080523 - Los Angeles Weekend Edition

COLUMBIA — A new study by a nurse scientist now at University of Missouri found that immigrant nurses often represent far more human capital than their American-born counterparts.

Studies often focus on years of experience and traditional educational backgrounds as the skills and competencies or “human capital” of long-term care registered nurses in the United States.

However, additional criteria, such as ability to speak multiple languages, additional certificates or trainings and licenses to practice in multiple states add considerably to the human capital often represented by immigrant nurses.

Roy Thompson, a postdoctoral fellow in the MU Sinclair School of Nursing and immigrant with a doctoral degree in nursing at Duke University, found that immigrant nurses were far more likely to speak multiple languages, have additional certificates, years of experience, and had licenses to practice in more states than

United States concerned over Manila Bay reclamation projects tied to Chinese firm

by Gaea Katreena CabiCo Philstar.com

Marcos meets with predecessor Duterte to discuss Xi Jinping talk

by GabriEl Pabico lalu Inquirer.net

MANILA — Former President Rodrigo Duterte visited President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to talk about his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil said on Wednesday, August 2.

Duterte met with Xi in China in July, prompting calls for him to disclose what they discussed in the meeting.

“They also discussed other issues,” Garafil added, without specifying the issues.

“The former president likewise gave some good pieces of advice to President Marcos.”

Before the meeting, Marcos said Duterte need not get permission to meet with Xi. He hoped, however, that Duterte would disclose what the discussion was about.

LOS Angeles public health officials are reminding residents about “sensible protections” as COVID-19 hospitalizations and emergency department visits are “slightly” increasing in the county.

In a statement, the county’s Department of Public Health emphasized access to testing and treatment to help reduce the spread of infection and prevent people from becoming very sick from COVID-19.

With reported COVID-19 hospitalizations rising slightly in Los Angeles County, Public Health officials remind residents to reduce risk from a COVID-19 infection by testing if exposed or experiencing symptoms such as fever or chills, coughing, runny nose, fatigue and body aches, and staying home and seeking treatment as soon as possible after the onset of symptoms.

Testing can reduce the spread of COVID-19 to others, especially people who are vulnerable to severe illness from the virus. Free at-home tests are widely available through community partners and at libraries and public health clinics throughout Los Angeles County. Public Health distributed 305,946 antigen test kits for

House panel approves bill on internet voting for OFWs

by John eriC Mendoza Inquirer.net

MANILA — The House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms approved on Tuesday, August 1 the proposed Overseas Voting Act of 2023 (House Bill No. 6770) that would allow overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to vote via the internet.

“Our OFWs and overseas Filipinos, including seafarers, constitute a significant segment of our society, with their economic contribution and the national honor that they bring to the country, and for the sacrifices they endure while working abroad, leaving their loved ones behind,” OFW party-list Rep. Marissa Magsino, who filed the bill, said in her opening speech.

“Therefore, we owe them the best, possi-

ble, convenient, and securements to exercise their right of suffrage as valued compatriots as fellow Filipinos,” she added.

The bill will amend the Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003 (Republic Act No. 9189). The counterpart proposal is Senate Bill No. 172 filed by Sen. Francis Tolentino.

Citing data from the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Magsino said that only 1.69 million of around 12 million OFW voters registered for the 2022 elections, and of the registered voters, only around 600,000 cast their votes.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said he would support the bill as it could improve voter turnout in the next elections. He pointed out that 700,000 of 1.69 million voters failed to cast their ballot for two u PAGE A4

Filipinas eager to carry World Cup momentum into Asian Games, Olympic qualifiers

by LanCe aGCaoiLi Inquirer.net

MANILA — After a historic FIFA World Cup stint, the Philippine women’s football team seeks to keep its momentum going into the Asian Games in China in September and the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Australia in October.

Buoyed by their precious experience from the World Stage in Auckland last week, the Filipinas received a warm welcome from their fans during a meet and greet on Thursday, August 3 at Adidas

Brand Center, Glorietta in Makati.

“We’ve been just super hyper-focused on the World Cup and with that over now, we still have two tournaments going on this year — we have Asian Games and Olympic qualifiers,” said Goal Keeper Olivia McDaniel. “As a team, we’re gonna refocus and start from there and look forward to those two important tournaments coming up.”

The Philippines is slated in Pool E in the Asian Games in Hangzhou from September 19 to October 7 where it will face South Korea,

“I am sure he will be able to tell us what happened during their conversation and see how that affects us,” Marcos said. n

Jr.

by John Eric MEndoza Inquirer.net

MANILA — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Thursday, August 3 said that no nation has the right to question the Enhance Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in the Philippines.

The EDCA sites are inside the Philippine military bases in which the United States forces are allowed to rotate and store defense equipment and supplies.

“EDCA, first and foremost, is Philippine base. All countries in the world build bases. We do not question the bases being built

file photo by other countries except when they are being built on contested territory,” Teodoro said in a chance interview during his visit to Lal-lo, Cagayan, where an EDCA site is located.

“This is Philippine territory, and it is our business what we do here just as long as it is for Philippine interest, and here, the United States and we converge in our intended use for this, and it is not any other countries’ business to question what we do here,” Teodoro added.

China has earlier questioned the new EDCA sites, particularly those relatively near Taiwan,

REUNITED. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met with former President Rodrigo Duterte at the Malacañang Palace on Wednesday, August 2 where they discussed the latter’s recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

Malacañang photo

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro

Inquirer.net

United States concerned over...

Environmentalists, scientists, and fishers have long asked the government to halt these projects, citing concerns over the destruction of mangroves, wetlands and marine ecosystems, displacement of coastal communities, and loss of livelihood.

There are around 22 reclamation projects in Manila Bay, an important fishing ground and a hub of economic activities.

Blacklisted firm

The U.S. Embassy also ex -

LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (LACMTA) REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

LACMTA will receive proposals for PS111650Review of Metro Bus Pass Ups at the 9th Floor Receptionist Desk, Vendor/Contract Management Department, One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

This project is a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) SetAside contract. To participate in this RFP, proposers must be SBE certified with LACMTA prior to proposal due date. For information on the Set-Aside Program, visit: https://business. metro.net/VendorPortal/faces/ home1/certifications.

All proposals must be received on or before 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at the address listed above, sent to the attention of Manchi Yi. Proposals received later than the above date and time will be rejected and returned to the proposer unopened.

For a copy of the Proposal/Bid specification visit our Solicitation Page on our Vendor Portal at https://business.metro.net or for further information email Manchi Yi at yim@metro.net.

8/5/23

CNS-3725675#

ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)

pressed concern about the ties of reclamation projects to the China Communications Construction Company, a firm blacklisted by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Washington sanctioned CCCC for helping the Chinese military construct and militarize artificial islands in the South China Sea, including areas that the Philippines refers to as the West Philippine Sea.

The embassy added that the firm has been cited by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank “for engaging in fraudulent business practices.”

The CCCC is behind the Samal Island-Davao City Connector project, and the North and South Harbor Bridge.

During a meeting with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. early this year, the company proposed to build a highway project connecting Laoag City in Ilocos Norte and Rosario in La Union.

"We continue to support high quality, sustainable, and transparent investments to benefit the Filipino people and will continue to engage with the appropriate authorities on this matter," the U.S. Embassy said.

Cumulative impact assessment

LA County stresses safety amid slight increase in...

In response to the U.S. Embassy’s statement, Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Loyzaga said the agency will assess the cumulative impacts of reclamation activities in Manila Bay.

“We’re now assembling the team that would be doing the cumulative impact assessment so we started talking to different scientists,” Loyzaga said in a Palace briefing Wednesday, August 2.

She noted that the Manila Bay Sustainable Development Master Plan crafted by the previous administration will serve as a reference for the assessment.

The master plan was envisioned to guide decision makers in the assessment and approval of programs and projects (PAPs) for implementation in the Manila Bay and in adjacent areas with significant influence on the bay.

“Reclamation has a certain value in terms of economy. However, we need to do the cost benefit analysis in terms of impacts to geology and longer term impacts in terms of what could result from climate change,” Loyzaga said.

The DENR chief earlier said the agency is monitoring the compliance of reclamation projects that are under construction. n

Filipinas eager to carry World...

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Hong Kong, and Myanmar.

In the Olympic qualifying tournament for Paris Games 2024, the Filipinas will be taking on host Australia, Chinese Taipei, and Iran in Group A in Perth starting on October 26.

Alicia Barker vows that the team won’t stop after making history in the Women’s World Cup, where the Filipinas lost their opening game against Switzerland, 2-0, before bouncing back with a historic 1-0 win over host New Zealand from the goal of Sarina Bolden and the big saves by McDaniel. They crashed out of the competition after getting dominated by Norway 6-0 in the group stage.

“I think obviously we want to perform well at any competition that they go to and I don’t think that will change when the World Cup is done. And really, once we’re done, acknowledging all

the media, all the fans. And we’re right going back to work. That really changes the sense of that mentality,” said Barker. Barker said the team will continue working for the next two major tournaments.

“I think it has pushed me even more and I like getting more experience to play so just with these girls and train every day. It has made me a better player. I think it shows me how much I need more to grow just because I am so young. So, I’m excited to see where the future takes me,” she added.

After experiencing a historic competition, Katrina Guillou said the team remains eager to qualify again for the 2027 Fifa Women’s world cup

“It’s definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience but I think now, when we got a taste of it, we’re raring to get back in four years,” Guillou said. n

the week ending July 30, 2023, bringing the total number of test kits distributed in Los Angeles County in June and July 2023 to more than 2 million. To find out how and where to get free test kits, visit http://publichealth.lacounty. gov/covidtests.

For people who have tested positive, treatment is easy to access in Los Angeles County. Public Health offers free telehealth services that include delivering medicine directly to the person who needs it. Beginning treatment within five days of the start of symptoms can prevent serious illness and reduce the amount of time a person may test positive for COVID-19. Early evidence also suggests that treatment may lower the risk of developing long COVID. For free telehealth services and other COVID-19 resources, contact the Public Health Call Center at 1-833-540-0473. It’s open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. With fall approaching, Los Angeles County residents also should begin talking with their health care provider about updating protection against COVID-19, flu and, if 60 years

or older or a very young child, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are expected to issue vaccination guidance for the anticipated fall COVID-19 vaccine in the upcoming weeks. Once approved, Public Health will work with community partners to make sure that residents have easy access to the updated COVID-19 vaccine and other recommended vaccines to protect against severe illness during fall and winter.

With the lifting of the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) vaccine requirements for health care workers on Aug. 5, 2023, Los Angeles County will rescind the current Health Officer Order, COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Healthcare Workers. The COVID-19 vaccine will no longer be required for workers in health care settings; however, health care workers are encouraged to be fully up to date on COVID-19 vaccines. When workers in health care settings are up to date on their vaccines, there is both a reduced risk to patients and among health care workers

themselves, as vaccines provide strong protection against severe illness that harms patients and staff. Public Health will wait until the FDA and CDC issue vaccination guidance for the anticipated fall vaccine before updating appropriate vaccination safety protections for health care workers. Health care workers should continue to wear a well-fitting mask when providing care to or working in-person with patients, clients and residents and when in patient care areas in health care and direct care settings in accordance with Health Officer Order, Required Masking of Workers in Healthcare and Direct Care Settings. Public Health continues to monitor COVID-19 in Los Angeles County. If there are significant changes in level of transmission, hospitalizations or Early Alert Metrics, Public Health will review and revise current policies. Los Angeles County remains in the CDC Low Hospital Admission Level with 3.0 weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 people, reported on July 31 for the seven-day period ending July 22. n

Immigrant nurses embody more ‘human...

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American-born nurses.

Thompson and his team studied demographic data of more than 1,800 nurses working in nursing homes or long-term care rehabilitation centers in the U.S. “By incorporating the additional criteria, we get a much better model for comparison, and I wanted to show that immigrant nurses often have a wealth of transferrable skills, are more mobile and adaptable given their experiences practicing in different long-term care settings,” Thompson is quoted in Mirage News.

While most immigrant nurses from the Philippines, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the English Caribbean may embody significant amounts of human capital, they are often hired for underpaid, entry-level positions and forced to work their way up after arriving in the U.S., Thompson said. Previous research also shows that immigrant nurses experience discrimination, racism, exploitation, inequitable pay, and

unfavorable treatment at work.

“For example, there was some evidence that immigrant nurses were more likely to be assigned to COVID-19 units in long-term care during the pandemic. In fact, about 30% of nurses who died from COVID-19 were from the Philippines.

“While most nursing research focuses on hospitals, clinical research, patient populations and patient health outcomes, nursing homes and long-term care facilities tend to be an understudied, yet overregulated sector. I wanted to look deeper into the nursing home workforce itself.”

