092123 - Las Vegas Edition

Undocumented Filipinos in US now estimated at 309,000

THE Philippines is the sixth top source of undocumented (unauthorized) immigrants in the United States, a population estimated at 309,000 in 2021, according to Sept. 13 report by the Migration Policy Institute in Washington, D.C.

The estimated unauthorized immigrant population in the U.S. was at 11.2 million in 2021, up from 11.0 million in 2019 and a larger annual growth rate seen since 2015.

Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, India, Venezuela, China, Colombia and Brazil are the ten largest populations of undocumented immigrants in the U.S.

The estimates derive from MPI’s unique methodology, developed with demographer Jennifer Van Hook at The Pennsylvania State University’s Population Research Institute, to assign legal status

Text scammers utilize AI to steal sensitive information like passwords and Social Security numbers as scam-based losses increase

ORGANIZED scam operations have been a serious threat since before the digital age.

But with the onset of more sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) technology, it is significantly more difficult to escape the grasp of the booming scam industry, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns.

Earlier this year, FTC Chair Lina Khan reported that the agency was seeing an uptick in criminals using highly advanced AI tools to “turbocharge” fraud and scams.

“As this stuff becomes more embedded in how daily decisions are being made, I think they invite and merit a lot of scrutiny. Those problems and concerns are quite urgent, and I think enforcers, be it at the state level or the national level, are going to be acting,” Khan told Bloomberg earlier this year.

PH boosts WPS watch with new US aircraft

THE United States government on Tuesday, Sept. 19 handed over a surveillance aircraft to the Philippines for monitoring increasing incursions by China in the West Philippine Sea, particularly its alleged harvesting of corals in one of the areas that lie within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The turnover of the U.S. aircraft came days after China’s alleged large-scale destruction of corals and other marine life in the Rozul (Iroquois) Reef and Escoda Shoal in the West Philippine Sea caught the world’s attention.

It also comes as a satellite image, which was released on Tuesday, showed at least suspected Chinese ships massing once again at Rozul Reef, which is 125 nautical miles from Palawan and situated at the southwest edge of Reed (Recto) Bank.

Ray Powell, SeaLight director, said their imagery partners at Planet Labs provided “clear visual evidence” of at least 35 Chinese fishing and maritime militia vessels operating at Rozul Reef.

Powell told The Manila Times that although they cannot determine by these particular images that

Divorce bill gets PH Senate panel’s nod

by MAILA AGER Inquirer.net

MANILA — A panel in the Senate has finally approved a consolidated measure that provides for an absolute divorce in the Philippines.

Instituting divorce is part of Senate Bill No. 2443, which aims to expand the grounds for the dissolution of marriage.

It was approved by the Senate committee on women, children, family relation and gender equality, which also released a report for plenary approval.

Listed as authors of the consolidated bill are panel head, Senator Risa Hontiveros, Senators Raffy Tulfo, Robin Padilla, Senators Pia Cayetano, and Imee Marcos.

Aside from the five authors, four others also signed the panel report, including Senators JV Ejercito, Grace Poe, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda.

“The state shall assure that the court proceedings for the grant of absolute divorce shall be affordable, expeditious, and inexpensive, particularly for indigent litigants,” the bill reads, Absolute divorce is defined under the bill as “the legal termination of a marriage by a court in a legal proceeding.”

A petition or complaint for divorce must be filed by one or both spouses, which would have “the effect of returning both parties to

Advocates urge UN action on ‘alarming’ human rights situation under Marcos Jr.

by GAEA KATREENA CABICO Philstar.com

MANILA — Advocates called on the United Nations Human Rights Council to examine the “alarming” human rights situation under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the policies that perpetuate it.

Marcos has pledged that human rights will be protected during his term as he seeks to strengthen ties with the United States and

attract foreign investments. But groups such as Karapatan, National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment and KATRIBU - Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng

Pilipinas stressed that Marcos has shown little difference from his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte in terms of human rights issues after more than a year in office.

KATRIBU national convenor

those ships were those of the Chinese maritime militia, “history, the size of the vessels, and their behavior tell us these are Chinese.”

Historically, he pointed out that People’s Republic of China (PRC) vessels have been monitored “consistently” in that particular area.

Likewise, Powell noted that neighboring Southeast Asian countries do not have fishing ships as large as those in the satellite image.

The “swarming/rafting” behavior of the ships in the satellite image is also noticeable, he said, which  PAGE 2

by JULIE M. AURELIO, TINA G. SANTOS Inquirer.net

MANILA — The Philippine Supreme Court was asked on Monday, September 18 to declare unconstitutional Republic Act (RA) No. 11954, or the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) Act of 2023, a petition that lawmakers said would not prosper because “exhaustive measures were taken” to meet all requirements of the 1987 Constitution and safeguards were installed against its misuse. In a 56-page petition for certiorari and prohibition, the petitioners — Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III, Bayan Muna chair Neri Colmenares, and former Bayan Muna Reps. Carlos Isagani Zarate and Ferdinand Gaite — challenged the constitutionality of the MIF by claiming that it is a “dangerous” law as it “entrusts hundreds of billions in public funds to unknown fund managers and an amorphous ninemember Board of Directors.”

Named respondents in the petition were Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, the Senate, and the House of  PAGE 3

Maharlika Investment Fund challenge goes to PH Supreme Court Reintroduced ‘Reuniting Families Act’ focuses on Asian immigrant families

The legislation seeks to increase the visas per country limits from 7 percent to 15 percent

MANY Filipinos in the United States aspire to reunite with their loved ones in the Philippines. While some are already living the “American Dream” with families, it can take decades for a U.S. citizen to reunite with even one family member.

To address issues similar to this, the Reuniting Families Act aims to implement various measures to accelerate and enhance the process of family reunification.

On Sept. 19, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) members and Asian immigrant rights activists announced the reintroduction of the Reuniting Families Act and zeroes in on Asian immigrant families.

First introduced by Rep. and CAPAC Chair Judy Chu (CA-28) in February 2018, the act refers to efforts to make it easier for family members, such as spouses, children, and parents, to reunite with families who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.

These reforms may involve

changes in visa categories, processing times, and other aspects of the immigration system to prioritize and expedite reunification.

Bureaucratic delays at major play

At a press conference near Capitol Hill on Tuesday, Chu expressed concern that due to bureaucratic delays, threequarters of the family visas that were supposed to be issued in 2021 have been lost.

In a livestream on X (formerly Twitter), Chu pinpointed the fact that Asians comprised over a million people who are still in immigration backlogs for years. “I’m particularly concerned about how this backlog is affecting families from Asia. Asians make up not only 80 percent of the employment visa backlog but they make up 40 percent of the four million family-based visa backlog,” she said.

“Family-based immigration is an American value and contributes to the economic prosperity and resilience of our nation, but our broken immigration system forces

As AI rapidly develops, so do tech-based scams, FTC warns

PH boosts WPS watch with...

is a common tactic employed by Chinese vessels.

For all operations

The Cessna-208B (C-208B) Grand Caravan EX Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Aircraft was turned over by the U.S. government, represented by Col. Edward Evans, USAF, chief of the Joint US Military Assistance Group (Jusmag)-Philippines to Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., at simple rites at the Clark Air Base in Pampanga.

“It will be used for all operations, all types of operations,” Teodoro said, including in the West Philippine Sea.

The new aircraft will be an addition to the Philippine Air Force’s (PAF) inventory of air assets, including U.S.made C-130 cargo transport planes, FA-50 jet fighters, and other mobility aircraft while the government acquires sophisticated planes.

Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., said the plane will surely enhance the military’s capability to increase its air maritime patrol in the WPS to closely detect real-time activities by China in so far as sovereign right is concerned.

“Yes definitely, this aircraft will boost our capability of patrolling our maritime seas

and our ability to protect our sovereign rights in our exclusive economic zone,” Brawner said.

Philippine Air Force Chief, Lt.Gen. Stephen Parreño said the Cessna aircraft will be another asset in gathering information and reconnaissance missions in law enforcement in the maritime domain.

“This brand new aircraft is a very welcome addition to our intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance capability, it will also boost our capability in missions of law enforcement, terrorism and maritime domain awareness,” Parreño said. In a query as to the next government action against China’s activities vis-a-vis the coral destruction, Teodoro said he sought the advice of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

“We have to validate it because according to the arbitral award that is a violation of an international treaty, the destruction of maritime life, particularly if the coral destruction is a cause of, or used for reclamation of artificial islands, etc. Now we have to validate it and then we’ll coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs so that we can file the appropriate action,” Teodoro said.

Aside from maritime issues, Teodoro said the U.S. aircraft will also provide humanitarian

assistance and disaster response.

“The aircraft will also be useful, particularly in the aftermath of disasters and Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA) so that we could assess the damage during calamities,” Teodoro said.

Known for its rugged utility and flexibility, which can operate up to 912 nautical miles and stay airborne for 5 hours and 30 minutes, the C-208B Aircraft, with an advanced ISR capability, will be operated by the 300th Air Intelligence and Security Wing (AISW) headed by BGen. Edgar C. Torres PAF. So far, the PAF has three similar planes in its inventory, acquired as grants from the U.S. government.

Illegal

Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) and the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling, a coastal state granted an exclusive economic zone enjoys the rights to the resources within that zone, Powell said.

“China’s exploitation of the marine resources at Iroquois Reef is therefore not only highly destructive of the marine ecosystem, but also illegal under international law,” said Powell, who is also the Project Lead for Project Myoushu at Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation.

Over the weekend, Vice Admiral Albert Carlos, commander of the AFP Western Command (Wescom), reported that the corals that grow in abundance in the shallow waters close to Rozul Reef have disappeared, apparently due to massive coral harvesting.

Carlos said this was discovered by military divers who were asked to conduct an underwater survey after Chinese maritime militia vessels left the area.

Reintroduced ‘Reuniting Families Act’...

almost four million people with approved green card applications to suffer in bureaucracy for years, if not decades.”

This is where the bill fills comes in as it seeks to eliminate visa backlogs by carrying over

unused visas, exempting specific family members like children and spouses from numerical restrictions, capping green card processing at 10 years, and increasing per-country visa limits to 15 percent, which will “more than double the

number of family-preference visas available.”

Prior to this year, the act was also reintroduced in 2019.

