091623 - Los Angeles Weekend Edition

A RECORD number of undocumented immigrants made the U.S. their home between the years 2019-2021, noted the Migration Policy Institute in a report released Sept. 13.

Approximately 11.2 million unauthorized immigrants lived in the United States in 2021, up from 11.0 million in 2019, representing the largest jump in undocumented migration since 2015, according to MPI.

Even amid the Trump administration’s implementation of Title 42 and the COVID-19 pandemic when borders were completely shut down, a steady stream of migrants entered the country by land or by air. The data does not represent the years 2022 or 2023, when nightly news was rife with images of people attempting to cross the border.

Arrivals at the border now represent a growing mix of nationalities from the Americas and, increasingly, from beyond the Southern hemisphere. Growing numbers of migrants from far-away countries such as Russia, Turkey, Cameroon, and India are arriving at the

PH, US top brass eye more EDCA sites

by FRANCES MANGOSING

TOP Philippine and U.S. military officials are considering adding more sites that will expand American military presence in the country amid Washington’s efforts to deter China’s increasingly aggressive actions in the South China Sea and toward Taiwan.

Manila and Washington this year added four

additional sites—three close to Taiwan and one near a Chinese artificial island in the West Philippine Sea— that almost doubled American military presence from the five that were chosen after the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) was signed in 2014.

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command chief Adm. John Aquilino, who is in the country for the annual Mutual Defense Board and Security Engagement Board meeting held on Thursday, September 14, said he and Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. discussed increasing the number

of Philippine military bases where U.S. troops and equipment could be deployed under EDCA “General Brawner and I made recommendations to our senior leaders for the consideration of additional sites, but there’s still work to do there,” he said during a press conference after they wrapped up the high-level military meeting at Camp Aguinaldo.

Joint survey eyed EDCA allows the U.S. military to build facilities and preposition supplies, equipment and materiel  PAGE A2

Majority believes PH on right track – survey

SEVEN out of 10 Filipinos believe that the country is heading toward the right direction, a survey by OCTA Research Group has shown.

In its Tugon ng Masa survey conducted from July 22 to 26, 2023, 72 percent of respondents said the Philippines is on the correct path.

Only 11 percent think otherwise, while 16 percent are undecided.

The figure showed a 13 percent decline from the 85 percent reported in the October 2022 Tugon survey and a 4 percent decline since March 2023.

The number of those who think that the country is moving in the wrong direction is almost the same, from 10 percent in March to 11 percent in July.

Broken down into major areas, Mindanao registered the highest percentage of optimism for the Philippines with 78 percent, followed by the National Capital Region with 74 percent.

Only 65 percent of Visayas respondents said they were optimistic about the country's direction, a significant decline compared to March, wherein 87

EVERYONE over the age of 6 months should get the latest COVID-19 booster, a federal expert panel recommended on Tuesday, Sept. 12 after hearing an estimate that universal vaccination could prevent 100,000 more hospitalizations each year than if only the elderly were vaccinated.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted 13-1 for the motion after months of debate about whether to limit its recommendation to high-risk groups. A day earlier, the FDA approved the new booster, stating it was safe and effective at protecting against the COVID variants currently circulating in the U.S.

After the last booster was released, in 2022, only 17% of the U.S. population got it — compared with the roughly half of the nation who got the first booster after it became available in fall 2021. Broader uptake was hurt by pandemic weariness and evidence the shots don’t always prevent COVID infections.

Anti-martial law group questions ‘secrecy’ in alleged Romualdez donation to Harvard

MANILA — Martial law victims and rights advocates have criticized House Speaker Martin Romualdez for remaining silent on reports of his alleged million-peso donation to Harvard University for a new Filipino language course.

In a statement Thursday, September 14, the Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses to Malacañang questioned the secrecy surrounding the reports of two U.S.based news organizations on the alleged $2 million donation by the president’s cousin to Harvard University.

“Why the need to keep the donation a secret? Is it because Speaker Martin Romualdez is a philanthropist who quietly helps? Or because the Marcoses and the Romualdezes don't want the public to know where the funds come from?” CARMMA said.

FilAm, a U.S.-based magazine for Filipino Americans, first reported in August that Romualdez had donated $1 million or around P56 million to support the creation of the new Tagalog language course.

The magazine quoted an unidentified Harvard alumnus who attended a dinner in honor of Romualdez as saying: “Yes,



MANILA — Manny Pacquiao reiterated his desire to represent the Philippines in the Paris 2024 Olympics in a bid to fulfill a lifelong dream.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino first bared last August 30 that Pacquiao is interested in a shot at an Olympic medal in Paris next year.

The eight-division World champion doubled down on his commitment to join the national team during the Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA) launch on Friday,

September 15.

“[I’m] waiting for that. I’m excited for that,” said Pacquiao. The 44-year-old boxing icon, who retired in 2021 to make way for his presidential bid, said he is still hoping to win a gold medal.

“From the beginning, I said when I went to Manila that I wanted to join the Philippine team. But I was rejected because they said I didn’t know how [to fight]. So I was forced to turn pro at the age of 16,” Pacquiao said in Filipino. “‘That’s the reason for this. From the very beginning, it’s been a dream in my heart to get a gold medal in the Olympics.”



THE Philippine government, in response to China's 10-dash line map of the South China Sea, will release a new map reflecting the legality of the country's maritime domain and territorial sovereignty in the disputed territory in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).

"We hope to be able to make an announcement very soon as far as the new Philippine map is concerned. Yes, we are seriously considering it, and we already have something in the works," said Assistant Director General and National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) spokesman Jonathan Malaya in a television interview.

China recently came up with an updated 10-dash line map, highlighting its jurisdiction in the entire South China Sea that intruded into the Philippine exclusive economic zone and the coastlines of Malaysia and India.

Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri said the Philippines needs the help of its allies to defend its sovereignty in the WPS.

"We cannot do it alone. We need the help of our allies, whether we like it or not," Zubiri said at a Senate hearing on the WPS situation on Tuesday, Sept. 12.

"Not only in providing war equipment, we should also seek economic assistance. Because China knows that they can hostage us when it comes to their economic agenda," he added in Filipino.

The Senate chief said the United States has already expressed support for the Philippines' cause in the WPS, as have Australia, Japan, Vietnam, South Korea and the European Union.

"I welcome the fact that the United States of America, in every discussion, in every forum, has said that they will stand by the Philippines if something happens. And not only that, many have already agreed with us, and they are helping [us]," Zubiri said. Meanwhile, Indian maritime officials have raised the need for the Philippines and India to work together to ensure a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.

"For India, the Indo-Pacific is a very strategic geography. It is

PH, US top brass eye more...

inside strategically located Philippine military bases. Beijing believes that the additional sites are aimed at deterring China, which sees Taiwan as part of its territory.

The first five EDCA locations were Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro, Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, and Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu.

The sites added this year included three in the northern Philippines—Camilo Osias Naval Base and Lal-lo Airport both in Cagayan, and Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela. The fourth is on Balabac Island in the West Philippine Sea, close to the Panganiban (Mischief) Reef, which the Chinese seized in 1995 and turned into one of its biggest artificial islands within the Philippines’ 370-kilometer exclusive economic zone.

Sources knowledgeable about the discussions, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to reporters on the matter, said there were no new sites recommended so far.

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Both sides have yet to look at the options, likely airports and seaports with military and coast guard presence. A joint survey with the United States will be conducted before the recommended sites are selected, the sources said. Brawner said other countries should not worry about the selection of EDCA sites as they were primarily intended for humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

“All of these joint operations, even the selection of our EDCA sites, have nothing to do with the other countries in the IndoPacific region, meaning the threats that could come out from these countries,” he said.

Aquilino said they added 63 new projects at the nine EDCA sites to the 32 that had been approved.

The United States has so far allocated more than $100 million for EDCA projects “to build capability for the AFP to use every day and for the U.S. to fall in on when invited,” he said.

The Filipinos and the Americans are in talks to build a fuel storage facility and a command fusion center at Lallo Airport and to upgrade an air strip and the construction of a pier at the Naval Base Camilo Osias in Cagayan province in the northeastern tip of mainland Luzon close to Taiwan.

Brawner, Aquilino and other top military officials and diplomats of both countries toured three EDCA sites on Wednesday, September 13.

“We’re not just looking at how we can operate together more efficiently but also we’re looking at the future operations that we’re going to conduct,” Brawner said during their visit.

“All of these factors should come in as we decide on which projects we’re really going to pursue,” he added.

New runway

Aquilino said the “prioritization” of projects would be discussed by both sides.

“It is ultimately approved by the Philippine government and it is to develop in a way that’s most effective for the Philippines and then supported by the U.S.,” he said.

The officials also inspected Basa Air Base where a 2,800-meter runway worth $24 million is in the final stages of construction after it started in March.

The air base, which could support American activities in the region, has received $66.57 million for various projects, the biggest allocation for a single site from the United States so far.

It is relatively close to Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, a traditional fishing ground in the West Philippine Sea. The Chinese seized control of the shoal from Filipinos in 2012.

