082523 - San Diego 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.

The DFA last week confirmed the first Filipino fatality in the deadly blazes, which

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 (DoS) 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 U.S. delegation.

Department of Energy Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Felix William Fuentebella led the Philippines delegation.

“Both delegations reviewed the progress

CHR willing to work with the ICC on PH drug war probe

by Krixia subingsubing Inquirer.net

(ICC) on its investigation into the country’s drug war on the watch of then President Rodrigo Duterte.

CHR Chair Richard Palpal-latoc said, however, that the commission does not know yet which specific cases the ICC would look into. He also said the court had not yet sought the commission’s

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,”

DOT eyes 600,000 tourists for FIBA World Cup

MANILA — The Department of Tourism (DOT) is expecting 600,000 spectators in the upcoming FIBA World Cup 2023, which will start on Friday, August 25.

In an interview over Radyo Pilipinas, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said the figure includes foreign and domestic visitors.

Frasco said the number of participants in the tournament has surpassed 2,200.

She said the FIBA, which is

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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 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 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.

by FranCo Jose C. baroña and FranCisCo Tuyay ManilaTimes.net

A RESUPPLY mission arrived safely in Ayungin Shoal on Tuesday, August 22, despite apparent attempts by the China Coast Guard (CCG) and militia to block two chartered boats carrying provisions for Filipino soldiers stationed in BRP Sierra Madre there.

The chartered ships Unaizah 1 and Unaizah 2 successfully completed their journey to the grounded BRP Sierra Madre in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

assistance regarding any case. The last development so far regarding the ICC was when its Appeals Chamber on July 18 voted 3-2 to reject the Philippine government’s appeal to stop the investigation into the drug war.

Marcos: Let’s transcend political barriers

by Helen Flores Mayen JayMalin Philstar.com

MANILA — President Marcos 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.

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Workers

Susan ‘Toots’ Ople, champion of migrant workers; 61

MANILA — Susan “Toots”

Ople, an advocate for the rights of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and the pioneer secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), died on Tuesday afternoon, August 22 surrounded by her family and loved ones. She was 61.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. described Ople’s passing as “a great loss” to the country.

“[It’s a] very, very sad news. I have lost a friend. The Philippines has lost a friend,” the president said. “Secretary [Ople] is a special person with a deep compassion really, really for the people that she had cared for, mainly the migrant

workers.”

Ople had followed the tradition of excellence and compassion of her late father, former Sen. Blas Ople, who served for 19 years as labor minister of Marcos’ father, Ferdinand Sr. Beacon of hope Vice President Sara Duterte said she mourned the loss of a real patriot.

“She was a beacon of hope and a source of strength for migrant workers caught in distressing situations while working abroad,” she said.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri called Ople “a

Ayungin resupply successful despite Chinese ‘disruptions’

MANILA — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Tuesday, August 22 said it was “willing to cooperate” with the International Criminal Court

DMW Secretary Susan Ople Photo from the Department of Migrant

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas hosted a welcome dinner for the FIBA Central Board at the Ayuntamiento de Manila the other night ahead of the opening of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Photo shows (from left) FIBA executive member Ingo Weiss, SBP chairman emeritus Manuel V. Pangilinan, Speaker Martin Romualdez, FIBA president Hamane Niang and SBP president Alfredo Panlilio. Philstar.com photo

dedicated public servant with a huge heart for our people” while Speaker Martin Romualdez hailed her as “a great and tireless champion of laborers and OFWs.”

OFW party-list Rep. Marissa Magsino remembered Ople as a “steady pillar” of those fighting to protect the rights, welfare, and safety of Filipino workers abroad.

Rep. Michael Romero, House poverty alleviation panel chair and one of the proponents of the DMW in Congress, said Ople gave valuable inputs when the House was deliberating on the DMW bill.

“She was as much an author of the DMW charter as my colleagues and I were because of her valuable insights,” Romero said.

House Deputy Minority Leader Bernadette Herrera said Ople’s time as DMW secretary “was brief but it capped a lifetime of devoted service.”

She recalled Ople was initially hesitant in accepting her appointment as DMW secretary because of her battle with cancer, but she eventually took on the challenge.

Legacy

Ople will be remembered as the first secretary of the DMW, which was created through Republic Act No. 11641 in 2021.

By the time she was appointed by Marcos as DMW secretary in June 2022, Ople had already been in remission from breast cancer for more than two years. Her appointment was confirmed by the Commission on Appointments in November 2022.

Ople was known for negotiating safer labor agreements with Middle Eastern countries, shutting down scams and human-trafficking schemes, and repatriating distressed workers, many of whom she personally assisted when she

went to troubled states, like Sudan.

At the Department of Foreign Affairs, Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo de Vega said Ople’s biggest achievements were lifting the employment ban in Saudi Arabia last year, suspending the deployment of new household OFWs to Kuwait this year, and forming a competent team that will carry on the legacy of the DMW.

The Canadian Embassy in Manila credited Ople for helping advance labor relations between Canada and the Philippines.

Ople received her communication arts degree from the University of Santo Tomas and finished her master’s degree in public administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University where she received the Josephine Vernon Award for Excellence in Communications.

