070723 - San Diego Edition

What the US Supreme Court ban on affirmative action means for colleges

THE U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday, June 29 struck down race-conscious policies in college admissions, ending decades of precedent that had allowed schools nationwide to use such programs to increase the diversity of their student bodies.

Here is an explanation of the policies commonly known as affirmative action, their history and the possible consequences of the court’s decision.

What is affirmative action?

In the context of higher education, affirmative action typically refers to admissions policies aimed at increasing the number of Black, Hispanic and other minority students on campus.

Colleges and universities that take race into consideration have said they do so as part of a holistic approach that reviews every aspect of an application, including grades, test scores and extracurricular activities.

The goal of race-conscious admissions policies is to increase student diversity in order to enhance the educational

Lawyers group, PH Embassy agree to keep providing legal aid to Filipinos in US

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Officers of the National Filipino American Lawyers Association (NFALA) and the Philippine Embassy agreed to continue providing legal services to the Filipino community in the United States.

Since the signing of a Report of Understanding in May 2021, the Embassy has tapped NFALA for resource persons for Post Arrival Orientation Seminars for Filipino workers and legal consultants for labor-related cases.

During the recent meeting, several activities were identified to expand cooperation, such as free webinars and lectures on immigration, human trafficking, taxation, family law and estate planning.

Frasco says DOT will retain ‘Love the Philippines’ slogan

by ZaCarian sarao Inquirer.net

on Wednesday,

continue to use

“Love the Philippines,” despite backlash from the public. But the secretary did not go into details regarding the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) further plans in its tourism drive, she did, however, repeatedly mention ”Love the Philippines” in her speech

President Marcos greets mom Imelda on her 94th

by helen Flores Philstar.com

MANILA — Former first lady Imelda Marcos celebrated her 94th birthday at Malacañang over the weekend with her son, President Marcos, in attendance.

“Today we celebrate 94 incredible years! Happy birthday, mom! Wishing you more years filled with joy, good health, and abundant blessings,” the President wrote on Twitter on Sunday, July 2 accompanied by a photo collage of his mother and the late former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta

Marcos attended an “asalto” or birthday surprise for his mother at Malacañang’s Kalayaan Hall on Saturday, July 1.

Among those present at the birthday party were Imelda’s children Irene MarcosAraneta and Aimee Marcos Bernedo and her grandchildren, based on a photo shared by Liza Marcos on Facebook.

“Happy 94th birthday, Mama Meldy,” Liza Marcos wrote on her Facebook account.

The president’s older sister, Sen. Imee Marcos, was missing in the family photo.

In an interview on Saturday, July 1, the

Pagasa declares onset of El Niño PH inflation

by danessa riVera romina Cabrera Philstar.com

MANILA — A severe dry spell looms in the country with the onset of the El Niño phenomenon, the impact of which would be felt toward the end of the year, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in an advisory on Tuesday, July 4.

“Recent PAGASA climate monitoring and analyses indicate that the unusual warming of sea surface temperatures along the equatorial Pacific that was established in March 2023 has further developed into a weak El Niño, which show signs of strengthening in the coming months,” PAGASA said.

World Meteorological Organization

u PAGE 3

by ronnel W. domingo Inquirer.net

MANILA — Inflation in the Philippines eased for the fifth consecutive month in June to 5.4 percent, the lowest in 13 months, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

This brought the average inflation rate in the first semester of the year to 7.2 percent.

The readout for June is better than the expectation of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), whose guess was 5.7 percent, and close to the low end of the

during the 2022 Philippine Tourism Satellite Accounts and Tourism Statistics Dissemination Forum.

“I think that is evident,” Frasco told reporters in an ambush interview when asked if the DOT will

‘Recalibrate’ or DDB fiasco will ‘hurt’ PH brand, Gordon tells DOT

by Kathleen de Villa Inquirer.net

MANILA — Former Sen. Richard Gordon, who was also a tourism secretary, has pressed the Department of Tourism (DOT) to “recalibrate” the Philippines’ brand image following uproar over its use of stock footage from other countries in a promotional video intended to drum up interest for local travel spots.

In a statement on Monday, July 3 Gordon, who popularized the “Wow Philippines” campaign of the early 2000s, said the government “must rise and correct the mistake right away,” noting that tourism was “far too important” a sector to be jeopardized by the blunder.

The DOT, headed by Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, announced Monday, July 3 it was terminating its P49-million contract with the advertising agency DDB Group Philippines, which conceptualized the new “Love the Philippines” logo and slogan and u PAGE 2

Chinese vessels again accused of ‘dangerous maneuvers’

by FranCes mangosing Inquirer.net

MANILA — Chinese coast guard ships maneuvered dangerously close to two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ships supporting a Philippine Navy resupply mission in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea last week, the latest of Beijing’s coercive actions in the hotly contested waterway.

“The Philippine Coast Guard is concerned about the behavior of the Chinese coast guard vessels. It seems like they are putting in extra effort to stop us from reaching Ayungin Shoal,”

PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela told the Inquirer on Tuesday, July 4.

The China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels with bow numbers 4203 and 5201 conducted “dangerous maneuvers” to block the PCG’s 44-meter vessels BRP Malapascua (MRRV-4403) and BRP Malabrigo (MRRV-4402) from coming closer to the shoal, he said.

Ayungin Shoal, a submerged reef 194 kilometers off Palawan province, is within the Philippines’ exclusive

further eased to 5.4% in June

Frasco says DOT will retain ‘Love the Philippines’...

maintain the said slogan.

It can be recalled that the DOT was embroiled in controversy during its release of the brand new “Love the Philippines” slogan after it received flak from the public who pointed out that it contained clips from Thailand, Indonesia, and United Arab Emirates. The DOT has since terminated its contract with its partner advertising firm DDB Philippines, who, in turn, claimed that the said video DOT uploaded online was merely a “mood video” meant “to excite

internal stakeholders.”

The controversy does not stop there as the agency also faced public outrage after it featured alleged sex trafficker Apollo Quiboloy on their Facebook page when the DOT thanked various tourism pages who expressed support for its new slogan. The DOT previously assured the public that it would remain “fully committed to developing and promoting the Philippines as a powerhouse of natural wonders, culture and heritage, and a fount of warmth and hospitality.” n

‘Recalibrate’ or DDB fiasco will ‘hurt’ PH brand...

PAGE 1 later accepted blame for the improper use of clips of foreign tourist destinations.

But Gordon said DDB was too big a company to “overlook a mistake that big.”

“It is their duty to review and have everything checked or the mistake will bite you. More importantly, it will rabidly hurt the Philippines,” he said.

Gordon stressed the urgency of mitigating the “gargantuan” damage of the blunder to the country’s international image.

“We need to stop and focus,” he said.

The Philippine Red Cross chair made the remark on the same day the DOT announced it was scrapping its deal with DDB.

The ad agency on Sunday, July 2 said it was taking full responsibility for the lapse and would fully cooperate with the DOT in its investigation.

DDB sought to appease critics by saying the promotional material was “intended to be a mood video” and produced on its own initiative “to help pitch the slogan,” which replaced the previous administration’s “It’s more fun in the Philippines.”

Deciding it was best to part ways with DDB for the campaign, DOT cited its right to “proceed with termination proceedings against its contract with DDB.”

It would also “review standards of performance or lack thereof” as well as exercise its right to “forfeit performance security” if it deems necessary.

‘No payment’ doubted

The tourism department also pointed out that no payments had been made to the ad agency.

Gordon, however, cast doubt on pronouncements made by both parties that DDB did not receive any government funds for the campaign video.

“That is a business. DDB has to pay its account executives and others,” he said. Based on the General Appropriations Act for 2023, an allocation of P1.27 billion

was set aside for a “branding campaign program” itemized as a “special provision” under the DOT budget. While Frasco said the terminated DDB deal was worth P49 million, a bid notice contract on the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System website showed that another P250 million had been budgeted for “consulting services for the integrated marketing campaign for the rebranding of the Philippine tourism brand.”

Also on Tuesday, July 4, Albay Rep.

Joey Salceda, who was critical of the new tourism campaign for omitting the travel destinations in his home province, said he would not go so far as to ask for Frasco’s resignation despite the controversy.

The House ways and means panel chair said he wanted the conversation to “focus on ways forward,” given that Frasco seemed open to his recommendations.

“I asked her to fire the consultant. She did. I asked her to correct mistakes and investigate internally. She did. I asked her to be more inclusive with destinations featured. She did. When we resume session in Congress, we will seek facts. She is open. We can disagree without malice,” he said in a statement.

He went on: “I will criticize openly, as needed. That’s my job as a legislator and a representative of my people. But after heated discussions, we must remain focused on solving problems.”

Salceda also pointed out that once the controversy cools down, the government will “still need to fix our airports, our accommodations, our accessibility.”

“So, no, I will not join calls for her to resign. Certainly not when a lot of it is premised on speculation. I focused on facts in my criticisms. I want to focus on facts, on the solutions,” he added.

Cebu backing Frasco, daughter of Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia, also received the support of mayors and representatives from her home province.

Except for one mayor and another legislator, all mayors and lawmakers in Cebu issued a manifesto of support to Frasco.

In the manifesto, they claimed there was a “coordinated demolition job” against Frasco “to sabotage the great accomplishments of the DOT secretary.” The manifesto, however, didn’t specify the demolition job and where it came from.

Among the 11 representatives who signed were her uncle, Pablo John Garcia of the third district, and her husband, Duke Frasco of the fifth district.

The manifesto was also signed by mayors of three independent cities, five component cities, and 44 municipalities.

—with reports from Julie M. Aurelio and Dale Israel in Cebu city n

Chinese vessels again...

economic zone, where the Navy maintains its presence through the decrepit BRP Sierra Madre.

China, however, claims almost all of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea.

The CCG 4203 “deliberately” cut off BRP Malabrigo at one point, forcing it to slow down to avoid a collision. The Chinese ship came within “less than 100 yards” of the PCG vessel while radio challenges were exchanged, Tarriela said.

