090923 - Los Angeles Weekend Edition

Marcos, Harris talk about South China Sea

by JEAN MANGALUZ Inquirer.net

JAKARTA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong”

Marcos Jr. and United States Vice President Kamala Harris met on the sidelines of the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, said Palace on Thursday, Sept. 7.

“President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. holds a pullaside meeting with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris after the ASEAN-US Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia on Wednesday (Sept. 6)s,” said Presidential Communications Office (PCO) in a social media post.

Both leaders agreed to work together and with ASEAN members to foster trade and promote regional peace and progress,” it added.

While the Palace did not further specify the details of the meeting, its U.S. counterpart said the two leaders spoke about maritime security.

According to White House, Marcos and Harris

USA

Philippine embassy in US working on Marcos visit to Hawaii

THE Philippine embassy in Washington is arranging a possible visit by President Marcos to a West Coast city and Hawaii after his participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meet in California in November.

“Well, it’s going to be a very tight schedule again for the president because the (APEC) summit will actually start on Nov. 15 up to the 18th. And then the president plans to visit another city on the West Coast, and then from there possibly... maybe, we’re still trying to work out a short stay, a short visit to Honolulu,” Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez told reporters last Tuesday, Sept. 5.

“But all of these schedules are being worked out,” he added.

Harvard hires rst Filipino to teach PH language course

FOR the first time, a Filipino will be teaching Filipino language courses at the prestigious Harvard University.

In a statement by James Robson, the Victor and William Fung director at the university's Asia Center and a Harvard College professor, he said that Lady Aileen Orsal was hired as a "preceptor in Filipino Languages."

A preceptor "provides language, skilloriented, or other special instructions" at the university.

The hiring of Orsal comes as Harvard begins offering elementary and intermediate Filipino courses for the first time in its nearly 400-year history.

Robson said that Orsal's position as a preceptor is funded through an endowment that would ensure that Filipino languages will be taught.

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Marcos urges ASEAN to ‘oppose dangerous use of militia vessels’ in South China Sea

by KRISTINE MARALIT ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday, Sept. 7 urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to "oppose the dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels in the South China Sea" which could "increase tensions in the region, misunderstandings, and miscalculations" in the disputed waterway.

Marcos made the call during the 18th East Asia Summit, a related meeting of the 43rd ASEAN

Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia.

"The Philippines fully supports adherence to international law and the rules-based order. We must oppose the dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels in the South China Sea. We are concerned over illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and the militarization of reclaimed features in the South China Sea," he said.

The Chief Executive expressed his concern over the aggressive and consistent actions of some parties in the contested territory which, he said, are in violation of obligations under international law, including the

Pinoys least satis ed with gov’t e orts vs in ation

1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and under the Declaration on the Conduct (DoC) of the Parties in the South China Sea.

"We must not allow tensions in the South China Sea to further escalate. In this spirit and in accordance with the DoC, we continue to urge all parties to exercise self-restraint and refrain from unilateral and assertive activities that would increase tensions in the region, misunderstandings, and miscalculations in the South China Sea," he stated.

"The Philippines remains resolute towards the  PAGE A2

PH to host ASEAN summit in 2026

MANILA — With increasing food prices driving the country’s inflation rate, a new survey conducted by OCTA Research found that Filipinos remain least satisfied with the government’s efforts to reduce poverty and control the rising cost of basic commodities. Results of the July 22 to 26 survey released on Thursday, Sept. 7 found that only 34% of the respondents were satisfied with the government’s performance in managing inflation. Thirty-two% were dissatisfied, while 34% were undecided.

Meanwhile, only 36% were satisfied with the government in terms of reducing poverty, with 26% dissatisfied and 38% undecided.

Philippines hailed Asia’s leading dive destination anew

by JANVIC MATEO Philstar.com by ROSETTE ADEL Philstar.com

MANILA — For the fifth consecutive year this 2023, the Philippines remains to be the leading dive destination in the region.

The World Travel Awards (WTA) awarded the Philippines the Asia’s Leading Dive Destination title at the preeminent WTA Asia & Oceania Gala Ceremony 2023 held at the GEM Center in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The trophy was personally received by Tourism Undersecretary Shahlimar Hofer Tamano.

The award was based on public votes and validation from the group’s panel of travel

professional.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said the recent victory “affirms the unparalleled beauty and megabiodiversity of our country loved by divers and tourists all over the world.”

“This is a testament to the Philippines' commitment to sustainable tourism development and our strengthened collaboration with tourism stakeholders. From our ridges to our reefs, you will never run out of reasons to Love the Philippines!” Frasco added. The tourism chief, an advocate and diver, is promoting programs that elevate the dive

 PAGE A2

THE Philippines will host the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in 2026, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced on Tuesday, Sept. 5.

Expressing the country's readiness to chair the regional bloc's gathering, Marcos vowed to further fortify the foundations of ASEAN's communitybuilding efforts and steer them toward a new chapter.

"We will count on the support of fellow member states and continue to work with our partners to strengthen ASEAN Centrality, and to promote peace, security, stability and prosperity in the region," the Chief Executive said during the ASEAN Summit Plenary of the 43rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits being held in Jakarta, Indonesia.

As host, the Philippines will focus on the empowerment of women, persons with disabilities (PWD) and migrant workers, Marcos said.

Originally, Myanmar was the designated host of  PAGE A2

rice seller replenishes his supply on display at a public market in Paco, Manila on Wednesday, Sept. 6, the second day of the implementation of the rice price ceiling, as directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. Under this policy,

Marcos, Harris talk about South...

had a shared commitment to a rules-based international order.

“The two leaders discussed the maritime security environment in the South China Sea, and reviewed opportunities to enhance bilateral maritime cooperation, including alongside like-minded partners,” said White House in a statement posted on its website. Harris also echoed the earlier commitment of U.S. on maritime security.

“The vice president reaffirmed

United States’ iron-clad alliance commitment to the Philippines and highlighted the role the U.S.-Philippines alliance plays in ensuring a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” White House further said.

The statement from White House comes, amid escalating tensions in West Philippine Sea (WPS).

China is the biggest claimant in the territorial row, marking its claim of South China Sea with a supposed 10-dash line.

WPS is part of South China Sea U.S., while geographically far from the conflict, has thrown its support behind Philippines in upholding order and freedom of navigation.

On multiple occasions, the global powerhouse had condemned China’s aggression in the disputed waters. Marcos has repeatedly said the conflict must not be reduced to mere assertions of dominance among powerful countries.

PH to host ASEAN summit

the 2026 summit. Two Southeast Asian diplomats attending the summit said the move to change the host country was agreed upon by leaders so the crisis would not hijack the bloc's agenda and prevent "external partners" from coming to Myanmar for their gatherings.

Marcos urges ASEAN to...

peaceful resolution of disputes. We continue to support freedom of navigation and overflight, and the rules-based international order in the South China Sea," he added. He then reiterated that the country would not resort to violent means with regards to the territorial dispute.

"We are still committed to defending our sovereignty, our sovereign rights, and maritime jurisdiction in accordance with UNCLOS," the President said.

Apart from the Philippines, other ASEAN member states who lay claim to territories in the South China Sea are Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam. 

"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

in...

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. (Kristina Maralit/ManilaTimes.net)

Pinoys least satis ed with gov’t e orts vs...

The Marcos administration also obtained a satisfaction rate of less than the majority in four other issues: reducing the amount of taxes (38% satisfied, 20% dissatisfied), fighting graft and corruption (44% satisfied, 21% dissatisfied), controlling population growth (48% satisfied, 17% dissatisfied) and reducing hunger (48% satisfied, 16% dissatisfied).

Out of the 24 issues included in the survey, the government obtained its highest satisfaction rating in terms of providing quality tertiary and technical education (74% satisfied, seven% dissatisfied).

It was followed by providing quality and secondary education (72% satisfied, eight% dissatisfied), providing quality and affordable health care (72% satisfied, eight% dissatisfied), responding to natural disasters (72% satisfied, five% dissatisfied) and protecting the welfare of overseas Filipino

workers (70% satisfied, six% dissatisfied).

These were followed by building public infrastructure (69% satisfied, six% dissatisfied), defending the integrity of Philippine territory against foreigners (66% satisfied, 10% dissatisfied), preparing for terrorist threats (64% satisfied, 10% dissatisfied), improving foreign relations (63% satisfied, six% dissatisfied) and protecting human rights (62% satisfied, eight% dissatisfied).

Other issues included in the survey were promoting peace and order (59% satisfied, 10% dissatisfied), fighting criminality (58% satisfied, 12% dissatisfied), ensuring food security (57% satisfied, 14% dissatisfied), stopping the destruction of the environment (56% satisfied, 13% dissatisfied) and equal enforcement of the law (56% satisfied, 10% dissatisfied).

Completing the list were helping the poor (56% satisfied,

14% dissatisfied), creating more jobs (55% satisfied, 15% dissatisfied) and preventing the spread of illegal drugs (55% satisfied, 16% dissatisfied).

Compared to the results of a similar survey last March, OCTA noted a drop in satisfaction in a number of key issues.

For instance, it dropped 10 points in terms of providing quality and secondary education (from 82% to 72%), nine points in protecting the welfare of OFWs (from 79% to 71%) and eight points in responding to disasters (from 80% to 72%).

Meanwhile, dissatisfaction in managing inflation dropped (from 36% to 32%), but it increased in terms of reducing taxes (from 11% to 20%), fight graft and corruption (from 16% to 21%) and controlling population growth (from 12% to 17%).

