072723 - Las Vegas Edition

Congress’ HEAL Act ensures health care access for undocumented

rePs. Pramila Jayapal, D-Washington, and Nanette Barragan, D-California, along with Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, introduced the heAL Act July 27 morning, which aims to grant healthcare access to all who reside in the U.s., regardless of immigration status.

Currently, most immigrants must wait five years or longer before they can enroll in medicaid or the Children’s health Insurance Program (ChIP). Undocumented immigrants are completely barred from these programs as well as from purchasing insurance from the Affordable Care Act marketplace. the heAL Act removes the five-year bar in medicaid/ChIP, opens up the ACA marketplace, and expands access to medicare so that immigrants can access the affordable health care they need.

Health disparities

In 2019, among the non-elderly population,

Clarkson commits to play for Gilas in FIBA World Cup

After much speculation that brought uncertainty in recent weeks, Utah Jazz star Jordan Clarkson is set to reinforce Gilas Pilipinas in the 2023 fIBA World Cup.

“Confirmed,” was Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio’s brief response to the Manila Times’ query on tuesday, July 25.

the presence of the 31-year-old NBA star meant Clarkson taking the spot of naturalized player for Gilas, which is shooting to be the best finishing team in Asia that would mean securing an automatic slot in the Paris olympics next year.

the filipino-American guard out of missouri is coming off a solid NBA season that saw him register a career-high 20.8 points, to go along with 4.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 61 regular season games.

the sweet-shooting Clarkson brings versatility to a Gilas side that will kick off its fIBA World Cup group stage match against Dominican Republic on Aug. 25 at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan. the Philippines, then takes on Angola, followed by Italy in its last two group stage assignments.

economic

take limelight

“on matters of the economy, there are many things over which we have no control. But over those where we do have control, we are doing everything we can,” marcos Jr. said. since scoring a landslide victory at the may 2022 u PAGE 2

What Marcos said in his second SONA

mANILA — President ferdinand “Bongbong” marcos Jr.’s second state of the Nation Address (soNA) echoed his father, particularly his plans on agriculture, economy and infrastructure. his speech lasted for an hour and 11 minutes, bearing a mix of english and filipino depending on the subject matter at hand.

Below are the highlights of marcos’ second soNA.

Economy

• The Philippines’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or growth rate accelerated to 7.6% in 2022 from 5.7% in 2021 – the highest registered since 1976. this, however, went down to 6.4% in the first quarter of 2023, still within the 6 to 7% target of the administration. Growth rates represent the economic expansion of a country.

• The digital economy of the country contributed about P2 trillion, nearly making up a tenth of the GDP.

• Marcos owed this growth to the lifting of pandemic restrictions, the steady flow of remittances, the business process outsourcing (BPo) industry and job generation. “the economy is revived and rejuvenated,” he said.

Inflation

• The significant drop in the country’s inflation rate from 8.7% in January to 5.4% in June was said to stabilize prices of important commodities.

• Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) expects inflation to further ease by the end of the year, projecting a 2.9%

PH open to all options to address sea row with China — Bersamin

by Catherine S. Valente ManilaTimes.net

eXeCUtIVe secretary Lucas Bersamin on tuesday, July 25 said the Philippine government is considering all options, including bringing this to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), to address the country’s issues with China in the West Philippine sea.

Bersamin made the statement after President ferdinand marcos Jr. failed to mention some issues during his second state of the Nation Address (soNA), including the

several reported instances of harassment by the Chinese Coast Guard against Filipinos in the disputed waters.

“It was very clear that his speech was referring to this issue. But even if I said diplomacy is the approach that this administration will take, I am sure that the President is very firm that he will not surrender any inch of our territory or sovereignty to any foreign power,” Bersamin said on television.

Bersamin also responded to calls asking the marcos government to raise the issue

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Philippine national team makes history with first women’s World Cup win

by Luisa moRaLes Philstar.com

the Philippine women’s national football team won their first match in the 2023 fIfA Women’s World Cup as they nipped co-hosts New Zealand, 1-0, in Group A action at sky stadium in Wellington on tuesday, July 25.

sarina Bolden made it the dream match for the filipinas when she headed in a cross

Philippines projected to be world’s 14th largest economy by 2075

from sara eggesvik built off a set piece at the 24th minute.

Bolden soared above two Kiwi defenders and put just enough power behind it to get it past the keeper’s gloves, etching her name in Philippine sports history. the game’s only goal was enough to propel the filipinas to their first ever win in the Women’s World Cup.

But the home team didn’t

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mANILA — the Philippines is projected to land in the top 15 largest economies in the world by 2075, as emerging markets are projected to outgrow their developed counterparts.

In a report released last month, Goldman Sachs said it forecasts the Philippines to be the 14th largest economy in the world by 2075, surpassing france which is projected to fall to the 15th spot by that year.

the Philippines is one of the two southeast Asian nations on the list, with Indonesia seen becoming the world’s fourth largest economy by 2075. meanwhile, China and India are projected to be the first and second largest economies in the world, respectively, by 2075 and surpass the United states, which would take the third spot.

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The Philippine women’s national football team Photo from Instagram/@pilipinaswnt

Philippine national team makes...

the closest one was Jacqui hand’s header a little past the hour mark that actually got past Olivia McDaniel, who was a brick wall all throughout.

But after VAr review, the football ferns were deemed offside in the buildup. After celebrations in Wellington, the goal was waved off and the filipinas were ahead once again. McDaniel also provided some crucial saves well into added time to preserve the scoreline.

the filipinas thus put themselves in a good position to move on to the knockout rounds when they face World No. 12 Norway on July 30 in Auckland. they now have three points, tied with New Zealand, and switzerland.

the football ferns triumphed over Norway in their World Cup opener last thursday, July 20 in Auckland, 1-0, while the filipinas absorbed a fighting 0-2 loss to switzerland in their debut the following day in Dunedin.

the Philippines and New Zealand previously engaged in a tightly-fought friendly in fullerton, California in 2022. there, the wide-eyed filipinas, then ranked 56th in the world, pushed the No. 22 Kiwis to the limit before conceding, 2-1, on account of two second-half goals from New Zealand. (With a previous report by olmin Leyba)

InMarcos’ second SONA...

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polls, marcos presided over a domestic economy that has seen better days. throughout his first six months in power, the economy that marcos Jr. inherited witnessed consumer prices skyrocket, the peso dip to historic low, and local pump prices surge. All these factors, some beyond government control, left the domestic economy in

worse shape. taming rising inflation became a cornerstone of his economic policy, as commodities, such as sugar and onions transformed into a national headache. on monday, smugglers and hoarders received the president’s ire as he claimed them culprits for volatile price swings of some agricultural products. the days of these smugglers and hoarders are numbered,” he said.

By the time the economy bid farewell to the first half of 2023, economic indicators looked bright partly as a result of easing supply chain bottlenecks, resurgent consumer spending, and higher interest rates injected by the Bangko sentral ng Pilipinas. that said, marcos Jr. used his second soNA to spotlight perennial economic problems that his administration sought to remedy. he reiterated investments in infrastructure projects, revenue generation efforts, and bolstering agricultural production.

the president, who also sat at the helm of the agricultural department, made known his efforts to highlight KADIWA stores and expand the project nationwide. The KADIWA is a pet policy of his late dictator father. the move to condone decades-long debt of farmers made its way into his speech, which marcos Jr. opined supported his push to boost agricultural production.

Investments in infrastructure figured in his speech, as he reminded the public of his goal to keep public spending between 5-6% of gross domestic product annually.

even then, the president’s second soNA reiterated that the economy was still on its way to achieving its potential. As it is, the marcos Jr. administration is keen on seeing the economy become an upper middleincome country by 2025, a point goal broached by the previous Duterte government.

Leonardo Lanzona, an economist at Ateneo De Manila University, criticized the speech’s lack of direction.

“the speech was a collection of motherhood statements. At best, these are programs that the government wishes to accomplish, and no solid achievements were indicated. Also, there are positive statements which are hardly accomplishments,” he said.

Anthony Lawrence Borja, a political science professor at De La Salle University in manila, said the soNA was meant to appeal to businesses and the private sector to show that “he is upholding the old paradigm of ensuring a business-friendly environment through infrastructure, ease of government transactions, and capacity-building for the labor market.”

how ordinary citizens would digest the soNA will depend on their struggles to cope with everyday reality (whether they can cope with it or not), and inputs from analysts, pundits, and apologists that they are constantly exposed to. simply put, resilience and self-reliance

are worth it if and only if ordinary citizens will believe that there is some level of progress and recovery,” Borja said. that said, the president’s speech at Batasang Pambansa on monday still found ways to create distance from one of his pet policies, the passage of the first-ever sovereign wealth fund.

Where’s Maharlika?

the maharlika Investment fund, signed into law days before his second address, made its way into the speech as marcos Jr. assured that the vehicle will not “add to the debt burden” and will be presided by “a group of internationally recognized economic managers.”

to this end, Borja listed three reasons why the mIf received little space in marcos’ soNA. there are three intertwined reasons for this, first of which is that mIf is an experimental project and as an experimental project it would be better from a marketing perspective to curb expectations in line with the possibility of failure,” he said. “second, and tied with curbing expectations by saying less is to focus on re-assuring taxpayers that it will not be mismanaged. In other words, if it fails, then they can easily blame external factors instead. however, if it succeeds, then proper management can be highlighted alongside gains even if those gains might be minimal,” Borja added.

the last reason, as Borja said, was that the government remains on the hunt for investment targets. the mIf’s implementing rules and regulation has yet to be passed, but economic managers assured that this document is near completion. the maharlika attracted scorn and controversy at every turn, as civil society lambasted the move to create a wealth fund. economics professors from the University of the Philippines blasted the mIf in a strongly worded paper in June, saying that it “violates fundamental principles of economics and finance and poses a serious risk to the economy and the public sector.”

