072023 - Las Vegas Edition

Las Vegas techpreneur

Maner Puyawan revolutionizes gaming industry

LAS VEGAS - From mere vision to astounding reality, the gaming industry witnesses a groundbreaking transformation brought to life by Filipino techpreneur, Maner Puyawan.

Puyawan has emerged as a prominent figure, driving innovations and leading initiatives, earning him a coveted spot as a nominee for the prestigious Outstanding Leadership Award at the Money 2.0 Conference held in Las Vegas.

At 45 years old, Puyawan stands at the zenith of his career, currently serving as the Chief Technology Officer for Marker Trax, a cashless credit sector company in the gaming industry.

Puyawan enthusiastically expresses, "The company I am working for today is truly leaving an indelible mark in the fintech

Fil-Am community leader Jessica Caloza launches CA assembly campaign

LOS ANGELES — Filipina American public servant and longtime community organizer Jessica Caloza has officially announced her bid for a California state assembly seat.

Caloza is running for California’s 52nd district, an area that covers portions of northeast Los Angeles, including Eagle Rock, Silver Lake, Echo Park and Lincoln Heights, East Los Angeles, and the city of Glendale.

Backed with high-powered endorsements from Attorney General Rob Bonta, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California State Council, and seven state assemblymembers, Caloza kicked off her candidacy with an aggressive campaign battlecry of pushing for equal opportunity for everybody especially the immigrants.

“My immigrant family had the opportunity to work hard, get good paying jobs, and build a better life. I want all families to have the same opportunity my family did. It’s not about one of us, it’s about all of us. That’s what my campaign for Assembly is about,” Caloza said in a campaign announcement on July 11.

Caloza made history as the first Filipina to

President Marcos signs Maharlika law

by Catherine S. Valente ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has vowed that the Philippines’ first-ever sovereign wealth fund will be “well-run,” allaying lingering concerns that it might be prone to abuse and corruption.

Marcos on Tuesday, July 18 signed into law Republic Act (RA) 11954, or the “Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) Act of 2023,” a pet measure of the administration that is “designed to drive economic development” in the country.

In his speech after the signing of the law in Malacañang, the president described the fund as an “extremely important measure” as the government moves to strengthen the economy in a postpandemic world.

“Just as we are recovering from the adverse effects of the pandemic, we are now ready to enter a new age of sustainable progress, robust stability and broad-based empowerment,” Marcos said.

“We now have an available fund that will provide us the seed money for investments and to attract other foreign investments, and for us to be able to

Probe into Duterte ‘drug war’ resumes as ICC rejects Philippines’ bid to block it

by Gaea Katreena CabiCo Philstar.com

MANILA — The International Criminal Court can resume its investigation into possible crimes against humanity allegedly committed during former President Rodrigo Duterte administration’s bloody “war on drugs”, marking a crucial step toward justice for the victims and their families.

The judges in the ICC appeals chamber rejected on Tuesday, July 18 the appeal of the Philippine government against the PreTrial Chamber’s authorization to resume the investigation into the drug killings when

Duterte was president and, earlier, Davao City mayor.

“It is rejected by the appeals chamber by majority and the impugned decision is therefore confirmed,” Presiding Judge Marc Perrin de Brichambaut said. Three out of five ICC judges rejected the appeal.

According to Brichambaut, the decision challenged by the Philippine government is not a decision on jurisdiction, and the issue of the effect of the country’s withdrawal on the court’s jurisdiction was “neither properly raised nor adequately ventilated” before the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber.

SC upholds dismissal of over P1 billion forfeiture case vs. Marcoses

by tetCh torreS-tuPaS Inquirer.net

MANILA – The Supreme Court has affirmed Sandiganbayan’s previous decision dismissing the P1.050 billion civil forfeiture suit filed against former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., former first lady Imelda Marcos and their alleged cronies. In a 25-page decision made public Wednesday, July 19, the first division of Supreme Court ruled that the petition for review to reverse the Sandiganbayan’s ruling lacked merit. The petition was submitted by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG).

“In order to consider petitioner’s evidence as sufficient to prove the allegations of its expanded complaint, the Court has to perform many leaps of logic, engage in presumptions, and create inferences based on other inferences in order to bridge the gaps in the evidence adduced,” the resolution penned by SC Associate Justice Ricardo Rosario read.

“In the face of such gaps, petitioner’s allegations in its expanded complaint are reduced to mere speculations, insinuations and conjectures,” the magistrate noted.

“Thus, while it is truly disap-

participate in those operations, in those investments without additional borrowings,” he added.

The MIF is a sovereign wealth fund that will be used to invest in a wide range of assets, including foreign currencies, fixed-income instruments, domestic and foreign corporate bonds, commercial real estate, and infrastructure projects. Under the law, the initial capital will come from the investible funds of the Land Bank of the Philippines, the Development Bank of the Philippines, declared dividends of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and

Marcos on SONA: We have made significant progress

by helen FloreS, Delon PorCalla Philstar.com

SAN FERNANDO — President Marcos on Monday, July 17 described his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) that will be delivered on July 24 as “very simple,” but would explain to the people the significant progress his administration has achieved in his first year in office.

Speaking to reporters after attending the signing of a memorandum of agreement on the nationwide launch of Kadiwa ng Pangulo program here, Marcos disclosed that he has yet to finish writing his speech.

“It’s really very simple. It’s just a performance report for Filipinos to see – on the many pronouncements, on the many words we said, if these were really significant or mere lip service,” he said partly in Filipino. “That’s what I want to explain to the people: that we have made significant progress. We can see the difference now, not only in terms of how the systems work, how the government works; it is also how we are seen or judged in the international community. That’s equally important,” he added.

The chief executive revealed that he would also present projects that are ongoing and those already in the pipeline.

‘Duterte-Xi talks meeting between friends’ – Marcos

by Kristina Maralit ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, July 18 said he was aware of the meeting that transpired between former president Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping and expressed hope his predecessor would help establish a new line of communication for the resolution of outstanding issues between the two countries.

Speaking at the side of the kickoff of the government’s Food Stamp Program (FSP) in

Tondo, Manila, Marcos insisted that Duterte did not need his permission to go to Beijing as the meeting is “between friends,” but would welcome any input from the former leader in the coming days.

“I knew that he was going to go there. They are friends, they know each other. So, I hope they were able to talk about issues we are facing now like shadowing and other things. All of these things that we are seeing now, I hope they were able to talk about it so we could achieve progress. Because

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos’ oathtaking on Thursday are (from left) his son Joseph Simon Marcos, nephew Fernando Martin “Borgy” Manotoc, sister Sen. Imee Marcos, nephew Matthew Joseph Manotoc, son Ferdinand Alexander, mother Imelda Romualdez Marcos, wife Liza Araneta-Marcos, son William Vincent and adopted sister Aimee. Inquirer.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China on Monday, July 17. Malacañang photo

President Marcos signs Maharlika...

“For the first time in the history of the Philippines, we now have a sovereign wealth fund designed to drive economic development,” Marcos said.

“Through the fund, we will leverage on a small fraction of the considerable but underutilized investable funds of the government and stimulate the economy without the disadvantage of adding additional fiscal and debt burdens,” he added.

The president said the key to the success of the Maharlika fund is management, adding that the country has “the best economic managers both in government and in the private sector that we can count on to run this fund properly.”

This, he added, was why he decided to remove himself and the Finance chief from the board so as to not taint it with political decisions.

“Because inevitably, if you put me or the secretary of finance in a decision-making loop, those decisions will be colored by political considerations, and that must not be the case,” Marcos said. “Let us make sure that the fund is well-run. Let us make sure that these [people who will run it] are professionals. Let us make sure that decisions that are being made for the fund are not political decisions, that they are financial decisions because that is what the fund is.”

The president added that there are many opportunities that “we cannot allow to slip by, thus the MIF has to be put up.”

He said the fund is also a

“crucial undertaking” that will support the government’s overall goal of 6.5 to 8 percent gross domestic product growth (GDP) in the medium term.

“And through the fund, we will accelerate the implementation of the 194 National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) board-approved flagship infra[structure] projects,” Marcos said.

“I assure you that the fund will be managed by highly competent personnel with a good track record and outstanding integrity,” he added.

Unlike other governmentowned or -controlled corporations, the MIF will be able to maximize government assets through its investments in projects that generate bigger returns.

The law will establish the Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC), which will act as the “sole vehicle for the purpose of mobilizing and utilizing the MIF for investments in transactions in order to generate optimal returns on investments.”

A document released by Malacañang showed that the MIC, which is in charge of mobilizing the MIF, will be composed of the Finance secretary, who will serve as the chairman; presidents of the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines; two regular directors; and three independent directors from the private sector.

In a chance interview in Malacañang on Tuesday, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said he would be part of the board of directors that will oversee the

utilization of the MIF.

He said the MIF will help boost the Philippines’ GDP growth as the fund is expected to generate high returns. It will also provide additional funding for the government’s priority infrastructure projects, estimated to cost around P8 trillion.

“The president is saying we have many plans. The priority [are] the 194 big projects approved by the NEDA, right? They need funding. It’s around, if I remember correctly, P8 trillion,” Diokno said.

“So what will happen is that we will have additional sources of funding for all these projects. Some of those projects will be funded through the budget, some through official development assistance, and some through public-private partnerships, about one-third,” he added.

Diokno said the MIF can be used to finance the remaining two-thirds of the priority infrastructure projects. This will make it easier for the government to implement the projects and boost GDP growth.

“Because if we wait for the usual cases, our capabilities will be limited. With fewer projects, our economy won’t be as vibrant,” Diokno said.

NEDA Director-General and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said that the Maharlika Fund could be useful in investing in various areas.

“The economic team has always emphasized the importance of enhancing the platforms that we have for engaging with the private sector and promoting investments in strategic areas.

The MIF will help us achieve this objective,” Balisacan said.

To increase the starting capital of P125 billion in government securities, he said the MIF can generate greater economic advantages by attracting additional investments and completely fulfilling its authorized capital stock of P500 billion.

The NEDA chief added that the fund has the option to invest in certain projects from the “Build Better More” program, including the 194 Infrastructure flagship projects. (With Nina Myka Pauline Arceo, Javier Joe Ismael, Bernadette E. Tamayo and Reina Tolentino)

Probe into Duterte ‘drug war’ resumes...

