082423 - Las Vegas Edition

DFA confirms 2 Filipinos killed in Hawaii wildfire, verifying 2 others

mANILA — the Department of foreign Affairs has confirmed that one more filipino has been killed from the wildfires in maui, hawaii, bringing the total number of filipino fatalities to two.

the second reported fatality is rodolfo rocutan — a 76 year-old resident of Lahaina, according to DfA Undersecretary eduardo De Vega.

rocutan renewed his passport at the Philippine consulate in honolulu in 2022 and is “thus confirmed to have been a filipino citizen at the time of death,” according to information provided by the Philippine Consulate in hawaii.

Consul General emilio fernandez said that the Consulate is verifying reports of two more filipino nationals who possibly died from the wildfires.

“once again, the Philippine nation expresses its deepest sympathies to the families of all the victims of this tragedy,” fernandez said.

US, PH find ways to boost energy cooperation

the United states and the Philippines have discussed ways to "deepen" their cooperation on energy security, energy access and the clean energy transition, the U.s. Department of state said.

It said that the two countries launched on April 17 the inaugural U.s.-Philippines energy Policy Dialogue (ePD).

the ePD aims to advance commitments by the U.s. and the Philippines on energy as agreed upon during Vice President Kamala harris' visit to the Philippines in November 2022.

Laura Lochman, the U.s state Department's principal deputy assistant secretary for the Bureau of energy resources, and Beth Urbanas, the U.s Department of energy's deputy assistant secretary for Asia and the Americas, co-led the Us delegation.

Department of energy Undersecretary for Policy and Planning felix William fuentebella led the Philippines delegation.

"Both delegations reviewed the progress of current energy projects in the Philippines and established priorities for future cooperation and technical support," the state Department said.

Marcos: Let’s transcend political barriers

by Helen Flores, Mayen JayMalin Philstar.com

mANILA — President ferdinand r marcos, Jr. joined filipinos in commemorating the 40th death anniversary of former senator Benigno Aquino Jr. on monday, August 21, asking them to tear down political barriers that have rent the country for decades.

“I stand united with all filipinos worldwide in commemorating the Ninoy Aquino Day. By standing for his beliefs and fighting for battles he deemed right, he became an example of relentlessness and

resolve for many filipinos,” marcos, son of the former president who was the senator’s political nemesis, said.

“Let us transcend political barriers that hamper us from securing the comprehensive welfare and advancement of our beloved people,” he said, even as progressive groups hit the alleged disinformation spread by the marcoses and their cronies to deodorize the family’s name.

Bagong Alyansang makabayan (Bayan) president renato reyes said malacañang’s statement lacked historical context.

US, Japan, Australia plan joint drills in South China Sea

Show of force amid Chinese activities

by rainier allan ronda Philstar.com

mANILA, Philippines — the United states, Japan and Australia are planning a joint navy drill in the south China sea off the western Philippines this week to underscore their commitment to the rule of law in the region after a recent show of Chinese aggression in the disputed waters, filipino security officials said on sunday, August 20. on Aug. 5, Chinese coast guard ships used water cannons against Philippine

vessels in the contested waterway where disputes have long been regarded as a potential flashpoint and have become a fault line in the rivalry between the Us and China in the region. the drill will include three aircraft and helicopter carriers sailing together in a show of force and undertaking joint drills. their commanders are set to meet with filipino counterparts in manila after the offshore drills, two Philippine security officials told The Associated Press.

Meet Gilas Pilipinas’ Final 12 for Fiba World Cup

by lanCe agCaoili Inquirer.net

m ANILA — t he new-look Gilas Pilipinas, composed of NBA star Jordan Clarkson and a mix of veterans and the current top players in the country, will have a chance to defend the country’s home court and chase an olympic dream in the fiba World Cup 2023. these 12 men and their coaches will represent the country in its historic hosting of the biggest basketball spectacle for the first time in 45 years as the filipinos try to defy the odds in Group A against the Karl-Anthony towns-

led Dominican republic, Angola, and powerhouse Italy. Gilas Pilipinas is not only seeking to reach the next round–which it hasn’t done in the last two World Cup appearances–but also is setting its sights on becoming the best Asian team to book an outright ticket to the 2024 Paris olympics. the Philippines trimmed down its 16-man pool to the f inal 12 on Wednesday with ray Parks Jr., one of the steadiest scorers of Gilas in the past tournaments, thirdy ravena, Chris Newsome, and Calvin oftana not making the cut.

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“(Ninoy’s) death became a symbol of the brutality of the marcos fascist dictatorship. this fundamental point is lost in the statement from malacañang today,” reyes noted. the pursuit of power, unchecked corruption and submission to foreign dictates are the “genuine impediments to development,” far more than mere political disagreements, he explained.

Aquino, the deceased marcos patriarch’s harshest critic, was assassinated on the tarmac of the then manila International Airport on Aug. 21, 1983 as he u PAGE 2

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U.s senator Catherine Cortez masto (D-Nevada) met with over a dozen Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) small business owners and community leaders in Las Vegas to discuss federal resources available to help businesses grow.

Cortez m asto's roundtable was held on f riday, August 18 at taps & Barrels, a new AAPI-owned craft beer taproom owned by ming Liu, a Las Vegas resident and UNLV College of h ospitality alum, and was attended by AAPI business and professional leaders who represent the fast-growing community.

"I'm proud to see the community to grow and I will continue to do everything I can to support our AAPI community at all levels," the senator told the Asian Journal. my goal is to continue to support and fight for them."

she added, "our community is beautifully diverse and is bringing so much, not just on economic support, but so much rich culture and food."

Business owners at the event discussed barriers faced during access to information and opportunity,

Continuing tension in WPS ‘far more serious’ than we think — PH envoy to US

by CHarie abarCa Inquirer.net

mANILA — the continuing tension between China and the Philippines over the West Philippine sea is far more serious than how people perceive it is, said Philippine Ambassador to the United states Jose manuel romualdez on tuesday, August 22.

romualdez, in an interview over ANC’s headstart, said it is time for the Philippines, along

with its allies, to stand against the continuing aggression over the territory.

“I think this is the time for us to really be together — all united into pushing back. Because, as I have said, the seriousness of this situation is far more than we think it is,” said romualdez.

“some people think it’s just politics, [but] it is very serious. We can actually lose the country if we don’t watch it. that’s how serious this thing is. one day we

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez Inquirer.net file photo

Continuing tension in WPS ‘far more...

may find that we don’t have a country anymore,” romualdez added.

But the envoy noted that the country’s officials should not “escalate” the problem. According to romualdez, the

Marcos: Let’s transcend...

Philippine government should still reach out to China as much as it can.

“this time, we [should] talk to them from a position of strength. In the past, we were always trying to appease them — we will do this, we will do that and everything else. Nothing has come out of it. more aggression took place,” he pointed out. But the envoy stressed that the Philippines should reiterate its demands and tell China to “stop all these things that’s happening right now.” the tension between China and the Philippines grew following the August 5 water cannon incident in Ayungin shoal. n

DFA confirms 2 Filipinos killed in Hawaii wildfire...

the DfA last week confirmed the first filipino fatality in the deadly blazes, which have left more than 100 dead and 1,000 missing in the four days it

ravaged the island. the destructive wildfires in hawaii were caused by several conditions, including hot weather, strong winds, and a drought.

DfA has advised filipinos who lost contact with their relatives in maui, particularly in Lahaina, to contact the emergency hotline +18082539446 for additional information. (Philstar.com)

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returned from the U.s., where he was in exile for three years. his death sparked the bloodless people power revolution that led to the exile of the marcos family in february 1986.

Aquino’s widow Corazon then assumed power until 1992. their only son, Benigno III, was elected president in 2010. Corazon passed away in 2009 and Benigno III in 2021.

In August 2015, the chief executive brushed off questions on rights abuses and corruption during his father’s time and instead redirected the discussion to supposed economic gains. “What am I to say sorry about?” he told ANC’s headstart.

the “Golden Age” argument that the Philippine economy was successful at the time of marcos sr. has long been debunked.

In october 2021, marcos told CNN Philippines’ the source that he was not sorry for the atrocities committed by his father. “I can only apologize for myself... if I have done something wrong,” he noted.

Last year, most government agencies did not join the commemoration, while a number of police stations accused Aquino of being a communist rebel.

Justice

Labor group federation of free Workers (ffW) joined in the commemoration of Aquino’s 40th death anniversary.

“It is not lost on us that today, the Philippines is under the leadership of President ferdinand marcos Jr. We hope that the lessons of the past guide our nation towards the fight for social justice and upholding of democratic principles in our society,” ffW president sonny matula said in a statement. remember, reflect and act in the spirit of Ninoy’s words: the filipino is worth dying for,” he added.

meanwhile, the August twenty-one movement (Atom)

and tindig Pilipinas lamented the country’s unending fight against the same problems from decades ago and the fight against historical revisionism.

“Now that we are still in the same situation, let us refresh and revive what is in Ninoy’s heart and spirit: love for the people, appreciation of human rights and the defense of democracy,” Atom said in a statement.

“We call upon your generation (the youth) to galvanize your strength, find others who are committed to the truth and stand firm like Ninoy,” tindig Pilipinas said.

Floral offerings

Aquino family members and friends offered flowers and prayers at Ninoy’s marker located at the departure curbside of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminal 1 on monday morning.

Among the guests were rebecca Quijano – referred to as the “crying lady” and lone civilian eyewitness in Ninoy’s assassination, historian Xiao Chua, francis Aquino, manila International Airport Authority Public Affairs office head Connie Bungag and terminal 1 manager rodel oba.

the group also visited Ninoy’s bronze bust at the departure area of NAIA terminal 3.

simultaneous flower offerings and prayers were also done at the Aquino monument in the tagaytay City rotonda, the monument at the corner of Burgos street and roxas Boulevard near rizal Park in manila and another in makati City.

Liberal Party Aquino’s achievements as a public servant and his death restored democracy in the Philippines, according to Liberal Party (LP) president edcel Lagman.