Proponents of the act are optimistic that it can contribute to the improvement of the immigration system. g

Divorce bill gets PH Senate panel’s...

the status of single for all legal intents and purposes, including the right to contract a subsequent marriage.”

of rape by the respondent-spouse against the petitioner-spouse, whether before or after the celebration of their marriage;

A brand new Cessna-208B (C-208B) Grand Caravan EX Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Aircraft has been added to the Philippine Air Force’s fleet after its formal acceptance, turn-over, and

These Chinese vessels were monitored by Philippine military air assets on September 6 and 7 “swarming” off Rozul Reef and at least two other areas in the West Philippine Sea: Escoda (Sabina) Shoal and Baragatan (Nares) Bank.

“When they left, we sent out

Marriage annulment or dissolution, meanwhile, “refers to a marriage duly solemnized by a priest, imam, rabbi, or presiding elder of a church or religious entity, or duly solemnized or performed by an elder or leader of an indigenous cultural community (ICC) or indigenous people (IP) in the Philippines, which is subsequently annulled, dissolved, declared a nullity, or terminated in a final judgment or pronouncement in accordance with the canons or precepts of such church, religious entity, or customs and practices of ICCs or IPs.”

The bill listed the following grounds for filing for an absolute divorce:

Five years of separation, whether continuous or broken, without a judicial decree of separation

The commission of the crime

The grounds for legal separation under article 55 of the Family Code or any other special law

A final decree of absolute divorce validly obtained in a foreign jurisdiction by any Filipino citizen, regardless of who they married;

Irreconcilable marital differences or irreparable breakdown of the marriage, despite earnest efforts at reconciliation, subject to a cooling off period of 60 days pursuant to Section 8 of this Act;

A marriage annulment or dissolution, duly authorized by a church or religious entity, or a marriage termination duly authorized by customs and practices traditionally recognized, accepted and observed by an ICC 15 or IP to which the parties belong, having the same effect as a decree of divorce, annulment,

dissolution or declaration of nullity issued by a competent court. According to the bill, a joint petition filed by both spouses with common children should be accompanied by a joint plan for parenthood, which provides for the support, custody, and living arrangements of the common children.

“If the court determines that the joint plan for parenthood is adequate to protect the rights and interests of the common children, the court shall approve the joint plan for parenthood together with the grant of a divorce decree if warranted,” it said.

Failure to provide “courtordered child support and/or court-ordered spousal support” would be punishable by prision mayor and a fine up to P300,000 as provided for in the bill.

A similar proposal was also approved early this year by a panel in the House of Representatives. g

SOUTHERN NEVADA REGIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY Procurement Dept. 340 N. 11TH Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP 23040) RFP INFORMATION AT A GLANCE PROJECT-BASED VOUCHER PROGRAM

SNRHA CONTACT PERSON(S)

ONLY:

Note: Contact with any other SNRHA staff other than Johnny B. Shaw and Linda Price within this document is prohibited and will result in your Proposal being rejected. Additionally, Proposers shall not communicate with SNRHA’s Residents and Board of Commissioners regarding this RFP.

HOW TO OBTAIN THE SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS ON THE APPLICABLE INTERNET SITES:

Johnny B. Shaw, Jr., MBA, Procurement Manager

Telephone: (702) 477-3146

TDD: (702) 387-1898

Email: jshaw@snvrha.org or not available, contact Linda Price

Telephone: (702) 477-3144

Email: lpsimpson@snvrha.org

1.

DOWNLOAD AND RESPOND TO THIS SOLICITATION: NGEM website: https://nevada.ionwave.net/Login.aspx

Registered Users: Log in and insert Solicitation No. RFP P23040

Non-Registered Users: You must register your company before downloading and responding to this RFP, which is free of charge. Click on “New Vendor” to register. Problems accessing or registering your company, call 866-526-9266, 9AM Eastern – 4PM Pacific, M-F

PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE:

Q&A DEADLINE IN LIEU OF PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE:

SOLICITATION SUBMITTAL RETURN & DEADLINE:

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DOWNLOADS ONLY: SNRHA website: www.snvrha.org click on Procurement and “Current Bid Invitations” and proceed to the appropriate solicitation number. Problems downloading the Solicitation, notify our IT Department at (702) 477-3160, M-F, 8AM-5PM PST

See Questions & Answers (Q&A) Information below in lieu of Pre-Proposal Conference

October 30, 2023 10AM (PDT)

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Southern

blessing on September 19, 2023 at Clark Air Base, Mabalacat, Pampanga with Secretary of National Defense, Gilberto Teodoro Jr. as the Guest of Honor.

Photo from Philippine Air Force

Maharlika Investment Fund challenge...

Representatives.

The petitioners also asked the high tribunal to issue a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction or status quo ante order to stop immediately the implementation of RA 11954 and to set the conduct of oral arguments.

In challenging the law’s legality, they argued that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s certification of MIF as urgent in Congress was void for failure to meet the constitutional requirements.

“The presidential power and prerogative to certify to the necessity of the immediate enactment of a bill under Article VI, Section 26 (2) of the 1987 Constitution is not absolute, but rather subject to the requirements,” they said, pointing out that the existence of a public calamity or emergency, the necessity of the enactment, and that such immediacy would justify doing away with the necessary legislative requirement, were all not present.

“The Court can take judicial notice of the fact that there was no declared state of calamity as defined by law which exists to necessitate the immediate passing of the Maharlika bill,” they said.

No violation

The House ways and means panel chair, Rep. Joey Salceda, one of the law’s authors, maintained on Monday that Congress took exhaustive measures to ensure that the

MIF fulfilled the requirements of the Constitution and has included adequate safeguards against possible misuse.

In a message to the Inquirer Salceda, who represents Albay, said he respected the right of the petitioners to question the law in court, “but I argue that the Maharlika Investment Fund Act is akin to the creation of any other government financial institution or government corporation. The Supreme Court tends to give wide latitude and tolerance on congressional action on such matters.”

Salceda added: “Exhaustive measures were taken, most definitely by the House, to ensure that safeguards were installed and constitutional requirements were met.”

Independent opposition lawmaker and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman agreed with the sentiments of the petitioners in questioning RA 11954, but he noted that “there appears to be no constitutional provision violated” in the process of enacting it into law.

In a message to the Inquirer, Lagman maintained that the challenged MIF Act “lacks fiscal and economic wisdom and is ill-timed because of the negative economic indicators besetting the country today.”

“Unfortunately, congressional wisdom is not a justiciable issue as ruled by the Supreme Court in many cases. The Supreme Court has also ruled that the seasonableness of a law is left to the discretion of the legislators and the high court will not interfere in such determination,”

he added.

Lagman noted that the Supreme Court also “consistently held that the presidential certification of urgency of a measure pending in the Congress is the sole political prerogative of the president on the existence of the reasons justifying certification.”

Economic viability

In the Supreme Court filing, the petitioners also argued that the House and the Senate violated the “no amendment” clause of Section 26 (2), Article VI of the 1987 Constitution.

House Bill No. 6608 was approved by the House on its third and final reading on Dec. 15, 2022, but the petitioners said the House amended HB 6608 on May 31, 2023, “not on the basis of a Bicameral Conference Report, but on the mere motion of Rep. Mikaela Suansing.”

On the other hand, the Senate amended an already approved bill and submitted to the president a version of Senate Bill No. 2020 that is different from the Senate-approved bill. They noted that Senate records would disclose that substantial and lengthy amendments to the bill were introduced and approved by the Senate, but were not incorporated in the printed text sent to the president and signed by him.

“This being so, that bill embodied in the Enrolled Bill was not duly enacted and therefore such did not become law as RA 11954,” the petitioners said.

The petitioners also claimed that the MIF failed to satisfy the test of economic viability, which, they said, is among the limitations imposed by the Constitution to prevent the depletion of public funds.

They noted that the national treasurer submitted a threepage business proposal for the MIF in an attempt to comply with the test of economic viability.

“Although it is true that the business proposal … reflected promising estimated returns for the next 10 years, the computation on which the estimated returns were based was not even provided in order for Congress, and also the public, to study and review such basis,” the petitioners said. g

LAS VEGAS — SEIU 1107

Executive Director Grace VergaraMactal announced her retirement effective September 30, 2023 after a three-decade career.

SEIU 1107 Chief of Staff, Sam Shaw, will assume the duties of the executive director. “On behalf of Nevada’s labor movement, we’d like to thank Grace for her extraordinary leadership, strong advocacy for workers’ rights and equal justice, and above all

else, her tremendous contributions towards improving the lives of Nevada’s working families.” said Susie Martinez, Nevada State AFL-CIO Executive SecretaryTreasurer. "We wish Grace the very best in her retirement and look forward to working with Sam on strengthening Nevada’s labor movement."

As executive director of the largest union of health care & public service workers in Nevada,

Vergara-Mactal also served as vice president and executive board member of the National SEIU, Nevada State AFL-CIO, and Southern Nevada Central Labor Council.

The Nevada State AFL-CIO is the state federation of labor representing over 150,000 members of more than 120 unions throughout Nevada. Its members represent industries from construction to service. g

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S.

Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Mike Braun (R-IN) introduced the bipartisan Train More Nurses Act to address the nursing shortage affecting communities all across the nation. Every county in Nevada is experiencing a shortage of medical professionals, and a recent analysis found that Nevada is one of the states with the least amount of nurses per capita. According to the University of Nevada Reno’s Nevada Health Workforce Research Center, it

would take an additional 4,000 registered nurses to catch up to the national average. This bipartisan legislation will direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Labor to conduct a review of all nursing grant programs to find ways to increase faculty at nursing schools, particularly in underserved areas. It will also increase pathways for Licensed Practical Nurses to become Registered Nurses.

“The shortage of nurses in Nevada is hurting families’ ability to get the care they need,” said

Senator Rosen. “Nevada families deserve to have access to reliable, quality medical care, which is why I’m introducing bipartisan legislation to tackle this shortage and help increase the number of nurses in our state.”

“In the midst of a growing demand for medical treatments and services, health care providers across Maine continue to face a significant shortage of nurses. One challenge in growing the nursing workforce to meet this demand is the limited supply PAGE 4

A recent analysis found that Nevada is one of the states with the least amounts of nurses per capita in the nation

Nevada state AFL-CIO recognizes Fil-Am leader Grace Vergara-Mactal for 27 years of service

Rosen, Collins, Braun, introduce bipartisan bill to address nursing shortage

Bayan Muna chair Neri Colmenares (center) and former Bayan Muna Reps. Carlos Isagani Zarate (right) and Ferdinand Gaite show to reporters copies of the petition they filed in the Supreme Court to declare the Maharlika Investment Fund Act of 2023 unconstitutional. Inquirer.net photo by Richard Reyes

SEIU 1107 President Michelle Maese, SEIU 1107 Executive Director Grace Vergara-Mactal, and Nevada State AFL-CIO Executive SecretaryTreasurer Susie Martinez.