2 Chinese warships

“In their attempts to hinder passage and discourage our PCG vessels from approaching Ayungin Shoal, the China Coast Guard vessels have flagrantly disregarded the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea,” he added.

Six Chinese militia vessels were also spotted at the

northeast entrance of the shoal as if to serve as a barricade to prevent the PCG ships from entering, Tarriela said. In addition, two People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) vessels were monitored in the vicinity of the shoal during the mission.

“The PCG is alarmed about the presence of two PLA-N vessels in Ayungin Shoal. It is particularly alarming because the Philippine Navy’s naval operation is solely intended for humanitarian purposes. Despite this, the Chinese are deploying their warships, which raises even greater concerns,” he said. Moments later, another Chinese coast guard vessel with bow number 3103, which traveled from

in the area and challenged the PCG ships on the radio, in an apparent attempt to act as a reinforcement, Tarriela said. n

PH inflation further...

BSP’s forecast range of 5.3 percent to 6.1 percent.

National Statistician Dennis Mapa said the downward pull on headline inflation was mainly from slower increases in prices of meat, fruits and sweets; gasoline, diesel and road transport fare, as well as electricity and home rent.

The latest readout — for June and for the semester — is still above the BSP’s goal of shepherding inflation to 3 percent or a range of 2 percent to 4 percent, but the regulator expects the monthly print to ease into the target band by the fourth quarter this year. n

Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco

Photo from Facebook/DOT

by Joan Bondoc

Former Sen. Richard Gordon also once headed the Department of Tourism File photo from the Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau

What the US Supreme Court ban on affirmative action...

experience for all students. Schools also employ recruitment programs and scholarship opportunities intended to boost diversity, but the Supreme Court litigation was focused on admissions.

Which schools consider race?

While many schools do not disclose details about their admissions processes, taking race into account is more common among selective schools that turn down most of their applicants.

In a 2019 survey by the National Association for College Admission Counseling, about a quarter of schools said race had a “considerable” or “moderate” influence on admissions, while more than half reported that race played no role whatsoever.

Nine states have banned the use of race in admissions policies at public colleges and universities: Arizona, California, Florida, Idaho, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma and Washington.

What is the current litigation about?

The Supreme Court decided two cases brought by Students for Fair Admissions, a group headed by Edward Blum, a conservative legal strategist who has spent years fighting affirmative action.

One case contended that Harvard’s admissions policy unlawfully discriminates against Asian American applicants. The other asserted that the University of North Carolina unlawfully discriminates against white and Asian American applicants.

The schools rejected those claims, saying race is determinative in only a small number of cases and that barring the practice would result in a significant drop in the number of minority students on campus.

How has the supreme court ruled in the past?

Before Thursday, the court had largely upheld raceconscious admissions for decades, though not without limits.

A divided Supreme Court took up the issue in the landmark 1978 case, Regents

President Marcos greets mom Imelda...

of the University of California v. Bakke, after schools began using affirmative action in response to the Civil Rights era to correct the effects of racial segregation.

The swing vote, Justice Lewis Powell, ruled that schools could not use affirmative action to rectify past racial discrimination and struck down the university’s practice of setting aside a certain number of spots for minorities.

Nevertheless, Powell found that increasing campus diversity was a “compelling interest” because students of all races – not just minorities – would receive a better education if exposed to different viewpoints. Powell ruled that schools could weigh race in admissions as long as it remained only one factor among many.

In 2003, the court struck down the University of Michigan’s use of a system that awarded “points” to minority applicants as going too far, but affirmed Bakke’s central finding that schools could use race as one of several admission factors.

The court in 2016 again upheld race-conscious admissions in a challenge backed by Blum to University of Texas policies. But the court has moved sharply to the right since then, with six conservative justices now and only three liberals.

What will colleges do in response?

The decision on Thursday will force elite colleges and universities to revamp their policies and search for new ways to ensure diversity in their student populations.

Many schools have said other measures would not be as effective, resulting in fewer minority students on campuses.

In briefs filed with the Supreme Court, the University of California and the University of Michigan – top public college systems from states that have outlawed race-conscious admissions – said they have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on alternative programs intended to improve diversity, but that those efforts have fallen far short of goals.

(Inquirer.net) n

PAGE 1 senator said her mother would have a “private” celebration for her 94th birthday. She said there might be an asalto or a birthday surprise for Imelda at Malacañang on Saturday night.

This was the second consecutive year the former first lady held a birthday party at the Palace.

Malacañang is the official residence of the president of the Philippines.

Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco and veteran singer Dulce also shared photos of the event in their respective social media pages.

In a video posted on Facebook, Dulce was seen serenading the former first lady and her guests with a Celeste Legaspi song, “Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal.”

In May, Senator Marcos said

the former first lady underwent an angioplasty. Rumors about the death of the Marcos matriarch circulated

in March but were quickly debunked by the senator and the former first lady’s niece Eliza Romualdez-Valtos.

Imelda is out on bail after being convicted by the Sandiganbayan of seven counts of graft. n

Pagasa declares onset of El Niño...

PAGE 1

(WMO) on Tuesday said the El Niño weather pattern emerged in the tropical Pacific for the first time in seven years.

El Niño is linked to extreme weather conditions from tropical cyclones to heavy rainfall to severe droughts.

State weather forecasters said El Niño, characterized by the rise of sea surface temperatures in the central equatorial pacific, will be moderate to strong and will persist until the first quarter of 2024.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said it has set in place measures to cushion the impact of the dry spell on water supply and on food security.

Camarines Norte and Southern Leyte are expected to experience drought conditions, or below normal rainfall conditions for three to five months, by December.

In Luzon, 26 areas may experience drought conditions by January 2024, while a total of 17 provinces may experience dry spell, or below normal rainfall conditions for two to three consecutive months.

State weather forecasters said the number of affected provinces may still increase as projections are based on current models.

With El Niño, fewer tropical cyclones are expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) this year.

From a yearly average of 19-20 cyclones, only around 10-14 cyclones are expected to enter PAR next year. However, cyclones with stronger character may be experienced.

Still, normal to above normal rainfall conditions are expected to continue from this month to September in most parts of the country due to the prevailing northwest monsoon.

Esperanza Cuyanan, PAGASA officer-incharge, warned that the adverse impact of El

Niño may be fully felt by the next dry season in the country, especially in terms of water shortages.

Water levels in dams in the country may go down starting November until January 2024, according to forecast. She advised the public to conserve water and electricity while it is still early.

“The worst that we can experience is dry season next year when water saved during this rainy season runs out. We’ll have shortage next year during the dry season,” Cuyanan said in Filipino.

PAGASA clarified that its El Niño advisory is based on three-month average of sea surface temperature anomalies of above 0.5 degree Celsius.

Angat level

Water level of Angat Dam, meanwhile, has further dropped to near critical level but water concessionaires assured the public of continued water service.

Latest PAGASA monitoring showed Angat’s water level at 181.53 meters as of 8 a.m. Tuesday, July 4, 0.36 meters lower than 181.93 meters a day earlier and only 1.57 meters from the critical level of 180 meters.

Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) division manager Patrick Dizon said they would meet with PAGASA, the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to discuss the problem.

“Under the Angat Dam protocol, when the reservoir elevation reaches 180 meters, the water allocation of irrigation will be reduced to prioritize domestic water supply,” he said.

“We are going to see PAGASA’s projection of rainfall in watershed areas, if there will be intense rain to help raise the elevation of the reservoir,” Dizon said.

The MWSS has yet to determine the

amount of water allocation it will request from the NWRB.

“For now, we can’t say what level of raw water allocation we will ask because we need to manage the current water levels in the Angat reservoir,” Dizon said.

West zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. said it has a program in place to mitigate the possible impact of El Niño.

“This involves the production of additional supply through alternative raw water sources, and through water loss recovery from our pipe replacement and leak repair activities,” Maynilad corporate communications head Jennifer Rufo said.

“As we work closely with MWSS to augment available supplies, we call on all water consumers to help by using water responsibility,” Rufo said.

Currently, Maynilad is still assessing the actual impact of the reduction of Angat water allocation to 50 cubic meters per second (CMS) on its service levels this month.

“Having said that, even if a 50 CMS allocation will have an impact on service levels this July, the water situation would be better now compared to how it was last April 1 to 15 when the allocation was also at 50 CMS and there were service interruptions,” Rufo said.

“This is because we now have rains over the watersheds, and our various supply augmentation projects (i.e., reactivation of deep wells, recovery of water losses and production of potable reused water) have already been generating additional supply,” the Maynilad official said.

East zone concessionaire Manila Water Company Inc. said it has been preparing its supply augmentation measures long before the official declaration of El Niño’s onset. u PAGE 4

President Marcos is shown with the members of his family in this photo posted on Facebook by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos to mark the 94th birthday of the family’s matriarch, Imelda, at Malacañang on Saturday, July 1. Sen. Imee Marcos is conspicuously missing in the picture. They were joined by Irene Marcos Araneta, her spouse Greggy Araneta, Aimee Marcos Bernedo as well as the president’s sons Joseph Simon and William Vincent. Philstar.com photo

As low-nicotine cigarettes hit the market, anti-smoking groups press for wider standard

by Don Thompson

THE idea seems simple enough.

Preserve all the rituals of smoking: Light up a cigarette, inhale the smoke, including the nasty stuff that can kill you, and exhale. But remove most of the nicotine, the chemical that makes tobacco so darn hard to quit, to help smokers smoke less.

The Food and Drug Administration has been contemplating that strategy for at least six years as one way to make it easier for smokers to cut back, if not quit entirely.

Less than two years ago, it authorized 22nd Century Group, a publicly traded plant biotech company based in Buffalo, New York, to advertise its proprietary lownicotine cigarettes as modified-risk tobacco products.

Now, the first authorized cigarettes with 95% less nicotine than traditional smokes are coming to California, Florida, and Texas in early July, after a year of test-marketing in Illinois and Colorado.