PAGE 3

Majority of the ICC judges also found that the Philippines has failed to demonstrate the errors of the pre-trial chamber.

In January, the court authorized the inquiry, noting the government’s initiative to reexamine drug war killings did “not amount to tangible, concrete and progressive investigative steps.”

Step forward

Families of drug war victims and human rights groups welcomed the latest move of The Haguebased tribunal.

Bryony Lau, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said the ruling of the ICC judges “marks the next step toward justice for victims of ‘drug war’ killings and their families.”

The Marcos administration should back up its stated commitment to human rights and the fight against impunity by following through on its international legal obligation to cooperate with the court’s investigation,” Lau said.

Families of victims of “drug war” killings hope the decision of the court’s appeals chamber moves them closer to justice.

“They look forward to the ICC indicting the ‘most responsible’: the masterminds and administrators of a cruel and

criminal government policy that targeted killing thousands of poor people,” the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers and the Rise Up for Life and for Rights, a coalition of individuals whose loved ones were killed during the anti-drug campaign.

Officially, 6,252 people were killed in Duterte’s “war on drugs.” But rights groups say that up to 30,000 may have been killed— some innocent victims—and that corruption was rife among security forces that acted with impunity.

What happens next?

The judges confirmed the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber’s earlier decision, allowing Prosecutor Karim Khan to continue with his investigation.

Depending on evidence Khan would be able to gather during his probe, he can seek the issuance of arrest warrants or summonses, possibly against the campaign’s chief architects, Duterte and his former police chief, now Sen. Ronald dela Rosa.

Human Rights Watch said the timeline for issuing arrest warrants or summonses to appear in an investigation can vary significantly—ranging from just under two months to over six years.

Once suspects appear before the court, the next step is pre-

trial proceedings known as “confirmation of charges.” During these proceedings, ICC judges evaluate the evidence at hand to determine whether there are “substantial grounds” to believe the suspects are responsible for the crimes charged in the indictment. If a charge or charges are confirmed, a trial date is scheduled.

The ICC faces significant hurdles in securing arrests as it lacks its own police force, and must rely on the cooperation of states and the international community to assist in arrests.

In this particular case, the prospect of anyone being arrested is unlikely as President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. had said he would not cooperate with the ICC. He had called the investigation an interference and attack on the country’s sovereignty. Marcos’ justice secretary, Jesus Crispin Remulla, said on the eve of the ICC ruling that they will not implement a warrant should it be issued by the international tribunal.

Although the Philippines no longer recognizes the ICC after pulling out of the court in 2019, the tribunal still has jurisdiction over crimes committed while the country was a state party. PAGE 3

PALARO PREPS. A worker polishes the Palarong Pambansa cauldron at the Marikina Sports Center on Thursday, July 20. The 2023 Palarong Pambansa, which will be hosted by the local government of Marikina City from July 29 to Aug. 5, will showcase the sporting skills and talents of young student-athletes from various cities and municipalities in the country. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc

IT’S DONE. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., surrounded by government officials, signs the Maharlika bill in Malacañang on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. ManilaTimes.net photo by Rene H. Dilan

other sources.

Fil-Am community leader Jessica Caloza launches...

serve as a Los Angeles Board of Public Works Commissioner and oversaw 5,000 employees that delivered city services to four million people.

One of the key projects Caloza delivered during her time at the Department of Public Works was the Historic Filipinotown Eastern Gateway along Beverly Boulevard.

She also worked as an Education Policy Advisor in the Obama administration, focusing on programs that helped students and families.

Adding to her campaign platform, Caloza said, “I want to bring the community’s voice to Sacramento. The challenges facing hard working families and neighborhoods across our district are many but I’m ready to fight for change.”

Caloza has served in various positions in federal, state, and local government, during LA Mayor Eric Garcetti’s administration, and most recently served as the Deputy Chief of Staff to the California Attorney General.

“People throughout the 52nd District need and deserve a representative in the State Assembly who will bring compassion, proven leadership, inclusiveness, and a forwardthinking vision to get things done.

We have many issues to tackle – a worsening homeless and housing crisis, lack of good paying middle class jobs, an underfunded public education system, a climate emergency, rampant gun violence, and more. My life’s work has been about bringing diverse communities together to find common ground and make positive change —that’s how I plan to lead in the Assembly. I want to fight for the people of the 52nd District like I would fight for my family,” she added.

Caloza Contributed photo

Jessica

In showing his strong support for Caloza, AG Bonta described Caloza as a fearless and visionary leader.

“She has the skills, proven abilities, and drive needed to be an effective leader in the State Assembly and a strong voice for communities in every corner of the 52nd District on Day 1. Whether it be enhancing neighborhood safety, curbing gun violence, making our criminal justice system more just, tackling homelessness, fighting for our rights and freedoms, and beyond, Jessica will be a powerful force for progress. I look forward to partnering with her in the California State Assembly. Jessica has my full backing and support,” Bonta stressed. SEIU California State Council and SEIU-CIR Regional Vice President, Los Angeles General Hospital Resident Physician Mahima Iyengar, on the other hand, said Caloza could be a bold champion for working class in the state Assembly.

“Working families need leaders in the State Assembly who understand the challenges our members face every day. Jessica

Las Vegas techpreneur Maner Puyawan...

Caloza grew up in a working class community. She is the proud daughter of working class parents. Given her background and experiences, Jessica knows firsthand the struggles workers grapple with on a regular basis.

SEIU California State Council is proud to endorse Jessica Caloza because we know she will be a bold leader for change, fighting for livable wages, better working conditions and protections for workers’ rights. We’re excited to support her,” Iyengar said.

Caloza also received support from key state Assemblymembrs Mia Bonta, Isaac Bryan (Assembly Majority Leader), Mike Fong, Matt Haney (Assistant Majority Whip), Reggie Jones-Sawyer, Evan Low (chair of the API Legislative Caucus) and Stephanie Nguyen (assistant speaker pro tem).

Passionate about fully funding and improving public schools, Caloza also worked in President Barack Obama’s Administration as an education policy advisor. Prior to her service in the federal government, she worked as a community organizer on President Obama’s campaign, and before that, Caloza worked for social justice non-profits that provided critical services to immigrants, working families, and youth. As longtime grassroots activist and community organizer, Caloza has been actively serving in the boards of local nonprofits that deliver services to survivors of human trafficking and provides mental health counseling to youth and their families. Caloza is also active in Democratic politics and serves as the Southern California Chair of the Asian American & Pacific Islander Caucus in the California Democratic Party and is a longtime board member of the Pilipino American Los Angeles Democrats (PALAD). (Donnabelle Gatdula-Arevalo/AJPress)

Probe into Duterte ‘drug war’ resumes...

No more appeal

Following this dismissal, the Philippines no longer has any recourse for further appeal.

Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra earlier said the Philippine government “will continue to focus on its own investigation and prosecution” of alleged “drug war” abuses regardless of the outcome of its appeal. Guevarra, who was justice

secretary during the Duterte administration, filed a notice of appeal on February 3 and asked the ICC to reverse the decision of the Pre-Trial Chamber to allow Khan to pursue the investigation. The government said it “disagrees with, and hereby rejects” the conclusions made by the pre-trial chamber in its earlier ruling. Set up in 2002 to probe the world’s worst crimes, the ICC is a “court of last resort” and steps in

and exercises jurisdiction only if countries are unwilling or unable to prosecute offenders.

The Philippine government insists that local courts are functioning well and can exercise jurisdiction over any complaints.

There were only two convictions of law enforcers involved in the “drug war”—the murder of 17-year-old Kian Delos Santos and in the case of 19-yearold Carl Arnaiz and 14-year-old Reynaldo “Kulot” de Guzman. g

realm, particularly within the casino and hospitality industry, as we spearhead the conversion and facilitation of cashless payments in casinos."

Recognizing his remarkable work, Puyawan was honored at the 2022 Vegas Inc. Top Tech Awards in the Startup of the Year category. Reflecting on this accomplishment, Puyawan humbly states, "Out of 250 nominations here in Las Vegas, Nevada, only 10 top tech executives were selected. It's truly an honor."

Puyawan's wealth of experience serves as the impetus behind some of the most innovative payment solutions and startups in the United States and the Philippines. When asked about his approach to product creation, Puyawan shares, "In creating products, I always leverage two key factors. Firstly, my experience in the payment space and how I can utilize my past experiences. Secondly, forward thinking is essential, as you always need to stay ahead of the game. I am constantly researching and putting myself in the shoes of the users. If I were a user, what problems would I face and how would I use the product?"

However, Puyawan's journey to success was not without its challenges. Growing up in Malolos, Bulacan, he began working in a handicraft factory at a tender age.

Recalling those times, Puyawan explains, "I used to paint, even my younger sibling. We would take piecework where we would

earn 25 centavos per basket. We would do as much work as we could throughout the week, and at the end, we would receive our meager wages. As a dutiful son, I would give my earnings to my mother."

He further reveals, "We were a typical overseas Filipino worker (OFW) family. My mother made sure to allocate the remittances sent by my father wisely. We learned from her how to manage funds responsibly. We were not extravagant with our finances."

Despite his underprivileged upbringing, Puyawan was determined to forge a career in the fintech industry.

Expressing his gratitude, Puyawan states, "It's truly heartwarming to be where I am now, on the other side of the world. Giving back is immensely fulfilling for me."

Beyond being a techpreneur, Puyawan founded Xentra, an IT outsourcing business with development centers in the Philippines. Starting with just five employees, the company has flourished and now employs over a hundred individuals. Puyawan continues to provide job opportunities to IT students and the people of Malolos, Bulacan.

With his exceptional achievements and unwavering commitment to innovation, Maner Puyawan has undeniably made his mark on the gaming industry. (Bev Llorente, ABS-CBN News, Las Vegas)

In older adults, a little excess weight isn’t such a bad thing

by Judith Graham KFF Health News

MILLIONS of people enter later life carrying an extra 10 to 15 pounds, weight they’ve gained after having children, developing joint problems, becoming less active, or making meals the center of their social lives.

Should they lose this modest extra weight to optimize their health? This question has come to the fore with a new category of diabetes and weight loss drugs giving people hope they can shed excess pounds.

SC upholds dismissal of over P1 billion...

pointing that nothing has come of this case despite the lapse of 36 years spent in litigation, the Court agrees with the Sandiganbayan that petitioner’s evidence is insufficient to support the allegations of its Expanded Complaint by a preponderance of evidence,” the decision stated.