A call to action?

Unlike his first soNA, mounted in less than two months since his victory at the polls, he issued a call to Congress and senate lawmakers to support pieces of legislation towards the end.

sonny Africa, executive director at local nonprofit IBoN foundation, lamented these measures could end up burdening the public. the marcos Jr administration’s legislative line up is heavy on burdening poor and middle-class filipinos with more taxes. the rest is a motley assortment of trivial measures in the government tradition of seeming relevant but not really doing anything to modernize agriculture or build filipino industry,” he said. the economy can’t be transformed if economic policies aren’t transformed -and a repetitive litany of trivial legislation just won’t do it,” Africa added. n

Goldman Sachs said China would overtake the Us around 2035, while India should catch up by 2075.

“second, while China and India are projected to be larger than the U.s. by 2075, our projections imply that the U.s will remain more than twice as rich as both,” Goldman Sachs said.

the Philippine economy expanded 7.6% year-onyear in 2022, better than the 5.7% growth recorded in the previous year. this marked another year of growth, two years removed since the pandemic sent the domestic economy into lows unseen since World War II. Consumer spending proved to be a bright spot. n

TEMPORARY SHELTER. Residents of Barangay Bagong Silangan and nearby communities take temporary shelter in modular tents set up in Barangay Silangan Elementary School in Quezon City on Thursday, July 27 following heavy rains and flooding in the area due to Typhoon Egay.

The Philippines’ forward Sarina Bolden (3L, No. 7) celebrates scoring her team’s first goal during the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women’s World Cup Group A football match between New Zealand and the Philippines at Wellington Stadium, also known as Sky Stadium, in Wellington on July 25, 2023. Photo from Instagram/@pilipinaswnt

give up the win without multiple scoring attempts — particularly in the second half where there were many close calls.

What Marcos said in his second...

inflation rate by 2024.

Investments

• Economic and social services comprise 70% of the national budget, marcos said as his top priorities are food security, education, health, jobs and social protection.

• The Board of Investments approved P1.2 trillion investment projects for the administration’s first year.

• P230 billion for the newly established Green lanes for strategic Investments that hopes to hasten the process of securing licenses and permits.

• Marcos wants more structural tax reforms.

Revenue generation

• Marcos aspires tax and revenue generation to reach up to 17.3% by 2028.

• Bureau of Internal Revenue - collected P1.05 trillion, a 10% increase from 2022.

• Bureau of Customs - collected P476 billion, a 7.4% increase from 2022.

• Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR)a 47.9% increase in revenue.

• Philippine Charity sweepstakes office (PCso) - a 20% increase in revenue.

Kadiwa stores

this program was originally introduced by the late dictator ferdinand marcos sr. to lower the prices of agricultural commodities. Just as it was then, the present Kadiwa stores aim to empower farmers with a direct farm-to-consumer food supply chain.

marcos promises that the Kadiwa stores will not have any additional fees and middlemen. he says that the existing ones have increased the earnings of farmers and lessened the cost for consumers.

1.8 million families were said to have benefited from the 7,000 Kadiwa stores in the Philippines. the profit of Kadiwa stores has reached about P700 billion and provided employment opportunities for members of over 3,000 cooperatives and organizations.

marcos envisions making Kadiwa stores permanent, as well as building more across the country.

Fisheries and Agriculture marcos said that the methods of the Department of Agriculture, which he chairs, are “more guided by science” in hopes for sustainable production.

the president urged Congress to revisit and amend the Philippine fisheries Code of 1998 (r.A. No. 8550) with science-based analysis to better determine appropriate fishing areas.

three hundred farm and fisheries clusters have been determined and are composed of 900 cooperatives and over 200,000 hectares of arable land.

marcos called for the support of Congress to amend the Philippine Cooperative Code of 2008 to speed up the formation of cooperatives.

New technologies such as Philippine-based bio-fertilizers and balanced fertilizer strategy were said to help farmers reduce costs on fertilizers.

marcos said the government distributed more than 28,000 new and “quality” machines and equipment for farmers to use. fuel and fertilizer discount vouchers were also said to provide relief for farmers amid high prices of the commodities. marcos said the government distributed fertilizers donated by China. Geo-Agri map of farm-tomarket roads was developed to push for the farm-to-consumer supply chain. About 4,000 fabrication labs, production and cold storage facilities were built.

meanwhile, 24 multi-species hatcheries were constructed to increase fish production over 70,000 titles of land have been awarded to the beneficiaries of the administration’s agrarian reform, marcos said.

According to marcos, executive order No. 4 implemented the Agrarian emancipation Act where the total P57 billion debt of 600,000 beneficiaries has been erased.

El Niño

• Marcos said the country will prepare buffer stocks and reserved water supply. should the need arise, he added, the government will conduct cloudseeding to induce rain.

• Six thousand rainwater collection systems have also been installed across the country.

Water

• “Considering its fundamental importance, water security deserves our special focus. our efforts must not be scattershot, but rather, cohesive, centralized and systematic,” marcos said.

• Created the Water Resources management office

• Urged Congress to pass the bill

Elevating the voices of invisible people

on the creation of a Department of Water resource management. It is unclear, however, as to what will be the difference between the two agencies.

• P14.6 billion have been allocated for water supply projects. An example that marcos provided is the Wawa Bulk Water supply Project in NCr and rizal.

Build-Better-More program

• About 83% of the program is to build roads, bridges, seaports, airports and mass transports.

• Infrastructure spending is expected to be at 5 to 6% of the country’s GDP.

• Travel time from Ilocos to Bicol will be reduced to just 9 hours from 20 hours with the Luzon spine expressway Network Program.

• Twelve bridges will be constructed for the mega-Bridge program that aims to connect islands and areas separated by waters. Among the bridges included will link the following lands: Bataan-Cavite, PanayGuimaras-Negros and SamalDavao City.

• Over 4,000 km of roads and 500 bridges have been constructed, maintained and upgraded as of June 2023, marcos said.

• Cebu Pier 88 smart port, Clark Airport and Calapan Port have new passenger terminal buildings.

• Marcos said that the Northsouth Commuter railway system is already fully operating. this is part of his railway project covering over 1,000 km.

• Marcos wants to use the maharlika Investment fund (mIf) to partially fund the Build-Bettermore program. “In pooling a small fraction of the considerable but underutilized government funds, the mIf shall be used to make high-impact and profitable investments, such as the BuildBetter-more program,” he said.

Energy

• Eight new additional power plants have been built, increasing energy production by 1,174 megawatts.

• Marcos said 500,000 homes were provided with electricity. he claims that a 100% electrification of households is “within our reach.”

• There are 299 active solar projects, 187 wind projects, 436 hydroelectric projects, 58 biomass projects, 36 geothermal projects and 9 ocean-powered projects.

by sunita sohRabji Ethnic Media Services

BU r BANK — t he s CAN foundation held its first summit here July 19 for the organization’s new initiative: Advancing health equity in Aging. the foundation launched the 5-prong initiative last october and plans to implement it over the next 3 to 5 years.

People over 65 are one of the fastest-growing populations in California. In 2030, the elder population of the state is expected to jump to 8.6 million, according to data from the Public Policy Institute of California. In the next decade, seniors will comprise more than one quarter of California’s population.

the Complex health Care maze

“We are aiming to elevate the voices of people who are living with inequities,” said the sCAN foundation President and Ceo Dr. Sarita Mohanty, kicking off the day-long summit. “As a physician, I have seen firsthand that older adults, people of color, those with low english proficiency, or those with geographies where health care is scarce, go through so many challenges in accessing basic health care,” she said. mohanty noted that as an Indian American woman, she herself has faced racism and discrimination.

the sCAN foundation Board Member Dr. Cheryl Phillips echoed m ohanty’s sentiment.

t his summit is really about making invisible people seen,” she said, adding that older adults, immigrants, low income people, and those with disabilities often get lost in the complex system of health care delivery in the Us “We are making a movement, not just in California, but as a foundation to build on for the rest of the nation,” said Phillips.

Social Determinants of Health

Dr. Sherrie Wallington, Associate Professor of h ealth Disparities and Oncology at the George Washington University s chool of Nursing, said: “We have not been intentional about understanding the social determinants of health. It is important that people who are impacted be at the table to create the health equity lens.”

“If we build it, they may not come if they are not invested,” said Wallington. rigo saborio, Vice President of Programs, e quity, and Community Impact at s CAN later told ethnic media services

that the Advancing h ealth equity in Aging initiative aims to complement California’s master Plan on Aging, which includes inclusion in its goals.

“health care disparities abound among older adults, and they hit vulnerable and marginalized communities especially hard,” he said. “We have designed a vehicle to address many of the root causes that have led to these outcomes, including discrimination.”

A critical component of the initiative is bringing together organizations and individuals already working to address these issues, said saborio, noting that the steering committee for the initiative is comprised of many health equity leaders, including the California Department of Aging, which was key to developing California’s mPA, a 10-year plan launched in 2021 via an executive order from Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Susan DeMarois, Director of the California Department of Aging, said at the summit: “We are working towards a California for all, for everyone, whether documented or undocumented.” she noted that inclusion was a key component of California’s master Plan on Aging. Community Stories the initiative also aims to hear from impacted communities directly. “We want to hear about the obstacles they face as older adults and to tell us what they need, and then hone in on those as our priority areas,” said saborio. one of the highlights of the summit were a series of videos of older adults discussing the challenges they were facing in accessing health care, along with other obstacles in their lives. the videos were produced by the Greater Good Studio, in partnership with the sCAN foundation.

Janet spears, Ceo of the metta Fund, introduced Anthena Gore and Sara Yang of the Greater Good Studio, who had worked to create the videos.