“We are very pleased with the progress of these projects, and we are highly optimistic that next year, more of these projects will be operational, allowing us to engage in joint exercises and operations immediately,” Brawner said. 

Majority believes PH on right track...

percent said the country was on the right track, and 9 percent said otherwise.

Still in the Visayas, 26 percent said the country is on the wrong track — the highest among major areas — and an increase of 17 percentage points from the previous survey.

Class ABC, at 74 percent, was also highly optimistic of the country's direction, followed by Class D with 74 percent and Class E with 70 percent.

Conversely, Class ABC respondents registered the most answers saying the country is heading in the wrong direction at 15 percent, an increase of

4 percent from the previous survey. Adult Filipinos in Class E are the highest in terms of being uncertain about the country's direction than any other socioeconomic class at 21 percent.

Optimism in the country's direction was also high among 18-24-year-olds at 78 percent, followed by 65-74-year-olds at 76 percent, 25-34-year-olds at 74 percent, and 55-64-year-olds at 73 percent.

Adults ages 25-34 and 35-44 were the highest among those who believe that the country is heading in the wrong direction at 12 percent each, while

elderly Filipinos ages 75 and above were the highest among those who are uncertain about the country's trajectory at 33 percent. Those with college or postgraduate education had the highest optimism about the country's direction at 77 percent, while 66 percent of those who had no formal or elementary education said that the country was on the right track. The survey had 1,200 respondents and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent nationwide and plus or minus 6 percent for Metro Manila, Balanced Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. 

Philippines to issue updated WPS...

very important," said Indian Navy Commo. Debesh Lahiri during the Philippine-India Maritime Dialogue organized by the Stratbase ADR Institute on Tuesday.

"Therefore, it should remain free, open, and inclusive to all, regardless of the size of the country, regardless of the size of the nation, and regardless of the size of the economy," Lahiri added.

Indian Coast Guard Commandant Ravindra Kumar Shrivastava identified areas

where the Philippines and India can collaborate that include the blue economy, offshore mining, offshore renewable energy, maritime security and safety, sustainable management of marine resources, maritime connectivity, preservation of maritime biodiversity, and technical cooperation in marine science.

"Efforts to strengthen the region are not limited to the areas of defense and security. They must expand to other areas of maritime cooperation, such as maritime economies and care

for the marine environment, with the involvement of non-state actors," Manhit said. Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Policy Planning and Coordination Patrick Chuasoto said that the maritime talk was a testament to the high level of interest between the Philippines and India in working together for their mutual benefit.

"We are encouraged by the fact that India, a major global player, the world's largest democracy and the fifth-largest economy, has chosen to play by the rules," he said. 

CA Assembly candidate Jessica Caloza endorsed by CA Federation of Teachers

LOS ANGELES – Underscoring the depth and breadth of support rallying around her bid to represent California State Assembly District 52, lifelong public servant and community organizer Jessica Caloza on Wednesday, September 13 earned a high-powered endorsement from the California Federation of Teachers (CFT).

Representing 147 Local unions chartered by the umbrella organization, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the CFT serves as the voice of more than 120,000 educational employees working at every level of public and private education from Head Start to the University of California. It is also affiliated with the AFL-CIO, which represents more than 12.5 million working people.

In making public their endorsement of Jessica Caloza for Assembly District 52, Jeffery M. Freitas, President of the California Federation of Teachers released the following statement:

“Jessica Caloza understands the critical need to ensure all students receive a world-class education.

That’s why the education professionals that make up the California Federation of Teachers are proud to endorse Jessica Caloza for State Assembly. We know that in Sacramento, Jessica will be a fearless leader on behalf of students, teachers, classified employees, and local schools, and we know she will work with us to prioritize investments in public education.”

Caloza, a first generation immigrant and a proud product of the public school system, has amassed a far-reaching coalition of support since entering the AD-52 contest, earning sought-after support from working families organizations and some of California’s most widely respected leaders, including the following:

Organizations

SEIU California State Council

California Federation of Teachers (CFT)

International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 33

California Asian & Pacific Islander (API)

Legislative Caucus

Asian Democrats of Los Angeles County (ADLAC)

California Young Democrats (CYD) Asian Pacific

Islander Caucus

Elected leaders

California Attorney General Rob Bonta

California State Treasurer Fiona Ma

State Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas

State Senator Dave Min

Assembly Speaker Emeritus John A. Pérez

Assemblymember Mia Bonta

Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, Assembly

Majority Leader

Assemblymember Mike Fong

Assemblymember Matt Haney, Assistant

Majority Whip

Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer

Assemblymember Evan Low, API Legislative

Caucus Chair Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen, Assistant

Speaker Pro Tem

Assemblymember Liz Ortega

Assemblymember Phil Ting

San Diego Mayor & Assemblymember (ret.)

Todd Gloria

San Francisco City Attorney & Assemblymember (ret.) David Chiu

Daly City Mayor Ray Buenaventura

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao

Artesia Mayor (ret.) Victor Manalo

Sierra Madre Mayor (ret.) Rachelle Pastor

Arizmendi

Cerritos Mayor (ret.) Mark Pulido

Mountain View Councilmember Margaret Abe-

Koga

LA Community College District Trustee Dr.

Kelsey Iino

Irvine Vice Mayor Tammy Kim

Santa Clara County Supervisor Otto Lee

Torrance Unified School District Board Member

Betty Lieu

Alhambra City Councilmember Jeff Maloney

Daly City Vice Mayor Juslyn Manalo

Montebello City Councilmember Salvador

Melendez

El Camino Community College District Board of

Trustees Vice President Trisha Murakawa

El Cerrito City Councilmember Gabriel Quinto

Mountain View City Councilmember Emily Ramos

Seo

Rancho Palos Verdes City Councilmember Paul

Monterey Park City Councilmember Thomas

Wong Cerritos City Councilmember Frank Yokoyama Compton City Councilmember (ret.) Michelle

Chambers

Rosemead Mayor Pro Tem (ret.) John Tang

West Covina City Councilmember (ret.) James

Toma

Community and business leaders

Abigail Zelenski, LA Civil Rights Commission

Chair and Small Business Owner*

Abraham Lim, Montebello City Commissioner*

Adrienne Hament, St. Ignatius Church

Community Advocate*

Alan Kumamoto, Consultant*

Alexander Manglinong, Attorney, Stubbs

Alderton & Markiles, LLP*

Allen Palos, LAUSD Marketing Representative*

Andrew Murphy, ADLAC President*

Andrea Figueroa, Dental Hygienist*

Anish Mohanty, California Democratic Party

Delegate*

Anna Marie Cruz, Non-profit Leader*

Aquilina Soriano Versoza, Executive Director, Pilipino Action Center*

Audrey Soriano, President, Pilipino American Los Angeles Democrats (PALAD)*

Bianca Nepales Gervacio, Former PALAD

President*

Chancee Martorell, Executive Director, Thai

Community Development Center*

Cindy Lee, ADLAC Secretary*

Dave Zelenski, Small Business Owner*

Denise Ng, Consultant, Asian Food Trade

Association*

Dr. Angelica Cortez, Non-profit Leader*

Dr. Gay Yuen, Retired Professor of Education*

Dr. Jason Chiu, CSU Los Angeles, Ethnic Studies

Professor*

Dr. Juily Phun, CSU Los Angeles, Ethnic Studies

FOOD SECURITY. Farmers plant rice seedlings in Sumapang Matanda, Malolos, Bulacan on Thursday, Sept. 14. The Department of Agriculture advises planting early or using heat-resistant crops in preparation for El Niño that is expected in the last quarter of the year. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc

SHAKE ON IT. U.S. Indo-Pacific Command chief Adm. John Aquilino and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. announce an agreement to seek additional sites to host American troops and equipment on Thursday, September 14. Out of the current nine sites, four were granted by the Marcos administration. Inquirer.net photo

Why the CDC has recommended new...

But those who did get the shot were far less likely to get very sick or die, according to data presented at Tuesday’s meeting.

The virus sometimes causes severe illness even in those without underlying conditions, causing more deaths in children than other vaccine-preventable diseases, as chickenpox did before vaccines against those pathogens were universally recommended.

The number of hospitalized patients with COVID has ticked up modestly in recent weeks, CDC data shows, and infectious disease experts anticipate a surge in the late fall and winter.

The shots are made by Moderna and by Pfizer and its German partner, BioNTech, which have decided to charge up to $130 a shot. They have launched national marketing campaigns to encourage vaccination. The advisory committee deferred a decision on a third booster, produced by Novavax, because the FDA hasn’t yet approved it.

Here’s what to know:

Who should get the COVID booster?

The CDC advises that everyone over 6 months old should, for the broader benefit of all. Those at highest risk of serious disease include babies and toddlers, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with chronic health conditions including obesity. The risks are lower — though not zero — for everyone else. The vaccines, we’ve learned, tend to prevent infection in most people for only a few months. But they do a good job of preventing hospitalization and death, and by at least diminishing infections they may slow spread of the disease to the vulnerable, whose immune systems may be too weak to generate a good response to the vaccine.