Ople was a columnist, writer, and former presidential speechwriter. Her first job was as a researcher at the office of former Sen. Ernesto Herrera. She also worked as her father’s chief of staff and public information officer when he was a senator.

She served as labor undersecretary from 2004 to 2009 and also founded the Blas F. Ople Policy Center, a nonprofit organization that extends assistance to victims of human trafficking and illegal recruitment.

She was the national coordinator on women workers’ education for the International Labor Organization and was also a member of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking, the first Filipino to hold the post.

—Reports from Jacob Lazaro, Nestor Corrales, Julie M. Aurelio, Melvin Gascon, Krixia Subingsubing and Inquirer Research n

CHR willing to work with the ICC on PH...

The ruling affirmed an earlier decision in January by the PreTrial Chamber to authorize an inquiry into the drug war, because of what the chamber deemed to be the Philippine government’s lack of willingness to investigate or prosecute the related crimes.

The decision also opens a new stage in the drug war case, with ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan having the leeway to pursue the prosecution of certain individuals.

If Khan pursues charges, human rights lawyer Neri Colmenares said these could fall on Duterte and his Philippine National Police chief at the height of the drug war, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa — who are seen as the chief enforcers of the antidrug campaign which had claimed tens of thousands of mostly poor victims.

Palpal-latoc told reporters that “if the ICC will request us to help them [provide] the evidence we have gathered in the cases we have already investigated, we can share it.”

“If our participation would help find a solution to the problem of human rights affecting Filipinos, we will perform our mandate,” he added.

“We have an independent mandate to look into human rights concerns of the Filipinos here and abroad,” Palpal-latoc also said.

Public documents

The human rights chief noted further that cases being investigated by the commission involve public documents, “so I don’t see any limitation there.”

According to a 2022 report, the CHR has looked into 882 cases involving 1,139 drug war victims — figures that are a mere fraction of the tens of thousands of deaths linked to that campaign.

Nevertheless, the CHR’s report said the PNP had used “excess, unreasonable force” and had an “intent to kill” suspects during drug-related operations.

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

The commission, however, does not have access to police reports in connection with drug cases. Neither has it been invited to take part in a review of the drug war led by the Department of Justice.

Still, Palpal-latoc said the CHR would cooperate with the ICC, “as it is part of our mandate as a national human rights institution [and as an] independent constitutional body that is not dependent on the directive of

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have left more than 100 dead and 1,000 missing in the four days it ravaged the island. The destructive wildfires in

Commission on Human Rights chief Richard Palpal-latoc Photo from the CHR Facebook page the President [or] the Executive department.”

ICC’s investigation will cover the period from Nov. 1, 2011, to March 16, 2019, the day before

Duterte notified the United Nations that the country was withdrawing from the Rome Statute of 2002 which established the ICC.

It was in 2011 when the country ratified the Rome Statute.

Duterte was still mayor of Davao City and alleged death squads were already being attributed to his local rule.

The ICC is asserting jurisdiction over cases involving crimes against humanity in the Philippines during that nearly eight-year period, but the government has repeatedly rejected its authority.

President Ferdinand Marcos

Jr. on July 21 — three days after the government’s appeal to stop the ICC investigation was rejected — said: “We’re done talking with the ICC. Like what we have been saying from the beginning, we will not cooperate with them in any way, shape, or form.”

“We have no appeals pending. We have no more actions being taken. So, I suppose that puts an end to our dealings with the ICC,” he also said.

Marcos appointments

The CHR’s relations with Malacañang have been tested under two consecutive administrations, particularly during Duterte’s term.

In September 2017, his congressional allies, in an apparent gesture of spite, gave the commission a budget of P1,000, before finally approving

a P509-million budget by the end of that month.

Under Marcos, the CHR had remained without a head after his oathtaking as president until September last year, when he appointed Palpal-latoc and Beda Epres, also a lawyer, formerly connected with the Ombudsman, to the commission.

Human rights advocates immediately criticized the appointments, saying that Palpallatoc, a former prosecutor, had no background in human rights. The group Karapatan also described him as a “political appointee” after he had served as a deputy of then-Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez, who was also his law firm partner. As CHR chief, Palpal-latoc has urged the government to cooperate with the ICC and even rejoin the Rome Statute, saying, “This will show the genuine intention of the government to comply [with its international obligations].”

Palpal-latoc had said his agency was working to develop rules of procedure for “strategic litigation” of human rights cases after he pointed out that the CHR’s function was merely recommendatory and not prosecutorial.

He said strategic litigation would allow the CHR to extend legal assistance to victims of human rights abuses or, under extraordinary circumstances, even stand in as a nominal complainant.

In undertaking those options, the CHR’s goal, Palpal-latoc said, is to create “court-ready reports” that could stand a chance in the trial. n

DFA confirms 2 Filipinos killed in Hawaii...

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) n

DOT eyes 600,000 tourists...

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responsible for ticket sales, would determine the exact number of spectators.

To ensure the success of the event, the DOT has collaborated with a tourism consortium that includes private stakeholders such as the Tourism Congress of the Philippines, Philippine Tour Operators Association and Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).

The collaboration is focused on crafting FIBA World Cup tour packages that will offer discounts to both local and foreign visitors, to encourage them to also explore the Philippines’ tourist spots aside from watching the FIBA games.