Undocumented Filipinos in US now estimated...

PAGE 1

to foreign-born populations recorded in the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), for which 2021 is the most recent year available.

These 2021 data, however, do not capture the record number of border encounters witnessed in 2022 and the high levels seen this year. They also reflect the population during a period

when global mobility was still depressed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, population change always occurs with people exiting the unauthorized immigrant population due to voluntary or forced departure from the United States, death or, in a narrow set of circumstances, access to legal permanent residence.

There growing diversification of the U.S. undocumented population, due to the decade-long decline in Mexican unauthorized immigration and the widening array of nationalities arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border from within and beyond this hemisphere. The diversification also stems from visa overstays by migrants from around the world. (Inquirer.net)

Advocates urge UN action on ‘alarming’...

PAGE 1

Beverly Longid said that human rights violations such as killings, arrests, and arbitrary detentions continue under the Marcos Jr. administration.

“We are urging the UNHRC to look into the use and abuse of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, the anti-terrorism financing law, and international humanitarian law,” Longid said.

The organizations also stressed that opposition to human rights violations had been met with “state authoritarianism and fascism” that result in harassment, intimidation, red-tagging, surveillance and violence.

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict—a task force set up by Duterte—frequently accuses

government critics of being members or supporters of communist insurgency, without providing any evidence.

“State forces have been connected to killings, enforced disappearance, arbitrary arrests and tortures. Likewise, they have been ineffective in solving and prosecuting these rights violations, such as the recent killing of a public interest lawyer, Ma. Saniata Liwliwa GonzalesAlzate,” said Cristina Conti, secretary-general of NUPL.

The Philippines also remains one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists, and environmental and land defenders.

Review of joint program

Human rights advocates also called for a comprehensive

and participatory evaluation of the United Nations-Philippines joint program on human rights, saying “it has been unable to significantly address continuing human rights violations in the country.”

The three-year joint program aims to enhance the human rights situation in the country by focusing on technical cooperation and capacity building. It also seeks to assist the Philippines in fulfilling its international human rights obligations and commitments.

Filipino human rights organizations who are members of the Philippine Universal Periodic Review Watch are currently in Geneva, Switzerland for the 54th session of the UNHRC g

As AI rapidly develops, so do tech-based...

PAGE 1

Scammers utilize more sophisticated methods of “phishing” via email, text messages, social media, and other digital forms of contacting victims.

The FTC defines phishing as “an attempt to steal the consumer’s information, personal information, financial information, passwords,” as told by Benjamin Davidson, a consumer protections attorney with the FTC Division of Market Practices.

According to the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network, there were more than 2 million fraud reports in 2022. So far in 2023, there have been 1.1 million

fraud reports.

Though the volume of fraud reports has not risen, Davidson pointed out that the amount of money that people are losing via fraud has increased.

Reportedly, $658 million was lost via digital-based scams, of which social media and phone calls were the top methods utilized by criminals. Phone call-based scams cost victims an average of $1,400 per person, according to those who’ve reported to the FTC.

Imposter scams in which the scammer claims to be a government official or a representative from a company, like Amazon or Wells Fargo, have become more prominent. In 2022, text message-based phishing scams were “the leading contact method for fraud complains,” Davidson said. In these scams, victims are often lured by a myriad of text-based methods: offering free gift cards, inquiring about fake package deliveries, alerts of fake job offers, tech supportrelated scams, and the most popular method, impersonating someone’s bank.

Most recently, AI software has advanced so much that criminals can use AI to clone voices.

Although the quality of AIgenerated audio clips varies in quality and authenticity, disturbingly, some AI can mimic the voices of a person’s family members and friends in what’s often described as “family emergency scams.”

Davidson said that scammers obtain sound files of a victim’s family member, often through social media, and use software to clone that voice to pretend to be that family member in distress.

Similar to the visual equivalent of “deepfakes” — wherein faces can be superimposed onto other bodies in videos — voice-cloning technology is often believable.

“They say they’re in jail and need money to be bailed out; they’re traveling abroad, and they lost their passport and need money for a plane ticket; or they’re in a car accident. There’s always an emergency,” Davidson explained. “The consumers we talked to who later realized that the person they were speaking with was a scammer and not a loved one a really jarring experience.”

Last year, the FTC reported that victims over the age of 70 years old reported higher losses due to scams than the median or average individual loss. Because AI-constructed fraud is becoming more difficult to suss out, Davidson suggested implementing a security question when they encounter a caller claiming to be a family member.

“It doesn’t need to be a fancy password arranged ahead of time,” Davidson said, suggesting asking questions with answers that only that family member would know, like, “What did we have for dinner last night?”

Over the last year, AI technology has exponentially grown in popularity for its uncanny ability to generate convincing emails, text messages, essays, and art pieces. Lawmakers across all levels of government are currently debating on how to regulate this new technology with supporters advocating for the convenience of AI and opponents warning against data breaches and privacy issues. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

Rosen, Collins, Braun...

PAGE 3

of nursing faculty available to increase student enrollment and train the next generation of nurses,” said Senator Collins.

“By reviewing existing federal nurse workforce grant programs, this bipartisan legislation aims to identify strategies to close the faculty gap and other potential solutions to strengthen our nursing workforce and improve access to care, particularly in underserved communities in Maine and across our country.”

“We have a serious nursing shortage, and we need new ideas to solve this problem to help Hoosiers get better health outcomes,” said Senator Braun. “This bipartisan legislation will help us come up with ways to get more Americans into this important profession.”

“Nurses are an essential part of our nation’s health care system,” said Melodie Osborn, Chief Nurse Executive for Renown Health.

“Reports show Nevada needs over 4,000 additional registered nurses to meet the national populationto-RN average. We are pleased to support Senator Rosen’s Train More Nurses Act to build our workforce, train and grow the next generation of nurses; create career ladders for nurses and recognize the critical role they play in primary care, mental health care, and maternal health care in communities across our state.”

"UNLV wholeheartedly supports the 'Train More Nurses Act,' which addresses critical issues within the nursing workforce. This proposed legislation takes significant steps to improve the quality and availability of nursing education while addressing workforce shortages, particularly in underserved areas,” said Keith Whitfield, President of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. “By conducting a comprehensive review of grant programs and recommending changes to support nurse faculty, create pathways for experienced nurses to become educators, and promote the transition of licensed practical nurses to registered nurses, this act demonstrates a clear commitment to enhancing healthcare delivery and addressing the growing demand for skilled nursing professionals. As advocates for the health and well-being of our communities, we urge Congress to pass the 'Train More Nurses Act'

to ensure a stronger, more resilient nursing workforce and, ultimately, improved healthcare outcomes for all Americans."

“Nevada is facing a dire shortage of nurses. We are seeing more and more medical professionals leave our state, which is putting a strain on Nevada’s health care system and our workforce,” President Brian Sandoval of University of Nevada, Reno, said. “We are grateful Senator Rosen is taking action to address this shortage. Her bipartisan bill will support efforts by nursing schools across the state and increase the number of nurses training and working in Nevada.”

"As a frontline nurse with 26 years of service, I've experienced the staffing crisis firsthand, and know how much the Train More Nurses Act would help," said Elizabeth Bolhouse, a registered nurse at University Medical Center of Southern Nevada and Executive Board Member of SEIU Local 1107, the largest healthcare and public service union in the state.

"We urgently need to improve the nursing pipeline and address the lack of nursing faculty, especially in rural and underserved communities. Supporting more experienced nurses like myself to become faculty, and encouraging other healthcare workers such as LPNs to become registered nurses, would be major steps forward for protecting the health of all Nevadans."

Senator Rosen is working to address Nevada’s health care professional shortage and improve medical care access in the state.

Earlier this year, Senator Rosen helped introduce the bipartisan Medical Student Education Authorization Act to address the doctor shortage by expanding the Medical Student Education Program. She also introduced a package of bipartisan bills to tackle this health care professional shortage in Nevada and across the nation. Senator Rosen’s Maximizing Outcomes Through Better Investments in Lifesaving Equipment for (MOBILE) Health Care Act was signed into law in December, and allows community health centers to use federal funds to establish new, mobile health care units to increase access to health care services in rural and underserved communities. g

SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT. A driver demonstrates how to operate an electric three-wheeler parked outside the Department of Public Order and Safety of the Quezon City local government on Tuesday, September 19. There are 20 units donated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, with some being used to transport employees within the city hall compound to nearby Maginhawa Street. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc

Dateline PhiliPPines

Marcos gathers friends, ‘loyalists’ for 51st anniversary of Martial Law

by Bernadette e tamayo ManilaTimes.net

SEN. Maria Josefa Imelda "Imee"

Marcos has invited close friends and "loyalists" for a simple gathering at their old house in San Juan City to commemorate the 51st anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law.

The senator's father, the late president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared Martial Law on Sept. 21,

1972.

Marcos' office on Wednesday sent a media advisory, in Filipino, which stated: "You are invited to - 5 decades and 1 year, 5 questions in 1 scene, 5-in-1 in 51."

"On the 51st year since the Martial Law Declaration on Thursday, September 21, 2023, there will be a simple get-together with some friends and loyalists at 204 Mariano Marcos Street,

Barangay Maytunas, San Juan City, starting at 4:30 in the afternoon," the advisory read.

Before the gathering at Marcos' ancestral home, the senator visited Nueva Ecija to distribute AICS (Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation) benefits to qualified residents of Sto. Domingo, Aliaga, Cabanatuan City and Laur.

The 4,000 AICS beneficiaries received P3,000 each. g

PH endorses historic treaty to protect high seas

MANILA – The Philippine government formally endorsed the landmark international treaty on the protection of marine biodiversity in areas beyond a country’s jurisdiction or the high seas.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo signed the treaty on the margins of the ongoing 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Wednesday, September 20.

“Honored to sign today the historic Agreement under 1982 UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement,” he said in a tweet. “(The Philippines) is proud to take this step to protect

the world’s oceans for present & future generations.”