The long-term goal of Thompson’s research is to eventually improve immigration policies that currently typically restrict nurse migration to the U.S.

“Immigrant nurses are highly qualified, highly skilled and come to the U.S. with knowledge that the nursing workforce needs to improve health outcomes,” Thompson said.

“For example, previous studies

have shown that in nursing homes with higher proportions of immigrant nurses tend to improve health outcomes such as decreased rates of pain, use of physical restraints and falls.” While Thompson became the first Black male to ever earn a doctoral degree in nursing from Duke University, he hopes to see more highly skilled immigrant nurses working in nursing homes going forward.

“As the median age of Americans continues to rise, we are starting to see more diverse patient populations receiving care in nursing homes,” Thomson said. “So ideally, we would want a more diverse workforce to better reflect the patients they are serving.” (Inquirer.net) ***

“Examining Human Capital Among Foreign and United States Educated Nurses in LongTerm Care” was published in the Journal of Nursing Regulation. The study was conducted while Thompson was a doctoral student at Duke University.

Blood test that screens for cancer raises hopes, and worries

by Mark kreidler California Healthline

BY summer 2021, Gilbert Milam Jr. was living a good life.

A nationally renowned rapper who performs under the name Berner, Milam was also enjoying the global expansion of Cookies, a brand of cannabis products and clothing that he co-founded and was running as CEO.

But Milam was haunted by a family history of cancer, including his mother’s death from stomach cancer at 54. So, at age 37, he told his physician in San Francisco that he wanted to take every precaution against being diagnosed too late to live a full life. As it happened, his doctor said there was a new test to try.

The blood test, Galleri, returned a DNA signal for colon cancer. After a colonoscopy confirmed it was stage 3, Milam underwent eight hours of surgery, followed by radiation and chemotherapy. Today, he said, he is cancer-free.

“That test saved my life, and that’s a fact,” said Milam, speaking with California Healthline from his tour bus in July.

Galleri, priced at $949, is the first of a wave of so-called multi-cancer early-detection (MCED) tests, which analyze DNA fragments in the blood for abnormalities associated with cancer. Grail, the Menlo Parkbased biotech company that created Galleri, says it checks more than a million specific DNA sites for cancer signals and can identify more than 50 types of cancer, including cervical, colon, breast, and prostate. More than a dozen prospective rivals are developing their own cancerscreening products.

The medical community, however, has yet to come to a consensus on the value of MCED tests. The notion of broadly screening seemingly healthy people has raised alarms among those who already lament the American medical system’s penchant for overtesting and, often, overtreating patients based on test results. Some note the controversy around prostatespecific antigen tests for prostate cancer as an example.

“A screening test has to be magnificent, mathematically, for it to be beneficial,” said Jerome Hoffman, a professor

emeritus at UCLA’s Department of Medicine and a longtime critic of overtesting and overdiagnosis.

“The biggest threat on the horizon is overdiagnosis — finding things that don’t matter but that we intervene on anyway.”

Many experts say it isn’t yet clear whether the tests do more good than harm — and having one already commercially available troubles them.

“You interview a hundred people and tell them there’s a test that could detect 20 or 30 or 50 cancers with a single blood sample, and a whole lot of them are going to say, ‘I want that,’” said Philip Castle, cancer prevention director at the National Cancer Institute. “But this is a brave new world. We don’t know anything about these tests, truly.”

Milam’s journey began in San Francisco when he was having blood drawn to check for covid-19 antibodies. He told his doctor, Jordan Shlain, about his fear of developing life-threatening cancer, and about his family’s history with the disease.

Shlain, founder of the San Francisco-based concierge practice Private Medical, told Milam about Galleri.

“Our practice had done a 12- to 18-month review of the science. We grilled the people at Grail,” said Shlain. “The short version is, new test, promising results, and we know that genetics and genomics have transformed the way cancer is treated. You have to be skeptical if you’re a scientist, but this is also a tension between policymakers and primary care doctors. I take care of individuals, not populations.”

Shlain said he doesn’t recommend the test for all patients; it would depend on their histories and risk factors. On the other hand, he said, “You can’t prevent cancer, but you can prevent it from killing you by catching it early. That’s just a truism.”

Milam, who continues to both perform and run Cookies (the company has been the subject of recent lawsuits), has become an evangelist for the test. He has often discussed his experience with his more than 2 million Instagram followers, and he wonders why more doctors don’t prescribe Galleri as they would standard screenings. Shlain said

even some doctors in his practice are reluctant, despite Private Medical’s deep dive into the research.

Grail’s path has not been smooth. The company was originally a spinoff of San Diego gene-sequencing pioneer Illumina, and after the firm raised venture funding and proved its technology, Illumina bought it back last year for $7.1 billion. But because Illumina dominates the market for the sequencers needed in MCED testing, the Federal Trade Commission has sued to unwind the deal on antitrust grounds.

Grail also acknowledged in June that about 400 of its customers were mistakenly told they might have cancer — not because of an error with the test, but because incorrect form letters were inadvertently sent out by a vendor.

Josh Ofman, Grail’s president, said the company is lobbying Congress “along with many constituent groups” to authorize Medicare to cover the cost of MCED tests, which could unlock billions of federal dollars in potential revenue. Grail recommends annual screening, but it’s generally not covered by insurers.

Said Castle, speaking of MCED tests in general, “I can’t remember seeing anything [in laboratory tests] that compares with the potential market of this. This is the kind of money being thrown around that we usually reserve for pharma.”

Grail used an exemption for laboratory-developed tests to begin marketing Galleri without FDA approval two years ago, a move that raised eyebrows in the medical community because that process is typically used for tests with no commercial value.

Another MCED blood test, by Exact Sciences, is following the same path to market and is expected to be available soon.

“I’m going to guess that we’ll see more and more of that because companies are eager to start selling,” said Barnett Kramer, a former director of cancer prevention at the NCI and a member of the Lisa Schwartz

for

“But that sometimes

in

Survey: Americans want weight loss drugs despite high cost

by Julie Appleby KFF Health News

MANY Americans really want to lose weight — and a new poll shows nearly half of adults would be interested in taking a prescription drug to help them do so.

At the same time, enthusiasm dims sharply if the treatment comes as an injection, if it is not covered by insurance, or if the weight is likely to return after discontinuing treatment, a new nationwide KFF poll found.

Those findings display the enthusiasm for a new generation of pricey weight loss drugs hitting the market and illustrate possible stumbling blocks, as users potentially must deal with weekly self-injections, lack of insurance coverage, and the need to continue the medications indefinitely.

For example, interest dropped to 14% when respondents were asked if they would still consider taking prescription medications if they knew they could regain weight after stopping the drugs.

One way to interpret that finding is “people want to lose a few pounds but don’t want to be on a drug for the rest of their life,” said Ashley Kirzinger, KFF’s director of survey methodology. The monthly poll reached out to 1,327 U.S. adults.

The U.S. represents a large market for drugmakers who want to sell weight loss prescriptions: An estimated 42% of the population is classified as obese, according to a controversial metric known as BMI, or body mass index. In the KFF poll, 61% said they were currently trying to lose weight, although only 4% were taking a prescription medication to do so.

That gap between the 4% taking any kind of prescription weight loss treatment and the number of Americans deemed overweight or obese is the sweet spot drugmakers are targeting for the new drugs, which include several diabetes treatments repurposed as weight loss drugs.

The drugs have attracted much attention, both in mainstream publications and broadcasts and on social media, where they are often touted by celebrities and other influencers. Demand jumped and supplies have become limited. About 7 in 10 adults had heard at least “a little” about the new drugs, according to the survey.

The newer treatments include Wegovy, a slightly higher dose of Novo Nordisk’s diabetes drug Ozempic, and Mounjaro, an Eli Lilly diabetes treatment for which the company is currently seeking FDA approval as a weight loss drug.

Weight loss with these injectable drugs surpasses those of earlier generations of weight loss medications. But they are also costlier than previous drugs. The monthly costs of the drugs set by the drugmakers can range from $900 to more than $1,300.

At, say, a wholesale price tag of $1,350, the tab per person could top $323,000 over 20 years.

The drugs appear to work by mimicking a hormone that helps decrease appetite.

Still, like all drugs, they come with side effects, which can include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation. More serious side effects include the risk of a type of thyroid cancer, inflammation of the pancreas, or low blood sugar. Health officials in Europe are investigating reports that the drugs may result in other side effects like suicidal thoughts.

The KFF survey found that 80% of adults thought insurers should cover the new weight loss drugs for those diagnosed as overweight or obese. Just over half wanted it covered for anyone who wanted to take it. Half would still support insurance coverage even if doing so could increase everyone’s monthly premiums. Still, 16% of those surveyed said they would be interested in a weight loss prescription even if their insurance did not cover it.

In practice, coverage for the new treatments varies, and private insurers often peg coverage to patients’ BMI, a ratio of height to weight. Medicare specifically bars coverage for drugs for “anorexia, weight loss, or weight gain,”

although it pays for bariatric surgery.

“Unfortunately, a lot of insurers have not caught up to the idea of recognizing obesity as a disease,” said Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity medicine specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

Employers and insurers must consider the potential costs of covering the drugs for enrollees — perhaps for them to use indefinitely — against the potential savings associated with losing weight, such as a lower chance of diabetes or joint problems.

Stanford said the drugs are not a miracle cure and do not work for everyone. But for those who benefit, “it can be significantly life-altering in a positive way,” she said.

It’s not surprising, she added, that the drugs may need to be taken long term, as “the idea that there is a quick fix” doesn’t reflect the complexity of obesity as a disease.

While the drugs currently on the market are injectables, some drugmakers are developing oral weight loss drugs, although it is unclear whether the prices will be the same or less than the injectable products.

Still, many experts predict that a lot of money will be spent on weight loss products in the coming years. In a recent report, Morgan Stanley analysts called obesity “the new hypertension” and predicted industry revenue from U.S. sales of obesity drugs could rise from a current $1.6 billion annually to $31.5 billion by 2030.

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

The real costs of the new Alzheimer’s drug, most of which will fall to taxpayers

by Arthur Allen KFF Health News

THE first drug purporting to slow the advance of Alzheimer’s disease is likely to cost the U.S. health care system billions annually even as it remains out of reach for many of the lowerincome seniors most likely to suffer from dementia.

Medicare and Medicaid patients will make up 92% of the market for lecanemab, according to Eisai Co., which sells the drug under the brand name Leqembi. In addition to the company’s $26,500 annual price tag for the drug, treatment could cost U.S. taxpayers $82,500 per patient per year, on average, for genetic tests and frequent brain scans, safety monitoring, and other care, according to estimates from the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, or ICER. The FDA gave the drug full approval July 6. About 1 million Alzheimer’s patients in the U.S. could qualify to use it.

Patients with early Alzheimer’s disease who took lecanemab in a major clinical trial declined an average of five months slower than other subjects over an 18-month period, but many suffered brain swelling and bleeding. Although those side effects usually resolved without

obvious harm, they apparently caused three deaths. The great expense of the drug and its treatment raises questions about how it will be paid for, and who will benefit.

“In the history of science, it’s a significant achievement to slightly slow down progression of dementia,” said John Mafi, a researcher and associate professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. “But the actual practical benefits to patients are very marginal, and there is a real risk and a real cost.”

To qualify for Leqembi, patients must undergo a PET scan that looks for amyloid plaques, the protein clumps that clog the brains of many Alzheimer’s patients. About 1 in 5 patients who took Leqembi in the major clinical test of the drug developed brain hemorrhaging or swelling, a risk that requires those taking the drug to undergo frequent medical checkups and brain scans called MRIs.

In anticipation of additional costs from the Leqembi drug class, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in 2021 increased monthly premiums for Medicare patients by 15%, and premiums may rise again in 2024 after a slight decline this year. Such increases can be a

significant burden for many of the 62 million Medicare subscribers who live on fixed incomes. “Real people will be affected,” Mafi said. He contributed to a study that estimated lecanemab and related care would cost Medicare $2 billion to $5 billion a year, making it one of the most expensive taxpayer-funded treatments.

In its analysis, ICER suggested that Leqembi could be costeffective at an annual price of $8,900 to $21,500. In an interview, David Rind, ICER’s chief medical officer, said $10,000 to $15,000 a year would be reasonable. “Above that range doesn’t seem like a good place,” he said.

Whatever its price, patients may be delayed getting access to Leqembi because of the relative shortage of specialists capable of managing the drug, which will require genetic and neuropsychological testing as well as the PET scan to confirm a patient’s eligibility. A similar drug, Eli Lilly’s donanemab, is likely to win FDA approval this year.