“This package, which was specifically curated for FIBA, provides opportunities to visit any of our award-winning destinations as well as our beautiful resorts and hotels across these places,” Frasco said.

These packages are accessible through discoverphilippines.travel.

The DOT has coordinated with attached agencies for site enhancements at the venues and other areas crucial to the participants’ experience.

Frasco stressed the importance of seamless and secure movement for tourists and participants.

Frasco said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is responsible for the physical enhancements in airports for a better experience upon entry of tourists.

She said the DOT and the TIEZA helped the DOTr enhance these sites.

The Philippines will host the games of the FIBA World Cup 2023 along with Japan and Indonesia from Aug. 25 to Sept. 10.

The tournament will be held in Bulacan, Quezon City and Pasay City. (By Mark Ernest Villeza/ Philstar.com) n

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

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

Ayungin resupply successful despite...

Two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels, BRP Cabra and BRP Sindangan, served as escorts during the mission to the shoal that is contested by China and the Philippines.

The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, headed by National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Año, commended the courage, determination and professionalism of the men and women of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the PCG.

“Notwithstanding attempts by the Chinese coast guard and Chinese maritime militia vessels to block, harass and interfere with the supply mission, the Philippine supply ships Unaizah May 1 and Unaizah May 2, escorted by PCG vessels BRP Cabra and BRP Sindangan, successfully completed their mission,” the task force said.

“The Filipino people owe them a debt of gratitude, for their commitment to place their lives [on the line] to defend our sovereignty and sovereign rights and jurisdiction throughout the expanse of the West Philippine Sea,” Año said in a statement.

On Aug. 5, 2023, a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal was disrupted when Chinese coast guard vessels used a water cannon on a charter boat carrying provisions to soldiers posted at BRP Sierra Madre.

The incident sparked condemnation from the international community, particularly among allied countries and partners.

Over the weekend, Australia and the Philippines conducted amphibious drills at Rizal, Palawan, just a few miles off Ayungin Shoal as a manifestation of support to the plight of the Philippine government over the coercive behavior of the Chinese in the West Philippine Sea.

The task force said routine missions to Philippine outposts on various features in the WPS will continue on a regular basis.

“These missions are part of the Philippine government’s legitimate exercise of its administrative functions over the WPS, in line with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos), the 2016 Arbitral Award and domestic laws,” it added.

United States-based security expert Ray Powell said as early as Sunday, August 20, at least three CCG ships, including the one involved in the August 5 incident, were shadowing BRP Sindangan and BRP Cabra and continued to do so as the Philippine vessels approached the mouth of the shoal late Tuesday morning. Four Chinese militia ships were

monitored, presumably in an attempt to block the two Philippine supply ships.

Chinese coast guard vessel 215551 later appeared and seemed to have maneuvered “quite close” to BRP Cabra.

Powell said he “cannot exactly say what actually happened during the resupply mission since nearly all CCG vessels involved have all gone.” “The extent of dangerous [Chinese] maneuvers is hard to assess,” he added.

Powell said only the Chinese militia ships can be clearly observed “actively blocking access to the shoal.” By noon, the resupply mission “appears to be over” with the two PCG vessels “moving back to the east,” the project lead for Project Myoushu at Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation and a 2021 Fellow at Stanford’s Distinguished Careers Institute said.

“There should be ‘neutral third parties’ to monitor negotiations between China and the Philippines insofar as resolving their sea row is concerned to determine their sincerity in engaging in genuine dialogue,” Sen. Maria Imelda Josefa “Imee” Marcos said on Tuesday, stressing the Philippines’ first line of defense is diplomacy.

“Let us settle our conflict in a peaceful manner,” she said.

The Philippines should fully comply with its obligation under the United Nations Charter “to settle conflicts in a peaceful way,” the senator said in a statement.

“China sent us a note to dialogue, let us talk to them. This time, however, we should document every attempt by our diplomats, Coast Guard and military personnel to communicate with China. To the extent permissible,” Marcos said. She also said the Philippine government “should make records of these attempts accessible to neutral third parties so that they may verify our efforts and China’s responses thereto.”

“This way, the world can ascertain both countries’ sincerity in engaging in genuine dialogue,” Marcos added.

“To be clear, we will do whatever is necessary to protect our rights through peaceful means. Resupplying our personnel in Ayungin Shoal is within our legal rights. Thus, if we need larger and more powerful supply ships and PCG escort ships, then we will acquire them, preferably by building them ourselves,” Marcos added.

“Might does not make right. We will stand our ground because we are in the right,” the senator said. n

Marcos: Let’s transcend...

“(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 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) n

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Malacañang file photo

This shows the BRP Sierra Madre of the Philippine Navy anchored near Ayungin Shoal with Filipino soldiers onboard to secure perimeter in the Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea on May 11, 2015.

Photo by Ritchie B. Tongo/pool photo via AP

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

MANILA — For many people who had lived through the last years of the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos Sr., 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 Marcos, riding on the wave of the People Power Revolution.

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

“He 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 Inquirer

“They [Ninoy and Cory] were simply real people who loved their country very much.”

So 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.”

