081023 - Las Vegas Edition

The Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. reminds Filipino citizens that the Overseas Voters Registration in connection with the 2025 Philippine National and Local Elections is still ongoing. SFPCG photo

Register for overseas

Filipino voting until Sept. 30, 2024 – PH Embassy

DoN’t miss your chance to make your voice heard from abroad. ensure your participation in shaping the filipino future – register now and let your vote transcend borders.

the Philippine embassy in Washington D.C. reminds filipino citizens that the overseas Voters registration in connection with the 2025 Philippine National and Local elections is still ongoing.

Applications for registration/Certification, transfer of registration records, correction of entries in the Voter’s registration record, reactivation, and change of address may be filed at the Philippine embassy or your nearest Philippine Consulate General until september 30, 2024. for more information, visit https:// philippineembassy-dc.org/overseasabsentee-voting/ (inquirer.net)

Jordan Clarkson, now in Manila, upbeat ahead of Gilas’ Fiba World Cup bid

mANILA — Gilas Pilipinas’ naturalized ace Jordan Clarkson arrived in manila on tuesday, August 8, feeling optimistic about what lies ahead with the fiba World Cup just around the corner.

“I think we got a good chance to do some things—hopefully, we’d win some games,” Clarkson told reporters at Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminal 1 in Pasay City following a 15-hour trip from Los Angeles

Marcos to make another trip to US in November

Jean Mangaluz Inquirer.net

mANILA — President ferdinand marcos Jr. on Wednesday, August 9 said he is headed to the United states this November for the Asia-Pacific economic Cooperation (APeC). this would be his third trip to the U.s. as the Philippines’ chief executive. marcos assumed the presidency on June 30, 2022. the APeC is a regional economic forum of 21 countries, including the U.s. and the Philippines.

the Philippines is actively participating in Indo-Pacific economic framework, and APeC leaders meeting in san francisco in November, I look forward joining fellow APeC leaders in California, later this year. this will be my third trip in U.s. since I assumed office,” marcos said during a courtesy call with members of the U.s.-AseAN Business Council.

According to marcos, he will advance the country’s energy interests, saying that the Philippines is interested in sustainable land, water, and ocean solutions that align with climate goals.

“All efforts to increase the number of power

Marcos to new Army chief: Boost engagement with foreign counterparts

by Jean Mangaluz Inquirer.net

mANILA — President ferdinand

“Bongbong” marcos Jr. on monday, August

7 instructed newly installed Philippine Army chief Lt. General roy m. Galido to enhance the agency’s cooperation with the Philippine Army’s (PA) foreign counterparts.

Galido took over from General romeo Brawner Jr., who was designated as the Chief of staff of the Armed forces of the Philippines (AfP) in July.

“We challenge you to lead and boost

your institution’s engagements with its foreign counterparts. I urge the entirety of our Army to enhance your interoperability and communications, as well as to learn best practices through training and joint exercises, which we intend to further expand,” said the president during the PA Change of Command Ceremony.

While the president did allude to a specific situation, this statement from marcos comes shortly after a China Coast Guard vessel fired a water cannon at a Philippine Coast Guard vessel and another u PAGE 2

Vice President Sara received P300K, President Marcos zero for Cabinet posts

by elizabeth Marcelo Philstar.com

mANILA — Vice President sara Duterte was paid a total of P300,000 last year as the secretary of the Department of education (Deped), while President marcos received zero pay as concurrent secretary of the Department of Agriculture, a Commission on Audit (CoA) report showed.

Based on the CoA’s “2022 report on salaries and Allowances” or rosA uploaded on its website last thursday, August 3, Duterte received P168,000 in allowances and P132,000 in discretionary and

extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses (eme) for a net pay of P300,000. this was for her six months as Deped secretary from June 30 to Dec. 31, 2022.

Included in the rosA as the secretary of agriculture, marcos did not receive any salary, allowances or other pay for the post which he has been occupying since assuming the presidency on June 30, 2022, CoA’s breakdown showed.

Duterte’s take-home pay as education secretary, meanwhile, appeared to be the lowest compared to the amounts received by other members of marcos’ Cabinet. the 2022 rosA showed that

finance secretary Benjamin Diokno got the heftiest paycheck among marcos’ Cabinet members – a net pay of P28.781 million.

Diokno’s net pay included

P6 million in basic salary as the governor of the Bangko sentral ng Pilipinas for six months from January to June 2022, prior to his appointment as finance secretary for which he received P1.640 million in basic salary for July to December 2022.

Diokno’s net pay also included P7.278 million in allowances; P11.555 million in bonus, incentives and benefits; P2.195 million in discretionary and eme, P24,000 in additional compensation and honorarium

and P89,067 classified as “others.”

the second highest paid member of marcos’ Cabinet was socioeconomic Planning secretary Arsenio Balisacan with a net pay of P6.947 million.

Balisacan’s net pay included P3.128 million in basic salary as chairman of the Philippine Competition Commission from January to June 2022 until his appointment as socioeconomic planning secretary, which entitled him to P1.646 million in basic salary for July to December 2022. his take-home pay also included P1.182 million in bonus, incentives and benefits;

u PAGE 2

sources lean towards clean energy. that being the case, I am interested in the potential of nuclear energy, especially in light of new technologies and innovations that allow the use of smaller scale, modular, nuclear reactors, and other advanced [reactors] technologies that we see as being safer and more efficient than the more traditional designs of nuclear power production,” said marcos.

President marcos first went to the U.s. in september 2022 for the 77th United Nations General Assembly. this was followed last may, highlighted u PAGE 2

US stresses PH right to resupply grounded ship

by Pia lee-brago, eliJah Felice rosales Philstar.com

mANILA — the Philippines has the “right to be able to supply/resupply” its ship in Ayungin (second thomas) shoal and has not asked for assistance after China’s attack on its vessels on a resupply mission, the U.s Department of Defense said on tuesday, August 8.

“We stand with our Philippine allies in terms of their right to be able to supply/resupply the ship on the second thomas shoal, and that will continue to be our position,” Pentagon press secretary Air force Brig. Gen. Pat ryder said at a press briefing.

the U.s. highlighted China’s dangerous actions after the China Coast Guard (CCG) blocked and fired water cannons on a Philippine resupply mission near Ayungin shoal on saturday, August 5. the U.s. said the act directly threatened regional peace and stability. the boats were delivering food, water, fuel and other supplies to Philippine military troops stationed on BrP sierra madre in Ayungin shoal.

“I don’t have anything to announce right now in terms of sending any type of additional assistance. to my knowledge, the Philippines has not asked for additional assistance,” ryder added.

the U.s. reaffirmed that an armed attack on Philip-

Details of meeting with Duterte ‘confidential’

by Kristina Maralit ManilaTimes.net

PresIDeNt ferdinand marcos Jr. on monday, August 7 declined to give details regarding his recent meeting with former President rodrigo Duterte, insisting that matters they discussed were "confidential."

marcos met with Duterte in malacañang last week. the latter reported about his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in China last month and "also discussed other issues."

there are other things that we discussed which I think need to remain confidential; that's between President Digong and myself," the president

told reporters during a chance interview in Bulacan after conducting an inspection of typhoon-hit areas in the province.

"Again, these are operational aspects of our military, of our Navy, of our Coast Guard, that's why it is difficult to talk about it openly. I hope you will indulge me there," he added.

Duterte and Xi met several days after the Philippines commemorated the seventh anniversary of the arbitral ruling that invalidated China's expansive claims in the south China sea. the Chinese leader reportedly urged Duterte to continue exerting efforts to promote promotion between the two countries. n

Marcos to make another...

by a meeting with President Joe Biden at the White house.

“By showing up our individual and collective capabilities, we are able to advance our countries as well, as the Indo-Pacific region’s security, stability, and economic prosperity as the testament to positive momentum

to our bilateral relations, President Biden and I, have identified concrete steps to ensure that our partnership and alliance remains relevant, responsive to current, emerging challenges to the defense, security, and economic spheres,” marcos also said before members of the U.s.-AseAN Business Council.

marcos’ remarks came amid rising tensions in the West Philippine sea after the Chinese Coast Guard fired water canon at Philippine Coast Guard vessels escorting boats carrying supplies for Armed forces of the Philippines personnel aboard the ground BrP sierra madre on Ayungin shoal on August 5. n

Vice President Sara received P300K...

P354,000 in discretionary and eme, P262,000 in allowances, P23,863.63 in additional compensation and honorarium and P350,636 from prior years’ adjustments.

solicitor General menardo Guevarra, meanwhile, appeared to be the third highest paid Cabinet member last year with a net pay of P6.484 million.

Guevarra’s total pay also included the salaries and other compensations he received as justice secretary in the first six months of 2022.

the CoA’s breakdown showed that Guevarra received P1.672 million in basic salary as justice secretary for six months (January to June 2022) and another P1.672 million in basic salary as solicitorgeneral general from July to December 2022.

Guevarra’s net pay also included P1.424 million in additional compensation and honorarium; P612,230 in bonus, incentives and benefits; P599,266 in allowances; P324,500 in discretionary and eme and P180,927.25 from prior years’ adjustments.

Guevarra’s net pay paled in comparison with that of his predecessor, former solicitorgeneral and CoA chairman Jose Calida, who took home a total of P13.449 million.

the audit body’s record showed that Calida received P1.640 million in basic salary as solicitor-general for six months from January to June 2022 during the Duterte administration, until he was appointed by marcos as CoA chairman, for which he received P809,339.53 in basic salary in just about three months (July to september).

Calida resigned as CoA chairman, as announced by executive secretary Lucas Bersamin, on oct. 4. Commission on higher education secretary Prospero De Vera III was the fourth highest paid Cabinet member with P5.103 million net pay. CoA’s record showed that De Vera’s net pay was for his full 12 months in office. marcos retained De Vera after the end of his term of office under the Duterte administration.

the fifth highest paid member of marcos’ Cabinet was science and technology secretary renato solidum Jr., whose net pay was P4.909 million, comprising his salary, allowances and other remuneration as Dost undersecretary in the first half of 2022 and as secretary in the second half of the year.