The survey had 1,200 adult respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus three% for national%ages.

Philippines hailed Asia’s leading...

industry.

Among those is the Department of Tourism’s creation of the Dive Committee that will align its dive product development and promotion thrusts with its attached agencies, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, and the Philippine Commission for Sports Scuba Diving (PCSSD).

The tourism agency will also convene the country’s national dive stakeholders in the firstever Philippine Dive Dialogue in Cebu next week to consolidate all the efforts of the national government, local governments and private sector partners.

It is also eying the installation of additional hyperbaric chambers that will improve scuba diving safety standards in strategic dive locations, such as Dumaguete and Daanbantayan in Cebu, by 2024. This will be led by its infrastructure arm, TIEZA.

The DOT likewise launched its own dive expo brand, the

Philippine International Dive Expo (PHIDEX), the world's only dive show that combines a dive travel exchange, a businessto-business (B2B) meeting program, dive conferences and seminars, exhibition booths, and familiarization tours to key and emerging Philippine dive destinations. The fourth edition of PHIDEX is slated in February next year. There are also regional divecentric events hosted by the DOT which include the DOT Office of Product and Market Development - Dive Team’s Anilao Underwater Shootout in Batangas, the DIVE7 Festival series by the DOT Region VII office, the Davao Dive Expo by the DOT Region XI office, and the NorthMin Dive by the DOT Region X office —which opened on September 6, among others.

Lastly, the DOT has supported diving initiatives, assessments and expeditions, including the Cebu Travel Catalogue, the Bohol Loop Dive Expo (BHOLDEX), the 3rd MisOr Dive Festival, Samal Island Dive Seafari and Bay Deep Mati Freediving Festival, among

many others.

WTA Asia & Oceania

Meanwhile, aside from bagging the leading dive destination title, Philippine private tourism stakeholders also won awards. These stakeholders were recognized in the Asian and country category:

• Okada Manila - Asia’s Leading Casino Resort

• Discovery Shores Boracay - Philippines’ Leading Beach Resort 2023

• Travelite Travel and Tours Co. - Philippines’ Leading Destination Management Company 2023

• Seda Hotels - Philippines’ Leading Hotel Group 2023 Regional edition awardees, as well as runners-up and previous year’s winners, are qualified for the WTA’s World edition, which will have its grand awards night in Muscat, Oman in November 2023.

WTA, established in 1993, is touted as “the ultimate hallmark of excellence" in the tourism and hospitality industries” globally. 

MAMA MARY. Various images of the Blessed Virgin Mary are on display at San Juan Nepomuceno Church in Malibay, Pasay City, on Friday, Sept. 8. Catholics are celebrating the feast of the birth of Christ’s mother. PNA photo by

LINKED. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday, Sept. 7 reported a fruitful outcome of his participation to the 43rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Jakarta, Indonesia, where he advanced the country’s interest in the regional gathering. The president said he participated in 12 Leaders’-Level Meetings, including with Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United States, and the United Nations. Malacañang photo

PAGE A1 

‘Mystery’ infection hospitalizes

Fil-Am during visit to PH

A SOFTWARE engineer from Chula Vista, California is fighting a “mysterious” disease he caught in Manila soon after he made funeral service arrangements for his deceased mother.

Armando Ramos, 53, a father of three, suddenly came down with a sore throat, fatigue, chest pains and difficulty breathing and was rushed to the ER. Ramos had no previous health issues and tested negative for Covid, despite some similarities in symptoms.

The initial diagnosis was pneumonia, but doctors are conducting tests, including for meningitis. Doctors have removed bacteria-filled fluid from his lungs.

One of his lungs collapsed,

by ELISABETH ROSENTHAL KFF Health News

I’VE been receiving an escalating stream of panicked emails from people telling me their longtime physician was retiring, was no longer taking their insurance, or had gone concierge and would no longer see them unless they ponied up a hefty annual fee. They have said they couldn’t find another primary care doctor who could take them on or who offered a new-patient appointment sooner than months away. Their individual stories reflect a larger reality: American physicians have been abandoning traditional primary care practice — internal and family medicine — in large numbers. Those who remain are working fewer hours. And fewer medical students are choosing a

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CNS-3736735# ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)

Armando Ramos had no previous health issues and tested negative for COVID, despite some similarities in symptoms. his brain became inflamed, and his kidneys started to fail. There were complications with his heart and liver, daughter Emma Gaines-Ramos told KGTV10News. Ramos was shown on a video

call with his three daughters a day after being admitted to the hospital. His situation remains critical, but his kidneys are improving, along with his oxygen levels. (Inquirer.net)

The shrinking number of primary care physicians is reaching a tipping point

field that once attracted some of the best and brightest because of its diagnostic challenges and the emotional gratification of deep relationships with patients.

The percentage of U.S. doctors in adult primary care has been declining for years and is now about 25% — a tipping point beyond which many Americans won’t be able to find a family doctor at all.

Already, more than 100 million Americans don’t have usual access to primary care, a number that has nearly doubled since 2014. One reason our coronavirus vaccination rates were low compared with those in countries such as China, France, and Japan could be because so many of us no longer regularly see a familiar doctor we trust.

Another telling statistic: In 1980, 62% of doctor’s visits for adults 65 and older were for primary care and 38% were for specialists, according to Michael L. Barnett, a health systems researcher and primary care doctor in the Harvard Medical School system. By 2013, that ratio had exactly flipped and has likely “only gotten worse,” he said, noting sadly: “We have a specialty-driven system. Primary care is seen as a thankless, undesirable backwater.” That’s “tragic,” in his words — studies show that a strong foundation of primary care yields better health outcomes overall, greater equity in health care access, and lower per capita health costs.

One explanation for the disappearing primary care doctor is financial. The payment structure in the U.S. health system has long rewarded surgeries and procedures while shortchanging the diagnostic, prescriptive, and preventive work that is the province of primary care. Furthermore, the traditionally independent doctors in this field have little power to negotiate sustainable payments with the mammoth insurers in the U.S. market.

Faced with this situation, many independent primary care doctors have sold their practices to health systems or commercial management chains (some private equity-owned) so that, today, three-quarters of doctors are now employees of those outfits.

One of them was Bob Morrow, who practiced for decades in the Bronx. For a typical visit, he was most recently paid about $80 if the patient had Medicare, with its fixed-fee schedule. Commercial insurers paid significantly less. He just wasn’t making enough to pay the bills, which included salaries

of three employees, including a nurse practitioner. “I tried not to pay too much attention to money for four or five years — to keep my eye on my patients and not the bottom line,” he said by phone from his former office, as workers carted away old charts for shredding.

He finally gave up and sold his practice last year to a company that took over scheduling, billing, and negotiations with insurers. It agreed to pay him a salary and to provide support staff as well as supplies and equipment.

The outcome: Calls to his office were routed to a call center overseas, and patients with questions or complaining of symptoms were often directed to a nearby urgent care center owned by the company — which is typically more expensive than an office visit. His office staff was replaced by a skeleton crew that didn’t include a nurse or skilled worker to take blood pressure or handle requests for prescription refills. He was booked with patients every eight to 10 minutes.

He discovered that the company was calling some patients and recommending expensive tests — such as vascular studies or an abdominal ultrasound — that he did not believe they needed.

He retired in January. “I couldn’t stand it,” he said. “It wasn’t how I was taught to practice.”

Of course, not every practice sale ends with such unhappy results, and some work out well.

But the dispirited feeling that drives doctors away from primary care has to do with far more than money. It’s a lack of respect for nonspecialists. It’s the rising pressure to see and bill more patients: Employed doctors often coordinate the care of as many as 2,000 people, many of whom have multiple problems.

And it’s the lack of assistance. Profitable centers such as orthopedic and gastroenterology clinics usually have a phalanx of support staff. Primary care clinics run close to the bone.

“You are squeezed from all sides,” said Barnett.

Many ventures are rushing in to fill the primary care gap. There had been hope that nurse practitioners and physician assistants might help fill some holes, but data shows that they, too, increasingly favor specialty practice. Meanwhile, urgent care clinics are popping up like mushrooms. So are primary care chains such as One Medical, now owned by Amazon. Dollar General, Walmart, Target, CVS Health, and Walgreens have opened “retail  PAGE A7

California domestic workers push for new health and safety law

SACRAMENTO – Hundreds of domestic workers, many of them Filipinos, demonstrated in the state capital Sacramento to support a bill expanding protections for domestic workers —nannies, house cleaners, house help, home caregivers — many of whom do not get help when they get sick or injured on the job.

Under current law, there are very few provisions ensuring safe and healthy working conditions for an estimated 300,000 domestic workers in California.

Marching from the State Capitol to the Legislative Swing Space, the demonstrators “swept away” outdated policies.

Irene Maliglig, 49, says domestic work is not for everyone, but she enjoys it. “I believe, as a Filipino, we have

this trait of being hospitable, being passionate about what we’re doing,” Maliglig told Spectrum News 1. She is a fulltime caregiver in the City of Carson and is also the mother of two children. She spoke of having to be around exposed chemicals from cleaning products and the physical challenge of taking care of a patient who is much bigger than her.

State Sen. Maria Elena

Durazo, a Democrat from Los Angeles, is pushing for the passage of Senate Bill 686, which will expand CAL/ OSHA protections for domestic workers who don’t get help if they get sick or injured on the job.

Durazo pushed for a similar bill in 2020, but Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed it, citing issues

about treating people’s homes like workplaces. Durazo set up an advisory body to draft guidelines for the health and safety of domestic workers.

