081823 - Northern California Edition

Filipinos want gov’t to assert sea rights

by KRISTINA MARALIT ManilaTimes.net

percentage (84 percent) of respondents who believe that the Marcos administration should prioritize defending territorial rights in the disputed waters.

methods. Class ABC registered 58 percent and Class D 69 percent.

IT may be time for U.S. citizens to take precautionary health measures again as the COVID-19 subvariant called EG.5, dubbed “Eris” on social media, has been on the rise—accounting for 17.3 percent of COVID-19 infections in the U.S. as of Aug. 5, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Dr. Andrew Pekosz of the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at Johns Hopkins describes the EG.5 variant as very closely related to the XBB Omicron subvariants that have been circulating in the U.S. for the past six months.

“Notably, it contains one particular mutation that is known to evade some of

US US museum to return Filipinos’

THE Philippine government is coordinating with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) in Washington D.C.for the repatriation of Filipino remains from its "racial brains collection."

An investigative report made by The Washington Post stated that the Smithsonian "still holds the brains of people from at least 10 foreign countries, including the Philippines, Germany, the Czech Republic and South Africa."

The Post said the Smithsonian's brain collection had included four brains from Filipinos who were part of the Philippine Exposition during the 1904 St. Louis World Fair.

"Smithsonian officials told The Post that, in addition to the four brains from the fair, the museum had collected the brains of 23 other Filipinos," The Post wrote.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has confirmed the meeting between the Philippine Embassy in Washington and the Smithsonian about the return of the Filipino remains.

"The Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. was involved at the start of the discussions," the DFA said on Tuesday, August 15.

"But the National Museum of the Philippines

MAJORITY of Filipinos want the Philippines to assert its territorial rights in the West Philippine Sea, the latest Tugon Ng Masa (TNM) survey commissioned by OCTA Research showed. The poll conducted from July 22 to 26 showed 70 percent of respondents wanted the government to resolve the issue diplomatically and peacefully. In terms of region, the Visayas had the highest

Part of the WPS is being claimed by China, which has stepped up intrusions in the area.

Mindanao tallied 70 percent, while the National Capital Region (NCR) and Balance Luzon were statistically tied at 64 percent and 67 percent, respectively.

In terms of socioeconomic class, 80 percent in Class E hope for diplomacy and other peaceful

DFA: Help underway for Hawaii wild re-stricken Filipinos

by CHARIE ABARCA Inquirer.net

THE Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday, August 15 said operations to assist distressed Filipinos in Hawaii following the catastrophic wildfires are ongoing.

In a text message to INQUIRER.net, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu, Hawaii, will help Filipinos there.

“Our consulate is proceeding to Wailuku in Maui today to assist distressed kababayans and to get verified information on casualties,

missing persons, etc. They are in constant touch with the local authorities, as it is the latter who are responsible for these operations,” he said.

“The Filipino nation commiserates with the people of the State of Hawaii over this terrible tragedy,” he said.

Asked if the DFA already has the number of Filipinos affected by the wildfires, de Vega answered, “No exact data yet,” adding that there’s “no confirmed data on Filipino citizens affected by the disaster.”

Citing data from the government of Hawaii, de Vega said the wildfires have already claimed the lives of at least 96 people and

‘BBM foreign trips, economy’s reopening major job creators’

by CATHERINE S. VALENTE ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Ferdinand

“Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s foreign trips and the reopening of the economy are the main drivers of the increasing employment rate in the country, the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) said on Friday, August 11.

ECOP President Sergio OrtizLuis Jr. made the statement after the Philippine Statistics Authority reported the country’s employment rate increased by 95.5 percent in June this year.

During the Laging Handa public briefing, Ortiz-Luis cited a marked increase in Board of Investments and Philippine Economic Zone Authority registrations.

Also the president of the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc., he said the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been entertaining delegations that are looking for potential business partners in the country.

“Unang-una talaga tuluy-tuloy ‘yung pag-alis natin doon sa pandemic era at tuluy-tuloy ang

Almost two-thirds or 65 percent of the respondents said the country must fight for territorial rights through military action.

Seventy-one percent came from the NCR, 69 percent from Balanced Luzon, 68 percent from the Visayas, and 52 percent from Mindanao.

Sixty-one percent want to strengthen the Philippine military’s capability to protect the  PAGE 2

Pres. Marcos: COVID-19 pandemic exposed dangers of fake news

by JEAN MANGALUZ Inquirer.net

MANILA —  The dangers of fake news were exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) of the government’s Media Information Literacy campaign on Monday, August 14.

Marcos said that fake news has infiltrated many facets of life and poses dangers.

“It goes into every part of our lives. It becomes dangerous, it became dangerous during the pandemic because people were giving some very outrageous advice, and this was hurting other people,” said Marcos in his speech in Pasay City.

While Marcos did not specify a specific scenario, his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, had said gasoline could be used as a disinfectant.

The Department of Health had to clarify that Duterte could have just made a joke.

“You would look, these people will say, ‘This is a

DOT optimistic of getting 8 million tourists by 2025

by GHIO ONG Philstar.com

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos Malacañang file photo

‘Eris’ on the rise: What we know about the new dominant COVID-19 variant in the

remains from ‘racial brain collection’

‘Eris’ on the rise: What we know about the...

the immunity that you get after an infection or vaccination,” Pekosz says.

While there’s no need to panic, Pekosz suggests those susceptible to severe COVID-19 such as the elderly and those with medical conditions should take care not to dismiss respiratory symptoms. Like in previous variants, EG.5 symptoms include headache, cough, fever, fatigue, and muscle aches.

“Its disease potential appears to be exactly the same as other variants’ as well. The antivirals currently available should work against it,” adds Pekosz. “And

the diagnostic tests, both the at-home rapid tests as well as tests that you get at medical facilities, all should recognize this variant quite well.”

With EG.5 closely related to XBB variants, the new COVID-19 vaccine targeting the XBB 1.5 variant set for a fall rollout is expected to protect against EG.5 as well.

“Based on the available evidence, the public health risk posed by EG.5 is evaluated as low at the global level, aligning with the risk associated with XBB.1.16 and the other currently circulating variants of interest,” wrote the World Health Organization in its EG.5

Initial Risk Evaluation on Aug. 9.

“While EG.5 has shown increased prevalence, growth advantage, and immune escape properties, there have been no reported changes in disease severity to date,” the WHO went on to say. “However, due to its growth advantage and immune escape characteristics, EG.5 may cause a rise in case incidence and become dominant in some countries or even globally.”

This serves as a reminder for us that COVID-19 is still around and we should keep ourselves updated on how we can protect ourselves from it. (Amrie Cruz/ Inquirer.net)

Pres. Marcos: COVID-19 pandemic...

thing that you can do.’ What they are saying can be ‘We’re pro-vax, anti-vax, wear your masks, don’t wear a mask. It’s

a political statement.’ We were all confused, and there was very little that you could do to find out except to find out who these people were,” said Marcos.