PCGG filed the forfeiture case in 1987 to recover assets and properties from the Marcos family and their alleged cronies.

These possessions included P609.27 million in shares of stocks and P443.05 million in real properties. The expanded complaint included as respondents Bienvenido Tantoco Jr., Dominador

They allegedly acted as dummies for the Marcoses in acquiring franchises to operate tourist duty-free shops at international airports, hotels and commercial centers.

Sandiganbayan, however, rejected many pieces of evidence presented by PCGG.

The anti-graft court justified its action by saying the evidence were not presented during the discovery proceedings or that the documents submitted were mere photocopies. Only 11 exhibits and four testimonies were admitted as evidence.

Afterwards, Sandiganbayan concluded the remaining admissible evidence were either insufficient to prove the allegations of the expanded complaint, or were not related to the facts that PCGG had wanted to prove.

In affirming the anti-graft court’s earlier verdict, the High Court declared, “Clearly, these documents are insufficient to prove that respondents concealed illegally obtained assets, or amassed ill-gotten wealth.”

“Accordingly, the Sandiganbayan was correct in dismissing the Expanded Complaint for Reconveyance, Accounting, Restitution and Damages against all the respondents,” it concluded. g

For years, experts have debated what to advise older adults in this situation. On one hand, weight gain is associated with the accumulation of fat. And that can have serious adverse health consequences, contributing to heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and a host of other medical conditions.

On the other hand, numerous studies suggest that carrying some extra weight can sometimes be protective in later life. For people who fall, fat can serve as padding, guarding against fractures. And for people who become seriously ill with conditions such as cancer or advanced kidney disease, that padding can be a source of energy, helping them tolerate demanding therapies.

Of course, it depends on how heavy someone is to begin with. People who are already obese (with a body mass index of 30

or over) and who put on extra pounds are at greater risk than those who weigh less. And rapid weight gain in later life is always a cause for concern.

Making sense of scientific evidence and expert opinion surrounding weight issues in older adults isn’t easy. Here’s what I learned from reviewing dozens of studies and talking with nearly two dozen obesity physicians and researchers. Our bodies change with age.

As we grow older, our body composition changes. We lose muscle mass — a process that starts in our 30s and accelerates in our 60s and beyond — and gain fat. This is true even when our weight remains constant.

Also, less fat accumulates under the skin while more is distributed within the middle of the body. This abdominal fat is associated with inflammation and insulin resistance and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and stroke, among other medical conditions.

“The distribution of fat plays a major role in determining how deleterious added weight in the form of fat is,” said Mitchell Lazar, director of the Institute for Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine. “It’s visceral [abdominal] fat [around the waist], rather than peripheral fat [in the hips and buttocks] that we’re really concerned about.”

Activity levels diminish with age. Also, with advancing age, people tend to become less active. When older adults maintain the same eating habits (energy intake) while cutting back on activity (energy expenditure), they’re going to gain weight.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 27% of 65- to 74-year-olds are physically inactive outside of work; that rises to 35% for people 75 or older. For older adults, the health agency recommends at least 150 minutes a week of moderately intense activity, such as brisk walking, as well as muscle-strengthening activities such as lifting weights at least twice weekly. Only 27% to 44% of older adults meet these guidelines, according to various surveys.

Concerns about muscle mass. Experts are more concerned about a lack of activity in older adults who are overweight or mildly obese (a body mass index in the low 30s) than about weight loss. With minimal or no activity, muscle mass deteriorates and strength decreases, which “raises the risk of developing a disability or a functional impairment” that can interfere with independence, said John Batsis, an obesity researcher and associate professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill.

Weight loss contributes to inadequate muscle mass insofar as muscle is lost along with fat. For every pound shed, 25% comes from muscle and 75% from fat, on average.

Since older adults have less muscle to begin with, “if they want to lose weight, they need to be willing at the same time to increase physical activity.” said Anne Newman, director of the Center for Aging and Population Health at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health.

Ideal body weight may be higher. Epidemiologic research suggests that the ideal body mass index (BMI) might be higher for older adults than younger adults. (BMI is a measure of a person’s weight, in kilograms or pounds, divided by the square of their height, in meters or feet.)

One large, well-regarded study found that older adults at either end of the BMI spectrum — those with low BMIs (under 22) and those with high BMIs (over 33) — were at greater risk of dying earlier than those with BMIs in the middle range (22 to 32.9).

Older adults with the lowest risk of earlier deaths had BMIs of 27 to 27.9. According to World

Health Organization standards, this falls in the “overweight” range (25 to 29.9) and above the “healthy weight” BMI range (18.5 to 24.9). Also, many older adults whom the study found to be at highest mortality risk — those with BMIs under 22 — would be classified as having “healthy weight” by the WHO.

The study’s conclusion: “The WHO healthy weight range may not be suitable for older adults.” Instead, being overweight may be beneficial for older adults, while being notably thin can be problematic, contributing to the potential for frailty.

Indeed, an optimal BMI for older adults may be in the range of 24 to 29, Carl Lavie, a well-known obesity researcher, suggested in a separate study reviewing the evidence surrounding obesity in older adults. Lavie is the medical director of cardiac rehabilitation and prevention at Ochsner Health, a large health care system based in New Orleans, and author of “The Obesity Paradox,” a book that explores weight issues in older adults.

Expert recommendations.

Obesity physicians and researchers offered several important recommendations during our conversations:

Maintaining fitness and muscle mass is more important than losing weight for overweight older adults (those with BMIs of 25 to 29.9). “Is losing a few extra pounds going to dramatically improve their health? I don’t think the evidence shows that,” Lavie said.

Unintentional weight loss is associated with several serious illnesses and is a danger signal that should always be attended to. “See your doctor if you’re losing weight without trying to,” said Newman of the University of Pittsburgh. She’s the coauthor of a new paper finding that “unanticipated weight loss even among adults with obesity is associated with increased mortality” risk.

Ensuring diet quality is essential. “Older adults are at risk for vitamin deficiencies and other nutritional deficits, and if you’re not consuming enough protein, that’s a problem,” said Batsis of the University of North Carolina. “I tell all my older patients to take a multivitamin,” said Dinesh Edem, director of the Medical Weight Management program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

Losing weight is more important for older adults who have a lot of fat around their middle (an apple shape) than it is for people who are heavier lower down (a pear shape). “For patients with a high waist circumference, we’re more aggressive in reducing calories or increasing exercise,” said Dennis Kerrigan, director of weight management at Henry Ford Health in Michigan.

Maintaining weight stability is a good goal for healthy older adults who are carrying extra weight but who don’t have moderate or severe obesity (BMIs of 35 or higher). By definition, “healthy” means people don’t have serious metabolic issues (overly high cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, and triglycerides), obesity-related disabilities (problems with mobility are common), or serious obesityrelated illnesses such as diabetes or heart disease. “No great gains and no great losses — that’s what I recommend,” said Katie Dodd, a geriatric dietitian who writes a blog about nutrition.

We’re eager to hear from readers about questions you’d like answered, problems you’ve been having with your care, and advice you need in dealing with the health care system. Visit kffhealthnews. org/columnists to submit your requests or tips.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.

‘Duterte-Xi talks meeting...

that’s what we are after, for talks to continue,” he told reporters in Filipino, referring to the recent sighting of dozens of Chinese vessels near Iroquois Reef, south of oil- and gas-rich Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea.

The chief executive insisted it doesn’t matter who initiates talks between the two claimants of the disputed waterway, as he welcomes “any new lines of communication”.

“If that is PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte), then good. It’s not important to me who that will be. As long as there will be someone who can help. I am sure that he will be able to tell us what happened during their conversation and see how that affects us,” he said.

The Philippines recently marked the seventh anniversary of the international arbitral ruling trashing China’s expansive claims over the South China Sea based on its nine-dash line.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila, to this day, refuses to recognize the decision, calling it a “violation of the Unclos (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and general international law” and is”illegal, null, and void.” g

Santiago, Bienvenido Tantoco Sr., Gliceria Tantoco, and Maria Lourdes Tantoco-Pineda.

Marcos on SONA: We have made significant...

Asked what he would be wearing in his SONA, Marcos responded in mixed Filipino and English: “I haven’t thought about what to wear. We’ve been worried about writing the speech.”

The Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council, which Marcos chairs, on July 5 approved 20 measures to be prioritized and passed within the year. Among these measures are the proposed amendments to the Build-Operate-Transfer Law or the Public-Private Partnership Act, National Disease Prevention Management Authority, Internet Transactions Act/E-Commerce Law, Health Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team or HEART Act (formerly Medical Reserve Corps), Virology Institute of the Philippines, Mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps and National Service Training Program, Revitalizing the Salt Industry, Valuation Reform, E-Government/E-Governance and Ease of Paying Taxes.

Also targeted to be passed later this year are the proposed National Government Rightsizing Program, Unified System of Separation/Retirement and Pension of Military and Uniformed Personnel, Local Government Unit Income Classification, Waste-to-Energy Act, New Philippine Passport Act, Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers, National Employment Action Plan, amendments to the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas-endorsed Bank Deposit Secrecy and Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act.

Paul Soriano out as SONA director

The House of Representatives is “95 percent” prepared for Marcos’ second SONA, even if respected film director Paul Soriano – a nephew-in-law of the President – will no longer direct the event.

House secretary-general Reginald Velasco told Congress reporters during the walkthrough on July 17 that the in-house Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM) will take over managing the presidential address.

The House official refused to speculate, though, the reason or reasons behind the removal of Soriano, a nephew of First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, explaining it’s really the prerogative of the

Office of the President (OP) and the Presidential Communications Office.

SONA invitations for the VIPs have been sent, and about 90 percent will be attending.

“There are those who can’t make it for health reasons, that’s why they cannot attend – from the diplomatic corps, Cabinet, the OP. But we have already sent all the invitations, and we are of course waiting for the submission of the final guest list,” he said.

Vice President and Education

Secretary Sara Duterte has confirmed her attendance, and so has former presidents Joseph Estrada and Gloria MacapagalArroyo, now the House deputy speaker after she was elected last year as representative of Pampanga’s second district.

Former president Rodrigo Duterte has yet to confirm his attendance.

“All preparations have already been done, physical arrangements, security and we are confident that by Friday (July 21), everything will be all set because we will have a rehearsal,” Velasco said.