Pablo Sánchez, a pediatrics professor at The Ohio State University who was the lone dissenter on the CDC panel, said he was worried the boosters hadn’t been tested enough, especially in kids. The vaccine strain in the new boosters was approved only in June, so nearly all the tests were done in mice or monkeys. However, nearly identical vaccines have been given safely to billions of people worldwide.

When should you get it?

The vaccine makers say they’ll begin rolling out the vaccine

this week. If you’re in a highrisk group and haven’t been vaccinated or been sick with COVID in the past two months, you could get it right away, says John Moore, an immunology expert at Weill Cornell Medical College. If you plan to travel this holiday season, as he does, Moore said, it would make sense to push your shot to late October or early November, to maximize the period in which protection induced by the vaccine is still high.

Who will pay for it?

When the ACIP recommends a vaccine for children, the government is legally obligated to guarantee kids free coverage, and the same holds for commercial insurance coverage of adult vaccines. For the 25 to 30 million uninsured adults, the federal government created the Bridge Access Program. It will pay for rural and community health centers, as well as Walgreens, CVS, and some independent pharmacies, to provide COVID shots for free.

Manufacturers have agreed to donate some of the doses, CDC officials said. Will this new booster work against the current variants of COVID?

It should. More than 90% of currently circulating strains are closely related to the variant selected for the booster earlier this year, and studies showed the vaccines produced ample antibodies against most of them. The shots also appeared to produce a good immune response against a divergent strain that initially worried people, called BA.2.86. That strain represents fewer than 1% of cases currently. Moore calls it a “nothingburger.”

Why are some doctors not gung-ho about the booster?

Experience with the COVID vaccines has shown that their protection against hospitalization and death lasts longer than their protection against illness, which wanes relatively quickly, and this has created widespread skepticism. Most people in the U.S. have been ill with COVID and most have been vaccinated at least once, which together are generally enough to prevent grave illness, if not infection — in most people. Many doctors think the focus should be on vaccinating those truly at risk. With new COVID boosters, plus flu and RSV vaccines, how many shots should I expect to

get this fall?

People tend to get sick in the late fall because they’re inside more and may be traveling and gathering in large family groups.

This fall, for the first time, there’s a vaccine — for older adults — against respiratory syncytial virus. Kathryn Edwards, a 75-year-old Vanderbilt University pediatrician, plans to get all three shots but “probably won’t get them all together,” she said.

COVID “can have a punch” and some of the RSV vaccines and the flu shot that’s recommended for people 65 and older also can cause sore arms and, sometimes, fever or other symptoms. A hint emerged from data earlier this year that people who got flu and COVID shots together might be at slightly higher risk of stroke. That linkage seems to have faded after further study, but it still might be safer not to get them together.

Pfizer and Moderna are both testing combination vaccines, with the first flu-COVID shot to be available as early as next year.

Has this booster version been used elsewhere in the world?

Nope, although Pfizer’s shot has been approved in the European Union, Japan, and South Korea, and Moderna has won approval in Japan and Canada. Rollouts will start in the U.S. and other countries this week.

Unlike in earlier periods of the pandemic, mandates for the booster are unlikely. But “it’s important for people to have access to the vaccine if they want it,” said panel member Beth Bell, a professor of public health at the University of Washington.

“Having said that, it’s clear the risk is not equal, and the messaging needs to clarify that a lot of older people and people with underlying conditions are dying, and they really need to get a booster,” she said.

ACIP member Sarah Long, a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, voted for a universal recommendation but said she worried it was not enough. “I think we’ll recommend it and nobody will get it,” she said. “The people who need it most won’t get it.”

(Arthur Allen/KFF Health News)

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.

Topping the wrong lists

THE Philippines is topping international lists – in the wrong areas. It was recently reported that the country had overtaken China to become the world’s largest rice importer. This is according to the latest Grain: World Markets and Trade report of the United States Department of Agriculture.

Meanwhile, nonprofit Global Witness released its latest annual report, which showed the Philippines at the top of the list in Asia and ranking fifth globally as the worst country for environmental defenders. The report dated Sept. 13 showed that 11 of the 16 killings monitored in Asia in 2022 were perpetrated in the Philippines. Indonesia followed with three killings and India with two.

Worldwide, the Philippines ranked behind Colombia where 60 killings were recorded, followed by Brazil with 34, Mexico with 31 and Honduras with 14. The worst five accounted for more than half of the 177 lethal attacks against land and environmental defenders in 2022.

The rankings coincidentally were released just over a week after two environmental activists were reported kidnapped in Orion, Bataan. As of Wednesday, September 13, the whereabouts of Jonila Castro, 21, and Jhed Tamano, 22, remained unknown. The two are coordinators of AKAP KA Manila Bay, which is helping fishing communities and other sectors adversely affected by large-scale bay reclamation activities. Tamano is also the program coordinator of the Ecumenical Bishops

decision).

Forum. The two women were snatched in front of the Orion Water District by four men in a gray sport utility vehicle on the night of Sept. 2. While they are officially classified as missing, environment and human rights groups fear the worst.

Since 2012, Global Witness has monitored at least 281 killings of environment activists in the Philippines, with a third targeting anti-mining advocates. The military has said some of those included in the list were New People’s Army rebels killed in legitimate counterinsurgency operations. Activists have denied this and accused state forces of red-tagging. The country has consistently topped the Global Witness ranking in Asia in the past 10 years. Aggravating the high number of killings is the failure to bring the perpetrators to justice. The same problem has consistently placed the country among the 10 worst in the annual survey on impunity in the killing of journalists. The only way to end the impunity is to bring to justice killers, kidnappers and anyone else involved in violent attacks. Finding those behind the disappearance of Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano would be a good start. (Philstar.com)

Marcos diaries: A September to remember

LONG before 9/11 became a date to remember, I always associated it with Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s birthday.

September is a red-letter month for the Marcoses. Aside from the declaration of martial law on Sept. 21, there were three birthdays to celebrate: Ferdinand Sr. on the 11th, Ferdinand Jr. on the 13th, and Irene on the 16th.

On Sept. 11, 1973, Marcos noted in his diary:

“My birthday — The theme was austerity no frivolity. Mass, Ecumenical blessing at the landing in front of Maharlika, Dept. exhibits of accomplishments, Diplomatic toast (We found the use of the power all of Hydrazine which is under experimentation by our experts, to power a TV to see the Mohammad Ali-Ken Norton fight which Ali won on a split

“Received visitors — Tondo slum dwellers (distributed 96 apartments). The heirs of Sultan Kudarat, University heads and scholars … The International Students, Boy Scouts, Barangays, the Quezon Guerillas and USAFIP, NL [United States Army Forces in the PhilippinesNorthern Luzon].

“Cabinet meeting from 1-3 PM.”

While he noted that his 62nd birthday was to be marked by austerity, some people didn’t get the memo and organized an evening birthday program in Luneta with 500 movie, television, and radio stars. The person who organized the asalto on the eve of Marcos’ birthday likewise missed the memo on “no frivolity” because at dinner on Sept. 10, the program had top brass of the Armed Forces of the Philippines appear in drag. “Pounded the table to splinters from hilarity,” said Marcos who declared that the

life is surprising, and dismaying. Anyone clueless about the magnitude of the corruption problem in this country does not deserve to be a vanguard of the anti-corruption drive.

generals, “looked so credible — as street walkers.” According, to the late Fidel Ramos, that drag show exposed the AFP generals to public ridicule, and the ill feelings sown that night probably contributed to his downfall in 1986.

Reading the Marcos diaries in retrospect helps put things in perspective. For example, one of the birthday presents he received that year was a bronze bust from the University of the Philippines, through its president Salvador P. Lopez, that prompted him to remark: “[T]he downfall of leaders often start when they acquire a feeling of indestructibility and infallibility.” Those were prophetic words.

The diary entry for Sept. 13, 1973, reads: “Bongbong’s birthday! He is now 16 years old. And as of now he’s put his mark on my diary.” If one is just reading a transcription or printed version of the text without any annotations, one

would not know that the remark is literal as Bongbong actually wrote a line on the pages of his father’s diary and even initialed it “FRMII.” The Marcoses took time off at Lido Beach where the president went water skiing, when Tina Revilla was stung by a jellyfish that prompted an allergic reaction. Marcos wrote:

“Drama! Crisis! Including injections of Adrenalin (Bongbong says Edralin for short!), Chlor Trimeton (antihistamine). She called it the Aquamarine. Most women go through life guided by colors — a helicopter dash to MMC [Makati Medical Center] hospitalization under the nursing care of Lt. Col. [Corbatir?] and Mari Tess in short shorts which probably distracted the medical staff more than the ailment.

“Threatened Tracheotomy, then Intensive Care Unit at Makati Medical. Dra. Cua Lim, Internationally recognized allergist.

“The relative of the patient next door casually observing death usually follows such sensitivity to jellyfish—(It was probably a Portuguese man of war) to Tina’s hysterical matter.