“We believe in a future where everyone can age equitably. the answers are in our communities. We need to shut up and listen,” she said, prompting a long laugh from the audience.

“too often, the voices of our older adults are left out. You have to hear what they’re saying and listen to their stories,” she said.

Lost Souls

The Greater Good Studio

captured the stories of over 100 older adults from Imperial, s hasta, and Butte counties as well as san francisco and san Diego. “We must acknowledge the legacies of trauma, witnessing genocide, racism, and ableism on a person’s health,” said Yang.

“Unhoused and incarcerated people struggle just to be seen as a person who is deserving of health care,” said Gore. one video featured tong Yang, a h mong woman from Butte County. “my doctor told me my depression was causing me to be physically sick. my soul was lost when I left my country and escaped to thailand,” she said.

Lived Experiences Denny Chan, Managing Director of Equity Advocacy for the organization Justice in Aging, moderated a panel of three older adults who shared their lived experiences, including ruth himan, a former engineer who with her husband went into medical poverty when he became diabetic.

h arry Wong, who was also featured in a video, said he is frustrated by his inability to speak with health care providers before his needs become emergencies.

“It’s all email, and voice mail,” he said, noting the inordinate amounts of time he spends trying to access care. Wong said he has decided to participate in the health equity movement because: “I didn’t have a voice for so many years.”

Panels also featured speakers on the challenges of building momentum, the importance of qualitative data which tells a richer story than quantitative data, and next steps for the Advancing health equity in Aging initiative.

ECO this fall, the sCAN foundation will send out a request for proposals to fund three equity Community organizing — eCo — groups to find and address issues both in rural and urban communities. e ach selected organization will receive $225,000 in funding for the 18-month project.

Keynote speaker Ai-jen Poo, president of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, spoke about the challenges of gaining rights for domestic workers.

t hey are an incredibly undervalued resource. We don’t value care in America,” said Poo, whose speech will be featured in an upcoming story. n

commits to play for Gilas...

Clarkson saw action for Gilas during the fourth window of the 2023 fIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, where the filipinos split their two games.

the NBA star teamed up with young big man Kai sotto for the first time in that window in August 2022, but Gilas fell short, 85-81 against Lebanon in Beirut.

Days after, Gilas came back with vengeance, blasting saudi Arabia, 84-46 at the mall of Asia Arena as Clarkson went on to post averages of 25 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists.

Gilas coach Chot Reyes has been managing the pool since

What Marcos said in his second...

PAGE 3

June after a number of players sustained various injuries. Bobby ray Parks, Calvin oftana and roger Pogoy failed to join the team in its europe training camp recently. But the trio managed to rejoin the team when Gilas resumes its practice in manila over a week ago.

As of the moment, scottie thompson is still undergoing rehab on his shooting hand. Gilas will join the pocket tournament in China from Aug. 2-5 as it faces Iran, Lebanon and senegal.

the filipinos have also secured a friendly match against mexico a week before the national squad makes its fIBA World Cup debut against Dominican Republic. (richard Dy/ManilaTimes.net)

PH open to all options to address...

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of Beijing’s aggression to the UNGA in September.

If the issue is brought to the UNGA or the UN Security Council, he said that the most the Philippines can get is a resolution, which may still be ignored by China.

“We can bring that to the attention of the UN General Assembly, but all we can hope for is a resolution,” Bersamin said.

“But we are not ruling out anything because that is also part of our diplomatic tact, bringing this to the attention of the UNGA or the security Council. Nothing is given up there, nothing is

abandoned. All these options are open to us,” he added. senate President Juan miguel Zubiri had said that the upper chamber will pass a resolution urging the government to raise the issue of Beijing’s aggression to the UNGA. sen. risa hontiveros backed this possible move. she filed senate resolution 659 in June, calling on the government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), to sponsor a resolution before the UNGA that will call on China to stop its harassment of filipino vessels in the West Philippine sea.

this development came after several reports on the China Coast Guard allegedly putting at risk the lives of filipinos who were in a resupply mission in Ayungin shoal this year.

early this month, the Armed forces of the Philippines reported more than 50 Chinese vessels have swarmed the vicinity of Iroquois reef and sabina shoal in the West Philippine sea. In his soNA on monday, July 24, marcos remained mum on the Philippines’ claim over the West Philippine sea, but maintained that the country’s independent foreign policy has been effective. n

Congress’ HEAL Act ensures health care access...

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25% of lawfully present immigrants and more than four in 10 undocumented immigrants were uninsured compared to less than one in 10 citizens. Lack of health insurance is one of the key contributors to persistent inequities in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of health conditions.

In a statement introducing the bill, Barragan, Booker and Jayapal jointly stated: “the introduction of the heAL Act of 2023 comes just in time for the 58th anniversary of medicaid and medicare and stands at the precipice of unceasing and intensifying political attacks on immigrants and health care access across the country.”

“this includes the harshest anti-immigration laws in the country and ongoing abortion bans that disproportionately affect women and communities of color,” wrote

the members of Congress. Health care is a human right

“We must finally guarantee health care to everyone as a human right — regardless of immigration status, income, employment, or anything else,” said Jayapal, in a statement announcing the bill. “As a proud immigrant who came to this country alone at the age of 16, I know that the heAL Act is an urgent, necessary, and just first step to eliminating senseless barriers to health care, making our communities healthier, and ensuring all immigrants get the care they need.”

every person deserves healthcare, no matter their immigration status,” said Barragán. “healthcare is a human right, and we must remove the unnecessary barriers that prevent immigrant families from the medical care they need to live and thrive. the

heAL Act will help reduce racial health inequities and ensure everyone has access to quality healthcare in their communities.”

Supporters “everyone, regardless of their immigration status, deserves access to comprehensive, quality health care,” said Booker. “By creating a more equitable health care system, we can create healthier communities and a stronger, more resilient economy.”

the bill, which does not yet have a number, has 56 co-sponsors in the house and nine cosponsors in the senate. It is also supported by the National Latina Institute for reproductive Justice, and the National Asian Pacific American Women’s forum, among other organizations. the proposed legislation is already garnering backlash on social media. (Ethnic Media Services)

• Marcos claims the Malampaya project has benefited the country, providing 20% energy for Luzon.

• To push for more gas exploration in the country for energy sources.

• The Unified National Grid is said to “enable more efficient transfers and competitive pricing” of electricity. sixty-eight projects under this program, however, is “much delayed.”

Employment • Marcos said there are sufficient funds to train those without a livelihood.

• The government’s Social Pension for Indigent senior Citizens, social equity, Cashfor-Work for persons with disabilities and Integrated Livelihood Program-Kabuhayan for small businesses are among the programs marcos lauded. No relevant figures or findings on these programs were mentioned in the report.

• Increased employment rate to 95.7% as of may 2023.

• Marcos wants to “nurture the growth” of services from the Information technologyBusiness Process management and tourism industries.

Military and Uniformed Personnel (MUP) Pension “efforts are underway to make it fully functional and financially sustainable,” marcos said. he added that the pension reforms will have no impact on mUP. According to the proposed bill, the pension of retirees is tied to that of an active personnel of the same rank. should the latter experience an increase in salary, so will the retired personnel. marcos did not elaborate on specific plans for the mUP pension.

Education

• Nine in ten newly created teaching positions have been filled and more administrative personnel have been hired.

• Adopt blended learning permanently.

• Build more classrooms and facilities, including climate-ready schools.

• Recalibrate the K to 10 curriculum to strengthen literacy and numeracy skills.

• More higher educational institutions have been included in the World University rankings in 2023.

• Nearly 50% of the 4.1 million enrolled college students benefit from the Universal Access to Quality tertiary education program for free tuition.

• Science and technologyrelated scholarships are made available from high school all the way to graduate school, marcos said.

Science and Technology

• Forty-four Filipino scientists have returned to the Philippines under the Balik-scientist Program to produce research in various fields.

• Two additional satellites have been launched into space for meteorological, geological, risk and security assessments.

• Improved maritime education

• Expanding medical and nursing education programs

Healthcare

• The Food Stamp Program was launched. this will provide beneficiaries who are “food poor” with P3,000 worth of food credits in the latter half of 2023.

• “As of this year, more than 80% of our eligible children have been vaccinated against measles, rubella, and polio,” marcos said.

• Marcos mentioned the “alarming rise” of tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus (hIV), a first in all Philippine soNAs.

• Sixty specialty centers opened to the public in 2022, while 3,400 projects to construct more public health facilities were completed.

• Marcos claimed that prices of essential medications have decreased by about 40%.

• The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s Konsulta Package has increased the number of free dialysis sessions to 156 from 90 in 2022.

• Marcos only mentioned that the government is working on addressing the shortage of nurses and doctors. he did not lay down any concrete plan.

foreign relations

• Marcos touted the total estimated investments from his “economic missions” abroad, which amounts to Us$71 billion or P3.9 trillion investment. It was said to have the potential to generate 175,000 jobs.

Tourism

• For the first half of 2023, the country has received three million international visitors.

Digitalization

• About 42% of total retail payments were made digitally in 2022.

• E-Government Philippines (eGov PH), the government’s super app, was launched to integrate all key government services in one mobile app. the Department of Migrant Workers

(DMW) also launched its own

DMW Mobile for Overseas filipino Workers (ofWs)

• Internet speed was said to have improved, with the country ranked 83 out of 142 countries, eight places higher than in 2022.

• Marcos urged the Department of Information Communications Technology (DICT) to establish the National Government Portal and Philippine Business Databank alongside the eGov PH app.

OFWs

• OFWs contributed US$32.5 billion or P1.8 trillion pesos through remittances in 2022.

• Seventy thousand OFWs were deployed to saudi Arabia for employment.

• The unpaid salaries of 14,000 ofWs who worked in saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic are currently being processed.

Housing

• Over 100,000 availed of a housing loan from Pag-IBIG amounting to P117 billion in total.