“his death accelerated the liberation of the Philippines from authoritarian ignominy. his heroism galvanized the

beginning of the end of the strongman rule of ferdinand marcos,” Lagman, concurrently Albay representative, said in a statement. “(Aquino crusaded) for meaningful reforms, resisting oppression and repression, campaigning for a change in abusive and derelict national leadership and even sacrificed his life for the motherland,” he added. meanwhile, around 30 LP members and supporters gathered at the public square in front of Quiapo Church to offer flower wreaths at the historical marker commemorating the Plaza miranda bombing on August 21, 1971.

the 1971 bombing resulted in nine deaths and 95 wounded after two hand grenades were thrown at an LP campaign rally. our biggest enemies are misinformation and disinformation. freedom does not only mean independence, we should also fight to be free from hunger and poverty,” former Ifugao representative teodoro Baguilat said in his speech on monday.

‘Not enough’

It is not enough to remember the heroism of Ninoy, but filipinos also “need to stand up and wake up from our pretentious sleep,” according to Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop socrates Villegas.

“there is punishment from hell for a country that stands on layers of corpses, and those who cheer these deaths,” Villegas said in filipino in his Aug. 21 homily at the sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City.

so much blood has been spilled yet it seemed that we have become numbed, lack interest and do not care… It is difficult to wake people who are only pretending to be asleep,” he added. (With reports from rudy Santos, Delon Porcalla, Evelyn Macairan, Ghio ong, Neil Jayson Servallos, Mark Ernest Villeza)

US, Japan, Australia plan joint drills...

Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not allowed to publicly discuss details of the planned drills. the U.s. plans to deploy an aircraft carrier, the Uss America, while Japan would send one of its biggest warships, the helicopter carrier Js Izumo. the royal Australian Navy would send its hmAs Canberra, which also carries helicopters, one of the two officials said, adding that the joint drill was planned a few months ago. the Philippines would not be part of this week’s drills due to military logistical limitations but is open to becoming a participant in the future, the official said. the United states, Japan and Australia were among several countries that immediately expressed support for the Philippines and concern over the Chinese action following the tense standoff earlier this month.

Philippine officials said six Chinese coast guard ships and two militia vessels blocked two Philippine navy-chartered civilian boats taking supplies to the Philippine forces stationed at the Ayungin (second thomas) shoal. one supply boat was hit with a powerful water cannon by the Chinese coast guard while the other managed to deliver food, water, fuel and other supplies to the filipino forces guarding the shoal, the Philippine military

said.

the Chinese coast guard acknowledged its ships used water cannons against the Philippine vessels, which it said strayed without permission into the shoal, which Beijing calls ren’ai Jiao.

“In order to avoid direct blocking and collisions when repeated warnings were ineffective, water cannons were used as a warning. the on-site operation was professional and restrained, which is beyond reproach,” the Chinese coast guard said. “China will continue to take necessary measures to firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty.”

the Philippine military said on saturday, August 19 that it would again attempt to deliver basic supplies to its forces in Ayungin shoal, but didn’t provide further details.

the mission “to the shoal is a clear demonstration of our resolve to stand up against threats and coercion and our commitment in upholding the rule of law,” the Armed forces of the Philippines said in a statement.

following the incident, Washington renewed a warning that it is obliged to defend its longtime treaty ally if Philippine public vessels and forces come under armed attack, including in the south China sea.

‘Ask DFA’ the Philippines’ National

security Council (NsC) has no comment on the government’s plans or latest decision on the conduct of joint exercises with ally countries in the West Philippine sea. the NsC, which chairs the National task force on West Philippine sea (Ntf-WPs), referred media questions on the supposed upcoming drills with the United states on sunday to the Department of foreign Affairs (DfA).

Lawyer Jonathan malaya, assistant director general of the NsC, said he was not authorized to talk about the matter.

“Kindly ask DfA,” malaya told The STAr

Just two weeks ago, the NtfWPs gave a press conference at the DfA head office in Pasay City to express its strong condemnation of the aggressive harassment of a Philippine Coast Guard-chartered resupply vessel by the China Coast Guard and Chinese maritime militia conducting a resupply mission to BrP sierra madre at the Ayungin shoal well within the country’s exclusive economic zone.

At the press briefing attended by malaya, PCG spokesman Commodore Jay tarriela, Armed forces of the Philippines spokesman Lt. Col. medel Aguilar and DfA spokesperson maria teresa Daza, malaya said they were coordinating with the U.s on the conduct of joint patrols in the West Philippine sea. n

Blocked and bombed A China Coast Guard vessel trains a water canon on a Philippine resupply ship in this photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard. PNA photo

Meet Gilas Pilipinas’ Final 12 for Fiba...

Pool members Carl tamayo, Jordan h eading, and Poy erram already begged off due to their respective injuries, while naturalized players Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame have accepted that Clarkson will represent the nationals after their commitment and huge contributions to the program.

Get to know the f inal 12 players and the coaches of Gilas Pilipinas for the World Cup.

Jordan Clarkson

Jordan Clarkson is back for another tour of duty for Gilas Pilipinas in his biggest campaign yet.

the Utah Jazz star will serve as the country’s naturalized player in his third appearance for the national team after the 2018 Asian Games and in last year’s Asian Qualifier window in August against Lebanon and saudi Arabia.

Clarkson hopes to pick up where he left off after averaging 25.0 points, 6.5 assists, and 5.5 rebounds in his last two games for Gilas.

Clarkson is the most decorated

naturalized player of Gilas. he was the 2021 NBA s ixth m an of the Year and became part of the 2015 All-rookie first team when he was still with the Los Angeles Lakers. he also played in the 2018 NBA finals with the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers.

the 31-year-old guard won’t be the only NBA player in Group A with the likes of m innesota

t imberwolves standout KarlAnthony towns of the Dominican republic and Atlanta hawks big man Bruno fernando of Angola also boosting their respective nations.

Clarkson’s Jazz teammate simone fontecchio will also lead Italy, which battles Gilas on August 27 at Araneta Coliseum.

June Mar Fajardo

June mar fajardo is making his third appearance in the World Cup as he continues to be one of Gilas Pilipinas’ cornerstones.

fajardo was part of the Gilas program in 2013 when the Philippines booked a return trip to the World Cup after a 36-year wait. h e helped Gilas notch

its first win over s enegal in the 2014 World Cup in seville, spain. fajardo also played for the national team in its winless campaign in 2019 in China.

Apart from being a World Cup veteran, the 6-foot-10 center also represented Gilas in the southeast Asian Games twice, winning the gold in 2019 in m anila and settling for silver in Vietnam last year. An injury prevented him from suiting up for a third straight seA Games stint.

t he 33-year-old national team campaigner has won six PBA most Valuable Players and nine championships for the san miguel Beermen, who drafted him as the first overall pick in the 2012 rookie draft.

Dwight Ramos

A testament to his unwavering commitment to the national team, Dwight r amos was the lone Gilas player to suit up in all six Asian Qualifier windows. And the f ilipino-American guard was one of Gilas’ top players, too, in the qualifiers, averaging 12.4 points. 6.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.1 steals through 10 games.

r amos looks to sustain his form in his first ever appearance in the fiba World Cup.

h e played two seasons in the B.League, playing for the toyama Grouses in his first year from 2021-22 and continued his Japan stint with the Levanga hokkaido last season.

Jamie Malonzo s ince getting the green light to play as a local, Jamie malonzo has been serving the Gilas Pilipinas well that paved way for his World Cup debut.

t he 6-foot-7 forward, who received his eligibility to play as a local in June last year, has been a solid addition to the men’s basketball team program in the second round of the fiba World Cup Asian qualifiers.

Sen. Cortez Masto shows support for...

shared ideas on innovation and education, and overall, discussed opportunities to create a more inclusive and innovative economy.

t he senator shared several actions to help the silver state's business community, including legistation to support business development and growth, extending the deferment period for small businesses to repay

loans to the e conomic Injury Disaster Loan program, and securing grants for m inority Business Development Centers in Las Vegas. “ t he senator's commitment to fostering an inclusive environment is evident through this impactful initiative,” said Catherine francisco, Ceo and founder of the Nevada AAPI Chamber of Commerce. “By directly engaging with AANhPI

business owners, the roundtable underscores the importance of collaborative policymaking that reflects the real-world needs and aspirations of our diverse community. this roundtable will serve as a catalyst for positive change and promote equitable opportunities.”

t he AAPI population is the fastest growing demographic in Nevada, making up about 12% of Nevada’s population. n

FOR THE WIN. The final 12 of Team Philippines seeing action in the FIBA World Cup which kicks off in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia on Friday (Aug. 25, 2023). It will be bannered by National Basketball Association star Jordan Clarkson (No. 6), whose mother is Filipino, and three-time World Cup veterans June Mar Fajardo (No. 15) and Japeth Aguilar (No. 25). FIBA photo

t he high-flying Barangay Ginebra winger played in the last six games of the Gilas windows, posting 5.8 points and 2.5 rebounds. he was also solid in the recent buildups of the Philippines ahead of the World Cup starting on August 25. m alonzo, who used to be a one-and-done for La s alle in the UAAP s eason 82 in 2019 and became part of the mythical team, was drafted by Northport

US, PH find ways to boost energy...

PAGE 1

they emphasized the centrality of energy security, decarbonization and collaboration among nations with shared values to sustained economic development amid the region's rapid economic growth and rising energy demands," it added. the discussion reinforced the role of energy cooperation in strengthening the U.s.Philippines partnership.

It also focused on accelerating the deployment of renewable energy, modernizing and expanding transmission, and reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels. Washington and manila also reaffirmed the "importance of nuclear energy as a key contributor to energy security" and highlighted ongoing cooperation on small modular reactor capacity building.

Both delegations discussed the "next steps to deepening cooperation and moving forward to deployment under the highest standards of nuclear safety, security and nonproliferation."

U.s. Department of energy Deputy secretary David turk and Urbanas will visit the Philippines to continue engagement and partnership on shared energy transition priorities, the Dos said. n

Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (center) leads the ribbon cutting during the grand opening of Taps & Barrels in Las Vegas on Friday, August 18. The new restaurant is owned by Ming Liu (center right), a Las Vegas resident, and was the venue for the senator’s roundtable discussion with 16 AAPI community and business leaders. AJPress photos by Robert Macabagdal

Cortez Masto engages in a roundtable conversation with AAPI community and business leaders in Las Vegas on Friday, August 18.

Meet Gilas Pilipinas’ Final 12 for Fiba...

in the 2020 PBA Draft. h e emerged as a member of the PBA All-rookie team two years ago before he got traded to Ginebra last season and won the 2022-23 Commissioner’s Cup against the Bay Area Dragons.

