090623 - Southern California Midweek Edition

WHILE three members of its team are still participating at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, NBA side Utah Jazz has honored Jordan Clarkson for his stint with Gilas Pilipinas.

"Still thinkin' about this one," wrote the Jazz on their social media handles on Tuesday, September 5, showing photos and videos from Clarkson's 34-point night for the Filipinos against China over the weekend.

During that game, Clarkson netted 20 points during the 3rd period against China, which had Minnesota Timberwolves player Kyle Anderson.

Marcos to raise South China Sea issue with ASEAN

by ALEXIS ROMERO Philstar.com

MANILA — The South China Sea issue will remain high on the agenda for President Marcos, who is joining the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit on Tuesday, September 5 in Jakarta, Indonesia, where he would again push for a rules-based order in the region long troubled by China’s expansionist moves.

In his departure speech delivered at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Monday, Sept. 4 Marcos said he would

discuss with fellow world leaders “developments” in the South China Sea. His pronouncement came days after Beijing released a supposed new standard map, which covers what it now calls a 10-dash line.

He said the second ASEAN Summit for this year, which ends on Sept. 7, provides a strategic opportunity for ASEAN to deepen its robust partnership with its dialogue partners Australia, Canada, India, China, Japan, Korea, the U.S. and the United Nations.

“We will foster cooperation with these countries

in areas such as trade and investment, climate action, food security, clean energy and maritime cooperation,” the president said.

“I will also participate in the ASEAN Plus 3 and East Asia Summits during which we will discuss the developments in the South China Sea, the situation in Myanmar and the conflict in Ukraine as well as on other major power rivalries,” Marcos added.

Southeast Asian leaders led by host Indonesian President Joko Widodo are gathering for their final summit this year, besieged by divisive issues with  PAGE 2

THE nation’s most thinly staffed nursing homes would be required to hire more workers under new rules proposed on Friday, Sept. 1 by the Biden administration, the greatest change to federal nursing home regulations in three decades.

The proposed standard was prompted by the industry’s troubled performance earlier in the coronavirus pandemic, when 200,000 nursing home residents died. But the proposal falls far short of what both the industry and patient advocates believe is needed to improve care for most of the 1.2 million Americans in nursing homes.

The proposal, by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, would require all facilities to increase staff up to certain minimum levels, but it included no money for nursing homes to pay for the new hires.

CMS estimated that three-quarters of the

by DINO MARAGAY Philstar.com

MANILA – For PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, Gilas Pilipinas and Filipino basketball fans still came out as winners in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Speaking to reporters Monday at the sidelines of the launching of Molten’s special ball for the World Cup championship at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall, Marcial cited two reasons why he considers the country’s campaign in the tournament a success.

“First, our countrymen were able to witness international games. They were able to enjoy quality games. That’s why I’m thankful to MVP (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas chairman emeritus Manny V.

Pangilinan),” said the PBA chief.

Next in Marcial’s two-item list is Gilas ending its 2023 World Cup campaign with a higher final ranking than they did in the 2019 edition of the tournament. Despite registering only a 1-4 record, Gilas landed at No. 24, an eight-spot improvement from its dead-last 32nd-place finish four years ago.

Gilas’ finish in the ongoing tournament assured the squad of a spot in the Olympic qualifying tournaments.

“Nasa top three tayo sa Asia,” Marcial pointed out, as Gilas ended up behind Japan (3-2) and Lebanon (2-3).

The Filipinos came up short in winnable games against the Dominican Republic

Overseas Pinoys continue protest vs new travel requirements

by MAYEN JAYMALIN Philstar.com

MANILA — Until the revised rules are finally shelved, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will continue to protest against new travel requirements proposed by the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), the labor group Migrante International vowed.

The group, while welcoming the Department of Justice decision to suspend the IACAT policy which increases the documentary requirements for Filipino travelers, said OFWs must stay vigilant to stop its revival.

“This suspension is a temporary victory of OFWs,” it said as it

called on all OFWs to be on the lookout for efforts to revive the much-hated policy.

The justice department earlier claimed that the revised rules were not meant to “burden the general public” and aimed only to “enhance the overall experience of departing passengers.”

But the proposed rules received a backlash for imposing stricter travel requirements on Filipinos traveling abroad and possibly subjecting them to more long-winded questions from immigration officers and other airport personnel.

Lawmakers also said these might affect the Filipinos’ right to travel and right to data privacy.

MANILA — The Philippines and the United States, utilizing one of each other’s most advanced warships, on Monday, September 4 cruised the waters of the West Philippine Sea in what the military called a bilateral sail activity aimed at enhancing interoperability.

The Philippine Navy’s guided-missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal and the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile-destroyer USS Ralph Johnson sailed side by side in Philippine waters 12 to 24 nautical miles from Palawan.

The joint activity was led by the Naval Task Force 41 of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Command (WESCOM) and the U.S. Seventh Fleet. AFP Public Affairs Office chief Lt. Col. Enrico Ileto said the two warships carried out a division tactics rehearsal that sought to enhance interoperability between the two navies.

MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, September 4 confirmed at the Senate hearing requesting the controversial P125 million confidential fund of her office last year.

The amount was part of the P221.4 million budget transferred to the Office of the President (OP) by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in December 2022.

“The amount is correct and that is correct,” Duterte said, responding to the query of

Senate Minority Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel during the hearing of the Senate committee on finance on the OVP’s proposed 2024 budget of P2.3 billion, which included a big confidential and intelligence funds of P500 million.

“We requested confidential funds to the Office of the President as early as August 2022 and we’re only granted the confidential funds in December 2022,” she further explained. However, Pimentel pointed out that the confidential fund did not “exist” in the 2022 budget of the OVP. “Parang na augment, for [the]

FAMILIES, STUDENTS, EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITIES MAKE DECISIONS AS ONE.

CLASSES BUILT AROUND THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS.

COUNSELING, MENTAL HEALTH, CHILDCARE AND PARENT EDUCATION.

STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND CLOSING ACHIEVEMENT GAPS.

Marcos to raise South China Sea...

incident wherein a Chinese coast guard ship fired water cannon at Filipino vessels in Ayungin Shoal on Aug. 5.

The Philippine vessels were delivering food, water, fuel and other supplies to troops stationed on BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, a World War II era transport ship deliberately beached in 1999 to serve as military outpost and a tangible proof of the country’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the area.

In a rebuff of Beijing’s claim, Marcos said the Philippines has never agreed to remove the decrepit boat from the shoal.

“Now, once again, we received the news, that now the nine-dash line has been extended to the 10dash line. So, these are the – we have to respond to all of these and we will but again, these are operational details that I would prefer not to talk about,” Marcos said in an interview in Palawan last week.

The Philippines lodged another note verbale against China over an

The Philippines has been demanding that China adhere to international laws, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 arbitral ruling, which invalidated Beijing’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea. Beijing continues to ignore the arbitral award.

In May, Marcos attended the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara in Indonesia.

Aside from the South China Sea issue, Marcos said he would also highlight his administration’s priority advocacies including

food security, climate justice, digital and creative economies, protection of migrant workers in crisis situations, as well as combating trafficking in persons. “Once again, I will use this opportunity to advance Philippine priorities in ASEAN and work with our other ASEAN memberstates not only in addressing the complex challenges facing the region but also in pursuing opportunities for ASEAN as an epicentrum of growth,” he said. Marcos is also scheduled to have bilateral meetings with other leaders during his four-day visit to Jakarta. g

...they’re called Community Schools.

As we go back to school, there’s Something new happening in California’s public schools...

President Marcos said he would discuss with fellow world leaders “developments” in the South China Sea. Malacañang photo

Jazz honor Clarkson for Gilas...

Throughout the tournament, Clarkson had accumulated 130 points, averaging 26 points per game.

Clarkson is one of five members of the Jazz that are in the World Cup, alongside Italy's

Simone Fontecchio, Finland's Lauri Markkanen, Canada's Kelly Olynyk, and the United States' Walker Kessler. Gilas ended their World Cup stint on a high note, after defeating China 96-75 in the classification round at the Smart Araneta

Coliseum on Saturday, finishing in 24th out of 32 countries and have clinched a place at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, that will take place a few weeks before the start of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. (Aric John Sy Cua/ManillaTimes.net)

Overseas Pinoys continue protest...

According to Migrante, the policy suspension is a result of the legitimate demand to junk the policy and widespread opposition from OFWs, migrant Filipinos and various sectors of society.