A total of 9,619 officials from 1,000 national government agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations, state universities and colleges and water districts were included in CoA’s 2022 rosA.

CoA’s rosA does not include elected government officials such as the president, vice president, senators and congressmen. n

US stresses PH right to resupply...

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pine public vessels, aircraft and armed forces, including those of its Coast Guard, in the south China sea would invoke U.s. mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 Us Philippines mutual Defense treaty. on monday, August 7, the Philippines lodged a diplomatic protest over China’s latest attack on Philippine vessels. the Department of foreign Affairs (DfA) summoned Chinese Ambassador huang Xilian and presented the Philippines’ strongly worded diplomatic protest on the blocking and water cannon operations by the CCG and Chinese maritime militia vessels against Philippine boats. the Philippines demanded that China immediately stop its illegal activities in the country’s maritime zones. During a joint press conference, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) showed videos and photographs of six CCG ships and two Chinese militia vessels blocking

two Philippine boats on a routine supply mission, dangerous maneuvers and aggressive use of water cannon against the boats.

the Philippines has filed 445 diplomatic protests since 2020 over China’s illegal activities in the West Philippine sea. In 2023, 35 diplomatic protests were filed, including the note verbale given during the summoning of the Chinese envoy.

Japan ODA

Japan has provided more than P12 billion in funding to the Philippines to support its emergency response to victims of natural calamities and finance the purchase of new maritime equipment.

Japan is allocating 30 billion yen, or P11.79 billion, for the Post-Disaster standby Loan (PDsL) Phase 3 that seeks to bankroll recovery measures in disaster aftermath.

As with previous tranches of the PDsL, the Philippines can tap the financing anytime it requires additional capital for response

and relief efforts. the loan is slapped with an interest rate of 0.01 percent per annum and should be repaid within a period of 30 years.

“With typhoon egay attacking the Philippines just last month, it is evident that our countries are frequently exposed to natural disasters, including typhoons, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions,” Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko said.

Japan is also giving a grant of 1.1 billion yen, or P432.14 million, for the satellite Data Communication system of the PCG to improve monitoring of the West Philippine sea.

Koshikawa on tuesday signed the notes for PDsL 3 and the satellite Data Communication system and turned over the documents to foreign Affairs secretary enrique manalo. tokyo serves as the largest oDA source for manila, with loans ranging from economic support to military assistance. n

Marcos to new Army chief: Boost...

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boat on a supply mission in the West Philippine sea.

“I look forward to your plans to protect the shared identity that our past and present generations have built, and to transform the Army into a world-class force

that is a source of our country’s security and peace and pride,” said the President.

marcos assured Galido that his administration will continue modernizing the AfP and the PA, vowing to uphold national security.

“hand in hand, we will work together to heighten the internal and external security of the Philippines to create a more conducive environment for the comprehensive growth and empowerment of our people,” said marcos. n

Infographic by Philstar.com

CREDENTIALS PRESENTATION. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. receives the credentials of Zimbabwean non-resident Ambassador-Designate to the Philippines Constance Chemwayi in a ceremony at Malacañang Palace on Thursday, August 10. Marcos expressed his willingness to enhance bilateral cooperation between the Philippines and Zimbabwe, particularly in agriculture and education. PNA photo by Rey Baniquet

Lost Medicaid health coverage?

Here’s what you need to know

by Samantha LiSS KFF Health News

the nation’s health insurance system is undergoing tremendous upheaval as an estimated 8.2 million people will need to find new coverage since pandemic protections for medicaid enrollees came to an end this spring. that’s leaving many patients confused about how to get new medical insurance.

“It’s an overwhelming task,” said taffy morrison, who is working to connect Louisiana residents to new coverage through the nonprofit s outhwest Louisiana Area h ealth e ducation Center. But morrison reminds people: “Don’t panic. there is help.” for many of those kicked off medicaid, a state-federal health insurance program that covers people with low incomes and disabilities, new insurance will come from their employers. o thers may need to turn to the Affordable Care Act online marketplaces to replace their coverage. e levance insurance officials told investors in mid-July they were seeing signs of movement from m edicaid to exchange plans as states ramp up reviews of who still qualifies for the public insurance program. t he company, formerly called Anthem, reported 18.2% growth in its exchange plans from the year before, with its marketplace plans now covering at least 949,000 people.

to prevent gaps in insurance coverage, some states, such as California and rhode Island, will automatically enroll people who lose medicaid in such marketplace plans. But elsewhere, morrison and workers at similar nonprofit health groups nationwide are helping people navigate the difficult administrative process of finding the right plan. Known as “navigators” or “assisters” and publicly funded, they work with patients free of charge.

Consumers should be wary of anyone charging to assist them in finding coverage — or pushing a particular plan. m isleading marketing has led some people to plans that aren’t actually insurance, such as health care sharing ministries, which don’t necessarily cover members’

medical bills.

t he dramatic reshuffling of insurance coverage comes with the end of federal C oVID-19 pandemic protections. s tates were barred from kicking enrollees off m edicaid during the pandemic to ensure people had access to health care. As a result, the program swelled by 30% from february 2020 to December 2022 to cover about 92 million people, including children who receive coverage under ChIP, the Children’s health Insurance Program. Now, for the first time since 2020, states have resumed checking whether enrollees remain eligible. the first batch of numbers are rolling in. so far, more than 4 million people have lost coverage in 42 states and the District of Columbia. And in June alone, more than 50,000 of them lived in Louisiana, according to state data. of the more than 151,000 beneficiaries’ files the state reviewed in a single month, nearly 13,000 people no longer qualified for m edicaid but roughly 38,000 additional people lost coverage because they did not submit a renewal packet for the state to determine whether they still qualified. m orrison’s group of 50 navigators across the state will now try to make a dent in those numbers as coverage losses are expected to grow.

Patient advocates in Louisiana and elsewhere agree on one crucial first step m edicaid enrollees must take regardless of eligibility status: they must fill out and return their medicaid renewal packets.

t hat m edicaid paperwork, it’s beneficial for everybody to finish it up,” said Geoffrey oliver, who leads Connecting Kids to Coverage, a program of Legal s ervices of e astern m issouri that helps families navigate the enrollment process.

If people return the forms and are found to be ineligible, states pass along their information to online insurance exchanges such as healthcare.gov. the exchanges will follow up with people and share health plan options, functioning as another tap on the shoulder to prevent people from becoming uninsured.

People shouldn’t assume they can’t afford marketplace plans, insurance experts say. many can

enroll in low- to no-cost coverage. roughly 2.7 million people are likely to be eligible for discounted plans, federal estimates show, representing about one-third of all those expected to be ineligible for m edicaid. o f those, about 1.7 million will qualify for zeropremium plans.

Another reason to fill out the packet: even if adults in a household no longer qualify for medicaid coverage, or now have employer coverage, children may still be eligible for public plans.

A message plastered on a billboard in randolph County, missouri, reminds people about medicaid renewal in big, bold letters: “Don’t miss this letter.”

About 34% of people living in the central missouri county are covered by medicaid, according to a tracker maintained by Washington University in s t. Louis.

If people throughout the country fail to turn in the renewal packet, they run the risk of falling through the cracks, said Adrianna mcIntyre, an assistant professor of health policy at h arvard.

Being uninsured can lead people to postpone preventive care — and cause them to end up in debilitating medical debt if emergencies happen. most of the millions cut from medicaid so far lost their benefits because they didn’t complete the paperwork, not that they were deemed ineligible, according to Kff. And patient advocates worry enrollees may never have received the packet. many recipients have likely moved and changed addresses but have not updated their contact information with states. Advocates fear those issues may be felt harder in places such as Louisiana, where many people have been displaced by floods and hurricanes in the past three years.

In some states, m edicaid recipients can check their eligibility status online. e lsewhere, they can ask free navigators, such as morrison, for help checking on their packets.

What to know about navigating the path to insurance coverage t he most important step: fill out, sign, and return your medicaid renewal packet.

If you no longer qualify for m edicaid, that denial triggers u PAGE 4

As many American cities get hotter, health systems face off against heatstroke

by Drew hawkinS KFF Health News

As the hour crept past three in the afternoon, New orleans’ french Quarter was devoid of tourists and locals alike. the heat index was over 105 degrees. New orleans emergency medical services has been busy this summer, responding to heatrelated emergency calls and transporting patients to nearby hospitals. At the city’s main ambulance depot, the concrete parking lot seemed to magnify the sweltering heat, circulating the air like a convection oven. Capt. Janick Lewis and Lt. titus Carriere demonstrated there how they can load a stretcher into an ambulance using an automated loading system. Lewis wiped sweat from his brow as the loading arm whirred and hummed, raising the stretcher into the ambulance — “unit,” in official terminology.

But mechanical assistance isn’t the best thing about the upgraded vehicles. “the nicest thing about being assigned a brand-new unit is it has a brand-new air conditioning system,” Lewis said. the new AC is much more than a luxury for the hard-working crews. they need the extra

cooling power to help save lives.

“the No. 1 thing you do take care of somebody is get them out of the heat, get them somewhere cool,” Lewis said. “so the No. 1 thing we spend our time worrying about in the summertime is keeping the truck cool.”

Like much of the country, New orleans has been embroiled in a heat wave for weeks. As a result, New orleans ems is responding to more calls for heat-related conditions than ever before, Lewis said. During the third week of July, the city’s public ems crews responded to 29 heatrelated calls — more than triple what they handled during the same period last year.

scientists say dangerous heat levels — and the stress they put on human bodies and medical systems — will likely keep increasing. health systems nationwide face serious funding and staffing challenges that could make it harder to keep up.

New orleans ems is no exception. In April, it reported operating with only 60% of its needed staff. the city’s chief of ems has called for increased funding for higher wages to attract more workers. Local private ambulance services like Acadian Ambulance services pay staffers between $50 and $70 per

hour. the city’s ems department can’t compete.

Lewis said they’re making do with the resources they have and prioritizing one-time expenses like new ambulances to help them meet the challenges they’re facing.

“We’re going to provide the care everybody needs, regardless of how hot it gets,” Lewis said. “We’d love to have all the help in the world, but we’re getting the job done with what we have right now.”