“No matter how many times it takes to the California Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom — that now, now is the time to stand on the right side of history,” Spectrum News 1 quoted Durazo.

“This campaign is part of a long legacy of women of color, of immigrant women standing up for what is right,” said Maegan Ortiz, the executive director of the Institute of Popular Education of Southern California. “Domestic workers have waited long enough and we are here to send that message loud and clear throughout Sacramento.” (Inquirer.net)

Harvard hires rst Filipino to teach PH...

He further stressed that Filipino is now the fourth most spoken language in the United States, after English, Spanish, and Chinese.

Orsal is a graduate of B.A. Mass Communication and M.A in Philippine Studies from the Cavite State University and is currently taking up an M.A Communication from Northern Illinois University and a Ph.D in Philippine Studies from the De La Salle University, where she is expected to finish in 2024.

Orsal, who is teaching Filipino at Cavite State University,

began her teaching career as a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at Northern Illinois University in 2018, where she assisted teaching of Filipino at the introductory and intermediate levels.

Robson described Orsal as a "dedicated, creative, and effective teacher who is committed to being a leader in Filipino language pedagogy,"

"She also has an impressive background in Philippine Studies, including Philippine culture, history, and politics. She has conducted research and published on traditional tattoo

art, the coffee culture of the Philippines, and the use of music in political campaign jingles," Robson added.

Aside from Orsal, the center also announced the hiring of Sakti Suryani as a preceptor for Indonesia, which would also offer elementary, intermediate, and advanced Indonesian courses at Harvard. Robson believes that the appointments of Orsal and Suryani will develop, highlight, and showcase the "history and cultures of the Philippines and Indonesia through events on the Harvard campus." (Red Mendoza/ ManilaTimes.net)

Philippine embassy in US working on Marcos...

PAGE A1

Romualdez said there is a large Filipino community in Hawaii, where Marcos and his family were exiled after the 1986 People Power revolution that abruptly ended the presidency of his late father and namesake.

The administration of then president Corazon Aquino allowed the Marcoses to return to the Philippines in 1991.

Marcos also wants to have “a lot of meetings” with potential investors, the ambassador said.

“Whenever he goes, especially to the United States, there’s a lot of interest now in the Philippines, from many companies,” Romualdez added.

According to the envoy, Silicon Valley tech companies are “very

eager” to meet with the president, who has repeatedly cited the importance of digitalization in government transactions.

“There’s also quite a number of requests from financial institutions. There are also companies in the manufacturing business in the West Coast, and probably a follow-up on the modular nuclear power plants that we’ve been talking about, and a number of companies that are based in the West Coast,” he added.

Trudeau invites BBM

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invited President Marcos to visit Canada next year to celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between their two countries.

In a statement, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said Trudeau extended the invitation during his bilateral meeting with Marcos on the sidelines of the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit and Related Summits here.

“Next year, we are celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations… But the reality is the trade ties, economic ties between our countries continue to grow, the opportunities for investment, the flow of people back and forth as well,” the Canadian leader was quoted by the PCO as saying. Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Canada started in 1949. (Alexis Romero/ Philstar.com)

DATELINE PHILIPPINES

Comelec launches anti-vote buying task force

by ADRIAN PARUNGAO Inquirer.net

MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday, Sept. 8 launched a task force against vote-buying and vote-selling in the 2023 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

It calls the group “Committee on KontraBigay.”

It is an inter-agency task force composed of oficials from Department of Justice, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Education, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, among others.

The committee will receive complaints, prepare reports and hold investigations to

penalize candidates suspected of committing election fraud.

“Mismo ang committee ng KontraBigay ang magfa-file ng kaso ng disqualification at kasong kriminal, election offense, laban sa mga mahuhuli,”

Comelec chairperson George Garcia warned.

(The Committee on KontraBigay will directly file disqualification cases and criminal cases, election offense, against those who will be caught.)

Garcia is reminding candidates to obey election laws to avoid facing disqualification cases and criminal prosecution.

“Yon po ang babala natin sa lahat. Napakahirap po ng may kaso na disqualification, tapos may kasong kriminal ka pa,” he said.

(That is our warning to all. It is so difficult to have a

disqualification, then you still have a criminal case.)

“Sapagkat kapag na-file-lan namin kayo ng kaso sa mga korte, mawa-warrant of arrest kayo. At kapag na-convict kayo, you cannot be pardoned without the consent of the Commission on Elections,” he explained.

(Because once we have filed a case against you in court, you’ll have a warrant of arrest. And once you are convicted, you cannot be pardoned without the consent of the Commission on Elections.)

“Yan po ang maliwanag na maliwanag na nakalagay sa ating batas,” he added.

(That is very, very clearly stated in our law.)

The election period for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan started on August 28. It will last until November 29.

Marcos hails World Bank’s ‘desirable shift’ in post-pandemic era

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has lauded the World Bank for realigning its programs, particularly with its partnership with the Philippines, to address emerging challenges in the post-pandemic era.

This was after Marcos’ bilateral engagement with World Bank Group president

Ajay Banga on the sidelines of his participation in the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits and Related Summits in Jakarta, Indonesia on Thursday, Sept. 7.

"I have to commend the World Bank because now I’m looking at the list of the programs and projects in the pipeline. And there you can see the very desirable shift from what we were doing before to what we are doing now, postpandemic," he told Banga.

Marcos was thankful that the Philippines has been a recipient of the World Bank’s various grants for many decades, citing the recently granted Philippine Second Financial Sector Reform Development Policy financing worth USD600 million.

He expressed hope that the

program would be a success to boost the resiliency and the sustainability of the financial sector after the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The president also mentioned several development programs with World Bank, such as the Philippine Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency Project, Mindanao Inclusive Agricultural Development Project, and the Philippine Rural Development Program.

The programs, he said, support the country’s bid for food supply sufficiency and rural development.

“The development programs that the World Bank is bringing to Mindanao, especially at the fundamental basic level in terms of inclusive agriculture development project, are going to help in the peace process and to normalize the lives of those who were previously part of the secessionist movement of the south,” Marcos said. He also cited the Teacher Effectiveness and Competencies Enhancement Project, which would help the government in recalibrating

the implementation of the K-12 program.

Banga, meanwhile, assured Marcos of the World Bank’s commitment to fortifying its partnership with the Philippines and exploring other focused areas for intervention in the coming years.

“We are trying to not only do things with poverty and poverty alleviation but actually move towards all the other things that have intertwined as challenges whether they be poverty, health care or, of course, be the efforts on human capital, on education, and health and infrastructure and in electronic digital infrastructure,” he said.

Over the past 10 years, World Bank's support to the Philippines has focused on enhancing inclusive growth through reforms to speed up job creation; social protection, such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program; rural development; disaster-risk reduction; resilience and peace building; and development of human capital through expanded support for the health and education sectors.

(PNA)

Con dential public funds

THE three branches of government are supposed to provide checks and balances to each other, minimizing mistakes as well as preventing the misuse, abuse and centralization of power. It is disappointing that both chambers of Congress, invoking parliamentary courtesy, are abdicating this role in dealing with the executive’s proposals for confidential and intelligence funds or CIF.

The P2.3-billion proposed budget for 2024 of the Office of the Vice President breezed through the House of Representatives recently, and then last Monday, Sept. 4 through the Senate committee on finance, for immediate referral to the plenary. The amount includes P500 million in CIF for the OVP.

Extending parliamentary courtesy to the two highest officials of the land is fine if there are no controversial issues involved in the utilization of people’s money. In this case, however, the Makabayan bloc congressmen had wanted to question the OVP regarding its use of P125 million in confidential funds in the final six months of 2022. The funding was not in the Congressapproved budget for 2022 that was prepared by Leni Robredo, who never sought confidential funds in her six years as vice president. Without the appropriation, the OVP took its confidential funds for the second semester of 2022 from the P221.424-million contingent funds of the Office of the President.

Before the Makabayan bloc could raise this point, however, President Marcos’ son, Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Alexander

Marcos, moved to terminate the deliberations. The House committee on appropriations dutifully complied, and the OVP budget was quickly rubberstamped by the chamber.

At the Senate at least, one of the two minority members, Sen. Koko Pimentel, was allowed to raise what he described as the illegal transfer of funds from the Office of the President to the OVP.

Apart from the absence of the funding in the 2022 General Appropriations Act, Pimentel pointed out that the contingent fund of the OP can be used only for three purposes, which do not include providing for or augmenting confidential funds in another office.

The Office of the Executive Secretary defended the fund juggling, explaining that Special Provision No. 1 in the 2022 Contingent Fund authorized the OP to use the fund for new or urgent activities, in this case new satellite offices for the OVP.

Militant teachers have also questioned Congress’ approval of a P150-million confidential fund for the DepEd under Duterte, who told reporters that the money is needed to “mold children (to) defend the country.” Amid protests,

Brunei, Indonesia – border the South China Sea. These five countries are immediately threatened by the Chinese claim of ownership of practically the entire South China Sea.

THE ASEAN is an organization composed of ten countries –Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia. There is an ongoing summit meeting in Indonesia which will be attended by the heads of states of the membercountries.

The international importance of this organization is shown by the participation of other countries outside the region in this summit meeting. These are Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, Korea and the United States. This summit meeting has for its theme “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth.” For the Philippines and most of the members, the main issue will be the aggressive behavior of China in the South China Sea. President Marcos has said he will bring up this issue in the summit meeting. The world will be interested to know how the ASEAN countries will react to the Chinese incursions. It should be noted that only five ASEAN countries – the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia,

The ASEAN was originally established with strong U.S. backing in 1967. It was initially condemned by China and the Soviet Union as a “neoimperialist”

American creation. But in recent decades, Beijing has embraced this regional body and signed a free trade agreement in 2002 which has led to a significant expansion of trade.