Marcos hoped that with the signing of the MOU, citizens, especially the youth, could be equipped with the tools to identify fake news. g

Filipinos want gov’t to assert...

PAGE 1

country’s realm.

The rate was highest in Mindanao at 68 percent, followed by NCR and Balance Luzon at 65 percent and 61 percent, respectively.

The Visayas had the lowest percentage at 49 percent.

Forty-one percent called for expanded diplomatic initiatives with countries within and outside the region to reduce tension in the WPS, while 40 percent wanted joint maritime patrols and exercises with ally countries prioritized.

Only 2 in 10 Filipinos, or 19 percent, want to set aside the maritime dispute and focus on the joint economic development

of the area.

Tensions between the Philippines and China rose in the past week following the blocking by China Coast Guard of a small vessel that was to deliver supplies to troops stationed in Ayungin Shoal.

Beijing demanded that Manila remove the vessel, BRP Sierra Madre, which was deliberately grounded in the Ayungin or Second Thomas Shoal. China claimed that the Philippines failed to deliver on its promise to remove the vessel.

President Ferdinand Marcos

Jr. said he was not aware of any agreement with China to remove the Philippine Navy vessel.

The BRP Sierra Madre, which

the Philippines deliberately grounded in 1999 in an effort to check China’s advance in the hotly contested waters, has long been a flashpoint between Manila and Beijing.

“I’m not aware of any agreement that the Philippines should remove from its own territory its own ship, the BRP Sierra Madre, from the Ayungin Shoal,” Marcos said in a video posted on the Presidential Communications Office’s Facebook page, using the Philippine name for the Second Thomas Shoal.

“And let me go further: if there does exist such an agreement, I rescind that agreement as of now,” he said. (With reports from AFP)

DOT optimistic of getting 8 million...

PAGE 1

million by 2025,” Tourism  Undersecretary for legal concerns Mae Elaine Bathan said on Thursday morning, August 10 during the Philippine Economic Briefing at the Dusit D2 Hotel in Davao City.

In 2019, the DOT recorded a total of 8.3 million tourist arrivals led by South Korea, China, the United States, Japan and Taiwan.

Bathan said an estimated 3.35 million foreign travelers have visited the Philippines as of Aug. 9.

“That’s a little more short for the

4.8 million that we have targeted for this year. This shows how strong our tourism industry is and how optimistic we are that we will be able to breach yet again our targets for this year,” Bathan said.

The DOT is optimistic on the prospects of the tourism sector, especially after President Marcos lifted the state of public health emergency due to the pandemic.

“We know that tourism is one of the economic drivers of our country and such proclamation signifies

that the Philippines is at par with its neighboring countries in terms of safety and travel protocols,” Bathan said. “It also signifies that the Philippines is open and safe for travel and we are more than willing and ready to welcome our visitors to our shores.”

During the same event, Bathan pitched Mindanao as a “viable, safe and worthwhile destination for all” including business executives, officers of local and foreign business chambers and government officials. g

TEAMWORK. Students clean the windows of a classroom at Batasan National High School in Quezon City on Tuesday, August 15. The nationwide volunteer maintenance activity dubbed “Brigada Eskwela” prepares public schools for Academic Year 2023-2024 that opens Aug. 29.

PNA photo by Joan Bondoc

Statewide Filipino leaders endorse Christopher Cabaldon for California Senate

by AJPRESS

THE campaign for Filipino American Christopher Cabaldon announced a series of endorsements from prominent Filipino public officials and community leaders throughout the state of California. Cabaldon was the longestserving mayor in West Sacramento’s history, and was the first openly gay Filipino elected mayor in the United States.

The 57-year-old Democrat is now running for the state Senate seat for District 3.

The district stretches over the northern San Francisco Bay Area and the southern Sacramento Valley, and includes parts of North Bay, Napa and Sonoma counties, and the SacramentoSan Joaquin River Delta. Cabaldon's endorsements include:

Public officials

· Ruth Uy Asmundson, Mayor of Davis (Ret.)

· Vigdis Asmundson, Trustee (Ret.), Davis Unified School

District

· Pamela Bulahan, Mayor of Isleton

· Quirina Orozco, Vice Mayor of West Sacramento

· Mona Pasquil Rogers, former Acting Lieutenant Governor of California

· Mark Pulido, National CoChair, Filipinos for Biden

· Joselyn Geaga-Rosenthal,

Christopher Cabaldon

Past Chair, CDP Filipino American Democratic Caucus

· Dave Tamayo, Sacramento

Municipal Utilities District Board

Member

· Frank Aurelio Yokoyama,

Treasurer, CDP Filipino American Democratic Caucus Community leaders

· Sorcy Apostol, Tagalog professor, UC Davis & Sacramento City College (Ret.)

· Alex Avera, President, Ilocano Foundation of California

· Ling Avera, President, Filipino Family Fraternity

· Cynthia Bonta, Past President, Philippine National Day Association & Founder, Outstanding Filipino Youth Awards

· Ben de Guzman, former National Coordinator for the National Alliance for Filipino

Veterans Equity

· Derek Ledda, Secretary, Filipino American Lawyers Association

· Elmer Manaid, President, Filipino American Association of American Canyon (Napa County)

· Dick Mazon, President, Filipino Community of Sacramento & Vicinity

· Murray Navarro, President, Filipino Fiesta

· Joey Palma, Board Chair, Filipino American Chamber of Solano County

· Connie Pasquil, Retiree

· Jose Patria, Past President, Filipino Women’s Club

· Leila Pereira, President, Filipino Women’s Club

· Anthony Quicho, Past President, Filipino American Association of American Canyon

· Eloise Escano Scott, Chairperson, Vallejo Pista Sa Nayon cultural committee & Past President, Hinunangan Association

· Danny Yap-Diangco, President, Aklan Association

In response to these endorsements, Cabaldon released the following statement: "I am deeply honored to receive the endorsement of such incredible Filipino leaders from across the state. As a Filipino American, our shared heritage and values have always been a driving force of my public service. To have the trust and support of so many leaders throughout the district and the state is truly humbling." 

IN DEMAND. Vendors restock their native trays with ripe rambutan as demand for the sweet and antioxidant-rich fruit is high at their stall in Judge Jimenez Street, Kamuning, Quezon City on Tuesday, August 15. Rambutan originated in the Malay archipelago and is widely cultivated in Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand, as well as in Australia and Hawaii, among others. PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

Sentinels of sovereignty

THE Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague has spoken, and awarded the Philippines sovereign rights over Ayungin or Second Thomas Shoal. The United States, the European Union, the Group of Seven and Australia, among others, have publicly recognized the PCA ruling, which also invalidated China’s so-called nine-dash-line claim over nearly all of the South China Sea.