Already there are long waits for the testing needed to assess dementia, Mafi said, noting that one of his patients with mild cognitive impairment had to wait u PAGE A4

Many Americans really want to lose weight — and a new poll shows nearly half of adults would be interested in taking a prescription drug to help them do so. Unsplash.com photo by Diana Polekhina

The real costs of the new Alzheimer’s...

eight months for an evaluation.

Such testing is not readily at hand because of the paucity of effective treatment for Alzheimer’s, which has helped to make geriatrics a relatively unappealing specialty. The United States has about a third as many dementia specialists per capita as Germany, and about half as many as Italy.

“Time is of the essence” for the neuropsychological testing, Mafi said, because once a patient’s cognitive ability declines below a certain threshold, they become ineligible for treatment with the drug, which was tested only in patients in the earliest stages of the disease.

Mafi’s study estimates that patients without supplemental Medicare coverage will have to pay about $6,600 out-of-pocket for each year of treatment. That could put it out of reach for many of the 1 in 7 “dual eligible” Medicare beneficiaries whose income is low enough to simultaneously qualify them for state Medicaid programs. Those programs are responsible for about 20% of physician bills for drug infusions, but they don’t always cover the full amount.

Some practitioners, such as cancer centers, cover their Medicaid losses by receiving higher rates for privately insured patients. But since almost all lecanemab patients are likely to be on government insurance,

that “cross-subsidization” is less of an option, said Soeren Mattke, director of the Center for Improving Chronic Illness Care at the University of Southern California.

This poses a serious health equity issue because “dual eligibles are low-income patients with limited opportunities and education, and at higher risk of chronic illnesses including dementia,” Mattke said in an interview. Yet many doctors may not be willing to treat them, he said. “The idea of denying access to this group is just appalling.”

Eisai spokesperson Libby Holman said the company was reaching out to specialists and primary care physicians to make them aware of the drug, and that reimbursement options were improving. Eisai will provide the drug at no cost to patients in financial need, she said, and its “patient navigators” can help lock down insurance coverage. “A lot of clinicians are excited about the drug, and patients are hearing about it,” said David Moss, chief financial officer of INmune Bio, a company that has another Alzheimer’s drug in development. “It’s a money center for infusion centers and MRI operators. It provides reasons for patients to come into the office, which is a billing thing.”

Outstanding doubts about Leqembi and related drugs have given urgency to efforts

House panel approves bill on internet...

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to monitor patient experiences. CMS is requiring Leqembi patients to be entered into a registry that tracks their outcomes. The agency has established a registry, but the Alzheimer’s Association, the leading advocacy group for dementia patients, is funding its own database to track those being treated, offering physician practices $2,500 to join it and up to $300 per patient visit.

In a letter to CMS on July 27, a group of policy experts said CMS should ensure that any and all Leqembi registries create and share data detailed enough for researchers and FDA safety teams to obtain a clear picture of the drug’s real-world profile.

The anti-amyloid drugs like lecanemab have created a polarized environment in medicine between those who think the drugs are a dangerous waste of money and those who believe they are a brilliant first step to a cure, said ICER’s Rind, who thinks lecanemab has modest benefits.

“People are as dug in on this as almost anything I’ve ever seen in medicine,” he said. “I don’t think it’s healthy.”

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

consecutive elections, which would lead to voters’ deactivation. He also stressed that the

Comelec spent P470 million on overseas voting — almost P400 per registered voter. “We spend that much, only to

have that 38 to 39 percent voter turnout,” Garcia said. “Maybe we could avail other modes of voting, which is internet voting.” n

Other nations have no business...

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saying the agreement was made so that Washington could “encircle and contain China” which would drag the Philippines into “the Taiwan question.”

In response, Teodoro said that the new EDCA sites’ proximity in Taiwan is just a “geographical accident,” stressing that these locations are chosen with the country’s national interest in mind. There are currently nine EDCA sites in the country.

In April, Malacañang named

the four new EDCA sites — Camilo Osias Naval Base in Sta. Ana town and Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo town, both in Cagayan province; Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela and Balabac, the southernmost island in Palawan province.

Three of these new sites — those in Cagayan and Isabela — are relatively near Taiwan, a self-ruled island which China regards as a renegade province subject to reunification.

The five other EDCA sites are Antonio Bautista Air Base in

Palawan, which is closest to the Kalayaan Group of Islands; Basa Air Base in Pampanga, the home of the Philippine Air Force’s fighter planes; Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, the country’s largest military camp and a frequent location of PhilippineU.S. military exercises; MactanBenito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu and Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City. Teodoro said there is a need to fast track the development in all of these sites, particularly the four new ones.

Blood test that screens for cancer raises...

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a benefit — and I think that’s the case here.”

Detailed studies on the net benefit of MCED tests could take 10 to 15 years, Castle said. The FDA doesn’t have to wait for a large-scale federal study to be completed, but it could still be years before the agency approves any MCED test.

The aim of a longer, large-scale study is to better understand both the benefits and risks associated with early-cancer screening. Among other considerations: Many types of the disease lack treatments, and not all cancers grow significantly or ever become a problem. Skeptics of MCED tests worry about patients being diagnosed and treated — sometimes intrusively and with potential dangers — based on a finding that isn’t a true threat.

“It’s not enough to say you find cancer,” Castle said. “The question is, can we find cancer and save lives? We also want to know about the harms associated with this — false negatives and false positives — and whether the test works equally well in all populations.”

Ofman said Galleri has been the subject of multiple small-scale tests, including a study led by University of Oxford researchers that found a 76% positive predictive value — the probability that a patient with an abnormal test result actually has cancer. The study was supported by the United Kingdom’s National Health

Service, which has undertaken a randomized clinical trial of the test that will ultimately involve 140,000 adults. Early results are expected next year.

Currently, established tests screen for only a handful of cancers — and those generally identify cancer in its later stages, when less can be done to intervene. According to NCI research, 73% of people who die of cancer had cancers that weren’t detected by the standard tests in use.

“You have more treatment options for cancers that are found early, sometimes including ones that are curative,” Ofman said. “And even with stage 3 or 4 cancers, treatments when the cancers are found asymptomatically get better outcomes.”

But with more than 100,000 Galleri tests already sold, Kramer,

with the Foundation for Truth in Medicine, is among those concerned that the marketing of the product is running ahead of evidence in its favor.

“The weight of ethical burden shifts to the person who is trying to get the healthy person to take the test,” Kramer said. “The bestcase scenario here is that the test might actually reduce the risk of dying from the second-most common cause of death in the adult population, and if it did that with a low risk of overdiagnosis, that would be a major win. But we’re a long way from being able to say that.”

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

Top legal expert’s advice on finding unity: Insights from Dr. Qiang Xue

by R icha R d F u

IT has been nearly three years since the United States witnessed one of its most divisive elections in decades. Despite President Joe Biden’s call for unity, recent data from the USC Polarization Index reveals that political polarization is still as severe as it was three years ago. However, amidst this time of uncertainty, one thing that Americans seem to agree on is the vital importance of upholding the “rule of law” in the country. Political leaders, TV pundits, and scholars frequently talk about “the rule of law.” And most of us who listen nod our heads and think, “I agree with that.” We all have some notion that the rule of law is central to our democratic system, but why is that so?

I had the honor of speaking with Dr. Qiang Xue, a wellknown legal expert who specializes in antitrust laws and was recently awarded the China-U.S. Business Summit Outstanding International Business Legal Expert Award. As someone with extensive experience in the field of law, I asked Dr. Xue to share his insights on the matter at hand.

“When addressing antitrust concerns, it is important to consider the interests of various parties who may come from different national origins and cultural backgrounds. These parties may interpret laws differently and, due to significant economic incentives, powerful entities may try to impose their will on weaker ones. To comprehend the law accurately, we must establish a shared identity based on

the principles of the rule of law. It is crucial to have a firm belief that adhering to the law guarantees equality of opportunity and the proper functioning of society,” Dr. Xue explained. One of Dr. Xue’s most notable accomplishments is his work on comparative analysis of anti-trust laws in the United States, European Union, and China. This research has provided valuable insights into the similarities and differences between these major legal systems, enabling companies to better understand the regulatory landscape and adapt their business strategies accordingly. This is particularly important for multinational companies, as they operate in multiple jurisdictions with varying degrees of regulatory oversight. Dr. Xue has published numerous articles and books on the subject, earning him international recognition as a leading authority in the field. His research has influenced policymakers and legal professionals worldwide, helping to shape more effective and fair anti-trust regulations. “Antitrust laws are designed to prevent monopolies, cartels, and other anti-competitive business practices that could harm consumers and stifle innovation. The rule of law ensures that these laws are consistently enforced, providing a level playing field for businesses to compete in fairly. By deterring anticompetitive conduct, the rule of law promotes efficiency,

encourages innovation, and ultimately benefits consumers through lower prices and better-quality products and services. I am deeply concerned about the misuse of antitrust laws, also known as the ‘weaponization of antitrust laws.’ This refers to companies and governments who abuse these laws and create ‘legal traps’ to target their competitors. Unfortunately, governments sometimes use unfair enforcement actions to assist certain companies,” Dr. Xue said. “It is very concerning because if companies and eventually societies lose their trust in the rule of law, it could

have serious consequences. I often remind my students and colleagues that a law that doesn’t protect everyone doesn’t protect anyone,” he continued.

Multinational companies must be aware of and comply with antitrust laws to avoid costly fines, reputational damage, and potential dismantling of their business operations. Dr. Xue’s work has been instrumental in helping these companies navigate the complex world of antitrust regulations, ensuring that they can compete fairly and effectively in the global market. Dr. Xue worked

with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission in 2008 to invite senior U.S. antitrust law enforcement officials to China. This collaboration allowed for the sharing of experiences on antitrust law enforcement, which paved the way for future exchange and cooperation between China’s NDRC and foreign antitrust enforcement agencies. In 2010, Dr. Xue and his colleagues finalized several memoranda of understanding on antitrust enforcement cooperation between China, the UK, the EU, and the U.S.

“In my 20-plus years of

working with businesses, government agencies, and legal systems globally, I’ve come to the conclusion that no country has a flawless legal system. However, what sets the United States apart is its ability to remain united and resilient despite the various divisive challenges it has faced in the past. This unity is founded on a shared belief that the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution embody a profound reverence for due process, fairness, and impartial application of the law – values that are central to the American ethos,” said Dr. Xue.

Galleri, priced at $949, is the first of a wave of so-called multi-cancer early-detection (MCED) tests, which analyze DNA fragments in the blood for abnormalities associated with cancer. Unsplash.com photo by Testalize.me

Hidden hate and lies: How ‘covert’ political influencers ran the show of 2022 elections

by ChrIstIna ChI Philstar.com

MANILA — Content creators engaged in covert political campaigning during the 2022 elections were paid a premium for their unique ability to deploy inflammatory speech to attack candidates, a new study on disinformation has found.

Recently published study "Political Economy of Covert Influence Operations in the 2022 Philippine Elections" estimates that at least P600 million to P1.5 billion were spent on political influencers in the 2022 election for presidential and vice presidential bets.

Researchers’ interviews with political influencers and individuals working with them also show that expenses for influence operations are likely left out of candidates’ official declared campaign expenses, highlighting how new forms of disinformation escape traditional forms of auditing.

The study was written by Filipino scholars Fatima Gaw, Jon Benedik Bunquin, Samuel Cabbuag, Jose Mari Lanuza, Noreen Sapalo, and Al-Habbyel Yusoph. The research was funded by Internews, an international media development organization, which also supported an earlier study that captured the evolving nature of disinformation and influence operations.

The authors wrote that the study is the first to gather data and estimate the extent of convert influence operations in politics. The study also explores how influencers play a significant role in electoral campaigns for financial and political reasons and the hidden transactions that underscore their work.

The study defines influence operations in the context of the Philippine elections as a “kind of strategic communications that aim to hack attention, mobilize audiences, and influence electoral outcomes.”

“Influence operations, as a conceptual anchor, allow us to scrutinize campaign strategies that do not directly deceive through false claims or defy content regulations but nonetheless exploit the same regulatory loopholes while recalling or relying on the same ideas and sensibilities of disinformation,” the study stated.

Political vs commercial influencers

Based on the author’s interviews with influencers, public relations experts, political consultants, and campaign managers, they found that there were similarities in how commercial and political campaigns work, but the agreements and arrangements are not the same.

For commercial influencers, clients who hire them gauge their success on follower count, engagement metrics like likes and comments, conversion rates (proportion of audiences converted into buyers from engaging with content), among others.

However, this is not necessarily the same for political influencers, who are highly valued for their “performative prowess to attack political rivals,” as well as their image, virality, engagement per minute and relatability to target audiences.

The study also found that commissioned political influencers were able to negotiate their rates “based on notoriety alone” and their ability to deploy hate speech to woo voters against a political rival.