The region’s wealth has also risen considerably in the past decades. Its combined GDP in the year 2000 was just $620 billion.

In 2021, this has increased to $3 trillion compared to Japan’s $5 trillion. Current projections show that the ASEAN economy will be larger than Japan’s by 2030.

While geographic proximity to China has been beneficial in terms of trade, this has also led to serious tension between China and most of the ASEAN countries.

The main issue was the Chinese map of the region which featured a so-called nine-dash line which showed that practically the whole of the South China Sea was part of China’s territory.

Recently, China has issued another map, which now showed

a ten-dash line which showed an increase in the territory that China claims. Another serious issue that should be tackled in this summit is climate change. This is now generally accepted as the world sees increased weather aberrations. There are heat waves and typhoons that are the worst in the history of mankind. Floods have become common even in developed countries, and while there is a near-unanimous agreement that countries must tackle the issue of climate change, the reality is that China is the worst source of carbon emissions because of its dependence on coal as a source of energy. While other developed countries have begun to ban coal as a source of energy, China has continued to build coal-powered plants and has announced the building of more such plants.

Another major issue is the relationship of ASEAN with a member-state, Myanmar. Two years ago, the military deposed the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, who still remains in prison. The ASEAN countries have so far failed to come up with a united stand with regards to the Myanmar issue. The military rulers of Myanmar have used violence and extreme violations

ManilaTimes.net photo

the Senate leadership has said it may review the CIF of the OVP and DepEd. It remains to be seen whether this will lead to transparency and the judicious use of public funds. (Philstar.com)

IN my previous column, I set myself up for the difficult task of identifying ways forward amid the current political dispensation, arguing that while we cannot lose track of structural violence that has held back our country, spaces and pockets of reform exist regardless of whoever is in charge.

One place to start is with the president’s campaign promises. As observers pointed out, he was actually quite progressive in some of his views on social issues—at least during the campaign— and his pronouncements can be invoked to advance some belated, badly needed change.

Let me discuss a couple:

Divorce, for instance, remains illegal in the Philippines, notwithstanding the demonstrable harms of the status quo to families,

especially women and children; harms that then candidate Bongbong Marcos recognized when he said that “there are cases where divorce is called for.” Candidate Marcos also spoke in favor of decriminalizing abortion in cases of rape and incest, and hinted at supporting gender equality and nondiscrimination laws.

He has since stayed largely silent on these issues, but his professed openness to them has contributed to a political climate in which lawmakers and government officials feel free(r) to advocate for them. A divorce bill is making unprecedented progress in Congress and I see no incentive for the president to expend political capital on an issue that a majority of Filipinos are already open to (53 percent of Filipinos support legalizing divorce, according to a 2017 Social Weather Stations survey)—especially if this openness will translate to advocacy and activism.

In the realm of drug policy, the president has

acknowledged that there is a need to depart from Rodrigo Duterte’s punitive regime, and senators as diverse as Risa Hontiveros, Robinhood Padilla, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa have called for drug “decriminalization” (albeit with very different interpretations of what the term means). This is admittedly a more uphill battle than even getting a divorce law, but there is certainly a more conducive environment for drug reforms today than in the time of Duterte.

From my conversations with government officials, I have also learned that many of them actually want some of these reforms but they cannot act motu proprio; they need the public behind them— especially if they’re up against political and economic powers that be. Lending our voices—as opposed to abstaining because we think it’s pointless—can tilt the discourse. Indeed, I cannot help but wonder if, had the outcry against the continued detention of Leila de Lima been louder and more sustained, she

human rights to

opposition. The world opinion has generally been an opposition to the continuation of military rule and the return of democracy to Myanmar. However, the military rulers of Myanmar have managed to stay in power because of the support of China. While the ASEAN has managed to survive for more than five decades, it has not been able to be as unified as another regional body, the European Union. Perhaps one cause of this is that there is an absence of a homogenous culture in the region. For example, in terms of religion, Thailand is a Buddhist country and the Muslim religion dominates in Indonesia and Malaysia. The Philippines is an overwhelmingly Christian

would have been free by now.

At the local level, there is also so much that is being done, including baby steps toward sustainability championed by the likes of Baguio City’s Benjamin Magalong and Iloilo City’s Jerry Treñas. Joy Belmonte’s righteous (and rightful) indignation against Willie Gonzalez, the former policeman who pulled a gun on a cyclist, is a reminder that local chief executives can sometimes take leadership in national issues, especially when Malacañang abdicates from that mandate.

What of ordinary citizens?

In a recent conversation with University of the Philippines Los Baños academics Agnes Rola and Helen Dayo, they reminded me of the case of Majayjay, where residents repudiated their elected officials’ dubious water deal, back in 2014, by voting most of them out of office. Like the activism of the Sibuyanons that has successfully blocked mining on their island (at least for now) and the environmental

nation. Vietnam, on the other hand, considers itself as a purely secular state.

There is also a perception that democracy is declining in Southeast Asia. According to the Economist, in three important countries in the region – Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia – democracy is struggling. In Thailand, a general election last May produced a clear winner. This was Move Forward, a party that championed breaking the grip of Thailand’s military elite, after nine years of military rule. But the ruling elite managed to form an alliance with the military and Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister who returned from exile. This new alliance has formed a new ruling coalition

advocacy of the Palawaños that’s at the heart of protecting what’s left of their island’s forests, the case of Majayjay shows that far from dead, civil society is very much alive, especially in issues that people actually care about. If there is any effort on the part of the opposition to learn from the 2022 elections and build a broader coalition, these issues must be at the core of building something that eschews fandoms and espouses a longterm political movement. But for such spaces to be claimed, there must be recognition that electoral outcomes are not the only political outcomes that matter.

Better officials are highly desirable (we can surely do without vexatious intelligence funds and power-tripping appointees), but better laws, better policies, better programs are better than nothing—and we do not need to wait for 2028 to fight for them.

We can already demand for these policies and programs. We can already

which virtually excluded the party that actually won the election.

One common feature of the political scene in Southeast Asia is the rule of elites in every country. This is accompanied normally by the weakness of political parties. There was a time when Southeast Asia was deemed as the region with the most emerging democracies. While this aspiration has dimmed, it could yet be again.. (Philstar.com)

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

* * * Email: elfrencruz@gmail.com

support nongovernmental organizations and people’s organizations who are doing good work. We can support— both now and in 2025—local officials who show signs of independence and innovation. And we can support journalists, academics, and activists who facilitate these initiatives by exposing good and bad practices alike. There must also be a recognition that claiming these admittedly limited spaces is impossible without issues-based (as opposed to personalitiesbased) coalition-building. If we can somehow muster the same enthusiasm for some key issues as for the candidates we fervently supported, we may yet achieve something; perhaps not victory, but at least, progress. (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.

* * * glasco@inquirer.com.ph

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., along with other heads of state, was warmly welcomed by President Joko Widodo of Indonesia as he arrived at the opening ceremony of the 43rd ASEAN Summit. The summit focuses on the theme “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth.” Malacañang photo of

stifle

Teachers group slams House panel cover-up on OVP fund use

by ELIZABETH MARCELO Philstar.com

MANILA — The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) has slammed the House of Representatives committee on appropriations for using the principle of “parliamentary courtesy” to supposedly cover up Vice President Sara Duterte’s accountability in the utilization of public funds, particularly the Office of the Vice President’s P125 million in confidential expenses in 2022.

“It was a shameful act (by the House committee) to immediately terminate the hearing on the proposed budget of the OVP.

The public was not given a chance to hear from the Vice President how the OVP intends to use its proposed budget amid still unanswered issues about her office’s supposed misuse of its 2022 budget,” ACT chairman Vladimer Quetua said in Filipino in a press statement before the

weekend.

The OVP’s proposed P2.4billion budget for 2024 was approved by the House appropriations panel on Wednesday, Sept. 6 without a single lawmaker asking Duterte any question.

Right after the OVP’s presentation of its proposed budget, Senior Deputy Majority Leader Sandro Marcos moved to terminate the briefing, citing “parliamentary courtesy.”

While ACT Teachers partylist Rep. France Castro objected to Marcos’ motion, she was not allowed to manifest her objection and was told to submit it in writing. Her microphone was turned off immediately after the chairman formally ended the briefing.

“It is very alarming that this incident happened in broad daylight with only the Makabayan representatives objecting to the termination of

the hearing. There is a need for the committee on appropriations to be called out for not following parliamentary procedures and deliberately covering up the Vice President’s accountability in the utilization of public funds,” the ACT’s statement read.

Castro had earlier revealed that the OVP has spent its entire P125-million confidential fund (CF) for 2022 in just 19 days or from Dec. 13 to 31, which translates to about P6.5 million per day.

Without providing specifics on how her office spent its 2022 confidential fund, Duterte maintained that there was nothing irregular or unauthorized in the spending.

“For the 2022 CF in the amount of P125 million, the OVP has already planned and identified events, activities and projects to be covered by the CF as early as August,” Duterte said in a statement on Wednesday. 

The shrinking number of primary...

PAGE A4

clinics” in their stores.

Rapid-fire visits with a rotating cast of doctors, nurses, or physician assistants might be fine for a sprained ankle or strep throat. But they will not replace a physician who tells you to get preventive tests and keeps tabs on your blood pressure and cholesterol — the doctor who knows your health history and has the time to figure out whether the pain in your shoulder is from your basketball game, an aneurysm, or a clogged artery in your heart.