It’s part of an aggressive rollout by 22nd Century that, by year’s end, could bring its products to 18 states — markets that together account for more than half of U.S. cigarette sales. But anti-smoking groups oppose greenlighting 22nd Century’s products. Instead, they urge federal regulators to expand on their original plan of setting a low-nicotine standard for all combustible cigarettes to make them minimally or nonaddictive. They expect the FDA to take the next step in that industrywide regulatory process as early as this fall.

“Unless and until there is a categorywide requirement that nicotine goes down to low, nonaddictive levels, this is not going to make a difference,” said Erika Sward, a spokesperson for the American Lung

Association.

Major tobacco companies Altria, R.J. Reynolds, and ITG Brands did not respond to requests for comment.

Cigarette smoking is estimated to cause more than 480,000 deaths a year in the U.S., including from secondhand smoke, and contributes to tobacco use being the leading preventable cause of death nationally. In 2018, then-FDA

Commissioner Scott Gottlieb wrote that setting a maximum nicotine level “could result in more than 8 million fewer tobacco-caused deaths through the end of the century – an undeniable public health benefit.”

The FDA reasoned that people would collectively smoke fewer cigarettes and have less exposure to the deadly toxins that are still present in low-nicotine cigarettes.

22nd Century says it used a patentprotected process to control nicotine biosynthesis in the tobacco plant, enabling it to create a pack of cigarettes with about as much nicotine as one Marlboro. It says generally that it uses “modern plant breeding technologies, including genetic engineering, gene-editing, and molecular breeding.”

Keeping 5% of the nicotine is enough to prevent smokers from seeking more to satisfy their craving, said John Miller, president of 22nd Century’s smoking division.

“There’s just enough in there that your brain thinks it’s getting it, but it’s not,” Miller said. “That was really one of the reasons we got to these levels of nicotine, is because you don’t have that additional smoking.”

Miller said the low-nicotine cigarettes can help some smokers cut back or quit, perhaps in conjunction with a nicotine patch or gum, when they’ve tried and

failed with other stop-smoking programs.

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

President Matthew L. Myers supports the development of an industrywide lownicotine standard, saying the concept would work only if consumers no longer had the alternative of a higher-nicotine cigarette.

“The concern with a product that’s still addictive, but delivers low levels of nicotine, in fact is that consumers will smoke more, because the evidence shows that somebody who’s addicted will smoke enough to satisfy their craving,” Myers said.

Both the FDA and anti-smoking groups cited studies that found lower levels of nicotine don’t prompt smokers to smoke more to reach the same nicotine levels. But those studies assumed smokers wouldn’t have a high-nicotine alternative, anti-smoking groups and researchers said. Allowing low-nicotine cigarettes while conventional cigarettes remain available may be a public health detriment if they discourage smokers from quitting entirely or encourage others to start smoking because they think there’s a safe way to experiment with cigarettes, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and several health associations wrote in a letter urging the FDA to reverse its 22nd Century decision.

22nd Century’s cigarettes are still dangerous, and consumers must substantially cut back or quit smoking to get health advantages. But antismoking groups fear many smokers won’t understand that.

“If people are looking at this as a magic bullet and are still continuing their tobacco use, they are not doing anything to change their risk,” said Sward, of the lung association.

County unveils a new logo

YOU may have noticed something new on the county’s social media or during budget hearings — a new logo reflecting diverse community input and the county’s values and commitment to service.

The new logo was created by county designers, shaped by public and internal surveys, focus groups, and selected from more than 100 options by hundreds of people. Those people represented more than 150 diverse sectors including education, healthcare, private business, our own employees and many others.

Collaboration. Connection.

Community. Diversity. Sunshine. Beaches. Mountains.

These are just a few of the frequently heard words shared by this group to describe the County of San Diego.

Access. Belonging.

Equity. Excellence. Integrity. Sustainability. The concepts coupled with values at the center of the County of San Diego’s General Management System led to the creation of the winning design.

The design

The iconic downtown San Diego County Administration Center is featured surrounded by elements of San Diego’s renowned natural environment, with sea, sand, mountains, and green spaces. The building represents the foundation for the programs and services provided to the community while the surrounding elements and colors are a nod to the County’s

File photo/www.sandiegocounty.gov rich natural and welcoming environment.

A mix of blue, greens, greys and orange colors come together in motion to represent new energy.

The blue colors of the sky and curved ocean waves represent open spaces, peace, and tranquility, but also symbolize trust and responsibility.

The soaring seagull represents freedom and fearlessness, as a nod to the county’s quest for innovation and resourcefulness.

The orange color of the shoreline wraps around the building to symbolize security, optimism and new energy.

The logo is meant to complement the county seal which has been in use since 1937. The county seal will continue to be used for formal official communications documents.

To learn more about the new county logo, go to https://www. sandiegocounty.gov/content/ sdc/dmpr/branding.html.

(Shauni Lyles/County of San Diego Communications Office)n

Asst. Labor Attache Marie Josephine Borromeo, NFALA VP of Programs Jill Yu, NFALA President-Elect Lorna Garcia, NFALA President Garylene Javier, Consul General Iric Cruz Arribas, NFALA Embassy Liaison Bryan Ramos, NFALA VP of Membership Jeffrey Javinar, and former NFALA President Jeri Gonzales Abrams. Contributed photo

Lawyers group, PH Embassy...

Also discussed was the expansion of NFALA membership to areas with large concentrations of Filipino Americans, partnerships with organizations of lawyers in the Philippines, and consular assistance to Filipino Americans.

NFALA is an organization composed of young Filipino American legal professionals who are “advocating for justice, civil rights, and equal opportunity for the Filipino American community”, according to its website www.nfala.com. (Inquirer.net) n

Pagasa declares...

Part of the measures is drawing 110 million liters per day (MLD) from Laguna Lake through its Cardona Water Treatment Plant, Manila Water corporate communication affairs group director Jeric Sevilla said.

Manila Water is also tapping deep wells, which are ready to supply up to a maximum of 115 MLD.

“We have also completed Phase 1 of our Calawis Project in Antipolo which will give around 20 MLD and scalable up to 80 MLD while Phase 2 of our East Bay Water Supply Project which can provide 50 MLD drawing water from the eastern flank of Laguna Lake. 15 MLD from our Marikina Portable Treatment Plant is also available,” Sevilla said.

“We will continue and even intensify our preparations to help ensure that our customers will continue to enjoy 24/7 water supply with pressure within regulatory limits even during El Niño,” Manila Water Corporate communications head Dittie Galang said.

Food supply

At a press briefing, DA director for Field Operations Service U-Nichols Manalo said they have prepared a whole-of-government

approach in dealing with El Niño in compliance with President Marcos’ directive.

“The president made the instruction of a whole of government approach, science based, we’re preparing for it. We should not respond only when the problem is already here in December and January or when there is already drought in 26 provinces,” Manalo said at a briefing.

The DA is the lead agency in the food security group under the national El Niño team, composed of different government agencies.

Manalo said that they are also coordinating with local government units, irrigation associations and rice farmers in preparation for the El Niño.

He noted that some areas in Davao del Sur experiencing below average rainfall have started planting their crops earlier to adjust to changing weather conditions.

The DA official said the NIA has also started repairs and maintenance of its irrigation systems.

The DA is also part of the water and health security groups, through its attached agencies and bureaus like NIA and the Bureau of Animal Industry. n

READING IS KNOWLEDGE. Couple Mirasol and Byron Martinez, with their daughter Empress, tend to their Read ‘N Play books per kilo store in Kasiyahan Street, Barangay Holy Spirit, Quezon City on Monday, July 3. They sell pre-owned books, mostly for children, at lower prices to encourage the youth to go back to reading. PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

Dateline PhiliPPines

OVP bypassed procurement laws in rush to build satellite offices – COA

by red Mendoza ManilaTimes.net

MANILA — The Office of the Vice President did not fully comply with the country’s procurement laws when it purchased new equipment for its satellite offices in 2022, the Commission on Audit has found.

In its 2022 audit report on the OVP, state auditors flagged the OVP’s procurement of P668,197worth of equipment, which was paid through reimbursement of officials’ personal cash.

The OVP resorted to making purchases through reimbursement due to its decision to immediately open its satellite offices even if it did not yet have enough equipment to operate, COA noted.

“As per inquiry, the immediate establishment of (satellite offices) were made due to Management’s intention to immediately expand services offered by OVP to various provinces. However, controls to ensure that government resources were utilized as intended and prevented from loss should also be considered,” the report stated.

Although state auditors noted that the OVP purchased items with the lowest price in the market, its failure to comply with Republic Act 9184 and its implementing guidelines “defeats the purpose of the

Procurement Law, which is to standardize and to improve transparency in the procurement process.”

In response to state auditors’ comments, the OVP said that its purchases were done through reimbursement because of the immediate need to have the satellite offices ready with equipment.

“Due to the time constraints imposed by RA No. 9184, the Procurement Unit was unable to process requests at the time of opening of the (satellite offices) on July 1, 2022,” the OVP said in the audit report.

“It was agreed during the discussion meeting with the

Marcos gains in foreign policy lauded

by Kristina Maralit ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has made meaningful gains in terms of directing the government’s foreign policy, carrying out important government programs and ensuring media freedom, a political analyst observed.

University of Santo Tomas political science professor Froilan Calilung made the assessment as the president capped his first year in office.

“I can say that one of the president’s strongest suits, politically speaking, was the fact that he was able to come up with a very definite, very clear and specific direction when it comes to his foreign policy,” Calilung, who is also the director of the Local Government Development Institute, said in a briefing over the weekend.

“Politically speaking, this is one thing that I think will really put further, you know, the president in a very good position because as we can see, the movement of our foreign policy was different under then-President [Rodrigo] Duterte,” he said.

In terms of passing key legislative measures, Calilung pointed out the need for the president to be more assertive in pushing his agenda given that his allies make up the supermajority in Congress.