Kai Sotto

Kai sotto makes his World Cup debut despite his recent absence due to his back injury from the NBA summer League.

t he 7-foot-3 center missed the e urope camp due to his NBA summer League stint with the o rlando m agic and the China pocket tournament as he got sidelined by back spasms. he rejoined the team in its final preparation in manila where it faced Ivory Coast, montenegro, and mexico in friendlies.

the 21-year-old sotto started his senior national team stint in the 2020 fiba olympic Qualifying tournament in Belgrade, serbia and in the 2021 fiba Asia Cup qualifiers in Indonesia. he only played two games in the World Cup Asian qualifiers, where he averaged 13 points and 10.5 rebounds per match.

It will be his first World Cup appearance as a senior player as he and AJ edu represented the country in the under 19 division four years ago.

sotto played two seasons for the Adelaide 36ers in Australia’s National Basketball League before heading to Japan early this year, helping the hiroshima Dragonflies in the latter part of the B.League season.

t he undrafted big man from the 2022 NBA r ookie Draft played two games in the summer League in Las Vegas, posting an average of 3.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, and 1.0 assist in 10.8 minutes per game.

AJ Edu AJ e du seeks to complete his major comeback from several knee injuries that sidelined him from the national team in his first World Cup stint.

t he 6-foot-10 big man has been instrumental in the recent friendlies and training camp of Gilas since returning to his national team duties after suffering a torn ACL and torn meniscus in his right knee including a hairline fracture on his right femur in the Under-19 World Cup four years ago. edu sustained another knee injury in November 2020 while practicing for the University of toledo men’s basketball team

recently. t he 23-year-old center will have a chance to help Gilas Pilipinas in facing Dominican republic’s Karl-Anthony towns in Group A including Italy and Angola, which has NBA big man Bruno fernando.

edu is also bound for Japan in the next B.League season after signing with the toyama Grouses.

CJ Perez CJ Perez was one of the silver linings in the Gilas Pilipinas’ winless 2019 World Cup campaign as he debuted on the global stage with an average of 12.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in five games in China.

A wiser and stronger Perez is out to help the Philippines surpass its previous two World Cup appearances in front of its home crowd after emerging as s an m iguel Beermen’s key player in the recent PBA season where they won the the 2022 Philippine Cup.

the 2019 PBA rookie of the Year and mythical first team, who was traded from terrafirma to s an m iguel, also helped Gilas regain its gold medal in the 2023 southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.

the 29-year-old Perez played four Asian Qualifiers games, averaging 8.3 points, 2.5 assists, and 2.0 rebounds.

Scottie Thompson

s cottie t hompson adds his first World Cup appearance to his rising PBA career.

t he Barangay Ginebra star has proven himself as one of the top players of the PBA today by winning the 2021 PBA mVP and seven PBA championships including two f inals m VP trophies. the do-it-all guard also proved that he can also thrive on the international stage after playing six games in the second round of the f iba World Cup Asian qualifiers, averaging 6.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.8 assists.

thompson vowed to do better after his last fiba window game didn’t end well after missing the crucial free throws in Gilas’ 91-90 loss to Jordan at Philippine Arena last february that put his nine-point, sevenrebound, seven-assist outing to waste.

t hompson injured his hand during the Gilas’ europe camp and returned in the final preparation of the team before

the World Cup, vowing to leave everything on the floor for the Philippines.

Japeth Aguilar

Japeth Aguilar is determined to lead by example to his teammates as the team captain in this year’s World Cup.

h e is the longest-tenured national team player on the roster as he has been part of the program since Gilas 1 was formed in 2009.

the 6-foot-9 forward was also part of the Gilas team in 2013 that brought back the country to the World Cup after 36 years and campaigned in seville, spain the year after.

the 36-year-old Aguilar also saw action in the 2019 World Cup in China and won the southeast Asian Games gold in the same year.

t he Barangay Ginebra big man, who played four games in the Asian qualifier with an average of 7.5 points and 2.8 rebounds, could be making his last dance in his possible third straight world stint.

Aguilar has been playing for the Gin Kings for a decade, winning eight championships, the 2019 Governors’ Cup finals mVP, three mythical first-team selections, and as many AllDefensive team recognitions, as well as two mythical second team.

Kiefer Ravena

Known for his commitment to playing for the flag, Kiefer ravena looks to perform better in his second World Cup stint.

the 29-year-old point guard has played for Gilas on several occasions including the World Cup in 2019 and won five southeast Asian Games medals only to settle for silver in last year’s biennial meet in hanoi, Vietnam.

Although in 2018 he was suspended by f iba from playing basketball for 18 months after testing positive for banned substances, ravena proved that he was still ready to carry the flag with his first World Cup stint in China.

t he former Ateneo stalwart led the Philippines in the fiba Asia Cup last year and played six games in the World Cup qualifiers, where he posted 6.2 points and 2.5 assists in five games.

ravena, who was drafted by the NLeX road Warriors as the second overall pick in the 2017 PBA draft, has been playing in

Japan for the past two seasons with the shiga Lakes, who will be relegated to the Division 2 starting this year.

Rhenz Abando

rhenz Abando’s rise continues as the World Cup becomes his next destination.

t he 25-year-old winger has been making his presence felt in the Gilas build-ups coming off a championship run in the Korean Basketball League with Anyang KGC.

t he player from La Union introduced his name to Philippine basketball when he had an impressive rookie year for University of santo tomas in 2019 reaching the UAAP s eason 82 finals only to be a one-and-done after the infamous s orsogon bubble during the height of the C o VID-19 pandemic in 2020. he took his act to Letran and stamped his class emerging as the season 97 mVP, rookie of the Year, and mythical five member on top of the Knights’ perfect title run before deciding to play in south Korea. Abando represented the country in the f iba Asia Cup and only played two games in the World Cup qualifier in the first round, where he averaged 6.5 points.

Roger Pogoy roger Pogoy seeks to complete his unfinished business after an underwhelming performance in the World Cup four years ago. the tNt shooter is making his second World Cup appearance

and looking to bounce back from his struggles on the global stage in China last 2019 when he only averaged 4.0 points in five games.

t he far e astern University product averaged 9.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in four games during the Asian qualifier.

Pogoy, the 2017 PBA rookie of the Year, is a two-time champion including tNt’s latest title run in the Governors’ Cup.

Coach Chot Reyes Chot reyes seeks to surpass his previous World Cup stint in seville, spain, where the team led by Jayson Castro and Jimmy Alapag pushed its opponents to its limits despite winning only one game.

In his second World Cup stint, the seasoned coach is eyeing to reach the second round and emerge as the best Asian team to book an outright ticket to the 2024 Paris olympics.

r eyes steered Gilas to a silver in the 2013 f iba Asia Championship to return to the world stage after 36 years.

After the infamous GilasAustralia brawl in 2018, reyes returned as Gilas coach in January last year, replacing tab Baldwin.

the nine-time PBA champion coach and six-time Coach of the Year was calling the shots when the Philippines lost its seA Games gold in hanoi, Vietnam last year but he and the Justin Brownlee-led Gilas bounced back this year to reclaim their lost glory in Cambodia.

Coach Tim Cone tim Cone, the most successful PBA coach, will be on the side of reyes when Gilas tries to defy the odds in the World Cup. the Barangay Ginebra coach, who is the winningest in the PBA with 25 titles including two Grand s lams, rejoined the national team in the Asian qualifier to boost the program. t he 65-year-old Cone used to call the shots for the national team, winning the bronze with the Philippine Centennial team in the 1998 Asian Games and ruling the 2019 seA Games in manila.

Cone also served as an assistant on the miami heat staff at NBA summer League in 2022.

Coach Jong Uichico Jong Uichico has been part of reyes’ coaching staff since 2013 when the Philippines ended a 36-year World Cup drought in their runner-up finish in the fiba Asia Championship in manila. Uichico, who is also making his second World Cup campaign, called the shots for the national team in the 2002 Asian Games where they finished fourth. h e steered the country to two seA Games golds in 2013 and 2017 and was also part of the national coaching staff in the past two biennial meets with silver and gold finishes in Vietnam and Cambodia, respectively.

t he 61-year-old tactician is a nine-time PBA champion and two-time Coach of the Year with san miguel, Ginebra, and tNt n

FANATICS. Teen residents of the Tenement Taguig play half-court basketball game on Wednesday, August 23. The court has joined the FIBA World Cup fever by painting it with the logo, slogan, and mascot of the event. It was voted the best in the world in a FIBAsanctioned survey in December 2022. NBA superstars LeBron James and Filipino-American Jordan Clarkson have visited the court. PNA photo by Yancy Lim

Wall clutter

There may be merit in the argument that clutter on classroom walls can be distracting to learners. Many people surely appreciate the disappearance of the images of public officials and politicians from classroom walls.

some educators, on the other hand, say visual aids can enhance learning especially among the very young. they add that wall decorations also make learning fun especially in dreary, underfunded classrooms.

Vice President and concurrent Department of education secretary sara Duterte has stood firm on her order to keep classroom walls bare, ostensibly to allow students to focus on their lessons.

Deped’s current focus on classroom aesthetics amid preparations for the school opening on Aug. 29 has inevitably highlighted the problems more serious than wall clutter that are affecting the quality of education in public schools.

the most basic is the inadequacy of classrooms and school buildings. the problem has worsened as most of the students who transferred from private schools to the free public school system due to economic hardships during the CoVID lockdowns have not returned to the private schools. the Alliance of Concerned teachers earlier said there were educators handling from seven to eight teaching loads, with 30 to 50 students in each class. state resources, stretched thin for the health

Babe’s Eye View

BaBE romualdEz

reCeNt developments have been very encouraging with a surge of economic activities coming not only from the United states but countries in europe and Asia as well.

Underscoring the attractiveness of the Philippines as an investment destination was the recent visit of the U.s.-AseAN Business Council (U.s.-ABC) led by its president and Ceo Ambassador ted osius, who brought 30 members – their largest delegation ever to visit the country – who committed to pursue more investments and partnerships with Philippine businesses.

During their courtesy call on President ferdinand marcos Jr., the U.s.-ABC (which has some of the biggest U.s. companies among its members) expressed interest in several industries that include infrastructure, agriculture, clean energy, green metals and semiconductors.