The BBNJ Agreement was adopted in New York in June after nearly two decades of negotiations.

The agreement, also known as the High Seas Treaty, sets up a framework for fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from activities with respect to marine genetic resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

It also allows the establishment of area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, to conserve and sustainably manage habitats and species in the high seas and the international seabed area. The treaty was opened for signing to all states and regional economic integration organizations at a Treaty Event

in New York on Sept. 20.

Manalo is in New York to represent President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the 78th UNGA where he is expected to articulate Manila's "advocacies for respect for the rule of law and ambitious climate action."

Apart from the BBNJ Agreement, he also signed separate bilateral deals with Serbia and Lithuania to establish a political consultation mechanism between Manila and the two states.

Manalo is making a fruitful New York trip as he meets and discusses ways to enhance relations with his counterparts and ranking officials of other nations, among them Switzerland, Romania, Thailand, Yemen, Czech Republic, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, Japan and Australia. (PNA)

Pope: World on brink of nuclear war

POPE Francis warned Tuesday, Sept. 19 that the world is on the brink of a nuclear war like the 1962 Cuban missile crisis.

The Pope conveyed the message at an international conference in Oslo commemorating the 60th anniversary of Pope John 23rd's influential encyclical "Pacem in Terris" (Peace on Earth).

He said the conference is taking place "as our world continues to be in the grip of a third world war fought piecemeal, and, in the tragic case of the conflict in Ukraine, not without the threat of recourse to nuclear weapons."

He drew a comparison between the present moment and the time that preceded the publication

of "Pacem in Terris," where the Cuban missile crisis in October 1962 brought the world perilously close to nuclear destruction.

Urging the conference to focus on the sections of Pacem in Terris that address disarmament and the ways to achieve long-lasting peace, the pontiff said "a world free of nuclear arms is possible and necessary."

He also recalled his statement from the Hiroshima Peace Memorial in 2019, when he said that "the use of atomic energy for purposes of war is immoral, just as the possessing of nuclear weapons is immoral."

Regarding conventional arms, the Pope said they "should be used for defensive purposes only and not directed to civilian targets." (PNA)

MANILA — Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco is set to speak at the panel discussions at the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Global Tourism Economy Forum to tackle the country’s sustainable tourism plans and initiatives.

Frasco will be speaking as a panelist for the session titled “Sustainability in Focus: Navigating the Future of Tourism in Asia.” During which, she is expected to discuss the key strategies of the country to pursue the sustainability objectives.

The Department of Tourism reported that these strategies would include the Philippines' profile as one of the megadiverse regions in the world, incorporation of multi-dimensional tourism in its product development, expansion of tourism development to emerging destinations, as well as the inclusion of Batanes Islands to the highly regarded UNWTO International Network of Sustainable Tourism

Observatories.

Frasco said her speaking engagement is also an opportunity to highlight the Philippines’ positive rebound in Asia Pacific.

Among the tourism chief’s first directives is to include sustainability indicators in the National Accommodation Standards.

“I am honored to bring the Philippines’ sustainable tourism plans, initiatives, and successes to the global stage to promote awareness of the incredible beauty and biodiversity of our country, and the work to sustain its development, conservation, and promotion to ensure tourism’s continued contribution to our country’s economy,” Frasco said.

The forum, attended by fellow tourism ministers from across the globe, is scheduled on Friday in Macao Special Administrative Region.

According to its website, GTEF is a leading international exchange platform designed to promote the sustainable development of the global tourism sector. This year, the

forum is hosted by the Secretariat of Economy and Finance of the Government of Macao SAR, and in collaboration with the UNWTO. The GTEF is co-organized by the Macao Government Tourism Office and the China Chamber of Tourism and coordinated by the Global Tourism Economy Research Centre.

Among the distinguished attendees to the forum include Hu Heping of China, Daniela Garnero Santanche of Italy, Celso Sabino De Oliveira of Brazil, Priantha Fernando of Sri Lanka, as well as UNWTO SecretaryGeneral Zurab Pololikashvili, World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) President and CEO Julia Simpson, and GTEF Secretary Pansy Ho.

Also among the panelists are Harry Hwang, Director of the UNWTO Regional Department for Asia and the Pacific.

The invitation to Frasco came months after the tourism secretary has been elected as chairman of the UNWTO’s Commission for East Asia and the Pacific during the 55th meeting of the UNWTO Regional u PAGE 7

Pope Francis Philstar.com file photo

Destroying the reefs

FOR many years now, Filipinos have been raising concern over the environmental destruction from China’s artificial island-building in the South China Sea. Always, what has been lacking is the lack of official support for the complaints.

In March 2019, retired Philippine government officials filed a complaint before the International Criminal Court or ICC against Chinese President Xi Jinping over his country’s “environmentally destructive and illegal reclamations and artificial island-building activities” in the West Philippine Sea.

Editorial

those named in the complaint were Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and former Chinese ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua as well as senior executives of state-run China Communications Construction Co.

Along with the swarming of Chinese militia vessels and prevention of Filipinos from fishing within sovereign waters, the acts constituted crimes against humanity, according to the complainants –the late foreign secretary Albert del Rosario and former ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.

Instead of supporting the initiative, then president Rodrigo Duterte pursued his lovefest with Beijing, and later pulled out the Philippines from the ICC after it accepted complaints against him for possible crimes against humanity in connection with his crackdown on illegal drugs.

In December 2019, the ICC junked the complaint against Xi, citing lack of jurisdiction because China is not a party to the Rome Statute. In September 2020, however, retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio joined the complainants to revive the case. Along with Xi,

CCCC and its subsidiaries have been blacklisted by the United States for their role in artificial islandbuilding in the South China Sea. The U.S. embassy recently raised alarm over the involvement of the CCCC group in commercial reclamation projects in Manila Bay. Over the weekend, the Armed Forces of the Philippines revealed the discovery of extensive damage to corals in a reef in the West Philippine Sea. Vice Adm. Alberto Carlos, chief of the AFP’s Western Command based in Palawan, said the corals are gone from Rozul Reef following the swarming of Chinese vessels in the area. “There’s nothing left, they are destroyed and only debris was there,” Carlos said, citing the report of divers deployed to the reef by WesCom. Coral reefs are spawning grounds for marine life and critical in maintaining marine biodiversity. Over the past decades, the Philippines has lost much of its extensive reef network to foreign poachers,

destructive fishing methods and reclamation activities. China has turned Panganiban or Mischief Reef, just 130 nautical miles west of Palawan, into

Our Armed Forces are in good hands

wealth of experience can “help build upon our gains in the defense and security of our country.”

be ready as much as possible to foresee, predict and to react to defend the Philippines from any geopolitical happening.”

IT’S good to know our country’s defense establishment is in good hands under the leadership of Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro, whom I’ve personally known for a long time. There is absolutely no doubt he is more than qualified to serve as our country’s defense secretary after being confirmed by the Commission on Appointments.

A lawyer by profession who topped the Bar exams in 1989, Gibo is certainly no greenhorn, having first been appointed as defense secretary when he was only 43 – the second youngest ever to hold the position after Ramon Magsaysay. He has proven himself to be a capable public servant during his three terms as Tarlac congressman and was “batchmates” with Senate President Migz Zubiri when the latter was a congressman of Bukidnon during the 11th, 12th and 13th Congress.

When his appointment by President Marcos was announced in June, the defense establishment and members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines were happy, expressing their strong support for Gibo, whom they described as a decisive leader whose professional competence and

It’s not really surprising that members of the military have such high respect for “SND” (Secretary of National Defense) who, aside from being a licensed commercial pilot, attended the Command and Staff Course at the Philippine Air Force in 2001 and the Joint Command and Staff College in 2003 where he was a Leadership Awardee.

These military courses have certainly provided him with an understanding of military doctrine. On top of that, his prior stint as defense secretary gives him valuable insights on how much the military has transformed in terms of force structure and the changes that are needed to enhance the defense capabilities of the AFP, especially at this time.

“The job of the secretary of National Defense is first and foremost building up our credible deterrence,” Gibo said shortly after his appointment was announced by Malacañang.

“The way that we build up our credible deterrence is our business and nobody else’s business,” and “whether we partner with country X or Y in order to build up our own core strength is a question for the Philippines,” he emphasized, knowing fully well the need “to

He is intelligent and articulate, and can drive home a point with logic, common sense as well as grit and spirit when it comes to geopolitical issues. “Just like we do not question the buildup of not even defensive capabilities but offensive capabilities of other countries, they should not question ours,” Gibo told those who question the right of the Philippines to build its defense and offensive capabilities.

As SP Migz correctly put it, Gibo’s appointment “came at a very opportune time, not only in addressing the issues of internal security threats, but also, above all, the external threats with the heightening tensions in the West Philippine Sea.”

Everyone knows the kind of aggression that China has been displaying in the West Philippine Sea, with Chinese Coast Guard and militia vessels bullying Filipino fishermen and preventing them from fishing in traditional fishing grounds, shadowing and harassing Philippine Coast Guard vessels escorting boats conducting resupply missions for the troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

If China wants to earn the trust of Filipinos, it must conform its activities to recognized

norms of international law, including the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Defense Secretary said early in his tenure. But the Chinese Coast Guard has continued with its “irresponsible behavior,” as correctly described by Secretary Gibo, who also called out the CCG’s “egregious violation” of maritime safety rules.

Many agree with Secretary Teodoro that such actions by the Chinese necessitate an honestto-goodness modernization of the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard, along with upskilling and retraining of both civilian and military personnel to speed up the transition to territorial defense.

Filipinos also support the idea of forging alliances with like-minded nations that want to ensure freedom of navigation and maintain peace and stability in the region. Aside from the United States, Japan and Australia, Germany, Canada and France are also keen on the idea of conducting joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea.

The United States has been very supportive of our modernization efforts, evidenced once again in the donation of two refurbished Cyclone-class patrol vessels that have been renamed as BRP Valentin Diaz and BRP Ladislao Diwa commissioned by

an artificial island housing a military outpost. Protecting marine biodiversity is a concern not just of the Philippines but of the world. The country

IN the annals of Philippine history, the martial law regime imposed by Ferdinand Marcos Sr. from 1972 to 1981 stands as a stark reminder of how power can corrupt absolutely. Under the pretense of building a “New Society,” the Marcos regime deteriorated into a plunderous era that corrupted government institutions, confiscated businesses, and violated democratic principles. While the Philippines has ostensibly moved beyond martial law, disturbing parallels are emerging, signaling the return of impunity under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The Marcos era witnessed the degradation of once-respected institutions like the Central Bank of the Philippines, which was shamelessly treated as a personal bank account. The regime

the Philippine Navy last Monday, September 11. Critics of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement say that allowing additional bases to be used by the U.S. could drag us into a war. EDCA is an agreement, there is mutual consent between the Philippines and the United States. Those who question EDCA should ask themselves – what about Scarborough Shoal and the other maritime territories where China has built military bases inside our territory – did they ask our permission or forge an agreement? Absolutely not.