When a human being is exposed to high levels of heat for too long, their core body temperature rises. once core body temperature exceeds 100 degrees fahrenheit, hyperthermia can develop. If not quickly addressed, that can prompt an escalating cascade of health problems.

the first stage is heat exhaustion, Carriere explained: “that means you’re hot, you may have an elevated temp, but you also have what’s called diaphoresis, which means your body is sweating, is still trying to compensate and cool yourself off.” You’ll also likely have other symptoms like weakness, dizziness, or a headache. Carriere said that if a person u PAGE 4

As many American cities get hotter... Wildfire-ravaged Maui has thousands of Filipino residents

can quickly get out of the heat and into an air-conditioned place, generally they’ll recover from heat exhaustion on their own. otherwise, their core temperature will continue to rise.

As internal body temperature approaches 104 degrees, people start to suffer from heatstroke.

“once you move to heatstroke, your body stops compensating,” Carriere said. “You stop sweating. You’re hot. You’re dry. And your organs are basically frying themselves from the inside out.”

When a person stops sweating, it becomes even harder for the body to cool itself down. During heatstroke, people may experience other severe symptoms like an altered state of mind, confusion, and a rapid, erratic pulse. they may even lose consciousness. Without medical intervention, heatstroke can be deadly. ems responders start treatment immediately after they arrive on the scene. “We’ll get them on a gurney, get them into the unit, start removing their clothing, and put ice packs wherever applicable to try to cool them down,” said Carriere.

once a heatstroke patient is loaded into the ambulance, the crew races them to a nearby hospital, Carriere said. At University medical Center, New orleans’ largest hospital, doctors and nurses will continue efforts to quickly lower the person’s body temperature and replace fluids by IV, if necessary.

“When the patient ends up at the hospital, we’re going

to continue that cooling process,” said Jeffrey elder, medical director for emergency management at UmC. “We’re going to put them in an ice water bath,” and, he added, “we may use some misting fans and some cold fluids to get their body temperature down to a reasonable temperature while we’re supporting all the other bodily functions.”

Getting a patient’s core temperature down as quickly as possible is what will ultimately save their life. one way doctors can speed that along is by burying a patient in ice. In some parts of the country, doctors have placed patients inside body bags prepacked with pounds of ice.

Body bags are especially useful in these cases because they are waterproof and designed to closely fit the human form.

UmC’s emergency room doesn’t use body bags, but during the summer staffers keep bags of ice ready at all times.

“on the stretcher, we’ll use some of the sheets as kind of a barrier,” elder said. “And while they’re on the stretcher, we’ll just put the ice on them right then and there.” hospital staffers will continue to work to cool a patient down until their temperature gets below 100.

elder said that while it always gets hot in New orleans during the summer, his emergency room has been treating more heat-related illnesses in 2023 than ever before. A few patients have died from the heat. UmC has been struggling with staffing challenges since the beginning of the pandemic,

just like many other hospital systems elsewhere. But to prepare for an influx of patients with heat-related illnesses, UmC has prioritized staffing of the emergency department, elder said.

Across the country, meteorological events like heat waves and heat domes will become more frequent and intense in the future, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“extreme summer heat is increasing in the United states,” said Claudia Brown, a health scientist with the CDC’s Climate and health Program. “And climate projections are indicating that extreme heat events will be more frequent and intense in the coming decades.” health infrastructure will be challenged to keep up to treat patients suffering from extreme heat exposure. In New orleans, both first responders and doctors say they expect to see more patients with heat-related illnesses.

“We haven’t even gotten to the hottest part yet, which is typically August to september,” said Carriere. “so I’m expecting it to get pretty bad.”

This article is from a partnership that includes Gulf States Newsroom, NPr, and KFF Health News.

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.

KAhULUI, hawaii — the death toll from a wildfire that swept through the picturesque resort town of Lahaina on hawaii’s maui island has risen to 36, authorities said, as the blaze left smoldering ruins in its wake and forced thousands to flee the devastation.

there are 4,560 filipinos in devastated Lahaina, or 39% of 12,000 total number of residents. the 2015 County Data Book shows maui’s filipino population at nearly 28,000, or about 17% of the 163,000 residents. As of press time, there are no available reports on their condition resulting from the conflagration.

Video footage showed neighborhoods and businesses razed and vehicles burnt to a crisp across the western side of the island as the wildfires cut off most roads out of Lahaina, the largest tourist destination on maui and home to multiple large hotels.

maui resident Dustin Kaleiopu on thursday said his family, now on the other side of maui, had only had minutes to evacuate and lost two generational family homes to the flames.

“there are still so many people that we are unable get in touch with, and that still remains true for many families here,” Kaleiopu said in an interview on NBC News’ “today” program. “everyone I know is now homeless.” such scenes of devastation have become all too familiar elsewhere in the world this summer. Wildfires, often caused by record-setting heat, forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people in Greece, spain, Portugal and other parts of europe. In western Canada, a series of unusually severe fires sent clouds of smoke over

vast swathes of the U.s., polluting the air.

human-caused climate change, driven by fossil fuel use, is increasing the frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events, scientists say, having long warned that government officials must slash emissions to prevent climate catastrophe.

on maui, firefighters were battling three separate blazes on the island, officials said late on Wednesday night, without providing further details.

officials said on Wednesday, August 9 that the fires also destroyed parts of Kula, a residential area in the inland, mountainous Upcountry region. fires were also affecting Kihei in south maui.

hawaii’s Lieutenant Governor sylvia Luke told a press conference late on Wednesday that officials were still assessing the damage.

“It will be a long road to recovery,” she said.

Distant hurricane fanned flames the blazes began on tuesday night, August 8 as powerful winds from hurricane Dora, hundreds of miles to the southwest, fanned the flames. some 271 structures were damaged or destroyed, the honolulu star-Advertiser reported, citing official reports from flyovers conducted by the Us Civil Air Patrol and the maui fire Department. the wildfires spread quickly through populated areas of the city of 13,000 people. some people were forced to jump into the Pacific ocean to escape the smoke and fire conditions, prompting the U.s. Coast Guard to rescue them, according to a maui County press

release.

others raced to evacuate as clouds of smoke billowed over once-idyllic beaches and palm trees.

“I was the last one off the dock when the firestorm came through the banyan trees and took everything with it. And I just ran out and helped everyone I could along the way,” said Dustin Johnson, who was in Lahaina harbor working for a charter boat company that offers two-hour tours. he spoke from Kahului Airport, normally a 25-minute drive east of Lahaina. officials said they were looking into witness reports of people being trapped in their cars. more than 11,000 travelers were evacuated from maui, ed sniffen of the hawaii Department of transportation said late on Wednesday. though at least 16 roads were closed, the airport was operating fully and airlines were dropping fares and offering waivers to get people off the island, sniffen had said earlier in the day. A mass bus evacuation to the Kahului Airport for visitors in West maui was to resume at 8:30 a.m. on thursday, officials said. s outhwest Airlines said on thursday , August 10 that it was increasing flights to hawaii due to the evacuation efforts. the National Guard, U.s. Navy, marines and Coast Guard were mobilized, while the U.s. Department of transportation aided evacuation efforts, Biden said. the cause in maui had yet to be determined but the National Weather service said the fires were fueled by a mix of dry vegetation, strong winds, and low humidity. (inquirer.net)

Jordan Clarkson, now in Manila...

aboard Philippine Airlines Pr 103.

Clarkson, who is returning for a third tour of duty for the Philippines, is set to be on the cutting edge of Gilas once the global meet unfurls on August 25.

Gilas coach Chot reyes said in an earlier interview that the Gilas brain trust is hoping to reintegrate the Utah Jazz star into the national program.

the Gilas training squad is scheduled to arrive from China on tuesday afternoon, winning three of its four games in a pocket tournament against senegal and Iran in heyuan City in Guangdong province.

Clarkson’s first stint with Gilas

was during the Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, back in 2018. his most recent stint was at the World Cup Asian Qualifiers around this time last year. the Philippines is scheduled to host montenegro and mexico in a pair of friendlies a few days before the quadrennial event. Clarkson, barring any complications, is expected to suit up in those games which should very well provide a glimpse of the final roster.

Gilas Pilipinas is bunched with the Dominican republic, Angola and Italy in Group A of the showcase that will also serve as a qualifying tournament for the Paris olympics next year. (Denison rey Dalupang/inquirer. net)

Lost Medicaid health coverage...

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a special enrollment period for you to find another source of coverage. You typically have 60 days before the loss of your medicaid coverage to enroll in a new plan; the packets should arrive ahead of losing any coverage, so that should serve as a warning that a change in your benefits may be coming.

You also have 60 days from when you report the loss of coverage, not the date when you actually lost it, to enroll in a new plan. that clock starts when you submit a new application via healthcare.gov, according to federal guidelines.

to avoid gaps in coverage, plan ahead. most marketplace coverage begins the first day of the following month.

here are potential coverage options for you and your family:

e nroll in insurance through your job. Losing m edicaid triggers a special sign-up window for you to enroll in your employer’s insurance, if available.

enroll in an Affordable Care Act plan. If employer-based coverage is not available or affordable, you and your family may be eligible for a discounted plan on the exchange. If your portion of the monthly premium for the lowestcost family plan exceeds 9.12% of your household income, your family members would qualify for an exchange plan that offers financial assistance.

Workplace insurance may be affordable for a father, for example, but not for the rest of the family.

“In that situation, Dad should enroll in the employer-

sponsored insurance plan and then they should go to the marketplace for the rest of the family,” said Geoffrey oliver, a navigator who leads Connecting Kids to Coverage, a program of Legal s ervices of e astern missouri.

Your kids may still be eligible for m edicaid even if you no longer qualify: even if parents or guardians no longer qualify for medicaid coverage, their children might. In some places, kids can qualify for the Children’s health Insurance Program, known as ChIP, with an annual household income of up to 400% of the federal poverty level, which equates to an income of $120,000 for a family of four.

What to do before you turn 19 and lose ChIP coverage: some young adults will age out of ChIP coverage at age 19. for them, especially those with chronic health conditions, it’s important to take advantage of the special enrollment period for an Affordable Care Act plan before losing public coverage.