“Actually a nephew of Tito Yulo died of jellyfish sting after a week. Dr. Cua Lim says the toxic substance has a curare-like effect. Paralyzing the respiratory muscles and nervous system.

“Bongbong was in a greater state of shock than anybody else.”

At this point in the diary, Bongbong interjected by writing: “This statement has caught my attention and I am suing for libel FM II.”

End of the story had Marcos noting that: “But at 5:00 PM Tina was wisecracking in bed already — low decolletage and all!”

The Marcos diaries are not all about state affairs but sometimes show the president at play, the president in a pensive mood, the president documenting gossip, or enjoying the company of his

two children, on holiday from their studies in London. “But we are stimulated into a frenzy of grabbing at the joy of having the two children, Bongbong and Irene because they leave Monday for England,” Marcos wrote. He ended wistfully: “And loneliness shall settle once more upon our lives.”

The Marcos diaries give us a front-row seat into the goingson in Malacañang. They must be read critically because they are a self-serving, selfreferential document. Reading the above made me wonder: If the presidency is a heavy responsibility and a very lonely job, why do people aspire for it? (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.

* * * Comments are welcome at aocampo@ ateneo.edu

CORRUPTION became endemic in this country ages ago. The nation was first described as a kleptocracy during its only dictatorial regime under Ferdinand Marcos the elder – a period which the Department of Education is currently trying to gloss over.

As defined by the Cambridge Dictionary, a kleptocracy is “a society whose leaders make themselves rich and powerful by stealing from the rest of the people.”

The failure to punish the kleptocrats of the Marcos dictatorship, plus subsequent generations of crooks postEDSA revolt, further entrenched corruption and turned it into not just a fad but a way of life.

In our dysfunctional democracy, corruption is not punished, but richly rewarded.

Instead of being an enabler, the government hinders economic progress and meritbased personal advancement through systems and processes designed to work properly only when greased with facilitation fees and kickbacks.

That the ombudsman seems surprised by this rot in national

Then again, people shouldn’t be surprised; the current ombudsman has given ample indications of how he perceives his role.

Among his earliest official acts was to stop, for the first time ever, the release of the annual statements of assets, liabilities and net worth of government officials, unless the officials consented to it. To no one’s surprise, only a handful such as then vice president Leni Robredo continued to make their SALNs public.

Ombudsman Samuel Martires issued the order after the media reported in 2019 that his SALN reflected an increase of P15 million within just five months. He attributed this to his retirement benefits. Now that wasn’t so hard to explain, wasn’t it?

Rodrigo Duterte, who appointed his fellow San Beda law graduate and Lex Talionis brod Martires as ombudsman, became the first president since the post-EDSA years to withhold the release of his SALN. Nearly everyone else in government followed Duterte’s example.

Martires must have also had in mind his experience in the Supreme Court, where inaccuracies in SALN declarations led to the ouster of two chief justices. The SC led the push to block public access to SALNs. Considering the staggering figures mentioned in coffee shop talk about the gifts showered on members of the judiciary, it’s understandable that they would want another layer of protection against transparency, apart from impregnable bank secrecy laws that make the country among the global black holes for dirty money. In law enforcement, closedcircuit television cameras have become useful tools for recording crimes and identifying the offenders.

The SALN, which could be inaccurate and sometimes laughable, could nevertheless work like CCTVs, providing a glimpse into officials’ assets while in office. When questions are raised about unusual increases, the officials concerned can simply explain the reason.

Martires threw a heavy screen over the SALNs. When he was criticized for championing opaqueness in government, he proposed a five-year prison term for anyone commenting on SALN issues.

Public office is no place for the onion-skinned. But when the ombudsman himself wants to put his critics behind bars for five years, you know that transparency and freedom of expression have gone to the dogs. Recently, the ombudsman came up with yet another proposal to remove another CCTV-type tool for detecting wrongdoing in the utilization of public funds. This time, he wants Congress to delete a provision in the annual General Appropriations Act requiring the publication of audit reports conducted on government agencies by the Commission on Audit.

No doubt, there are agency heads loving the ombudsman’s proposal. If they could have their way, such officials would want all their funding to be confidential or classified for intelligence and contingencies. It’s the ultimate entitlement of the ruling class in this country: why do they have to explain how they spend people’s money?

* * *

On Wednesday, Septemner 13, Martires’ office clarified that he simply preferred to limit the publication to the final audit report. “Final” includes final judicial adjudication if the COA findings are challenged in court.

Considering the glacial pace of Philippine justice, of course, by the time such a final resolution is handed down, the concerned agency officials would have already left not just the agency but perhaps even this world.

Really, if you’re a crooked government official, what’s not to love about this ombudsman?

At least the House appropriations committee on Thursday, September 14 rejected Martires’ proposal. But the panel also retained all proposals for confidential and intelligence funds.

People had hoped Martires would grow into the job and eventually show independence from his political patrons and fraternity brothers. He might yet surprise us, although his handling of the Pharmally case hasn’t inspired hope that he has what it takes. The guy is a threat to press freedom; he’s more likely to gag the media than conduct a genuine pursuit of influential crooks.

An ombudsman like this deserves to be impeached.

But we all know impeachment is a numbers game. Instead of impeachment, the super majority in both chambers of Congress will likely give Martires a lifetime achievement award for protecting unexplained assets and

championing opaqueness. Ordinary folks should be encouraged to look around them and ask why they are so poor while government officials are so rich and keep getting richer, whether in chartered cities or third-class municipalities. Why are people committing murder even over barangay posts? Ordinary folks should also learn to ask where taxes go; we’re all taxpayers in this country. Instead of revising history, DepEd should include tax awareness in the basic education curriculum. People should know that they automatically pay a certain amount to the government when they consume water, switch on the lights, buy medicine (unless they’re seniors) or fuel for their motorcycle.

But even if people ask the right questions about the unexplained wealth of public officials, it will be futile if the graft busters want to keep a tight lid on the answers, and even punish those who ask the questions.

You get an idea why corruption has become endemic. (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.

US donates education building to PCG

THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has received a newly constructed "specialized education and technical building" from the United States government which will be used to further develop the skills and knowledge of PCG personnel.

In a statement on Tuesday, September 12, the PCG said the P250 million, two-story building is located at the PCG's Fleet Training Center of Excellence in Balagtas, Bulacan.

The building covers 3,900 square meters and includes classrooms, laboratories, equipment rooms, dining facilities, a galley, a technical library and workstations.

During its ceremonial turnover and blessing on Monday, September 11, Vice Admiral Ronnie Gavan, PCG deputy commandant for administration, said the building will cater to the training needs of the Fleet Education Training Development Doctrine Institute, or FETDDI, students undergoing various shipboard career and competency courses.

"The building serves as an

important instrument for the enhancement of the capabilities of our sailors, which will fortify the PCG's mandate," Gavan said.

U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, who graced the event, said the building marks a significant advancement in the PCG's ability to operate and maintain its assets toward the preservation of maritime safety and marine environmental protection. She said the donation would also help in developing maritime

Businesses to government: Solve corruption rst

by JENICA FAYE GARCIA ManilaTimes.net

ENABLERS are the main reason for the persistent corruption in the country, said Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) Conference Committee Chief Executive Officer Alma Rita Jimenez.

157 CEOs in the country said that the government is not performing well in fighting corruption.

It shows no significant difference compared to last year's result of 67 percent of 119 CEOs.

law enforcement capabilities and defending Philippine sovereign rights, including the West Philippine Sea. The donation is part of the U.S. government's commitment to assist the PCG in addressing maritime challenges through the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, the U.S. Department of Defense, the Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group and the U.S. Coast Guard. 

Sara, Risa continue to trade broadsides

THE word war between Sen. Ana Theresia "Risa" Hontiveros and Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte over Duterte's confidential funds (CFs) is far from over.

On Thursday, Sept. 14, Hontiveros issued a "strongly worded" video addressed to Duterte in response to the latter's tirade against her for demanding transparency on how she used her CFs.

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) sought a P500-million CF to streamline its operations, while the Department of Education asked for P150 million so it could conduct surveillance on threat groups reportedly recruiting students.

Duterte on Tuesday, September 12 singled out Hontiveros and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro when she issued an earlier statement against those questioning OVP's use of CFs in 2022.

In reply, Hontiveros, said, "Hindi ko hinihingi ang respeto mo (I don't seek your respect), VP

Sara." "Ang hinihingi ko sa iyo, at ng taumbayan, ay (What I and the citizenry are asking of you is) accountability," she said. "So, you just account the purpose of the confidential funds that you're seeking," Hontiveros said in Filipino.

"Kung hindi mo kayang irespeto ang mga katrabaho mo, irespeto mo man lang sana ang paggasta ng pera ng bayan (If you can't respect your fellow public servant, at least respect how you spend the public money)," she added.

Hontiveros noted that a week has passed since the Senate tackled the proposed CFs, and it was only last September 12 that Duterte opened up on the issue.

"Pero mas marami ka pang patutsada kaysa sa paliwanag (But you blurted more tirade [against me] than [giving] explanation [on how you will use your CF]," she said.