So it’s time for the Philippines to more forcefully assert those sovereign rights, awarded in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which both the country and China have affirmed. Based on UNCLOS, the PCA defined the Philippines’ maritime entitlements within its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.

Editorial

The PCA ruling specifically awarded the Philippines sovereign rights over Ayungin, Panganiban or Mischief Reef and Recto or Reed Bank, and ruled that China has no right to shoo away anyone from Panatag or Scarborough Shoal. Beijing has refused to vacate Panganiban, where it first built huts that it claimed were fishermen’s shelters. The reef has since been converted into an artificial island, with the huts transformed into a multistory concrete military installation.

With the arbitral award, the Philippines can claim the right to develop Ayungin, or at least to upgrade the facility that houses a Marine outpost. The rusty, World War II-vintage BRP Sierra Madre looks like a badly injured whale beached on Ayungin. In 1999, the administration of Joseph Estrada deliberately

Babe’s Eye View

BABE ROMUALDEZ

PHILIPPINE Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela correctly called out a few misguided Filipinos who defend China’s aggression and even act like its mouthpiece as unpatriotic and a traitor to our country.

“If you are a Filipino, whether in government or private sector, regardless of your politics, defending and making excuses for China’s aggressive behavior should deem you unpatriotic, and a traitor to the Philippines and to our people. Given current developments in the West Philippine Sea, it is important to show loyalty to country.

“While I recognize freedom of speech as an important right guaranteed by our constitution, it should not be misused as a means to justify unpatriotic actions by acting as China’s mouthpiece,” Tarriela posted on Twitter, underscoring that all Filipinos should “stand united in protecting our nation’s interest” in the wake of China’s unlawful and aggressive behavior in the

ran aground the vessel on the shoal. His defense secretary at the time, Orlando Mercado, has denied that Estrada made any promise to the Chinese that the ship would be removed. President Marcos has said that even if any such commitment was made, he was rescinding it. What the current administration can do is support moves in Congress to upgrade the Ayungin outpost to something befitting the military personnel assigned to the shoal, who are sentinels of the nation’s sovereignty. Unlike the artificial island building undertaken by the Chinese, the improvement of the Ayungin outpost should not destroy the marine environment.

Several senators are pushing for the allocation of at least P100 million in 2024 for permanent improvements in Ayungin, such as the provision of a pier and decent lodgings for the personnel stationed there as well as fishermen of all nationalities who might seek shelter during bad weather. The proposed funding will be under civilian agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Philippine

Coast Guard, which is under the Department of Transportation.

The Chinese coast guard, unlike other such services in most countries, is not a civilian agency but is under its Central Military Commission. The

Philippines cannot match the military resources of the world’s second largest economy. But the Philippines can give its Marines stationed in Ayungin the decent facilities that they deserve. (Philstar.com)

We support and stand by our Philippine Coast Guard

West Philippine Sea, whose rich resources are for Filipinos. Commodore Tarriela’s post – which has since garnered hundreds of thousands of views and shared on social media platforms such as Facebook –has elicited strong reactions and angry comments, describing these “traitors” as descendants of the “Makapili” who collaborated with the enemy and betrayed fellow Filipinos during World War II. No one can really blame the PCG spokesman for expressing such sentiments because if anything, the members of the Philippine Coast Guard are at the frontline in defending our country’s maritime territory from encroachment, with no less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recognizing the PCG’s role in “defending our economic zones and our baselines.”

Aside from defending our territory, the PCG is also tasked with protecting Filipino fishermen and ensuring their safety while they engage in fishing activities which have been their source of livelihood for generations. Absolutely no one doubts the kind of harassment and bullying that

his water cistern project at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City, was met with vehement opposition from the local politico.

Filipino fishermen have been subjected to by Chinese Coast Guard and militia vessels that shadow the fishing boats, forcing them to leave traditional fishing grounds that are within our exclusive economic zone.

Filipinos rely on our fishermen for the supply of fish which is a staple food, but according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Chinese incursions have contributed to the decline of fish production in 2022 –which is ironic considering that we have one of the longest coastlines in the world, even longer than the United States or China.

China’s bullying and aggression is a highly emotional issue for patriotic Filipinos so when they hear a few misguided, “intellectually stupid” people acting like China’s apologists, justifying the reprehensible actions of Chinese Coast Guard and militia vessels in the West Philippine Sea, it really makes them feel so angry. It will not be surprising if it drives them to become a lynch mob.

The recent incident where the Chinese Coast Guard conducted dangerous maneuvers and sprayed water cannons at two

clearly took some in the audience by surprise. At once, he was both presidential and authoritative.

Philippine boats carrying rice, water, vegetables and other food supplies for troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal is just another example of the relentless harassment and bullying that we have been facing for years. While China keeps professing that it wants to resolve maritime disputes through “peaceful means,” clearly its actions indicate otherwise.

At the Singapore Shangri-La Dialogue last June, Commodore Tarriela pointedly asked Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu: “While China is talking about dialogue, China’s actions show confrontation. Why is there a big difference between China’s words and its actions?” The Chinese Defense Minister did not give a direct answer.

Like so many Filipinos, we commend the men and women of the Philippine Coast Guard who are true patriots, and it’s no surprise that they are getting a lot of support from our countrymen, including patriotic legislators like Senator Francis Tolentino and Senate President Migz Zubiri who declared, “I stand… with our Coast Guard men and women as they face

hostile actions by intruders right on our very own seas.”

Senator Risa Hontiveros, who has been very outspoken, is also getting so much respect.

“China is not a friend. She is not even a good neighbor. Hindi tayo papayag na wala tayong gawin habang inaabuso at inaalipusta niya ang ating mga kababayan sa sarili nating karagatan ( We will not just do nothing while they abuse and insult our countrymen in our own seas ),” she said.

The response of the president to China’s claims that the Philippines promised to remove the BRP Sierra Madre, an active Philippine Navy commissioned vessel (which was deliberately grounded in Ayungin Shoal in 1999 and currently a military outpost manned by Philippine Marines), also uplifted the spirits of Filipinos.

“I’m not aware of any agreement that the Philippines should remove from its own territory, its own ship, the BRP Sierra Madre, from the Ayungin Shoal. And let me go further – if there does exist such an agreement, I rescind that agreement as of now,” the president said.

Saying “the Philippines has not and will never enter into any agreement abandoning its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over Ayungin Shoal,” National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya challenged the Chinese government to identify the person or persons who made such promise to them.

Support is mounting for the proposal to refurbish BRP Sierra Madre, with Senate President Migz saying the Senate will fund a request, hailing our “brave men and women of the Marines and Navy” who deserve “our unconditional support as they sacrifice themselves for us.”