If you turn 19 in the middle of the month — say, september — you should choose an exchange plan in August because most marketplace coverage begins the first day of the following month. this ensures you will not experience a gap in coverage when ChIP coverage expires.

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.

PAGE 1

Jordan Clarkson arrives in Manila to lead Gilas Pilipinas in the Fiba World Cup. Inquirer.net photo

The Maharlika Fund starts to take shape

by Doris DuMlao-abaDilla Inquirer.net

mANILA – the Ceo of Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank)—which is mandated to contribute P50 billion to set up maharlika Investment Corp.—is confident that the new law creating the much-debated sovereign wealth fund contains enough safeguards to protect the filipino people’s money.

In a recent interview with i nquirer , Landbank president and Ceo Lynette ortiz also said the maharlika Investment fund (mIf) “should be able to raise equity and debt from international and local investors, and it can consolidate and allocate all that capital to projects and investments that will deliver sufficiently high returns.”

Senate resolution commends

Filipinas for historic FiFa performance

— the senate adopted on monday, August 7 a resolution congratulating and commending the Philippine Women’s National football team, dubbed as filipinas, for their historic win at the fIfA Women’s World Cup.

senate resolution No. 80, sponsored by senator Pia Cayetano, was adopted during the plenary session

held monday, taking into consideration resolution Nos. 715, 720, and 722.

Cayetano said the team did their best during the 2023 Women’s World Cup. this led to their historic first goal and first win against New Zealand with a full-time score of 1-0 at the Wellington regional stadium last July 25.

“this triumphant achievement resonates deeply with the filipino people, as it not only

showcases the team’s prowess on the global stage but also symbolizes the resilience and indomitable spirit of the Philippines,” the resolution states.

senate President Juan miguel Zubiri and senators Joel Villanueva, Alan Peter Cayetano, and ramon revilla also stood up to co-sponsor the resolution. meanwhile, all members of the chamber were named coauthor. n

30 reported deaths due to Typhoon Egay - NDRRMC

by John eric MenDoza Inquirer.net

mANILA — the number or reported deaths linked to typhoon egay has risen to 30 after one more death was reported, according to the National Disaster risk reduction and management Council’s report on monday,

August 7. of the reported deaths, four were confirmed while 26 are still for validation. meanwhile, 171 were injured and 10 remain missing due to the combined effects of egay, typhoon falcon and the southwest monsoon or “habagat”. these weather disturbances

affected 3,249,796 people including 239,258 who were displaced in 551 evacuation centers nationwide. the typhoons and the “habagat” resulted in damage to infrastructure pegged , so far, at P3.6 billion while damage to the agriculture sector was estimated at P3 billion. n

t he upcoming fund would provide the means to fund projects and securities that are fairly long-term in nature, she said. “It’s also a balance to make sure that you meet minimum hurdles and invest in whole gamut of investment options, not just infrastructure projects to ensure proper portfolio diversification.” ortiz will sit on the board of m aharlika Investment Corp., the sole vehicle for the purpose of mobilizing and utilizing the mIf, which will have an initial capitalization of P125 billion out of the P500-billion authorized capital stock.

Asked whether she’s happy with the way Congress has structured the fund, ortiz said, “I think a lot of safeguards have been put in place.”

“Abiding by the santiago Principles is very critical, and so is disclosure and transparency and integrity in asset management, making sure that you have the right people, professionals who have the qualifications, the credentials and good standing in the investor community. I think those are all in the law,” she said. the santiago Principles refer to the 24 generally accepted principles and practices endorsed by the International forum of sovereign Wealth funds members. Among others, the principles aim to ensure that sovereign wealth funds invest on the basis of economic and financial risk and return-related considerations, and have in place a transparent and sound governance structure that

provides adequate operational controls, risk management and accountability.

Asked whether Landbank will divert part of its government securities portfolio investment to put up maharlika Investment Corp., ortiz said, “Cash is fungible, as you know. We do have liquidity that we will allocate for this investment.”

ortiz, the first filipino country head of standard Chartered Bank Philippines, has over three decades of experience in banking and finance. she had held leadership roles in risk management, treasury, corporate finance and capital markets. the law mandates her as Ceo of Landbank to sit on the nine-member board of maharlika Investment Corp. for us who will be sitting on the board, we will ensure that there are proper policies for governance and that strategic objectives of the fund are really carried out,” she said.

According to the law, the objective of m I f is to “promote socioeconomic development,” which will be achieved by “making strategic and profitable investments in key sectors to preserve and enhance long-term value of the fund.”

It also aims to obtain “optimal absolute” return and “achievable financial gains” as well as to “satisfy the requirements of liquidity, safety/security and yield in order to ensure profitability.”

on the lineup of projects, ortiz noted that f inance s ecretary Benjamin Diokno, who will chair the maharlika corporate vehicle, had relayed that there were 194 infrastructure projects to choose from.

“I think that requires study when the board comes together. t here’s an advisory body and there will be key officers in the fund,” ortiz said.

“for the maharlika Investment Corp. and for the fund itself, it will have to assess the most viable investment based on a risk/return criteria. What’s important and critical will be the team installed to run the fund and the appropriate portfolio allocation and strategy that they will establish,” she said.

While the government has yet to decide who will run the fund, ortiz said there were many filipinos with immense talent, both global and local, to choose from.

“I have no doubt that the advisory body will vet the right person and recommend for the President’s approval. We all know that the leadership of the fund, the Ceo including the chief investment officer, the chief risk officer, and all who will sit on the board — will be very critical for the fund to be successful,” she said.

While the national government and certain government financial institutions like Landbank will put up the initial capital of maharlika Investment Corp., ortiz said the fund could eventually source external equity like the Indonesian and malaysian sovereign wealth fund models. she noted that singapore’s temasek, on the other hand, also goes to the market to offer bonds. to be able to attract all that will be through the articulation of the fund’s objectives and portfolio strategy, risk appetite and risk management policies,” ortiz said. “It’s still a long way to go, but it’s the right direction.”

Aside from Landbank, the national government itself will provide P50 billion to capitalize m aharlika Investment Corp., while Development Bank of the Philippines will contribute P25 billion.

t he national government’s contribution will be sourced from dividends paid out by the Bangko s entral ng Pilipinas, share in the income of the Philippine Amusement & Gaming Corp. and privatization proceeds.

t he law gives room for the resulting fund to source investments from “reputable private and state-owned financial institutions and corporations.” n

AT THE SENATE. The Philippine women’s football team is honored at the Senate on Monday, Aug. 7 for their historic FIFA World Cup stint in New Zealand in late July, highlighted by a 1-0 win over the host nation. Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and his colleagues handed Resolution No. 80, which commends and congratulates the Filipinas for their phenomenal performance, the Philippines’ first-ever appearance at

men’s

women’s. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

Landbank president and CEO Lynette Ortiz Inquirer.net photo

Military aggression

UNLIKE the coast guards of the Philippines and other countries, which are civilian agencies, the China Coast Guard is under the command of its Central Military Commission. The CMC, chaired by President Xi Jinping himself, controls all of China’s military branches along with the Rocket Force, the Joint Logistic Support Force and the Strategic Support Force that handles cyber and space security. Unlike civilian coast guards, the CCG is authorized to use lethal force against foreign vessels.

Any hostile act of the China Coast Guard against Philippine vessels must therefore be regarded as a military action. And blasting any Philippine Coast Guard vessel with a water cannon within the West Philippine sea cannot be considered a friendly action by the CCG. It is Chinese military aggression conducted within Philippine sovereign waters, as defined under the 2016 arbitral ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the hague – a ruling based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the sea. on Aug. 5, a CCG ship used a water cannon on PCG vessels escorting civilian boats on a resupply mission to the BrP sierra madre in Ayungin or second thomas shoal. the shoal is one of the features in the south China sea that was specifically mentioned in the arbitral award, over which the Philippines has sovereign rights and exclusive maritime entitlements. the arbitral ruling also

Babe’s Eye View

from what we hear, the meeting that took place between President ferdinand marcos Jr. and former President rodrigo Duterte last Wednesday, August 2 was very good and cordial, and one of the issues discussed was the recent meeting of former president Duterte with Chinese president Xi Jinping in Beijing last July 17.

President Bongbong had earlier expressed hopes that the meeting between President Xi and the former president would include the recent developments in the West Philippine sea. the president was clever to recognize that the rapport between Xi and his predecessor could be another open line of communication in finding ways to resolve issues in a peaceful manner. It seems the former president is confident enough in his relationship with Xi to ask China to “look kindly to the Philippines” on the WPs issue, as told by senate President migz Zubiri.

Virtual Reality

oN July 27, 2023, two U.s senators, elizabeth Warren (Democrat, massachusetts) and Lindsay Graham (republican, south Carolina) announced a bill seeking to rein in Big tech by creating a Big Cop to regulate the online activities of America’s largest, richest and most powerful technology companies.

the companies include: Amazon ($134 billion in second quarter 2023 revenues, up 10 percent, and $6.75 billion in profits, up 433 percent); Apple ($81.8 billion in second quarter revenues, down 1 percent, and $19.88 billion in net, up 2 percent); Alphabet ($74.6 billion in quarterly revenues, up 7 percent, and $18.37 billion in net, up 15 percent); microsoft ($56.19 billion in quarterly revenues, up 8 percent, and $20.08 billion in net, up 20 percent) and meta ($32 billion in quarterly revenues, up 11 percent, and $7.79 billion net, up 16 percent). In June this year, Apple was the first company to reach a market capitalization of $3

Editorial

invalidated China’s sweeping ninedash-line claim over nearly the entire south China sea.

the Philippines has filed multiple protests againt illegal Chinese Coast Guard activities in the West Philippine sea, including swarming of CCG and militia vessels to block filipino fishing boats, and aiming a powerful laser beam at a PCG ship. so far, Beijing has shrugged off the protests. the latest incident occurred just days after CmC supreme commander Xi Jinping and his top foreign affairs team welcomed former President rodrigo Duterte to Beijing, with the marcos administration kept in the dark about the visit. Despite Duterte’s meeting with President marcos days after the trip, details provided to the media about what transpired with Xi remain vague, except for the reiteration of China’s message of friendship with the Philippines. friends don’t train water cannons at the other’s

ship, especially one on a resupply mission. friends don’t drive away the other’s fishing boats from its own waters. And friends don’t prevent freedom of navigation and flight beyond their domains as defined under international rules.

the Philippines needs to recalibrate its responses to the activities of the CCG, including drawing on its alliances with other countries for a more effective response to Chinese military aggression. (Philstar.com)

Senate Resolution 718: An act of patriotism

While a lot of people agree that continued engagement with China would be helpful, there is no denying the fact that an extremely large percentage of filipinos are angered over the unrelenting harassment by Chinese Coast Guard vessels, shadowing and blocking Philippine Coast Guard ships on supply missions and harassing filipino fishermen who said they feel like thieves in their own territory, chased away and deprived of their livelihood. this is why the adoption of senate resolution 718 principally authored by senate President Zubiri and senator risa hontiveros condemning the continued harassment of filipino fishermen in the West Philippine sea and the persistent incursions by Chinese Coast Guard and militia vessels reverberates very well and is getting strong support from filipinos.