Some relatively simple solutions are available, if we care enough about supporting this foundational part of a good medical system.

Hospitals and commercial groups could invest some of the money they earn by replacing hips and knees to support primary care staffing; giving these doctors more face time with their patients would be good for their customers’ health and loyalty if not (always) the bottom line.

Reimbursement for primary care visits could be increased to reflect their value — perhaps by enacting a national primary care fee schedule, so these doctors won’t have to butt heads with insurers. And policymakers could consider forgiving the medical school debt of doctors who choose primary care as a profession. They deserve support that

allows them to do what they were trained to do: diagnosing, treating, and getting to know their patients.

The United States already ranks last among wealthy countries in certain health outcomes. The average life span in America is decreasing, even as it increases in many other countries. If we fail to address the primary care shortage, our country’s health will be even worse for it. 

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.

Members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers hold a protest rally in Mendiola, Manila. Philstar.comphoto

WKND

Success story: Parents’ ultimate sacrifice pays off when the family is finally reunited, on Citizen Pinoy this Sunday

ROMEO and Connie came to the U.S. in 1994 to visit, leaving behind their five children. They remained in the U.S. after friends convinced them to pursue a better life here. While it was an agonizing decision to make, the couple knew their sacrifice was going to provide better education for their children, and a better life for their family. After 13 years, their green card finally arrived and they immediately filed a petition for their youngest, Remuel, who was only eight years old when they left him behind in 1994. Their previous lawyer said that Remuel had already aged out and nothing could be done.

At first, there were only two. Dad Romeo

and Mom Connie (center) arrived in the U.S. in 1994.

13-year-old

By haNs CarboNilla Inquirer.net

THE universe is calling and this time, Filipino American actor Yonas Asuncion Kibreab is summoned to take on a new role. From a tennis enthusiast to an emerging actor with a lot of recent projects, the 13-year-old now stars as the lead in “Elio,” Pixar’s latest out-of-this-world film offering.

As confirmed by the teaser trailer, it suggests that viewers will be embarking on a journey with Kibreab’s Elio beyond Earth, depicting the initial encounter between the planet

Fil-Am

actor Yonas Kibreab takes lead in Pixar’s ‘Elio’

THERE’S no long honeymoon break for the newly married Lovi Poe — or at least not yet — after tying the knot with British film producer Monty Blencowe last Aug. 26 in the UK. This was the clarification that veteran artist manager

showbiz on hold or going to work less actively, post-nuptials.

“Lovi is not taking a break from her career as an actress. She wants to continue doing what she loves to do even if she is now married,” Leo said in an online message.

Apparently, there’s also no truth to earlier reports that Lovi was going to be replaced on the ABS-CBN primetime series Batang Quiapo as the love interest of lead star Coco Martin’s character Tanggol.

“I don’t really have any reaction (to that) because we already know the plans for the plot and the characterization of Lovi’s role even from the very beginning,” he said.

Leo further noted that Lovi “was just away from Batang Quiapo for a month.”

In fact, he added, the actress officially returned to taping last Monday, Sept. 4. “There was a thanksgiving Mass for Batang Quiapo last

FROM TWO (2) TO 14 – HOW THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE OF A COUPLE PAID OFF, AND CHANGED THE LIVES OF THEIR WHOLE FAMILY, ON A

SUCCESS STORY ON CITIZEN PINOY THIS SUNDAY! When Dad Romeo (standing, left) and Mom Connie (standing, 2nd from right) came to the

to visit in 1994, they did not know that they would not be returning to the Philippines for a very long time.

convinced them to stay and find work in America to support their five children whom they left behind.

was a sacrifice that was heart-wrenching for any parent to bear, but they tried to focus

Yonas Asuncion

Photo from Instagram/@hiyonas_

(left)

Succession planning: The cornerstone of family business legacy and prosperity

IN family enterprises, a sobering truth prevails: With each generational transition, the odds of a company’s survival diminish. This fact isn’t mere conjecture; it’s a hard-earned lesson observed in countless family businesses worldwide. In this article, we delve into the pressing importance of succession planning for family businesses, exploring its impact on longevity, wealth preservation, and overall business health.

The unpredictable urgency of preparedness

In the fast-paced world of business, we often become ensnared in the pursuit of growth and success, sometimes neglecting the harsh reality that life can throw unexpected curveballs our way. These curveballs, as we’ve seen, aren’t limited to health-related issues; they can manifest as freak accidents, unforeseen events, or even the insidious threat of an unknown virus, as vividly exemplified by the story of a couple in their early 60s.

What was initially expected to be an idyllic getaway transformed into a frantic race against time. While enjoying a European vacation, the founder suddenly fell victim to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, vomiting,

and an unrelenting fever. What followed was an urgent hospitalization, intubation, and grim advice from medical professionals. Miraculously, survival was granted, but it came at an exorbitant cost— his active deal-making role was forever altered, and a oncevibrant leader deeply engaged in the family business was now confined to a wheelchair, incapacitated.

Two crucial business lessons

This poignant narrative underscores two crucial lessons for businesses. Firstly, it highlights the inherent unpredictability of life. For family enterprises, it serves as a stark reminder that success isn’t solely measured by sales, expansion, and growth; it also hinges on preparedness for the unexpected. In this light, a robust succession plan becomes more than just a strategy; it becomes a lifeline. It ensures business continuity, mitigates risks, and safeguards the legacy and prosperity of the enterprise, even in the face of life’s harshest uncertainties.

Secondly, it underscores the paramount importance of proactive preparedness. This readiness is akin to building one’s own Noah’s Ark, enabling a family business to weather life’s unpredictability

with resilience and foresight.

The transformative power of succession planning

Imagine a scenario where adversity strikes with relentless force, as exemplified by the sudden incapacitation of the business founder mentioned above. This time, however, armed with a meticulously crafted succession plan, the family’s preparedness shines through. It not only ensures the business’s survival but empowers it to thrive and endure in the face of adversity. It epitomizes the indomitable spirit of readiness, a strategic fortification that steels the business against any eventuality.

In this narrative of unpredictability, a wellprepared succession plan transcends its conventional role as a mere document. It metamorphoses into a lifeline, a steadfast cornerstone of business continuity, and a vigilant protector against unforeseen risks. Most profoundly, it is a guardian of the cherished legacy and prosperity that family enterprises hold dear. This shield safeguards them from the ferocity of life’s most relentless storms.

In conclusion, as family businesses navigate the intricate terrain of

entrepreneurship, it’s imperative to recognize that preparedness is not a sign of pessimism but a hallmark of prudence. Succession planning transcends mere administrative tasks; it evolves into a dynamic strategy, a fortress that strengthens the business’s foundations, secures its legacy, and ensures a resilient future. Ultimately, it serves as a strategic investment in the enduring success of the family business, an unwavering bulwark against the unpredictable ebb and flow of life’s tumultuous tides.

Catch the succession planning webinar this September

To mark the beginning of your transformative journey, founders and family members should listen and participate in our upcoming inaugural webinar series, “Stewardship + Succession + Wealth = Legacy: A Family Guide to Building and Sustaining Your Wealth.” The series, scheduled for September 16, 18, and 19, promises invaluable insights into safeguarding your family business for generations to come. Seats are very limited, so we encourage you to secure your slots now by calling Doms at 09178981493 or emailing him at dlagco@wbadvisoryasia. com. g

Success story: Parents’...

However, Mommy Connie saw a similar case on Citizen Pinoy, and she insisted and convinced her husband, Romeo, to consult with Atty. Gurfinkel.

During their consultation, Atty. Gurfinkel informed them that Remuel (left) was eligible for a visa under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA), and Atty. Gurfinkel was able to bring their youngest to the U.S. as an immigrant in 2011.

Since then, Atty. Gurfinkel also worked on Rina’s employment petition, and in 2019, Rina arrived in the U.S. with her husband and their children.

Atty. Gurfinkel also worked on Karen’s family petition. She arrived in November 2022, together with her two children.

True to his law firm’s mission of “Bringing Families Together,” Atty. Gurfinkel is committed to keeping that promise. To this day, he is working on bringing the rest of the Padlan family to the U.S.

From the original two members, Connie and Romeo, the family has now grown to 14 members who now reside in the U.S., living the American Dream.

Watch this success story on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, September 10 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app. (Advertising Supplement)

Taylor Sheesh, the Filipino Taylor Swift drag queen, wakes up ‘Good Morning America’

by Jelou GalanG

THE Philippines, despite pretty much meeting all possible criteria to be a certified Taylor Nation, has unfortunately been reeling from its exclusion from the “Eras Tour.”

While Filipino Swifties found their luck getting tickets from the only Asian stops, Singapore and Japan, others have been coping in different ways. You know, using interactive music add-ons—or dropping everything (now) to go to concert-like mall shows with Taylor Sheesh as the main act.

From Rolling Stone to Washington Post, today’s talk-of-thetown Taylor Swift drag queen has been making headlines. Taylor Sheesh, who has been going on her own kind of “Eras Tour” across Philippine cities and provinces, made quite an interesting stop recently: “Good Morning America.”

In an episode published on Sept. 3, the 28-year-old performer (virtually) graced New York-based ABC News-produced morning television program “Good Morning America” as one of their guests.

The report highlighted Taylor Sheesh’s popularity and loaded mall shows, as Filipinos have been channeling their passion for Swift while watching and singing along with the clever impersonator, from smash hit “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” to sentimental favorite “August.”