“We… come here not just to talk but also to bring a lot of action to create real partnerships

Breakthrough

oN August 21, 1983, Ninoy Aquino was assassinated upon his return to the Philippines. During those 30 months between that date and feb. 25, 1986 when Corazon Aquino took her oath as president of the republic of the Philippines, the nation marched and demonstrated against the forces of the marcos dictatorship. this is the period historians now recall as the People Power struggle for freedom and democracy. the creativity of the People

Power movement was a very marked distinction of this struggle as compared to armed revolutions. this creativity was demonstrated not just in apparel and the color yellow but in slogans and songs. Among songs that literally became anthems of the struggle against the marcos dictatorship were “tie a Yellow ribbon,” the tale of a prisoner coming home; “Impossible Dream,” said to be the Aquinos’ favorite song; “Bayan Ko,” a patriotic song banned by the American colonizers, the Japanese invaders and the

and economic responses to the pandemic, did not go to the expansion of public school facilities to match the growth in the student population. this has meant larger class sizes in many schools – rarely ideal for optimum learning – which will greet students when the new academic year starts next week.

there is also the lack of basic facilities such as electric fans, which can aggravate the discomfort in a crowded classroom. A teacher noted that many public school classrooms in this country “are cramped, dark, badly ventilated.” this problem was highlighted during the dry months this year, when many students suffered heat-related afflictions due to poorly ventilated classrooms. students trying to cope with intolerable heat cannot concentrate on their lessons. the problem prompted calls to speed up the return to the former school calendar, so that students and teachers alike can enjoy their school break during what is considered the summer months in the country. the Deped must tackle the other problems related to the physical environment in classrooms, with the same zeal that has been shown in going after wall clutter. (Philstar.com)

More economic engagements coming our way

and to show our commitment in the form of investments,”

Ambassador osius emphasized.

Demonstrating that American businesses are indeed ready to match their words with action, semiconductor manufacturing company texas Instruments is investing $1 billion to expand its operations in Baguio City and Clark. the expansion is in line with the Creating helpful Incentives to Produce semiconductors and science (ChIPs) Act signed into law by President Biden in August 2022 to boost the production and diversify the source of semiconductors in the U.s our friends at the U.s state Department have informed us much earlier that the Philippines is one of the counties they want to partner with in the semiconductor supply chain. President marcos acknowledged “the critical role that the United states and American businesses have played in advancing a robust and inclusive economic growth in the Philippines.”

In fact, a study by the Ateneo school of Government (AsG) showed that U.s. investments have been crucial in creating quality jobs in key sectors

such as It-BPm (information technology-business process management) that received at least 35 percent of the $22.4 billion in new investment deals from 2003 to 2021 from 395 Usbased companies. According to AsG Dean Philip Arnold tuaño, “…it’s the quality of investments that we receive from other countries that have an impact on economic growth and job generation.”

During the official visit of european Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, she looked forward to accelerating “a new era of cooperation,” confident that a bilateral free trade agreement would promote growth and generate jobs.

the 60-million-euro Green economy agreement signed by the Philippines and the eU is also expected to boost government efforts in the areas of circular economy, renewable energy and climate change mitigation. even when he was a senator, the president has been espousing “green economy” to help mitigate the impact of climate change. the president urged filipinos to adopt the concept of a “circular economy” – simply put, an economic system where materials are

reused and recycled to reduce waste.

Canadian firms are also interested in several areas that include mining and renewable energy, with the latter becoming very attractive ever since the Philippines opened the sector to full foreign ownership, with 100 percent foreign equity now allowed in solar, wind, hydro and tidal energy projects.

PeZA also recently approved three big-ticket investments that are expected to bring in a total of P20.5 billion with close to 2,000 direct jobs to be generated. A die and mold company will also be reinvesting $3 million in their plant, while an electronic parts maker will invest 11.2-billion Japanese yen to expand its manufacturing capacity in the Philippines. malaysian investors have also expressed interest in the areas of food processing, multi-service digital platforms, aviation, logistics, manufacturing, infrastructure and wastewater treatment, with the president’s recent visit generating $285 million in investment pledges. President marcos clearly pointed out that economic security is an important part of his administration’s agenda,

We need heroes like Ninoy Aquino

marcos forces.

the country, in 1983, was desperate for a hero. to understand why the martyrdom and heroism of Ninoy Aquino created such a tidal wave of emotional response, it is important to appreciate the condition of the filipino nation before Aug. 21, 1983. the only way to describe the “before” period would be to use Dickensian imagery. for the Philippines, it was the worst of times. It was the age of Imeldific extravagances and foolishness. It was the season of Darkness when marcos abolished human rights and made freedom a crime against the state. It was the winter of Despair when cronyism became the norm and no one seemed to have the courage to speak against the evil that had befallen the country. It seemed that for the filipino people, there was nothing before us.

After Aug. 21, 1983, there was a dramatic change as the yellow armbands and confetti became visible all over the country. It was now a season of Light as speakers began to publicly denounce human rights violations and the persecutions of those who advocated for democracy.

It was now the spring of hope

as the end of the marcos regime became a possibility. It seemed that, suddenly, we had everything before us.

In her speech on Aug. 21, 1998, during the 15th death anniversary of Ninoy, Cory said: “I have asked many people –most of whom never knew Ninoy – why they came to the wake. some said they were ashamed of themselves for being so fearful of the dictator, and were sorry they had not found the courage to stand up and be counted earlier. they felt if they had shown more courage, maybe Ninoy need not have died. others have said they were outraged and had had enough. still many came, simply to pray and grieve quietly with me and my family. rich and poor, the powerful and the powerless, they kept coming in endless lines to pay tribute to Ninoy, convincing me that hindi ako nag-iisa

“At that point, I believe that Ninoy’s death triggered a longawaited transformation in many filipinos. We finally found the collective courage to rise against a dictatorship after years of shameful and fearful stupor. No longer were we going to be lulled by the clever machinations of a regime bent on staying in power forever and plundering the nation.

“the protests started. telephone directories and yellow fabrics were suddenly in short supply. It was a non-violent protest movement run through photocopiers, Betamax tapes, confetti rallies and noise barrages in makati and the alternative press. some thought the protests would not last. But as filipinos have done many times in the past, we proved the skeptics wrong.

“Courage, like cowardice, was infectious and the filipino people rose in defiance. this same courage carried us all through 1986. When rampant cheating and violence marred the snap election of feb. 7, 1986, we as a people again demonstrated our collective courage.” there were many defining moments in Ninoy’s journey toward martyrdom and heroism. one event no one should forget is in 1973, when Ninoy defied the military Commission that was appointed by marcos to try him. here is part of his opening statement:

“I have therefore decided not to participate in these proceedings: first, because this ritual is an unconscionable mockery and second, because every part of my being – my heart and mind and soul – yes, every part of my being – is against any form of

and surely his efforts are coming into fruition with the investment pledges starting to become a reality.

All these important developments are obviously an offshoot of the recent trip of the president to Washington, DC. It’s no secret that renewed interest coming from the Western world is part and parcel of our renewed and revitalized mutual security arrangements not only with the United states but also countries like Australia and the european Union. And because of that, combined with the fact that we are pushing back against China’s aggressive behavior in the West Philippine sea, intelligence sources tell us there is still an uptick in the disinformation campaign against those involved in defending our sovereign rights in the West Philippine sea.

Public opinion both here and abroad are stacked up against the PrC and so China’s minions are now operating against many of us by using fake memos and documents purportedly coming from the office of the President or the Department of foreign Affairs.

NsC assistant director general Jonathan malaya is

right in calling these people out for “clouding the issue” and engaging in divide-andconquer tactics to sow discord among filipinos. “In this time, we need unity. We have to show the world that we filipinos understand our position and we fully support the position of the Philippines,” he pointed out.

Pro-China operators have been going all over town engaging in character assassination, being “intellectually dishonest” by propagating disinformation against those of us who sincerely believe that our relationship with the U.s. is an important part of our overall national strategy. these people are traitors –plain and simple. Let me be very clear: the more they attack, the more I am committed and determined to continue what I feel is the right thing to do in advancing our interests and upholding the sovereignty of our country.

* * * 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

dictatorship. I agree we must have public order and national discipline if this country is to move forward. But peace and order without freedom is nothing more than slavery. Discipline without justice is merely another name for oppression.

“I believe we can have lasting peace and prosperity only if we build a social order based on freedom and justice. my nonparticipation is therefore an act of protest against the structures of injustice that brought us here. It is also an act of faith in the ultimate victory of right over wrong, of good over evil. In all humility, I say it is a rare privilege to share with the motherland her bondage, her anguish, her every pain and suffering.”

When the country needed a hero, Ninoy Aquino came. some have described the biggest contribution of heroes as “saving the soul of a nation.” We must, again, unite as a nation and show our common outrage against extrajudicial killings, corrupt officials, tax evaders, smugglers, criminals and justices who abuse their powers. We must become our own heroes, just as Ninoy had been, four decades ago.

* * * 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: elfrencruz@gmail.com

DAteline PhiliPPines

Younger Aquinos uphold ‘Lolo’s memory’ against the times

by Krixia subingsubing Inquirer.net

m ANILA — f or many people who had lived through the last years of the dictatorship of f erdinand m arcos s r., the 1983 assassination of opposition leader Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. had been their political awakening.

But for his grandson Kiko Aquino Dee, who was born eight years after Aquino’s death, he only got to know his “ Lolo Ninoy” through the stories of his “ Lola Cory” — Aquino’s widow Corazon, who succeeded m arcos, riding on the wave of the People Power r evolution.

“ Lola Cory,” he said, never put Aquino on a pedestal.

“ h e was a real person — someone who bought cat food even though they only owned dogs, someone who would drive his daughters to the movies or NBA games like any ordinary father,” Dee told the i nquirer t hey [Ninoy and Cory] were simply real people who loved their country very much.”

s o it was shocking for him to see public opinion shift against their family in ways “that was discordant with the way I know them,” he said. “Now not a lot of people know much about them, or if they do, they have picked up so many falsehoods and lies on social media.”

t his is why he and fellow younger Aquinos have risen to the challenge of preserving the older Aquino’s legacy and memory.