“Our protests will continue until the policy is finally shelved

and no longer threatens Filipino travelers and OFWs,” it stressed, as it backed the resolution filed by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada calling for an investigation into the policy. It added that aside from rights violation, the policy also increases the burden that OFWs shoulder and does not address the root

causes of human trafficking. “The government should go after human traffickers and not their victims. It can only counter human trafficking effectively if it starts creating decent jobs at home – and stop its intensification of the country’s labor export program,” Migrante said. g

Philippines, US hold ‘bilateral sail...

Ileto said the bilateral sail was a testament to a robust maritime cooperation between the Philippines and the U.S. under the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board framework.

The AFP official emphasized that the event particularly aimed to provide an opportunity for the Philippine Navy and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Navy to test and refine existing maritime doctrines and demonstrate their defense capabilities in line with the shared commitment of upholding peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region.

The AFP shall continue to be involved in bilateral and multilateral activities that will

contribute to its capability development to perform its mission of protecting the country’s national sovereignty and national territory, according to Ileto.

AFP-WESCOM spokesman Commander Ariel Coloma said the one-day activity is different from the planned joint maritime sovereignty patrols of the Philippines and the U.S. and other countries like Japan and Australia.

“The joint sail is being done within our territorial waters while the joint patrol is somewhere outside of our territorial sea,” Coloma explained. He also noted that the joint sail is not related to recent issues with China or

directed at any country as the Philippines is only exercising and implementing a maritime activity with the U.S.

“This particular activity … has been agreed upon by both forces of the U.S. and the Philippines and as host country, we actually have the leeway to do this as long as it is both planned by two forces to develop and further strengthen our cooperative ties and also interoperability with our foreign counterparts,” he said.

He added that the goal of enhancing interoperability is focused on external security and territorial defense operations, but the activity is not about China and is different from plans to hold joint maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea.

Manila has repeatedly complained against what it described as China’s “aggressive” actions in the South China Sea, including the use of a water cannon by its coast guard against a Philippines vessel engaged in a resupply mission on Aug. 5.

China has built militarized, manmade islands in the South China Sea, and its claim of historic sovereignty overlaps with the exclusive economic zones of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.

The Philippines won an international arbitration award against China in 2016, after a tribunal said Beijing’s sweeping claim to sovereignty over most of the South China Sea had no legal basis. g

VP Duterte confirms requesting P125M secret...

year 2022 kasi ito eh,” Pimentel said. “There was no item in the OVP budget for confidential expense[s] in [the] year 2022. So it’s not even one peso, it’s nothing, it’s zero.”

“It’s not even mentioned in the line budgeting for the OVP, and yet at year’s end calendar 2022, we will now have an entry P125 million charged to a line which did not exist at the very beginning,” he pointed out. Duterte reiterated that her office requested the fund, and

the OP granted this through the DBM.

“I think the DBM can better answer the question of the transfer of funds from their source to the OVP,” she said.

“[Nevertheless], we complied with the reportorial requirements of the use of the funds as confidential funds,” the vice president stressed.

House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro earlier claimed that Duterte’s office spent the P125 million

confidential fund in just 19 days – from December 13-31, 2022.

“This translates to P6,578,947.37 or almost P7 million per day,” Castro pointed out in a statement last week. Castro even believes funds were illegally realigned because the 2022 OVP budget, crafted during the term of former vice president Leni Robredo, did not include a secret fund. In her six-year tenure, Robredo never requested or included confidential funds in her office budget. g

Marcial: FIBA World Cup a win for...

and Angola, and also lost versus Italy in the first round. In the classification round, they yielded to South Sudan before finally hitting pay dirt against Asian rivals China for a winning exit.

For Marcial, defeating China was only the cherry on top.

“Yes, we beat China, pero yung dalawang (reasons) yung mahalaga,” said Marcial, still underscoring the improved ranking and the country’s successful World Cup hosting.

“Maganda (pa rin) ang nangyari, nag-improve ang standing natin,” he said. g

The Philippine Navy’s BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) (right) and US Navy’s USS Ralph Johnson (left) are seen carrying out “division tactics” rehearsal at an undisclosed location off the waters of Palawan province on Monday, Sept. 4.

Photo courtesy of AFP Western Command

PBA commissioner Willi Marcial speaks to reporters at the sidelines of the launching of Molten’s special ball for the World Cup championship at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall. Philstar.com photo

Rising COVID-19 cases prompt questions about mask mandates in the US

by Kristel sambile Inquirer.net

AS COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations surge in the United States, concerns are mounting about the need to reinstate mask mandates. The country is experiencing a late-summer spike in infections, with hospitalization rates increasing by nearly 19 percent in just one week, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The spike in COVID-19 cases is driven by the spread of several new variants, including EG.5, FL.1.5.1, and BA.2.86. The CDC has estimated that EG.5 accounts for 21.5 percent of all new cases, while FL.1.5.1 makes up 14.5 percent of new infections, and BA.2.86, the highly mutated variant, constitutes less than one percent.

Concerningly, BA.2.86 is raising alarms among health experts

because it may be “more capable of causing infection” in individuals who have previously had COVID-19 or have been vaccinated. Health officials are carefully monitoring the situation, especially as hospital admissions continue to rise. Hospitals and medical facilities in some regions have already reinstated mask mandates, including facilities in New York, California, and Massachusetts.

Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, emphasized the importance of masks for certain vulnerable populations, stating, “People who are older, who have underlying chronic medical conditions, who are immune-compromised, and who are pregnant—we ought to get those masks out again, to protect ourselves.”

One of the key concerns is the

potential for BA.2.86 to evade immunity from previous infections or vaccinations. To address this, an updated COVID-19 booster is in development and is expected to be available to the public by the end of September. Dr. Schaffner stressed the importance of receiving the booster when it becomes available. “Your protection will diminish over time. So even if you’ve had COVID in the past, once this new booster becomes available, you should get it.”

The rise in COVID-19 cases is also impacting schools, hospitals, and businesses, with some institutions encouraging or requiring people to wear masks once again. As shared in NPR, Syracuse, New York, Upstate Medical University has reinstated a mask mandate in its hospitals due to rising hospitalizations and the detection of the highly transmissible EG.5 variant in the community’s wastewater.

As the situation evolves, public health experts emphasize the need for vigilance and adherence to preventive measures, including mask-wearing, maintaining physical distance in crowded places, avoiding close contact with sick individuals, and practicing regular hand hygiene.

While there’s no need for panic, experts agree that being cautious and maintaining a healthy immune system remain essential safeguards to navigate the evolving landscape of COVID-19 variants. g

Biden administration proposes new...

nation’s 15,000 homes would need to add staff members. But the increases at many of those facilities would be minor, as the average nursing home already employs nurses and aides at, or very close to, the proposed levels.

“The standards are a lot lower than what a lot of experts, including myself, have called for over the years,” said David Grabowski, a professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School. “There are some real positives in here, but I wish the administration had gone further.”

The government said it would exempt nursing homes from punishment if they could prove that there was a local worker shortage and that the facilities had made sincere efforts to recruit employees.

“Fundamentally, this standard is wholly inadequate to meet the needs of nursing home residents,” said Richard Mollot, the executive director of the Long Term Care Community Coalition, an advocacy group based in New York.

Executives in the nursing home industry said that without extra money from Medicare or Medicaid — the two federal insurers that pay for most nursing home care — the requirement would be financially unattainable.

“It’s meaningless to mandate staffing levels that cannot be met,” Katie Smith Sloan, the president and chief executive of LeadingAge, an association that includes nonprofit nursing homes, said in a statement. “There are simply no people to hire — especially nurses. The proposed rule requires that nursing homes hire additional staff. But where are they coming from?”

The new staffing standard would require homes to have daily average nurse staffing levels amounting to at least 0.55 hours per resident. That translates to one registered nurse for every 44 residents. But that is below what the average nursing home already provides, which is 0.66 hours per resident, a 1:36 ratio, federal records show.

At least one registered nurse would have to be on duty at all times under the proposed plan — one of the biggest changes for the facilities, as they currently must have nurses for only eight consecutive hours each day.

The proposed rule also calls for 2.45 nurse aide hours per resident per day, meaning a ratio of about one aide for every 10 residents. While the federal government sets no specific staffing requirements for nurse aides, the average home already provides 2.22 nurse aide hours a day, a ratio of about 1:11.

“The federal minimum staffing standards proposed by CMS are robust yet achievable,” the agency said in a statement.