The entire 16-hectare premises of the Batasang Pambansa complex will be locked down starting July 20 until July 23, the day before Marcos delivers his second SONA and when Congress also resumes session.

As a matter of protocol, as in every SONA, the Presidential Security Group takes over the security usually supervised by the House’s in-house Legislative Security Bureau.

Contra-SONA

A week before Marcos delivers his second SONA, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros delivered her virtual a la contraSONA by pointing out a number of issues and concerns that need immediate and urgent action of the present administration.

During the Kapihan sa Senado forum on Monday, July 17, Hontiveros emphasized that the president still has five more years to address the country’s problems, as she noted that his upcoming SONA should be centered around the most vulnerable sectors – the poor, the jobless, women and children.

“It seems that there was no plan for these sectors in the previous SONA, so by Monday, there should be,” the senator said in English and Filipino in her opening statement.

“The president has five more years. He was lucky in his first year because even though we have almost no exports or foreign investments, the income of our OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) and BPO (business process outsourcing) workers is always there, and our tax is still there to fund infrastructure programs and tourism has become lively again after we were locked up in the house of the pandemic. In the next two years, the economy will continue to grow slightly because Filipinos still have spending money,” she added.

During the forum, Hontiveros stressed that “unity was nothing but a hollow facade” during the first year of Marcos’ presidency. g

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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his 2022 State of the Nation Address. Malacañang file photo

Logovernance

SEEING the controversies that have hounded the rollout of new office logos and branding slogans, government agencies may want to put on pause further initiatives at rebranding.

After the Department of Tourism and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority is also reportedly set to roll out a new logo. But unlike the DOT and PAGCOR, which allocated millions in public funds for their rebranding initiatives, TESDA has launched a contest for the redesign of its logo and will simply give prize money of P10,000 for the winning entry.

The DOT had initially said P49 million had been allocated for its tourism rebranding campaign, which includes changing the slogan from “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” to “Love the Philippines.” PAGCOR, meanwhile, reportedly spent P3 million for its rebrand, which includes a new logo and what the agency describes as other “deliverables.”

The cost to taxpayers is the main issue being raised against all these efforts at rebranding. Critics point out that the country is still recovering from its worst health and economic crisis, and the national debt breached the P14-trillion mark as of endMay. The finance secretary is warning of “fiscal collapse” in a push to reform the pension system of military and other uniformed personnel. Critics,

Babe’s Eye View

BABe RoMuAldez

WITH so many Filipino nurses and health care workers now working abroad, “we have become victims of our own success,” said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his meeting in Malacañang with American businessmen belonging to the Business Executives for National Security (BENS), who were in Manila to explore areas of cooperation and investment particularly in health care, digital infrastructure and energy.

Filipino health care workers are very much in demand, especially in highly developed countries not only because of their reliability and professionalism but also due to the Filipino kindness and compassion in practicing their profession. In fact, their work is so much appreciated that world leaders are asking for more Filipino nurses, doctors and medical practitioners to be deployed in their countries, especially after the pandemic

experience.

meanwhile, have pointed out that the Maharlika Investment Fund, which was enacted into law on Tuesday, July 18 with the fat salaries expected to be granted to the management team led by the finance secretary, will further bloat public expenditures. In this situation, spending millions in public funds for a rebranding can smack of profligacy with people’s money and a misplaced sense of priorities. Even if new agency logos are developed at no cost to taxpayers, changing office signage and letterheads on official documents to reflect the new logo or slogan will require funds that can otherwise be used for more urgent purposes.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel has described the preoccupation with logos as “logovernance.” He’s not the only one who believes that better than cosmetic rebranding, what is needed in all government agencies is to improve public services. There’s still a mountain of red tape that needs cutting across the bureaucracy. Many other measures are needed to improve efficiency and stop corruption. In any government agency, the best rebranding is honest, efficient and dedicated public service. (Philstar.com)

Founded in 1982, BENS is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that brings together top business executives and national security leaders who believe that private-sector expertise as well as best practices and cutting-edge ideas can help the United States in facing complex national security challenges. During the meeting, the president shared the government’s efforts to make the Philippines an attractive investment destination and transform the economy, while the members of BENS thanked the President for his leadership in restoring the “special and important alliance” between the United States and the Philippines. The stronger defense ties between the two nations have spurred more interest from American companies to invest in the Philippines, which they see as a place they can trust with their business operations and expansion plans.

We have been receiving a deluge of invitations from state entities and companies from all over the United States for President Marcos to come and visit. One can say that the

president himself is a “victim of his own success.” Because of his successful visits abroad, he has been receiving a lot of invitations from all over the world because of so much interest in the Philippines as an investment destination from potential investors, not only from the U.S. but other nations as well.

The country’s economic managers have been working very hard to create a more business-friendly environment through economic liberalization measures that include amendments to the Retail Trade Liberalization Act that simplified requirements for foreign retailers. A recent welcome development is Executive Order No. 18 that seeks to reduce barriers to doing business in the Philippines by expediting, streamlining and automating government approval and registration processes for priority or strategic investments. A OneStop Action Center for Strategic Investments will be created, which would serve as a singlepoint entry for all projects that would qualify as strategic investments.

According to the president, having reforms that will not only

attract more investments into the country but will also create an environment conducive to business growth is “long overdue,” describing EO 18 as “a huge leap forward, ushering in a new era of efficiency and collaboration within and without.”

Aside from state and official visits, the president’s participation in important meetings such as the UN General Assembly and the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Indonesia has also generated expectations for the Philippines to take the lead in upholding a rules-based international order in the region. This is one more example where we have become “a victim of our own success” – especially in light of the Philippines’ victory before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that handed down a ruling in 2016 that invalidated the wideranging claims of China in the South China Sea. The 2016 arbitral award has taken a life of its own, so to speak, because even our neighbors with overlapping claims in the South China Sea are using the ruling as basis for their complaints and submissions before the United

Nations to reject the claims of China.

We are also seeing a deluge of support from other countries in our bid to modernize our armed forces, which is part of our defense strategy. As I mentioned during an interview with Bloomberg, we have other like-minded nations such as Japan, Australia and even Italy as well as other European countries that are coming into the picture right now, expressing their recognition for the arbitral award and saying they would like to help in one way or another because they want to see peace and stability in the IndoPacific region. Even India has changed its position regarding the arbitral award, saying it must be adhered to.

While this clearly shows that we are not depending entirely on the United States, it goes without saying that our alliance is helping sustain the momentum as far as our defense strategy is concerned. It must also be important to note that a large majority of Filipinos – 84 percent in fact –are supportive of our alliance with the United States and want the government to continue strengthening its security ties

the city’s rising prosperity.

with our only defense treaty ally to help us in addressing issues involving the West Philippine Sea. Not surprisingly, political leaders who have been outspoken regarding incidents of aggression in the West Philippine Sea, like Senators Risa Hontiveros and JV Ejercito, are seeing their popularity grow because their statements resonate with many Filipinos who believe that alliances with the U.S. and like-minded nations are important to gather support in defending our sovereignty. In retrospect, being a “victim of our own success” can in a way be a good problem because it puts the Philippines in the center of attention – opening up a lot of economic opportunities and underscoring the significant role we can play in maintaining peace and stability not only in the region but ultimately, the rest of the world. (Philstar.com) * * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

* * * babeseyeview@gmail.com

WE have seen how much the private sector can contribute to help the country modernize its infrastructure. We enjoy world class tollways, a much improved water distribution system and, yes, one of the world’s largest airports rising on the basis on an unsolicited proposal. Today there is much talk about expanding public-private partnerships to enhance capitalization of our infra needs. For that to happen, however, government must cease being a risk factor for investments.

The most vivid illustration of government making itself a risk actor to investments is the case of tollways. All the contracts for the private sector to invest in tollways contain provisions for escalating toll charges to cover rising costs. More often, however, the escalation of toll charges is delayed – not by weeks but by years. That imposes added financing costs for the investors.

Very often, those with the power to delay obligatory toll increases make a populist show of ordering them delayed. In many cases, the protest industry of the political Left seizes every toll escalation as an opportunity for rabble-rousing to build public support for themselves.

What is often ignored is that delays in the contractual obligation to adjust rates result in delayed improvements and poorer services.

The latest toll adjustments for NLEX gives us reason to be hopeful our public is maturing. The toll adjustments were delayed for years, notwithstanding the schedules provided for in the contracts.

When the adjustments were finally allowed, the public generally accepted the necessity for doing so – especially as the rates were supposed to have been adjusted in 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2020.

A few politicians, acting on reflex, objected to the rate adjustments even if toll rates have actually become cheaper if computed against inflation.

They quickly realized they had no public support and abandoned their protestations.

Most motorists, enjoying

savings in time and fuel using the facilities, understood the toll adjustments went through the proper procedures prescribed by the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB).

Only one group, the Alliance of Concerned Truck Owners and Organizations (ACTOO), persisted in objecting to the toll adjustment. This is the same agitprop group that objected to the implementation of a new container registry and monitoring system by the Philippine Ports Authority that would speed up the movement of cargo throughout the archipelago.

It turns out that prior to the adjustment, dialogues among all stakeholders were dutifully held. ACTOO claims they were neither informed nor consulted about the toll increase. It turns out from the records, this group was given a whole month by the TRB to file a position paper opposing the adjustment. The group was too lazy to do that.

Without a constituency, their objections could not stand. Not even a play for a toll discount exclusively for their group could be sustained. Inclusive

The Supreme Court has ruled with finality in the decadeslong land dispute between the cities of Taguig and Makati. As a consequence of this ruling, about 10 villages encompassed by Fort Bonifacio and that were formerly with Makati will now be part of Taguig. In this light, the city government of Taguig has reached out to the affected communities to assure them inclusion in the enviable social programs of their new city. This includes the generous scholarship program funded by the administration of Mayor Lani Cayetano.

Since its initiation, the program supported 83,000 scholars. Of this number, over 20,000 have graduated. At least 3,230 of the graduates have become licensed professionals: 50 lawyers, 29 doctors, 34 architects, 188 engineers, 229 accountants, 320 nurses, 722 teachers and many others in various fields.

Taguig benefitted immeasurably from these graduates. As productive members of the community, they have collectively contributed multiplier benefits to the city. They have added to

Taguig’s scholarship program does not pressure its beneficiaries to be at the top of their respective classes. It is enough that they acquire an education and eventually practice a profession. The scholars are given enough latitude to enjoy their educational journey and shape their own lives.