‘Strange time’

As the country marked on m onday, August 21 the 40th death anniversary of Aquino’s murder, his descendants continue to find allies in groups — mostly led by martial law survivors and youth activists — who share their cause in fighting historical revisionism.

“It’s a very strange time to be marking his 40th death anniversary amid all of the distortions on social media,” Dee said. “[But] we are surprised and grateful that

many f ilipinos continue to commemorate him.”

After all, this is the second year that the Philippines marked Ninoy Aquino Day — enshrined under r epublic Act No. 9256 — under President f erdinand m arcos Jr.

Groups like the August t wenty- o ne m ovement, People Power Volunteers for r eform, Bayan, and Project Gunita visited Aquino’s grave at m anila m emorial Park in the morning as well as the commemorative marker at t erminal 1 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

t hey then went to the s to. Domingo Church in Quezon City, where the Aquino family led a commemorative m ass.

‘World seems to have turned’

But as in 2022, m alacañang remained mum on the holiday, while lawmakers sympathetic to the m arcos administration were then lobbying to erase the Aquinos from the P500 bill and to have Naia renamed (this proposal, in particular, by one Arnolfo t eves Jr.).

“ s adly, if you ask f ilipinos, many of them might say they only know Ninoy from these things,” said his nephew and former s en. Bam Aquino during a recent forum. “It’s true that his memory ‘lives’ on in some ways and that will never be erased, but the way that f ilipinos know him has changed dramatically.”

e choed progressive leader and lawyer Luke e spiritu, who considered Aquino as his “idol”: “When I was young, the entire world seemed to be pro-Ninoy and anti- m arcos. After all, you can’t argue with martyrdom.”

“But now, the world seems to have turned on its axis: dictators are made heroes, while martyrs are made into villains,” he lamented.

m uch of this was because of disinformation and fake news on social media, said Karl s uyat, cofounder of Project Gunita, a mostly youth-led group that sought to archive martial law-era documents.

Apart from efforts to

Marcos declares dad’s September 11 birthday a holiday in Ilocos Norte

whitewash martial law atrocities, for example, disinformation actors are also casting Aquino “as a terrorist, a communist, and a traitor,” said s uyat. “And many of these efforts to distort history are hoping to target the youth, so that Aquino’s legacy can be erased slowly.”

But this is “exactly why the youth must lead the charge in preserving not just Aquino’s memory but of the entire 20-year struggle against the dictatorship,” s uyat said.

‘Exhorting the youth’

In fact, Aquino himself believed in the power of young f ilipinos in the democratic struggle, s uyat noted. In many speeches, the late senator often called on the youth to exercise their right to dissent and to fight for their freedoms.

“If in the past, Ninoy was the one exhorting the youth to stand up, now is the time [for] young people who were not yet alive to fight and defend his memory and that of the antidictatorship heroes and martyrs,” he added.

It’s a challenge that Dee, who is now deputy executive director of the Ninoy and Cory f oundation, hopes to do justice by.

Among others, he said, they are hoping to find “the right way to tell Lolo Ninoy’s memory in this environment where his story is heavily contested” — whether it’s by organizing activities and lectures about his life, or by digitizing and preserving his speeches through artificial intelligence.

h e and his cousins also promised not to run for public office “so that we are never constrained by the three-year timeframe of elections… we will always have the time for the task.”

“It’s a role that I am still continuing to study and appreciate because of social media and technology,” he said. “Whatever it is, I want to find my own way of contributing to that struggle for a meaningful type of democracy.” n

by Jean Mangaluz Inquirer.net

mANILA — President ferdinand marcos Jr. on thursday, August 24 declared september 11 this year – his father’s birth anniversary – a holiday in Ilocos Norte.

In issuing Proclamation No. 327, signed by e xecutive secretary Lucas Bersamin, the President notes, “[i]t is but fitting and proper that the people of the Province of Ilocos Norte be given full opportunity to participate in the occasion and enjoy the celebration.”

“Now, therefore I, Lucas P. Bersamin, executive secretary, by authority of the President, ferdinand r marcos Jr., do hereby declare monday, 11 september 2023, a special (non-working) day in the Province of Ilocos Norte,” the order likewise states.

Barely 100 days after assuming the presidency in 2022, marcos declared s eptember 12 as a special non-working holiday in Ilocos Norte, also in celebration

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Malacañang photo

of his father and namesake’s birthday – ferdinand marcos sr.

Proclamation No. 53 was issued on september 7, 2022, and signed by then- e xecutive s ecretary Victor rodriguez, by authority of the President.

Proclamation No. 327 was made public on t hursday although

Bersamin signed it on August 23, 2023, or two days after the nation’s commemoration of the 40th death anniversary of former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino. In 2017, then-President rodrigo Duterte likewise declared the late dictator’s birth anniversary a holiday Ilocos Norte. n

54 percent satisfied with House, Senate – survey poll

by JanviC Mateo Philstar.com

mANILA — A small majority of filipinos are satisfied with the performance of the senate and the house of representatives, according to a recent survey conducted by the oCtA research group. results of the July 22 to 26 survey released on Aug. 21 found that 54 percent of the respondents were satisfied with the performance of the house of representatives. some nine percent said they were dissatisfied, while 36 percent were undecided. meanwhile, 53 percent said they were satisfied with the senate’s performance. seven percent were dissatisfied, while 40 percent were undecided. trust for both the house of representatives and senate were at 55 percent, while distrust for the two chambers were at seven percent and six percent, respectively. the

rest of the respondents were undecided. the oCtA survey had 1,200 adult respondents and a margin of error of +/- three percent.

CHED top performing the Commission on higher education (CheD) emerged as the top performing and most trusted among government agencies included in the survey. some 80 percent of the respondents said they were satisfied with the performance of CheD, followed by Department of education (Deped) with 79 percent, Philippine National Police (PNP) with 76 percent, Department of health (Doh) with 75 percent and the Department of social Welfare and Development (DsWD) with 73 percent.

In terms of trust, CheD and DsWD were the top agencies with 78 percent, followed by the Doh with 77 percent, Deped with 75 percent and PNP with 74 percent.

“We in CheD are thankful for the trust and confidence of the filipino people as we become the top-rated government agency as shown in the survey,” CheD chairman J. Prospero De Vera said in a statement on Aug. 22. Other agencies eighteen other executive agencies were included in the survey.

In terms of satisfaction, following DsWD were the Departments of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), 69 percent; Public Works and highways (DPWh), 66 percent; Labor and employment (DoLe), 63 percent; tourism (Dot), 60 percent; science and technology (Dost), 59 percent; Justice (DoJ), foreign Affairs (DfA) and environment and Natural resources (DeNr), all with 56 percent; National Defense (DND), 55 percent; Agriculture (DA), 54 percent and transportation (Dotr), 52 percent. n

VEGAS&STYLE Journal

Lea Salonga

emotional after receiving Gold Legend Honor at

Gold Gala in US

by anne Pasajol Inquirer.net

A teary-eyed Lea s alonga looked back on some of the highlights of her career after she was given the Gold Legend honor at the Gold Gala last may in the United states.

t he actress-singer received the recognition “for a lifetime of indelible contributions to the success and representation of the Asian Pacific community.” A video of salonga’s acceptance speech was shared last Aug. 19 on the Youtube channel of Gold house, the non-profit organization behind the Gold Gala.

salonga began by expressing her gratitude to the organization for “amplifying Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) voice and uniting the community,” and went on to recall having “the great privilege” of being the singing voice of Disney’s Princess Jasmine and mulan.

s he then regarded being part of “mulan” as “one of the most fulfilling moments of [her] professional career,” describing its titular character as “an Asian female hero for girls and women of all ages to look up to.”

“[mulan] embodied so much good and I was proud to be a small part of that legacy,” salonga said.

“We are so blessed to be living in a time when hollywood and beyond is embracing AAPI stories and characters,” she continued. “But even with that, do we have a lot of work to do? oh, absolutely, we do.”

speaking about the “violence and hatred” toward members of the AAPI community, the singer lamented, “It’s disappointing and disheartening, but we can’t let that get us down.”

“Quite the opposite, we need to get up, continue to amplify our voices and our stories, and make sure those people, stories, accomplishments—all of it—is infinitely louder than the hate,” she urged.

Tessie Tomas on Dirty Linen: ‘It’s really notches above an ordinary teleserye’

by nathalie m tomada Philstar.com

Veteran actress tessie tomas described ABsCBN’s Dirty Linen as a blessing to her and all cast members. After a seven-month run, the revengethemed primetime series under Dreamscape entertainment is coming to an end tonight.

the U.s.-based tessie who plays Doña Cielo, the tyrannical matriarch of the controversial and filthy rich fiero family, said in an interview with the stAr that “sa amin lahat, ang laki talaga ng blessing Dirty Linen,” adding that she would always encounter people calling out to her, “Doña Cielo, Doña Cielo, nanonood kami ng Dirty Linen.”

With the production hinting at a gripping and intense story until its conclusion, tessie considers the storyline (with all its twists and turns) as one of the biggest achievements of the show.

“It’s really several notches above an ordinary teleserye,” began tessie. “Isa-isahin natin (achievements), you have the intensity of the plot and the complexity of the different characters and the issues involved. talagang pinag-aralan ng mga writers.” for her, another achievement of the drama is the production design that she said reflected the hard work and money spent on it.

“Kasi ginawa lahat yun… even the chairs are velvet,” she said. Nothing is fake, including our food. totoo lahat yan! Ang ganda ganda ng set design! even my costumes are very expensive. so, it’s very, very opulent. so, hindi ka basta-basta nakakanood ng ganung teleserye. When you watch it, you know that pinaghirapan and pinagkagastahan.”

t o conclude her speech, salonga declared, “I am filled with boundless hope that we all can do it together. from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for this honor and I will treasure this incredible night always.”

Aside from salonga, also among the attendees at the event were filipino-American celebrities Liza soberano, Bella Poarch, Geena rocero and Patrick starrr.

Amy Perez opens up about marriage and motherhood

by Boy aBunda Philstar.com

AmY Perez sees no reason to be alarmed at the current competition among noontime shows —It’s showtime on GtV Channel, e.A.t over tV5 and eat Bulaga on GmA 7. she believes it is a healthy one and a good sign to create more job opportunities for people in the entertainment industry.