Sheesh, whose real name is Mac Coronel, was described as someone who’s “been doing drag since 2017, but has been a Swiftie even longer”—since 2009, to be exact. In the exclusive interview, the performer even admitted that the swift change into different costumes is the most difficult part of her performances. No wonder, her outfits are meticulously prepared and really bow down to the superstar’s tour wardrobe.

Sheesh also mentioned that her setlist favorites—mostly because of the massive “earthquake-like” reaction from the audience—include “You Belong With Me,” “Love Story,” “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” and “Cruel Summer.”

Sheesh is set to catch the “Eras Tour” in Singapore, pushing supporters online to vouch for a meet-up between the two passionate performers. “Good Morning America” anchors complimented the creativity put into the details of the drag queen’s craft. That combined with drive and hard work? That’s so Taylor Swift-coded. g

Inquirer.net

Photo screenshot from “Good Morning America” on YouTube

Liza proud of Enrique’s showbiz comeback

by JAN MILO SEVERO Philstar.com

ACTRESS Liza Soberano admitted that she and boyfriend Enrique Gil seldom spend time with each other.

In her interview with “TV Patrol,” Liza said they are both separately traveling constantly, but they still do see each other.

“Yes, every once in a while [we’ll see each other]. I think occasionally, mostly, because we’re both like constantly flying. Like, I’ve been in the States for a while, then, I came back. And then, he’s been flying,” she said.

“So, yeah, it’s very seldom now, but we do, we still do [see each other],” she

Liza said that she’s proud of Enrique’s showbiz comeback through the comedy movie “I Am Not Big Bird,” which he also produced.

“I’m really happy to see him, like, kind of flourishing. The project he’s working on right now is something he’s producing himself. So, I’m really proud of him for that, and very supportive,” she said.

Earlier this year, rumors of Liza and Enrique breaking up surfaced on different social media.

Enrique, however, denied it last July.

“We are good, we are good,” he said.

“I am busy with all my projects. She is busy with

Yassi and Ruru’s big screen reunion on rewind mode

by TESSA MAURICIO-ARRIOLA ManilaTimes.net

PREPARE to be transported back in time as two well loved actors rekindle their on-screen magic in “Video City.” Yassi Pressman and Ruru Madrid, whose last collaboration was a decade ago, are set to grace the big screen once more in a heartwarming time-travel romance from Viva Films.

Directed by indie film festival alumnus Raynier Brizuela, “Video City: Be Kind, Please Rewind” promises to be nostalgic journey especially for those who fondly remember the ‘90s and the iconic Video City movie rental stores.

all her projects naman. She is focusing on international work, which is super good for her. Kahit super busy kami, we still support each other no matter what,” he added. 

Newly married Lovi not...

Sunday (Sept. 3), in which Lovi attended and was reunited with the cast and crew before reporting to her taping.”

Leo also stressed that Lovi’s husband is very supportive of the actress, and will not get in the way of her career even after their wedding, which the veteran talent manager described as “surreal” and like “a scene from the movie.”

In a previous STAR interview, Lovi said that Monty was very aware of the possibility of a very long stint in Batang Quiapo.

“He knows kasi na dream ko siya (Coco) makatrabaho so sobrang happy siya for me,” she said of her then-boyfriend’s reaction to her joining the drama.

“He also knows na tumakbo ng seven years yung FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano (laughs). Updated siya. Sabi ko, o, alam mo na, ikaw na yung pupunta sa akin dito, ‘di muna ako mag-e-L.A. Ikaw muna pupunta dito (laughs).”

They also make a “perfect pair” because Monty happens to be a film producer, who was part of several Hollywood productions, including Bruce

Willis’ action thrillers The Prince (2014) and Marauders (2016), Robert de Niro’s Heist (2015), and Escape Plan 2 (2018).

Together, Lovi and her nowhubby put up an international film company named C’est Lovi Productions.

Besides his involvement in the movies, his LinkedIn profile indicates that he is a scientist by profession with a Ph.D. in Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology from the University of California, Los

Angeles (UCLA).

Said Leo of their love story, “I am very happy for Lovi that she has found love and happiness with Monty,” adding, “At first, I heard good things about Monty from Lovi’s mom and younger sister, but when I finally met him early last year in the U.S., I found him to be a genuine, respectful and hardworking human being, who gives importance to family and who is in love with Lovi and is very supportive of Lovi.” 

The film introduces viewers to two souls, Ningning (Yassi Pressman) and Han (Ruru Madrid), who come from different eras but find love and inspiration in the most unexpected of places.

Han, a disillusioned film student, stumbles upon a VHS tape rewinder and unexpectedly finds himself transported back to the year 1995. The old internet cafe he enters has miraculously transformed into a Video City branch. There, he encounters Ningning, a staff member who captivates his heart. As he continues to explore her world, their connection deepens, even though the time they spend together grows shorter with each visit.

At the movie’s grand press conference on Tuesday, Sept. 5, the stars and director shared more insights about their longawaited reunion and the magic that unfolds within “Video City.”

Reflecting on their collaboration, Ruru shared,

“Working with Yassi then and now, I didn’t expect our friendship to be like this. And I’m very, very proud of her achievements in life.”

He went on to commend Yassi’s generosity throughout the shoot and for the genuine emotions she poured into every scene they shared. “I’m very lucky that I finally got to work with Yassi again,” added Ruru, who also revealed after all this time that Yassi was his first crush in show business.

Sharing her perspective on their acting tandem, Yassi said, “It’s been 10 years, but it feels like we just saw each other yesterday. Ruru is still the same humble guy that I met before. He is very hungry and very passionate with his craft. It’s so exciting to do a movie again where we give it our all.”

For the versatile actress, the magic that happens between herself and Ruru happens when they stay true to their characters.

“As long as we do that, the audience will feel it,” she guaranteed.

Yassi and Ruru also agreed that direk Raynier’s directorial finesse played a pivotal role in bringing out the natural chemistry between them which has just been waiting in backburner since they starred in GMA Network’s teen drama series “Dormitoryo.” Ruru affirmed how the director’s trust in their abilities gave them the confidence to deliver their best performances. Asked for his approach, direk Rainier replied, “We weren’t going for a hard sell; it was all about putting our hearts into our

13-year-old Fil-Am actor Yonas...

PAGE B1

and aliens. They make contact with Elio’s mother, who seems to be engaged in a classified project aimed at establishing communication with extraterrestrial beings.

Before becoming Elio, the Disney actor began his career as a tennis player, creating humorous and engaging tennis-related Instagram and Vine videos with his father. It was then that the U.S. Tennis Association approached him, asking if he would be interested in becoming a “kidcaster” for the U.S. Open in New York.

From then on, everything fell into place. Apart

from Elio, the Los Angeles native star has also been on the rise, taking on significant roles in different Disney productions like “Pupstruction,” “Pretty Freekin Scary,” and Star Wars series “Obi-Wan Kenobi.”

Kibreab’s diverse range of roles has also led him to a performance in the second season of the Netflix series “Sweet Tooth.” He made his first appearance in the 2019 season finale of “Silicon Valley.”

The forthcoming animated movie, which is set for release in spring 2024, marks the animation studio’s 28th feature film. 

PhilDev is

Lovi Poe exchanges ‘I dos’ with Monty Blencowe during an intimate wedding ceremony at the history-laden Cliveden House in Berkshire, England. Photo from Instagram/@lovipoe

A decade later, Yassi Pressman and Ruru Madrid reunite in a heartwarming time-travel romance from Viva Films. ManilaTimes.net photo

Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil Photo from Instagram/@enriquegil17

Voltes V Legacy stars proud to be part of successful live-action adaptation

By Jerry Donato Philstar.com

VOLTES V Legacy has successfully taken on the challenge to retell a well-loved ‘70s Japanese animé and it completed its journey as the Pinoy live-action adaptation on Friday, Sept. 8.

The GMA Telebabad show has also kept audiences engaged for its four-month run and graced the 2023 San Diego Comic-Con.

That’s why it’s a privilege and a once-in-alifetime experience for the Voltes V Legacy cast and crew to be tapped for such a TV program. Fans are interested in seeing how the live-action narrative will wrap itself up.

“I’m excited for everyone to see the bigger picture that we’ve been working on so hard for four years,” said Miguel Tanfelix about the show’s conclusion in a recent virtual press conference that also featured fellow series actors Ysabel Ortega, Matt Lozano, Radson Flores and Raphael Landicho. Miguel, Matt and Raphael play the brothers Steve, Robert-Big Bert and Little Jon Armstrong, while Ysabel and Radson portray Jamie Robinson and Mark Gordon.

It was a long journey to the screens as the planning and production of Voltes V Legacy started from pre-pandemic and pandemic to the new normal.

“I also feel sad because parang yun na agad yun (it seems like ‘Is that all?’),” added he. “I will miss watching the project on YouTube, but I’m grateful that Voltes V Legacy has happened in or become part of my life.”

Given the iconic status of the animé the show is based on and the popularity the latter has achieved, the stars couldn’t help but keep souvenirs to remember the memories they had while working and remind them of Voltes V Legacy.

consider their participation in it a privilege

“Actually, I tried to ask and request for the helmet of Jamie, but they were (the production people) very strict when it came to costumes, and of course, for a reason.

What I asked for as souvenirs were the emblems on the costume,” said Ysabel, who was referring to the J. Robinson name patch as well as the Camp Big Falcon emblem.

Matt, for his part, also has the name emblem of R. Armstrong.