The senator had pressed for bigger confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs) for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)

in the face of frequent Chinese incursions in the West Philippine Sea. She lamented the "measly" CIFs given to the PCG despite being at the forefront of securing territorial waters. The P10-million funds that the PCG receives, according to Hontiveros, paled in comparison with the CIFs of other civilian government agencies that are not mandated to protect national security.

"The lives of our coast guards are at stake every time they conduct maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea," Hontiveros said. "They are the ones who tirelessly and gallantly confront these massive and numerous Chinese vessels in the open sea," she said in Filipino.

"Because I do not respect Ms. Castro and Ms. Hontiveros. I have no respect for them," Duterte said in an interview in Davao City when asked why she specifically mentioned Hontiveros and Castro. (Bernadette Tamayo/ ManilaTimes.net)

"It is not going to be rocket science. But I will just say that it takes two to tango: there is no corruption if we are not going to have corruptors. Two always play the game. For me, it is a systemic problem, but it can be gradually managed if we refuse to be the initiators of corruption," Jimenez told The Manila Times during a PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) media briefing.

A 2023 PwC survey in partnership with the MAP revealed that 97 percent of the

PwC Philippines Deals and Corporate Finance Managing Partner Mary Jade Divinagracia called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to include corruption in the government's prime focus and to develop a stronger policy against it.

"Usually not mentioned in terms of corruption in different speeches during the State of the Nation Address... but the president has always supported the improvement in the ease of doing business," she said.

"For the private sector, if we are able to address that properly or if we streamline the bureaucracy

in government, especially in permits and licenses, I think it will somehow reduce corruption," Divinagracia added. In July, the Philippine-based think tank Stratbase ADR Institute said that curbing corruption would remain one of the biggest challenges of the Marcos administration.

"The government must ensure that it establishes and maintains the right environment to attract investors and actively collaborates with the private sector, both domestic and foreign. Among the simple desires that we hear from them are transparency, accountability and responsiveness — stable policy environment," Stratbase President Dindo Manhit said.

"We cannot eradicate corruption, but we should attempt to control corruption," he added. 

PH chief justice receives US-based judges’ award

by FRANCO JOSE C. BAROÑA ManilaTimes.net

SUPREME Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo was the recipient of the 2023 Chief Justice Richard W. Holmes Award of Merit from the American Judges Association (AJA).

Gesmundo received the citation during the AJA Annual Conference Awards Luncheon in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Sept. 12.

In his acceptance speech, Gesmundo described the Philippine judiciary's goal as lofty but not unreachable.

"The programs we initiated or plan to initiate were conceived from foresight and experience, and while they could not be born except through hard work and dedication, the hope that one day the justice that has eluded many, most especially the marginalized, will be at arms' reach, is what has inspired us to continue," Gesmundo said.

"While it may have been my singular pride to be at the helm of the court at this time of great transformation, it is only through our concerted efforts that we can overcome the challenges afflicting the administrative and adjudicative operations of our courts," he added.

AJA is the largest independent organization of judges, for judges

only, and is housed at the National Center for State Courts with its headquarters in Williamsburg, Virginia.

It was originally founded as the National Association of Municipal Judges in 1959 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, by 30 municipal court judges.

As the association's

membership grew to include judges from other types of courts and from a wider geographical area, its name was changed to the American Judges Association in 1973.

The Chief Justice Richard W. Holmes Award of Merit, originally named the Award of Merit, was first handed out in 1971. 

U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson and PCG Deputy Commandant for Administration, CG Vice Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, presided over the ceremonial turnover and blessing ceremony of the said infrastructure located at the PCG’s Fleet Training Center of Excellence in Balagtas, Bulacan. PCG photo

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 United States 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 a 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.

Filipino fisherman eliminated after 2 standing ovations; Fil-Am magician enters ‘America’s Got Talent’ finals

By Jan Milo severo Philstar.com

AFTER receiving two standing ovations from the judges, Filipino fisherman Roland Abante was eliminated from “America’s Got Talent” Season 18.

Qualifiers 4 who will go straight to the finals are Dance group Chibi Unity and Filipino-American magician Anna De Guzman.

Abante, however, still has a chance to return to the competition as the 11th finalist from the wild card.

He recently received a standing ovation anew from the judges of “America’s Got Talent.”

Abante sang his own rendition of Whitney Houston song “I Will Always Love You.”

more excited to play nerd than do sexy movies

role,” he said at the sidelines of the story conference for GK Productions’ “Apo Hapon,” where he plays a World War II historian.

That means he’ll turn down roles that require him to care for no reason at all, because he has his daughters to raise up. The devoted family man is just as cautious about Vivamax roles, for which he has yet to get an offer.

“It’s not my genre,“ he said.

Olivia Rodrigo showcases proficient musical, literary complexity with ‘GUTS,’ new singles

The Gen Z pop princess releases tour dates, including four shows in LA

By Klarize Medenilla AJPress

IN the music world, the second album is always the toughest.

Arguably, the stakes are higher and the scrutiny is less forgiving with artists’ sophomore efforts: the expectations are much higher, the turnaround time is much shorter, and it solidifies whether or not the artist is a passing fancy or a cultural mainstay. And for female artists, that microscope becomes blinding and impetuous.

But with the Sept. 8 release of her second studio album, “GUTS,” Grammy winner Olivia Rodrigo has little to worry about.

In 2021, the then-18-year-old singersongwriter from Temecula, California, charmed the world with her debut album, “SOUR,” the Grammy-winning album that introduced the world to Rodrigo’s talent and range in storytelling, vocal ability, and insurmountable star power.

With this second album, Rodrigo — who is half Filipino — retains her spot in the forefront of pop music with her signature alt-girl-next-door energy. “GUTS” is bigger and more unrelenting and proves the sheer difference that two years in a young girl’s life can make.

The 13-track album unleashes the magnitude of her talent and ability to harken back to nostalgic sounds while staying unique to her generation’s sensibilities over the anxieties of a post-Covid world.

“These songs mean so much to me. They chronicle a time in my life where I felt quite lost trying to navigate young adulthood,” Rodrigo wrote in a hand-written letter to fans on her email list, adding that the songs

her sophomore album,

Instagram photo/@oliviarodrigo

on “GUTS” provided a needed outlet to “process things like shame, impossible beauty standards, social anxiety, and not-sogreat relationships.”

Following the immediate streaming success of the album, Rodrigo’s team announced the “GUTS World Tour,” a massive 75-date arena tour that ends in Los Angeles on Aug. 13, 14, 16 and 17, according to an announcement made on Friday, Sept. 15.

Where the tour for “SOUR” was held in smaller and more intimate settings, this arena tour is sure to represent the sheer bigness of “GUTS.”

Right off the bat, “GUTS” features lots of the same themes explored in “SOUR,”

like toxic relationships, self-loathing and heartbreak, insecurities, and general teenage angst.

But “GUTS” ups the ante and highlights the artist’s dry humor, sobering selfawareness, and piercing honesty. Rodrigo is known to take inspiration from 2000s poprock and cleverly update it for Gen Z.

“Vampire,” the album’s first single, which spent several weeks as No. 1 on the Billboard Top 100 this summer, is a torch ballad about betrayal that builds up to a cathartic climax that sonically calls to mind The Killers’ first album.

The follow-up single, “bad idea right?,” is a playful anthem for the universal canon event that every young girl experiences: hooking up with an ex out of convenience (which we almost always regret).

These two singles precipitated the complexity of the album, which strums up nostalgia for those who grew up listening to late 90s-early 2000s pop-rock, as Rodrigo did.

The album opens up with “all-american bitch” (an homage to the late writer and feminist icon Joan Didion’s book “The White Album”) in which Rodrigo scream-sings, “I forgive, and I forget / I know my age and I act like it.”

The irreverence seen in “SOUR” is also magnified in the comedy of “GUTS,” particularly with the third single, “get him back!” a revenge anthem that embraces pettiness and cheeky irrationality: “And when I told him how he hurt me, he’d tell me I was tripping / But I am my father’s daughter, so maybe I could fix him.” (Rodrigo’s father is a therapist.)

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 (5th from left) employment petition, and in 2019, Rina arrived in the U.S. with her husband and their children.

Atty. Gurfinkel also worked on Karen’s (2nd from left) 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 an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, September 17 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)

Filipino fisherman...

Judge Sofia Vergara said that everyone was going crazy for him.

“I know that the people have been watching you, your audition, and people love you,” Vergara said.

“It’s amazing. Coming from your country, from karaoke, good job tonight. You are amazing, you deserve to be on the AGT,” she added.

Judge Simon Cowell said he loved Abante’s performance.

“How could you not? I mean, particularly when I saw the film, and what happened after the audition and how much this means to you,” Cowell said.

“You are singing your life now on the stage... People who’d come from all over the world to kind of fulfill their dreams. And I think, well, in fact, I know America loves you and rightly so,” he added.

“It was spectacular. You know you said ‘I will always love you.’ I think you just made everyone in the world love you. This was memorable. Only two can go through they got to vote for you. I believe that this was the performance of a final,” Judge Howie Mandel noted.