More and more countries are joining Filipinos worldwide in condemning China’s aggression and violation of our sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea. More importantly, true Filipinos support our troops. (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: babeseyeview@gmail.com

PERCHED at the very center, flanked by a legion of national and local politicos eager to make their mark, he remained cool and composed. Although there were hints of exhaustion, he remained focused throughout the hour-long briefing. Though the nation’s most powerful man, he acted more like a school principal—gently listening to the counsel of various officials in attendance.

Far from a domineering patriarch, President Marcos gently moderated back-andforth exchanges among those in attendance. The occasion was a very public “situation briefing” among multiple stakeholders on the persistent flooding crisis in Pampanga. He kept his cool, politely directing questions and seeking clarification from various quarters.

And then, all of a sudden, the temperature in the room rose to a boiling point. Former public works secretary Rogelio Singson’s proposal for a water impounding system, similar to

“We will not allow the impounding of Candaba Swamp … If you want a security problem, go ahead and ruin the livelihoods of all the farmers in Candaba. We will walk out from here,” Pampanga Rep. Anna York Bondoc said, clearly asserting her authority as a local government leader.

At this point, however, Mr. Marcos immediately stepped in. He firmly, yet politely, explained the science as well as economics behind Singson’s proposal. He also reassured his local government counterpart that “[w]e have no interest in destroying the livelihoods of our farmers [in Candaba]. We will not leave them behind …”

Instead of engaging in populist antics or bullying subaltern politicos to please his ego or base, he pellucidly explained the rationale behind the proposal of Singson, who served as former president Benigno Aquino III’s infrastructure czar. In barely a single minute, he also evinced a respectable degree of familiarity with the fundamentals of environmental science, which

The curious episode was refreshingly revealing. It stood in stark contrast to preconceptions about Mr. Marcos prior to his assumption of power. Forget about the whole host of sensational rumors— and, at times, slanderous comments—circulating among his supposedly progressive critics. No less than former president Rodrigo Duterte, in a thinly veiled public rant, tried to justify his refusal to endorse Mr. Marcos in last year’s elections: “I am not impressed by him. He is really a weak leader.”

In fairness, Mr. Marcos’ tenure, so far, can be credibly criticized for a whole package of gaffes. From trafficking in historical distortion to multimillion “rebranding” projects and a multibillion Maharlika sovereign wealth fund, there is no shortage of questionable moves. And mind you, we are yet to see whether this administration will have any robust form of anti-corruption initiative, which is crucial both to our democratic health as well as economic dynamism. Having said that, Mr.

The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and

Marcos has clearly exceeded expectations on many fronts, most notably on foreign policy. By all accounts, it was the former president who was a “weak leader” when it came to defending the West Philippine Sea. Instead of prosecuting our national position, he repeatedly echoed Beijing’s version of geopolitical reality. By alienating our closest allies, he empowered our rivals.

And his self-styled trip to Beijing last month, which effectively made him a “special envoy” to China, is a telltale sign of the former president’s foreign policy track record: Tough on the crimes of the West a century or half a millennia ago, but totally diffident (if not enabler) in face of Oriental imperialism in the Philippines’ own backyard.

In stark contrast, Mr. Marcos has consistently adopted an uncompromising stance, including on the finality and binding nature of our 2016 arbitral tribunal award victory under the aegis of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Crucially, the president has been flanked by an impressive group of individuals, including Defense Secretary Gilbert

Teodoro, Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez, and Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela, who have taken up the cudgels for the rule of law in our region. So far, Mr. Marcos has shown that one need not become a “strongman,” like Duterte or his father, in order to be tough where it counts. It remains to

be seen, however, if this is more signal than noise for his full term in office. (Inquirer.net)

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

* * * rheydarian@inquirer.com.ph

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Malacañang photo

SF mayor announces student fee relief for city college students

SAN FRANCISCO – On Thursday, August 10, Mayor London

Breed joined City College Chancellor David Martin and the City College of San Francisco community to announce the relief of outstanding student fees for thousands of San Francisco residents who attended the College in the last five years. With a $2.1 million allocation in the Mayor’s most recent budget, more than 13,000 former City College students will once again be able to enroll in City College classes and continue pursuing their educations.

While eligible students receive free tuition through Free City College (https://www.ccsf.edu/ paying-college/free-city), they may accrue additional fees, such as transcript, materials, or late withdrawal fees. A fee balance of as little as $10 prevents a student from enrolling in any classes with the College. With this new funding allocation, thousands of students who attended City College between August 2017 and December 2022 will see holds lifted from their accounts allowing them to be able to once again enroll in classes.

“Removing financial barriers that City College students face is crucial to their success,” said Mayor London Breed. “City College provides residents with enriching higher education classes, career training courses, and opportunities to build new skills. With this funding, thousands of community members who couldn’t previously enroll in classes will now be able to continue their education.”

The Free City College program is a partnership between City College and the City and County of San Francisco with the goal to provide San Francisco residents with free tuition to the College, or grants for students who are financial aid recipients. Each year, the city provides Free City College funding, and in this year’s budget, the city provided $16.8 million for tuition for San Francisco residents. Any unspent funds are placed into a reserve.

“City College is grateful to Mayor Breed and City officials for the opportunity to provide thousands of San Franciscans with a fresh start on their educational journey,” said City College Chancellor David Martin.

“From free tuition, enrollment fee assistance to student debt relief, San Francisco continues its leadership in the nation to create student supports and remove barriers to post-secondary education for its residents,” said SF Department of Children, Youth and Their Families Executive Director Maria Su. “This further enhances access to quality education for those who might otherwise face challenges in affording college education. By investing in the academic potential and dreams of our students of all ages, we continue to reinforce our city’s commitment to nurturing a vibrant and inclusive educational landscape for all.”

City College of San Francisco serves more than 60,000 students annually at several educational centers throughout the city and offers over 250 degrees and certificates, transferable credits, online courses, and career advancement classes.

More information about the city’s Free City College Program may be found on at https://www. ccsf.edu/paying-college/free-city.

(SF Mayor’s Office Release)

US museum to return Filipinos’ remains...

is now taking the lead on this," the DFA said in a text message.

Apparently some Filipinos, including an Igorot community, want the remains returned so that they will be accorded proper burial according to their tradition.

In a statement dated August 9, the NMP welcomed the Smithsonian's initiative to repatriate the remains of the Filipinos "some but not all of whom can be specifically identified, which have been kept in their collection for many decades."

The NMP said that these are apparently remains of Filipinos, mostly members of various indigenous groups in the Philippines, who were brought to the United States "for the St. Louis World's Fair held in 1904 who died there during the period of the exposition" or those who had chosen to remain in the U.S.

Some historians had described the St. Louis exposition as a "human zoo" wherein indigenous people from around the globe were converted into "attractions." According to asianamericanedu.

org, after the Philippine-American War ended in 1902, the Americans became "fascinated by the natives of the the newly-acquired territory, which led to the development of anthropological exhibits showcasing what life was like in the Philippines."