But he added: “What’s lacking in legislation, as I see it, is being filled up with programs. There are individual programs that are actually being put in place such as the Kadiwa rolling stores and eGov PH. So, I think they are somewhat being sustained.” Calilung also lauded the administration’s unceasing efforts to uphold the rule of law amid some challenges.

This is particularly crucial, he stressed, since it will help entice foreign investors to the country which would not happen if there is a perceived breakdown in the peace and order situation, he said.

Calilung, likewise, underscored Marcos’ ability to build good relations with the press.

Administrative and Financial Services Office Group heads that reimbursement would be the best option to address the immediate need,” they added.

The OVP in 2022 launched satellite offices in several regions to expand the delivery of its services, particularly its medical, hospitalization and burial assistance.

These satellite offices were launched July 1, 2022 — the first day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s term. The OVP also said in the audit report that it would comply with the provisions of the Procurement Act in its future purchases. (Philstar.com) n

Ex-President Duterte cleared of misconduct

MANILA — Former President Rodrigo Duterte has been acquitted by the Supreme Court (SC) in a simple misconduct case involving the demolition of a canal project in Davao City when he was mayor in 2010.

The project was initiated in 2006 by then Davao City first district representative Prospero Nograles, who filed the case before the Office of the Ombudsman.

In a decision issued on Friday, June 30, the SC affirmed the 2011 ruling of the Court of Appeals (CA), which overturned the ombudsman’s order suspending Duterte, then city administrator Wendel Avisado, engineer Jose Gestuveo Jr. and legal officers Elmer Rano and Melchor Quitain as well as the chief of the city’s drainage and maintenance unit, Yusop Jimlani, for six months.

The SC denied the petition filed by the

ombudsman and Nograles, who sought to overturn the CA’s decision.

The SC said Duterte and the officials did not commit misconduct when they ordered the demolition of the project, which caused floods that “did not affect the safety of the community.”

Nograles sought the opinion of then justice secretary Raul Gonzales, who said “the erection, construction, alteration, repair or demolition of structure requires a permit from the building official of the place where the structure is located.”

In denying Nograles and the ombudsman’s appeal, the SC said that while the project was not a nuisance, it noted several provisions of the revised National Building Code’s implementing rules and regulations that “could

Under Marcos’ watch, the Philippines is pivoting toward the United States, attesting to his decisiveness to pave his own path when it comes to foreign relations, Calilung said.

“I think this is something that the president is also very keen on attaining — not to mention also, politically, he also charted a good path in terms of the relationship between the president and the media,” he said.

“Unlike in the past administration where we felt the animosity, right now the media is a lot freer,” he added. n

EJ Obiena qualifies for Paris Olympics

by June navarro Inquirer.net

MANILA – EJ Obiena just placed an early reservation for Paris.

Obiena became the first Filipino to punch a ticket to the 2024 Olympics after clearing the Olympic standard of 5.82 meters at the Bauhaus Galan in Stockholm, Sweden.

The world’s No. 3 vaulter hurdled the height on his second attempt just a day after the start of the Olympic qualification season and eventually captured the silver medal behind world champion Armand Duplantis.

Duplantis, the Olympic champion and world-record holder, ruled the meet for the fifth straight time in front of his home fans with a 6.05 jump.

Pal Haugen Lillefosse of Norway placed third in 5.72m before three unsuccessful attempts at 5.82 during the Stockholm leg of the prestigious 2023 Wanda Diamond League. Obiena pushed it up to 5.95, but was unable to conquer the elevation after duplicating the

feat he accomplished prior to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Back then, Obiena also became the first Filipino

qualifier to the Olympics before the Tokyo Summer Games was postponed for a year due to the pandemic. n

This photo shows the OVP Satellite Office located in Escario Central in Camputhaw, Cebu City. Facebook/@Inday Sara Duterte

Ernest John Obiena

Photo from Instagram/@ernestobienapv

Unlovable start

This advertising campaign is off to an unlovable start. The only positive thing about the controversy that erupted over the “rebranded” and enhanced Philippine tourism campaign is that the contract with the advertising firm is being scrapped.

With Doyle, Dane and Bernbach Philippines publicly acknowledging its mistake and apologizing for it, the Department of Tourism announced on Monday, July 3 that it was ending its contract with the advertising agency. The DOT also stressed that no money had been paid to DDB so far for what was supposed to be a P49-million deal.

Thanks to Filipino blogger Sass Rogando Sasot, portions of the “Love the Philippines” tourism campaign video created by DDB and unveiled at the launch on June 27 were verified to have been lifted from stock footage. Worse, the video files featured destinations not in the Philippines but in countries including Indonesia, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland.

DDB has apologized for the “unfortunate oversight” even as it explained that the use of stock footage is standard practice in producing mood videos for advertising. Surely more care is needed when an ad is promoting tourism attractions in a particular country. DDB admitted that the use of foreign stock footage for a campaign urging the

Sketches

THE U.S. military facilities being set up in Northern Luzon, according to Philippine officials, are meant to enhance the Philippines’ defense capability, and will not be used for offensive operations against China.

Philippine officials have also stressed that Manila does not intend to meddle in the issues between China and Taiwan, considered a renegade province by Beijing.

The sites, to be developed by the U.S. under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the treaty allies, were identified by the Armed Forces of the Philippines “based on the requirements for strategic basing and development of the AFP (and) were not U.S.-dictated,” according to our National Security Council.

Defense officials have said the EDCA sites will also facilitate assistance to approximately 150,000 Filipinos working in Taiwan in case tension escalates between the self-ruled island and China.

Some quarters have raised concern that the additional EDCA

Commonsense

PIQUED by “pixel,” a furious Albay Rep. Joey Salceda is making hay on the rendition of Albay’s world famous Mt. Mayon in the freshly launched “Love the Philippines” tourism logo. Salceda’s rants are like the furies coming out from the continuing pyroclastic emissions from one of the most active volcanoes in this part of the world. Despite eruptions in the past, Mt. Mayon has been blessed by its beauty and iconic image among the world’s few perfectconed volcanoes. In fact, Albay’s Mt. Mayon has existing “sisterhood” partnership with Mt. Fuji of Japan for having the same iconic stature. It was Salceda who on October 21, 2015 while he was Governor of Albay entered into this Mt. Mayon-Mt. Fuji Partnership Agreement.

No less than President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (PBBM) led the launching ceremonies last Tuesday, June 27 during the 50th founding anniversary of the Department of

world to “love the Philippines” was “highly inappropriate.”

It’s not just the video that has been found to be unoriginal. Netizens have also pointed out that in 2021, “Love Cyprus” was launched to promote tourism in that island country. But it’s still unclear if the “Love the Philippines” slogan will be retained.

In this embarrassing issue, DDB is not the only one with egg on its face; even the Philippines has been hit.

The DOT, expressing solidarity with Filipinos in “outrage and disappointment,” said originality in the tourism campaign materials was required under the contract with the DDB. With the company’s “abject failure” to meet this requirement, the DOT says it can terminate the contract.

While the government sifts through the ashes of this deal, it should work on the product that it wants the world to love. It can start at the country’s premier gateway, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, along with the ongoing flight delays and cancellations on local carriers.

The country is blessed with several of the world’s

sites in Cagayan – at the Camilo Osias Naval Base and Lal-lo Airport – are magnets for attacks on the Philippines in case China makes good on its threat to retake Taiwan by force. But being a treaty ally of the U.S., wouldn’t the Philippines be a natural target anyway in case armed conflict erupts between the Americans and Chinese?

“Mutual” is the operative word in the Mutual Defense Treaty, meaning both countries are committed to come to each other’s defense in case of attack.

The initial reaction of China to the report about the four additional EDCA sites was to tell the Philippines to “unequivocally oppose” Taiwan independence. Equating the approval of the sites with support for Taiwan independence was a big leap of logic, especially since the Taiwanese themselves, according to officials, are not gung-ho about declaring independence from the mainland. The advice from the Chinese can also be considered interference in Philippine affairs.

*

* *

In my interview last week with Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu at his office in Taipei, he said public opinion surveys are conducted regularly by credible pollsters, asking their people about the policy they want to

Tourism (DOT).

Salceda’s raised hackles came about a day after seeing the newest country brand logo in very colorful and abstract arts depiction of key destination places, cultural festivities, the local popular flora and fauna, and food attractions all over the country. Now comes allegations that at least four scenes in the new country brand “are not fresh videos but stock footages.” And that supposedly, “WORSE- NOT SHOT IN THE PHILIPPINES.”

In response posted in her Facebook account Sunday, July 2, DOT Secretary Christina Frasco announced she will look into the allegations going viral in social media. A lawyer by profession, Sec. Frasco claimed “no public funds” were paid to the questioned audio-visual presentations (AVP) shown during the country brand launch.

The new country brand cost the DOT around P49 million in a contract won by DDB Philippines Inc. in a competitive public bidding. This agency designed and produced the AVP and the soon coming out three 60-second TV commercials on “Love the Philippines.”

In an open letter he posted in his personal Facebook account,

best tourism attractions. Making the country a top destination, however, requires major improvements in many aspects of travel. When foreigners being

lured to the Philippines are asked – “what’s not to love?” – they should have a tough time giving an answer. (Philstar.com)

pursue on the issue of China.

Wu said the consistent preference, according to the surveys, is to maintain the status quo, rejecting Beijing’s condition that Taipei must accept a “one country, two systems” model of unification.

“To us, we are not run by China. And the status quo is that Taiwan is an autonomous state. Taiwan runs by itself,” Wu told me. “We have a president, publicly elected. We have a parliament, publicly elected as well, and we have a Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we have a Ministry of National Defense, and we even have an independent currency note, which is the New Taiwan dollar. And therefore, Taiwan is not part of the PROC. This is obvious to everybody.”

If you need a visa to enter a particular place on this planet, it is generally deemed to be a country.

“We understand the subtlety and the problems associated with the Chinese claim of Taiwan. And we don’t want to be a provocateur. We don’t want to offend anyone. We don’t want to cause any conflict in this region,” Wu said. “But… we want to safeguard the current status quo, which is in the best interest of all parties concerned.”