For her part, judge Heidi Klum said Abante’s performance was one of her favorites.

“It was beautiful, to be honest, one of my favorites of tonight,” Klum said. “And if there’s another golden buzzer that could push you right to the finale, I would push it for you right now,” she said.

In his initial performance in the competition, Abante sang “When a Man Loves a Woman,” for which he earned a standing ovation from the judges.

De Guzman, meanwhile, advanced to the finals last Wednesday night, September 13 after her latest trick as a cardist, magician and mentalist, with the four judges as assistants.

“We need more female magicians,” Klum said of the performance.

“I think you have a big career ahead of you,” Vergara added.

“This was a very emotional day,” De Guzman said on Instagram. “I felt like every time it was down to me and another contest that I had a mini anxiety attack... everyone is so talented and deserves to be here. Toward the end, we all became friends and I’m glad I met everyone. America does have talent everywhere!” g

Success story: Parents’... JC more excited...

It’s not that Rikkah Cruz, his non-showbiz wife, is clipping his wings as an actor. In fact, the happily-married JC she always has his back when it comes to work. He has found peace and contentment at home. And he appreciates her opinion when an offer comes along.

But he’d rather practice selfcensorship for his children’s sake.

As a veteran of Joel Lamangan projects, JC is letting the awardwinning director lead him all the way in his first portrayal of a historian out to write his first book.

Unlike other actors who dread Lamangan’s wrath on the set, JC keeps calm in front of the veteran director. In fact, JC understands where his director’s disciplinarian ways come from.

“The actor who comes to the set unprepared – who doesn’t

study the script and know his character should be afraid (of Joel). So, too, is he who fools around on the set.” JC should know. He was a carefree 20-year-old when Lamangan first directed him in Regal Entertainment’s “Mano Po 4: Ako Legal Wife” in 2005. GMA Network’s “Babangon Ako’t Dudurugin Kita” followed in 2008. TV5’s drama series “Valiente” came next in 2012. Direk Joel taught me to focus. In fact, I owe my level of focus to him,” JC, who won Best Actor at the 4th QCinema International Film Festival for Best Partee in 2016, revealed. It is this focus that JC continues to bring with him as cameras start grinding for “Apo Hapon,” a story of friendship between Filipinos and the Japanese. Produced by GK Productions, it also stars Lianne Valentin, Fumiya Sankai, Nella Dizon, Sakura Akiyoshi, Jim Pebanco and others. g

PAGE B3

American Music, Grammy and Billboard award-winning artist Oliva Rodrigo has just released

“GUTS.”

Pia launches her rst novel ‘Queen of the Universe’

by KRISTOFER PURNELL Philstar.com

MISS Universe 2015 Pia

Wurtzbach-Jauncey is now an internationally published author with the release of her first novel “Queen of the Universe.”

The book was launched during the Manila International Book Fair at the SMX Convention Center last September 14, with the beauty queen conducting a talk and even signing some copies.

Pia sat down to discuss the origins and content of her book, which she said is “somewhat inspired” by her own life as a struggling model-turned-beauty queen.

Cleo, the main character of the book, is a frustrated model and actress living with her mother and siblings. She is estranged from her father, whom she wants to impress. Cleo dreams of success and thus plans to join a beauty

pageant.

Pia admitted that she loosely based Cleo on her own life story, but clarified that “Queen of the Universe” is not an autobiography. Kapag binasa niyo siya,

mapapansin niyo na it sounds so familiar,” Pia said. “But then, ginawa pa natin mas drama here and there, mas may nangyayari, spicier... as you go through the PAGE B6

Olivia Rodrigo showcases pro cient...

Of course, Rodrigo is no stranger to online criticism.

Since the last week, many have criticized Rodrigo for what many have described as a heavy-

handed use of inspiration — to the point of straight mimicry. The fourth song on the album, “lacy,” is a soft lamentation that feels very close to the works of Lorde, one of Rodrigo’s biggest

inspirations.

Credit issues with Paramore and a rumored-but-probablyfalse feud with Taylor Swift have done little to quell critics over Rodrigo’s use of inspiration.

But, as any artist will attest, everybody is inspired by something, and art is rarely, truly organic and singular. And that’s something Rodrigo leans into, with the Didion reference and also with the song “ballad of a home-schooled girl,” which was inspired by Bob Dylan’s “Ballad of a Thin Man.”

The accusations of copying become moot when taking Rodrigo’s inspirations as evidence that she is analytical and observant, a true student of music and literature whose music is a vehicle for understanding the world.

In “GUTS” Rodrigo soberingly shows us who she is: a confused, sometimes apathetic, and sometimes neurotic 20-yearold young woman whose life experiences were informed by the ills of late-stage capitalism, social media burnout, global pandemic, and unprecedented social division. It’s relatable, truly for all ages. 

PhilDev is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, innovation organization with a mission to enable the success of Filipino professionals and tech entrepreneurs worldwide.

At PhilDev, we are pioneers in STEM scholarships and Technopreneurship training. Specializing in nurturing the innovative mindset and fostering entrepreneurial skills, we are dedicated to unlocking the unique talents and capabilities of Filipinos across the world. By building a vibrant network of Filipino entrepreneurs, innovators, and industry experts, we propel conversation on representation and success in today's tech-driven world.

Our aspiration is simple yet profound: to empower Filipinos to break boundaries and achieve recognition in the tech industry as engineers, professionals, entrepreneurs. We envision a world where Filipinos are synonymous with innovation and success, and every day, we're making that vision a reality.

Join us, as we shape the future - one mind, one idea, one success story at a time.

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach-Jauncey at the launch of her book “Queen of the Universe” on Thursday, September 14, at the Manila International Book Fair 2023 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. Philstar.com photo by Kristofer Purnell

Olivia Rodrigo is embarking on a massive GUTS world tour. Instagram photo/@oliviarodrigo

Carson to celebrate Larry Itliong Day on Oct. 28

CARSON — The City of Carson and various organizations will join the entire community in honoring the life’s work and legacy of Larry Itliong — a FilipinoAmerican labor leader and organizer — on October 28.

The 14th annual celebration, which will be held at the Carson Event Center, highlights the heroic work of Manong Larry Itliong during the Grape Strike, which began on Sept. 8, 1965 in Delano, California.

The City of Carson is the first city in the United States to recognize Oct. 25 as the Larry Itliong Day in October 2010.

On June 30, 2015. AB 7 was signed by Governor Brown, which established Larry Itliong Day in all of California.

In 2018, Carson declared Larry Itliong Day a paid city holiday. Former City Councilman Elito Santarina was responsible for leading the declaration of Larry Itliong Day in 2010.

Councilman Jim Dear, who

was then the Carson mayor in 2010, encouraged the public, and the city’s residents to join the community parade and the program of the Larry Itliong Labor Awards, which are the highlight of the event.

“The Grape Strike in Delano is a historic part of the labor movement in California. The City of Carson is honored to celebrate the legacy of the

Filipino American labor leader Larry Itliong. It is important to recognize the contributions of the unions in the United States as well as the importance of farm workers,” Dear stressed.

Former Councilmember Elito Santarina added, “Celebrating Larry Itliong Day as part of Filipino American History gives us the opportunity to connect to our Filipino heritage and

Celeste believes Michelle will win Miss Universe crown

roots. It reminds us of the values instilled by our elders of honoring the heroes and giving justice to those who till the land.”

Larry Itliong Day will be held on Oct. 28 starting at 9 a.m. at Carson Event Center’s Dominguez Room. For more information, call the public information office at (310) 8307600. g

by HannaH Mallorca Inquirer.net

CELESTE Cortesi has faith that Michelle Dee will take home the Philippines’ fifth Miss Universe crown in the upcoming pageant that will take place in El Salvador in November.

Cortesi expressed her support for the crossover beauty queen

during a brief interview with reporters at the Preview Ball black carpet.

“Of course, I believe in her. You know that she’s been preparing so hard since we were batchmates. I really believe in her,” she said when asked about Dee’s upcoming participation in the global tilt. Dee was named

Celeste Cortesi and Michelle Dee Photos from Instagram/@celeste_cortesi, @themissuniverseph

On compassion and forgiveness

Pastor’s Notes

ReveRend

Rodel G. BalaGtas

WE’RE not all “finished products”; we’re all in the process of growing in maturity. Everyone struggles with a “shadow” -- the unconscious, repressed, and often darker aspects of one’s personality that we consciously or unconsciously reject. This “shadow” can often result in a wide range of emotions, impulses, and traits that may include aggression, selfishness, envy, anger, and the like.

Others have more painful stories or difficult journeys than ours, but everyone goes through struggles. Not everyone is in the same stage of maturity, healing, and faith, so we cannot expect everyone to be emotionally and spiritually integrated.

Why am I expressing these thoughts? It’s to foster understanding, empathy, and compassion among us, rather than making us judgmental. It’s to encourage forgiveness and

reconciliation.  This doesn’t mean that we don’t challenge people to grow or mature, or that we don’t hold them accountable for behavioral changes. It simply means that, at times, we must understand, respect, and accept where people are.