"The United States government spent over $1.5 million transporting over 1,000 Filipinos to the World's Fair. The Igorot Village was one of the most popular attractions at the Fair," the asianamericanedu.org added.

The NMP said, "In some if not all cases, there is no evidence of consent being given for the collection and scientific use of the remains."

The remains were collected by the Smithsonian for research purposes in "biological anthropology in line with practices that at the time were considered acceptable though not uncontroversial," the NMP said.

"Of course, most if not all museum institutions around the world have long discontinued such collections of human remains and, in recent decades, there has been a growing effort

‘BBM foreign trips, economy’s

pag-hire (First of all, we continue to recover from the pandemic era and the hiring also continues),” Ortiz-Luis replied when asked about factors that contributed to the increase in local employment.

reopening...

Employment) on how to address the problems, particularly the job mismatch,” Ortiz-Luis added.

by concerned institutions to try to correct or remedy actions of the past that are today regarded as objectionable or worse," it added.

"In adherence with today's standards of ethical museum practice, the NMP accepts and supports this effort of the Smithsonian NMNH to do the right thing and facilitate the return of the Filipino remains home as a way of rectifying this unfortunate situation," the NMP said.

As its Philippine counterpart, the NMP said it has extended to the Smithsonian NMNH its commitment to extend necessary assistance in repatriating and safekeeping these Filipino remains.

The NMP said it has been coordinating with the DFA and the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts on this matter.

"In all cases, the ultimate objective is to turn over the remains to the rightful lineal descendant family or community for proper appropriate action," the NMP said. (Bernadette E. Tamayo/ ManilaTimes.net)

“Ang gobyerno naman tuluytuloy ang pag-encourage ng investment, at maraming biyahe ni presidente. Hindi naman inaasahan na marami talagang iuuwing investors at ‘yun ay tuluytuloy (The government continues to encourage investment, and the president travels a lot. It is not expected that he will bring home many investors, and that will continue),” he said.

The ECOP head also said industries that generated more jobs were construction, agriculture, administrative and food services, and public administration and defense on the government side.

To help the government improve the labor force, OrtizLuis added that ECOP has been carrying out an advocacy campaign and forged an agreement with various state agencies, manufacturers, business process outsourcing and tourism industry to create 1 million jobs.

“These are additional jobs, and we continue to conduct trainings and job matching to help create more jobs,” he said.

“And we are working with the DoLE (Department of Labor and

Meanwhile, the ECOP head attributed the gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 5.3 percent in the first half of 2023 to the continued opening up of the economy.

He, however, suggested that the government has to boost its spending to meet its GDP growth target this year.

“Our target is a high of 7 percent, 6 percent, between that is the target for this period. We did not meet that. We have just moved little by little, so we have to catch up,” Ortiz-Luis said.

He also cited the need to accelerate the government’s spending to boost the country’s economic growth.

“Those budgets of the departments that are not spent, it is understandable because the people, new administration, new people, they are still studying, they do not yet know how to use the money. But maybe they need to spend their budgets more quickly,” the ECOP chief said.

The Marcos government said it would accelerate spending in the coming quarters to recover the momentum following the 4.3 percent economic expansion of the country’s economy in the second quarter of this year.

“While government expenditure contracted by 7.1 percent in the absence of

election-related spending in the first half of the year, government spending will accelerate in the coming quarters to allow us to recover our growth momentum,” the administration’s economic managers said in a joint statement on Thursday, August 10.

The Economic Development Group, according to the officials, has already been discussing how various government agencies can expedite the implementation of programs and projects for the rest of the year.

The economic team expressed optimism on the strong and positive prospects of the Philippine economy, believing it could sustain the momentum of its initial gains.

“We firmly believe that the prospects of the Philippine economy remain strong and positive. Our economy has weathered the worst and most challenging times during the pandemic. Now, we are better equipped and more resilient to withstand the various risks and challenges on both the external and domestic fronts,” the economic managers said.

“Our robust growth strategies and the active participation of all sectors of society, especially our private partners, will keep us on track to achieving our social and economic transformation agenda toward a prosperous, inclusive and resilient Philippines,” they added. g

OIL PRICES UP. Gas station supervisor Ronaldo Burdius adjusts the figures in the digital fuel price board along

Avenue, North Fairview, Quezon City on Tuesday, August 15. Oil companies again increased

by PHP1.50 per liter, and kerosene by PHP2.50 per liter.

photo by Ben Briones

Dateline PhiliPPines

Sandigan junks Napoles appeal on ‘pork’ case

by ElizabEth MarcElo Philstar.com

MANILA — The Sandiganbayan has denied another attempt of detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles to be cleared of a plunder case in connection with the alleged misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel of former congressman Edgar Valdez.

In a resolution promulgated last Aug. 8, the court’s Fifth Division said Napoles failed to raise any new meritorious argument in her motion for reconsideration that would warrant the reversal of its July 4 resolution, in which the court refused to admit her memorandum containing the summary of arguments and evidence her camp presented during trial.

Napoles, in her memorandum, prayed to the court to acquit her of the case, insisting that the Office of the Ombudsman’s prosecution panel failed to prove her guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

In its new resolution, the Fifth Division maintained that the memorandum must not be admitted for being filed beyond the 30-day deadline.

The Fifth Division had earlier noted that while Valdez and the prosecution filed their memoranda last Feb. 15 and Feb. 20, respectively, Napoles only filed her memorandum on March 31, more than a month from the deadline of filing.

Besides, the Fifth Division pointed out, refusal to admit Napoles’ memorandum will not

result in violation of her right to due process as the filing and admission of a memorandum is not mandatory and is solely upon the discretion of the court. Furthermore, the court said, all the parties were already given the opportunity to be heard and present their evidence during the trial.

Meanwhile, in the same resolution, the Fifth Division also denied Napoles’ appeal to take judicial notice of the transcript of stenographic notes (TSNs) of the testimony of primary state witness Benhur Luy, in which Luy supposedly admitted that he has no proof that the kickbacks allegedly received by Valdez came from Napoles’ JLN Corp. or from non-government organizations (NGOs).

“After careful examination of the issue at hand, we are not persuaded to take judicial notice of TSNs pertaining to the cross-

examination of witness Benhur Luy by accused’s counsel,” the Fifth Division said.

With the denial of Napoles’ appeal to have her memorandum admitted by the court, the case is now deemed submitted for decision.

Filed by the ombudsman in 2015, the case stemmed from the alleged misuse of Valdez’s PDAF from 2004 to 2010 during his term as representative of the party-list group Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives.

Valdez allegedly received P57.78 million worth of kickbacks from Napoles in exchange for allocating his PDAF to the businesswoman’s bogus NGOs for the supposed implementation of his livelihood projects.

The ombudsman said the projects turned out to be fictitious or were never implemented.