• Over 148,000 houses and 30,000 certificates of eligibility for lot award have been distributed across the country.

• The government launched the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino housing Program (4Ph)

Climate change

• Marcos said that the Philippines is sometimes “overprepared” for natural hazards and calamities.

• More evacuation centers are to be built, 55 have already been completed.

• Marcos only mentions reducing carbon footprint and protecting forests, with no concrete plans included.

Government

• Marcos called on Congress to enact a new Government Procurement Law and a new Government Auditing Code.

• Marcos said, “almost all of the required Devolution Transition Plans” of the local government units are complete.

Marawi

• “Former adversaries are now partners in peace,” marcos said.

• Marcos said the rehabilitation of marawi City is in the phase of providing financial support for victims of the marawi siege.

Illegal drugs

• The government will follow a community-based treatment, rehabilitation, education and reintegration.

• An additional 102 Balay silangan reformation Centers have been established. (Philstar. com)

Jordan Clarkson Photo from Instagram/@jordanclarksons

PhiliPPines

‘Malaysian businessmen express interest in Maharlika’

by heLen FLoRes Philstar.com

KUALA LU m PU r – s everal

m alaysian businessmen have expressed interest in the maharlika Investment fund (mIf), President marcos said on thursday, July 27.

marcos noted that malaysian investors are the “most careful” given their experience with their own sovereign wealth fund, referring to the multibillion-dollar 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) financial scandal.

Egay exits, leaves trail of death, destruction

by michaeL Punongbayan Philstar.com

m ANILA — typhoon e gay left dozens dead as it battered Northern Luzon this week before exiting on its way to taiwan on thursday, July 27. e ven as cyclone wind signals were lowered, up to 30 passengers aboard a small boat in rizal drowned yesterday after they reportedly panicked and moved to one side of the vessel due to strong waves.

In Buguias, Benguet, a mother and her three children died Wednesday morning, July 26 when a landslide hit their house.

In Abra, a 13-year-old girl died while trying to rescue goats from drowning. two men in the province also died.

A 38-year-old man died in a mudslide in mountain Province, while a woman in Isabela was killed when hit by an uprooted coconut tree. In Baguio City, a 16-year-old boy was crushed in a landslide.

Four Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel went missing in Abulug, Cagayan after the aluminum boat they were using for a rescue operation capsized.

t hey were going to rescue seven stranded crew members of tugboat Iroquois, located 21 miles from Aparri, when their boat capsized while traversing the Cagayan river.

Egay (Doksuri) has affected an estimated 89,639 families or 328,356 individuals. Around 5,950 families or 19,826 individuals are staying in 306 evacuation centers across the country, according to the National Disaster Risk r eduction and m anagement Council (NDRRMC).

The NDRRMC added that the government has provided more than P10.2 million in assistance to displaced and affected residents of various provinces.

e gay caused at least 16 landslide incidents, 108 flooded areas, five soil erosion incidents, and four fallen tree incidents, according to an emergency meeting presided by Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro on July 26.

President marcos, who is on a three-day official visit in malaysia since tuesday, July 25, said he is constantly in touch with officials in disaster relief operations.

“I think the (typhoon) has left... r escue (is ongoing) as there were people stranded because of the flooding. r escue and then eventually relief, we will do it immediately,” marcos said

at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur.

Ilocos Norte Ilocos Norte, under s ignal No. 3, was declared in a state of calamity on Wednesday by the Provincial Board. Ilocos Norte police director Col. Julius suriben told The STAr that around 700 families were evacuated after the province experienced flooding and strong winds.

s uriben said the town of Adams has been isolated due to two landslides that blocked its main roads. the subic Bay metropolitan Authority, the o ffice of Civil Defense Region 1 and La Union Gov. Raphaelle Ortega-David also sent teams to Ilocos Norte to help in rescue operations.

Pampanga

At least 30,616 families in Pampanga or 99,700 individuals were affected by flooding, comprised of 15,633 families in m acabebe and 14,983 in m asantol, according to the Provincial Disaster Risk r eduction and m anagement office.

r eports indicate that 19 barangays in Pampanga towns are flooded. these include five barangays in masantol and 14 barangays in macabebe.

Negros

egay affected 13,541 families or 54,041 individuals and damaged 668 houses in Negros o ccidental, according to the Provincial s ocial Welfare and Development Office.

t hree persons reportedly drowned on July 25-26, while a fisherman went missing within Cadiz City waters.

Initial damage to livestock was at P104,450. Bulacan dams

Angat Dam, Ipo Dam and Bustos Dam in Bulacan released water after water elevations increased by 183.48 meters, 101.37 meters and 17.44 meters, respectively, on t hursday afternoon.

The spilling level of Angat Dam is 210 meters, Ipo Dam at 101.00 meters and Bustos Dam at 17.00 meters.

residents living near the Angat river system, particularly in the towns of Norzagaray, Angat, san rafael, Bustos, Baliwag, Pulilan, Plaridel, Calumpit, Paombong and hagonoy are advised to be on alert for the river water’s elevation, Bustos Dam water control and coordinating unit chief francisco Clara told The STAr

State of national emergency due to lawless violence in Mindanao lifted

by gabRieL Pabico LaLua Inquirer.net

mANILA, Philippines — President ferdinand “Bongbong” marcos Jr. has lifted the state of National emergency in mindanao due to lawless violence declared during the previous administration, the Presidential Communications office (PCo) said.

the PCo, in a statement on thursday, July 27, said that through Proclamation No. 298, signed by executive secretary Lucas Bersamin last tuesday, July 25, marcos lifted Proclamation No. 55 issued by former president Rodrigo Duterte in September 2016. t hrough successful focused military and law enforcement operations and programs that promote sustainable and inclusive peace, the government has made significant gains in improving and restoring peace and order in the region,” the proclamation stated.

“the lifting of Proclamation No. 55 (s. 2016) will boost economic activity and hasten the recovery of the local economy,” it added. Duterte issued Proclamation No. 55 in view of the lawlessness in the region, as several private armies, local warlords, and even terrorist groups and religious extremists threatened parts of mindanao. the following year, Islamic state sympathizers laid siege on marawi City in Lanao del sur, sparking a five-month battle with government forces. n

their experience here is not going to be a detriment. In fact, it is a way for them – they are the most careful of all – they will not invest if they see this will be similar to what happened here,” the president told filipino journalists at a press conference at the eQ hotel here. so, as long as you can assure them that what their poor experience here – the terrible things that happened here – will not happen with our fund,” he said. the president said he reassured malaysian business leaders that maharlika would be free from “undue political influence.”

accounts.

made it is left to those financial managers that we will be putting into place,” he said.

the provincial government of Bulacan has suspended work in government offices. (With reports from ric Sapnu, rudy Santos, Jun Elias, Artemio Dumalo, Gilbert Bayoran, Michael Punongbayan, ramon Efren Lazaro, Ghio ong)

“If you remember I am consistently saying it is going to be run professionally and without undue political influence. o f course, the government has an interest in the fund so we have a representative on the board, but on the day-to-day decisions as to what investments would be

“With that assurance, I think the assumption is that everyone has learned the lessons from what happened with one of their own sovereign funds – will do everything they can to avoid falling into the same situation,” the president added.

The 1MDB scandal was a large-scale corruption and money laundering conspiracy in 2015 that involved then-prime minister Najib r azak transferring over 2.67-billion m alaysian ringgit from m alaysia’s sovereign wealth fund to his personal bank

marcos signed on July 18 the maharlika Investment fund Act of 2023. It is expected to have at least P75 billion in paid-up capital this year, with P50 billion sourced from Land Bank of the Philippines and P25 billion from Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP). the fund will be invested in a wide range of assets, including foreign currencies, fixedincome instruments, domestic and foreign corporate bonds, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, real estate and highimpact infrastructure projects, and projects related to sustainable development. n

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr with First lady Liza Marcos Malacañang photo

BROWN WATER. A commuter takes the pedicab to get through the flooded MH Del Pilar Street, near Barangay Arkong Bato that separates Malabon City and Valenzuela City, on Wednesday, July 26. Metro Manila remains under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 due to Typhoon Egay as of 2 p.m. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc

New Philippines

The “new Philippines” or Bagong Pilipinas is here, President Marcos said at the conclusion of his State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 24. As he had promised, his second SONA was a performance report on the “successes and challenges” in his first year in office.

It was a year during which the nation received a boost from the improvement in the COVID health situation, which allowed the lifting of pandemic restrictions and paved the way for a revival of the global economy. on the other hand, russia’s invasion of Ukraine seriously disrupted global supply chains and caused fuel prices to surge, driving inflation that was worse than during the pandemic. still, the president sounded a positive note in summing up his first year, describing the state of the nation as “sound and improving” and marcoeconomic fundamentals strong. he reiterated his commitment to “build better and more” critical infrastructure, to continue expanding affordable housing, social safety nets and Kadiwa outlets. he set a target of 100 percent household electrification by the end of his term. renewing the commitment that no filipino will be left behind in terms of education, the president said the K-10 program is being “recalibrated” and the jobs-skills mismatch is being rectified. science and technology and “a culture of innovation” are being given priority.

Babe’s Eye View

there is absolutely no doubt that the intense competition between the United states and China in the Indo-Pacific highly impacts countries in the region and even beyond. the Philippines’ strategic location – which “sits squarely at the heart of the Indo-Pacific region” as President ferdinand marcos Jr. described it – makes it a key stakeholder with a central role to play in the power dynamics in the region, with the U.s. and China engaged in a rivalry for economic, military, political and even technological supremacy.