For years, the international community recognized the

government led by Chiang Kaishek that relocated to Taiwan in 1949 as the legitimate government of China.

It says a lot about what drives geopolitics that on Oct. 25, 1971, the United Nations General Assembly withdrew its recognition of the Republic of China, a.k.a. Taiwan, and recognized the People’s Republic of China as the only legitimate representative of China to the UN.

When it comes to civil wars and other internal conflicts, it’s probably too complicated to make ideology drive acceptance by the international community. Instead, whoever emerges as the victor gets official recognition. Even Afghanistan under the Taliban remains a UN member.

Democracy? Human rights? Tell that to the people of Hong Kong, the model for China’s onecountry, two systems policy that it wants to impose on Taiwan.

You’d think democracies, with all the preaching about universal human rights, would take a firmer stand based on ideology in this issue. Instead democracies seem happy to engage with authoritarian China (especially if their economies benefit from it) and ignore democratic Taiwan.

Also, size matters, and possession is nine-tenths of the law. Between the 1.2 million

Chinese who fled to Taiwan in 1949 and the nearly 542 million who didn’t, plus the sheer land area of the mainland, I guess the UN didn’t think twice about kicking out Taiwan and recognizing the one-China policy. * * *

To this day, Taiwan cannot even get observer status in the UN or, crucially during the SARS outbreak and COVID pandemic, in the World Health Organization.

WHO exclusion deprived Taiwan of access to critical information when severe acute respiratory syndrome broke out in China’s Guangdong province in November 2002 and jumped overseas, raging through 2003. Taiwan suffered the highest death toll from SARS, with 181 lives lost. But the hard lessons the Taiwanese learned from SARS are widely seen as the reason why Taiwan had one of the best preventive responses when COVID-19 leapt out of the Chinese city of Wuhan and spread sickness, death and economic devastation across the planet.

Being treated almost like an international pariah has also given the Taiwanese a strong sense of national unity and drive to achieve. It is classified by the World Bank as a high-income economy, with its GDP per capita hitting U.S.$33,011 as of 2021 (it was $3,461 for the Philippines).

Last year, Taiwan ranked sixth among 184 economies in The

Love to ‘Love the Philippines’

Salceda asked: “Dear Sec. Frasco – why no Mayon in DOT Love the Philippines. And the whaleshark most likely in Oslob, Cebu, so no Bicol? Sino po may pakana nito – No love for Albay, no love for Bicol. Thank you na lang Albay tourists will thrive without you. LOVE ALBAY! (sic).” The reference to whaleshark, or “butanding” that Oslob lured away from its original habitat in Sorsogon (also in Bicol region) was obviously a dig at the DOT chief who was previously the Mayor of Liloan City in Cebu. Salceda and Frasco actually are common arch supporters of Vice President Sara Duterte. Frasco once served as the official spokesperson of the former Davao City Mayor during the run for VP elections last year. Salceda, on the other hand, supported fellow Bicolano presidential candidate ex-VP Leni Robredo and pushed for the Robredo-Sara (Ro-Sa) tandem. Quick to the rescue of his wife, Cebu Congressman Duke Frasco responded in his own Facebook account: “Dear Cong Salceda, if you look closely, the over 50 notable mountains and volcanos of the Philippines are represented in DOT LOVE logo. As well as whalesharks & surfs

of the PH. Let’s CELEBRATE, not hate! LOVE the Philippines! (sic).”

Rep. Frasco rebutted: “The initial video promoting the PH gives the world a glimpse of the many reasons to Love the Philippines. Just like in any campaign, this ad campaign is not just for one day nor does it consist of just one singular video. Opening salvo pa ni, Bai. Dili pa ni ang miting de avance (added with a smiling emoji). More to come! Keep calm and LOVE the Philippines”.

In Facebook to Facebook exchanges, Salceda argued: “Mayon deserves better than a pixel in the logo where you need strained eyes to see it. Mayon has been a National Treasure. No Sec. Frasco, ask all your predecessors in DOT-Mayon deserved better treatment. You failed Albay.”

Joining in the fray, Rep. Edcel Lagman, fellow Congressman from the first district of Albay, made public last Friday, June 30 his support to Sec. Frasco. Lagman referred to the purported disenchantment of Salceda was “essentially political soundbite.”

In an open letter to the DOT chief, Lagman wrote: “The best argument against Rep. Salceda’s

parochial view on the supposed low priority accorded to the Mayon Volcano is your resolve to address the lack of potable water supply to the Mayon Tourism Complex, including the newly renovated Mayon Skyline Hotel (formerly Mayon Rest House), which was funded upon my initiative.”

Salceda, who represents the second district of Albay countered: “No apologies for standing up for Albay, the people I represent.” For more accurate reference, Salceda added, “the location of said Mayon Tourism Complex is inside the sixkilometer permanent danger zone.”

It was no sheer coincidence the Filipino-British nurse May Richell Cestina-Parsons, who injected the world’s first COVID-19 vaccine, flew home last week and received a presidential citation from PBBM at Malacañang last Thursday, June 29. A year after receiving the prestigious George Cross award for gallantry during the pandemic, Parsons was featured in Philippine advertising blurb painted on London doubledecker buses: “We give the world our best. The Philippines.”

This was launched last

Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom, and 15th among 190 as of December 2020 in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rankings. Among 63 economies assessed last year, Taiwan placed seventh in the World Competitiveness Yearbook. Its open society is reflected in its ranking in the 2022 World Press Freedom Index – 38th among 180 countries and territories, with the Philippines ranking 147th and China 175th (Hong Kong plummeted from 68th to 148th).

Unfortunately for democratic, prosperous Taiwan, if it suffers the same fate as Hong Kong, the world will likely just look away. * * *

CORRECTION: Due to travel rush, I inadvertently sent the unedited version of my previous column from Taiwan. My apologies. This portion should have read:

The media congress tends to pick venues with press freedom issues, such as Moscow in 2006 and South Africa under the controversial Jacob Zuma.

In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin was the keynote speaker. He made a show of being tolerant of dissent at the time, looking unfazed... (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.

May while PBBM attended in London the coronation of King Charles III. It was seen, however, in negative light as promoting Filipino professionals as labor exports. Initially, it was thought about as the new country branding of the DOT. But Presidential Adviser on Creative Communications Paul Soriano later claimed it was his brainchild project.

While our officials are fighting here over parochial issues of perceived slight or snub, our competitors in the region have been getting more tourists to go instead to their respective countries. As of end of June, the DOT estimated 2.67 million overseas tourists arrived in the country, 2.44 million of which were foreigners and the rest were returning overseas Filipinos. Can love to “Love the Philippines” be the magic potion to grow our tourism numbers? Hopefully, the post-pandemic “revenge travel” can kick up the numbers. (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.

Filipino troops keep spirits high on ‘lonely island’

by Frances Mangosing Inquirer.net

MAVULIS ISLAND, Batanes —

The Philippines’ front line in the north is a remote island made up of rocky cliffs that jut out of choppy waters adjacent to the Bashi Channel, the waterway that separates the country from Taiwan.

A handful of sailors and Marines deployed on Mavulis call this tiny parcel of land a “lonely island,” on which they stand guard as the Philippines’ first responders should it get dragged into a conflict between China and the United States over Taiwan, a self-ruled island claimed by Beijing.

But for now, the Filipinos’ main enemy here — besides the rough terrain and harsh conditions — is the isolation.

For Petty Officer First Class Jesse Belostrino, one of the troops assigned to Mavulis, living in spartan conditions and under a constant threat of danger was part and parcel of what they had signed up for as soldiers.

“When we entered the service, we set aside our fears. We’re grateful for the trust to be sent here and do something for the country,” he told the Inquirer.

Belostrino admitted struggling with loneliness at times. But “as a

soldier, it’s normal to be far from one’s family. As a professional soldier, we only need to perform our duty, and we’re happy for the opportunity to be here,” he said.

Troops here rotate every month, but each shift could go on longer as a result of unpredictable weather. Food and drinking water also pose a problem when resupply missions fall behind schedule. Ships, after all, can’t come close to the rocky shores and the seas become treacherous during monsoon season.

The intermittent internet connection also makes communications to the headquarters and to their loved ones a challenge. But Belostrino said this was already being addressed by the military leadership.

Act of sovereignty

It was only in 2019 when the Philippines started occupying the country’s northernmost island— located some 140 kilometers from Taiwan’s southern tip — as an act of sovereignty. A Marine base and a fisherman’s shelter have been built to maintain the country’s presence here.

Belostrino said part of the troops’ job was to monitor commercial and military vessels passing through and report their movements back to

headquarters. So far, they have not felt the tensions despite China’s increasing military activities around Taiwan.

Mavulis overlooks the Bashi Channel, a strategic waterway that is part of the Luzon Strait and home to several undersea cables.

“It is a gateway between the South China Sea and Pacific Ocean. In a conflict scenario, both the U.S. and China need to establish sea control of the channel,” former Philippine Navy Vice Commander Rommel Ong told the Inquirer.

Such a choke point is crucial in case of war, he added.

Analysts say Taiwan is a potential flashpoint in U.S.-China relations, with Washington as the island’s most important backer.

But concerns are mounting that Beijing may soon invade Taipei and that Manila would get caught in the crossfire or get involved as a party of a U.S.-led alliance.

Defending Batanes

In April, Filipino troops trained with their American counterparts in defending the Batanes archipelago (where Mavulis belongs) from potential aggressors.

Its proximity to Taiwan and prevailing regional tensions make Mavulis top of mind for the Philippine military leadership.

On June 26, the Inquirer joined a visit by the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Northern Luzon Command (AFP Nolcom) to check on the conditions of the deployed troops.

“The AFP prioritizes them and sees to it that they have everything. [We will provide them] everything in order for them to stay here and give their best,” said Nolcom deputy commander Commodore Karl Decapia.