Valdez and Napoles were granted bail by the Fifth Division in April 2016.

Valdez had earlier posted P1.71 million bail for his provisional liberty while Napoles remains in detention at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City following her conviction of plunder in connection with the misuse of PDAF of since reelected Sen.

Ramon Revilla Jr.

Napoles is also named as coaccused in the pending plunder cases against former senator Juan Ponce Enrile, reelected Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former Masbate Third District representative Rizalina SeachonLanete. g

PRA defends Manila Bay reclamation projects

MANILA — Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) assistant general manager Joseph Literal is defending reclamation projects in Manila Bay, maintaining that the projects are compliant with government requirements.

“(The 13 Manila Bay reclamation projects which were all underway) have scrupulously obtained their Environmental Compliance Reports, area clearances and necessary certifications while adhering to additional prerequisites,” Literal said in a radio interview over the weekend.

He added that the projects

underwent “meticulous environmental evaluations, encompassing comprehensive studies delving into climate change impacts, geological analyses and holistic ecological ramifications.”

In a statement sent to The STAR, Literal claimed that the projects would not cause flooding in the mainland as reclaimed lands would be situated 20 to 200 meters from Manila Bay’s coastlines.

The 13 approved reclamation projects would develop only 5,000 of the estimated 199,000 hectares in Manila Bay from Navotas

Rice prices surge to P56 per kilo

by raMon EfrEn lazaro, roMina cabrEra Philstar.com

MANILA — The Department of Agriculture (DA) said it is probing manipulation or hoarding that has jacked up rice prices that have reached P56 per kilo in the market.

DA deputy spokesman Rex Estoperez said the government is monitoring and taking steps to stabilize rice prices.

“If rice prices right now are reaching P56 (per kilo), that’s not right. We will import if needed. This is what we do to stabilize (prices),” Estoperez said in Filipino.

City to Tanza in Cavite, he noted.

There are a total of 22 reclamation projects nationwide.

President Marcos suspended the 22 reclamation projects last week pending review of their compliance with environmental laws.

As for Chinese companies blacklisted by the United States and involved in the reclamation projects, Literal said they “possess Philippine Contractor’s Accreditation Board special licenses, substantiating their non-blacklisted status and compliance with Philippine laws, evading blacklisting.” (Philstar.com)

‘No public funds spent on Palace fashion show’

MANILA — Malacañang defended on Monday, August 14 a fashion show held inside the Palace last week, saying no public funds were used for the event. Deputy social secretary Dina Arroyo Tantoco made the response following criticism of the fashion show dubbed “Isang Pilipinas,” which was held at the Goldenberg Mansion on Aug. 8, featuring the collection of fashion designer Michael Leyva.

“The government does not spend anything on the event because it is paid for by the

designers and private institutions they partner with,” Tantoco said in a statement. This was the third of the “Fashion at Goldenberg” series project of First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos. Tantoco said the objective of the fashion show series is to provide a platform for Filipino artists to show their work in a historical setting “relevant to our cultural Identity.”

“The output is a collaboration between various creatives in the industry and creates awareness, thereby generating demand, for local fabrics and designs which

have always been instrumental in our cultural identity,” she said. Militant farmers group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said on Saturday, Auugst 12 the fashion show was inappropriate as the county “is deep in debt.” KMP chairman Danilo Ramos earlier challenged other sectors to criticize the “extravagant” spending habit of the First Family. He said the event happened after many Filipinos were affected by recent calamities and the rising prices of rice, food and other commodities. (Helen Flores/Philstar.com)

He said the DA can task its Inspectorate and Enforcement Office to conduct monitoring even if the National Food Authority (NFA) has lost its regulatory powers.

“Someone is saying there is stockpiling of palay and rice; that will be our focus. Even if the NFA has lost its regulatory function, we will ask the Inspectorate and Enforcement Office to grant visiting powers to see if someone really is manipulating (prices) or hoarding,” Estoperez said in an interview on radio dwPM.

He said they are verifying reports that boatloads of rice were imported into the country, and that some traders were overpricing their stocks.

Still, Estoperez noted that rice prices have been affected, as the harvest season is over and won’t begin again until October.

Prices of imported rice have also increased, particularly in Vietnam, that has also led to price increases.

Estoperez said some traders are playing with the prices, offering as low as P38 per kilo for very limited quantities, and that is affecting the price structure.

“It’s ruining the price structure. They’re selling in low quantities and raising prices. People are panic buying,” he added.

The DA official said the department is willing to help out private traders and retailers if they need assistance in logistics.

Estoperez also called for the review of the Rice Tariffication Law, but noted that they are still awaiting data from the private sector in terms of buffer stocks to ensure that the country has enough rice.

He noted that the NFA only has nine days of buffer stock, while the rest of the 81 days should be shouldered by the private sector.

“If it’s less than 81 days with the private sector, there will be trouble and our national inventory will be lacking. That’s what we need to address,” he said.

No manipulation Rice traders in the Intercity Industrial Estate and Golden City Business Park – two of the country’s major rice trading centers – have denied allegations by some quarters that they are involved in rice price manipulations.

Rice stakeholders claimed that the Bureau of Internal Revenue has started conducting revenue inspections on rice traders in the two major rice trading centers, but wondered why the inspections are being conducted when rice and palay stocks are currently thin and business is on a slump.

A text message in Filipino forwarded to The STAR states, “They (BIR) said issued receipts must have the buyer’s address… the penalty would be P5k per receipt.”

On the other hand, Malou Tolentino, Bulacan coordinator of the Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement, confided that many wholesale rice traders in Bulacan are thinking of temporarily shutting down their business due to the high cost of palay that translates to the rising prices of rice.

Meanwhile, rice trader Tony Santos said that the country is now currently at the peak of the “rice lean months” wherein stocks of the grain are thinly spread throughout the country.

He cited that rice prices usually increase during these times, as palay traders and rice traders have thin volume stocks of the staple grains, and prices follow the law of supply and demand.

Santos explained that the law of supply and demand states that prices are determined on the volume and supply of a product, wherein if the supply of a good or service outstrips the demand for it, prices will fall. If demand exceeds supply, prices will rise.

Citing reports from some quarters that rice traders manipulated the spike in rice prices, Santos urged these sectors to first assess the meaning

EMPLOYMENT SERVICES SERVICES

of rice lean months; assess if the NFA or what government agency has enough rice buffer stocks for the country’s rice lean months; the effect in the increase of fuel prices and the rising dollar-peso exchange rate.

“What really happened is that rice prices in the world market increased,” Santos said in Filipino.

On the other hand, Rosendo So, president of the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), in a telephone interview, denied there is a rice cartel.

Just like Santos, So said the country is at the peak of the rice lean months and the DA can conduct inspections on rice/ palay warehouses. The inspections can only show thinly stocked volumes of rice/ palay, he said.