Because of its investment in education, Taguig has lower incidence of juvenile delinquency. Its citizens are more confident and more hopeful about the future. The city nurtures its own competitiveness. Those from the villages transferred to Taguig’s jurisdiction will immediately qualify for the scholarship program. The city government assures them there will be no discrimination. They are welcomed as citizens of Taguig, with all the benefits this translates to.

Over the last few years, Taguig aspired to increase the social benefits enjoyed by its citizens. Those in the transferred villages should not lose any of the benefits they enjoyed when they were

citizens of Makati. Taguig has evolved into one of the most caring local governments in the National Capital Region. Improvements in the city’s revenues due to the impressive development of the Bonifacio Global City should translate into improved social services for its citizens.

The development of Global City is, in part, due to the farsighted policies of the city government of Taguig. The city lured investors to locate in the new business district by offering lower tax rates. This led to the dizzying rise of businesses relocating to the Global City.

The transfer of the villages from Makati to Taguig’s jurisdiction should not diminish the quality of care they enjoyed under the previous dispensation. If at all, it should lead to a better quality of life.

The experience of Taguig must be a textbook case for exemplary local governance. (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.

‘We’re

Dateline philippines

Marcos approves P170-B NAIA rehab

by Catherine s. Valente ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos

Jr. has approved the P170-billion solicited public-private partnership (PPP) proposal to rehabilitate the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) chief Arsenio Balisacan said on Wednesday, July 19.

Marcos, who chairs the NEDA Board, gave the nod for the project during a meeting in Malacañang on Wednesday morning.

Balisacan said the project, which will have a total cost of P170.6 billion, is expected "to address longstanding issues at NAIA such as the inadequate capacity of passenger terminal buildings and restricted aircraft movement."

He said the project aims to increase the current airport capacity from 35 million passengers to at least 62 million passengers per year and increase air traffic movement from 40 to 48 per hour.

"The project is also expected to improve the overall passenger experience and service quality to prevent long queues, lengthy waiting times, and other passenger inconveniences," Balisacan told reporters.

"We expect to have the winning bidder within the year, so as early as next year, we can have the project started," he added.

Balisacan said the project, under the Department of Transportation and the Manila International Airport Authority, would involve private-sector funds.

The Manila International

Airport Consortium (MIAC) said it understands the NEDA's decision "to undergo a solicited bid process" for the NAIA rehabilitation project.

"The MIAC is one with the government in its infrastructure priorities and is aligned with the DoTr and NEDA's commitment to the urgent task of revitalizing NAIA given its importance as the country's main international gateway," the MIAC said in a statement.

"Regardless of the route, we believe that NAIA's modernization requires a long-term and comprehensive solution delivered by a credible and capable party at the quickest possible time. These criteria — regardless of the approach — would best benefit NAIA and the Filipino people," he added.

Meanwhile, the President also approved the P7.48-billion Samar Pacific Coastal Road 2 project and the P12.75-billion Laguindingan international airport project.

"The NEDA board also confirmed the proposed adoption of a national policy and infrastructure sector master plans. The policy aims to harmonize and rationalize the formulation of master plans for the infra sector across the government," Balisacan said.

The Samar Pacific Coastal Road 2 Project involves the construction of two marine bridges, the Laoang 2 Bridge and the Calomotan Bridge, as well as the improvement of existing roads between Laoang Island and mainland Samar Island. The 15-kilometer infrastructure development is expected to improve connectivity in the region and promote economic growth.

On the other hand, the Unsolicited Proposal for the Upgrade, Expansion, Operation, and Maintenance of the Laguindingan International Airport Project focuses on integrating sustainable and digitally advanced features into the design and operation of the Laguindingan International Airport in Misamis Oriental.

The project, which will be under the PPP, aims to enhance regional development, promote tourism, and provide a better travel experience for passengers.

In addition to the new projects, the NEDA Board also approved changes in scope, cost, design, and/or loan validity for four ongoing infrastructure projects.

This included the Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, or IDRR-CCA Measures in LowLying Areas of Pampanga Bay Project; the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Stage 2 project; the Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project Stage 2 or MMIP 2; and the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit Project.

Balisacan also confirmed the Proposed Adoption of a National Policy on Infrastructure Sector Master Plans, which aims to harmonize and rationalize the formulation of master plans for the infrastructure sector.

This policy will ensure the coordination, synergy and responsiveness of the sector to emerging issues. An executive order will be issued to strengthen the implementation of this policy nationwide, Balisacan said. g

Transparency, accountability in use of Maharlika funds assured

MANILA – A House leader on Thursday, July 20 said Congress would do its part to ensure transparency and accountability in the handling of the Philippines’ first sovereign wealth fund.

House deputy majority leader Alfred Delos Santos said the newly enacted Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) Act of 2023 is a significant step towards the progress and strengthening of key sectors, as it provides an "additional vehicle" to optimize the government surplus.

Delos Santos, representative of the Ang Probinsyano party-list, said the MIF will significantly expand the country's fiscal space and alleviate pressures in financing public infrastructure projects, noting that the usual funding sources are from PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP) or Official Development Assistance (ODA) mechanisms.

"As committed by President Marcos, we in Congress will do our part to ensure the proper policies and mechanisms are in place to ensure that these funds are utilized in a fair, transparent, and accountable manner,” he said. He also said infrastructure projects will be implemented with utmost efficiency, addressing the needs and development of the people.

Quezon Rep. Reynante Arrogancia, for his part, said the newly signed sovereign fund law "gives foreign and local investors an added option on how to make their investible funds earn."

"This (sovereign fund) becomes one among many options and caters to specific types of clientele or kinds of investors, depending on the appetite for earnings and risks," Arrogancia said.

He said the MIF is crucial to attracting foreign direct

’Majority of Pinoys want US-PH military partnership in West Philippine Sea’

by CeCille Suerte FeliPe Philstar.com

MANILA — Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri has revealed that a rider question in the most recent Pulse Asia survey shows that Filipinos are overwhelmingly in support of partnering with the U.S. in order to confront territorial disputes with China over the West Philippine Sea.

Respondents came out 75 percent in favor and 14 percent not in favor, to the question: “Are you in favor or not in favor of strengthening the military ties between the United States and the Philippines amid security tensions in the West Philippine Sea?”

The rest of the respondents marked themselves as not having enough knowledge to form an opinion (two percent) or “can’t say” (eight percent).

Amid criticisms regarding the participation of the U.S. military in

the West Philippine Sea, which has translated to training and regular flights within Philippine territory, this proves that a majority of Filipinos are in fact welcome to receiving support from the U.S. military.

“There’s a huge disparity,” said Zubiri of the data, during an interview with dzBB on Sunday, July 16. “This means our countrymen are getting angry, they are tired of China’s incursions here, especially in Reed Bank which is very near El Nido, Coron.”

This survey came out just as the Philippines celebrates the seventh year of the landmark 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which invalidated China’s claims to historic rights within the “nine-dash line” and effectively recognized the rights of the Philippines to the West Philippine Sea as falling within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Despite this ruling, China has

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri Philstar.com file photo

continued to forcefully enter the Philippines’ EEZ.

The Senate is expected to soon approve a resolution urging the administration to bring the issue of the West Philippine Sea back to the United Nations General Assembly, amid continued aggression from China. g

investments (FDIs) because these "are investments that actually happen on the ground, build businesses, grow the environment for other businesses, whether downstream, upstream and lateral enterprises and most importantly, create jobs."

"The Maharlika Fund combined with attracting foreign direct investments is a potent combination. Bringing in FDI means ease of doing business, infrastructure, transparency, integrity in business, and economic policies that make workers, investors, and host communities welcome and interact harmoniously," he added.

Speaker Martin Romualdez on Wednesday, July 19 said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s decision to insulate the management of the MIF from politics is a prudent move that augurs well for the success of the country’s first-ever sovereign wealth fund.

On Tuesday, July 17, Marcos bared that he rejected proposals for him or the Secretary of Finance to chair the MIF, saying it must be run by competent and independent financial managers

to avoid political interference.

Under Republic Act 11954 or the Act Establishing the MIF, which the President signed into law Tuesday, the Secretary of Finance is merely ex-officio chairperson and will not run the Fund. It will be governed by the nine-member Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC) chaired by an Independent Director. The MIF would be used to invest in a wide range of assets, including foreign currencies, fixed-income instruments, domestic and foreign corporate bonds, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, and highimpact infrastructure projects for the attainment of sustainable development, according the new law. RA 11954 also establishes the MIC, which will serve as the investment body responsible for the overall governance and management of the MIF.

The MIC is expected to have at least PHP75 billion in paid-up capital this year, with PHP50 billion sourced from Landbank and PHP25 billion from Development Bank of the Philippines. (PNA)

On Tuesday, July 17, President Marcos bared that he rejected proposals for him or the Secretary of Finance to chair the MIF, saying it must be run by competent and independent financial managers to avoid political interference. Malacañang photo

VEGAS&STYLE

‘I have boundaries’: Lea Salonga addresses viral video over alleged snubbing incident

by Jan Milo SeVero Philstar.com

MANILA — Broadway star

Lea Salonga addressed the viral video showing her decline to take a photo with her fans waiting outside of her dressing room.

“Just a reminder… I have boundaries. Do not cross them.

Thank you,” Lea wrote on her Twitter account.

In another tweet, Lea shared an old interview of her in which she elaborated her boundaries as an artist.

“My husband constantly reminds, ‘You have fans and you should be grateful and feel blessed that you have them.’ I do, I truly do. But when personal boundaries and space are violated, then how am I supposed to react?” she said in the video.

“I understand if you are gonna have a breakdown in front of me or if you’re gonna ask me for a hug. I may not always want to give a hug because you’re a stranger and I don’t know what your intentions are. There’s also that malay ko kung may kutsilyo

kang hawak at baka saksakin mo ako. I think that kind of paranoia is in the mind of a lot of artists. You should rightfully have that,” she added. Lea’s viral video was posted by Facebook user Cristopher Retokelly Carpila.  In the video, Lea politely declined taking pictures with them because she’s in her dressing room and they are not in the guest list.