“They were able to dictate exorbitant prices because while commercial influencers relied mostly on their social capital to convert sales, political influencers

Aboitiz to buy Coke Philippines for $1.8 billion

by IrIs Gonzales Philstar.com

rely on both social capital as well as inflammatory speech and discursive performances to shape political conversations online,” the study said.

Unlike commercial influencers who are simply paid to endorse brands, political influencers receive payment for a range of activities, such as amplifying content, disparaging competition, sowing doubt, or spinning narratives.

“Since these outcomes can be done not only with the influencer’s follower size but also with their performance, there is more leeway for political influencers to leverage their rates and work arrangements,” the study said.

In certain instances, influencers are found endorsing candidates even before political entities reach out to them, according to the study.

“Premiums are offered to those who switch camps or double down during the peak of the campaign season,” the study added.

Estimated spending based on model

The study estimated that about 1,425 influencer accounts on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook and Twitter participated in covert political campaigning in the 2022 elections. This is “based on multiple indicators of deceptive and manipulative strategies such as degree of coordination and antagonistic and conspiratorial content,” the authors wrote.

The study also estimated that top candidates spent P600 million to P1.5 billion to deploy influence operations for their electoral campaign, based on data-informed assumptions about the market of political influencers in the 2022 elections and industry rates.

The P600 million figure, however, was not derived from “concrete quantitative data” due to insufficient information.

The authors said this must be interpreted “as a result of a whatif (scenario) analysis.”

Meanwhile, the P1.5 billion figure was based on a payper-post costing exercise that estimated the cost based on quantity of posts and the number of followers.

The study said that these “conservative” estimates do not yet include “platform monetization, which is another revenue stream for influencers engaged in covert political campaigning.”

Undisclosed campaign spending

The study also provided a “work-in-progress estimation” of the extent to which paying political influencers to boost electoral campaigns escapes electoral transparency rules.

A campaign manager during the 2022 polls admitted to the authors of the study that their actual spending exceeded declared amounts.

“Since regulations are weak, porous, and exploited by politicians, there is space for discreet influence operations in campaign budgets,” the study stated.

The government’s commitment to transparency is “superficial,” the authors said, due to the redacted portions of media entities’ summary report of advertising contracts (SAC) they obtained for the research.

The study also found that compared to commercial influencers, political influencer contracts are less standardized and “often lacking an official written contract or NonDisclosure Agreement.”

“With this kind of policy environment, it becomes understandable how certain influencers get paid P3 million

Teves asserts constitutional right

by Moises Cruz ManilaTimes.net

SUSPENDED Negros Oriental

Third District Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. maintained his constitutional right to presumption of innocence until proven guilty, after he had been tagged a terrorist by the government.

Teves described his situation as a political execution during an online news conference with vloggers and mainstream media on Friday, August 4.

"What occurred with the investigation of the [Roel] Degamo killing, and why did it become a terrorism concern?

I, too, want justice to prevail since that is my province," Teves said. Degamo is Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo who was assassinated early

($53,932) for a single short video—there is no mechanism to demand transparency either from the influencer or the campaign team,” the study stated.

The authors also said that based on the factors supporting hidden influence operations and findings from their interviews and research, it appears that campaign overspending persists unchecked — a substantial portion of which is funneled into undisclosed influence operations.

The researchers recommended the expansion of the focus from disinformation to influence operations and call for measures of transparency and accountability from the government, public relations industry and other key stakeholders.

The authors recommended that the government expand the scope of SOCE to include a "broader range of nonadvertising expenses," including the hiring of discreet influencers to support candidates.

The study also proposed for the government to employ "stronger mechanisms" to make the political influencers register as independent contractors and pay taxes, which would make their identities — and their work — known. n

MANILA — The Aboitiz Group, the Cebu-based conglomerate currently led by Sabin Aboitiz, has partnered with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners PLC (CCEP) to acquire Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc. (CCBPI).

The proposed acquisition continues the Aboitiz Group’s buying binge, which in recent years has been adding companies and entities to its portfolio including Gold Coin, Citigroup’s consumer banking business in the Philippines and a controlling stake in the company behind the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV) announced on Wednesday, August 2 that it partnered with CCEP and signed a non-binding Letter of Intent with The CocaCola Co. to acquire TCCC’s 100 percent ownership in CCBPI for $1.8 billion on a debt-free cashfree basis, consistent with TCCC’s stated intent to divest its bottling operations.

“AEV has signed a non-binding Term Sheet and is in advanced discussions with CCEP regarding a potential joint transaction, which may lead to the acquisition of CCBPI from TCCC, based on a 60:40 ownership structure between CCEP and AEV,” AEV said in its announcement.

If completed, the proposed

acquisition would build on AEV’s portfolio diversification strategy to enter the branded consumer goods space and on CCEP’s successful expansion into the Asia-Pacific region via its acquisition of Coca-Cola Amatil in 2021.

AEV would be well positioned to support CCBPI’s growth ambition, given the synergies that can be generated from AEV’s other businesses, said the company.

AEV’s proposed acquisition of CCBPI with CCEP offers a great opportunity to co-acquire an established, well-run business with attractive profitability and growth prospects, AEV also said.

However, the proposed acquisition is still subject to a number of conditions, including satisfactory completion of confirmatory due diligence which is well underway, receipt of AEV and CCEP’s board approvals and the parties signing the definitive agreements.

CCEP said in a separate filing that it would be the majority

owner (60 percent) and it is expected to consolidate CCBPI as of acquisition date and establish a non-controlling interest representing AEV’s minority interest (40 percent).

The business would be governed by a board of five members, three appointed by CCEP and two by AEV. CCEP would also appoint the CEO, CCEP said. Barring any problems and subject to the receipt of certain governmental and regulatory approvals, including clearance from the Philippine Competition Commission, the transaction could close this year. CCEP bottles and sells CocaCola products in Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand, while AEV has major investments in power, banking and financial services, food, infrastructure, land and data science and artificial intelligence.

AEV is on its so-called great transformation journey to become the Philippines’ first “techglomerate.” n

this year, which was allegedly masterminded by Teves. Citing the need to "combat impunity" and to safeguard the country's peace and security, the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) has labeled Teves and his armed supporters as terrorists and has frozen the assets of the lawmaker. In a July 26 resolution, the ATC listed killings and harassments in Negros Oriental that were intended to "intimidate" residents and create an "atmosphere or spread a message of fear."

Degamo was killed on March 4 while speaking with recipients of the government's cash distribution program in front of his residence in Pamplona. "If the authorities can label him a terrorist, what else can they do to an ordinary Filipino?" Teves said.

The proposed acquisition continues the Aboitiz Group’s buying binge, which in recent years has been adding companies and entities to its portfolio. Philstar.com photo

Disaster zones

LARGE swathes of Bulacan and Pampanga and parts of Pangasinan have turned into disaster zones amid incessant heavy rainfall and floods that refuse to subside. The massive flooding can’t be due simply to the release of water from surrounding dams, whose operators insist they have been following water release protocols that have been in place for a long time.

Senators have announced that they would conduct an inquiry into the cause of the flooding.

Editorial

They must invite scientific experts for an accurate assessment, so that the proper solutions can be implemented. Apart from climate change, which is triggering extreme weather disturbances, some experts are looking at manmade causes of the flooding that has paralyzed the affected provinces for nearly two weeks now. Any inquiry must spare no one.

In addition to the economic paralysis, health experts are warning of the spread of diseases in the flood-hit areas, notably mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue, respiratory and skin afflictions as well as leptospirosis. With potable water supplies affected, there are also concerns about gastroenteritis and cholera. Some residents have reported the emergence of snakes at their homes, with certain species possibly poisonous, as well as rats and other animals that might carry rabies. COVID-19 remains a threat, with highly transmissible new variants still causing debilitation and death.

The most vulnerable to diseases are infants

AUGUST 1 marked the death anniversaries of two presidents, Manuel L. Quezon and Corazon

C. Aquino. When Cory Aquino died, her continued criticism of, and opposition to, then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had been marked with little success and convinced many observers that as a consequence, her standing in the eyes of her countrymen had been much diminished. Some admirers even expressed the fear that her passing would be met with indifference by the public.

Instead, what happened was a kind of convulsion, as a society, unimpressed with the opposition but just as significantly unenamored with the Arroyo administration, realized how stubbornly Cory had held on to

and children below five years old as well as the elderly and ailing. These problems are aggravated by the fact that even healthcare facilities have been affected by the floods, with at least one hospital forced to suspend operations. Persons needing regular dialysis have been among the most adversely affected by the mobility disruptions.

This latest catastrophic flooding may subside in a few days, but it is just the start of the typhoon season, and the disaster is likely to be repeated in the coming weeks. Residents in some areas have said they have been experiencing serious flooding even during high tide.

The affected areas are so vast and densely populated, and permanent evacuation is unlikely. What is urgently needed is a proper assessment of the reasons for the flooding, so that appropriate interventions can be carried out and the damage can be minimized if not eliminated. While considering the possible interventions, the affected communities need immediate assistance to protect public health.

(Philstar.com)

her principles, encouraging civil society and whistleblowers to speak truth to power, even as she herself was dying of cancer. This national examination of conscience led to the proposition, ratified at the polls, that the electable opposite of Mrs. Arroyo was Cory’s son, Noynoy.

It became the destiny of Rodrigo R. Duterte, in turn, to become the electable opposite of the late President Benigno S. Aquino III. This was a conclusion helped along by the long, sustained, under-the-radar but focused, and clever Marcos rehabilitation campaign which had begun in 1992 but which started harvesting hearts and minds through social media in support of Mrs. Arroyo by demonizing Mrs. Aquino, in the mid-2000s. While Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. was elected in many ways, as the opposite of Duterte, it was still a Marcos-Duterte tandem that won, keeping the coalition in power: a feat last accomplished

when Fidel V. Ramos won the presidency in 1992, ensuring a 12-year run for the Edsa coalition. The relentless attack on the Aquinos is premised on an argument first proposed by defenders of Arroyo: “parepareho lang sila,” in which case success is its own reward if you subtract the possibility of idealism and principles from the equation. The Marcoses boiled it down to the past 30 years being the story of the Aquinos versus the Marcoses, which might have succeeded in taking the Aquinos down a peg as accountable and, thus, diminished by our unflattering national realities, in contrast to a young population being easily seduced by Maharlika fairy tales. Similarly, Louis Napoleon, nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, was elected president decades after the French people had vomited out and rejected his uncle, thanks to a similar (mis)use of nostalgia.

This is what Karl Marx meant when he said history repeats itself, the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce. The increasingly pointed criticisms of the Marcos Restoration from within the ruling coalition’s own ranks is a living demonstration of this. But something else is happening, too.

It is the shrinking of the democratic space that, perhaps not so ironically but just as significantly, the Marcoses have come to comfortably inhabit, since their restoration (1992-2022) took even longer than the rise to power of the “Real Makoy” (1949-1965).

I happen to believe that Ferdinand Marcos Sr., consciously or not, articulated traditional notions of the presidency and our political culture; his dictatorship received public support because it was a form of government attractive to many, even a majority, just as opposition to his regime was an expression of an authentically

different culture and idea of leadership and governance. The pressures of modern life have led not just to a domestic, but global, revival of attraction for one-party, strongman rule; and this has been accompanied by a radicalization on the part of both the remaining supporters of liberal democracy versus new forms of authoritarianism.

While many of those who opposed the Marcos Restoration have turned their back on politics out of disappointment and spite, there are just as many who have become more hardline:

The Marcos Restoration, in this view, stems from the Marcoses having been allowed to live. This argument, which one sees online, argues that this was the original sin of Edsa: which necessarily supports the conclusion that the core identity of people power as having been peaceful, was its ultimate shortcoming—and betrayal. On the other hand,

the Marcos Restoration, even among the ranks of its coalition, was deeply flawed because it inhabits the post-Edsa institutions so comfortably, it is actually beginning to restore their functions while adhering to its organizing principles: consider human rights; consider the purge of the police; consider the relative lack of interest at the very top, in schemes to scrap the 1987 Constitution.

Having succeeded in their own desire to displace the Aquinos, the Marcoses find themselves having to ask the one the Aquinos over and over: can the Center hold? (Inquirer.net)

* * *

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

* * *

Email: mlquezon3@gmail.com; Twitter: @ mlq3

Economic development as function of good governance

boost economic recovery and improve the plight of ordinary citizens.

WE should have learned the painful lesson by now: Genuine, inclusive, and sustainable economic development is only possible when a nation is governed well.

We should no longer be fooled into thinking that as long as there were nominal economic improvements, some corruption in government could be tolerated. We should no longer succumb to the fatalistic thinking that corruption is reality that could never be fully eradicated.