Compassion towards others is the essential virtue that Jesus teaches in Sunday’s (Sept. 17) Gospel (Matthew 18:2135). Jesus tells a story about a servant who owed a large debt to his master. The servant begs for patience and promises to repay the debt, so the master, filled with compassion, forgives the entire debt. However, when the servant encounters a fellow servant who owes him a much smaller amount, he refuses to forgive this debt and has the debtor thrown into prison. Upon hearing of this, the master becomes angry and confronts the unforgiving servant. The master points out that he showed him great mercy by forgiving his massive debt, yet the servant could not extend that same mercy to his fellow servant. As a result, the master revokes his forgiveness and hands the unforgiving servant over to be tortured until he repays his original debt.

The parable highlights the importance of cultivating a forgiving and compassionate spirit in our interactions with others, mirroring the forgiveness and  mercy we have received from God.

It is crucial for everyone to possess a heart that is forgiving, compassionate, understanding, and empathetic. Unfortunately, it is often observed that those in higher positions and those who consider themselves “religious” lack such qualities, as Jesus criticized the Pharisees and scribes for this in the Gospel.

Pope Francis offers a profound perspective on compassion: “Compassion allows you to see reality;   compassion is like the lens of the heart that enables us to grasp and comprehend true dimensions. In the Gospels, Jesus is frequently moved by compassion, and compassion is also the language of God.”

* * * 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.

Jackie Lou’s happy life as mom and grandma

by Ronnie CaRRasCo iii ManilaTimes.net

JACKIE Lou Blanco and erstwhile partner Ricky Davao seem to have an ideal coparenting setup. The two got hitched in 1989 but separated 22 years later.

In her guesting on “Fast Talk,” Boy Abunda asked Jackie if she ever had regrets in her life. As straight as Boy’s question was his interviewee’s answer.

According to Jackie, she regrets her marriage to Ricky crumbled. The sad part there was that she bore witness to how their children got affected by the separation in more ways than one.

But unlike most separated couples, there was no room for animosity toward each other although Jackie was quick to

admit, “We’re not chummychummy.”

Neither do she and Ricky engage in long conversations. In other words, they’re civil as they can be.

Retaliation for employee complaints of wrongdoing can be costly for employers

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights

atty. C. Joe sayas, JR

IN a recently-concluded federal case an employer’s retaliatory conduct in Georgia, turned an  unpaid wage bill of $915 into approximately $40,000 in liability, illustrating precisely what an  employer should not do in the face of the anti-retaliation protections for employees in our  employment laws.

its owner from retaliating against any former or current employee for exercising their rights under the  federal Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). The consent judgment also requires 811 Autoworks,  LLC to pay an additional $39,934 in back wages and liquidated damages.

In a press release, the DOL noted that “[t] he court has sent a clear message to  employers… who subject employees to unfair wage practices and outright intimidation and  retaliation.” The DOL

guaranteed by the FLSA.

Similarly, under California Labor Code Section 1102.5(b), it is unlawful for “an employer, or  any person acting on behalf of the employer” to “retaliate against an employee for disclosing  information… to a person with authority over the employee or another employee who has the  authority to investigate,” about “violation[s] of [a] state or federal statute.”

“If there’s anything I need to tell him that I can’t express in person, I text him. Sometimes he replies, sometimes he doesn’t. But one good thing about him, if there’s anything I need from him he finds means to be able to solve it. I’m fine with that.”

Also, it helps when their separate houses are just two blocks apart.

“Oh, yes. For instance, when Ricky’s house help runs out of onions while cooking, she would call and I’d ask my house help to bring what she needed. That sort of thing.”

It was at that point where Boy could imagine Ricky’s helper giving Jackie an urgent call asking her to come over upon the actor’s instructions.

Jackie, however, sees reconciliation with Ricky to be a PAGE B7

After Andreas Flaten resigned from his job at 811 Autoworks LLC, he wanted to be paid his  final paycheck, in the amount of $915. When his former employer failed to pay, Andreas contacted  the Department of Labor’s (“DOL”) Wage and Hour Division to complain. After DOL investigators  contacted the former employer about the unpaid wages, he reluctantly—and spitefully— paid Andreas  his final wages of $915, by dumping 91,500 oil-covered pennies onto the driveway of Andreas’s  home. The mound of pennies, weighing approximately 500 pounds, was accompanied by a final pay  stub referring to Andreas with an expletive. The employer also posted defamatory statements about  Andreas on the company website.

A subsequent investigation by the DOL concluded that 811 Autoworks, LLC and its owner  unlawfully retaliated against Andreas for contacting the DOL about his unpaid final paycheck. That  investigation also uncovered further evidence of overtime violations by 811 Autoworks, LLC.

On June 16, 2023, Judge Timothy C. Batten of the U.S. District Court for the Northern  District of Georgia issued a consent judgment and permanent injunction prohibiting the employer and

statement emphasized that all “[w]orkers are entitled to obtain the wages they  earned without fear of harassment or intimidation.”

In California, both federal and state laws protect employees who complain about violations of  wageand-hour laws. Under Section 15(a)(3) of the FLSA (i.e., the same federal law applied in  Andrea’s case), employers are prohibited from retaliating against employees for filing any complaint  or instituting or causing to be instituted any proceeding under or related to employment rights

If you prevail on a claim for whistleblower retaliation under California law, you may be  awarded monetary compensation for lost wages and benefits, as well as for any emotional distress  you suffered as a result of the unlawful retaliation. If your employer is a corporation or limited  liability company, they would also be liable for a civil penalty of up to $10,000. In addition, the  court is authorized to award attorneys’ fees and litigation costs you may have incurred in successfully  bringing a whistleblower retaliation claim.

* * *

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)

If you prevail on a claim for whistleblower retaliation under California law, you may be awarded monetary compensation for lost wages and benefits, as well as for any emotional distress you suffered as a result of the unlawful retaliation.

Jackie Lou Blanco Photo from Instagram/@jackielou.blanco

Division of a business in a California divorce

Barrister’s Corner

WHEN a married couple decides to divorce in California, one of the most significant issues they will face is dividing their assets and debts. If the couple owns a business together, this can be particularly complicated whether it is operated by only one spouse or both spouses jointly. In this article, we will discuss how property division works in a California divorce when a business is involved.

California is a community property state, which means that property acquired during the marriage is generally considered community property and must be divided equally between the spouses upon divorce.

This includes businesses and business assets. However, the division of a business in a divorce can be complex, especially if the business was started before the marriage or if only one spouse was involved in its creation or operation.

One option for dividing a business in a divorce is for one spouse to buy out the other’s share of the business. This can be done through negotiation or mediation, or it may require a court order through trial. If the spouses cannot agree on a buyout

price, the court may order a valuation of the business to determine its worth. Typically, this is done by having a forensic CPA perform a business valuation. If the parties are in agreement on who they want to use as an expert, the parties can stipulate that a certain forensic CPA be appointed as the court’s expert to value the business pursuant to evidence code section 730. If the parties are not in agreement in the appointment of a 730 expert or if one of the parties are not in

spouses to continue to co-own the business after the divorce. This is rare, but it can work if the spouses are willing to continue working together and can establish a clear plan for managing the business. However, this option is usually not recommended, as it can lead to ongoing conflict and legal disputes. If the business was started before the marriage or if only one spouse was involved in its creation or operation, the court may consider these factors

during the marriage or if the business has grown significantly during the marriage due to the hard work of the owner spouse during the marriage, the court may still award them a portion of the business or its profits. In order to determine what percentage of a business is community property versus separate property, there are two methods used based on two cases, Van Camp v. Van Camp, (1921) 53 Cal.App. 17 and Pereira v. Pereira, (1909) 156 Cal. 1, 103. These formulas are used to determine the value attributed to the community and separate property interests.

agreement with the valuation of the 730 expert, each party can retain their own forensic CPA to value the business. Typically, the court will order that each party’s forensic CPA meet and confer and do a side by side evaluation of their calculation to isolate where they differ. This is typically done in preparation for trial. Another option is for the

when determining how to divide the business. For example, if one spouse started the business before the marriage and the other spouse made no significant contributions to the business, the court may consider the business to be the separate property of the spouse who started it. However, if the other spouse contributed significantly to the business

The Pereira case involves a married couple who ran a profitable business. Although the husband claimed that he had started the business before the marriage with separate capital, the Court found that a share of the earnings was community property. The Court, however, emphasized that the success of the business was largely due to the husband, who ran the company. The Pereira method of analysis is typically applied when business profits are mainly attributed to the efforts of the “community.” The concept of a Pereira analysis is to allocate a fair return to the separate property investment in the business and principally apportion the remainder of the value to the community property. As a result, the Pereira analysis is usually applied to small businesses

Classic holiday hit ‘Jingle

Bell Rock’ gets update

Christmas favorite to be sung in over 10 languages featuring original singer Bobby Helms, guest artists

THE classic Christmas holiday hit “Jingle Bell Rock” will saturate radio and streaming services once again this year, like it has since 1957, but with one major difference. It will be sung in over 10 different languages and in duet form.