“We have to show them how angry we are at what they are doing in our territory,” senate President migz said in a recent interview, adding that the senate has to make a stand on issues regarding national

trillion; down to $2.86 trillion in August. Apple sells toys (or gadgets) like iPhones, laptops, tablets and mini speakers.

In 2022, with 137,000 employees, Apple reported profits of $99.8 billion, up 5.4 percent from 2021 and up 73 percent from 2020. selling brains and brawn, the Philippines has deployed its best, brightest and most skilled workers abroad, 12 million of them, but made only $32 billion in ofW remittances, 32 percent of Apple’s yearly profits. simply by selling us toys, Apple makes in just four months what the 12 million filipinos earn in one year. our 12 million ofWs sell their blood, sweat, tears and their souls to make a third of what Apple rakes in yearly.

According to The Economist, “Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, meta and microsoft lord it over American business. the five firms dominate the s&P 500 stock market index, collectively accounting for 9 percent of its sales, 16 percent of its net profits and 22 percent of its market capitalization. Last year, their capital spending of $360 billion made up over a tenth of all American business investment.”

“It is their sustained growth

sovereignty. “the reckless, unrepentant and continuous incursion of Chinese vessels into the heart of the West Philippine sea strikes at the very core of our nation’s sovereignty, the integrity of our country’s maritime zones and the rights of our people,” senator risa said in her sponsorship speech to an earlier resolution that has been merged with sr 718. the statements of sP migz and senator risa articulate the sentiments of many filipinos who are dismayed at the relentless incursions, harassment and aggression displayed by China despite professions that it wants peace, and the continuing disregard for the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruling that there was “no legal basis” for China to claim “historic rights” to resources within the sea areas falling within the socalled nine-dash line.

A lot of filipinos see sP migz and senator risa as patriots, so it is no wonder why there is growing admiration for these legislators as evidenced by the results of surveys conducted by independent groups.

In the recent survey conducted by the Institute of Popular opinion of the University of mindanao, senator hontiveros had an 83 percent awareness rating and came out as “the most trusted” senator in Davao City – which is no mean feat considering that she did not win in the city during the may 2022 elections and had a negative 30 trust rating in a June 2022 survey. An independent “Boses ng Bayan” survey released by the rP-mission and Development foundation recently showed senate President migz with an approval rating of 69 percent. Under his leadership, the senate has been getting record high trust and satisfaction ratings. China’s claims run contrary to the UN Convention on the Law of the sea (UNCLos), the resolution read – which is also what other nations have expressed in their submissions to the United Nations. the resolution urged the government to take appropriate action in asserting and securing the Philippines’ sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, and one of the options presented to address China’s

incursions is the filing of a resolution before the UN General Assembly (UNGA) calling on the cessation of all activities that harass Philippine vessels.

As reiterated by former supreme Court senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, who was a key figure in the maritime case filed at the PCA against China, the “locus of world opinion is the UNGA.”

No country would like to be considered an outcast in the community of nations, which is why if one wants to influence world opinion, the UNGA is where you start, he said.

the Philippines is also open to working together with like-minded nations – even those that have overlapping maritime claims – to ensure maritime peace and security.

the Philippines and Vietnam signed a strategic partnership agreement in 2016 covering several fronts, including defense and maritime security. Both are now stepping up cooperation amid growing security threats in the region, recognizing that disputes must be managed and resolved peacefully in accordance with

Big tech, bad tech

that makes them unique in the history of capitalism. When exxonmobil and Ge were the titans of America Inc. in the 1990s and 2000s, their revenues were rising at an average annual rate of 5-6 percent and their net profits at 5-10 percent or so. the tech giants have been growing at 16 percent and 13 percent, respectively, for a decade or more,” adds The Economist

“Investors expect the tech giants, with their deep technological insights and even deeper pockets, to capture the spoils of artificial intelligence (AI). the share prices of Alphabet, Amazon and meta are all climbing back towards their peaks of 2021,” says the magazine.

AI, machines that think, act, talk and solve problems (and lie) like humans, is feared this year as an existential threat to mankind.

Can you imagine machines that lie their way to power and cheating, running the Philippine government?

Asks The Economist: ‘Can anything stop Big Tech?’ the Warren-Graham Digital Consumer Protection Commission Act would create a new federal commission to oversee major technology

companies operating in the U.s the commission would increase consumer safety, protection and privacy, improve competition and bolster national security. It will have the legal authority to investigate and prosecute misconduct by major technology companies when it comes to violating American’s personal data, privacy and online activity. the structure, functions and scope of the new Digital Commission would be similar to the federal Communications Commission (fCC) and Nuclear regulatory Commission (NrC), which oversee radio and television outlets and nuclear power production, respectively, in the United states. says senator Graham: “I have heard too many stories from families who feel helpless in the face of Big tech. stories about children being bullied to the point of committing suicide. human trafficking. exploitation of minors. All the while the social media platforms look the other way. today, we take the first step and provide consumers with the tools they need to begin leveling the playing field. A regulatory commission will give consumers a voice against Big tech and the power to punish them when appropriate.

the creation of a regulatory commission to oversee Big tech is the first step in a long journey to protect American consumers from the massive power these companies currently wield.” for too long, giant tech companies have exploited consumers’ data, invaded Americans’ privacy, threatened our national security and engaged in anti-competitive practices that hurt our economy,” adds Warren. reining in Big tech is a top priority on both sides of the aisle.”

In an essay published in The New York Times, Graham and Warren write:

“Digital innovation has had a dark side. Giant digital platforms have provided new avenues of proliferation for the sexual abuse and exploitation of children, human trafficking, drug trafficking and bullying and have promoted eating disorders, addictive behaviors and teen suicide. Parents like Kristin Bride, whose teenage son killed himself after being mercilessly cyberbullied, have shared heartbreaking stories with Congress and the public about the potentially deadly consequences.”

“A few Big tech companies generate a majority of the

international law, including the UNCLos and the 2016 PCA ruling. Both also want to speed up the creation of an effective Code of Conduct, which is still the best option to reduce the risk of conflict in the south China sea. the Philippines and Indonesia also have a 2014 “delimitation agreement” that took effect in 2019. In october 2022, both countries signed the principles and guidelines outlining their continental shelf boundaries since both have overlapping exclusive economic zones. President marcos described the agreement with Indonesia as a template that can be presented to the AseAN and can also be done with other nations. When all is said and done, we must continue to hope that issues with China will still be resolved in a peaceful manner – as civilized nations should. (Philstar.com)

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

* * * babeseyeview@gmail.com

world’s internet traffic and essentially control nearly every aspect of Americans’ digital lives. Platforms are protected from legal liability in many of their decisions, so they operate without accountability.

“Big tech companies have far too much unrestrained power over our economy, our society and our democracy.

“Google uses its search engine to give preference to its own products. Amazon sucks up information from small businesses that offer products for sale on its platform, then uses that information to run its own competing businesses.

“Apple forces entrepreneurs (and thereby consumers) to pay crushing commissions to use its App store. A few Big tech companies stifle all competition before it poses any serious threat.

“Big tech companies vacuum up our personal data, often with little care for whether their practices are responsible or even legal.” (Philstar.com)

* *

*

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

* * *

Email: biznewsasia@gmail.com

‘AFPtraining in China a slap on our face’

by cecille suerte FeliPe Philstar.com

mANILA — the Armed forces of the Philippines (AfP) has an ongoing military exchange program with China, as confirmed by Defense senior Undersecretary Irineo espino. even the Philippine National Police Academy is sending cadets to the Beijing military Academy and other training institutions of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). some senators find the situation baffling amid China’s aggression in the south China sea.

senators francis tolentino, raffy tulfo and Jinggoy estrada have agreed that the AfP should explain the program and why the Philippine military Academy

(PmA) stopped accepting cadets from the United states since 2008. “this is indeed very alarming. this has to be explained. We have not been accepting cadets from our (military) treaty ally while we have been sending (our soldiers) to the country harassing us in the West Philippine sea…

What’s the rationale behind this?

how did this happen?” tolentino said on monday, August 7 during the public hearing of the senate committee on national defense and security on the proposed National Defense Act. this has to stop. It’s a slap on our face because while China is bullying us, our military could not retaliate,” tulfo said, urging the Department of National Defense to stop the program.

“this is the first time I heard

this… I find it very alarming that we are sending or encouraging our cadets and senior military officers to Beijing,” estrada said. espino said he has yet to validate if PmA cadets were also training in the Chinese military school. only AfP officers with the rank of lieutenant colonel or higher may avail themselves of the yearlong training in Beijing, he noted. “that’s part of Chinese promoting influence globally,” tulfo noted. he believes the program could even allow the PLA to “infiltrate” the Philippine military hierarchy.

As for the PmA’s nonacceptance of U.s. cadets since 2008, tolentino said “there must be a reason why they stopped sending cadets from the United states.” n

VP Sara on intel fund: Education intertwined with national security

mANILA — Pointing out that the education sector is “intertwined with national security,” Vice President and education secretary sara Duterte on monday, August 7 defended the Department of education (Deped)’s requested P150million budget for confidential expenses in 2024.