“The proposal also makes clear that the numerical staffing levels are a floor — not a ceiling — for safe staffing.”

Registered nurses are at the top of the chain of command at nursing homes, overseeing assessments of residents and handling complex clinical tasks. Nurses delegate more straightforward clinical roles to licensed practical nurses.

Certified nurse assistants, often called nurse aides, are generally the most plentiful in a nursing home and help residents with basic needs like bathing, getting out of bed and

eating.

On average, registered nurses make $37 an hour while licensed practical nurses earn $28 an hour, according to CMS. Aides often start at minimum wage or slightly above, earning $17 an hour on average.

“People have more choice,” said Tina Sandri, the chief executive of Forest Hills of DC, a nursing home in Washington, D.C., referring to nursing home staff. “They can go to hospitals and make more and do less than they do here in a nursing home.”

“We’ve lost staff to hospitals that had $20,000 signing bonuses,” she added, “and as a nonprofit, we can’t compete with that.”

Nursing home officials say they cannot afford to pay higher wages because state Medicaid programs reimburse them too little. Patient advocates, however, note that some forprofit homes are providing substantial returns to investors.

Medicare and Medicaid spent $95 billion on nursing home care and retirement community care in 2021, according to CMS. The agency estimated that the new standards would cost homes another $4 billion in three years, when all homes except those in rural areas would need to comply. Rural homes would have five years.

Ellen Quirk, a retired certified nurse assistant in Hayes, Virginia, recalled that sometimes she would care for all of the residents on a single floor in the nursing home, which could be 20 or more people, by herself. It’s challenging for an aide to care for more than five to seven people at a time, she said.

“If it’s more than that, then things aren’t done properly,” Quirk, 63, said. “Things are skipped over, like a bath or changing them every couple of hours or feeding them properly.”

“I’ve seen patients that roll over and fall out of bed,” she added. “Sometimes they get bed sores because beds are saturated in urine for hours and hours.”

The nursing home industry has been pressing federal and state governments to pay for a bevy of enticements to longterm care workers, including educational subsidies for those who have worked in nursing homes, loan forgiveness and career opportunities for certified nursing assistants working toward their nursing degrees.

The administration said it would offer $75 million in scholarships and tuition as part of the new proposal. The administration is accepting comments for the next 60 days before it finalizes the new standard.

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

Go for Gold aids Filipino wrestlers eyeing 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

MANILA – Go For Gold Philippines founder Jeremy Go recently handed out pairs of fighting shoes to the national wrestlers who engaged in battle during the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games.

That act of generosity surely won’t be the last as it signals Go For Gold’s clear intention to help bring the country’s grapplers back to the world stage, specifically in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Pinag-usapan namin na gumawa ng program para sa 2028 (Olympics). We have been asked kung sino sa mga athletes namin ang may kakayahan na mag-qualify at willing tumulong si sir Jeremy hanggang makarating sila sa Los Angeles,’’ said national wrestling coach Efrelyn Calitis-Crosby.

President’s budget passes unchecked; House panel ends deliberations in 30 minutes

by Cristina Chi Philstar.com

MANILA — The House appropriations panel just spent around 30 minutes on the proposed 2024 budget of the Office of the President before terminating the budget deliberations out of “parliamentary courtesy.”

Similar to the budget deliberations of the Office of the Vice President (OVP), lawmakers at the lower chamber on Tuesday, September 5 ended the deliberations early just after the representative of the OP — Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin — delivered their opening statement.

This time, however, Makabayan bloc lawmakers were allowed to make manifestations but not to ask pointed questions on the line items in the OP’s proposed 2024 budget as practiced in the budget briefings of other agencies.

The OP stands to get P10.7 billion for 2024. Of this allocation, at least P1.41 billion will be spent on local or foreign trips -- a 58% increase from 2023.

In his manifestation, Rep. Raoul Manuel (Kabataan Partylist) said that Filipinos have

a right to scrutinize how public funds are spent and stressed that the insertion of confidential funds should be discussed in budget deliberations.

For 2024, OP is proposing P2.25 billion in confidential funds while P2.31 billion will be allotted for intelligence funds. In total, these make up about 43% of the proposed budget of Marcos’ office, Manuel pointed out.

“Also, the OP has to explain why it approved the P1.25 million in confidential funds for the OVP even though this was not in the General Appropriations Act in 2022,” Manuel said.

Rep. France Castro (ACT Teachers) also pointed out that every year, the allotment of confidential and intelligence funds in agencies has been increasing and the budget deliberations are the prime opportunity to question its necessity.

“The number of those who used to refuse the ‘black budget’ is increasing, while the topsecret funds of those who used to receive them are growing. And the highest official also has the largest hidden funds with no audit, no public accounting,

not even a single second of explanation on how it was spent and will be spent,” Castro said in a mix of English and Filipino.

“This trend should not continue,” Castro added.

Parliamentary courtesy questioned

The Makabayan bloc also called to end the “abused” tradition of extending “parliamentary courtesy” during budget deliberations in Congress.

Lawmakers invoke the "parliamentary courtesy" tradition in Congress when they want to recognize an agency, like the OVP and OP, as a co-equal branch in government.

The long-standing tradition of allowing the budget of the two highest offices in the land to pass virtually unchecked and unscrutinized in Congress “entrenches the culture of corruption in government,” Makabayan bloc lawmakers said in a statement.

"The abused 'parliamentary courtesy' tradition has allowed unscrupulous individuals to manipulate the budgeting process and divert funds away from essential services and development projects,” the lawmakers said. g

It’s been a while since a Filipino wrestler grappled at the Olympics, and a thorough five-year plan to reach Los Angeles comes as a welcome proposition.

Freestyle wrestler Jiah Pingot is a prime candidate to join that elite core, having consistently claimed a silver medal for the past three editions of the SEA Games as well as Uzziah Asher Gulay, a 16-yearold prized find from Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

“We believe that like weightlifting and boxing, wrestling can bring honor for our country. We aim for no less than a GOLD Medal in the 2028 Olympics. We will have a fiveyear road map to bring a pinoy wrestler to the highest of highs,” said Go.

Gulay has already begun to stack up his room with medals from both international and local meets after recently dominating the secondary boys’ 67kg freestyle event of the Palarong Pambansa last month.

His Palaro victory, however, paled in comparison to the two gold medals Gulay won last year in the 14-17 cadet -70kg and +70kg freestyle categories at the Singapore Beach Wrestling Fiesta in Sentosa, Singapore.

“Pag-uusapan ulit namin ni sir Jeremy kung sino ang mga athletes na susuportahan kapag nailatag na namin ang programa,” said CalitisCrosby. Go For Gold is a consistent

backer of the national wrestlers since the 2019 Philippine SEA Games when they were provided with singlets and living quarters before the Olympic village opened up for the athletes at New Clark City in Tarlac.

“Never kaming hinindian ni sir Jeremy,” said Calitis-Crosby.

Go For Gold, a sports sponsorship program of the Powerball Marketing and Logistics Corporation, is committed to identifying, nurturing and supporting talented athletes across various sports.

Apart from wrestling, the Go For Gold program has supported athletes in cycling, triathlon,

sepak takraw, dragonboat, skateboarding, chess, basketball and volleyball, among others. Florentino Tirante (men’s -52kg freestyle/Greco Roman) and DeanCarlos Manibog (men’s -60kg freestyle) were the last Filipino wrestlers who figured in the Olympics back in 1988 held in Seoul, South Korea.

The Philippine wrestling team is hoping to break the long wait for another Pinoy grappler to show up at the biggest sports spectacle in the world.

The five-year plan that Go For Gold Philippines intends to support will reinforce that objective in LA 2028. (Philstar.com)

Go For Gold founder Jeremy Go (left) provides wrestlers from the Philippine team with fighting shoes. With Go during the simple turnover is national coach Melchor Tumasis (right). Philstar.

NO OBJECTIONS. Vice President Sara Z. Duterte (2nd from left) confers with (from left) Senators Pia Cayetano, Francis Escudero and Imee Marcos during the Committee on Finance budget hearing at the Senate in Pasay City on Monday, Sept. 4. The committee approved the proposed P2.385 billion budget for 2024 of Duterte’s office. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

FEATURES OPINION

Capping prices

BEGINNING September 5, “rice monitors” will be mobilized by the Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Agriculture, in coordination with local government units, in enforcing price ceilings on rice: P41 a kilo for regular milled and P45 for well milled – way below the prevailing retail prices of P50 to around P60.