“If ever naman po na mali kami at wala sa guest list, the fact na andun na kami para lang magpapicture.. pumila at nagbayad ng mahal para sa show, siguro naman po bilang Kapwa PILIPINO at mga FANS eh mabigyan ng kahit konting RESPETO AT KAHIT HINDI NA YAKAPIN OR I BESO ay mapagbigyan na kahit sandaling Magpa PICTURE,” Christopher said in his post.

Dingdong: Being busy is good

by Jerry donato Philstar.com

DINGDONG Dantes views his Amazing Earth host persona as a storyteller of tales about our planet and the animal kingdom, plus inspiring narratives about individuals. Before the audience gets hold of the awe-inspiring, informative and entertaining features, the actor sees them first-hand.

“I’m really the first one (or one of the first persons) who gets to witness or becomes the witness to all these stories,” said Dingdong when The STAR asked him about such unique position of him as the face and voice of the weekend show in a recent virtual media conference.

Since Amazing Earth always offers new stories, it excites him no end in sharing them to viewers and makes him anticipate every working day.

“Gusto ko ma-excite ako dahil gusto ko ma-excite din parati ang manonood (I want to feel excited, so that the viewers will always have that feeling of excitement),” added he.

Among the featured amazing stories is the story of a kababayan, who has toured the country extensively and seen the beauty of 1,634 Philippine cities and municipalities. This is part of the Amazing Earth’s three-part fifth-anniversary special, which aired on July 14. Yes, Dingdong’s infotainment show will now be seen Friday nights.

It serves as the jumping-off point for viewers to watch other GMA 7 weekend programs and signals them to enjoy adventure-filled weekends.

Almost same time last year, Dingdong was seen hosting the game show, Family Feud, aside from Amazing Earth, and acting with wife Marian Rivera in the sitcom, Jose & Maria’s Bonggang Villa.

Fast forward to now, he has Amazing Earth, and plays the loving single dad and illegitimate son of a business tycoon role in the primetime weeknight murder mystery drama Royal Blood. He and Marian have been tapped to star in the romance-drama, Rewind, announced recently as one of the first four official entries in this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).

“Yes, I think I’m busier now (as compared to last year),” said he, “busiest ever sa buong buhay ko. For me, being busy is good. Ang pinaka-mahalaga dyan ay hindi ako nawawalan ng oras para sa pamilya, yan naman ang pinaka-mahalaga dyan (What’s most important is I have time for my family). I fulfill my responsibilities properly na walang naaapektuhan. At siyempre, nagagawa ko ang lahat nang yun na masaya ako. I really love what I do, I love my job here in the network.”

That speaks of how passionate Dingdong is about hosting

Playing afternoon TV’s most-hated character a ‘physical, emotional’ challenge for Pinky

by allan PolicarPio Inquirer.net

AS Moira, the domineering main villain in the hit afternoon series “Abot-Kamay na Pangarap,” Pinky Amador spends most of her taping days sowing terror and wreaking havoc on the lives of characters around her.

And after hours of screaming, being angry and acting out catfights, Moira often ends up lingering in Pinky’s psyche long after the cameras have stopped rolling. “It’s physically and emotionally challenging. You’re only human, so it’s hard not to get affected by it all,” she said at a recent press conference arranged by ALV Talent Circuit.

That’s why the seasoned actress sees to it that she doesn’t go to bed without shaking off the remnants of her character.

“You know how we practice pagpag after attending a wake? I have to come up with a way to wash away [Moira]. So I watch Netflix, I listen to spa music or take a hot bath,” she related. “I have to do a detox. Because imagine, you’re screaming, slapping and pulling someone’s hair for an entire day.”

But if it’s any consolation, Pinky’s performance has been so effective, Moira is one of television’s most hated characters at the moment: Her antics get repurposed on social media as memes, and clips of her confrontation scenes rake in views from fans and viewers who can’t stand her character.

However, there are still viewers who can’t quite separate the character from the actress. So, it’s not unusual for Pinky’s social media inboxes or comment sections to get flooded with hate comments. Positive side “I deal with them in different ways. Those that are really rude and include slurs and cuss words, I screenshot and post them. So we can have some accountability, right? But those who are just carried away by the story, those are fine. After all, good storytelling can really move people,” she said.

Besides, the situation, Pinky said, is also an opportunity to educate viewers. “There was this

Pinky Amador

netizen who pointed out that you can hate the character, but love the actress. We’re adopting that thinking. With platforms such as Facebook and TikTok, there’s always an opportunity to turn something not so nice into something nice,” she pointed out.

At the end of the day, Pinky added, engagement is engagement “if you look at it that way.”

Consistently good ratings

The medical drama series, which premiered in September 2022, has been extended indefinitely because of consistently good ratings. More than the show’s engaging twists and turns, Pinky believes it’s the chemistry and camaraderie among actors, creatives and crew that make things work.

“We’re lucky. The relationship we have is so good and rare. We were all like, ‘Have you ever been on a set as fun as this one?’” she said.

“Anything goes. Walang arte There would be 20 of us in the standby area or room, and we would be in each other’s personal spaces—no problem! We just chat and have a laugh. We’re just grateful to be there,” Pinky said of her coactors led by Jillian Ward, Richard Yap, Carmina Villaroel and Dina Bonnevie.

“I have known Dina for about 36 years, because I was her contravida in the film, ‘Magdusa Ka.’ So of course, chika kami. Carmina, on the other hand, always has good recommendations for everyone. She knows all the good places,”

said Pinky, who couldn’t be more impressed by the professionalism of Jillian, who plays the lead character Dr. Analyn.

Simple tips

“There was one morning when she looked tired and hadn’t had much sleep. She was supposed to say her lines as I slapped her, but she couldn’t. It was just a disguised slap. So she asked Direk if I could slap her for real. True enough, she nailed the scene—tears fell and everything was smooth sailing after,” she said.

Pinky, who’s also an experienced theater actor and acting coach, do give some tips to her younger costars once in a while—but just the little things, she stressed. “When I see that they’re having trouble breathing or losing volume in their voice, I whisper to them, ‘Breathe from your belly.’ If you can give them tips that would help the scene, then why not?” she said.

“But for the actual acting and approach to the scenes, there are acting coaches for that, like Anne Villegas. And I still benefit from working with coaches or directors. I love collaborating creatively … I appreciate when the director changes things up, so your acting isn’t same-old, sameold,” she said. Is she willing to play Moira for a couple more months? “It’s all up to them. If Jillian and the rest of the cast are willing to, why not? The ratings are good. Why kill a good thing? It’s not every day that a show like this comes along,” Pinky said.

Jericho Rosales, Carmen Soo reunite

FORMER love team partners Jericho Rosales and Carmen Soo reunited recently.

and acting. He considers this surge of blessings as coincidental. “Feeling ko nagkataon lang na nagkasabay-sabay talaga (I feel it just happened that they presented themselves almost at the same time).”

As a creative, Dingdong indeed offers different forms of entertainment to diverse audiences.

“Yes, sa mismong proseso kasi na ginagawa ko sa trabaho ko, eh gusto ko siya kaya kahit na busy, kahit na, siyempre aminin mo na kahit papaano napapagod ka rin, eh na-e-enjoy ko yung ginagawa ko (With the work process that I do, I enjoy it even if I’m busy and admittedly, I get tired sometimes),” shared he. “And importantly, it helps me grow as an artist, like what I’ve mentioned, you know being part of Amazing Earth as a storyteller also helps me grow as a citizen of this world because of the many things I’ve learned every week.”

Again, Dingdong is excited about his MMFF movie with Marian. A quick rewind tells one that he won the Metro Manila Film Festival Best Actor awards for two years in a row, in 2011 and 2012 for his sterling performances in Segunda Mano and One More Try, respectively. Given such feat in the annual filmfest, is scoring another acting award crossing his mind this early?

“Isa lang talaga ang nasa objective namin nung nag-decide kaming mag-asawa na gawin ito and that is really to celebrate cinema (There’s one objective we had in mind when me and my wife decided to do the movie, that is really to celebrate cinema),” answered Dingdong.

“Sana bumalik ang ating mga manonood sa loob ng mga the-

aters dahil, you know, ito yung oras para makita natin ulit at ma-showcase yung kagalingan ng Pinoy sa pagkwento dito naman sa larangan ng pelikula (I hope many moviegoers will go to the theater since this is the time to see again and showcase the Pinoy creativity and greatness in the field of filmmaking). We’re very happy for this story that we’re going to do and show to everyone, yun na muna. Yun ang pinakamahalaga sa lahat, makwento namin ng maayos ito at maibalik ang mga tao sa sinehan (What’s most important is to tell the film narrative well and encourage people to watch films in cinemas).”

Dingdong was elated to learn that MMFF received a lot of script submissions, in fact 26 total entries, this year. From this number, Rewind; A Mother and Son’s Story, a family-drama with Sharon Cuneta and Alden Richards in the leading roles; (K)AMPON, a horror-thriller that features Beauty Gonzales and Derek Ramsay; and Penduko, an action-fantasy with Cristine Reyes and Matteo Guidicelli, were selected.

“For me, that’s a very, very good indicator, especially sa mga producers na willing talagang tumaya di ba? Para mabigyan tayo ng maraming, maraming magagandang kwento (that there are producers who are willing to take a chance and take a risk in giving us many well-crafted stories to watch).”

Aside from TV and movie work, Dingdong, along with Marian, will also join fellow Kapuso artists Alden, Christian Bautista and Lani Misalucha for a show in Dubai. This is another way for DongYan to touch base with fans and fellow Pinoys abroad.

In her Instagram account, the Malaysian actress posted photos of her with Jericho.

“Caught up with @jerichorosalesofficial and Tita @marinezelizalde during my last trip to Manila,” she wrote.

Jericho and Carmen starred in the hit ABS-CBN teleserye “Kahit Isang Saglit” in 2008, which also aired in Malaysia and Singapore.

“We all need reading glasses now. Yup, Kahit Isang Saglit was 15 years ago,” she said.

“Reading your caption 15 inches away from my face,” Jericho commented.

Carmen visited Manila to guest in ABS-CBN teleserye “The Iron Heart.”

It can be recalled that rumor has it that the parents of Jericho’s girlfriend at that time, Heart Evangelista, reportedly made her believe that Jericho cheated on her with Carmen. Heart, however, learned that Jericho did not really cheat on her. (Jan Milo Severo/Philstar.com)

Sharon and daughter Miel encourage Filipinos to dream big

SHARON Cuneta, known as the country’s Megastar, is not just an accomplished performer but also a devoted mother. Her close relationship with her children inspires many since she consistently shares her love and pride for them on her social media accounts.