“I’m very happy because it’s healthy. ‘Yung industriya natin sa television is back. hindi ba lahat may trabaho — mapaharap ng camera, likod ng camera, utility — and it’s good for everybody,”

Amy said.

Being one of the hosts of It’s showtime makes her feel young because, according to her, “the vibe in the show is different. You see a different kind of energy with madlang Pipol, it’s fun. m akakalimutan mo ‘yung problema mo when you do a noontime show, ng panandalian lang naman, but after that, you have to face the daily things you have to deal in life,” she added. the noontime show also allows her to be herself even while in front of the cameras.

“With the madlang Pipol, I can dance, I can sing kahit na minsan mali-mali na ako at pinagtitiwalaan nila ako, it’s still me, so okey lang.”

Amy joined It’s showtime in 2016, but before that, she had hosting stints in various morning and afternoon shows. she, too, appeared in eat Bulaga when it aired on ABs-CBN.

she finds hosting a morning show requiring a certain dedication and a “different level of responsibility” to put into it as opposed to doing an afternoon show. Waking up before the sun rises is never easy and “one needs an extra spirit in order for you to get up,” Amy described the amount of effort needed to make it to the morning show on time.

“But you can also do a lot of things after the morning show. Nakakapag-exercise pa ako and then, I attend to my kids (Adi, Kyle and seyah),” she remarked.

It is not often that we get to hear Amy talking about her personal life. thus, no one knew that there was a time when she was faced with many challenges and personal tragedies that she was ready to give up life.

“It came to a point that I challenged the Lord. I went to the rooftop of the condo (building) where I lived before. I said, ‘Lord,

are there still many challenges that You’re going to give to me? Give them all to me, I will take them all.’ then, I realized ang dami ko palang ipinilit na bagay bilang isang tao. Ako ‘yung tipong lahat planado, lahat detalyado.”

Amy described her first marriage with ex-husband and former vocalist of s outh Border Brix ferraris as the most challenging and darkest phase she ever went through. “I came to a point that I surrendered everything to the Lord.”

she fervently prayed for peace of mind and let God take care of things beyond her control. Amy shared, things slowly turned out smooth for her and found a new love. she met Carlo Castillo whom she married in 2014.

Get to know more about Amy through our exclusive interview.

Below are excerpts.

right now, what do you know for sure about love?

“Love takes time. No one can force it to happen. I don’t believe in love at first sight because when I first met Carlo, I never thought na magugustuhan niya ako. Ako, na-gwapuhan lang ako ng very, very light (laughs).”

What do you know for sure about heartache?

“It’s really painful to be heartbroken but the time will come when you feel you’re already healed and when that day comes, it feels good to look back at it and you get to share that heartache with other women and they try to learn

from that heartache.”

What do you know for sure about being a mother?

“It was very tough (being a mom). there’s no secret formula. I realized that every child has a different personality and you can’t compare one to the other. You also have to honor their feelings. this generation now, their feelings are so important to them that they get to talk to you whatever it is they’re feeling about, they open up. When you stop them, they feel like, ‘how can you do that to me?’ But during our time, when we’re told to stop, we stop. ‘Pag sinabi sa atin na tama na o hindi mo p’wedeng tanungin yan, wala na, it stops there.”

What do you know about marriage?

“It’s only during the pandemic when I learned that when you say unconditional love, it’s like something that you have to give up your own, not your happiness but your pride, talagang ibababa mo, and then, you’ll ask yourself if you really love this person and spend the rest of your life with him (or her). Can you also swallow your pride when your beliefs have been compromised na parang sa iyo alam mong tama, pero sa kanya hindi?”

“I agree that unconditional love does not give permission to any of the parties to hurt anyone, but for you to be together for a long time, meron kang iibahin na perspektibo mo sa mga bagay-bagay.” family or career? PAGE 9

What also made her proud was the casting. “When it came to the cast, kumbaga halos handpicked and if I may say so, and sinasabi naman nila, lahat magaling. so, when you’re on the set, you have to be alert so you can match the performance of your co-actors.”

Co-stars Zanjoe marudo and Janine Gutierrez, who play the star-crossed lovers Aidan fiero and Alexa/mila salvacion, were also oozing with pride over the show.

“I’m proud na natapos namin ng maayos,” said Zanjoe.

he’s also proud of the fact that it’s not “typical” in the sense that it dared to go against the grain, and didn’t pander to what just audiences wanted nor rode on the trending themes.

“Dun ako naging proud na naging matapang ang Dreamscape and ABs-CBN… and I believe natuto ang audience and nagkaroon sila ng bagong mapapanood. Nababasa naman talaga natin sa mga comments yung mga pakiramdam nila.”

he believes Dirty Linen was able to show that a Philippine-made show can be at par with international productions.

“Pwede na tayong makipagsabayan. ‘Di na nila kailangan manoood ng mga hollywood series para (ma-enjoy) yung ganong intensity ng mga scenes kasi may gumagawa na dito sa Pilipinas. Dun ako pinaka-proud,” he said.

As for Janine, she’s proudest of the boldness of the story and the cast “to show something that’s not just, ‘Ay kailangan mabait ako dito…’ everybody was game to show the bad side, the good side, everyone was aligned. so I’m proud to be part of this. I’m really proud of the story,” she said. s he further noted how proud she was each time audiences were moved to tears by a scene or whenever they got affected by a character.

Janine narrated an anecdote about a friend who was so engrossed in the story that she was already having nightmares of tessie’s character, Doña Cielo.

m eron akong kaibigan na si Doña Cielo napanaginipan siyang hinahabol siya (laughs)! Ganung level na, ‘Binabangungot na ata ako dito sa Dirty Linen pero di ko mapigilan,’” Janine laughingly shared.

“so, I’m just so proud of its impact on people na pati sila nagulat, ‘oh my god! Why can’t I stop watching Dirty Linen when I’m not really into these things or whatever.’ so, very grateful.”

the story of Dirty Linen started off with four house helpers of the powerful fieros who disappeared mysteriously and were presumed dead. Years later, their family members would band together and find their way into the household under fake identities in hopes of exposing the fieros’ dirty secrets and exacting vengeance.

Amid all the scheming and warring families, the

by Kathleen a llemit Philstar.com

“golden son” of the fieros, Aidan, fell in love with mila (who was really Alexa salvacion, the daughter of his nanny olivia, played by Dolly de Leon) only to discover later on that it was all part of the revenge plan. the last few days of the series showed that despite the impending downfall of the fieros, Aidan was still concerned over the safety of Alexa. Which one will survive — their love story or their loyalty to their families?

the finale of Dirty Linen airs on friday, August 25 on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z and tV5, as well as Kapamilya online Live on ABs-CBN entertainment’s Youtube channel and facebook page. It’s also available to viewers in and out of the Philippines on iWanttfC, while viewers outside of the Philippines can watch on the filipino Channel (tfC) on cable and IPtV.

Dirty Linen stars will hold a thanksgiving show in the U.s. at the memorial Auditorium in sacramento, California tomorrow, Aug. 26, and at the Arena theater houston, texas on Aug. 27 for G! Kapamilya presents Dirty Linen sa America.

Asked what other roles and projects they hoped to take on after Dirty Linen, tessie said, “I definitely want to go back to doing stand-up comedy if I can.

Actually, I already had a concept, one Night with Doña Cielo, atbp. What I planned to do is bubulagain ko ang audience with the Doña Cielo excerpt then I’d transition to my other characters, then go back to Doña Cielo as my ending.

“I had everything worked out in my head but it’s not easy because I’m living abroad and it takes time. But, you know, there’s still a chance. It’s (stand-up comedy) my outlet. my inspiration now is how can I top the character of Doña Cielo? Paano ko mapoprove sa fans na meron pang mas magaling kay Doña Cielo or meron pang mas kakaiba? so, that’s the challenge now for me.”

Zanjoe, on the other hand, is mulling a break from doing tV series, considering that Dirty Linen came immediately after another heavy-drama project, the Broken marriage Vow.

“Yung next kong gagawin pwedeng light lang. sana magkaroon ako ng magandang light project,” said the actor, who is starring in a star Cinema film next. Janine, on the other hand, said that there are still many dream roles and projects on her wish list. however, some priorities have changed. If before, she was aiming to land a role in an international film or drama, nowadays, it’s a different story. she said, “I think it’s better to make a movie or series in the Philippines tapos yun nalang ipagmamalaki mo sa ibang bansa… that we can really show what filipinos can do, what they’re capable of writing, what’s happening in the Philippines. It’s because with Dirty Linen, marami talaga tayong natanggap ng comment saying that it’s world-class. so, I think, it would be great to make a movie and series here that you can showcase to the world.”

JerIC raval said he asked for three things from Aljur Abrenica, one of which is for the actor to marry his daughter, actress AJ raval. the '90s action star revealed his requests from the actor during his interview in "fast talk With Boy Abunda" last August 23.

"Nung una siyempre kinakausap ko si Aljur dahil syempre dahil 'yung anak ko bata lang. sabi ko lang kay Aljur, 'Ikaw ba'y hiwalay? Alam mo, tatlong bagay lang ang ipapakiusap ko sa'yo.'

"Una, 'yung anak ko, e, bata pa 'yan. Pangalawa, 'yung biyenan mo, kaibigan ko. eh ano kayang sasabihin ko sa biyenan mo 'pag nagkita kami? Baka sabihing kinukunsinti ko kayo," said Jeric. he refers to robin Padilla, the actor star who is currently a senator. Padilla is the father of actress Kylie Padilla, the estranged wife of Aljur. Kylie and Aljur are in good terms and co-parenting their two sons. they are working on finalizing their annulment after their separation in 2021.

sabi ko, 'I-ayos mo muna 'yung sarili mo, iho. Wala naman akong problema sa inyo kasi buhay n'yo 'yan eh.' Pagdating dun sa buhay pag-ibig nung anak ko hindi ko na saklaw 'yun eh.

"Pangatlo, ang sabi ko sa kanya, ang anak ko gusto kong pakasalan mo. Basta 'pag ayos ka na, wala ka nang problema, pakasalan mo 'yung anak ko," Jeric said. the action star is set to appear in the upcoming tV show, "maging sino Ka man," starring Barbie forteza

Lea Salonga

Image screengrab from YouTube/Gold House

Tessie Tomas plays Doña Cielo, the tyrannical matriarch of the controversial and filthy rich Fiero family. ABS-CBN photo

and David Licauco. Jeric Raval Philstar.com photo

Amy with kids and husband Carlo.