So to those who continue to gripe about EDCA and our U.S. alliance, Secretary Teodoro has

this to say: “This is Philippine territory, and it is our business what we do here just as long as it is for our interest… it is not any other countries’ business to question what we do here.” With this unequivocal pronouncement, 90 percent of Filipinos feel reassured in knowing our Armed Forces are in good hands with Secretary Gibo Teodoro at the helm. (Philstar.com)

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

* * * babeseyeview@gmail.com

Return of dark days but without martial law

orchestrated the confiscation of businesses and properties from perceived enemies, handing them over to cronies in a blatant display of nepotism. Grand fund concentration schemes like the coco levy drained resources from impoverished coconut farmers, enriching a privileged few. The ratification of the 1973 Constitution through mere handraisings in barangay assemblies eroded democratic values.

The nadir was reached during the 1977 legislative elections when Imelda Marcos improbably emerged victorious while Benigno S. Aquino Jr. lost in Metro Manila—a result that defied credibility. The cacophonic noise barrage that greeted the results said it all. Only the collective will of the people, who took to the streets again to declare “enough is enough” prevented Marcos Sr. from successfully stealing the February 1986 snap presidential elections.

Fast forward four decades and history seems to be repeating

itself. Bongbong Marcos, the son of the former dictator, has ascended to the presidency with promises of a “New Philippines.” His dubious Maharlika Investment Fund initiative, criticized by experts and citizens alike, was swiftly passed, echoing the control his father wielded over the Batasan in the 1970s.

Now, the Marcos Jr. regime is tapping into the nation’s coffers with a brazenness that surpasses past transgressions. A staggering P125 million in confidential fund was unlawfully transferred to Vice President Sara Duterte, a clear violation of the law barring such transfers.

These two highest offices in the land appear to be opening the floodgates for national plunder, as they amass colossal confidential and intelligence funds, evading the scrutiny of the government and the people.

Senate investigations into the propriety of these entitlements and fund usage were abruptly curtailed by complicit senators

and congressmen.

Furthermore, the Philippines finds itself embroiled in controversy over the legitimacy of the May 2022 elections. The Truth and Transparency (TNT) trio has made grave allegations of election manipulation against the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Astonishingly, President Marcos and the Comelec have refrained from addressing these charges, undermining the very essence of democracy.

Mr. Marcos, who was previously convicted of tax evasion, was constitutionally disqualified from running in the 2022 elections. Yet, the Comelec’s failure to make a ruling allowed him to participate. This sequence of events paints a disconcerting picture—the Philippines appears to be slipping into another era of presidential impunity without the need for martial law.

This state of affairs is facilitated by the complicity of elites and the new cronies of the president. The

vice president, much like Imelda Marcos during her husband’s regime, seems to thrive in an atmosphere of impunity. It is a grim reality: impunity no longer requires martial law; it thrives on state capture, weak institutions, and a pliant Congress. The support of past Presidents Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Rodrigo Duterte only bolsters this climate of impunity.

The marshaling of intelligence forces to quash leftist movements is reminiscent of the martial law era. These conditions persist without the need for a martial law declaration, as the opposition has been silenced, completing the grim picture of unchecked impunity.

Furthermore, the Department of Education seeks to sanitize the odious history of martial law by removing references to Marcos Sr.’s dictatorship from textbooks for Filipino students.

This parallels the censorship that Marcos Sr. imposed under martial law, rewriting history to fit

his narrative.

Additionally, new alliances with the United States in the realm of national defense and foreign policy seem to have emboldened the president’s confidence. He appears to regard himself as indispensable to the United States, mirroring Marcos Sr.’s successful quest for American acquiescence to his martial law regime in 1972.

As Filipinos, we must reflect on this alarming trajectory and remember the lessons of our history. Impunity should never be allowed to take root in our democracy, and we must hold those in power accountable. It is incumbent upon us to safeguard the principles of transparency, accountability, and justice that underpin our nation’s democratic foundations. (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.

Las Vegas, San

Department of National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Philstar.com file photo

PH boosts WPS watch with...

our divers to do an underwater survey, and... we saw that there were no corals left. The corals were destroyed,” Carlos said in Filipino.

He said the increased presence of Chinese militia vessels in these areas raises concerns regarding the potential implications for the Philippines’ maritime security, fisheries conservation, territorial integrity, and preservation of the marine environment, aside from being a source of tension in the WPS and instability in the region.

Powell said SeaLight has already documented the presence of Chinese militia ships at Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal of these West Philippine Sea features throughout the year via Twitter/X feeds.

SeaLight is a web portal created by a team of volunteers at Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, which uses entrepreneurial methods to solve difficult defense and security challenges.

Likewise, the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) documented how up to 30 Chinese vessels were spotted at Iroquois Reef throughout much of 2021.

The AMTI is an interactive, regularly updated source for information, analysis, and policy exchange on maritime security issues in Asia.

“SeaLight has posted evidence of similar numbers throughout 2023,” said Powell, a 2021 Fellow at Stanford’s Distinguished Careers Institute.

No clear proof

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) admitted on Tuesday, however, that it does not have clear proof to directly pinpoint Chinese maritime militia vessels as the ones responsible for the “harvesting” and destruction of the corals in Rozul Reef.

Commodore Jay Tarriela,

PCG spokesman on the WPS, said the allegations are based only on circumstantial evidence since Chinese ships were monitored in the area before the disappearance of the corals was discovered.

“But what is certain is that from August 9 to September 11, we were able to monitor Chinese maritime militia vessels that were there in that particular area,” said Tarriela during a public briefing.

“Right after they (Chinese maritime militia) left, that was the time we conducted our underwater survey. So, in the past weeks they were the only ones there, and when we went there (the corals) were already destroyed. Their presence in the area may be a contributing factor,” he added.

Tarriela said they will still coordinate with marine scientists and experts to understand what happened to the corals in the area.

He said PCG Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu has ordered the deployment of two patrol ships to return to Rozul Reef and the other areas in the WPS to conduct another underwater survey to have a clearer understanding of the extent of the damage.

Concern

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday, September 18 expressed concern about the reported destruction of corals in Rozul Reef.

“The Philippines has consistently raised the alarm over ecologically harmful activities, conducted by foreign vessels, in our maritime zones, an issue extensively discussed in the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea,” the DFA said.

“We, therefore, call on everyone concerned to act responsibly and cease all activities that can damage our precious marine environment,” the Foreign Affairs department said in a statement on Monday.

Lawmakers vow to pass Marcos’ priority bills

by Alexis RomeRo Philstar.com

The DFA added, “The wellbeing of millions of people who depend on the South China Sea for their livelihood is at stake.”

Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri expressed outrage over the destruction of the marine ecosystem in the WPS as the continued intrusion of Chinese vessels into the Philippines’ EEZ threatens global food security.

He said the coral reefs belong to the “whole world because the species of fish that breed there are not only being harvested by Filipino fishermen but also harvested by Malaysian fishermen, Vietnamese fishermen, even Chinese fishermen.”

“So it is for the good of the world if our coral reefs are protected. That’s why I’m really very mad,” Zubiri added. He said the Senate is working closely with the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources in setting up marine ranger stations in key coastal areas nationwide to safeguard the country’s marine resources in the WPS.

Zubiri said he has spoken with Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, to earmark P600 million for the initiative.

He also vowed to fight for bigger allotments for the PCG and the Philippine Navy in the national budget for 2024 to help them in purchasing additional partial boats and other equipment. Under the proposed P5.768trillion 2024 national budget, the PCG has been allocated P24.014 billion, an increase of nearly 10 percent from its allotment of P21.92 billion this year. On the other hand, P40.97 billion has been set aside for the Navy, up from its current budget of P34.98 billion. (Francisco Tuyay and Franco Jose C. Baroña/ManilaTimes.net)

Frasco to present Philippines’ sustainable...

Commission for East Asia and the Pacific in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in June. She was also elected vice president of the 25th General Assembly of the UNWTO which

is slated to take place next month. In June, Batanes islands, the northernmost part of the Philippines, has also been named a new member of the UNWTO International Network of Sustainable Tourism

Observatories. It is the first tourist destination in the country that has been chosen to be part of the UNWTO’s network of tourism observatories, through the Batanes Tourism Hospitality Monitoring Center. g

MANILA, Philippines — Congressional leaders expressed confidence on Wednesday, Sept. 20 that the 20 priority bills of President Marcos would be passed by December.

The status of priority measures was discussed during the third Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting on Wednesday at Malacañang.

“Both houses of Congress are on track for the December passage of the 20 priority measures requested by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., including the General Appropriations Bill,” Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said in a statement.

The president certified as urgent on Wednesday the proposed P5.768-trillion national budget for 2024.?In a letter addressed Speaker Martin Romualdez, copy furnished to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Marcos invoked Article VI Section 26 of the Constitution in certifying the necessity of the “immediate enactment” of House Bill 8980.?“In order to address the need to maintain continuous government operations following the end of the current fiscal year, to expedite the funding of various programs, projects and activities for (fiscal year) 2024 and to ensure budgetary preparedness that will enable the government to effectively perform its Constitutional mandate,” Marcos said in his certification dated Sept. 20.

The priority measures identified for passage by the end of December include the bill on the national employment action plan; the measure on local government unit classification; proposed Internet Transaction Act; proposed Build-OperateTransfer and Public-Private Partnership Act; proposed Salt Development Industry Act; the bill on ease of paying taxes; proposed Real Property Evaluation and Assessment Reform Act; proposed Magna Carta for Seafarers and the proposed Anti-Agriculture Smuggling Act.

Other bills that Congress aims to pass by yearend are the wasteto-energy bill; National Disease Prevention Management Authority bill; amendments to the Banking Act or Fund Secrecy Law; Medical Reserve Corps bill; measure creating the Virology Institute of the Philippines; proposed E-Governance Act; proposed New

Philippine Passport Act; proposed National Government Rightsizing Act; proposed National Scamming Act; proposed National Citizens Service Training Program Act and the proposed Military and Uniformed Personnel Pension System Act.