This 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 Monday, August 21 the 40th death

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US, PH find ways to boost...

of current energy projects in the Philippines and established priorities for future cooperation and technical support,” the State Department said.

“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

Meet Gilas Pilipinas’ Final 12 for Fiba World Cup

by CrisTina CHi Philstar.com

MANILA — The 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 Townsled 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 Final 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.

Pool members Carl Tamayo, Jordan Heading, 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 Final 12 players and the coaches of Gilas Pilipinas for the World Cup.

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. (By Bernadette E. Tamayo/ ManilaTimes.net) n

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 Sixth Man 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 Minnesota Timberwolves 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 36year wait. He helped Gilas notch its first win over Senegal 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 Manila and settling for silver in Vietnam last year. An injury prevented him from suiting up for a third straight SEA Games stint.

The 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 Ramos was the lone Gilas player to suit up in all six Asian Qualifier windows. And the Filipino-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.

Ramos looks to sustain his form in his first ever appearance in the Fiba World Cup.

He 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

Since 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.

The 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.

The 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.

Malonzo, who used to be a one-and-done for La Salle in the UAAP Season 82 in 2019 and became part of the mythical team, was drafted by Northport in the 2020 PBA Draft. He 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.

The 7-foot-3 center missed the Europe camp due to his NBA Summer League stint with the Orlando Magic 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.

The undrafted big man from the 2022 NBA Rookie 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 Edu seeks to complete his major comeback from several knee injuries that sidelined him from the national team in his first World Cup stint.

The 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.

The 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

Gilas Pilipinas’ Final 12 for the Fiba World Cup.

Photo from FIBA

DEATH ANNIVERSARY. Kiko Aquino-Dee (left), grandson of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., offers flowers in commemoration of the 40th death anniversary of the senator at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 on Monday, August 21. Aquino was assassinated at the tarmac in 1983 upon his return from the United States. PNA photo by Avito Dalan

US, Japan, Australia plan joint drills in SCS

by rainier allan ronda Philstar.com

MANILA — 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. 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,

Meet Gilas Pilipinas’ Final 12 for...

Philippines.

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 NTF-WPS 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 US on the conduct of joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea. n

Younger Aquinos uphold ‘Lolo’s...

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 Filipinos continue to commemorate him.”

After all, this is the second year that the

Philippines marked Ninoy Aquino Day — enshrined under Republic Act No. 9256 — under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Groups like the August Twenty-One Movement, People Power Volunteers for Reform, Bayan, and Project Gunita visited Aquino’s grave at Manila Memorial Park in the morning as well as the commemorative marker at Terminal 1 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport. They then went to the Sto. Domingo Church in

PAGE 4

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 San Miguel 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 San Miguel, 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

Scottie Thompson adds his first World Cup appearance to his rising PBA career.

The 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 Finals MVP 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 Fiba 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’ 9190 loss to Jordan at Philippine Arena last February that put his nine-point, seven-rebound, seven-assist outing to waste.

Thompson 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

Japeth Aguilar

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

He 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.

The 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 Fiba 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.

The 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

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN

that the City of San Diego (City) is seeking to receive Electronic Bids for the below named Public Works project. The solicitation, including plans and specifications, may be obtained from the City’s website at: https://www. sandiego.gov/cip/bidopps Contractors intending to submit a Bid must be prequalified. Please refer to the solicitation for instructions.

Project Name San Carlos Branch Library

Project Number: K-24-2211DB2-3 Estimated Value: $28,000,000.00 Bid Open Date: 09/26/2023, at 2:00 P.M. License Requirement: B

It is the policy of the City of San Diego to encourage equal opportunity in its Construction and Consultant contracts. Bids or proposals from local firms, small, minority-owned, disabled, veteran-owned, and women-owned businesses are strongly encouraged. Contractors are encouraged to subcontract with and/or participate in joint ventures with these firms. The City is committed to equal opportunity and will not discriminate with regard to race, religion, color, ancestry, age, gender, disability, medical condition or place of birth; and will not do business with any firm that discriminates on any basis. Bids shall be received no later than the date and time noted above at: City of San Diego’s Electronic Biding Site PlanetBids at: https://www.planetbids. com/portal/portal. cfm?CompanyID=17950

Claudia C. Abarca, Director Purchasing & Contracting Department

August 24, 2023 8/25/23

CNS-3729021#

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

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

elfRen S. CRuz

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 Marcos forces. The country, in 1983, was desperate for a hero. To

were educators handling from seven to eight teaching loads, with 30 to 50 students in each class. State resources, stretched thin for the health 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 U.S.-based 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, 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-and-conquer 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. (Philstar.com)

* * *

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

* * * babeseyeview@gmail.com

We need heroes like Ninoy Aquino

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 nonviolent 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 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

Ninoy Aquino, a staunch critic of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, fell to an assassin’s bullet, shortly after he arrived at the Manila International Airport (now the Ninoy Aquino International Airport). Philstar.com file photo

COCO LIFE. Coconuts are sold between PHP30 and PHP35 apiece at the Kamuning Public Market in Quezon City on Wednesday (Aug. 23, 2023).

The country is holding the National Coconut Week from Aug. 23 to Sept. 1, celebrating the coconut’s significance to Filipino culture.