So added that based on their monitoring, rice farmers engaged in a three-cycle crop season are currently harvesting their rice crops like in Pangasinan.

Farmgate price of fresh palay is pegged at P25 per kilo and farmgate price of clean and dry palay at P30 per kilo, he said.

However, So noted the bulk of the country’s rice harvests is expected to take place in October, and farmgate prices of fresh palay is expected to go down to P23 per kilo and clean and dry palay to P28 per kilo.

At these price ranges, production cost of rice would translate to P2,146 per 50-kilo sack or P42.93 per kilo. Plus, the mark-up price of retailers will cost less than P50 per kilo.

Currently, imported Vietnam rice is being sold in the local market at P2,500 per 50-kilo sack or P50 per kilo, while imported Thailand rice is being sold in the local market at P2,600 per 50kilo sack or P52 per kilo.

That’s why rice importers have only orders until October, since these will have stiff competition from locally produced rice that is cheaper compared to imported rice. g

Janet Lim-Napoles Philstar.com file photo

Image from her Facebook page shows First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos with designer Michael Leyva during a fashion show held at the Goldenberg Mansion within the Malacañang complex last week.

HEALTHY SNACK. A vendor repacks yellow corn piled on his wooden cart in Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City on Tuesday, August 15. A three-piece pack sells between PHP30 and PHP40, depending on the size. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Rice prices in Baguio City increase on August 10, 2023 due to a problem in supply caused by typhoon #EgayPH and the continuous rains in Benguet. The cheapest rice is currently priced at P40 per kilo at the Baguio City Market. Philstar.com photo

Jolina dreams of acting with Charo

ALREADY a veteran in show business, Jolina Magdangal shared there’s still a lot of roles she wants to play, and hopes for an acting project with Charo Santos.

“Gusto ko makatrabaho si

Tita Charo — si Ma’am Charo (I would like to work with Tita Charo — Ma’am Charo),” said the actress-singer during an interview uploaded on Star Magic’s YouTube channel.

Magdangal, who has been in the entertainment industry for over 30 years, recalled having a chance to work with Santos while the former was filming for her

“Payong Kaibigan” segment of the 90s youth-oriented program

Ang TV.”

“Kasi dati no’ng nakatrabaho ko siya no’ng bata pa ‘ko, parang ininterview ko lang siya (I got to work with her when I was young, but I only sort of interviewed her),” shared the Kapamilya host, who added that they shot the segment’s interview scene while the former ABS-CBN president was on the set of “Maalaala Mo Kaya.” The “Magandang Buhay” host, who has appeared in a couple of “Maalaala Mo Kaya” episodes during its 31-year run, mentioned the idea of collaborating in a “drama” that would also cater to Santos’ “forte.”

Aside from the opportunity to work with an actor of Santos’ caliber, Magdangal is also looking forward to learning from the “Kun Maupay Man It Panahon” actress off-cam.

"[G]usto ko siyang makawork kasi alam ko na habang hindi kami nagte-take, maramingmarami akong matututunan [sa kanya] (I would like to work with her because I know that while we’re not filming, I’ll learn so much from her),” she said, adding how there’s learning in just observing Santos’ actions. Magdangal, who — earlier in the interview — shared that there’s still a lot of roles she has yet to portray, hopes to take on parts that involve suspense and thriller, if an opportunity outside of hosting comes her way.

After starring in “FlordeLiza,” her first series since returning to the Kapamilya network in 2014, the mom of two mentioned how she had been mostly doing hosting projects.

“Tsaka, ‘yung gusto ko ‘yung [role na] parang hindi mo akalaing siya pala ‘yung masama… Gusto ko mag-kontrabida (And also, I want a role that, like, you won’t expect is actually the villain… I want to play the role of an antagonist),” she further said.

For seven years now, she has co-hosted “Magandang Buhay” with “Pinoy Big Brother” winner Melai Cantiveros and — since last year — Regine Velasquez, who officially replaced Karla Estrada.

Before joining “Ang TV,” the “Tawag ng Tanghalan” judge was part of the musical group 14K — under the guidance of National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab — which also had Arnee Hidalgo and Radha Tinsay.

Atty. Gur nkel answers more immigration questions from Kapamilya in Manila on Citizen Pinoy

Filipino summer campers attend UPAASF’s cultural immersion program at PH Center in SF

SAN FRANCISCO – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco on August 3, 2023 welcomed 51 young Filipino Americans who are taking part in the 10th Cultural Immersion Summer Camp of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of San Francisco (UPAASF) – the biggest cohort of Filipino American children and teens to have visited the Consulate for the annual week-long summer camp.

This is the biggest cohort of Filipino American children and teens, aged seven to 13 years old, which visited the Consulate for the UPAASF’s annual week-long summer camp.

Philippine Consul General

in San Francisco Neil Ferrer welcomed the summer campers at the Philippine Center’s Kalayaan Hall. He encouraged the participants to learn more about Philippine culture and cultivate a sense of pride as Filipinos.

Consul General Ferrer then shared the recent success of the Philippine Women’s National Soccer Team at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup — including the country’s lone goal scorer Sarina Bolden, who hails from the Bay Area.

The Philippine Consul General thanked the UPAASF for spearheading the Summer Camp for the last 10 years.

“Thank you for all that you do

to foster greater understanding of our culture and love for the Philippines among younger generations of Filipino Americans, and mold them to become the next leaders of the community. We look forward to continued partnership with UPAASF,” Consul General Ferrer said.

Unlike the previous years, the Consulate, the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Silicon Valley, and the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) Office in San Francisco curated a one-of-a-kind Philippine cultural experience for the summer campers, setting up four stations that feature Phil-

Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Ferrer (last row, middle) joins the participants and facilitators of the annual UPAASF

Cultural Immersion Summer Camp for a photo upon the conclusion of their field trip to the Philippine Center in San Francisco on August 3. San Francisco PCG photos

At the Sentro Rizal station, Vice Consul Adrian Baccay plays an animated film on the life story of Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal.

At the games station, summer campers learned to play the popular Philippine children’s games of sungka, sipa, and jackstone.

Wilton Rancheria’s Sky River Casino celebrates first anniversary

ELK GROVE – Wilton Ranche-

ria and their partner Boyd Gaming Corporation have a lot to celebrate this month, as they approach the first anniversary of Sky River Casino’s opening on August 15, 2023.

It has been a tremendous first year for Sky River, which has received a very strong reception from the Sacramento area community since the day it opened.

Over its first year, Sky River has also earned a strong reputation as a great employer as well as a reliable supporter of local businesses and local nonprofits throughout the area and is on track to contribute more than $130 million over the next 20 years to its community.