In a chance interview with reporters on the sidelines of the Deped’s Balik Eskwela 2023 national kick-off ceremony at tarlac National high school in tarlac City, Duterte said she is leaving it up to Congress to decide on the Deped’s request, but maintained that the agency needs a confidential fund to play its role in national security.

“Because education is intertwined with national security. Napakahalaga na (it’s very important that) we mold children who are patriotic, children who will love our country and will defend our country,” she said when asked why her agency needs a confidential fund.

the vice president did not give a breakdown on how the Deped intends to use its requested P150-million confidential fund. Instead she said there is already an existing set of guidelines on the fund’s proper use and liquidation. there is a joint memorandum circular with regards to the confidential fund. It is laid out

there how to use the fund and how to liquidate,” Duterte said in english and filipino, apparently referring to Joint Circular No. 2015-01 titled “Guidelines on the entitlement, release, Use, reporting and Audit of Confidential and/or Intelligence funds” dated Jan. 8, 2015.

“And by its nature, it’s a confidential fund, so we cannot discuss how we will use it in operations,” she added. the joint circular was issued by the Department of Budget and management, Commission on Audit, Department of National Defense, Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Governance Commission for Government-owned and Controlled Corporations. the joint circular states that all allocations under confidential funds and intelligence funds “shall be supported with a physical and financial plan indicating the proposed amount allocated for each program, activity and project, where disbursements pertaining to confidential expenses and intelligence expenses shall be based.”

In an interview with radio dzBB last sunday, August 6, Deped spokesman Undersecretary michael Poa emphasized that the agency’s requested confidential fund would be used to collect necessary information

DFa warns vs fake e-visa websites

that would address “illegal recruitment” activities in schools and academic institutions nationwide.

“We must admit that recently, there have been a lot of intel activities, recruitment happening inside our schools ... that is why we need funds to collect the necessary information. the information will be used to formulate and implement targeted projects, activities and programs against these things that pose a risk to our learners and teachers,” Poa said in filipino.

In a statement issued on monday, house Deputy minority Leader and Alliance of Concerned teachers (ACt) party-list rep. france Castro hit the Deped’s plan, saying it would put “under surveillance” students and teachers who are being suspected by the education department to be involved in illegal recruitment.

“Is the Deped now a police or military agency that it is conducting surveillance operations on students and teachers?... It has not even scratched the surface in solving the learning crisis as well as providing adequate classrooms and a substantial salary increase for teachers as well as hire more teachers, and now it is conducting surveillance?” Castro said. n

by Bernadette e taMayo ManilaTimes.net

the Department of foreign Affairs (DfA) on monday, August 7 warned the public against spurious websites claiming to facilitate the issuance of Philippine electronic visas.

the DfA will soft-launch the Philippine e-visa system in Philippine foreign service posts in China on August 24.

"It has been reported that an active website containing misinformation on the e-visa and other regulations is being circulated," the DfA said in a statement.

the department clarified that the information on the e-visa "will only be published through its official channels."

the Philippine e-visa system is being developed and refined in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications technology (DICt).

the DfA and DICt have been closely coordinating the development of the e-visa system since December 2022.

the DfA earlier said that the Philippines' very first e-visa was in line with the directives of President ferdinand marcos Jr., "to facilitate the ease in doing

business and reinvigorate the country's tourism industry." the issuance of e-visas aims to support the thrust of the Department of tourism in augmenting tourism arrivals. the Philippine e-visa will allow foreign nationals entering the country for tourism or business to apply for temporary visitors' visas remotely through their personal computers, laptops and mobile device. "the efficient and user-friendly e-visa service is expected to contribute to the Philippine government's thrust to promote tourism and business mobility," it added. n

Stronger balikbayan box security sought

by evelyn Macairan Philstar.com

mANILA — the office of the President and the Presidential Anti-organized Crime Commission (PAoCC) are partnering with the Bureau of Customs (BoC) to provide additional layers of security to prevent the loss or theft of balikbayan boxes. In a statement sunday, August 6 the BoC said that its Internal Administration Group acting deputy commissioner michael fermin met with executive secretary Lucas

Bersamin and PAoCC Undersecretary Gilberto Cruz at malacañang on Aug. 3.

fermin reported that the BoC has filed 11 criminal complaints against unscrupulous freight forwarding companies involved in the balikbayan box scheme. the BoC succeeded in releasing 36 containers of abandoned consolidated shipments comprising 9,689 boxes, he added.

A joint memorandum of agreement to streamline processes, enhance coordination and fortify efforts in safeguarding balikbayan boxes sent by

overseas filipino workers is also being finalized by the BoC. signatories to this memorandum are the PAoCC, Department of foreign Affairs, Department of trade and Industry, Department of migrant Workers, forwarders and other stakeholders. A Customs memorandum order is also being drafted for the registration of deconsolidators along with the payment of a P2million performance bond, which would ensure that responsible parties are held accountable and the handling of balikbayan boxes is careful and efficient. n

VEGAS&STYLE Journal

Matea Mahal Smith wins Miss Filipina International, becomes first winner of Filipino and Black descent in pageant’s 10-year history

mAteA mahal smith, who was born in Coral springs, florida with family roots in Pililla, rizal, Philippines, won the miss filipina International 2023 title in a glamorous, top-tier show in the prestigious International Ballroom of the Beverly hilton in Beverly hills, California last saturday, August 5. smith, 21, became the first winner of filipino and Black descent in the 10-year history of the pageant. A student of Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience at University of florida, smith hopes to become a trauma surgeon and positively impact people’s lives.

Also the winner of the best in swimsuit competition, smith said that she admires her filipina mother who taught her that no matter what life throws her way, obstacles are a temporary challenge, not an end, in her journey. she loves traveling, cooking, exercising, dancing, spending time with her loved ones and listening to music.

As the top winner of mfI, now owned by Geoffrey Jimenez, who also executive produced the glittering production to be aired by GmA Network, smith will receive a BmW 2 series car and a $10,000 gift certificate from iskin Beverly hills.

Last year’s winner, Blessa ericha figueroa, put the stunning brand-new mfI crown, made of swiss blue topaz, Japanese pearls and other gems, custom-designed by royalty designer Narcisa Pheres, on the head of

smith.

put the sash on smith.

Amanda russo, born in Christiana, Delaware with family roots in Angeles City, Pampanga, bagged the miss filipina International tourism title. the 18-year-old finance and International Business student at Penn state University also considers her mom as her biggest inspiration. she wants to give back to the filipino community and find ways to better the lives of elders.

the other winners were Lauren skeoch, first runner-up; Patricia Bianca tapia, second runner-up; and rylen faith steinbuch, third runner-up. russo and these winners will receive cash prizes and iskin gift certificates.

In partnership with Jonas Gaffud’s empire Philippines, three

mfI winners will be eligible to compete next year in miss Universe Philippines while two mfI winners will vie in the miss Philippines pageant. from a field of 36 lovely aspirants representing various states across America and several countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom and the Philippines, 15 semi-finalists were chosen: Denisse Nicole samaniego, Dakota swart, hannah Angelica marte, mary Ann monda, rylen faith steinbuch, Kelly mcIlroy, Beatriz mclelland, matea mahal smith, Kawena Janessa Kanhai, Lauren skeoch, Patricia Bianca tapia, Jessica Zemanek, Amanda russo, heather Casignia and Issha rose mata. the winners in other categories and of sponsor awards were: best in evening gown, manila International film festival Award

and enagic Water Ambassador, Beatriz mclelland; photogenic, iskin award and Philippine Airlines award, rylen faith steinbuch; talent, Jessica Zemanek; best national costume, hope Corpus; miss eloquent, heather Casignia; best in glam, mary Ann monda; Jojo Bragais Walk + Win Challenge, Amanda russo; and Legaspi tax Ambassador, Alyanna Joelle santos.

In the pageant co-hosted by Jeannie mai Jenkins (“the real”), who hosted the miss Universe Pageant 2023 in January, and Cheryl Burke, a second-generation filipina American tV personality, best known for the hit ABC reality show, “Dancing with the star,” the Visionary Award was presented by mario Lopez, via video, to Geoffrey Jimenez. the chairman of Worldwide media entertainment and mfI owner was cited as “a philanthropist and true visionary who is passionate about helping his community to believe in the power of their dreams. he is not only a community leader but also an advocate and patron of filipino talent, artistry and culture. With miss filipina International, Geoffrey has created a platform to amplify young filipina voices and a home for future transformational leaders in our community.”

Jonas Gaffud, known as the “Beauty Queen King,” was honored by mfI with the Lifetime Achievement Award. the head of empire Philippines, which holds the miss Universe Philippines and the miss Philippines pageants, was hailed for “offering young women more than just training. he offers them the courage to dream, the strength to persevere and the knowledge that they are capable of changing the world.” the distinguished panel of judges on the coronation night

included michelle Dee, who will represent the Philippines in the 72nd miss Universe in el salvador in November; hollywood actress Vivica A. fox (“Kill Bill: Vol. 1,” “Independence Day” movies”); Krista Kleiner, miss Phil-

ippines International title holder and philanthropist; margaret Gardiner, miss Universe title holder, author and entertainment journalist; richard maghanoy, iskin Beverly hills Ceo and Im-

The newly-crowned Miss Filipina International 2023, Matea Mahal Smith.

The five finalists stand on stage at the Miss Filipina International 2023 pageant.

Photos by Gian Barbarona

The final two vying for the MFI crown – Matea Mahal Smith and Amanda Russo.

Miss Filipina International 2023 winners with Geoffrey Jimenez, chairman of Worldwide Media Entertainment and MFI owner.

Photos by Gian Barbarona

The winners at the Miss Filipina International 2023, including titlist Matea Mahal Smith (center, with crown).

Photo by Ruben V. Nepales

From left: Miss Filipina International 2022 Blessa Figueroa, Miss Filipina International 2023 Matea Mahal Smith, Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee and MFI owner/philanthropist Geoffrey Jimenez.

Photo by Katie Ortiz

The coronation night’s panel of judges pose for a photo.