Younger Aquinos uphold ‘Lolo’s...

Quezon City, where the Aquino family led a commemorative Mass. ‘World seems to have turned’ But as in 2022, Malacañang remained mum on the holiday, while lawmakers sympathetic to the Marcos administration were then lobbying to erase the Aquinos from the P500 bill and to have Naia renamed (this proposal, in particular, by one Arnolfo Teves Jr.).

are made into villains,” he lamented.

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

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 Foundation, hopes to do justice by.

Meet Gilas Pilipinas’ Final 12 for...

ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler next destination.

The 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.

The 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 Season 82 finals only to be a one-and-done after the infamous Sorsogon bubble during the height of the COVID-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 Fiba 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.

The Far Eastern 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

Reyes steered Gilas to a silver in the 2013 Fiba Asia Championship to return to the world stage after 36 years.

After the infamous Gilas-Australia brawl in 2018, Reyes returned as Gilas coach in January last year, replacing Tab Baldwin.

The nine-time PBA champion coach and sixtime 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 Brownleeled 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 Slams, rejoined the national team in the Asian qualifier to boost the program.

The 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 36year 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.

He 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.

The 61-year-old tactician is a nine-time PBA champion and two-time Coach of the Year with San Miguel, Ginebra, and TNT. (By Lance Agcaoili/ Inquirer.net) n

“Sadly, if you ask Filipinos, many of them might say they only know Ninoy from these things,” said his nephew and former Sen. 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 Filipinos know him has changed dramatically.”

Echoed progressive leader and lawyer Luke Espiritu, who considered Aquino as his “idol”: “When I was young, the entire world seemed to be pro-Ninoy and anti-Marcos. 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

Apart from efforts to whitewash martial law atrocities, for example, disinformation actors are also casting Aquino “as a terrorist, a communist, and a traitor,” said Suyat. “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,” Suyat said.

‘Exhorting the youth’

In fact, Aquino himself believed in the power of young Filipinos in the democratic struggle, Suyat 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

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.

He 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.” (by Krixia Subingsubing/Inquirer. net) n

PNA photo

ANNOUNCEMENT

Advertisement for Bids

Notice is hereby given that the San Diego Unified School District, acting by and through its governing board, will electronically receive bids for the furnishing of all labor, materials, transportation, equipment, and services for:

LA JOLLA HIGH SCHOOL STAGE CURTAIN REPLACEMENT

A mandatory site visit is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2023, in front of the main office of La Jolla High School, 750 Nautilus St, La Jolla, CA 92037. Contractors and subcontractors must preregister with the District prior to attending the site walk at sandiegounified.org/sitewalks. The Bid and Contract Documents may be downloaded free of charge at the District’s new online Planroom at sandiegousdplans.com. All bids must be received electronically at or before 1:00 p.m. on SEPTEMBER 14, 2023. Firms interested in submitting a bid package must go to tinyurl.com/SDUSD-PlanetBids then search under “Bid Opportunities” for “Invitation number” CP24-0267-39-00-00 La Jolla High School Stage Curtain Replacement. For new vendors, please register under “New Vendor Registration.”

The project estimate is between $25,000 and $40,000. This is not a PSA project and does not require prequalification. The District requires that Bidders possess any of the following classification(s) of California State Contractors License(s), valid and in good standing, at the time of bid opening and contract award: C-61 Limited Specialty, D-34 or other appropriate license, subject to District approval. SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, George A. Harris III, Director, Fiscal Controls and Information Systems, Facilities Planning and Construction - CP24-0267-39-00-00.

Advertisement for Bids

LEGAL SERVICES

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9014962

Orchid Thai Spa and Bodyworks located at 297 3rd Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91910.

Registrant: Aiyara Thai Massage And Spa LLC, 8877 Spectrum Center Blvd Unit 11204, San Diego CA 92123. This business is conducted by Limited Liability Company.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 07/18/2023.

Signature: Yu Li.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 07/18/2023.

AJ 1222 08/04, 08/11, 08/18, and 08/25/2023. AJSD 1222

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9015561

Zarlito’s Family Restaurant located at 505 E. 8th Street, National City, CA 91950.

Registrant:

a. Dorothy Ann Fredeluces, 7766 Bloomfield Rd, San Diego, CA 92114.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9016120

Sole Talk Therapy located at 5348 Carroll Canyon Rd Ste 101, San Diego, CA 92121.

Registrant: Krystle Lejano, 5348 Carroll Canyon Rd Ste 101, San Diego, CA 92121.

This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 08/02/2023.