Despite the escalating tension between the two giants with the rhetoric heating up once again, the U.s. and China “need each other,” analysts say, pointing to the continued economic cooperation between the rivals with bilateral trade reaching $690.6 billion in 2022, and the fact that their economies are complementary. While their battle for dominance continues, there are many indications that both nations seek to mitigate the tension, such as the recent visits of treasury secretary Janet Yellen and state secretary Antony Blinken to Beijing.

Both U.s. president Joe Biden and Chinese president Xi Jinping also acknowledge the need to responsibly manage the competition between their countries as seen during the

he warned that the days of agricultural smugglers and hoarders “are numbered,” and he would accept the resignation of rogue police officers, as he stressed that “we cannot tolerate corruption and incompetence in government.”

Addressing concerns about his pet project, the maharlika Investment fund, the president vowed transparency and accountability in its management. he then enumerated 17 priority measures that he wants Congress to pass during its second regular session. these include the controversial reforms in the pension system of military and other uniformed personnel as well as new or higher taxes on singleuse plastics and digital services. the president also wants to rationalize the mining fiscal regime and create a water resources management agency. he wants amendments in the road user’s tax, the Cooperative Code, the fisheries Code and the Anti-Agricultural smuggling Act. he wants a new government procurement law, Government Auditing Code and Philippine Immigration Act, and a law on “Tatak

Pinoy” and the blue economy. other priorities are income classification of local government units as well as laws to ease tax payments and fight financial accounts scams.

that’s a long to-do list, for both the president and the legislature. At the start of the second regular session of the 19th Congress, everyone should hit the ground running. (Philstar.com)

Intense competition between US and China

G-20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, with President Biden saying he absolutely believes “there need not be a new Cold War,” while President Xi recognizes they share an interest in “no confrontation and peaceful coexistence.”

Being pragmatic, President ferdinand marcos Jr. knows that the Philippines has to squarely deal with the United states and China – both of which are our major trade partners – while keeping true to the commitment to uphold our national interest and defend our sovereignty. from the onset, he has adopted a balanced foreign policy that seeks to engage with traditional allies and pursue relationships with new partners – espousing the position that the Philippines is “a friend to all and an enemy to none.”

But the reality, however, is that more than 80 percent of filipinos remain distrustful of China, mainly because of what is happening in the West Philippine sea, with Chinese Coast Guard vessels’ incessant harassment and obstruction of Philippine Coast Guard patrol vessels on routine supply and humanitarian missions, conducting dangerous maneuvers that could result in a collision. China built artificial islands within our territorial waters, resulting in the destruction of coral reefs and causing marine species to lose their habitat. Worse, the bullying and harassment by Chinese vessels have deprived filipino fishermen of their livelihood.

A lot of filipinos approve of

the proposal by the Department of education to include the West Philippine sea and the maritime territorial issues in the Grade 10 curriculum, with a lesson on the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the hague to be included as well. senator risa hontiveros also filed a resolution to declare July 12 every year as the “National West Philippine sea Victory Day” to commemorate the 2016 PCA ruling that invalidated China’s sweeping claims over the south China sea.

The Department of Foreign Affairs also put up a microsite titled “Not one Inch” to document and commemorate the landmark PCA ruling, serving as a repository of information on the arbitral award and its contributions to the rule of law and peaceful settlement of disputes through the United Nations Convention on the Law of the sea and international law.

As one high level government official told me, “If China would only leave our territorial waters alone, we would have an extremely better relationship with them than any other country, with them being our neighbor.”

the reality is – China’s harassment and bullying is the main cause of the animosity of 90 percent of filipinos, making us turn to our treaty ally, the United states, as “trustworthy and reliable” – an ally that is undoubtedly aligned with the Philippines’ firm resolve to protect its sovereignty.

Not surprisingly, the meeting of former president

Rodrigo Duterte with President Xi has elicited extreme anxiety and agitation among many filipinos. But as President marcos said, any new line of communication between China and the Philippines is welcome, more so if the discussion included the shadowing by Chinese vessels and other issues surrounding the West Philippine sea.

Clearly, China is looking for “microphones” – meaning personalities who are willing to speak out about their position, like former U. s s tate s ecretary h enry Kissinger, another “old friend” who also visited China recently. But there also seems to be an increased activity by paid bloggers, hackers and China sympathizers out to discredit personalities who consistently speak out about China’s aggressive behavior.

But no matter which way it goes, the Philippines will remain focused on engaging with China because it is in our mutual interest to have good economic relations with our neighbor, just like what the Philippines is doing with the U.s. We just hope that those who profess love of country or who may have personal ill feelings about the United states or China – regardless of whether they are more inclined to favor one country over the other – what is important is to remember that deep inside, he or she is a filipino, and will think long term on the effects of his or her actions one way or another.

one thing is certain: I know for a fact that PBBm

may have some issues with the United states – most especially stemming from what happened in the past – but he has undoubtedly made it clear that as the president, he will never allow whatever personal feelings or issues he may have to cloud his sworn duty to defend and preserve the best

interest of the republic and the filipino people. (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

Urge Congress to pass the dr U g Act: Protecting patient access and enhancing affordability of medications

t he exorbitant healthcare costs in the United states continue to hinder millions of Americans from obtaining essential treatments necessary for a healthier, fuller life. As an individual who recently survived a stroke and now heavily relies on various prescription medications, I can personally attest to this challenge. Congress must take decisive action to alleviate the burden of healthcare expenses and improve patients' access to vital prescriptions.

Addressing the exorbitant outof-pocket costs associated with prescription drugs is an ideal starting point. even individuals

with comprehensive insurance coverage are burdened with substantial additional charges, especially given today's inflation and the high cost of living. Consequently, many patients may find themselves deferring or forgoing the pickup of prescribed medications altogether, ultimately compromising their health outcomes. the frustrating reality is that a significant factor contributing to these soaring costs is the profit-driven conduct of insurance companies and their Pharmacy Benefit managers (PBms). With limited oversight and accountability, PBms currently control a staggering 80% of the prescription drug market. they exploit their market power to dictate the

precise conditions for patients to access their essential prescriptions.

PB m s employ detrimental policies, such as prior authorization and prescription "steering." these tactics often result in significant delays in accessing care, disproportionately impacting patients with chronic or terminal health conditions. Additionally, steering compels patients to seek medications exclusively from the pharmacies owned or affiliated with PBms, further exacerbating access barriers and forcing individuals to go to great lengths to obtain doctor-prescribed treatments. however, prior authorization and patient steering policies are

not the sole ways PBms undermine patient access, seeking to cut costs and bolster profits. As intermediaries between drug manufacturers and insurance companies, PBms negotiate discounts on certain drugs. these discounts should be passed down to patients to reduce out-of-pocket expenses at the pharmacy counter.

furthermore, PBms often exploit loopholes, pocketing the savings from drug discounts and rebates instead of sharing them with consumers. this practice further boosts their already substantial profits while compelling millions of patients nationwide to bear high out-of-pocket costs. such an approach undermines

the fundamental principles on which our healthcare system should operate. thankfully, bipartisan legislation known as the DRUG Act is currently under consideration in the senate, offering a viable solution to address the growing threat to patient access and affordability posed by PBms. If enacted, this bill would effectively rein in and reform some of the most harmful practices employed by PB m s, ensuring that patients' health, safety, and well-being take precedence over profit-driven motives.

the senate must act swiftly to pass the DRUG Act, and the house of representatives must follow suit. While this legislation may not singlehandedly resolve

all the challenges contributing to the high cost of healthcare, it represents a significant stride forward in holding PBms accountable, reducing out-of-pocket expenses, and strengthening access to essential care for millions of Americans.

By enacting the DRUG Act, Congress can demonstrate its commitment to protecting patient rights, enhancing affordability, and ensuring that healthcare remains accessible to all those in need. the time for action is now.

* * *

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.

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

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with Chinese President Xi Jinping Malacañang file photos

UnESCo wants global ban on cell phones in schools

by Pia Lee-bRago Philstar.com

mANILA — A new United Nations report raised concerns about the excessive use of smartphones and the over-use impacts on learning, calling for the gadgets to be banned in schools worldwide.

the United Nations educational, scientific and Cultural organization (UNesCo) global report on technology in education highlights the lack of appropriate governance and regulation. titled “technology in education: A tool on whose terms?,” the 2023 Global Education Monitoring report calls for appropriate use of technology in education and emphasizes the need for a “human-centered vision” where digital technology serves as a tool rather than taking precedence.

According to the report, digital technology has changed but not transformed education.

UNESCO’s Director of Global education monitoring, manos Antoninis warned of the danger of data leaks in educational tech, as only 16 percent of countries guarantee data

privacy in the classroom, by law. “We know that vast amounts of data are being used without the appropriate regulation, so this data ends up being used for other non-educational purposes, commercial purposes and that’s of course a violation of rights that needs to be regulated,” Antoninis said. the UNesCo report also highlights the disparities created by digital learning. During the COVID-19 pandemic, half a billion students worldwide were left out due to the shift to online-only learning with an imbalance in online resources favoring europe and North America.

UNesCo is urging countries to set their own standards for the way technology is designed and used in education such that it never replaces in-person, teacher-led instruction and supports the shared objective of quality education for all. the digital revolution holds immeasurable potential but, just as warnings have been voiced for how it should be regulated in society, similar attention must be paid to the way it is used in education,” warned UNESCO Director-General

Audrey Azoulay. In contrast to digital technology’s potential to improve education, there are also risks of information and communication technologies in education, which are often ignored by research and evaluations.

the report said several countries are banning the use of mobile telephones or other technology in schools. Globally, less than a quarter of countries have laws or policies banning the use of telephones in school. some ban the use of specific applications because of privacy concerns. technology, the report said, has fundamentally changed the way in which children exercise and realize their rights, including their rights to both education and privacy.