But as we make our way out of the ravages of the pandemic and begin addressing the structural inequities that have plagued us long before COVID-19, we should reject this defeatist notion. Good governance is possible if a country’s leaders are sincere, able, and resolute, and if various stakeholders commit to hold their officials accountable for their promises and pronouncements.

A Stratbase-commissioned survey by Pulse Asia held in June 2023 found that 84 percent of Filipinos agreed with the statement “Pursuant to the Philippines’ concurrence to international agreements, the power of national agencies, laws, and mechanisms to fight corruption should be strengthened.” Sixty-two percent of Filipinos are also aware that controlling corruption will help

Thus, Filipinos may be used to hearing about corrupt acts in government, but it does not mean that they are clueless about its consequences or that they are willing to simply accept and tolerate it. They know that something can be done about it. Our political institutions can be reformed and cleansed so that they would inspire confidence not only among the people, but also among businesses and investors. This is how good governance establishes an environment conducive to investments, which in turn create jobs, enable upward mobility, fuel further economic activity, and narrow socioeconomic gaps among the people.

The current administration has, on several occasions, talked about the need to address graft and corruption. Most recently, President Marcos in his State of the Nation Address (Sona), highlighted the importance of transparency and accountability in government. But how are these lofty words being translated into the way the government is actually run from day to day?

Immediately, on the day after the Sona, the administration’s economic managers held a Philippine Economic Briefing with the theme “Agenda for Prosperity: Economic Transformation Toward Inclusivity and Sustainability.”

Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno acknowledged that to

improve revenue collection, the government must have a simpler, fairer, and more efficient tax system through tax reform policy and tax administration measures. He said that when it comes to policy for foreign direct investments, our current environment is the most open and liberal it has ever been.

National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said boosting productivity and increasing investments will sustain economic and social transformation. Neda will continue to evaluate its development road maps to ensure we are on track with our goals.

Meanwhile, Department of Budget and Management principal economist Dr. Joselito Basilio, on behalf of Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman cited the agency’s achievements in bureaucratic efficiency. Among the reforms are digitalization through the Integrated Financial Management Information System, and inclusivity through the institutionalization of the Philippine Open Government Partnership.

The 2024 national budget of P5.768 trillion, higher by 9.5 percent than the previous year’s and equivalent to 21.7 percent of GDP, will remain anchored on the eight-point socioeconomic agenda where the main focus of expenditures are food security, physical and social infrastructure, and reduction of transport, logistics, and energy costs.

The inflation rate continues to be high at 5.4 percent, and that much still needs to be done to achieve the target range of 2-4 percent by the fourth quarter of the year. Nonetheless, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Francisco Dakila Jr. said the Philippines was one of the most aggressive in Southeast Asia in curbing inflation through monetary tightening. BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. highlighted the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors for a strong, stable, sustainable, and financially inclusive economy. The government must ensure

that it establishes and maintains the right environment to attract investors and actively collaborates with the private sector, both domestic and foreign. Among the simple desires that we hear from them are transparency, accountability, responsiveness, and stable policy environment. We cannot eradicate corruption, but we should persist in controlling corruption. We need to maximize the resources of government and human resources through the power of technology. We need to find digital transformation as a key part of governance.

We could listen to promises,

but more importantly we should keep track of the concrete steps that the government is taking to improve the way it is doing its job. Only these would convince us that we could slowly build back trust in our institutions and will make businesses decide to invest and stay here for the long haul. (Inquirer.net)

* * *

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

* * *

Dindo Manhit is founder and CEO of the Stratbase Group.

ECONOMIC REPORT. Members of the Marcos administration’s economic team, during a post-State of the Nation Address Philippine Economic Briefing at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on Tuesday, July 25, discuss achievements for the past year, which include sustained rise in revenue collections and domestic growth. (From left) Department of Budget and Management Undersecretary Margaux Marie Salcedo and principal economist Joselito Basilio, National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Department of Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Francisco Dakila Jr. and Managing Director Antonio Joselito Lambino II said the gains were registered despite the elevated inflation rate, which is seen to decelerate to within-target levels by the fourth quarter of this year. PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.

Fewer jobless Pinoys seen by next year

by Louise Maureen siMeon Philstar.com

MANILA — The labor market is expected to continue improving next year, with fewer Filipinos likely to be unemployed as the economy sustains its recovery from the pandemic.

Based on the Budget of Expenditures and Sources of Financing (BESF) data following the submission of the record

P5.768-trillion proposed 2024 budget, the unemployment rate in the country is seen declining in the range of 4.4 to 4.7 percent.

This is significantly lower than the expectation of an unemployment rate of 5.3 to 6.4 percent this year.

The rate, however, is seen to inch up to 4.8 to 5.1 percent by 2025 before easing again to four to five percent a year later.

Leonardo Lanzona, labor economist and professor at the Ateneo de Manila University, said this is based on the assumption that the prepandemic unemployment rate will already be reached.

“Inflation is slowly being managed. So, in the longer term, prices are no longer going to rise

as much as before,” Lanzona told The STAR Inflation has been on a downward trend for the past five months, with the central bank expecting the headline rate to return to the target band of two to four percent by the fourth quarter of the year.

Lanzona warned, however, that what is currently missing is an appreciation of the impact of digital technologies on the labor market.

“True, the pre-pandemic supply chains are resilient and have been largely restored. With increasing trade, the markets are being stabilized,” Lanzona said.

“However, the technologies are now becoming more laborsaving. Unless we provide skills and greater social protection, the labor conditions are unlikely to improve from where we are,” he said.

Latest data showed that the unemployment rate fell for the third consecutive month to 4.3 percent in May while the underemployment rate decreased to 11.7 percent.

Lanzona argued that it is crucial to continue to upskill

workers while micro, small and medium enterprises should be linked to the large corporations that are already tied to the global value chains.

“This means that local resources need to be developed and be processed or manufactured at a larger scale to ensure that more and better jobs are being created,” Lanzona said.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) earlier said the government would continue to push for and implement reforms to improve the country’s business climate, especially for foreign investors, and help in sustaining current labor market gains.

NEDA noted that establishing an enabling regulatory environment to improve the ease of doing business and encouraging innovation remain top priorities to attract investors with the technology and resources to generate highquality jobs.

The agency also urged Filipinos to enroll in upskilling and lifelong learning programs to prepare for the jobs of the future. n

Gov’t must file petition for recognition of Hague ruling — Sen. Escudero

MANILA – Senator Francis Escudero on Thursday, August 3 said the government should file a petition before the Supreme Court (SC) to recognize the 2016 Hague ruling to prevent future administrations from trying to amend the country’s victory over China.

In a media briefing, Escudero suggested that the government file a “Special Action for Recognition of Foreign Judgment” before the High Court to formally recognize the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) as part of the law of the land.

The Arbitral Ruling in 2016 bolstered the government’s territorial claim as it invalidated China's nine-dash line that claims nearly the entirety of the South China Sea.

The government, through the Solicitor-General, should initiate the filing of the petition on recognition of foreign judgment before the SC, Escudero said.

“The recognition of foreign

judgment should be led by the Solicitor General as an official lawyer of the government,” he said.

Escudero said his suggestion could be one of the options in giving flesh to the intentions of Senate Resolution 718, which condemned China’s continued aggression in the West Philippine Sea and urged the Philippine Government to “take appropriate action in asserting and securing the Philippines' sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).”

The High Court’s recognition of the Arbitral Ruling could be a better alternative instead of bringing the matter before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which, he noted, has its own disadvantages.

In pushing for the “Special Action for Recognition of Foreign Judgment”, Escudero admitted that the Philippines have no case similar to the arbitral ruling but pointed out a parallel analogy on

America’s biggest union federation recognizes PH labor movement with human rights award

by Mary ViLLegas Inquirer.net

THE Philippine labor movement, which includes the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), just scored a major distinction that’s got the whole Filipino and Filipino American community proud.

Presented by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFLCIO), the 2023 Meany-Kirkland Human Rights Award shines a spotlight on the brave Filipino workers and their fight for freedom of association and the right to organize.

president of Poland Lech Wałsa.

“With the George Meany–Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award, the AFL-CIO recognizes the Philippine labor movement for its dedication and courage,” the statement continues. “We are committed to supporting our Filipino partners toward and beyond the day when workers and their unions in the Philippines can exercise their rights free of threats and intimidation.”

and standards in the Philippines. And the TUCP isn’t just waiting for things to happen—they’re calling for action, especially the Department of Labor and Employment, to give solutions on the issue.

Article 26 ng Family Code that ”allows recognition of a foreign divorce obtained by the foreigner spouse abroad.”

He said if the SC decides that it recognizes the arbitral ruling then that will become part of the country’s law even if Congress did not pass any measure related to this, and that the said portion could not be altered or revisited.

“The Constitution is part of the law of the land. The Constitution says all decisions, final and executory of the Court, whether it be the higher or lower court, shall form part of the law of the land,” he said.

Escudero admitted that he would not have signed the Senate resolution on the West Philippine Sea if his colleagues insisted on bringing the issue to the UNGA.

He added that he already discussed this proposal to Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III and Sen. Risa Hontiveros before the approval of the resolution last August 1. (PNA)

“Amidst the dangerous reality, the Philippine labor movement continues to organize, build power, and fight for the rights of workers across their country. In the face of threats to their own lives, our union brothers, sisters, and siblings in the Philippines continue to garner global support for their campaign of resistance. In their unrelenting fight for freedoms, the Philippine labor movement is also helping to resist the rollback of democratic values being carried out by tyrannical governments around the world,” reads the AFL-CIO statement.

What the George Meany-Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award entails

The honorary award is named after the first two presidents of AFL-CIO, which has a long tradition of recognizing remarkable contributions to human rights advocacy through trade unions.

And it is no small feat either with its lineup of previous recipients: Brazilian President Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva, former UN Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai, and former

In January 2023, the International Labour Organization (ILO) HighLevel Tripartite Mission (HLTM) issued recommendations to address the anti-union violence, political profiling, impunity, and lack of progress in upholding labor rights

After all, improving labor rights isn’t just good for workers, it’s also beneficial for the economy. Ensuring worker rights, better working conditions, fair pay and standards can boost productivity, which impacts economic growth. At the end of the day, this award is no ordinary trophy—it is a symbol of strength, determination, and unity for everyone in the Philippine labor movement. n

RIVER OVERFLOW. The Marikina River overflows on

Asian Journal WKND

Lifetime ban for admitting drug use lifted, this Sunday on Citizen Pinoy

RONALD was petitioned as Joyce’s fiancé in 2006. While the K-1 petition was approved, his visa was denied after Ronald admitted to the doctors at St. Luke’s that he tried drugs many years ago.

Because of that admission, he was banned for life.

In 2008, Joyce and Ronald got married, hoping that this would get a positive result. However, the same policy was still in place, and his visa was again refused.

Fortunately, in 2011, leading U.S. Immigration

Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel was able to convince the U.S. Embassy in Manila to reverse their policy

of a lifetime ban if the only “evidence” was the person admitting drug use to St. Luke’s doctors. In 2015, Joyce consulted again with Atty. Gurfinkel, and he was able to clear Ronald’s name, and the visa was issued. Finally, Ronald and Joyce were able to spend their first Christmas in the U.S. as a married couple. Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, August 6 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app.

(Advertising Supplement)

Benjamin earns first acting nomination in 11 years

By anne PasaJol Inquirer.net

BENJAMIN Alves will be vying for the best supporting actor award at the Asean International Film Festival and Awards (AIFFA), his first ever acting nomination in 11 years.

Alves was nominated for the category for his role in the Rainerio Yamson II-helmed “Angkas,” as per the actor’s Instagram page on Thursday, Aug. 4. Alves also showed photos of him taken at Kuching, Malaysia, where the film festival is being held from Aug. 2 to Aug. 4. “My first acting nomination!

After 11 years, it does feel good that somehow you’re being noticed. Thank you to (AIFFA) for the nomination,” he said in the caption. “It was already a

“To

against four other actors from Malaysia and Indonesia for the acting honor.

Fans and fellow celebrities congratulated Alves in the comments section, with some saying that his nomination has been “long overdue.”

Alves is part of the Philippine delegation present at the film festival, which includes actors Coleen Garcia, Max Eigenmann, Meryll Soriano, Joem Bascon and Tommy Alejandrino.

Aside from “Angkas,” other Filipino films competing in AIFFA are Carlo Obispo’s “The Baseball Player,” Louie Ignacio’s “Broken Blooms,” Christian Paolo Lat’s “Ginhawa,” Roman Perez Jr.’s “Kaluskos” and “Sitio Diablo,” TM Malones’ “Kargo,” Vince Tañada’s “Katips,” Ralston Jover’s “Latay” and Joel Lamangan’s “Walker.” n

Pops enjoys being single, hopes to find someone special someday

By Charmie Joy Pagulong Philstar.com

POPS Fernandez is currently single but is hoping to find someone to be with someday.