Photo by Sthanlee B. Mirador

the crown was presented by Jimenez while michelle Dee, the reigning miss Universe Philippines,

Dolly on doing ‘a Very Good Girl’: i wanted to test myself

by nathalie toMaDa Philstar.com

DoLLY de Leon has taken on her first mainstream lead role in a film, opposite Kathryn Bernardo, via star Cinema’s “A Very Good Girl.”

Based on a teaser trailer of the dark comedy directed by Petersen Vargas, an unlikely partnership is hinted at between the characters of Dolly and Kathryn, with the latter seemingly asking the former to pose as her mother.

“You can call me mother,” said Dolly with nary an emotion.

Prior to the trending trailer’s release on Aug. 4, The Philippine STAr spoke to the veteran actress about what made her say yes to the film project.

honestly, aside from the fact that ang ganda-ganda ng role na in-offer sa akin — I play molly suzara, a very powerful businesswoman — I got to work with Petersen Vargas, who is a very good director, and Kathryn Bernardo, who is a very good actress,” she shared. “It passed my requirements.”

“But what really, really made me want to do it was because I wanted to challenge myself. I’ve never done a star Cinema project. this is my first-ever star Cinema film na lead role. of course, I wanted to test myself if I could really do it kasi malaking kompanya ang star Cinema ‘di ba?”

“I wanted to push myself. ‘Di ba, sa dami ng pinagdaanan ko, dapat lang siguro na i-test ko kung hanggang saan ang limitation ko. And this is it — A Very Good Girl,” she added.

true enough, the first Golden Globe-nominated filipino actor was pushed to her limits.

Naku! Sobrang na-test! Grabe iba talaga ang mundo ng mainstream, iba talaga. Ang dami kong natutunan sa kanila at sa sarili ko. It’s so worth it. I’m so proud of this film. I can’t wait for you to watch it,” she told The STAr one of her major takeaways from doing this film was to always think of the welfare and wellbeing of others on the set, including laborers, crew and staff.

she also learned the value of collaboration between the creatives and the actors. “importante din talaga yung collaboration between the creative team and the actors because at the end of the day, ang actor lang talaga ang

nakakaalam ng character na pini-play nila eh

“But at the same time, natututo rin ako na manggaling sa perspective of the writer or the creative side. I now understand better their needs and requirements. I also gained more knowledge about the job of an actor, in front of a camera, na ang pag-iisip ko big screen,” she continued.

Comparing her mainstream movie experience to her past works, she said, “Actually, halos lahat ng trabaho ko teleserye ang medium. for this, even my acting, I had to adjust.”

Dolly further shared that she learned a lot from sharing scenes and screen time with Kathryn.

“I observed how she worked. Grabe gamay na gamay niya talaga ang katawan niya, gamay na gamay niya ang mukha niya, gamay na gamay niya ang mata niya, sabi ko ang galing!” she said of the younger actress. her technique na perfect na niya. Gusto ko maging ganun ka expert when it comes to awareness of the camera, of the angles of the camera, the technical side of things, yun ang natutunan ko talaga.”

Bretman’s life lessons at 25 is for the baddies

by amrie Cruz Inquirer.net

It’s been only a week since Bretman rock celebrated his Night of 1,000 Bretman rocksthemed 25th birthday party and he’s already teaching us how to be “da baddest” at your quarter-life. As if dropping that makeup campaign with martha stewart wasn’t enough of a slay, the internet icon posted his one week review of being 25, which includes his “25 lessons from a bad bitch that’s 25.”

“I finally feel like I’m in my 20s. It only took five extra years, but we here,” Bretman rock wrote in the caption of the post. he also shared a new revelation—which is that he could totally wear a bahag all day. In one of the videos, he’s fabulously watering plants while wearing the garment that’s making him “feel like a goddess.” “thank you, universe, for making me brown,” he exclaimed.

But the highlight of the post is the life lessons he listed. some are funny, but they all seem to have genuinely worked for him. the list was cut short but here are the ones he shared:

“Bad bitches are greater than bitches, so be a bad bitch.”

“Be delusional. Your mind is your reality.”

“have hobbies.” make money with said hobbies”

“surround yourself with like-minded people.”

“Pay your taxes.”

“Don’t let white people (fill in the blank).”

“Don’t let straight people (fill in the blank).” take care of other life like plants and animals.”

“Always go back to childhood and heal.”

“Be nice to everyone. Not kind, be nice.”

“Don’t buy expensive jewelry.”

“Always write shit down.” for those having trouble coming into their own, perhaps taking notes from Bretman rock can help you live your “baddest” life.

Matea Mahal Smith wins Miss Filipina...

age Body spa Coo; and michelle Narvaez, Philippine Airlines officer-in-charge country manager in the U.s

It’s been a very busy 2023 for Dolly after her international acclaim for the 2022 Palme d’or-winning film triangle of sadness. A Very Good Girl is just one of five film projects she completed this year with official release dates (she actually did more). she is also revisiting her indie roots in not just one but two entries in the ongoing Cinemalaya

19

— Carl Joseph Papa’s Iti mapupukaw (The Missing), Cinemalaya’s first-ever animated feature entry, and Dustin Celestino’s Ang Duyan ng Magiting. Besides wanting to work with their filmmakers and cast, she immediately said yes to these entries because of themes that she has also advocated for in real life.

Ang Duyan ng Magiting, where she plays a social worker who helps two kids being unlawfully detained, tackles human rights, particularly rights of children. iti Mapupukaw, on the other hand, touches on mental health, another subject that she “strongly feels about.”

“And I’ve long wanted to work with Carlo Aquino,” she said of her co-star in the film.

Also among the eminent judges were marc Anthony Nicolas, two-time Daytime emmy-winning producer of “the talk”; Narcisa Pheres, mfI crown designer whose clients include former first Lady michelle obama, Beyonce, madonna, taylor swift and Jennifer Lopez; Natty Pappas, shipping executive and consultant; Alden richards, GmA’s popular singer-actor-host; Anton san Diego, editor-in-chief of tatler Philippines for an impressive 22 years; Voltaire tayag, miss Universe Philippines communications director; and Kathleen espina Ynion, successful restaurateur and wellness advocate. francis Arden, a leading model and talent agent, and Paul Dreher, one of the Beverly hilton’s directors of catering, joined the panel of judges in the preliminary competition, also held at the hilton, on friday, August 4. Accomplished and versatile performers martin Nievera and Pops fernandez co-hosted the equally spectacular prelims night.

miss ramonne and terrell Carter performed musical numbers

in the show which had multiple emmy winner and P&L media’s Lisa Lew, herself a miss Philippines International title holder, as producer. GmA Network, which

will air the exciting coronation night as a special, was represented by executives Joseph Jerome francia, Joy marcelo and renze Banawa.

Dolly says she learned a lot from acting opposite Kathryn Bernardo in the dark comedy directed by Petersen Vargas. ABS-CBN photos

Bretman Rock Photo from Instagram/@bretmanrock

Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee and GMA Network popular singer-actor-host Alden Richards were members of the distinguished panel of judges.

The MFI pageant was co-hosted by Jeannie Mai Jenkins and Cheryl Burke.

Photos by Ruben V. Nepales

A 10-YeAr study showed that more than 57,000 pedestrians were hit by vehicles in metro m anila, including those who lost their lives simply crossing the streets. Notwithstanding the designated crossing “zebra” lanes (large bold white lines on black asphalt) which are supposed to be the haven for crossing pedestrians, drivers and car owners do not seem to care to slow down and stop properly. they all break the traffic laws with impunity, putting the lives of people in jeopardy. reason: our lack of discipline as a people, which is also why our laws are not enforced. Discipline must start from the top executive of the city. I put the blame squarely on the city mayors for defaulting on their sworn obligation as heads of their respective cities to uphold and enforce all laws to protect the public. their negligence has led to the current rampant lifethreatening behavior of drivers in our cities. While the drivers may be the actual law-breakers who should be penalized, their employers, who should know better, are unapologetic consenting co-conspirators, who ought to be penalized several times more. If there is no existing “command responsibility law” applicable in this particular situation, it’s about time our legislators enacted one to prevent more deaths and injuries.

Why should crossing the street on the designated lanes be risky at all? Weren’t they so designed to protect the pedestrians? Why should the citizens be in constant fear and have to run for their life every time they cross the streets?

And sadly, some police officers on site simply don’t care!

In more disciplined countries where laws are strictly enforced and respected, like singapore, Japan, the United states, Dubai, and others, vehicles start to slow down (with no police officer around) when they are about 50 feet from the crossing lane and then fully stop about 10 feet from the lane when drivers see a person wanting (not even starting yet) to cross, and do not try to outrun the pedestrians as they do in metro manila. As long as there is even a single pedestrian on that safety lane, no car would be passing in front or at the back of that person. the pedestrian has the right to change his/her mind

Run for your life!

and suddenly turn around and go back without being hit by a car behind her. only when the entire crossing lane is totally empty would any car move. Pedestrians in those countries are respected and protected and not terrorized like pedestrians in metro manila and other cities in the Philippines.

t hese same drivers, who blatantly violate the laws in the city with brazen decorum, somehow become transformed into model law-abiding drivers when they enter the formerly Americanowned Clark field subic Airbase.

Why? Because they knew that traffic rules there are strictly enforced and violators severely penalized. But the moment they get out of the compound, they resume their usual recklessness with impunity…because they know they would get away with it.

It is therefore clear that the behavior of drivers in m etro manila can be modified, If (and only If) our city mayors, chiefs of police, mm DA, and other related agencies are themselves disciplined enough to enforce the laws.

Just one well-publicized story (highlighted in all news and social media around the country) about a drastic penalty levied against a violator driver and heavier yet against the employee/owner of the car (under a new law) for not stopping properly at crossing lanes would surely be noticed nationwide and serve as a good warning and deterrent to future violators. Behavioral modification through legal enforcement and application of heavy penalties on the offenders have been proven to be effective. obviously, the initiative must start from the top, with the mayors, where the buck stops!

Part of Article 3 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of h uman r ights is the right to personal security. t he Presidential Decree of 1959 (1984), an amendment of the Land transportation traffic Code of 1964, obliges motorists to give way to pedestrians in pedestrians lanes or “Zebra Lanes.”