“While under certain conditions the use of technology in education can enhance children’s opportunity to learn, it can also put their physical and mental integrity, privacy, and dignity at risk,” it said. UNesCo said policymaakers should listen to the voices of children so that their rights are protected and safeguarded during their online activities. n

Health workers’ group demand release of pandemic allowances, benefits

by chaRie abaRca Inquirer.net

m ANILA — t he Alliance of health Workers (AhW) urged the marcos administration to release the COVID-19-related allowances and benefits due to health workers even after the lifting of the state of public health emergency nationwide.

salome ejes, president of the Philippine heart Center employees Association and member of AhW, told President ferdinand “Bongbong” marcos Jr. that health workers need more than “gratitude and appreciation.”

the president, in his second state of the Nation Address on monday, July 24 thanked medical professional for their service and dedication at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

mr. President, we heard it many times. But more than gratitude and appreciation, what we need is the sincerity of your administration,” said ejes in a statement on Wednesday.

“You already lifted the state of health emergency but the COVID-19 allowances covering the period of July-December 2021 and

January-December 2022 [are] not yet provided to [health workers]. Yet you still owe us the January-June 2023 health emergency Allowance,” ejes added.

Meanwhile, Cristy Donguines, president of the Jose reyes memorial medical Center employees Union and also a member of AhW, likewise criticized marcos for not tackling in his speech the potential solutions for understaffing in public hospitals.

“he did not even tackle on how to address the perennial understaffing in public hospitals by implementing mass hiring and

Strike fails to paralyze Metro Manila transport

by emmanueL tuPas and Bella CariaSo Philstar.com

mANILA — the first day of the transport strike organized by manibela on monday, July 24, which coincided with the second state of the Nation Address (soNA) of President marcos, did not paralyze public transportation in metro manila, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP). Col. Jean fajardo, spokesperson for the PNP, said there were no stranded commuters due to the transport strike.

Police deployed mobility vehicles to assist commuters.

PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. earlier urged manibela not to push through with the transport strike.

According to Valbuena, malacañang’s suspension of classes and work in government offices in metro manila is an admission that the mobilization could paralyze public transportation.

“When I read the memorandum circular from malacañang, it’s obvious that the suspension was due to the transport strike as the effect of the typhoon has yet to be felt,” he said.

the police and the protesters.

“they did that for photo ops to justify that there was an untoward incident during the strike,” he said.

Valbuena said the group would decide if the three-day transport strike will continue until tomorrow.

Free rides the Armed forces of the Philippines (AfP) has deployed at least 17 military trucks, buses and coasters to provide free rides to commuters affected by the transport strike.

regularization of contractual health workers,” said Donguines in the same statement. “No mention of health budget increase for 2024. Yet, he boasted of putting up specialty hospitals in the region but he did not state if it is publicly funded or another scheme of privatization,” Donguines added. marcos delivered his second soNA last July 24. In his more than hour-long speech, he vowed to “repay the sacrifices of health care workers” saying that his administration will “distribute their COVID health emergency allowance and other pending benefits.” n

“We did not monitor stranded passengers,” fajardo said in a Viber message. manibela president mar Valbuena, however, declared the first day of the three-day strike as successful. Valbuena said aside from metro manila, transport strikes were also staged in Bulacan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, rizal and tarlac.

“We have strike centers in manila, particularly in onyx, as well as in Pasay, Parañaque and in muñoz, Quezon City,” Valbuena said. he has said at least 40,000 jeepney drivers would participate in the strike. however, other transport groups opted not to join manibela’s effort to paralyze public transportation in metro manila and other provinces.

Valbuena said the Palace directive showed that the problem of the jeepney drivers had reached President marcos.

“Commonwealth Avenue can be compared to a ghost town,” Valbuena said. he also decried the alleged police harassment suffered by those who participated in the transport strike.

“Police removed our flags in the strike centers and forced our members to leave. Jeepney drivers in Novaliches who joined the strike were also harassed,” Valbuena said. members of manibela held a caravan from the University of the Philippines in Diliman to tandang sora in Quezon City.

Valbuena accused the police of trying to make it appear that there was a commotion between

AfP spokesman Col. medel Aguilar said the “libreng sakay” was initiated as support to the Department of Transportation and metropolitan manila Development Authority. this is also part of the AfP’s efforts to help ensure a peaceful soNA,” Aguilar said. he said the vehicles providing free rides would be under the supervision of the military’s Joint task force National Capital region.

In taguig, the city government is offering free rides to commuters who may be affected by the planned threeday transport strike. City hall said it would provide vehicles to pick up passengers along the sta. Ana Plaza-san Joaquin route.

the city government is ready if more vehicles are needed in other areas,” city hall said. (with reports from Michael Punongbayan, Daphne Galvez)

COOKING SEMINAR. Despite the inclement weather, parents of children with disabilities attend a livelihood seminar at the Grain Foundation for PWD Inc. office along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on Wednesday, July 26. Jocelyn Silawan, a trainer from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, leads the cooking seminar to equip the parents with diverse livelihood strategies and skills.

PNA

photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

President Marcos in his second State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 24 thanked medical professional for their service and dedication at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Inquirer.net file photo

VEGAS&STYLE

Get to know Fil-Am rapper Ez Mil who signed a deal with Eminem and Dr. Dre

by

Whether you’re a fan or not, fil-Am rapper ez mil deserves some applause as the hip-hop universe is buzzing as he signs up with rap legends eminem and Dr.Dre. t he duo is bringing in the 25-year-old ez mil to their fam as they include him in their stellar record labels Aftermath, shady records, and Interscope. soon, this fil-Am pride from Las

Vegas will conquer the charts with a revamped album and collaboration with the two rap icons.

eminem announced ez mil’s signing on Instagram on Wednesday, July 26. he captioned, “me and Dre back at it. “Check @ ezekielmiller aka ez mil out- link in bio.”

The Collaboration: Ez Mil, Eminem, and Dr.Dre so, what’s the secret behind this epic deal? It comes down to one music video. on twitter,

eminem confirmed the record signing and shared that the fil-Am rapper’s “Up Down (Step & Walk)” music video is what enticed the two to sign ez mil.

A bonus to this deal? We’re here for it — his album will feature Eminem. Get ready for a music explosion as these two rap powerhouses work together on the song “realest.” It will be released on Aug.11. eminem tweeted with a link to the video, “this is why we signed him.” talk about making your first impression.

Ez Mil released the DU4LI7Y single’s video, “Up Down” in february. It gained interest from fans who noticed the song style’s similarities to eminem.

After a month, the legendary rapper heard the song. ez mil didn’t think twice and drove from Vegas to Los Angeles to link up with Dre and Eminem. eminem said in a statement, “We’ve never been out there signing a lot of artists, and one of the great things about how we built shady is how selective we’ve been.” he was in awe when he heard ez’s music and said, ‘this is really special’. So I took it to Dre. We both agreed it would be a great fit, and we wanted to work with him right on the spot.”

In addition, Dre said that he’s only interested in working on songs with unique sounds, “and only then if I feel I can really bring something to it. em played me ez and I had that feeling… that thing that happens when we both know we’ve found something special. And that was it….let’s get

Jeannie Mai Jenkins and Cheryl Burke to host Miss Filipina International 2023

PoPULAr tV personalities Jeannie mai Jenkins (“the real”) and Cheryl Burke (“Dancing with the Stars”) will host the 10th miss filipina International (mfI) on August 5, 2023, at the International Ballroom of the Beverly hilton in Beverly hills, California. mario Lopez of “Access tV” will join as a special guest presenter along with the reigning miss Universe Philippines Michelle Dee as cohost. the exciting news was announced by Worldwide media entertainment Corp., headed by Geoffrey Jimenez, chairman of the board of directors, the new owner of mfI which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. he is also the executive producer of the mfI show.

“We are thrilled and honored to have Jeannie, Cheryl and mario join us,” Jimenez said. “they will add excitement and glamour to the miss filipina International pageant. Jeannie’s experience as a host of top prestigious pageants like miss Universe and miss UsA is unparalleled. And Cheryl’s record-breaking 26 seasons with ‘Dancing with the Stars’ is an outstanding experience which she will bring to a live show like the miss filipina International.”

A community leader and arts patron, Jimenez is passionately committed to elevating mfI as a showcase of the Philippines’ rich legacy in arts and culture and the beauty and talent of filipina women. Proud of his immigrant roots, Jimenez staunchly supports filipino talents in various fields, especially in entertainment.

Under Jimenez’s stewardship, mfI is the first ever filipina beauty pageant to be held at the Beverly hilton’s International Ballroom, the prestigious venue of the Golden Globe Awards, the Academy nominees luncheon, Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy party and other high-profile events.

It’s the first time that the two Daytime Emmy Award winners, Lopez and mai Jenkins, who have hosted miss Universe in separate years, and Primetime emmy nominee Burke, will be together at a filipina beauty pageant. forty candidates, all beautiful filipinas, are vying for miss filipina International 2023.

mai Jenkins, who hosted miss Universe 2023 in January this year, is the host of “America’s test Kitchen: the Next Generation,” executive producer of the anti-sextrafficking documentary stopping traffic,” and creator of the travel and lifestyle series, hello hunnay.” Previously, she co-hosted the Daytime emmy-winning talk show, “the real,” for eight seasons. Burke is a secondgeneration filipina American tV personality, podcaster and mental health advocate. she is best known for the hit ABC reality show, “Dancing with the stars.” Additional projects for Burke included her taking over “Dance Moms.” She has her third podcast, titled “sex, Lies

and spray tans,” with iheart media which will launch on August 21.

Lopez, is a New York times bestselling author, nationally syndicated iheart radio host and co-host of NBC’s “Access hollywood.”

Dee, the reigning Miss Universe Philippines, is the show’s special guest co-host. she is an actress, entrepreneur, and lifelong advocate of various causes.