Signature: Krystle Lejano. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 08/02/2023. AJ 1223 08/04, 08/11, 08/18, and 08/25/2023. AJSD 1223

SD#0265

Notice is hereby given that the San Diego Unified School District, acting by and through its governing board, will electronically receive bids for the furnishing of all labor, materials, transportation, equipment, and services to:

FURNISH AND INSTALL FENCING AT DANA MIDDLE SCHOOL

A mandatory site visit is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2023, in front of the main office of Dana Middle School, 1775 Chatsworth Blvd., San Diego, CA 92107. Contractors and subcontractors must preregister with the District prior to attending the site walk at sandiegounified.org/sitewalks. The Bid and Contract Documents may be downloaded free of charge at the District’s new online Planroom at sandiegousdplans.com All bids must be received electronically at or before 1:00 p.m. on SEPTEMBER 15, 2023 Firms interested in submitting a bid package must go to tinyurl.com/SDUSD-PlanetBids then search under “Bid Opportunities” for “Invitation number” CC24-0422-05-00-00 Furnish and Install Fencing at Dana Middle School. For new vendors, please register under “New Vendor Registration.” The project estimate is between $170,000 and $185,000. This is not a PSA project and does not require prequalification. The District requires that Bidders possess any of the following classification(s) of California State Contractors License(s), valid and in good standing, at the time of bid opening and contract award: A or other appropriate license, subject to District approval. SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, George A. Harris III, Director, Fiscal Controls and Information Systems, Facilities Planning and Construction CC24-0422-05-00-00

EMPLOYMENT FOR RENT

Sage Canyon Apartments, a 72-unit affordable apartment community in San Marcos, is closing its waitlist by September 5, 2023! This property is located near schools, grocery-anchored retail and a park, and offers 1, 2, and 3-bdr apartments with rents from $704 - $1,662 per month. The community includes balconies, all electric kitchens, wall-to-wall carpets, and on-site parking. Residential community offers a community room with kitchen, on-site laundry facilities, and children’s play areas. Pre-applications for the waitlist will be accepted until Tuesday September 5, 2023 at 5PM. To apply, visit BRIDGE Housing Website at https://bridgehousing.com/ properties/sage-canyon/

The office is located at 1020 Stephanie Court in San Marcos, CA. Office hours are Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM. For more info, call 760-798-9113. Income and other restrictions apply. Section 8 welcome. EHO.

SD#0267

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9016422

Lieutenant Air located at 5893 Greycourt Avenue, San Diego, CA 92114. Registrant: Charyna

Maree Sevilla Delos Santos, 5893 Greycourt Avenue, San Diego, CA 92114. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.

Signature: Charyna

Maree Sevilla Delos Santos. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 08/08/2023. AJ 1231 08/25, 09/01, 09/08, and 09/15/2023. AJSD 1231

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9017078 ECKO Entertainment Productions located at 1218 Farmerville Street, Chula Vista, CA 91913.

b. Ryan Fredeluces, 7766 Bloomfield Rd, San Diego, CA 92114 This business is conducted by Married Couple.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 07/26/2023. Signature: Dorothy Ann Fredeluces. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9016766

Cash Star located at 610 Del Sol Drive #338, San Diego, CA 92108.

Registrant: Heather Samantha Vargas, 610 Del Sol Drive #338, San Diego, CA 92108. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.

Signature: Heather Samantha Vargas. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 08/14/2023. AJ 1228 08/18, 08/25, 09/01, and 09/08/2023. AJSD 1228

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9017040 Pride Surf Skate Snow located at 5035 Newport Avenue, Ocean Beach, CA 92107. Registrant: 2CLEVEL INC., 4620 Tivou Street, Ocean Beach, CA 92107. This business is conducted by Corporation.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.

Signature: Carl Allen Cadwell. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9014607

True Theorie Mental Health Services located at 8340 Clairmont Mesa Blvd Ste 209, San Diego, CA 92111.

Registrant: Wang Marriage and Family Therapy Inc., 2415 West Ingersoll St, San Diego, CA 92111. This business is conducted by Corporation. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 10/12/2022.

Signature: Jadelyn Wang. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 07/13/2023. AJ 1229 08/18, 08/25, 09/01, and 09/08/2023. AJSD 1229

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9016022

Lux Diamond Buyers located at 222 Eaton Way #2, Vista, CA 92084.

Registrant: Edward David Torrison, 222 Eaton Way #2, Vista, CA 92084. This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 02/15/2020.

Signature: Edward David Torrison. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 08/01/2023. AJ 1224 08/04, 08/11, 08/18, and 08/25/2023. AJSD 1224

THE NAME(S) AS OF 04/01/2016.

Signature: Susanna M.

BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 09/16/2022.

Signature: Carmen Munuz. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 07/03/2023.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9015994

All Hands Residential Care Home located at 489 Berland Way, Chula Vista, CA 91910. Registrant: Romel Gelacio, 489 Berland Way, Chula Vista, CA 91910. This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.

Signature: Romel Gelacio. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 08/01/2023. AJ 1230 08/25, 09/01, 09/08, and 09/15/2023. AJSD 1230

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

By naTHalie ToMada Philstar.com

VETERAN actress Tessie

Tomas described ABS-CBN’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.

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 bastabasta nakakanood ng ganung teleserye. When you watch it, you know that pinaghirapan and pinagkagastahan.”

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 Philippinemade show can be at par with international productions.

“Pwede na tayong makipagsabayan. ‘Di na nila

kailangan manoood ng mga Hollywood series para (maenjoy) 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. She 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.

Meron 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 “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 at 9:30 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 on Saturday, Aug. 26, and at the Arena Theater Houston, Texas on Sunday, 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

u PAGE 10

Lea Salonga emotional after receiving Gold Legend Honor at Gold Gala in US

by anne PasaJol Inquirer.net

A TEARY-EYED Lea Salonga 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.