“We are here to secure this part of the nation from all kinds of threats from the outside,” he added. “We have prepared a contingency plan for this. The AFP is ready.” n

Ex-President Duterte cleared of misconduct...

not be complied with, since the structure was a public edifice, and the demolition was carried

out with the participation of the Department of Public Works and Highways.”

Duterte, who was running

for vice mayor at the time, was suspended weeks before the 2010 elections. (by Neil Jayson Servallos/Philstar.com)

FRONT SEAT. Marines posted at remote Mavulis island some 140 kilometers from Taiwan say they are “happy for the opportunity to be here.” Inquirer.net photo

As low-nicotine cigarettes hit the market...

Anti-smoking groups particularly object to allowing 22nd Century to market menthol cigarettes even as the FDA is considering outlawing such cigarettes nationwide.

FDA spokesperson Abby Capobianco confirmed that 22nd Century has the only FDA-authorized low-nicotine cigarette but did not respond to requests for comment on the FDA’s plans for regulating nicotine in cigarettes.

California already outlaws menthol flavoring, and Miller said the company won’t challenge that state’s ban and won’t sell its menthol cigarettes in California.

But Miller hopes the company will eventually win an exemption from any federal ban, in part, he said, because more than half of menthol smokers are likely to switch to conventional cigarettes.

“That’s not what the FDA wants to happen,” Miller said. “They need an offramp for these menthol smokers and ours is obviously the natural.”

The company is expanding into California, Florida, and Texas because of the nation-leading size of their smoking populations. It previously announced plans to also begin selling its very low-nicotine, or VLN, cigarettes this year in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, and it may move into 10 more states.

ANNOUNCEMENT

SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

EXTERIOR PAINTING OF DISTRICT SITES

(Prequalification Notice)

As a condition of bidding and in accordance with the provision of Section 20111.5 of the California Public Contract Code, the district is requiring prequalification of all contractors with a C-33 license wishing to submit bids as a prime or subcontractor for any project where painting is the majority of the work.

Prospective bidders are required to submit a completed prequalification package no later than 10 business days before the bid opening due date in order to be prequalified for that project. Once submitted, a contractor’s prequalification statement is valid for a 12-month period. Bids will not be accepted from any bidder who is not prequalified.

The District will be advertising an exterior painting bid within the next few weeks and encourages all licensed painters wishing to bid to the District to prequalify now For further information regarding prequalification or for the prequalification questionnaire, email prequal@sandi.net.

SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

Linda Hippe Director, Purchasing & Contracts Pub. July 06, 2023; July 11, 2023

The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) is seeking proposals from qualified firms for professional services to provide interpretation services and ASL services to help the agency execute well rounded expertise of communication to the broader San Diego region SANDAG works with, as it is required by SANDAG. A copy of the Request for Proposals (RFP) and related informational documents can be accessed from BidNet at www. bidnetdirect.com or by contacting: Gabriella LeRoy, SANDAG, 401 B Street, Suite 800, San Diego, CA 92101, gabriella.leroy@sandag.org All other details are available on the SANDAG website https://www.sandag.org/contracts

SD#0252

EMPLOYMENT

The company is prioritizing seven states that offer tax incentives for products the FDA has said reduce tobacco risk, believing its cigarettes will have a price advantage over others in Colorado, Connecticut, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, New Mexico, and Utah. Miller said the company may lobby California lawmakers to add similar incentives as part of the state’s extensive efforts to discourage smoking, which still addicts 10% of its residents.

Miller declined to disclose the company’s

EMPLOYMENT

market share from the two test states but said sales were above expectations.

“If we can get this to the level of, like, a nonalcoholic beer — you know, 3% to 5% of the category — it’s a game changer,” Miller said. “We know that there’s a latent demand in the market for this product.”

This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.

LEGAL SERVICES

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9011286

Motivation.In.Action MIA located at 5894 Mission Center Rd. Ste 602-356, San Diego, CA 92106.

Registrant: Perpetual Autobiographer, LLC, 5894 Mission Center Rd. Ste 602356, San Diego, CA 92106. This business is conducted by Limited Liability Company. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 04/15/2023.

Signature: Genevieve Jones-Wright. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 05/24/2023. AJ 1207 06/16, 06/23, 06/30, and 07/07/2023. AJSD 1207

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9013363

Wises Barber Shop located at 8886 La Mesa Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91942. Registrant: Nathaniel Wise, 4965 Pine St, La Mesa, CA 91942. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.

Signature: Nathaniel Wise. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 06/23/2023. AJ 1211 06/30, 07/07, 07/14, and 07/21/2023. AJSD 1211

LEGAL SERVICES

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9012368

Something Jewelry located at 2790 Sparta Road #14, Chula Vista, CA 91915.

Registrant: Jennifer Chao, 2790 Sparta Road #14, Chula Vista, CA 91915. This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 01/01/2023.

Signature: Jennifer Chao. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 06/07/2023.

AJ 1208 06/23, 06/30, 07/07, and 07/14/2023. AJSD 1208

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9013714

a. Reynoso Law located at 1901 First Avenue, 2nd Floor, San Diego, CA 92101. b. The Reynoso Law Firm located at 1901 First Avenue 2nd Floor, San Diego, CA 92101.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9013002

Oro Travel Agency located at 1240 Calle Ultimo, Oceanside, CA 92056.

Registrant: Rodolfo Apostol Gonzales, 1240 Calle Ultimo, Oceanside, CA 92056. This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 06/16/2023.

Signature: Rodolfo Apostol Gonzales. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 06/16/2023. AJ 1209 06/23, 06/30, 07/07, and 07/14/2023. AJSD 1209

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9013758

The Good Look Photo Booth located at 1094 Camino Levante, Chula VIsta, CA 91913. Registrant: Ramir Morales, 1094 Camino Levante, Chula VIsta, CA 91913. This business is conducted by Individual.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9013256

Stay Learning CenterTutoring Services located at 2355 Otay Lakes Road, Chula Vista, CA 91914.

Registrant: Stay Learning Center-Tutoring Services, 2355 Otay Lakes Road, Chula Vista, CA 91914. This business is conducted by Corporation.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 06/14/2017.

Signature: Lorene Macias. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 06/22/2023. AJ 1210 06/30, 07/07, 07/14, and 07/21/2023. AJSD 1210

GOING BANANAS. Marisol Ationg, 49, sells saba bananas from San Mariano, Isabela at her stall in Commonwealth Market, Quezon City on Wednesday, July 5. The price of saba bananas ranges from PHP25 to PHP35 per kg., depending on the quality and size. PNA photo by Ben Briones

Pexels.com photo by cottonbro

Kim Chiu, Jake Ejercito proud

to

showcase Philippines to foreign audiences in Prime Video series

By nAthAlie tomAdA Philstar.com

KIM Chiu and Jake Ejercito turn the spotlight on Filipino fashion and Manila as a destination in their Prime Video series, “Fit Check: Confessions of an Ukay Queen.”

Produced by ABS-CBN

Entertainment and Dreamscape

Entertainment, the Amazon Original romantic-comedy/ drama is now streaming in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

Worth noting is how Manila and its old charm — not the usual grime and grittiness — become a character of its own in this series.

“I’m very happy and very thankful of course, we’re able to show the Philippines in other countries. I think this is also going to be the start of a great partnership between Dreamscape and Prime Video,” Kim told The STAR in a one-onone chat recently.

“And of course, ‘pag ikaw nanonood ka ng mga pelikula ng mga banyaga, mga foreigner, parang gusto mo rin pumunta sa Italy, US, Los Angeles… You want to feel (what it’s like to be there). And we want the same experience for our viewers. We want to make them feel na kahit hindi sila Filipino, maganda sa Pilipinas.

According to Jake, the production was able to film at the Manila Central Post Office, one of the capital city’s iconic heritage landmarks, before it was severely damaged by fire last May. They also shot in Quiapo and at the Manila Hotel.

“Different parts of Manila really,” he added.

But why Manila?

“Because Manila, para siyang New York or the U.S., na andun lahat ng opportunities… Parang dun mo mabubuo yung dreams mo ‘pag sumabak ka sa Manila,” said Kim. She also said that they’re very proud of the shots. Clearly, she added, they were well-prepared for. Even during the taping period itself, they couldn’t help but be impressed by the “beauty of Manila.” The series could help bring in tourism.

Sa location namin, pinakita talaga namin ang ganda ng Manila. So, pagkapanood nito ng buong mundo, parang uy, ganyan pala sa Manila, Philippines, maka-visit nga,” Kim said.

Besides the setting, “Fit Check” offers a glimpse into the fashion industry in the country.

ABS-CBN content development head Nathaniel Arciaga said, “It’s showcasing Filipino culture kind of series and we zeroed in on fashion because everybody loves fashion. But also with the angle of ukay because ukay is something that’s distinctly Filipino.”

“In fact, we have to explain to the Amazon bosses — we talked to the bosses in the U.S. and Singapore — the concept of ukay, which is to rummage… thrifting. They were very interested, they thought, wow, that’s so interesting because (of the idea) yung mga tinapon ng ibang tao, napapakinabangan pa ng iba

“And for me, personally, it speaks to the repurposing and redirection of things that have been thrown away, and finding new purpose for them. That’s what we latched on as a theme and a concept.”

In “Fit Check,” Kim plays

Dolly de Leon on becoming an Academy member, working with Kathryn Bernardo, Nicole Kidman

By Kristofer Purnell Philstar.com

MANILA – Actress Dolly de Leon is treasuring her recent inclusion in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as a primary success for Filipino artists.

“The Triangle of Sadness” star was invited to join the Actors branch of the Academy last June, making her an eligible voter at the Oscars beginning the 2024 ceremony.

At the press conference for the 2023 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival (Cinemalaya), Dolly was asked about the significance of a Filipino actor as a member of the Academy.

“It feels like finally we have a voice, kasi ‘yun ang mundo na matagal na nating tina-try i-penetrate. I feel like maririnig na tayo ngayon,” Dolly told select members of the press including Philstar.com. “Iilang artista lang nakapasok doon so mahalaga talaga.

