 E Plaza Blvd Ste K, National City, CA 91950.

Registrant: Good Samaritan Home Health Care INC, 3403 E Plaza Blvd Ste K, National City, CA 91950.

This business is conducted

by A Corporation.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 08/17/2020.

Signature: Camilo Gallego.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 06/12/2025.

AJ 1708 06/20, 06/27, 07/04, and 07/11/2025.

AJSD 1708

AJSD 1709

Feldenkrais San Diego located at 916 W. University Ave., San Diego, CA 92103.

Registrant: Donna L Wood, 916 W. University Ave., San Diego, CA 92103.

This business is conducted by An Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 001/23/2001.

Signature: Donna L. Wood.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 06/03/2025.

AJ 1702 06/13, 06/20, 06/27, 07/04/2025.

AJSD 1702

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2025-9011957

The Bloom Wellness Lounge located at 2060 Otay Lakes RD Suite 220, Chula Vista, CA 91913.

Registrant: Mitchell Advanced Practice Nursing And Wellness INC, 2060 Otay Lakes RD Suite 220, Chula Vista, CA 91913.

This business is conducted

by A Corporation.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE. Signature: Kathleen Mitchell.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 06/20/2025.

AJ 1712 06/27, 07/04, 07/11, 07/18/2025.

AJSD 1712

LEGAL SERVICES

LEGAL SERVICES

CASE NUMBER: 25CU031148N

CASE NUMBER: 25CU033837N

CASE NUMBER: 25CU031127C

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Philip Finuliar Aquino filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Philip Finuliar Aquino to Emmanuel Solomon Vargas.

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 08/01/2025 Time: 8:30 AM Dept. N-25 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego North County Division 325 S. Melrose Dr. Vista, CA 92081 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county. Asian Journal: JUN 16,2025 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT Hon. Brad A. Weinreb Judge of the Superior Court AJ 1710 06/20, 06/27, 07/04, and 07/11/2025.

ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME (JC Form #NC-120) NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, drivers license, passport, and other identification, a certificate copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issues the legal document that need to be changed to determine if a certificate copy is required.

A certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC230) may be obtained form the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for information on obtaining certified copies.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date.

Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court.

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Sakeenah Aneesah Izzah AKA Faye Carol Jones filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Sakeenah Aneesah Izzah AKA Faye Carol Jones to Sakeenah Aneesah Izzah.

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 08/05/2025 Time: 8:30 AM Dept. 61 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego Hall of Justice Courthouse 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. 61 San Diego, CA 92101 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county. Asian Journal: JUN 16, 2025 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT Maureen F. Hallahan Judge of the Superior Court AJ 1711 06/20, 06/27, 07/04, and 07/11/2025.

ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME (JC Form #NC-120) NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, drivers license, passport, and other identification, a certificate copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issues the legal document that need to be changed to determine if a certificate copy is required.

A certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC230) may be obtained form the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for information on obtaining certified copies.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date.

Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2025-9010868

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2025-9011028

AJSD 1710

a. California Collision Center Oceanside located at 417 Via Del Monte, Oceanside, CA 92058. b. California Collision Oceanside located at 417 Via Del Monte, Oceanside, CA 92058.

Registrant: Maroki Bros Enterprises INC., 417 Via Del Monte, Oceanside, CA 92058.

This business is conducted by A Corporation.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 01/19/2020.

Signature: Remon Maroki.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 06/04/2025.

AJ 1704 06/13, 06/20, 06/27, 07/04/2025.

AJSD 1704

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2025-9011398

Josh Around Art located at 5553 Adobe Falls Rd Unit 13, San Diego, CA 92120.

Registrant: Joshua James Arellano Braun, 5553 Adobe Falls Rd Unit 13, San Diego, CA 92120.

This business is conducted

by An Individual.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE. Signature: Joshua James Arellano Braun.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 06/12/2025.

AJ 1713 06/27, 07/04, 07/11, 07/18/2025.

AJSD 1713

AJSD 1711

YW Relaxation located at 2062 Plaza Bonita Rd., National City, CA 91950.

Registrant: YW Relaxation, 5380 Palm Grove Ct., San Jose, CA 95123.

This business is conducted by A Corporation.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE. Signature: Fan Yang.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 06/06/2025.

AJ 1705 06/13, 06/20, 06/27, 07/04/2025.

AJSD 1705

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2025-9011479

PONCHO’S ICE CREAM located at 606 3rd Ave Apt 22, San Diego, CA 92101.

Registrant: Alfonso Valenzuela, 606 3rd Ave Apt 22, San Diego, CA 92101.

This business is conducted

by An Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 06/01/2025.

Signature: Alfonso Valenzuela.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 06/12/2025.

AJ 1714 06/27, 07/04, 07/11, 07/18/2025.

AJSD 1714

CASE NUMBER: 25CU033803C

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Dan Quoc Vi Chau on behalf of a minor filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Chau Nguyen Thi to Thi Nguyen Chau.

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 08/08/2025 Time: 8:30 AM Dept. N-25 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego North County Division 325 S. Melrose Dr. Vista, CA 92081 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county. Asian Journal: JUN 27, 2025 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT Brad A Weinreb Judge of the Superior Court AJ 1718 07/04, 07/11, 07/18, and 07/25/2025 ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME (JC Form #NC-120) NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, drivers license, passport, and other identification, a certificate copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issues the legal document that need to be changed to determine if a certificate copy is required.

A certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC230) may be obtained from the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for information on obtaining certified copies.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date.

Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court.

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Griselda Ramirez Lagunas filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Griselda Ramirez Lagunas to Gigi Lagunas.

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 08/19/2025 Time: 8:30 AM Dept. 61 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. C-61 San Diego, CA 92101 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county. Asian Journal: JUN 27, 2025 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT Brad A Weinreb Judge of the Superior Court AJ 1719 07/04, 07/11, 07/18, and 07/25/2025 ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME (JC Form #NC-120) NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, drivers license, passport, and other identification, a certificate copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issues the legal document that need to be changed to determine if a certificate copy is required.

A certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be obtained from the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for information on obtaining certified copies.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date.

Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2025-9011177

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2025-9011132

AJSD 1718

Clear Path Insight located at 1441 N Ave., National City, CA 91950.

Registrant: Omar Giuma Khder, 1441 N Ave., National City, CA 91950.

This business is conducted by An Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 06/09/2025.

Signature: Omar Giuma Khder.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 06/10/2025.

AJ 1706 06/13, 06/20, 06/27, 07/04/2025.

AJSD 1706

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2025-9012190

Run It Clothing located at 600 W Broadway PMB 70064, San Diego. CA 92101.

Registrant: Run It Clothing, 600 W Broadway PMB 70064, San Diego. CA 92101.

This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE. Signature: Gustavo Nevarez.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 06/24/2025.

AJ 1715 06/27, 07/04, 07/11, 07/18/2025.

AJSD 1715

AJSD 1719

Hanah Beauty Care located at 3142 East Plaza Blvd., National City, CA 91950.

Registrant: a. Phuong Nha Tran Mrs, 3142 East Plaza Blvd., National City, CA 91950. b. Lam Son Nguyen Mr, 3142 East Plaza Blvd., National City, CA 91950.

This business is conducted

by A Married Couple.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE. Signature: Phuong Nha Tran Mrs. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 06/09/2025.

AJ 1707 06/13, 06/20, 06/27, 07/04/2025.

AJSD 1707