The 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.

She 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.

To 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. n

Tessie Tomas plays Doña Cielo, the tyrannical matriarch of the controversial and filthy rich Fiero family. STAR / File

Lea Salonga Screengrab from YouTube/Gold House

THE County of San Diego is asking residents ages 55 and older to share their thoughts in a comprehensive needs assessment survey.

The state survey will be used to inform future local program development or maintenance. This survey was first sent out to randomly selected residents in July and is now available to the general public. The survey will close Aug. 28.

Those 55 and older can fill out the survey online.

The state and the County’s Aging & Independence Services (AIS) will use the information collected to better understand

Celebrating excellence: United States University honors Class of 2023

the challenges and unmet needs of the region’s aging community.

“San Diego County is expected to see a rapid rise of residents over 60 years old in the next decade,” Dr. Eric McDonald, Interim Director of County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency said. “By 2030 we expect to see the region’s older adult population surpass 900,000, compared to 500,000 in 2010.” Regional efforts to support the county’s aging population are ongoing, and can be reviewed at the Aging Roadmap, which launched in 2019.

u PAGE 11

Tessie Tomas on...

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 mapo-prove 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 heavydrama 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.” n

THE United States University is eagerly anticipating the arrival of more than 500 graduates from the 2023 class in San Diego on September 16th. Established in 1997, United States University is committed to offering educational opportunities that cater to both professional and personal growth, with a specific focus on reaching out to underserved communities. Through a combination of oncampus and online courses, the University provides affordable, pertinent, and easily accessible undergraduate and graduate degree programs as well as certificates in a supportive learning environment centered around the needs of the students.

The highlight of this year’s commencement ceremony is the esteemed presence of Dr. Joyce Javier as the commencement speaker. Serving as an Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine of

Commencement speaker Dr. Joyce Javier

With an impressive thirty-fouryear tenure at Kaiser Permanente, Monares has worn multiple hats, ranging from individual contributor to leadership roles in administration, sales, marketing, and learning and development. He currently holds the position of Learning & Performance Leader for the Health Plan Workforce Development team. He takes immense pride in contributing to an organization that places a premium on enhancing healthcare for its members and local communities.

Featured student speaker Raul Monares

research has predominantly revolved around utilizing community-based participatory research to combat behavioral health disparities among Filipino youth. For more information, visit: filipinofamilyhealth.com.

The University also extends its heartfelt congratulations to Raul Monares, who will take the stage as the featured student speaker.

Contributed photos the University of Southern California, she holds positions in the Departments of Pediatrics and Population and Public Health Sciences. Dr. Javier’s extensive journey includes completing residency training in pediatrics and a postdoctoral fellowship in general academic pediatrics at Stanford University. As a pediatrician scientist, her

Raul’s academic journey commenced in 1986, marking his first step into higher education. However, a heartrending turn of events, the sudden loss of his mother, derailed his university pursuits, leading him through a period of personal challenges. Yet, Raul’s determination ultimately prevailed, leading him to successfully attain his educational goals as a proud graduate of USU. n

Annual celebration brings together recovery support and resources

THE County is bringing together its partners and members of the community to raise awareness about local treatment, support and recovery resources in honor of National Recovery Month.

The public is invited to attend the free community event at Waterfront Park (1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego) on Saturday, August 26 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Hosted by the county’s Behavioral Health Services, this year’s theme is “Celebrate the Tides of Hope.” The gathering welcomes people in recovery and those thinking about recovery and their families and friends to come together.

National Recovery Month is celebrated every September to bring awareness for mental health and addiction recovery and to support those still struggling and recovering.

“The journey to recovery for an individual takes a community and support from family and friends,” said Dr. Luke Bergmann, County

Behavioral Health Director. “This celebration is an opportunity for people in all stages of their recovery journey and their loved ones to take a step toward healing together.”

A resource fair will feature interactive activities for families, giveaways (while supplies last), free naloxone kits and information about how to use it. People can also bring old or expired prescription drugs

for safe disposal. Other local resource providers will also be staffing informational booths.

More information about the event is available online.

The county’s Behavioral Health Services provides mental health and substance use disorder services to more than 105,000 San Diego County residents.

If you or someone you care about is in crisis or

would like behavioral health resources or support, including accessing Mobile Crisis Response Teams (MCRT), please call the Access and Crisis Line at (888) 724-7240 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Calls are answered by experienced counselors, with assistance available in over 200 languages.

(Fernanda Lopez Halvorson/ County of San Diego Communications Office) n

County encouraging residents to weigh in on regional priorities on aging

Mayor Gloria highlights $24.8M

in state

funding for City of San Diego projects

State legislative delegation comes through to improve quality of life in communities across city

SAN DIEGO – Mayor Todd

Gloria was joined on Friday, August 18 by members of San Diego’s state legislative delegation as he highlighted their successful efforts to secure nearly $25 million in state budget funding for critically important projects in San Diego communities.

“Even in a tight budget year for the State of California, our legislative delegation in Sacramento – led by Senate President pro Tem Toni Atkins – came through with significant funding for projects and programs that will enable the city to improve the quality of life in a number of our communities,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. “Taken together, these projects will help us make neighborhoods safer; address homelessness; improve our parks, libraries and streets; and expand housing opportunities.”