Rice prices began climbing after India banned exports of non-basmati white rice last July 20, followed by the imposition of a 20 percent duty on non-basmati parboiled rice. India, the world’s largest supplier of rice, accounting for 40 percent of the global trade, had banned its export of broken rice in September last year. It imposed the measures to ensure sufficient domestic supply and stabilize prices amid warnings of a severe El Niño, and after torrential flooding last year devastated the rice harvest in neighboring Pakistan, affecting global supply.

Editorial

Marcos, the concurrent agriculture chief, approved the imposition of price ceilings beginning this Tuesday. The government will have to balance its efforts to counter speculation and hoarding with the impact of the price cap on other sectors of the rice industry. Small-scale retailers are complaining that they will lose money because they bought their supplies at high prices. Several have said they would be forced to close shop.

The Philippines’ biggest sources of imported rice are Vietnam and Thailand, but the two countries also tightened their exports to secure their domestic supply following India’s move. Officials have stressed that the Philippines currently has enough rice supply, and that a good harvest is seen this October. But because of the developments in the global rice trade, the government believes there have been speculative actions among rice traders that have led to the spike in rice prices by up to P10 per kilo in recent weeks.

To address what the government sees as speculative pricing and hoarding, President

Babe’s Eye View

BABE ROMUALDEZ

THE decision of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to put a cap on the price of rice nationwide – effective immediately – is definitely welcome news to many Filipinos, especially the most vulnerable. But we all know these are temporary measures that need long-term solutions to cope with the soaring prices of the household staple.

Agricultural group SINAG (Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura) expressed support for the President’s imposition of the price ceiling of P41 per kilogram for regular milled rice and P45 per kilogram for wellmilled rice, saying that traders and retailers will not go bankrupt as the farmgate price of the current rice stocks are from P20 to P23.

Based on the statement of the Department of Agriculture during the recent House committee on appropriations hearing and from their own computation, the country should have no rice shortage, according to SINAG executive director Jayson Cainglet. However, a statement from the National Food Authority a couple of weeks ago that they only have two weeks’ worth of buffer stock may have triggered a sense of panic –

The government cannot simply brush aside the concerns of such retailers, which are the sources of rice for low-income consumers who buy food from the wet markets and small grocery stores.

The usual business practice when one faces the prospect of selling at a loss is to hold on to the stocks. If the rice retailers are forced to sell at a loss or near-loss, or prosecuted for hoarding, it could be construed as a confiscatory policy that could wreak havoc on rice trading.

While consumers always welcome lower prices, price caps usually go against normal market forces and may tighten supply. The government will have to be mindful of this possibility as it moves to stabilize rice supply and prices. (Philstar.com)

US farm technology

with unscrupulous traders taking advantage of the situation to manipulate the price of rice and make them skyrocket.

There are several factors why the price of rice has continued to skyrocket, especially in the past few weeks. Obviously, one of the reasons is price manipulation by the rice cartels as well as the practice of hoarding by opportunistic traders, as seen in the discovery of some 154,000 sacks of imported rice worth P431 million being hoarded in several warehouses in Bulacan during a surprise inspection jointly conducted by government agencies that include the Bureau of Customs.

The recent typhoons locally named Falcon and Egay have already caused billions worth of damage to agricultural crops that include rice and corn.

Global prices of rice and other staples have also been impacted by the war in Ukraine, especially after Russia decided to end an agreement that allowed Ukraine to export its grain to the rest of the world through the Black Sea.

The situation was also exacerbated by the decision of India to ban the exportation of rice, sending shock waves across the world, triggering panic buying and causing prices to soar to a near 12-year high, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. India is the largest exporter of rice and

fact, many spoke of how major powers, or “magnates,” such as Sparta or Persia had to contend with middle-sized yet influential polities such as Syracuse and Corinth.

accounts for some 40 percent of the global trade in 2022, with exports totaling 22 million tons to 140 countries that include the Philippines.

India does not have a rice shortage and has around 41 million tons of buffer stock in their government warehouses, and yet their domestic price for rice as well as other food prices has been rising. India’s imposition of the rice ban, however, has raised fears that other countries such as Thailand and Vietnam, which also supply rice to the Philippines, would follow suit because of the El Niño dry spell expected to hit next year.

But the biggest culprit in our current rice dilemma is the land reform program which was, in many people’s view, a big failure. It had so many loopholes that enabled big hacienderos to go around the program by converting or reclassifying agricultural land into residential and commercial areas.

Hacienda Luisita was a glaring example of how the flaws in the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program was taken advantage of because it was exempted from the coverage, with farmers given a stock distribution option instead of land. The land distributed to farmerbeneficiaries was also limited to five hectares, making it difficult to make the farmland productive.

deescalation of major power conflicts, and deterrence of mass atrocities.

For a farmer to be productive, he should be able to expand his land to 10 hectares at the very least. Sadly, many of the beneficiaries also ended up selling the land as they had no money to pay for tractors to make farming more efficient, buy seeds, fertilizers and other farming necessities.

There is no question that we should all be very concerned about the issue. Aside from going after smugglers, hoarders and price manipulators, the President is looking for ways to resolve our rice dilemma, among them the use of hybrid, climate-resilient rice varieties to boost production and improve rice yields. Another is the use of modern technology and innovation to transform agriculture in the country and modernize the rice sector.

“It’s up to us now in the Philippine government to make sure those technologies, those products go down to the grassroots,” the President had said.

We have had several offers of help from our friends in Washington, D.C. to improve our rice production through modern farming technology as well as knowledge transfer and cooperation on agricultural innovation and food security.

I had dinner the other night with Paul Taylor, the commercial attaché of the U.S. embassy. He informed me there will be a large group of about 15 to 20

our country as a middle power.

U.S. agricultural technology companies coming to Manila early next month – an offshoot of the President’s visit to Washington, D.C. last May when he met with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack.

These American companies are ready to help the Philippines achieve its food security agenda through digital and precision agriculture to efficiently reduce water use; improve production and reduce crop losses; drone technology; crop protection solutions; automated postharvest facilities and many

others. We are arranging for them to meet with the President during their visit.

I am extremely pleased that all the good work put in by our embassy in Washington, D.C., especially in the area of food security, is clearly moving in the right direction. (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

THE strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must,” lamented Greek historian Thucydides after observing the tragic fate of smaller citystates at the hands of Athenian and Spartan armies. Over the next two millennia, countless self-styled “realists” invoked Thucydides’ memorable lines in order to justify a full range of imperialist enterprises, which reduced much of humanity to, at best, bystanders, and, at worst, pawns in great power rivalries. More subtle thinkers, however, would know Thucydides wasn’t the only major thinker in the ancient era, even among Greeks. Throughout centuries, countless Greek thinkers rejected simplistic, binary divisions of the world into the “strong” and the “weak.” In

As historian Peter Frankopan beautifully illustrates in “Silk Roads” (2017), mezano (midsized) city-states such as Venice, Genoa, and Florence were pivotal to global commerce and Eurasian geopolitics during the Medieval and Renaissance periods.

At the dawn of modernity, thinkers such as L’Abbé de Mably also spoke of the role of “second-order” puissances (powers) in shaping European politics. This was fully on display during the 1815 Paris Conference, where midsized Germanic states played a critical role in shaping the postNapoleonic order in Europe.

Over the past century, midsized powers such as Australia and Canada have made major contributions to disarmament,

“Middle powers” come in various forms and shapes, but as scholars such as John Ravenhill and Gareth Evans have argued, they have three things in common: namely (i) capacity for robust self-defense, if not projection of power in their near-neighborhood; (ii) coalition-building skills through proactive diplomacy; and (iii) credibility and creativity in advocating for positive-sum cooperation on issues of global concern. In the words of Italian thinker Giovanni Botero, middle powers have “sufficient strength and authority” to exercise agency in international affairs. And this, dear reader, brings us to the topic at hand: Is the Philippines a “middle power”? At least two major think tanks, namely the Lowy Institute (Australia) and Hague Center for Strategic Studies (Netherlands), classify

Recently, I had the privilege of personally observing our country’s rapidly growing defense capabilities, thanks to an invitation by the Philippine Navy to visit our most modern warships, now parked at the exHanjin shipyard in Subic Bay Freeport.

I witnessed modern warships equipped with state-of-the-art weapons systems. Aboard BRP Jose Rizal, one of the warships built by South Korea, I saw jolly officers beaming with pride. Far from marooned soldiers, what I saw were neatly dressed, unpretentiously articulate, and unabashedly patriotic Filipinos, who proudly shared their countless stories of standing up to bullies in the West Philippine Sea.