“We are incredibly proud of what we have created at Sky River Casino, and the enormous benefits it is delivering for the Wilton Rancheria people, Sacramento County’s only tribe,” said Chris Gibase, president, and chief operating officer of Sky River Casino. “Over the past year, we have firmly established Sky River Casino as our community’s leading gaming entertainment destination, with an unrivaled selection of exciting casino gaming and unique dining options. We are also immensely proud of the team we’ve built at Sky River, with 1,600 local team members who provide incredible service to our guests, support nonprofit organizations through their volunteer activities, and live the Sky River Culture each and every day.”

Building on its successful first year, this fall Sky River will add a

whiskey and cigar lounge called “The Humidor” to its extensive food and beverage offerings. Additionally, a major expansion is now in the planning stage, which includes a hotel, spa, pools, and event space at Sky River in the future.

Sky River Casino has established itself as an engaged and involved partner for local charities, nonprofits, and community events, which is a point-of-pride for the Wilton Rancheria Tribe, owners of the casino. Wilton Rancheria is the only tribe whose Indigenous territory encompasses Sacramento County.

“Over the last year, we have been able to create more than 1,600 jobs in our community and provide monetary support to more than 100 local charities, all while working to ensure economic stability for the people of Wilton Rancheria for generations to come,” said Jesus Tarango, Wilton Rancheria Tribal Chair.

“I would like to gratefully acknowledge the ancestors, elders, and members of Wilton Rancheria for their faith and belief as we tirelessly worked to bring this dream to reality,” Tarango added, acknowledging support from city, county and state leaders and the California Indian Country.

“We would not have been able to achieve this unprecedented level of success without your guidance, vision, and direction.”

“Finally, and most importantly, we would like to thank everyone who has visited Sky River over this last year, whether to play at the casino or eat at one of our

amazing restaurants. We are truly humbled by your continued patronage and support,” Tarango further said.

Of the 1,600 team members on staff today, almost 1,000 are Charter Team Members, which means they have been with Sky River since before doors opened. Sky River team members enjoy a dynamic workplace culture, competitive salary, opportunities for advancement and competitive benefits.

To commemorate an incredibly successful first year, Sky River Casino is celebrating its first anniversary with a “$1 Million First in Class Anniversary Giveaway.” Throughout the month of August, a total of eight guaranteed Land Rover Defender vehicles will be given away – one per night each Friday and Saturday, along with Las Vegas getaway trips, cash, and prizes to 100 lucky winners this month.

For more information about Sky River Casino, its offerings, restaurant open hours and the “$1 Million First in Class Anniversary Giveaway,” please call 916866-0200 or visit www.SkyRiver. com.

Sky River Casino was built by the Wilton Rancheria in partnership with Boyd Gaming Corporation, which is building and managing the property for the tribe.

The casino opened in August 2022 and includes 100,000 sq. ft. of gaming, 2,100 slot machines, 80 table games, and 17 bars and restaurants. To learn more, visit www.SkyRiver.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

Filipino summer campers attend UPAASF’s...

ippine products, tourism spots, games, and history.

The PTIC showcased Philippine artisanal and sustainable handicrafts, including fashion apparel with indigenous weaves, and sneakers made of pineapple fiber. The DOT led a virtual tour of a “bucket list” of destinations and activities for travelers in the Philippines. The PTIC and DOT jointly served as game masters for the popular Philippine children’s games of sungka sipa, and jackstone.

The immersive experience sparked the participants’ interest in the Filipino way of life, as well as their desire to visit and explore the Philippines.

Meanwhile, the Consulate’s Sentro Rizal gave a brief lecture on Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, and showed an animated film depicting Rizal’s life story and his place in Philippine history.

All summer campers were given a Philippine passport-like booklet, which were stamped in each of the four stations. Completing all four stamps allowed the summer campers to get free ice candies and Philippine snacks from PTIC’s mockup sari-sari store.

After a post-activity discussion, the Consulate treated the youngsters to lunch consisting

FTC lawsuit reminds businesses:

means CAN’T spam

trying

“unsubscribe” link and the emails won’t stop?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says that’s what happened to people who set up “Free Membership” accounts with Experian to manage access to their Experian credit report information online. The accounts let people “freeze” their credit to make it difficult for identity thieves to open new accounts in their name and “unfreeze” their credit to apply for a mortgage or other new credit.

But, the FTC says, the free accounts came with an extra that many people didn’t want —

emails from Experian pitching its credit card offers, credit score services, auto-related products and services, and upsells for its paid membership programs. According to the FTC, Experian sent the emails even to people who opted out of getting its marketing emails, falsely claiming the email “contains important information about your account.” What was missing from the messages? The FTC says the emails didn’t include a way for people to opt out of getting them, in violation of the CAN-SPAM Act.

Experian Consumer Services agreed to pay a $650,000 civil penalty and comply with the CANSPAM Act to settle an FTC lawsuit.

The CAN-SPAM Act gives you the right to stop companies from

sending you email that primarily advertises commercial products or services. Among other things, it requires companies that send marketing emails to include a clear and conspicuous notice that you have the right to opt out of getting future marketing emails. They also must give you an “unsubscribe” link or other internet-based way to opt out. If you get unwanted marketing emails, opt out of getting them. The company must honor your request within 10 business days. If there’s no way to opt out or if you still get unwanted email from the company after 10 business days, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc. gov. (Atty. Seena Gressin/Division of Consumer and Business Education, FTC)

Atty. Gurfinkel answers more immigration...

take care of his sick uncle. He wants to know if he can still apply for a tourist visa despite overstaying the last time.

of Chickenjoy & Jolly Spaghetti from Jollibee and mamon from Goldilocks Bakeshop, and distributed additional goodie bags from DOT.

The Consulate also took the opportunity to donate to UPAASF, 51 coloring books titled “Stronger Together” from GMA International, which was first published by NYC Filipinos in support of mental health and anti-Asian hate advocacies.

Since the program’s inception in 2013, the Consulate has been a partner of the UPAASF in the conduct of the Summer Camp, which allows secondand third-generation Americans of Filipino descent to broaden their knowledge and deepen their understanding about their parents’ country of birth. The Consulate’s support to the Summer Camp is in line with its cultural promotion and diplomacy program.

(PCGSF Release)

• Max, a lawful permanent resident, went to the Philippines four years ago for his vacation. Unfortunately, he has not been able to return to the U.S. because of COVID. Max is asking if he can return to the U.S. if his green card expires in 2024.

• Jobelle aged out of her father’s employment-based petition. All her family members are now in the U.S. She wants to know if the Child Status Protection Act can help her case.

Atty. Gurfinkel answers these questions in the third installment of “Your Tanong, My Sagot”

Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel answers questions of Kapamilya from Manila – Gemma Zamora (left) and Jerome Lee (right).

Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel is shown here with Max King Cruz (left photo) and with Jobelle Lapira (right photo).

Tourism Director Soleil Tropicales led a virtual tour of a “bucket

At the games station, summer campers learned to play the popular Philippine children’s games of sungka, sipa, and jackstone.

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