The August 18 event was held at Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park, which will benefit from $500,000 in funding to re-leather the organ so that Civic Organist Raúl Prieto Ramírez and future organists can continue to produce music at free concerts in the Pavilion. Other funded projects in Balboa Park include $5.6 million to expand exhibit space at the Fleet Science Center and $1.28 million to upgrade core internal systems at the Natural History Museum.

“Despite the budget challenges the state encountered this year, I am pleased that we were able to secure significant funding for projects and programs in the San Diego region – these are investments that will enhance our communities now and for years to come,” said State Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins. “These local budget wins, which are a result of great collaboration between my Assembly and Senate colleagues in our San Diego delegation, with the offices of the Mayor and City Councilmembers, and with governmental agencies and non-profit partners throughout the San Diego region, will go a long way in meeting our region’s needs.”

Here is the full list of funded projects:

• Expansion of exhibit space at Fleet Science Center Exhibit Space – $5.6 million

• Improved lighting for sports fields at Memorial Community Park in Logan Heights – $3.5 million

• Phase 2 construction of the San Diego River Park Foundation’s Grant Park River Center in Mission Valley – $2.5 million

• Creation of a new San Diego Regional Gun Violence Response Task Force – $2.2 million

• Expanded housing capacity at the City-owned Casa Colina property in City Heights, in partnership with the San Diego Housing Commission – $2 million

• Business Improvement District community programming – $1.5 million

• Upgrades of internal systems at the San Diego Natural History Museum in Balboa Park – $1.275 million

• New fire boat for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department – $1.25 million

• Streetscape improvements in La Lolla Village – $1 million

• Homelessness Outreach

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)?

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.

your Medicaid end date is. In general, Medicaid recipients receive renewal notice 30-60 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.

Task Force, San Diego Housing Commission – $750,000

• Repair of Roswell Street in Emerald Hills – $710,000

• San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force enforcement – $600,000

• Re-Leathering of the Spreckels Organ in Balboa Park – $500,000

• Partial funding for design work on replacement of Hodges Dam – $500,000

• Various materials for San Diego Libraries – $500,000

• Feasibility study for a new City lifeguard garage facility in La Jolla – $250,000

• Restoration of “The Black Family” statue at Mountain View Park – $195,000.

“I am proud to have secured $5 million this year for various projects and programs throughout San Diego County,” said Assemblymember Brian Maienschein. “These funds will be used by local agencies and programs working to improve our region’s public safety, as well as the expansion of homelessness outreach efforts in San Diego.”

“I am proud to have helped secure nearly $25 million in state funding for vital infrastructure, programs and projects for the San Diego region,” said Assemblymember Chris Ward. “I’m thrilled to be in a position where I can continue to support our city and meet the priorities and demands of all San Diegans.”

“With more than $3.5 million in budget funding, we will be able to get several projects over the finish line to being completely funded, and other longer-term projects are one step closer,” said Assemblymember Akilah Weber, M.D. “The projects I was able to get funded in the City of San Diego, such as ‘The Black Family’ statue, will have positive, long-lasting impacts on the communities and constituents of the 79th Assembly District.”

“As a mother and a legislator, I believe that the State Budget is a reflection of our values. That is why I was proud to stand side by side with my fellow legislators throughout the region in standing up for projects that help revitalize our communities, address the impacts of climate change, support public safety and strengthen infrastructure critical to our local economy,” said Assemblymember Tasha Boerner. “I’m thrilled to see critical funding focused on increased sustainability, opportunity and safety being delivered to our district. I am so grateful for the collaboration of my colleagues and community stakeholders in helping to make this happen.”

“I’m thrilled to have secured much-needed funding for communities across San Diego,” said Assemblymember David Alvarez. “We received funding for Memorial Community Park in Logan Heights to improve the field and increase safety. Additionally, we retained funds for the Scripps Institution of Oceanography to track and model our coastline to address the continued issue of cross-border pollution. As your Assemblymember, my job is to fight for my community, and I’m proud of the budget accomplishments this year.”

(City of San Diego Release) n

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

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 Redetermination notice depends on when

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) 1-800-336-2722, (Korean) 1-800-582-4259, (Chinese Mandarin) 1-800-683-7427, (Cantonese) 1-800-5824218, (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.

County encouraging residents to weigh in on regional...

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The Aging Roadmap is San Diego County’s regional vision and framework for supporting healthy aging for people of all ages.

“With the Aging Roadmap we have transformed the region’s ability to ensure the needs of older adults are met, including encouraging affordable housing, bridging the digital divide, improving

access to transportation, and working with clinicians to create more age-friendly health systems.,” said Kimberly Gallo, Director of County Aging & Independence Services.

“We intend to leverage the information gained from this survey, and aging experts, to ensure our county is the national model for elderhood.”

An example of San Diego’s focus on the

elder population is its creation last year of one of the nation’s first chief geriatric officer positions.

People with questions or those who want to learn more about the programs and services available for older adults can call the AIS Call Center at 1-800-339-4661. (Cassie N. Saunders/C0unty of San Diego Communications Office) n