A compelling testament to her unwavering commitment to her children’s happiness and personal growth is her support for her daughter Miel — her youngest child with former senator Kiko Pangilinan — who courageously came out as queer in June 2022. The situation highlighted the strong bond Cuneta shares with her daughter, fostering a positive and inclusive environment for Miels’ self-acceptance and continuing journey where it matters most at home. The Mega mom’s love and admiration for Miel has always been evident, as she is known to refer to the 18-year-

old as her “mini-me.”

Miel, who just finished high school, has been accepted into her dream college and is keen to learn more about managing her finances.

“I love to draw and paint and make art; it’s probably one of my biggest passions in life. I’m in-

spired by a lot of things like the experiences of womanhood and being Filipino. One of my biggest dreams in life is to become a successful visual artist, and I’m very glad I’m with InLife. I feel they can help me secure that future that I want so badly,” she expressed.

Multi-awarded singer-actress Lea Salonga Philstar.com photo

Former love team partners Jericho Rosales and Carmen Soo Photo from Instagram/@carmen_soo

Sharon Cuneta (right) with her daughter Miel ManilaTiimes.net photo

Dingdong Dantes

Photo from instagram/@dongdantes

GOLO increases its support for local organizations with donations to Special Olympics Nevada and Three Square Food Bank

LAS VEGAS – GOLO, the health and wellness solutions company with logistics facilities in Las Vegas, recently provided $20,000 in donations to local organizations in Nevada, with $10,000 each to Three Square Food Bank and Special Olympics Nevada. The funding will support various initiatives in the local community, including programs to combat childhood hunger and efforts to promote healthy lifestyles and health care for athletes with special needs.

"We're excited to continue our support for the critically important work of these two local organizations," said Jennifer Brooks, Co-founder and President of GOLO.

Donation beneficiaries:

Special Olympics Nevada

Special Olympics Nevada offers a wide variety of services to their athletes. Their sports training and competition opportunities

provide athletes of all ability levels the chance to play and be part of a team. Skills like being a good teammate, winning with grace, and encouraging others are all skills that carry over into their everyday lives.

"We are thankful to receive another generous donation from GOLO, which will allow us to continue to offer free preventative screenings and services to our athletes, a population that is at a higher risk for health problems yet is often denied or lacks access to care," said Terrence Thornton, executive director of Special Olympics Nevada.

Three Square Food Bank

Three Square is Southern Nevada’s only food bank and largest hunger relief organization, serving Las Vegas and all of Clark, Lincoln, Esmeralda, and Nye counties. Three Square is a community collaborative partnership with businesses, nonprofit agencies,

Jehovah’s witness convention returning for Las Vegas residents

food distributors, higher education institutions, the Clark County School District, governmental entities, the media, and thousands of volunteers working together to support food-insecure Southern Nevadans.

"With one in seven Southern Nevadans struggling to put a meal on the table, Three Square relies on community partnerships such as GOLO to continue distributing food to families and individuals in need,” said Michelle Beck, Chief Development Officer at Three Square Food Bank. “Their generous gift will create an additional 30,000 meals for our hungry neighbors, bringing us one step closer to a hungerfree community. On behalf of the hundreds of thousands of individuals we are privileged to serve, we are deeply grateful for GOLO and their tremendous commitment to ending hunger.”

Dr. Peter Esperanza: Inspiring students through innovative math educaion

LAS VEGAS – In the captivating world of numbers, Dr. Peter Esperanza takes center stage with his dynamic and enthralling performances in the everyday life of mathematics.

Dr. Esperanza, a Filipino math professor and influential figure, gained widespread attention after posting reaction videos on Twitter, praising ABS-CBN's Showtime's "Rampant Win" segment.

"Rampant Win is innovation, I must say. Congratulations to Showtime for making mathematics accessible through entertainment. It's often challenging for teachers to engage students inside the classroom, but Showtime was able to achieve that on their show," expresses Esperanza.

As an avid TFC subscriber, Esperanza highlights that Showtime's program is not only innovative but also encourages interaction among viewers.

Fascinated by the show's approach, Esperanza shares, "It fascinated me because, growing up, I despised integers with a passion. I used to cry because I didn't understand how to add and subtract positive and negative numbers. But with Vice Ganda explaining the concept of positive and negative numbers on Ram-

pant Win, it clicked. Teaching concepts in mathematics is crucial for children to comprehend abstract ideas, just like integers."

Known as "NumberBender" on YouTube, Esperanza has amassed over 300 thousand subscribers. He believes that social media accessibility enables students to solve math problems more efficiently.

"The challenge now is to make math engaging in under one minute, whereas math lessons used to be 10-15 minutes long," reveals Esperanza.

From being a high school math teacher in Barstow, California, Esperanza has come a long way.

He now holds esteemed positions as a university professor at three major universities in California. His formula for success: perseverance and hard work.

Understanding mathematics not only helps alleviate anxiety, especially for adults burdened with financial responsibilities, but also equips individuals to manage their finances better. As Esperanza puts it, "Using mathematics to balance your finances will not only improve your mental health but also help you earn more money. By understanding math, due dates become less daunting."

Unfortunately, as the upcoming school year approaches, the National Center of Education reports a decline of 6-8 points among middle and high-performing students' math scores, with low-performing students experiencing an even more significant decrease of 12-14 points.

Addressing this issue, Esperanza suggests, "Common Core may have influenced the decline in math performance to some extent. Studies comparing Common Core and traditional approaches to math show minimal performance differences. People tend to shy away from new concepts, and Common Core presents a new approach to multiplication, which differs slightly from traditional mathematics."

Esperanza explains that the aim of the Common Core concept is to create a level of similarity in the way elementary and middle school students approach math, algebra, calculus, and trigonometry, ultimately preparing them for high school and college.

Currently preparing his upcoming lesson plans, viewers can expect an increased number of math problem-solving and tutorial videos on the NumberBender YouTube channel. (Bev Llorente, ABS-CBN News, Las Vegas)

LAS VEGAS – After a threeyear pandemic pause, one of the largest convention organizations in the world has once again chosen St. George, Utah, to host its global three-day event, the 2023 “Exercise Patience”! Convention.

Prior to 2019, summers in St. George were marked by local Jehovah’s Witnesses traveling from Las Vegas to attend their annual conventions at the Dixie Convention Center. In 2020, the pandemic interrupted that tradition in St. George when the Witnesses canceled their in-person events throughout the world and held their convention programs as virtual events in more than 500 languages. Beginning July 21, 2023, thousands of Jehovah’s Witnesses from Las Vegas will resume attending their conventions at the Dixie Convention Center in St. George.

“Providing the program in a virtual format helped us see how we can maintain our joy, build our faith and pursue peace despite conditions we face.” said Tory Jaramillo, spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses. “There is a deep feeling of unity when we come together in song that you can’t experience over a virtual platform. I look forward to being reunited with friends and to see their smiles.”

Some 6,000 conventions will be held worldwide as part of the 2023 “Exercise Patience”!

Convention series. In the United States alone, 708 conventions in 35 different languages will be held in 144 host cities. From Friday through Sunday, six convention sessions will explore the quality of

patience, highlighting its modernday relevance through Scriptural examples. A live baptism will be performed following the Saturday morning session and a prerecorded drama will be featured in two parts during the Saturday and Sunday afternoon sessions.

“The theme itself suggests to me that this quality of patience can be strengthened on a personal level. Today we see so much hatred and unrest because people are wanting real change to the issues we are all facing,” says Jaramillo. “If that desired change was guaranteed to become a reality, it would absolutely be worth it to exercise the needed

patience to see it happen.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses have been holding public conventions in stadiums, arenas, convention centers, and theaters around the world for more than 100 years. After resuming smaller in-person meetings and their public ministry during 2022, the summer of 2023 marks the first time they will gather at much larger regional events around the world since the lifting of pandemic restrictions. The convention is open to the public and no collection is taken. For more information on the program or to find other convention locations and dates, please go to jw.org and navigate to the “About Us” tab.

ARE we on a suicide mission?

The way many of us abuse our body with bad diet, tobacco, alcohol, drugs, and other unhealthy behaviors, makes one wonder if we have locked in ourselves on a self-destruct mode or are we on a suicide mission. I have expounded on this in detail in my book, “Let’s Stop ‘Killing’ Our Children” (amazon.com, www. philipSchua.com), a pre-emptive and proactive strategy on healthy lifestyle on a cellular level and disease prevention starting from the womb.

Inactivity is a major “disease” that kills millions upon millions around the world. It is a mindset, a bad habit, a lack of discipline. A sedentary lifestyle (lack of exercise) is worse than many individual maladies afflicting man today because it is a factor in most serious illnesses, like diabetes mellitus, heart attack, stroke, sexual dysfunction, osteoporosis, etc.

As a matter of fact, science has shown that physical activities, regimented daily exercises, lower the incidence, not only of those diseases listed above, but of depression and suicide, Alzheimer’s, and even cancer. An active lifestyle also helps slow down the aging process, keeps our skin looking young(er), tones our muscles, enables us to have better metabolism and weight control, fortifies our immune system against diseases and infections, and even improves our outlook in life. Indeed, daily physical exercise also protects our mind – our entire body and being.

Professor Frank Booth, Ph.D. of the biomedical sciences at the University of Missouri-Columbia, coined the term Sedentary Death Syndrome (SeDS) to dramatize the reality that “exercising is a matter of life and death.” That’s how important, essential, physical exercise is to the human organism. It is a dreadful fact but 70% of Americans today do not exercise regularly. Other less health-conscious people around the world are obviously even worse. Just sitting around is a worldwide phenomenon. The World Health Organization last year reported that “about 2 million deaths annually worldwide are attributed to sedentary lifestyles.”

One of the subtitles of Professor Booth’s article is entitled ‘Dead Man Sitting.’ “Sitting kills more than 300,000 Americans annually…if SeDS were a real

Bea, Dominic now engaged Sedentary death

disease, that would make it the third leading cause of death in the United States, right after heart disease and cancer,” he stated. This inactivity-related disorders affect nearly 75% of adult and children and is projected to cost the United States $1.5 trillion over the next ten years.

Is exercise essential?