“I think there was a time siyempre sad ka, siyempre mas younger ka, I think you are more needy. You are unsure of yourself and you feel you need someone,” said the singer-

actress in a press conference for TV5 and Viva Entertainment’s

For the Love weekly series.

“I’m not saying I don’t need anyone (but) it would be nice to have an understanding, loving partner. Somebody who can, like watch movies with, travel with, of course. But right now, I am also enjoying doing my own thing,” she continued.

“And I’m taking advantage

of that because I get to spend a lot of time (with myself and children). Although they’ve grown up and they’re now in the US, I get to make my own decisions, I get to make my own schedules, so when I want to see my boys anytime, I don’t need to ask permission (from anyone) and all that.” But she is not “closing doors”

Seafood City opens new store in Oxnard, CA

FILIPINO supermarket chain

Seafood City is now open in Oxnard, California! The new location celebrating “true Filipino goodness” marks the supermarket’s 34th location in North America.

From beloved food items from the Philippines to fresh seafood, Seafood City is a cultural destination that not only caters to local Filipino Americans, but also invites all nationalities and cultures in the area.

Venture inside the store and you’ll find items on your grocery list amid the clean, well-stocked aisles, whether its fresh produce supporting local farmers in the region or to get fish cleaned and fried. You may also discover new

favorites while roaming through the store’s aisles.

After shopping, head to Grill City for comfort dishes, sticks of Filipino style barbeque, and even halo halo to beat the summer heat.

For those craving home-cooked Filipino food but don’t have the

time to cook, Sarap Central offers conveniently packaged and ready-to-eat tasty meals that can be prepared quickly to fit your busy lifestyle. The section also has meal kits with ingredients already cut up and portioned for those who want to whip up a Filipino dish quickly or for those

Jolo celebrates life and career milestones

AUGUST 2, 2023 will always be a memorable day for actorturned-congressman Jolo Revilla, who announced a pair of breakthroughs in his life and career via social media.

The day marked his wife Angel Revilla’s birthday and besides greeting her, he excitedly wrote: “Today is extra special for me because it’s my wife Angel Revilla’s birthday. And it becomes even more special because we want to let you know that my wife is pregnant.”

Jolo went on to say, “We are grateful to the Almighty for blessing us with a child, a fruit of our deep love for each other.”

The post also revealed that Angel is already nearing the end of the trimester, and Jolo is grateful that both mother and baby are in good health.

said, “We have faced

Pops enjoys being single, hopes...

PAGE B1

on the possibility of meeting “somebody whom I can watch movies, hold hands with, travel with” in the future.

If there’s one piece of advice she would have given herself 20 years ago about love, it would be: “Be more sure of yourself and don’t be scared.”

Pops recalled, “Back in the day, I was shy. (When) I felt something, I didn’t say it. I kept it to myself. So, I think part of a very healthy relationship is really communication. That’s what I would like to tell myself then. Sana mas sure lang ako, (I wish) I was not afraid to express myself. When I felt something, I was honest enough to say it.”

On her advice to people who have cheating partners and how they can move forward, Pops acknowledged that “everyone is different (but) whatever it is, it’s painful.”

“The actual or just the looking, you know, just the texting to another person, it’s all painful. It’s hard to give advice about that because it depends on how strong you are… It takes both kasi. Again, two people have to be willing to work it out,” she mused.

“But what I can say is that, at the end of the day, when all of that is done, and somehow you

viewers with classic and modern Original Pilipino Music (OPM) hits from Viva Records. The 13-episode series airs Saturdays at 3:20 p.m. on TV5.

Speaking of music, Pops picked her newly-dropped single titled Always Loved as the current soundtrack of her life. She will be staging a concert next year, she shared.

Following the viral dressing room incident of Lea Salonga and her fans, Pops was also asked about how she would deal with fans eager to meet her backstage during her concerts.

who are still learning to cook.

When you enter the store, it’s hard to ignore the smell of freshly baked breads and the sight of delectable pastries and cakes in the display at Baker’s Avenue — all baked in house. Pick up hot pan de sal for breakfast, traditional or ube ensaymada for merienda or cakes like sans rival for any occasion.

Not only does Seafood City offer food, but its Sari-Sari Bazaar features proudly Filipino crafted household items, products and clothing items.

Wherever a new location opens, Seafood City is synonymous with “home” and “community.” Oxnard now has its own destination for true Filipino goodness.

Seafood City Oxnard is located at 2340 N. Rose Avenue, Oxnard, CA 93036. n

David reacts to calls for Barbie, Jak to break up

by Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

DAVID Licauco reacted to social media users’ clamor for Barbie Forteza and Jak Roberto to break up so he and the actress would have a chance to be with each other in real life.

Philstar.com asked David about the issue during the launch of his new endorsement, the Oppo Reno 10 5G.

David said that fans should respect their personal lives, but he understands their clamor.

“They all have to respect ‘yung personal lives namin and siyempre mahal niya si Jak Roberto even before our love team so we have to respect that,” David told Philstar.com.

Pero siyempre maiintindihan mo din ‘yung fans’ standpoint na, parang ‘yon ang nagpapasaya sa kanila e. Hindi naman natin sila masisi kung magagalit sila. Hindi natin sila masisisi kung pinupush nila kami kasi iyon ang happiness nila,” he added.

David asked their fans to respect their personal lives as he wanted to just spread good vibes.

“I think we have to respect that. Pero kailangan nating i-respeto ‘yung personal life namin and i-respeto ‘yung love team kasi happy naman kaming nagpapasaya,” he said.

Pero ayoko naman ‘yung binabash kasi may feelings din e. Nakikita ko ‘yung mga tweets, although I truly appreciate the support talaga. ‘Yon na nga ‘di ba. Happiness nila ‘yon, wala

akong magagawa don, gusto ko masaya sila Spread the positivity na lang siguro,” he added.

David is one of the OPPO Reno10 Series 5G endorsers present at the event. Other endorsers present included Bea Alonzo, Laureen Uy and other content creators. The event was held at the Manila Hotel last night. n

Jomari, Abby gunning for ‘Jennifer Lopez-Ben Affleck’ Las Vegas wedding

By Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

CELEBRITY couple Jomari

Yllana and Abby Viduya are set to marry in a civil ceremony in Las Vegas this November.

Pops Fernandez Photo from Instagram/@popsfernandezofficial

“There’s always say, we have a system kasi ‘di ba? That’s why everyone is given a pass so that we would know who’s part of the production (team) and (who are the) artists. Before the show starts, we have to prepare, we dress up and everything,” she said.

At the Motorsport Carnivale press conference covered by Philstar.com last Tuesday, Aug. 1, Jomari revealed that they will tie the knot while he’s on break as a Parañaque City councilor.

“We’re getting married soon, sometime in November,” he announced.

In For the Love romance drama anthology, the 56-yearold host is the narrator of the show, featuring the tales of love and loss as presented by some of this generation’s rising actors. In the show, she also serenades the

“I think people should understand that there’s kumbaga sa rules, ‘Ito, dito ka, ito dito ka pwedeng pumasok and all.’ And so far, they (people we talk to) all understand that.

Of course, we know that they are also excited. I’m also a fan. As a fan, we do get excited and that’s understandable. I hope that they also get to understand that,” added the Philippines’ Concert Queen. n

“I cannot be away from work. As a councilor, as a legislator, hindi ako pwedeng mawala ng Thursday, so ‘yung timing ng Halloween, for a break, para makaalis lang ako ng mabilis. Tuloy naman siya ng November,” he added. Jomari then said that they will also wed in a church ceremony in 2025.

Then mag-church wedding kami, latest is 2025, in my hometown Peñafrancia in Naga

City, Camarines Sur,” he said.

For her part, Abby said that they will do a Jennifer Lopez-Ben Affleck moment in Las Vegas.

“We’re going to Vegas. We’re gonna pull-off a JLo and Ben Affleck wedding. Kasi, gusto namin na kami lang dalawa at first,” she said.

“A few of our family members will be joining us there, like my

daughter. My eldest daughter will be joining us in Vegas and some of Jom’s relatives,” she added.

Jomari Yllana and Abby Viduya Photo from Instagram/@jomariyllana will get over it, you have to. You have to be strong enough to get over it. Obviously, you will become a stronger and better person. Hopefully, you won’t allow it to happen. Hahaha!”

Jomari organized the Motorsport Carnivale, an ongoing sporting event in Okada Manila Boardwalk running until August 6. Apart from gathering

Barbie Forteza and David Licauco

Photo from Instagram/@davidlicauco

Mildred Smith of Seafood City gives a tour of the new Oxnard location

Vice Ganda declares love anew for Ion, looks back on Las Vegas wedding

By anne PasaJol Inquirer.net

VICE Ganda recounted his Las Vegas wedding commitment ceremony with partner Ion Perez, describing their relationship as “revolutionary” and something the comedian “will always be very proud of.”

Alden is at his busiest

by Jerry Donato Philstar.com

ALDEN Richards has the distinction of being the firstever actor to be featured in four consecutive Magpakailanman episodes and in four different heartwarming stories. The weekend drama anthology special premieres with narratives about a marathon runner, social media influencer, guy with tattoos and piercings, and caregiver for family members.

This goes to show that Alden is not resting on his laurels, actingwise, and always on the lookout for projects that will test his mettle. He is not backing down.

“Yes, they did,” answered Alden when asked by The STAR, during a recent virtual press conference, if his taping schedule for Magpakailanman overlapped with the shooting for the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival entry, A Mother And Son’s Story, at some point. The film stars him and Sharon Cuneta in the titular roles.

“Since it’s already pegged (set) in August, kailangan ko na po talaga siyang gawin at gusto ko siyang gawin (I had to do it and I liked the idea),” said he of the Magpakailanman special.

“Kaya ko yan, laban tayo dyan kahit ongoing pa yung movie namin ni Ms. Sharon (I told myself, ‘I could do it even if I had an ongoing movie with Ms. Sharon’). Kumbaga, may certain way naman po ako na-iwan yung character ko dito, then, isusuot ko siya ulit, tapos iba na naman, suot ulit (I have my way of switching characters, putting this character aside as I take on another, and vice versa).”

On a rare opportunity of shuttling from one set to another and tackling one role

after another, Alden added, “I don’t really give myself a hard time being the character. If you become too mental about everything, the movement, (the way) you deliver the lines, makikita siya sa camera, it will transcend, bakit aral na aral (why is the acting very calculated)?”

What he would do is to relax and take it easy, said Alden. Reading the script, the text where the drama is based upon, allows him to understand about his character’s context (where he is coming from) and personality. From there, he lets his creativity flow and strikes a balance between “being mental and being emotional.” Alden finds the latter as two vital elements in acting. This craft, as a form of art, requires intelligence and sensitivity to be in someone else’s shoes, as one may add.

“Nung nilatag po ito na gagawa (ako) ng Magpakailanman na one month, game (When the Magpakailanman special was presented to me, I said, ‘Game’),” recalled he in the group interview.

“It was challenging for me and at the same time, I wanted to give it a try (and further see where my skill can go) in playing different characters. This was an opportunity and lately, I have wanted to challenge myself when it comes to this, para hindi laging komportable Ayoko pong na-rerelax when it comes to acting. I want to do something different.”

Alden knows that stepping out of one’s comfort zone is healthy for an acting career.

The think tank behind the drama special gave Alden the freedom to choose the roles to play and the stories to tell. They let him “discover the characters in my own way,” said he, and with their guidance. Since the

Vice Ganda professed his love for Perez and showed photos from when they “tied the knot,” through an Instagram post on Thursday, Aug. 3.

“Ours is not just a simple love story. It’s revolutionary. Something I will always be very proud of. Even in my next life,”

Vice Ganda wrote.

This was greeted with love by fans as well as fellow celebrities

who expressed their support for the couple via the comments section.

In a separate post on X (formerly Twitter), Vice Ganda

also declared he felt so much love despite the “noise” around him.

“Amidst all the noise, I see so much love. I feel so much love,”

he said. “Hope you see and feel it too cause it’s amazingly beautiful.”

The comedian opted not to expound on the “noise” he was referring to, although it can be noted that the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) earlier summoned “It’s Showtime” producers over the couple’s alleged “indecent acts.” Meanwhile, the couple recently went on a two-day vacation at an undisclosed location.

Vice Ganda and Perez confirmed their relationship to the public in 2019, got engaged in 2020, then had a wedding commitment ceremony in Las Vegas in October 2021. n

Anne open to working on acting projects with GMA

By Boy aBunDa Philstar.com

AN absolute emotional roller coaster. That was how Anne Curtis described her feelings when the “rigodon” of the three noontime shows on television — It’s Showtime, E.A.T. and Eat Bulaga — happened recently, which also caught everyone by surprise.