Commanding officers such as Captains Noli Ibanez (BRP Rizal) and Oliver Obongen (BRP Tarlac) seamlessly projected leadership and gently explained the countless ways by which

they protect our waters from predators and aid our people against natural disasters. As a bonus, I even got to meet a distant relative from the north, Lt. Col. Ferdinand Foronda.

On his part, Philippine Navy spokesperson Captain Benjo Negranza was the epitome of competence and cordiality.

“Part of our military modernization program is ensuring we have naval operating bases for our capital ships,” he explained, when asked about the importance of the new Philippine Navy facility in Subic.

“It’s not only about acquiring platforms but also where to park them. Fortunately, now we have berthing facilities for our capital ships,” he added, patiently explaining how different pieces are coming together for our naval forces.

When I asked him about learning experiences from recent conflicts from the South Caucasus to Ukraine,

The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection

where new-generation drones have played a central role, he confidently explained how they are “taking into consideration contemporary trends in warfare to ensure the country can better adapt to new threats and warfare technologies.”

For the first time in recent memory, the Philippines not only boasts one of the largest populations (13th) and economies (29th) in the world but also has a superbly selfconfident and increasingly wellequipped naval force. Blessed with capable diplomats and a strategically minded president who appreciate alliancebuilding, the Philippines is now arguably a full-fledged middle power. (Inquirer.net)

* * *

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

* * * rheydarian@inquirer.com.ph

PUBLIC GOOD. A rice trader in Bansalan town, Davao del Sur, buys from area farmers on Tuesday, September 5. The trader said he will abide by the national government's price cap, which he praised as a move aimed at public good. PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.

Sec. Remulla calls on China to respect international laws or consider exiting UN

by TeTch Torres-TuPas Inquirer.net

MANILA — If China will not respect international laws, it should opt out of the United Nations, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Tuesday, September 5.

Remulla made the statement after he was asked about other measures taken by the Marcos administration aside from the over 400 diplomatic protests against China’s aggressive activities in the West Philippine Sea.

As Justice Secretary, Remulla is part of the Cabinet cluster on national security. He said: “We are continuously assessing and studying the issues.”

Climate change may hamper PH income goals

by Pia Lee-Brago Philstar.com

MANILA — Climate change is exacting a heavy toll on Filipino lives, properties and livelihoods, the United Nations said, warning that it could hamper the Philippines’ ambition of becoming an upper middleincome country by 2040 if left unaddressed.

Multiple indices rank the Philippines as among those most affected by extreme climate events. Over the past decade, highly destructive typhoons have hit almost every year, with related annual losses estimated at 1.2 percent of overall gross domestic product.

In July, Typhoon Egay (Doksuri) brought widespread flooding and landslides to the Philippines, killing at least 39 people and forcing 12,000 from their homes.

The UN cited the mountainous province of Bukidnon in the southern Philippines where “local indigenous groups are being forced to adapt to the alarming impacts of climate change.”

With UN support, communities are making significant strides, using centuries-old knowledge to forge sustainable solutions.

Local tribal leader Jemuel

Perino discussed the success of local initiatives, supported by the UN Development Program’s Adaptation Fund Climate Change Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA), in educating his community on effective prevention and mitigation techniques to deal with the growing impacts of climate change.

“The indigenous cultural communities have their own centuries-old knowledge, systems and practices and have kept them alive,” Perino said. “In the Philippines, the government is promoting their use in environmental protection and conservation.”

As chairman of the Council of Elders of the Bukidnon Umayamnon community, Perino has seen the impact of climate change up close. Erosion, deforestation and biodiversity loss have emerged as key threats with devastating implications for the culture, youth and livelihood of his people.

“In the Philippines, most of our forest lands and headwaters fall within the ancestral domains of the various indigenous cultural communities,” he said. “There is a real need for the world to fully recognize their important contributions in conserving the

environment that benefits the entire population.”

To combat the growing impacts of climate change in the region, Perino coordinates a locally organized project under the community-based organization, Bukidnon Umayamnon Tribe Kapu-unan

To mga Datu.

Supported by the UN via an AFICIA grant, the project also seeks to tackle deforestation and pollution while generating sustainable income for indigenous peoples by promoting the planting of bamboo and cocoa by local farmers in Mindanao. That includes training people on cultivating, harvesting and marketing.

Perino explained that the initiative is slated to plant 20 hectares of vegetation along the Pulangi River. He added that bamboo is favored by the community to build houses that are more resistant to floods and storms.

After creating new bamboo and cocoa plantations in July 2022, farmers have already started to benefit. The project is currently providing income to farmers through temporary labor opportunities and is supporting families to buy food and other basic items. g

“Marami kaming ginagawa ngayon na hindi pa siguro maaaring pag usapan at lalabas lang sa tamang panahon ngunit tuloy tuloy ang aming pag aaral sa lahat ng bagay na nangyayari,” Remulla said.

(We are currently studying many options, but we cannot yet disclose it, and will only be made public at the right time. However,

we are continuously studying all the issues taking place.)

He said Beijing should adhere to and respect international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to ease tension in the South China Sea (SCS).

“Dapat igalang nila ang UNCLOS where they are part of the convention. They cannot choose what to respect and what not to respect in the UN. Dapat matuto silang gumalang sa batas,” Remulla said.

(They should respect UNCLOS as part of the convention. They cannot choose what to respect and what not to respect.)

“The UNCLOS is recognized as law by all the member-states of the UN, and China is still a member of the UN. If they don’t want to be a member of the UN, then probably, they must optout if they cannot respect UN conventions,” he added.

Both Manila and Beijing are signatories to the 1982 UNCLOS.

The Philippines anchored its arbitral case against China’s sweeping claims in the South

PH says ‘ready’ to chair ASEAN in 2026 instead of Myanmar

THE Philippines is ready to chair ASEAN in 2026 instead of Myanmar, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Tuesday, Sept. 5 as the bloc wrestles with how to engage with the country's junta rulers.

Myanmar has been ravaged by deadly violence since a 2021 military coup deposed Aung San Suu Kyi's government and unleashed a bloody crackdown on dissent.

"It is my pleasure to announce that the Philippines is ready to take the helm and chair ASEAN in 2026," Marcos told Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders in the Indonesian capital Jakarta.

"We will fortify the foundations of our community-building and navigate ASEAN as it embarks on a new chapter," he said, according to a statement from the presidential palace.

Marcos did not say why Manila was taking over the chair from Myanmar.

However, two Southeast Asian diplomats attending the summit said the move was agreed by leaders so the crisis would not hijack the bloc's agenda and prevent "external partners" coming to Myanmar for their gatherings.

"It's been decided. It was announced at the leaders' meeting and there was no objection," said one diplomat on the condition of anonymity.

ASEAN wrote to the Philippines to ask if it was willing to accept the chair for that year and Manila accepted, the diplomat said.

A second diplomat, who also declined to be identified, said the switch had been agreed after "leaders' assessment on the progress" of a five-point plan agreed two years ago that the junta in Myanmar has largely ignored.

Laos will host next year's summit and Malaysia will chair the event in 2025. (Philstar.com)

China Sea on the UNCLOS. But China refused to recognize the 2016 arbitral ruling and insisted on bilateral talks to address the maritime territorial dispute while it continued with its aggressive activities in the South China Sea.

The Philippines, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan are claiming parts, or in the case of Beijing, nearly the whole SCS, contributing to tension in the area.

All, except Brunei, have stationed troops in the respective islands they claimed as their own in the disputed waterway through which more than $5 trillion in goods passes annually. g

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

LACMTA will receive Proposals for PS108960 – Annual Financial and Compliance Audits of Metro and its Component Units for FY2024-2029 at the 9th Floor Receptionist Desk, Vendor/Contract Management Department, One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012. All Proposals must be submitted to LACMTA, and be filed at the reception desk, 9th floor, V/CM Department, on or before 2:00 p.m., Pacific Time on October 11, 2023. Proposals received after the above date and time may be rejected and returned unopened. Each proposal must be sealed and marked Proposal No. PS108960. For a copy of the Proposal/ Bid specification visit our Solicitation Page on our Vendor Portal at https://business.metro. net or for further information email Antonio Monreal at monrealan@metro.net.