Photo from Instagram/@amypcastillo

On Social Security retirement benefits, Medicare

the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA) chose several questions about senior benefit’s eligibility from the calls and letters it received and want to share the information in this month’s column.

Question #1: I have received SSRB (Social Security Retirement Benefit) since I turned 62. Will my retirement be increased when I reach my FRA (Full Retirement Age)?

Answer: No. Because you started receiving retirement benefit earlier than your frA, it was fixed with the reduced amount permanently. Beneficiaries can collect full amount only when they start to collect retirement at their frA. they can delay applying for benefit up to age 70 and it will grow by around 8% every year during those delayed years.

Question #2: I am a US citizen and 58 years old. My husband just passed away. He had received Social Security Retirement. Can I receive survivor’s benefits now or should I wait until I reach my retirement age? Can I get additional assistance for living even when I can receive spouse’s benefits?

Answer: When you reach 60 years old you can apply for lifetime reduced surviving spouse benefit. If you qualify for retirement benefits on your own record, you can switch to your own retirement benefit as early as age 62. You can receive whichever is the higher benefit. If you wait

to apply for the survivor benefit until your frA, you will receive 100% of the ssrB your deceased spouse received. You may be eligible for medicaid now if your income is limited. At 65, you should apply for medicare, and you can try to apply for ssI (supplemental security Income) and/or msP (medicare savings Programs) depending on your income and assets.

Question #3: I am 65 years old and have been in the US for 10 years by this September. I applied to be a permanent resident and will be getting my green card soon. When can I enroll into Medicare? I heard there is 5 year waiting period.

Do I have to wait 5 years after I receive my green card?

Answer: to be eligible for medicare, a person must be 65 or older and must be either a Us citizen or lawfully present in the Us for at least 5 continuous years. You don’t have to be a permanent resident for the entire 5 years but need to be a permanent resident when you enroll in medicare. Your IeP (Initial enrollment Period) starts when you receive your permanent resident notice with card and lasts for the following 3 months.

Question #4: When will my Medicaid Redetermination happen? When will I get my renewal letter from the state? I haven’t gotten a letter from the state. What should I do?

When you receive medicaid

Bretman Rock tries fire dancing, gets stung by stingray in Palawan

fILIPINo-American content creator Bretman rock is enjoying a late birthday vacation in Palawan, even after getting stung by a stingray.

Bretman posted photos of his Palawan vacation on his Instagram account. he posted beach images where he is wearing a see-through red beach dress.

In the same photo set, Bretman shared a video of himself learning to fire dance with flaming poi with the help of an instructor.

"It’s always gonna be more fun in the Philippines," Bretman wrote in the caption, a reference to the Department of tourism's former campaign slogan.

In another post, Bretman shared photos and videos of himself driving a boat, snorkeling, paddle boarding, kayaking and recovering from a stingray's sting.

An Instagram user commented to ask how the sting felt. Bretman explained that he thought he just stepped on something sharp, but he immediately got out of the water when he felt a throbbing sensation.

"When I got out I had 2 stings and that’s how the locals knew it was a sting ray, I put ice and it helped a lot but on the boat ride back," Bretman continued. "I ran out of ice and I was legit rethinking my life, then they put plant medicine and then boom she’s healed."

Bretman celebrated his 25th birthday last July 31 with a "Night of a thousand Bretman rocks" theme party and a photo shoot inspired by Barbie. (Philstar.com)

redetermination notice depends on when your medicaid end date is. In general, medicaid recipients receive renewal notice 3060 days prior to their coverage end date but every state has their own rules. medicaid redetermination is currently in progress and will continue for 2023 and expected to continue on a rolling basis through 2024.

It is very important to pay close attention to all communications sent by your state Department of health, so your renewal goes smoothly and to avoid a loss of your insurance. that is why it’s important to keep your contact information up to date. If you think you should have received your redetermination paperwork but haven’t, you can call your local medicaid office.

* * *

The National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of AANHPI older adults and their families. It operates a NAPCA Senior Assistance Center for Older Adults and Caregivers, and its resources are available in five different languages. For additional questions on Medicare, Medicaid, Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace, Social Security Retirement Benefit, Supplemental Security Income, or COVID/Flu vaccination, there are 3 ways you can reach us today: Call our Senior Assistance Center at (English) 1-800336-2722, (Korean) 1-800-582-4259, (Chinese Mandarin) 1-800-683-7427, (Cantonese) 1-800582-4218, (Vietnamese) 1-800-582-4336; send email to: askNAPCA@napca.org; or send mail to: NAPCA Senior Assistance Center, 1511 3rd Avenue, Suite 914, Seattle, WA 98101.

SOHO International Film Festival opens Sept. 14 with record 95-plus world and US premieres

the 2023 soho International film festival (sIffNYC), which opens on september 14, will have record 35 world premieres, 6 U.s. premieres, 32 Northeast premieres and 29 New York premieres. the film festival, celebrating its 14th year, will run through september 21 at the Village east by Angelika in New York City.

“We are absolutely thrilled by the volume of submissions and the caliber of films for this year’s edition of the festival,” said sibyl reymundo-santiago, sIffNYC’s executive director and head of programming. “there is so much anticipation as we eagerly prepare to unveil our talented filmmakers and their remarkable creations on screen!”

santiago added that the opening night film and the full list of accepted entries from more than 38 countries, ranging from feature and short films, documentaries to series pilots, will be revealed soon. the complete schedule will be posted on sohofilmfest.com.

the film festival, founded in 2009 by Jorge Ballos, announced this year’s jurors: marci Phillips (head juror), leads the New York office for the east Coast talent pool for ABC television Network and Disney+; Daryn simons, producer, talent manager, digital strategist, entrepreneur and partner of Cohesive entertainment Group; eleonore Dailly, creative executive and award-winning producer and director; ernabel Demillo, journalist and host of CUNY-tV’s 7-time emmy-nominated program “Asian American Life”; Ivan Williams, co-creator of Altar Identity studios where he executive produced multiple film projects; James tumminia, producer/actor/director/writer who received a 2019 emmy nomination and won two telly Awards; Jeffrey Jeturian, multi-award winning filipino filmmaker; susannah D’Arcy, international producer and president of BritCan media; and Cas sigers Beedles, a professional writer, director and producer and author of six fiction novels. the jurors will announce the

winners at the awards gala on september 21. festival goers will vote and decide the soho14 Audience Awards, presented to entries in the feature, shorts/series and exhibition film categories.

Past attendees of the festival include octavia spencer, Pierce Brosnan, Bobby Cannavale, Armand Assante, Luis Guzman, sean Young, Kevin Jonas, Adam Brody, eric roberts, michael Imperioli and steve schirripa. this year’s festival is presented by the soho film forum, a 501(c)(3) organization. sIffNYC celebrates cutting-edge digital technology while honoring traditional forms of storytelling and encourages new and seasoned filmmakers from New York City and around the world to create and send in their fresh and innovative cinematic pieces. for sponsorship inquiries, contact: info@sohofilmfest.com. for more information, visit: www.sohofilmfest.com. for press inquiries, contact: executiveoffice@sohofilmfest.com.

Amy Perez opens up about marriage...

“family.” host or actress?

“host.”

mabuting asawa o maarugang ina?

“maarugang ina.”

Describe your children.

“my joy.”

Describe Carlo.

“my everything.”

sexiest part of Carlo’s body.

“his eyes.”

What’s the best thing about being in your early 50s?

“I can now do whatever I like, I

am relaxed now.”

What’s the most important lesson you learned about marriage?

“It takes time. everything takes time.”

What’s the most important lesson you learned as a host?

“Value your craft.”

Bretman Rock

Photo from Instagram/@bretmanrock

PH’s Shirley Temple

A book titled the Legend of tessie Agana: Beloved Child star of the Philippines - An Intimate Portrait of my mother,” is the debut book written by her daughter, mylene Agana Jao richardson and is being released on Wednesday, september 20, 2023.

tessie Agana was married for 53 years to rodolfo L. Jao, mD, a popular medical leader and an Infectious Disease expert in Northwest Indiana, who died on february 28, 2018, at the age of 84. her Dad, Adriano A. Agana, mD, was also an Indiana physician.

As the daughter and granddaughter of world-famous entertainers from the Philippines’ golden age of cinema, mylene was born into a family of legends. tessie Agana, now 81, was known as the “ s hirley temple of the Philippines”; her grandmother, Linda estrella, the elizabeth taylor of her time, was a lead dramatic actress and singer of her era in the 1950s.

m ylene shows how you can maximize your happiness by discovering to truly know oneself, the journey forward is to look back. With unsparing truth, mylene offers the first intimate portrait of her mother, whose early fame and exposure to the public eye led to dark shadows that impacted her entire life. An inspiring must-read book for the entire family. for details about the author and the book, email: majr@ mylenerichardson.com

Is there a drug to prolong life?

Yes, researchers found the drug “rilmenidine” can extend life span and slow down aging. It is actually a prescription medication for the treatment of high blood pressure, marketed under the brand names Albarel, Iterium, tenxum, and hyperium. hopefully, this extra action and benefit from this drug would be confirmed in the future by large clinical studies and confirmation from medical centers around the world. rapamycin and the anti-diabetic medication, metformin, are also being studied for their ability to slow down aging and prolong life. the future is, indeed, exciting, even bolstered by the introduction of artificial intelligence in various fields of human endeavor.

Is the pandemic over? from all indications, it seems to be over…but, even as late as July 29, 2023, according to the New York times CoVID-19 tracker, there were still 6,511 hospitalized for C oVID-19. Primary series vaccination rate is still a low 69 percent, and booster rate, 17 percent. the unvaccinated are at risk, not only getting infected but spreading the virus around. even President Biden and other leaders were saying it was “a pandemic of the unvaccinated.”

Is there a blood test for brain cancer?

s oon there will be. A new study reveals a promising simple blood test that could help detect brain cancer with 87 percent accuracy. this exciting revelation was reported in the journal Nature Communications by Dr. matthew J. Baker of the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry at the University of strathclyde in Glasgow, United Kingdom. Brain cancer usually has a poor outlook because of the delay in the diagnosis since the symptoms, primarily headache, are nonspecific. this new blood test would expedite the diagnosis and improve the outcome.