“I think noong panahon na ‘yun medyo mixed emotions talaga siya. We were scared, we were sad, we were curious. And then, we became excited, we became happy, and grateful. It was really a roller coaster of emotions during that period,” said Anne after It’s Showtime moved from TV5 to GMA network-owned GTV Channel.

“And now, we are so excited and happy to come to work every day because our family has gotten bigger,” added Anne who pleasantly greeted the viewers of Fast Talk with Boy Abunda with, “Hello po, Madlang Kapuso, Madlang Pipol, Madlang Kapamilya!

Her guesting on my show was not the first time for Anne to set foot inside the premises of GMA Network. It was 13 years ago when she guested on various Kapuso programs to promote the 2010 movie In Your Eyes that she starred in with Richard Gutierrez and Claudine Barretto.

Anne began reminiscing about her early days in show business when I told her I still remember the first time I interviewed her inside the Viva office when she was just 13 years old. She revealed that the many firsts in her acting life actually happened in the Kapuso network.

“My first-ever teleserye was on GMA, my first-ever comedy show was on GMA. Perhaps, my first-ever dancing experience and even my first singing experience were

also on GMA.

“So, there were many firsts. I remember, I think Viva and GMA were working very closely before so nag-T.G.I.S. ako, Anna Karenina, Ikaw Na Sana and I also became part of Nuts Entertainment.”

I asked if she’s open to working on acting projects with GMA, Anne agreed with nary a sign of hesitation. “Oo naman po,” she affirmed and added, “Even before It’s Showtime was on GTV, I was able to do a film with GMA Films and Viva because I am under Viva naman, so I am still able to collaborate with GMA.”

Perhaps, having It’s Showtime on GTV may once again be the beginning of Anne

guesting on various GMA shows. Besides, a good number of Kapuso artists have already appeared on It’s Showtime.

It’s Showtime first premiered on Oct. 24, 2009 on ABS-CBN until the network went off air after the franchise lapsed three years ago. But the noontime show has continued to provide viewers with an entertaining experience on various platforms like GTV, Kapamilya Online Live, iWantTFC, TFC and A2Z.

The noontime show has a stellar lineup of hosts that includes — aside from Anne — Vice Ganda, Kim Chiu, Vhong Navarro, Jugs Jugueta, Teddy Corpuz, Ryan Bang, Karylle, Jhong Hilario, Amy Perez, Ion Perez, Jackie Gonzaga, Ogie Alcasid, MC Muah and Lassy Marquez, among others.

“I think what makes Showtime work is that our main goal ever since (it premiered) was to make the Madlang Pipol happy and along that journey, we were able to form a family and share that same goal.”

Like in every family, the “tampuhan” and “pikunan” are inevitable. Anne narrated how she and Vice argued over a watermelon shake.

“It was funny because our argument was only because of a watermelon shake. We’re like siblings who would fight over minor things. Dahil natapon yung watermelon shake sabi n’ya (Vice), ‘Tinapon mo ‘yung watermelon shake.’ Tapos doon na ‘yun nagstart.”

Anne was quick to say sorry and after one or two days, she and Vice were okay again and back to their usual exchange of banter off- and on-cam.

She made clear that there was no major fight between them. “Anything beyond that, wala pa kaming away na ganun. ‘Yung

Alden Richards

Photo from Instagram/@aldenrichards02

Vice Ganda and Ion Perez Photos from Instagram/@praybeytbenjamin

Anne Curtis Photo from Instagram/@annecurissmith

These celebrities are defying the odds in love and career

By MJ Marfori Philstar.com

“KUNG masaya ka naman, bakit hindi mo pangangalandakan?”

That’s the bold statement made by Charlie Dizon about her now public relationship with Carlo Aquino. The two of them faced a handful of press for the promotion of their new film Third World Romance, which will be showing in cinemas on Aug. 16. This is also the film where they got close to one another beyond professional ties.

Both Charlie and Carlo entered the premises of their press conference in Marikina last Thursday, August 3 casually that if you were out of the loop, you wouldn’t think they’re an item off camera. But once questions rolled in about their relationship, their demeanor transformed.

We saw Charlie and Carlo arm-in-arm professing their admiration for one another and their happiness being together. Back in July, it was the first time Charlie admitted on television that Carlo is her boyfriend when she guested in the TV5 morning show Gud Morning Kapatid.

Carlo also told us that he found Charlie’s confession cute, saying, “Ganoon naman talaga. Sobrang na cute-an ako. Matagal ko na rin sinasabi na nagde-date kami.”

He also added that they are aware that there are people who are at loggerheads about their love life, to which he replied,

Real-life couple Charlie Dizon and Carlo Aquino are paired for the first time on screen in Third World Romance, which will be showing in cinemas on Aug. 16. Philstar.com photo

Madaming tao nagagalit… nanglalait. Pero wala na kami magagawa doon basta iyong mga tao na malalapit sa amin masaya para sa amin at iyon na lang pinapakinggan namin.”

Apart from his film with girlfriend Charlie, Carlo seemed to be today’s hottest leading man for many producers. He is also starring in the Viva One mini-series Kung Hindi Lang Tayo Sumuko alongside Coleen Garcia.

Now let’s talk about Coleen. She is now in a long-distance relationship with husband Billy Crawford who is busy with his summer tour in Europe where he has been drawing in fans by the thousands!

Coleen told us that she realized how she should take this time as an opportunity to find her way back to showbiz.

“I was left behind these past three years. My mental health took a backseat. Ngayon, si Amari, pinapayagan ako mag-work (He allows me to work). I didn’t realize how much I missed showbiz. I miss this,” she said.

For Coleen, it is about time she fills her cup and she is ready to get back on the saddle of embracing challenges in the craft that she loves so much.

In her mini-series with Carlo, she even agreed to do some spicy scenes, explaining, Ayoko maging corny lalo na if kailangan para sa storya.”

She further admitted that she discussed the scenes with her husband and this is how it went: “It’s not gonna help him if we don’t talk about it. Tapos na when we discussed it.

“I would be lying if I said he wasn’t affected. Sinuportahan ko rin naman siya sa Dancing with the Stars na touchy-feely siya.

I even told him kailangan for the chemistry sa kanila.”

Meanwhile, Coleen clarified the set-up she has with Billy now after reports surfaced last month that she almost called off their

EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT

Sarah Geronimo collaborate on powerful song ‘Ace Your Day’

By Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

Geronimo and phenomenal P-pop boy group SB19 collaborated on the song titled “Ace Your World” as part of Acer Philippines’ 20th anniversary and the celebration of Acer Day 2023.

FOR RENT SERVICES

The song is now available on streaming platforms. It was written and composed by Radkidz, the duo of John Paulo Nase (Pablo) and his brother, Joshua Daniel Nase.

“This song is very different from other songs we have released. ‘Ace Your World’ is

MANILA — Pop star Sarah

On transforming our church

Pastor’s Notes

ReveRend

Rodel G. BalaGtas

GREETINGS! I hope everyone is having a relaxing and rejuvenating summer!

Last weekend, I can’t help but notice the increased number of Mass attendance in our church. Many have come back! We’re beating the discouraging pew surveys that many Catholics have stopped practicing their faith. We’re flourishing, and we’re committed to keeping our church vibrant. We’re here to stay!

I attribute our success to our hopeful, courageous, resilient, hardworking, generous, and collaborative spirit. Thanks to our parish and school staff and our numerous volunteers.

Thanks to our old and new parishioners who keep believing

in our mission and are faithful and loving to our church.

As we celebrate the Feast of Transfiguration this Sunday (August 6), let’s be amazed at the transformation and miracles God has done to our church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Let’s gaze at the gifts God has given us, especially our fidelity, hope, and resilience amidst the challenges of our lives and society, from the pandemic and its harmful consequences to the deep divisions in politics and religion. Let’s heed God’s call to listen to his beloved Son Jesus because we find wisdom, healing, and eternal life in him.

The feast of Transfiguration is a feast of hope, trust, and power to transform ourselves, the world, and society with our belief in Jesus and his teachings. It’s a call to be steadfast and brave in faith and not be afraid to “descend the mountain” to meet the challenging realities of life and ministry.

Let’s get motivated, involved, excited, and energized to build

up our church by deepening our intimacy with Jesus, our relationship with one another, and our knowledge of our Christian Catholic faith. Let not selfish ambitions or self-serving motives destroy our desire to serve God and his people.

As I mentioned in my homily last Sunday, like King Solomon, let’s ask God for an understanding heart to distinguish right from wrong and to lead wisely and courageously. My friends, we have the power of WE and not of ONE. We have God and one another. We have Jesus in our hearts—the Good Shepherd—who shows us how to live, endure, and overcome the complexities of life. Amen.

* * * 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.

* * * Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.

Anne open to working on...

mga petty, ganoon lang. That’s the first and last disagreement.”

Meanwhile, on Fast Talk, Anne was touched by the gesture of siblings Ronald and Reymark Molbog who personally handed a charcoal painting to Anne as their way of expressing gratitude.

Anne was presented with a portrait of her and husband Erwan Heussaff while she was still pregnant with Dahlia. According to Ronald, who did the artwork, Anne shouldered the remaining balance of Reymark’s hospital bills during the

Protecting employee-applicants’ right to privacy

Employer needs employee’s consent to get credit report

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights

atty. C. Joe sayas, JR

Q: I AM new to applying for jobs so I am not very familiar with my rights as an employee applicant. Some employers require me to fill out a simple application and submit to a drug test. There are employers, though, who tell me that I also need to give them authorization to get a consumer report on me. What are my rights here?

utilization of such information in accordance with the requirements” of the law.

FCRA, thus, imposes “a host of requirements concerning the creation and use of consumer reports.” Two of these requirements are the following:

1. An employer who obtains a consumer report about a job applicant must first provide the applicant with a standalone, clear, and conspicuous disclosure of its intention to do so;

2. The employer must obtain the applicant’s consent for the employer to obtain the applicant’s consumer report.

that consists solely of the disclosure, that a consumer report may be obtained for employment purposes; and (ii) the consumer has authorized in writing (which authorization may be made on the document referred to in clause (i)) the procurement of the report by that person.

height of the pandemic.

Reymark was rushed to the hospital in November 2021 for an appendectomy. Due to lack of funds, Raymond began selling some charcoal paintings of famous celebrities, including Anne, online.

One fan who saw the portrait online, called the attention of Anne who, in turn, expressed willingness to buy the fan art. But Ronald said it was already sold for P1,000. Still eager to help, Anne offered to pay for the remaining balance of Reymark’s hospital bill, instead. Anne is indeed beautiful inside and out. n

Alden is at his busiest...

script for each episode was given ahead of time, Alden had ample time to familiarize himself with the characters and their life stories.

The Sparkle GMA Artist Center actor will also be seen in the film, Five Break-ups and A Romance, starring opposite Julia Montes, whose playdate is sometime in October.

“My character is basically a carefree guy na mas mahal niya yung sarili (who loves himself more) than any other people around him,” said he. “But he is also in love with this woman, the character played by Julia, but until

when tayo magiging ganito (until when they will remain in that kind of situation), it’s recurring.”

Alden added that it’s a breakup movie, composed of five parts, and about the lead characters’ journey together. With A Mother And Son’s Story, Alden described his character as “a mama’s boy with a dream.

Na-i-irita siya sa nanay niya (He gets annoyed) every time he gets reprimanded (by his mother).

Nung nawala yun, hinahanap niya. When he becomes a little (more) independent, he feels that the life of his mom is no longer revolving around him.”

Alden shared that there will

be a role reversal between the mother and son.

“Without him knowing siya na yung nagiging nanay and then, yung sarili niya before yun yung nagiging nanay niya ngayon. Those are the (relationship) dynamics (between the mom and son).”

Aside from acting and hosting the Battle of the Judges, Alden also has a foundation to look after.

“We already have 27 scholars at the moment and I think we already have three graduates, and then, at the end of the year, there are three more who will graduate from college,” concluded he. n

A: The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”) authorizes an employer to obtain a consumer report from a job applicant. However, the FCRA regulates what an employer may or may not do under these situations. Specifically, the FCRA requires an employer to provide a job applicant with a standalone disclosure stating that the employer may obtain the applicant’s consumer report during the hiring process.