9/6/23

CNS-3735873#

ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)

SEPTEMBER 6, 2023

Mike Enriquez’s widow says he’d ‘been through a lot’ before his death

By HAnnAH MAllorcA Inquirer.net

LIZABETH “Baby” YumpingEnriquez, widow of the late Mike Enriquez, confessed that she hasn’t fully accepted the broadcast journalist’s death, but she finds comfort in the fact that he’s no longer in pain.

Speaking to Jessica Soho in an interview on GMA Public Affairs’ YouTube channel, Baby looked back at Mike’s final days in the hospital where he had “been through a lot” as his body was “full of holes.”

“It hasn’t sunk in yet… tapos ako na lang mag-isa sa bahay (I’m all alone in the house). I don’t know, I really don’t know. My only consolation is that he fought a good fight, even if I’m very hurt and sad, and I’m feeling pain,” she said.

“Iniisip ko na lang na tapos na ang paghihirap niya (I’m just comforting myself with the thought that he’s done with pain). Kasi he’s been through a lot. His body was full of holes, ‘yung huli niya was tracheostomy,” she continued, referring to a medical procedure where a tube is inserted through the neck to help in breathing properly.

During the interview, Baby shared that Mike suffered from an infection due to pneumonia which made him undergo dialysis at some point. And while his kidney transplant was “doing well,” his “antirejection” medicines eventually lowered his immune system.

“This is why the doctors had a hard time arresting the

infection because of that.

But on his last day, he was undergoing [routine dialysis] but his [blood pressure] dropped and suddenly, his heartbeat stopped,” she added.

Mike’s widow then revealed that she was “on [her] way to the hospital” when she was informed by the caregiver at around 1 p.m. of Aug. 29 that he’s “being resuscitated already.”

“When I arrived at the hospital, three times na nirevive. Sabi ko, ‘Doc, tama na. Enough na.’ Nasa labas ako ng [intensive care unit] kasi I can’t bear to see him with so many tubes connected to him,” she said.

(When I got to the hospital, he had been revived thrice. I told the doctor to stop, and that it was enough. I was outside the ICU because I couldn’t bear to see him with so many tubes connected to him.)

“Noong una, I keep on telling him, ‘Fight, Mike. Kaya mo ‘yan. Do not give up.’ Pero

Why winning awards still ‘excites and challenges’ Nadine

By AllAn PolicArPio Inquirer.net

WITH a number of major acting awards under her belt, one might think that Nadine Lustre is already used to it all by now. But the prospect of being recognized for her talent and hard work, she said, will never not be “exciting.”

out-of-the-box thrillers that fire her up. “Aside from the growth from these kinds of projects, I love the adrenaline rush. And that’s especially true when you play characters that couldn’t be more different from your real-life personality,” she said.

photos

bandang huli, nakita ko na nahihirapan na siya. Sabi ko, ‘Sige, kung pagod ka na—lalo na noong last minutes niya— pinalapit na ako ng doctor,” she continued, as her voice broke.

“‘Sige, Mike. I’ll be fine. I know God will not forsake me kung pagod ka na. You rest na. I love you.’ ‘Yun lang sinabi ko, then I broke down.”

(At first, I kept on telling him, “Fight, Mike. You can do it, don’t give up.” But in the end, I saw how much suffering he was going through. So I said, especially in those last minutes when the doctor told me to say my goodbye, “Okay, if you’re tired. Go, Mike, I’ll be fine. I know God will not forsake if you’re tired. You can now rest. I love you.” That’s all I said, then I broke down.)

Outside of his career as a journalist, Baby described her husband as a “generous” man who insisted on shouldering their “bills, house repairs, and other expenses” at home.

Continued on Page 9

In 2019, Nadine won best actress at the Gawad Urian and Famas Awards for “Never Not Love You.” Three years later, she was named best actress at the 48th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) for the topgrossing entry, “Deleter.” And just last month, Nadine added another Famas best actress trophy to her collection for “Greed.”

“Of course, that will always excite me—that’s never going to change. That’s why I want to do different projects; I want to have different experiences… I really love being an instrument in creating stories,” she told the Inquirer at a recent story conference for “Nokturno,” an upcoming folk horror film that will reunite her with Mikhail Red, the award-winning director behind “Deleter.”

While winning awards does come with a “bit of pressure,” Nadine is always up for a challenge. “I’m just the kind of person who always wants to do better or outdo my previous performance. I guess there’s pressure, but I’m excited more than anything. ‘Deleter’ was my second project after the pandemic. It was like the universe telling me I’m headed the right way,” she said.

In “Nokturno” (Viva Films, Evolve), Nadine plays Jamie, an overseas Filipino worker who distances herself from her hometown, the secluded island of San Sebastian, because of a traumatic past and the mental instability of her mother, Lilet (Eula Valdes). But upon learning that her sister, Joanna (Bea Binene), has fallen victim to a deadly ancient curse, Jamie has no choice but to return home.

She investigates the mysterious occurrences on the island. In her journey to mend old wounds, Jamie unwittingly

discovers a haunted past. She must then uncover the secrets that will help them escape the curse, which, she finds out later on, is brought upon by the Kumakatok, a tall and thin creature with long pale fingers.

The folkloric entity wears a veil that obscures its face and comes knocking on houses in the dead of night. Those who open the door are cursed either to die or lose a loved one in the next three days.

Unlike “Deleter,” which incorporates techno-horror and psychological horror elements, “Nokturno’s” concept and premise is more “primal, rural and existentialist” in nature. It delves into the dynamics of Filipino families and their inescapable past.

‘Little pressure’

“I didn’t think twice when this was offered to me. I’m a huge fan of horror movies. I loved working with Direk Mikhail and his team, so I said yes to the project right away,” Nadine said. “There’s little pressure because people know that ‘Deleter’ did well. But it is the kind of project I have always wanted to do.”

While Nadine enjoys doing drama and romantic comedies, there’s just something about

“You watch a movie like ‘Joker’ and you see Joaquin Phoenix pushing his limits as an actor—sobrang galing. And that inspires me to do something similar,” she said.

Unlike her character Lyra, the stoic and emotionally numb content moderator in “Deleter,” Jamie is expected to be a more dynamic figure— especially since she will have more characters to interact with.

“One of the things I look forward to about making movies is thinking about how I will change my approach for each character I play. I even assign my characters zodiac signs that will help dictate their mannerisms and attitudes,” the 29-year-old star related.

Because “Deleter” was produced with pandemicrelated precautions still in place, the film was shot in only one location and exuded a sense of claustrophobia. But now that the situation is more relaxed, fans can expect different sceneries and more setpieces, including a “final showdown.”

One of Nadine’s realizations about doing horror is that it can be more emotionally taxing than dramas. “Nokturno” is expected to take things up a notch from “Deleter.”

“I’m already expecting the shoot to be taxing, especially toward the climax with so many things happening. It will be hard both physically and mentally. But I’m looking forward to how things will unfold… I have already read the script. Still, I don’t want to have expectations. I want to be surprised on the set,” she said. Not a competition Nadine and Mikhail hope to share this story with the biggest audience possible. Being part of this year’s MMFF will definitely be a help—as

Nadine Lustre

Photo from Instagram/@

Lizabeth “Baby” Yumping-Enriquez and the late Mike Enriquez GMA

Sophie, Max share their honest thoughts on love and marriage

By Boy aBunda Philstar.com

SOPHIE Albert and Max Eigenmann both come from families whose surnames are famous in and out of Philippine showbiz.

Bea says dream intimate wedding with Dominic hard to achieve

By HannaH Mallorca Inquirer.net

BEA Alonzo said she really wanted her dream wedding with fiancé, actor Dominic Roque, to be an intimate event, but she lamented that it would be hard to pull off as they’re friends with many people.

Alonzo spoke about her upcoming wedding in response to a fan’s question about her “preferences” for her special day, as seen on her YouTube channel last Saturday, Sept. 3, saying she always wanted to have an “intimate” ceremony since she was a “little girl.”

“Sa totoo lang, I always get questions about this but we haven’t started the preparations for the wedding,” she said. “Gusto ko talaga intimate wedding ever since I was a little girl, gusto ko talaga intimate wedding.”

(To be honest, I always get questions about this but we haven’t started the preparations for the wedding. I have wanted an intimate wedding ever since I was a little girl. I really want an intimate wedding.)

Despite this, the actress admitted that having a private ceremony would be tough, as she noted that she and Roque have a lot of friends and acquaintances.