If law enforcement is not executed properly, it is the mayor’s fault (doctrine of command responsibility). And the culpability is self-evident. the thousands of dangerous ongoing breaches of laws and ordinances are glaring evidence in themselves which the mayors cannot refute.

I challenge the people of m etro m anila to be proactive and preemptive and not wait for another 57,000 individuals to be killed by reckless drivers (and

Fall into fun with city of Las Vegas activities

their more guilty employers) before confronting our city mayors and demanding that the laws (traffic and otherwise) of metro manila and the country are strictly enforced, putting the onus not only on the driver but the employer-owner of the car, who, as earlier suggested, deserves a harsher punishment.

e very citizen, especially the youth, should organize themselves as a vigilant net citizen electronic socio-civic watchdog, like e-Guardian Angels, and take videos on their cellphones as proofs of this dangerous governmental neglect, any uncorrected infrastructure hazards, and other misdeeds or abuses by government officials. And this netizen watchdog movement could be duplicated in all cities in the country to serve and protect our national dignity and our people’s rights.

It is our obligation to ourselves, to our family, and fellow citizens to help protect and look out for each other. the politicians won’t.

Unless “We, t he People,” fight for our rights, we deserve every rotten situation we get, and we can blame no one else but ourselves.

Now, shall we still wait for a member of our own family to be killed first before we act in solidarity?

* * *

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 main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health.

* * *

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

Heart is ‘top driver of Paris haute couture’ in Asia Pacific

CoUNt on global fashion personality heart evangelista to drive media mileage of the haute Couture Paris fashion Week through the roof. the globe-trotting filpino actress, artist and fashion queen, who just made head-turning appearances at the GmA Gala and the state of the Nation Address in impeccable ensembles, once again proved the power of her presence and brand as she emerged as the “top driver of the Paris haute Couture fashion Week’s” mIV (media Impact Value) in Asia Pacific.

mIV is a proprietary algorithm by Launchmetrics that measures the impact of media coverage of placements related to a particular subject, in this case, the much-awaited Paris fashion event. the metric measures the equivalent monetary amount of public posts, articles and audience interactions of a recognized influencer in the fashion, luxury and beauty industries. out of the event’s total mIV estimated at $118.8 million, evangelista, a legitimate global fashion influencer, contributed $1.27 worth of mileage across 11 placements. for the record, she is only one of two who contributed past the million mark in highlighting the Asia Pacific region as an emerging fashion hotspot. Behind her was Indian actress and model Urvashi rautela, who generated $1.24 million in mIV through five placements. far runners-up were Asian American actress Lana Condor at $767,000 and Indian fashionista

and entrepreneur masoom minawala who delivered $616,000. other Asian stars who drew mIV dollars to the Paris fashion event were Bella ranee Campen, Diana Penty, William Chan, fan BingBing and thai superstar tontawan tantivejakul. evangelista’s Launchmetrics win was prominently reported on the lifestyle website enVi media, which noted the list of “top APAC voices creating a buzz during the event.” It cited how “fashion darling” heart ranked at the top. (ManilaTimes.net)

DIsCoVer a new passion this fall! the city of Las Vegas offers a variety of classes and activities for all ages and abilities. there are many choices, ensuring there's something for everyone to enjoy. for more information and to register for activities, go online.

t here are plenty of sports options, including these for adults:

• Leagues for basketball, pickleball, softball and volleyball;

• Dodgeball and pickleball events.

Lots of choices for youth, as well:

• Leagues for T-Ball (ages 4-7), flag football (ages 5-14), Indoor h ockey (ages 7-14), soccer (ages 3-14), Pickleball (ages 5-17);

• Sports skills classes in hockey, t-ball, basketball, flag football, gymnastics and soccer;

• And sports sampler classes for ages 2-6.

A wide variety of pre-school activities are available, including cooking, reading, arts, crafts, school readiness, science, technology, music and more.

And there are plenty of activities after school and weekends for school-age youth, such as dance, chorus, private or group music lessons, gymnastics and acting.

for those age 50 and older, there are many activities to help you stay fit, sharp and social at the city’s four active adult centers. everything from cooking, crafting and dancing to theatre, trips and writing –and everything in between, like

fitness, games, music, painting, quilting and special events. the city of Las Vegas also offers inclusive adaptive programs for youth and adults of all abilities, ensuring that everyone can participate and enjoy the benefits of recreational activities with appropriate supervision. Diversity is celebrated and individuals of all backgrounds are welcomed and supported. Whether you're a parent looking to engage your little ones in tot education, an active adult seeking to stay fit and make new friends, or a young hockey enthusiast eager to sharpen your skills, we have an activity for you. to stay up-to-date with our classes, activities and events, subscribe to city of Las Vegas newsletters.

Markus stands firm on not dating fellow celebrities

by hannah maLLorCa Inquirer.net

ALmost a year after saying his remark to “never f***ing date someone in the industry,” markus Paterson is standing by his belief saying this is based on his own experiences, but he conceded that he should have said this in a better way.

Paterson drew backlash for his statement which he stated in a september 2022 podcast wherein he gave a drunken advice to aspiring stars to never date celebrities. the remark also came in the same month as his ex-partner, actress-singer Janella salvador, confirmed that she’s a “single mom” to their son Jude.

speaking to showbiz writer ogie Diaz in an interview, the actor maintained that he remains firm on this stand, while maintaining that this is just his “personal preference” in terms of dating.

“Kasi dito sa industriya, na-notice ko lang na sobrang competitive ang lahat. And the one thing that you shouldn’t be competitive is in relationships with someone. hindi mo talaga maiiwasang maging competitive sa significant other mo kapag pareho kayong actor or naghahanap ng project,” he said.

“And then kapag [mas sumikat ‘yung isa], lalo na kapag guy, nahu-hurt ‘yung ego namin eh. At hindi namin maiwasan ‘yun. so, to avoid that, just don’t date someone in the same industry, especially in such a competitive industry,” he added.

(i noticed in the industry that everyone is so competitive, and the one thing that you shouldn’t be competitive is in relationships with someone. You couldn’t help but be competitive with your significant other if you’re both actors looking for projects… And then if one becomes more famous than the other, egos get hurt — especially for guys. We can’t avoid it. So, to avoid that, just don’t date someone in the same industry, especially in such a competitive industry.)

Paterson then clarified that he wasn’t referring to salvador in his statement, while confessing that he knew that his statement would draw backlash from netizens.

“Baka isipin ng mga tao na para kay Jea ‘yun, eh alam niyang hindi naman para sa kanya ‘yun. Alam naman niya na mahal ko siya. Pero inexpect ko ‘yung bashing (People thought that I was referring to Jea, even if she knows that it’s not about her. she knows that I love her so much),” he said, referring to salvador using her nickname. the “Viral scandal” star also pointed out that he should have framed his statements about his sentiments better, so that others would understand where he’s coming from.

sana nasabi ko [siya] nang mas maayos, and coming from a place where they would understand my point. Kasi ang pagkakasabi ko talaga, ‘don’t date someone in the industry,’ mukha talaga akong demonyo d’un. I don’t blame them for bashing me, sobra,” he said. (i wish i could have said it better, and come from a place where they would understand my point. Because i really said outright, “Don’t date someone in the industry.” i really looked like the devil at that time. i don’t blame them for bashing me, really.)

On Janella Salvador

During the interview, Paterson sang praises for salvador, saying he “couldn’t ask for a better mother” for his son.

“I’m working towards being a better father, just showing my son the love that he deserves,” he said. hindi pumapasok sa isip ko na (it doesn’t enter my mind if) I do want to get back with her? It’s just not a priority right now, for the both of us, I feel. mas priority namin si Jude (Jude is our main priority).”

Despite this, the “Pira-Pirasong Paraiso” star said he’s “glad” that his relationship with salvador happened since she was the “first one” who taught him how to “love unconditionally.”

she was the first one to really actually teach me how to love unconditionally. I’ll always appreciate that. I’m glad that it happened with Janella because we already had that connection, that deep foundation of love and trust for each other,” he said.

“Noong nalaman namin that we were expecting Jude, it wasn’t scary na (When we found out that we’re expecting Jude, it’s not scary anymore). When Jude came, it wasn’t smooth sailing, but it wasn’t as hard as we thought [it would be],” he continued.

the actor also revealed that co-parenting with salvador became “natural” for them, as he noted that they maintained an open communication when it comes to their son’s visits and providing financial support. sobrang okay ang co-parenting namin. sobrang natural lang talaga. sobrang blessed ako sa kanya. I couldn’t ask for a better mother of my child. sobrang galing niya (our co-parenting setup is really okay. it’s so natural. i’m so blessed with her. i couldn’t ask for a better mother of my child. She’s really good),” he added.

the actor then admitted that their relationship was “perfect” when they were based in the United Kingdom, but “a lot of realities set in” when they returned to the Philippines.

“A lot of realities set in. Ang daming naging problem na it got to a point na we weren’t talking anymore. the fights became more frequent until we just decided not to pursue this anymore because it just wasn’t helping. We didn’t want to raise Jude in a household na palaging nag-aaway,” he said.

so we decided to take a break and see how we feel and du’n na lang naging perfect ‘yung set-up. We started off as really good friends and that’s where we’re at again now,” he further explained. (A lot of realities set in. We had a lot of problems that got to the point where we weren’t talking anymore. The fights became more frequent until we just decided not to pursue this anymore because it just wasn’t helping. We didn’t want to raise Jude in a household where we’re fighting all the time. So, we decided to take a break and see how we feel and that’s when our setup became perfect. We started off as really good friends and that’s where we’re at again now.) Paterson and salvador went public with their relationship in september 2020, where they’ve been together for one year and eight months during that time. they introduced Jude in January 2021, despite being born three months earlier.

the actor confirmed their split in september 2022, saying they’ve been “broken up for almost a year.”

Markus Paterson

Photo from Instagram/@markus

Heart Evangelista wearing Maison Schiaparelli Couture and Bulgari High Jewelry during the GMA Gala 2023. Photo from Instagram/@iamhearte