Senate President Zubiri said the Senate has finished about half of the 20 priority measures of Marcos.

“They will become laws soon and those that are pending will become laws within the next few weeks, and hopefully the president will be able to sign it,” a Palace statement quoted Zubiri as saying.

“The president has a good legislative agenda and we will pass this as soon as possible, the latest at the end of the year… including the General Appropriations Act,” he added.

Zubiri noted that the Marcos administration’s economic team also has additional laws in its wish list, measures that he said would be supported by the Senate.

Speaker Romualdez said the chamber has approved 18 of the 20 priority measures of the president.

“Before we take a break, we will finish all the 20 priority LEDAC measures,” Romualdez said. “Of course, that includes the General Appropriations Bill that we shall also finish on third and final reading by Wednesday next week. So again, three days ahead of schedule before we go on break.”

With regard to the 17 bills mentioned by Marcos during his State of the Nation Address (SONA), Romualdez said the House has approved seven measures on final reading. The chamber has assured the president that all the measures would be passed by December, he added.

The measures enumerated by Marcos during his second SONA

include the bills on excise tax on single use plastics; value added tax on digital services; rationalization of mining fiscal regime, motor vehicle user’s charge and road user’s tax; military and uniformed personnel pension reform; amendment of the fisheries code; amendment of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act; amendment of the cooperative code; new government procurement law; new government auditing code; anti-financial accounts scamming; Tatak Pinoy law; Blue Economy law; ease of paying taxes; LGU income classification; Philippine Immigration Act and water resources management agency. ?LEDAC serves as a consultative and advisory body to the President on programs and policies needed to achieve economic targets.

Additional bills

The LEDAC also approved the inclusion of additional economic measures in its common legislative agenda for the 19th Congress.

“There are additional (bills) proposed by our economic team and we committed to support this as well. We do not see anything controversial (in the proposed measures),” Zubiri said. “We do not see anything that will cause inconvenience among our people.”

The additional measures in the LEDAC list are the amendments to the Government Procurement Reform Act; bill imposing excise tax on single-use plastics; amendments to the Cooperative Code; amendments to the Fisheries Code; proposed New Government Auditing Code; bill rationalizing the mining fiscal regime; proposed Philippine Defense Industry Development Act; proposed Philippine Maritime Zones Act, the proposed Open Access in Data Transmission Act and amendments to the Right-ofWay Act. g

“Both houses of Congress are on track for the December passage of the 20 priority measures requested by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., including the General Appropriations Bill,” Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said in a statement. Malacañang photo

VEGAS&STYLE

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-yearold singer-songwriter 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 altgirl-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 on “GUTS” provided a needed outlet to “process things like shame, impossible beauty standards, social anxiety, and not-so-great 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

Sharon admits undergoing cosmetic surgery, shares weight loss journey

by Kathleen a lleMit Philstar.com

SHARON Cuneta shared that she had surgery to remove excess skin and that she was stressed, which contributed to her losing weight. In the column of Salve Asis for Pilipino Star Ngayon, the sing-

er-actress shared her recent life updates during the press conference for her and ex-husband Gabby Concepcion’s reunion concert in October.

“I don’t want to hide it naman. Kasi remember, I had reduction sa breasts ko because it was all skin. So, ‘yung tinanggal, mostly skin. And I don’t want to hide it,

there’s no reason to, hindi naman nakakahiya,” Sharon shared.

“Because I lost so much weight, over a hundred pounds, naturally, mas sagging ‘yung skin. So, I had arms surgery. Nagpatanggal ako ng balat. Kasi, ang payat-payat ko na, ang laki pa nu’ng balat. So, ipinatanggal lang PAGE 9

25th Jackpot Joanie opens Spring Mountain Road

ON Tuesday, September 19th, the Nevada Small Business Council hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of Jackpot Joanie’s on Spring Mountain Road.

ECL owner Ron Winchel and his executive team received welcome messages from Las Vegas City Councilwoman Victoria Seaman; Sonny Vinuya, representing Governor Joe Lombardo; Gerri Schroeder, representing US Congresswoman Susie Lee; and Jackie DeJoya, president of the

Nevada Chapter of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations.

In attendance were many members of the Las Vegas Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities. The ceremony also included the traditional lion blessing performed by the world-renowned Lohan School of Shaolin, led by Sifu Lance Brazil.

This is the 25th Jackpot Joanie’s property and the 34th

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 self-awareness, and piercing honesty. Rodrigo is known to take inspiration from 2000s pop-rock 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 “allamerican 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.)

Of course, Rodrigo is no stranger to online criticism. Since the last week, many have criticized Rodrigo for what many have described as a heavyhanded 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.

Issa on romance with James:

obsessed with each other’

by HannaH Mallorca Inquirer.net

for ECL Gaming. The first Jackpot Joanie’s opened on May 28, 2010, on Charleston and Rancho. Jackpot Joanie’s in Chinatown is located on 5488 Spring Mountain Road. Christiana Coughlin, Director of Marketing said, “We are thrilled to join the Chinatown community and welcome everyone! Our guests can expect friendly bartenders, a wide variety of slot machine and video poker, and better odds of winning compared to the bigger casinos!”

DESPITE finding themselves at the receiving end of criticisms after seemingly confirming their relationship in March, Issa Pressman revealed that it was a moment that proved “how much of a supportive boyfriend” James Reid turned out to be. Pressman and Reid addressed critics of their relationship during an interview with entertainment outlet PUSH on its YouTube channel, to which the BritishFilipino model opted to see the ordeal as a “good test” on how they’re willing to be there for each other.

“Honestly, I think every single couple who goes through challenges, that’s a good test to know how you are gonna be there for each other. I think that moment really proved to me how much of a supportive boyfriend I have,” she said.

Pressman then admitted that she wouldn’t have been able to go through the criticisms without Reid’s support.

“I really felt like, I wouldn’t have gone through that situation if it wasn’t for him. He really made me feel comfortable, strong, safe, and

very much protected,” she said.

“And he always made me see the positive in every single negative, you know, and that brought up the positivity in me. But I’m happy. We’re happy.”

During the interview, Pressman said she and Reid are currently in the state of their romance where they’re “obsessed with each other.” “He’s obsessed with me, I’m obsessed with him, we’re obsessed with each other,” she said. “He’s making sure that my health is correct because of my throat operation. He makes sure that I don’t talk much when I’m not supposed to.”

For his part, the singer-actor said he and Pressman were just living their “best lives.” We’re very happy,” he said. “It’s honestly better than ever. Like, we’ve been through a lot this year. It really tested us and it made us even stronger, like, more than I could’ve imagined. I’m just happy with her.”

Alden admits pressure after success of ‘Hello, Love, Goodbye’

by HannaH Mallorca Inquirer.net

EVEN though it’s been four years since the film “Hello, Love, Goodbye” hit theaters, Alden Richards said that he was dreading accepting new movie projects because of the recordbreaking success of his movie with Kathryn Bernardo.

During a 24 Oras interview last Sept. 15, Richards admitted that such was his dread that he felt pressure to set a higher standard for himself and the new projects he would choose to star in. Thus, when the offer for the movie “Five Breakups and a Romance” with Julia Montes came along, he knew that he was setting his career to new heights.

“I was fearful, coming from the success of ‘Hello, Love, Goodbye.’ Siyempre, it broke records… Natakot po ako to accept projects in terms of movies kasi lalo pa’t ‘yung pagtingin ko

sa details ng gagawing projects is medyo, of course, tumaas din ‘yung standards ko (I was scared of accepting movie projects, especially as I’ve been very particular about certain details since I set my standards higher),” he added.

The actor previously expressed his admiration for his leading lady’s acting prowess at a media launch in April of this year.

Richards will star as Lance, while Montes will portray the role of Justine. It is set to hit theaters on Oct. 18.

“Hello, Love, Goodbye” was the first team-up of Richards and Kathryn Bernardo which became the “highest-grossing Filipino film of all time,” per Star Cinema in September 2019.

Interestingly, Bernardo and Montes starred as the leads in the 2010 teleserye “Mara Clara” and the 2011 film “Way Back Home.”

‘We’re

Issa Pressman and James Reid

Photo from Instagram/@pressmanissa

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

American Music, Grammy and Billboard award-winning artist Oliva Rodrigo has just released her sophomore album, “GUTS.” Instagram photo/@oliviarodrigo

by CHARMIE JOY PAGULONG Philstar.com

Luis embraces joys of being a rst-time father Rachelle Ann excited to reprise ‘Hamilton’ role in the Philippines

LUIS “Lucky” Manzano is embracing fatherhood with love and joy. He’s a first-time dad to Isabella Rose (nicknamed Baby Peanut), his eight-month-old daughter with wife Jessy Mendiola.

He is always excited to come home after a day’s work to be with Baby Peanut. “It’s really true na-excited ka umuwi. Grabe yung feeling na yun na katingkati ka (to go home). And there’s a bit of sadness when you get home and Peanut is already sleeping, but you want to play with her,” Luis recently shared in a media interview for PIE’s (Pinoy Interactive Entertainment) Channel.

“Like yesterday, after taping I got home. I had like 10 minutes kasi pinapatulog na siya. I was so happy even just for 10 minutes because got to hug her while she was awake tapos pinatulog na. But then again, be a realist. I was an idealist before but now I’m a realist. You know a man has to do what a man has to do,” added the Kapamilya host.

Furthermore, Luis would like to think that he is a hands-on father.

“But, of course, may mga forte kasi na mas kumportable talaga ang isang nanay. But I make sure that as much as possible every milestone of Peanut I’ll be there,” he said. He wasn’t able to witness in person Peanut’s first roll and crawl and just saw it on the phone. But he is hoping that he gets to see more of her milestones.

Luis described Peanut as “pilya,” a trait she got from Luis while her being affectionate is an attitude she inherited from her mother.

“My favorite (routine) every morning is every time I wake up, I go to her room, then, I would shout ‘Peanut,’ haharap na yun tapos bungisngis na. She’d laugh which means she wants me to carry her.

Those are the small things that I appreciate as a parent.”