“Nag-iisip kami ni Dom ng guest list pa lang, parang

ang dami pala naming friends. Kasi si Dom extrovert siya ang dami niya talagang friends. Ang dami niyang group of friends. And ako, I have a small circle of friends, but outside of that circle, and dami ko ring mga acquaintances, ang dami kong mga nakatrabaho,” she said.

(Dom and I are thinking of our guest list, and I realized that we have a lot of friends. Dom is an extrovert so he has a lot of friends. He has a lot of friend groups. While I have a small circle of friends, I have a lot of acquaintances, I’m on good terms with a lot of my colleagues.)

“I’ve been in this business for 22 years. Ang hirap niya talagang i-dilute into a very small number (It’s hard to dilute them into a very small number) One thing I’m sure about is that it’s going to be amazing cause I’m gonna be marrying the love of my life,” she further added, as she was visibly excited for her special day.

The couple announced their engagement in July 2023, with Roque proposing to Alonzo in the guise of a photo shoot.

Before accepting her partner’s proposal, the “One More Chance” star admitted that while she did a lot of engagement scenes throughout her acting career, she noted that “nothing beats the real thing.”

Mike Enriquez’s widow...

From Page 8

“Spoiled ako sa kanya ” she said. “His [onscreen persona] is very far from the true Mike Enriquez. He’s very jolly, talkative, lahat na. Masayahin siyang tao.” (I’m spoiled with him. His onscreen persona is very far from the true Mike Enriquez. He’s very jolly, talkative, everything. He’s a cheerful person.)

Enriquez died at the age of 71 last Aug. 29. He was laid to rest at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina, which was witnessed by his wife, loved ones, close friends, and fellow journalists.

Sophie is the niece of my dear friend Kris Aquino while Max is the daughter of the late great actor Mark Gil with former beauty queen-turnedactress Bing Pimentel. She is sister to equally brilliant actor Sid Lucero, half-sister to Andi and Gabby Eigenmann, and niece to the late award-winning actress Cherie Gil and equally great actor Michael de Mesa.

Max is probably the most low-profile of the Eigenmann entertainment royalty yet her acting credentials speak volumes of her sterling qualities as an actress.

It’s neither easy nor hard for Max to be an Eigenmann “because my family makes sure each (member) feels that we are our own person in terms of career, and actually — this is kind of funny — whenever we’re together, we never really talk about work,” she reasoned.

No one from the Eigenmanns made her feel

the pressure of having to prove her acting worth every time she is in front of the cameras. Unfortunately, Max admitted there were people who commented that she’s expected to excel given her acting bloodline.

“I think I dealt with that kind of pressure a little more difficult when I was younger because I really felt there’s a big shoe to fill but nobody in my family made me feel that I have to do that. They allowed me to be my own person.

“Now that I am older, I realized that that pressure

does not affect me as much anymore,” she said.

Sophie has a different story. When she entered showbiz, it was said that she didn’t like the idea of using Cojuangco as part of her screen name. Her real name is Bianca Regina Lyttle Reyes. Her paternal grandmother Josephine Cojuangco-Reyes was the sister of former President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino and former congressman Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr.

Sophie’s lola Josephine was an educator. She was the seventh president of the Far

Eastern University (FEU). Going back to the rumor of her not wanting to use the surname Cojuangco, Sophie explained, “I don’t wanna say, ayaw’ but I grew up being a Reyes and in showbiz, ang dami ng Reyes so they asked me, ‘Maybe you wanna change it to Cojuangco?’ and I felt like it’s such a big responsibility to make it Cojuangco, and I grew up not having that in my name. “So, I chose to use my mom’s middle name instead. But it’s not naman ayoko (gamitin ang Cojuangco).”

Continued on Page 10

Dominic Roque and Bea Alonzo Photo from Instagram/@beaalonzo

The author with the actresses after their Fast Talk interview. Philstar.

Maymay featured on Times Square billboard in New York

By Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

MAYMAY Entrata surprised her fans after announcing that she has been featured on the iconic Times Tower billboard in New York City’s Time Square.

On her Instagram account, Maymay posted a photo of the billboard.

“All Glory to God!

Maraming salamat sa lahat ng suporta mula sa MAYloves ko sa journey ko dito sa musika,” Maymay wrote.

Di ko akalaing magkaka billboard ako sa NYC. Thank you @spotify @spotifyph @ spotifyasia @starpopph for making this possible po,” she added.

Maymay was part of the “Equal” campaign, which highlights women musicians

Celebrate the Harvest Moon Festival at

Pechanga

Resort Casino with full bloom of luck and fortune

Come win a share of $100,000 in cash & EasyPlay giveaways

WIN a share of $100,000 in cash, EasyPlay

Join Pechanga Resort Casino in celebration of the mid-Autumn festival with the exciting $100,000 Harvest Moon Drawing on Friday, September 15 & 29. Pechanga Club members can earn entries to the drawing by playing slots and table games from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. each drawing day.

Multiple entries can be earned depending on your Pechanga Club membership/tier level. Red Card members can earn up to 8x entries; Platinum Card members can earn up to 5x entries; Gold Card members can earn up to 3x entries, and Silver Card members can earn 1x entry. Each drawing night at 10 p.m., 30 winners of $250 EasyPlay will be announced, 20 winners of $500 EasyPlay will be announced, 10 winners of $750 EasyPlay will be announced, A grand prize winner will be drawn for $25,000 cash. Play more for the chance to win multiple times! Winners will be posted in display screens inside Pechanga Resort Casino.

Win up to $5,000 in EasyPlay with the Harvest Moon swipe to win promotion

In addition, every Tuesday in September, starting from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., Pechanga Club members can swipe their Club card at the kiosk located in the promotional area to participate in the “Harvest Moon Swipe to Win” game promotion for a chance to win up to $5,000 in EasyPlay.

For more information, please call 1-877711-2946 or visit Pechanga.com.

Pechanga Resort Casino wishes you a Happy Harvest Moon Festival!    Pechanga Resort Casino offers one of the largest and most expansive resort/casino experiences anywhere in the United States. Voted the number one casino in the country by USA Today and rated a Four Diamond property by AAA since 2002, Pechanga Resort Casino provides an unparalleled getaway, whether for the day or for an extended luxury stay. Offering more than 5,500 of the hottest slots, table games, world-class entertainment, 1,100 hotel rooms, dining, spa and golf at Journey at Pechanga, Pechanga Resort Casino features a destination that meets and exceeds the needs of its guests and the community. Pechanga Resort Casino is owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians. For more information, call toll free (877) 711-2946 or visit www.Pechanga.com. Follow Pechanga Resort Casino on Facebook, Instagram and on Twitter @PechangaCasino.

(Advertising Supplement)

Sophie, Max share their...

From Page 9

Even before she joined show business, Sophie would see me in a lot of family gatherings since Kris is one of my closest friends. She recalled how she would watch me and Kris on television. “I used to watch you guys every Sunday with my mom and I never missed an episode of you. So, when I met you face to face, I got really starstruck because I’ve been a fan ever since,” she excitedly shared.

Now happily married to Vin Abrenica, Sophie can also be referred to as Mrs. Abrenica on- and off-cam. They have a two-year-old daughter named Avianna Celeste.

I asked Sophie and Max what they know about love and marriage.

“Married life is the best life. He’s (Vin) the best,” the Kapuso actress said about being the better half of Vin. “I don’t think I can think of anything else I would want in a partner (because) he’s so understanding, he’s so sweet, he’s so affectionate, he’s a good provider, he takes care of me and my daughter. So,

hands down, he’s a good man,” she added. Max, on the other hand, has never been married but she knows what it’s like to love and be loved.

“What I’ve learned about partnership and love is that it takes a lot of work to make it last because not every day is gonna be a honeymoon stage so you really have to put in the work and you have to make that conscious choice every day. You decide (if willing) to go through rough patches, meron kasi talagang hindi maiiwasan,” the actress said.

Love is certainly a choice and a decision because when you are in a relationship, your actions determine if it lives on or ends. In other words, you’re in the driver’s seat regarding your relationship’s path.

Having been together as boyfriend-girlfriend for 10 years and being married just in January, Sophie shared she and Vin have experienced conflict and challenges of a relationship.

“Napagdaanan na namin ‘yung mga times na super lovey dovey na

EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT FOR RENT

parang honeymoon every day. Napagdaanan na rin namin ‘yung times na ‘pag nakikita namin ‘yung isa’t-isa, nakakairita but at the end of the day, gusto namin buo ‘yung pamilya namin at ‘yun ang nagpapasaya sa amin.” Sophie added there are times when they would agree to not talk to each other.