The actress also gave updates about two of her upcoming projects, namely, “A Very Good Girl” with Kathryn Bernardo and “Nine Perfect Strangers” with Nicole Kidman.

Dolly said the shoot for “A

Very Good Girl” was 70% done and had only two weeks left.

She praised Kathryn whose talent she even compared to that of National Artist Nora Aunor. She is supposed to fly out on August 29 to begin the shoot for

“Nine Perfect Strangers,” but its production may be affected because of the ongoing writers’ strike in the United States.

“We are in solidarity with the writers there. Hindi kami titigil until they get what they need and want,” Dolly stressed.

In the second season of “Nine Perfect Strangers,” Dolly portrays an ex-nun who goes to a retreat house to find God again after turning her back on the Lord.

Nangyayari ba ang sampalan sa Amerika? Parang hindi ata We have a lot of scenes together kasi of interactions with her patients,” Dolly said of her possible screentime with Nicole, who plays a psychiatrist. “Pero wala naman atang sampalan.” Dolly appears in two competing full-length films at this year’s Cinemalaya. These are Carl Joseph Papa’s “Iti Mapupukaw (The Missing),” the festival’s first animated feature entry, with Carlo Aquino; and Dustin Celestino’s “Ang Duyan ng Magiting” with Paolo O’Hara and Agot Isidro. Cinemalaya 2023 will take place at its new home, the Philippine International Convention Center, and three participating malls from August 4 to 13. It will be staged in a new venue while its former home, the Cultural Center of Philippines’ main building, undergoes renovations. n

Girl group Dione stakes claim to bigger slice of the P-pop pie

By rito P. Asilo Inquirer.net

the female lead Melanie dela Cruz, an ukay-ukay seller who is determined to pursue her big dream of becoming a fashion designer.

“My character and I are the same when it comes to achieving our goals. We’re both go-getters,” said Kim on how similar or different she is to her character. “Na parang walang makakapigil, gagawin ko gusto ko. (As if nothing can stop me, I will do what I want).”

“Then her soft side… she was raised by her lola (grandmother), I was also raised by my lola. And then (like her), I have friends and barkada whom I draw my strength from whenever I lose hope.”

As an aspiring fashion designer, Kim’s Melanie is into upcycled fashion or creatively “recycling” and “repurposing” second-hand wear.

Channeling her character, Kim wore a jeepney-inspired outfit during this interview. Meron siyang mga foil, pantanggal ng shape. It has linoleum (covering) sa mga upuan, stuff you hang on the rear mirror kasi mga pantanggal malas daw ang mga ganito,” she described her outfit during the separate presscon.

“I am proud to represent the Philippines and this is made by ha.mu, an up-and-coming designer. So they’re like Melanie dela Cruz, they want to aim big, dream high and start their passion for fashion. And I super support them and I hope they become big in the next month or in the next year.”

Kim further shared that real people in the business, such as fashion designer Michael Leyva, fashion show director Robbie Carmona and makeup artist Juan Sarte, are having cameos in the series.

Jake Ejercito, on the other hand, plays the male lead Chris Blanco, the son of a business magnate (Christopher de Leon), who in the process of trying to prove himself, finds a business opportunity and then romance with Kim’s character.

“Chris is someone arrogant, proud and medyo may yabang but it’s a facade. Deep inside, he’s longing to be accepted by his father,” he said.

“Mayabang ba ako (Am I arrogant)?” Jake jokingly asked his leading lady. “Hindi naman siguro, ‘di ba (Maybe not, right?). That’s the difference with us. Humility is very important to me so, I guess, that’s where we differ.”

As for similarities, the actor said, “We’re both strong-willed. And we all just want to be loved

at the end of day.”

This is the first time Jake and Kim are paired together in an acting project.

“We had a lot of preparations. We had workshops before we started rolling,” he said. “But we had never met each other before this.”

“Yes, our paths never crossed until this project,” agreed Kim. “But my jokes click with him, they’re my icebreakers. For example, ano yung mga favorite joke ng mga magician? Turon!!!”

“That’s it (laughs). That’s how she breaks the ice. But really, the workshops helped (build) our chemistry on camera,” Jake said.

“We really got to know each other,” added Kim.

“Once you get to know Kim, it’s really easy to get along with her. She was the glue that kept us together (during the lockin taping late last year). Her energy, it never went down. It’s contagious,” Jake added.

Other “Fit Check” cast members are Kylie Verzosa, Justine Luzares, Kaladkaren Davila, Frenchie Dy, Lie Reposposa, Liza Lorena, Angel Aquino and Christopher de Leon.

“It’s a big project. I know it’s going to be shown all over. It has a unique concept — the ukay queen, the fashion world — and then it promotes our culture,” said the veteran actor, Christopher de Leon. “And we have a great cast, we have good music, and it’s Dreamscape. This one is quite an experience. Actually, this was offered to me first before Cattleya Killer (also available on Prime Video). They had a big concept and big dream for this project. I had to grab it right away.”

For Angel, who was once part of the modeling and pageant worlds, “Fit Check” was an opportunity to revisit the past.

Nevertheless, the veteran actress said, “I would like to think we were cast beyond how we were as people from fashion and pageantry and beauty. I think malaking merit, I guess, our past work. And because of that, we complemented everybody, especially Kim.”

She further said, “I think our experiences gelled well with everybody else’s experiences… If anything, I just had to recall how it was to be a model, yung stance of a model. Otherwise, it really needed the heart more than what we represented from people of that field.”

(“Fit Check: Confessions of an Ukay Queen” is now streaming on Prime Video.) n

IF the catchy groove and empowering themes of Dione’s self-penned song “Break You Down” were an indication of what’s to come for one of P-pop’s finest and fiercest girl groups, then the quartet’s eager fans — collectively called Tali — should gear up for more exciting times ahead.

Not only can the Talis expect to see more of Joyden, Clara, Ella and DK’s terpsichorean skills in the coming days, they can also hone their singalong proficiency and performing chops when the fab-and-fearless foursome releases its upcoming ballad “Pangako,” which will be released by Warner Music Philippines on July 13. Indeed, the girls of Dione are gearing up to stake

“Triangle of Sadness” star Dolly de Leon at the 95th Academy Awards. Instagram Photo/@dollydeleon

Kim Chiu essays the role of Melanie dela Cruz in “Fit Check: Confessions of an Ukay Queen.” Instagram photo/@chinitaprincess

Jake Ejercito plays the male lead (Chris Blanco) in “Fit Check: Confessions of an Ukay Queen.” Instagram photo/@unoemilio

Top UP alumna Leni Robredo keynotes 2023 reunion and convention of UP alumni in America

ATTORNEY Maria Leonor

“Leni” Robredo, former vice president of the Philippines and chairperson and president of Angat Buhay, will be the keynote speaker of the 22nd Biennial Grand Reunion and Convention (GRC), organized by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association in America (UPAAA).

This year’s theme of “Engage, Empower, Excel” will also highlight other stellar speakers, a parade of jubilarians and the presentation of Oblation Awards to Distinguished UP Alumni. The UPAAA GRC will take place on October 19-22, 2023, in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Atty. Robredo is a Filipino lawyer and politician, who graduated from the University of the Philippines in Diliman with a degree of Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1986. She was elected as the 14th vice president of the Philippines in 2016. She also has held different foreign, national, and local positions in the Philippines.

On July 1, 2022, Atty.

Robredo founded and launched Angat Buhay Foundation as a nonprofit and nongovernmental organization based in the Philippines.

The foundation aims to continue the anti-poverty and pandemic response programs

started during her term as vice president. Angat buhay is a Tagalog term meaning “improve life’s condition or lift life.” The foundation is focused on four key areas: health, education, food security and disaster risk response.

UPAAA president and GRC overall chair Dr. Jun David stated that “we are so excited about this year’s event. We received an overwhelming support from our

sponsors, speakers both here in the U.S. and overseas, and the commitment of UPAAA board members.”

The Biennial GRC is organized for the purposes of networking, fellowship, knowledge exchange, and fundraising for UPAAA’s flagship initiative, the Scholarship Program. This year’s event sponsors include Megaworld International (Platinum) and Philippine

County breaks ground on three affordable housing developments on excess county land in Clairemont

THE County of San Diego’s Housing and Community Development Services (HCDS) joined Chelsea Development Corp. and other partners to break ground on the first three of four developments that will be situated on a property in Clairemont. The three developments will provide more than 300 affordable homes for low-income families, seniors and those with developmentally disabled relatives. The total number of new affordable apartment homes will on the site will total more than 400 with the completion of the fourth development.

National Bank New York (Silver).

Media sponsors include Asian Journal, One Philippines Texas, and Chicago VIA Times.

To register, sponsor and participate as jubilarians, please check the following link: https://www.eventbrite. com/e/up-alumni-associationin-america-grand-reunion-andconvention-2023-registration342022447347?aff=ebdssbdests earch. n

The Mt. Etna development is located on the property where the county’s former Crime Lab once sat. It is the second county property this year to host an affordable housing groundbreaking.

“Although the title of the agency doesn’t have housing in it, housing is fundamental to what we do. We strongly believe housing is health and it is an essential human service,” said Dr. Eric McDonald, interim director of the County Health and Human Services Agency. “It is also important to note that the new homes will remain affordable for 99 years.”

The size of the investment was also significant.

“The county invested more than $39 million in land and capital funding in this project,” said David Estrella, director of Housing and Community Development Services. “It is our largest affordable housing investment to date, and we are excited for the people and future generations who will call this home.”

More information about the development and availability of homes at the Mt. Etna site is online at the Chelsea Development Corp. website.

Since the integration of HCDS Services in 2017 into the Health and Human Services Agency, the department has supported the construction of more than 1,300 new units using county Innovative Housing Trust Fund dollars, excess county property, and other funds leveraged through partnerships. An additional 2,900 units are on the way over the next five years, which collectively will be home to nearly 17,000 San Diegans each night when complete.