“I’ll cross the bridge when I get there,” he said when asked if he is a stage dad. “But I have this feeling that I will be a strict stage dad. For example, there’s an endorsement, (involving) Jessy and Peanut, I will still go there talagang magbabantay ako, ‘Teka, teka lang baka napapagod na yung anak ko.’”

When Peanut grows older, Luis will let his daughter “try anything and everything” in terms of the career path she will take. “If she wants to try showbiz, it’s OK. But

the moment she says that, ‘Papa, ayoko na or I want to take a rest,’ (then) go.

“I will not pressure her to do anything but at least she gets to try it. Let’s say for example, Goin’ Bulilit or when she’s older, she wants to try hosting, (then) by all means. So that, at least, when she gets to sleep at night, she will say, ‘I tried it. It wasn’t for me,’” he added.

Luis is 42, while Jessy’s 30. So, the ideal number of kids for him is three. “But maybe two is OK. But if ever, God’s plan is that it’s only Peanut ang ibigay sa amin, we’re more than happy (with that).”

After giving birth to Peanut, Jessy has plans of returning to showbiz, shared Luis.

“Even right after Peanut, of course, there were a lot of offers but they understood that first and foremost (priority) is Peanut. Siguro swerte lang kasi yung posting (vlog) mas hawak mo yung oras mo ng kunti,” he said.

“But she wants to get back to work. And, you know, we are thankful because there are several brands inquiring about us, family. So, I said si Peanut medyo may mga nag-aantay na endorsements ah. It’s like that’s the part na kahit papano back to work namin.”

“Let me just share this. We (Jessy and I) were on a motorcade one time for work. I think that was last month. People were shouting, ‘Where is Peanut? Where is

Peanut?’ Wala silang pakialam sa amin. It’s part siguro kahit papano when Jessy gets back to work, even Peanut will have a bit of exposure na ‘trabaho’ if you will,” he said.

Luis also revealed his mom, Vilma Santos, was shaking when she first held her granddaughter.

“Unang hawak niya kay Peanut mga two months pa lang si Peanut, nanginginig,” recalled Luis. “Nung inabot sa kanya ni Jessy, mom said, ‘Teka, teka, how do I hold her?’ Parang ‘di pa siya humahawak ng bata in her entire life.”

Luis quipped, “‘So, where did I come from?’ I told her, ‘Vi, let’s talk’ because she was shaking. It was (shown) on Jessy’s vlog. Nanginginig siya, ‘How do I hold her? Is this correct, Jessy?’ Either hindi pa niya ako nahahawakan or nabagsak niya ako nung bata ako kaya ako nagka-ganito. Mas kapani-paniwala yung nabagsak niya ako kaya ako ganito.”

Meanwhile, Luis, Robi Domingo, Eric Nicolas are the game masters in PIE Channel’s Pindot PIEnalo Block, which starts at 6 p.m. and continues on weekend with the 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. editions of Mukhang Perya.

Luis hosts the show Tamang Hinala, Robi for Watchawin and Eric for Mukhang Perya.

Jolina Magdangal and Bayani Agbayani are the tandem hosts of Sinong Manok Mo, Negi for Mukhang Perya, and Melai Cantiveros for Ur Da Boss.

by KRISTOFER PURNELL Philstar.com

SINGER-actress Rachelle Ann Go is looking forward to be a part of "Hamilton" as it begins its first international tour in the Philippines, having previously played the role of Elizabeth Schuyler in London's West End.

Rachelle is reprising Eliza during the Philippine run of "Hamilton" at the The Theatre at Solaire until November 26, after which the musical will head to Abu Dhabi beginning January.

At a press conference accompanied by several of her castmates on Wednesday, Rachelle expressed her excitement to be back in the Philippines and being given the chance to portray Eliza in front of a Filipino crowd.

The actress called the opportunity a "dream come true" and recalled during her West End performances that one day "Hamilton" would make its way to her home country.

"Back in 2017... I had a feeling that 'Hamilton' would be coming to the Philippines, for some reason I just had that vision," Rachelle said. "And I told myself 'I'm gonna do this role in the Philippines,' and here I am."

Rachelle reiterated what a dream it was to be home with her family, "Isang pangarap ko ito."

Accompanying Rachelle in the international cast are Jason

Arrow as Alexander Hamilton, DeAundre’ Woods as Aaron

Burr, Darnell Abraham as George

Washington, Akina Edmonds as Angelica Schuyler, and Brent Hill as King George.

In dual roles are David Park as Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas

Jefferson, Shaka Bagadu Cook as Hercules Mulligan and James

Madison, Jacob Guzman as John

Laurens and Philip Hamilton, Elandrah Eramiha as Peggy

Schuyler and Maria Reynolds.

Jason portrayed the titular character in the Australian run of "Hamilton" in 2021, while the rest of the cast come from "Hamilton"

ensembles that have performed on Broadway, the North American tours, London, Germany, and Australia.

The sung-and-rapped "Hamilton" is based on the titular character's life particularly surrounding America's revolution against the British. The musical's creator Lin-Manuel Miranda coined it as "America then, as told by America now."

The Broadway run of the show broke the record for most Tony Award nominations at 16, winning 11 including Best Musical — the second-most number of wins in Tonys history.

Sharon admits undergoing cosmetic...

‘yung extra skin, ‘yun lang,” she added.

Sharon said she is still recuperating from the surgery. She also revealed that she was going through stress that contributed to her losing weight, but did not share the cause of her stress.

Sharon added that she went through “forced diet” because she did not have the appetite to eat.

She was shooting her movie with Alden Richards when she noticed her weight loss.

’Yung ikinapayat ko itong last last months, ang bilis. May nag-cause sa akin ng stress. ‘Wag na nating ibalik, ‘wag na nating pag-usapan,” Sharon revealed.

Luis Manzano

Photo from Instagram/@luckymanzano

Singer-actress Sharon Cuneta

Photo from Instagram/@reallysharoncuneta

Rachelle Ann Go as Eliza Schuyler on ‘Hamilton’ Photos from Instagram/@gorachelleann

OUR planet would be at an imminent grave risk of being destroyed, if global warming, more appropriately termed climate change, continues unabated. Although controversial and like the multitudes of problems threatening the world, this major one is partly caused by its intelligent inhabitant, man himself, and his careless and irresponsible behavior, especially in the last two hundred and some years. Human beings are not new to self-abuse, selfdestruction, and to irreverence to their environment, in spite of their education, culture, and the massive data in this age of exploding informational technology and mind-boggling advances in science and medicine.

Man’s self-abuse and rape of his environment are almost certain to doom the world he lives in, unless he listens to Mother Nature and promptly starts to take a wise proactive strategy in dealing with his present ecological dilemma. Man cannot afford to lose this one, his only proven sanctuary in the galaxy. And what’s happening is scary. Let’s not destroy this good earth before we find another hospitable home.

Historically, the earth’s climate has gone through various changes, from ice age to prolonged periods of heat waves. The factors involved include the alteration in the Earth’s orbit, the degree of energy from the sun, and volcanic eruptions. The latter part of the 18th century ushered in a greater human factor: the industrial revolution which has contributed to more massive environmental pollution.

Man’s share

The human “contributions” include the carcinogenic fumes from cigarettes, carbon monoxide/ dioxide from engine emissions, chemical contamination from the household agents (soaps, bleaches, tile and toilet cleaners, etc.)

we use daily, factory polluting our atmosphere and dumping of toxic waste products into the our rivers and lakes, deforestation and destruction of our greeneries, invasion of the original habitats of animals and disturbing the natural order of things, and the environmental insults that urbanization brings with it in general. These changes in the landscape of nature have affected the health and atmosphere of our planet, causing its “body” to have

a temperature that is rising like a fever from an “infection,” and at an arguably alarming faster rate than what it should be. And all this because of what we, its intelligent inhabitants, have done to the one and only “life-sustaining home” we know in the galaxy.

The burning of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, and deforestation the past two centuries have led to the “greenhouse effect,” where the toxic gasses in the atmosphere have significantly increased to the point of trapping heat, like in a glass panel enclosure of a greenhouse, causing the earth’s temperature to climb more rapidly than ever before in its history.

The resultant man-induced depletion of the ozone layer (nature’s protective “umbrella,” shielding us from the harmful variety of sun rays) is likewise a great health hazard, a most plausible contributing factor in the alarmingly increasing rate of the various cancers killing people in the world today.

Although greenhouse gases, at safe levels, are essential for life as we know it to keep our planet comfortably warm, abnormally high levels are far too dangerous for our planet. At present, man’s abuse of his environment has adversely affected many aspects of our life, including our means of subsistence, agriculture, and aquaculture, to mention a couple.

Data from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration and NASA “show that the earth’s average surface temperature has increased by about 1.2 to 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit since 1900… the warmest global average temperatures on record have all occurred within the past 15 years, with the warmest two years being 1998 and 2005.” This indisputably means the human factor has caused this dreadful and scary phenomenon.

Ravaged Mother Earth

Indeed, as guests on this planet we call home, we humans, have not been courteous, respectful, ecology-conscious enough and environmentally friendly at all to Mother Earth. This has resulted in the gradual deterioration of our ecosystem to its ravaged situation today.

What are the signs of a widespread and long-term trend toward global warming? The manifestations include unusually warmer weather and heat waves; glacier melting; Arctic and Antarctic warming; and, ocean warming, rising sea level, and coastal flooding. Aren’t the various volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, typhoons, hurricanes, floodings, and evident weather changes not

enough hints for us? If man does not do anything about this climate change soon, the resultant impact of this global warming, according to experts, will lead to the following “harbingers”: diseases spreading more easily, spring arriving earlier, coral reef bleaching occurring, plant and animal range shifts and population changes taking place, downpours, heavy snow falls and giant tidal waves and flooding, droughts and fires happening often.

While government initiatives by all nations around the globe are vital to the remedial solution to this potentially catastrophic dilemma that could make our world uninhabitable and wipe out civilization as we know it, our individual and concerted community discipline, behavioral modification and proactive lifestyle changes could immensely help and positively impact on how much longer we can keep Planet Earth a safe place to live in. Hopefully, our space exploration is successful soon enough in finding another friendly planet man could colonize soon, before our indifference, carelessness and stupidity transform this good earth into a giant ball of fire and erase mankind.

Our fate is in our hands. We had better hurry to save the only home we have.

* * *

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

* * *

The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health.

* * *

Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He was a recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995, conferred by then Indiana Governor, later Senator, and then presidential candidate, Evan Bayh. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry Truman, President George HW Bush, Muhammad Ali, and Astronaut Gus Grissom (Wikipedia). Related websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.