“I love jackets. Para lang hindi ko makalimutan at para lang maalaala ko yung mga pinag-gagagawa namin sa set (So, for me not to forget, and to remember the work we have done on the set), yun hinihingi ko para ilalagay ko siya sa favorite jacket ko (I’ve asked for the name patch, which I will

put on my favorite jacket).”

Like Ysabel and Matt, Radson said he’s been keeping the name patch of Mark Gordon and the Voltes V jacket director Mark Reyes gifted them.

As for the kid-actor Raphael, he will miss the company of his fellow castmates, who have become Raphael’s older siblings on the set.

Barbie and David: So much more to give beyond ‘FiLay’

by tessa Mauricio-arriola ManilaTimes.net

HANDS down, Barbie Forteza and David Licauco are a match made in teleserye heaven. Their onscreen chemistry as David’s elite and mild-mannered Fidel of the “Noli Me Tangere” era and Barbie’s feisty but big-hearted Klay from the future was nothing short of electric in 2022’s phenomenal primetime success, “Maria Clara at Ibarra.”

Philippine Movies, Robin Padilla of lead characters, Monique and Carding.

A dream project for any actor in their prime, it was only thoughtful to ask Barbie and David how they’re doing as the highly anticipated premiere of their show fast approaches. They are undoubtedly grateful for yet another big break, but isn’t “FiLay’s” unexpected success compounded by the magnitude of bringing “Maging Sino Ka Man” back to life looming over them somehow?

It is, therefore, no wonder that the current countdown to “FiLay’s” (Fidel and Klay) follow-up project is consuming legions of “BarDa” (Barbie and David) fans today. For indeed, there hasn’t been a love team as universally endearing and wildly successful as theirs on Philippine TV since the “AlDub” years of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza on the former “Eat Bulaga.”

Come Monday, September 11, Barbie and David are determined to steal the nation’s hearts again, this time as the stars of GMA Network’s bold and brave attempt at a primetime adaptation of “Maging Sino Ka Man.”

“Ma-mi-miss ko po silang lahat (I will miss them all), pero masaya din naman po kasi yung mga results, yung reactions ng mga tao napasaya naman po namin sila, naging proud po sila (but I’m happy because the viewers’ reactions show the happiness we have brought to them and they are proud PAGE B5 PAGE B6

A colossal blockbuster from Viva Films in 1991, the actionfilled love story is one of the best-loved Filipino movies of all time, thanks to the iconic portrayals of Megastar Sharon Cuneta and erstwhile Bad Boy of

Still very much grounded, the highly sophisticated actress that Barbie has become was only too happy to unload her feelings. Telling The Manila Times Entertainment that she closely watched the Sharon Cuneta classic, absolutely aware she had enormous shoes to fill, she gushed, “Of course, there’s pressure. There’s so much pressure. But [on the other hand], we see it as an opportunity to grow and give our fans something memorable again. We’ve evolved as actors since ‘FiLay,’ and I believe our fans will see a different and more mature side of us in ‘Maging Sino Ka Man.’”

David, the newbie chinito who proved his worth in “Maria Clara at Ibarra,” similarly said he and Barbie chose to thrive on the pressure rather than

Yassi and Ruru’s...

PAGE B3

work. It was all about trust in each other. From the very first look test, we felt a connection.”

As Ruru noted, this chemistry was ever-present and continued to build throughout the entire shoot, making the film even more special.

All that said, “Video City” is not only a reunion for Yassi and Ruru but also a testament to the enduring power of friendship and shared memories. It’s a film that captures the magic and nostalgia of the ‘90s. It’s a reminder for all to cherish special moments and rewind the memories that shaped them to who they’ve become today. g

Miguel Tanfelix (center) and (from left) Radson Flores, Ysabel Ortega, Matt Lozano and Raphael Landicho play Steve Armstrong, Mark Gordon, Jamie Robinson, Robert ‘Big Bert’ Armstrong and Little Jon Armstrong in the hit GMA Telebabad show Voltes V Legacy. They

and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. GMA photo

This phenomenal breakout tandem from ‘Maria Clara at Ibarra’ is eager to deliver another memorable partnership in ‘Maging Sino Ka Man.’ GMA photo

Don’t give up, keep going!

Pastor’s Notes

ReveRend Rodel G. BalaGtas

WHAT’S the secret to happiness?” a friend of mine asked his Japanese friend, who is a professor of Japanese literature in Hawaii. “Ganbatte kudasai,” the professor answered, adding, “It means ‘please persevere’.”

Upon hearing this insight from the Japanese professor, I realized how much sense it made. Perseverance, or not giving up, is the key to happiness.

When I researched the Japanese expression “Ganbatte kudasai” on the internet, I discovered that “Ganbatte” is a popular phrase that means “Do your best,” “Do not give up,” “Hang in there,” or “Keep going.” “Kudasai” means “please,” a term frequently used to convey politeness, which is an essential element in Japanese culture. “Ganbatte” is a word deeply cherished by the Japanese people because it encapsulates the idea of never surrendering,

no matter how difficult the challenges may be. It embodies the spirit of perseverance that is ingrained in almost every person in Japan from birth until their last breath.

Could it be that this Sunday’s (September 10) Gospel (Matthew 18:15-20) also conveys the spirit of perseverance when it comes to conflict resolution and the pursuit of reconciliation with others? Jesus teaches us a valuable lesson about perseverance in our efforts to achieve peace and harmony in our personal lives, families, and communities.

In this Gospel passage, Jesus advises us on how to address and resolve conflicts with others. If someone wrongs you, go and talk to them privately. If they listen and understand, you have achieved reconciliation. If not, take one or two witnesses with you to establish the facts. If they still refuse to listen, involve the larger community. And if they persist in their refusal, treat them as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.

Implicit in this Gospel passage is the willingness and ability to persevere in resolving conflicts with individuals and doing everything possible to attain peace and reconciliation. In our pursuit of “loosing and binding,” perseverance is an

essential quality we need to uphold. In the spirit of the Gospel, perseverance entails placing Christ at the center of every human encounter, particularly when resolving conflicts.

For Jesus accompanies and strengthens us as we strive to bring peace into our lives. This was emphasized by Pope Francis in his homily on Monday, September 4, 2023: “Let us not forget that journeying together and recognizing our communion with one another in the Holy Spirit requires a change, a growth that can only occur through an intimate encounter with God. This encounter transforms our will and even our emotions. Then, we learn to see others not only through our own eyes and emotions, but through the perspective of Jesus Christ. Their friends become our friends as well.” Sending warm blessings to all!

* * * 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.

* * * Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.

Voltes V Legacy stars proud...

of us). Ma-mi-miss ko yung lahat po kasi lagi ko silang kasama (I will miss them because we were always together).”

Years from now, the young and the young at heart will re-watch their show and revisit the actors’ stories in playing the key characters. Some may even discuss their work as part of pop culture.

“It’s a privilege to be in this big project,” said Miguel. “Walang ibang words ako na masasabi (No words can express) how proud I am to be part of the show.”

He added that starring in Voltes V Legacy is one of the stories he will share with his grandkids. “I will tell them that I played an animé character in a live action as well as the adventures we had during the taping and the achievements of the show, especially when we went to the Comic-Con and represented the Philippines there.”

With Ysabel, she considers being part of the Pinoy adaptation a legacy.

“That’s what direk Mark would always remind us whenever we were on set. They would always motivate us that we should give our 100 percent because this is going to happen once in our lives,” said she. “He would tell us that this is your legacy, so you do it better.”

Protecting employment rights of immigrants require more than courtroom skills

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights

atty. C. Joe sayas, JR

PABLO, a hardworking Filipino mechanic and naturalized U.S. citizen,, worked in Los Angeles  for 23 years and earned enough to retire. However, he was persuaded by an insurance agent to  transfer his retirement money to a complex insurance policy known as an equity-indexed annuity. He  was further induced to transfer the funds to a second insurance company.

Unbeknownst to Pablo, every transfer of money resulted in a surrender charge of 33%.  Hence, a transfer of $150,000 from insurance company A to insurance company B resulted in  $50,000 that Pablo lost in surrender penalties. The company kept the $50,000 and the agent earned  more commissions. Worse, Pablo discovered he could not immediately use his money without  additional losses.

upbringing in  the Philippines.

For Pablo to win his case, he needed to be understood by an American court and jury. Pablo  needed, not only a lawyer’s courtroom skills, but also one who understood his culture. He had to be  able to speak to his attorney in his native language so that he could tell “the whole truth.” Since his   psychological state was at issue, he needed counsel who understood his emotional and cultural  background. As Pablo’s background was explained, his testimony, in light of other evidence, started  to make sense to the other parties. This understanding contributed to reaching a successful settlement  for Pablo and his family.

Pablo’s case is an example of the challenges involved in helping immigrants obtain justice.  Immigrants may need to go to court to seek relief for the following:

1. when injured by the negligence or business fraud of another;

2. when full wages are not paid to the immigrant;

sensitivities and was not able to obtain “the whole truth”.

The manager felt that simply being accused of having forced himself on an unwilling woman  was a badge of dishonor. Since he has been so dishonored, he would rather keep silent. What resulted  was a communication breakdown.

Our involvement as attorneys who knew the manager’s culture and language brought a  different dynamic into the case. Because the actual underpinnings of the manager’s behavior were  understood, the approach to asking questions was done in a way that allowed the manager to open up.  As more truth surfaced, a better evaluation of the issues led to a productive resolution of the case.

The main actors are simply proud and happy, as Radson shared, “I’m very proud and grateful to be part of Voltes V Legacy. I’m pretty sure I’m going to treasure it forever in my heart.”

Matt, on the other hand, will never get tired of sharing his experiences in Voltes V Legacy.