(Cassie Saunders/County of San Diego Communications Office) n

County of San Diego hires Chief Dental Officer

THE County of San Diego has a new Chief Dental Officer, Fadra M. Whyte, DMD, M.P.H., who has joined to help develop policies and expand programs that promote oral health to all San Diegans.

“Dr. Whyte will be a valuable addition to our team,” said Dr. Eric McDonald, interim director of the Health and Human Services Agency. “She brings a wealth of experience working with children and youth and will really help us expand our oral health outreach.”

Whyte has worked as a boardcertified pediatric dentist at San Ysidro Health for the past 10 years. She is faculty for the NYU Langone Pediatric Dental Residency Program co-located on Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego campus, mainly treating children with special health care needs.

“I’m very excited and grateful for this opportunity,” said Whyte, who is joining the HHSA’s Medical Care Services department. “I am looking forward to expanding oral health initiatives to all San Diegan’s including youth, adults with special health care needs, seniors, and those in the county’s most rural areas.”

Whyte earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Pittsburgh, and her doctorate of Dental Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She went on then complete a two-year residency in Pediatric Dentistry in Brooklyn, NY and a master’s degree in Public Health from A.T. Still University. She worked as a pediatric dentist in New York City prior to moving to San Diego.

Whyte will also work closely with the Local Oral Health Program, which is managed under Public Health Services.

The programs include the

Fadra M. Whyte, DMD, M.P.H., the new Chief Dental Office of the County of San Diego. File photo/www.countynewscenter.com

Dental Health Initiative/Share the Care program and the Child Health and Disability Prevention program. Those programs work with other public agencies, private groups and a network of pro-bono dentists to conduct nocost or reduced-cost emergency dental care for children. They also organize dental health screenings and promote preventive dental care for children. And they teach people about the important link between oral health and people’s overall health.

Some of the other actions Whyte will lead include:

• Studying and making recommendations about proposed legislation that would affect people’s access to dental services.

• Talking with professional organizations across the state, engaging with San Diegans, community groups, public officials and County staff to further develop the County’s oral health strategic plan.

• Identifying grant opportunities and training

Angat Buhay chair and president Leni Robredo

Governor signs bill to strengthen domestic violence restraining orders

SACRAMENTO — Last week, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill (AB) 467, a bipartisan measure authored by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino) that will strengthen the ability of judges to grant and modify domestic violence protective orders.

“At a time in which violence against women and domestic abuse have increased to record levels around the world, it is crucial that we ensure domestic violence restraining orders are offering the fullest possible protection,” said Assemblymember Gabriel. “This legislation will clarify a judge’s authority over these orders, and extend the amount of time a court can modify the orders to ensure that we are providing ample protection to victims of domestic abuse.”

Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen, sponsor of the bill, hailed the new law as crucial to make sure that victims of crime can petition the court to change the terms of restraining orders during the 10-year lifetime of those orders. In some instances, victims will need more protections from the court, and in others fewer. District Attorney Rosen said, “Giving judges the ability to modify their own court orders will help victims

Girl group Dione stakes claim to bigger slice of...

PAGE 9 their claim to P-pop stardom, although they said they’re not out to compete with others.

Diverse skills

of domestic violence manage the protections to keep them safe. We are so grateful to Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel for championing this important new law.”

Ambiguity in current law has left some courts confused as to when and for how long they have authority over domestic violence restraining orders and when they can modify provisions related to contact between the restrained person and the protected person, which can either be a “peaceful contact order” (PCO) or a no contact order (NCO). Victims often seek to modify the order from PCO to NCO or vice versa.

Some courts have determined that if the defendant is no longer serving a sentence and is not on probation, they do not have the jurisdiction to modify the order, even if both the victim and defendant request it. This confusion in current law is detrimental to both victims and defendants.

AB 467 gives sentencing courts the authority to modify the terms of a peaceful contact order or no contact order and make modifications to the order throughout the duration of the domestic violence protective order.

(Assemblymember Gabriel’s Office Release) n

County of San Diego...

PAGE 10

County staff to help write grant applications.

Last year, HHSA reported numerous accomplishments from its Local Oral Health Program, including:

• Worked with the state to train 23 pediatric providers who care for infants, children and youth about oral health and how to apply teethprotecting fluoride varnish treatments.

• Trained more than 80 dental providers who serve people receiving Medi-Cal to help educate their patients about the importance of oral health, and linkages between nutrition and oral health.

• Conducted annual trainings for new school nurses and health care staff across the county about the importance of oral health education, prevention, and about reporting data about children’s oral health on the Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment (KOHA). The percentage of schools reporting that data in the county has increased from 43% in 2018 to 77% in 2021.

• Gave out 3,555 free toothbrush kits through school meal programs during school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information about the County Health and Human Services Agency, visit its website at https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/ sdc/hhsa/about_hhsa.html.

(Gig Conaughton/County of San Diego Communications Office) n

“We’d rather compete with ourselves and cheer on the other P-pop groups out there — that will be healthier for all of us,” they told Inquirer Entertainment in a recent chat.

According to Joyden and Clara, while the girls may have come from other singing groups (like Luna) and were exposed to different artistic pursuits, they all managed to consolidate their individual gains and finally debuted in April last year — and that’s when their rigorous training as a single unit truly took shape.

The pandemic may have slowed down their management’s initial plans for the group, but that didn’t stop the lovely ladies from honing their skills in singing, rapping, dancing and even acting — all on full and proud display in the “Break You Down” music video.

“We try to learn everything through training and workshops, although each of us began with special skills,” stated Clara. “I’m the main dancer, while Joyden is great at rapping. On the other hand, singing is DK’s turf, while Joyden and Ella also dabble in acting. These diverse skills go hand in hand and allow us to communicate and express the meaning of our songs.”

But what do they like about being part of a group, instead of pursuing a solo career?

“I love seeing how our performances make the fans happy — that’s where my drive to do well is coming from,” Ella admitted. “I’m one of BTS’ Army and, like other young fans, their music and advocacies resonate well with me. BTS inspires its followers to love themselves, and that has also helped me a lot. Now I also want our group to be able to do that.”

“It’s a great feeling at sobrang sarap when you can boost other people’s self-esteem and morale,” DK chimed in. “Although it’s also satisfying when you see people rallying behind you. Being in a group gives us the platform to do something for others, entertain people and temporarily forget their troubles.”

For Joyden, being a member of any singing group was never part of her plans in life. She

mused, “But this must be God’s plan for me. It didn’t take long for me to realize how much it makes me happy every time we perform onstage.

“As a group, we’ve also been through difficulties, but the minute we hit the stage, all my worries fly away. There’s something about performing that boosts people’s confidence, and more so when you know you have your family backing you up with your dreams. It just gives me the extra push!”

Doing something good For her part, Clara says that the group enables her to experiment with different types of music. “I’m not partial to any genre,” she pointed out. “I’ve always had an artistic mind … And music allows me to put my feelings and emotions into a song — it’s a great form of release. “Of course I also want a solo career in due time, but Dione is my priority for now. The satisfaction is unlike anything when you see people come together for a common goal. Kapag pinagsama-sama namin ang iba’t ibang nagagawa ng individual members, everything just blends beautifully. It’s an experiment like no other!”

“It’s a great feeling at sobrang sarap when you can boost other people’s self-esteem, not just

your own,” DK chimed in. “But it’s also satisfying when you see people supporting you. Being in a group gives us just that — a platform to do something good for others, to entertain people who need cheering up.”

When we asked Dione which music acts they look up to, they came up with a list that reflects not just diversity, but also the sources of their versatile musical tastes. “It’s Sarah Geronimo for me,” shared Joyden. “But she’s just one of so many because the whole world knows that when you talk about great singing, you’ll find a lot of them in the Philippines. For foreign acts, I like the Japanese band One Ok Rock.”

For Ella, it’s KZ Tandingan because she said that the songstress from Davao del Sur is palaban.” “Among foreign acts, I’m partial to BTS and Niki,” she added. DK also adores KZ, along with singer-rapper Flow G and The Carpenters. “They may no longer be around as a group, but I always listened to The Carpenters as a kid,” she reasoned.

As for Clara, she said she’ll always have fond memories of Regine Velasquez. She explained, “Hers was the very first concert I watched … and she even pointed to me during

the show (laughs)!”

When we asked one of their mentors, VJ Caber — the member of RCS (Ryan Cayabyab Singers) who arranged this interview on behalf of the girls and their management team (Firstone Entertainment) — what their other plans are, he said, “Dione has a wish list. Every goal has its share of struggles in a highly competitive industry such as ours. But we’ll get there eventually. Meanwhile, we’re preparing a surprise video that the fans will hopefully embrace.”

We then asked the girls what “Break You Down” is about.

“It tackles different themes, but more than anything, it’s about breaking down stereotypes,” DK asserted. “We can’t be limited by people’s perception of us. That’s why if you notice our backup dancers, the Junior New System, they may be an all-male crew, but you see them dancing in heels! We want to send a message that you can be whoever you want to be and still succeed, despite people expecting you not to.”

Heartbreak, hope

As for “Pangako,” Dione tapped into the K-drama craze to explore themes surrounding heartbreak and hope.

“Initially, we weren’t sure about the topic to focus on,” said Clara. “Eventually, we decided to reference K-drama series and Korean movies, particularly in situations where the second male lead starts to get the cold shoulder from the woman after she falls in love with the male lead (laughs).

“We said, ‘Let’s put our feet in their shoes and see how it feels to get your hopeful heart broken.’ ‘Pangako’ is a promise between me and the moon. You’re willing to wait for the person to get his or her heart broken so you can shower him or her with all your love.”

Cutting in, Joyden further explained, “In short, this is for all the martyrs out there (laughs)!” Can they all relate to what the song is saying? “Hindi nga po, eh (laughs). So sometimes, I run out of words … because that has yet to happen to me.”

What do they do every time they hit that sort of snag?

Ella quipped, “We just keep watching K-drama for inspiration (laughs)!” n

Dione members (clockwise, from top left): DK, Ella, Clara and Joyden.