For the first time since its original release by legendary recording artist Bobby Helms over 60 years ago, it will be heard worldwide in different languages and also several English duet versions. Professional celebrity vocalists in each country have joined the musical mission to “Jingle Bell Rock the World.”

Each artist adds their own musical style and lyric variations to fit their language’s translation of the famous tune.

Helms is heard singing a portion of the song in English and a portion is also heard in the native language of the guest artist.

by Ronnie Sun, Japanese by Manami, Tamil by Lekha Gopi Meunier aka Lexaholism, Sahoue-Gbe by Wes B, Croatian by Nikita, Slovak by LeRa, Farsi by Fanarak Shahroozi, and Armenian by sisters Blue Nectarine.

Included in the celebrity English duets with Helms are America’s Got Talent Champion Marcelito Pomoy, Kool & the Gang” and “Dazz Band” lead singer Skip Martin, internet celebrity influencer and singer Destiny Malibu, Australian music legend “Swanee”, and Elvis Presley’s daughter Elaine Elizabeth Presley.

All versions of the songs are available for streaming and downloading on most major services and also on YouTube by searching Bobby Helms Duets Channel. The songs are produced by Hellmut Wolf, and distribution is by Wolf Entertainment.

The non-English languages and artists include French by Sonith, German by Katrin Lion, Spanish by Destiny Malibu, Portuguese by Danda Brasil, Hindi by She Shree, Croation by Nikita, Norwegian and Swedish

Celeste believes...

PAGE B4

as Miss Universe Philippines Tourism during the Filipina-Italian stunner’s coronation in 2022.

The Kapuso star then advised Dee to “believe in herself” in the upcoming pageant, as she hoped that the Miss Universe title would be back in the country’s hands.

“I think she just needs to believe in herself and just have fun during the competition,” she said. “For me, I would be more than happy to finally see the Philippines winning Miss Universe. Good luck to her.”

Comfort is key Cortesi, who was wearing a sexy Chris Nick halter gown during the event, told entertainment media that while she “can wear anything,” she prefers to stay “comfortable during her off-days.”

“I can wear anything. But on a regular day, I would wear sneakers and a hoodie and jeans. I want to be very comfortable,” she said.

“I know you see me as very glam but in my everyday life, when I’m not wearing all of this, I would rather wear my sneakers and hoodies. I just want to be comfortable,” she added. g

Pia launches her...

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All song versions aare vailable for licensing for commercial use from Jingle Bell Rock Music/ John Kleiman©. All Licensing inquiries should be made to: The Ace Duran at ace@ dreamnomorestudios.com. g chapters you will see that she goes through her own journey.”

The beauty queen said she is very stubborn like Cleo, whose mind is fully focused on her goal, and has a similar fighting spirit. Pia, however, reiterated the different path Cleo takes in the story because of the difficult decisions she has to make when it comes to her personal relationships.

“What is the cost of fame? Ano ang mga ready mong i-give up para sa mga pangarap mo?” Pia said, referring to the question raised in her story.

Pia said Cleo will indeed give up something, though it is not something she herself entirely agrees with.

She personally finds Cleo’s rejections and struggles amusing,

but one thing she wants to emulate in Cleo is her determination to stick to her values and know the more important things in life.

She noted that in beauty pageants like Miss Universe, contestants are always asked what they would give up for the crown, and for Pia, she would never give up her love of family and friends. With her 34th birthday coming up on September 24 — her first celebration married to Jeremy Jauncey — Pia wishes to remain happy and healthy in order to continue doing the things she loves.

Matagal ko nang sinulat, plinano, at minanifest ‘to. Miss Universe pa lang ako alam ko na isang araw magsusulat ako ng libro,” Pia ended, adding she still has more ideas to write about. g

California is a community property state, which means that property acquired during the marriage is generally considered community property and must be divided equally between the spouses upon divorce. This includes businesses and business assets.

Chie opens up about relationship with Jake

By JAN MILO SEVERO Philstar.com

ACTRESS Chie Filomeno opened up about her relationship with actor Jake Cuenca.

In a report by PUSH, Chie said she’s not bothered if Jake will only use her as a rebound relationship after he broke up with beauty queen Kylie Verzosa last year.

McDonald’s o ering a

$0.50

double cheeseburger for National Cheeseburger Day

CHICAGO – McDonald’s is known for serving up delicious, craveable cheeseburgers every day. In honor of National Cheeseburger Day on Sept. 18, the Golden Arches is celebrating with double the goodness.

For one day only, fans can snag a Double Cheeseburger for only $0.50 from any participating location nationwide when they order exclusively through the McDonald’s App.

Whether fans choose to enjoy their Double Cheeseburger a la carte or pair it with our World Famous Fries® and a side of Tangy BBQ Sauce, there are countless ways to celebrate National Cheeseburger Day at McDonald’s.

(*Offer valid 1x on 09/18/2023 at participating McDonald’s. App registration required. No purchase necessary. �

Division of a business in...

PAGE B6

where the efforts of the owner are significant in the success of the business, and it is assumed that the business would not have had such success without the business owner’s efforts.

The Van Camp case resulted from a successful family business. The son of the business owners ran a successful packaging company in California. When the son married, the son’s wife ultimately relied on the holding of the Pereira case and argued that the community interest in the business was due to its successful management. The Court, however, found that the success of the business was also due to the investment of capital into the corporation. As a result, the business increased in value due to the initial investment and various assets rather than the son’s efforts during the marriage. The Van Camp method is used when the increase in the value of a business is primarily the result of the unique nature of the particular asset, and not necessarily the efforts of the community. The goal of a Van Camp analysis is to obtain the reasonable value of the community’s services and then to allocate that amount to the community property and the remainder to the separate property. In some cases, the court may order the sale of the business and the division of the proceeds between the spouses. This is usually only done if the spouses cannot agree on any other division method or if the business is not profitable.

In conclusion, dividing a business in a California divorce can be complex and requires careful consideration of all factors involved. It is essential to work with an experienced divorce attorney who can help you navigate the legal process and protect your interests. By working together with your spouse and your attorney, you can find a fair and equitable solution for dividing your business and other assets in your divorce.

* * * 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, APC. This article is not a solicitation.

* * * Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes 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, APC is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com. Visit us at kenreyeslaw.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

“I think nasa tamang edad, he’s mature enough na hindi papasok sa isang hindi naman relationship, pero hindi siya papasok sa isang bagay na hindi pa siya ready, fully committed, so I think ‘yun nga, kaya we’re all taking our time,” she said.

“I’m taking my time also. Kasi I’m really private with my relationships before and right now kasi first time ko ever na may maka-date in this industry na naging public. So we’re

taking our time,” she added. Chie said she and Jake decided to give love another chance between them.

“We’re both misunderstood sa industry by the people around us. Pero kasi, mag-sa-shine kasi talaga ‘yung totoong intentions mo eh. May mga sasabihin ‘yung tao, pero ikaw sa sarili mo kung alam mo you’re in a good place, your heart is in a good place, makikita ng tao ‘yan,” she said.

“And alam niyo kung gaano din kabait si Jake. Alam natin kung gaano niya kamahal ‘yung ginagawa niya,” she added.

When asked what the best thing about Jake is, Chie said: “What I like about him is grabe siya magmahal.”

“He’s really passionate with his craft, love na love niya ‘yung family niya. He’s really family-oriented. So ‘yun ‘yung i-na-admire ko sa kanya. Mabait talaga siya,” she added. 

Jackie Lou’s happy life as mom and...

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far-fetched idea.

Even more so when Jackie is not only a parent to their kids, she’s now a certified grandma.

What makes her granny duties different from those of a mother’s?

“I don’t have to instill discipline as it’s the job of the parents. I just let my grandchild play around the house or I play with them. But when hips are already surrendering, time’s

up, I give them back to their parents,” she bursts in laughter.

Not one to conceal her daughter Rikki Mae’s sexual orientation, Jackie is all the more proud. She admitted to knowing about it right at the onset, but a part of her was saying she could be mistaken. Then came the day Jackie had long been waiting for — Rikki Mae came home with a girl in tow.

Jackie could instantly sense

her daughter wanted to confide in her but had a hard time figuring out how to do it.

So it was Jackie who asked her daughter, “Do you want me to say what you’re gonna tell me?”

Rikki Mae shook her head as she wanted the confession to come from her.

“Mom, I’m gay...,” she said in a low yet clear tone.

Jackie could only utter two reassuring words: “I know.”

Only then did Rikki Mae feel calm and relieved, and yes, exuberant that her parents are accepting of her. Jackie — despite having a failed marriage — takes pride in raising really good children. Of course, half of the credit goes to Ricky Davao.

How I wish separated showbiz couples were like Ricky and Jackie whose kids are but a reflection of how they were responsibly brought up. 

Chie Filomeno and Jake Cuenca Photo from Instagram/@juancarloscuenca