Lisa Lew, multiple Daytime emmy winner (“Cristina’s Court” and “Judge Judy” and the groundbreaking “Last Shot with Judge Gunn”) is the producer of mfI. Joseph Carolei, Daytime Emmywinning director of “the talk” and the 43rd Annual Daytime emmy Awards, will direct mfI, which promises to be one of the best and most thrilling live events this year.

on the August 5 black tie coronation night, the 40 mfI candidates, representing various states across America and several countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom and the Philippines, will compete in the pageant which salutes the filipina – multifaceted, talented, versatile and confident. the candidates were revealed in a press presentation at the oasis terrace of the Beverly hilton.

In the coronation night to be

presided over by mai Jenkins and Burke, a celebration of the Philippines and its people, rich culture, arts and fashion, the 40 women will vie for these titles: miss filipina International; miss tourism; first runner-up; second runner-up; and third runner-up.

mfI is a miss Universe Philippines (mUP) franchise, in partnership with Jonas Gaffud’s empire Philippines. three mfI winners will be eligible to compete next year in miss Universe Philippines while two mfI winners will vie in the miss Philippines pageant.

In addition to the previously announced top prize of a BmW 2 series car, the winner will also receive a $10,000 gift certificate from iskin Beverly hills. other prizes include $5,000 cash and a $10,000 gift certificate from iskin for miss tourism; a $2,500 cash prize and a $5,000 gift certificate from iskin for each of the first, second and third runners-up. the winner will also get 20 restaurant-quality healthy meals from flexPro meals and a month’s supply of Celsius Beverages.

mfI’s sponsors include Philippine Airlines, BmW, Jojo Bragais shoes, Narcisa Pheres (mfI crown designer), iskin Beverly hills, Biaggi Luggage, Bell Beachwear, the Beverly hilton, see’s Candies manila, flexPro meals and Celsius Beverages.

Dancing with the Stars alum, podcaster and mental health advocate

Cheryl Burke

Photo by Sthanlee B. Mirador Reality TV/talk show host, documentary executive producer and travel/lifestyle series creator Jeannie Mai Jenkins

MFI executive producer Geoffrey Jimenez

Photo by Ken Hugh

Access Hollywood co-host and bestselling author Mario Lopez

Eminem, Ez Mil and Dr. Dre

Photo from Instagram/@ezekielmiller

Mary Villegas Inquirer.net

Fil-Am Eva Noblezada lands lead role in ‘The great gatsby’ musical The epidemic of loneliness in America

by Mary Villegas Inquirer.net

ALL the spotlights are on for the comeback of fil-Am sensation eva Noblezada as she takes the lead role in ‘The Great Gatsby’s’ stage adaptation. And we’re definitely rooting for this fil-Am girl.

mark your calendars as she will surely set the stage on fire as Daisy Buchanan in this epic stage play. You can catch it from oct. 12 – Nov. 12, 2023, at the Paper mill Playhouse in New Jersey, UsA.

starting on Aug. 14, tickets will be on sale, and you better grab yours AsAP! As we’re sure, it will be selling like hotcakes.

With a star-studded cast, acting alongside her is Jeremy Jordan as Jay Gatsby. He is a rising star who appeared in Waitress and Newsies and with a Tony And Drama Desk Award nominee. this is all we know so far, as the complete casting will be announced at a later date. But with its captivating story and original score, this masterpiece will surely set your hearts aflutter.

About the Great Gatsby

An f s cott f itzgerald masterpiece, this timeless story will bring you back to the 1920s. Get ready to experience the glitz, glamour, and hidden desires. this epic novel is about Jay Gatsby and his obsession with Daisy Buchanan, leading to a head-spinning tale of love, betrayal, and broken dreams.

A major contender for the title Great American Novel, The Great Gatsby’s stage adaptation promises to delve into the Jazz Age with a melodic twist and great music.

In addition, the production team behind this stage remake is

nothing short of incredible. Kait Kerrigan will head the musical’s book while its original score is by Nathan tyson and Jason howland.

Dominique Kelley will choreograph, and m arc Bruni will direct the overall play. Daniel edmonds is the musical director, and howland will do the musical supervision, orchestration, and arrangements. Discover Eva Noblezada’s talent this fil-Am’s talents know no boundaries, which proves her versatility as an actress. h er previous performances have

Leaving Sin City

CoRin Ramos lujan

DECEMBER 31, 2015.

I was visiting the Philippines with my parents and twin daughters, who just graduated from university. It was New Year’s eve, one of the most festive times in the Philippines. Unfortunately, both my daughters were in their rooms, recovering from a bout of food poisoning the day before.

from the balcony of my family home, I watched the street below full of the townspeople walking, dressed in their modest finery; tricycle engines and loud music mingling with the crackling of sparklers and fireworks.

When the midnight hour finally struck, everyone on the street stopped, turned to each other and hugged. “happy New Year!” was the refrain reverberating clearly up to my position on the balcony.

o ne particular face in the crowd stood out to me.

in America, I thought. this is the way it is here. But, I always remember odie, especially on NYe, especially when I have had nobody to ring in the new year with.

gained critical acclaim both on the silver screen and the Broadway.

After captivating her audiences when she played Kim in “miss saigon,” she had a tony Award nomination for Best Actress in musical. her exceptional portrayal of eurydice in hadestown further cemented her name as a great talent in the theater world. You might have also seen her on your Netflix screens as she plays the fil-Am teen dealing with her struggles as an immigrant in the U.s. in the 2020 movie, “Yellow rose.”

Get to know Fil-Am rapper Ez Mil...

to work.”

Dr.Dre and Eminem have a reputation for discovering talents and honing them into greatness. one example is 50 Cent, who rose to stardom after signing in with their record label.

Who is Ez Mil?

We’re here to raise our flags for this f ilipino pride who’s about to embed his name in the international music scene. here’s what e know so far about this rising fil-Am star.

h e was born and raised in o longapo City, Philippines to filipino parents who are both singers; it runs in the blood! his father is the lead vocalist of the filipino band, rockstar.

During his college years, he moved to the Us and set his path to a music career. h e started recording and producing his own songs —”idk” is the first song he produced. It’s not surprising how he is now rising to fame as Americans are already reviewing his songs on Youtube even before,

with one gaining 1.4m views. A major breakthrough came for him when his song “Panalo” became the NBA 2k23 soundtrack. But fame doesn’t go without any hurdles; this song was also involved in some controversies due to its lyrics.

In addition, he also performed the ever-patriotic “Panalo,” “reUp,” and the exceptional song “Up Down” in the NBA halftime of the LA Clippers and Utah Jazz game.

“odie,” had been one of our family helpers since he was a young teen. he and his two other brothers were taken in by my grandmother when their parents could no longer care for them financially.

t hat night, the pure joy on odie’s face as he hugged and was hugged by others around him, was something I still remember to this day. odie came from poverty, and is still probably classified in that category by today’s standards. But, on that New Year’s eve, surrounded by his family, friends and community, he looked like the happiest and most loved person I knew. my life in America seemed so different from odie’s, I remember thinking. my parents and sister and I immigrated to the U. s when I was five and my sister was three years old. With both our parents working, we were latchkey kids after we were old enough to be on our own and not go to the babysitter’s house after school. our friends lived in other neighborhoods, so we didn’t really play outside with anyone.

After my divorce in 2005, I spent many holidays and New Year’s e ves by myself when my children were with their father. After a while, I got used to the loneliness. this was life

As I get older, I’ve been questioning more and more my perpetual state of loneliness and being alone. Are there health consequences to solitary existence? What about mental cognizance issues of being alone?

And of course, the question of “will I die alone?”

It turns out my concerns are valid: loneliness in America has now become so prevalent that the U.S. Surgeon General has called loneliness an epidemic and it is threatening the health of Americans. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek m urthy, said Americans are facing an epidemic of loneliness, an “underappreciated public health crisis” that needs to be brought to light. even before the COVID-19 pandemic, about half of adults in the country reported measurable levels of loneliness, which can affect mental, physical and societal health.

In his advisory released in may, Surgeon General’s Advisory on our Epidemic of Loneliness and isolation murthy calls attention to the mounting problem.the health risks associated with prolonged loneliness are dramatic—akin to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, per m urthy’s 81-page advisory. Loneliness can increase the risk of premature death by 26 percent and raise the likelihood of heart disease, stroke, anxiety, depression and dementia.

Loneliness isn’t just affecting Americans’ emotional wellbeing, but truly affecting our

health. s ocial disconnect can also carry an enormous economic cost—among older adults alone, isolation accounts for an estimated $6.7 billion in excess m edicare spending. It’s also linked to poorer academic achievement and work performance.

I know of people who went back or are thinking of going back to the Philippines to be closer to friends and family members. e specially as they grow older, like me. It’s not perfect there, as it is not perfect anywhere. But, I doubt any of my cousins and family members there will tell you they feel lonely or isolated. step outside the door, and there is always someone to talk to, to spend time with. to celebrate or cry with.

Dr. Murthy offers a simple solution to this problem: “our relationships are a source of healing and well-being hiding in plain sight – one that can help us live healthier, more fulfilled, and more productive lives.”

Back in the Philippines, on that street on New Year’s eve, in plain sight, I think odie already knew that.

* * * 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.

* * * Corin Ramos Lujan was born in Manila and immigrated to the U.S. at five years old. A former journalist and graduate of UC Berkeley, Corin received her Philippine dual citizenship in May 2023. She currently lives in Las Vegas where she is a real estate agent, and also an accredited Marketing Partner in Nevada for Ayala Land, Inc., the largest real estate developer in the Philippines.

Eva Noblezada

Photo from Instagram/@livevamaria

Odie (center) with my twin daughters during our visit in December 2015. Odie is the resident and master “tad-tad” of lechon for family parties.