“Now, I feel very proud and what more ‘pag tumagal pa? Actually, my favorite color is blue. But because of me playing Big Bert, halos lahat ng gamit ko ngayon sa room ko, sa mga damit ko ay color green. So, perhaps it’s a proof of how proud I am to be part of the show.”

Raphael also takes pride in becoming Little Jon on TV and will relish thinking of that experience even when he becomes an adult.

Asked about what other roles they would like to play in the TV adaptation, their answers ranged from lead to supporting ones.

Miguel would like to essay the Mark Gordon character. Ysabel’s choice was Zandra. Radson would take on Prince Zardoz. Matt picked the character Draco. Raphael chose Big Bert.

For now, and forever, Miguel, Matt, Raphael, Radson and Ysabel will be known as the Kapuso actors who have breathed life into the animé characters Steve, Big Bert, Little Jon, Mark Gordon and Jamie in a live-action adaptation. g

Pablo just lost a chunk of his retirement savings and felt shame and disgust at himself. Feeling  powerless, he slowly spiraled into depression and had to undergo psychiatric care. We filed a lawsuit  on his behalf to recover his money plus damages for emotional distress. Pablo’s deposition was taken.

During questioning by the three big firm insurance lawyers, Pablo was asked how he understood  “surrender charges”.

Pablo, who grew up in the Philippines, replied with his arms raised: “I do not know surrender  charges. All I know about surrender is when the Japanese raised their hands and surrendered to the  Americans!”

The lawyers thought that Pablo was joking. But Pablo was serious. He truly did not know  what ‘surrender charges’ meant in the context of an insurance contract. While he had worked in the  U.S. for a long time, his speech patterns and cultural referents continued to reflect his

3. when defrauded by a company that deceptively marketed its products;

4. when unreasonably denied benefits under an insurance policy.

A client’s lack of fluency in English can limit his or her full expression of the facts. An  immigrant’s willingness to explain may be hindered by cultural factors like a sense of shame. Is the  client keeping his true feelings to himself for fear of being perceived as dumb or crazy based on his  cultural standards? Or is the client unwilling or unable to explain because of injured feelings?

Even when dealing with immigrant professionals, who are fluent in the English language, an  attorney might still hit the cultural wall. My firm was hired by a major retirement home to defend the  company’s manager accused of sexual harassment. The other attorney in the case, who used the  usual straightforward style of asking questions, was unfamiliar with the manager’s cultural

Communications that ensure complete understanding between clients and attorneys can help  achieve success for the immigrant client’s case. This is especially true where emotional pains are  suffered as is true in serious discrimination or personal injury cases.   The attorney’s knowledge of a client’s language and culture can go a long way in facilitating  effective communications. Armed with more complete information, the attorney can better articulate  the client’s damages to opposing counsel, to the court and the jury..

* * *

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

* * *

The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential  and at no cost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www.joesayaslaw. com. [For more than  25 years, C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and  consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, selected  as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine for 11 years, and is a past Presidential Awardee for  Outstanding Filipino Overseas.]   (Advertising Supplement)

Can my children’s derivative social securitybenefits be offset against my monthly child support obligation?

Barrister’s Corner

CALIFORNIA Family

Code section 4504 allows a noncustodial parent to be credited towards their child support obligation for the amount of federal government payments they are receiving on behalf of the child. The payments that qualify for this credit include:

• Social Security retirement or disability benefits

• Railroad Retirement benefits

• Department of Veterans Affairs benefits

To be eligible for the credit, the child must be potentially eligible for the benefits. This means that the child must meet the requirements for the benefits, such as being the child of a deceased or disabled worker.

The custodial parent or other child support obligee is responsible for applying for the benefits on behalf of the child.

The noncustodial parent must cooperate with the custodial parent in making the application and providing any necessary information.

If the custodial parent refuses to apply for the benefits or fails to cooperate with the appropriate federal agency, the noncustodial parent may be credited towards their child support obligation for the amount of benefits that the child would have received. The noncustodial parent must provide evidence to the local child support agency indicating the amount of benefits the child would have received.

This credit is intended to help ensure that children receive the financial support they need from both parents, even if one parent is deceased or disabled. It can also help to reduce the financial burden on the custodial parent.

If you are a noncustodial parent who is receiving federal government payments on behalf of your child, you may be eligible for a credit towards your child support obligation. You should speak with an experienced family law attorney to discuss your specific case. Here are some additional things to keep in mind about California Family Code section 4504:

• The credit is not available for all types of federal government payments.

• The credit may not be available if the noncustodial parent is already receiving a credit for child support payments from another source.

Maureen reveals ‘constant battle’ with depression: ‘No longer afraid to ask for help’

by Anne PAsAjol Inquirer.net

• The amount of the credit may be limited.

If you have any questions about California Family Code section 4504, you should speak with an experience family law specialist attorney.

*

*

* 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@ kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com. (Advertising Supplement)

MAUREEN Wroblewitz marked the Suicide Prevention Month by opening up about her struggles with her mental health, revealing she has constantly battled with depression since she was just a teen.

Through her Instagram page on Wednesday, Sept. 6, the model-beauty queen recalled how she had thought of “all the easiest ways to end her life” when she was 13 years old.

“This girl that you see smiling and posing in front of the camera was thinking of all the easiest ways to end her life just a few months prior,” she began, showing a photo of her younger self.

“If it wasn’t for her little sister finding her in a vulnerable situation and telling her parents about it, I don’t know if I would be here today,” she continued.

Wroblewitz spoke about how she lost faith in herself and chose to suffer in silence after her mom died when the model-beauty queen was just 11. Wroblewitz admitted that she knew “something was wrong” at the time, but that she wanted to hide it because she was “ashamed.”

After being “exposed,” Wroblewitz started seeing a therapist and was gifted by her dad with an inspirational book by Nick Vujicic, which eventually inspired her to change her outlook in life.

“Nick’s story had made me realize that at just 13, I hadn’t even seen the world yet,” she stated. “Just that change of mindset opened a lot of doors for me.”

“I have always wanted to share more about my mental health struggles but I never knew how. I now understand that the best way is to just do it, to speak my truth and people will listen,” she said. “I believe that even if I get to help just one person by sharing my story, I have done something right.”

Wroblewitz then expressed her gratitude for the love and care she receives, including from her “momager” and her boyfriend, whose name she did not immediately disclose.

“Depression is still a constant battle for me but I am no longer afraid to ask for help. I see my therapist every month; I have motivational calls with my momager and I have the support of my family and my boyfriend,” she said.

“I can now say that I’m extremely proud of myself, not just for all my achievements but for having found the strength to fight for what I believed in,” she added. “I’m glad I didn’t give up on myself. I now know that I am truly meant for something bigger.”

Meanwhile, Wroblewitz disclosed in January that she “lost” herself in her past relationship. At the time, she said she needed to “work on herself and heal from past trauma.” g

Barbie and David: So much more to give beyond...

struggle with it, adding, “We want to exceed expectations because that’s what our viewers deserve.”

From the viral and highpowered trailers GMA released across its various media platforms, it does seem like Barbie and David both stood up to the plate with everything they could muster. While only the eventual series itself can confirm this, series director Enzo Williams (“Bonifacio ang Unang Pangulo,” “AWOL,” and “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano”) said he can vouch for the pair of actors for

whom he had nothing but praise.

“Barbie is one of the best actresses, if not the best actress I’ve ever worked with. Her dedication to her craft is unmatched. She’s very invested in what she does, and she’s very collaborative as well, which only makes the series even better.

“It’s really a privilege to direct her,” Williams rounded out.

As for David, the director shared, “He has really stepped up his game with the action. He was determined to do everything himself, no matter how difficult and demanding the scenes were. You’ll see his jaw-dropping

sequences and will surely realize he isn’t just a heartthrob. He’s proven himself not just as a leading man but also as an action star in the making.”

Consequently, Williams said viewers should brace themselves for a roller coaster of emotions, intense confrontations, heartpounding drama and highpowered action scenes every weeknight following “Maging Sino Ka Man’s” Monday night premiere.

As BarDa gratefully reveled in their director’s good words, they also steeled their confidence as they gently urged the members

of the media to help them get the word out that their tandem has so much more to give beyond “FiLay.”

“Our journey as Fidel and Klay in ‘Maria Clara at Ibarra’ was unforgettable,” Barbie reminisced. “The love and support we received from our fans were overwhelming. That they’ve been with us every step of the way is something we carry with us in every project we do, and that’s a promise we keep for them.”

Echoing his lady lead, David finally acknowledged, “It’s both a privilege and a challenge to

return as a love team after the success of FiLay. My friendship with Barbie and our comfort level working together are already there. Meanwhile, this project is a chance for us to grow as actors, so we’re ready to face the challenges, give our best, and bring our characters to life. We hope that our fans will join us on this new journey.”

BarDa’s ability to convey authenticity, whether in their performances or in interviews like these, refreshingly sets these two apart from other love teams who give more importance to surface charm

over true talent. Neither denying that their perfect chemistry only goes as far as their scenes, Barbie and David’s respective professionalism and captivating acting caliber are sure to make their journey from Fidel and Klay to new characters here onwards so worthwhile to see.

“

Maging Sino Ka Man” also stars some of the country’s most respected artists in film and television, namely ER Ejercito, Jeric Raval, Jean Saburit, Juan Rodrigo, Antonio Aquitania and Jean Garcia, with the special special participation of Al Tantay and Tonton Gutierrez. g

Maureen Wroblewitz Photo from Instagram/@mauwrob