What is Wegovy?

Wegovy is a new drug for weight loss from eli Lilly, which catapulted its stock recently because it was found to also reduce the risk for heart attack, stroke, and heartrelated death by 20 percent. It is a landmark clinical trial, the first to show that weight loss drug alone could provide such a huge benefit. It is a boon to cardiovascular health and longevity.

Do repeated chest x-rays cause cancer?

No, an annual chest x-ray does not cause cancer. the dose of radiation that one gets with a chest x-ray is so minimal, about 30 millirems, which is even less than the radiation exposure one gets from travelling by air (where you will be exposed to a greater degree of radiation from the sun) for a 4-hour flight, say to another Asian country. the cut-off safety limit per year is 5000 millirems, which would be equivalent to about 166 chest x-ray exposures. A chest x-ray once a year, or even 20 such radiation exposures in a year, is safe. the basic rule is, of course, the lesser radiation the better, but if it medically necessary, chest x-ray or other x-rays should be performed without worry. Can one get AIDS from holding

hands?

experts say that hIV infection is not transmitted by holding hands or (intact) skin to skin contact, but mucous membrane contact with blood or body fluids from someone infected with hIV, unprotected sexual intercourse with AID s victim can definitely transmit this deadly disease. the best behavior is to avoid partners that are at high risk of having hIV, but if this is not possible, use a condom. one must be cautious to make sure the condom is durable, intact and not have a hole in it. one could get the hIV infection even after only one, yes just one, sexual encounter. remember, having AIDs is like having a death sentence hanging over your head.

What are the leading causes of deaths?

In the United states, according to CDC, the leading causes of deaths are in this order: heart disease (695,547); cancer (605,213); CoVID-19 (416,893); accidents (224,935); cirrhosis (56,585); stroke (162,890); chronic lower respiratory disease (142,342); Alzheimer’s (119,399); diabetes (103,294); chronic liver disease and cirrhosis (56,585); and nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis (54,358).

* * *

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.

Belle Mariano in cover of new fashion ‘bookazine’ with tips from 100+ stars, including Donny Pangilinan

by deni afinidad-Bernardo Philstar.com

h e’s Into h er” stars Belle mariano and Donny Pangilinan, popularly known together as “DonBelle,” are among the over 100 f ilipino and h ollywood celebrities that give their exclusive tips or inspirational fashion and style quotes in the new fashion “bookazine” (magazine book) “Pormang Artista: 100+ Celebrities on fashion and style.”

Belle shines on the cover and cover story of “Pormang Artista: 100+ Celebrities on fashion and s tyle” through images of her fashion photo shoot courtesy of leading global fashion and lifestyle online retailer sheIN, for which Belle is the first-ever filipino brand ambassador.

Donny, meanwhile, gives his exclusive tips on how to ace in your ootDs (outfits of the day) on Instagram and other social media sites.

“Pormang Artista: 100+ Celebrities on fashion and style” is the second book of Philstar. com Lifestyle and entertainment

Chicago born and raised Fil-Am makes his mark in BGC as The Savvy Expat

Leaving Sin City

Corin ramoS lujan

DoN’t let his youthful good looks fool you. or, even his youth for that matter.

Nineteen-year-old evan Lorezca a.k.a. the savvy expat, more than lives up to his moniker as the founder and host of the popular Youtube channel bearing the same name. Launched in may 2021 in the Philippines, www.youtube.com/@ thesavvyexpat has over 32,000 subscribers. his videos have been viewed over three million times. Lorezca covers topics on everything about living in and moving to the Philippines. from “Advice for first time travelers to the Philippines,” to “how to open a Bank Account,” as well as videos on healthcare costs and services. his most highly viewed videos talk about the actual cost of living expenses in places like Cebu City, manila and his home base of Bonifacio Global City or BGC.

I caught up with Lorezca during my recent vacation in the Philippines. We had lunch at manam in BGC, a popular restaurant chain boasting of “filipino comfort food with a twist!” (he had pork sisig and my kalamansi cheesecake is a must-try!) I had just discovered the savvy expat on Youtube about a week before I left for the Philippines. After learning that Lorezca was born and raised in Chicago, I knew I had to meet the young host. Why did he and his family move to the Philippines? What was it like for an American-born teenager (at the time of his move) to be uprooted from his home and country of birth? And of course, why did he start a Youtube channel about moving to the Philippines? from his easy knowing smile and composed demeanor, I could tell that Lorezco was already familiar with these questions. According to Lorezca, he and his parents, brother and sister moved to the Philippines from Chicago in 2019 mainly to escape the cold weather of the Windy City, the increasingly divisive American political landscape, and exorbitant cost of living in the U.s While his family now enjoys a

lifestyle that their American dollars afford, the warm hospitality of the filipino people, and a more benevolent culture less prone to mass violence, he says, the young expat had his fair share of challenges when first moving to his ancestral country.

“It was difficult for me to fit in with my classmates,” said Lorezca.

“I didn’t speak tagalog and I didn’t have a filipino accent.” he was considered “mayabang,” or conceited whenever he did speak flawless english, he said. filipino culture holds humility and modesty in high regard, and disdains anyone perceived as unnecessarily standing out in a crowd. he also didn’t understand the fabled “filipino humor,” dry, selfdeprecating and based on age-old cultural triggers.

‘I didn’t get filipino humor at all,” recalled Lorezca. It took time, but eventually, Lorezca gained acceptance with his peers. “once they got to know me, they learned that there was more to me than what they heard or saw,” he explained.

Lorezca spends many hours on each of his videos for Youtube, racking up hours of research and garnering mounds of b-roll of shops and restaurants in BGC.

Getting to know BGC cemented his commitment to live in the modern metropolis even more. “I can honestly say I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else in the Philippines!”

speaking of more than meets the eye, Lorezca also runs a relocation consultation service company in addition to his Youtube channel.

Aptly similarly named, the savvy expat website offers “moving to BGC: Your Comprehensive Guide to a seamless relocation” as well as a “free Guide for moving to BGC, Philippines.” Lorezco is also available for private consultations through scheduling on the website.

o ver eight million people, including expats and would-be retirees, visit the Philippines each year. thousands make the island nation their permanent home. Lorezco’s guide walks clients through “every step of the way” without sugar coating the realities of daily life there.

“Without the proper information, guidance and research, settling down in the Philippines can present individuals with unforeseen circumstances and unfavorable obstacles,” said Lorezco. h e also cautions consumers from potentially misleading information presented by other Youtube’rs about the Philippines. “It’s not all sunshine and rainbows as others tend to depict the Philippines on social media,” he explains. savvy? for more information about the savvy expat and to download the “free Guide for moving to BGC,” visit savvy guides (thesavvyexpat. com) or find evan Lorezca on You tube: t he s avvy e xpatYoutube

P.s. I was also interviewed on the savvy expat! Check out the interview here: Is the American Dream Dead? filipino Americans Leaving the U.s * * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

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

features exclusive pieces of advice, hacks and quotable fashion quotes from celebrity fashion designers, editors, stylists, models, photographers, influencers, and publicists from all over the globe — providing an encompassing retrospective and practical insider secrets from and beyond the glitzy multi-billion fashion industry — making the glossy, full-color, 10-chapter “bookazine” a musthave for anyone who wants to harness the power of fashion for success.

Dolly de Leon hopeful ‘A Very Good Girl’ will boost local film industry

by Kristofer Purnell Philstar.com

A C tress Dolly de Leon is extremely proud to be a part of "A Very Good Girl." she is hopeful that the movie will serve as a fresh start for the local entertainment industry and a reboot for the economy as a whole.

audience. I have faith that they are looking forward to watching homegrown work again," Dolly continued, which earned cheers.

editor Deni rose m.

“Pormang Artista: 100+ Celebrities on f ashion and style” is now available in major bookstores nationwide and on s anctum Press Inc.’s official shopee store. every purchase of the book in shopee comes with free shipping, a paper bookmark, a magnetic bookmark and a poster featuring Belle, as well as a sticker with an inspirational quote from global fashion icon sarah Jessica Parker, from the author’s manila press coverage, in time for the 25th anniversary of “ s ex and the City.”

During the film's grand media conference last August 23, Dolly was asked about the importance of the film, given she has international projects lined up as well.

"It's very important because it's opening the doors of Philippine cinema again, kasi matagal na tayong natulog," Dolly said.

t he actress acknowledged that many filipinos are flocking back to theaters because of international movies. she cited the double-feature of "Barbie" and "oppenheimer" that boosted cinemas worldwide, which only adds to the good feeling Dolly has for the film industry.

"I have faith in the f ilipino

Dolly pointed out that some people only see movies as a form of entertainment when they really do help shape and build an economy, "Dahil sa film industry, ang daming ibang industry na umaandar — food, retail, beauty, skincare, mga ginagamit natin everyday — nagflo-flourish lahat 'yan dahil sa pelikulang Pilipino."

the Golden Globe-nominated actress reiterated her pride in being involved in "A Very Good Girl" as it will again provide filipinos with a local cinematic experience.

"Iba yung feeling na nanonood ka sa sinehan kaysa sa bahay. sa bahay puwede ka mag-pause at mag-Cr (comfort room), sa sinehan forced ka to watch everything and get the full experience with popcorn, friends and a huge screen," Dolly ended, gesturing as she explained her

FOR RENT SERVICES SERVICES

point. Dolly

AfinidadBernardo, published by sanctum Press Inc. It is the follow-up to P s IC om Publishing Inc. bestseller “ m ukhang Artista: 100+ Celebrities on Beauty and makeup” with Kylie Padilla on the cover. Apart from local and international celebrities, “Pormang Artista”

Belle Mariano and Donny Pangilinan, popularly known together as “DonBelle”.

Photo from Instagram/@donny

Dolly de Leon Philstar.com photo

stars in "A Very Good Girl" with Kathryn Bernardo, Angel Aquino, Jake ejercito, Chie f ilomeno, Donna Cariaga and Kaori oinuma. the film, directed by Petersen Vargas and written by Dominique mancol, releases in Philippine theaters on september 27.

Evan Lorezca, host of the popular “The Savvy Expat” on YouTube, offers informative and visually appealing videos on moving and retiring to the Philippines, especially in Bonifacio Global City, BGC