The FCRA came into existence in 1970. The law was created to promote ‘fair and accurate credit reporting’ and to ‘protect consumer privacy.’ Consumer reporting agencies were required to “adopt reasonable procedures for meeting the needs of commerce for consumer credit, personnel, insurance, and other information in a manner which is fair and equitable to the consumer, with regard to the confidentiality, accuracy, relevancy, and proper

These disclosure and consent requirements are intended to “secure job applicants’ privacy rights by enabling them to withhold authorization,” while also “promoting error correction” by providing applicants “an opportunity to warn a prospective employer of errors in the report before the employer decides against hiring the applicant on the basis of information contained in the report.”

The disclosure and authorization requirements

state in part as follows:

Disclosure to Consumer…

[A] person may not procure a consumer report, or cause a consumer report to be procured, for employment purposes with respect to any consumer, unless–

(i) a clear and conspicuous disclosure has been made in writing to the consumer at any time before the report is procured or caused to be procured, in a document

The FCRA provides a private right of action against those who violate its statutory requirements in procuring and using consumer reports. The affected consumer is entitled to actual damages for a negligent violation. However, for “a willful violation” a consumer may recover additional statutory damages ranging from $100 to $1,000, punitive damages, and attorney’s fees and costs.”

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

* * * The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential and at no-cost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www.joesayaslaw.com. [For more than 25 years, C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, selected as Super Lawyer for 12 years, and is a past Presidential Awardee for Outstanding Filipino Overseas.]

(Advertising Supplement)

Jolo celebrates life and...

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numerous challenges since we got married, but love has always prevailed, allowing us to overcome everything together.”

On the other hand, as the popular son of action star and senator Bong Revilla, Jr. embraces his journey into parenthood, he also basks in the glow of a very important award. He has been hailed as the No. 1 Top Performing Congressman in Calabarzon and feels humbled by the recognition.

After all, his win is a bigger win for his

constituents because it means he has been fulfilling his promise to serve as best as he can.

The 35-year-old Caviteno, who has held various positions in the family baluarte for many years before winning a seat in Congress, ended his post by saying how these wonderful blessings in his life only inspire him to become the best father possible to his and Joy’s eldest and continue serving the province who loves and trusts him in the same dedicated and determined way he has from the start. (ManilaTimes.net) n

All set for pageant night of the year: Miss Filipina International 2023

EVERYTHING is set for the biggest Filipina pageant of the year – the Miss Filipina International (MFI) coronation night on Saturday, August 5, at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.

The first-ever Filipina pageant to be held in the Beverly Hills landmark hotel, home of the Golden Globe Awards and other prestigious Hollywood red carpet events, is shaping up to be one of the bestcelebrity laden shows this year.

Elijah Canlas’ younger brother JM Canlas dies at 17

By Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

MANILA — Actors Elijah and Jerom Canlas’ youngest brother, JM, died on Thursday, August 3. He was 17.

In Jerom’s Facebook account, the family announced the passing of the young actor who appeared in the indie movies “Kiko Boksingero” and “ANi” and the TV series “Unconditional.”

“It is with the heaviest heart and deep sorrow that our family announces the death of our bunso, Jamile Matthew Madiclum Canlas, earlier this morning. He was 17,” Jerom wrote.

“Jm, as he was known to many, was a talented actor, athlete, musician, singer, debater, and gamer. He was always a proud Filipino with a bias and compassion for the poor and

oppressed. But most of all, JM will forever be remembered as an incredible young man, son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, student, and friend.

“Family and friends who are dear to JM, the wake will begin tomorrow, August 4, 8 p.m. until Sunday, August 6, at St. Peter Chapel Quezon Avenue, Room 116. Let us celebrate his short but wonderful life, as he would want us to.”

The family did not disclose details about JM’s passing.

“In his adolescence, JM struggled with his mental health. If you are experiencing current distress and are in need of URGENT ATTENTION, please proceed to the emergency room of the hospital nearest you,” Jerom said.

The family also shared numbers and websites for those who are in need of psychological counseling services. n

SB19, Sarah Geronimo collaborate on powerful...

more edgy and hype. We gave Pablo creative freedom to write this song, and it turned out exceptionally well. The song conveys Acer’s message to #AceYourWorld perfectly,” said Princess Laosantos, Senior Marketing Manager at Acer Philippines.

Written in English and Filipino, it urges listeners to take control of their lives and ace it no matter what they do. Through the song, Sarah G and SB19 encourage everyone to stay strong regardless of their challenges because their lives are their own destinies.

Listen to the powerful voices of Sarah G. and SB19 as they sing “Ace Your World” on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music and Deezer. A music video will be released soon. n

Geoffrey Jimenez, chairman and CEO of Worldwide Media Entertainment Corporation, the new owner of MFI, is also the show’s executive producer.

Thirty-six outstanding candidates, representing various states across America and several countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom and the Philippines, are vying for these titles: Miss Filipina International; Miss Tourism; First Runner-up; Second Runner-up; and Third Runnerup. Jimenez has previously announced that in partnership with Jonas Gaffud’s Empire Philippines, three winners will be eligible to compete next year in Miss Universe Philippines (MUP) while two winners will vie in The Miss Philippines pageant.

The following are the MFI 2023 official candidates:

• Hannah Pearcey

• Matea Mahal Smith

• Alexia Reign Hernandez

• Jesse Grace Felix Soriano

• Ella Del Rosario

• Rylen Faith Steinbuch

• Brooke Barredo

• Claudia Vidanes

• Denisse Nicole Samaniego

• Patricia Bianca Tapia

• Janessa Gwen Rubio

• Amanda Russo

• Keilin Danao Tankiamco

• Alyanna Joelle Santos

• Katie Sophia McIlroy

• Sandra Irene Goff

• Aira Lei Maigue

• Angelique De la Cruz

• Princess Caventa Reyes

• Kawena Janessa Kanhai

• Mia Valdes

• Mary Ann Monda

• Heather Casigna

• Lauren Skeoch

• Hope Corpus

• Hannah Angelica Marte

• Samantha Gavin

• Sarah Lizaso Obal

• Beatriz Mclelland

• Jessica Zemanek

• Issha Rose Mata

• Aliza Orjalo

• Ronniedith Dimapasoc

• Skylar Vasquez

• Dakota Swart

• Kelly McIlroy.

Among the personalities flying from the Philippines to attend the thrilling event are the reigning Miss Universe Philippines, Michelle Dee, and popular singeractor-host Alden Richards.

As an actress, entrepreneur and lifelong advocate of various causes, Dee is relentless in using her platform as Miss Universe Philippines 2023 to help people achieve their greatest potential by leading by example. Growing up with two siblings on the autism spectrum inspired her to work closely with advocacy groups and is the driving force in her service as the president of the Inner Peace Foundation and the Goodwill Ambassador of Autism Society Philippines. Richards is known as Asia’s Multimedia Star after winning the 2019 Asian Star Prize honors at the 14th Seoul International Drama Awards. He is the recipient of prizes from the 51st GMSF Box Office Entertainment Awards and the 18th Gawad Tanglaw Awards. Richards topbills GMA Pictures films and the television show, “All

Out Sundays.”

Jimenez also previously announced that the star-studded MFI pageant, to be aired by GMA Network, will be hosted by popular TV personalities, Jeannie Mai Jenkins (“The Real”) and Cheryl Burke (“Dancing with the Stars”). Mario Lopez of “Access TV” will join as a special guest presenter.

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 Emmy-winning director of “The Talk” and the 43rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, will direct MFI, which promises to be one of the most special live events this year.

In addition to the previously announced top prize of a BMW

Michelle

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 Runnersup. 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. More details at https://www. facebook.com/missfilipinainternational. n

The 36 outstanding candidates with Geoffrey Jimenez, chairman and CEO of Miss Filipina International, who is also the executive producer of the exciting pageant show slated for this Saturday, August 5, at The Beverly Hilton.

Photo by Phillip Ner

Dee, the reigning Miss Universe Philippines. Alden Richards, popular singer-actor-host.

Young actor JM Canlas Jerom Canlas via Facebook

Motion for bifurcation and status only dissolution for spouse’s that want to move on while divorce is pending

Barrister’s Corner

These celebrities are defying...

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wedding years ago. “Wala naman problema!” she said.

Usapang sukuan kasi last time and which is the truth, I canceled the wedding before.

“But now, we’re in a super good place, especially when we had Amari. I do wanna acknowledge that it happened kasi iniisip ng mga tao ‘pag artista perfect, tapos bigla nag-hiwalay. But we’re super okay.”

Another star balancing love and career is James Reid. We caught up with James via Zoom here in the Philippines.

James recently teamed up with Singaporean singer-songwriter Benjamin Kheng for a captivating collaboration on the single Rock Bottom Blues. The song delves into the depths of emotions experienced during difficult times and toxic relationships. It explores the pain of feeling stuck in a cycle of self-redemption and longing for redemption.

The song is the exact opposite of James’ love life right now. He clarified, “That’s Ben. I’m happy right now. Hahaha! That’s the direction for his new album.”

Even if James manages many artists, including big star Liza Soberano, James is also nurturing his career now here and abroad. He also has a big gig coming this fourth quarter of the year.

“I have a big collaboration coming up. Can I say October? Hahaha! Well, I said it already. (It’s) October-ish,” he said. “It’s with a Korean feature. It is going to be for my next single with a South Korean artist and we’ll be flying them out here to the Philippines.”

He was also ecstatic to share that he will have a show in his hometown in Australia for the first time ever and he will be announcing the dates soon. This proves that despite all the doubters and naysayers on what he does at the helm of his music company Careless, it is business as usual for James until he reaches his goal of bridging the gap and making local artists in the Philippines earn their space in the global scene.

He said, “I think there has to be people like us, people who need to push the boundaries, people that would do things differently. It is a very uncomfortable place to be in because you’re getting a lot of pressure from within the Philippines for not being what is expected.”n

THE decision to terminate one’s marriage typically brings to the forefront many issues all at once. Issues pertaining to property, support, and child custody need to be addressed in a divorce proceeding. In a long term marriage especially, these issues are often heavily litigated between the spouses, and can take a significant amount of time to resolve. Frequently, a spouse would like to “move on,” and re-attain single status as soon as possible, but has a perception that to become divorced, issues concerning property, support, and child custody first need to be resolved. Many erroneously believe that getting a divorce prior to resolution of property, support, and custody issues is like putting the “carriage before the horse”—an impossibility.

Under the Family Code, a spouse can “bifurcate” the issue of marital status and terminate the marriage without having to wait until the issues pertaining to property, support, and child

custody are resolved.

A judgment dissolving the marriage need not resolve all issues raised in the divorce petition. If there are issues set forth in the petition with regard to property, support, and custody, the Court may nonetheless separate the issue of dissolution of marriage status and grant an early trial on that issue (a “status only” judgment).

Obtaining a “status only” judgment is most beneficial to those persons who want his or her marriage terminated as soon as possible. Through

A judgment dissolving the marriage need

resolve all issues raised in the divorce

a “status only” judgment, a person is restored to single status more quickly, enabling a person to remarry even if other issues concerning the marriage have yet to be resolved. It is important to note, however, that a judgment terminating the marriage itself also brings with it the consequence of terminating rights associated with marriage. To address the foregoing, the Court may impose conditions on a “status only” judgment, to preserve rights which normally would exist if an early dissolution

of marriage status were not granted. These conditions are contained in Family Code Section 2337. The Court may require a spouse seeking early dissolution of marriage status to do any of the following, all designed to protect the interests of the spouse who is not seeking early dissolution: 1) indemnify the other spouse for adverse tax consequences resulting from the early termination of marital status, 2) maintain the other spouse on existing health insurance, 3) indemnifying the other spouse from loss of rights to a probate homestead or probate family allowance, 4) indemnify the other spouse for loss of benefits under employee benefit plans, 5) joinder of an employee benefit plan, and 6) any other condition that the court determines is just and equitable. With a “status only” judgment, the Court reserves jurisdiction to adjudicate any other issues concerning the marriage, including division of property, award of support, and custody issues. Accordingly, if you would like to obtain a “status

only” judgment, and resolve any other issues pertaining to the marriage later, it is advised that you consult with an experienced attorney. * * * Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation.

*

Despite all the doubters and naysayers on what he does at the helm of his music company Careless, it is business as usual for James until he reaches his goal of making local artists in the Philippines earn their space in the global scene.

Jomari, Abby gunning for...

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collectors of rare racecars and motorsports gadgets, among the event’s highlights is a race featuring at least 150 cars.

There will also be a wholeday drifting exhibition and an awards ceremony to be held on Sunday. Among those who will

be honored are actor Richard Gomez for his achievements and contributions to motorsport; actor and singer Matteo Guidicelli for his contributions to Philippine motorsports as a former racecar driver; and retired racecar driver Michele Bumgarner. n

While husband Billy Crawford is busy with his summer tour in Europe, Coleen Garcia is using this time to find her way back to showbiz. Philstar.com photo

Photo from Instagram/@carelessph