PhiliP s . Chua, md, FaCs , FPCs

the epidemic of childhood obesity, which obviously parallels the incidence among adults, has contributed to the explosion of metabolic syndrome, the most common cause of major illnesses our society faces today. the word “metabolic” refers to the biochemical processes and physiology governing the body’s normal functions to achieve homeostasis (balanced, healthy state).

What is metabolic syndrome?

metabolic syndrome is also called Insulin resistance syndrome or syndrome X. this is a cluster of medical risk factors – high blood pressure, high fasting blood sugar and cholesterol/ triglyceride levels, and excess body fat around the waist – that increase the likelihood of heart attacks, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. this syndrome, which is usually without symptoms, except for an expanding waistline, might someday overtake smoking as a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases and deaths.

How common is metabolic syndrome? metabolic syndrome is very common in the United states.

About 35 percent of all adults and 50 percent of those aged 60 and over have this syndrome. the “seeds” for this condition are planted while the fetus is in the womb and continue during childhood, where the children’s DNA are gradually damaged by unhealthy diet, habits, and behavior of the mother and the children themselves, starting from the crib. Children drinking soft drinks, diet or regular, cola or uncola, are 40 percent more prone to develop metabolic syndrome, starting with weight gain and then childhood obesity, later, hypertension (high blood pressure), arthritis, heart attack, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and even cancer. soft drinks are also toxic to adults as well, with 40 percent risk also, according to the Us National Institute of health.

What are the metabolic risk factors?

excess body weight, obesity, lack of exercise, smoking, alcohol excess are all risk factors for developing metabolic syndrome, besides damages in the genes. With metabolic syndrome, there is also increased insulin resistance, where the hormone called insulin

Metabolic syndrome

produced by our pancreas is having difficulty getting into the cells to perform its normal job in sugar metabolism. As a result, the blood glucose (sugar) is not metabolized and absorbed by the cells properly (to provide us energy) and its level goes up (high blood sugar and A1C levels), resulting in type 2 diabetes.

excessive caloric intake (overeating, especially rice and other non-vegetable carbohydrates) and lack or absence of exercise, leading to overweight condition or obesity, are the main factors that contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome. While heredity is a factor, it is outweighed by lifestyle, behavior, and habits.

filipinos have 11.3 percent incidence of diabetes compared to Chinese, 4.4 percent, because of rice consumption and other carbohydrates (including bread, ice cream, sweets, etc). Chinese eat smaller amount of rice, and they also eat a lot of vegetables, tofu, and nuts daily. many of them are vegetarians. Low carb is healthier.

Are chubby kids healthy?

Absolutely Not! While growing up, I remember society’s concept that a chubby child was a healthy child. medically, it could not be farther from the scientific truth. even today, television shows feature chubby kids as actors, which sends a bad signal to the viewers.

Children who are overweight, who are not guided and disciplined to portion their caloric intake, especially from rice and other carbohydrates (bread, sweets), will become obese adults and face all the disease consequences of obesity, including cancer. obesity is a significant risk factor in the development of cancer. the earlier the appropriate dieting starts, the better for the child’s health and longevity as an adult.

Are snorers prone to this syndrome?

those who snore and do not get a restful sleep should undergo a sleep study. If the test shows they have obstructive sleep Apnea (osA), which could sometimes cause prolonged breath-holding and cardiac arrest, they could benefit from the use of a CPAP

(Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine every time they go to sleep. osA increases the risk for metabolic syndrome and the cluster of diseases listed above, including cancer.

How do we prevent metabolic syndrome?

As with any illnesses, prevention is the key. In my book,

On Medicaid

“Let’s stop ‘Killing’ our Children” (www.philipschua.com), I have highlighted the fundamental principle that disease prevention must be a proactive and pre-emptive strategy starting from the cellular level (in the womb and in the crib) to protect the child’s DNA from any damages that will lead to diseases. maternal lifestyle, habits, and health during pregnancy are essential in shielding the DNA of the fetus from toxic substances in its time in the womb and in the crib after delivery. the protection includes dieting for the baby starting from the crib and onward to teen years and adulthood. By protecting the DNA, these children (future adults) will not have to be saddled with the illnesses most of us have today, heredity considered, as I have alluded to earlier.

What is the treatment?

Greater awareness of the metabolic syndrome and its health consequences is the key and a major part of the management of this serious condition. since this is a cluster of diseases, the treatment is tailored to the individual’s presenting illness(es), like high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid problem, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s, etc. the single most essential one is lifestyle changes to a healthier one: proper weight maintenance by caloric control (especially rice, bread, and other carbohydrates restriction), daily physical exercise, abstinence from tobacco, minimal alcohol use, if any, stress management by having adequate restful sleep, relaxation, regular vacation, and regular medical-dental check-up. While this will be a life-long endeavor, the reward is great and worth all the effort – much less illnesses, better health, and longevity.

* * *

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: scalpelpen@gmail.com.

by The naTional asian Pacific cenTer (naPca)

reCeNtLY, NAPCA’s senior Assistance Center has received several calls regarding medicaid redetermination. We want to share some of the questions in this month’s column.

What does medicaid redetermination mean?

Prior to the pandemic, states were required to renew coverage for people with m edicaid coverage at least once a year and to disenroll individuals who no longer qualified for coverage. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress acted to ensure Americans did not lose access to critical health care by preventing states from terminating a person’s m edicaid coverage, even if they no longer qualified. Now that the P he (public health emergency) has ended, federal law requires states to restart regular m edicaid renewals. t his means that over the next 12 months, everyone with health care coverage through m edicaid will renew their coverage. What do I need to do for Medicaid Redetermination? for people with medicaid coverage:

• UPDATE your contact information with your state medicaid agency.

• RESPOND to the Medicaid

renewal form when it arrives to keep your coverage.

• CONSIDER OTHER COVERAGE OPTIONS: If you are no longer eligible for medicaid, check if you can get coverage through your employer, through the Affordable Care Act marketplace at healthCare. gov, or through medicare.

What do I do if I lose Medicaid coverage though the redetermination process?

If you are no longer eligible for medicaid, you can transition to another form of health coverage, such as the Affordable Care Act marketplace, employer-sponsored coverage, or medicare. You can re-apply for medicaid to find if you still qualify. some options open their own special enrollment Period and signup timeframe window. Please contact us if you have any questions about the seP.

I am currently enrolled in Medicaid in California. Recently I got a part-time job, and I am worried that I may lose my Medicaid coverage after the Medicaid Redetermination process. What is the threshold for Medicaid in California? medicaid is a state run program for certain people with limited income and assets. It

means each state has its own eligibility. In the case of CA, you are still eligible for medicaid, • if you are single and your income is below $1,677 per month, or • if you are a married couple and your household income is below $2,268 per month.

If you are 65 or older, you have an asset limit as well that is $130,000 for single or $195,000 for couple. Please contact us to get the information about medicaid eligibility or contact your local medicaid office to check your medicaid eligibility in the state where you live.

Ph IL and Purie m esina celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary with friends, relatives and family on sunday, June 11 at the r oyal Crystal Ballroom in Las Vegas, Nevada. they're blessed with five children (Gie, Leah, Philip, Vela and frank), 10 grandchildren, three greatgrandchildren and 1 great-greatgrandchild.

t heir story all started with a “love letter!" When asked, what's your secret to a happy marriage? mommy's answer is, "Never go to bed angry.” Daddy's answer: “Always have God in the center of your relationship."

h appy 65th wedding anniversary to the most loving, caring parents in the world!

Cheers to 65! June 8, 1958June 8, 2023.

Arjo Atayde teases wedding with Maine Mendoza is ‘soon,’ pushes for Eddie Garcia bill passage

by KrisTofer Purnell Philstar.com

mANILA – Actor-politician Arjo Atayde is containing his excitement for his upcoming wedding to maine mendoza, rumored to be happening at the end of the month.

Arjo attended the 2023 state of the Nation Address (soNA) of President ferdinand “Bongbong” marcos Jr. at Quezon City's Batasang Pambansa, but like last year, did not bring a plus-one. the actor-politician mostly kept away from cameras before and after the event, however, tV5's Von Belinario was able to ask Arjo if he had any wedding jitters.

“I’m just excited, ‘yun na lang sasabihin ko,” Arjo said with a smile.

Asked if the wedding was going to be on July 28 — a source told Philstar.com that Arjo and maine will tie the knot this weekend in Baguio — Arjo only said it was “soon.”

Apart from his general thoughts of soNA 2023, Arjo was also asked about the possibility of the Eddie Garcia bill becoming law in the current session of Congress.

The Eddie Garcia bill, named after the late legendary actor, aims to protect workers and independent contractors in the local entertainment industry. Garcia passed away in June 2019 at 90 years old following an accident while filming a series. the bill, which Arjo co-authored, had unanimously passed the house on a third

reading earlier this february and awaits marcos' signature.

Arjo shared that he and fellow congressman toff de Vencia, himself also bill co-author involved in the local entertainment business, have been working on the bill’s full passage but acknowledged there’s been an imbalance between actors and producers — somewhat similar to the ongoing actors’ strike in hollywood.

“As an actor myself coming from the industry, I know there’s much to develop, but for it to be recognized is already a must,” Arjo said. “It has to be deliberated properly but for now definitely, bias aside, I think there's still things to improve.”

Prior to soNA 2023, the noontime variety show "e.A.t." threw a bridal shower party for maine wherein co-hosts Paolo Ballesteros, Wally Bayola, and Zombie pretended to be macho dancers while ryzza mae Dizon, Joey Generoso, Carren eistrup, and Ice seguerra all performed song numbers.

Both Arjo and maine’s families met last June for the traditional “pamamanhikan” where individuals ask for the blessings of their spouse-tobe’s parents to wed.

Arjo and maine were engaged last July, four years after they first met (and exactly nine years after maine's viral “Arjo cutie” tweet), but have remained mum about a specific wedding.