Dennis promises to never cheat on Jennylyn

by HannaH Mallorca Inquirer.net

DENNIS Trillo is committed to being a faithful husband to his wife, actress Jennylyn Mercado, saying he makes it a point to distance himself from any forms of “temptation.”

Trillo expressed his desire to never cheat on Mercado during a “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” interview, which was uploaded on GMA Network’s YouTube channel last Friday, Sept. 15. The topic was brought up after Abunda asked him about handling “external forces” that can harm relationships.

"As long as meron kang respeto doon sa partner mo, hindi mo hahayaan na maging masama ang pangalan mo,” he said. “Mahirap magkalamat ‘yung tiwala ng isang tao, lalo na matagal mo siyang pinagingatan, kaya hindi ko na naiisip na magloko or ma-tempt man lang. Ako na mismo ang lumalayo talaga.”

(As long as you respect your partner, you wouldn’t dare to take advantage of that trust. It’s hard when someone doesn’t trust you anymore, especially when you’ve protected it for so long. This is why cheating or being tempted never crossed my mind. I choose to stay away.) The actor, who admitted

Should artists keep day jobs and just do music ‘on the side’? Vehnee

Saturno

weighs in

THE “-ber” months have arrived, and with them, the customary stories and memes about Jose Mari Chan. But recently, the music icon made headlines, not for his enduring songs that signal the beginning of the holiday season, but because of a piece of advice he gave aspiring young musicians.

In the Sept. 1 episode of “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda,” Chan pointed out that the changes in technology and the music landscape have made it harder to make a living out of music alone. So it would only be prudent, he said, for young composers and singers to find or keep a day job while pursuing music.

“Use that [music] as a hobby, or on the side, but get another career—either in law or accounting or medicine,” the 78-year-old singer-songwriter said.

Chan’s advice elicited mixed reactions from observers on social media including fellow musicians. Some were disappointed and criticized him, saying that his sentiment came off as discouraging, that it was insulting to those who see music as their bread and butter, and that treating music as a mere hobby would only stifle artistic growth.Others, however, conceded that there was truth to what Chan said, especially from a practical standpoint. One of them is one of the country’s prolific hitmakers Vehnee Saturno, who believes that pursuing one’s passion while making a decent living can be a tricky balancing act.

‘Think wisely’

“For many musicians, passion for the craft and being able to show what’s inside of them

by HannaH Mallorca Inquirer.net

AFTER a 14-year ban, Baron Geisler vowed not to “mess up” following an invitation to attend the ABS-CBN Ball, which would take place on Sept. 30.

Geisler took to his Instagram account on Saturday, Sept. 16 to express his gratitude for being invited to the upcoming event, saying he feels “humbled and grateful” to be welcomed with “open arms.”

come first before money. So to singers, songwriters or anyone in the field of music, I say, ‘Tuloy lang.’ I still encourage them,” he recently told showbiz reporters over lunch.

“But if the finances aren’t there to sustain yourself, then that would be difficult, too. You have to think wisely about how you can cross the bridge and arrive at a point where you know you can still be happy despite not being equipped with everything,” added Saturno, the man behind such hits as “Be My Lady,” “Sana Kahit Minsan” and “Forever’s Not Enough.”

“Just continue and do what you can. But if you have been at it for years and nothing is really happening, then perhaps it’s time to switch … perhaps there are other things they can excel in or are more suited to them and that could bring them success. However, that dream of being in the industry will always be there,” Saturno said.

He also pointed out that

Chan’s advice is the perspective of someone who’s a successful businessman first, before a musician. “I think there was nothing wrong with what he said. It’s just that the delivery wasn’t as sweet … because what he said applies to other jobs as well. You should think of doing other things that can make your life comfortable,” he said.

His foray into the music industry was like shooting for the moon, said Saturno, who used to work as a Xerox operator.

“There was no assurance I would make it. Filipinos are discerning and strict when it comes to music … Suntok sa buwan para sa ‘kin. No pain, no gain. Lalaban at lalaban ka lang talaga. You just have to absorb the negative comments and don’t let them affect you,” he related.

He agreed with Chan that it’s a different time now: How music is created is different, how it’s promoted is different, and how it’s consumed is different.

“Back then, you did press conferences, radio promos and mall tours. Television networks accommodate all artists and there was no exclusivity. But these days, the network will ask you, ‘Sikat na ba ’yan?’” Saturno said.

What hasn’t changed, though, is that there’s no exact formula for creating hits. “It’s easy to make a song, but there’s really no assurance it will become a hit. Everything is up to the market. It still boils down to luck and what the market dictates. That’s why I listen to the works of new songwriters. Otherwise, you will be left out… mabubura ka,” he said.

that he’s a “jealous” type of partner, said he’s very “careful” in ensuring someone’s trust, especially when it comes to keeping his relationship with Mercado intact.

“Maingat ako sa tiwala ng tao. Ayokong isipin na may mangyayaring ganu’n sa relasyon naming dalawa kaya minamabuti ko rin na siguraduhin na palaging masaya ‘yung asawa ko kahit na may mga anak na kami. Gusto ko maging maligaya pa rin siya, gusto ko kinikilig pa rin siya sa akin at sa mga ginagawa ko,” he said.

(I’m very careful with someone’s trust. I don’t want to think that infidelity would happen in our relationship. This is why I make sure that we stay happy even if we have a child already. I want her to be happy. I want her to feel butterflies with the things that I do to her.)

During the interview, Trillo admitted that he knew early on that the actress is “the one,” and was just looking for the “perfect timing” to get married.

“Siguro, early on before mangyari ang proposal, noon pa lang, parang tawagan na namin sa isa’t isa ay ‘asawa.’ Alam na namin na doon na talaga papunta, kailangan lang maghanap ng perfect timing (Early on, before the proposal was going to happen, we address each other as ‘husband’ or ‘wife.’ We knew

that our relationship was headed in that direction, we just had to look for the perfect timing),” he added.

The “Love Before Sunrise” star also said that Mercado is a “caring” partner, as he noted that she ensures that he’s in his best condition whenever he’s filming for a project.

"[Si Jennylyn] ang mas grabe mag-alaga, hindi ko maikukumpara ang paga-alaga niya sa akin. Siya ‘yung talagang the best sa pag-aalaga,” he said.

“Sisiguraduhin niya na safe ka, sisiguraduhin niya na maayos ka, kumpleto lahat ng gamit mo. Siya pa ‘yung madalas nag-aayos ng gamit ko minsan or madalas kapag may taping ako or out of town or out of the country.”

(Jennylyn is the more caring one. I can’t compare how much of a caring partner she is when it comes to me. She’s the best in terms of being caring. She makes sure that you’re safe, doing well, and your personal belongings are complete. Sometimes, she’s the one who fixes my things whenever I’m taping or I’m out of the country.)

The celebrity couple started dating in 2010, but broke up a year later. They eventually reconciled in 2015 and wed in an intimate ceremony in November 2021.

Trillo and Mercado welcomed their first child Dylan Jayde in May 2022.

“It has been more than a decade since I was invited to the #ABSCBNBALL due to my bad behavior during the previous ones. Now, I am humbled and grateful that they welcome me back with open arms. Can’t wait to thank the bosses personally and to have a wonderful time with my colleagues celebrating each one’s achievements,” he said. “Thank you, Sir @deo_endrinal and Tita Cory Vidanes.” In a separate post on X (formerly Twitter), the actor said he would be “sober” at the ball since he wants to make up for his 14-year ban. “Sobrang salamat! For His glory. Sober party for me so I may relish the moment at hindi ko talaga ito malilimutan. 14 years

by Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

FORMER “It’s Showtime” host Eric “Eruption” Tai showed his support to the embattled noontime show after the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) filed a 12-day suspension order.

In an exclusive interview with Philstar.com during the recent launch of 2 Kings Productions, Eruption said he hopes that the noontime show hosts will learn from the controversy.

“It kind of goes both ways. I don’t really know the depth of the situation pero I think we’re in the position to entertain people. In some ways, they could be offending others, and (to) some, just a joke or no harm. For me, we just got to be careful on what we do,” he said.

“Kung ano 'yung klaseng situation 'yung ginagawa natin kailangang mag-ingat lang tayo kasi there’s kids watching. Kids probably won’t understand it that way pero other people will say ‘hey, hey, panget 'yan',” he added.

When asked if he supports the noontime show in their battle now, Eruption said: “I’m no longer part of the show.”

“I supported in a way that it was where I started my career and I’m always thankful for them. But I have nothing negative to say in general on what’s going on but the only thing I can say is just be safe on how we conduct ourselves on TV,” he added.

Founded with a passion for world-class entertainment and

ban. Now okay na po (Thank you very much. For His glory. It would be a sober party for me so I may relish the moment and wouldn’t forget it. 14-year ban, and I’m okay ). Thank you Lord!!!!” he said.

The actor’s post caught the attention of seasoned actress Ruffa Gutierrez, who hoped to see him in the event.

The “Senior High” star then promised that he would “not mess up” the opportunity in a followup post.

“This means so much to me. This invitation. I won’t mess it

up,” he wrote. In a Philippine Daily Inquirer interview in October, Geisler shared that his sobriety journey has been “smooth” on “most days” which taught him the importance of “stepping back and pausing” when he feels “overwhelmed by everything.” “I can’t be too complacent even if things are going well because that is when the devil (disease of addiction) strikes. I may sound preachy, but I have to say that when I give the Lord my full trust, He strengthens me,” he was quoted as saying.

creating unparalleled experiences, 2Kings Productions is the newest player in the events and concert scene. While this local production company has just launched, its founders are seasoned individuals with expertise when it comes to entertainment.

One-half of this power duo is Henry Angelo Pantollana –an entrepreneur with several successful businesses under his sleeve, spanning through different categories – medical, digital and even trading. With his penchant for good music and experiences

paired with his business acumen, he has a lot to bring to the table in this new venture. He is also celebrating his birthday along with the launch.

The other half is Moy Macasero also known as “Moymoy Palaboy," the first ever Filipino Youtube sensation who has made a name for himself in mainstream entertainment as an actor, comedian, singer and songwriter. He was a former MTRCB Board of Director (2017-2022) and is currently the Vice Chairman of the Optical Media Board.

Vehnee Saturno Photo from Facebook/Vehnee Saturno