“Actually, in terms of being vocal about my need for space actually work,” shared the 33-year-old who obviously is choosing love.

For Max, it is better for a couple to discuss whatever conflict or argument they have so they can resolve it right away.

But is love enough for one to stay in a marriage?

“I think not but I also think that the true meaning of love is being able to choose the same person regardless of how many rough patches you’ve been through,” Max replied. “If it’s just about the feeling of being sweet all the time, concentrating on all the positives or how this person

Continued on Page 11

from around the world. She released her new song “Tsada Mahigugma” last month.

Maymay Entrata

Photo from Instagram/@maymay

How to obtain custody and visitation rights of your children from your baby mama

Barrister’s Corner

ESTABLISHING parentage rights for Moms is a lot easier than establishing one for unmarried Dads. Moms can establish this by simply showing proof of her having given birth to the child. Family Code §7610.

Establishing parentage rights, including custody and visitation rights, becomes more problematic with unmarried Dads because proving yourself as the biological father does not automatically make you the natural father of the child.

Under the family code, there are competing presumptions of paternity which allows the non biological father to be deemed the natural father of the child.

A typical situation is when boyfriend gets girlfriend pregnant. Girlfriend for some reason decides to exclude boyfriend from baby’s life so she breaks up with boyfriend, does not give the boyfriend any information about her delivery, and does not state the boyfriend as the father in the birth certificate or decides to name someone else as the father. Girlfriend does this because her parents disapprove of the ex boyfriend.

One way a presumption of Paternity is created is by executing a voluntary declaration of paternity.

A Voluntary declarations executed before 1997 give rise to a conclusive presumption of paternity and can be overcome only by blood or genetic tests ordered on noticed motion by the mother or presumed father must be made within three years of the date of execution of the voluntary declaration Family Code. § 7576; Kevin Q. v. Lauren W. (2009) 175 CA4th 1119, 1133, 95 CR3d 477, 485. If the voluntary declaration of paternity is executed after 1996, it is not characterized

as a conclusive presumption. Instead, it “shall establish the paternity of a child and shall have the same force and effect as a judgment for paternity issued by a court of competent jurisdiction” and trumps §7611 presumptions discussed below. A post 1996 voluntary declaration of paternity “shall be recognized as a basis for the establishment of an order for child custody, visitation, or child support.” Family Code §§ 7573, 7644; Kevin Q. v. Lauren W., supra, 175 CA4th at 1132, 95 CR3d at 485; In re J.L. (2008) 159 CA4th 1010, 1019, 72 CR3d 27, 33. Another way of establishing presumed father status is if you fall under any of the categories listed (a) to (f) under family code §7611:

(a) He and the child’s natural mother are or have been married to each other and the child is born during the marriage, or within 300 days after the marriage is terminated by death, annulment, declaration of invalidity, or divorce, or after a judgment of separation is entered by a court.

(b) Before the child’s birth, he and the child’s natural mother have attempted to marry each other by a marriage solemnized in apparent compliance with law, although the attempted marriage is or could be declared invalid, and either of the following is true:

(1) If the attempted marriage could be declared invalid only by a court, the child is born during the attempted marriage, or within 300 days after its termination by death, annulment, declaration of invalidity, or divorce.

(2) If the attempted marriage is invalid without a court order, the child is born within 300 days after the termination of cohabitation.

(c) After the child’s birth, he and the child’s natural mother have married, or attempted to marry, each other by a marriage solemnized in apparent compliance with law, although the attempted marriage is or could be

Sophie, Max share their...

much certainty in her voice.

From Page 10

declared invalid, and either of the following is true:

(1) With his consent, he is named as the child’s father on the child’s birth certificate.

(2) He is obligated to support the child under a written voluntary promise or by court order.

(d) He receives the child into his home and openly holds out the child as his natural child.

(e) If the child was born and resides in a nation with which the United States engages in an Orderly Departure Program or successor program, he acknowledges that he is the child’s father in a declaration under penalty of perjury, as specified in Section 2015.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure. This subdivision shall remain in effect only until January 1, 1997, and on that date shall become inoperative.

(f) The child is in utero after the death of the decedent and the conditions set forth in Section 249.5 of the Probate Code are satisfied.

An alleged biological father who does not meet any of the § 7611 conditions for presumed father status has no constitutionallyprotected “liberty interest” in establishing a parentage relationship with a child as against the rights of a presumptive father who has an extant parentage relationship with the child. Dawn D. v. Super.Ct. (Jerry K.) (1998) 17 C4th 932, 940–942, 72 CR2d 871, 876–877.

The facts get even more complicated if the girlfriend, whom boyfriend gets pregnant is married to another man because the law provides a conclusive presumption of paternity to the husband of the girlfriend. Under Family Code §7540, the child of a wife cohabiting at time of conception with her husband, who is not impotent or sterile, is “conclusively” presumed to be a child of the marriage. This conclusive presumption may be challenged by showing that the husband was sterile. It may also be challenged by filing a motion for blood or

makes you feel as a person, I don’t think that’s enough because in the long run, you will really have moments when you can’t stand each other and you have to make a conscious choice to go through that.”

Sophie believes that love is the most important part of marriage. “You can’t disrespect somebody that you say you love. Feeling ko it’s a big factor but like what Max said, there are so many meanings of love na kasi so parang if it’s the lovey-dovey, honeymooney feeling, of course, it’s not gonna be there forever so it needs the cooperation of both for love to work.”

The actress is confident that nothing can make her walk away from marriage — not even cheating or betrayal.

“I don’t think Vin and I will get married if there’s a chance that he would do it (cheating or betrayal). Well, you never know, but I’m pretty sure we’re gonna be okay,” Sophie said with

While Max stressed on the importance of making a better choice in order for a relationship to last, it won’t be hard for her to decide whether to stick with it or call it quits if there is cheating involved. Cheating or betrayal is her non-negotiable.

“When I lose the feeling of wanting to choose the person, (for) betrayal, cheating. In the past, I’ve given up a relationship for that type of reason.”

No matter what conflict or challenge would arise in a relationship, Sophie and Max do believe in second chances and accepting forgiveness.

“I make mistakes every day so I would want to be given a second chance and you also learn from getting a second chance. So, every time you can, always forgive,” Sophie remarked.

Max couldn’t agree more and added, “I think if there’s no forgiveness, there’s no peace.”

Why winning awards still...

From Page 8

it did with “Deleter” last year. But the field appears to be stacked this year with movies starring the likes of Nora Aunor, Piolo Pascual and Jaclyn Jose vying for the remaining four of the eight spots. The first four went to: “Penduko” (Matteo Guidicelli, Cristine Reyes); “A Mother’s Son” (Sharon Cuneta, Alden Richards); “K(ampon)”

genetic testing under Family Code §7541 but this has to be done within 2 years of the childs birth. In addition, only persons with standing can bring this motion which is limited to the husband, child, mother and a presumed father as listed in Family Code §7611 and 7612.

Even absent a recognized rebuttal, the court has discretion as a matter of due process not to apply § 7540 conclusive presumption of paternity when it would not further the statute’s underlying policies of preserving the integrity and stability of an extant marital family, protecting children from the stigma of “illegitimacy,” and promoting individual rather than State responsibility for child support ... as where the ostensible § 7540 presumptive father never developed a parental relationship with the child and the only established

(Beauty Gonzalez, Derek Ramsay) and “Rewind” (Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera).“If anything, I’m just really grateful that the MMFF is back. I don’t really see it as a competition, but a venue for Filipino artists to come together and put out their films for everyone… I will be happy if ‘Nokturno’ gets in because then, more people will be able to see it,” Nadine said.

parent-child relationship is with a third person. Brian C. v. Ginger K. (2000) 77 CA4th 1198, 1200–1201, 92 CR2d 294, 296; In re Kiana A. (2001) 93 CA4th 1109, 1115, 113 CR2d 669, 675.

Procedurally, the ex boyfriend should file a Petition for Parentage as soon as the child is born. While the case is pending, the ex boyfriend may seek temporary visitation order although this may be on a limited or even monitored basis. If successful in proving parentage, the ex boyfriend may be granted custody and visitation rights. However, the ex boyfriend would also have the obligation of paying child support based on California guidelines.

* * *

Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice.  The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information.  This article is not

intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed.  The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you.  This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APLC This article is not a solicitation.

* * * Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APLC. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@ kenryeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com.

(Advertising Supplement)