Yes, very much so. To illustrate a point, let us exaggerate and consider a situation that is extreme: a person who is bedridden, a stroke victim or a quadriplegic, someone practically unable to move. What happens?

The muscles all over the body [begin to] atrophy and in most instances are replaced with fats, become flabby and lose bulk; the heart and lungs deteriorate, the circulation slows down, metabolism becomes impaired, the immune system declines, and the brain and all other organs function poorly. Humans, animals in general, were not meant to be vegetables. Physical activities are essential for cardiovascular fitness and fundamental to health.

Why is brisk walking better than jogging?

In the 60s and 70s, jogging was very popular as a form of exercise. However, there were significant attendant complications resulting from jogging, like injuries to feet, ankles, knees, hips, spine, etc. Studies in Sports and

Cardiovascular Medicine two decades later showed that the cardiovascular benefits from brisk walking were the same as those derived from jogging, minus the many significant injuries which show as we grow older.

What is the target heart rate?

When exercising, the heart rate normally speeds up. The heart rate that one wants to achieve with exercise is called

Target Heart Rate (THR). Reaching this heart rate when exercising means maximum benefit is being derived from the physical activity. To compute your THR, subtract your age from 220. Example: the THR of someone who is 50 years old is 220 minus 50, or 170. When exercising, one tries to reach his/her THR, so long as no symptoms occur, like chest pains or tightness of the chest, dizziness, or fainting. Some expected shortness of breath is normal, which should subside with rest. Among the elderly and those on medications, adjustments need to be made. The best thing to do before embarking on an exercise regimen is to consult your physician, who will advise you accordingly, and prescribe what is best for you.

How many calories are

burned by exercise?

For a 150-pound (about 68kilo) person, doing the following for one hour burns the corresponding amount of calories indicated here: walking 2 mph, 240 calories; walking 4.5 mph, 440; jogging 7 mph, 920; bicycling 6 mph, 240; bicycling 12mph, 410; jumping rope, 750; running in place, 660; running 10 mph, 1,280; swimming 25 yards per minute, 275; tennis, singles, 400. For half an hour of non-stop fast dancing (like swing or boogie), 200 calories; and, in contrast, for a 30-minute foreplay and actual sex, only 90 calories are burned, believe it or not. Obviously, we cannot rely on sexercise.

What is the minimum recommended?

The American College of Sports Medicine has the following minimum exercise recommendation for healthy men and women: Frequency: one hour, 3-5 days a week. It appears that exercising beyond an hour does not confer added cardiovascular benefit and only increases the stress to the heart, joints, and muscles.

Exercise in a pill?

Scientists have identified a drug that mimics the effects of exercise on muscle and bone in mice, without any negative effects on surrounding tissues. It even reinvigorates muscles and bone and joints. The drug is Locamidazole (LAMPZ), according to the Tokyo Medical and Dental University. But it is not a substitute for physical exercise; it augments it, just like Viagra for men being second only to the natural sex hormones in our teen-years and in our twenties.

If you will excuse me, it’s time for my Tai-Bo, the hottest low-impact entire-body workout to hit this century, an exercise that could be done anywhere, anytime, with no gadget required. Just your body.

* * *

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.

* * * Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He was a recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry Truman, President George HW Bush, Muhammad Ali and Astronaut Gus Grissom (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888.com, Today. SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com; Email:

Heart opens global doors for PH designers

IN the countdown to the highly anticipated Haute Couture Week, its official Instagram page Instagram page (@hautecoutureweek) chose no less than Filipina fashion icon Heart Evangelista to mark D-3, or three days before the start of the global fashion event.

In the teaser, Evangelista chose to wear a jaw-dropping modern terno by Filipino designer Cheetah Rivera. She had been first photographed in Rivera’s white and blue ombré “Santiago” dress exactly a year ago on the streets of Paris.

This time, it served as the backdrop for a “save the date” of the world’s premier fashion event for Fall/Winter 2023, bringing pride to the Philippines not just for her presence, but for also putting Filipino fashion on the spotlight at the biggest stage of couture.

Similarly, the feature paved the way for the entry of other Filipinos to Paris, Milan and New York Fashion weeks and the international fashion scene as a whole.

The post did not bear her name, but Evangelista’s face is already familiar the world over what with top-tier magazines, from Elle and Instyle to Bazaar and Vogue, also featuring her.

To brands, Evangelista’s face and poses are currency. With her impeccable personal style, head-turning looks and eye-catching strut, she gets the front seat in high-profile runway shows, sought after by designers to lend her name to their brand. The luxury list is endless — Chanel, Guerlain, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Balmain, Prada, Kenzo, Giambattista Valli, you name it.

Alongside, she champions Filipino brands — Neric Beltran, Cheetah Rivera, Maison Glarino, and Mark Bumgarner — making their creations known to the world and bringing global attention to Philippine textile and design.

The fashion world craves for more from Evangelista, and she is just getting started. The next time a fashion photographer’s camera clicks, whether in Milan, Paris, LA or Singapore, it would likely be the Filipina fashion icon, owning style, grace and elegance in a single frame. (ManilaTimes.net)

by Kristofer Purnell Philstar.com

ACTORS Bea Alonzo and Dominic Roque are now engaged! Bea announced the good news on her social media accounts, detailing how Dominic popped the question to her at Bataan's Las Casas FIlipinas de Acuzar last July 18.

The actress shared that she was at Las Casas for a shoot when celebrity photographer Mark Nicdao kept telling her to turn around so he could shoot the back portion of her dress, and when Bea did she found Dom on one knee with a box ready in hand.

"I have done so many proposal scenes in my entire career, but nothing beats the real thing. I have been doing it all wrong!" Bea said with a laugh, noting that time stood still when Dom said his part.

Bea recalled feeling joy, excitement, love, and other emotions, and began to ugly cry.

"I didn’t want that moment to end. I want this real thing to happen forever… and right then there… In front of the people we love… we decided on forever," Bea ended.

Dominic commented on Bea's

Facebook post "I love you very much" accompanied by a heart emoji, and Bea responded with "Can’t wait to do life with you," also using the same emoji.

Several individuals congratulated the newly-engaged couple including Aga Muhlach, Maine Mendoza, Gabbi Garcia, Chito Miranda, Ellen

Adarna, Khalil Ramos, Sanya Lopez, Miles Ocampo, Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan, Jameson Blake, and Julie Anne San Jose. Bea confirmed she was in a relationship with Dominic in August 2021, and it was recently teased that an engagement might happen soon. And happen it did!

Janella pairs with F4 Thailand actor in new Asian romantic film

by christina alPad ManilaTimes.net

FILIPINA actress Janella Salvador and Thai actor Win Metawin will lead the upcoming Asian romantic film "Under Parallel Skies."

Produced by 28 Squared Studios — headquartered in Manila and with footprints in Hong Kong — and co-produced with Two Infinity Entertainment, "Under Parallel Skies" will be directed by Filipina filmmaker Sigrid Bernardo.

No plot has been confirmed though earlier reports said the movie will follow Metawin's character who is grappling with a painful past, and the woman (Salvador) he meets who might be connected to that past.

The film will be set against the enchanting backdrop of Hong Kong.

The pair confirmed the news after months of speculation from their fans, with an announcement video shared via 28 Squared

by dale calanoG Inquirer.net

ACTOR -director John Prats brought back his “Dancefloor Dynamite” persona in a recently concluded three-show concert abroad, through which he realized that he’s still greatly passionate about dance.

In his Instagram post, Prats — who was also the director of the concert — uploaded a video, in which he exhibited his dancing prowess alongside artists such as Jason Dy and Iñigo Pascual.

"DYNAMITE IS BACK! [emoji],” he claimed in his post’s caption, referring to both his “Dancefloor Dynamite” title or to the songs they danced to — both entitled “Dynamite,” one by BTS, and the other by Taio Cruz.

The “Super Noypi” actor, who was once a regular in “ASAP’s” dance-focused segments such as “Ultimate Dance 4” and “Supah Dance,” expressed the joy he felt being back on the dance floor.

“Super saya ko na nakasayaw ulit ako (I’m so happy that I got to dance again),” shared Prats who revealed that eight years ago, he thought that, “[I]’m done na with dancing.” He further reiterated how

Studios' Instagram account.

"We are so excited to announce to you guys that we will be teaming up for the upcoming movie Under Parallel Skies," Metawin said.

"We are very excited to share this with you very soon," Salvador added.

Metawin became a household name after starring in the hit series "2gether: The Series" in 2020 and

"F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers" the following year. Salvador, meanwhile, earned fame in the Philippines after her debut in the daytime drama "Be Careful With My Heart." Since then, the singer-actress has done several TV shows and films. Her last role, the antagonist Valentina in "Darna," earned her praises from fans and critics.

praise and support for his dancing, from several people including his family.

much fun he had performing in all three shows, and shared his realization that his great love for dance still resides in him.

“Na[-]realize ko na grabe din pala passion ko pa rin sa dancing (I realized that I still have great passion for dancing),” said the “Pinoy Big Brother” alum who has directed the concerts of local and international artists such as “ZOOM” singer Jessi and former 2NEI member Minzy.

In the comments section, The former “Ang TV” star received

EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT SERVICES

His mother, Alma wrote, “Anak ko yan[.] [W]alang kupas pa rin (That’s my son. He’s still great) [emojis],” while actressTV host sister Camille PratsYambao told her older brother that she misses watching him dance. Through the years, Prats has explored the directing space. He has helmed music videos and has also been involved in the production of shows such as “Ang Probinsyano” and “It’s Showtime,” on which he served as judge and mentor for the noontime show’s dance competition “Girl on Fire.” During the run of “Girl on Fire” — which crowned its first champion in February — the former child star was able to introduce himself as a dancer to the younger generation, who might not associate him with dancing, which is actually his first love.

Prats, who celebrated his third decade in the entertainment industry last year, is married to “Rosario” actress Isabel Oli, with whom he shares three kids — Feather, Freedom, and Forest.

To brands, Heart Evangelista’s face and poses are currency. Photo from Instagram/@iamhearte

John Prats Photo from Instagram/@

First glimpse of Janella Salvador and Win Metawin in the upcoming romantic movie, ‘Under Parallel Skies.’

Photo courtesy HKTB

Dominic Roque proposing to Bea Alonzo Photos from Instagram/@beaalonzo

After hiatus, John says he still has great passion for dance